John James Audubon: Audubon's Birds of America Coloring Book
Lisa Bonforte: Fifty Favorite Birds Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Books)
Priscilla Belz Jenkins: A Nest Full of Eggs (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1)
Priscilla Belz Jenkins: Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
Thornton W. Burgess: The Adventures of Sammy Jay (Childrens's Thrifts)
I love looking out the window and seeing sights like this.
The children are squeezing in plenty of fun during these last bits of the summer hols.
The director knows the green scenery he needs won't last forever.
And soon Peter will be too busy with college for such shenanigans.
Stop your fussing. You look lovely.
He betrayed them, Your Majesty.
Don't worry, Beaver. I won't let Peter turn you into a hat.
Stop over to see The Simple Woman who has all of this week's links here.
Outside my window...It's dark and quiet. I wonder if Mr. Groundhog is sleeping soundly in his newly dug home in our garden, or if blocking the entrance to the hole deterred him. (Harrumph.)
I am thinking...about how fast the summer flew by, just as it always does.
I am thankful for... this one last week of summer vacation.
From the kitchen...planning on cinnabuns for tomorrow. Eliza found a bowl of cinnamon sugar sitting on the counter along with a stick of butter on a dish. She naturally knew these two delicacies belonged together so she nicely covered the butter with the sugar, patting it on gently. This delightful concoction shan't go to waste.
I am wearing...a black skirt with a viney pattern in shades of brown, a cafe au lait colored top, and my favorite teapot earrings.
I am creating...order and cleanliness before the school year starts.
I am reading...Haystack Full of Needles (isn't everyone?). Today Mary Rose showed me a little miniature she made of this book for her Miss Clavel. I'm sure Madeleine and Danielle and Nicole and all the others will glad to read it as well. :-)
I am hoping...to get a lot of work done and still enjoy this last week of 'summer'.
I am hearing...Kateri's heavy breathing as she sleeps peacefully in my arms, her still-damp-from-nursing curls glowing in the light of the computer screen.
Around the house...not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.
One of my favorite things...seeing my children have a good time together.
A few plans for the rest of the week...more cleaning and organizing and planning for school. Hopefully we will get together with some new friends to play on Thursday. Jonathan starts his orientation activities on Thursday as well (gulp).
Here is picture thought I am sharing...sisters.
This is what is meant by 'summer reading' around here.
It had gotten to be midsummer, and no one had read any Gulps and Amazons as they are sometimes affectionately called in our house. I thought it was a bit odd to not have everyone off on sailing adventures as is their summer tradition.
But then Josiah got them out, flying through the stack of twelve familiar stories in about a week's time, and of course everyone else followed him aboard ship.
First published in the 1930's, this beloved series of books tells the adventures of four siblings and the acquaintances they make while spending their summer holidays camping and sailing together. From the very first moment we encounter seven-year-old Roger, tacking up the lawn to greet his dear mother, we are drawn into the story and born away on a breeze to a quiet lake in the English countryside. For Mother truly does have a telegram from Father in her hand bearing the charming message:
BETTER DROWNED THAN DUFFERS IF NOT DUFFERS WONT DROWN
Which of course means, yes, the adventure is on and permission is granted for all to embark on the holiday of their lives. Alone. On an island. Hurrah for daddy! indeed. Mother, the darling, most well-loved native of all, assists with preparations - Ship's Articles, provisions, maps and gear are purveyed. She's even finished making the tents! "You'll want a kettle first and foremost," said Mrs. Jackson, the farmer's wife, who was lending the things. (I like that woman.) Soon all is ready and John, Susan, Titty and Roger are transformed into the Swallows: Captain, Mate, Able-seaman and Ship's Boy - finest crew of the finest fourteen foot dinghy in all of children's literature. The ensuing tales are full of adventure of the most delightful sort. Swimming before breakfast, sighting cormorants, rowing over to the farm for milk, and plenty of use of that dear kettle - what a life! But it's not all buttered eggs and tea of course - there are pirates and battles and mysteries and Amazons to meet, oh my!
These books are beloved treasures in our family, telling stories of the kind of life that is quite out of reach for most of today's young readers. But that's what books are for, of course, to take you to far away places in the delicious pages and leave you neither a duffer nor drowned. In our family living books are the books that get lived, and it's been a delight to watch my children live these dear books over and over throughout the years.
Having no English lake at hand Jonathan set his sails on a more commonplace vessel - the scooter. You can see the fruit of his creative labors in this vintage picture from 2004:
He couldn't see where he was going and could only sail downhill, but the effect was priceless.
When I got my sewing machine last year I had two very gallant boys who carried it upstairs and unpacked it and set it all up for me - just so I could make them semaphore flags!
But that was only the beginning. Jonathan set out to make an entire set of signal flags, which now grace his room in all of their nautical glory:
Lacking a mast, the ever resourceful Josiah rigged up a pulley system so they could fly the flags from the corner of the house.
They also sent up a signal light to use at night, with a can to cover it and thereby use Morse code.
One year Josiah made a terrific little highly detailed craft out of popsicle sticks. It had a proper sail and was quite sea (creek) worthy.
And on it goes. If you've never sailed aboard The Swallow I highly recommend you take a journey soon. Don't worry that summer's ending, after all there's Winter Holiday! At the moment I have two girls on board sofa ships, wearing apron life jackets and punt poling with their vacuum cleaner tubes for dear life, giggling and shouting about the dangers sighted starboard. My Mary Rose is taking her maiden voyage with these books this year and it's been delightful watching her encounter these family classics for the first time. She has taken to answering my every word with Aye aye, Sir! I love it.
Here are a bunch of links to augment your reading adventures:
The Boats of Swallows and Amazons
Nautical and Semaphore Signal Flags and a Translator function for both
Free Paper Boat Models - These are really cool yachts, but there is also a little dinghy at the bottom of the page. I made the dinghy one year to stick on Jonathan's birthday cake along with mini nautical flags spelling his name.
Swallows and Amazons Trivia Quiz
Label the Parts of a Ship Answers Here and Here
See Pictures of Coniston, the lake area where Arthur Ransome spent his holidays as a child and the inspiration for the books.
All aboard and three cheers for the stay-at-homes! (Singing Spanish Ladies is optional.)
Blind as a bat, that is. Miss Mary Rose just got her shiny new purple glasses!
We think they suit her quite well. I always love how the child stares out the window in wonder on the way home from getting the first pair of glasses. Thank you God for the gift of sight, and of corrective lenses!
The girls have moved on from coasters. Lydia has designed the sweetest little horses:
Anna Ruth can't stop making these cute kitties. Whoops - they've gotten out of their bag:
And Mary Rose is just getting her feet wet with machine sewing. She has made a little pillow and a skirt for her beloved old Pooch Doll:
It's fun to see what they will come back with after they disappear upstairs for a 'sewing party'!
You've heard the expression, 'love it to pieces!'
Our beloved Tom Playfair books have been loved to pieces. I distinctly remember giving this set of "Fr. Finn's Famous Three" to Jonathan for his eleventh birthday. He subsequently read all three books three times in that first year we had them. I naturally had to read them myself to see what the extraordinary appeal was all about.
Written over a hundred years ago, the series tells the story of the boys of St. Maure's boarding school. That is where our beloved hero Tom is sentenced to as a consequence for 'going the limit of one's tether'. Yes, the story starts off with Tom as a lazy, undisciplined, unmotivated, sneaky boy - always in trouble with no one to help him find a way out of his wayward ways. The adults in his life don't know what to do with the insolent boy, so off he goes to St. Maure's to 'make a start'. There he meets up with a myriad of other boys, good and bad, and Tom must find the determination to make his way. His well worn crooked paths must be straightened, hard work must be befriended, and his faith must take root in order to blossom and grow.
The story is full of adventure of the most definitely boyish sort, and the antiquated vocabulary used in its telling only serves to enhance its charm. For though the details and daily routine of life at St. Maure's are obsolete, the human nature of the characters are of course timeless. As Tom discovers who it is that he wants to become, he makes friends and finds mentors who will help him on his way. As is always the case, the heart searching for truth and goodness is naturally drawn to genuine holiness, and the beloved and wise Mr. Middleton brings out the best in Tom. I think that's a large part of the appeal of the books; we all have some immature, rebellious Tom in us and we long for the right Mr. Middletons and George Keenans and John Donnels to inspire and nudge and tug and help us in our clamoring journey to higher ground. That and all of the ball games and Latin class and lightening and scap'lars and pranks and First Fridays and tree climbing and so many other things near and dear to a boy's heart make the books an entertaining delight. There is heroism and sacrifice, repentance and rebirth, friendship and fidelity, tragedy and triumph. And as in real life, there are those who continue on in evil despite every opportunity to change for the good.
The endearing characters return in Percy Wynn, in which a boy is made of him who has spent his whole life coddled by his ten sisters. The scene of the catechism class in the middle of this book is a most memorable recounting of the infinite mercy of God that every young reader would do well to always remember. Harry Dee is the third book and has a slightly different flavor to it as it is a murder mystery. These books are 'family classics' in our house that get read over and over again. Numerous lines from them are part of our every day speech, and even Tom's favorite stance - legs apart with hands thrust deep in his pockets, calls to mind that faithful merry chap we all know and love. Just thinking about him, I can hear him now, "Here, take some candy!" You can't help but respond in kind to this fresh faced jolly fellow, just as reading Tom's stories will leave you with a light heart and satisfied spirit.
And you're sure to smile at the cover illustrations as well! ;-)
"Now we are all here!" said Gandalf, looking at the row of thirteen hoods - the best detachable party hoods - and his own hat hanging on the pegs. "Quite a merry gathering!"
Jonathan has posted a hooded cloak tutorial over on Josiah's blog. It's quite thorough, and he designed it all himself. Josiah also has instructions for a very cool one piece hood over there as well. I am still amazed that he designed this himself. I said I would like a pale blue hood with a silver tassel on it like Thorin's for my birthday. Jonathan said, "Yeah, but where would you wear it?" Details, details.
'Mother, I'm done with my chores. May I use the sewing machine?' is a line I'm hearing often these days.
Anna Ruth makes a scrunchi to match her skirt.
The girls have been doing a fair bit of sewing this summer. They all have to take turns with the machine (when it's not being held hostage in the boys' rooms) so they mostly opt for quick and easy projects. It is also fun to make small projects as you get 'instant gratification' - great for younger seamstresses and newbies of all ages. A favorite quick project is these coasters from Jenny at allsorts. She has a tutorial on her site, but they are so easy I thought I'd show you here. Also, I've simplified them a bit, skipping the interfacing and lining part. These are a great way to use up scraps or charm squares if you have them. No finishing or hand sewing required!
These make great little treats to have around for hostess gifts or to tuck into gift baskets paired with a mug and favorite drink. You can also make them with seasonal fabrics. I am enjoying these pretty summery prints for now, but we have some muted ones we used in winter, and we plan to make autumnal colored ones in fall. You could also choose themed fabrics to suit your gift recipients such as music, cats, dogs, horses, Christmas, team colors - the possibilities are endless.
For each coaster you need five 4 1/2" squares of fabric. You can mix and match with as many different patterns as you like. Half the fun is choosing the yummy prints and arranging them together! A rotary cutter and mat make this part a snap, although just using scissors works fine of course.
Fold four of the squares in half, wrong sides together.
Place your fifth square on the table, right side up. I'm using the purple square in this example to be the backing. Place your first folded square on your backing piece with the fold towards the center of the backing piece.
Add your next folded piece, overlapping the first, fold towards the center.
Add your third piece in the same fashion:
And now add the fourth piece, overlapping and tucking the pieces in as such:
Now sew around the edges with a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim the corners if you remember to.
Turn your coaster right side out, using a crochet hook or something to poke out the corners, and press if you like (if you're a kid you probably won't bother). That's it!
Anna Ruth also discovered that if you take one of these completed coasters, plump it up with a bit of stuffing inside, and add a button to cover the center, you get one cute and cozy pincushion!
Happy sewing! (And happy sipping with your new cheery coaster.)
I was there!
And I'm so glad. We set off on Friday afternoon to attend the lovely family picnic planned by Michele. As we drove along I was filled with the most unusual excitement and expectation. For days my children had been asking me which bloggers would be there, and Mary Rose even wrote down everyone's name so she could study the list. We were going to meet these wonderful ladies who daily inspire me with their wisdom and creativity and holiness while making me choke on my tea with their humor. I kept thinking what a strange feeling it was to be going to meet these dear friends I know and love that I haven't ever met before.
We were warmly welcomed and had a lot of fun at the picnic.
I especially enjoyed snuggling this sweet little guy (seeing how my littlest boy is quite big).
Can you guess who this chubby cherub is?
The conference on Saturday was lovely as well. The speakers were inspiring and entertaining (you can purchase the talks here). Alice made her liturgical celebrations and crafts sound so simple and doable, and as always we were encouraged by her resourcefulness. To quote the wise Minnesota Mom: Truly, she lives the theological virtues as effortlessly as some of us slurp coffee. (Ahem.) (or tea in my case). Only dear Alice could look at a wooden recipe box and see a miniature altar, and we all benefit from taking a peek at life through her eyes.
Margot of Hillside Education encouraged and delighted us with her contagious love of literature. Although our family is more like that 'unnamed naturalist from New York' who doesn't use study guides, Margot's practical steps for enhancing the discussing and writing and thinking deeper about the literature we know and love was inspiring and informative. (Students take heed! Analytical literary writing assignments may be coming this fall to a homeschool near you!)
Mary Ellen spoke on the joys and growth and learning that comes from having a special blessing in the family, and I found myself nodding and grinning and crying in turn at just about everything she said. Though our special children are so different in age and disability we share a lot in common, and now I think fondly of her son with the natural piety every time I see Eliza pretending to distribute Holy Communion with her customary great charm and reverence.
Meredith shared her typical sweetness and light with ideas for engaging the littlest ones in school time. It was good to have a reminder of how simple it is to do unit studies with the youngest students, and how they can benefit from having directed activities that delight them as they learn.
And then dear Alice had us all in stitches as she recounted her earliest encounters and subsequent, um, less than enthusiastic reaction regarding this bizarre new concept called home education (!). But God is good and He leads His children in the paths they should go, with a little help from Helen and Lissa of course, and as they say the rest is history. In Alice's case it's also a delightful book, which I am eagerly looking forward to reading. I haven't been able to get my hands on Haystack Full of Needles as all of my children are reading it. Even Eliza and Kateri sit and page through it to look at the pictures.
We also met the shockingly clever Karen, Michelle and her sweet daughter, fruity Diane, Heather and her lovely talented daughter, and super sweet Erica from California who I think won the distance prize.
The conference center was spacious and accommodating and Michele's organizing truly made it Family-Centered. We all went along for the day and there was room for everyone. After having been entertained by Margot's boys making music at the picnic, my guys of course had to bring their instruments to jam with them on Saturday.
They had a good time hanging out together. I don't have a picture (but Michele does) of my girls hanging out with the most entertaining and effervescent Maggie. I think Mary Rose has finally met her giggling match.
Michael enjoyed that sweet baby boy as well.
My only disappointment was to realize I hardly took any pictures (Josiah takes more inane pictures of things like my teacup or my ears on a regular day at home than I took all weekend, sigh), though as Michael pointed out it was because I was too busy having fun. You can see lots of lovely pictures taken by ladies who are better at multitasking, particularly the super efficient Michele who beautifully organized the whole event. I had a great time and even learned some things I never expected to learn such as why you should never bother to make earrings for Alice, or who drew the cover illustrations for some of our most favorite books (oh, this makes me GRIN), or that even when you are out of town having a blast for a few days you should still try to remember to feed the fish (don't ask). It was truly delightful to get together with these wonderful real ladies and I am so thankful for the opportunity to meet them all in hug-and-squeeze-and laugh-and-go-ahead-and-pull-my-hair person. And I certainly hope we can do it all again someday!
But I sure hope she feels better soon!
I thought I would post a little update on our vegetable garden. I find it amazing how in a few short months this pile of dirt dumped on an empty space has grown into something remarkable. I love how the garden has turned into a place; you open the door and walk through into a different landscape.
You can't help but slow down and look around, taking in all the greenness and life that surrounds you.
It's a place literally bursting at the seams with new green growth and teeming with the tiniest of animal life as well. It's not a huge garden, but still we like to wander through it every day or so and see what's happening. The sights change almost daily and it's always interesting to take the time to explore, peeking here and there, peering high and low to see what there is to see. The transformations from seed to shoot to vine to bud to flower to fruit never grow dull. There are always new visitors, some welcome, some not - the old familiar friends and foes, and new ones to meet as well. We look to see if anything is unwell, and perhaps we can do a bit of pruning or topdressing or watering to help the ailing.
If you are hungry, you can always find a bite to eat.
It's a place to learn about patience as you grow excited with anticipation.
And you also learn that abundance doesn't always last long.
Because enemies do exist and they will invade.
Sometimes things shimmer with golden beauty on the outside.
But you must be ready to do battle with the foe that lies within, just waiting to charge forth. However tiny
or gigantic it may seem. You must do your best to conquer.
Because, after all, Dinner is at stake.
It should come as no surprise that the Creator of the universe can match colors with absolute perfection. But I am still always astounded at the incredible camouflage of the tomato hornworm. It also is amazing how in a first year garden the cucumber beetles still come and find the cucumbers and the squash vine borers find the squash vines and the hornworms find the tomatoes .... Do they just drop out of the sky when they spot my garden?
Still, I love saying, 'I'm going outside to pick dinner!', or sending the children to do the gathering.
For once eating local and organic is doable and affordable. :-) 'Five a Day' has never been more fun, or delicious, than when it's from the backyard.
We put up seven foot high deer netting to keep all of the furry critters out. The netting is practically invisible so at first the door looks kind of silly, like Aslan's door that doesn't seem to lead anywhere.
But now it clearly opens up into a wonderful, growing place.
Thanks for taking a peek into our garden. How does your garden grow these days?
Anna Ruth turned 11 today!
Lydia made her a cake with Northumberland Flower Girl (the horse) on it:
She extinguished all her candles in one fell swoop like a pro:
She got a beautiful chocolate brown cloak from Jonathan:
And two little parrot stuffies from Lydia:
She's been on a bit of a sewing binge lately so she got lots of yummy fabric (that fuzzy black stuff is actually called long haired poodle!):
Happy Birthday Anna Ruth! We sure do love you!
I made this sweet skirt as a birthday gift for Lydia. I've seen skirts with bows at the waist in several catalogs so it seems to be a bit trendy. It came out so cute and was so easy to make I naturally had to make more for my other big girls (I have two down, one to go).
I often hear from mothers who say they would like to sew but can't find the time. I also hear from mothers who have difficulty finding modest clothing for their older girls. This skirt is very quick and easy to make - you don't need a pattern, there is minimal cutting, and I completed it in about an hour. The price is also very reasonable - using sale fabrics the skirt cost about seven dollars.
I made these for my ten and thirteen-year-old daughters. I purchased two yards of standard 45" wide cotton fabric. This allows for a little left over to play with, and it's easier than trying to remember exact measurements of what I need. You will also need a package of 'double fold bias tape' a.k.a. 'quilt binding', and one package of baby rick rack. (Okay, no one actually ever needs rick rack but it adds a nice touch.) Also needed is a length of 1/2" elastic and of course thread.
Anna chose bright lime green for her skirt, with accents of red (she like the Narnia movie 'CG' effect, hee). The first step is to cut two lengths of fabric as long as you want the skirt to be, plus four inches. Leave the pieces the full width (45"). For example, if you want a 24" length skirt you would cut two pieces of fabric 28" x 45". The 45" width makes for less cutting and a nice full, comfortable, easy-to-play-in skirt. Put the two pieces together, right sides together, and stitch up your side seams. Sew the whole length on one side.
On the other side, leave the top three inches open:
Press your seams open. By using the whole width of the fabric you have the selvages at the side seams, so they are already nicely finished and won't fray.
Now topstitch down along the part you left open as shown:
To make the hem, turn up 1/2 inch along the bottom and press:
Turn up another 3 1/2" and press again.
Now machine stitch your hem.
Next, place your rick rack over the hem stitching, and stitch it in place by machine (using a fairly small stitch length), covering up your hem stitching:
Now back to the top. Gather the fabric up at the top by pinning it into pleats. It will still be wider than the girl's waist, but you will add elastic later. Baste the pleats in place using a long stitch length on your machine.
Now you are going to add the seam binding at the top edge. The seam binding will be the waist band and casing for the elastic, and also the ties for the bow. Starting at the open edge of your side seam, place the seam binding over the top pleated edge, covering up your basting. Leave approximately twenty inches extra on each end for the ties. Start sewing at the skirt edge, leaving the tie part open for now. Sew along the bottom of the seam binding, close to the edge:
Next you are going to insert the elastic into this casing that you just made. Cut a piece of elastic long enough to go around the girl's waist comfortably. I like to cut it a little big and try it on for size before I make the final adjustment to make sure it's a good, comfortable fit. (No girl wants to wear a skirt that pinches or that keeps slipping down, for sure.) Thread your elastic through the casing - a diaper pin is always handy for this.
When you have a good fit sew across the seam binding at the skirt edge, catching in the end of the elastic. Go over it a couple of times so it is nice and secure. Then continue on down the length of the ties, edge-stitching the seam binding closed. Turn in a bit on the ends to finish them off neatly before you sew them closed:
Here's another view of the waist:
That's it! You're all done. Iron- on cherries are optional but cute:
For Lydia, I made an elastic-backed headscarf with the extra fabric and seam binding:
Sew cute!
I hope these instructions were clear. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email and I would love to see a picture if you make a skirt!
Happy sewing!
Today is the feast of St. Bonaventure. The prayer of St. Bonaventure for after receiving Holy Communion is an ardent, beautiful, soul-stirring plea.
Dearest Lord Jesus, pierce the inmost depths of my being with the sweet and wholesome pang of Thy love, with true and tranquil and most holy apostolic charity, so that from sheer melting love and desire of Thee my soul may ever faint with longing, yearning for Thee and for Thy dwelling-place, asking only to be released from the flesh and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul my hunger for Thee, Who art the Bread of Angels, the food of holy souls, our daily, supernatural bread, all sweetness and delight to the taste. Let my heart ever hunger for Thee and feed upon Thee, Whom the Angels yearn to look upon, and let the depths of my being be filled with Thy sweet savor; let me ever thirst for Thee, Who art the source of life, source of wisdom and knowledge, source of eternal light, flood-tide of pleasure, God's own treasure-house. Let me ever desire Thee; seek Thee and find Thee; have Thee for my goal and my achievement; think and speak of Thee only, doing all that I do for the honor and glory of Thy Name, humbly and prudently, with love and delight, with ready goodwill, and with perseverance to the end.
Be Thou ever, Thou only, my hope and all my trust, my treasure and pleasure, my joy and delight, my rest, peace, and quiet, my sweet and delicious fragrance, my food and support, my refuge and help, my wisdom, my heritage of wealth, my very own. Let my heart and soul be set on Thee, firmly and immovably rooted in Thee henceforth and forever. Amen.
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!