Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Curiouser and curiouser!

We are in chapter three now, and it has officially taken me in. 

Taylor and I read together every night, or rather - I read to her and she listens.  We recently completed Peter Pan.  One of my very very favorite books (any person who has not yet read this book has not yet truly lived).  And since I had just seen the movie and knew the book was loved by several individuals who's literary experiences I know and trust....I decided to read Alice to Taylor next.  Well, as stated above....we are now in chapter 3 and I am already looking foreword to tonight so we can read more!  There are a number of old children's books that are just simply amazing.  I am not sure exactly why, the only way I can explain it is that reading it is a spiritual experience.  You are not just reading the book, you are a part of it.  The book comes alive and you are a character.  Laughing, crying, living, breathing, having adventures and coming home safe in time for bed.  People in my life have told me before that I should try my hand at writing children's books.  But see, I can't do that.  I can tell an entertaining story (we tell stories when we go on walks, we can't get past two sidewalk squares before Taylor asks for one) but it is forgotten by that evening by all who hear it.  Perhaps when I am old and wise - but not now.  I am still too gay, innocent and heartless (as Mr. Barry states), I still have a lot of growing up to do. 

Well, I had a picture I wanted to share.  But every time I plug the camera into the computer it yells at me.  I have a new/old computer and I guess it doesn't like the camera.  I have attempted to speak soft, kind words to it - but it still refuses to do as I ask.  This means that I will have to wait to show you, but I can still tell you.  You see, we have a new member of the family.  I rescued it from being destroyed (he was gonna kill it - take out all it's insides and make it a mere prop!) but the truth is I wanted it the moment I laid eyes - my wonderful husband can attest to this.  Are you curious yet?  You see, the WISH foundation had a rummage sale this last weekend.  I donated several items (including my 4 huge bins of baby girl clothes!) and of course, to support we had to attend the sale.  We got there and it was the very first thing I saw.  A beautiful, old, dirty, beaten up 150 year old piano.  Yes, I know, I am entirely crazy.  I don't play myself (though I know enough of the basics that I could likely teach my children most of the foundations) but you see, every home needs a piano.  And we don't have one...well technically we still don't since it is in pieces right now.  But it is a project my wonderful husband and I can do together.  And wow, when it is finished this will be one beautiful instrument!  And we are determined that someday it will also be beautiful sounding.  It needs repairing, but it is mostly all the felt, the key tops (anyone want a set of real ivory key tops in terrible condition?) a few of the hammer arms and other small (but highly complicated) parts.  The strings are in good condition, the soundboard only has small cracks and all in all I feel very optimistic that someday we will have a working piano!  I promise to post "before" pictures of it as soon as my computer and I can come to an agreement. 



Ah it is time to go pick up my child from school.  I will try to post again soon this week and include a picture of my new project.

In the spirit of the moment I shall end with the age old question, I do really want to know...though I fear that in the end there is not really an answer.  But tell me, do you know?


Why is a raven like a writing desk?

4 comments:

  1. Sarah, I will tell you the answer when I find it myself. I am going to begin Alice this week.

    I would love to have the ivory key tops, and I think your project is well worth the effort. Your life sounds wonderful and your children are startlingly beautiful. I'm glad to have found you here.

    -mary

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  2. I haven't the slightest idea. :)

    Though, I did decide to google it to see what was out there, and I found this:

    "When he wrote the book, Carroll had no answer for the riddle either, nor did he intend there to be one. However, over subsequent years, so many people asked him the answer that in the preface to the 1896 edition he wrote:

    'Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter's Riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on record here what seems to me to be a fairly appropriate answer, viz: 'Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front!' This, however, is merely an afterthought; the riddle as originally invented, had no answer at all.'

    (Note that he spells "nevar" as "raven" written backwards - a joke which overenthusiastic copy editors "corrected" in later editions.)

    Carroll is not the only person to offer an answer after the fact, other solutions have also been given, the best known being, 'because Poe wrote on both.' Other suggestions include, 'because there is a 'b' in both and an 'n' in neither,' and 'because they both have inky quills.'"

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  3. Mary - they are yours if you like as soon as they are taken off. I shall let you know sometime we are in town and perhaps we could get together for coffee and catch up on one-another's lives for the past decade or so.

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  4. That would be so great Sarah. I love the Oscar Wilde story. I'm going to post it on my site as well for Easter. And I feel the same way about Easter. Pastel and eggs and chocolate. Blech.

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