a gypsy caravan

Laying Low… Again

Mary has been sick since Michaelmas evening.  She had an upset stomach that night and into the next morning.  This evening she was sick again.  When she went to bed and was saying her prayers, she asked me to pray that she would feel better in the morning.  Would you say a little prayer for her, too ?  She has a birthday party to attend tomorrow evening and will be so sad if she cannot be there.

Many thanks.

Michaelmas Blackberry pie

Blackberry Pie is traditionally eaten on this day because the legend says that the devil spits on the blackberries after Michaelmas. 

The crust for a double crust pie:

2 cups all purpose-flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening or lard

6 to 7 tablespoons cold water

Stir together flour and salt.  Cut in shortening until pieces are the size of small peas.  Add water and mix with hands.  Divide in half and toll out in a circle on a lightly floured surface.  Wrap pastry around rolling pin and unroll onto a 9" pie pan.

Filling:

4 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen, slightly thawed)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

Coat berries with flour and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Transfer filling to waiting pie crust.  After filling, top with second pie crust.  Pinch edges of pie together, cut slits for steam.  Cover edges of crust with foil.  Bake for 50 minutes at 375 degrees.  Remove foil, bake for another 20 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Michaelmas

Wishing all of you a very happy Michaelmas! 

Michaelmas is one of our family's favorite days of the liturgical year.  I have gleaned much great information about the various feasts and their celebrations from A Book of Feasts and Seasons by Joanna Bogle and The Year and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland.  Making a blackberry pie and picking the purple St. Michaelmas asters are two of the traditional things we do each year. 

However, for a little variety, I have incorporated some of the fun ideas from this thread into today's celebration.   For dinner tonight we are making wings, raw veggies with dip and angel hair pasta.  I thought the menu suggestions were such a great idea, I could not resist borrowing the ideas!  Dessert will be the traditional blackberry pie as well as Elizabeth's suggestion of devil's food cake.  I bought the little spears for poking the cupcakes at our local party store. 

I have purchased the medals and pony beads for some St. Michael chaplets to be made this evening.  The kids will be coloring and printing out the prayer of St. Michael for their liturgical year notebook.   I will be reading the Catholic Children's Treasure Box book about St. Michael to the little ones and The Angel's: God's Messengers and Our Helpers to my older son. 

St. Michael's purple asters do not grow anywhere near my home so each year on this day, I drive down some country roads or highways to locate a bunch.  They grow in the wild along the side of the road, usually in some remote area waist high with thistle and milkweed, humming with grasshoppers.  Sure enough, we found some this morning and set them on the dining room table with St. Michael's picture. 

I hope to post some a photo of the chaplets and cakes tomorrow.  In the meantime, please have a blessed Michaelmas!

Something Different For A Change

Well, whaddya think about this look?  Like it?  Hate it?  Cast your votes in the comment section.

Personally, I love the photo but needed to find a template header font that is not white.  That leaves about two choices from the ready-made Typepad templates.   It would be nice to design my own template but I am an amateur in all things computer and the Typepad CSS Professional Consultant of the Real Learning forums happens to be packing her entire life and moving across these United States of America, or else I would ask her for help.   :)  I do think the grey border blends too much with the black and white photo but Oh well... 

And no, that is not my family, although I do have a similar photo of my grandfather's family (minus the caravan) who did happen to be Roma (or Gypsy) somewhere in my personal photo piles files.  I will try to unearth it sometime and use it for my header in the future.  In the meantime, enjoy someone else's family who closely resembles mine in number and generally dishevelled appearance!  :)

Benjamin's Planner

Leonie and Dawn both asked about the planner.  I am sorry it has taken me so long to respond.

Let me first preface this by saying that Ben is ten years old.  A year ago, this idea would not have worked.  Six months ago, this system would not have been effective because he was not ready for it.  A half year has made a huge difference in his willingness and desire to be organized and to be responsible for some of his own work. 

The planner I chose for him is a simple, spiral bound academic planner beginning in July and running through June.  It is tabbed and contains both monthly as well as weekly pages.

On the monthly page spread, we write in any events that are important to him such as birthdays, lessons, sports practices, feast days  and classes outside the home.  Right now, I am the person who fills out the calendar.  I think as the school year progresses, Ben will be in charge of writing down the important dates to remember.

On Sunday nights, we sit down and discuss the upcoming week.  Sometimes this only takes a few minutes.  We use the same template for each week and fill in the pages to be read or completed, projects to be worked on, books for reading, etc.

Many of his subjects are done independently like Math, Reading, Geography, Language and Spelling   A couple of these subjects are done by a grab jar system, which I can expand upon in another post.  I always review his work and am available if he has any questions while he is working independently.  Several subjects such as Catechism, History, Science, Latin and Spanish are done with Mom.  Christopher also sits in for several of the lessons and does the history hands on projects right along with us. 

The system is really rather simple but effective in that is gives him daily goals and direction but also allows him to work ahead if he so desires.  I have had the least number of conflicts this school year than in the past several years.  I think that is in part due to the planner and to the independence it fosters.  It keeps me relatively organized and less likely to fly by the seat of my pants as I have done in the past.  By planning only for the upcoming week, I allow myself flexibility if someone is sick or needs a day off from schoolwork.  There is no need to erase and rewrite eight weeks of lesson plans  just because I deviated from the plans for an afternoon.  (You may have noticed that I write in pencil just in case we need to make a change during the week.)

All in all, this is working well for us.  Ben enjoys knowing what he should be focusing on and I can measure in some small tangible way, that we are indeed getting something done.  It helps our relationship because we plan together and work out the plan, meeting our goals and feeling a sense of accomplishment. 

Typepad needs some new templates

I am getting bored with the same templates for this blog but I do not want to take the time to create my own.  The last time I tried my hand at creatively designing my own, one night late in the wee hours,  my blog ended up looking really scary.  I went back to to "Blue Crush", my old standby, after two hours of wasted time creating a frightening mess. 

This one is called "Powell Street".  I have no idea why.  I have used it two or three other times and it is simply acceptable. 

Attention Typepad template designers!

I would like a template with some deep, rich autumnal colors, similar to those in my living room, dining room and kitchen, kind of a Pottery Barn meets Tuscany look.  Although I have never been to Tuscany, I imagine it being warm on the color wheel, a definite autumn.  You know, a paper bag brown, some golden wheat, a bit of brick red scarlet and olive (but not like the 1970's refrigerators).  I would like the typeface to be a dark brown, the color of mahogany.  Perhaps you can throw in some falling leaves in the header, not goofy cartoony looking ones but real gorgeous leaves slowly drifting to the bottom of my blog.  If a scent could be added, I would like to request "Creamy Nutmeg" candle scent from Bath and Body Works.  Or better yet, Burt's Bee's Baby Powder and Apricot Baby Oil Scent.  Yum.  ( maybe I better save that last scent for Babylove... )  Blog flavor would be Chianti Classico Riserva or perhaps warm basil pesto with crisply baked whole wheat pita for dipping.   

Thank you, dear and faithful readers, for indulging me by reading this ridiculous post.  I certainly did not deserve your attention all of this time.   :)

Fun for Prewriters

Mary wants to work alongside her brothers while they are doing their lessons but she is easily frustrated with a pencil and paper, wanting to be able to write letters on the first attempt.  Three is a time when fine motor skills are becoming more developed but often not as fast as some children desire.  I really like Montessori type materials for teaching writing.  I have some that are traditional materials and some that are homemade.  Here is something that I recently put together to help Mary with her writing skills.

I purchased this shadow box from a local craft store.  It is approximately 8" x 10" and about 2" deep.  I also purchased a small bag of craft sand. Mary has been using it daily to learn to write her letters.

(How I feel about my readers :) )

Here is Mary tracing the letters in the sand. Pardon the blurry photos but she really doesn't sit still for very long...

After she is done, she levels the sand and starts again.

We first use traditional sandpaper letters to trace and as an example while using the sandbox. I have had these since my oldest child was a preschooler but they are surely not necessary for this exercise.   Simple index cards with a letter written on it would suffice just fine as an example.

I initially had her sitting on her mat on the floor but I have a crawling baby about the house who thinks sand is a delicacy so we have since moved to a small table.

All in all, the box and sand cost less than $5.  She uses it every day, sometimes several times. On occasion, she will play in the sand and make a mess and then I know it is time to move on to another activity.  I like finding simple, inexpensive ways to help the kids learn.

Who needs toys when you’ve got Kleenex!

(I thought she was being a little quiet in the adjacent room!)  I decided to get the camera so you all could share in the silliness. Then, things got really rowdy.

I was forced to remove the entertainment before it became dinner. Moms are such spoilsports! :)

A Keeper

When I was a child, I had a horse just like this one.  I rode it all the time.  My mother found this treasure at a garage sale and bought it for Christopher a few years ago.  I don't think it has gone a day without being ridden.  This ever-faithful plastic fellow has played the part of the trusty steed in many an adventure.   My kids have included him in playing Davy Crockett, The Lone Ranger, Paul Revere's Ride, various cowboy games, mounted Policemen, cavalry, pulling covered wagons with the Ingalls and acting out Misty of Chincoteague.  Some toys are fleeting fancies, others are keepers.   

Learning with Christopher

My littlest boy is six years old and has a strong desire to learn to read.  He has no patience to learn the sounds of each letter, just wants to jump right into reading full books! :) Learning to read is our main goal this schoolyear.  I have tried to combine phonics and sight reading by using CHC's Little Stories for Little Folks.  This collection of tiny books is just the right size for small hands and has an endearing Catholic theme throughout the series.  We will also work with letter tiles, sandpaper letters and a moveable alphabet to help him to master the sounds of the letters as well as learning to write them all properly.

Chris is making a Liturgical Year notebook based on Catholic Mosaic as well as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentations.  We also will begin a First Communion Notebook as he slowly begins to prepare for his special day, keeping track of all the prayers he has memorized and catechism he has learned.  Along with many books on the saints, he will be using St. Joseph Baltimore First Communion Catechism.   

Science for my first graders is relaxed and fun.  We spend much time outdoors and study nature, keeping journals of drawings and findings.  Chris knows the names of dozens of birds as well as insects.  He loves to do pond study and is very good at catching critters for observation. He has benefited greatly both physically and intellectually from all the time in the out of doors, which is his very favorite place to be.  We are very casually studying Biology this year, focusing on the human body, animals and plants.  Currently we are reading the First Animal Encyclopedia, which he eats right up.  He also enjoys watching the Magic School Bus television series.

He is quite fond of math and will be working on adding and subtracting this year, using Math-U-See Alpha level.  He is not one for manipulatives but would rather do his workbook pages without building the problems and solutions.  A big fan of card games and Yatzee, he has already learned his multiplication tables up to six thanks to the fun math games he plays each day. 

Poetry is such fun for the kids to memorize.  For first grade, he will be learning and enjoying the works of Robert Louis Stevenson.  Currently, he is working on Bed in Summer.

We will all be exploring Ancient History together this year, using The Story of the World, Volume I as a spine.  I have listed other living history books in the sidebar.  We will have some fun doing hands-on projects as well.  Chris is especially interested in building his own pyramid out of sugar cubes...hmmm, I wonder why? :)

All in all, I will be thrilled if we come away from this schoolyear having learned to read and having spent much time in the out of doors.  I am grateful for this little cheerful, hardworking student who always has a smile on his face. :)

To Autumn by John Keats

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruits the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage trees,

And fill all fruits with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er brimm'd their clammy cells."

Laying Low

Baby Annie is under the weather.  I think she may be cutting those elusive teeth. Then again, it may be a virus.  She has not been venturing off my lap and every so often, gives me one of those sweet little baby hugs.  Her eyes are glassy, she is throwing up and running a fever.   

I had planned to pull the last few weeds after Mass but today is a bit chilly outside anyhow.  My laundry is done and the house is clean so that makes sick days easier.  I have a pork roast in the crockpot for barbecued pulled pork sandwiches.  Sounds like we will just snuggle in and rest together.  I have plenty of knitting to do and the Sound of Music might be a nice afternoon diversion. Then again, we may just catch a few extra winks together.  Say a little prayer for Annie if you will. 

German Potato Pancakes

Today is a chilly day, the rain dripping from the eaves.  My mother is coming over tonight and I am serving potato pancakes.  The following recipe comes from my grandmother's family which is of German descent. 

Jewish people call Potato Pancakes "Latkes" and traditionally make them with matzo meal on Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.  Our family makes them with regular flour, instead of the matzo meal, but the taste is very similar.  Potato pancakes are a favorite of my family, however we do not eat them very often because of the oil content.  They certainly are a comfort food!

Here is the recipe:

8-10 large potatoes (I like Yukon Gold)

1/2-1 cup flour

3-4 eggs

2 TBLS. finely chopped onion or a bit of onion powder

1 TBLS. fresh minced parsley (optional)

Peel and shred the potatoes.  My family uses a hand grater.  My grandmother used a crank grater.  If you have a food processor, you can use it as well.  We prefer to grate them on a coarser hole rather than the finer grate so they have a lot of texture.

In a large mixing bowl, add potatoes, eggs, flour, salt, onion and parsley.  The mixture should be very moist but not soupy.  If there is a large amount of water in the bottom of the bowl, drain some out and add a bit more flour.

Fill the bottom of a large skillet or electric frying pan with cooking oil.  On medium heat, heat oil, being careful not to burn.  Using a slotted spoon to drain any liquid from the bottom of the bowl, add large spoonfuls of potato mixture to the oil.  When pancake is browned on one side, turn over with a fork.  When browned on both sides, drain on papertowels and salt to taste.  Keep warm on a cookie sheet covered with foil on your lowest oven setting while you prepare the remaining pancakes. 

Potato pancakes must be watched carefully.  They burn easily and then the oil must be discarded and the cooking process begun again.

We serve our potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream.  This recipe makes a couple dozen pancakes.

Signing Time

A few weeks ago, we stumbled across the Signing Time DVD's at our local library.  I remembered that they come highly recommended by Lissa's family as a fun and effective way to learn American Sign Language.  Our library had Volume 1 and Volume 3 in stock so we took them home to watch. 

We have since renewed them after our initial borrowing period expired.  The kids ask to watch them over and over again!  I sit down with them and watch as well.  Signing Time certainly is a lot of fun with positive messages, pleasing images and fun songs to enforce the words.  Mary has especially taken a liking to them and signs the words while dancing about the living room. 

I also hope that our babysitter, whose family uses ASL and who translates at Mass using ASL will teach the children some more signs as well.  What a beautiful language to learn to speak!

Our library has a suggestion box for books, movies and audiobooks that patrons would like the library to purchase for circulation.  We plan to cast our vote for all the Signing Time volumes!