Sturdy for Common Things

Seeing Things

Evergreen forests,

whimsey,

and sleigh bell parades.

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Sturdy for Common Things 2.0

Wowza! Looks a little different around here, doesn’t it? What do you think? The lovely Joy Laforme gave Sturdy for Common Things a major design makeover for which I am extremely grateful. Joy, you have a magical talent and are a whole lot of wonderful. I couldn’t be more pleased. And a big thank you to my techie brother, Kyle, who assisted Joy in providing the bits and pieces she needed to get the new Sturdy for Common Things up and running.

For those of you who have your own blog homes or websites, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the hours of TLC it takes to keep it maintained.  And you might also agree that blogging is far more than a hobby. I feel like gardeners and bloggers are similar this way. It’s more of a commitment than just remembering to water the plants. It’s a practice if you want it to thrive. It’s a practice to be proud of, something alive and entirely your own.

This was the best early Christmas present a girl could ask for.

This evening

Tonight, when I put L to bed, I held her close and told her I loved her. Like I do every night. Except these past two nights have been a little longer. With a few silent tears.

I was at work today. I often work Saturdays at the library. And the kids were being rambunctious and were maybe a bit louder then I usually let them get, but I didn’t mind as much today. I didn’t do anything to stifle their shrieks and laughs. I let it slide. I let them be kids. I’m still sad. Like most. I printed out some handouts about how to talk to children about tragedy because it was the only thing I could do. My job. I helped a few people find books, and I prepared for tomorrow’s storytime which is about snowmen.

It even feels trivial to write this now, but I know you are just as heartbroken as I am.  So, I’m doing what I know. Holding. Working. Writing. Loving.

Loving my daughter, loving the children I serve, loving those children that died.

Were you able to see the moon tonight? It looks like Langston Hughes “Winter Moon”. In the words of my fellow coworker, “Langston Hughes wrote a poem for such a moon”. Which reminds me of his “Dream Keeper” poem.

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamer,
Bring me all your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

-Langston Hughes

Seeing Things

November morning light.

Dinosaurs and milk mustaches.

Thanksgiving greetings.

Thanksgiving leftovers

Santa makes an appearance (and gets stuck).

You better watch out, you better not cry…

You better not pout, I’m telling you why.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Happy Holidays! How was everyone’s Thanksgiving? We had both mine and my husband’s family in town over the weekend, so we had lots and lots of visitors. Sticking with last year’s non-traditional Thanksgiving tradition, we decided to save everyone some stress and order Chinese food take-out. The day after Thanksgiving, we all participated in the city of Lawrence’s annual downtown street-lighting celebration. After the lighting, the public gathers to watch the rescue of Santa Claus, a bizarre little tradition that’s gone on for I don’t know how long. Each year Santa finds himself stuck on the top of Weaver’s, the downtown department store. The city’s fire department rushes to the rescue him and therefore saves Christmas. Afterwards, kids have the chance to sit on his lap and make their Christmas requests, but it was extremely cold so we opted out of the latter.

The past few years I’ve been a bah humbug when it comes to Christmas, but seeing L’s face when she first saw Santa on top of Weaver’s was all the reason for me to get in the spirit of the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

With much love, Rebecca

Image: Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Knopf, 1970. Illustrated by Donald Chaffin via Flavorwire

Seeing Things

Librarying…

Falling in Kansas…

Knits and caps…

Eastbound…

Set.

Afternoon with auntie.

Patriotic…

Layovers.

Mousey moves…

Halloween grins.

Cheer. Here, here!

Happy milestones. Happy November.

Our so-far Fall includes: Red and orange walks, a trip to  Rhode Island to visit my sister and support her for her final senior volleyball game for University of Rhode Island.  We left the east the day before Sandy hit. Even the birds were trying to get out of town. Halloween came and went. The candy came and went. Will’s 30th birthday came and went. 30 balloons for 30 years.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And the end of 2012.

But let’s not think about that just yet.

I’ve also been doing quite a bit of librarying. Specifically, quite a bit of writing about librarying. (And yes, in case you were wondering, “librarying” is a made-up word. I occasionally borrow it from a coworker.) Over the past several weeks I’ve contributed to the ALSC Blog with “Sharing One Story”, my newest art education piece for Library As Incubator Project‘s Pages to Projects: “Take Art for a Spin!”, as well as my quarterly contribution for Lawrence Kids Magazine, a little DIY crafting feature, “Reuse Lawrence Kids”.

No matter how big or how small, I’m proud of these endeavors. I’m proud to share them with you. Proud of my family with their growth and landmarks and discoveries. Good things are brewing.

 

Seeing Things

Blue bites,

stacks of wonder,

paper cuts,

Color across pages through afternoon rain and thunder.

Growing kit.

Just when you think no one is looking…

while the walls are vibrating. Harmony, melody, two by two.

You look over your shoulder and can’t recognize what’s behind you.

It’s been a hectic fall thus far. At the library, at home, and all around. I feel as though I’ve been caught in a storm the past month or so, but can finally see it breaking on the horizon. Other than the sleep I’ve been missing, I’ve also missed being here. Writing here. It’s been a natural part of my schedule for over two years now and when I don’t make the time for it, the effect is similar to when I don’t get my cup of coffee in the morning. It’s not a good situation. For me, or for anyone in close proximity.

I first started writing this post four weeks ago and already so much has changed. L even looks so much different than the pictures above. I was going to scrap it, but decided against it. I thought you might like to give it a read regardless. For those of you who visit frequently, thank you for your patience in my absence. And if you’re here for the first time, thank you for visiting. Have some tea and enjoy your stay. I’m back and there’s a lot coming your way!

Life Lately

This picture pretty much sums of life lately…

The laundry continues to pile up on the bed. Dishes pile up in the sink. Will is busy with school. I’m busy with work and restyling my blog. L is busy being a two-year-old. Sleep has become an afterthought.

We’ve been working on finding some semblance of peace to keep us sane. Sometimes it feels like I only see my husband in fleeting moments. As soon as we wake he leaves, as soon as he comes home, I’m out the door. Something’s gotta give. But for now, our only commitment is to the hope of a some shut eye.

Even if it has to be on three loads of laundry.

Seeing Things

Shallow waters.

Recommended reading.

Crimson petals.

Summer in a bottle.

Pipe cleaners and popcorn.

Weatherized library style.

Bee in a buggy.

Fan mail.

Evening river walk.

Looking up.

Growing up.

We are nearing the end of the summer. A majority of the kids that frequent the library have gone back to school. I’ve switched from working my summer schedule of longer hours to my school year schedule of nights and weekends. Summer school ended two weeks ago for Will and fall semester will start Monday. It’s back to being just L and I during the daytime. We are transitioning.

The illustration of a women to reading to children is from an article written by Elizabeth Bird in School Library Journal about becoming and being a children’s public librarian. The article is available to read online here.

The picture of a table full of pipe cleaners is from the library’s last bash of the summer, celebrating summer reading participation. The the street was blocked off, and people enjoyed live music outside, the kids made a couple different crafts including this crown craft and there was free kettle corn, cotton candy, and hotdogs.

I summer-ized of my uniform. Snip, snip! Because I felt sleeves just wasn’t an option at 103 degrees.

Speaking of attire, L’s preferred accoutrement is a slightly-too-small bumble bee garment.

I received a postcard from a storytime fan. All the way from Vancouver. Now that is a library.

Made. my. day.

Lawrence is slowly starting to fill up, as university towns do the August before class starts. Young people are everywhere. They are younger every year.

Now before I go, I want to take you back for a moment. Now look at that last image.

Go back again if you’d like.

My baby mine.

Summer Skies

When the summer starts to stretch into August, blue skies start to become cluttered with sunflowers. Reaching up and out, tall and proud, flexing their fingers these golden sun worshipers, declaring their love of light. When a breeze blows through off the plains, they shake and sway, entranced in dance.

I look up, they look away.

 Summer skies in Kansas.