High Rotation Monday #8 (the “Again already?” edition)
Another week has flown by. We are counting down to our epic trek South. We fly to Australia this coming weekend so lots of what this last week has been about is getting organised in a largely disorganised world.
Drawing:
More Botanical Water-Cooler conversations. (above)
Watching:
We watched the first four episodes of Netflix’s House of Cards which I will continue to watch, despite not liking any of the characters much yet – especially now that (trying not to spoil) Z disappointingly shifted the power by sleeping with X… while Y didn’t sleep with sleazy ex-W due to, I’m not sure, feelings of loyalty to X? Disappointing all ’round. Such a let down in a show that seems to have a good number of gutsy, powerful, interesting women characters. But I will continue to watch.
Reading:
Books for Mother/Daughter bookclub. The brainchild of one of my friends here on the island. It’s just as it sounds – Mums and Daughters get together once a month or so for book discussion. We rotate book choice and hosting with book inspired snacks being all the rage. Thus far we have read Because of Winn-Dixie, A Wrinkle in Time (both the novel and graphic novel were included in the discussion) and Island of the Blue Dolphins. Grade five seems to be the perfect age for this, and ours is a small group of five girls and five mums. The girls are all from a collection of different schools but they will all be going into (deep, dark) middle school together next year so this is a good way for them to get to know one another. You would be amazed at the enthusiasm of this group as they chat about the books. The girls have strong opinions and they experience the books with such strong sensitivity. Super cool.
Amelia and I both read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell last week and loved it. Micro-review: Based on a true story. A 19th Century Nicoleño Indian girl is stranded on a small island off the coast of California for 18 years, left behind after the rest of her people are taken away by boat by white people. She waits for her own rescue while surviving many hardships – including wild weather, wild animals, isolation and grief. It was slow to start but after about a third of the way through neither of us could put it down. I had to download an e-version to compliment our old tattered print copy so that we could read side-by-side. Everyone else at bookclub loved it too – though it should be said that some found it scary and sad in places.
Also:
I was talking about this article the other day to someone – (Kim? Aidan? Maybe both you guys?) and I see that GeekDad has re-posted it again – it’s a good one: 67 Books Every Geek Should Read to Their Kids Before Age 10.
Cooking:
I’m still hunting down pad-thai recipes – this one looks pretty good. (via Dinner, A Love Story – my new favourite food blog)
I made chicken wings with a blue cheese dip which was pretty good.
Lastly:
Don’t we live in a pretty place? It really is as good as those pics, especially on days like today when the sun is shining.
My soon to be niece-in-law wrote this piece on her blog about the traditions of name taking and giving. I gave her the advice “do what you like!” – and if my ultimate plan works then they will be one day moving to Salt Spring, and each one of their children can all be given different last names (or even better, choose their own last names) and fit in with everyone else on this crazy island.
Anyway, time to go and do something constructive. March Fourth!
Ok, I laughed out loud at that illustration. You have to make it into a print! So great! (or perhaps a card?) And, I remember reading Island of the Blue Dolphins back in the day. I was obsessed with that book as a child. It was magic! Fifth/Sixth grade I was also obsessed with the books: Bridge to Terabithia (I still own it and read it on occasion) and The Westing Game (just bought it so I would have it in my collection). (In case you needed more ideas for quality books for that age.)
I’m reading Island of the Blue Dolphins right now, too! Maybe I should say "rereading," since I did read it about 25 years ago . . .
Oh those are such good books! I second the desire for you to make the illustration into a print! I still pine for more Claire merchandise, I truly mourn the fact that I never was successful in getting a Claire cat softie….but for Pad Thai, I think this one is the most helpful…http://chezpim.com/cook/padthaifor_beginners
Oh how I loved "Island of the Blue Dolphins" as well. Did you hear that they just discovered Karana’s cave? Well, technically, the cave of the real woman who lived by herself for 18 years: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/29/local/la-me-lone-woman-cave-20121027
I read that book as a kid, too! It was my friend’s favourite book. She became a biologist, actually. Fitting 🙂
I had to chime in – Island of the Blue Dolphins was a favorite of mine too! I used to take it out of the school library so many times that often my name was the only one penciled into the check out slip (remember those?). There’s a sequel, too, sort of – his book Zia. Another old favorite.
It is just comes in my mind when came across this post. lol my nephew insisting me to bring blue dolphin a lovely reminder
Whew! Wave of memory seeing that cover. I LOVED "Island of the Blue Dolphins" when I was a girl, I’m sure I read it a few times. Mmm, good memories!
I was thrilled to see one of my well loved stories of girlhood here, "Island of the Blue Dolphin". I read it nearly 20 years ago and have never forgotten it. As your girls get a bit older another series I think might be a great read for you will be "The Clan Of The Cave Bears" This is a set of 4 or 5 paperback novels and tell the story of a young girl who is adopted by the enemy tribes medicine woman after the great earthquake that opened a hole in the earth that swallowed her clan. The series follows this very young girl through many trials and coming of age and in to old age.
Hi!
My husband and I cook Thai food on a regular basis and have found very workable and authentic recipes at thaitable.com (our favorite Pad Thai recipe is from there). We had far less luck with epicurious.com and other recipe websites (although usually Epicurious is great!).
Also, as an English teacher, I’m so glad to hear that you’re involved in early book discussions with your kid! (I have been checking your blog intermittently since before she was born! Crazy that she’s now in fifth grade… wow.) You’d be amazed how few parents do this kind of thing. Go you!
Cheers,
Nilly
Loved the illustration!
I have several friends who are accountants so I will send them over to have a look.
The world needs more hipster accountants!
…I don’t know why that other reader suggests reading Clan of the Cave Bears with your kids. I absolutely wouldn’t do that. They’re mostly about (how should I put this to avoid the bots) adult relations and there are some pretty brutal rape scenes. Not exactly bedside reading material, to put it mildly 🙂
I read "Island of the Blue Dolphins" when I was in middle school! What a great book for a club like that! I love the idea of a mother/daughter club as well!