Monday, February 28, 2005
Half Marathon, Been There, Done That
Yesterday I jogged the thirteen miles that comprised the Colonial Half Marathon. I actually did it!
The run was much more difficult than I anticipated. It seems like we went up and down every hill in the greater Williamsburg area. However, in spite of the rugged trail, I completed the run in two hours and 56 minutes, only one minute off my previous 13-mile training run on a more forgiving route.
Finishing the race was a celebration of being able to breathe. Two years ago, I suffered from recurring pneumonia and much of the time walking was a challenge. I am very thankful for my good health. There may have been other 60-year-old women in the race, but I did not see any among the 1200 participants. In fact, I jogged for quiet a while alongside a 24-year-old campus minister.
I'm a bit tired today, but I have suffered no ill effects from the race. I am convinced it went so well because of all training I have been doing in the last few months.
The run was much more difficult than I anticipated. It seems like we went up and down every hill in the greater Williamsburg area. However, in spite of the rugged trail, I completed the run in two hours and 56 minutes, only one minute off my previous 13-mile training run on a more forgiving route.
Finishing the race was a celebration of being able to breathe. Two years ago, I suffered from recurring pneumonia and much of the time walking was a challenge. I am very thankful for my good health. There may have been other 60-year-old women in the race, but I did not see any among the 1200 participants. In fact, I jogged for quiet a while alongside a 24-year-old campus minister.
I'm a bit tired today, but I have suffered no ill effects from the race. I am convinced it went so well because of all training I have been doing in the last few months.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Lottie's Big Day
Yesterday, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and The Williamsburg Regional Library honored my first historical novel for kids, Lottie's Courage, with the Beacon of Freedom Award for 2004.
The award is very special since kids voted for the winner. I was delighted that they liked Lottie enough to choose her story as this year's winner.
The Beacon of Freedom Award is the greatest honor I have ever received,and I will cherish it, and the children who voted for Lottie's Courage, always.
The award is very special since kids voted for the winner. I was delighted that they liked Lottie enough to choose her story as this year's winner.
The Beacon of Freedom Award is the greatest honor I have ever received,and I will cherish it, and the children who voted for Lottie's Courage, always.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
A Very Brief History of Childhood
In the Middle Ages, boys could wed at age 14, girls at 12, without the consent of their parents. By the time of the Protestand Reformation this had changed and children had to seek the permission of their parents. However, as in the story of Romeo and Juliet, young people sometimes went against their parents' wishes. Before you assume that marrying so young was tremendous, it is well to keep in mind that kids that age were usually on their own, supporting themselves and establishing households.
Children began working around the age of seven. Their chores were often on the farm or in the family home. Most children left home about age 12. They might be come apprentices, domestic servants, or farmhands. During the Industrial Revolution children entered factories and worked as long as 12 hours a day. Child labor laws only began in the West in the late 1800s.
Many children never survived the first year of life. In France in the eighteenth century, the mortality rate before the age of one was 16-18% and fifty to sixty-six per cent of those children that were farmed out to wet-nurses, died. Smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, and host of diseases claimed small children in disturbing numbers. The life expectancy for everyone in 1776 was only 35 years.
Sad to say, many parents abandoned children in bad times. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the French intellectual who pioneered a more tender view of children, left all five of his children in foundling homes. In the mid-nineteenth century one-half of the babies born in Vienna and one-third in Milan and Florence were put in foundling homes.
Aren't you glad you live in twenty-first century America?
Children began working around the age of seven. Their chores were often on the farm or in the family home. Most children left home about age 12. They might be come apprentices, domestic servants, or farmhands. During the Industrial Revolution children entered factories and worked as long as 12 hours a day. Child labor laws only began in the West in the late 1800s.
Many children never survived the first year of life. In France in the eighteenth century, the mortality rate before the age of one was 16-18% and fifty to sixty-six per cent of those children that were farmed out to wet-nurses, died. Smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, and host of diseases claimed small children in disturbing numbers. The life expectancy for everyone in 1776 was only 35 years.
Sad to say, many parents abandoned children in bad times. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the French intellectual who pioneered a more tender view of children, left all five of his children in foundling homes. In the mid-nineteenth century one-half of the babies born in Vienna and one-third in Milan and Florence were put in foundling homes.
Aren't you glad you live in twenty-first century America?
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Alternative History
A reader in Michigan recommended a book by Gary Blackwood, The Year of the Hangman. This novel is a great example of what I call "if history."
This alternative history is set in 1777 after the American Revolution failed and George Washington was captured. It is a story of a young British boy's adventures among rebels such as Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold.
For older readers, fanatasy lovers,and history buffs, this novel reminds us that our liberty was once very much in question and luckily our revolution succeeded.
The fate of our founding fathers would have hanging if the British had won the Revolutionary War. As I read the book, I kept being reminded of the Benjamin Franklin quote to the effect that the colonists should hang together or they would all hang separately.
This alternative history is set in 1777 after the American Revolution failed and George Washington was captured. It is a story of a young British boy's adventures among rebels such as Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold.
For older readers, fanatasy lovers,and history buffs, this novel reminds us that our liberty was once very much in question and luckily our revolution succeeded.
The fate of our founding fathers would have hanging if the British had won the Revolutionary War. As I read the book, I kept being reminded of the Benjamin Franklin quote to the effect that the colonists should hang together or they would all hang separately.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Because of Winn-Dixie
The great book by Kate DiCamillo is now a movie and it has just opened. I look forward to seeing Because of Winn-Dixie. It is a story about a dog and a girl. How can it miss?
Wednesday, I met my goal of jogging 13 miles. It took me two hour, 55 minutes and 22 seconds. I am ready now for the half marathon on February 27. I will continue training until then, but I wanted to a least once "go the distance" before the race.
Yesterday I began a photography class. The subject is composition and light. Three-quarters of the people in the class have digital cameras, and 90% if the people in the class are men.
My brother, Russ Hall, has published a book about our hometown. It's called Gem of the Adirondacks and it is available from Lighthall Books on the Internet.
Wednesday, I met my goal of jogging 13 miles. It took me two hour, 55 minutes and 22 seconds. I am ready now for the half marathon on February 27. I will continue training until then, but I wanted to a least once "go the distance" before the race.
Yesterday I began a photography class. The subject is composition and light. Three-quarters of the people in the class have digital cameras, and 90% if the people in the class are men.
My brother, Russ Hall, has published a book about our hometown. It's called Gem of the Adirondacks and it is available from Lighthall Books on the Internet.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Dazzled by Redwoods
I've been reading about Redwood trees. I always knew there were huge trees in California. I knew they were old, but I didn't know that some are thousands of years old.
Mostly I was unaware that the forest canopies (the tops of the trees) contain gardens of ferns, layers of earth called canopy soil (sometimes as deep as six feet), an unidentified species of earthworms, an aquatic crustacean living in the ferns, and brown and gold wandering salamanders. The soil in the canopy supports huckleberry bushes, currrent bushes, elderberry bushes and small trees of several varies.
I was dazzled to learn that there was a whole ecosystem living on the tops of the redwood trees.
Mostly I was unaware that the forest canopies (the tops of the trees) contain gardens of ferns, layers of earth called canopy soil (sometimes as deep as six feet), an unidentified species of earthworms, an aquatic crustacean living in the ferns, and brown and gold wandering salamanders. The soil in the canopy supports huckleberry bushes, currrent bushes, elderberry bushes and small trees of several varies.
I was dazzled to learn that there was a whole ecosystem living on the tops of the redwood trees.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
More on Imaginary Friends
A reader wrote the following: "My daughter had an imaginary friend, Jimmy, who was a great playmate, tea party guest, and occasionally took the blame for breaking things. I also had to be careful not to squash him when I sat down on a chair at mealtime."
From this week's New Yorker: The only woman ever inducted into the Academie Francaise, Marguerite Youcenar "often voiced the conviction that her characters actually existed and lived with her, but there was no character she felt closer to than Zeno. He was a brother to her. . . Once, weirdly, she recalled going to a bakery and leaving Zeno there; she had to go back and get him, she said."
As a child, I never had an imaginary friend. I am making up for it now!
From this week's New Yorker: The only woman ever inducted into the Academie Francaise, Marguerite Youcenar "often voiced the conviction that her characters actually existed and lived with her, but there was no character she felt closer to than Zeno. He was a brother to her. . . Once, weirdly, she recalled going to a bakery and leaving Zeno there; she had to go back and get him, she said."
As a child, I never had an imaginary friend. I am making up for it now!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Senatorial Bean Soup
I was in the grocery store the other day when the man behind me in the checkout line asked about the "big onion things" in my cart.
The oversized onions were leeks. They are not an onion, but in the onion family. I explained how that every year about this time, I made Senatorial Bean Soup with leeks.
Today I am making soup with the leeks. The soup also has carrots, celery, ham, spices, and of course beans.
The recipe is from the U.S. Senate cafeteria where for decades the soup has been a popular favorite.
My son was an intern one summer for Virginia Senator Allen, and in the Senate Office Building on several occasions, he enjoyed the soup at lunchtime.
The oversized onions were leeks. They are not an onion, but in the onion family. I explained how that every year about this time, I made Senatorial Bean Soup with leeks.
Today I am making soup with the leeks. The soup also has carrots, celery, ham, spices, and of course beans.
The recipe is from the U.S. Senate cafeteria where for decades the soup has been a popular favorite.
My son was an intern one summer for Virginia Senator Allen, and in the Senate Office Building on several occasions, he enjoyed the soup at lunchtime.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Imaginary Friends
In Time Magazine (Feb. 14, 2005)there is an article called "The Power of Make-Believe." Recent studies show that imaginary friends do not indicate a lonely or crazy kid. In fact, 65% of children at some time play with imaginary friends.
The articles suggests that children with imaginary friends may have an advantage over kids that don't. Kids with imaginery friends may be smarter and more creative than children without them.
The researchers have also studied fiction writers and have found that authors often relate to their characters the same way that children relate to imaginary playmates.
I know this is true since I become attached to my characters. They are very real to me. In fact, I often feel like they are my children.
So if you have imaginary friends, you may be a writer someday.
The articles suggests that children with imaginary friends may have an advantage over kids that don't. Kids with imaginery friends may be smarter and more creative than children without them.
The researchers have also studied fiction writers and have found that authors often relate to their characters the same way that children relate to imaginary playmates.
I know this is true since I become attached to my characters. They are very real to me. In fact, I often feel like they are my children.
So if you have imaginary friends, you may be a writer someday.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
A Favorite Poem
Eletelphony
Once there was an elephant
Who tried to use the telephant--
No! no! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone--
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I have it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee--
(I fear I better drop this song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Laura E. Richards
Once there was an elephant
Who tried to use the telephant--
No! no! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone--
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I have it right.)
Howe'er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee--
(I fear I better drop this song
Of elephop and telephong!)
Laura E. Richards
Monday, February 07, 2005
Readers and Writers
"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it,you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."
-J.D. Salinger,writer (1919-)
I like the above quote. However, its author, J.D. Salinger,is a famous recluse. He would like to call a favorite author, but doesn't want to be called himself. I don't feel that way. I love hearing from readers!
Today I jogged 11.2 miles, my all-time personal best. The half marathon is 19 days away, stay tuned to see if I am able to jog 13 miles
-J.D. Salinger,writer (1919-)
I like the above quote. However, its author, J.D. Salinger,is a famous recluse. He would like to call a favorite author, but doesn't want to be called himself. I don't feel that way. I love hearing from readers!
Today I jogged 11.2 miles, my all-time personal best. The half marathon is 19 days away, stay tuned to see if I am able to jog 13 miles
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Winter Tea at the Muscarelle Museum
I actually attended a "tea" today at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in Williamsburg. Teas are usually associated with England where high tea and afternoon tea are part of the culture. Here in the USA, a tea is an unusual gathering.
What do you do at a tea? You make polite conversation with the other guests, eat delicious finger food, and of course drink tea.
Today's tea was to raise funds for the art gallery, and it included tours of the art gallery. Sound boring? I only saw two kids in the whole crowded affairs. That's too bad because it was fun, and if you didn't drink tea, you could have sparkling cider. There was good food, good company, and wonderful art. How could it not be a good way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon?
What do you do at a tea? You make polite conversation with the other guests, eat delicious finger food, and of course drink tea.
Today's tea was to raise funds for the art gallery, and it included tours of the art gallery. Sound boring? I only saw two kids in the whole crowded affairs. That's too bad because it was fun, and if you didn't drink tea, you could have sparkling cider. There was good food, good company, and wonderful art. How could it not be a good way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon?
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Poetry is Not Dead
The Poetry Society of Virginia supports a reading the first Saturday of every month. Today four poets read at the James City Library. It was excellent, live, free entertainment.
One of the nice things about the poetry readings is that the poets tell you a little about how they happened to write the poems, and that biographical information makes the poems even better.
Afterwards many of us went to lunch at Jimmy's Pizza Restaurant. We enjoyed good food and stimualating conversation.
Poetry is not dead. It is alive and well in Williamsburg, Virginia and I hope in many other places as well.
One of the nice things about the poetry readings is that the poets tell you a little about how they happened to write the poems, and that biographical information makes the poems even better.
Afterwards many of us went to lunch at Jimmy's Pizza Restaurant. We enjoyed good food and stimualating conversation.
Poetry is not dead. It is alive and well in Williamsburg, Virginia and I hope in many other places as well.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Great Books
I am always looking for great books to read and my readers often suggest books. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I try to read all the books that kids recommend.
What to read?
I really liked Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo. I couldn't believe how creative is was.
I also liked the Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. The book is set in Venice, a city I love. So it was fun to revisit Venice in fiction.
I especially enjoyed a book that was all poetry called Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, but I am a poet myself and so I am prejudiced in that direction. It was very clever.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan had great characters.
I enjoyed the Secret School by Avi.
Readers recommended the following book. I read them all and liked them:
Avi, Beyond the Western Seas (two volumes)
Patricia Reilly Giff, Nory Ryan's Song
Fever 1793
What to read?
I really liked Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo. I couldn't believe how creative is was.
I also liked the Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. The book is set in Venice, a city I love. So it was fun to revisit Venice in fiction.
I especially enjoyed a book that was all poetry called Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, but I am a poet myself and so I am prejudiced in that direction. It was very clever.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan had great characters.
I enjoyed the Secret School by Avi.
Readers recommended the following book. I read them all and liked them:
Avi, Beyond the Western Seas (two volumes)
Patricia Reilly Giff, Nory Ryan's Song
Fever 1793
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Thursdays with Johann
This morning I attended a class on the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. We started with number one and by the year 2013 the teacher will teach all 200 cantatas. I am one of 90 students attending the class offered by the Christopher Wren Society.
Today we had live music with a performance by two William and Mary students, one on the violin; the other on the cello.
The Bach cantatas are sacred music dating from the late 1600s and eary 1700s. Cantata number four which we heard today was written before 1708 when Bach would have only been about 23 years old.
The class is being held in the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary. The Chapel dates from the same time period. What a great place to have the Bach class. And what a great way to spend Thursday mornings for the next four weeks.
I came out of class today and found freezing rain. Fortunately, for a change, I had my umbrella.
Now I really must get back to proofing the galleys for the new book.
Today we had live music with a performance by two William and Mary students, one on the violin; the other on the cello.
The Bach cantatas are sacred music dating from the late 1600s and eary 1700s. Cantata number four which we heard today was written before 1708 when Bach would have only been about 23 years old.
The class is being held in the Wren Chapel at the College of William and Mary. The Chapel dates from the same time period. What a great place to have the Bach class. And what a great way to spend Thursday mornings for the next four weeks.
I came out of class today and found freezing rain. Fortunately, for a change, I had my umbrella.
Now I really must get back to proofing the galleys for the new book.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Welcome Readers
I am working on the galley proofs of my third middle grade historical children's book. It is called Divided Loyalties, a Revolutionary War Fifer's Story. Going over the galleys means that I have to look at every word and every piece of punctuation to see if it is correct. It is hardwork, but necessary so that there are no errors in the book when it is published.
Today I jogged 9.6 miles. I have signed up to run the Colonial Half Marathon (13 miles) on February 27, so I am in training. I have been builing up my distance and hope to be able to go the distance in the Half Marathon.
I got an e-mail today from Langley Elementary School with three letters on it. It is great to hear from kids.
Today I jogged 9.6 miles. I have signed up to run the Colonial Half Marathon (13 miles) on February 27, so I am in training. I have been builing up my distance and hope to be able to go the distance in the Half Marathon.
I got an e-mail today from Langley Elementary School with three letters on it. It is great to hear from kids.
