Keep the Door Open...

The door to learning that is. That has always been my philosophy with children. Given the opportunity, IE: The Door Always Open, they will do the rest. Give them the avenues to pursue and a rainbow to get there and they will blossom! Iris loves art....she is terribly creative. We endeavor to provide her with the materials to facilitate that creativity and imagination and she does the rest. She discovers things I had forgotten and perhaps never knew experimenting with techniques and colors with no labels or names...yet. As a Mom of five and grandmother of four I have always endeavored to hold the door to learning open through preschool years and those years I homeschooled and those years I did not. Give them the opportunity...go with the flow....keep the rainbow of learning running to where they want to go and they will do the rest. I remember being told along the way to "quit teaching my kids at home" by professional teachers who could not teach them in school. I had one son, labeled gifted by the system, who literally colored his way through second grade and ended up very stressed because the teacher did nothing with him. And; when she did it was age inappropriate. Anyhow; that is a story for another day...thanks Mrs. Jabbs NOT! You see; I don't think I "teach". I don't think of it that way. Children are born as blank empty plates pretty much. They are a gift and it is our job to fill their plates with all the good things we can. I endeavor to do that.

Now back to the peace and quiet of the home place... A certain little girl is in the living room watching Bolt with her favorite CD of the week (Alvin & the Chipmunks) playing on the stereo in the same room.... Newspapers spread on the coffeetable, six bottles of paint and myriad brushes, and a stack of paper ....while she dances and creates. That is what it is all about. If we could only keep it that way.

Mel

Found Right On My Face....

Remember the joke... I mean the folks who are looking and looking for their glasses and find them right on their face? Well; this is kind of based on that. You see I was in the Living Room tediously refilling small bottles of her highness' choice from the bigger bottles of paint. In the process there were multiple choices and lids involved. Well I sat there looking for a lid and Iris, four-years-old "still" as she says, was looking too. Finally I found the lid...already on the bottle. When I stated I had it and it was already on the bottle I realized she was already starting at me patiently kind of without words as to what to say... She had seen it first.... But; no cracks no remarks. I think that is one of the unique arrangements between grandchildren and their grandparents.... We are ideally patient with them always and they learn that patience and return it to us. They don't mind a little senility if we don't mind the little kid things that happen. They have not yet learned to "judge" and be critical. Oh it would be so nice if the whole world would just stay that way!

Mel

Finally the Demise of Old Technology...

Well it does not work anymore. Ms. Iris made it official today. As she sat down to watch her NEW movie, Bolt, she came running out to the Dining Room. You know how they have all those blurbs on the beginning? Well she informed me that she needed...really "needed" 101 Dalmatians. Being puzzled, I thought...now why does she "need" 101 Dalmatians as I quickly ran the through the mental catalog I keep of versions of that movie she has (being the deprived only girl in this old lady's life)... I tried various responses...like you have that...do you mean this one, etc. Finally we adjourned to the living room where Grammie thought showing Ms. Iris a copy of the "movie" would work. Well she informed me very expressively and vocally that NO she needed the MOVIE as she made her hands go in a circle shape... You know the MOVIE! Then I got it. Old technology is dead. The VCR tapes don't cut it anymore....too slow for her to get to what she wants. She wants a DVD copy of the 101 Dalmatians. You know...the MOVIE kind! Sigh.... I am getting old!

Mel

Into Every Life.... A Little Rain Must Fall...

Seems like life goes on in spite of or because of us. When I was having so many troubles, at one point, I felt like the world was all focused on me and pointing their fingers and going..... Oh dear...she sure has messed things up. In particular at times I have felt certain family members and friends (outside the loop of normal folks like me) were doing just that. Now it would seem that gradually surefootedly they with age are coming inside that very same circle I reside in. No; I am not pointing the finger I mentioned earlier. At least, I try very hard not to. I can't help but notice sometimes though that some of these very same folks who had hte perfect families done just right sooner or later come INSIDE the circle as realitiy hits. Real life does happen, the bubble bursts, and more get into that circle of reality. Perfect children do imperfect things, or we find out imperfect things happened to them. We realize we can't fix it all which while we always knew we couldn't somehow now it hits us in the face in yet a bigger way. Much as we want to fix it all, we know we can't. All we can do is pray and "be there" IF they let us...and deeper into the circle of those with imperfect out of control lives we find ourselves.

Long ago I decided that the more children one has, the sooner and more apt one is to fall inside the circle of "imperfect out-of-control" worlds. I know I am seated there. A little while ago I thought pretty much I had the only seat in that circle. Then I realized there was a seat beside me and now it is occupied..yet another seat sits there waiting for the next occupant.

There is no escape for us older folks/older parents from the "circle of reality". Sometimes our chair's position might change but once reality hits it is there to stay.

I feel badly for my family with problems, really I do. I can't help but say though "Welcome to the club". There is strength in numbers. I would rather have company in the "circle" than be there sitting alone. Perhaps this is what the full circle is all about....families/sibling groups grow apart for years once grown.... Then; when those they are growing are done...seemingly...they come back to one another out of a sense of commonness, IE: Being in that circle together again. Sharing life's problems from another vantage.


Mel

Found it!

One of my all time favorite versions of this song... Take a listen! Too sweet!

http://www.4ohanaproducts.com/Hawaiian-Israel_Kamakawiwo_ole_-_Somewhere_Over_The_Rainbow-What_A_Wonderful_World_1_.mp3

On a Brighter Note....Ways To Help

Heard of the neatest website on ABC News tonight. :) Right up my alley and I hope yours too.. Wishuponahero.com is a site where folks can post needs and grant wishes. Sounds great to me. When I just tried the site, it said not available. I did verify the link and that is what it is. So keep trying. I will try again later. I am determined!

Also; don't forget Childrenincorporated.org I sponsor two little girls in Appalachia there, more specifically in Kentucky. If you don't want the responsibility of a monthly obligation, then you can choose to donate to this or that need to benefit children on the site. :)

There are so many ways to help people. I love to give...love to help people. I know that I could be paying off bills but some things are just more important to me. :)

Mel

Mel's Round Dish/Face/Wash Cloths (Doilies too!)

I use 100% cotton yarn, Lily Sugar N' Cream or Bernat Handicrafter with size 7 or 8 (US) Needles

Knitted Round Dishcloth

Finished Size: Depends on your individual gauge. Mine range about 10 inches across.

Materials: 4-ply cotton yarn knitting needles of appropriate size to match the yarn

Cast on 15 sts.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: k3, YO, k until one st remains on left needle. DO NOT KNIT LAST ST, turn.

Row 3 (and all odd rows): knit

Row 4: k3, YO, k until 2 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 6: k3, YO, k until 3 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 8: Bind off 3 sts, k2, YO, k until 4 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 10: k3, YO, k until 5 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row12: k3, YO, k until 6 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 14: Bind off 3 sts, k2, YO, k until 7 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 16: k3, YO, k until 8 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 18: k3, YO, k until 9 sts rem on left ndl. Turn.

Row 20: Bind off 3 sts, knit across (15sts total).

Repeat rows 1-20 seven more times. Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing the seam. Sew cast on edge to bind off edge, and sew around center and pull to close hole.

orks best for me. I recommend size 7 or 8 (US) needles til you get a feel for the size and look you want most! :)

"Nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than one's self" (used by John McCain in his acceptance speech)

"Everyone has the power of greatness, because greatness is determined by service". Dr. Martin Luther King

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Mel's Doughboys

Many many years ago I fell in love with "Doughboys" also known as Fried Dough and probably several other names. I did not like to pay the price but did on rare occasions in the Summer at Fairs and Festivals. In the meantime for year round delight for the boys...devised my own simple recipe. Today I was thinking her Royal Highness Princess Iris of All would enjoy some later on this snowy day... So went digging for the longtime not used recipe. Here it is...to share with the world...Enjoy!

Mel
Mel's Doughboys

1 cup lukewarm water
1 cup warm milk (warm to touch - bit warmer than baby bottle)
2.5 T. Honey
2.5 T. melted butter (or marg.not too hot)
1 full T. Yeast
About 6 cups ubleached flour (I like King Arthur's)

If you are in a hurry and have no ambition and your hands and arms get sore
in your old age, use a Kitchen Aid mixer! :) It saves time and energy!

OK... Mix in the water, milk, butter, and honey...well. Add half the flour.
Mix well until it is coming of spoon or mixer attachment in sheets. Add the
rest of the flour one cup at a time continuing to mix. If using Kitchenaid
or other 300 watt or better mixer (with at least a 4 qt bowl) continue
mixing (machine knead) for at least 5 minutes until the dough is cleaning
sides of bowl. If mixing by hand, mix until dough is "right" and cleaning
sides of bowl. :) Then knead by hand for ten to twelve minutes... Clean
bowl and lightly oil/grease sides and bottom. Return dough to bowl. Cover
with damp clean cloth. Let rise til double in bulk in warm draftfree place
(I use my often with pilot light only where applicable). My new oven I turn
on a few minutes...turn it off. Check temp and put dough in to rise with
door shut... THis should take about one hour to rise. WHen finished,
portion into dough balls, work with hands, flatten out and place in hot
frying oil. Turn once during frying. :) Wait til color is right. Serve as
desired with pizza sauce, cheese, confectioner's sugar..etc.
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Mel's' Dishcloths...

Had a request to share that pattern, I will later. A good longtime internet friend in Holland wants it...The Netherlands... So will post that later.... Meanwhile, view the next post!

Mel

Paperback Swap Online

Found an interesting site today while looking for a book.... :) Check it out! I am signed up now and am giving it a try. From what I read it has been referenced on several major network TV shows. www.paperbackswap.com

Enjoy!
Mel