In These Hills: February 2009

The Tropics in NH

>> Thursday, February 19, 2009 – winter

This has been vacation week--we've been virusy and stuck inside for too many days. I thought we'd go crazy with one more day in the house so we went off on an adventure. Where do you go when you've got a chest cold? Somewhere humid! So, I gathered up the girls and our art supplies and took them out for a day of surprises.

We began our adventure by going to the Dartmouth greenhouses. I had always heard about them, but had never visited We discovered room after room filled with banana trees, tea plants, cacoa trees, and coffee plants. Here's Hels holding a coffee bean--it's red!

Their biggest collection is of orchids. There were orchids of every size and color imaginable. The botanist on duty gave us a tour and showed us how to identify them.

We had fun at the greenhouses and then went on to a sinus-clearing lunch at the new Korean restaurant. Lots of chicken soup and spicy sushi.

Our sinus cure continued with a stop (with our art supplies) at the Dartmouth College art museum--you need humidity to keep paintings in good condition. I was most excited to see their new exhibit of Native American basketry--something I collect.

While I was very happy to see the exhibit, the girls weren't so excited about drawing at the museum. Luckily it didn't cost anything to get in (love college art museums!). They wanted to go back to sketch at the greenhouses. Back we went!

Hels decided to paint orchids.

Lou found her corner.

I settled in near this little fountain.

Darwin the Zebra Finch kept me company. I could almost imagine I was in the Galapagos!

These 3 tiny rooms on the roof of the Life Sciences Building were like a tropical fairy world. We sketched for over an hour and came out with red cheeks and cleared heads.

We frequently go off to a greenhouse at this time of year. The beauty of this little one was that nothing was for sale. There was no argument over which plant to buy. The gestures were of appreciation rather than acquisition.

And guess what? No coughing last night!

Lou is 10!

Lou celebrated her birthday a day early because Nels had to work in Boston today. At the very last minute she decided on a fish theme for her birthday dinner. She cut out these fish and hung them on streamers.

In our continued spirit of using what we have around the house, we made a few little felt fish to swim about in front of the windows.

Lou invited one family for dinner and Hels created quite the treasure hunt for the children. They had to sled down a big hill to retrieve a clue, climb back up for the next clue, and go all about. Their final gifts were felted blowfish that she had made.

To her GREAT surprise, she discovered two REAL fish on the dining table! Their names are "thunder" and "lightning."

We got to use the birthday board for the first time. It was special to use it. Look at that smile on her face.

I can't believe it has been 10 years since little Lou was born. Her big story is here.

Now we're back to a quiet mode where we've been for about a week--lots of viruses floating about this house!

The Birthday Board

>> Tuesday, February 10, 2009 – Crafts

It will be Lou's 10th birthday next week. Recently I asked my parents if they could send me a photograph and measurements for my Grandmother's birthday board. I had thought about making a copy as it holds wonderful memories for me. Instead, I inherited it!

This birthday board was made by my Great-Grandfather. The cake sits in the middle and there are 50 holes for candles! The best part is that his name is written on the back as having made it. Here is my little brother presenting my Grandfather with his birthday cake. There are candles in the cake and on the board in this photo.

We've had some fun thinking about what could go in some of those empty holes amidst the candles. In the spirit of "make do with what you have," we went through our cookie cutters and chose our favorites....Nels and Lou then cut them out in wood....

...and we glued them onto dowels. Nels chose the sailboat. Hels chose the star. Lou chose the little man.

Here's my chicken all painted and placed in the birthday board. I would eventually like to get our initials or numbers to put in the holes.

I think it is important to use family treasures and not let them sit on a shelf. If we want our children to treasure things that are passed down and have meaning to us, we must build new memories and traditions that are right for them.

Lou is very excited and honored to be the first member of "our" family to celebrate her birthday with "Great-Missy's Birthday Board." Sniff. I get all weepy just thinking about it!

Grandmother's Valentines

>> Sunday, February 8, 2009 – Crafts

Every Valentines Day my Grandmother sent a little handmade white card with simple hearts and a saying. They were always sent anonymously (but we always knew who had sent them--even if they were signed "a nonny mouse").

My girls are always fascinated by these clever little cards. I love their simplicity. The girls take inspiration from the sayings and simple ideas adapting them to colored papers, glitter, and sticky hearts.

Every year we look at Martha Stewart's creations, but always come back to Grandmother's cards for our inspiration. Here are some of this year's. We had fun making little envelopes for them as well.