Pondered In My Heart

A Peek in the Vegetable Garden

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?

Happy Birthday Anna Ruth!

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!

Wordless Wednesday: Pool Curls (boing boing)

 

Girls Skirt Tutorial

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!

 

Feast of St. Bonaventure

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!

Lily of the Mohawks

Today is Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha's feast day. You can read more about Blessed Kateri here, and why our little sweetie is named Kateri here.

Here is a prayer for her canonization: LET US PRAY

O God, who, among the many marvels of Your Grace in the New World, did cause to blossom on the banks of the Mohawk and of the St. Lawrence, the pure and tender Lily, Kateri Tekakwitha, grant we beseech You, the favor we beg through her intercession, that this Young Lover of Jesus and of His Cross may soon be counted among the Saints of Holy Mother Church, and that our hearts may be enkindled with a stronger desire to imitate her innocence and faith. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Happy Feast Day, Kateri! We love you!

Seven

We spent the evening at an outdoor concert in the park, and we popped by Stuff-Mart on the way home for a few necessities. Everyone was in an exceptionally jolly mood, having just been roused by Copeland and Sousa and all. Last time we were at this store I could see people's lips moving as they counted, and we joked how instead of shouting I should have a little card to hold up like judges do. So tonight Josiah whipped out his pocket knife and carved this very clear image on a stray piece of white cardboard:

 

Needless to say, this enhanced our jovial mood even further. We were fairly skipping across the parking lot, laughing like a bunch of nutters hyenas.

Isn't family life just so much fun!

New Blog

 

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!!

Josiah has started a blog!

It's called Random Interesting Stuff.

Go see. Or at least send your kids to.

Thank you!

There and Back Again Again

Well, we are just returned from visiting Nana again. Our travels were pleasant this year as both little ones were extremely well behaved in the car for a total of ten hours, thanks in part to very attentive and entertaining big siblings. I've learned that Kateri is much more content when I'm not sitting next to her, although with me crammed in the front middle seat I think I did more are we there yet whining than anyone else. Josiah now sits beside Kateri and he is very adept at amusing her with some Monty Python or Narnia scenes if she begins to get bored. (Nothing like a teen and a two year old going back and forth at No more buttered scones for me!  I'm off to play the graahnd piano! Pardon me while I fly my aeroplane! But I digress.)

Our visit had some variations on last year's themes.

We visited a farm one afternoon, and my two littles were completely enchanted by goats and sheep and ponies and chickens, oh my.

  

 And my big girl spent some time whispering to the ponies.

 When I told Eliza it was time to get ready for church the next morning she answered, 'No, goats!'

Peek-a-boo goats.

There were the requisite hikes through the woods to explore the quarry.

Unlike last year, it was very full of water.

We enjoyed the sights in Nana's lovely yard.

There were the mandatory games

and traditional painting parties.

And of course the final night was Literary night. Tradition! They started off reading some Lear to get in the mood, but the new twist this year writing Limericks by Committee.  Everyone would write one line of a limerick, and then pass the paper to the person on the left who would add the next line. This proved for much entertainment and generalized hilarity, as everyone from the eight year old to the almost eighty wrote together. 

 The final poems were then passed to a most austere judge who would read them aloud and assign a numerical score. 

 

And then another round would start. If you've never written limericks this way you simply must try it! You could end up with such 'treasures' as:

There was an old person of Beaker

Who was an incredible squeaker

He attracted some mice

(and twenty-five lice)

All tucked in a smelly old sneaker.

The cutest thing was when Kateri went and got herself a piece of paper and a pencil and a book to write on and demanded, 'Spot for me!' so she could join the fun. Literary peer pressure! (You can see Josiah was highly dismayed by the competition.)

There was a nice Nana from York

She served veggie dogs without pork

She made mean root beer floats

And dispatched guests to see goats

So great was dear Nana from York.

Once again, a wonderful time was had by all. Thanks Nana and David - we love and miss you!!!

Simple Scapular Repair

If your family members wear the Brown Scapular, you eventually have lots of scapulars to fix. The strings always end up breaking and needing to be replaced, especially if any medals are attached, adding more weight and stress on the strings. Having fixed many scapulars over the years I thought I would share my repair method.

 I have found the best cord to be 'soutache braid' made by Wrights and found in the trims display along with the rick rack and seam binding products. It is made of nylon and is very durable.

I use one continuous length of cord. Measure it out so it is as long as you want the distance between the patches to be plus enough extra to go along the top edges of the wool.

 

Place the cording right on the top edge of the cloth. Try to keep it from twisting and make sure you are attaching the patches facing the right way. Double check you've got it right before you sew that second one on! ;-)

 

Set your machine to a tight zigzag stitch that is slightly wider than the cord and sew along the length of the cloth, completely covering the cord.

Voila - all fixed and better than new. We have never yet had a scapular break after it's been repaired in this fashion. :-)

 

Wordless Wednesday: Playing Outside

Hellooo!

Well, we are finally done!

We had our last two evaluations Saturday morning and we turned in our four portfolios yesterday. It's been a bit bittersweet this time as Jonathan kept reminding me it was his final one. And I've been too tired to jump up and down this year. Besides excavating the kitchen table we went on to spend six days cleaning this huge house from top to bottom. It's been a piece of work, as the inside had been quite neglected while we worked so hard outside all spring. But things are looking fresh and tidy again, at least for the moment. Cleanliness can be quite fleeting around here. The day after I polished the wood floor in the foyer my littlest two were playing soccer in the nice clean open space.

With tomatoes. :-0

But progress has been made.

Moods are lightening.

People are decompressing.

 

Summer is finally here!

 

Now as Gandalf has said, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'

Hope you're already having a terrific summer!

 

Saturday Night Bath

Splashing in the tub the differences are so clear

One so rounded and robust, smooth white skin gleams head to toe

Smile of straightest teeth, straightest eyes, curliest hair

The other so slim with a body so straight, always mottled purplish pink as a sunset

Thick sweet neck and quirky toes that spell death for so many

But these two know nothing of chromosome counts

They take no notice of the thin white telling line

They splash and play and swim

Naming the floating letters

Standing up in turns to pour a waterfall on the other

Both exclaiming, Me again, do!

In voices sounding so alike

Yet different He has made them

Each perfect in her own way

They are sisters

From His hand

I am so thankful

They are mine.

Who's Counting

As we traipsed across the parking lot for our Saturday-morning-after-Mass grocery run I noticed the nine of us were being watched. Three times I saw the attractive woman in impeccable business attire turn her head to glance back at us. Feeling just a bit roguish I shouted it out in a jolly playful way,

"SEVEN!"

And then we went on our merry way into the store enjoying a good laugh. Suddenly feeling sheepish I asked Jonathan, "Was that wicked?" "It was just a little mischievous," he replied. Whew.

Wordless Wednesday: Portfolio Week

The Peril of Teaching Politeness

Mother to bare-bottomed child: Come here and get a diaper on!

Aforementioned child: No, thank you!

Sling Mama

Because you're never too young to love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or to nurse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or to multi-task.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go, Mama, go!

Happy Father's Day!

A very Happy Father's Day to a very special Dad!

He plays hard with his guys.

He loves his lively girls.

He leads his children in the way they should go.

And tirelessly takes us where we need to go.

He does a great Mr. Tumnus.

He works really hard, but has fun doing it.

He is full of surprises.

He makes us laugh.

He likes a challenge.

He is patient andtender.

He's really cool.

And we all love him like nuts.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Obsessed

 

 

Do your children do this sort of thing or is it just mine?

Make Your Mark Heavy and Dark

"All schools for miles and miles around

Must take a special test,

To see who's learning such and such-

To see which school's the best.

If our small school does not do well,

Then it will be torn down,

And you will have to go to school

In dreary Flobbertown."

Well, we've been busy with our standardized testing here this week. (I live in one of Those States.) Everyone is quite used to it and the principal sheds nary a tear, but rather all are quite amused at the routine.

Miss Bonkers rose. "Don't fret!" she said.

"You've learned the things you need

To pass that test and many more-

I'm certain you'll succeed.

We've taught you that the earth is round,

That red and white make pink,

And something else that matters more-

We've taught you how to think."

(from  Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss)

I'm not sure they enjoyed every word, but the students apparently had no problems with the test as evidenced by the excessive doodling on the scratch paper:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll have to wait a few weeks of course to see if we've again escaped banishment to dreary Flobbertown. In the meantime we'll keep busy working on portfolios and waiting for the end when I can jump in the air like Miss Bonkers. Our teacher is our Mother, she's as bouncy as a flea. I'm not certain what she teaches, but she drinks a lot of tea...