Two Sisters: A Study in Contrasts

One question, asked of two sisters.

The question:
Grandma is spending the night. Can she stay in your room?

The answers:
Kay: NO. SHE. CAN. NOT.

Magpie : Sure! How long? Does she want the bed? I can sleep on the floor. Or in another room, whatever's best. Maybe she'd like my special pillow? She can have it! And my special blanket. Oh, and Snuffles the Dog. He makes everything seem better when you're in a strange place.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

My mom lives near the newly opened National September 11 Memorial & Museum (also known as the National 9/11 Memorial Museum) so she was able to be one of the first to visit it, and to do so free of charge. The museum officially opens today, May 21.

My mom admits that she went thinking she would not like the museum at all, but left feeling it was a beautiful and solemn tribute to a terrible event. In addition to an emphasis on the events of September 11, the museum also focuses on the construction of the twin towers, and the complex and massive engineering feat that construction was, as well as on the rebuilding of the towers that are present today. On display are a few of the massive beams, as well as other relics from the original towers.

There is also a "museum within the museum" where personal artifacts, photos of those who died, and other personal tributes are displayed, which while sharing important historical pieces from September 11 does not necessarily complement the feeling of reflection and contemplation brought on by the open spaces of the rest of the museum complex.

One of the highlights of the museum is the ten minute film Rebirth at Ground Zero created by Project Rebirth, which will be permanent part of the museum.The film, which is a time lapse compilation of the reconstruction of the towers, is the final piece in a series of nine short films which followed nine people directly affected by the 9/11 attacks over eight years. You can read more about the film, and the experience of viewing it at the museum in their press release "Rebirth at Ground Zero" Opens at the National 9/11 Museum. The film's score is by composer Philip Glass, and is magnificent.

In general, my mom thought the 9/11 Memorial Museum was very well done, with just a few misses. One of those misses is the regrettable choice to have a gift shop, and the other, to charge a very steep admission fee -- $24. (Both of these choices are discussed in 9/11 Memorial Museum's Admission Fee, Gift Shop Spark Controversy.)

In addition to the museum there are also 9/11 Memorial walking tours of the area.

My Mom's Recipe for the World's Best Passover Macaroons

For Passover, my family always has macaroons. This is the traditional dessert for many celebrating the holiday,as these tasty cookies do not require flour, which is forbidden over the eight day festival.


This year, my mom brought her recipe as well as the four required ingredients, to my house and made these easy, and delicious, cookies with her delighted granddaughters. They were the best macaroons I had ever eaten, so Grandma kindly gave us her “secret” recipe so we could make them again.

Here’s the recipe:



P.S. My mom’s secret recipe is actually Mark Bittman’s Ultimate Minimalist Macaroons. But shhh, don’t tell her I know the truth.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

My mom has given me a lot of great advice over the years.

Here are a few of my favorites.

This one always makes me feel better when everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. My mom is a scientist, and apparently this was what they would say in the Lab when experiments didn't turn-out the way they expected.

She also, for reasons I don't know, is completely adamant that we fill-out the census:

She is also always very strict on pedestrian safety, as was her mother. To this day, after two generations of reminders not to, I never jaywalk.

And the only piece of advice from her that I don't follow:

My mom never has been a big crafter, and she is continually shocked that I am. So, of course, she was overjoyed when her grandson said, "I don't like arts & crap either, Gramma."

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Thanks for all the great advice over the years.

What's some of the best advice your mom has given you?

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Photos from our Family Vacation to Ireland

Thanks to my brother Ethan for letting me lift these photos from his blog, American Vernacular Landscapes.

All photos taken 12 years ago next month, which seems like a very long time ago but also sorta like it was just yesterday.

If these pictures look familiar, it's because I also posted them last year.

For more St. Patrick's Day posts from the Random Handprints archives, click here.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 28 - Interrupted by Hurricane Sandy

Today I have no choice but to take a break from my Halloween-ing, and to focus on the Frankenstorm - Hurricane Sandy instead.

Because if you live in New Jersey as I do, Hurricane Sandy is all you're thinking about. I have done what I can today -gas in the car, clothes washed and dried, devices charged, food and water stockpiled. I even found our flashlights and battery reserves. And I have worried, I have worried enough for all of us.

And, I was very happy to remember that over the summer the good folks at the New York Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM) had sent me a Go Bag fully stocked with first aid kit, work gloves and other necessary items. So now I'm totally prepared, even if a lot of that preparedness was done for me by someone else.

In general, every family (and business) should have a hurricane disaster plan in place before a potential storm. To help, the NYC OEM even has a free guide: Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City with tips on how to prepare for any emergency, instructions on how to develop a hurricane disaster plan and secure your home before a storm, as well as a map with New York City hurricane evacuation zones. A map I'm familiar with as my mom who lives in lower Manhattan just got evacuated for the second time - not that she's keeping count. Or complaining.

So yes, all of this is last minute for the Frankenstorm that is Hurricane Sandy, but at least it's an important reminder that these things do happen - even in New York City - and that we all need to be prepared.

If you're in New York City, you can find your zone and the location of your nearest evacuation center/shelter here.

And no matter where you live, the NYC OEM has a helpful list of Hurricane Safety Tips. And if you do live in NYC, follow the NYC OEM on Twitter @NotifyNYC for the latest storm updates and coverage.

Now if I can just find where I stashed the hidden candy.

Be safe, all.

 

You Can Crochet!

Actually, I have no idea if you can crochet.

What I'm really saying is my mom can crochet.

For the record, I can not crochet.

And I'm so glad my mom can crochet, because she had made my kids the cutest little animals from the book Voodoo Maggie's Adorable Amigurumi: Cute and Quirky Corocheted Critters. (Tuttle Publishing, $15.95)

Voodoo Maggie (really Erin Clark) has directions and beautiful photographs for eighteen different crocheted friends, and my three-year-old was endlessly delighted to stroll through the book looking through the photos and picking out what "gramma gonna make next."

So far, we have these two Amigurumi darlings at our house:

Yeti (5 inches tall and 4 inches wide)

and Luna the Baby Dragon (11 inches tall).

My kids love their amigurumi companions, not only because "gramma made them!" but also because they got to pick out the details, like the yarn color, making them truly one-of-a-kind little treasures.

There are directions to make creatures that are suitable for all skill levels from beginner to more advanced crocheters. Personally, I'm hoping gramma makes me one next. (I'm partial to Bella la Batty, but I'll take anything. Thanks, mom!)

I received a copy of Adorable Amigurumi: Cute and Quirky Crocheted Critters for review. My mom made everything herself, with her only compensation being her grandchildren's delight.

Gardening Success

My mother and my cousin Mary have taken my fledgling garden - and me, the fledgling gardener - under their experienced gardening wing.

They worry about my gardening success.

I worry about them worrying.

So I am ecstatic to report that today this bloomed:

I think it's a sign that the garden is gonna be ok, transplant shock and all.

Next week, hopefully photos of tomatoes!

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in NYC

As seen from my mother's NYC apartment, The Queen's Diamond Jubilee:

I'm not quite sure why Manhattan is celebrating, but happy Diamond Jubilee just the same Queen E!

Photo source for Diamond Jubilee logo.

Old Photo Friday: Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom.

Not my favorite holiday, but definitely my favorite mom.

On Friday's I post old photos, usually of my family. You can see them all here.

Enterprise Photos: Live from New York City

All photos taken by my mom, from her New York City apartment.

Old Photo Friday: Ziggy and the Plaid Pajamas

My mom buys the kids lots of great clothes - but often a little on the big size. I understand why - kids grow, and usually, they grow quickly.

And of course, the buying-large strategy means the clothes will last for awhile.

Like in the case of Ziggy and the plaid pajamas which my mom bought him when he was a baby. For reasons she outlined in this email I received from her:

"Bought Ziggy some plaid PJ's since U like 2 dress him in old men clothes and he's in bed a lot."

Here he is wearing his "old man pajamas" as a wee baby:

And here he is still happily wearing his "old man pajamas" just last month:

What about you? When it comes to kids clothes, are you a "buy a size bigger" shopper, or more of a "buy the stuff I like in multiple sizes" kind of shopper?

This is my usual installment of Old Photo Friday, even though (yes, I know) the photos aren't that old.

Linking-up to the always funny, Finding the Funny at My Life and Kids and Kelley's Breakroom.

Old Photo Friday: My Big Brother's Birthday

Tomorrow is my big brother Ethan's birthday.

What better way to celebrate than with photos of his birthday's past on this Old Photo Friday?

The original birthday:

Third birthday?

A great present on the fifth birthday?

Sixth birthday?

Eighth birthday?

And right when I was starting to feel nostalgic for those simpler, "olden" times, I realized that my big brother's car-themed birthday cake:

Looked an awful lot like his nephew Ziggy's cake just last August:

It should be noted both cakes had the same stylist.

Happy Birthday, Big E!

Old Photo Friday: My Mom and Me

My mom's birthday was yesterday. We celebrated with the best soup dumpling ever at the Shanghai Cafe in Chinatown.

We also learned that if you have a waitress who (no judgement) doesn't speak English, she will assume anything you say is a request for water or forks.

As a last ditch resort, the waitress will also bring you spoons before giving up and going to find the waiter with the perfect English, who will take your order.

The whole experience made me feel for my toddler who pretty much lives this over and over again every mealtime at our house. He jabbers, I bring him a glass of water. What? You're still talking? Bring him a fork. And then eventually if he is still trying to tell me something, that's right, I bring him a spoon. And then he, brings me a tantrum. Finally, I understand your frustration, kid. I really do.

Luckily, our experience ended free of tantrums. And full of the best soup dumplings ever.

And now, for old photo fun, my mom and me in the 1970s:

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I'm taking a trip down memory lane every Friday until I get bored of digging around my old photos, or until I run out of material.

Have you ever tried soup dumplings? And if you have, tell me the best place to get them!

Gettin' Crafty with Craft Whores: The Children's Sock Phallus

A few days ago, I posted on this blog the adorable stuffed Amigurumi animals that my mom crocheted for my kids.

I shouldn't even have to add this, but for the record they were G-RATED Amigurumi animals.

Image Source

Anyway, the ever-helpful Deborah of Mannahatta Mamma left a comment on that post suggesting perhaps my mom should enter the Craft Whores contest, and well uh she did, or rather, is entering the contest here..

So without further back story, here's my sweet mother's entry: The Children's Sock Phallus:

Just the other day I was trying to pick-out some nice art for my grandson's room. I thought this photo might be nice, and emailed it over to my daughter, Anna, to get her thoughts:

Image Source

Without even thanking me for taking the time to find suitable art for her toddler son's room, she just writes back: "No."

So I thought to myself, "hmm, that's odd." And then I realized my daughter probably just wanted to choose his bedroom artwork herself, which I'm totally fine with even if we all know she is going to pick some totally pedestrian Curious George prints.

But then I had a bit of a grandma brainstorm - wouldn't my grandson love his very own sock phallus toy to play with? Sure, his mother is denying him a poster of a world-renowned artist and her penis sculpture, but surely she wouldn't also prevent him from playing with a sock phallus that was lovingly handmade by his beloved grandmother?

So, I made my dear grandson this:

Don't you think ever toddler should have his - or her - very own sock phallus toy? And, this is a perfect craft for anyone who doesn't know what to do with those spare mis-matched socks you find in the dryer.

Why make another boring sock monkey when you can make a one-of-a-kind sock phallus instead! Just put a little stuffing in the sock, stitch up the top to be as atomically correct as you would like, and voila! one easy-peasy sock phallus. And this craft is totally green and eco-friendly!

Have you made a sock phallus toy recently? Please link-up your photos in the comments below, or head over to the Craft Whores contest and enter your awesome-sauce creation there!

___________________

I set the date on this post to February, 2012. I'm not sure the world - or my blog readers - are quite ready for this, although clearly the Craft Whores are more than ready for it.

You may be reading this if you have any kind of feed auto-sending thingy of new content. So insert either "I'm sorry" or "you're welcome," depending on which one is appropriate.

Thanks to The Suniverse and The Bearded Iris for their uh inspired contest



 

THE BEST WOODEN TOYS: The Second Edition of Anna's Holiday Gift Guide for Super-Fun Non-Commercial Toys

My kids have great collection of wooden toys they've gotten over the years - mostly from Grandma and her wooden toy pusher, Playing Mantis (32 North Moore in TriBeCa, if you want to get a wooden toy fix yourself).  They are all admittedly expensive, but many are made in American and Europe, and are of incredible quality, and they really do last.

Here are some of my absolute favorite wooden toys that have given my kids (and me) many hours of family fun:

Marble Run ($110.95)
This marble run is endlessly enjoyable for all ages (and by all ages I mean all the ages that don't swallow marbles). Each level of wood plays a different tune, so the marbles create a delightful song every trip down. Kids can experiment with different sized marbles, and listen to all the various sounds that are made.

Color Frames ($54.99, currently on sale for $46.74)
I had a hard time picking just one toy from Learning Materials Workshop, because honestly, I (er, I mean my kids) could play with any of these fantastic creations all day long.

The Color Frames set can be arranged in an array of gorgeous color patterns, or used to build amazing constructions, pave multi-colored roads, or demark one sister's area from the other.

I'm also a huge fan of the Cubes, Bobbins & Beams set ($49.99, currently on sale for $37.49) that can build fanciful creations that turn, twist and just be generally fabulous.

Note: Lots of the Learing Materials Worshop's products are currently discounted (15-25%) as part of their Holiday Sale though December 10.

Birch Wood 8 Tone Diatonic Xylophone ($99.95)
This xylophone is fun for the kids doing the playing, and perhaps even more importantly, perfectly delightful for the adult doing the listening. Ages 3+, or whenever they stop using the mallets for weapons.

Maple Wood Anamalz ($8.95 for the critters, $119.99 for the barnhouse)
I love these Australian-designed, environmentally friendly critters, with whimsical expressions and bendy limbs that can be endlessly posed. How could you not love this dancin' giraffe? All ages.

And if you want to know your Anamalz have a comfy home, you can get them the Barnhouse ($119.99)

All of the products in my holiday gift guide are free of licensed characters, batteries or a focus on being good for "a boy" or "a girl." All the products also have in common that I sorta want them for myself.


I'll be back on Wednesday sharing my picks for great holiday clothes.


Disclosure: All toys purchased by me (or Grandma).