New Words

Joshua babbles a lot, but is going at his own pace when developing distinguishable words.  His first word was "dada," of course.  And in the past weeks he has his own versions of cheese, kiss, and fishies which all sound remarkably similar.  Thanks to grandma entertaining in the car for an hour or so with "This Little Piggy," he says "'iggies" with delight.

But on Father's Day, he mastered a new word, "mama."  But it is more like a desperate command, "mamaMAMAMamam."  We felt the timing was ironic.

The Mastadon of the La Brea Tar Pits

Only fragments remain

Bits of millennia-old bone fossilized

In tar that bubbles below

Los Angeles’ overcrowded avenues.

In the Ice Age, Mastodon was master.

Trampling sloths, skunks, lizards, insects

that scurried beneath feet, 

Deflecting predators with a flick of the head.

But a Mastodon was no match for a lake of tar.

Feet became shackles. 

Tusks a weapon of self-destruction

Digging him deeper into the pit. 

After paleontologists harvested

Teeth, tusks, and jaw, they pieced

The world’s most difficult puzzle together.

Bone stained by centuries of black,

Now the grinning beast

Is suspended from a museum ceiling.

Eye sockets stare through six foot tusks.

Past school children and tourists,

At traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, 

Skyscrapers built over tar

Trampling fragments of prehistory

And humans who scurry across pavement.

A Boy and HIs Books

Joshua loves to read books on his own.  It's as if he studying for his "Intro to Board Books" final.  He is working on skills like turning the pages, reading right side up, and imprinting teeth marks.  His favorite authors are Anna Dewdney, Sandra Boynton, and Eric Carle.  He gets an A+ in my book. 

After Winter

The obedient tulip

Awakes to the alarm

Of Spring mornings;

With water’s grace

Stretches its stalk.

Then sways with winds’ whispers,

And opens flaming petals

In the afternoon sun.

*As an aspiring writer, I've been taking a poetry class.  During Joshua's nap time, I will pluck out a line here or there.  I'm always a bit hesitant to reveal myself through real writing, but have decided since I have so few readers, that I should share a bit.  I think it might help me improve.  When I was about to post this, I stopped and revised it into a completely new and better poem.  Having other eyes will hopefully be an important editing tool. 

Summer Hat

Last year, I had a lot of trouble finding a summer hat for Joshua, but I did find a pattern to sew one.  It would have been too big for him last year, but is just right for this year.  The pattern itself was a little girly, but I found the perfect fabric for a boy (or a girl who likes superheroes.)

It was easier than I thought it would be and came out a little snug, but I think it will last the summer.  Now to convince him to keep it on his head.  The hat looks smaller than it is in real life because Joshua was fairly stubborn about not wanting to keep it on his head. 

Literary Tourism - Wyoming

Whales are one of my favorite things, but romance novels aren't.

When I was in college, some of my neighbors wanted to shoot off fireworks.  They wanted to do it legally so they went to Wyoming and I went with them.  My experience in Wyoming was eating at a truck stop and covering my ears while fireworks exploded.

Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden

Katie Macauley has traveled all the way to the Wyoming frontier to work as a housekeeper and earn return passage to Ireland where she has left a tortured past.  Her goal is to get out of Hope Springs as quickly as possible.  But Irish are not welcome in that town and her employment brings responsibilities she can't handle.  Her prickly presence and refusal to be bullied cause a rucous in the town and thwart her plans.  A love triangle ensues..

I debated long and hard whether or not to count this for Wyoming because I find that romances are often weak on historical facts.  But this author really put the time and energy into creating an authentic period despite the all too convenient town name.  The land is dry and barren.  Each villager had to struggle to build irrigation and plant crops in a difficult terrain.  Conflicts between the Irish immigrants and long-time citizens of the United States felt real and deep.  In a place with limited resources of course there would be tension.

I read this book for my church book group and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.  I tend to avoid romance, but I thought this one carried more depth than others I have read. The book is 100% clean which I think makes it feel more appropriate to the period as well.  I'm even excited to read the sequel. 

The Lord of the Rings

The world is my toy box

and I am the King.