Popping In

I hadn't planned on posting yet but I thought this was sweet enough to warrant some notice. Made by students in Quinhagak (pronounced QUINNA-hawk) it's fun to watch and reminds you that Christmas is everywhere.Andrew's been to Quinhagak and it's a village like many others in Alaska. I imagine they used every person in the village to make the video.

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Also, congratulations to Gretchen at Lifenut who has won the T20 Single Serve Brewer giveaway from last week. Here's hoping she's nice and warm all winter.

Nativity Sets

I have a couple nativity sets though neither is particularly full of sentimental value to me. I can't remember where I got the first one but it's the teeniest, tiniest, bite-sized nativity you've ever seen, with baby Jesus being about the size of a pea--a split pea that is.

The other I got at Walmart for about $9.95 because I figured I really ought to have a nativity set and as I didn't really like any of the sets I saw in the stores, one was as good as another so I went for cheapest.  Ten years later it's still not fancy or pretty but it's what we've got.

Now maybe if I'd seen one of these (and had plenty of money) it would be a different story.

How many nativity sets do you have? I know people who collect them until their homes are overrun with magi and barnyard animals. This faux-origami porcelain nativity from Gumps is really quite the thing, isn't it?

If you have small children and want to have the pieces last until the next year you may want this wooden block nativity. While it's not fancy I kind of like the simplicity. The nativity story dice also listed on the site is quite a nice idea.

Then there is this wooden triptych nativity.

And a nativity carved from a Tagua nut in Equador.

And a stone nativity carved in Kenya.

Or a Japanese imperial family.

Maybe a nativity made from recycled metal pop can strips from Zibabwe is more your style?

Or an African style family from Ghana?

I particularly like this wooden nesting set

and this Peruvian clay set with it's modern-yet-traditional look.

It's rather fascinating how one story can be translated so many ways, using whatever materials are on hand.  But my very favorite is the nativity my mother has. It's so simple and I love the way Joseph has his arm around Mary (the two figures are separate) as if it's really a family scene. The picture is hard to see but you'll just have to take my word for it.

A Christmas Book and Giveaway

We've got our decorations up and this Saturday we'll be suiting up to head south into the wilderness to harvest our very own Christmas tree so I'm definitely feeling the spirit of the season. Pictures to follow.

I wanted to share this beautiful book that I was sent to review that is more than just a sweet little book about Christmas.  If you've ever felt that Christmas was overly commercial or that the meaning of the holiday was lost among the wrapping paper and price tags then I completely (or should I say unreservedly? Unconditionally? Fervently? Take your pick) recommend that you read What Think Ye of Christmas? whose beautiful message shared through brilliant water color illustrations teaches that the holiday is still there and spiritually thriving if only we take the time to look for it in the many symbols of Jesus Christ. It's simple and full of hope and joyous--all of which we need more of in our lives, no?

The book is by Ester Rasband and this second edition is illustrated by Jana Winters Parkin (a blogging friend, if I may call her that) whose artistic credentials are as impressive as the book she's produced.  I'm so pleased that she asked me to review her work because it's not only added a greater depth to my enjoyment of Christmas but has given me a good gift idea for our friends that goes beyond the tasty yet transitory plate of cookies or fudge.

There is a discount on Parkin's website if you purchase more than 5 copies which is a great deal on the already reasonable $9.95 for this hardback book (plus an extra 5% discount if you type CHARRETTE in the discount box at checkout)

She is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky person who will get to see for themselves how great the book is.

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am, the morning of Saturday December 11 go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in the following Monday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all people with a U.S. address. Good luck!

Merry Christmas

I'm going to be taking a break for a couple days until Saturday when I'll have a special Norah Jones and Lego giveaway (doesn't THAT make you wonder a bit? Because when you think Legos doesn't your mind just naturally jump to the thought "Oh, yea--Norah Jones!")

But in the meantime I'm going to leave you with a couple treats from Christmases past. First, from Christmas 2008, these sweet little jam sundaes for which the directions are here: How to Make Jam Sundaes.

Then, from Christmas 2007 an anecdote that still makes me giggle:

I was doing the Christmas Eve preparations in the kitchen, baking pies and getting ready when I commented to Andrew that I'd eaten so much that I was like Santa. David perked up at this and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well I'm starting to 'shake when I laugh like a bowl full of jelly'."

"OH!" He said happily, "My nipples shake when I laugh!"

It brought conversation to a halt. What does one say in response to that revelation?

Then it made me wonder if Santa's are shaking too.

And then finally from Christmas 2006, "Alternative Christmas Songs":

Lillian: (singing Angels We Have Heard on High)
"GloooooooOOOOOOOO--ria!
In-ex-pen-sive Day-O
GloooooOOOOOOOO--ria!
In-ex-pen-sive Day-AY-O!"

David: (singing Jingle Bells with his distinctive lisp)
"Oh what fun it is to ride
In a slippin' slippin' sleigh-AY!"

Spencer: (singing Let It Snow, Let It Snow and knowing full well what the correct words are)
". . . and since there's no place to go,
yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow."

David: (singing Frosty the Snowman and no he doesn't know what that word means)
"Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, jolly ho--
With a cock-eyed pike and a runny nose and two eyes made out of coal . . ."

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Sponsored by Color Incorporated Digital Prolab for your digital printing needs

Alaska Inside and Out

I haven't felt very festive at all lately, it doesn't seem as if it could possibly be December 9th already, and I've found myself wishing that I could get a bit of a delay on the whole holiday thing--you know, push it back a week or two so that I could be good and ready. Apparently I need to brace myself for impact.

Nonetheless, we went out Monday to cut our Christmas tree. Instead of doing our traditional breakfast binge at IHOP this year we did the dine-in option. To make it more fun we pretended as if we had menus and everyone ordered whatever they wanted including but not limited to: cherry covered pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and omelets and somehow they all thought it tasted better than if we were eating out (though I think they were just being kind).

The fog was heavy on the inlet as we drove south but on the return trip this is what we saw coming down from the pass back toward Portage:


And by the end of the evening this is what we saw:


And suddenly I felt more in the mood.

Lillian and I sat down to finish the beaded crystal snowflakes I started nearly a year ago but didn't quite finish in time for Christmas 2008 so our windows are decorated, our tree is up and we are officially Christmas-worthy. Bring it on.


Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Beautiful Homemade Gifts

We've been encouraging the kids to make their own Christmas gifts but it's not always easy to find good projects that people will actually like.

Here follows some of my favorite projects from around the web--some good for kids, some better for adults--there's still enough time to get a start on some of these.

1. Make felt book covers
You can find good patterns all over the place for felt book covers, I've seen some with cute little pockets for pencils or strings attached with charms on them, this is one of the prettier versions and the link above gives a step-by-step tutorial.

2. Crochet snowflakes
Martha Stewart has a tutorial for a few styles but you can find these too all over the place. Pretty as package toppers or for decorating the tree or a window they're a beautiful little gift. Someone gave me a set of them years ago and we still hang them on the tree.

3. Make a bedside organizer
This is a good gift for younger gift givers and with a bit of glue it can be a project that doesn't require any sewing skills. A good gift for adults or kids, boys or girls.

4. Grow a ginger plant
By using a piece of ginger root you can start your own ginger plant indoors--a nice gift for someone who likes plants. They like humidity and filtered sunlight like most tropical plants so they're not a bad option as a houseplant. The instructions are on the link.

5. Make tiny terrariums
You know I love terrariums, they're just so cute and they always make fun gifts. A few of my recent favorites that I've come across are Altoid tin gardens, and lightbulb terrariums, globe terrariums.

Plants are always a nice gift and tiny is always endearing. The perfect combination.

6. Make a sewing duck
I love this little guy--I've seen another pattern for one where there is a pin cushion built into the duck's back.

This particular sewing duck was on Etsy and has since sold out though you can get an idea how to make one from the picture. Very clever.

7. Crochet knights and a castle
See this cute little toy? A castle with knights, a dragon, a horse and princess--cute beyond words.

And you might even have time to finish it before Christmas if you hurry. Of course if you don't like the castle you can always instead crochet a dwarf battle helmet which is extremely tempting.

8. Make a tea party play mat
This is so cute! You'll need some sewing skills but if you've got the time and the skills it promises to be a gorgeous gift. And since I'm not including a picture with this one I'll just say that it's a tablecloth that has plates, cups, silverware and tea goodies on the fabric just as if it were a tea party set for a princess. Really cute. Did I say it was cute?

9. Make a bottle of sea glass candy
So pretty! I love the packaging too--nearly as sweet as the candy inside.

I think I'd make mine watermelon flavored. I really like watermelon flavoring for some reason--it's weird though because it tastes nothing like real watermelon.

10. Make a survival kit
A great gift for kids to make, you take a tin box (again, Altoids work well) and fill it with things for your recipient's hobby. Fill it with bandaids, gauze, ointment and aspirin for a tiny first aid kit or fill it with wax, a wick and a package of matches to make an emergency candle (both are good things to keep in your car or kitchen).

Fill it with a needle, thread, buttons and tiny scissors and it makes a great sewing kit. Put a bandaid, flash drive, piece of candy and a pre-paid calling card and it's an emergency kit for your college student.

All sort of possibilities.

11. Make your own perfume
I haven't done this yet but it sounds so fun to try. If nothing else, you'd come away smelling so good.

12. Make a nutcracker
All this would take is a bit of drilling and a clamp and you've got a modern and sleek nutcracker, Don't forget a bag of walnuts.

13. Make some slippers
Very chic. The tutorial is there so there's no excuse.

14. Make an outdoor fire pit
I've wanted to do this for a while but there's not much sense in making a fire pit this time of year. No one would stay outside long enough to enjoy it. But still . . . it's a fun project.

15. Make iron-on placemats
Another project kids could make. This version has you ironing apples on burlap with fusible webbing but you could easily change it to a holiday picture or you could have children cut out their own shapes and let them decorate it with unique patterns.

Either way it's a cute project and would make a sweet gift.

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And you can see previous posts where I've listed other great crafts for kids to make here:

Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make
Crafty Gifts to Make
More Crafty Gifts to Make
Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Happy Thanksgiving

Andrew pulled this out and had us read it as a family this week. It's Washington's official declaration of the first national day of Thanksgiving from 1789 and I thought you might also enjoy it, Happy Thanksgiving.

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WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requsted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

George Washington

Mini Cornucopias

These are cute little favors my mother made when I was little and they're still as fun as they were twenty years ago.

Tiny little cornucopias that can be used as place settings or favors or table decorations.

To shape the horn, just gently steam a sugar cone until it softens (about a minute, be careful not to burn yourself in the steam) then bend the tip up. Hold it in place until it hardens again (just a moment or two) and then fill it with treats.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope your holiday is wonderful.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Homemade Halloween Window Clings

Here's a terrific Halloween craft idea in plenty of time for the holidays and credit goes to my sister Carinne for the picture and for the idea.

That is her front porch you see, her pumpkins and her homemade Halloween window clings, don't they look great?

I love the spooky, ghosty look.

Here's how you do it: take a packet of those SunShade Travel Clings (that's the brand name for those removable tinted plastic pieces you can put in your car windows for shade) and with an Exacto knife and a fun Halloween pattern underneath you cut the film out and *poof* you have a wonderfully spooky Halloween decoration.

Here's a piece of clip art I pulled off the internet which would work well, just do a search for "Halloween Clip Art" and find a template you like and you're set.

The window cling film can also be purchased in solid white which would make fun snowflakes or white ghosts, you could change it to fit all sorts of occasions.

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

Printable Disney Haunted Mansion Game

I'm giving you this in plenty of time for Halloween, because you might need it. Remember the Haunted House ride at the Disneyland park? One of my favorites.

Well, this is a printable game that you can make up yourself--or better yet, put your ten year old Webelos scout on the project. That'll keep him busy for the weekend.

Instead of reposting the pdf links here you can find them at this site here. I would suggest downloading the files onto your computer and just saving them, even if you're not interested in putting it all together right this minute. Or this year. Because it may come in handy when your kids are a bit bigger, you never can tell when you'll need a good weekend project like this.

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And here are a few other cute ideas for the upcoming holidays if you'd like more tricks and treats.

Here are a couple fun little pins for the season you can knit up from Lion Brand.

Lion Brand also has these stripy Halloween bags to knit.

Whip Up has a fun Halloween advent calendar.

Waxing leaves is a great way to save the fall colors.

I've wanted to try this styrofoam Halloween shack for several years now. Maybe this is the year.

Going as Voldemort? Then make your own snake for the event.

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Worst Villains Ever--Or Is It Best Villains Ever?

You may have noticed that I tend to do lists on Thursdays. It's an old habit from long ago and it just won't die. But this month, in honor of our Halloween holiday I'm going to stick to Halloween-ish themed lists, starting with this one. Spooky, no?

I figure, why not? What else have you got to read on a chilly Thursday morning?

1. Best Historical Villain: Nazis
If you want to find someone who will be universally vilified and hated, Nazis are your man (is your man?) You cannot get nastier or more evil than the Third Reich--we tried to use Communists here and there to take their place as Baddest Group Villain for a while during the Cold War (remember Rocky IV? Red Dawn? The Manchurian Candidate?) but it just didn't work as well, it felt too much like propaganda but Nazis? They're ALWAYS in season.

2. Scariest Unseen Villain: Sauron
Maybe that's the secret to his success as a villain--no one really knows what he looks like or what would happen if they came face-to-face with him. Even Gandalf is a little vague on that point. But regardless, you're pretty sure when you're reading the books (and I should point out here that I'm going with Sauron in the books rather than Sauron in the movies who actually is slightly less villainous than his literary counterpart) that if you ever should happen to sit down to tea with him you'd be in big trouble. Big trouble.

And by the way, I think it's just genius that he's depicted as a big ol' eye of fire. I've mastered the art of glaring like that at my children and it keeps them right in line.

Anyone who eats orcs for breakfast isn't exactly fuzzy and warm now are they?

3. Best Supernatural Villain: Voldemort
Voldemort's success just proves that if you really want to freak people out get rid of your nose. His appearance is part of it, trying to kill a baby gives him some weight but what really gets him props is a) he carries around his very own evil animal sidekick and b) he's got his own merciless henchmen Death Eater group. If you want to set up in business as a Class A Bad Guy, just get yourself an animal and a group of well-organized lackies and you're on your way. Though I'd probably suggest not going with a kitten or a bunny.

4. Best Female Villain: Malificent
I'm including her on the list because she gave me nightmares when I was a kid. Serious nightmares. It was the horns I think, or maybe that whole thing about being able to change into a dragon? Nope, it was the horns, definitely the horns.

You'll notice that this list is surprisingly bereft of female representation and that's because it's really hard to find a woman who can play bad without resorting to physical attraction--which, while it garners respect in certain Bad Guy circles, really is a secondary thing and unrelated to one's ability to be downright evil. To prove my point all you'd have to do is ask 100 men on the street if they're more attracted to or scared of Sharon Stone. I think that settles it.

In fact I think it's kind of detracted from the whole Females-As-Ultimate-Bad-Guys Movement. Think about women in history and how many were really bad? Most weren't known for being particularly bad as much as being able to hook the man who was even worse. Think Hitler and Eva Braun. You know we'll never be taken seriously as Bad Guys until we can be bad completely on our own without a man's help and Malificent does it best.

5. Best Space Villain: Darth Vader (with a nod to HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey)
I had a hard time passing up the aliens in Alien--they were pretty bad--but then how responsible are they for their own actions? Or are they just a species struggling for survival, not unlike the spotted owl or the giant panda? If so then there's an element of sympathy there for a group of creatures so misunderstood as they have been.

Hollywood has not been kind to those who happen to lay their eggs in human hosts and I don't care to further the alien-as-demon stereotype here. And if there's sympathy for the villain they don't make my list.

So . . . Darth. Able to crush his enemies with the Force . . . capable of killing his own offspring . . . able to speak with the voice of James Earl Jones? Very impressive. And the whole breathing-through-the-mask thing gives him big points in the Spooky Category. Lucas tried to make him all cute and fuzzy in The Phantom Menace which nearly toppled him from the list but then he was so darn irritating and whiny in Attack of the Clones and followed up with that evil yellow-eyes scene in Revenge of the Sith that I think I'm safe including him.

And as a footnote I'd mention that Lucas also gets a mention for creating the Most Disappointing Villain Ever: Darth Maul. Never has a villain had so much promise and so much potential evil-ness yet so little screen time and so few lines. Why did they waste the double light saber on that guy?

6. Best Group Villain: The Borg
That whole collective-conscious thing terrifies us modern enlightened liberal democrats (with a small "d") like nothing else doesn't it? I think that if I were a Russian serf in the 19th century I'd feel like I was pretty much part of the Borg as it was but nowadays anything that tries to destroy free will and independent thinking is about as scary as it can get.

And then of course there's that whole drilling-into-your-face-with-technology angle that tops it off.

Hey! I just got a thought. Maybe Google IS the Borg . . . resistance is futile. You will be catalogued and crawled. I mean assimilated.

7. Smartest Villain: Professor Moriarty
You have to give a hand to the guy who wins in the end. Most villains ultimately end up as toast but Professor Moriarty is one of the few super villains smart enough to actually outlast the hero. Impressive, very impressive.

While he doesn't have the terrifying mannerisms of some of the other guys on the list and doesn't come from an alien galaxy this is the villain who's too smart to be caught monologuing at the end. He just kills off the hero, just like that. End of story.

8. Most Creative Villain: All Bond Villains
Shark tanks? Lasers? Steel-rimmed bowler hats? Iron teeth? You have to give a nod to the creativity of the Bond villains as a whole. They aren't the smartest, they aren't the most evil or the deadliest (sometimes you almost wish they'd get Bond just like you want Wile E. Coyote to finally catch that stupid Roadrunner) but anyone who can come up with asphyxiation by gold paint has to get some kind of an award.

9. Best Average-Joe/Redneck Villain: Clubber Lang (nod to the hillbillies in Deliverance)
I almost wrote "Mr. T." on this one because honestly now, do you really think of him as Clubber Lang or as Mr. T.?

The way he pummeled Rocky and taunted him made me want to taken him down for a whole hour and 47 minutes solid. No pity, no sympathy whatsoever though I hear Lawrence whats-his-name is a very nice guy in real life.

10. Most Disturbingly Attractive Villain: Commodus
I did not like Gladiator. It was just too darn disturbing and full of suffering for my taste and it was all thanks to this man: Commodus, who takes crazy-powerful-greedy-creepy to a new level.

It was my first introduction to Joaquin Phoenix and after that it took me a few movies to get past that whole thing-with-his-sister and killing-off-the-family thing. But all in all--he is a Bad Guy who's easy on the eyes. When he's not putting people's eyes out or something.

Though I secretly admit, my grandfather used to call the toilet the commode so every time I hear this guy's name I giggle. I wonder if that takes some of his mystique away--being named after an outhouse and all that.

11. Best Villain in Captivity: Hannibal Lecter
Again, I think this is the whole key to the success of Lecter--he's captured during the whole movie but there's that fear that he's somehow, someway going to break free and do something Truly Horrible. I mean, he's not really any of a worse character than the Bad Guy they're chasing through the movie, right? But because Lecter is in prison, face-to-face with us then he's much scarier. The threat of him breaking free is always there and it's so horrible I can't watch the movie. I only got about half-way through before I had to give it up.

And on another note I find it interesting that some actors can consistently play believable Bad Guys (take Jack Nicholson for example) and it just doesn't appear to be much of a stretch for them. But Hopkins? He's the cinematic equivalent of a Care Bear and the fact that he can go from Lecter to Remains of the Day to whatever is impressive.

12. Best Insane Villain: Norman Bates
Nobody does insane better than Norman. In fact, I attribute my distrust of Mr. Rogers directly to this man and his wardrobe. One look at Mr. Rogers' zip up sweater and conservative haircut and I wouldn't get in the shower for a month.

I thought Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Mission Impossible III did a fine job at scary-crazy but if I can't remember the name of his character he really shouldn't win a spot on the list, now should he?

13. All-Around Scariest Villain: The Joker
Of course I'm talking here about Heath Ledger's version, not the cartoon Joker, not Jack Nicholson's interpretation nor Caesar Romero's. In fact the other guys kind of make you wonder why Bruce Wayne had such a hard time taking the guy out because really, while clowns are scary (I'll give you that) they shouldn't be much of a hassle for the Dark Knight.

But this latest Joker is particularly scary just because of his lack of motive. As the great Alfred says, "Some people just want to watch the world burn." And that is what freaks you out about this guy the most.

Well, that and the fact that he's wearing purple and green together.

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Have you thought about entering the Write-Away Contest? It's up and running again, the topic is "Fear" and the prize is from jaC Jewelry!

It still hasn't snowed . . . just in case you were wondering, so the snow contest marches on without a winner yet.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Easy Halloween Treats

I miss the old days of Saturday morning cartoons. I lived for Scooby Doo and of all the episodes the "Green Ghosts" one was my favorite. Tell me I'm not the only person who read Agatha Christie later in life and thought she'd stolen her Ten Little Indians plot from Scooby Doo . . .

Anyway, it's October, we're talking Halloween and these have got to be the easiest treats for kids to make.

You get a bag of those fake-chocolate drops for candy making (you can get them at Walmart or at any place that sells candy making supplies) and melt them in a glass container in the microwave, stirring until they're melted and spreadable. They're easier to work with than regular chocolate because because they don't burn as easily when you melt them but you still have to watch them a bit.

Then you cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and scoop up a blob of the fake chocolate goo and spread it with a spoon into a generalized ghost shape. Add upside down chocolate chips for eyes and a stick at the bottom and you've got yourself a Green Ghost you can bite.

Ruh roh!

The beauty of it is that you cannot go wrong with ghosts, the shape is perfect no matter what.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Lessons Learned from The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward is a classic with its vintage pictures but that's only half of the reason I love this story (as proof you can see that I have the same well-loved copy I had when I was a child).

To me it's the ultimate in true feminist literature.

I'm aware that that's a bold statement to make but if you aren't familiar with the story let me give you a basic outline. It tells of the Easter Bunny--or more correctly the Easter Bunnies (there are more than one)--who each year deliver the eggs to the children of the world. A young little girl bunny dreams of growing up to become one of these chosen bunnies but gets married and has a family as only a rabbit can (21 babies) and her plans have to be set aside when life takes over.

But despite what you think might be a minor set back she performs her duties as a mother with such skill and care that her 21 children are resourceful, independent, helpful and kind.

One day the proclamation goes out that one of the Easter Bunnies has to retire and it's time to pick a new Easter Bunny to take his place. The mother bunny takes her 21 children to the festival to see the tryouts and gains the attention of the Old Wise Kind Head Easter Bunny (because, after all, she's at a party with 21 children. And I feel as if people stare at me with only my four!)

As the Old Wise Kind Head Easter Bunny is exactly that--wise and old and kind--he soon sees that the mother bunny has exactly the qualities he's looking for and surprises everyone by appointing her to fill the vacancy.

The story then takes a slight detour into the adventure the little mother bunny has in performing her duties as an Official Easter Bunny and demonstrates in the process courage, determination and all those good virtues that a proper children's story should exhibit but after the night's work is finished she quietly takes her own little basket of goodies and heads home to her family.

So how on earth did I find feminism in a 1939 children's book written by a man? I'm glad you asked. May I quote?

One day a little country girl bunny with brown skin and a little cotton-ball of a tail said, "Some day I shall grow up to be an Easter Bunny: --you wait and see!"

Then all of the big white bunnies who lived in fine houses, and the Jack Rabbits with long legs who can run so fast, laughed at the little Cottontail and told her to go back to the country and eat a carrot. But she said, "Wait and see!"

The little girl Cottontail grew up to be a young lady Cottontail. And by and by she had a husband and then one day, much to her surprise there were twenty-one Cottontail babies to take care of.

Then the big white rabbits and the Jacks with long legs laughed and laughed, and they said, "What did we tell you!' One a country rabbit would go and have all those babies. Now take care of them and leave Easter eggs to great big men bunnies like us." And they went away liking themselves very much.

I find it marvelous that DuBose Heyward could write something 70 years ago that speaks to me so clearly. I find it rather inspiring (if that's not a ridiculous word to use in connection with a children's picture book about a rabbit) how the little Cottontail takes her motherhood duties so seriously and does them so well.

Then to two of them she gave little brooms and showed them how to sweep out the cottage, and two she taught how to make beds. Two more went with her to the kitchen, and in no time at all had found out how to cook a good dinner. And with these went the two little dish-washers, and they made the glasses shine like crystal . . .

I can picture Heyward (the writer behind Porgy and Bess by the way) telling this story to his daughter Jennifer with all the tenderness of a parent's love. Here's what I've learned after the approximately 159 readings of this book:

• Suddenly you look up one day and have all these children--and may not be entirely sure how it all happened so fast.
  


• Moms have dreams too and not only is it okay to have interests outside of your children it's a healthy thing that usually makes you a better mom if you don't let it take over your real job.


• There is a time and a season for everything.


• Be patient, you won't always have babies and small children around. The time does pass . . . eventually . . . though usually faster than you anticipate.
  


• Be careful who you laugh at because you could one day end up eating their dust.
  


• Having a large family hardly means one is irresponsible. It can be a great blessing.


• Motherhood takes amazing skill to be done properly but it can be done.
  


• Motherhood isn't about doing everything for your children but teaching them how to do it for themselves.


• Let your children take a chance by doing something on their own without you hovering over them. Give them a chance to prove themselves--even if it means walking away while they struggle a bit.
  


• Children should be well behaved in public (as well as in private).


• Motherhood, while eternal, won't always require the same things of me as it does now--it will change as I do.
  


• Teaching is more effective when accompanied by example rather than lecture.


• Work with your children's natural abilities and talents.


• Children work well with buddies to help them get things done. Positive peer pressure and all that.
  


• If you're feeling like you're doing all the household work don't yell at your husband, instead put your kids to work. After all, it's their laundry too and they're more capable than you think.
  


• The aesthetics in a home are as important as the food being on the table and the arts make the work more enjoyable.


• A clean home can be managed with a large family.


• Motherhood isn't all about chasing children (though it helps to be in good shape).
  


• Sometimes you have to work all night to get the job done.


• Sometimes you don't sleep at all.


• There are plenty of people who value motherhood so don't undersell your talents or abilities or think you're alone.
  


• Women can do most things just as well as men though usually in their own unique way.
  


• A mother's influence often goes beyond the boundaries of her own home.


• It's important to remember where your heart should be. Hurry home.


• And a woman can do anything with a great pair of shoes on her feet.

Of course all this is lost on my children. They just like the story and the whole Easter Bunny angle.

Happy Easter to all of you, I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Sponsored by Greetings of Grace where you can find beautiful pressed flowers.

Coiled Rope Easter Baskets

This is one cute little craft because it can be adapted for so many holidays and circumstances.

All you have to do is coil nylon rope (the thicker the better) around and around while holding it in place with a thin line of glue.

We used hot glue and it's easy to have small hands coil while adults do the hot gluing--the hardest part is getting the round started but once it's established older kids could handle it by themselves.

You can coil the rope into any shape that fits your mood: hearts, eggs for Easter (you see mine here), chickens, flower baskets, pumpkins, even plain old circles.

Fill them with candy, rolls, straw, flowers, leaves--oh the possibilities are infinite. Okay, well maybe not infinite but I bet you could really get creative with the idea.

I wanted to try braiding strands of sisal or jute together to make a thick braid and coil that for a nice natural look.

Sponsored by Pink and Blue for unique baby gifts to make them "ooh" and "ahh."