Zorg's 13 Trip: Part 1

We have a custom of taking our new teenagers on a one on one trip of their choice.   Technically speaking, Zorg won't be 13 until early September, but it seemed silly to then make him wait until the following summer to take his trip.

He chose Legoland Florida!

It had amazing Lego sculptures!

 Some of which were very familiar...

And all of which were awesome!

It also had plenty rides and fun games.  They did a good job making the rides interactive: there was a boat ride which doubled as a gigantic water gun fight!

 The Emperor was taking pictures on his phone and sending them back to the rest of us.

Naturally, my favorite picture was a giant Lego cephalopod!  

Poem of the Week

When on a Summer's Morn
by William Henry Davies

When on a summer's morn I wake,
And open my two eyes,
Out to the clear, born-singing rills
My bird-like spirit flies.

To hear the Blackbird, Cuckoo, Thrush,
Or any bird in song;
And common leaves that hum all day
Without a throat or tongue.

And when Time strikes the hour for sleep,
Back in my room alone,
My heart has many a sweet bird's song --
And one that's all my own. 

HT: Poetry and Poems

Money Well Spent

 Klenda has been interested in cooking for as long as I can remember, so, when I got an ad for Great American Home Baking, I thought she might like to give it a try.

This is one of those deals where they give you a binder with different sections and then every month they send you recipe cards.  I like this more than cookbooks (although we have plenty of those) because we really try a greater proportion of the recipes when we only get a few at a time.


The first recipe she tried was Chocolate Buttercream Pie.  It was dreamy.  No really, look at the expression on Oob's face!
It was a mousse like pie with melted chocolate, condensed milk, cream cheese, and whipped cream. 

Oh yes, it had mini chips sprinkled throughout the filling. 

Did I mention it had a home made cinnamon crust?

It's a win!!

Ahhhh, Vacation

 Last week we went up to NJ to visit my folks.  For extra bonus family time, my niece was visiting from Washington state!

Was she as crazy as the Zoomlians?  I'd say she fit right in.  The cousins had a great time together!

We went to see the circus together.  Amazingly enough, it was the Cole Brothers' Circus, the same one we go to in Maryland - it turns out they do shows further north in the summer.

 What else did we do?  Epic water fights (yes that's my mom, Mumpy, who's soaked to the skin there, but she gave as good as she got).

Lots and lots of fishing with Pa.  I wish I had thought to get a picture - Leena is fascinated with fishing, and I have no doubt that this was the high point of her summer!

 Choclo and Oob did hours of Angry Birds building.

Mumpy ate Choclo's toes (with whipped cream), and I'm pretty sure that was the high point of his summer.

 This might be the high point of mine: three generations!

It was a lovely trip, just too short!

Poem of the Week

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core. 

 

HT: Poetry Foundation

The Moral of the Story

We recently watched this short:


What was the moral of the story?

Choclo and Oob: Don't kill yourself to prove something is dangerous.

Leena: Don't argue!

Zorg: Don't be stubborn.

Mxyl: Dumb things tend to repeat themselves, and there's no need to get stuck in the loop.

Klenda: Be really patient and quiet when you're waiting.

The Return of Beowulf, Part 3: the Movie!

I had very little part in this production.  When I suggested they could do a play, I was thinking they would do a just a scene or so. 

What surprised me most was the amount of detail they included - Look, there's Hunferth, giving Beowulf his sword!  Look, the blade of the enchanted sword dissolves after killing Grendel's mother!  Look, Queen Wealtheow serves the cup to everyone in the hall!

Great job, Zoomlians!  It was epic!  Way better than that other movie.

The Return of Beowulf Part 2

Not everything in Beowulf seems heroic now.  What about all that bragging?  The text says that Beowulf bragged humbly!

Some of that is a cultural difference, of course, but some of it is still true: Beowulf says exactly what he does, he never adds things to his exploits, and when someone else helps, he honors them in the story.

We had to try it!  First, I sent my loyal thanes upon a quest to slay a giant laundry monster. Upon their triumphant return, I, their noble lord, rewarded them sweet words and with fowl, sorely vexed. Then we feasted, and each mighty warrior took his turn boasting like Beowulf.

Wondrous were their war-like deeds, mighty was our laughter! Our hall pealed forth merriment unmeasured that would have struck rancorous rage in the heart of Grendel.

Which reminds me, have you seen Julian Glover do Beowulf?   I saw him perform parts of it in the Michael Wood documentary on Beowulf,but here is a recording from when he was a bit younger (introduced by some one a bit older!).

The Return of Beowulf, Part 1

I first encountered Beowulf when I was 5 1/2, reading a collection of "literature for children."  My mother had given me the book to keep me occupied while her baby shower was going on (my little sister was coming).  I don't think she realized what was in the book - to this day I remember that particular image of Grendel which made me afraid to open that page! Yet, the lasting fire in my imagination was Beowulf the hero.

It wasn't until I did Beowulf with my own kids about 5 years ago that I realized that most kids don't encounter Beowulf until high school. 

This time around, I've been reading from  The Story of Beowulf , supplementing the battle scenes with passages from the unabridged Beowulf, while the kids color their own Beowulf books. 

I really like the Marshall version: it tells the story without getting bogged down in the ancient genealogies, yet still retains some of the exalted flavor of the language (people don't "think about things," they "brood thereon").

The story has sparked a great deal of discussion: about heroism, bragging, pride, forgiveness, loyalty, magnanimity, the struggle against sin, the nature of greed and generosity, and the evolution of our culture.

Choclo and Oob were particularly impressed with the story of the dragon.  He had so much gold!  And yet, when one cup went missing he was angry and wanted revenge.  And he couldn't even use the cup!  Would we be like that if someone took one of our Legos without asking? Hmmm.

Poem of the Week

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies

 

HT: Poem Hunter