Have a Lovely Weekend.

I absolutely loved that first article. Charlotte’s Web holds such a dear, dear place in my heart. I’ve been thinking and reading about mortality a lot lately, and after reading that article, it dawned on me just how loving Charlotte’s act toward Wilbur is. She knows he fears death and is not yet ready for it, so she makes it so that when it is time for him to die, he has the chance to do so with dignity, acceptance, and grace (just like Charlotte). As adults we can think this stuff is beyond children’s understanding, but they still get it in their own ways–and sometimes more than we do.

I always enjoy the weekend round-up but I really feel I need to speak up about the “work dress” suggestion. I agree that it is a beautiful dress but, for most professional women, it is completely work-place inappropriate. I wish I could say that, as women, we have reached a point in history where we can wear what we want, but, quite frankly, if I were to walk into a 10:00 AM client meeting wearing this no one would take me seriously. Again, it is lovely, but not for work.

(Rue, of peas wisdom, back at it again in the comments.) EB White wrote a wonderful essay about raising a pig, which is the inspiration for Charlotte’s Web. It’s worth reading if you’re curious about Kate DiCamillo’s question about how White pulled off the children’s book so beautifully. Looking at the seed of the idea before it became a book is fascinating. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1948/01/death-pig/309203/

Talk about stellar opening lines: “I spent several days and nights in mid-September with an ailing pig and I feel driven to account for this stretch of time, more particularly since the pig died at last, and I lived, and things might easily have gone the other way round and none left to do the accounting.”

I had a fifth grade teacher who asked the class for a show of hands if we truly loved reading. Several of us put our hands up. Then he asked for a show of hands if any of us had cried while reading a book. The same group of kids raised our hands. His point was that the kids who hadn’t raised their hands should stick with it until they found a book they connected with deeply enough to cry, and that would probably make them lifelong readers. Not sure about the other kids, but I sure as heck am a dedicated lifelong reader AND still a book crier.

Fary tales and basketball players dancing. ❤️

Why did that last “fairytale” make me want to cry??

I loved that thought on sad children’s books—as a kid I read a lot of Patricia Polacco (specifically Pink and Say and Thank You, Mr. Falker, over and over and OVER), she really had a knack for that type of writing. As a kid, I recognized those books as sad, and sort of imbued with this intangible meaning—it was later that I recognized they were teaching me how to hurt, and how to heal.

The last modern fairy tale made me tear up. Just perfect.

Another thing to do with frozen peas: This is from Nigella Lawson. Cook 3 cups frozen peas in 2 cups vegetable stock. When the peas are tender, 10 to 15 minutes, puree in blender or food processor. Add some olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. She suggests using ham stock if you have it and if I don’t have homemade vegetable stock, I’ll use chicken stock. Also, if you have a Parmesan rind in the freezer, add that while cooking the peas. Simple and delicious!

What a timely article from Kate DiCamillo, as my boys and I just started listening to the audiobook version of DiCamillo’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” in the car today. It’s full of sadness, realness, and longing and we’re loving it so far.

Your link round ups are always on point, but can I just say thanks for always linking to open in a new tab? I actually get mad when other sites don’t do it because you’ve spoiled me. It’s the little things really. :)

Wait, what does the author serve with the onion dip? Need more info.

Love the link about the Lipton soup. We make that dip often! I use greek yogurt instead of sour cream to make it feel slightly virtuous. But! The pro tip is taking the second envelope and sift out the dried onions, and add them to the dip. (Toss the leftover powder.) More onion punch. Plus you won’t have that lonely second envelope floating around your pantry unchecked.

Wow, I really appreciated the article about children’s books. Its so hard to capture in words the horrible and wonderful parts of this world and I think that article did a very good job.

I’m going to the Women’s March LA !! Hope there will be enormous
crowds in all the cities around the country!