Take Joy!: interesting but probably useless knowledge

Words to Consider

There must be more to life than having everything. -Maurice Sendak
Don't take life so serious; it ain't nohow permanent. —Pogo
The first revolutionary act is to call things by their true names, said Rosa Luxemburg.
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself. —Tecumseh
i do it for the joy it brings / because i am a joyful girl / because the world owes me nothing / and we owe each other the world / i do it because it's the least i can do / i do it because i learned it from you / i do it just because i want to / because I want to —"Joyful Girl", Ani DiFranco
Democrats are the party of those who are working, those who have finished working, and those who want to work. -- Elizabeth Edwards
Do not worry over the charge of treason to your masters, but be concerned about the treason that involves yourselves. Be true to yourself and you cannot be a traitor to any good cause on Earth. - Eugene V. Debs, Speech, June 16, 1918
"Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently, because the time is short. Civilization is another word for respect for life." - Elizabeth Goudge, author of The Joy of the Snow
"There is nothing I can give you, which you have not; But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach, is joy. There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look. Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too: be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts. And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away. " (Fra Giovanni 1513 A.D.)

Books, 2008

A Language Older Than Words, by Derrick Jensen
I don't know quite how to describe this book—it's disquieting, uncomfortable, and eminently worth reading.
Catwings and Catwings Return, both by Ursula LeGuin
I listed them together because they're short juveniles, with charming illustrations. James, Thelma, Harriet and Roger were born with wings, and they flew into adventures.
Firebird, by R. Garcia y Robertson
Takes the firebird legends of Russia and Eastern Europe and adds several new twists—a heroic heroine, for one, who rescues her knight . . .
World Made By Hand, by James Howard Kunstler
American life in the aftermath of the long emergency, when lack of oil and climate change have put industrial civilization out of business. Not bad, but I've read better; specifically, I have problems with his characterizations of women (the proverbial madonna/whore and nothing else). However, I didn't buy this, so I got what I paid for . . . .
The Three of Swords, by Fritz Leiber
A three-volume book club compilation of Swords and Deviltry, Swords Against Death, and Swords in the Mist. Leiber's epic fantasy stories and novelettes, featuring his heroes Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. These were one of my first sword-and-sorcery readings, and I've never quite gotten over them, I suppose.
A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold
This edition also contains Sketches Here and There, and some essays—I loved the Almanac part! The sketches were enjoyable, but not essential to me, and I'm afraid I got bogged down in the essays and didn't finish them.
The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood
The story of Penelope, the long-suffering and constant wife of Odysseus, as told by herself and the twelve maids hanged by Odysseus upon his return.
Crossing Open Ground, by Barry Lopez
Nature essays, on various subjects—I highly recommend this. In fact, I ordered his Of Wolves and Men, which has moved to the top of the "read this next" pile; and I have Arctic Dreams here *somewhere* . . . but I can't find it!
The Dispossesed, by Ursula LeGuin
I've read this twice now, and I still don't "get" it. There doesn't seem to be much point to the story, though LeGuin is always a good writer. It's probably some lack in me, but there you are.
The Hounds of the Morrigan, by Pat O'Shea
Comic fantasy set in the world of Irish mythology (and Faery)—the heroes are Pidge and his sister Brigit, who are chosen to thwart the Morrigan. This was O'Shea's first novel; I need to see whether she's written anything else . . .
The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve
I read this in one long evening—it's that good. Learning to live with the unthinkable.
The Iron Dragon's Daughter, by Michael Swanwick
Very, very strange, even for a fantasy novel "Industrial Darkness and Magick" says the dust jacket—the story of Jane, a changeling stolen to toil in the dragon factory in Faery.
The Killer's Tears, by Anne-Laure Bondoux
A very strange and thoughful little book that explores guilt, innocence and the nature of love.
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula LeGuin
Another of my periodic re-reads. The story of the Terran Envoy to Winter, a planet whose inhabitants are androgynous and may chance sex every 26 days (but there's a lot more to it than just that).
The Spiral Dance, by R. Garcia y Robertson
I first read this ten or fifteen years ago, and have been searching for a copy ever since (thank you, Alibris!)—set in Elizabethan Scotland, it is the story of Anne Percy, Countess of Northumberland, and the conspiracy (one of them) to restore Mary Queen of Scots to the English throne—and of a madwoman, the Virgin Mary, witches, a werewolf, the lands of Faery . . .
The Moon Under Her Feet, by Clysta Kinstler
A feminist retelling of the conception, birth, life and death of Christ, as told by Mary Magdalene, High Priestess of the Great Mother in Jerusalem.
Kitchen Literacy, by Ann Vileisis
An account of how we as a culture have become disconnected from the sources of our food, and why we need to return.
The Death of Innocents, by Sister Helen Prejean
An eyewitness account of wrongful executions, this is the followup to her stellar Dead Man Walking. Must reading, in my not-so-humble opinion.
The Last Girls, by Lee Smith
Another fine story by the author of Fair and Tender Ladies, Black Mountain Breakdown, Oral History, and so many more—all evoke The South beautifully, and this is no exception. A reunion-riverboat trip down the Mississippi is the setting, and the "girls" are now women looking back.
Feasting the Heart, by Reynolds Price
52 essays originally aired on NPR, plus a couple that never made in onto the air—varying subjects, but always beautifully done.
The White Witch, by Elizabeth Goudge
A yearly re-read—Cavaliers, Puritans and Gypsies in the time of Charles I in her tale of love and subterfuge in the English countryside. And Froniga, one of my favorite of all her strong women . . .
Pucker, by Melanie Gideon
Thomas, horribly burned in a childhood fire and burdened by a 'crazy' mother, has always been an outsider—but now he must return to his birthplace, the world of Isaura, to save his mother and to face possibility and temptation. Fascinating and well-written.
The Scent of Water, by Elizabeth Goudge
Begins with a death and ends with a birth in the tiny village of Appleshaw—and in between there is life, love, friendship, faith, and the enchanting cabinet full of 'the little things." As always, a portal into a way of life long gone. . . and one that I miss, though I never knew it.
A Swift Pure Cry, by Siobhan Dowd
The story of Shell, who finds herself pregnant at 15—the baby is stillborn, so she and her brother and sister bury it in the back garden. Then the Garda arrive . . . based on a true story, and very well done.
The Dean's Watch, by Elizabeth Goudge
I'd never read this one; the characters aren't nearly as sympathetic as in most of her books, and it was difficult for me to finish. But it was worth it—there are lessons here, and things don't end well, but they do end rightly.
Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale
A shimmering retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale 'Maid Maleen,' reimagined on the Central Asian steppes. I read until 3 a.m. because I couldn't bear to stop until the end. . .
Tistou of the Green Thumbs, by Maurice Druon (trans. by Humphrey Hare)
A strange and pleasant little book: Tistou, an only child with remarkable powers of growing plants simply by sticking his 'green thumbs' into the dirt, takes on the wrongs of society. A French juvenile, ex-library, my brother found it at Goodwill and passed it on.
A Country Year, by Sue Hubbell
About life on the land in the Ozarks, and a woman finding herself in middle age—I recommend it highly. And she keeps bees, too.
Losing Moses on the Freeway, by Chris Hedges
The 10 Commandments in America—Hedges explores the challenge of living according to these moral precepts.
In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan
An Eater's Manifesto—Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. (and nothing with over five ingredients, ingredients you don't recognize and can't pronounce, and nothing your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.)

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

The Polar Dodge

Eskimos say that most polar bears are left-pawed, so if one charges you, dodge to the bear's right (your left).

Posted by kirbanita on Tuesday, 12 February 2008 at 02:38 PM in interesting but probably useless knowledge | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Tuesday, 31 July 2007

You represent the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. You embrace change, the the ups and downs of life. Fate is something you accept, even when you could possibly change things. Big things tend to happen to you more than other people. Your fortune: Something huge is about to happen in your life, and you have little control over it. You must accept your destiny, but luckily it is good fortune that has come your way. Big things and big changes are about to come your way. And while things will be intense for a while, they will be followed by a period of rest.

What Tarot Card Are You?

Posted by kirbanita on Tuesday, 31 July 2007 at 03:15 AM in interesting but probably useless knowledge | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sunday, 15 April 2007

Violets

We have a side yard full of violets every spring, and every spring we make violet jelly to sell at the tailgate. People always ask what it tastes like . . . it's difficult to describe. Sweet, but not too sweet. Crisp. It tastes purple. It tastes like spring, the same way rhubarb (and ramps, if you're from up here) taste like spring. No matter what time of year I eat it, it reminds me of those spring days when things are just leafing out and there's a haze of green over everything, the sky is such a bright clear blue it doesn't seem quite real, and the whole world is full of birdsong.

So last week I spent two hours in the yard picking violet blossoms. It's not quick work; the basket and two jars full below are my afternoon's haul. But it's pleasant work: the cats always help, the birds sing, and this time I saw a nearly unbelievable sight: tiny praying mantises, just hatched, only half an inch long at most, and nearly translucent. If I'd not been down on the ground I'd have missed them!

This is what you do with them afterward: stuff them into jars. I use quarts because I have some, but anything will do.

Then you pour boiling water over them. (I got this from one of Euell Gibbons' books; he says to "cover them with boiling water". Unfortunately, they float up to the top so there's no "covering", but it works anyway.)

This is after fifteen minutes or so . . . the hot water leaches all the color out of the petals (and all the Vitamin C, too, which is considerable).

Then you let them sit for 24 hours or thereabouts. Pour them through a strainer into something wide-mouthed. (The voice of experience speaks here: do not attempt to pour the infusion through the strainer directly into another jar. It makes a mess. Trust me.) You will have a lovely violet-colored infusion which can be made into jelly or syrup, or frozen for use later. (That's where mine is, since I got sick before I had a chance to do anything with it.). I usually get a couple of cups from a quart jar full of violets.

For those interested: the jelly recipe calls for 2 cups of infusion, juice of one lemon, a package of pectin, and 4 cups of sugar. Make in the usual jelly fashion . . . if you've never made jelly, invest in a copy of the Ball book. (Ball as in Ball canning jars, which aren't made by Ball anymore, but by Altrista . . . ) I can't remember what it's called (and of course mine is somewhere else), but you can get it with the canning supplies. If I remember right, it's $10 or less and will tell you everything you need to know about preserving stuff, and it's full of good recipes.

If you want violet syrup, take 1 cup of infusion, the juice of half a lemon, 2 cups of sugar; stir together, bring to a boil, and there you are. It's very good on ice cream, or tapioca, or angel food cake . . . or homemade vanilla ice cream, if you happen to have any about. (Note to self: buy ice cream freezeer this year. Electric, please, since we have no teenagers about to turn the thing.)

A final bit of interesting information: the British used to (and may still, for all I know) use violet syrup to flavor medicines.

Posted by kirbanita on Sunday, 15 April 2007 at 08:33 AM in cooking, gardening, interesting but probably useless knowledge | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Monday, 15 January 2007

Smaugwurst

UK trading standards officials threatened to prosecute the makers of 'Welsh Dragon' sausages because the product does not in fact contain dragon. The general public, it is felt, will be less easily misled by the new label 'Welsh Dragon Pork Sausages.'

London Times, 18 Nov. 2006, via Ursula K. LeGuin's website

Posted by kirbanita on Monday, 15 January 2007 at 04:41 AM in interesting but probably useless knowledge | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Friday, 12 January 2007

Today's Probably Useless Information

Number one, William is extremely fond of cabbage . . . I gave him some this morning and his eyes lit up, and he immediately demanded MORE. Of couse, that isn't useful to anyone but me, since I will now be able to spend money on yet one more thing that most normal livestock owners don't bother with . . .

Secondly, chickens catch mice. More particularly, one of my roosters caught a mouse this morning. (Why, oh why, do I never remember to take the camera to the chicken lot?) At any rate: we have a pond, sort of, down in the garden where the chickens and geese are. It's one of those plastic ones that you're supposed to dig a hole for and sink in the ground, but we haven't gotten around to that yet . . . Anyway, I keep it filled for the geese to splash around in, and since the bottom is uneven it's propped up at the corners with various pieces of log and an old plastic tray (which I believe was originally intended for people changing oil in their cars) beside it for the little chickens to step up on if they want to drink.

This morning I decided to dump it out and move it over a few feet, since the ground below is getting pretty beaten up, what with geese stomping around there, and turkeys and chickens too, and us emptying it periodically. So I pulled out all the wood props, dumped the water, got it situated six feet or so further down and repropped, and began to refill it.

Then I went back to pick up the plastic tray . . . and when I did, a mouse nest and two mice were under it . . . probably preparing to raise a family or several this spring. The mice escaped and ran about madly as mice do, the chickens ran about madly chasing them (and so did Emily, one of the turkey hens, but she lost interest pretty quickly and went back to her squash rind), and I tried my best to squelch my "oooh, cute mice! don't hurt them!" reflex. The mice disappeared, the chickens went back to eating, and I went back to scattering corn down in the wooded area at the end of the garden. (I am encouraging chickens to go down that way and scratch and fertilize; the soil's pretty poor at that end. I might as well get all the "free" fertilizer I can before we have to turn them back into their lot this spring.)

So I look up, and there is one of the game-cross roosters strutting purposefully across the lot with a dead mouse in his beak! This rooster is one of some chickens someone gave me; out of fifteen or so, six turned out to be roosters. They seem to be crossed with game chickens, and they are constantly squabbling with each other and harassing my hens . . . at least five of them are headed for the pot pretty soon—the other one is banty-size and cute, and may get to stay around, if he minds his manners. The mouse-catcher is one of the more obnoxious of the five, but he may have stayed his execution for a while . . . if only so I can keep an eye on what else he might catch!

Just my modest contribution to the world's store of mostly-useless knowledge . . .

Posted by kirbanita on Friday, 12 January 2007 at 09:30 AM in interesting but probably useless knowledge | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

May 2008

Take Joy!

In the dark of the moon, in flying snow, in the dead of winter, war spreading, families dying, the world in danger, I walk the rocky hillside, sowing clover. —Wendell Berry

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Books, 2008

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

The Polar Dodge

Tuesday, 31 July 2007

What Tarot Card Are You?

Sunday, 15 April 2007

Violets

Monday, 15 January 2007

Smaugwurst

Friday, 12 January 2007

Today's Probably Useless Information

May 2008

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