QUICK!
What's that song in the background? I had it running in my mind for AGES a few years back, but of course one can't identify a song easily if one doesn't know the words!
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I've got a mini-problem.
Ana and Evangeline sometimes come out with gems of wholly inaccurate information. For example, in California they told us that they thought if water got in their ear they could go blind.
Me and my mom: No, honey, in fact, that's pretty much the stupidest thing that's ever been said, seriously.
Them: But Grandma said...!
See, now, there's the problem. If it should happen again (we found out after the fact that Grandma is also responsible for them thinking mice and raccoons go seeking out little girls to get sick, although how much of this is what she actually said and how much of this is small child hyperbole and blame-shifting, I don't know), what do we say? I mean, if we've already dismissed the idea as being completely asinine and without merit. If we know in advance where the idea came from we can say "sometimes grown-ups make mistakes, sweetie", but usually they don't pull out their credited source the first time we ask, only after we share our opinions on their little tidbit of false information. (I hate that. If I ask who told you, and you say you don't know, keep saying you don't know! Don't remember after we tell you you're wrong! NOT COOL. That's what happened when Ana's friend told her sex = grown-ups kissing in bed. It took me a month to track down where she heard this! Well, actually, that explanation of sex isn't that far off, but anyway.)
Hey, hey, LJ, what on earth should I say?
Me and my mom: No, honey, in fact, that's pretty much the stupidest thing that's ever been said, seriously.
Them: But Grandma said...!
See, now, there's the problem. If it should happen again (we found out after the fact that Grandma is also responsible for them thinking mice and raccoons go seeking out little girls to get sick, although how much of this is what she actually said and how much of this is small child hyperbole and blame-shifting, I don't know), what do we say? I mean, if we've already dismissed the idea as being completely asinine and without merit. If we know in advance where the idea came from we can say "sometimes grown-ups make mistakes, sweetie", but usually they don't pull out their credited source the first time we ask, only after we share our opinions on their little tidbit of false information. (I hate that. If I ask who told you, and you say you don't know, keep saying you don't know! Don't remember after we tell you you're wrong! NOT COOL. That's what happened when Ana's friend told her sex = grown-ups kissing in bed. It took me a month to track down where she heard this! Well, actually, that explanation of sex isn't that far off, but anyway.)
Hey, hey, LJ, what on earth should I say?
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Got me a problem of sorts, to think over for a while.
Ana went to this program today. 45 minutes of trampoline and 45 minutes of rock climbing. AWESOME! She loved it, big grin on her face the WHOLE time.
Didn't nab a single picture, I'm sorry to say, but that's okay, I plan to go back.
Here's the thing. The group of 14 kids was divided approximately by age. Ana, of course, was in the younger group.
The older group did rock climbing first. I noticed as they did it that all the kids were up on the rock at once, on the part of the rock face that juts out a little and is somewhat more challenging.
When it was Ana's group's turn for the rock, because they were younger, they went in what I could see is the "easy" spot - straight up and down. Unfortunately, that spot (the corner) was small enough that only one kid could go up at a time (this after 15 minutes talking about safety, which was necessary, no argument). So Ana didn't get much climbing in... and as it was, she was getting up there (15 feet!) pretty fast. It wasn't difficult for her at all. (It never is, no type of climbing.)
I totally intend to go again (and get some pictures next time)! She had so much fun! But if they divide roughly by age again, I want her in the group that does more climbing. Watching her and the other kids I think she's ready for it (with the same level of help that the others had, of course), and I know she'd prefer to do more climbing instead of sitting down.
How does one go about requesting this without coming off like one of those people, though? You know, the ones who think their kids are sooooo special rules just don't apply? I don't think there is a hard-and-fast rule here, but I certainly don't want it to seem like I think my niece is just much too advanced, etc. etc. etc.
Didn't nab a single picture, I'm sorry to say, but that's okay, I plan to go back.
Here's the thing. The group of 14 kids was divided approximately by age. Ana, of course, was in the younger group.
The older group did rock climbing first. I noticed as they did it that all the kids were up on the rock at once, on the part of the rock face that juts out a little and is somewhat more challenging.
When it was Ana's group's turn for the rock, because they were younger, they went in what I could see is the "easy" spot - straight up and down. Unfortunately, that spot (the corner) was small enough that only one kid could go up at a time (this after 15 minutes talking about safety, which was necessary, no argument). So Ana didn't get much climbing in... and as it was, she was getting up there (15 feet!) pretty fast. It wasn't difficult for her at all. (It never is, no type of climbing.)
I totally intend to go again (and get some pictures next time)! She had so much fun! But if they divide roughly by age again, I want her in the group that does more climbing. Watching her and the other kids I think she's ready for it (with the same level of help that the others had, of course), and I know she'd prefer to do more climbing instead of sitting down.
How does one go about requesting this without coming off like one of those people, though? You know, the ones who think their kids are sooooo special rules just don't apply? I don't think there is a hard-and-fast rule here, but I certainly don't want it to seem like I think my niece is just much too advanced, etc. etc. etc.
Okay, so, first I'd like to thank ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pne
He introduced me to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
we_swap_snacks and I'm so in my first snack swap.
I got matched with somebody in Saskatchewan. Which I apparently can't spell. Hold on. Spellcheck, I choose you!
Huh, there's an a in that word. Got it.
So, as I was saying, I got matched with a Canadian. I was hoping for somebody overseas, but I've never been to Canada, so that's all right.
Having never been to Our Neighbor to the North, I have no idea what sort of snacks are common there, so I'd love it if my Canadian friends can post about snacks they miss after visiting here, or things they've seen in the media but have never personally had. Also, I'm going to keep a running list once I get it started of things I'm buying to swap, so any critiques of "Man, that's ALL OVER THE PLACE" would be useful. I'd hate to embarrass myself sending something she can pick up down the block for a buck!
I'd also like to send some NYC-specific treats, and here I have the opposite problem. Having lived in this city pretty much my whole life, I have no idea what's NYC-specific! If it doesn't say I ♥ NY on it, how can I tell? (And I really am reluctant to buy tourist crap.) I may post innewyorkers for help picking NYC-specific snacks and convenience foods.
Any advice?
( MY LIST! )
we_swap_snacks and I'm so in my first snack swap. I got matched with somebody in Saskatchewan. Which I apparently can't spell. Hold on. Spellcheck, I choose you!
Huh, there's an a in that word. Got it.
So, as I was saying, I got matched with a Canadian. I was hoping for somebody overseas, but I've never been to Canada, so that's all right.
Having never been to Our Neighbor to the North, I have no idea what sort of snacks are common there, so I'd love it if my Canadian friends can post about snacks they miss after visiting here, or things they've seen in the media but have never personally had. Also, I'm going to keep a running list once I get it started of things I'm buying to swap, so any critiques of "Man, that's ALL OVER THE PLACE" would be useful. I'd hate to embarrass myself sending something she can pick up down the block for a buck!
I'd also like to send some NYC-specific treats, and here I have the opposite problem. Having lived in this city pretty much my whole life, I have no idea what's NYC-specific! If it doesn't say I ♥ NY on it, how can I tell? (And I really am reluctant to buy tourist crap.) I may post in
newyorkers for help picking NYC-specific snacks and convenience foods.Any advice?
( MY LIST! )
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I have a question. Two questions, actually.
1. The other day, I watched Evangeline carefully set out two cups and a bowl, fill the bowl by trekking back and forth to the bathroom with the cups, and then spend a happy half an hour scooping water back into the cups and pouring from one cup to the other.
Now, I know that this is a fine learning activity. It builds fine motor skills (and some life skills as well), it teaches an intuitive grasp of measurement and basic physics, you learn a lot by pouring water back and forth. And so I let her do it. (She cleaned up afterwards, another learning activity.)
But the question is - I know how useful this is for her development, but how the heck does she know it? Who told her? Children the world over enjoy pouring water from one cup to another, but who the heck tells them it's a good idea? HOW DO THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD DO THIS?
2. Evangeline and I talk about nutrition sometimes when we eat our lunch. I've tried to impress upon her the simple rule that we should eat a variety of colors in our daily diet. (Natural colors, thanks!) This is a rule that's easy for even very young children to grasp, and you can express it in a fairly poetic way, too.
I know that a variety of foods is good for my body. Does the same hold true for the compost? Like, if I compost a little bit of mango and a bit of eggshells and a bit of coffee grounds and a bit of wilted lettuce, is it going to make richer dirt (and therefore healthier, more nutritious fruits and vegetables) than if my compost is made primarily of, say, orange and banana peels?
Now, I know that this is a fine learning activity. It builds fine motor skills (and some life skills as well), it teaches an intuitive grasp of measurement and basic physics, you learn a lot by pouring water back and forth. And so I let her do it. (She cleaned up afterwards, another learning activity.)
But the question is - I know how useful this is for her development, but how the heck does she know it? Who told her? Children the world over enjoy pouring water from one cup to another, but who the heck tells them it's a good idea? HOW DO THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD DO THIS?
2. Evangeline and I talk about nutrition sometimes when we eat our lunch. I've tried to impress upon her the simple rule that we should eat a variety of colors in our daily diet. (Natural colors, thanks!) This is a rule that's easy for even very young children to grasp, and you can express it in a fairly poetic way, too.
I know that a variety of foods is good for my body. Does the same hold true for the compost? Like, if I compost a little bit of mango and a bit of eggshells and a bit of coffee grounds and a bit of wilted lettuce, is it going to make richer dirt (and therefore healthier, more nutritious fruits and vegetables) than if my compost is made primarily of, say, orange and banana peels?
So, those of you who are already listing chapter books
(And please feel free to spread the link to that entry around, I need help!)
...why not help me with something else and list me some fairy and folk tales. Not specific editions, per se (although if you have one that really rocks, that's awesome - and I'm openminded. If it merely seems like it could be traditional, such as The Apple-Pip Princess (black princess FTW!), or if it is based off of a traditional story, such as Bubba, The Cowboy Prince, I'm game), but just... stories themselves.
My nieces flatter me by saying I'm the best one to read books to them, they do, but I want to learn how to tell stories without having a book with me as well. And I also want to build up a supply of traditional stories in the bookcase, so I've got it both ways.
I suppose I could look up the Aarne-Thompson categories and mix and match to make up my own but... seriously, it's 1:44 here already. I don't know if this is an aspie thing or a me thing, but delving into an online (no mess!) pile of sorted and organized stories (and I've already told you all how I really like traditional stories and their variations as it is, oral tradition and how it changes is the underpinning of most of my interests)? I wouldn't get to bed until morning. TUESDAY morning, that is.
So, uh, no. Not today. (Maybe not ever. I know my limits. TVTropes is bad enough!)
No, no, no. A simple list of every fairy/folk tale our collective mind knows will suffice for now. I'm only going to list-list the traditional (old, that is) ones, but I'll keep recent books in mind if they're mentioned. Fables, too, those are good.
( Read more... )
...why not help me with something else and list me some fairy and folk tales. Not specific editions, per se (although if you have one that really rocks, that's awesome - and I'm openminded. If it merely seems like it could be traditional, such as The Apple-Pip Princess (black princess FTW!), or if it is based off of a traditional story, such as Bubba, The Cowboy Prince, I'm game), but just... stories themselves.
My nieces flatter me by saying I'm the best one to read books to them, they do, but I want to learn how to tell stories without having a book with me as well. And I also want to build up a supply of traditional stories in the bookcase, so I've got it both ways.
I suppose I could look up the Aarne-Thompson categories and mix and match to make up my own but... seriously, it's 1:44 here already. I don't know if this is an aspie thing or a me thing, but delving into an online (no mess!) pile of sorted and organized stories (and I've already told you all how I really like traditional stories and their variations as it is, oral tradition and how it changes is the underpinning of most of my interests)? I wouldn't get to bed until morning. TUESDAY morning, that is.
So, uh, no. Not today. (Maybe not ever. I know my limits. TVTropes is bad enough!)
No, no, no. A simple list of every fairy/folk tale our collective mind knows will suffice for now. I'm only going to list-list the traditional (old, that is) ones, but I'll keep recent books in mind if they're mentioned. Fables, too, those are good.
( Read more... )
A recent post
About somebody wanting to replace her clover with grass "for her babies" (we all largely piled on to politely enough say that clover beats grass any day of the week) got me thinking - our huge patch of clover that went from the front to the side of the house is much smaller. The grass is taking over!
So I want to reseed the clover, naturally. And I thought I might put a few patches of other groundcover on the edges here and there, like creeping thyme and whatnot. Can anybody suggest other groundcovers that are attractive (look or smell or feel pretty) *and* that can stand being stepped on often? It's not so much a yard as a creeping path - one day I'll draw a diagram of our house and yard space.
So I want to reseed the clover, naturally. And I thought I might put a few patches of other groundcover on the edges here and there, like creeping thyme and whatnot. Can anybody suggest other groundcovers that are attractive (look or smell or feel pretty) *and* that can stand being stepped on often? It's not so much a yard as a creeping path - one day I'll draw a diagram of our house and yard space.
My mother and I have a question about Psych.
You saw Friday's ep, right? The horror movie one? ( Read more... )
So, anyway, neither of us watches horror movies much. Me especially. I appreciate the value in a good scare, but not the kind of good scare that will potentially give me nightmares. (Do you know how LONG it took me to finally get through House With a Clock in its Walls? Of course, I probably shouldn't've been reading it at midnight, alone in the attic....)
We know this episode was full of references to this and that, but we just don't know to what.
1. Generally, where is there a site where I can see all the various things Psych has referenced? It's a very referency show, there must be a site about this somewhere.
2. Specifically, that scene at the end, with the three of them standing and looking out at the lake? It's obvious that's something (especially with Juliet emphatically shushing Shawn as he ruins the moment), but what movie is it?
So, anyway, neither of us watches horror movies much. Me especially. I appreciate the value in a good scare, but not the kind of good scare that will potentially give me nightmares. (Do you know how LONG it took me to finally get through House With a Clock in its Walls? Of course, I probably shouldn't've been reading it at midnight, alone in the attic....)
We know this episode was full of references to this and that, but we just don't know to what.
1. Generally, where is there a site where I can see all the various things Psych has referenced? It's a very referency show, there must be a site about this somewhere.
2. Specifically, that scene at the end, with the three of them standing and looking out at the lake? It's obvious that's something (especially with Juliet emphatically shushing Shawn as he ruins the moment), but what movie is it?
This is somewhat insane, but anybody play the SNES Mario RPG lately?
Yeah... I kinda need the script of everything the moles say in Moleville, the optional stuff as well as the unavoidable stuff. Any chance you guys have it, or know where to get it?
Random fact: I got ducky PJs for Little Christmas. Go ducks!
So, Ana's lips are ridiculously chapped.
[Poll #1327895]
And a very, very, VERY random question: Why do pimples on or behind the ear hurt more than pimples anywhere else? What's up with that?
[Poll #1327895]
And a very, very, VERY random question: Why do pimples on or behind the ear hurt more than pimples anywhere else? What's up with that?
Winken, Blinken, and Nod.
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Ed, Edd, and Eddy.
Up, up, and away!
Ego, superego, id.
I could go on like that all day. What is it called when you have three or more names or words in a list, and the first ones all are alike in some way but the last one is different? Like, the newest Sandra Boynton book, 15 animals, has a boy naming every animal in his house. They're all Bob except, naturally, the last one. There has to be a name for this!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Ed, Edd, and Eddy.
Up, up, and away!
Ego, superego, id.
I could go on like that all day. What is it called when you have three or more names or words in a list, and the first ones all are alike in some way but the last one is different? Like, the newest Sandra Boynton book, 15 animals, has a boy naming every animal in his house. They're all Bob except, naturally, the last one. There has to be a name for this!
Okay, here's one that kept me up all night.
I know that some types of potatoes are good for baking, and some types of potatoes are good for boiling, and some are good for frying. Others are "all-purpose" potatoes, presumably good (or bad) at everything.
But... how do you know which is which? I mean, if I handed you a random potato, and you didn't know what variety it was, and maybe you'd just found out that there are more than three types of potatoes in this world... how would you know what to do with it without asking?
But... how do you know which is which? I mean, if I handed you a random potato, and you didn't know what variety it was, and maybe you'd just found out that there are more than three types of potatoes in this world... how would you know what to do with it without asking?
Now that Ana's willing to admit she can read a little, I want more books she can handle alone
(Not that I know how much she can really read, but I'm going off what she admits to.)
This means I want suggestions for books in two different categories:
1. Books without words, where the kid works out the story alone
2. Beginner books that are intended for early reading - I've heard of, say, Bob books, or republished Dick and Jane books, that's the sort of thing I mean. They don't have to be inspiring, they just have to be simple.
Any suggestions?
Oh, and I've added a lot of books to my various online catalogs, if you're interested in what the nieces already read.
I have more books in Amazon than the others because I also include books there that I don't actually own - ones we took out from the library or read at the bookstore, especially if we happened to decide *not* to get it and I know why. After all that effort I'm now slightly irked that so few people call my reviews helpful there. (Well. Not that much effort. I get lazy after the first two words!)
This means I want suggestions for books in two different categories:
1. Books without words, where the kid works out the story alone
2. Beginner books that are intended for early reading - I've heard of, say, Bob books, or republished Dick and Jane books, that's the sort of thing I mean. They don't have to be inspiring, they just have to be simple.
Any suggestions?
Oh, and I've added a lot of books to my various online catalogs, if you're interested in what the nieces already read.
I have more books in Amazon than the others because I also include books there that I don't actually own - ones we took out from the library or read at the bookstore, especially if we happened to decide *not* to get it and I know why. After all that effort I'm now slightly irked that so few people call my reviews helpful there. (Well. Not that much effort. I get lazy after the first two words!)
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Ana is learning manners
The other day, when she met my uncle's girlfriend, she asked me a highly embarrassing question - "Why is her tummy so big?" and I tried to hush her up (while not simultaneously saying it's wrong to be fat, etc. etc. etc.)
Bit silly, the woman works with small children and anyway, I'm sure knows she's not overly skinny, but still, it was the only polite response I have for that sort of situation. (And advice is appreciated.)
At the time, I was thinking "Thank goodness she whispered", but now I wonder if she whispered on purpose (which still wasn't totally polite, since the woman was in the room with us, but at least it's an effort, right?)
Later that week, she asked me why the water here tastes "different". And I said that our water in NYC is some of the best in the world, and Bonne-maman isn't that lucky.
"Connie! That's not a polite way to say that, because you could hurt Bonne-maman's feelings! You should say "Sometimes things are different, and that's okay", because that's nice!"
Well. What do I say to that? (I said sorry, if you're curious.)
Bit silly, the woman works with small children and anyway, I'm sure knows she's not overly skinny, but still, it was the only polite response I have for that sort of situation. (And advice is appreciated.)
At the time, I was thinking "Thank goodness she whispered", but now I wonder if she whispered on purpose (which still wasn't totally polite, since the woman was in the room with us, but at least it's an effort, right?)
Later that week, she asked me why the water here tastes "different". And I said that our water in NYC is some of the best in the world, and Bonne-maman isn't that lucky.
"Connie! That's not a polite way to say that, because you could hurt Bonne-maman's feelings! You should say "Sometimes things are different, and that's okay", because that's nice!"
Well. What do I say to that? (I said sorry, if you're curious.)
Okay, what the heck is this?
I realized after I took a picture that it *can't* be plantago anything - the bottom of the leaves is right, the roots are right... but instead of the veins in the leaves going straight up and down, they kinda meander. Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking.
( Read more... )
Honestly, I don't normally see big-leafed plants like that, and what I do see are carefully potted plants that are tended, you wouldn't think they're natural to our climate up here! But this year I see these everywhere, and in untended gardens, too.
Long-ass roots, as I said.
Edit: The nice people ingardening are saying it's burdock, which seems right. If you can say otherwise, though, do tell me.
( Read more... )
Honestly, I don't normally see big-leafed plants like that, and what I do see are carefully potted plants that are tended, you wouldn't think they're natural to our climate up here! But this year I see these everywhere, and in untended gardens, too.
Long-ass roots, as I said.
Edit: The nice people in
gardening are saying it's burdock, which seems right. If you can say otherwise, though, do tell me.An article/post about skyr
Which is apparently yogurt made from buttermilk. Not buttermilk, the cultured stuff you buy at the store which you can mock up with milk and vinegar; but buttermilk, the stuff that's left over after you make butter.
Which raises an interesting question in my mind. See, the nieces can't have dairy. They can, it seems, have goat milk. I've been experimenting with goat yogurt (they liked) and plain goat milk (they didn't like so much), and smoothies (mmmmm), and now I'm wondering... can I make butter from homogenized milk if I have no access to either unhomogenized goat milk or goat cream?
Which raises an interesting question in my mind. See, the nieces can't have dairy. They can, it seems, have goat milk. I've been experimenting with goat yogurt (they liked) and plain goat milk (they didn't like so much), and smoothies (mmmmm), and now I'm wondering... can I make butter from homogenized milk if I have no access to either unhomogenized goat milk or goat cream?
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So, it's a standard story in sci-fi
The intrepid hero(es) wander off and do something that gets them "out of phase" with the rest of the universe. They can see and hear everybody, but nobody else can see or hear them. Maybe they're totally incorporeal, and maybe they can move things around.
But why doesn't it ever work the other way? Everybody else can see and hear them, but they're wandering around in a fog, only able to see the other things and/or people out of phase?
But why doesn't it ever work the other way? Everybody else can see and hear them, but they're wandering around in a fog, only able to see the other things and/or people out of phase?
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Oh, I have a question!
Does the "squeek squeek" bats purportedly make ever sound more like "skiffle skiffle"? If not, what the heck was that flying above my head yesternight that was grey (probably - y'know, it was dark out) and looked bat-like and went, uh, skiffle skiffle as it flew?