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We went to Long Island for the weekend. We drove in early yesterday morning and just got back about an hour and a half ago. It was a really fun October/Halloween type weekend. When we got in, we almost immediately drove to the local library with Bear's Mom since there was a little farm animal exhibition in the courtyard. It wasn't very large. Some goats, ducks, bunny, 2 pigs and 2 chickens. Tanya watched them but she really didn't want to pet any of them - she's been cautious lately. She does pet the cat at Bear's parents's house but not the farm ones. She did look at the ducks for a while. But mostly she just wanted to run around the grass and the nice courtyard grounds.
In the afternoon, Bear, Tanya, I, Carrie (Bear's sister) and Bear's Mom all drove out to the pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins. Tanya got very excited as she loves pumpkins. She constantly plays with our pumpkin decorations. And when she was the field full of pumpkins she got a super excited look on her face and even flailed her arms. She ran around, tried to pick many up and generally had lots of fun. We ended up picking up 6 small pumpkins and Bear's Mom got a big one. We wanted to paint them at home so got enough for everyone. We will eat them later after Halloween. Tanya also had fun picking up little gourds.
When we got home, I put an apron on her and a bandana in her hair and we let her try paints for the first time as we painted pumpkins. That was so much fun. She didn't get paint over herself that much. She learned to put the paintbrush in water and wanted to wipe the brush with a rag herself when trying different colors. She looked like a hippie painter - it was really awesome. Painting is not something I want to do at home yet - too messy - but it was great at grandma's.
Tonight Carrie got her a little witch mask at a dollar store to try one. We all pretended to be scared when Tanya put the mask on which she found hilarious. And she liked to run at the mirror to see the mask. Bear just liked putting her Darth Vader mask on so he could say, "Tanya, I am your father." So good visit. I even got some grading done and watched more Luke Cage and Flash Season 2 and read my book.
Over this weekend I ended up reading two wonderful articles from the New Yorker . The first one was about Ursula Le Guin and her life. I read two of her books (Left Hand of Darkness and Lavinia ) and I want to read more but she's not my favorite writer, although I loved Left Hand of Darkness. I feel her writing stays with you. But it is a little two philosophical for me. Still, she's amazing in many ways and it was really interesting to read about her life, her family and her writing process.
The second article was about Leonard Cohen. I read it today. Thoroughly. Not skimming anything, taking in every word. He is one of my favorite musicians. His work is poetry to me. (Incidentally, I was surprised but very pleased with Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. I think it's really cool. And this article interviews Dylan too). Many compared Cohen's songs to prayer and I tend to agree. I rarely go to concerts but I went to his in spring of 2013 and it was so wonderful. He was so impressive and wonderful live. And this article was so well written. I made me tear up at one point when I was reading the email he wrote to his dying friend. Just a gorgeous article.
Two wonderful articles:
1. One on Leonard Cohen
2. One on Ursula Le Guin
Book Meme
15. The book that you reread over and over again and get new things from every time
I don't really reread books. I guess Harry Potter comes the closest as I notice new details. Oh, and Shakespeare. If I reread a play or see one I already read, I definitely get new things out of it. I think when we reread books, new things are inevitable, especially if we read them at different ages.
16. The book that you don’t dare reread for fear it won’t be the same any more
I'm not sure. There are movies I don't want to see because I loved the book so much but I can't think of a book that I don't dare reread, mostly because I don't usually reread book very much. I guess Mary Stewart's Merlin books since I loved them so much and they were such an essential influence. I was thinking about rereading them but I am a little afraid, I guess, so they don't disappoint.
In the afternoon, Bear, Tanya, I, Carrie (Bear's sister) and Bear's Mom all drove out to the pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins. Tanya got very excited as she loves pumpkins. She constantly plays with our pumpkin decorations. And when she was the field full of pumpkins she got a super excited look on her face and even flailed her arms. She ran around, tried to pick many up and generally had lots of fun. We ended up picking up 6 small pumpkins and Bear's Mom got a big one. We wanted to paint them at home so got enough for everyone. We will eat them later after Halloween. Tanya also had fun picking up little gourds.
When we got home, I put an apron on her and a bandana in her hair and we let her try paints for the first time as we painted pumpkins. That was so much fun. She didn't get paint over herself that much. She learned to put the paintbrush in water and wanted to wipe the brush with a rag herself when trying different colors. She looked like a hippie painter - it was really awesome. Painting is not something I want to do at home yet - too messy - but it was great at grandma's.
Tonight Carrie got her a little witch mask at a dollar store to try one. We all pretended to be scared when Tanya put the mask on which she found hilarious. And she liked to run at the mirror to see the mask. Bear just liked putting her Darth Vader mask on so he could say, "Tanya, I am your father." So good visit. I even got some grading done and watched more Luke Cage and Flash Season 2 and read my book.
Over this weekend I ended up reading two wonderful articles from the New Yorker . The first one was about Ursula Le Guin and her life. I read two of her books (Left Hand of Darkness and Lavinia ) and I want to read more but she's not my favorite writer, although I loved Left Hand of Darkness. I feel her writing stays with you. But it is a little two philosophical for me. Still, she's amazing in many ways and it was really interesting to read about her life, her family and her writing process.
The second article was about Leonard Cohen. I read it today. Thoroughly. Not skimming anything, taking in every word. He is one of my favorite musicians. His work is poetry to me. (Incidentally, I was surprised but very pleased with Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. I think it's really cool. And this article interviews Dylan too). Many compared Cohen's songs to prayer and I tend to agree. I rarely go to concerts but I went to his in spring of 2013 and it was so wonderful. He was so impressive and wonderful live. And this article was so well written. I made me tear up at one point when I was reading the email he wrote to his dying friend. Just a gorgeous article.
Two wonderful articles:
1. One on Leonard Cohen
2. One on Ursula Le Guin
Book Meme
15. The book that you reread over and over again and get new things from every time
I don't really reread books. I guess Harry Potter comes the closest as I notice new details. Oh, and Shakespeare. If I reread a play or see one I already read, I definitely get new things out of it. I think when we reread books, new things are inevitable, especially if we read them at different ages.
16. The book that you don’t dare reread for fear it won’t be the same any more
I'm not sure. There are movies I don't want to see because I loved the book so much but I can't think of a book that I don't dare reread, mostly because I don't usually reread book very much. I guess Mary Stewart's Merlin books since I loved them so much and they were such an essential influence. I was thinking about rereading them but I am a little afraid, I guess, so they don't disappoint.