childhood – Abby Murphy

Remembrance of Records Past

February 19, 2015June 25, 2015 Abby Murphy

Proust had his madeleines. Me? I have Fiddler on the Roof. Specifically, the original film soundtrack on vinyl, which I put on last week just for fun, only to be emotionally transported back to high school at Tevye's first words. See, I was an odd duck in high school. Convinced that I had been born in the wrong… Continue reading Remembrance of Records Past

20th century, childhood, family, ohio

Wedding dress, 1920

April 10, 2014August 5, 2014 Abby Murphy

I promise this isn't going to become a blog about weddings. But it turns out that when you're planning a wedding, you end up thinking about weddings a lot. Sometimes it's fun, and sometimes you want to plug up your ears and sing "I can't hear you!" when the next person asks about your colors.… Continue reading Wedding dress, 1920

18th century, activities, childhood, crafts, holidays, vacation, winter

Colonial Craft: Pomanders

January 6, 2014February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you're settling into 2014. I spent Christmas with my family in Ohio, listening to my dad's beloved Ray Conniff Singers and cooking up a storm. We spent many an evening by the fire and even processed maple syrup in one long day… Continue reading Colonial Craft: Pomanders

adventure, around the roman table, books, childhood, farmers market, meat, school, teaching

The Ancient Table: Roast boar

April 7, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Obelix with dinnerI have this habit of getting totally immersed in whatever topic I'm teaching in history. The Declaration of Independence? Let's watch 1776! Ancient Greece? Let's check out The Odyssey from the library! The Gupta empire? Let's eat Indian food for a week!For the past couple of weeks, the cogs of my "immersion" brain have been… Continue reading The Ancient Table: Roast boar

activities, books, childhood, dreams, gardening, kitchen garden, spring

The wearing of the green

March 19, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Almost all the seeds I planted a few weeks ago have sprouted, and my seed tray is now a veritable wonderland of tiny green sprouts and tendrils.While I love all the phases of the growing season (except perhaps pest control--haven't figured out a green way of combating aphids yet), this is definitely my favorite. I… Continue reading The wearing of the green

books, childhood, history lesson, little house on the prairie, winter

Scarlet fever and other Little House stories

February 8, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

We're battening down the hatches here in Rhode Island: there's a blizzard on the way! Josh and I both have a snow day (it never gets old), and we're planning on waiting out the storm with movies, books, and cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven.Winter storms always make me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long… Continue reading Scarlet fever and other Little House stories