A Pocketful of Thoughts

As I wrap up daytime here and transition into evening, I thought I’d share a pocketful of thoughts.  I don’t have anything particular to write about, but I do have a myriad of things on my mind that I could share while I’m cooking. 

I invite you to picture me floating gracefully from the stove to the computer, wiping my hands on my apron, and then twirling back into the kitchen, washing my hands quickly and stirring the pototatoes after sharing a thought or two.

I heard you ask what I’m cooking tonight. 

I’ll tell you.

We’re having Clara’s Depresion Era Poor Man’s Meal.

Why?

Because I’ve just fallen in love with that Clara, and I wanted to see how this tastes (I’ve wanted to make this since I first saw it), and I want to hear potatoes and onions sizzling in my kitchen like they do in Clara’s.  And I think if hot dogs didn’t kill Clara then it won’t kill us to have them once in awhile.

Today was a field trip day.

We’ve talked about field trip days before, right?  When they roll around, I never feel like I have time to go. What about the laundry?  What about the seeds I haven’t planted?  What about fractions?

But you know what?  Last night at bedtime, in the dark, Princess of the Universe said she was so happy.  I asked her why and she said it was because she has a new bunny and a field trip tomorrow.  I said, “Yeah, I’m happy too.”  And it’s true!  I am so happy to visit with other moms.  People, these moms I get to hang out with are great!  I mean really great!  They make me happy.  So I was happy too.  I’m glad I made the effort today to go to where the blooms are.

(Demeca, if you read this, I loved visiting with you today.  You are so special. )

And speaking of blooms, this bloom has made me wonder if I can be thankful for just a little.  Last year this rose bush was covered in blooms.  I mean like maybe 20 or so.  And they all looked like this one.  It was WOW.  This year?  Only one really big one, with another one that might be as big but it’s not open yet and then two more little buds that don’t look so hot.  What happened?  I don’t know, but I’ll just have to love this one rose as much as I loved the 20-some last year.  Now, I know there’s a lesson in that and I don’t even have to explain it.   Actually there are two lessons in there. 

Oh, I can’t help myself, I’ll explain them both.

1. Be thankful for what you’ve got.
2. If it’s broken, then fix it.

And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Something that spoke to me from the garden this week was this little bunch of spittle bug nymphs. I bet you can’t guess why they’re called spittle bugs.

Actually, I’m sure you can guess. The all-grown-up bug looks totally different from this wad of spit, called a spittlemass, and I certainly hope to keep an eye on this and get a picture.  From what I understand, the eggs are laid in summer and then they overwinter, and in the spring the nymphs emerge and produce this spittle material to keep themselves from drying out and then they go through several stages before reaching adulthood.  They are supposedly pests.

But I digress from the “something in the garden spoke to me” thought.  I was thinking that Karen Andreola mentioned the spittle bug in one of her books.  Was it Pocketful of Pinecones?

At any rate, this has me thinking of that sweet book again.  I love that book, Pocketful of Pinecones.  I first read it when Princess of the Universe was little(r) and it made me think, this is what I want her to learn — the way I want to teach nature to her!  I do pull Pocketful of Pinecones from the shelf from time to time and read a bit, but this has inspired me to read it again, like it’s the first time I ever put my hands on it.

On a more somber note, I’ve been thinking of this swine flu epidemic (pandemic?).  I feel like it would be a good geography lesson for the children to map out where the flu started, where it proceeded from there and how many people have had it/died. 

I envision myself at the white erase board and the map, pointing out scholarly things, but I’ll be at my work desk tomorrow, so I’m handing this project over to my capable two students and having them work out how to track it.  Graphs?  Note cards? 

I’ll be busy typing about sick people, and probably a lot of people who are afraid they have contracted swine flu.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed all day that they have not.

I guess I’ve shared enough of my rambling for one day.

So how ’bout just something pretty?

Or something fun?

And something to look forward to.

Happy Thursday Evening,

Lynn

UPDATE:   The poor man’s meal was good.  It was gobbled up.  And did you really picture me floating and twirling?