Gene

I've just finished reading the most wonderful books, Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton Porter. I simply devoured the novels because they are romances (and I don't waste my time with any other genre), and they were written by a male. Ms. Meyer has nothing on Mr. Porter, because I believe that when a male can write a love story, I mean really pour his heart and soul into the romatic interaction between characters, that is true lit. We know a woman can, because she is woman. And as a woman, I am a pure romantic.

So I googled him. He is a she. Ms. Gene Stratton Porter is a female, which clearly explains everything. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't disappointed when my google search came up with a woman's picture, but then, the only other "Gene" I know is the dead man I was going to marry as a teen, Gene Kelly.

My advice: read the books and cherish the characters and the setting, they are still literary treasures especially because they were written by a female. My next read, The Scarlet Pimpernell, was written by a woman, and I know she was a woman due to her suffix -- "ess."


And, to my few readers, please list clean and lovely romance novels that are written by males. I would gladly appreciate it, for summer begins in a week and I am ready to read.

Happy Birthday #9, Meg

What a fun day we had celebrating Meg. Presents this morning. Wendy's in the cafeteria for lunch. Ice cream roll cake with nine candles for dessert.

 

 

 

 

We went around the dinner table and expressed our reasons for loving Meg. They are as follows:
Austin: Because she is a good helper and takes care of those around her.
Nicole: Because she is happy and excited about life.
Andy: Because she makes up great games to play.
Maisie: Because she is nice.
Nick: Because she sleeps by me and rubs my back.

Preparation

Meg's Birthday Checklist

Double-batch of brownies with cream cheese frosting (to take to school). Check.

Milk chocolate ice cream roll cake (in freezer). Check.

36 crescent rolls (baked and bagged). Check.

Presents wrapped (waiting on mantle). Check.

Lasagna ingredients purchased (she requested a non-veggie meal, requiring a trip to the store). Check.

Family room vacuumed (her morning chore). Check.

Celebrate. Unchecked, for now.

May Fete Parade

The May Fete parade was especially fun this year because all the kindergartners get to ride on a float. Andy rode the on pirate ship. Meg walked behind the trolley as part of the "Wizard of Oz" cast. We were perfectly content as spectators because the weather was ideal and the donuts tasty as ever.

 

 

 

 

May Fete

The girls danced in the McPherson May Fete celebration; they performed beautifully.

 

 

 

 

Bowling

We had the perfect evening together -- bowling and rootbeer floats. Austin was the winner. I tied with Maisie. Meg, Andy and Nick each held their own. Best part was the Andy's dancing to the music. Worst part was Nick chasing his ball down the lane. Tons of fun.

 

 

 

 

Eisenhower BBQ

Today was the annual school BBQ. Nick and Maisie helped me bake cookies and pack lunches. The crazy Kanasas wind whipped our lunches everywhere, but we survived.

 

 

 

Taco Tico

Recently I was making tacos for dinner, and because the aroma in the house was divine, Tico (Andy's friend, name is changed to preserve identity) asked Andy if he could stay for dinner. Once the arrangements were made and dinner was ready, we all gathered to the table to eat.

My children were pretty excited about the supper spread -- black beans, cilantro-lime rice, tomato/cucumber relish, Cafe Rio dressing, guacomole and fresh tortillas (the kind you buy a bit raw and warm on the stove). We said prayer, and afterward I began serving the children. Of course I started with our guest, Tico.

"What would you like in your taco?" I asked.

Tico politely responded, "I only like meat and cheese."

I looked around the table and laughed because I was not serving meat nor cheese.

Andy then tried to convince him that tacos are so good, and if Tico ate all his food he could have a rice crispy treat for dessert. Didn't work. Tico wouldn't try any of the food, except the tortilla. And he did, however, eat all of that, so he was awarded a rice crispy treat for dessert.