Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D'Arezzo

Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D'Arezzo, by Susan Roth, 2007 Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

A dear blog reader recomended this picture book on the life of Guido d'Arezzo, the Benedictine monk who came up with the system for writing music one thousand years ago--the same system we still use today. I requested it via inter library loan since our library does not own the title.

I liked the way the life of the monks is described, but I wonder about the illustrations... in the book the monks look more like Dominicans in white habit... Honestly, my wish is for the book to be re-ilustrated by another artist! Still, a very nice cultural picture book and... you may not mind the style of the illustrations!

Thank you, Grandma!

A Happy 9th Birthday!

Number Seven had a wonderful day, filled with friends, ballet, and treats!

Thanksgiving

Number One is home! We spent part of the afternoon playing Settlers of Catan and "Chances", a game designed and made by Number Six, down to the bake-able clay playing pieces. Number Seven napped with Latte, her newest little pet, and early birthday present from her good friend Grace! Grace has one also, named Mocha--of course.

Judge's notes, and a certificate duly framed.

We are so proud of our piano player!

Grateful for Skype!

Number Seven and Number Two spent quite a bit on Skype with the web cams on... as Number Seven read her a book!

Number Two blogged about her trip to Paris to meet Alli!

Greek and Roman Myths with Mrs. G.

Mrs. G. called me to the "young siblings" class so I could see the finished projects! Thank you, Mrs. G.!!

Posted on Pope St. Nicholas V today

I posted a new title from Ignatius for children... see info here.

Everyone is invited to join this Yahoo group. We offer suggestions for books you can request from your local library for purchase.

Number Seven's Show and Tell at homeschool co-op

She has been waiting patiently, week after week, for her name to be picked. Her littlest kitten Zinc, after all, doesn't stop growing...

Her facial expressions tell the rest of the story.

A big thank you goes to her teachers Mrs. K. and Mrs. S!

Life with Number Three

Socrates on his shoulder (whispering wisdom perhaps?), and a bag packed with his most precious book going in on top: this is the life of a Greek and Latin lover. He returned from a visit to UD last night, where he and Husband also visited Grandma, who hosted a Greek & Latin dinner for him, of course! Thank you, Grandma!

Posted on Love2Learn

There is nothing like a nice new book for children about... Christmas! This new Pauline Books & Media volume is a translation of an original French book. I had my 8 year old read it aloud to me, and she loved the illustrations that bring together the human and the supernatural very well. She loved the sweet, cute angels and all of the animal at the familiar stable! Biblical details are all present here: the story follows Mary and Joseph from before the annunciation, their wedding and the trip to Bethlehem through the Magi at Herods' court, the slaughter of the innocents and the Holy Family's tenure in Egypt. Mary is shown round an pregnant in the beginning,and breastfeeding our Savior baby in Egypt, all in a very natural, warm and cute way.

See this review and others on Love2Learn!

A white bouquet and a note of thanks

This is what you'd do if you have a daughter who is sick while studying overseas.... and her host mom is a wonderful person who cares for her like a true mother while you are helpless here worrying... By driving her to the doctor, to the pharmacy, and making her hot soups...

You'd use the Internet to have flowers delivered--and a personal note, which was duly copied by hand by the florists' staff. (I was going to do it in French, using some help of course, but I remembered Number Two's host mother is learning English!)

Reports arrived saying it was a hit there! Number Two just sent the photos.

A great show!

Best family show in a looong time! We love it--our entire family, teens, kids, adults! So much fun and such depth of the human spirit--and although not strictly accurate, it does justice to Alexander McCall Smith's beautiful and honorable creative mind!

Do not miss it!


Note: ... this is definitely a PG show for those who are wondering.

Socrates comes to visit

Number Three received our stuffed Socrates as a prize when he came in first in an oral competition at the UD Summer Program Arete. This week Socrates came to visit the third graders as we read a chapter about him!

Christmas Wish List

A latest issue of the Ignatius Press catalog alongside a morning coffee cup is a dangerous thing... for one, I had to remove the Diamond Edition of Scrabble from the top spot of my wish list to make room for this beautiful book!

Update: Posted it on Pope St Nicholas V Yahoo group.

Girls' Art

Number Five worked on her own artistic Thank You note to her piano teacher--she photographed the piano keys and did a watercolor based on the photo--and her younger art students also had some nice results!

Our boys with Deacon Burke-Sivers

Thanks for sending the picture, Mark! This was taken a couple of weeks ago when Deacon was in this area. In between our boys are their good friends Matt and Brian.

I've mention Deacon Burke-Sivers here before--a phenomenal Catholic speaker! May God bless his work. Numbers Three and Four love him!

A most unusual biography...

...and also a most wonderful one. Only Fr. George Rutler could get away with such a unique, historically-enriched way to tell the story of the life of a saint! It reminds me so much of his old monthly column in Crisis magazine, "Coincidentally". And in this case, the story of a very unusual saint--but then again, all saints are unusual, aren't they? I requested it via inter-library loan and am taking notes in preparation for writing a one-act play about the patron saint of priests in this Year of the Priest!

Picture book of the week

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Freeze, Beach Lane Books Sept 2009.

Illustrators are so crucial in picture books! If you love our favorite picture book, The Seven Silly Eaters, you will love the illustrations in this one by the same artist. In a good picture book, the illustrations have the power to take you to another world, even if temporarily. Illustrator Marla Freeze's style is captivating, warm, delightful!

I am planning on inspiring my art students to work on an illustration style project, because this book has a lot of sky/weather related pictures.

Number Five plays Chopin

A huge Thank You goes to her fabulous teacher J.S.! Congrats on your second place in State!

A wonderful series of lectures

I have been listening to Professor Madden' course in the Modern Scholar series entitled "Christianity at the Crossroads". Outstanding. If you want to have a superior level of historical understanding of what happened during the Reformation, don't miss it!

Our library own many Modern Scholar titles. Modern Scholar is a series published by recorded Books, Inc. Check your library!

Homeschool scenes

The heads leaning toward their learning is one scene that warms my heart... Number Three was subbing for Mrs. B.'s science, reading aloud "The Mystery of the Periodic Table" to the 3rd-6th graders.



The teens, aware of every weather pattern beauty these days learned at Meteorology class at co-op, called as they left for a friend's house to alert us to look outside!

...and one more!

This is a cute stray, photographed by Number Seven, and duly named Zephyr by her. Her love for animals knows no bounds. Her birthday is coming up and Husband received a note on his pillow last night with a list of things... and a PS: "...at least, the Hamster!"

Homeschool morning

November has been a traditional geography month with the approaching GeoBee, and Number Six has been studying. Number Four loves reading aloud, and Number Seven works on left-handed handwriting and spelling.

Marguerite Marie!

Isn't she the most precious little goddaughter?