A River Walk

This morning, I walked for twelve miles through Heidelberg and along the river front. In November, I'm walking a marathon with several friends, and we're starting to extend our mileage.


Here's a sample of scenery along the Neckar River. The swans may look placid and graceful, but believe me, you don't want to get these birds angry, or the wrath of all bird-dom will fly upon you!

The Sembach Group

Laurie, Angela, and Chris at The Alte Schmiede Restaurant

Angela, Chris, Norma, and I meet monthly to talk about writing, critique manuscripts, share a meal, and catch up on each other's lives. These women have helped keep me sane since I moved away from my extensive network of friends and fellow writers in Oregon four years ago! Two of the original members, Sondy and Marta, have returned to the US, but we keep in touch via email and blogs.

See Angela's blog for more news of our group. Between us, we write young adult and mid-grade novels, picture books, poetry, humor and travel essays, science fiction, and more. Something for everyone.

*Photo courtesy of Angela Cerrito

Keep Those Eyes Open!

David flew in from Grand Rapids this morning, and is fighting to keep his eyes open just one more hour. He arrived bearing gifts: Rich and Creamy Rainbow Chip Frosting for Danielle (can't find it here) and a pair of Anna's favorite jeans from the States.

Now if I can only find a way to keep him awake a little longer. Jet lag won't be so bad then.

Thinking About the Olympics

NY Times has a brief commentary on Chariots of Fire, a movie based on the true story of two runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. If you've never seen the film, what better time than now? Go rent it tonight! And let me know if you liked it or not.

Murphy Around Town

It's not Murphy Monday yet, but Murphy's been on a photo shoot around our little village and can't wait to show you pictures of his home.

Here's the church at the center of town. To get Murphy to pose in one spot, we bribed him with part of a gelato cone from the eis cafe across the street. Hey, if it works!

Sunflowers Forever

Saw zillions and zillions of these blooms planted at Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam. It's true--the Dutch certainly do have a way with flowers.

Anne Frank

A Riveting Read

Yesterday, I saw a young girl of about ten following her father down the street. She wasn't paying any attention to where she was going, because she had her nose in a book.

Can I just say -- that was me, quite a few years ago??? Surprised I didn't end up running into stop signs and falling off sidewalks.

Street Anatomy

OK, maybe you can blame it on the fact that I spent lots of spare time browsing my father's medical textbooks as a kid, as well as putting together a "Visible Woman" in homeschool (my mother taught me first through third grade in Africa)--but the Street Anatomy site fascinates me.

Make sure you check out the anatomy tattoos. Not something you see everyday.

Also, the National Library of Medicine held an art contest for children, asking them to portray what they thought the body looked like under the skin. Quite a few beautiful drawings resulted from their answer to that question.

Stuttgart For A Day & Night

Tomorrow I drive down to Stuttgart (only an hour and a half away, if I don't hit any traffic jams) because Jeff is working in the area for two days. Also, the paternal side of my family came from a little town near Stuttgart, so I'd like to explore the region more.

Next week, Jeff has a class up in Amsterdam, so Anna and I will join him and see a bit of the Netherlands.

This is one aspect of his job I'll miss when we eventually move back to the US...

You Saw A Bike Where?

Inside Frankfurt airport, you might see a bike like this whizzing past:


Shocked me a bit, the first time! The airport buys the bicycles for their workers to get from place to place within the terminal more easily. As I've said before, Germany is a paradise for bike-lovers.

*Photo from the Alex Moulton website

Betwixt and Between

I've been reflecting on the last month, during which I flew back to see my family and friends in Oregon. While there, Anna and I visited our old neighborhood, where we talked to folks who still live on the street where we spent twenty-plus years.

Very strange feeling--this is the first time I've returned to Oregon when it's not felt like my real home. Germany has become home. And yet, at the same time, I know Jeff's job here will only last one to three more years, at the most. So this isn't really my long term home in many ways. I ultimately define "home" as a place where I live and put down roots.

So where is home? I'm still trying to figure it out.

Rabbit Ears Murphy

It's Murphy Monday again, and I'd intended to post some photos of Murphy as the dog-around-town. But that will have to wait until next week, or whenever our weather improves. Don't think you want to see a matted, wet bundle of dog hair posing in the rain.

So, ta-da, here's Murphy in one of his cutest impersonations: Dog with rabbit ears.


We do insist on having our twisted version of fun once and awhile, so if people ask "Is that a dog?" we sometimes say that he's a giant guinea pig or rabbit. Which is feasible, given that Murphy has no tail, and is approximately the shape of an overgrown guinea pig...

„Wicked - Die Hexen von Oz

We've been listening to the original "Wicked" soundtrack for the last 2 weeks, after Danielle bought it in the States. Then I found this video recently. Good way to learn a few new German words.

Now I want to see the live musical!

Oh, the Beach!

I seem to have finally conquered jetlag--Anna and I arrived back in Germany last Saturday, after a leg-cramping flight from Portland to Amsterdam, then Frankfurt.

But I must post more photos from the coast! We stayed one night at the Sylvia Beach Hotel, my favorite bed and breakfast on the face of the earth. Due to cost, Anna and I slept in the women's dorm (a little-known secret--their less expensive bunk-bed room which still includes the hotel's huge breakfast and other amenities).



We peered into as many of the writer-themed rooms as possible, from the Agatha Christie room to the E.B. White room. Anna and her friend Amy really wanted to see the Edgar Allen Poe suite, so were thrilled when the guest finally left and they could sneak in to check out the pendulum blade over the bed and a lurking stuffed raven on the dresser. Cool details.



During our hotel dinner that night, each table played the "Two Truths and a Lie" game--as is traditional at the Sylvia Beach hotel. I've perfected my lies over quite a few years of visiting! We each got to ask 3 questions of every person, then guessed which fact about them was a lie. Try it with your friends, you might learn some surprising things.

Oregon Coast Photos

Last Sunday, I drove Anna and her friend Amy to Newport, where we visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Yellow jellyfish make great abstract art!



It was fun peering up at the fish in water tunnels overhead, too. Felt a bit like being under the sea, which I'm sure is the effect the architects aimed for.



The freaky car gave us all a few moments of amusement. Note the pairing of one of the seven dwarfs with a rubber duckie and a praying nun, not to mention several decapitated dolls' heads with wind-blown hair and unnaturally red lips.



Wonder how many traffic accidents this car causes, when people do double-takes? Must be fun to drive around town.

This and That

Well, I'm in Oregon visiting my folks and extended family and friends. Highlights from the last week:

* Trying on a shirt in a Maine mall, when my daughter suddenly exclaimed, "Mom, what's that huge black mole on your back?!" I examined my "mole" in the mirror, and shrieked when I saw its tiny wiggling legs. Somehow, I'd picked up a tick while walking the backroads of rural Maine. For the next hour I gritted my teeth and tried not to think of blood-sucking bugs while I drove home to the inlaws and got Jeff to pull the tick off carefully with tweezers. Now I need to watch for symptoms of Lyme disease, but I think my critter was a wood tick, not a deer tick, so that's fortunate.

* My first full day in Oregon, I walked into a Safeway store and asked my mother, "What in the world is that?" as I pointed to the grocery cart. She peered in and then told me, "Laurie, that's a cup-holder. Haven't you seen them before?" Ahhhh. Remember, in Germany, most of the cars don't have cup-holders, and none of the grocery carts do! (It's illegal to drink or eat while driving in Germany. Also against the law for the driver to talk on a cell phone) Funny moment there, and I realized it's indeed been awhile since I've lived in the States..

* Have I said that I adore the abundance of coffee shops in Oregon?? Free wireless, indie music, and shelves of books in English.

* I do miss the network of bike trails and well-constructed walking paths in Germany. Oregon's one of the better states in terms of bike-friendliness and pedestrian awareness, but I had to walk from the urgent care clinic where my tetanus shot was updated, and trekked over broken concrete, barkdust, and a few blocks of mediocre sidewalk.

*Dad's picking fresh Hood strawberries for us to feast on each day--the best breakfast on earth.

Down East

Just to let you know, I'll be mostly incommunicado for a week--in Maine at the inlaw's, celebrating their 60th anniversary. My husband's folks live right on the coast, and last night we spotted seals out in Frenchman's bay, sunning on a rock. One of these days when the sun peeks out, we'll take turns paddling their kayak around in front of the house. It's only a short drive to Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert island. Definitely my kind of terrain!

And my mother-in-law is a gourmet cook. She insists on stuffing us with fresh-picked crab, scallops the size of silver dollars, blueberries, rhubarb crisp, and countless other treats. If I don't gain a million pounds this week, it'll be a miracle. That's why I'm trying to walk a lot--last night, David, Jeff and I pounded the back roads and ended up putting in 6 miles.

I'll blog next from Oregon, Anna and I fly there on the 24th. Have a great week!

I Know I've Lived In Germany For Awhile When...

*My child says, "Let's skip the castle. Can we go to the park instead?"

*Apple juice and other drinks taste better without ice.

*Listening to the latest Stau report on the radio, I can't remember the American word for Stau (traffic jam).

*I wait to mow the lawn until afternoon quiet hours are done.

*It isn't incongruous to see an eighty year old woman with perfectly styled hair, fancy blouse, and skirt riding a bicycle down the cobblestones (dangling her Sunday purse on the handlebars).

*The local cult of Spargel-adoration doesn't seem quite as silly anymore. In fact, it's kind of endearing.

Spargel = white asparagus, or as I call it, albino asparagus.


Photo is of David and Anna in the nearby town of Schwetzingen, where this sculpture honors the region's spargel crop .

How do you know you've lived somewhere (whether Germany or otherwise) for awhile?

African Children's Choir

Africa's children are the hope for the future. Good reminder that even little kids can make a difference.

Plus, I love their singing! (no, I'm not biased, why would you say that?)

Murphy Monday

Here's the Murphster...in his favorite location, sniffing after mice and other creatures out in the farm fields around us.

Lately, Murphy's been getting carried away with his herding instincts--barking whenever the phone rings, until I go answer it--problem is, he also tries to nip at my heels on the way to the phone. Any ideas for breaking him of these bad habits? I plan to check out "The Dog Whisperer" book for additional insights.

Why do I feel as if I'm raising a toddler all over again??

Street Children at Christ's Table

I found this film on Candy Gourlay's blog -- http://volcanochild.co.uk/index.html.

Joey Velasco, the painter in this film, says he wants "to share the stories of a handful of small lives whose voices are often unheard and whose tiny dreams are shattered before they can even take form." This film is set in the Philippines, with references to Africa at the end.

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in..." Matthew 25:35

Not Just Any Sitar

I just discovered Aradhna, and downloaded their new album, Amrit Vani, off iTunes. All I can say is, A*M*A*Z*I*N*G! Click on "Sample Tracks" at the top of Aradhna's website, and listen for yourself.

This is unapologetically Eastern music. Unmistakably spiritual music. But it is also immediately accessible music. Tabla and Sitar combine with acoustic guitar and western drums. Hindi vocal weaves in and out of English counterpart...

A little background on Chris Hale, one of Aradhna's founders: Chris had been living in South Asia from childhood and could speak Nepali and Hindi fluently...he often felt torn between his eastern and western spiritual identity. He longed for an Indian expression of devotion to Yeshu Khrist, the North Indian name for Jesus Christ. In the course of this search, he had found Yeshu bhaktas (devotees) in different parts of the world who expressed their adoration through bhajans and the Indian way of bhakti (devotion).

Pineapple Hair Fixings

My sister Beth just started a blog. She included this photo in her first post--that's me with glasses, blue dress, and tropical fruit as hair adornment, Beth with the second pineapple, Susan (youngest) in white, and Dan sitting at our feet in the pineapple patch.

Hmmm. I'm thinking the four of us need to take another fruit or vegetable-themed picture together as adults. Maybe this time with radish earrings and papaya decor. Any suggestions?

One of Us

Joan Osbourne sings "One of Us."

Grief in China

Everything about the recent tragedy in China makes me sad. And there's one aspect I hadn't thought of until I read this article in the New York Times--for parents whose children were killed in school collapses after the earthquake, "too many of the dead are children in a country where most families are allowed to have only one." I can't imagine.

The end of the piece quotes a Mr. Li. He and his wife are trying to fit pink pyjamas on their daughter's body before cremation:

He said he was angry and sad. He said his daughter’s body was still warm when he found her at the morgue on Wednesday. He wondered how long she lived beneath the rubble. And then he turned away, leaning down slightly, and whispered in her ear.

“My little daughter,” he said quietly. “You used to dress yourself. Now I have to do it for you.”

I wish I could help out somehow. No parent should have to go through this.

Addendum:
I'm pretty sure the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, whom we support, will be helping. Also, World Relief (different group, similar name)is launching an emergency response in China. My brother, Dan, works for WR.

Happy 80th, Data!

I'm sure one of the reasons I love to read is because my father and mother spent time with me paging through many picture books and sounding out words. This picture was taken in Belgium, I believe--Dad was studying tropical medicine in preparation for his doctor work in Burundi.

In addition, both Dad and Mom took French classes while in Belgium. He told me the other day that he still remembers a sentence the French teacher said aloud to test their comprehension: Le soleil brille. Neither of them had any clue what she'd just said!


Another thing I loved to do with Dad:


Happy birthday, Dad! I do have to say, I don't remember a day when you were without a beard, but these pictures are proof of a prior time...

* Data = Father in Kirundi, the language of Burundi
* Le soleil brille. = The sun shines.

Bologna Photos

French Children's Books

Bikers at the Bologna Resistance Memorial

Bologna's Main Square

Typical Covered Sidewalks and Arches in Bologna


Since the Facebook photo link seems to have expired, I've uploaded a few of my Bologna pictures, in case you didn't get to see them.

Mom and Me

This is one of my favorite photos. Gives me a peaceful feeling every time I look at it.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM.

Crouching Murphy, Hidden Chew Toy

This is one of Murphy's favorite positions when he's gnawing on his chew toy. Still cracks me up. The canine yoga stance.

Bologna Writer's Panel

I promised to write more about Bologna (oh, only a week or two or three ago!)-- so rooted around in my notebook to find stuff to pass on.

The second day there, I attended a writer's panel. A few ideas that were mentioned:

As a reader, I love -- prose like music; a sense of yearning; writing that casts a spell so strong, I forget I'm reading; caring deeply about the character and any adversity they encounter.
--Susan Fletcher

We are truth-tellers. That's our job.

Young adults will read a book five or ten times. They're searching for connections, for places to help them choose, find direction.
--Susanne Gervay

Don't describe what people will assume. Describe what they won't assume.

I think that writing is almost a vocation.
--Kathleen Duey

Cake

If you need cheering up, this might do it. I particularly like the baby with big teeth. Brilliant.

Tag!

I've been tagged -- And I think I'm the slowest one in the game...but here goes.

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to Angela's blog once you've posted your three sentences.

Nearest Book: COMPLICATIONS: A SURGEON'S NOTES ON AN IMPERFECT SCIENCE by Atul Gawande.

Sentences 6 - 8 on page 123:

"Desperate for a return to a normal life, he agreed to a delicate procedure: brain surgery that would destroy cells in a small structure called the thalamus, which was already known to contribute to such excessive stimulation of the hands.
Taylor had another big problem, though: for seventeen years, he had struggled with a severe panic disorder. At least once a week, while he was working at his computer terminal or was at home in the kitchen feeding a child, he would suddenly be overcome by severe chest pains, as if he were having a heart attack."

My oldest daughter's reading this nonfiction book. I may steal it from her.

Now I'm tagging five of you! These folks are it:
Holly at And Sew It Is
Ruth at Body Soul and Spirit
Natalie at Italian Moments
Beth at Grace Every Day
Spidey at Samwise Gamgee

Out & About

Yesterday, all of Germany abandoned their homes for green areas, at least in our region. No wonder, after the sun deprivation of these last few months. I did the same, walking around the nearby town of Speyer with several friends.

Facebook

If you're on Facebook & want to add me as a friend, go to this link.

I'll post some notes from the conference this week.

Murphy Monday -- For Judy

Judy in Indiana always makes lots of comments about Murphy's pictures, so this one's for her.

Murphy sniffing the tulips that Danielle brought back from Amsterdam a few years ago. He reminds me of Ferdinand the bull in "The Story of Ferdinand," by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson -- a bull who likes to sit just quietly and smell the flowers.
P.S. Although, we shouldn't forget that this sweet-faced canine enjoys chasing cats. And anything else that runs.

Anna Turns Fifteen

I know it sounds cliche, but I can't believe our youngest is fifteen...
Happy 15th, Anna! I like spending time with you, even when you talk my ear off. And I love you more than infinity.

The Illustrator's Wall

Here's a peek at the Illustrator's Cafe in the Bologna Bookfair, where illustrators posted their samples, cards, and other interesting stuff. I enjoyed browsing the wall each day--as you can see, all types of styles!

An Unusually Silent Passenger

I flew back yesterday on Ryanair from Bologna. Most of the seats were filled, so I grabbed a spot with a few vacant places left.

A man seated himself behind me, keeping the window seat for his companion -- a three foot tall Italian chocolate egg, wrapped in shiny orange and gold foil. He'd probably picked it up for a child back home.

So the engines started revving for takeoff, and right then, a cabin attendant rushed down the aisle to our section. "Sir," she told the man sternly, "You must buckle your egg into the seat. Immediately!" At that, everyone around me burst out laughing. He gently reached over and fastened the seat belt around his egg. Later, I saw he'd draped a coat over it.

I imagine his Easter egg needed a good nap before landing...

The Bologna Children's Book Fair

Tomorrow I'm off to the Bologna Book Fair -- and the SCBWI Bologna conference. First time to attend, and I'm excited.

I'm rooming with two writers I've only met online, which is another first for me. One of them emailed me a few weeks ago, "You're not an axe murderer, by any chance?" I emailed her back, "I have a nice machete collection, but no axes." So that should banish any worries.

Also, I'll meet up with Angela, Natalie, and a few other people from Verla Kay's board. When I return, I'll blog more about the bookfair and the city of Bologna. Ciao!

Easter

"Easter Morning" -- by Dr. He Qi, professor at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
All creation joins to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Good Friday

On the hiking path between Vernazza and Corniglia--in Cinque Terre, Italy

A Mother's Heart

It does a mother's heart good to know her son was well taken care of on his birthday.

A Tragedy In One Act

Tragedy strikes.

My youngest daughter, who is blind as a bat (like me), cracked her glasses down the center last night. Duct tape currently holds the two halves together, but isn't high on a teen's fashion list...so I'm hoping the optician can rig up some type of short-term rescue.

Help!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

http://www.bostonkiltics.com

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in self-forgetting that we find;
And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1226)

One of Many

I've been having a hard time coming up with things to blog about lately, so figured I'd show you our bookshelf closest to the computer. Whenever I go to other people's homes, I enjoy browsing their books, so here's your chance to do the same with me (for a larger view, click on the photo).

At last count, we had fourteen (mostly full) bookcases scattered around the house--and lots of books aren't even unpacked. Time to go through and scour the shelves, eh?

A Dog of Sensitive Stomach

I'm posting another picture for Murphy Monday, since it's been so long between photos.


He's been a "Dog of Sensitive Stomach" this week. While Jeff and I were out of town, Murphy caught some type of bug and is just beginning to return to normal. In the meantime, we've all endured his black clouds of odiferousness...if you catch my drift. Poor dog. But I feel sorry for us too--our rooms need several cans of orange spray and a good airing out!

Thankfully, Murphy's starting to eat again. I figured the BRAT diet (banana,rice, applesauce,toast) worked for our toddlers long ago, and it might work for him too--except I substituted oatmeal for rice.

Writing Assignment

My Gotham writing assignment this week is on "pacing" --

Let's compress and expand time in words. Pick a moment in your childhood that was either especially funny or suspenseful. First, tell about the moment in one sentence. Then, slow time down and describe the moment in detail. But try to keep it under 500 words.

I think I'll write about the evening a lady kept telephoning my father, over and over, asking how to treat a neck wound. She was truly convinced that a vampire had bitten her. Dad told her, "make sure to clean and ice it."

One thing that impresses me, looking back--Dad treated her with respect, even though we (kids) were probably chortling in the background. I don't know what the woman's problem really was, but he asked questions to find out if she needed medical attention and didn't belittle her. The mark of a good doctor, in my opinion..

City Pirates

Never thought I'd see the day when pirates wore polos...

Javier, Have A Great Day!

Today is David's 21st birthday, and he's off celebrating in Samoa, where the study-abroad students stay for three weeks in a small village. So, no internet access.

When you finally see this, know that we love you and sang the birthday song across many kilometers to you, David!

p.s. --For some reason, my singing sent Murphy into a barking fit...
p.p.s.--David's also known as Javier, ever since he used that name in his high school Spanish class.

Sea of Love & Goodness

From Henri Nouwen's The Dance of Life:

"Dear Lord, today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: 'It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.' You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life; by your love I am sustained; and to your love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love.

My only real temptation is to doubt in your love, to think of myself as beyond the reach of your love, to remove myself from the healing radiance of your love. To do these things is to move into the darkness of despair.

O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know that there is ebb and flow but that the sea remains the sea. Amen."

--found this on Joan B's blog

THE ORIGINAL Scary 'Mary Poppins' Recut Trailer

Just watched this recut SCARY version of Mary Poppins and couldn't stop cackling. My oldest daughter kept shushing me--but just watch it and see what I mean.

Listen to the Bells

If you want to hear what I wake up to every Sunday morning, go here, scroll to the very bottom, and play this MP3: "The Bells In Taizé." Church bells are one of the sounds I'll miss the most if we ever move from Germany!

The Taizé song clips and prayers are definitely worth listening to as well--click on "Behüte mich, Gott" for a beautiful German hymn, and on "Seigneur, tu gardes mon âme" for another in French.

Photo Shoot

A glass mural at the Saguaro Museum--

Silhouette at Mission San Xavier Del Bac:

Succulent plant at the Desert Museum:


A few shots from Tucson, Arizona--my mother wanted to see more of my photos. Here you are, Mom.

The Other Land Down Under

Our son David is spending his semester (Feb. to May) in New Zealand, studying biology and anthropology. The program staff and students are posting on their blog, the South Pacific Journal, about everything from blue penguins to weekend road trips. It's still summer in the "other land down under," and quite a nice break for David -- in Michigan, snow continues to pile up!

Charlie Bit My Finger

Have a Valentine's Day chuckle! These brothers are so good natured. When my kids were little, there was a lot more screaming if one sibling took a chunk out of the other's arm...

Snippets of Arizona

A few snippets from Arizona, land of spiky plants and desert rock:




Arizona has a whole different type of terrain than either Oregon, Burundi, or Germany--places where I've spent the most time.

Back in Deutschland...

Back to Germany after a wonderful two weeks with my parents. They spoiled me and I loved it!
Now I'm trying to whip the tail end of a cold...so far, I've dosed myself with zinc lozenges, vitamin C tablets, lots of fresh-squeezed orange and tangerine juice (at Mom and Dad's), echinachea, extra sleep, you name it. Any other tried-and-true cold remedies out there? I'm willing to do almost anything but blend garlic cloves and drink the concoction.

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

--from Macbeth, Act IV, Scene 1