This Moment

 "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." 

 Inspired by SouleMama

I am the Chicken Queen?

 

"I am the Chicken Queen! I speak for all to hear!"

 

 

It was a perfect day to celebrate a friend's birthday at the beach. The combination of hot sun and cool breeze, and popsicles and feathers, was delightful.  But when the party ends and it's time to return to your daily life, you cast aside the feathers and frosting. You are no longer the Chicken Queen, just a five year old who is wearing more low tide mud on her feet than shoe.

 

So home we went, to foot washing and food prep. I removed as much sugar and odor as possible from the surface of my kids, and sent them off to play while I got to work in the kitchen. As I rummaged through the bin of spices I affectionately refer to as a "spice rack" I came to the realization that we were almost out of vanilla extract. This shouldn't come as a surprise since, when baking, I add it to any recipe that omits it and double it in the recipes smart enough to have included it. But, surprise or not, it was a tragic realization and it needed to be addressed as soon as possible.

 

 Supermarkets sell vanilla in humorously small bottles, so I make my own. I learned from a friend that this is the proper thing to do when your vanilla habit has reached this degree. That or get help for your addiction. Since using exorbitant amounts of vanilla makes delicious treats for my friends and family I don't think anyone is likely to stage an intervention. So, after my husband got home from work and helped me wrangle dinner into the oven, and kids into the house, I ran to the liquor store for cheap vodka.

 

What a lovely time I had there! Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Store employees and even other shoppers were all smiling at me. I wondered, are people who are about to get drunk always this chipper? Or could it be how I am totally rocking this blue muumuu inspired sundress? Or maybe I have somehow wandered out of Boston and ended up someplace where friendliness isn't questioned? I carried this warm fuzzy feeling and a brown paper bag all the way home with me, chatting with grinning neighbors along the way.

 

When I walked in the door, my son looked up at me and smiled. "You're still wearing your feather!" he chuckled. I reached up and pulled a bright blue feather out of my hair where it had been sticking up, jauntily and ridiculously, since the party on the beach. Blue, to match my dress. A big blue feather wagging happily over my head, bringing smiles to friends and strangers alike.

I am the Chicken Queen?


Let's Make Water Climb!

 

Would you like to see water climb out of one glass and into another? Of course you would!

When we saw this experiment in the MOS newsletter, we knew we had to try it.

 

All you need are five clear glasses, food coloring, four paper towels and water.

 

 

 

Arrange the glasses in a row.

Fill the first, third and fifth glasses halfway with water.

Add blue food coloring to the first, red to the third and yellow to the fifth.

The second and fourth glasses remain empty.

 

 

    

 Fold or twist the paper towels and place them so they bridge each glass.

 

Check on them periodically to see what is happening. 

 

The water has climbed out of some glasses and into others. Is it magic? No. It's water's magical properties known as cohesion and adhesion!





 

   

This Moment

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." 

 

Inspired by SouleMama

The Bard Before Breakfast

 

 

I climbed out of bed and pulled open the curtains. It was damp and cool. I scooped a book up from the floor where it had dropped when I fell asleep, and climbed back into bed. Moments later my son climbed into bed with me and asked me how to make a pond. He wanted to know where the water comes from and why it stays. We snuggled together and talked about groundwater, saturation and the water table. We talked about digging wells and digging in the sand at the beach. We talked about divining rods and different ways of getting water to the surface. He ran to get the Lehman's catalog to show me a different kind of pump he had noticed in there.

As I waited for him to return I became aware of the conversation in the next room. "Do you know what that means?" asked my ten year old. "Not really," answered his little sister. He then proceeded to explain to her the Shakespeare passage he had just read. "Do you want me to read more?" "Yes!" was her enthusiastic reply. And this cozy morning continued through bits of Richard II, The Tempest, and Macbeth until hunger dragged everyone downstairs for breakfast.

I made myself a cup of coffee and watched the school bus rumble by.

Through the Magnifying Glass

Did you ever wonder what would happen if you took a photograph through a magnifying glass?

I wondered.

 

 

Cadillac Day

There was a huge herd of Cadillacs in town this weekend, so of course we went to see them. Cadillacs are the Cadillac of automobiles after all. My son, the car buff, was eager to see his favorite models and discuss style and performance differences.

 

I learned a few things from him and was reminded of a few things I had forgotten. Things like built in ashtrays and car phones, analog clocks in dashboards, shag carpeting, and a total lack of seatbelts. My daughter said the lack of seatbelts was for comfort. I admit that the interiors of some of these cars looked ridiculously luxurious, but somehow I don't think the lack of seatbelts would make this mama very comfortable.

 

What I did find comforting is that, in car years, I am a classic. A classic! I like that so much better than middle-aged. And while I reflected on this... I was reflecting. Everything was so shiny! All of the sweeping curves of chrome became stylish funhouse mirrors. 

 

 



 

 Going to a car show with a kid who loves automobiles was so exciting. We met car owners whose enthusiasm was contagious. There were photo albums chronicling the salvage and loving restoration of classic cars by people who were passionate and dedicated enough to see these amazing projects through. There was the beauty of these machines themselves, balancing power, luxury and elegance in a humble utilitarian object. 

 This was an opportunity to see beautiful things and learn a bit about automotive history. (And giggle at my own reflection.)  But it was also about people who have a passion for something and who follow that passion. Today that passion just happened to be fabulous cars.