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Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Wren’s Nest Has Fans Who Can Almost Write

Posted by: Amelia // Category: Victorious!, Baby Pictures, When Babies Ramble // 1:46 pm

Fan mail time!

Children Art

As usual, we’re here to highlight the best and the bravest of our latest batch of fan mail.  Or, more accurately, Nannie and Josie’s fan mail.  No one appreciates the people behind the desks.  Sigh.

Onwards!

We are totally awesome, thanks

I’ve been saying the Wren’s Nest is totally awesome for a while, but foxes with smiley faced tees really drive the point home.

Fan Mail is Fantastic, I like you

Garrett played it cool for a while there, but then BAM!  We like you too, Garrett.
Thank you for all you've done.

I wish everyone would finish their letters to us this way.  You’re welcome, friend, you’re so very very welcome.

Abstract Poem

This one is my favorite and, unfortunately, the hardest to read.  Here’s what it says:

The STROYIS funny. Thank you. Baer Fox. Tar Baby. Brer Rabbit. Brer Baer. Brer Turtle. 100 Years. Uncle Remes. Mr. Harris. Josie. Dear Red nest. Nannie.

An abstract poem?  Many short and important statements?  A total disregard for punctuation?  I don’t know!  But I love it!

Comments: 4
 
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Kids will be kids will be terrifying.

Posted by: Amelia // Category: Historic Preservation, When Babies Ramble // 2:31 pm

While there’s a whole laundry list of things I’m afraid of, there are two that really shine in the house museum context. The first, arson, will be well covered next week, so I won’t get into that here.

Housewarming: Brock Clarke Visits Wordsmiths

(Except to say “look at this!” — there. Done.)

The other is children. Sure they’re adorable and full of life, but they’re also small, sticky, and often unable to read.

What this means for us are people who are easy to lose track of, ready to touch, pet, and sit on all sorts of things that have been painstakingly preserved in order that people should never sit on them again.

To be fair, it may not entirely be the fault of the children in scenarios like these, and some blame is certainly owed to the adults who bring ‘em over. I mean, ask 11-year-olds what they think of when you say “museum” (as Lain and I did last week) and you get answers like “boring”, “quiet”, and “you can’t touch anything”.

Perhaps it’s because the Wren’s Nest, this Nation’s Most Exciting House Museum (trademark pending) blows those first two stereotypes out of the water, children and adults alike forget the third.

Wren's Nest Bathroom

(You would be amazed at how many people try to use this bathroom, despite multiple signs telling them it’s really, truly, not an option.)

Now, don’t get me wrong– kids are our bread and butter, and we like them a lot. But heavens, when you see one about to leap into a 150-year old chair or pee on an antique, your opinion changes in a flash.

And that’s why I’m happy to report that there are currently 50 children running around and having a grand old time — outside.

Comments: 1
 
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
It’s true.

Posted by: Amelia // Category: When Babies Ramble // 12:50 pm

In a flurry of nonsense, Imani released this truism on me: “Hey hey hey Amy! You have fingernails and stuff!”

Imani the Goofball

(Imani’s reaction to this photo: “I want to see my pants.”)

She is the greatest.

Comments: 3
 
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Strike Two

Posted by: Amelia // Category: When Babies Ramble, Whoops! // 1:18 pm

Yesterday Lain posted about being pooped and forgetful.

Unfortunately, not much has changed in the last 24 hours.

Debbie Downer

Due to a busy workday at job #2, I didn’t get a chance to check the Wren’s Nest blog yesterday (sacrilege, I know) and didn’t realize Lain had left the camera at home.

Thus prepared for a day of picture captioning and blogging, I now find myself without the camera, head filled with captions-to-be. Le sigh.

Luckily, Imani is here to keep me on task. Between searching through my purse (”so, so funny”) and watching Bugs Bunny (Imani’s current favorite here) we’re managing to salvage this picture-free day. Phew!

Comments: 0
 
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Addendum

Posted by: Amelia // Category: When Babies Ramble, Whoops! // 6:44 pm

Hey, cool most recent post, Lain. And great job updating the About Us section; after four long months and three long weeks, Amelia and Matt (respectively) are finally recognized!

But not all of the Wren’s Nest staff was so lucky.

Imani the Computer Genius

I thus present to you: Imani’s missing bio.

Imani has been alive for three years and has already lived a fuller life than anyone you know. When Imani’s not busy fetching the mail or making us laugh with her trademark combination of excitement and incredulity, she can often be found curled up on a card table, fast asleep. Imani doesn’t know what the 80s are and Brer Rabbit “is her buddy”.

Imani chooses Microsoft Paint over email, thank you.

And… exhale. I feel so much better now.

Comments: 3
 
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Wren’s Nest Ramblings

Posted by: Amelia // Category: Storytelling, Podcasts, When Babies Ramble // 12:51 pm

Today is a day full of noises at the Wren’s Nest.

Imani the Goofball

The following have been provided by Imani “Goofball” Harris, our resident 3-year-old/delivery person/crybaby:

  • Horse noises. Though “not as scary as monsters,” they have been labeled “just as obnoxious” by Lain.
  • Sleepy Little Ducks’ quacking. I would describe them as slightly more taciturn than the ducks typically portrayed by Imani.
  • The phrase “I don’t think so” approximately 11 times in succession, for reasons unknown.
  • General excitement giggles. These have been the result of: needing to use the bathroom, the color pink, my hair, playing babies (or something), and Lain’s goofy face, where he got smacked! It was hilarious!
  • Plentiful use of the word “please”. It is magic, after all.

I could keep going, probably indefinitely, but Imani’s not the only one with something to crow about.

Many of you have probably wondered if Lain is truly as weenie as he is portrayed on this blog. Others of you know he is.

In order to get one step closer to knowing the man(boy), the legend, the voice of the Wren’s Nest, I present you the following opportunity: hear the actual voice of Wren’s Nest Executive Director and General Weenie Lain Shakespeare.

Tapestries Artwork

You see, dear reader, Lain has been diligently working to create podcasts with our storytellers. While the set is not yet complete, you get a sneak peak for being so awesome and all.

Several more stories are planned for the series, but first Lain needs to take some lessons from a voice coach. Just kidding. We like him just the way he is.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Imani and I are deep in conversation, or something like it, about her name being “Goofball” and her impending foray into the world of education. As Jeri rightfully stated, “Goofballs can learn too.”

Comments: 3
 
 
 
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