Monthly Archives: June 2006

Hawking to write children’s book

Literature, Science, Science fiction

I so thoroughly want this:

Physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter are to write a science book for children which will be “a bit like Harry Potter”, but without the magic. “It is a story for children, which explains the wonders of the universe,” she [his daughter] said.

I hope it’s something in the vein of Heinlein’s juvenile fiction, basically a scientifically-accurate adventure story.  It would be great to give Ben a copy along with the Heinlein, Asimov, Rowling, Pullman, Pratchett, and Nix he’ll have on his “Daddy Recommends” shelf.

(I have to post this before that list gets any bigger.  I keep adding authors.  Who would you recommend to a young reader?)

Seaweed

Crafts, Literature, Uncategorized

So, the decisions have been made and Deana and Glen’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Covers quilt has been begun in earnest. It’s all been cut up into eensy weensy bits and I’m beginning to put them back together. See?

Slicing and sewing

Fabric was, in fact, harmed in the making of this photo. I admit it.

Don’t you like the way the strips curl up on themselves as they feed through? Like seaweed, curled and waving in the water as your submarine slowly drifts down past it. DIVE! DIVE!

Overheard in Rocamadour

Culture, Food, Humor, Uncategorized

As I was having lunch at l’Hotel Sainte-Marie, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation of a very English family that included a small boy and girl. The boy ordered a hot dog and the girl, about 7 years old, ordered an omelette. When it arrived, her grandmother encouraged her:

“Omelettes come from France! It should be quite nice. France is where omelettes come from!”

Picture me, trying to hide a smile, imagining omelettes arriving from France, fully formed, to breakfast tables around the world….