Monday, October 23, 2017

Gulf Frittillary Reserve

Something that has given me much joy in the past year is gulf fritillaries.  I let some volunteer passion flower vines that had shown up in my yard take over the front of the house on both sides when I learned that they are what gulf fritillary caterpillars eat.

I have enjoyed many moments this year inspecting their little rumpled-leaf cocoons, watching their science fiction-y caterpillars crawl about and, most of all, watching the gulf fritllatries flying about my yard and lighting to fan their wings on the vines and on our lime tree, which they also seem to like when they are in butterfly form.  I have self-desginated my house to be a gulf frittillary reserve and plan to keep it that way.

After the hurricane, though, I could not find any more butterflies,  No rumpled-leaf cocoons.  No weird caterpillars.  I thought they had all died.

But....one is back this week!  Maybe two!  I am so glad! I am hoping they will fill my yard with orange tapestries of flight again soon!

 


Sunday, October 22, 2017

Staying afloat in the descent of a nation....

Times are tough.

Our family has been struggling to find some new balance in the past couple of years due to the Lone Star Girl's health issues and meanwhile, of course, the other regular troubles that will come to every family in one form or another still come to us.  Like all families, we often have enough on our plates just keeping our own little ship afloat, along with its own particular set of challenges.

Putting that in the context of these times, though....

To be trying to support a disabled daughter with a serious chronic disease in a time when our "leaders" continually try to steal her health insurance and her civil rights is really difficult. 

And then there are white supremacists running around everywhere, emboldened by the president's behavior, the president who says some of them are very good people.  

Climate change brings us more intense storms (and a bad season for avocados!) and we try to pay medical bills while feeling guilty that we are not doing more for our neighboring communities that had their homes blown away, counting ourselves very lucky that we only lost some siding, a refrigerator of food, a window board and a few days' electricity and productivity.

The free press is under attack and the president and attorney general say more fascist things every single day and most people want to just pretend it isn't happening.

People who used to seem reasonable and nice remain unoffended when their friends spout blatantly racist and otherwise (sexist, homophobic, ableist) bigoted screeds but will call out people who try to speak out against those screeds, or who just try to work hard to fight fascism, or for health care or for civil rights.

I have no idea what is going on wth that equifax thing and my information.

New terrible mass disasters and tragedies happen every day until we cannot even keep up with them all, much less give each the meaningful attention they all deserve.

I work to be a good mother, a good worker, a good wife and friend and citizen.  I work to keep my family afloat and still think of others.  I am trying but these are tough times.

Sorry the blog is so irregularly maintained.

xoxo, 
Lone Star Ma
 



 

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Wednesdays with The Subversive Children's Book Club: Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this installment of the Subversive Children's Book Club spotlights books about Hispanic characters for older kids and teens.  Enjoy!

Upper Elementary and YA:



  • Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez
  • The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales
  • Taking Sides by Gary Soto
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
  • Ask My Mood Ring by Diana Lopez
  • Trino's Choice by Diane Gonzales Bertrand
  • Finding Miracles by Julia Alvarez
  • The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
  • Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

International Day of The Girl

Happy International Day of the Girl!  This year's theme is about giving all girls a K-12 education.  Our whole planet needs what educated girls can do!