Vicki Lane's Blog, page 60

Dawgs and Corycat

                                                                        

Sometimes Otter is needy.

Let the wild rumpus begin!



I'm outta here.

Ah, sunshine and blessed peace!

The end of the rumpus.

A Trivia Question

                                                                   

As I lay dozing, in the dream-time between letting Jenny out at seven and getting up and on with the day at eight, once more an array of random thoughts and questions swirled through my half-awake mind. Trivia. Lots of trivia.

Trivia, I mused. From the Latin--three roads. And it was the name of a curriculum in ancient times-the study of three things. But what were those things? Geometry, I think, and what? and wasn't there also a quadrivium--studying four things? Oh, dear, I'm going to have to get up and ask Mr. Google.
What a pleasure to have the answers so available. Mr. Google and Wikipedia tell me that the Trivium (the study of grammar, logic, and rhetoric) was the first order of study, laying the groundwork for the Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.) 
Together they comprise the Seven Liberal Arts--thinking studies as opposed to practical studies like medicine or architecture. It's a fascinating article HERE.
A few years ago, a fellow writer who was part of the English Department at one of the NC state schools, told me that they had had only one (1!) student declare English as a major that semester.
I was aghast. I so enjoyed all my English courses as I worked on my BA and then my MA. The only major that sounded more enticing to me at the time was Art and I didn't feel confident in my abilities there. English was fun --reading and writing came easily. And when I graduated, I could teach. Or maybe even write. Plus, all that trivia I was absorbing has given me plenty to think about for the past sixty years. 
But these days, it seems, all the liberal arts courses are going begging as harsh reality, astronomical college tuitions, and student loans necessitate a well-paying job on graduation.
There is much to be said for a practical education, from engineering, computer science, medicine, to plumbing, car repair, horticulture, and the like. Where would we be without physicians and car mechanics?
And what is the role of the liberal arts in today's world? Beyond providing trivial fodder for pub games, FB quizzes, and the wittering on of an old English major. I know that my life is enriched by what I learned, but is that enough justification?
What do you think?

                                                                                                         
                     

An Inconvenient Wife

                                                                                     

Having been a long-time fan of historical fiction about Henry VIII and his six wives, I jumped at the chance to read Karen Olson's modern re-telling of the predicament of a powerful man, burdened with wife after inconvenient wife. 

The novel stands on its own as a mystery, but it's a lot of fun for those of us who are familiar with the old "Divorced (Catherine of Aragon,) beheaded (Anne Boleyn,) died (Jane Seymour,) divorced (Anne of Cleves,) beheaded (Catherine Howard,) survived (Katherine Parr)."

(Divorced isn't quite accurate: these were annulments.)

Olson has a lot of fun too, finding modern names that suggest the historical counterparts--Anna Klein for Anne of Cleves, Hank Tudor for Henry, and so forth. She excels at spinning what is known of these women into modern personalities. Her take on the Anne Boleyn character is especially vivid.

This Tudor romp opens as Hank, a wealthy businessman, has  just married his sixth wife. And a headless body has been discovered on one of his estates. Again. 

We hear from the other wives--in person or through diaries and second-hand accounts. The plot twists and turns--this is after all, a whodunit, and here, Olson departs from the historical facts in service of a rattling good story.

Read a fine review HERE.

The Most Beautiful Time

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

From a Member of the Silent Generation

                                                                                      

At the Easter Party this year (and last,) I sat on thesidelines as Hostess Emeritus and left the decisions and hard work to Justin,Claui, and a host of younger family and friends who have moved into the hosting roleseamlessly.

It was such a pleasure to just sit and take pictures withouthaving constantly to be on the alert for problems. Do we need more pork? Whowill hide the eggs? Have the napkins run out? WHAT are those dogs doing now?

I also realized that I was now the type of rather wobbly,somewhat deaf partygoer that our late dear friends Paul and Grace had been. Theyattended the party well up into their eighties and beyond, assisted by kindneighbors. Everyone knew them—a local couple who had welcomed all the new people.And everyone wanted to have a word.

                                                     

As I sat in my chair near the barn, strategically locatedfor taking pictures, various folks would stop by and chat a bit--especially folks I probably hadn't seen since last year. Funny thing--these days,the innocuous question “How are you?” especially when there’s an emphasis onthe middle word, sounds a little to me like “What, still here?”

Rather than go into the saga of my funky right knee and mynever-be-the-same left ankle, (not to mention the deafness which they canprobably surmise from my repeated use of the word What?), I rather thinkI’ll start saying, “Not dead and I haven’t bitten anyone today.”

It was a wonderful, multi-generational gathering, and all the kids running about felt like hope for the future. 

My hope is that their future isn't a grim as current trends might indicate.

                                                       

Quite a Party--and How About That Weather!

Yikes, so many pictures. I tried to choose but hated to leave out anyone, so . . .




























The Hunt: There are three. A tiny corner of the front yard s marked off for toddlers accompanied by a parent. This year there was only one--and he won the prize for the most eggs AND for the golden egg.
The rest of the front yard is for kids up to/through 2nd grade. (Second graders can choose to hunt in the front yard (easy) or up on the Hillside (challenging) with the older kids.
Charlottesville cousins Drew and Amelia and Jack managed the hunts.




































 

Rabbit, Rabbit. . . and Chaucer

 There will be a LOT of Easter Party pictures tomorrow. But for now, Josie would like you to know she won the prize Blus Bunny) for most eggs found. 23!
                                                                       

 

Happy Easter/Spring! (with pics from Sat.)

                                                                            

(I found this post card in my mother's childhood scrapbook)

                                                    

Brightening John's shop with borrowed quilts . . .

A baby quilt from long ago.

Some old: some new.

So many beauties.                                                                                                                

                                   Herself is giving advice on the decor.

                                                              

                                Now where to put the wreath?

                                                          

                                            Making progress...

                                                        

                    Time to gather for another meal that can't be beat.

                                                         

The fire provides coals for the cooker where the Boston Butts are slow-cooking.
                                                          
Cousin Jack took a bunch of kids for a ride.                           And a good time was had by all.

                                                          

                                                        

The Game's Afoot

Thursday night gathering at Justin and Claui's house as friend and relations roll in to help with Easter Party setup.

A spirited gathering. . .

A resourceful young un.

Justin and his buddy Josh have been friends since they were Josie's age. And their dads (and moms) have been friends too, for forty-some years.

Josie is thrilled to have her buddy Saxon (and his mom) here for the weekend.

It was a lively time, with cousins from Charlottesville, Josh's family, and all the grandparents. 
Onward to the pre-party Saturday, after most of the setup is done.

 

Bailey Says Welcome to Doggy Daycare

                                                                               

On the days their people go to work, my friends Otter and Domino bring themselves up for daycare.                                                                                     

They come trotting up the path, ready for treats and some rumpus time.

                                                                                    

The Woman and the child are reading a book while roughhousing is happening on the leather sofa.

Jenny is singing the song of her people. Domino isn't impressed.


Otter likes to relax.

So does Domino.

Jenny is disappointed because she wants to go out and run and howl, and she was hoping for some pit bull backup. Not happening.
Certainly not with me. I'm your basic homebody. My previous life was outside in a pen, and now that I'm here, I like the inside--rugs and sofas and snacks and friends to play with. 
Life is good!