As we were walking through town towards the market today, the air was filled with the rumors that the British are marching toward Williamsburg from the coast of North Carolina.
As we approached the court house, a drill sargent of the Virginia Militia approached us asking if we could spare our boy for the sake of Liberty.
He is too young to fight for the cause but drummer boys, cooks, and chore hands are much needed.
After thoughtful pause the boy decided that he was ready to walk away with his fellow citizens to meet the British .
The drum core began to play.
My son fell into ranks,
and marched away.
Colonial Williamsburg is a place where you become part of history. No book, movie, or song can replace the actual experience of being there. It was an amazing moment to watch the kids become part of the history they've read so much about. Approaching Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and having actual conversations with the many people who shaped the foundations of the United States is a very powerful learning tool indeed.
Oh and just incase you're wondering, my boy may have been conscripted but his mom and sister were marching on the sidelines the entire way. And I would have done the same in 1776 . I would have been known as a patriot mother with an ever burning campstove.
Nothing moved faster than a horse, barge on a river, or ox in a field.
Nothing could shine brighter than a lit candle.
One cobbler could make 1 and half pairs of shoes each day.
Mr Greenhow would have the most recent finery from England.
Quiet conversations could be had and observed.
Lessons in civility were studied and learned.
From a distance fife and drums are heard.
Nearer they come, hearlding in the heartbeat of a new nation.
From the present we observe the past....
and witness the beginnings of what would become the United States of America.
Last week we lived in the year 1776 at Colonial Williamsburg. We greatly enjoyed the quiet and lovliness of the 18th century as well as living in and around the birth of what would become the United States. As they say in 1776 ....Huzzah! ( A greeting or cheer of hurray.)
My mother would have been 85 years old today. Though she is no longer with us, we celebrate anyway. She loved summer and lived it fully.
We are on the road this week taking in the summer sights, sounds, and tastes. If we don't find our way back to this space this week, know we are greatly amusing ourselves as always. I hope summer holds a special magic for all of you.
Before we go, we have to say a very special thank you to Kelly, who invited the foxes to come and visit. Kelly is a librarian who works as an English as a Second Language teacher. Along with books she loves travelling and has been working on her goal of visiting every state. Like me, she has a great love of paper and can be found on her blog Uniquely Me, Imperfections and All. Kelly is mom to one busy teenager and wife to a patient woodturning man. Kelly has mentioned that she "helps" her husband from time to time as in, helps herself to his bowls and things. ;) Please visit Kelly and see what wonderful and special things she has going on and thank you Kelly for your kindness to the foxes.
Coming downstairs for breakfast I heard a lot of bustling activity from the kitchen.
"Morning Mom! Hurry up we have places to go. We're going to do something fun today." And with that my sweet little "O" continued to pack a picnic lunch.
"Where 're we headed sweet boy?"
"Tremont"
Tremont is this beautiful little place in the Smoky Mountains and home to the Smoky Moutain Research Center at Tremont.
Last year O had gone to camp there and had such a good time. He wanted to share a little of that with his mom.
First a stop to the council house is made to speak our intentions. "We are planning to make rock paint before lunch", the young "O" stated.
From here we walked down to the little river having wonderful conversation.
As I stopped to take it all in, young boy ran ahead to start his quest for the perfect stone to make the perfect paint.
As I looked up he was already in "creation mode".
Choosing a stone, dipping it in the water and then rubbing it back and forth on the large river rock creates a color.
How's this color mom?
And as tradition dictates, one can not eat their lunch or any meal for that matter, at Tremont without having decorated theimselves with rock paint.
It was such a nice occasion to have "O" create such a lovely excursion from his own design. I can honestly say after painting myself before lunch that I felt dressed properly for the picnic. Such a beautiful sight to sit and enjoy with my sweet boy.
I have to confess that I did take some knitting with me. Here's a look at this week's KAL which I'm doing with Linda. I'm almost ready to start binding off for the armholes. Next week I hope to have a body on this giant version of the Shalom sweater.
The horrible heat of last week has left and so now I'm off to work in my garden. See you tomorrow!
(Today's photos are from the press kit of Queen of the Sun.)
Recently I had the great occasion to see the most inspiring of movies, Queen of the Sun. We so often hear how our world is in peril and well just plain doomed. The solution is always the same, that we must change the way we are doing things.
Last year, while I was in Sweden, I got to observe first hand the life of a beekeeper. It absolutely fascinated me. I had been afraid of bees all of my life because of that whole stinging thing. Being a gardener, I know how important the bee is but I just acknowledged them and kept my distance.
Donning a bee-suit and going in to a hive of drones, I lost my fear and was introduced into the most spectacular world of bees.
During the movie, one of the featured beekeepers was saying that the bees choose the beekeeper. By the end of this movie, I was hoping that the bees would one day choose me.
It was also so heartwarming to see an "old-friend" so to speak. Rudolf Steiner has been a force in my life as of late and once again not only does he deal with the whole person through their seasons of living but the whole earth as well.
(From Queen of the Sun)
In 1923, Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist, philosopher & social innovator, predicted that in 80 to 100 years honeybees would collapse. Now, beekeepers around the United States and around the worldare reporting an incredible loss of honeybees, a phenomenon deemed “Colony Collapse Disorder.” This “pandemic” isindicatedby bees disappearing in mass numbers from their hives with no clear single explanation. The queen is there, honey is there, but the bees are gone.
For the first time, in an alarming inquiry into the insights behind Steiner’s prediction QUEEN OF THE SUN: What Are the Bees Telling Us? investigates the long-term causes behind the dire global bee crisis through the eyes of biodynamic beekeepers, commercial beekeepers, scientists and philosophers. QUEEN OF THE SUN features world renowned biodynamic beekeeper Gunther Hauk, New York Times bestselling-author Michael Pollan, Indian Activist Vandana Shiva, and a compelling cast of characters from around the world. Together they take us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and into the mysterious world of the beehive. The film unveils 10,000 years of beekeeping, illuminating the deep link between humans and bees and how that historic and sacred relationship has been lost due to highly mechanized industrial practices. Beekeeper Gunther Hauk calls the crisis, “More important even than predictor of gloom. The film weaves the ‘beauty with the beast’: landscapes and beescapes contrast chillingly with the harshness of the Monsanto-dominated global agriculture. The expertise of the scientists and philosophers is clear as they present their cases in an easy-to-digest, unfolding manner, complemented by artful animation and clear compelling imagery.
The characters in Queen of The Sun share a common belief that solutions to the bee crisis lie in a renewal of agriculture and beekeeping that supports the needs of the bee and therefore supports the planet. While their solutions are simple and practical, they are not easy. Queen of The Sun demonstrates their immense efforts to rebuild a community in balance with nature.
Queen of The Sun presents a compassionate inquiry into the struggle of commercial beekeepers who, when faced with skyrocketing demand and staggering losses, do their best with the methods they were taught, often unaware that their standard practices are seriously flawed. For example, artificially bred bees are malnourished on a diet of high-fructose corn-syrup, are confined in plastic hives and are transported thousands of miles, bombarded by exhaust fumes, only to be over-worked in crops soaked in pesticides. A stunning revelation- that to manufacture a single non-organic cotton tee shirt, one third of a pound of pesticide is used- underscores the sheer volume of toxic chemicals commonly being applied to crops. Because of these conditions, the exhausted and weakened pollinators become easy prey for mites, climate change, environmental radiation, viruses, air and water pollution, and the challenging effects of genetically modified crops.
Media amplifies alarm about the worldwide collapse of bee colonies and scientists hunt for a silver bullet cure. In the meantime, bee advocates strive to renew a culture that takes its cues from the hive. They have wisely recognized that the bees, themselves, are our guides and they have looked to the bees’ example of collaboration and community as the model for their own actions. Einstein was right: it is impossible to change any problem by using the same tools that created it. With that in mind, Queen of The Sun highlights non-traditional approaches that do much to create positive global change.
The world is at an opportune moment to see the film. The current possibility for positive change and the universal commitment to saving our planet’s future are linked. Queen of The Sun mirrors the hopefulness of this time of volatile transformation and reassessment. The optimistic response of those who saw The Real Dirt on Farmer John leads us to believe that people are ready to confront the decline of the honeybee population and its dire consequences and to embrace the changes illuminated in the film. It is the positive and hope-laden message of Queen of The Sun that opens its viewers’ minds to the real possibility of a sustainable, healthy and verdant future.
This movie isn't to be missed. I was mesmerized throughout the entire film. Here's a short inspiring clip.
Right now I am enjoying the thrill of power washing. I love watching the dirt roll away and the pristine beauty it leaves behind.
Everything has been washed from driveways, to the house, patio and pool deck. I just can't seem to quit. Would you like me to come over and power wash for you? I'm ready, will travel!
I even think it makes my flowers appear prettier and brighter.
Junk day has come and gone this month. This is always a very happy occasion in my family to acquire curbside treasures. This month's treasure was a thrown away giant mail box which has now been made into a bedside table.....or a bedside mailbox. Which ever one you like.
The dinosaur hanging from the ceiling was a past treasure hunt find. This is Zaina's art class project which is now a beloved piece of ceiling art in Mimi's room.
Right now I am loving the fact that in the room next door, a little davinci child is building a roller coaster on his ceiling.
Ok are you ready to launch? Right now I'm really loving the fact that not only do we have a rollercoaster from the ceiling but that it actually works.
Ok, here's a little peak at the KAL I'm doing with Linda from Natural Suburbia. I'm seeing the pattern now and I realize that this sweater will be for a giant. Do any of you know any giants?
After a very long night of sitting three hours on a tarmac at Laguardia airport in NYC and then the flight finally being cancelled.
After the desk agent at Delta refused to help anyone because all flights were booked for the following day and he didn't want to deal with it.
After returning to my hotel in Manhattan to discover that Delta had booked me on a flight at 6 am. Don't pull out your violins yet because it gets better.
After getting up after two hours of sleep to go back to the airport only to discover that they had bumped me from that 6 am flight for one on saturday morning. That was almost two days away.
What to do? ..... Go back again to my hotel in Manhattan and crawl into bed.
Upon waking I discovered it was one in the afternoon. I quickly got dressed and decided to make the most of this garnered day.
First stop, my favorite little french cafe, Cafe un, deux, trois
When given the choice of dessert always go for the profiterole. Did I eat all of this? Yes I did. Shameful I know.
Feeling still very tired and extremely full, I decided a walk was in order. The streets were so crowded that day because it was fleet week. I was desiring a little calm and so I headed for Bryant Park just a couple blocks away.
There the din of the city was muffled and calm, relaxing air blew through the trees.
Inside the park there is an outdoor library where one can sit and read. Surrounding the park are many cafes and tables. There's even a knitting section. Guess where I sat.
For the longest time I just sat there people watching, writing, and reading one of my favorite books.
Just across the street is a very special store. It's a Japanese bookstore that Imene told me about, Kinokuniya. So glad that she did. It's a three story wonderment. A majority of the books are in Japanese but on the main level they have many many books in English. I spent hours in the basement reading Japanese craft, sewing, and knitting books. The entire basement is filled with design books. Such a great way to spend the afternoon.
Not to be missed is the third floor. If you like Manga or Japanese serial books the third floor is the place to go and don't forget to stop at the sushi bar and cafe. It's so incredibly good.
After my venture at the bookstore I headed back to the park for some more people watching and just relaxing in the big apple. It was a wonderful an unexpected day captured.
My time in NYC last week was fantastic. I saw three Broadway shows, ate till my hearts content, walked in central park, was surrounded by more books than one could imagine,
and I got to meet a very special friend.
Imene and I have been blogging friends for a couple of years now. We share so much in common. We're both creative mompreneurs, we love being moms, we both speak French, we read a lot of books in a year, and we love to knit and take photos.
Imene is the writer of A Journey to a Simple Happy Life. There she discusses the trials and joys of raising three young children while running her photography studio among many other things. We decided that we just had to finally meet and my coming to NYC provided that occasion.
We met at the famous Carnegie Deli where we ate the largest sandwiches I've ever seen in my life, in fact everything there was large, including this piece of pie.
From the moment we met our blog conversations became live and it was as if we had been friends forever. This is the treasure of the blogging world. Imene and I have been checking in with each other for a few years now and we've shared in each other's joys and frustrations as well as celebrated the milestones of our children, all virtually mind you, but truly from the heart and that's where our connection will continue.
Thank you Imene for a wonderful afteroon and lunch.
Today is also Linda's Knit Along, over at Natural Suburbia. We're all knitting the Shalom sweater. Because I was out of town I didn't get very far but I did make progress. I'm on row 28 for anyone keeping tabs. I find this a really easy pattern to knit up and eventhough I chose the wrong type of yarn, I can't see the pattern, I love the feel of it . I think in the end I will love this sweater whether I see the pattern or not.