I wanted to show you a glimpse of this bassinet which I found about 33 years ago at a flea market in Virginia (by the way, tomorrow The Chief and I celebrate our 34th anniversary!) when I was pregnant with Nick.
It wasn't easy for me to do any long-distance thrifting, because we were carless. We may have borrowed someone's car — I can't remember.
I needed a bassinet, because, nesting.
This was all white, of course, as bassinets tend to be, but I didn't want that because I didn't like doing things the way everyone else did them. I didn't want a pastel one and I didn't know if I was having a boy or girl anyway. So I painted it bright red and made white-and-red polka-dotted bedding for it, and so it remained until Bridget came along. (Maybe I can find an old photo of that… )
At that point, Habou raised the voice of reason. “Why do you want a red bassinet?” Okay, fine. So she painted it and decorated it this way, which is lovely. Some day she should add a mommy cardinal.
Well, it was Deirdre, age three, who had carefully taken all my magazines and placed them, upright, all around the edges between the walls of the bassinet and the mattress, and then put a few on top of the baby for good measure. He was peacefully napping. I think he liked feeling enclosed, yikes!
On to this week's links!
~ Can we agree that if you are making pompoms, you likely need to be making a lot? Here is a tutorial for mass-producing (well, many-producing) pompoms at will.
~ You crazy people clamored for my favorite cat videos. Don't complain if you already know about Henri, le Chat Noir — simply admit that they are the best. My favorite one is le Haunting, with its deathless line, “No one dresses as crippling self-doubt.”
If you are, say, needing to laugh so that you go into labor (not that we have anyone in mind, *cough*Rosie*cough*), these are recommended. I feel like there's one with a dog too, but I haven't found it and may be confused. (Please leave your favorite funny links in the comments so that Rosie can laugh as much as possible! We need Baby Girl to arrive!)
~ Yesterday was the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein. I highly recommend this essay on her life, by a scholar I admire, Christopher Blum. I especially appreciate his focus on friendship: “Without the near-constant testing of our ideas and convictions against the sharp stone of a friend’s mind, we are much more likely to go astray than we are to find our way home to the truth.”
~ Most of us can't get enough of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. This essay examines the archetype of monarchy in their writings.
~ Another favorite author around these parts is Sigrid Undset. If you need a book to read while nursing the baby, for instance, I recommend Kristin Lavransdatter (yes, in this translation) (but maybe on Kindle, as it's hard to hold it open with one hand — it's that big!). In this essay, Anthony Esolen begins to explore the idea of compulsion, which Undset, a keen political thinker, applied to events in Europe leading to the Second World War.
“People were already saying that Germany had been taken over by a tiny self-made military elite, and that the Germans were victims just as the people the Nazis subjugated were. Sigrid Undset wasn’t buying. She and her neighbors remembered having housed and fed German children after the first war, and some of those same children they recognized as grown men, trying to destroy the land that showed them mercy. Instead she said that there must have been something abnormal about a people—she was thinking mainly of northern Germans and the Prussians—who seemed to admire the absolutist. She was drawing a connection between the commission of unnatural crimes and life under compulsion.”
~You know how we are about leisure, rest, and simple enjoyment here at LMLD. Here is a take from the redoubtable Fr. Schall. “… we accomplish the highest purpose in creation… in delight and in freedom.”
Wisdom.
~ Again with the fascinatingly weird time-capsule apartment, this time in England.
Okay, that was more than I thought it would be, and took longer than necessary! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~We'd like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we're not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Follow us on Twitter, where we discuss random stuff and link to (sometimes sillier or more fleeting) other things.
Like us on Facebook, where you will be advised of posts, including some from the archives that you might have missed.
Auntie Leila's Pinterest.
Rosie's Pinterest.
Sukie's Pinterest.
Deirdre's Pinterest.
Habou's Pinterest.
Auntie Leila's Ravelry
Kathy@9peas says
My oldest son, Noah had Christopher Blum teach a class on Jane Austen…which he still talks about years later. So many great links here, thank you Leila.
As to the pristine lady on the train…how did you not bust out laughing when she stated 'It starts now”. I don't think I would have been able to help myself because I never take myself that seriously, how sad that she felt the need to keep you at arms length when she had such a golden opportunity to meet you.
_Leila says
I edited it to be more clear — she was friendly — it was the OTHER lady who was so aggressive! Funny.
Kathy@9peas says
Okay – I get it now! 🙂
Terra says
The bassinet is lovely and sounds useful, and what an adorable baby. I like your links and will read the one about C.S. Lewis and Tolkien and the monarchy as archetype.
_Leila says
Terra, read them all! 🙂
Lisa G. says
Oh, Leila – I think Henri is dee-press-ynge! But clever, I admit. His owner needs to pay attention to him, and then he'd be happy, even if there'd be no more leetle feelms. 😀
Love the bassinet, however – the way it is now, and the red way as you describe it. That's a very pretty baby.
I love the train.
Mrs. Pickles says
That basket is bee-yew-tiful! I LOVE Habou's painting job. It's a work of art now.
And I read the Kristen Lavransdatter trilogy while nursing my firstborn. 🙂
_Leila says
Mrs. Pickles, Right? Nursing reading? But — too heavy. Perfect Kindle book.
Sarah says
Not cats, but for humor we enjoy Kid Snippets on YouTube. The producers record kids acting out scenarios, then use the kids voices and adult actors to recreate the scenes. They're hilarious and also nice and clean. Our favorites are Drivers Ed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRLTqdn52AI),” target=”_blank”> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRLTqdn52AI),” target=”_blank”>(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRLTqdn52AI), Job Interview (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMX-07Lu6zM),” target=”_blank”> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMX-07Lu6zM),” target=”_blank”>(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMX-07Lu6zM), Art Class (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxmYKE14aM4)” target=”_blank”> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxmYKE14aM4)” target=”_blank”>(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxmYKE14aM4) and Blind Date (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6NbAd8r2Q)” target=”_blank”> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6NbAd8r2Q)” target=”_blank”>(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6NbAd8r2Q). If they don't make Rosie's baby come quickly, they will at least make the waiting more enjoyable :).
Mrs. Pickles says
Almost forgot! For Rosies' sake, for more funny cat videos, we like Simon's Cat on YouTube. Also, y'all are probably too sophisticated to enjoy much physical humor, but this Mr. Bean video I saw on Simcha Fischer's blog (http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/raisinet)” target=”_blank”> http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/raisinet)” target=”_blank”>(http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/raisinet) had me falling out of my seat. Hey, it never hurts to try!
Pippajo says
Redheaded Snippet and I agree that that is one mighty pretty baby (but who needs to tell you?). She is also completely enamoured with the name Evangeline now as well. Congratulations to the entire family! Also, a dear friend and I are about to launch a book club and are considering beginning with Lewis and Tolkien so I can't wait to read the article. AND I've just begun reading Kristen Lavransdatter (which I'm sure I've spelled wrong) for the first time. Daria and Mom have just read it and highly recommended it. Glad everyone is delivered and home safely…
Mary says
So excited that Miss evangeline decided to finally join us. She looks just beautiful! Congratulations to the Artist and Miss Deirdre once again. Such a miracle. I love the basinet! How lovely that a beautiful family heirloom is still in use. Love it!
Lisa G. says
Here is a truly amusing cat video from Quebec, I think
Rosie will surely chuckle over it.
Jackie says
My friend made a parody video of my dog you can see here…love Henri!
!
Becky says
What an adorable baby! We need more pictures! 🙂 Also, did you notice this article on the side bar of the Front Porch Republic? http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2013/08/rent-a-…
_Leila says
Becky, I did see that. I NEED that. But I also need a goat herder person to come here and deal with it. Room and board offered for the duration.
Terri says
Great links. My reading list grows longer. Happy Anniversary!
Mama Rachael says
I'm only just now getting to reading these articles (I do enjoy them each weekend!).
My Hubby is working on a PhD in philosophy, so I've heard lots about Husserl and Heidegger since he had to read some of their work his his comprehensive exams. I thought the names were familiar, so I asked. I don't think either one left a favorable impression on the Hubbyman.
Thank you for doing this each week. I enjoy getting to read longer articles; perhaps I need to be more purposeful about finding them. 😛
Virginia says
Congratulations on your beautiful granddaughter! What a sweet little potato! Has anyone read the Master of Hestviken books? I think they're sort of prequels to Kristin Lavransdattar, which I loved. I'm thinking about reading them, but they're kind of a commitment…
Colleen says
Yes! Do read Master of Hestviken. I enjoyed Kristin a little more, but recommend both heartily.
Michele says
Deirdre, you look amazing! Motherhood is definitely suiting you well! Congratulations!
Joy says
What a beautiful little girl! Those cat videos are hilarious. I was almost crying I was laughing so hard. Thank you for sharing. I agree about the line, “No one dresses as crippling self-doubt.” but I also liked his question about how do ghouls and a squash have any commonality. 🙂
A friend sent me the link to the house that was like a time capsule. How interesting! I would love to see it someday.
Thank you for the links. I will enjoy reading great thoughts this week.
Annalisa says
Happy Anniversary!
I'm sending you a message on facebook with a GREAT picture that's worth a good laugh and apropos to the birth.
Lacy says
Many congratulations to the whole family on such a beautiful addition. I am praying for both the Mama and baby-soon-to-be-born as well. This cat/dog video is old and not nearly so sophisticated as Henri, but it makes us howl with laughter every time we watch it. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6gyswOlHUoY
By the way, many prayers and conversations have led my husband and I to remove our children from public school in order to homeschool. We will be closely following the Ambleside curriculum for now–at least while we work on getting our sea legs! Whenever I start to hyperventilate over whether or not such an undertaking is reasonable, I go back and read your thoughts on homeschooling, and it helps. Feel free to write more! And thank you for what you all contribute to we ladies everywhere in our quest to fulfill our callings as wives and mothers.
Brenda says
Evangeline is just lovely! And all that dark hair…..sooo reminds me of my first daughter. And she still has beautiful, thick hair. :o) Congratulations to all your family on the arrival of your granddaughter's birth….especially to Deirdre & her husband. God's blessings!
Brenda