Ash Wednesday and Lent

Ash Wednesday is in five days and starts Lent. Have you ever noticed that many people observe Ash Wednesday and Lent who aren't even regularly practicing Catholics or Lutherans. I think this is an indication of how deeply meaningful these rituals are.

Things like Ascension Thursday, the Feast of the Assumption, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, though important, haven't reached into the average human psyche to touch us deeply. There are no sacramentals, they are not closely associated with a season, so it is only the obedient or the spiritually attuned who observe those Holy Days.

Book Review - Middle Grade - Loki's Wolves by K. L. Armstrong & M. A. Marr - from SylFaen Tree Saga Characters

As Jake reached the bus stop, a little winded, four houses before Brien and a block before the bus, he said, “Hey Caitlynn! I got here early to see if you dreamed about that book I lent you.”

“You call this early, Fox?” Kelly challenged, hand on her hip.

Caitlynn laughed at Kelly's challenge. “Hi, Jake.”

Jake ignored Kelly. “So did you?”

“No. I didn't dream about Loki's Wolves.”

Movie Review - G - Lego Movie

Yes, it is a giant marketing tool. Yes, it is does draw a crowd of soda swilling, popcorn spilling, chatter boxes. Yes, it does make many juvenile jokes that keep the kids tittering for long minutes after the adult laughter has subsided.

But, it was better than I had expected. There are fortunately better jokes, too. I don't appreciate the cheap cameos paid to my favorite genres of Lego themes, but I'm a purist among Lego aficionados. Lego's hallmark of irreverence is par for the course . My fav's are not exempt.

Happy Valentine's Day

Shortly after Ground Hog's Day comes another holiday, that though it feels quite different in our culture, has similar origins in Imbolc and pagan culture. Valentine's Day is said to be the time when birds pair up with a mate.

For Educators or childcare providers: To celebrate Valentine's Day, I've played a game our homeschool co-op loved. I would read a story about St. Valentine's life and death. (I have

Tree Review: -Middle Grade - The Night Fairy, by Newberry Medal Winner Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Angela Barrett

“Hey, Caitlynn. Trying to dream another book report?” Brien calls over the fence to Caitlynn.

Reading on a rock, Caitlynn looks up and smiles. She waves and calls to him. “Hi, Brien!”

Brien climbs over the fence. “Jake told me you had a dream about me and a book and talking trees.” He sits on the rock beside Caitlynn.

“It wasn't about you. There was a boy in a book named Brian. Jake thought you should read the book.”

“Oh.” Brien deflates. “That's not what Jake said. Well, do you dream book reports, at least?”

“I dream trees are talking about the picture books I read here in the yard.”

Ground Hog's Day prediction

What will Paxsatucky Phil predict for us this year? Six more weeks of winter? Or an early spring? Does anyone know the accuracy of Phil's predictions? Is this a mere formality that we go through or is there something to this Ground Hog's Day?

Well a little bit of research turns up that there is certainly a history to the mythology behind watching a ground hog wake and look for his shadow. There was a belief that the Divine Hag came out looking for firewood on Imbolc (February 1) to last her for the rest of winter. If winter was scheduled to be long, she would make sure this day was nice weather to allow her to gather extra wood.