| | Someday I will likely look back at these days with nostalgia. But right now I do grimace a bit when mink paws, frog parts, fish heads and mouse skins fall down when I open my freezer door. Our latest animal episode went like this:
On our way to church the boys spotted a red fox by the highway - fresh road kill. Immediately there were visions of fox pelts dancing in their heads, and we were heavily prevailed upon to pick it up. For me, it was out of the question; Myron simply gave it less importance than getting to church on time. Later, on the way home from church, there it was - tantalizingly waiting - and next thing you know, Myron had parked the van and the 3 of them were walking over to check it out. When they came back (a sheepish grin on Myron's face as traffic went by) the boys were proudly carrying the prize. We found some newspaper and laid the creature in the back of the van. And for dignity's sake I will mention that it did not smell bad. 
They skinned it and stretched the pelt, and then they extracted the brains in order to tan the hide using a boiled and blended brain concoction. (I don't think I'll tell which kitchen wares were used in case you ever happen to dine at our table. I will say that I drew the line at using the blender to puree the concoction.) By the time the process was complete, I had had quite enough of fox brains in my kitchen and on the door knobs! And if you are wondering, every spot where there was the remotest possibility of contact with fox brains Has. Been. Thoroughly. Cleaned. And. Disinfected.
I don't always remain patient and accommodative throughout all our children's enthusiastic hands-on experimentations, but I do always delight in watching them try things. I sometimes only experience the feelings of delight after the mess is cleaned up. Like the day they all set up shop to make pokeberry dye on our doorstep. There was a moment of panic before I discovered that pokeberry juice doesn't stain most surfaces unless it's been properly processed to become dye.
If fox brains and pokeberry juice all over the place are a small part of the process of allowing creativity and perseverance and confidence to be developed in the next generation, so be it. And may God grant me grace to give them the room they need to try things and keep on trying until they succeed.
|
| | Posted 8/29/2008 12:15 AM - 61 Views - 8 eProps - 6 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
