Dear Neighbor,

Rachel and me

            This past week I’ve been visiting my sister, Rachel, and her husband, Bert and their family in Oklahoma.  I had every intention of writing a newsletter on Monday, but there was a day of home school to marvel at and observe.  Rachel and Bert home school all seven of their children (technically, I suppose Hydn, their one-year old, doesn’t count but you try to keep him out of a conversation.  One day all of Rachel’s high-school aged children sat down to have a discussion on Bach and John Locke.  We gathered in Bert’s study—everyone with their notes and ideas—ready to discuss these men’s contributions to society.  Hydn pounded on the door until we let him in and then he climbed up on the empty chair and jabbered as if he was contributing to the conversation and then threw his head back to laugh a courtesy laugh at what had been said.  I handed him a paper and he held it up with both hands and “read” it and then looked over the top and jabbered some more and ended it with another courtesy laugh.  This went on for several minutes; clearly he had participated in intellectual discussions before. 

Calder making a clay water pot

And, while the younger ones were studying geology and making pots, ashtrays and plaques from pond soil and distinguishing between sedimentary and igneous rocks, Hydn climbed up to the table next to them and supervised their pottery-making, occasionally jabbering instructions. 

studying salt crystals

When they studied crystals and minerals, he was building tinker-toy crystal creations right there with the rest of them and peering through the magnifying glass.  So, I dare you to try and tell Hydn he isn’t being home schooled like the other kids.)  After a day of home school, there was a walk to take through the beautiful green pastures (dotted with horses) that surround their place, and neighbors in overalls to stop and visit.  As you can see, there was just no time to write a newsletter on Monday.   

            I had every intention of writing a newsletter on Tuesday, but there was the tradition of all the girls going to lunch, so Rachel, Maddie, Jesse and I went to town and then went on a sight-seeing trip through the town of Butcher Pen (imagine it if you will).  There was a university and college campus to see and we also HAD to stop at Craighead’s Five and Dime and peruse the contents—for starters there were all shapes and colors of fake mustaches, folding sunglasses, candy sticks, spools of thread, sewing notions and jacks.  It has original wood floors and an antique tin ceiling.  It’s not a fancy recreation, it’s an original leftover and some of the contents have been sitting on the shelves a very long while.  How else could you explain finding a full-sized box of dishwasher soap for 75 cents or a box of unbreakable plastic combs for 29 cents?  As you can see, there was just no time to write a newsletter on Tuesday.

Pal making cupcakes

            I had every intention of writing a newsletter on Wednesday, but it was April Fool’s Day.  How long has it been since you celebrated April Fool’s Day with an eight year old?  There are rope traps to be caught in, and plastic mice to be frightened of, and kitchen sink spray nozzles that have been rubber-banded to spray you in the face to be laughed at, and cupcakes with cotton ball centers to bake.  Wednesday was also the day to be amazed at the things I learned about Bach and Locke.  As you can see, there was just no time to write a newsletter on Wednesday.

            I had every intention of writing a newsletter on Thursday.  But Thursday was a perfect day for a field trip.  We drove to Denison, Texas—while Bert drove and taught us about Bach as we listened to his music—to see Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birthplace.  The little home he was born in was not twenty five yards from the train tracks and so they hung all pictures in the home from ribbons or cords so they could sway back and forth when the house shook.  I knew President Eisenhower had attended West Point because there is a large statue of him there that looks a lot like the one in Dennison, but what I didn’t know was that as a promising athlete he blew his knee out in the first football season and became the head West Point cheerleader, or that he had 215 demerits, or that he was the first five star general to never see combat.  We also stopped and toured an early fort in Oklahoma and had a picnic in the car.  When we got home we still needed to go on a walk to collect fossils to supplement the geology lesson earlier in the week.  The kids found them everywhere in the creek beds and what with hiking through their property and visiting with all the kids and Rachel as we walked, well . . . as you can see there was just no time to write a newsletter on Thursday. 

            I had every intention of writing a newsletter early Friday morning on the flight from Dallas to Denver so I could mail it during my layover, but there was a young soldier coming home from his first deployment in Iraq and I was his first civilian visitor.  He was so excited and happy and laughed so freely.  He was thrilled at seeing trees, snow and lakes and telling me what he’d been doing and what things were like in Baghdad.  I asked him what he was most excited to eat and he said, “Something fresh off the bbq grill.”  He said the thing he was most excited to do was to take a long, hot shower.  Our conversation was invigorating and as you can see there was just no time to write a newsletter.

            I had every intention of writing an early newsletter this week, but as you can see, sometimes the very best answer is a good excuse.

Tip of the Week

            After being in Rachel’s home I have LOTS of new tips.  The one I’m sharing today is about displaying art.  Bert and Rachel have beautiful and significant art in their home.  They also study artists and go to museums whenever they can.  I am amazed at what art can add to a home.  There is a framed Sports Illustrated magazine cover that features Bert’s grandfather.  There is a picture of Joan of Arc.  There is a picture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane being tenderly comforted by an angel.  There is a picture of Peter and John racing for the tomb.  There is a picture of a pioneer woman shooting a gun with her husband looking over her shoulder.  There is a portrait of John Adams.  There is a picture of women and children collecting apples in an orchard.  But the one I saw first and that made me smile every time I saw it was this one:

            I wish I’d have utilized this tip earlier in my life to elevate and inspire, but it’s never too late and I can’t wait to display more art in our home. 

Recipe of the Week

            Rachel whipped this good lunch up one day and all I can give you is guestimates from watching her.  She cut enough chicken breasts to feed ten people into chunks with scissors and put them in a large frying pan.  She barely covered them with water and then added the seasoning packets from eight packs of Snak Ramen noodles.  She cooked the chicken in the seasoned water for ten minutes and then added a head of shredded cabbage and the Snak Ramen noodles (broken) and cooked until both were tender. 

            Rachel said it is more colorful to cook the noodles separate and then spoon the cabbage and chicken over the noodles, but I liked the idea of one pan.  She served it with crunchy, chow mein noodles on top.  I loved it.

Letter from the Trunk

            I had every intention of putting a letter from the trunk in this week, but I was visiting our most faithful contributor and it’s not like she sent me e-mails . . . we just sat on the couch and visited instead.

            I hope you have a great week.  Till next Friday, your neighbor—Jane