Here's my second book review for my challenge this year. For the 20th century classic, I read How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger. An American family steeped in British literature takes a trip to Britain to find the settings from their favorite classics. The Bodger family goes about this is a different way than I expected. Mr. Bodger is a historian and Mrs. Bodger a literary literalist (how's that for a tongue-twister). They expect to find actually places that correspond to illustrations and descriptions in their storybooks.
Although I consider myself to be well read, there were some books with which I was unfamiliar. Caldecott (yes, the Caldecott of the picture book award) illustrated nursery rhymes and tales were not a big part of my childhood. I had never heard of another mentioned illustrator. These chapters of the book were a little tedious for me, as the family searched for specific landscapes and townscapes with which I was unfamiliar. Some sweet anecdotes of two-year old Lucy and escapades of nine-year old Ian kept my attention.
Even those stories mentioned in the book that I do know and love, I would not have considered trying to find the exact place described. I would have been happy to see a Yorkshire moor and know that it was a place like this where Mary Lennox of Secret Garden played. I would have been content to paddle along the Thames River, believing that Toad Hall and Water Rat's home were nearby without spending days searching for the actual whereabouts. Searching for King Arthur and exploring some storied places traditionally associated with him were highlights of the book for me.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I could not relate to the family's preoccupation with precise locations. The more you know about the stories for which Mrs. Bodger and her family were searching, the more you will enjoy this book. Maybe you can find a list online, so you can read or re-read them before reading this. If you do enjoy, or have enjoyed as a child, British literature, you will find this book worth a read.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Pink!!!
This morning the kids and I headed across the street to play at the beach. I planned to play in Rainbow Cove (the one nearest our house) since the waves are calmer there, making it easier for Calla to play in the water. The sea was a glassy, silvery calm. Hardly a wave rippled the sand. It's been months since the sea didn't crash, at least a little bit, onto the shore. We were about to wade into the water, when we noticed the translucent floaters with turquoise four-leaf clovers in the center - moon jellyfish! We weren't ready for their return. They were all small, less than 2 inches in diameter, but there were all along the shoreline. Their stings are mild and not dangerous, but no one wants to get stung by hundreds of little jellyfish.
We headed for jellyfish cove, hoping for better luck there. We call it jellyfish cove, because that is where we first saw a jellyfish, not because it has lots of them. It seemed clear. We climbed on the rock wind-break to scan the water. No jellyfish in sight in that cove. The sea was calm enough that Calla could easily play even in this cove.
We splashed and played and floated. Calla played in her frog floatie, just her size. Eris and I passed her back and forth. Simeon floated on his face with his snorkel vest, mask, and snorkel. Tiny fish swam around our feet. I watched several fish splash out and back into the water. The sun beat down, but it was comfortable in the water with my hat shading my face.
After awhile, Calla took hold of my hand and said, "Rock." She led me over to climb on the rocks; we walked slowly, watching for crabs and snails in the cracks, while I kept one I on Meriel and Eris in the water. Suddenly, Meriel shouted, "I saw something big out of the water - a big fin- maybe it's shark!" Her eyes were big and round. Since I had seen quite a few fish jumping, I thought maybe it was just an unusually large fish. Eris saw it too, "It's really big!" Time to get out of the water. We have been told by locals there are no sharks, and I was not really worried, but it's better to be safe.
Suddenly, I saw it, actually them! Two large fins and bodies gracefully curving out of the water. "Dolphins!" I shouted, "and one of them is pink!" We had heard of pink dolphins, supposedly there is a place about an hour north where boats take tourists out to see them. I had not thought they were really pink, maybe just slightly tinted. But this one was really pink. The fin was a lovely "it's a girl!" pink and the body, a paler shade. The other dolphin was the typical purple-grey. They were both swimming within a couple yards from us, so graceful and beautiful. I wanted to dive into the water, but I had little children to watch after. Instead we watched them from the rocks as they swam past us and into Rainbow Cove.
Eris ran to the house to call Philip to come see. Thai children, also on the rocks, taught us the word - "bla-lo-ma." The dolphins continued to get farther from us, but stayed just outside the cove. I hoped they would still be close enough to see when Philip arrived. He came over, in his swimsuit. He offered to let me try to swim out to them, but they were far enough out that I didn't think I would make it before they swam away. They swam farther out, then nearer end, tantalizing near but really to far to reach. Philip decided to try, with the kids' kickboard for support. He swam out and out and out, but the dolphins remained out of reach. The closest he got was about 20 feet. Then they swam away and out of sight.
A memorable day, and I learned that those dolphins are really pink! I hope we will see them again some day!
We headed for jellyfish cove, hoping for better luck there. We call it jellyfish cove, because that is where we first saw a jellyfish, not because it has lots of them. It seemed clear. We climbed on the rock wind-break to scan the water. No jellyfish in sight in that cove. The sea was calm enough that Calla could easily play even in this cove.
We splashed and played and floated. Calla played in her frog floatie, just her size. Eris and I passed her back and forth. Simeon floated on his face with his snorkel vest, mask, and snorkel. Tiny fish swam around our feet. I watched several fish splash out and back into the water. The sun beat down, but it was comfortable in the water with my hat shading my face.
After awhile, Calla took hold of my hand and said, "Rock." She led me over to climb on the rocks; we walked slowly, watching for crabs and snails in the cracks, while I kept one I on Meriel and Eris in the water. Suddenly, Meriel shouted, "I saw something big out of the water - a big fin- maybe it's shark!" Her eyes were big and round. Since I had seen quite a few fish jumping, I thought maybe it was just an unusually large fish. Eris saw it too, "It's really big!" Time to get out of the water. We have been told by locals there are no sharks, and I was not really worried, but it's better to be safe.
Suddenly, I saw it, actually them! Two large fins and bodies gracefully curving out of the water. "Dolphins!" I shouted, "and one of them is pink!" We had heard of pink dolphins, supposedly there is a place about an hour north where boats take tourists out to see them. I had not thought they were really pink, maybe just slightly tinted. But this one was really pink. The fin was a lovely "it's a girl!" pink and the body, a paler shade. The other dolphin was the typical purple-grey. They were both swimming within a couple yards from us, so graceful and beautiful. I wanted to dive into the water, but I had little children to watch after. Instead we watched them from the rocks as they swam past us and into Rainbow Cove.
Eris ran to the house to call Philip to come see. Thai children, also on the rocks, taught us the word - "bla-lo-ma." The dolphins continued to get farther from us, but stayed just outside the cove. I hoped they would still be close enough to see when Philip arrived. He came over, in his swimsuit. He offered to let me try to swim out to them, but they were far enough out that I didn't think I would make it before they swam away. They swam farther out, then nearer end, tantalizing near but really to far to reach. Philip decided to try, with the kids' kickboard for support. He swam out and out and out, but the dolphins remained out of reach. The closest he got was about 20 feet. Then they swam away and out of sight.
A memorable day, and I learned that those dolphins are really pink! I hope we will see them again some day!
Sunday, February 3, 2019
"Not Quite Our" Cat
Since living in Thailand, our diet is a bit different than it was when we lived in the U.S. Many ingredients we used regularly are prohibitively expensive or not available here. Some of our dishes we've been able to adapt but are quite different from the original. When I make them, I don't want those who remember what the dish was like in the U.S. to get their expectations too high, so I say I made "note quite colcannon." Now we have another happening that is almost like but "not quite" like the true thing.
On Christmas Day, a cat appeared on our back porch. She curled herself comfortably among the towels on the table and didn't run away when we approached her. We've had a number of cats in our garden, and a few have even snuck into the house, but they always run away when we try to get close. Not long before, I had been trying to entice a cat to be friendly by feeding it. The smoky grey cat would only come out of the tree or off the wall when it thought I was in the house. But now here was a cat that let Philip pet her. She allowed the kids to stroke her and even set her in their laps. We fed her some scraps of fat from our Christmas ham, and she decided to stay.
Since then, the tortoiseshell cat spends her days lazing on our back porch. We usually have plenty of chicken skins, bits of fat, or leftover pork to feed her. She greets us in the morning with her squeaky, hoarse mewing. She is not an affection cat, only rubbing against us to beg, but she is extremely tolerant. Calla has used her as a pillow and hugged her. Simeon has taken her on our swing. She has only scratched twice - once when I startled her from a deep sleep and once when Philip held her down for her rabies vaccine.
Yes, we've had her vaccinated against rabies since that is still a problem in Thailand. Most animals are strays or communal, so nobody take responsibility for their health or possible threats to human safety. We also took her with us in an old rabbit cage when we evacuate for the storm. And the kids have named her. She is Mistletoe, since we found her on Christmas Day.
So is she "our" cat? Well, we've not had a pet since we moved to Thailand because our plans our always precarious and temporary. We never know exactly how long we are going to be in one place or even in the country at all. We don't want to have to abandon an animal, and since Thais don't have pets in the same way we do, it would be hard to give one away. So Mistletoe is not allowed in the house; she catches geckos and moths to eat, and we hope she doesn't rely on us too much. But we named her and feed her and the kids consider her part of our family. She is "not quite our" cat.
What will happen when we have to move? Will we have to move? This is just another reminder to live for today and not worry about the future. We wouldn't have purposely acquired a feline member of the family, but since she has adopted us, we will enjoy her for now and worry about tomorrow when it comes.
On Christmas Day, a cat appeared on our back porch. She curled herself comfortably among the towels on the table and didn't run away when we approached her. We've had a number of cats in our garden, and a few have even snuck into the house, but they always run away when we try to get close. Not long before, I had been trying to entice a cat to be friendly by feeding it. The smoky grey cat would only come out of the tree or off the wall when it thought I was in the house. But now here was a cat that let Philip pet her. She allowed the kids to stroke her and even set her in their laps. We fed her some scraps of fat from our Christmas ham, and she decided to stay.
Since then, the tortoiseshell cat spends her days lazing on our back porch. We usually have plenty of chicken skins, bits of fat, or leftover pork to feed her. She greets us in the morning with her squeaky, hoarse mewing. She is not an affection cat, only rubbing against us to beg, but she is extremely tolerant. Calla has used her as a pillow and hugged her. Simeon has taken her on our swing. She has only scratched twice - once when I startled her from a deep sleep and once when Philip held her down for her rabies vaccine.
Yes, we've had her vaccinated against rabies since that is still a problem in Thailand. Most animals are strays or communal, so nobody take responsibility for their health or possible threats to human safety. We also took her with us in an old rabbit cage when we evacuate for the storm. And the kids have named her. She is Mistletoe, since we found her on Christmas Day.
So is she "our" cat? Well, we've not had a pet since we moved to Thailand because our plans our always precarious and temporary. We never know exactly how long we are going to be in one place or even in the country at all. We don't want to have to abandon an animal, and since Thais don't have pets in the same way we do, it would be hard to give one away. So Mistletoe is not allowed in the house; she catches geckos and moths to eat, and we hope she doesn't rely on us too much. But we named her and feed her and the kids consider her part of our family. She is "not quite our" cat.
What will happen when we have to move? Will we have to move? This is just another reminder to live for today and not worry about the future. We wouldn't have purposely acquired a feline member of the family, but since she has adopted us, we will enjoy her for now and worry about tomorrow when it comes.
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