Friday, July 31, 2015
Lazy Friday
It's just that kind of day. A lazy Friday afternoon, not too hot, had an early lunch, a simple supper planned. I can just relax (after I hang up the laundry). Babies sure don't have trouble getting comfortable for a nap when they need one. Here's my sweet Simeon showing off some comfortable sleeping positions.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Thoughts on Hanging Out the Wash
Of all the daily chores, the one I probably mind the least is hanging out the wash. Whether from my small garden in Beersheva, my backyard in Terre Haute, or my balcony in Bangkok, I feel a sense of unity with women across time and place. My mother, grandmothers, great grandmothers all pinned laundry on various types of lines to dry in the sun. Women in Kenya, Turkey, Bolivia, Australia, Ireland do the same. The items on the line may look quite different, but our purpose is the same. We are women, taking care of our families.
Sometimes I get the chance to hang the laundry while the morning is still cool. I enjoy listening to the morning birds coo and warble. In the heat of the day, it's not so pleasant, but I still take the opportunity to watch a squirrel gathering leaves and grass to build a nest. The kids like to take advantage of playing somewhere that's usually off limits. I do have to pay attention that Simeon doesn't try to climb up the railing and fall over the side, but his sisters usually watch out for him. I have lost a few clothes pins by Simeon throwing them into the overgrown lot next door.
No matter what the rest of the day holds, I at least get outside twice a day. Except for when it rains, in which case, the price of having to hang clothes in the way inside is worth the cooler temperatures. On days when I don't have a full load of clothes, diapers need to be washed and hung. Or someone has a an accident or makes a mess that necessitates an immediate washing. If the washing machine is available for a day or I can get two load done in a day, there's always towels and sheets waiting for a turn. Since I need a free laundry basket to lug laundry out to the line, I am motivated to keep up on folding and putting away. Otherwise, I'd have clean clothes dumped on to the floor which would not stay clean and neat for long.
Even having to run out at the beginning of a rain storm to bring in laundry has its excitement. The girls are all very good at asking me if I have laundry up at the first sign of rain. I'm better at reading the clouds than I otherwise would be. I'm usually right when I note that those clouds won't dump on us or it looks like rain is heading this way. On the other hand, sometimes I am wrong, and it starts to rain just as I've spent the last fifteen minutes hanging up laundry and have one sock left. Grrr! That's the worst.
In the evening, sometimes I'll slip upstairs by myself to take down laundry while the kids are in the shower. It's so peaceful up there. I look at the moon, planets, and stars; watch the bats flit around, until I hear someone calling for me. Often I'll pray, sometimes I'll sing, even dance. Other times I just enjoy the connectedness, my laundry line reaching across time and space to yours.
Sometimes I get the chance to hang the laundry while the morning is still cool. I enjoy listening to the morning birds coo and warble. In the heat of the day, it's not so pleasant, but I still take the opportunity to watch a squirrel gathering leaves and grass to build a nest. The kids like to take advantage of playing somewhere that's usually off limits. I do have to pay attention that Simeon doesn't try to climb up the railing and fall over the side, but his sisters usually watch out for him. I have lost a few clothes pins by Simeon throwing them into the overgrown lot next door.
No matter what the rest of the day holds, I at least get outside twice a day. Except for when it rains, in which case, the price of having to hang clothes in the way inside is worth the cooler temperatures. On days when I don't have a full load of clothes, diapers need to be washed and hung. Or someone has a an accident or makes a mess that necessitates an immediate washing. If the washing machine is available for a day or I can get two load done in a day, there's always towels and sheets waiting for a turn. Since I need a free laundry basket to lug laundry out to the line, I am motivated to keep up on folding and putting away. Otherwise, I'd have clean clothes dumped on to the floor which would not stay clean and neat for long.
Even having to run out at the beginning of a rain storm to bring in laundry has its excitement. The girls are all very good at asking me if I have laundry up at the first sign of rain. I'm better at reading the clouds than I otherwise would be. I'm usually right when I note that those clouds won't dump on us or it looks like rain is heading this way. On the other hand, sometimes I am wrong, and it starts to rain just as I've spent the last fifteen minutes hanging up laundry and have one sock left. Grrr! That's the worst.
In the evening, sometimes I'll slip upstairs by myself to take down laundry while the kids are in the shower. It's so peaceful up there. I look at the moon, planets, and stars; watch the bats flit around, until I hear someone calling for me. Often I'll pray, sometimes I'll sing, even dance. Other times I just enjoy the connectedness, my laundry line reaching across time and space to yours.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
If You Came to My House...
As I was washing dishes today, looking up at the plant leaves pushing their way through the slats in the cement walls with splashes of water missing the drain hole in the cement floor hitting my feet, I thought about some things about our house that seem normal to us now but would be odd to a visitor from the United States. In the U.S., builders are very good about hiding details of the inner workings of a house. Here, electrical wires wandering around the walls and ceiling, demonstrating exactly how everything is connected. In a similar fashion, blue pvc pipe decorates the walls in the bathroom and kitchen. In my outdoor kitchen, the pipe underneath the sink does not quite reach the floor underneath. If the hose gets bumped by a reckless toddler, the water from pouring out the hose misses the hole altogether and splashes all over the floor.
Another striking feature is the open gray water ditch in the outdoor kitchen and around the back of the house. Water from the washing machine is visible dumping out the pipe in its back and into this ditch. Water from the sink can be seen causing a ripple in the back ditch as I dump out the dishwater. Fortunately, the number of items Simeon has thrown into this murky water has been few. I've managed to discourage him from playing there by providing him with clean water to splash in.
The last item I thought about was the jungle growing next door. No city ordinances regulating the height of the grass. I have to keep at the vines snaking through the walls into our house if I don't want to be encroached. It's nice to not have neighbors peering over our walls and to be able to hear the birds in the mornings and frogs in the evenings. I'd prefer not to have the huge spiders visiting but overall I appreciate the "empty" lot next door.
Another striking feature is the open gray water ditch in the outdoor kitchen and around the back of the house. Water from the washing machine is visible dumping out the pipe in its back and into this ditch. Water from the sink can be seen causing a ripple in the back ditch as I dump out the dishwater. Fortunately, the number of items Simeon has thrown into this murky water has been few. I've managed to discourage him from playing there by providing him with clean water to splash in.
The last item I thought about was the jungle growing next door. No city ordinances regulating the height of the grass. I have to keep at the vines snaking through the walls into our house if I don't want to be encroached. It's nice to not have neighbors peering over our walls and to be able to hear the birds in the mornings and frogs in the evenings. I'd prefer not to have the huge spiders visiting but overall I appreciate the "empty" lot next door.
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| "The Jungle Next Door" from our second story balcony |
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Game Time for Eris
I recently discovered my old set of jacks and introduced Eris to the game. At first she couldn't manage to scoop up any jacks and still catch her ball on the first bounce, but now she can beat Mommy sometimes. The other kids enjoy bouncing the balls around the house, trying not to lose them. My jacks are only plastic, so bits have been breaking off them, but they remain usable. It's a good "old fashion" game with entertainment value for multiple kids at a variety of ages, can be played alone, and it improves hand-eye-coordination. I'm considering getting her a set of marbles, but I'm not sure I'm ready for those to be rolling all around the houses. Maybe when everyone's a bit older.
Another childhood game I have been relearning and teaching to Eris is Cat's Cradle. With just a length of yard tied into a circle and instructions from the internet, we have been problem solving together to make various string creations. We are currently stumped at going from "Cat's Eye" to "Fish in a Dish," but we will figure it out. There are ways to play alone as well, so it can be another thing for Eris to play with when Mommy's busy and she "doesn't know what to do."
Our favorite modern game at this time is Spot It! by "blue orange games." We received this game in a package last year, and Eris (7 at the time) has really enjoyed it. I have fun with it, too, and Meriel has started to be able to join in some. Each card has eight pictures on it. Each pair of cards will have one set of matching pictures on it. The pictures are identical except for size. The basic game is to find the matching picture between two cards and call it out. It's trickier than it seems. This is a game that is fun and different each time we play it. It can also be played alone. It comes in a little tin, so is easy to transport. I imagine we will be bringing it with us wherever we move in the future.
I wanted to write the instructions for the various games in case we lose them. We let Simeon play with instructions in an attempt to keep him from meddling with the cards. Maybe someone else who has lost their instructions will be able to find these online or if they are curious about the game before purchasing it. I was impressed enough with this game to buy some other games from the same company as Christmas presents, so I will have to let you know how these games are received. They are not cheap ($13-15) but if they are played as much as Spot It has been, the price will be worth it.
The Tower:
Deal one card to each player. Place the rest of the cards in a stack in the middle. Each player tries to find the matching item between their card and the the top card of the middle stack. When a person finds a match, s/he places it on top of her pile and then everyone tries to find a match between the new card on top of the center stack and the card on top of his own stack. The player with the most cards in her own pile when the center pile is gone wins.
The Well:
The opposite of "The Tower." Start with one card in the center and deal the remaining cards to the players. Each player finds the match between the top card on her pile and the top card in the center pile, placing her card on top of the middle stack when a match is spotted. The winner is the one who gets rid of all his cards first.
Hot Potato:
This game works best with more than two people. Decide how many rounds are to be played. At the beginning of each round, each player has one card in his palm. At the same time, each player flips her card over and tries to find a match with another players card and then place the card on top of her card. If a person has more than one card in her palm and finds a match in another players hand, she puts all her cards on top of his. The round ends when one player has all the cards. At the end of the designated number of rounds, the person with the fewest cards wins.
The Poisoned Gift:
Deal one card to each player and place the remaining cards in a stack face up in the center. At the same time, players turn their cards over. Each player looks for a match between the center card and an opponent's card. Upon finding a match, he places the top center card on the other player's pile: an unwanted "poisoned gift." When the center stack is gone, the player with the fewest cards wins.
Triplet:
This is our favorite. Lay nine cards out in a square. Players looking for sets of three matching items, calling out and taking the cards when they find a match. The taken cards are replaced and play continues until no matches of three can be found. Winner has the most cards.
Challenge:
Make up your own variation of play. We've tried a few different ways, some better than others. It's always fun to have a versatile game.
Another childhood game I have been relearning and teaching to Eris is Cat's Cradle. With just a length of yard tied into a circle and instructions from the internet, we have been problem solving together to make various string creations. We are currently stumped at going from "Cat's Eye" to "Fish in a Dish," but we will figure it out. There are ways to play alone as well, so it can be another thing for Eris to play with when Mommy's busy and she "doesn't know what to do."
Our favorite modern game at this time is Spot It! by "blue orange games." We received this game in a package last year, and Eris (7 at the time) has really enjoyed it. I have fun with it, too, and Meriel has started to be able to join in some. Each card has eight pictures on it. Each pair of cards will have one set of matching pictures on it. The pictures are identical except for size. The basic game is to find the matching picture between two cards and call it out. It's trickier than it seems. This is a game that is fun and different each time we play it. It can also be played alone. It comes in a little tin, so is easy to transport. I imagine we will be bringing it with us wherever we move in the future.
I wanted to write the instructions for the various games in case we lose them. We let Simeon play with instructions in an attempt to keep him from meddling with the cards. Maybe someone else who has lost their instructions will be able to find these online or if they are curious about the game before purchasing it. I was impressed enough with this game to buy some other games from the same company as Christmas presents, so I will have to let you know how these games are received. They are not cheap ($13-15) but if they are played as much as Spot It has been, the price will be worth it.
The Tower:
Deal one card to each player. Place the rest of the cards in a stack in the middle. Each player tries to find the matching item between their card and the the top card of the middle stack. When a person finds a match, s/he places it on top of her pile and then everyone tries to find a match between the new card on top of the center stack and the card on top of his own stack. The player with the most cards in her own pile when the center pile is gone wins.
The Well:
The opposite of "The Tower." Start with one card in the center and deal the remaining cards to the players. Each player finds the match between the top card on her pile and the top card in the center pile, placing her card on top of the middle stack when a match is spotted. The winner is the one who gets rid of all his cards first.
Hot Potato:
This game works best with more than two people. Decide how many rounds are to be played. At the beginning of each round, each player has one card in his palm. At the same time, each player flips her card over and tries to find a match with another players card and then place the card on top of her card. If a person has more than one card in her palm and finds a match in another players hand, she puts all her cards on top of his. The round ends when one player has all the cards. At the end of the designated number of rounds, the person with the fewest cards wins.
The Poisoned Gift:
Deal one card to each player and place the remaining cards in a stack face up in the center. At the same time, players turn their cards over. Each player looks for a match between the center card and an opponent's card. Upon finding a match, he places the top center card on the other player's pile: an unwanted "poisoned gift." When the center stack is gone, the player with the fewest cards wins.
Triplet:
This is our favorite. Lay nine cards out in a square. Players looking for sets of three matching items, calling out and taking the cards when they find a match. The taken cards are replaced and play continues until no matches of three can be found. Winner has the most cards.
Challenge:
Make up your own variation of play. We've tried a few different ways, some better than others. It's always fun to have a versatile game.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Sandal Graveyard
When we moved to Thailand, we didn't know what to expect in many ways. One of the big miscalculations we made has to do with apparel. We assumed that since a lot of clothes are made in this part of the world, we would be able to find clothes here that were similar quality and less expensive. We also thought that since it is very hot here, it would be especially easy to find lightweight, cool clothing. We were very wrong on both accounts.
I don't understand much about economics, but Philip hypothesizes that the market here in Thailand is not big enough (and wealthy enough) to cater to. This means that everything made in this part of the world gets shipped to the big markets in Europe and North America. If we wants something like the quality we would get in the United States, it will likely be something that was intended for the U.S. market, and at high cost was instead redirected to Thailand. This means it will be very expensive.
If we find clothing or shoes at a reasonable price, they will be so cheaply made that it is not worth even the small price. Whenever something breaks the first day used, the girls just shrug and say, "It's Thai." We have dresses that were second hand when we got them that have survived three girls' heavy wearing. Philip's favorite pair of shorts was purchased at Goodwill and have been worn extensively, including for swimming. They are intact. Yet the short he got a month ago, have been patched three times already.
The worst trouble we have had is with footwear. We wear sandals every day. I literally cannot count the number of pairs of sandals we have gone through. Just a few weeks ago, Philip through away about ten pairs that were irreparable. I am wearing my blue hiking sandals my mom bought me from Lands' End twelve years ago. Philip has reglued the soles on and the soles are showing the wear of the years, but they are otherwise in great shape. If I knew the company had the same quality and type of sandals today, I would get another pair for me and one for Eris.
Eris's feet have been growing way too fast, but we've had other trouble too. My mom sent her a pair of saltwater sandals, which we hoped would last through her and maybe even Meriel. When we were staying at the Guest House, she left them out by the playset one evening. One of the pair was never seen again. Carried of by a cat maybe? Since she did not have any sandals to wear, we bought her a pair at the store. They broke within a week. Another pair of sandals sent from the States survived for nearly a year but then the connections between the straps and the sole began to wear out. Philip repaired them many times, but they just kept breaking at another place. Her current pair were bought about a month ago, in the women's section. The soles have already been glued on and are starting to separate again.
I really don't have any memorable stories about Meriel's sandals. She has not lost any nor had one break so badly while out and about that it had to be replaced immediately. Her current pair is from the U.S., repaired by Philip twice.
Hollis had a pair of sandals that Philip bought at Goodwill during his trip to the U.S. a year ago spring. They were holding up great. In January, she decided to use one as a digging tool while at the beach. It went missing. Philip carried her around until we could find a pair that would work for her the next morning. Recently, a friend from church who is a year older than Hollis has been giving her hand me downs, so Hollis is set for sandals now. This family is from the Philippines, so have never seen the wonderful price of sandals to be had at sales, thrift stores, and garage sales in the States; they buy the "reimported" items at a premium, so they last for a second child.
Simeon has worn the same pair of sandals his whole life. We stretched the limit for going around barefoot. Before he was walking well, I didn't set him down anywhere that wasn't clean enough for him to crawl and thus also be barefoot. By the time, we really felt that he must have a pair of shoes on his feet, he was able to wear the pair my mom had sent from the States, though they were a bit big. Now his toes are poking out and starting to get black on the bottom. We have been looking around for sandals that would last until Grandma comes in September. For some reason, Thais mainly shod their children in flip-flops, so it is difficult to find sandal in small sizes. I can't imagine a two year old being able to keep those on their feet while walking the uneven sidewalks or being carried through the crowds. I do not want to have to worry about shoes flying off as I'm scrambling to get all my children on a barely stopped bus.
Yesterday, we finally decided to go to a fancy department store to see if we could find a sale that would offer some sandals for Simeon. I found a pair that fit and were going to be a reasonable price on sale 40-60% off, a little big at size 8, but we can't afford to be too picky. When I asked the clerk the price, she told me that they were not on sale. Only those three pairs of shoes directly below the sign were included in the sale. Meriel found a pair that looked higher quality than most. The price was still more than we are usually willing to pay, but we were running out of options. We decided to try them on and if they fit, we would buy them. At first Simeon was resistant to wearing anything other than the only pair of sandals he has ever known. This changed dramatically with his first step. The sandals squeaked! A grin of delight lit up his face as he began to dance around.
Now Simeon has a pair of sandals that fit and is excited to wear. We just have to remember to take them off whenever we arrive somewhere that requires quiet. Another reason we can't wait for Grandma and Grandpa to come!
I don't understand much about economics, but Philip hypothesizes that the market here in Thailand is not big enough (and wealthy enough) to cater to. This means that everything made in this part of the world gets shipped to the big markets in Europe and North America. If we wants something like the quality we would get in the United States, it will likely be something that was intended for the U.S. market, and at high cost was instead redirected to Thailand. This means it will be very expensive.
If we find clothing or shoes at a reasonable price, they will be so cheaply made that it is not worth even the small price. Whenever something breaks the first day used, the girls just shrug and say, "It's Thai." We have dresses that were second hand when we got them that have survived three girls' heavy wearing. Philip's favorite pair of shorts was purchased at Goodwill and have been worn extensively, including for swimming. They are intact. Yet the short he got a month ago, have been patched three times already.
The worst trouble we have had is with footwear. We wear sandals every day. I literally cannot count the number of pairs of sandals we have gone through. Just a few weeks ago, Philip through away about ten pairs that were irreparable. I am wearing my blue hiking sandals my mom bought me from Lands' End twelve years ago. Philip has reglued the soles on and the soles are showing the wear of the years, but they are otherwise in great shape. If I knew the company had the same quality and type of sandals today, I would get another pair for me and one for Eris.
Eris's feet have been growing way too fast, but we've had other trouble too. My mom sent her a pair of saltwater sandals, which we hoped would last through her and maybe even Meriel. When we were staying at the Guest House, she left them out by the playset one evening. One of the pair was never seen again. Carried of by a cat maybe? Since she did not have any sandals to wear, we bought her a pair at the store. They broke within a week. Another pair of sandals sent from the States survived for nearly a year but then the connections between the straps and the sole began to wear out. Philip repaired them many times, but they just kept breaking at another place. Her current pair were bought about a month ago, in the women's section. The soles have already been glued on and are starting to separate again.
I really don't have any memorable stories about Meriel's sandals. She has not lost any nor had one break so badly while out and about that it had to be replaced immediately. Her current pair is from the U.S., repaired by Philip twice.
Hollis had a pair of sandals that Philip bought at Goodwill during his trip to the U.S. a year ago spring. They were holding up great. In January, she decided to use one as a digging tool while at the beach. It went missing. Philip carried her around until we could find a pair that would work for her the next morning. Recently, a friend from church who is a year older than Hollis has been giving her hand me downs, so Hollis is set for sandals now. This family is from the Philippines, so have never seen the wonderful price of sandals to be had at sales, thrift stores, and garage sales in the States; they buy the "reimported" items at a premium, so they last for a second child.
Simeon has worn the same pair of sandals his whole life. We stretched the limit for going around barefoot. Before he was walking well, I didn't set him down anywhere that wasn't clean enough for him to crawl and thus also be barefoot. By the time, we really felt that he must have a pair of shoes on his feet, he was able to wear the pair my mom had sent from the States, though they were a bit big. Now his toes are poking out and starting to get black on the bottom. We have been looking around for sandals that would last until Grandma comes in September. For some reason, Thais mainly shod their children in flip-flops, so it is difficult to find sandal in small sizes. I can't imagine a two year old being able to keep those on their feet while walking the uneven sidewalks or being carried through the crowds. I do not want to have to worry about shoes flying off as I'm scrambling to get all my children on a barely stopped bus.
Yesterday, we finally decided to go to a fancy department store to see if we could find a sale that would offer some sandals for Simeon. I found a pair that fit and were going to be a reasonable price on sale 40-60% off, a little big at size 8, but we can't afford to be too picky. When I asked the clerk the price, she told me that they were not on sale. Only those three pairs of shoes directly below the sign were included in the sale. Meriel found a pair that looked higher quality than most. The price was still more than we are usually willing to pay, but we were running out of options. We decided to try them on and if they fit, we would buy them. At first Simeon was resistant to wearing anything other than the only pair of sandals he has ever known. This changed dramatically with his first step. The sandals squeaked! A grin of delight lit up his face as he began to dance around.
Now Simeon has a pair of sandals that fit and is excited to wear. We just have to remember to take them off whenever we arrive somewhere that requires quiet. Another reason we can't wait for Grandma and Grandpa to come!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Our Fruit Bowl
One of the benefits of living in Thailand is the year round fresh fruits and vegetables. While I certainly miss berries (I'm a big berry girl - all my top favorites are berries), I concentrate on appreciating the joys of watermelon in January and cutting into a juicy pineapple whenever I chose. Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are rare here. Why open a can of pineapple (which I've never seen in a grocery store), when you can a whole one from any market or already cut into chunks from a street vendor. The only vegetable I've bought frozen is peas, because I have not found fresh ones for sale, and they are a key ingredient in Lemony Alfredo and Peas - Philip's and Meriel's requested birthday meal.
Apples and grapes are a rare treat, but we've gotten the privilege of trying many new fruits, many of which we learned the Thai names for before (if ever) figuring out what they are called in English. Our favorite are shaumpuu - usually red, occasionally green, crisp, not too sweet, can be eaten in their entirety, although the bottom is not as tasty and is often discarded. They do not last very long, so we eat them the day they are purchased from market. When learning Thai with a neighbor, I showed her a picture of a pear as we learned words from The Very Hungry Little Caterpillar; having never seen a pear before, she said it was a shaumpoo since they share a similar shape.
Another delicious and fun looking new fruit are ngo (short "o"). These Seussical edibles are pink egg shapes covered with long greenish stiff "hair." Once the peel is off, the white fruit is sweet but not too much so with texture similar to the middle of a grape; it can be a bit annoying to get all the fruit of the oblong pit in the center, but it is worth the hassle.
I believe the world boasts many kinds of guava, but the farang (also the word for white people) here are green with a soft, white flesh. Probably the closest exotic to an apple. While I don't think they would work as a replacement in apple crisp or pie, we still enjoy these as a stand alone snack.
A final fun fruit I will mention at this time that we frequently enjoy are dragonfruit. We actually have yet to learn the Thai name for this amazing looking item. With layers of thick pink peel curling away, it does rather resemble imaginary dragon scales. The texture of the inside is like a kiwi but white with black flecks. The flavor again is sweet but not overly so.
I hope you've enjoyed a journey through the succulent fruit of Thailand. I realize that I'm not very good at describing taste. Something to work on. In the meantime, enjoy a few extra berries for me during all the berry (and cherry) seasons this summer.
Apples and grapes are a rare treat, but we've gotten the privilege of trying many new fruits, many of which we learned the Thai names for before (if ever) figuring out what they are called in English. Our favorite are shaumpuu - usually red, occasionally green, crisp, not too sweet, can be eaten in their entirety, although the bottom is not as tasty and is often discarded. They do not last very long, so we eat them the day they are purchased from market. When learning Thai with a neighbor, I showed her a picture of a pear as we learned words from The Very Hungry Little Caterpillar; having never seen a pear before, she said it was a shaumpoo since they share a similar shape.
Another delicious and fun looking new fruit are ngo (short "o"). These Seussical edibles are pink egg shapes covered with long greenish stiff "hair." Once the peel is off, the white fruit is sweet but not too much so with texture similar to the middle of a grape; it can be a bit annoying to get all the fruit of the oblong pit in the center, but it is worth the hassle.
I believe the world boasts many kinds of guava, but the farang (also the word for white people) here are green with a soft, white flesh. Probably the closest exotic to an apple. While I don't think they would work as a replacement in apple crisp or pie, we still enjoy these as a stand alone snack.
A final fun fruit I will mention at this time that we frequently enjoy are dragonfruit. We actually have yet to learn the Thai name for this amazing looking item. With layers of thick pink peel curling away, it does rather resemble imaginary dragon scales. The texture of the inside is like a kiwi but white with black flecks. The flavor again is sweet but not overly so.
I hope you've enjoyed a journey through the succulent fruit of Thailand. I realize that I'm not very good at describing taste. Something to work on. In the meantime, enjoy a few extra berries for me during all the berry (and cherry) seasons this summer.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Pluto
One of the great things about being a mom is learning new things every day, and then sharing them with my children. Last month, we watched Venus and Jupiter come closer together in the western evening sky. In this part of the world, they didn't appear to get as close as farther north, but we did see them gradually close in on each other night by night. On July 1, we noted them at their closest before moving farther apart. Eris and I studied the characteristics of these two planets during the day as we gazed at them nightly.
Philip is interested in the potential of travel to Mars. Meriel likes to ask, over and over again, if I went to Mars and stayed for when day and returned, how old would I be when I came back? (Answer: almost 12.) We discuss possible challenges that would face settlers on Mars and explain Earth concepts such as atmosphere, gravity, and importance of water. We also entertain questions such as why people might want to try to visit and live on Mars and what sort of rule might have to be put in place.
Next up is some exciting new developments about Pluto. Nine years ago, before Eris was even born, NASA launched a satellite dubbed New Horizon. It has been nearing Pluto and sending back never seen before images of our solar systems farthest planet. On Tuesday evening (our time), the satellite will be at its closest position and sending back real time photos of a side of the planet that has never been seen before by humans. We get to learn about Pluto, space exploration, advanced technology. We are excited to learn new information about our universe at the same time as the experts do.
You can learn more and follow New Horizon:https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html
Philip is interested in the potential of travel to Mars. Meriel likes to ask, over and over again, if I went to Mars and stayed for when day and returned, how old would I be when I came back? (Answer: almost 12.) We discuss possible challenges that would face settlers on Mars and explain Earth concepts such as atmosphere, gravity, and importance of water. We also entertain questions such as why people might want to try to visit and live on Mars and what sort of rule might have to be put in place.
Next up is some exciting new developments about Pluto. Nine years ago, before Eris was even born, NASA launched a satellite dubbed New Horizon. It has been nearing Pluto and sending back never seen before images of our solar systems farthest planet. On Tuesday evening (our time), the satellite will be at its closest position and sending back real time photos of a side of the planet that has never been seen before by humans. We get to learn about Pluto, space exploration, advanced technology. We are excited to learn new information about our universe at the same time as the experts do.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What I Do...
Lest you think that I've been a slacker since I haven't been posting much lately, let me fill you in. Summer is a busy time for us with six birthdays and an anniversary falling within three months. It's a natural break from our school routine to focus on celebrating the various members of our family. There are also some daily activities that I am trying to do with the children, so that by the end of the day, I don't have much free time. So before the girls are ready to work on their surprise for Daddy's birthday, I will take a few minutes to share how I've been spending my time.
It would not be a good idea for Meriel to go three months without doing any reading. We are very, very slowly working our way through the Peter and Jane key words books. It's important for her to feel confident with one level before moving on to the next, or she gets too discouraged. Although it's often a fight to get her started, she is doing great and progressing steadily.
The other activity I try to do daily with Meriel is a tin whistle lesson. That's right, I am teaching her to play an instrument. She is so musical, and I thought it would be a great confidence booster for her to be able to learn something that Eris is not. She does not like to work at it, but she is noticing improvement from practicing ten minutes every day. When she plays something correctly, she is really pleased, and I believe she will really enjoy being able to play some day. We are both imagining Daddy's delight when she plays for him on his birthday.
Eris and I have started reading the Bible together. It started with an assignment from her Sunday school teacher to read the book of Matthew. She may have misunderstood the teacher, since she never brought it up again, but it turned out well because it has started this new habit. We normally to a family Bible story time, but Eris is old enough for something a bit deeper. We finished Matthew last Saturday, and, at Eris's request, are now reading Joshua.
Eris is my little dancer. We have been stretching and dancing together nearly every day. We practice some ballet positions, learn some moves from other dance genres, and even make up our own. We choreographed a dance together that she is practicing to perform on Daddy's birthday.
On days that Hollis does not go to preschool, she has tracing homework - either Thai letters or numbers. So while I'm working with the other girls, I also supervise her. She is always super excited to do her homework and actually works to trace properly. Previously, when I tried to get her to trace she would purposely make "mistakes" and draw wildly off the line. I am pleased with this improvement.
Other than my daily devotion time, my daily activities include fitting in a fiddle practice session. I really feel better about the rest of the day, if I make a chance to fiddle. I also usually manage to squeeze in some Thai vocabulary and sometimes even some pleasure reading. Well, time's up; gotta go!
It would not be a good idea for Meriel to go three months without doing any reading. We are very, very slowly working our way through the Peter and Jane key words books. It's important for her to feel confident with one level before moving on to the next, or she gets too discouraged. Although it's often a fight to get her started, she is doing great and progressing steadily.
The other activity I try to do daily with Meriel is a tin whistle lesson. That's right, I am teaching her to play an instrument. She is so musical, and I thought it would be a great confidence booster for her to be able to learn something that Eris is not. She does not like to work at it, but she is noticing improvement from practicing ten minutes every day. When she plays something correctly, she is really pleased, and I believe she will really enjoy being able to play some day. We are both imagining Daddy's delight when she plays for him on his birthday.
Eris and I have started reading the Bible together. It started with an assignment from her Sunday school teacher to read the book of Matthew. She may have misunderstood the teacher, since she never brought it up again, but it turned out well because it has started this new habit. We normally to a family Bible story time, but Eris is old enough for something a bit deeper. We finished Matthew last Saturday, and, at Eris's request, are now reading Joshua.
Eris is my little dancer. We have been stretching and dancing together nearly every day. We practice some ballet positions, learn some moves from other dance genres, and even make up our own. We choreographed a dance together that she is practicing to perform on Daddy's birthday.
On days that Hollis does not go to preschool, she has tracing homework - either Thai letters or numbers. So while I'm working with the other girls, I also supervise her. She is always super excited to do her homework and actually works to trace properly. Previously, when I tried to get her to trace she would purposely make "mistakes" and draw wildly off the line. I am pleased with this improvement.
Other than my daily devotion time, my daily activities include fitting in a fiddle practice session. I really feel better about the rest of the day, if I make a chance to fiddle. I also usually manage to squeeze in some Thai vocabulary and sometimes even some pleasure reading. Well, time's up; gotta go!
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