When I dreamed up the wacky name to this blog, I was mostly thinking of it as a play on words. One part “Feng Shui” – the ancient Chinese art of rearranging your environment to create a positive energy flow. Another part “schwa” – the most common, ordinary sound in the English language. Juxtapose the two and you have this blog – Feng Schwa – … Continue reading What the Chi?
I tell our children that reading is a gift. A gift that cannot be stolen, and one they will have for life. I firmly believe it, too. History has a tragic track record of denying people the right to read in an attempt to prevent them from revolting against oppression. Ironically, there are many amazing books that best illustrate this point. Take Nightjohn by Gary … Continue reading All Buggy Eyed
Lately I’ve been dabbling my toes outside my comfort zone a bit, and on all accounts I’m coming up short. It’s got me in a funk, because these shortcomings are making me feel like a lame mother. It started a few weeks ago when we took the kids skiing at Alyeska. I don’t ski, so I deemed myself the photodocumentarian. It was adorable to watch … Continue reading Old Mom, New Tricks
In case anyone else out there wants to throw a bird-themed party, I thought I’d share a few ideas that we used to pull it all together. When Maggie initially picked this theme, I had no idea what we would do. In the end, we had more ideas than we could use! Designing the invitations is my favorite step in the party planning process. I … Continue reading Bird-Themed Birthday Party
Today we delivered Maggie’s donations to Anchorage’s Bird Treatment and Learning Center. Instead of birthday gifts, Maggie’s classmates brought everything from bleach to toilet paper to help stock the supply cabinet at the Bird TLC. The Bird TLC volunteers and employees were so appreciative that they offered Sam and Maggie a mini tour of their facility. The kids met a crow (yes, a crow… not … Continue reading For the Birds: The Finale!
We survived the bird-day party without too many ruffled feathers. Oh sure, there were a few bonked heads and plenty of tattling, and some odd moments (like when a little girl locked herself in the bathroom with a hijacked doll stroller). But but what can you expect when you invite 14 kindergarten girls to your nest? All you can hope is that you will learn … Continue reading For the Birds: Part II
It’s fun to watch our children develop interests that are completely and uniquely their own. So it goes with our bird-loving daughter, who since the age of two has enjoyed the caw of ravens and the scavenging of magpies. Now that she’s older we drive past a marsh each day, which is alive with seagulls, swans, terns, and geese. At Christmas we gave her a … Continue reading For the Birds: Part I
Last week Clark and I celebrated the big 1-0. Really? Ten years of marriage… that’s it?! What a ripoff! When you date and live with someone for eight years before heading down the aisle, the wedding anniversaries just don’t paint a true picture of your history together. Our history. Hmmmm. Let’s reflect. I’d love to spout out a line or two about pre-kid days, but … Continue reading A Photographic History of Us
So the past two nights have basically been spent in tears. Self-inflicted, and all in the name of recreation thanks to a couple of books that were intended for teenagers rather than blubbering 40-year-olds. Actually, one of them was intended for 5-year-olds: Ramona and Beezus. Who knew I’d need Kleenex for that?! It wasn’t just the cat’s funeral (although that was brutal) but more so … Continue reading You Go Girls: Katniss, Clementine, and Ramona!!
“Bloom where you’re planted.” I have no idea who originally came up with this brilliant gem of advice, but I was the parent of a four-year-old the first time I heard it uttered by Teacher Tom at the Anchorage Cooperative Preschool. It’s one of those phrases that has stuck with me ever since. My family and I have just returned from the World Ice Art … Continue reading Blooming Where We’re Transplanted
Profoundly Ordinary 