Old pictures...

...of Numbers One and Two in Brazil, in 1993. Too cute not to post. I came across them yesterday as I looked for Number Three's pictures. Cousin Julia is in the third one.

Library Art Contest entries

I have been busy writing and gardening but these were brought for me by Number Six and Seven to scan before Number Three took them to the library... The horse one was inspired by a photo in a library book and she used mixed media. Number's Seven is a self portrait as the little girl's outfit matched hers... I love them both! Good luck, girls!

The 17 year old!

What Bluebirds Do

What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby
April 2009, Boyds Mills Press, 48 pages.
ISBN-10: 1590786149

We picked a full bag of mostly new picture books from the library as we don't visit it as often as during the school year. Several new publications were examined by my review team--our children. Some were bold, creative, large and colorful. Fiction, informational, biographies: we read many different books during a number of days. In my mind as I hear their comments and listen or watch their reading enjoyment I run my own elimination process.

A simple, quiet, gentle book was the clear winner this time, beating all of its "louder" competitors: What Bluebirds Do, by Pamela Kirby. It won all of our hearts with the true photographic story of a pair of bluebirds in the backyard of the author's house. Beautiful photography, list of resources and careful description of their life are combined into the most delightful nature-book we have come across in a while!

Number Three

I found these pictures taken in 1993 in Brazil when he was 16 month old... my dear sister Margot is his godmother. He is our blondest child... and with such warm, sweet brown eyes.

My message to him on Facebook this morning:

Parabens, son! Muitos anos de vida! Muitas felicidades! You are a delight of a son, smart, kind and such good company! May God bless you today and may you live in His love all of the days of you life! Mom

Happy 17th Birthday, Number Three!

We just received this picture, taken at Number One's Graduation at ND.

A writing day

It's raining today... and I have been writing about gardening for Mater & Magistra... here are some of the Tasha Tudor illustrations I scanned for the article from an old little volume I own, and then a picture of what is out of my big window near the computer. Inspiration!

Great little video

A while back Husband and I read Too Many People by Christopher Derrick. Great little book. Now there is this site, and a great little video. Enjoy!

h/t: AmP

Number One in Belgium

He added new pictures to his blog!

This is at the Tintin store in Belgium.





Correction: as readers can see in the comments box, I was corrected by Number One: this is the Tintin (Herge actually, his creator) Museum in Nouveau Louvain, not store which is in Brussels. It was just opened last month from what I read on BBCnews.

Garden

Growing green beans and ready-cherries!

Saint Anne's Feast Day

She is my dearest patron saint, one in heaven to whom I confide my motherly concerns... what a glorious, beautiful feast day today! The DaVinci painting is so eloquent, showing her smiley pleasure in the sight of her daughter and Holy Child. Especially after the days my dearest mother-in-law spent here, today I give thanks to God for the love between grandmother and grandchildren!

Today it is also the birthday of my oldest sister, Catarina de Sena (Catherine of Siena), and my thoughts and prayers are with her as she lays in a hospital in Sao Paulo. She was a mother to me in so many ways when I was growing up as I am nine years younger than her. On her birthday Mother would give me a present as well, since it was also my name day, so "Tina" and I had this sweet sisterly bond. Why are these memories so precious, bringing love and joy into the heart?

Summer Singers on You Tube!

Sunday update: Last one updated successfully!

Cabbage Worms

I have spent far too long in the garden painstakingly finding and squishing these... keep in mind these photos are blown up--they're tiny. They're in the broccoli, in the Brussels sprouts, in the three types of cabbage. Sigh... The only organic way to deal with them is by hand, one by one.

Number Four leaves for his apprenticeship

His apprenticeship will be surrounded by the love and comfort of Grandma and Grandpa Tom's home!

Summer Singers on TV!

Did they sound wonderful during the TV mass!

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa Tom!

First stop: garden!






Our handy men: Grandpa Tom and Number Four have been from one home repair project to the next, non-stop! I am begging Grandpa Tom to stay. ;-)









A bit of local history: Buffalo Bill








Grandma love!

Number Three at the Christendom College Latin Immersion Program

Check more pictures at Facebook, by becoming a fan of Christendom College. Do we miss him!

Posted on Pope St. Nicholas V today

I just requested this from our library! It is a reprint of an old gem! To join this Yahoo Group, click here!

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it
is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron
request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's
website.

Title: Saint Thomas Aquinas For Children and the Childlike
Author: Raissa Maritain
Publisher: Sophia Press
Date Published: April 2009
ISBN-10: 1933184477
Price: $12.95

For more information on this book, go to Sophia Press.

Missing Numbers One and Three!

Number Three posted this on facebook and it made us miss him even more! He is at the Christendom College Latin Immersion Program for 2 weeks...

... and Number One actually wrote a new blog post! We read it aloud with Grandparents (who are visiting) at the dining table and laughed a lot!

Identifying North American birds

I picked this handsome Peterson guide form the library the other day for a reason: our acreage seems to be a pleasant spot for so many beautiful, wonderfully-sounding birds this summer. The cool air and open windows certainly help here to our awareness of their presence! I am fascinated by North American birds, and love to discover their names!

Number Four took this picture just two days ago, we called him to bring the camera out while the girls and I shelled peas for dinner: he succeeded to photograph the gorgeous goldfinch before it flew away.

Missing Number Two

She is wrapping up her volunteer work in Brazil and will spend several days with family there before returning home for a little while. We miss you! In the picture Number Seven, who for two weeks now misses her three older siblings and expresses it out loud, has an old favorite Brazilian T-shirt with the "Monica" comic character who has been around since my childhood in Rio. The Mary statue was a gift from Number Two and Husband many years ago...

The garden and its fruits

...and to think I almost didn't start the broccoli back in March since it hadn't done well last year.









Number Five made a leaf wreath, and photographed me in my dominions...

Shakespearean gifts

... deserve blog-like Thank Yous!

Laura, the picture doesn't show the other package behind that one--I opened it today and it was delicious! Best yet, I can have it on my diet--I have lost 10 lbs+ already! Yeah!






Caitilin, the flowers are just gorgeous and brighten my dining room atop the piano! Thanks to both!!