Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

In thinking of a word to explain the hopefulness I felt this morning, I thesaurus'd my way to sanguine . I like the word "sanguine," not for the same reasons I have always liked the word frostbite--which sounds exhiliarating--but rather for the history of the word, it's old meanings. If I weren't a Farmer/librarian I think I would spend my days researching the family trees of words, their growth away from an original meaning, the movements towards independence and changed usability. Dictionary.com describes sanguine in its adjective stage as: 1. cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident: a sanguine disposition; sanguine expectations. 2. reddish; ruddy: a sanguine complexion. 3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc. 4. bloody; sanguinary. 5. blood-red; red. 6. Heraldry . a reddish-purple tincture. Origin: 1275–1325; Middle English sanguyne a blood-red cloth < Old...

The hole from the tree into my living room/kitchen area. The tree on my roof. It was a big one. B2 beginning the process of taking the tree off of my roof. God bless Farmers.

<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>&nbsp;William February, Dar Williams I heart this song, so so much!

While bestie Mummy Dearest and I were driving in the car with Little Fish and her cousin M, the subject of going to the doctor when you're sick came up. M said that she didn't want to go to the doctor because they, "put people to sleep." "Oh, you mean like when someone has surgery and they go to sleep for a little while?" asked her Auntie Mummy Dearest. "No. They put you to sleep like when they put cats and dogs to sleep." I was already trying not to laugh during this entire conversation, but this was just too much! I was literally shaking and holding my breath, afraid I'd burst out laughing and hurt M's feelings. And as I was shaking and desperataely trying to hold back my laughter I could hear, in the silence, Mummy Dearests' own stiffled laughter. Ah, kids are wonderful entertainment.

This is the branch that fell on my cabin during the big wind storm last night, notice the dents in my (now removed) woodstove's pipe. I am thinking that it's a good thing that this pipe is there or else I may have some roof damage. The huge branch fell onto my cabin, literally causing the whole cabin to shake, then slid off, tangling itself in the electric?/phone? lines connected to the front of my cabin. As I yanked at the limb (in my mismatched pajamas and winter coat) I kept praying that I didn't die of electrocution (from said lines)--would be an embarassing way to be found in the morning.

Sitting at Mummy Dearest's, listening as she read Shel Silverstein to Little Fish, I realized that Shel Silverstein poems may be even funnier when you're an adult. And more profound. Here are some gems: "Rock-a-bye" Rock-a-bye baby in the tree top, Don't you know a tree top, Is no safe place to rock? And who put you up there, And your cradle too? Baby I think someone down here's Got it in for you. "Listen to the mustn'ts" Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child, Listen to the DON'TS Listen to the SHOULDN'TS The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS Listen to the NEVER HAVES Then listen close to me-- Anything can happen, child, ANYTHING can be. "Put something in" Draw a crazy picture, Write a nutty poem, Sing a mumble-grumble song, Whistle through your comb. Do a loony-goony dance 'Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world That ain't been there before. "The Bridge" This bri...

I am ABSOLUTELY entranced by the U.S. Civil War (*I should say here, I am AGAINST wars of any kinds--except hugging wars*), I always have been since I was a kid. I own huge volumes on Civil War history and instead of getting rid of them I lug them around from house to house every time I move. This last move into the cabin found me looking over them again, feeling that familiar twinge, that same joy I felt as a 14/15/16/17, etc. year old; lugging the glossy covered books onto my lap, I opened to maps, Matthew Brady photographs, paragraphs explaining casualties and strategies. Books on the Civil War are like photo albums to me, an arranged attachment to relatives I never knew, people who's histories fascinate me. I am excited because this year marks the 150th Anniversary since the U.S. Civil War began which means we'll be hearing a lot more about the war and there are sure to be specials on the History Channel! Doing some reading led me to these intriguing facts (I am a big...

This is our newest edition, a male calf born last Thursday night to Curly Horn s, one of our dairy cows. This little guy was named Don Curlyone by the Farmers (get it, get it?) They're so clever--tee hee.   Anyway, he is flipping adorable! See how good he was for his first photo shoot!? Don Curlyone with his next door neighbor.

Been meaning to post this, but waited for pics, so here goes! Despite being a cook and loving to cook, it has been over a month since I moved into my little cabin in the woods and I hadn't cooked in my little kitchen until this past Sunday night. I'm not entirely sure why, other than the fact that I don't like eating alone, so I jumped at the chance to try out my new kitchen when Ian, a fellow Farmer, suggested we hang out...and maybe even make dinner...and maybe even make dinner at my house. Ian showed up with arms full of food and headed back to the Farm's kitchen for more ingredients (perk of working at the Farm is that we shop in the Kitchen's pantry, fridge and freezer). I'd chosen to try my hand at making galumpkis (stuffed cabbage) to see if I liked it enough to make it for the Farm; Ian decided on gorgonzola cheese mashed potatoes and maple rosemary roasted carrots. And so we stood side by side, me mixing galumpkis filling and boiling ...

I feel like lately I have been going going going non stop; savoring time with friends, working a lot, constantly moving towards something else I "have to do." This weekend was so busy, but I was thankful for it. February in New England can feel so loooooooong; freezing snowy winter days giving way to sunny, blue skied warmish winter days--which make you hopeful for spring!--giving way to freezing rain filled winter days. This year we've already gotten feet of snow and like many others keep wondering, "MORE?!" every time that it snows--and so, it is good for me to stay busy, to make the most of these winter doldroms and push towards spring. My normal non-Kitchen work days are Fridays and Saturdays. This past Friday found me trying to enjoy my cabin, doing cleaning and then some reading into the evening. At dinner Farmer MacDonald and I met up with our friends Mummy Dearest and Hubby, M & N and assumed responsibilities of the kiddos for the evening. After m...