The Thoughtfulness of Friends

Mar 25, 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

I read today that in these crazy times, Facebook has become the main news source for millions of people. And I thought, we can do better than that! I have friends, both on the far right and far left, who’ve shared ideas that are so insightful that I hope you will appreciate some of their musings on the Topic At Hand as much as I appreciated receiving them.

——

Astute commentary from S., resident of Germany:

A Few Thoughts Tonight

Mar 23, 2020

Dear Family,

Now we have lockdowns. Which have caused an economic downturn that has already trashed millions of jobs, and millions of Americans have no confidence that public Health is much of a priority for our fearless “leader” who gets up on podiums and just Makes Stuff Up. Lots of other experts are Making Stuff Up too, and we can do very little about it except Talk Amongst Ourselves, virtually of course, and come up with more opinions.

Here are a few of mine, subject to change.

I Question Social Distancing. Is this heresy?

Mar 17, 2020

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
— Leon C. Megginson, summarizing concepts from the writings of Charles Darwin

“I didn't allow their side-eyes and annoyed looks to intimidate or stop me. I also would persist even if I thought I was being ignored. If I encountered something I didn't understand, I'd just ask. And I kept asking no matter whose calculations I was evaluating—an engineer's or the head of the entire department.”

Apple Turnovers

Nov 29, 2019

Makes six hand pies

These came out light, flaky, and delicious, with just the right filling consistency (not too oozy, but not too dry). The crust recipe makes enough for a single pie crust (just omit 1 T. of maple syrup).

Filling:
6 apples, peeled and cut into chunks
6 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tbsp. cinnamon
pinch of cloves
1-2 tbsp. ghee
juice of one small lemon

Saute gently until nearly cooked (wide frying pan, uncovered, is perfect); sprinkle with 2 tbsp. quick cooking tapioca granules and stir well. Let cool.

Crust:
1 cup almond flour
1 cup minus 2 tbsp. arrowroot flour

So Many Enchanted Adventures

Sep 16, 2019

Dear Family,

“This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

Ivyisms:

“Everybody else went out. But it’s not lonely, cuz I’m with you and you’re with me!”

Overheard - a voice from the bathroom: “Ewiza? I have the funnest idea in the WORLD! I could take off my pants and pee into the toilet like a HE!”

Concerning her outfit for the day: “I got very useful fings on me: cuz I got shorts on under HERE, and a tee shirt on under HERE!”

Drawing: “This person has hair and ears!

A Theatrical, Satirical, Traveling Summer

Aug 12, 2019

Dear Family,

“Time went by so fast these days. There was some sort of malfunction going on with how fast the earth was spinning. Decades went by as quick as years once did.”
—Liane Moriarty, “Nine Perfect Strangers”

“And the moral of the story is that you don’t remember what happened. What you remember becomes what happened.”
—John Greene, “An Abundance of Katherines”

——

Ivyisms:

Fascinating Intrigue, and Other Stuff to Think About

Jul 11, 2019

Dear Family

I have come across a fascinating new rabbit hole in the realm of health, potentially relevant to those with gut issues, eye and skin problems, autoimmunity, eating disorders, excessive inflammation, or elevated triglycerides, cholesterol, and/or blood sugar.

The Best of All The Worlds

May 16, 2019

Dear Family,

“Sometimes I think the difference between what we want and what we're afraid of is about the width of an eyelash.”
― Jay McInerney

——

Eliza: Dragons need HUGE caves.

Ivy: Why?

Eliza: I dunno…I guess cuz they need to fit.

——

Ivyisms:

“Mama? I wuv you more than myself AN my flip flops.”

“I’m hoppin’ around like an Eastern Bunny!”

An Ivy Ditty: “…Because I’m an edible nut, I wish someone could eat me, pew pew pew pewie pewie pew...”

“I want NORMAL shorts, wif no skirt and only legs!”

Screen Time and Our Children Ourselves

Nov 12, 2018

Dear Family,

Amidst the Chaos and The Election and So Much Troubling News (not to mention my family’s first-world-style personal housing insecurity), I spent this week mustering gratitude.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Desert Again

Oct 27, 2018

Dear Family,

“It’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary is dependent upon him not understanding it.”
—Upton Sinclair

“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”
—Bill Mollison

“The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

——

Ivyisms:

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