Pondered In My Heart

Happy Birthday, Mary Rose!

Mary Rose turned seven today! As is tradition, she always goes back to her birthplace for a photo shoot with Dad. Here she is at the parking lot in Dad's red van in which she was born!

And she always gets her picture taken in front of the sign, although they've gotten a new sign! But I'll always remember the old one - it's the first thing I saw when I looked out the van window after giving birth to Mary Rose. It was a beautiful morning, with the sun just up. We were so thrilled to have a baby in the Jubilee Year, and that Mary Rose arrived while it was still May.

Yes, our Mary Rose was in a hurry to arrive and didn't want to wait until we got to the hospital. We joke that she was our first baby to be delivered by a doctor (though his PhD is in physics) - her Dad! Michael, my angel, did a great job catching her and disentangling her from her cord. My hero!

Mary Rose is now a sweet and affectionate seven year old, the middle member of The Girls. The middle can be a hard spot to be in, but Mary Rose's sunny personality and endearing spirit see her through.

She is quick with a smile and always ready with a hug, brightening the day for those around her.

And now she can fly along with the Big Kids! Too bad it's too far to scoot over to Alice's. 

May Mother Mary always keep you near and dear and safe within her love and care.

St. Rose of  Lima, Pray for us.

St. Joan of Arc, Pray for us.

Mary Rose, we sure do love you!

Memorial Day Treats

We started the day off with a wonderful surprise treat. My two boys got to serve Mass with three priests concelebrating!  Two monsignors and a priest just ordained last spring.

Memorial Day is of course the 'Unofficial Start of Summer', as evidenced by Msgr. T. officially switching to his summer hat. Isn't he dapper?

Here Mary Rose is getting her ear affectionately tugged seven times in honor of her upcoming birthday.

Here's a treat Eliza enjoys!

...and her siblings as well.

Hope you all had a memorable Memorial Day too!

All Creatures Great and Small

The boys have been out exploring more of the woods and stream near our house.

They have a great time doing nature study, physical education, photography and male bonding all at the same time.

It's hard to remember life before the digital camera. It's very neat how they can come back from a hike and immediately share their discoveries with the rest of the family. They found Mrs. Mallard contentedly resting in a cool secluded hideaway, unlike the Canadian Geese who had their nest right on the lawn.

This is a northern water snake. They left him alone. (!)

The boys notice pretties, too.

Even the small and ordinary beauty.

Closer to home we have a nest of the cutest little groundhogs. Josiah enjoyed snapping their photos and recording their strange squealing chatter as they played hide and seek popping in and out of their hole.

The other day I was startled to see this creature fluttering in our yard. We are not used to seeing gigantic grasshoppers in the spring and had never encountered this species before. Jonathan got this great photo so we were able to look it up and identify it as an American bird grasshopper. They overwinter in the mature adult stage.

And right in front of our house we have what we call our Truffula Tree. It's actually a small ornamental conifer, which is the preferred nesting spot for chipping sparrows.

Here is Mrs. C.S. herself perched right on our Easter cross. 

Unfortunately lazy Mrs. Cowbird dropped by and left a little present for Mrs. C.S.. I hope there isn't any trouble due to her unwelcome hostess gift.

And here is a bit of domesticlife as seen while we were over working at our old house. This geriatric Pampered Pooch has arthritis and can't partake of his neighborhood stroll any more. But not to fear, no deprivation here - his devoted mistress takes him for walks in his very own doggy stroller!

    

Sword Tutorial

If your children grow up reading the likes of Lewis and Tolkein, sword play is par for the course.  Everyone knows  that. (That last link includes a nice list of sword fighting 'rules' - check it out.) We are often asked how we make our swords, so we are posting directions here. Dads love to duel with these as much as children of all ages do. See some pictures of swords in action at the end here.

And now, heeerre's Jonathan:

We have been making foam swords since we first read Narnia many years ago.  We now have a standard battle-worthy design that is very sturdy and easy to repair.  I would guess it costs no more than three dollars for materials.  With these swords you can have real sword fights and still keep all your arms and legs.

To make four of these swords, we go to the hardware store and get a 10’ length of ¾”  lightweight PVC pipe, two 6’ lengths of the foam tubes they make for insulating ¾”pipes, four ¾” PVC end caps, and a ¾”x1 ½” board. (I assume you already have plenty of duct tape around, but if not, get another roll.)  You will also need a tape measure, a saw, a pair of scissors, and a drill with a 15/16” bit. 

Cut the PVC into 30-inch lengths.

Cut four 28” lengths of the foam. The foam will extend beyond the length of the PVC so that the end of the sword is just foam rendering it safe for play. Trim one end of each piece so that it has a point.  Then put three or four pieces of duct tape lengthwise on the foam to cover it entirely.  It is easier to apply the tape if you have the foam on the PVC to help keep it straight. Wrap one end of each strip of tape around the point of the sword and tuck the other end into the end of the foam tube.

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To make the hilts, cut four 9” lengths of ¾”x1 ½” board.  Drill a 15/16” hole through the center of each piece.

Put a hilt and an end cap on each piece of PVC and add the tape-covered foam.  Attach the blade to the hilt and the PVC with a couple of strips of tape going diagonally around the base of the blade, the hilt and the PVC.  This finishes the basic sword.

If you want to make junior size swords, make the PVC 24”, the foam 24” also, and cut the hilts 7” instead of nine.  Last year, we had our two little cousins over and we made them the shorter swords. However the three-year-old went around fighting us boys with one of our full size swords even though his older sister preferred the shorter sword – it is a matter of preference.

These swords can be made fancier if you want.  Josiah has the hilt and grips of his swords covered with black tape and he even made a wooden plug to go on the end instead of a PVC cap so that it has his coat-of-arms.  If you want, you can paint the hilt and write runes or elf letters on the blade with a permanent pen to make it look like one of those famous swords like Anduril. 

If you use these swords a lot, they start to get ripped up, and the tips sometimes fly off in the middle of a fierce fight.  Just repair them with more tape the way some kids tape their hockey sticks. 

These swords are safe to hit people with if you don’t mind getting hit back.  When we duel, hitting people’s heads or necks is illegal as are blows from above (and of course no hitting anyone who isn’t on his guard and ready to defend himself). 

When we duel, we usually do not use shields (since only Josiah has one), so a big part of the fight is parrying and jumping out of the way.  And as they say in Prince Caspian “The great thing is to slash at your enemy’s legs and feet.”  We have enough swords that sometimes we use two swords like Orius the centaur in the Narnia movie.  When I duel, I usually wear winter gloves to protect my hands, but this does not seem to be a problem with anyone else. 

This is what happens when you bring your swords to a homeschool picnic.

Enjoy your swords!

Final note from Mom: Be sure children understand the rules for safe sword play so that everyone has fun and no one gets hurt (other than possibly his or her pride).

The Loyal Narnians Make Swords

We are often asked how we make our swords and so we decided to post the directions on my blog. The other day I told Josiah he could make a few new swords and snap a few pictures for illustration purposes. I thought he would go out to the garage and quickly accomplish this simple task. Silly, silly me. Unbeknownst to me the Loyal Narnians donned their costumes and went off together to forge their weapons. They had a jolly time and returned with all these photos. I especially love the picture of the dwarf leading the march with the duct tape!

They've Hatched!

There is a sweet little pond at the entrance of our development. For weeks now we've been watching Mrs. Goose sitting upon her nest. Whenever we would drive by on our way out, there she sat. When we'd return home, still she remained, patient and resolute upon her feathered spring bed. She'd tuck her head in and hunker down for another night of waiting. Mr. Goose could be seen strutting and strolling about, enjoying an occasional swim, sampling the cuisine in different parts of the pond. But Mrs. Goose remained unmoved in her confinement. You could almost hear her sighing. Okay, it was really just me sighing at the thought of her. I knew how I would feel in her shoes feathers.

But one Sunday on our way home from Mass- she bidged, she badged, she had budged off of her nest! Michael stopped the car and I quickly jumped out to snatch a peek at her nest:

I snapped just one picture before the geese noticed me. Their Sunday brunch abruptly halted, Mr. and Mrs. Goose flew over at me in a furious flutter, effectively chasing me back to the car. Yes, your eggs are still fine:

And today was the day! As we drove to Mass this morning we noticed Mrs. Goose strolling in the grass with some little yellow fuzz balls bobbing beneath her. I leaned out the window to bellow a merry "Congratulations!' and we went on our way. It rained most of the day, but this evening the skies cleared and we could go out to see the new arrivals:

Mrs. Goose chattered her warnings, but she was so happy and proud she did succumb to let us get fairly close:

Proud parents!

"Do you think they are dangerous?"

"No dear, it's is just those camera-happy humans again."

Happy belated Mother's Day, Mrs. Goose!

For Grampy

These humble flowers, though their seed packet said viola, to me are Johnny-jump-ups. They were my father's favorite flower. He liked them because they were reliable little splashes of color and beauty that just bloom where no one plants them. No fussing over them, no special care needed, they would just appear every spring in the most unexpected places. Cracks in the driveway, an impossibly little bit of dirt between the rocks - there the little Johnny's would squeeze in their charm. My father was bemused by these little, lowly clumps because he really had no green thumb. So many years he tried to grow vegetables without much success, but he was always tickled by the Johnny-jump-ups which required no effort. He liked them so much he was always rescuing them - digging them out of the lawn lest their cheery blooms suffer the mower's doom. They never did well after a transplant, however, much to his chagrin, and there were never enough of them.

And so when I first began to garden many years ago, I planted these flowers labeled viola, though I knew they were really Johnny-jump-ups, in honor of my father and fond memories from my childhood. I still remember those eighty little paper-cupped seedlings, and how I painstakingly transplanted them into a shady bed alongside our house. And I'll never forget my father's amazement when he first saw my bed full of Johnny's. Where did I get them? How did they grow? How did I get so many of them? He wanted to know. My Johnny's always re-seeded themselves and jumped back up year after year. I would always dig some up to send home with Dad in a pot.

The magnificent full bed of Johnny-jump-ups has sort of petered out over the years, and there are just numerous clumps scattered throughout all of the flower beds at our old house. So in memory of my father I went over and dug up all the little Johnny's I could find. I've planted them here at our new house to brighten up the front shade bed. They make me think of my father, and they make me smile. The perennials planted by the landscapers when the house was built are finally starting to bloom and show their colors.

 

And guess what?

They match my Johnny-jump-ups!

 

Out of the Wardrobe

Someone recently asked me if I'd be willing to give a conference talk about bringing creativity into the lives of my children. Quite frankly, my children's creativity leaves me speechless (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). Just this afternoon I sat here at the computer and I looked out the window and saw a Centaur.

This Centaur was trotting by at a rather brisk pace.

I shouldn't have been too surprised, because last night there was a Centaur in my cellar. Only that one was stationary.

Perhaps this Centaur is hanging around my house because of the Cyclops that has also been sighted.

There have also been some curious looking Dwarves spotted.

   

It is really very interesting around here. Last week, while I was in the kitchen cooking, I got that eerie feeling that I was no longer alone. I turned around rather suddenly to be startled by a Satyr.

He seemed rather harmless. At least for the moment.

Maybe King Edmund will come back to help get things sorted out. I haven't seen him recently, but he was here a while ago.

Did I mention that we are Narnia fans?   

Maybe that explains things.  Living Books indeed.

Praying!

We are still praying for Heather, a young homeschooling mother who underwent surgery for a brain tumor this afternoon. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, praying for Heather, I thought about what it might be like to be in her place. Going to bed knowing it might be your last night on earth. I thought of Heather's words:

I can cry and flip out and waste these next 48 hours on what ifs and fear, or I can enjoy them knowing that whatever the outcome on Thursday- I lived my life to fullest. I laughed, I loved so very deeply, and more than anything I tried to share Christ's love at every opportunity these last 3 weeks. 

I realized that none of us knows if it is going to be our last night on earth. Heather and her family had a more concrete reminder, but it is no less true for any of us. We know not the day or the hour. If the Lord wants to end our earthly life, He doesn't need brain surgery to do it. And if He chooses to grant us another hour or day or decades here in this life, brain surgery is not going to thwart His plans. Peace comes in accepting His will, moment by moment.

Tonight we attended Caelorum, and I offered my Holy Hour for the intention's of Heather and her family. I can't resist sharing this photo of Eliza and her godfather.

God of wonders beyond our galaxy    

You are holy, holy!

The universe declares your majesty    

You are holy, holy!

Dear St. Anthony

This morning I was frantically trying to finish a rosary that I had hoped to mail yesterday. I just needed to complete the 'stem' of the rosary, and box it up before the mail pickup. I got to the last Our Father bead only to find that the last little Swarovski crystal accent was missing. Anna helped me paw through all the loose beads on my bead tray, and we even looked under my bead mat. No crystal. I only order the exact number of crystals I need, so there was no looking for an extra. I was tempted to despair, but instead I called upon one of my dearest friends. He never lets me down. He is always so quick to assist me it amazes me. Sometimes he answers me as soon as his name leaves my lips. Sometimes just as I think of him. So after a brief but futile feel in the couch cushions, I started looking on the floor. The vast expanse of beige carpet on the family room floor. And right away I found my 6mm light Colorado topaz Swarovski crystal nestled in the carpet loops!

Thank you St. Anthony!

I thanked St. Anthony for his faithful assistance. And then I thought of another way my friend can help us if we ask. Yesterday Lydia came in with a tick on her forehead, and she found another one on her this morning at Mass. So I've instructed my children to ask St. Anthony to help them find any ticks they may have on them whenever they come inside from playing. How wonderful that God in His mercy and wisdom and Holy Mother Church in her generous goodness gives us our friends, the saints, to constantly intercede for us in all our needs great and small. Even 6mm small.

Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!

May Day!

'Tis the month of our Mother
The blessed and beautiful days,
When our lips and our spirits,
are glowing with love and with praise.   

All Hail! to thee, dear Mary,
the guardian of our way;
To the fairest of Queens,
Be the fairest of seasons, sweet May.

Here are some of my girls holding some of the May Baskets they made. We delivered them this morning to the priests at Mass, leaving some on the doors for the sisters, and stopping by the homes of godparents. Filled with treats and truffles, holy cards and homemade bookmarks, they are a lovely way to bless others and celebrate the arrival of Our Lady's special month. We made these baskets with items we already had around the house. Scrapbook paper was made into cones, tissue paper used for lining, ribbons fashioned into handles, and flowers and pictures glued on for decoration.

The bookmarks came out lovely and are very simple to make with items already on hand in any house with children. Cardstock decorated with stickers, covered with packing tape for instant 'lamination' and adorned with a bit of ribbon. In lieu of stickers, pictures cut from religious and gardening catalogs work just as well.

Thanks once again to dearest Alice for the idea, whose love for our Blessed Mother is always overflowing and pouring out through her creative and generous hands. It is so lovely to think of so many families carrying out Alice's craft idea, spreading good cheer and devotion to Our Lady in so many different places. If  you missed making these for May Day, you still have thirty more days left to celebrate Our Lady!

Ave Maria!

Blessed May Day to you and yours!