Bird and Little Bird

In the Memorable Quotes Department.

"Mama," she says, "Sometimes I think that I'm asleep, but then I realize that I'm not.  I'm just thinking really, really deeply." 

Professionalism.

I've been having all these conversations with fellow bloggers lately about the importance of being authentic in your writing. About only posting when you've got something of consequence to say, or a story to tell, and certainly only when you are prepared to do a nice job of things.  Well, with that said, I'm going to post this random picture of my kid's tiny, adorable fingers just because I like it. And, I'm going to say nothing much about it.  Then, I will congratulate myself for having thought for a very short while about taking myself kind of seriously while I eat some dessert in my pajamas.  I try. 

Can We Talk More About This?

  

My garden, that is.  I know that any of you who have stuck it out as Bird and Little Bird readers for any length of time are probably aware of the cyclical nature of my musings.  Round about the end of April each year I begin obsessing with the greening of my little corner of the earth and kind of can't be quiet about it until I've driven everyone around me crazy.  But just remember, it will be only a few short months until you have to listen to me go on and on about how noisy snowpants are in the dryer at night and then you'll be just wishing for some garden talk.

Annie 2.0 and I planted quite a few of the spring and summer crops into our community garden plot this last weekend and the sunny Saturday, combined with stellar soil and good planting progress, seems to have resulted in some significant growing optimism this year.  Memories of The Great Onion Weeding of 2011 encouraged us to lay down a strip of landscape fabric on the onion bed this year.  We cut holes into the fabric to put the plants in.  I suppose that there is some risk of the onions getting exposed to excess moisture doing it this way, but I'll do pretty much anything to avoid weeding the onion bed, so consider this a risk taken.

The other change that we made to the garden plan this year was to allocate a completely autonomous garden area for Mariam's use.  She has a three by four foot mini-plot of her own, and she's been given totally free reign to do with it as she pleases.  She can plant whatever she wants, however she chooses, without adult interference of any kind.  She is thrilled, and suddenly, very invested in spending time at the garden.  This might be one of my best ideas yet.  I'm thinking we need to make up another garden seed book or three (from Volume Six of Alphabet Glue) so that she can carry them in her pockets and pull a page of seeds off and toss it into the ground whenever she feels like it.  Easier than trying to share seed packets with her, I would suspect.  

Also new this year: purple potatoes.  We generally plant Yukon Gold, and we'll do those again this year as well, but these Purple Adirondacks looked so colorful and fun, we decided that a row of these was in order too.  

Thanks for listening to my garden talk (yet again).  I do appreciate it, believe me.  I'd love to return the favor... What are you planting this year? 

Oh, and today is the final day to use the discount code from the Alphabet Glue giveaway on the Rhythm of the Home blog.  Enter "ROTH" at checkout for 15% off issues of the magazine. 

Library Monday: The Adventures of Tintin.

For awhile there, it did seem as though Tintin was everywhere that you looked.  I suppose this was probably related to the fact that there was recently a big, fancy motion picture made about everyone's favorite intrepid reporter turned boy hero.  By Steven Spielberg. But here is the thing about Tintin: blockbuster movie or no, the original Tintin stories have been around for nearly seventy years, and this longevity is both well deserved and seemingly immune to current fads both at the bookstore and in the movie theatre. 

I'm always a bit suprised when I run across folks who haven't read Tintin, either on their own or with their children.  But I suppose that it isn't at all unusual for books written seven decades ago to go overlooked by those who generally enjoy more contemporary reads.  Still, I for one think that Tintin is as well read now as ever, especially since the original stories are being republished in smaller format (read: easier to carry with you), multi-book anthology volumes.  

For those that are unfamiliar, the Tintin books are a series of well-drawn comic books about a young Belgian reporter named Tintin and his canine companion, Snowy.  Written by Herge, beginning in the 1940's, the Tintin books have been praised for their brightly colored drawings that contain both intracate detail and clean lines, as well as for being able to tell stories that cross genre lines in order to allow our hero to save the day in the most dramatic way possible.  The Tintin books encompass everything from history and humor to politics and space travel.  

Now, I will be the first to admit that the reading of Tintin is not uncomplicated by the age of the stories.  A friend of ours often jokes that he learned everything he knows about the world's vices by reading Tintin as a kid.  There are references to alcohol, there are guns and thugs, and, it is pretty hard to ignore the clear racism that permeates the attitudes of the era represented.  That being said, while each of these things might otherwise cause me to veto a book that Mariam wants to read, here they are presented in ways that make it easy to have a conversation about topics that might otherwise get heavy handed treatment. And, it all seems so dated and ridiculous anyway that it is also easy to ignore it if you so choose. 

I'm very confident that there is Tintin to be had at a library near you, so if you haven't bonded with our boy detective since your own childhood, or haven't yet introduced him to your young readers, I suggest you get on that right away.  An added bonus: it takes a really long time for a kiddo to read one of the books to themselves, because each individual page is so packed with detailed pictures and tiny text.  If you've got both an eager reader and a few chores that you need to get done on your own, you're in business.  

 

 

A Reading Round-up.

I decided that since our normal Library Monday chat got subsumed by fuss this week, maybe we could talk books a bit today instead.  Because we really are reading some good, good stuff right now.  I know that I've mentioned at least a billion times previously how very much I love From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  And this is still true.  So it is perhaps a bit of a surprise that I am just now getting around to reading it to Mariam.  To be honest, this is mostly because I knew that she would love it like crazy too, but she recently went through a phase for about a year where she would pack a tiny suitcase and threaten to run away whenever she was mad at us.  Just like Ramona is a recipe for learning how to throw a good tantrum, this book is a pretty stellar thought provoker when it comes to making an excellent plan for running away from home. So, I made her promise she would never run away, and we dove right in.  And as always, I'm in awe of how good this book is.  

On deck: The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary and Mr. and Mrs. Bunny- Dectective Extraordinaires by Polly Horvath.

For his part, Zak is all about the Sally books by Stephen Huneck.  By which I mean that he really, really loves them and that this enthusiasm often results in a lot of arm flapping and yelling while they are read to him.  Very loud yelling.  But, I think that the yelling can be classified as the joyful variety, so Sally the dog it is. 

I am not managing as much reading for myself as I would like these days; the sleep deprivation doesn't quite lend itself to deep thinking about great literature.  I did, however, just recently finish reading The Lost City of Z by David Grann.  It was pretty much awesome.  It's basically a historical account mixed with a modern day mystery and a bit of archaeology for good measure.  Couldn't put it down.

Oh, and can we still be friends if I launch one more tiny complaint about the fact that it was such an unreasonable week at our house?  Because yesterday afternoon the kitchen sink became completely clogged and is no longer usable. Waiting on a plumber so that I can, you know, cook and stuff.  Also, last night I got so tired that I just spontaneously threw up. Which is gross, and I'm kind of sorry for telling you, but I will also say that this turn of events lent itself so incredibly well to a series of jokes about how the North Korean government claimed that Kim Jong Il had died because he just got really tired.  And that was pretty funny. As well as a little inappropriate.  Alright, then. Off to the pediatrician with baby Z. for a food allergy strategy session.

I've closed comments and chosen a winner for the Armadillo Dreams giveaway, but don't forget that the discount code "BIRDANDLITTLEBIRD" is good for 10% off your purchase in their Etsy shop for the entire month of May!

Also, the Alphabet Glue giveaway on the Rhythm of the Home blog has ended as well, but you can still use the discount code "ROTH" for 15% off issues of Alphabet Glue, through May 15th.  And you should totally do that, because Dawn says that Volume Six is the best so far, and she has good taste. 

Cheerful Resolve.

I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for your encouraging post-Monday comments.  I'm particularly grateful for all of your mini pep talks, because as far as I can discern, it might as well still be Monday at my house, and they therefore continue to be quite helpful.  I'm thinking that cheeful resolve can get a girl quite a distance; like all the way to Wednesday evening.  After that, it's probably necessary to have a nap and a re-up on the chocolate stash.  I won't bore you with the extensive details of  our continuing saga of food allergies, phantom teeth and seemingly neverending jetlag.  Well, at least not tonight I won't.  I'll just express a bit of proper gratitude and move right along.  

In other news, don't forget to throw your name into the virtual hat for the Armadillo Dreams giveaway.  I'll pick a winner on Friday morning around 9 a.m. my time.  Also, I don't know if you are all keeping up with the times and whatnot, but the chicks have hatched!

On Monday.

Some Mondays, a person might wax philosophical about excellent and engaging children's literature, perhaps even writing a blog post, entitled something like "Library Monday."  Other Mondays, that same person might find that after spending a sleepless night with a fussy baby, and a long morning on a second grade walking field trip of sorts, it makes better sense to do other things.  Like making a mid-day trip to the grocery store for a new teething ring for the small guy and a pint of coconut milk ice cream for his mother, which is subsequently eaten in the car with a plastic spoon from the deli.  Such a day might also very well be rounded out by such activities as viewing television programming which cannot be argued to be intellectually stimulating in any way whatsoever.  

Goodness. Happy Monday, everyone. 

Sponsor Giveaway: Armadillo Dreams.

Dragon Family Toy Set and Baa Baa Black Sheep Toy Set

 

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope that you'll join me in giving a warm welcome to new Bird and Little Bird sponsors, Armadillo Dreams.  We are very big into the wooden toys around here, and when Armadillo Dreams first contacted me about sponsorship, I couldn't say "yes" quickly enough.  Our wooden play farmhouse can always use a few new tenants, afterall.

Owned and operated by husband and wife team Amanda and Dustin, Armadillo Dreams is a perfect example of the ways in which entering into parenthood can provide unexpected creative inspiration.  Read on to find out a little more about Armadillo Dreams, the unique wooden toys that they craft and to enter to win one of their wonderful handmade toy sets!

Family Wooden Toy Set

Tell us a bit about your business:

Armadillo Dreams is full of handmade wooden toys that children can play and imagine with. We sell figures, animals, pull toys, fantasy toys and teething toys. Some of the toys are painted and others we leave natural. The shop was started in 2010 by myself (Dustin) and my wife Amanda. We live in Redmond, Oregon with our two children Lucy, age five, and Lincoln, who is one.  Amanda also has three other Etsy shops that she runs: Wild Plums, Little Vintage Violet, and Violet Plays. When we aren’t working we enjoy family time and anything we can do outside!

What was the inspiration for beginning your business? What does your creative process look like?

We always wanted our children to have wooden toys but didn’t have a lot of money to buy them. I discovered a passion for woodworking while building a backyard chicken coop/run. When the project was done I felt a need to make more with wood and started thinking of new projects. We then combined my woodworking desire with Amanda’s creative talent/Etsy experience and Armadillo Dreams was born. We love working from home and spending time with our kids and having the freedom to live by our own schedule.

We both brainstorm ideas for new toys. Once an idea is decided on, Amanda draws up a pattern. I then trace it onto poplar lumber and head out to the wood shop. Once the toy is cut out and quadruple sanded Amanda wood burns the designs on the wood with a 1000 degree F wood burner. Some of the toys then get painted with AP certified non-toxic water colors while others are left natural. Everything then gets a coat of natural baby/kid safe beeswax polish to seal the paint and wood. That’s about it. Sometimes customers will request color changes, wood burned detail changes or will request to have names added to a toy. We are always happy to include our customers in the design process! We put a lot of care and love into our toys in an effort to make them the best out there!

Armadillo Dreams has generously offered one of their Honey Comes From Bees wooden toy sets to one lucky Bird and Little Bird reader.  To enter to win, you have a whole myriad of options!   You can earn one entry each for liking Armadillo Dreams on Facebook or for following them on Twitter.  To gain additional entries, you can also tweet, post to Facebook or blog about the giveaway (or all three!).  Just make sure to return to this post and leave a comment letting me know what you've done to spread the word about Armadillo Dreams!  I'll pick a winner next Friday, May 11th via random number generator. 

You can also receive a 10% discount on your Armadillo Dreams purchase throughout the month of May by entering "BIRDANDLITTLEBIRD" at checkout.  I, for one, will almost certainly be purchasing wooden robots. 

To read more about Armadillo Dreams, you can visit their website here.  Thank you to Armadillo Dreams!

On Blooming Where You Are Planted.

I learned to garden in California.  As a college student, I often spent time in the student garden just off campus, assisting with what, in retrospect, appears to have been an experiment in just how much rainbow chard a bunch of  twenty-year-old hippies can really eat while still remaining cheerful.  The circumstances were ideal: a beautiful, fenced-in space atop a hill, a Mediterranean climate, double-dug raised beds, and a sweet little shed for storing seeds and tools. 

 

 

Then, for a couple of years around the time that Mariam was born, we lived in Davis, California.  Gardening conditions there were even better.  In fact, they were very nearly perfect and my harvest success rate on the crops that I planted in our modest community plot was high.  Very high.  I think I even managed enough onions for storage one year.

So, the challenges of Vermont gardening have been, honestly, a bit of a surprise.  Long-time readers of this little blog will probably remember the intensity and frequency of my complaints on this topic.  Last year, in particular, was tough on the garden morale.  Between Hurricane Irene and homegrown rodents of remarkable size and boldness, I lost everything.  Everything.  The flooding of the community garden was especially sad for Annie 2.0 who had spent hours upon hours working on our plot there while I was busy being a complete disaster of a pregnant person.

Our recent trip to California got me thinking about the Vermont garden conundrum.  I want to garden.  I want to grow, harvest, and feed my family from the earth around me.  But, looking at the nearly effortless growing conditions available to my Northern California people sent me home feeling slightly embittered and more than a little cautious about allowing any optimism about the growing season ahead.  Especially in light of the recent sightings of You-Know-Who.  I mean, he had actually been coming to the front door lately! 

And then yesterday, something very unexpected happened.  After watching The Groundhog cruise around the yard off and on all morning, I was feeling very conflicted.  As I watched him use our patio chairs to scratch his back, I thought about my options.  Attempt to trap him?  That didn't go well last year.  Build a fence and make the backyard garden difficult to work in and even more difficult to enjoy? Plant only rodent-proof annuals?  Give up? A few hours later, the decision was made for me.  In a bizarre twist of fate, the groundhog, The Groundhog, was hit by a car on the street in front of our house.  I'll admit to feeling  relieved, although also a bit guilty, or regretful or something like that. 

 

But, I also learned a lesson of sorts.  Which is this: the cycle of life in the natural world (especially when it interacts with the human one) is unpredictable.  Challenges to our attempts to cultivate plants and animals for our human purposes are frustrating, but they are also a reality.  Being a grower (of anything, really), requires patience, thoughtfulness, faith and hard work.  I may not be growing broccoli year round in the Northern California sandy loam, I may be pulling rocks the size of small boulders out of my garden every time I want to pop in a kale plant, and, I may be destined to watch torrential summer rain storms flatten my lettuce like vegetable pancakes.  But, I resolve to make the best of it all anyway.

I kind of feel like I owe The Groundhog that much.  Rest in Peace fat little garden nemesis. 

Library Monday: Bridges Are to Cross.

I've been spending just a bit of time thinking about bridges this week.  Well, to be more accurate, bridges and tunnels.  Because here in the San Francisco area, that is how one gets around.  You cross bridges and go through tunnels.  Generally, you do these things at the exact same time as many, many other people and therefore, you do them slowly.  Which lends itself to a bit of thinking about how the bridges are built, how the tunnels are tunneled.  This is especially true at the moment, because the new Bay Bridge is actively under construction and you can't help but notice the skeleton of this new bridge as you drive across the old one. 

 

Mariam seems to have noticed the built environment here in California a bit more on this trip than on previous ones, and the resulting car conversations reminded me of one of our favorite reads on the topic of bridges and the reasons that people build, cross and admire them.  Bridges are to Cross by Philemon Sturges (illustrated by Giles Laroche) is a truly enjoyable read, with plenty of detail for mini-engineers who are curious about bridges and the way that they are constructed.  As an added bonus, the text is accompanied by brightly colored cut paper illustrations that are themselves enough of a reason to pick this one up. 

 

Bridges Are to Cross got the Inspired by Literature treatment in Volume Three of Alphabet Glue, so many of you may have had a chance to give this one a well-deserved read.  If not, click the link below for a PDF file containing the last couple of pages of Volume Three.  You'll find a bit more information about the book, as well as a fun kitchen-table engineering project to go along with it. 

Making Toothpick Bridges