Sharing what I read, saw, learned or thought ~

I know many of you are as entranced with Downton Abbey as we are. We came a little late to the party; by the time we caught up with the first two seasons, the third season had been removed from On Demand and Infinity and not yet released on DVD. What to do…besides sulk? Nothing, we thought, until a golfing buddy (Thanks, Leo!) of my husband’s clued us in—we could purchase the third season on iTunes and watch it on Apple TV. Back to sipping tea and enjoying Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess!

• The blog, What Do We Do All Day?, featured a post on journals for children, although I’d personally be happy to scribble and doodle in any of the ones Erica chose. Journaling has so many applications and benefits, and as she points out, provides you with a window into the past (not a small thing). Reading this post actually jogged my memory—I recalled that we used to have a family journal; each of us would take turns either initiating a topic or responding to one and then leave the journal on the bed of the person we wanted to write in it next. Sometimes we elicit different responses when we address a subject in writing as opposed to just speaking face-to-face.

• Writing letters is a wonderful way to preserve and pass on our hopes, inspiration, and love to our grandchildren. Lisa at Grandma’s Briefs has written a useful guide to writing a thoughtful, handwritten letter. It also occurred to me that her post would be helpful for a father or grandfather entertaining the idea of entering the letter-writing contest sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation.

• After muddling through or abandoning the last 3 books recommended to me (The Dinner, Arcadia and Roundhouse), I started one that promises to change this depressing trend: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. By the way, might the name Zelda cycle back into fashion?

• Saturday turned out to be a great day.  We met Laura and Zeke at the Green City Market, arguably one of the best farmers’ markets in the country—Saturday was opening day of the outdoor market. Although it has a lovely winter home at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (love those butterflies!), it still is exciting to have the market back in Lincoln Park.

• I am totally obsessed with names. The first thing I want to know following a birth (after ascertaining the good health of all involved) is the name—first and middle—of the new baby. In fact, I consider myself a nameologist, albeit an unpaid one. However, even I know that it is folly to place a bet based solely on a horse’s name. And yet…that’s what my husband did…bet on a horse in the Kentucky Derby called Orb, because that was my nickname for him when we were dating. Yes, Orb!! On Saturday afternoon, the horse my Orb picked won the Kentucky Derby!!!

• The fun continued Saturday evening (for us Bulls fans, anyway), as the Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets in the 7th game of the first series!

What about you? Anything you’d like to share?

You might also enjoy:

• Calling All Grandpas
• Keep Your Brain Unbored
• Children’s Stories: Print to Screen