Following Directions

Last night my friend and I began a small knitting project, one that was designed to use up the tiny bits of leftover yarn (of which we have many). We thought these tiny bunnies would be quick to make. As we began reading the pattern, both of us became skeptical. The directions made no sense. Something was certainly missing. We tried a few rows. Still uncertain. So, we sought more information from others. Interestingly, many knitters expressed the same concern on blogs. All were assured to just follow the directions; things would work out right. And they did...just not as speedily as we anticipated.

The lesson, of course, is to stay on track, to follow those directions as they are written, and to trust that the final product will match the pattern.

The pattern can be found at http://coffeeandcream2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/catnip-bunnies.html.

Reading Songs

Brattleboro Sings brought together people of many generations last night in town. Though I had hoped it would take place on the town common, rain prevented it, driving the singers to the American Legion instead (which actually proved quite appropriate when singing patriotic songs like "Yankee Doodle" and  "You're a Grand Old Flag"). Song sheets helped prompt my memory on certain songs, but others are so engrained in my memory that I could join in easily. I especially loved remembering the descant to "This Land is Your Land" and singing it along with one of the song leaders, a delightful elementary music teacher. Thanks to my elementary music teacher, Mrs. McGowan, for exposing us to so many songs back in the 1970s. And thanks to Becky Graber (http://www.beckygraber.com/) and Alki Steriopoulos (http://iamalki.com/iamalki.com/ALKI_STERIOPOULOS.html) for guiding the singers last night.

Book Choices

For this trip, I took only one book with me (Albro Martin's James J. Hill and the Opening of the Northwest), knowing there are plenty of choices on the shelves in my friends' home which I can read. I sought out the advanced reader's copy of Sharon Creech's new book The Boy on the Porch (and am almost done with that) but have enjoyed two books on the coffee table. A book entitled Wisdom contains thoughts from Indian Masters and is held open to the correct day by the magnificent turquoise snail. Beneath Cold Seas by David Hall contains incredible images of things found in the Pacific Northwest's underwater places.

Today's wisdom comes from Rabindranath Tagore:

"It is necessary that this be the aim of our entire life. In all of our thoughts and actions, we must be conscious of the infinite."

Routines

Being a teacher, I follow a fairly strict daily routine for 9 months of the year. In the summers, I still follow a routine, but the times are more flexible. A walk or run takes up an hour or two first thing in the morning. Reading and writing consume a few hours each day. I drink tea, knit, sew, converse with friends, read some more.

This week I am following my other summer routine while visiting friends. I still walk each morning, but these streets and sidewalks are a bit uneven, meaning I cannot read-walk. The days are filled with conversations, book talk, walking, cooking, and interesting excursions. In the evening, I read aloud to my friends in the cool living room, their cat leaping up to join us, even when he is reprimanded for doing so. This summer the book is LIAR AND SPY by Rebecca Stead. As this is my third time reading it, I am finding clues I missed, wording that could be understood in more than one way. I wonder if my listeners are catching the clues, or if they, like me the first time I read it, are so completely engaged with Georges, the narrator, that they will be surprised in a few chapters.

Same River Twice?

When someone I love leaves this earth, I grieve the loss of the characteristics I appreciated in that person and the potential for things experienced together. But I also celebrate in my mind and heart all the things that made me love him or her. One shelf in my library has photos of those who have left my life physically but who remain with me in memory. I still feel sad sometimes, but I take comfort in remembering.

Daniel Anderson, the narrator or Rebecca Rupp's book After Eli, deals with his brother's death in a far different manner. He creates Daniel (E.) Anderson's Book of the Dead in which he lists deceased persons, their years of life, and the causes of their deaths. Each chapter of the book begins with one of those entries. Some are famous people, like Napoleon Bonaparte or Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha or Jim Morrison. Some are people from his own life. But in all cases, the narrator connects an aspect of the person's life or death with his own situation, making perfect sense of it all. The book grates on his father's patience, but Walter, who becomes Dan's trusted friend, rightly assesses it as a way to deal with grief.

This is one of those books I want to recommend to everyone I know. Ms. Rupp created a credible narrator whose voice makes his struggles with friendship, identity, family, and acceptance real for the reader. His discoveries about relationships are ferreted along by the twins who move into the old Sowers house (and who speak in humorous and thought-provoking analogies), their beautiful older sister named Isabelle, his brother Eli's friend Jim (an organic farmer), Jim's wise girlfriend Emma, and Walter, an incredible gifted peer who previously had been unappreciated by Dan.

Walter fills the narrative with interesting thoughts, all shared by Dan at the best moments. I especially loved when he asked, "Can a person step into the same river twice?" Dan and Isabelle listen and ponder this question. A bit later in the discussion, Dan says this:

"What Walter thinks is that people are like rivers. We never stay in the same place but just keep flowing along, learning new stuff and picking up new experiences and changing all the time. So today's you isn't the same as yesterday's you and won't be the same as tomorrow's you. 

"But Walter also thinks that there's a real perfect you that you're always trying to get to, and the better you are at living your life, the closer you come to it." pp. 162-163

I hope that is true. It is what I believe about my life.

Research for All

At an appointment yesterday, the other person and I discussed our casually careers and what they entail. She said, "Well as the librarian, you must teach computer." I tried to explain how being a librarian means so much more than "teaching computer." I read aloud from books that engage listeners. I help readers find the right books for their needs and wants. I teach them how to find information. "Oh, you mean they do research in elementary school?" Yes. They love to find information about interesting topics. So do I.

Last week I joined my friend Joyce for a walk and was elated to discover that one of the Cecropia moths she was tending had emerged just prior to my arrival. I had so many questions about the moths and was fascinated by the one I observed. I came home and did research about them.

Joyce posted this lovely journal about the process at her website:
http://www.joycesidman.com/animals/cecropia-watch/

Sneak Peak

 

This morning's work session stretched into the afternoon hours as three teachers and one author/illustrator worked to photograph a book and create a slide show of its pages. The goal was to display the double-page spreads without having to splice them together while also showing each of the flaps and what was underneath it. Thankfully, four brains came up with creative ways to solve problems, capture images, and assemble them. So, we used an iPad mini on a music stand to photographs the spreads (that were resting on the piano bench) and a camera to zoom in on the flaps. Photoshop was the tool for sizing the spreads to perfectly span the PowerPoint slides. It is turning out to be just as we imagined!

Thanks to David LaRochelle for trusting three of his teacher friends to help with this project! Arlo's ARTrageous Adventure! is the first book for which he is both the author and illustrator!