2023, books, Family, Fantasy, home, Kids, pets, Uncategorized

Sit Behind The Stove

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A favorite book when our children were growing up was “Louhi, Witch of North Farm” by Toni de Gerez with illustrations by Barbara Cooney. It is a story taken from the Kalevala about Louhi stealing the sun and the moon and hiding them. The hero, Vainamoinen, eventually gets them back with the help of Seppo the smith.

A minor character in the book is Sit Behind the Stove, a character from Russian mythology, who lives in Louhi’s cottage. Husband sketched pictures of Sit Behind the Stove, which our children loved. I imagine Louhi’s kitchen looking like this:

I hadn’t thought about this until recently when Kyrill our Cesky Terrier found a small red ball in the yard and brought it in the house. It is an official Minnesota Twins T-Ball that he loves to chase. At times the ball seems to have a mind of its own, as it is ultrasensitive to even the smallest imperfections and dips in our laminate flooring in the dining room and living room. It gains momentum for movement with every dip in the floor and then rolls. Kyrill has learned that if he tosses it under the furniture it will eventually roll back to him. He watches intently to see where it might emerge, and then pounces on it.

The other day the ball rolled under the buffet in the dining room. When that happens, we usually have to retrieve it for him. After a minute or so, though, it magically rolled back out! It was rather unsettling, I admit, and I imagined that Sit Behind the Stove or perhaps a tomten must have tossed it back out.

Who or what are your favorite mythological characters?

30 thoughts on “Sit Behind The Stove”

  1. Jason and the Argonauts. A Hellene epic from the 3rd century B.C.E. Also a great movie from 1963 C.E. The skeleton warriors are still frightening to me.

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  2. What puzzles me is that there are no visible dips or uneven sections in the flooring. Other balls the same size, like tennis balls, don’t roll like the red ball does.

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    1. Ugh. I have found that any fantasy novel with a character named Loki, is so not interesting. If “loki” shows up in the book summary I do not read it.

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  7. I always remember a book that I checked out from the library multiple times as a kid, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, about a griffin. I liked Sendak’s wild things too, but something about the griffin always stuck with me.
    griffin

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  8. Rise and Shine, Baboons,

    Well, I think after last night’s election, my favorite myth/mythical creature is Democracy. Maybe, maybe All Is Not Lost afterall.

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  10. It honestly never occurred to me to rank mythological beings in terms of my preference. They all have their place and their uses.

    Native Americans have some really terrible mythological figures. One that particularly struck me is Raw Gums from the Arapaho. Raw Gums is a cannibal infant that sleeps all day. Then at night he crawls out of his cradle without disturbing his parents so that he can kill and eat all the chiefs of the area.

    In a place like North Dakota where most of the “chiefs” are Republican politicians, Raw Gums could be a boon.

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  13. Monarch has a monopoly on assisted living here. They treat employees badly and drive them away and end up understaffing. Three doctors told me to not be here so much because of my health but she and others don’t get care unless I demand it. I will spare you details. I had just now another big round with the manger over it. Migraine throbbing. Thus I dare not cut back.
    My son started his job Monday. Lots of chaos for several reasons like his boss was out with a sick child. No one else knew he was starting. He worked two days. Last night at 1:30 am he got a text from one of their lawyers saying he did not work there and would not be paid for his two days of work. See, how big a monster are you to send that text at 1:30?
    A contract was not completed. A higher up person reached out to say they do indeed employ him, he will be paid for those two days, he will be back to work tomorrow or Friday.
    Meanwhile the farmer cut the corn yesterday and decided to till it at 5 this morning.
    Clyde

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    1. It sounds like you’re having a rough time. I understand about the nursing home and your need to be there for Sandy. You’re doing a great job. You are important too. Please try to rest and take care of yourself.

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