Link Love for Tiny Houses

A few of my favorite links for small dwellings.

• Tiny House Blog
• Modern Shed
• Gratitude Millworks
• Tiny House Designs
• This Tiny House
• Gado Gado Indonesian House
• Gypsy Coach
• Penny Pincher Barns

Update on the Ancient Greek Studies

They stayed with me most all day... We read aloud bits of the Odyssey (bitty bits), looked at the Geography, read a bit of the history, watched two videos, listened to a lecture and did some sketches of Attic Pottery. I dug around and got out the good compass and straightedge -- but don't have 3 good sketchpads. I need to go purchase two more BIG ones. I suppose the Math will come next week.

As a treat, we watched "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" We were able to identify many of the episodes with the Odyssey, but some will require more research.

Still working on Science tie-ins. Especially Biology.

Homeschool Day -- Begin Greek Week

Today is the beginning of Greek Week. Of course, I may spend more than one single week on Greece, but just for kicks, here's a plan our activities so far.

• Watch the 4th episode of World History from The Teaching Company about ancient Greece.
  
• Watch from SnagFilms "Beyond the Movies: Troy"
  
• Read some from Illiad and Odessy
  
• Watch from NetFlix a PBS film about Ancient Greece.
  
• Copy some Attic Pottery on preprinted vase forms
  
• Watercolor some Attic Pottery from scratch -- Impressionistic
  
• Talk about Pythagorus
  
• Use Euclidian tools to do a Golden Rectangle; Discover the integral nature of the square root of 5; phi and pi
  
• Pull out the Golden Relationships Textbooks
• Do "art" with Golden Rectangle
  
• Talk about "Circle of Fifths" in Music
  
• Fibonacci Numbers
• Play around with the musical instruments, exploring 5ths, Dominant, Sub-dominant, Tonic Cords; Key signatures
  
• Watch "Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land"
  
• Read some in the World History Book about Ancient Greece
  
• Read in the "Music Theory for Dummies" about Pythagorus and Ancient Greece
  
• Watch episode number one of the Music Appreciation videos from The Teaching Company
  
• Assign some writing (like they will do it...)
  
• Explore the Greek Alphabet; do some art with the Greek Alphabet
• Make a Timeline of butcher paper that we can add to as we go on
  
• Explore the Greek Cookbook; make Baclava, Hummus, Easter cookies
• For me: search for something to talk about harmonics and resonance; science of Music; look for tie in to Biology; Museums? Visit the Greek church? Films -- Medea, Antigone? Ancient Greek Anime? Oscilloscope to explore harmonics?

New Pasta Recipe

Originally made last week of things in the pantry/refrigerator. It's similar to a traditional Italian recipe. Enjoy!

Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Peas and Prosciutto

Chop an onion and dice the Prosciutto (about 1/2 pound -- this week I substituted 8 slices bacon). Brown it together in some olive oil until nice and crispy (not TOO crispy). Deglaze pan with some wine. I used about 1 cup of a nice Monteagle blush (Sunset Blush, to be exact). Add a bit of crushed garlic, black pepper and basil. Last week, it was fresh and nicely chopped. This week I used dried -- a copious amount. I also added a bit of salt. Dice three fresh tomatoes. Last week, I peeled them; this week I didn't bother. Add some fresh peas. Last week, they were freshly shelled English peas; this week frozen Green Giant in a butter sauce. Next comes a cup and a half (or so) of heavy cream and some Asiago cheese, grated. When it starts to bubble, add some penne pasta and toss gently. Grate some fresh Parmesan on top. Divine. I would eat this sauce over almost anything -- or just all by itself. It's probably a heart attack in a pan, but it's so very good.

I also baked a loaf of fresh bread last week and thought about a salad. I'm working on a goat-cheese, dried cranberry and walnut salad made with spinach greens, caramelized onions and raspberry vinaigrette, but never got around to it this week.

Everyone Deserves A Roof

I Love Tiny Houses. Maybe a better phrase than "tiny houses" is "human sized housing." I will admit that I love BIG spaces as well. Huge spaces appeal to my sense of drama, but when I want to be still and quiet and not dance around in sock feet sliding on slick wood floors, I want a human sized space.

I believe strongly in the dignity of each and every human being. I believe strongly in every human having the basics necessary for human life -- food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. I am intrigued by several ideas: sustainable housing, recycled housing, modular housing.

I found this company this week: EDAR, which stands for Everyone Deserves A Roof. From their website:

EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) is a 501(c)(3) charity that provides unique mobile shelters to those living on the streets all around us. Each EDAR is a four-wheeled mobile unit which carries belongings and facilitates recycling during the day and which unfolds into a special, framed tent-like sleeping enclosure with a bed at night.

This company captures my imagination. A way to give a homeless person ("urban outdoorsmen" to some; "shelter resistant" to others) dignity; housing that is what they need for the moment. It's not a perfect solution, but it's something. I can imagine it's just a step along the way; it's not a real house or a permanent solution, but it's better than a shopping cart covered with garbage bags.

Sustainable Dwellings

In my ongoing search for small houses and sustainable dwellings, I found this charming and uber modern shed system:



I love the sleek modern lines. This makes me want to paint Mondrian type paintings in my mid-century chair...

The website shows a whole setup -- main dwelling, studio and guesthouse. I would love one of these to go into a little "village" of different types of architecture; several small dwellings of different styles to share with my friend and family; a sort of "retreat village."

Dreams....

If'n you like tiny houses

and are right fond of Channel-cat and are a hankerin' after a bit of 'grass, this video is for you. Enjoy.



I do believe we are gonna have to go to Booty's Fish House on Friday night. Y'all come!

Seriously! I think about a quarter of my parishioners go to Booty's on Friday night.

Good Friday

It is Friday
And I stand at the foot of the cross.

Nothing can be said, nothing can be done.
Action is futile – hebel.
I can hold the other's hands and weep, but I cannot be comforted.

It is Friday
And I stand at the foot of the cross.

The air is heavy still with waiting and longing.
Waiting for the inevitable, longing for the impossible.
Can this cup pass from me?
I look around me – all the colors are muted.
Dusty browns and grays – Cold and metallic.
Rolling black clouds cover the brilliant blue of the sky
As my soul is occluded by pain.
All that remains is the red of the blood
Running down the weathered wood of the cross.

It is Friday
And I stand at the foot of the cross.

I reach out and touch the raised grain of the wood.
It is rough against my fingertips.
The pong of unwashed wool and bodies crowds my nose.
I smell fear, pain, death. I taste it at the back of my throat.
I hear the labored breathing from the cross.
Death is near.

It is Friday
And I stand at the foot of the cross.

Remember Him!
Remember Him as the silver cord is severed, as the golden bowl is broken.
Remember Him as the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel broken at the well.
Remember Him as the dust returns to the ground it came from and
His spirit returns to the God who gave it.

It is Friday
And I stand at the foot of the cross.

Ministry

I have been thinking a lot recently, but have not had time to put down my thoughts. I've been thinking about why I am a minister and I think it's because I love life in liminal spaces. I love life in the in-between spaces, in the transitional spaces, in what mystics might call the thin spaces.

I love to sit in contemplation at the edge of a rock quarry, at the edge of a meadow, at the beginning of the dunes and watch life occur around and within me. I've heard it said that 80 percent of the wildlife exists within 20 feet of this space where the forest meets the meadow. The animals weave in and out of the vegetation interacting with each other in dappled shadow and sunlight. I love to sit just at the edge of the dunes and the beach, watching the snow crab and painted buntings flit in and out of the myrtles. I love the edge of the rock quarry where the birds can dive off into empty space in glorious abandon.

As a minister, I too inhabit that marginal, liminal space. I live on the edges; between death and life, between repentance and regeneration, between earth and heaven. I like to believe that 80 percent of life is lived here in richness, weaving in and out of the dappled sunlight of God's love. I like to believe that people would want to join me. I don't know if they do or not.

The verse "And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head'" -- this verse speaks to me. The birds of the air and the foxes of the earth do not rest in this liminal space. Their habitat is within the meadow and the forest, but I believe that Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One of God dwells with me in this liminal space; that the Christ abides with me here. Perhaps Christ rests here within me, outside me, around me, above me and below me. This is the thin space; here is my rest.

Tonight is a night of darkness -- for Maudy Thursday

Tonight is a night of darkness.
We gather it together like gauze and wrap our souls in it.
Tonight is a night of final things.
We gather together in the darkness and hold hands for one last meal.
Tonight is a night of water.
We gather together to cleanse and prepare.
Tonight is a night of tears
We gather together and pray that the tears can wash away the betrayal yet
Tonight is a night of betrayal.
We gather together to support one another, but one of us will destroy.

The cup comes to me at the table – the cup of the last meal
I will drink of it deeply and
Remember all the good times; the teachings, the laughter, the love.
The cup comes to me at the table – the cup of new beginnings
I will drink of it deeply and
Hope that the new covenant will not hurt too much as it is carved on my heart
The cup comes to me in the garden – the cup of my Father’s will
I will drink of it deeply after
I ask that it pass from me.
The cup comes to me as He is on the cross – the cup of bitterness
I will drink of it deeply even
If it comes in a form that is alien to me.
The cup comes to me tonight and I will drink
I will drink deeply and enter into
At one ment with Him.

This is the dark night of the cup.
Dark is the wine, dark are the shadows, dark is my soul.
Together we enter into this night, we will leave separately in silence.
Can I be at one with Him? Will I stand watch with Him tonight?
Or will I too sleep at the gate?
Will I embrace and kiss only to betray?

Japanese History -- Now Showing!

Movie - Diary of a Country Priest

I do love movies -- I remember as a kid watching the 1:00 pm movie every single day on TBS. I saw a tremendous number of movies that way; I also would watch just about anything late night as well.

I've started to watch movies via my Netflix subscription online; it works well during the day, not so well at night. I also get about 6 movies at a time with Netflix. The LH likes to watch them too, so I can't watch them as fast as I would like.

This week I watched (twice) a very gripping movie from 1951 - "Diary of a Country Priest" written by Georges Bernanos and directed by Robert Bresson. It's in French (of course) with subtitles and portrays a young and inexperienced priest in a small country French parish. He has consistant "stomach troubles" which necessitate him eating nothing but bread and wine. He also has your basic parish that is a closed system with little support from his superiors. He encounters extreme dysfunction in the church because of an adulterous affair; the hint of the affair is in the very first scene.

The film influenced Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, or so Wikipedia tells us. It was not an enjoyable film, really. Thought provoking and incomprehensible at times, yes. Enjoyable, no. Today I watch "Diary of a City Priest" which was suggested as a companion piece because "it turns out better." We shall see.

Wow. Glen Beck on Printing Money.

Still Tender

So very much so, that when I couldn't find Sugar, I almost had a panic attack. Sugar hides very very well. However, the LH realized that the door was closed and the food had evaporated. So Sugar HAD to be in the room. She knows how to hide so very well that it took almost all day for us to figure out where she was hiding -- behind the old dining room buffet we use for the TV. It has space under it, but also has a kickplate in front so you can't see under it.

I'm glad I have Johnnycat and Sugarbaby. I am very very grateful.

Doodle and Critter

Doodle has been gone 2 weeks and a day. Critter has been missing 6 days. My last picture of the both of them. Critter gave Doodle great comfort the last few days of her life. I miss them both.

Contemplating "Pound Mentality" vs. "Shelter Mentality"

I have been wondering why they call the Animal Control Shelter a Pound. Why pound? The Online Etymology Dictionary says:

"enclosed place for animals," late O.E. pundfald "penfold, pound," related to pyndan "to dam up, enclose (water)," and thus from the same root as pond. Ultimate origin unknown; no certain cognates beyond Eng.

So the Pound is where we enclose animals. Appropriate, as our Animal Control Shelter does enclose them tightly. We have visited the pound; it's not a bad place. I remember visiting the pound in another county in my childhood that made me cry. It was dirty, smelly and cramped. The Gwinnett County Animal Shelter is clean, bright and the staffing was extremely supportive and friendly. However, they are not a "no-kill" shelter and the animals were quite confined. Their pens were full of hard surfaces and antiseptic.

The Humane society, on the other hand, had "free range rooms" where the kitties (and doggies in another house) were free to roam. There were nice fuzzy places where they could snuggle up, there were toys and multiple litter boxes with many different types of litter. There was an outside "porch" where they could go and get some fresh air and sunshine. They are definitely "no-kill" and will keep the kitties as long as necessary to find them homes.

I am glad that our pound is not as awful as I remember from my childhood, however the Humane Society has my full and complete support. I made another substantial donation to them this week. Chaos was so taken by their philosophy that she wants to go volunteer. Compared to the pound, it was kitty heaven.

I am glad that my God is a "Humane Society" type of God; offering us food and good comfortable shelter in God's arms and in a community here on earth before we go to our forever home.

Missing my kitties and snuggling Johnnycat and Sugarbaby today.

Monday Randomness

• I've not felt much like blogging, facebooking or twittering for a while. I'm still quite blue about the death of Doodle and the disappearance of Critter. It seems a lot to process. It is like any other kind of grief: it just takes time.
• I did find another cat and I am growing fond of her. She is a scaredy cat and needs me about as much as I need her. She has a short little muzzle and wide spaced eyes; she looks a lot like my Muffin. We are still uncertain about her name. Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec seem good to me right now...
• Because the pollen is taking over all of outside right now. I have a fine yellow-green film on my cars.
• I am trying to accomplish at least one "project" a day and clear out one box/bag a day in efforts to finish cleaning house. I think it's a never-ending effort. By the time I finish one thing, something else has to be done or re-done.
• But this weekend, I did seal the antique tray from my bathroom. It has started to rust on the bottom and was leaving stains on the counter top. It cleaned up and sealed up quite nicely.
• I also purchased a second Pizza Stone. They sure come in handy.
• The text for the week is for Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

• I have people procuring palm branches for this Sunday. I suppose it's time to write a sermon and do the homeschool thing.
• But first more strawberries and coffee.
  

Sugarbaby

We searched the shelters today, to no avail. But Sugarbaby came to live with us. She's about 3 months old and about 8 pounds. A big girl, but very timid. She's still lurking in the carrier in my bedroom. She seems to need me about as much as I need her. I understand she has never taken to anyone before; she snuggled under my chin and licked me. That was it; I was hooked.

If/when Critter comes home, I'll have two heart-kitties.

Critter is Missing for 60 Hours

And I've given up hope. We will visit the shelters this afternoon. We had been planning to adopt another cat to "replace" Doodle. I don't know if we should right now or not. I've found a gorgeous little Maine Coon at the Humane Society. And I have another friend who is bringing "No Name Kitty" to visit on Saturday. And I have another friend whose cat just had kittens.

But I'm blue today -- the rainy weather reflects my mood. I suppose I could write on my sermon and bulletins. We will watch some Sister Wendy and do some schoolwork. I could hang my new curtains in the Utility room. I have things I can do -- sublimate my "blue" into "busy-ness."

Oh Noes!! I need to Twitter about this video!!