August 21 - 31
"After all, what is the chief sign of growing old? Is it not the feeling that we know all there is to be known? It is not years which make people old: it is ruts, and a limitation of interests. When we no longer care about anything except our own interests, we are then old, it matters not whether our years be twenty or eighty. It is rejuvenation for the teacher, thus growing old, to stand ignorant as a child in the presence of one of the simplest of nature's miracles - the formation of a crystal, the evolution of the butterfly from the caterpillar, the exquisite adjustment of the silken lines in the spider's orb web. I know how to "make magic" for the teacher who is growing old. Let her go out with her youngest pupil and reverently watch with him the miracle of the blossoming violet and say: "Dear Nature, I know naught of the wondrous life of these, your smallest creatures. Teach me!" and she will suddenly find herself young." - Anna Botsford Comstock
-I went for a hike at our local nature center. I saw massive water lilies and a beautiful mature Great Blue Heron.
- I have gone to the gym to lift weights.
-I made a peanut butter granola. I have only made granola one time in my life and I'm not certain why I have not made it more considering the fact that I love granola. My all-time favorite cold cereal, even in my youth, was a granola cereal, C.W. Post. Man, I loved that stuff. I have several different recipes queued up and am excited to give them a try.
- I read Pillage by Obert Skye and the sequel, Choke. While reading this book, I was transported back to our homeschooling days. I spent many an enjoyable evening reading this book aloud to the boys. Additionally, we had the opportunity to hear Obert Skye speak and to meet him at a literature festival. Good times!
- I learned so very much while reading the book about Edward Curtis. Prior to reading the book, I was familiar with his photography. I was unaware, however, that he was an ethnographer intent on preserving the languages and customs of the native tribes found in the States. He filmed dances and recorded languages. Written pronunciation guides were included in his books. These guides and other documentation have been used, relatively recently, by several tribes to revive their language and traditions. He also made an "opera" that was performed at Carnegie Hall and across America. It was involved Curtis narrating as photos and film clips were projected on a screen with musical accompaniment by an orchestra. The orchestra played music written by Gilbert that was based off of recordings of music from a host of tribes. Although not typically credited with this feat, he, arguably, made the first feature length documentary. He did take some creative license but it was all based on fact and, notably, had a full Indian cast. This film was largely lost to time after being shut down. There are efforts to restore it. This is all so amazing to me. I never knew. He was a visionary that sacrificed so much. Much is owed him.
- I dined at an Indian restaurant with Bishop and dining with Bishop is always a learning experience. He was very knowledgeable about the food. I had Chana Masala, yum. We also had great conversation. I shared with him much of what I have found interesting about the Edward Curtis book and this led to quite a bit of conversation about different Native American groups, historical policies of the American government related to the Native Americans, and we posited theories about culture formation.
- I shared with Bishop some of what I had learned about the Osage Indians. He, in turn, shared with me some information about the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe in Minnesota. They are the wealthiest tribe in the United States. The 480 members of the tribe each receive approximately $84,000 per month from the profits of the casino owned by the tribe. This led us to research the Sioux. The Sioux are a confederation of closely allied bands that have related mutually intelligible dialects of the Siouan language. The bands are Nakota, Dakota, and Lakota. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux are Dakota.
- I read From Chaos to Clarity by Mike Signorelli; Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward S. Curtis by Timothy Egan; Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck; These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901.
- I am currently reading The Prince by Machiavelli; Ameritopia by Mark Levin; and Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.
- I am doing disco tutorials.
- I am watching episodes of the Great Baking Show. I am learning about traditional British foods that I had never known of; such as, malt loaf. I may endeavor to make some of these foods.
-I am doing the mandolin tutorials found on YouTube at MandoLessons. I have learned the chords in the Key of G - G,C,D. I am learning to play the song 'Cindy'. I can play it but need to keep practicing the transition from G to D and the strumming patterns. I have learned the scale in G and am trying to figure out how to pick the melody of the song Cindy, by ear. Additionally, I practiced the songs (chords) You are my Sunshine and Take Me Home, Country Roads.
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