Lovely Saturday
Jul. 22nd, 2006 09:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pegkerrThe weather was maybe five degrees too hot, but we shall not quibble. Some sun, some clouds, not too much humidity. Lovely.
I took the girls to karate and then went and got a haircut, so I am freshly shorn for Lumos.
Went and ran a couple of errands, came back and brought the girls downtown to the lovely downtown library.
My mother took us faithfully to the library every few weeks when I was growing up, and I am glad to continue the tradition with my girls. One brainwave I had early: I bought two very sturdy and useful plastic baskets with handles, one for each girl. Library books are kept in them, unless the books are being read, which greatly lessens the probability that the books will be lost. And the baskets are very convenient for lugging books to and from the car, since we get usually either fifteen or twenty books per girl with every trip to the library. I decreed early that they would take out books in increments of five, just to simplify our lives with routine, and that they could take no more than three books out at once from one series. And I also insisted that they only take books out with the bar code taped to the back--not the uncoded thin paper backs that the librarians just check out with a generic "Juvenile Fiction," because then the girls never remember which is the library book when they are putting books back in the basket when they are due.
When we were done at the library, we went to the art fair in the Highland area. That was fun. I finally (finally!) found a pareo that was big enough to wear for a dress. I bought it, even though it wasn't quite the color/pattern I wanted. The girls bought some of the wee sewn animals that every Hmong folk artist always sells at art fairs here in Minnesota.
Came home, worked out with my new stability ball DVD, and made a pizza for dinner for the girls, since I knew that they would refuse the incredibly healthy and delicious tilapia fish I had bought for myself. Summer vegetables sauteed in balsamic vinegar on the side--once again just for me. The girls refused them. All the more for me. Yum.
Altogether, a lovely summer afternoon. Karate and shopping and books and haircut and art and time spent with the girls and good food and working out, so that I feel virtuous.
I took the girls to karate and then went and got a haircut, so I am freshly shorn for Lumos.
Went and ran a couple of errands, came back and brought the girls downtown to the lovely downtown library.
My mother took us faithfully to the library every few weeks when I was growing up, and I am glad to continue the tradition with my girls. One brainwave I had early: I bought two very sturdy and useful plastic baskets with handles, one for each girl. Library books are kept in them, unless the books are being read, which greatly lessens the probability that the books will be lost. And the baskets are very convenient for lugging books to and from the car, since we get usually either fifteen or twenty books per girl with every trip to the library. I decreed early that they would take out books in increments of five, just to simplify our lives with routine, and that they could take no more than three books out at once from one series. And I also insisted that they only take books out with the bar code taped to the back--not the uncoded thin paper backs that the librarians just check out with a generic "Juvenile Fiction," because then the girls never remember which is the library book when they are putting books back in the basket when they are due.
When we were done at the library, we went to the art fair in the Highland area. That was fun. I finally (finally!) found a pareo that was big enough to wear for a dress. I bought it, even though it wasn't quite the color/pattern I wanted. The girls bought some of the wee sewn animals that every Hmong folk artist always sells at art fairs here in Minnesota.
Came home, worked out with my new stability ball DVD, and made a pizza for dinner for the girls, since I knew that they would refuse the incredibly healthy and delicious tilapia fish I had bought for myself. Summer vegetables sauteed in balsamic vinegar on the side--once again just for me. The girls refused them. All the more for me. Yum.
Altogether, a lovely summer afternoon. Karate and shopping and books and haircut and art and time spent with the girls and good food and working out, so that I feel virtuous.
THE READING MOTHER
Strickland Gillilan
I HAD A MOTHER who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.
