Monday, February 15, 2010

President Jimmy Carter Speaks at Paideia

UPDATE - So we went to hear President Carter speak on the topic of diversity and education and there were several things that struck me. First, his speech was delivered with a wonderful style. Rather than a lecture, he told four stories asking the audience to weave the stories together to draw their own conclusion as to how the stories illustrated diversity in education. It was an interesting approach to a lecture - simple storytelling. Another observation was his relationship with Rosalyn. He was talking to the audience but throughout the presentation he would address his wife. It was lovely and at moments, even with an auditorium full of people, he would speak to her. My favorite thing about his presentation was - when it ended, it was over! There was no lingering, closing remarks or reaction to the standing ovation which he received. Instead, President Carter said goodnight and he and Rosalyn headed out. In the end I came to the conclusion that when the time comes that we stop noting and focusing on differences in people, then, perhaps we have achieved diversity.

Charlotte is a wonderful city and it was such a good feeling to hear noises from construction in the downtown. With the economic downturn, those sounds aren't so frequent anymore. It was also great to see a city with a bustling downtown.

We are going to hear President Carter tonight and I am so excited about it! I'm leaving tomorrow a.m. early for a couple of days in Charlotte so I might not have time to post about his lecture, etc., before leaving town but I will be sure to post something later in the week. We are so lucky to have gotten tickets to this lecture and I'm so thankful. More to come later in the week.

10+C+M+B+10 = House Blessing


Have you ever seen this over a doorway? It looks like a formula of sorts which is why, most probably it caught my son's eye. In early January he moved to Germany and shortly after arriving he noticed this sign over the doorways of homes. He looked closely and found that this plaque, made of clay, is often hung in January as a house blessing. Interestingly C, M and B are the initials of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The initials also abbreviate, Christus mansionem benedicat, meaning, may Christ bless this house. Click here for more details about this interesting blessing. Do you have a blessing marking your doorway?

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Snowman Greetings!

Happy Valentine's Day from one of the largest snowmen that I've ever seen (keep in mind we just don't have many snowy occasions)! Hope your day is filled with love.


Check out the McDonough Snowdog!!! Our former neighbors made the snowdog and won a local photo contest.


P.S. Look at the size of the cars behind the snowman.

My friend Sal talked me into buying white tulips…


Recently our town had a Garden Fest in a park near the beach

Tons of tropical flora

always a great place to find

a rare bromeliad…or bamboo…or banana

But... I came home with some different sort of loot


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A French baguette mold

you know…where the dough was once left to rise.

but it is made in Mexico. Whatever.

you can see I have not worked on the table yet…priorities people.


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Spring has sprung.

‘cause I said so, that’s how.

I also found a carved wood piggy bowl

wait a minute…I found him at our local Marshalls.But he is hand carved and I oiled him with our butcher block oil.

he loved it.

He is currently tending the guac ingredients


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Child #4 says:

"Ewwww...who wants to eat anything out of a pig?"


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Um...Me.

Brought home two of the glass fishing floats from the fest…

why? Dunno. Maybe they’ll go outside in the garden

see the tulips Sal?


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But my fave is the old German educational poster...loved it’s age…


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Although I’m pretty sure I don’t know what a laubmoose is.

It hasn’t found a forever home yet...

so is borrowing some space in the messy family room


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Garden fest and nary a garden flower.

s’ok…Sal’s hooked me up!


Have a beautiful day of chocolates and white tulips!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy V day…

fall 056

Will you be my valentine?

And won't you go wish the talented, brutally honest and funny

Renee Finberg a truly Happy Birthday.

She has had a sucky week.She deserves far better!

Friday, February 12, 2010

FINALLY!

WE HAVE SNOW!!!! I just swept off the front steps, then the walkway. Afterwards I sat on the front porch. It's amazing outside . . . all is calm, all is bright. How lovely, even if only for a short while.

'Holding Back The Years'




No alas I have not discovered some magic serum to stave off wrinkles but serendipity has pointed me in the direction of a photo of what our immediate neighbourhood looked like in 1913. The old cottages have now been replaced by two bungalows (one of which we live in) and the pond has gone. I wonder what became of the little girl standing at its edge. A small stream now meanders across the area, bordering our garden on one side. There are still some trees on the skyline but not as many. The greenhouses in the background have long gone too but were apparently part of a small nursery. A dear friend who died in her eighties a few years ago used to visit the nursery as a girl to buy tomatoes. So it's reassuring to know that somebody with a love of gardening and plants used to live here almost a century ago.