Writing in my usual slot of the early morning, in my usual spot in bed, with my usual hot water and lemon, means you will all be receiving this post at a different time now.
But the early morning slot is my most comfortable for writing so we will continue.
Chicago is 17 hours in my past so as I write here in the summer at 5.45 am on Thursday – the farm has snow flurries at 12.45 lunchtime on Wednesday. Which is why I stick to my usual morning writing slot or my mind might explode.
HERE is Chapter Three of Alice in Wonderland. The bedtime stories has had a huge response. Thank you so much for that! The next chapter comes out at 5pm central US time on your Thursday.
When we get into the new house I will set up a study in the shed. One of my sons has asked me to record a reading of a short story for his daughter as a Christmas present. But which one? Which story.
And what a cool idea! I am looking forward to it.
Tomorrow we get the keys to the new house. And on my Saturday the moving van arrives at 9 am. So I will be recording Eleanor’s book next week.
Can you think of one! Is the Emperors New Clothes too grim? She is 10. I need to find a short story in the public domain.
Oh, did anyone make a copy of my sourdough crackers recipe? For the life of me I cannot find it here in the blog. I thought I had saved it with pictures somewhere.
Ok! Time to make a second cup of tea and get moving with my day!
Love love
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
24 responses to “my today is your yesterday”
I’m sure I’d seen or read the Emperors New Clothes by the time I was 10. It has a funny ending and is a good life lesson. It’s by Hans Christian Andersen, so IMHO child friendly and definitely not scary like Struwwelpeter!
Struwelpeter was awesome. My mum had a copy from years ago and I read it to my kids! They loved it!
Ha ha – that’s your yard arm then! Kids love nastiness.
I know an unusual band called the Tiger Lillies. They have been descrbed as Brechtian Punk Cabaret and did a musical of Struwelpeter (Shockheaded Peter). It was a huge sucess and they toured the world with it. My friend Oli produced the record!
Here’s a trailer, or selected highlights of Shockheaded Peter. It still looks amazing!
Now there’s a story!!
It’s a life lesson, without the real painful experience! Hansel and Gretel!
What a great idea for a Christmas present. My suggestion – one of Edward Lear’s. My children’s favourite was The Yongi Bongi Bo! Imagine their delight when they found out there was a Coromandel in New Zealand
Is it in the public domain? I will look it up – thank you Judith!
Yes because he was published before 1929 it is in the public domaine
What a great gift of grandma reading, she can keep it to hear your voice at anytime. I remember the story “The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes which was a really nice story that we read when my daughter was younger. Do you know it? It was a lovely story. It is on YouTube if you want to have a listen. It is on living books for world changers on YouTube. She turns the pages as she reads so you could see it there too.
Another suggestion for a story, if you’re still thinking about it: The Twelve Dancing Princesses, from the Brothers Grimm. It was one of the few fairy tales in their collection where the girls were the masters of their destiny, not the victims of their fate. Much longer, and I’m not sure if it’s in the public domain, is Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling. It’s been awhile since I read it, but I recall being surprised at how engaging the story was (and reasonably short). Sounds like fun – I loved reading aloud to my kids.
Two excellent suggestions! Thank you! I will research them tonight.
My nine yr old granddaughter is an avid reader but she goes for graphic novels- specifically the Babysitters Club Little Sisters series. She does love to read with me though and we both take on different parts and voice the characters. She tends to be rather critical when I attempt to voice a trendy 10 yr old girl however…
I wonder if Ann of Green Gables or any of the associated books is in the public domain?
A book suggestion: The Velveteen Rabbit
Another popped in my head that we read a lot was Catwings by Ursula Le Guin
If you wanted something seasonal, how about Beatrix Potter’s The Tailor of Gloucester, which is a Christmas story although it might be a bit young for her. Or: The Jungle Book; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Miss Happiness and Miss Flower; The Borrowers; Pippi Longstocking; The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. Just a few there. I don’t know how many if any are public domain now, sorry.
may l suggest you look into The Ottaline series of books? X
I have no decent suggestions for books, but it looks like you have plenty to peruse. I remember that feeling of disconnect when my daughters were on different continents. The older one lived in Senegal which was 7 hours ahead of me and the younger lived in South Korea, 17 hours behind. We were living completely different lives and in very different times and weather. I’m happy to be in the same time zone (and state) now!
I’m so excited to see your daughter’s new place and what you come up with for the kitchen garden. I stand ready willing and able to rip off any and all great ideas you share 😁
that’s what I like to hear!!
I love the early morning too, and looking forward to the new place. a story recording is a great gift.
If I were 10, and my Nan lived on a farm with the character-rich animals that you do … I’d write the story myself and use anthropomorphism to make them come alive. Then your granddaughter would have not only your voice for years to come, but also your story.
Brilliant! The move is exciting! I wanted to listen to Alice in Wonderland, and I don’t know why but I keep having a problem with substack and cannot get your story. Sadly. I am sure whatever story you choose for Eleanor will be perfect!
Huh. Can I help you with substack? Are you able to listen to other podcasts on there ok?