One Night in Lansing

 Nu looks so lovely dressed up for Navaratri visits. even their severe hair looks very model-like, I think.

I slept over with the three babies last night and this morning Scout and Huck seemed the same, but when I went to give Nu a goodmorning kiss, they seemed taller? Like they had grown in the night?

Big A said I was still taller by a hair; S, U, and E--our Navaratri hosts said Nu was already taller.

Nu is technically still eleven until Friday, so I should get used to being the shortest human in the family and to being addressed as "little mama" by my tall pre-teen. I'm sure I'll grow into it. Get it? Ha.




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Thud

Last week was a rainy blur, so I don't remember which morning this was. But yes, that tree fell right into our tiny veggie plot and the putative garden... so: BOO.

It would have been more boo-hoo though if it had fallen a few feet to the right and taken out windows and skylights, so there's a bright side?

CF was going to spend the night here, but showed up early, laden with sweet gifts, but congested and wanting to get back to her own bed. I was in the process of making soup for dinner, so I packed up some for her to take.

I am sad and will miss our plans for intergenerational girls' night. And C's disappearance hacks heavily into Nu's plans to watch Derry Girls  all over again :D.
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Here Comes the Sun

I was so delighted to see this bright face over the Maple River.

(In a show of what we used to call
"deep breath of beauty"
when we all had to drive to Alma for school.)

(Also: Kids, please don't try this in your cars.)

Brighter

It's been a super rainy week... so last week's picture of my ecocriticism students in the sunshine, ID-ing trees blindfolded is a needed reminder of brighter, happier, more productive times.











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In solidarity

I unintentionally fell asleep downstairs last night...

And when I woke up, I saw that three of my loves had decided to sleep right there with me.

#LivingRoomCampOut!









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Accidental Portrait #2

Huckie, too, is horrified by CNN.

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Accidental Portrait

And apparently, I spend my life being terrified.

Perhaps I had just spent time reading the news?


#MSU







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Call this nosey

When mama's cooking and the smells are driving us wild:



But that's all I have.

I wish I had a picture of the Indian feast I made for KB and her students who were on their way to the temple for navaratri and garba.

But to see the two students from India enjoying my version of Indian food was particularly special! And KB sweetly took back a box of biryani for At--the half-Indian kid who couldn't come.
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Hustlers, Sitters, Us

This is Huckie modeling how I felt after watching Hustlers. Super down and bewildered.

IDK why, but I was expecting more Robin Hood, more lighthearted women's camaraderie and sisterhood, more of Adam McKay's socialist take on the 2008 crash, and less... pole dancing and poisoning?

Big A and I had booked a babysitter for four-hours via a local agency, but he knew I just wanted to come home, so we did--an hour and a half early. The sitter was great, came with planned activities, was cool with the puppies, and generally cool. The next time, I hope Big A and I pick a more fun activity for ourselves!




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Candid Lecture

The president (of the college) posted this to social media this morning.

I'm supposedly giving a community talk on "invitational rhetoric," although it looks like I'm demonstrating how to go into "bear mode" 😂 







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"Portrait of the Puppy as a Naughty Dog"

Huck isn't allowed up to the library without a human, but she always finds a way to get up there for the sunbathing and getting a little closer to where her dada is napping...
















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