Monday, August 12, 2024

History with Jackie Penny

Early American history 

Text: American Origins


2024 classes 


Class 1: September 12 

Assignment due (required): 

Read: Chapter 5 pages 56-68

Answer: page 69 number 1, 6, 9


Bring book of centuries to class and answers to questions (willing to share a chosen response)


Class 2: September 19

Assignment due (required): 

Read: Chapters 1-2 pp. 1-13

Read ahead if desired: Chapter 2 pp. 14-28* (*plan: will be assigned next week)

Answer: Page 13; 1,3,7,8


Class 3: September 26


Class 4: October 3


Class 5: October 10


Class 6: October 17


Class 7: October 24


Class 8: October 31


Class 9: November 7


Class 10: November 14


Class 11: November 21


Class 12: December 12 


Optional field trips:

Plimoth Patuxet September 13th or move one of the Thursday dates

Historic Deerfield (October 14th - Monday holiday?) 



Afternoons (Thursdays) in the archive at Sterling Historical:  

Note—this will be during the science labs/art classes block // proposed dates: 

October 10

November 17


Proposed field trip places and notes: 

17th century//

Saugus Ironworks (closes November 1) 

Historic Deerfield (May 1-December 1) 

Plymouth Plantation // Plymouth Rock (closes November 24) 

Redemption Rock (Mary Rowlandson) 

17th century Boston walking tour (graveyard, church) St. Botolph district 

Harvard Museums (plus walking Cambridge - great late fall // winter) 

Salem/Danvers walking tour; site of parsonage (avoid touristy sites/occult) 


18th century //

Boston MFA (for picture study) - maybe during break December-February 

Lexington and Concord (250th commemoration in April)

John Adams Homestead (opens May 1) 

18th century Boston walking tour (ex. Old State House)



2025 classes 

[To be added]


Second Term (Spring 2025) proposed trips:

American Antiquarian Society 


Friday, August 9, 2024

Reading with Tim

 Reading List for American Literature class for 2024-2025


Library List: https://holden.cwmars.org/MyAccount/MyList/13619
Rabbit Holes: https://holden.cwmars.org/MyAccount/MyList/13642 

Main text: Writing New England: An Anthology from the Puritans to the Present (WNE) ed. by A. Delbanco (can get on used market too) Amazon link


Pre-American roots 

  • 9/9, 9/16, John Bunyan one edition here The Pilgrim’s Progress 
  • 9/23, Indigenous Writers (mostly Nipmuc and Wampanoag) reference From Dawnland Voices pages 374-375, 423-424, 435-438 packet “Chief Powhatan's Address to Captain John Smith” pages 5-6 “Big Mouth, Onondaga Chief to De la Barre, Governor of Canada”(from Great American speeches for young) pages 7-8 packet 
  • 9/30, 10/7, Pocahontas by Joseph Bruchac


Seventeenth century

  • 9/23, William Bradford (selections - take out of Humanitas) Of Plymouth Plantation selection on page 139-154 (no page 143, is timeline) - email 
  • 10/21, John Winthrop (in WNE) Model of Christian Charity and Letter to His Wife p. 3 p. 259
  • 10/21, Anne Bradstreet  (in WNE) Poetry:  Before the Birth of One of her Children p. 115, --(will email copies of following): The Prologue, The Author to her Book, The Flesh and the Spirit, To My Dear and Loving Husband, Upon the Burning of Our House 
  • 10/28, Mary Rowlandson A Narrative of the Captivity of Mary Rowlandson (library?)
  • 11/4, 11/18, Elizabeth George Speare here Witch of Blackbird Pond (library?)
  • 11/25, Lydia Maria Child Selections from: Hobomok (supplied) 


Eighteenth century 

  • 12/2, Olaudah Equiano Interesting Narrative (library?)
  • 12/9, Benjamin Franklin Autobiography (library?)
  • 12/16, William Apess (in WNE) Eulogy on King Philip (selection) p. 346
  • 12/16, Phillis Wheatley Poetry: On being brought from Africa to America, On the Death of a young And Lady of Five Years of Age, Letter to John Thornton (will email)


Revolution and First Fruits 

  • Jean Lee Latham here Carry on, Mr. Bowditch
  • George Washington “First Inaugural Address” (Living Book press - pdf will be provided) and “Observe Good Faith and Justice towards all Nations”

  • Harriet Beecher Stowe Uncle Tom’s Cabin 
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poetry “Jewish Cemetery,” “Hiawatha,” “Evangeline” “Wreck of Hesperus” and “the Village Blacksmith" (Harp & Laurel)
  • James Fennimore Cooper Selection from Leatherstocking Tales (eg The Pilot? Or Pioneers? Or The Spy? Or the Deerslayer? Or his short story the Lake Gun? Or his John Paul Jones: American Naval Officers. Looking here for something appropriate….). 

     
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson (in WNE) from Nature + poems: Earth-Song and Fable (from Boston History book) or selections from his Essays (still looking into this)

  • Henry David Thoreau Walden 

  • Washington Irving Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow

  • Louisa May Alcott here Eight Cousins

  • Nathaniel Hawthorne Twice Told Tales or/with “Young Goodman Brown”

  • Herman Melville “I and my Chimney” (TBD)

Planned Dates (Mondays 12:45-2:15): 


September 9, 16, 23, 30

October 7, 21, 28

November 4, 18, 25

December 2, 9, 16


Monday holidays, 10/14, 11/11 could be field trip dates (if open)


January 13, 27

February 3, 10, 24

March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

April 7, 28

May 5, 12 (snow date)


Monday holiday/Field trip dates: 1/20, 2/17, 4/14 and possible End of Year wrap up Lunch May 12th or 19th.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Brought to bed - put to paper

Before the modern hospital birth, women mostly delivered at home. This period of labor, delivery and post-pregnancy, or “brought to bed,” was when mother and newborn could heal and nurse until they felt ready to be presented to the world.

Those with other children to care for (to say nothing of housework) spotted the flaws in this expression right away. So the phrase became just that. A slogan rather than an endorsement.


Much as I would have liked to have spent gluttonous amounts of time getting to know Lydia from the comforts of a pillow bank I, like my foremothers, had other children to give attention to. So there was no brought-to-bed – except for the occasional cup of coffee (which I was grateful for).

There has been quite a bit of sitting though, just as there has been time doing things with one hand. And much as I wanted, time for art has not been part of the equation. Reading books had to take a backseat for a while. Until I caught on to large-format books: picture books read from my lap to the twins and large, glorious art books. It is a perfect way to spend time while feeding a newborn. 

Although most handwork had to be put on hold, I committed myself to one finished piece during my maternity time. Something as simple as a greeting card.

And now nine weeks later we have just that.   

Lydia was Baptized on July 20, and I spent the week following reflecting on how it could be presented in a thank you to those who were there.  


I decided on a watercolor of Lydia’s gown with art masking fluid and a blue wash on watercolor paper. The paper absorbs the paint and resists the masking fluid. So what comes through is the pure white cotton paper. 

An appropriate and simple image for the Sacrament of Baptism. 

I started out out with a rough sketch and traced it onto watercolor paper. And painted on the masking fluid and taped the paper to a flat surface. I wet the paper, lay the wash, let it dry, peeled off the masking fluid with my fingers. And there it was. 


I scanned the artwork and used InDesign to turn it into a 4.25 x 5.5 card. And if you’re blessed to know a printer (as I am) you write to your father in-law and beg him to print your file and score them.

They even arrive all wrapped up. 

For me, art is what you can put to paper. Even one-handed. 

I did a book reading in March at a local preschool. During the question-period, the teacher offered that I describe my studio. I fumbled with a response:

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh, then tell us about where you do your work,” she offered.

I hesitated. “I work in my bed propped up with pillows. I spread out my work to dry and look at.”


So I guess we refresh old habits. Because what is one to do when there isn’t a studio to go to or even a few minutes to sneak away and create something?

I guess you do as your told – you bring it to bed.


Tuesday, July 1, 2014

My husband leaned over and said, “It’s a girl”

A month ago I went for a walk.  

After talking to a few friends and co-workers, we determined that would be the best course of action. When you live in Worcester there are few ways to induce labor. We’re a city of a variety of spicy foods and restaurants; apparently there’s a legendary cream cheese you can try. But when I was four days past our due date, my flavor was to walk one of the city’s hills, nearby Wrentham Road, which has a grade to make any right angle jealous. In my defense I had few options – my doctor said induction would not be tabled. So Baby-Two-Cents-Plus-One had to come on his/her own or I would have to have another C-section (the latter, I decided, would not be tabled). I was in this category called "Trial of Labor" which, as the term implies, means I was going to try labor. And try I intended. So Wrentham Road it was; and for locals needing an endorsement – it worked like a charm. 


I know the trend today is to author a birth-plan. I didn’t make one. But even if I did, I don’t think I could have created a better one than what happened. I half-joked late in the pregnancy that I wanted to have Peanut Butter Fox Tail (i.e. Lydia) at home (I didn’t want to be away from Henry and Sophia for any length of time) and I thought they would be better birth-coaches than anyone I could hire or ask. As it turned out, I stayed with Henry and Sophia until the (almost) end. I leaned against the bed and they built duplo-towers around me. They were an adaptive, accommodating, and alleviating presence throughout labor. I felt so comfortable with them that I sent Tony off to work in the morning.

With Henry and Sophia, I never experienced a contraction – never felt any of the hallmark signs of labor. I have no regrets about their entrance into the world – but their birth left me completely clueless. And my level-headed doctor was not one to create scenarios. “Call us if anything changes,” was the prescription for this pregnancy – one that suited me just fine. So after going for that kick-starter walk, things had changed.  

Fifteen minutes after Tony left, I called my mother who is an hour and a half away and asked her for an assessment. Apparently, when you are in labor you need to know how to time contractions properly – not from the worst part, but from start to finish.

I now know this.


My mother, being my best friend and source of limitless knowledge (even over the phone) knew I was further along than I thought. “I’ll be right out,” she said.

I somehow managed to signal Tony to call me at home. My mother was stuck in some traffic and I was still in denial that I was in labor (I thank God that my mother didn’t listen to me when I said, “No, really, I think this is going to take a long time. Don’t rush.”)

By the time she got to my house, my mother took one look at me and said, “I think its time for you to go to the hospital.”

“But what if they send me back home because I’m not far enough along?” I said.

My mother calmly replied, “They’re not going to send you home.” 


And it turns out they didn’t send me home. We got to the hospital, I was checked and quickly admitted. Eight centimeters they told me. I was introduced to my no-nonsense but lovely nurse. I was too far for any pain medication, she said. Okay, I said. A little bit longer and you can push, she said.

There was a Resident with kind, wide eyes. And Tony in street clothes. That was all. Gone were the dozen plus people who were around for the twins’ birth. Gone were Tony’s blue scrubs. But then in walked the same, savior-like doctor from my practice who delivered Henry and Sophia. Apparently I said, “I could kiss you” or something (I have no memory of this) and he laughed. Then I knew, It Was Time.

I approached this birth with no intentions – except for one. We didn’t know the gender of the baby. I had this vision of requesting from whatever medical staff was there that I wanted an “It’s a girl!” or “It’s a boy!” shouted with cinematic-quality pomp. I never really articulated this to anyone – I thought it would conversationally come up pre-arrival.

The funny thing is, there was nothing chatty about my labor or delivery. So I never got the chance to tell the doctor or my nurse that we didn’t know. After that final push and she was here, it was quiet (save for a crying newborn). Instead they said, “reach down and hold your baby” and it was Tony who leaned over and told me quietly “it’s a girl.”

And with that I was glad that the one element of my birth plan fell through. 

 
And as for the original two cents? I couldn’t be prouder of them. Over the past year we’ve said many goodbyes. We’ve said goodbye at rehabilitation centers, in the ICU, in hospitals, nursing homes and in private moments to friends moving away. Goodbyes for a short time, an indeterminate amount of time and a long time. We said goodbye to our dog. To family members we didn’t know if we’d ever see again. To both my beloved grandparents when we visited the same graveside twice in a year.

But they also learned how to say hellos – hello to new friends and teachers when they started preschool in September. And the mysterious welcome-to-the-world-hello when they met their baby sister for the first time. 


So back to where this story started – with a walk. Walks I know we’ll all take together

And when we leave the house
It will be in two straight lines

[feel free to join in here]

in rain or shine
with the newest one
Lydia Madeline