Dress for Oldest Son's Wedding

I know it's the fourth, but this year, instead of our usual big fourth cookout with family and fireworks and a boatride on the lake, we are doing final preparations for our son's wedding.

I saw a dress very much like this on sale at Ann Taylor in their wedding shop online. I wasn't sure how the fit would be, since they don't offer the same dress in the local store nearest us. I also didn't want to have to pay $199 (now on sale for $149) if I could make something similar myself.

Yes, I do know that takes time and patience, but I *like* working to get ready for a big event. Well, maybe not all the deep cleaning, but the special preparations, because it is outside the run-of-the-mill, everyday routine.

Here is my project, which still needs a little more adjusting to the bodice to make it fit me in the best possible way:











More on the wedding coming up, and


Happy Independence Day, all!


Javamom

Second Blessing Book Complete and My New Bookpress!!

Second finished book in one week ~


This photo was shot in a rush, as I had very little time! I had some interesting glitches to deal with this time. Good thing I'm accustomed to repairs on both old and new books!
(name partially blotted)






signatures ready for marking up and sewing. 74 or 76 pages ~ the largest one I've made to date



Italian bookcloth and French Marbled papers, brown checkered headband material ~ They chose to order the chocolate brown cloth with this paper.


building the spine after the text is all sewn up (see sewing in a previous post)




Starting to paste the boards to the text block



New-to-me antique bookpress ~ It is phenomenal with its 200 pounds of pressure per square inch


Next in line: two 19th century medical books, a children's Bible, a vintage book that needs a case (covers) and a little sewing of the old textblock), Another _Our Island Story_ vintage book for a friend, and an old crossword dictionary (that belonged to her grandmother) for another friend.
Then there's the set of Francis Schaeffer's complete works another family wants me to make into a hardback set from a paperback. The problem is that they are so heavy and large, that it might not hold well with the cheap "perfect binding" that paperbacks have.

It seems that a very productive summer is in order!

What are YOU doing/planning this summer?? Any special projects that can't get done during the schoolyear?


Javamom

One Way of Spending My Summer Break

Blessing Book completed and delivered early June 13th ~

This one is for a graduate who is headed to West Point (hence the Army green)



One of the things these books are all about ^ (click to enlarge)


I'm currently working on another book, almost twice as long, for another family of a graduating son.


Javamom

Another Blessing Book under Construction

The bookboard is cut, now I need to add linen and a spine lining, paste the bookcloth onto the bookboard, then press and let that all dry under weight. Next comes turning in the edges of the bookcloth, then add the endpapers (tomorrow after properly dried). Lastly, any last minute fine-tuning needed to make sure all pages are flush, then in the press to create the creases in the gutters.

Early June Restoration

Before: dry, scratched, spine detached.



old, acidic tissue removal

lifting the leather


adding linen spine lining material



tucking in the endcap


almost finished!




post leather treatment, and after filling in two holes and color matching.

Good at Multiplication

My oldest brother, Randy, and his wife, Brenda:



Randy, Brenda, and their five kids and daughters-in-law


Randy, April, Marti and Brenda, Tim (R and B's oldest) where are their two boys? I'll have to dig for a photo of them...Ah! This one is from our family mini-reunion on Memorial Day Weekend. This is out on our deck.




Randy's middle son Greg and his wife Shawna, boys Gabe and Grant

Youngest son Jeremy and his wife Alisha

...and their sweet kiddos!


Randy's oldest daughter (kid #4) Cass and her son Zeb

Randy's youngest dd Kinni


And now my sister's family:


Kevin and Tammy and their granddaughter, Ava





Their oldest son Matt, his wife and his kiddos. He lives the farthest away, now.




Brian and my sis's daughter, Tiff

Sweet Ava with her mom


April (my sis's youngest) and Jeremy, Hayleigh, Kaylee, and Aiden We just got to enjoy their visit for a long weekend!


and their newest edition this spring. He loves to be held :-)



This is my next brother in line, Steve, and his family


Steven, Chris, Andraya with Holden, Steve, and Stephany. This was taken at our house.



Next is my brother Greg and his wife Laura:



Their daughters Rachel and Nichole

Their sons Chris and Aaron

This is our grafted in family, who have been a part of our family's lives for about 25 years.

Mike, Bryce, Gina, Gina's hubby Pat (one of the newest to the family) and Connie
I've known the kids since they were born!

And here are a big lot of my family who got to be at (and sing in :-) Gina's "Big, Fat, Tulsa Wedding" last summer:



Notice our Mom and Dad just to the right of center by the gorgeous bride :-)

Anniversary

My nephews and nieces: Jeremy Andraya, Gregory and Stephany in the back, Matt and Tiff, and Timothy (who did a reading for us during the ceremony ~ he was nine at the time, and he did great!). They were all little attendants, and stayed up front during the whole ceremony. It was fun!


ALL the nieces and nephews at that time (hahaha). Let's just say that our family tribe continued to grow. A lot! The two extra itty bitty ones are April and Steven. Almost all of them have their own kids, now...and I get to see most of them this coming weekend!

Steph, Auntie, April, Tiffany, and Andraya
May 18th, 1985

Transition Time Again

Transitions can be exciting, they can be scary, they can be frustrating...sometimes all three of these things at the same time.

This is another big transition time for our family, as our second oldest is about to graduate from high school and move in with friends in a rental home. The friends want to start a ministry community, and it is a neat time for them. In the meantime, the siblings and the parents are dealing with the little disappointments (and promised or hoped for time spent before she moves away) in one way or another! ha.

This month of waiting for things to happen, house leases to come through, etc., has been a little disconcerting to our end-of-year school plans, especially those toward graduation. No matter, things will eventually work out...but transition times are almost too tempting in that those taking the biggest steps really need to finish a chapter completely before they begin the new one in earnest, otherwise they may be tripped up and fall before the finish line.

Why can't kids seem to see this??? The future really is too exciting sometimes.

I'm also of the belief that we humans will learn and do what we are really interested in. We will push hard when things are hard *if* we are fairly successful all along the way. But if we take too many breaks and begin the next chapter too soon, we will not finish well, and may need an editor to fix a chapter or two of our lives. hehe. The things that most challenge us sometimes cause us to choose to move on too early, or we shut down almost completely. This happened to me in college. I became ill but kept forging ahead...and I ended up shutting down because the pressure was too great for far too long, and powers-that-be did not keep their end of a couple of educational agreements, which meant the final nail in the coffin for a couple of degree-required classes. I should have majored in my minor instead, but the timing was not right then. (It is now, and that is a whole other post! I will get a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in Bible and Spanish as soon as I take two more classes! My minor was Spanish, BTW.)

But this transition for our next graduate in line...it's exciting and frustrating. We are still getting used to her leaving the nest soon! It's almost like it would be better to end the "iffyness" right now, just cut off the kite string a couple of weeks early and move on, because that kite wants to fly now!!

I'm happy for her, proud of her in so many areas, and know that she will learn what she puts her heart into all the rest of her life. She loves learning, so I'm thinking her educational years were actually quite successful!

:::sigh:::

I did say that it will all work out...in faith, I believe that! It has always been Hubby's and my mantra that it is not our place to be forcefully controlling of our children's lives. Help them each step of the way by placing before them a wide vatiety of books, some containing deep ideas and a wide river of things to learn, not hindering their interests, but encouraging them. Guide them, yes. Lead them to the Lord, yes. Let the Holy Spirit prompt and guide as we release them bit-by-bit. It's a very nice balance for life.

God knows the bigger picture in each and every one of our children's lives. What a comfort THAT truly is!! It's not really up to me at all, Thank the Lord! Saves a lot of guilt all along the way, don't you think?

Now on to the physical efforts of getting everything ready for all our company for dd's graduation party this next weekend, whilst we wrap up the homeschool year and high school Spanish classes.


Praying for strength and stamina!

Javamom

Visiting Mallards

They love our deck and hang out with the rest of the birds near the seeds.

I finally captured the humming bird!

The Dread-Pirate Sparsebeard has been putting out feeders for hummingbirds this spring, and we finally had some come around. They are difficult to catch by camera, as they are so fast.

I observed one Sunday last just outside our bedroom window. He landed and rested on a crepe-myrtle branch briefly, but my camera was nowhere near to retrieve it in time.

These photos are taken from the front door, where the feeders are hanging out on the front porch. This little guy has a shimmery, green back, and is the same one I saw on the crepe myrtle on Sunday.

Enjoy!

Javamom

Spring at the Cottage

I really love Spring at our Cottage. There is not a lot of traffic around here...but the traffic *is* interesting and fun to watch!

The trees are already so full and green


These are our new fruit trees that we were given for hubby's birthday:


Red plum


Pomegranate tree


Pomegranate Blossom



What is spring like in your neck of the woods? Are you taking time to unwind and enjoy it?


Javamom

Our garden ~ Upon The Anniversary of The Bard's Birthday

Onion row and rose bushes - the scent of these roses carries on the wind!


one view of tomato row

another view of tomato row


Mediterranean Globe Basil


First tomatoes - minor freeze damage (just a few days before Easter) is evident



onion top ready to burst!


part of onion row


The overwintered onions are about to explode on top

I'll post the peppers and other veg and herbs as soon as the sun nears sunset (better photos that way).

Our young garden from two weeks ago:

Upon this morn, hath this humble mistress the garden watered? Pray, didst she waiver from the duty? Yeah and nay--with such import didst she attend to it; didst embrace such satisfying tranquility. Much good it attends to her gentle heart."

Happy 445th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Birth, it's "Talk Like Shakespeare" Day!!

Study Helps

I wanted to post another example of one of the tools I use with students for practicing new phrases or vocabulary. It is equally useful when I am tutoring one on one, or for students to practice with on their own. I have several versions that I have for my "box of tools." I have a larger version for my "word wall" that I keep posted during certain class lessons. The ideal thing is for these words and phrases to have already been introduced ahead of time (a la Charlotte Mason method) and used in comprehensible stories. This is simply a "puzzle" of sorts for practice and for the beginnings of building writing and speaking confidence in the students.

If interested, Visual Link Spanish offers pretty much this same learning method on their software web site, the first 11 lessons are free! Once you get on their list, you receive notice for special offers on their products.

¡Chao!

Señora Javamom

Birds and spring rain: a funny combination!

My brave cardinals who continue to visit our feeders in a downpour. Evidently they don't care about having a 'bad hair' day :-)

Smoky sunset from wildfires

Snippets from another homeschool Prom

My high school prom was not even half this fancy, not to mention this large...but we did have some fun and there was always a good after party at Momma Mac's (our vocal music director) house that we would go to.

Our third (out of four) homeschooled high schooler, at his first prom. These are a lot of his friends. This shot happens to highlight Jordan and the girls, LOL.


Jord and his friends looking quite dapper!


Who says homeschoolers don't get enough socialization?

I love the white shoes :-)






Javamom,

veteran homeschooling mom of four, ages 14-20, who have always homeschooled.

Some of our regulars

This was taken about two weeks ago. It is amazing how quickly Spring has sprung here, ever since the end of February, actually.






Our Garden is going in nicely, now we hope the wind will not destroy our plants! It has been very gusty. I'll post garden photos when the wind dies down and I can capture a few good shots.

I also need to update the blog with some photos of our spring break family camping trip. The vacation time was so relaxing. When we returned home, we hit the ground running and only now is it about to slow down just a wee bit. We still have some big events that we've been getting ready for.

More on all that another day. Can't let any cats out of the bag just yet.


Javamom

Onithography - a poem by Billy Collins

Hubby and I spent the afternoon reading poetry to each other; one of our favorite things to do. Here's one of my favorites from the day's reading ~

Ornithography

by Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate 2001-2003

(The legendary Cang Jie was said to
have invented writing after observing the tracks of birds.)

A light snow last night,
and now the earth falls open to a fresh page.

A high wind is breaking up the clouds.
Children wait for the yellow bus in a huddle,

and under the feeder, some birds
are busy writing short stories,

poems, and letters to their mothers.
A crow is working on an editorial.

That chickadee is etching a list,
and a robin walks back and forth

composing the opening to her autobiography.
All so prolific this morning,

these expressive little creatures,
and each with an alphabet of only two letters.

A far cry from me watching
in silence behind a window wondering

what just frightened them into flight —
a dog's bark, a hawk overhead?

or had they simply finished
saying whatever it was they had to say?

The Dreaded Subject of Math(!)

In my last post, I mentioned Gesturing and some research that indicates how it helps engage students in learning and memory retention. It does this by using a different part of the brain, and I'm thinking that engaging extra parts of the brain, other than simply short-term memory, has to be better, right? Research would tell us unequivocally and enthusiastically, yes!

I have sat on the following information for a couple of years, now, and have not shared them here, simply because I spent my time focusing on and prepping my Foreign Language philosophy and lesson plans. Now it has become more important to me to focus on a holistic approach to math, as our youngest needs something more tangible to continue his journey (read: "in order to have some successes in math as he enters high school").

Hopefully, you will be able to find useful ideas in the following articles, from James J. Asher of the Total Physical Response approach to learning. My friend Katie noted (through a FaceBook chat) when I shared one of Asher's articles, titled "The Myth of Algebra," he goes straight to "Living Math" just like Charlotte Mason recommended in her educational philosophy and writing back in the late 19th-early 20th centuries.

The first article, "Fear of Math," may describe one of your own children...or may describe you yourself. I relate to the disability completely! As evidence of this fact, you will notice that before this day, there was not one post in almost 4.5 years of blogging where I wrote about or labeled a post under any "Math" category.

The next few articles I'll share are:

"Some Mysteries of Arithmetic Explained: Secrets revealed that may help parents and teachers clarify mathematics for youngsters."

"Why students of all ages are failing mathematics and what can be done to turn it around"

and

"Learning Algebra on the Right Side of the Brain"


Now, that's plenty of "homework" for you to read, so take your time. Next, get back to me with your thoughts, observations, and what action you are prompted to take with your own children, if you decide to change anything at all.

For specific ideas and lesson plans to put this philosophy of "Living Math" to good use, visit this Living Math web site.


Ciao for now!

Javamom

Talking With Your Hands is good for your family!

I am that person you'd think could not say a word if I was not able to use my hands and arms. Imagine my joy every time I read a new report about how good gesturing is for the development of societies. (Good, clean gestures, that is!) I have experienced this myself while teaching and/or while traveling in foreign countries. You've heard jokes or seen movies where people practically play charades to understand each other if they do not speak the same language. Or how they talk louder thinking that will help...(which is a whole other post all together)!

Remember the movie "Lilies of the Field with Sidney Poitier, where he helped teach English to the German nuns? (You really must rent this one if you have not)!

Well, Just out last month from researchers at The University of Chicago is a report on gesturing and language, something I am interested in as a foreign language teacher, tutor, and enthusiast.
Early Gesturing has important connections to language acquisition and school preparedness. The name of the study is "Differences in Early Gesture Explain SES Disparities in Child Vocabulary Size at School Entry," and was co-authored by Susan-Goldin Meadow and fellow psychologist Meredith Rowe.

They found that there is a significant language difference between children from families who gesture a lot, and those who don't. They also noted that the differences were divided between lower and higher income families, as well. How very interesting!


They wrote:

"Children who convey more meanings with gestures at age 14 months have much larger vocabularies at 54 months than children who convey fewer meanings and are accordingly better prepared for school, " for their piece in the journal Science on Friday, Feb. 13.

"The research showed that the differences particularly favored children from higher-income families with well-educated parents and may help explain the disadvantages some children from low-income families face upon entering school," said Susan-Goldin Meadow.

Other related articles can be found here.

There is significant research (The folks at TPR world) to support the benefits of gesturing in foreign language learning, but also in other subjects as well. There is another article about gesturing helping with learning/remembering math facts here.

The latest research which shows that early gesturing helps childhood development in their primary language (in the home) right from the start really makes sense to me, since I've had a little first-hand experience. I've seen how it can help older children and adults to learn/understand a second or more languages as we grow and learn.

Many of you have also had experience by teaching your own babies to sign when they are hungry, thirsty, want "more," etc.


Alright, now! Let the language acquisition begin! (Javamom asserts, waving her arms and hands like an Italian Momma!)

The Big 21st Century Children's Book Banning: CPSC Rulings on Lead in Childrens' Books ~ Perspective of One Book Restorer and Conservator

I love (but do not idolize) old books. I have just a few of my Grandfather's old schoolbooks. They would be banned now...

I enjoy restoring and preserving old and vintage books. It is a fascinating thing to work with paper materials, cloth materials, adhesives, needle and thread, leather. It is fascinating to see how different books and papers respond to various treatments in the process of restoring them and preserving them for future generations. That is why I studied book restoration for years.

Hubby is an American Lit. Teacher and a Master of English.

We have always loved the more rare and obscure titles of vintage books, but enjoy classics from Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, also classics from British History and Literature, as well. We have always homeschooled. Many and many homeschoolers use vintage books (or even not-so-vintage-books printed pre-1985).

I have my own personal collection of Nature books, Americana, history and biographies, for both adults and children. I also have a lot of very old Charles Dickens novels, and enjoy multiple other British authors, as well. I have a decent collection of old Geography books...you can not read more interesting travel and geography books than were written a hundred years ago.

Have you ever read the Opal Wheeler books for children about famous Composers? They are simply lovely; so beautifully written. They are not dumbed-down into bits of boring facts, but are narrative in nature. The same is true for some of the editions of Children's Plutarch or Children's Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb, just to name but a few examples. Who writes for children in that way anymore? I know that some of these titles are available in newer or in cheaply done, softcover editions, but I love the stamped, embossed, covers, the wonderful illustrations; the craftsmanship of the cloth-on-board, older editions. They should be kept available, preserved, to be enjoyed by future generation, as I am able to enjoy my Grandad's school books. Craftsmanship sadly and largely went out the window long ago, but there is still a band of booklovers and bookbinders who appreciate and value such work, who learn to work within, handle carefully, and preserve that work.

It is from the above perspectives that I share this post today.

I have literally been dumbfounded by the crazy details and the far-reaching implications of the August 2008 CPSC (US Consumer Products Safety Council) ruling:

Guidance on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters and Charities

This act was well-intended, and I am all for protecting children from dangerous levels of lead and phthalates. But this one act over-reaches this mark to such a detrimental point.

Since the Act was instated on February 10th, all products...each and every item intended for children 12 and under must be tested for lead and phthalates (not some simple, inexpensive pen blot test from what I've read) or be tossed out. And yes, this includes children's books. Frustration and outcry from the American Library Association and others finally led to the CPSC amending the original banning of all children's books en masse, narrowing it down just to children's books published before 1985. Oh. WOW. THAT's a relief, isn't it?

Not in the least!!

Many good websites have broken down and chronicled the journey of this act, and subsequent reactions (and lack of reactions) with very good details, and I will share a few of them later in this post, so that I don't misrepresent something, or become redundant.

But first, allow me a brief rant (an activity I do not often indulge).

This act was passed by the Democratic-led Congress and signed by then President Bush last August and went into effect on Feb. 10th of this year. I'm not the only one who is confused or overwhelmed because so much information and even some misinformation has been floating all over the internet for the past few months, but almost NOTHING has been covered in the news. So regular Joe and Ann American do not know about it, much less care. Hugh Hewitt finally brought it up on his radio show this past Monday, and I was cheering from the driver's seat of my van as I was driving to tutor a student in Spanish.

Glen Beck is said to have shrugged off the need to mention anything about this, because he (alledgedly) said that there is not enough public outcry to justify it. (Grrrrrrr)

Can I mention the timing...the timing is also horrendous, when many families are tending more and more to need to shop at Goodwill and thrift stores in order to clothe their families. Our family has benefited from such practices for decades, (many things still have new price tags on them) what with living on Hubby's income as a teacher and afterschool director. (My minimal contributions over the decades has been just enough to keep an emergency fund from time to time).

More Americans are seeing the need to live within their dwindling means, and thrift shopping and antiquing is one way to accomplish that. The reach of recent legislation and implementation is so broad and so patently bad, it is already putting some small businesses out of business, or forcing them to become expats overseas.

I have been silent on the matter of the now-banning of books (intended for children) printed pre-1985, simply because I was literally knocked almost speechless, and I had such hopes that the American Library Association and other interested groups would be able to plead for some sense to come back into Congress's heads...perhpas that they would be able to reason with the politicians and the powers-that-be the ridiculousness of their actions.

*I forgot to include this last night: Nebraska City Library quarantines their collection of children's books this very week. Here is another link from a librarian showing a couple of photos from her local library, where she has marked out the books that she knows this ban includes. Just in case you don't believe the scope of this Act.



Many Americans don't even know it happened, what all the bans include, and it simply overwhelms me to the point of disbelief that it all really went into effect. It is difficult to put it all down in words


1) I am coming out of the shock, denial, and disbelief that it would mean the banning of wonderful books from my own childhood, but of my parents, grandparents, and so-on, and so-on....childhoods; some beautiful books, both in their artistic display of covers (though some bindings and papers were made on acidic materials, papers with high iron contents, or were printed in the wrong grain direction), the words and stories themselves will be lost. Some have sneered, "Well, no one reads those old books anyway."

If this would be protested well, and be publicized well, then maybe a poll could be taken to prove that there are whole groups passionate about the preservation of old books for the sake of history, heritage, for their unequaled quality of writing and content that they contain, not to mention a whole different set of standards which were celebrated 'once upon a time.'

Now I am fuming and beyond disappointed in our politicians: the Democratic-majority congress and my former Conservative and Republican representatives and President. (I am an independent now) I am so upset by their knee-jerk overreactions to the lead-laden charms, toys, and other cheap junk imported into our country that made all the news last year.

Libraries have "sort of" been given a one-year reprieve. People at thrift stores are already throwing away good, useful books. Some are probably worthless, but many...so many that have gone out of print never to be published again...what will become of these?

Why can't people just hold their horses? Do nothing for a time. Take the books off the shelves but don't toss them into the proverbial incinerator just yet, please!!

My frustrations ~

1) Our former President and Congress voted on this sweeping, overgeneralized legislation without even reading it and digging into what it would require for businesses and people that it likely never thought it would effect. Note this quote from Federalist Paper #62 ~

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man who knows what the law is today can guess what it will be tomorrow. Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule which is little known, and less fixed?" (Hat tip: The Amused Cynic)

2) I was already teetering near the edge in my passion and disgust for politicians and what they end up becoming in the machine of The Beltway. I *so* know and believe that God is ultimately in control, and I trust Him and have almost given up on trying to "make a difference" on a grand scale.

3) I therefore prayed that the American Library Association, and other lobbying blocks would be able to sway the aforementioned politicians to see *reason* before the Feb. deadline rolled around.

Ha. Ha.

Look, I am all for getting rid of unnecessary and dangerous chemicals in plastics (Phthalates) and the high amount of lead in charms, jewels, toys that are predominantly come from imports from the far east. Why could not the testing requirements be on those highly known offenders and products? Oh, yeah, because the powers-that-be are always quick to throw out the baby with the bathwater in order to save us from ourselves.

For much more detail about all of this confusing mess, read Val's blog. I've bought many children's books and book sets from her over the decades. Check out Walter Olson's writing at Overlawyered...he keeps posting updates and thorough, and some downright angering/disappointing reports from the Folks in Denial at the New York Times . Also read the interesting effects to the ATV industry. Check out a touching personal story by lawyer Mark Bennett. Then read the incredible in-depth insights by fellow homeschooler, the brilliant Deputy Headmistress in her multiple and ongoing posts at The Common Room. I've bought children's books from her family, as well, and read or own many of the books she has recommended to so many people over the years. She writes further about one of the links I shared (via FaceBook) a couple weeks back about Senator Jim DeMint's efforts to reform this mess ~

"Senator Jim DeMint has a reform bill in Committee right now. That link is to an article he wrote about it, this link is to a site where you can read the test of S. 374, his reform bill. There is also a version in the House, here is where you can read the actual bill. Unfortunately, it's in the same Committee that gave us this bill in the first place. She goes on to list the members who have been selected to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the 111th Congress. Please contact them and ask them to support HR 968, and specifically to exempt books, all books, not just those published after 1985, and thrift shops from all but the recall portions of the bill ."

I see that she has linked to Overlawyered, as well. The news update there is not good on a just- cancelled Congressional meeting where small business owners were supposed to get a chance to share the consequences of the CPSIA on their businesses. I guess they can't handle the truth, and they don't want the truth getting out, because they might lose face.

If you are beginning to see where this is leading us--to a nationwide book ban...heck, the ban has already happened, people...it is just not being reported in the media--then DO something to try and help get this thing repealed. If you are already doing something, I will join you in the protest. I could write about the protest that Etsy is brewing up...but I'll simply link to it for now.

C'mon, friends! This is not a partisan issue. Let's keep hounding Congress and the CPSC (available through the links above). Let's make calls to some think-tank lawyers who see the dangers of losing whole chunks of history, artisanship, art, you-name-it.

Project Gutenberg, Bartleby and other e-text projects are able to digitize or print up some of the OOP books, but many will be lost because they are so obscure, but none-the-less important accounts of biographical and historical nature.

Let's get this grassroots effort growing!


Exhausted Javamom

Today is Beautiful

Bradford Pear blossoms and lots of bees ~ We have gardening plans to act upon this weekend!








The bees are also surrounding the Rosemary bush blossoms beneath these beautiful (but smelly) white blossoms.

This has been a gorgeous week. It is so sunny and warm today that I had to switch on the AC, but it should only be for a few hours; and we'll keep the thermostat at 78 degrees.

The only thing lacking is a little bit of beneficial rain.

Official Engagement Announcement!

I'm updating the engagement post with a photo ~


It's officially official now ~

Our oldest son Jonathan is marrying his love Ashlynn
July 7th, 2009!




We're quite pleased around these parts.

Lirerary and Cultural Connections

When I wrote about a particular section of North and South a couple of weeks back, I shared the following passages and mentioned that I kept reflecting on them; turning them over in my mind.
Let me give a little explanation as to 'why.'

From near the end of Chapter XV:

Mr. Hale said--

'I dare say I am talking in great ignorance; but from the little I know, I should say that the masses were already passing rapidly into the troublesome stage which intervenes between childhood and manhood, in the life of the multitude as well as that of the individual. Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of "Come when you're called and "Do as you're bid!" But a wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease.' [Javamom, here...Charlotte Mason says something to similar effect!!]


This reminded me that in some circles, there has been this push to deny that this time in kids' lives did not exist until 1960, that somehow, our 20th Century was the first to "come up with this time period in kids' lives" in which we somehow make excuses (as a society) and give them permission to rebel. Perhaps it is just the term 'teenager' that became more accepted in this time, but I have to *heartily* disagree that the transition never existed before 1960.

This never set right with me, and I skirted the possibilities of it while our older two were going through the changes of the teenage years.

It is (to me) very exciting to read older literature that alludes to this time period in the lives and normal development of humans in earlier time periods than the 20th Century. Another fact of older literature is the divulsion that more than a few adults were addicted to Opium and Laudenum (it was given for medicinal purposes) and snuff!

Why do we glorify certain centuries or eras more than others and put down the supposed 'construct' of the teenage years?


The second passage I quoted was of Margaret mentioning:

'I heard a story of what happened in Nuremberg only three or four years ago. A rich man there lived alone in one of the immense mansions which were formerly both dwellings and warehouses. It was reported that he had a child, but no one knew of it for certain. For forty years this rumour kept rising and falling--never utterly dying away. After his death it was found to be true. He had a son--an overgrown man with the unexercised intellect of a child, whom he had kept up in that strange way, in order to save him from temptation and error. But, of course, when this great old child was turned loose into the world, every bad counsellor had power over him. He did not know good from evil. His father had made the blunder of bringing him up in ignorance and taking it for innocence; and after fourteen months of riotous living, the city authorities had to take charge of him, in order to save him from starvation. He could not even use words effectively enough to be a successful beggar.'


It finally clicked with me: I now think she is referring to the story of Kaspar Hauser, also mentioned in Charlotte Mason's Volume 3, pages 71-74.

Continuing to make connections; characteristics of life-long learning ~


Javamom

More Connections with Gaskell's Stories

I finished North and South last week, in the wee hours of the morning, having spent three weeks pouring over this terrific story. I did not want to string it out slowly as I did with Cranford, although I was a little sad to come to the end of it.

I have already written some about Mrs. Gaskell in previous posts about Cranford and literary Connections and my early reflections on the novel North and South, the Norton Critical edition, well worth having for all the extras included within.

Tonight, while doing some more online research into her other works, I noted one of her stories written in 1859, My Lady Ludlow. Then I remembered a "Lady Ludlow" in the movie version of Cranford, and I wondered where she came from. Gaskell wrote Cranford from 1851-1853, so much earlier than My Lady Ludlow.

It seems (from early inspection of Chapter one) that the creators of the movie version of Cranford might have infused this character into the script. Why, I do not know, yet. At first (before I knew she was a real Gaskell character) I thought it was to create a little conflict and tension to the rather calm goings-on in the fictional-named town of Cranford (but based on the real town of Knutsford, where Gaskell spent some of her younger years). The formulaic writing and movies of today must have "tension" to hold our interest, we are told, so I chalked it up to that.

There is one other storyline that is in the Cranford movie that is not in the book, either. Perhaps the characters are from one of her other stories, as well. I look forward to finding out!


UPDATE:
Ha! I've just found out...yes. Gaskell's novella, Mr. Harrison's Confession, does supply the third plotline in the BBC movie version of Cranford! Mystery solved, and I am relieved. Wives and Daugthers and North and South were both adhered to quite nicely (with the occasional line of one character in the book being given to another in the movie version).

Do, friends, pick up some of these books when you are looking for a good, old-fashioned story to get lost in and even learn from.

Ciao for now!

Javamom

Restorations Completed

More photos of recent restorations ~

Football Season now over :-(...

We're going to miss football. We've recorded a few games that we can enjoy during the heat and humdrum of the summer. Today, of course, we watched the last official NFL game of the season. We were rooting for the NFC, of course! The Pro Bowl is fun to watch; players and friends from different teams getting to play together, earn a little more money, and provide a little more football excitement that we get to watch. We enjoyed watching Larry Fitzgerald get more post-season time, ultimately winning the MVP for the Pro Bowl. We sure wish the Cardinals had one the Superbowl, especially since they were the underdogs.

One of our favorite football players, Adrian Peterson (who played for OU in college football--our team), won MVP last year. It was good to see him play today, as well.

I like the diversity of players, and since we have one son who loves multiple players and is not just holding out for one team, it has been the busiest season of football watching that I've ever done. But I must say that I have enjoyed it! I like watching football with our boy. He and I really like OU best of all (and college ball is very exciting), though we both enjoy watching good players play well. We also have our preferred announcers.

Hubby and I are oldtime Cowboys fans, in spite of their ups and downs. The mark of a true fan is that you still have hope for your team, even when they have some off years. Ds and I listen to ESPN radio off and on during the week, listening to them whine or complain, and sometimes bring up good points. Well tonight we got to see a long interview with a Dallas sports reporter and our quarterback, Tony Romo, to get a couple of different viewpoints. What a breath of fresh air. People really need to keep life and sports in perspective. I know these guys get paid a lot of money, but their careers are relatively short, and not all players get great commercial endorsement deals. The flip side is, they should get about a decade to prove themselves, before we go criticizing them for saying something stupid (always seems worse taken out of context, too) or losing a playoff. I am with the critics, though, when players break the law and repeatedly engage in disorderly conduct.

Alright, that's my rare sports post for the year. We do enjoy football at the booksncoffeehaus, right along with our poetry, symphony, literature, radio shows, and foreign films. Yes, we are eclectic, but it keeps our connections with people broad and open!


Ciao for now,

Javamom

Reflections on Gaskell's North and South

From the back of this particular edition:

"Elizabeth Gaskell is one of the foremost novelists of the nineteenth century. Famous in her own day and admired by Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, Thomas Carlyle, and Florence Nightingale, Gaskell was, for many, the social conscience of Britain as the full effect of the Industrial Revolution took hold.

Published in 1854, North and South is Gaskell's great novel of social unrest. Its themes of responsibility, duty, class, and gender in a changing society are mirrored in the day-to-day struggles of its heroine, Margaret Hale, as she adjusts to life in the norhtern industrial town of Milton."

I have read to page 178 out of 395 pages. I so enjoy Gaskell's writing. One difference that is very noticeable from the movie version: Margaret is the main narrator throughout the movie in the form of letters to and from her cousin, Elizabeth (whose voice we hear when Margaret is reading her letters).

And of course, there is so much more detail in the book; not to be missed. There are a few minor rearrangements of details from the book to the movie, but overall, I think the spirit of what Gaskell wrote is kept intact.

One scene in the movie that is *not* in the book is the scene early on in Milton where Margaret goes to the mill herself, looking for Mr. Thornton, and finds him yelling strictly at a worker for smoking in the mill. He is very harsh with him, much to Margaret's chagrin, but has to be strict, for smoking could cause the whole mill to go up in flames and everyone with it. This scene is not in the book so far.

Here I share a quote that I am replaying in my head. In context of the story, it is Mr. Hale's discussion with Mr. Thornton on how much control or "despotism" need be exerted over his workers, both on and off the clock; how much he is responsible to them after work hours in what they do with their time at home. It makes for interesting points on all sides. Anyway, I like the quote, then the subsequent story that Margaret (Mr. Hale's daughter) shares after he speaks.

From near the end of Chapter XV:

Mr. Hale answered--

'I dare say I am talking in great ignorance; but from the little I know, I should say that the masses were already passing rapidly into the troublesome stage which intervenes between childhood and manhood, in the life of the multitude as well as that of the individual. Now, the error which many parents commit in the treatment of the individual at this time is, insisting on the same unreasoning obedience as when all he had to do in the way of duty was, to obey the simple laws of "Come when you're called and "Do as you're bid!" But a wise parent humours the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and adviser when his absolute rule shall cease. If I get wrong in my reasoning, recollect, it is you who adopted the analogy.'

'Very lately,' said Margaret, 'I heard a story of what happened in Nuremberg only three or four years ago. A rich man there lived alone in one of the immense mansions which were formerly both dwellings and warehouses. It was reported that he had a child, but no one knew of it for certain. For forty years this rumour kept rising and falling--never utterly dying away. After his death it was found to be true. He had a son--an overgrown man with the unexercised intellect of a child, whom he had kept up in that strange way, in order to save him from temptation and error. But, of course, when this great old child was turned loose into the world, every bad counsellor had power over him. He did not know good from evil. His father had made the blunder of bringing him up in ignorance and taking it for innocence; and after fourteen months of riotous living, the city authorities had to take charge of him, in order to save him from starvation. He could not even use words effectively enough to be a successful beggar.'

'I used the comparison (suggested by Miss Hale) of the position of the master to that of a parent; so I ought not to complain of your turning the simile into a weapon against me. But, Mr. Hale, when you were setting up a wise parent as a model for us, you said he humoured his children in their desire for independent action. Now certainly, the time is not come for the hands to have any independent action during business hours; I hardly know what you would mean by it then. And I say, that the masters would be trenching on the independence of their hands, in a way that I, for one, should not feel justified in doing, if we interfered too much with the life they lead out of the mills."

Good food for thought, these quotes...

Javamom

Latest Restorations

Spine almost completely separated from this sweet board book

An old dictionary whose front cover is very loose and torn.

splitting the rest of the spine to begin repairs.


Exposing the spine of the dictionary to begin cleaning and repairs.


Layers of old spine material: Spine, mull, glue, endbands


Cleaning off the old "gunk" :-)


The spine is now all cleaned off and ready for a new spine!



Spine now exposed for repairs


Adding an extra (color-mathced) lining to help strengthen the spine and attachment to the board book



New hinging material, and new spine



That color matched tissue is going in here, to seal up any holes and tears on both the head and tail, and along the sides. You might be able to notice some splitting of the cloth on the spine edge (toward the middle of the photo)

This is the progress so far. I'll post the final results as soon as I get them finished!


Javamom

Elizabeth Gaskell Connections & Chronology

I discovered a definite connection between Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell, and have enjoyed reading some letters between the two this past weekend.

What got my interest going on this...

While watching the BBC version of Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South" recently, I thought to myself how Gaskell's story was like a neat hybrid of Jane Austen (or even Charlotte Bronte) and Charles Dickens. I had not read the book, yet (for shame, I know!) and wondered if the movie adhered closely to the book. I have since read that there are just a couple of changes for the movie. I look forward to seeing what they are.

I have read most of Wives and Daughters (EG's unfinished novel because of her early death) and am two-thirds of the way through Cranford. Wives and Daughters (the movie) follows the book quite well, but Cranford is very different...whole parts of the movie are made up, other parts are rearranged or enbellished that were not in the book as I've read it so far.

That set me to thinking about Gaskell, her contemporaries, and who had input or influence in her life.

This interesting chart is from my copy of Cranford, copyright 1909:


(click to enlarge)




The notes are helpful, but I was ever so excited when I found the Norton Critical Edition of North and South at our library last week. In it are letters from Charles Dickens to Mrs. Gaskell, as some of her work was printed by Dickens, in serial form (in weekly, numbered appearances) in his magazine called "Household Words." He liked her writing and her ideas, but shared (in all manner of gentlemanly fashion) his opinion of an occasional edit needed in order for a particular scene to fit into his magazine.

I was excited to find out that there was a relationship between the two authors, and that his input had some bearing on her work. As well, Gaskell was one of few friends to Charlotte Bronte, and Gaskell even wrote a biography of Miss Bronte. There is at least one letter that EG wrote to Bronte for input on North and South, and a letter back from her. Other letters included are from Thackery, John Forster (friend of EG and of Dickens, who became principal biographer of Dickens), Harriet Beecher Stowe, and several others.

I think I may have to find a copy of this book for our library, because two weeks is simply not long enough to 1) read all of North and South, 2) pour over the details of various literary criticisms from EG's own time, but also 3) read the extra letters, notes, the short story of "Lizzie Leigh," (written in 1850) also set in an industrial town in England.

Stay tuned for more thoughts on this topic in the near future.

Ciao for now,

Javamom