Two arrivals in the mail

We love advent calendars, we love pop-up, and we love Maite Roche! So we knew this adorable Advent calendar would be a hit.

The latest issue of Mater & Magistra also arrived, and I just finished the beautiful and resourceful cover article!

Birthday Pictures

A stuffed giraffe was a most-wanted gift, and a restaurant dinner with Number One and A. T. was a treat! Number Seven also got to accomplish one other wish-list item: to visit the Humane Society and play with their animals!

Godfather, goddaughter

...on their iPads during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Need I say more?

Michael O'Brien's book trailer

I just put it on hold from our library! Watch this trailer... you will feel like reading it too!

Caipirinha

I find these traditional Brazilian cocktails very easy to make, but have been surprised at how complicated people can make them. Most You-Tubes I have seen add unnecessary ingredients as well as butcher the pronunciation of the Brazilian liquor in it, cachaça (cah-sha-sah), which is made from sugar cane. I made two nice batches this past few days... Unfortunately, I am not able to give exact measures as I never do measure anything when I make them. Approximately: three large limes, squeezed, two trays of ice, 3/4 C sugar, 1 C or so of cachaça, and I always add some water. You can't go wrong.

Happy Birthday, Number Seven!

Her announcement was so much fun to create! And the photo with Number Four precious!

Happy Birthday to a talented and wonderful ray-of-sunshine daughter!

24 jars of jam

I made these in time for Number One to take back to give at his office. Mother's love is both powerful and foolish.

Thanksgiving scenes

A young crew helped with the stuffing prep, and Number Five won the game of the day: the new Asia Ticket to Ride. Husband was happy to step in the kitchen to carve the wonderful, farm fresh organic turkey.

Outside, inside

There is beauty in the fog and hoarfrost, and I love to juxtapose the cold with the smells of a house ready for this holiday... as my heart overflows with gratitude. For safe journeys, for the presence of far away sons whom I miss immensely through the busy weeks. For my helpful, loving children still at home, for a good, faithful and wonderful husband. For the opportunity and privilege to host friends, to be able to cook and serve good food.  

History skit

I have been writing mini skits as assignments for All Ye Lands History at TC... here's yesterday's Robin Hood:

I won!

I was stunned to know I won! Thanks to everyone who voted! Now I need to choose a prize... so many choices! Thanks Lisa at Golden Grasses for the nomination!

(And thank You, Lord, because truly it is all done for You. Without Your loving help and guidance I would amount to nothing.) 

A Lefsa morning!

Uncle Dave is here for a quick pre-Thanksgiving visit and treated us to homemade Lefsas this morning! Yum! He grew up in MN and the taste of Lefsa brings him sweet childhood memories. We had it with fresh raspberry jam and it was all smiles in the kitchen!

Workbook Update

I lingered longer than I ever wanted in the French Revolution, only to immerse myself into the Napoleonic era... and be brought to tears by the final paragraph of that chapter. On to Romanticism, the changing European political boundaries, the industrial revolution, and now we enter the 20th century.

 The thing about this project is that I am constantly fascinated by the reading, and I love the hours I spend coming up with and writing the students' exercises! Who wouldn't love this work, as it is so enjoyable to read the history of the western Christian world with what is most important in mind: who man truly is, and how in history few, and always the humbler and most forgiving, walking in God's path, are the ones who bring forth the idea of true justice and peace.

Note: my workbooks for Sea to Shining Sea and Light of the Nations Pt 1 are available from the Catholic Textbook Project's site. (I did not write the one for All Ye Lands). I am beginning Chapter 16 as of today of 20 chapters of this volume, should be available in the spring.

Number Five makes the cover page of the local paper

Jam!

The first winter day came yesterday, uninvited and bringing its usual gloominess. Number Seven and I, defiantly, retrieved the gallon bags from the freezer and let the summer smells of fresh picked raspberries inspire us! A dozen jars of jam!

Two animal-friendship picture books

A friend for Einstein : the smallest stallion,  by Charlie Cantrell and Rachel Wagner.


Suryia & Roscoe : the true story of an unlikely friendship, by Bhagavan "Doc" Antle with Thea Feldman ; photographs by Barry Bland.

The girls and I enjoyed reading these two real-life new books from the library on animal friendships. Both are illustrated with great photos and tell stories of unusual animals that have formed playful relationships with friendly dogs. Fun and interesting reading!

Book on Sister Dulce

She is the new Brazilian blessed... I posted about her recently. I found this book, written by an American journalist in 1963, for about $2 on Amazon. Don't you love the internet sometimes?

The Secret of Pooduck Island by Alfred Noyes

I have begun reading this unusual and wonderful volume by Alfred Noyes (who is more known for his poetry) to Number Seven. In a little island in Maine, a squirrel family takes new residence in an empty house, and the story is all told from their perspective. An animal-loving boy is their helper and protector, and becomes the protagonist as he uses his newly learned skills to paint a picture... you will have to read the rest and find out about the ghost and the good priest! As I read aloud chapters one and two, Number Seven drew what she was hearing and it tuned out to be quite a good picture of their home!

Two Saints!

We are celebrating two great saints: Saint Albert the Great, patron saint of scientists and of our Number Four, and Saint Margaret of Scotland, patron saint of our homeschool group. May these saints continue guiding us in our family and homeschool journey, and most especially husband in his work, and Number Four as he discerns what is next in life for him!

More on muffins: a reader's plea

So I received this email yesterday (which is still making me smile) from a faithful Canadian reader:

Ana, posting the chocolate chip muffin photo, sans recipe, was above and beyond the call of duty cruelty.  Please get a minion to post the recipe.  They look wonderful, and Lent is rapidly approaching.  (chocoholics are always on the lookout for the approach of Lent!!) 

As always,
A big Canadian thanks,
K.

  The email, along with my old friend Liz's request in the comments yesterday, urges me to post the recipe without delay!  The muffin is very simple to make and I admit yet again that most times I made it I winged it from a nebulous memory, according to ingredients I had at hand--or didn't have. Number Six says the variations were: we used oil and not melted butter, we doubled it, and we have made it with and without c. chips. I also *always* decrease the soda and add a bit more baking powder (aluminum free). Below is the picture of the recipe she saved on my iPad!

Miscellaneous

Just posting a few odds and ends from the last downloaded Picasa album.  We have been making these wonderful chocolate muffins for after school snacks...  I love Number Five's latest completed school art project, and the last one is a photo of the treat-or-tricking crew.

Voting reminder

Vote here!  (Thanks!)

Co-op Art: National Geographic pastel landscapes

Yesterday my art students at co-op worked with dry pastels and created some very nice studies on National Geographic landscapes! I attached the original photo for each one. Enjoy the results!