See you at the carnival!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Carnival is Coming!
Don't forget, the Carnival of Homeschooling will be here on Tuesday, June 17th. Get your submissions in by 6pm PST Monday evening. For information on how to submit a post, look here.
See you at the carnival!
See you at the carnival!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Catching the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Friends of ours have been considering selling their extra, organic eggs at the local farmer's market. Another of our friends has a booth at a local antique mall where she sells furniture and other items. Some men in our church made really great name tags for the kids attending Vacation Bible School by cutting rounds of wood, painting the kids' names on them, and drilling holes in them and adding string to make them into necklaces.
After learning that our friends get to do such cool things as raise chickens, go yard-salling for re-sellable furniture (I'm going for a making-up-hyphenated-words-record, apparently), and make handicrafts with natural materials, our kids decided that each of them was going to learn a handicraft or skill of some kind that they would then try to market. I challenged them to come up with crafts and skills that could be done at home with as many 'found' or recycled items as possible.
Primo, Secondo, and Quarto don't know what they want to try yet. They each have a lot of ideas, but don't know how to narrow them down. (All of Quarto's ideas involve play dough and toy cars, so I'm not sure how successful he'll be, but that's another post.) Terzo has his mind set on opening a quill pen stand... well, he said "feather pen stand," but then we did a brief history and science lesson on feathers and quill pens, so now he's referring to it as a "quill pen stand." He already knows where to get the feathers. The home where the kids are attending VBS has a small flock of wild geese living on the property. Terzo has brought home four feathers already and has purposed to ask the owners if he can come back through the summer and collect feathers. I am very impressed with his determination and focus, but I have one issue... anyone know where we can find information on how to make quill pens?
Apparently, Terzo isn't putting all his organic eggs in one feather-lined basket, however. Nope. He's got a backup plan... songwriting. This afternoon he composed a song. Once I figure out how to get my videos or at the least an audio file on here, I'll post him preforming it. Frodo and I were rather impressed with the tune he came up with. Until then, I'll just post the lyrics. You'll have to provide the tune.
God Is In Our Heart
by Terzo
God is in our heart.
God is in our heart.
He is in our soul,
And He is in our heart.
We believe in Him.
We will sing with Him.
He is in our soul and heart.
I'll let you know when his CD comes out. If you pre-order now, we'll send you a free quill pen with your CD.
After learning that our friends get to do such cool things as raise chickens, go yard-salling for re-sellable furniture (I'm going for a making-up-hyphenated-words-record, apparently), and make handicrafts with natural materials, our kids decided that each of them was going to learn a handicraft or skill of some kind that they would then try to market. I challenged them to come up with crafts and skills that could be done at home with as many 'found' or recycled items as possible.
Primo, Secondo, and Quarto don't know what they want to try yet. They each have a lot of ideas, but don't know how to narrow them down. (All of Quarto's ideas involve play dough and toy cars, so I'm not sure how successful he'll be, but that's another post.) Terzo has his mind set on opening a quill pen stand... well, he said "feather pen stand," but then we did a brief history and science lesson on feathers and quill pens, so now he's referring to it as a "quill pen stand." He already knows where to get the feathers. The home where the kids are attending VBS has a small flock of wild geese living on the property. Terzo has brought home four feathers already and has purposed to ask the owners if he can come back through the summer and collect feathers. I am very impressed with his determination and focus, but I have one issue... anyone know where we can find information on how to make quill pens?
Apparently, Terzo isn't putting all his organic eggs in one feather-lined basket, however. Nope. He's got a backup plan... songwriting. This afternoon he composed a song. Once I figure out how to get my videos or at the least an audio file on here, I'll post him preforming it. Frodo and I were rather impressed with the tune he came up with. Until then, I'll just post the lyrics. You'll have to provide the tune.
God Is In Our Heart
by Terzo
God is in our heart.
God is in our heart.
He is in our soul,
And He is in our heart.
We believe in Him.
We will sing with Him.
He is in our soul and heart.
I'll let you know when his CD comes out. If you pre-order now, we'll send you a free quill pen with your CD.
COH - Week 128
Carnival of Homeschooling ~ Week 128
hosted by the Headmistress over at The Common Room
hosted by the Headmistress over at The Common Room
The Carnival of Homeschooling will be here next week. Here is the information on how to have your post included in the carnival.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
We Call Him "Liberace"
The moth, not the kid.
It's a Dryocampa rubicunda or Rosy Maple Moth. (The moth, not the kid.) Here are some closer pictures (of the moth, not the kid):
And here's a picture of Quarto, or Homo sapiens sapiens, in his natural habitat (the kid, not the moth... just to make it fair and all):
It's a Dryocampa rubicunda or Rosy Maple Moth. (The moth, not the kid.) Here are some closer pictures (of the moth, not the kid):
And here's a picture of Quarto, or Homo sapiens sapiens, in his natural habitat (the kid, not the moth... just to make it fair and all):
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Little Serendipities Go A Long Way
I am a planner by nature. If I find out that we are traveling somewhere (and it doesn't have to be far; if we are going to be away from home for more than a couple of hours, that's enough) or having company, out come the paper and pencil, I pull up MapQuest and Google on the computer, and the research and planning begin. And although I get great pleasure out of planning little (and big) excursions, it is often those little serendipities that provide the most pleasure and the greatest memories. We recently experienced one of these little serendipities, and I know it is something I will always remember.
My parents came to visit a few weeks ago. They had never been to our new place here in Dixie, and since our new home is over 1,000 miles from their place, we haven't seen each other in almost a year. With the price of gas soaring as it is, who knows when we'll get together again, so I decided to try and plan some short trips that would give them a good taste of the area in their short trip plus include some places our family hadn't had a chance to explore yet. One of the places we went was the University Museum. Our family had been there before, but it is quite an impressive little museum. They have a wonderful antiquities collection that includes pottery, coins, mosaics, and busts as well as a doll collection, a Civil War (or should I say "War Between the States" or "War of Northern Aggression") collection, a small but broadly representational art collection, and a collection of historical scientific instruments that my children always find fascinating and wish they could touch. Tucked off on the side is a small room that usually houses a temporary exhibit. Terzo was very disappointed when he investigated back there this time and found that the Art of the Faulkners exhibit that we had seen on our last trip was gone. "Now it's just some old books," he lamented to me. Not connecting his statement with some information Frodo had given me earlier in the semester, I took my time moseying back to the exhibit and stood only feet from it is a I re-examined a sketch created and autographed by Kurt Vonnegut that is part of the museum's regular collection. Frodo was just behind me as I finally made my way to the "old books" and I could hear him gasp as we entered, "These are the Remnant Trust books. Remember, Hon, I told you about these? Cool."
At the beginning of the spring semester, Frodo mentioned that the University was going to host a tour by the Remnant Trust. The tour consisted of books considered significant because of their age, rarity, or influence on the world, but even cooler, you not only got to see the books, but you also got to touch them. When I went to the University Museum's website to see if I could take the kids over to leek at the books, I came across this notice:
Drat. We weren't going to be able to go. Frodo was hoping to arrange a time for his university students to go to the exhibit, but he wasn't able to get a hold of the correct person to arrange an appointment. With the end of the semester, we figured his chance to view the exhibit had gone.
Fast forward to my parents' visit two weeks after the semester ended. The RT was late in picking up the collection, so the University Museum still had it on display! As we were oohing and aahing over the books in the display cases, a museum employee approached us and asked if we wanted the curator to open the cases for us and give us a closer look at the books. Minutes later, we were getting a personal lesson on the books on display.
This is the curator showing us a handwritten, illuminated manuscript (on parchment, I might add) of the Magna Carta from 1350. 1350!
Then, it got even better:
That's Frodo and Primo holding and casually thumbing through a handwritten, illuminated manuscript of the Magna Carta from 1350. How cool is that?!
Here is a closer view. (Handwritten! 1350! Did I mention that it was handwritten and illuminated on parchment in 1350?)
The curator shared the books in all the display cases then left them open for us to go back and pick up and leaf through the ones we wanted and to ask questions.
What other books were there? Well...
Secondo's favorite was the illuminated copy of St. Augustine's City of God c. 1494 (two short years after "in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.")
I tried to take a picture of her flipping through it, but every time she suspected she was being watched, she took her hands off the book. See, here she is doing the "Me? I wasn't touching the book. I was just standing here rubbing my eye" move. I think she had "don't touch the exhibits" going through her head no matter how many times we were told to feel free to pick up and examine the books.
A first edition of Thomas Paine's Common Sense... printed in England in 1776.
If you ask Primo which book was her favorite, she will tell you it was this one, Summa Theologica Pars Secunda c. 1497. From the accompanying plaque:
See the large blanks in the copy? This copy was supposed to be illuminated, but apparently no one got around to it.
Although she says Aquinas' book was her favorite, Primo spent most of her time paging through this 1862 copy of William the Conqueror's Doomsday Book.
Terzo's favorite was this print of the Boston Massacre made from the plate created by Paul Revere and his silversmiths. (The curator was impressed that Primo knew that the Boston Massacre was instigated by the children of Patriots, and some Patriots, throwing snowballs at the British soldiers... although something was bound to happen sooner or later after months of military occupation in Boston.)
Frodo had a hard time nailing down a favorite. Besides City of God, the Magna Carta, and Summa Theologica which I have already shared, he probably would list the two works by Frederick Douglass that were included in the display.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1945)
My Bondage & My Freedom (1855) signed by Frederick Douglass
On the top of a list of Frodo's favorites, if he had been forced to rank them, would have been the copy of John Calvin's Institutes printed in 1578. William Shakespeare was apprenticing at the print shop where this edition was printed and probably set some of the type for the volume. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the book. I got a picture of the plaque, but not the book. (Mom, do you have a picture of Calvin's Institutes?) Not sure how that happened. I was probably distracted by my favorites in the collection.
William Penn's The Great Case of Liberty of Conscience c. 1670.
I was also amazed to see the Minutes of the Second Continental Congress from 1778 and the Illinois broadside of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. (Each president signed all broadsides sent to his home state.) I couldn't get a good picture of the broadside because it was framed under glass, and I have no idea why I don't have a picture of the minutes. (Mom? Did you get one?)
Other books in the collection were William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law, 1771 (above), Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication on the Rights of Women, Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Document (1787), and Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733) by Voltaire.
What a great day!
My parents came to visit a few weeks ago. They had never been to our new place here in Dixie, and since our new home is over 1,000 miles from their place, we haven't seen each other in almost a year. With the price of gas soaring as it is, who knows when we'll get together again, so I decided to try and plan some short trips that would give them a good taste of the area in their short trip plus include some places our family hadn't had a chance to explore yet. One of the places we went was the University Museum. Our family had been there before, but it is quite an impressive little museum. They have a wonderful antiquities collection that includes pottery, coins, mosaics, and busts as well as a doll collection, a Civil War (or should I say "War Between the States" or "War of Northern Aggression") collection, a small but broadly representational art collection, and a collection of historical scientific instruments that my children always find fascinating and wish they could touch. Tucked off on the side is a small room that usually houses a temporary exhibit. Terzo was very disappointed when he investigated back there this time and found that the Art of the Faulkners exhibit that we had seen on our last trip was gone. "Now it's just some old books," he lamented to me. Not connecting his statement with some information Frodo had given me earlier in the semester, I took my time moseying back to the exhibit and stood only feet from it is a I re-examined a sketch created and autographed by Kurt Vonnegut that is part of the museum's regular collection. Frodo was just behind me as I finally made my way to the "old books" and I could hear him gasp as we entered, "These are the Remnant Trust books. Remember, Hon, I told you about these? Cool."
At the beginning of the spring semester, Frodo mentioned that the University was going to host a tour by the Remnant Trust. The tour consisted of books considered significant because of their age, rarity, or influence on the world, but even cooler, you not only got to see the books, but you also got to touch them. When I went to the University Museum's website to see if I could take the kids over to leek at the books, I came across this notice:
These books are available for professors to use in their classes under supervision in the museum. The books cannot be removed from the museum. We can accommodate groups up to 70 in our [gallery], up to 40 in our classroom and up to 10 in our board room. For larger classes special arrangements may be possible. We need two weeks notice to arrange to host your class at the museum. Our regular hours are 9:30-4:30 Tues.-Sat. We will try to accommodate classes that meet outside of those hours when ever possible but we cannot guarantee that. Call... to book a class.
Drat. We weren't going to be able to go. Frodo was hoping to arrange a time for his university students to go to the exhibit, but he wasn't able to get a hold of the correct person to arrange an appointment. With the end of the semester, we figured his chance to view the exhibit had gone.
Fast forward to my parents' visit two weeks after the semester ended. The RT was late in picking up the collection, so the University Museum still had it on display! As we were oohing and aahing over the books in the display cases, a museum employee approached us and asked if we wanted the curator to open the cases for us and give us a closer look at the books. Minutes later, we were getting a personal lesson on the books on display.
This is the curator showing us a handwritten, illuminated manuscript (on parchment, I might add) of the Magna Carta from 1350. 1350!
Then, it got even better:
That's Frodo and Primo holding and casually thumbing through a handwritten, illuminated manuscript of the Magna Carta from 1350. How cool is that?!
Here is a closer view. (Handwritten! 1350! Did I mention that it was handwritten and illuminated on parchment in 1350?)The curator shared the books in all the display cases then left them open for us to go back and pick up and leaf through the ones we wanted and to ask questions.
What other books were there? Well...
Secondo's favorite was the illuminated copy of St. Augustine's City of God c. 1494 (two short years after "in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.")
I tried to take a picture of her flipping through it, but every time she suspected she was being watched, she took her hands off the book. See, here she is doing the "Me? I wasn't touching the book. I was just standing here rubbing my eye" move. I think she had "don't touch the exhibits" going through her head no matter how many times we were told to feel free to pick up and examine the books.
A first edition of Thomas Paine's Common Sense... printed in England in 1776.
If you ask Primo which book was her favorite, she will tell you it was this one, Summa Theologica Pars Secunda c. 1497. From the accompanying plaque:
"One of only three known copies in the world. One in the British Museum in London and the other in the Newbury in Chicago. This is the most perfect of the three."
See the large blanks in the copy? This copy was supposed to be illuminated, but apparently no one got around to it.
Although she says Aquinas' book was her favorite, Primo spent most of her time paging through this 1862 copy of William the Conqueror's Doomsday Book.
Terzo's favorite was this print of the Boston Massacre made from the plate created by Paul Revere and his silversmiths. (The curator was impressed that Primo knew that the Boston Massacre was instigated by the children of Patriots, and some Patriots, throwing snowballs at the British soldiers... although something was bound to happen sooner or later after months of military occupation in Boston.)
Frodo had a hard time nailing down a favorite. Besides City of God, the Magna Carta, and Summa Theologica which I have already shared, he probably would list the two works by Frederick Douglass that were included in the display.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1945)
My Bondage & My Freedom (1855) signed by Frederick Douglass
On the top of a list of Frodo's favorites, if he had been forced to rank them, would have been the copy of John Calvin's Institutes printed in 1578. William Shakespeare was apprenticing at the print shop where this edition was printed and probably set some of the type for the volume. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the book. I got a picture of the plaque, but not the book. (Mom, do you have a picture of Calvin's Institutes?) Not sure how that happened. I was probably distracted by my favorites in the collection.
William Penn's The Great Case of Liberty of Conscience c. 1670.
I was also amazed to see the Minutes of the Second Continental Congress from 1778 and the Illinois broadside of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. (Each president signed all broadsides sent to his home state.) I couldn't get a good picture of the broadside because it was framed under glass, and I have no idea why I don't have a picture of the minutes. (Mom? Did you get one?)
Other books in the collection were William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law, 1771 (above), Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication on the Rights of Women, Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Document (1787), and Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733) by Voltaire.
What a great day!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Carnival of Homeschooling
This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is hosted by
Tami over at Tami's Blog
Tami over at Tami's Blog
Check here on June 17th when I will be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Yup. That's what we're talking about.
Grandma Josephine: [watching Violet Beauregarde on TV] What a beastly girl.
Grandma Georgina: Despicable.
Grandpa George: You don't know what we're talking about.
Grandma Georgina: [pause] Dragonflies?- from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Paradox
A friend pointed out the other day that I hadn't posted here in over two months. After the shock wore off that there is someone out there who cares enough to check here regularly to see if I've posted and note the frequency of the posts, I responded, "Yeah, I know. Life's been too crazy." And there is my paradox... when life is busy, I don't have time to post here; when life is slow and I have all the time in the world to write blog posts, I don't have anything interesting to write about.
Here's a brief list of all the stuff that's gone on in the last two months that I would have loved to have written about (and will, eventually) but just didn't have time to because, well, I was busy doing them:
1. Frodo finished his first year in the PhD program (I know, that doesn't sound like it has much to do with me, but trust me, it does... it throws me into single-parent mode)
2. I finished the second book of my science curriculum series. (Now, I just have to shift gears and work on editing the first one.)
3. We took some time off of homeschooling and played, and the kids enjoyed having parents who weren't working, working, working. (We all so enjoyed this.)
4. My parents came for a week-long visit. (We hadn't seen them for almost a year, and really had a wonderful time.)
5. Had the car fixed. (That was a very expensive proposition.)
6. Had the car fixed again. (Can you call it "hemorrhaging money" when you're already broke?)
7. Took lots of pictures. (I am finally getting a chance to play with my new camera, plus the publisher for my books wants to go color and may use some of my photos.)
8. Read a lot of books. (I love to read... especially when I have writer's block or when I am procrastinating.)
9. Began attending small groups at church. (The church just started the small groups, and we love ours.)
10. Sent Primo off to Youth Group... one activity involved dropping her off on campus to meet-up with the rest of the youth to attend a concert. (I am not ready for this.)
11. Deep-cleaned the house. (I have been wanting to do this for months, but waited until the book was done and spring semester was over. The house is so nice and comfy now.)
12. Sketched a design and began collecting fabrics for my new nephew's quilt. (I haven't tried anything this ambitious before, but I think it will look great when it's done. I just hope I can have it done by September when we hope to drive up for a visit. Oh, and on that note, pray for gas prices to stay down.)
13. Started up our homeschool's summer session. (Homeschooling year-round is great. It allows us to take off from Thanksgiving to New Year's plus we are inside in the a/c or heat on the truly hot or cold days and have the time to take off a day or two when those perfect spring or fall days come around.)
14. Wrote up a school plan for the upcoming year and planned what texts I need to purchase. (Now I just need money... and more bookshelves.)
15. Wrote up a summer reading list for myself. (I tend to focus on "have-to" reading, education and work-related things, so I wanted to come up with goals that included some pleasure reading.)
16. Wrote up an outline and a list of reading materials in preparation for book 3. (Now all I need is the contract for book 3.)
17. Held a book handwritten in the 1300's, another that was one of only three copies known to be in existence (one of the other two is in the British Museum), and touched the signature of Frederick Douglass. (I'll post about that shortly. This was so cool!)
18. Found out that the University Museum allows homeschoolers to check out boxes of actual artifacts to take home and study. They will also set up private displays and viewings on request. (You know we'll be taking advantage of this.)
19. Ate way too many hot dogs. (I know they are bad for you, but they're yummy.)
20. Began walking in the walking park down the street three times a week. (see # 19)
That's all I can recall for now. I know there is more, but I am going to go hang out with the kids for a bit then start in on my summer reading list. I'll share some more details of our recent adventures soon... sooner than two months from now. Promise.
Here's a brief list of all the stuff that's gone on in the last two months that I would have loved to have written about (and will, eventually) but just didn't have time to because, well, I was busy doing them:
1. Frodo finished his first year in the PhD program (I know, that doesn't sound like it has much to do with me, but trust me, it does... it throws me into single-parent mode)
2. I finished the second book of my science curriculum series. (Now, I just have to shift gears and work on editing the first one.)
3. We took some time off of homeschooling and played, and the kids enjoyed having parents who weren't working, working, working. (We all so enjoyed this.)
4. My parents came for a week-long visit. (We hadn't seen them for almost a year, and really had a wonderful time.)
5. Had the car fixed. (That was a very expensive proposition.)
6. Had the car fixed again. (Can you call it "hemorrhaging money" when you're already broke?)
7. Took lots of pictures. (I am finally getting a chance to play with my new camera, plus the publisher for my books wants to go color and may use some of my photos.)
8. Read a lot of books. (I love to read... especially when I have writer's block or when I am procrastinating.)
9. Began attending small groups at church. (The church just started the small groups, and we love ours.)
10. Sent Primo off to Youth Group... one activity involved dropping her off on campus to meet-up with the rest of the youth to attend a concert. (I am not ready for this.)
11. Deep-cleaned the house. (I have been wanting to do this for months, but waited until the book was done and spring semester was over. The house is so nice and comfy now.)
12. Sketched a design and began collecting fabrics for my new nephew's quilt. (I haven't tried anything this ambitious before, but I think it will look great when it's done. I just hope I can have it done by September when we hope to drive up for a visit. Oh, and on that note, pray for gas prices to stay down.)
13. Started up our homeschool's summer session. (Homeschooling year-round is great. It allows us to take off from Thanksgiving to New Year's plus we are inside in the a/c or heat on the truly hot or cold days and have the time to take off a day or two when those perfect spring or fall days come around.)
14. Wrote up a school plan for the upcoming year and planned what texts I need to purchase. (Now I just need money... and more bookshelves.)
15. Wrote up a summer reading list for myself. (I tend to focus on "have-to" reading, education and work-related things, so I wanted to come up with goals that included some pleasure reading.)
16. Wrote up an outline and a list of reading materials in preparation for book 3. (Now all I need is the contract for book 3.)
17. Held a book handwritten in the 1300's, another that was one of only three copies known to be in existence (one of the other two is in the British Museum), and touched the signature of Frederick Douglass. (I'll post about that shortly. This was so cool!)
18. Found out that the University Museum allows homeschoolers to check out boxes of actual artifacts to take home and study. They will also set up private displays and viewings on request. (You know we'll be taking advantage of this.)
19. Ate way too many hot dogs. (I know they are bad for you, but they're yummy.)
20. Began walking in the walking park down the street three times a week. (see # 19)
That's all I can recall for now. I know there is more, but I am going to go hang out with the kids for a bit then start in on my summer reading list. I'll share some more details of our recent adventures soon... sooner than two months from now. Promise.
Fly on the Wall
Terzo: Mom, can we do that game where you read me stuff, and I write stuff?
Me: Um, what?
Terzo: You know, that game where you read me stuff out of that book, and I have a pencil and a piece of paper and write stuff you tell me. Then you take a red pen and write some of the things I wrote wrong right, so I have to write them again, but when I get them right, you use the red pen to write big C's next to them then you hug me! Can we play that game? Please!
Me: You mean a spelling test? Sure, I can give you a spelling test.
Terzo: Yay! I like the spelling test game!
Me: Um, what?
Terzo: You know, that game where you read me stuff out of that book, and I have a pencil and a piece of paper and write stuff you tell me. Then you take a red pen and write some of the things I wrote wrong right, so I have to write them again, but when I get them right, you use the red pen to write big C's next to them then you hug me! Can we play that game? Please!
Me: You mean a spelling test? Sure, I can give you a spelling test.
Terzo: Yay! I like the spelling test game!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Church Membership
In order to become members of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), as we are, you must affirm five vows:
1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope, except through his sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust him alone for salvation as he is offered in the gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the church in it's worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?
Primo and Secondo took these vows at our church's Maundy Thursday service. They are the girls in the hats. The pastor with the dark hair is our head pastor. The pastor who looks like Santa Claus is our youth pastor. We love them. The other gentlemen are church elders. (We love them, too.) I think it's funny that when each man hugs Secondo, they act as if they are afraid to break her. *grin*
I apologize in advance for the incompleteness of the videos. This was my second attempt to use the video feature on our camera. (You can imagine how sad the first attempt came out.)
After the service, we enjoyed a delicious ham dinner. The kids loved eating at the Passover Seder table. You can see the girls in their hats in the background. Terzo is the one in the black coat in the foreground. (The coat was new, and he refused to take it off.)
Here are Terzo and Quarto enjoying their supper.
This church really knows how to host a supper!
This is the Seder Plate containing chazeret (bitter herbs representing the bitterness of slavery), charoset (sweet, brown, grainy mixture representing the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt), karpas (a simple food dipped into salt water, representing tears, to remind us of the plain foods the Hebrews ate while in captivity), z'roa (roasted lamb shank bone representing the Pesach sacrifice now fulfilled by Christ, the Lamb of God), and beitzah (representing the festival sacrifice, or chagigah, and symbolizing mourning).
And lastly, Elijah's place.
1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope, except through his sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust him alone for salvation as he is offered in the gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the church in it's worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?
Primo and Secondo took these vows at our church's Maundy Thursday service. They are the girls in the hats. The pastor with the dark hair is our head pastor. The pastor who looks like Santa Claus is our youth pastor. We love them. The other gentlemen are church elders. (We love them, too.) I think it's funny that when each man hugs Secondo, they act as if they are afraid to break her. *grin*
I apologize in advance for the incompleteness of the videos. This was my second attempt to use the video feature on our camera. (You can imagine how sad the first attempt came out.)
After the service, we enjoyed a delicious ham dinner. The kids loved eating at the Passover Seder table. You can see the girls in their hats in the background. Terzo is the one in the black coat in the foreground. (The coat was new, and he refused to take it off.)
Here are Terzo and Quarto enjoying their supper.
This church really knows how to host a supper!
This is the Seder Plate containing chazeret (bitter herbs representing the bitterness of slavery), charoset (sweet, brown, grainy mixture representing the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt), karpas (a simple food dipped into salt water, representing tears, to remind us of the plain foods the Hebrews ate while in captivity), z'roa (roasted lamb shank bone representing the Pesach sacrifice now fulfilled by Christ, the Lamb of God), and beitzah (representing the festival sacrifice, or chagigah, and symbolizing mourning).
And lastly, Elijah's place.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Death By Bryophyte
I am trying to write the chapter on moss for my second book. Note I said "trying." Ugh. What is so difficult about moss? I like moss. If I could plan my ideal garden, it would be a copse of shade trees with an undergrowth of ferns and mosses. Ahhh, bliss! So, why is it so hard to write about it?
I have written the introductory paragraph at least a dozen times. Wanna guess how many times I've erased it? I'll give you one guess.
Sigh. I give up. Here's my new moss chapter... in toto:
"This is moss:
The end."
So, what do you think? Think the publisher will go for it?
No. Me neither.
Sigh.
I have written the introductory paragraph at least a dozen times. Wanna guess how many times I've erased it? I'll give you one guess.
Sigh. I give up. Here's my new moss chapter... in toto:
"This is moss:
The end."
So, what do you think? Think the publisher will go for it?
No. Me neither.
Sigh.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Hyenas Did Not Touch Him
The Maasai Creed
We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created man and wanted man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know him in the light. God promised in the book of his word, the Bible, that he would save the world and all nations and tribes.
We believe that God made good his promise by sending his son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He was buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from that grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.
We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.
He is risen!
We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created man and wanted man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know him in the light. God promised in the book of his word, the Bible, that he would save the world and all nations and tribes.
We believe that God made good his promise by sending his son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He was buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from that grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.
We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.
He is risen!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Mushroom Steak 'n' Linguine
This dish was absolutely delicious! We have asked Primo to make this for us again. It has the consistency and boldness of a creamy stroganoff, but the spinach and rosemary give it a very light, summery, refreshing taste.
Primo found this recipe in Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious magazine. I have copied the original recipe in black type and Primo's substitutions/ alterations in purple.
Mushroom Steak 'n' Linguine
8oz uncooked linguine (16 oz. uncooked spaghetti)
1 lb boneless beef top round steak, cut into thin strips (1 lb. pork steak)
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
3 t. olive oil, divided
1 c. chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 c. coarsely chopped fresh spinach
1/2 t. dried rosemary, crushed
3/4 c. spreadable chive and onion cream cheese (~6 oz. plain, block cream cheese, handful chopped, fresh chives and dash of onion powder)
1/2 c. sour cream
1 T. milk
1. Cook linguine (spaghetti) according to package directions. Meanwhile, sprinkle beef (pork) with salt and pepper. In large skillet, saute beef (pork) in 2 t. oil until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
2. In the same pan, saute red pepper and onion in remaining oil until tender. Add mushrooms; saute 1-2 minutes longer or until tender. Add spinach and rosemary; cook and stir until spinach is wilted (Primo immediately went to the next step so the spinach would be bright green). Stir in cream cheese, sour cream and milk; heat through (do not boil). (Add pork back into pan.) Drain linguine (spaghetti); top with sauce.
Serves 4. Total time: 30 minutes.
Primo doubled the recipe to serve six plus we had enough leftover for everyone to have some the next day.
Enjoy!
Primo found this recipe in Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious magazine. I have copied the original recipe in black type and Primo's substitutions/ alterations in purple.
Mushroom Steak 'n' Linguine
8oz uncooked linguine (16 oz. uncooked spaghetti)
1 lb boneless beef top round steak, cut into thin strips (1 lb. pork steak)
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
3 t. olive oil, divided
1 c. chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 c. coarsely chopped fresh spinach
1/2 t. dried rosemary, crushed
3/4 c. spreadable chive and onion cream cheese (~6 oz. plain, block cream cheese, handful chopped, fresh chives and dash of onion powder)
1/2 c. sour cream
1 T. milk
1. Cook linguine (spaghetti) according to package directions. Meanwhile, sprinkle beef (pork) with salt and pepper. In large skillet, saute beef (pork) in 2 t. oil until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
2. In the same pan, saute red pepper and onion in remaining oil until tender. Add mushrooms; saute 1-2 minutes longer or until tender. Add spinach and rosemary; cook and stir until spinach is wilted (Primo immediately went to the next step so the spinach would be bright green). Stir in cream cheese, sour cream and milk; heat through (do not boil). (Add pork back into pan.) Drain linguine (spaghetti); top with sauce.
Serves 4. Total time: 30 minutes.
Primo doubled the recipe to serve six plus we had enough leftover for everyone to have some the next day.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Mmmmmm!
I smell something delicious cooking in the kitchen...
and I didn't have to cook it...
and Frodo is reorganizing our closet...
so it's not him cooking...
who could it be?
Primo!
Yes, I have a child old enough to cook by herself. That's a little scary, but it's nice to have a little chef around the house. Oh! And she's not just cooking. She:
1. selected the recipe from a magazine herself (I didn't even know the new issue came in, she snatched and scoured it as soon as it arrived)
2. checked the fridge and freezer to see what we had on hand
3. asked Frodo if certain ingredients we already had could be substituted for some of the ingredients called for in the recipe (for example, the recipe calls for "spreadable chive and onion cream cheese" but we have cream cheese, chives and onions on hand, so she wanted to know if she could mix her own)
4. wrote up a shopping list for Frodo when she knew he was going to the grocery store
5. called him while he was out today when she realized he forgot a couple things when he went shopping yesterday, so he could pick stuff up on the way home *grin*
And now she's cooking.
And it looks and smells really good.
So, what's for dinner? Mushroom Steak 'n' Linguine
Mmmmmmmm!
I'll share the recipe, and Primo's alterations and adjustments, later. Right now, it's time to eat!
and I didn't have to cook it...
and Frodo is reorganizing our closet...
so it's not him cooking...
who could it be?
Primo!
Yes, I have a child old enough to cook by herself. That's a little scary, but it's nice to have a little chef around the house. Oh! And she's not just cooking. She:
1. selected the recipe from a magazine herself (I didn't even know the new issue came in, she snatched and scoured it as soon as it arrived)
2. checked the fridge and freezer to see what we had on hand
3. asked Frodo if certain ingredients we already had could be substituted for some of the ingredients called for in the recipe (for example, the recipe calls for "spreadable chive and onion cream cheese" but we have cream cheese, chives and onions on hand, so she wanted to know if she could mix her own)
4. wrote up a shopping list for Frodo when she knew he was going to the grocery store
5. called him while he was out today when she realized he forgot a couple things when he went shopping yesterday, so he could pick stuff up on the way home *grin*
And now she's cooking.
And it looks and smells really good.
So, what's for dinner? Mushroom Steak 'n' Linguine
Mmmmmmmm!
I'll share the recipe, and Primo's alterations and adjustments, later. Right now, it's time to eat!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
Our Church
The congregation we attend was founded by Scotch-Irish immigrants on January 11, 1835 (our landlord's ancestors were founding members). The original Session meeting minutes are kept in the vault of a local bank. The congregation bought 23 acres on which to build a church building in 1842 for $400. The building, made with bricks that were fired on-site, was finished in 1846 at a total cost of $2809.75. Worship continues in that building today.
We usually approach the building from the side. We are told that some congregants were talking after church one Lord's Day a couple years ago and the topic turned to the need for a walkway leading from the parking area to the church porch. Before you could say, "Bob's you're uncle," and without a word, our landlord (who at the time was about 70?) had laid a new brick walk.
The pulpit,
pews,
and pew doors are the originals.
It is a really beautiful sanctuary. I grew up attending an historic church, and there is something special about participating in a tradition of worship that has gone on for generation upon generation.
There used to be a balcony (inside and outside), but not anymore. The plan is to replace it eventually, but since the church is an historical landmark, restorations are tricky to get approved... and expensive.
Upstairs are the Sunday School rooms for our older three. Terzo loves Sunday School.
And he has his sisters right next door.
After service, the kids scatter... after everyone who wants to takes a turn ringing the bell.
The girls and younger kids (when the little ones are running around in the yard) often sit or jump around the benches of the old Sunday School circle.
The boys go here.
What do they do here? Well, they don't call it "The Climbing Tree" for nothing.
We usually approach the building from the side. We are told that some congregants were talking after church one Lord's Day a couple years ago and the topic turned to the need for a walkway leading from the parking area to the church porch. Before you could say, "Bob's you're uncle," and without a word, our landlord (who at the time was about 70?) had laid a new brick walk.
The pulpit,
pews,
and pew doors are the originals.
It is a really beautiful sanctuary. I grew up attending an historic church, and there is something special about participating in a tradition of worship that has gone on for generation upon generation.
There used to be a balcony (inside and outside), but not anymore. The plan is to replace it eventually, but since the church is an historical landmark, restorations are tricky to get approved... and expensive.
Upstairs are the Sunday School rooms for our older three. Terzo loves Sunday School.
And he has his sisters right next door.
After service, the kids scatter... after everyone who wants to takes a turn ringing the bell.
The girls and younger kids (when the little ones are running around in the yard) often sit or jump around the benches of the old Sunday School circle.
The boys go here.
What do they do here? Well, they don't call it "The Climbing Tree" for nothing.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
You mean, they can go down?!
Hong Kong posts record surplus, unveils tax cuts, other concessionsHONG KONG (Thomson Financial) - Hong Kong on Wednesday posted its highest budget surplus on record for the year to March and unveiled tax relief measures to spur the economy in the coming year amid rising inflation and slowing global growth...
...[Financial Secretary John] Tsang said the government will cut income tax to 15 percent from April from the current 16 percent, while reducing corporate profit tax to 16.5 percent from 17.5 percent.Tsang also said he is also waiving 75 percent of income taxes this fiscal year with a ceiling of 25,000 Hong Kong dollars, a move that will cost the government 12.4 billion dollars, but benefit 1.4 million tax payers.
Tsang offered other tax concessions, including waivers on taxes for property and alcoholic beverages. These concessions will put a dent on revenue for the coming fiscal year.
Read the entire article here.
Hong Kong regularly tops the Heritage Foundation/ Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom, just as they do this year. Click on over and see how the US compares. We actually moved up this year.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
My New Toy
On New Year's Eve Day, I spent my Christmas money to buy myself a new camera after losing our old one... somewhere. I still have no idea what could possibly have happened to the old one, but it eats me up that the memory card with our vacation and moving photos are still in that camera. Arg.
Anyway, I am very pleased with my new camera. I had originally planned to buy a different camera that cost about $300 more, but 1) it wasn't in the budget and 2) this camera will take at least 90% of the shots I'd like to try and that remaining 10% wasn't worth $300 to me.
When I was lying in bed the other day moaning and complaining because I still had the flu (I think I am finally over it now, knock on wood), I decided it was a good opportunity to read through the camera's instruction manual and play around and try to become more familiar with my newtool toy tool toy. There aren't many interesting things to photograph in my bedroom, so I sat in the bed shooting pictures out the window.
Here's the view looking out over the front yard (click on any of the pictures to make them larger):
Then I decided to play with the zoom and focusing features, so I focused on a shrub right in front of the window:
That came out very clearly (even through the window screen - you can see the screen in the first photo), so I aimed for the big maple tree that you can see in the upper right of the first picture:
Not too bad, so I decided to try the digital zoom on top of the mechanical zoom and took a picture of the neighbor's mailbox and trash platform (you can see in the first photo how far away they are - if you enlarge the photo and squint; I'd guess at least 100 yards away, probably more):
The focus isn't as good as the others, but I was rather impressed.
Since we kind of live out in the boonies, we do sometimes come across some strange creatures, and despite traps and a cat, who is an excellent mouser (and birder and rat-er and mole-er and lizard-er), they seem to find a way into the house.
Sure they look cute.
But then they get in your face.
And make a mess of the place.
No good. The lot of 'em. ; )
Anyway, I am very pleased with my new camera. I had originally planned to buy a different camera that cost about $300 more, but 1) it wasn't in the budget and 2) this camera will take at least 90% of the shots I'd like to try and that remaining 10% wasn't worth $300 to me.
When I was lying in bed the other day moaning and complaining because I still had the flu (I think I am finally over it now, knock on wood), I decided it was a good opportunity to read through the camera's instruction manual and play around and try to become more familiar with my new
Here's the view looking out over the front yard (click on any of the pictures to make them larger):
Then I decided to play with the zoom and focusing features, so I focused on a shrub right in front of the window:
That came out very clearly (even through the window screen - you can see the screen in the first photo), so I aimed for the big maple tree that you can see in the upper right of the first picture:
Not too bad, so I decided to try the digital zoom on top of the mechanical zoom and took a picture of the neighbor's mailbox and trash platform (you can see in the first photo how far away they are - if you enlarge the photo and squint; I'd guess at least 100 yards away, probably more):
The focus isn't as good as the others, but I was rather impressed.
Since we kind of live out in the boonies, we do sometimes come across some strange creatures, and despite traps and a cat, who is an excellent mouser (and birder and rat-er and mole-er and lizard-er), they seem to find a way into the house.
Sure they look cute.
But then they get in your face.
And make a mess of the place.
No good. The lot of 'em. ; )
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