Thursday, December 24, 2009

Bill of Fare

Ham
Chicken Pie
Raw carrots, celery, and radishes
Beef stew
Hard-boiled eggs
Bread and butter
Sliced cheeses
Turnips
Apple cider
Sliced pound cake with honey or jam

Medieval Feast



For our Y2U2 unit celebration we chose to have a Medieval Feast using the guidelines in the Teacher's Notebook introduction.  Since we were going to the grandparents for Thanksgiving, it was an opportunity to have my sister's family and ours join in the celebration together.  Grandpa and Grandma were king and queen.  The cousins were a squire, pages, ladies, and jesters.  We kept the menu fairly simple since we were traveling from out of town to be there.  Our bill of fare came from "Days of Knights and Damsels".  Each student gave speeches on topics they had learned including falconry, heraldry, knight ceremonies, feudal society, and medieval manners.  The children presented the upper crust and the salt cellar to King Grandpa and Queen Grandma.  We sang the "Wassail Song" too.  Then Grandpa knighted the squire and presented banners for 'the Order of the Renaissance' (their next era of history to study).

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The year in review - 2009

January 2009


LP:  These are present strings.

present strings - a bag full of ribbons and bows


OBT:  We might have our power if we didn't live out in the boonies.

Sarah:  Yes, we live in the Daniel Boonies.

February 2009

LP:  When I grow up, I'm going to be a Mom. 


LP:  It's juicy.  (said in reference to our water-logged backyard after all of the snow and ice from the ice storm melted)


Sarah:  Momma, who do you think will be famous first - Leora or me?


LP:  Sarah and Leora are my sweethearts.


LP:  Leora, you put the whisker in the wrong drawer.

whisker - another name for a whisk

March 2009

LP:  This is the best (dinner, church, place) ever!

LP:  What are you doing, my little dear?


Lepidoptera:  Sarah, you are really getting the hang of your math facts.


Sarah:  Yes, I get the hang of most things.

   
LP:  Is Bob at Bob Evans?

April 2009

LP:  Did someone cut a hole in my tummy and make a belly button there?


Sarah:  This is home sweet home.

May 2009


Leora:  If I read lots of books, will I be wise?
  
June 2009


LP:  That doggy is ruffing.


LP:  I'm getting weller.

Leora:  Remember when we did our experience and wore our goggles?

July 2009

LP:  How did you get those circles in your hair?
circles - curls

September 2009

Leora:  It (meet) has a double-decker 'e'.


LP:  Those are mans.

November 2009

LP:  I know their names.  The eggs are scrambled; the sausage is fried; and the grits are cheese.


LP:  Daddy, you're my best friend!


December 2009

LP:  Then I put my armsleeves on.


Sarah:  Momma, LP and I are common.  I have cheese, and he has cheese.  I have crackers, and he has crackers.


LP:  They took the shortcut.  We took the long cut.


LP:  When you cook the old rooster, can I have the chicken arms and the chicken legs?

Lepidoptera:  Your A's are backwards.

Sarah:  I'll make them rightwards.

That's all, folks! 

       

     

Apple Dumplings

Apple Dumplings

2 or 3 thinly sliced apples
1 can crescent rolls
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar
apple pie spice (I used cinammon, nutmeg, and allspice)

Flatten crescent rolls.  Fill center with apple slices.  Then carefully wrap in roll.  Put in casserole dish.  Bake at 350 degrees until brown or done (about 30 minutes).  While baking, melt butter.  Add sugar and orange juice to butter, and pour over dumplings.  OBT's father and mother shared this recipe with me a while back, and I finally got around to trying it this week.  It is really easy and really good!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Winter Wonderland

The Winter Wallop has delivered two inches of snow here in southern Ohio, and more is falling. We woke up this morning to a day at home and a beautiful sight.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Boxes and cards, where are you?

(sung to "Mr. Sandman")

UPS man, bring me a box.
It can be big or little,
heavy or light.

Delivered in your big, brown truck,
UPS man, bring me a box.

UPS man, where can you be?
Why aren't you bringing some boxes to me?
I know you're busy this time of year,
but will you turn your truck my way and appear?

UPS man, patient I'll be
while you are making those deliveries.
Some day you will to my driveway come.
Until then I'll just sing this song.

/////////////

Mail lady, bring me some cards.
It doesn't matter if from near or far.
Please fill up my mailbox.
Mail lady, please bring me some cards.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Eggs!

Yesterday we brought home six chickens that friends of ours gifted us with - two roosters and four hens. This afternoon while I was helping OBT reassemble the 10' X 10' kennel, I went and peeked in the chicken coop. Two tan eggs smiled back at me. I whooped for joy - eggs! Fresh eggs! Our hens are laying on their first day here. OBT and I paused to thank the Lord for His goodness in blessing us again with good friends and good eggs.

Dry as a bone

Burnout. Why has it taken me so long to figure this out? Why does it creep up on me and then rear its ugly head every now and then? Why haven't I learned how to conquer and prepare for it yet? It dawned on me today that the stress of the season has resulted in a feeling of burnout once more. The usual daily doings coupled with the added 'tis the season preparations have brought me to the brink once more. I admit it.

Now how to counteract and return to my other self? First I am clinging to the One who can save me when I cannot save myself. I cry out to Him for strength to get through my day quite frequently of late. His faithfulness sees me through. Why wasn't I leaning heavily on him before and donning His armor to prepare for this fight? Where has my mind been? Not close enough to Him. Time to draw nigh again.

Next week we are taking a break from school. That should help, but until then, Lord, give me what I need - even it is burnout that brings me back to You.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

What we read - November 2009

Over the River: A Turkey's Tale by Derek Anderson, based on the song by Lydia Maria Child

A fun picture book twisting the tale by having a turkey family go to Grandmother's house while being chased by a hunter and dog on a quest for their own Thanksgiving dinner. We read both this book and the original poem/song.

Toot & Puddle: Wish you were here by Holly Hobbie

The creator of Toot & Puddle is also responsible for the American Greetings namesake character, Holly Hobbie. In this book three young pig friends share an adventure to another country. Two from home and one traveling and sending back postcards to update them on his experience. A humorous tale of adventure overseas and caring.

A Father's Song by Janet Lawler

A lovely picture book about a father and son's shared day and the love and devotion the father has for his son.

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz

This book, based on the author's boyhood memories, details a World War II experience of a hard time when there was little money for food and a father brings home a map. Opening a new world to his son full of new places, this Caldecott Honor book is a winner at our house.

If I Were Your Father and If I Were Your Mother by Margaret Park Bridges

The children's hands-down favorites this time. These fun books tell what a son and daughter respectively would do if they were the parent.

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

A revisited favorite and one that I never tire of. Simple, poetic, classic - wonderful.

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

How to grow and make vegetable soup with colorful, vibrant pictures in the author's own style. The children liked the fact that most of the items in the book are labeled so they did not have to guess or wonder what things are.

All About Turkeys by Jim Arnosky

In honor of Thanksgiving, this book came home to help us learn more about the traditional November bird. We all learned something from this book, and Arnosky's illustrations are true-to-life and fantastic. A truely talented man who has apparently also produced I'm a Turkey, both book and song which sounds like something that would be perfect for next November if not before.

A Kitten's Tale by Eric Rohmann

Four kittens have never seen snow. Three are worried; one is excited. As they journey through the seasons, their anticipation and concern grows.

Cynthia Coppersmith's Violet Goes to the Country by Melanie Cecka, presented by Jan Karon

Read about a cat and her owner who go visiting family in the country. Based on the author character Cynthia Coppersmith in Karon's Mitford series, this book shows us that people love in different ways.

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

Sam, an avid reader mouse, lives in a library and decides to write his own books. Then his books are discovered, and everyone wants to know who Sam is.