When we visited England years ago, we spent some time in a lovely old town called Morpeth. We went there with my Great Uncle Duncan, who fought in the war.  You don’t usually get much information from WWII veterans, and Uncle Duncan certainly keeps his memories to himself.  However, on the day we visited Morpeth, he took us to see what he considered the main sights of his childhood home, including the river, with its precarious stepping stone crossing:

Here are some of the beautiful sights of the streets and garden:

Uncle Duncan’s favorite restaurant is the Henri’s, whose French heritage he is willing to overlook while the Sunday roast can be cut with a fork.

On our way through the town, we lingered at the war memorial for quite some time, quietly looking at the names.  Uncle Duncan pointed out some of the men who had been family or acquaintances.  He didn’t go into detail, but indicated that the men listed lived in a different time, and died believing they were protecting our freedom.

He recalled a past memorial ceremony at the site during which he had seen some younger individuals watching from a distance, sneering at the serious old people.  The ignorance of the new generation, which lacked human sympathy and the gratitude, hurt my Uncle, as I’m sure it hurts most veterans.  To have survived the Second World War, only to have his pain mocked, was cutting.

I’d like to think that only a small portion of any generation would lack so much decency, but recently, society does seem to be leaning towards ignorance and apathy.  During my teaching days, I noticed that many of the younger generation know nothing about the important wars, or even the most basic brush strokes of history.  I suppose a gathering of sad old men must be confusing in the eyes of the ignorant.  Hopefully, when they’re done sneering, they read a book that helps them connect the dots. Here’s a little indication of the “youth issues” in Morpeth:

On Remembrance Day, I’ll always remember, and I’ll teach my kids to remember.  Husband makes certain that we both have our poppies, and replaces mine when I (inevitably) lose it.  We’ll always think of Uncle Duncan on that day, as well, and feel grateful for everything he endured for the sake of our freedom.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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Let’s make a tasty bean dish with several types of beans – real, meaty, sticky beans with colors and flavors. We can start with the kidney bean, which is shaped like a kidney, but which is actually a bean. Kidney bean!

Kidney beans are high in saturated and unsaturated fibres, so they help lower cholesterol and maintain low blood sugar. They are high in protein, which makes beans ‘n rice a compete meal. They also have molybdenum, which helps detoxify sulfites – such as you may be collecting if you eat lots of deli meat. Oh! And if you eat them canned, no problem! They still have most of their health benefits.

Black Beans have the same health benefits as most beans. Where they stand out is in their very high levels of antioxidant compounds. Did you know that black beans have ten times the amount of antioxidants than the equivalent serving of grapes or cranberries? Black beans  make an excellent dip on their own.

Before they are cooled, pinto beans have those dark splotches on them, but when they are cooked, they are pink and creamy. I think the texture really is the outstanding feature of this bean, which also has all the fibre, protein, folate, and iron of most other beans. These have such a creams texture that you can make soup and sauce bases out of them. Mmmm!

In Canada, where labels are all bilingual, all beans have  “haricots” on the French label. In English, though, haricots refer to the bland white bean that is used in “baked beans,” which are usually tinned, stewed in tomato sauce with three small pieces of pork. This is the most English of all the beans, since it is the only bean to keep the french “haricot” in the name, and was also so widely used in the Navy that it also became known as the navy bean. You know something is important to a culture when cultural practices around the thing determine language used to describe it.

The Recipe:

1 medium onions, chopped
2 sticks of celery, chopped
1 can of black beans
1 can of pinto beans
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of baked beans ‘n pork
1 can of tomato soup
1 can of tomato paste
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp hot mustard
1/2 brick of firm tofu, cubed
3 tbsp molasses

With recipes like this, measurements really aren’t all that important.  If there are two sizes of cans, pick the one you think will suit your slow-cooker.  If you can’t find pinto beans, but there are some lima beans, use the lima beans! A bean’s a bean.  Wanna add more tomato paste? Add two cans of those little cans instead of one.  Your bean dish will be more tomatoey.

Don’t  skimp on the onions, though.  They make the whole thing sweet and yummy.  You can change the source of the spicy heat by using different mustards and spices, or by adding hot sauce.  Kids often don’t like things too spicy though.

I used tofu because I had some, and my kids like it, but OBVIOUSLY ground beef is a fine substitute.  Use it, and you nearly have a chili con carne on your hands.  Add a loaf of french bread and a salad, and there’s your meal! Blammo!

Once you have your game plan, and all your tins in a row, empty the beans into a colander and rinse the bean-juice off.  It’s usually full of salt and stuff.  Then put everything in the slow-cooker, mix well, and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  The celery and onions give up their moisture, and the beans soften and meld together to create bean heaven.  The sauce is sweet with a slightly tangy spiciness.  Most pleasing!

Post-script: My kids hated it.  But they hate everything the first time.  I made so much, it’s all we’re having all week! We’ll see who breaks down first.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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Ready for some more podcast recommendations?

Melvyn Bragg possesses the exact right demeanor to keep his British historian guests on track. Whether they are discussing the geological formation of Britain or the impact of an important figure in history, Bragg’s guests do try his patience. This show is detailed, yet tight, and therefore an enjoyable listen.

Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo are so gay for each other. Oh I’m kidding.

As a film critic, Kermode is funny, trustworthy, and a good adjunct if you already listen to Ebert. Mayo makes sure he doesn’t get a big head.

When you first hear the Moth podcast, you’ll think the show is terribly democratic, with random people stumbling in off the street, telling stories live, with no script or notes. It’s not, but it’s still usually funny, heart-warming, or moving. The best shows will have you spurting your morning Metamucil through your nose.

I can never resist a podcast with “naked” in the title, especially if it also promises to be “enhanced.” This podcast features 4-legged, 4-armed scientists discussing the latest in science and technology, occasionally throwing in phrases like, “I say!” and “Oh matron!” The topics are usually interesting, although the pacing is fast.

Leonard Peikoff has a podcast! You didn’t know? He answers general-interest questions about Objectivist philosophy, paying special attention to questions from young Objectivists who are trying to apply Objectivism to their new sex lives. It gets hot in here!  The show is usually about 15 minutes long, so have a taste.

Radio 4 Choice: This is a totally random-seeming pick of all current documentaries from Radio 4.  I think this will be going away as a free thing at the end of this year, so check it out while you can.

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This is another early work from the unparented program that Daniel enjoys up to once a week. He was so proud of this one! It needs no commentary.

I will tell you about the program, though. It’s restricted to once per week for kids his age, and usually has about 6-10 participants. It runs for 2 hours, and includes activities like crafting, singing, and activities involving the many resources in the playroom. During summer, they use an outdoor play area too. While Daniel does his program, I usually head to the pool or the playground with Alex, and get some rare 1-on-1 time with her.

Daniel likes his program quite a bit. He runs uses the coat hook and cubby, and then runs into the playroom unconcerned. When we come back, he charges me, and then tells me what he did, showing me his craft and talking about the snack and activities. He asks to go back every week.

This is as close to preschool as Daniel will come. Every morning is scheduled with a different activity, such as swimming, gymnastics, playing at the playground, and attending the library program, and I think this is lots for a little bitty kiddie. The rest of our days are for walks, and other random adventures.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

Related posts:

1. Fridge Art: Orange Pumpkin
2. Halloween Firsts: Beauty and the Beast
3. Early Crafting Adventures

• Kids crying? Give 'em a cookie. It works!! #
• http://tinyurl.com/5al2g6 – I'm doing NaBloPoMo, a project which I'm sure you're all laughing at me for undertaking. That's not supportive! #
• I'm so happy with my new blog graphics! Check them out at http://www.threebrightstars.com. Pretty, right? I'm going to stare at them all night. #
• Beauty and the Beast, in costume at the indoor playground. http://tinyurl.com/yaegfmm #
• I'm loving the new lists function. Now I'm quite happy to follow more than 100, and view them in lists by category. Thanks Twitter! #
• Woke up to Husband coaching Alex. They went back and forth like this: H: "Good," A.: "Gud." "Mor," "Mo." "Ning," "Nin." "Mommy," "Mom-my"! #
• http://tinyurl.com/yfqnnyr – Here's one on destroying your cable bill. I'm still a go for NaBloPoMo! And it feels goood. #
• Here are some of my favorite podcasts, reviewed briefly. http://tinyurl.com/yfze6jb #
• H1N1 shots start up again tomorrow morning in Alberta. Shortage means only toddlers qualify for now. We're going! http://tinyurl.com/yckd8wu #
• At least 100 in line for H1N1 shots (toddlers only) at Grandin Mall. #yeg #stalbert #
• Kids have had their shots. We're waiting 15 minutes before we leave. #
• RT @edmontonjournal Ailing children, babies’ caregivers next for H1N1 vaccine #yeg http://bit.ly/DuwnI #
• "Whatever Works" was supposed to be "zany and hilarious"?! How about pompous and cringeworthy? Work for ya? Damn waste of a free rental. #

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© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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Daniel goes to an unparented learning program maybe once a week now. It’s a pay-as-you-go session that has maybe 10 kids attending (never exactly the same group). They do activities, including some crafts, usually geared towards the nearest holiday. I’ve noticed that Daniel’s crafting (painting, gluing) skills are improving. This pumpkin was for Halloween. Notice the excellently appropriate choice of bold orange, the confidence in the use of a single color, and the restraint in staying within two inches of the lines.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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We’ve been conscious of H1N1 pandemic flu for a while now, but I don’t like to panic about these things until I talk with an expert who informs me that I should. I also wanted to verify that the vaccine was good, and that getting it wouldn’t be a waste of time.

My doctor said “MAKE YOUR HUSBAND TAKE THE DAY OFF AND GET VACCINATED NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.” Then, he said, “Line-ups are about 4-hours long,” and, “By next year, you will likely have either had your shot or the virus,” followed by, “GET YOUR SHOT. GET IT TOMORROW. GETTIT GETTIT GETTIT.” And finally, “Your 5 minutes is up. Take your kids and get the HELL out of my office.”

So I started to think about getting everyone vaccinated.

I went online – always my first stop for important information – and found out that – GULP! – although Alberta was the only province to roll out vaccinations for everyone who wanted one, demand had been so great that clinics had closed after the first week. It must have just happened while we were in the doctor’s office, because our doc obviously wasn’t hip to the news.

I called, I searched, and I found SQUAT. But I did get a helpful person who was willing to suggest that she expected clinics to re-open on Wednesday. This was unofficial – in fact I never heard it from her. I must have dreamed it somewhere.

I planned, tentatively, a Vaccine Line-Up Morning for sometime during the next few days.

During my Gran’s birthday festivities, I found out that the clinics would be open at 9am the following morning, but only for the kids. Mom agreed to join us, so I figured we’d get our bearings, and if we needed supplies, I could fetch them while mom was holding the line.

We got there an hour before the clinic opened to discover that there were already many people ahead of us. On this particular day, vaccinations were only open to children 6 months to 6 years, so everyone in line had one or multiple toddlers. Kids were tired, bored, hungry, poopy, and generally cuties all around us. If the line was already this long an hour before opening, it was going to get crazy in there! Kid Krazy!

Luckily, the man in front of us had brought his laptop and extensive collection of DVDs. (He later told me he had planned to be in line all day, and continuously pulled out supplies to prove it.)  Daniel and the boy in front, whose name was Alex, went off by themselves to watch Peter Pan, and later Monster’s Inc. When the crowd got bigger, mom joined the boys to watch Daniel more closely, and to keep other random kids from kicking the screen in.

It WAS a bit uncomfortable waiting in line, especially with the kids, but here’s what made it better for us:

1. Two adults.  My mom took the kids out of line, wandered around, watched movies, took them to the bathroom, etc.  I stood like an idiot, like everyone else.
2. Get there early.  How dismayed were all those people who arrived ON TIME to see that the line already bent and curved through four dimensions of the shopping mall?
3. Be nice to your neighbors.  This way you can use their DVDs, and they will let you overhear their marital spats.  One wife yelled at her husband to “Put that chocolate muffin away. NOW!” and he wandered out of line for a few moments, and came back with chipmunk cheeks full of the muffin.

While the kids were getting injected, I found out some other stuff, which will only be relevant to Alberta, and which you should confirm before making any plans on the basis of:

1. Pregnant ladies will have access to the vaccine today.
2. First-responders will have access on Monday.
3. Care-givers (Husband and I) will have access in about a week.
4. Seasonal flu shots will not be provided until January.

The Albert Health Services website is the best starting point to find out more.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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After a long holiday of badness at my evil aunt’s, my grandma has returned to live with my parents.  She just arrived at midday yesterday on, as it happens, her 86th birthday.  I’d love to tell you the whole story, but I’m saving all the juiciest bits for the novel.

We had a nice birthday reunion with the kids running around, lots of good homemade food, and some Pimm’s, a fruity gin drink that makes everything all good again.

Of course, grandma hasn’t seen the kids since they were wee bairns, and she was quite astonished to see Alex running around, and displaying quite an attitude at times.  I got a good video of her blowing bubbles with them, but it was way too long to put here! I’ll cut it down.  In the meantime:

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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On the theme of casting off ancient technology, here are some must-listen podcasts:

Lots of mainstream radio personalities are making the shift to podcasting. They have a solid audience already in place, and they don’t have some radio or TV boss giving them stupid notes all the time. Adam Carolla often chooses the most horrific phrases and images in his down-to-earth explanations of “how it is,” so I try to include him in my daily listening.

This is the first of several shows providing my bi-weekly dose of the British accent. It’s usually an interesting grab-bag of historical tidbits, ancient or more recent, told through interviews with extremely well-informed and slow-speaking Brits. Thankfully, the interviews are heavily edited in ongoing attempts to get the interviews to MOVE FASTER.

Chris Evans’ Drive Time podcast is an up-beat, often funny, sometimes informative collection of the “best bits” of the BBC radio show. Husband especially likes when I put this on through Apple TV right after he has watched 90 minutes of Coronation Street re-runs. The graphic shows up on screen, and husband recoils claiming to have hit his British accent quota for the day.

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is an in-depth narrative-style history show that gives a personal feeling to the histories told. The archives include great shows on the ancient history of Britain, Rome, Greece, and others that are truly gripping. The Common Sense podcast may appeal to you – but it’s highly political, and designed to anger every listener, so listen at your peril. Dan is a mess of depression and angst at the moment, what with Obama and all.

The Dennis Miller Radio Show airs live, but if you subscribe, Dennis occasionally releases a “4th hour” for podcast listeners only. During this hour, on-air restrictions are lifted, and all hell breaks loose. Already, some great talent has agreed to stick around, and the comedy can turn blue. I absolutely LOVE the fourth hour. It simmers and crackles with excitement.

The Imprint podcast is made up of college students whose brains have not yet been crushed, juiced, or peeled-and-cored by challenges, disappointments and failures in career, marriage and parenting. It is refreshing to hear such bright and optimistic voices speaking about their literary passion from a time in their lives that they will look back on with nostalgia.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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Not too long ago, I converted – religious connotation intended – to the Apple communication and entertainment system: the iPod, iTunes, then the iPhone, Apple TV, and… HELLO iTunes Store!! Where have you been all my life?

I have a murderous fantasy.  I want to kill my cable bill.  If cable gasps its last in the process, so be it.

The cable bill is a mythic beast, though, and won’t go gently.  Shaw is working diligently to grow new hooks into my household.  We get their Internet and phone services at a discount, but only if we use their cable.  We have an obsolete cable package as well, which if we discontinue it, will never be so cheap again.  Never ever, no take-backsies.

Lots of people have the big hate for Shaw or Telus, but I’m not one that loves to hate any certain company.  They’re too big and complex for me to ascribe them personification.  In my view, it’s just about service for money, how well a service representative can turn company policy and resources to my advantage.   Besides the threat that I’ll lose my wonderfully cheap obsolete deal, all I really want to know is:  have they delivered what I want? (Hint: I want information and entertainment. The feeling of smug satisfaction when I look at my low low cable bill is the SWEET, not the meat.)

Here’s what I’ve been watching lately:

On DVR:  Glee, Vampire Diaries, Hell’s Kitchen, The Office, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, MythBusters, sometimes news (although I always comparison shop for that online.)

Through iTunes:

On DVD:  Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sponge Bob, Sarah Silverman. These will be ripped to iTunes eventually.

I seem to get more choice and better coverage through iTunes.  If we switched today, most of our current shows would transfer over, with many current programs available as season passes.  I would pay per show, being able to afford about two seasons per month at the current rate of expense.  I could even keep watching the Vampire Diaries, which Undead Dawson’s Creek, and my annual “televisual entertainment” bill would still go down.  Factor in the fact that many of the best shows on my list aren’t even available through cable, and this seems like a no-brainer.

Still, cable has some grasp on us.  It’s a security blanket: what if something happened, and local news achieved relevance for a few hours? Isn’t that possibility worth investing hundreds of dollars per year?  So it hasn’t happened in years. So what!? It could happen TOMORROW.

Something did happen here recently.  We had a hostage taking downtown, right near where Husband works.  I got the word from Husband, who saw it live and online.  Then, I turned on all bat channels (local TV and Internet) and I got NOTHING from my local TV.   In the case of traffic accidents, storms, immediate city trends and events, everything on the fly, I haven’t gotten a single thing from TV. It’s all been online, much through Twitter and search.

I can’t make this decision alone. Husband has to be on board.  We can’t make any rash decisions that would result in having to take Shaw back at a higher price.   But I’m starting to feel the end is near for Shaw cable, in our household at least.

© 2008 Three Bright Stars | All rights reserved. Copyright for republished writing or artwork belongs to the original writer or artist, as noted. This post cannot be republished without express written permission.

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