Monday, November 29, 2010

Thanksgiving Weekend : 1000 Gifts


So very thankful, my joy list continues...

0692
Thanksgiving hymns. "Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices!"

0693
Friends in town.

0694
Church families that invite us to their table.

0695
Warm hats.

0696
Muddy jeans.

0697
A cardinal in flight.

0698
Sun on bare trees.

0699
White birch.

0700
Deep inhale of the cold night air.

0701
A harp and violin played beautifully.

0702
Qwirkle by the fire.


0703
Pumpkin pie.

0704
College football rivalries.

0705
An exciting comeback! War Eagle!

0706
A Thanksgiving Eve date night... a beautiful city, delicious meal, and Henry VIII at the Folger.

0707
Neighborhood flashlight play in the early darkness.

0708
Online shopping.

0709
The ease of keeping in touch with faraway family.

0710
Traditions.


0711
A beautiful wreath, unexpectedly delivered to my door.

0712
The smell of fresh greens in the house.


0713
Winter fruit salad. Beautiful.

0714
A early birthday bike.

0715
After morning service baptism celebration.

0716
A house full of (church) family.

holy experience

Friday, November 19, 2010

{This Moment}


Joining with SouleMama, sharing a moment from our week.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Golden November : 1000 Gifts


The leaves seem to be taking their time this year, giving us a mid-November warm and golden. Wondering at the beauty of it all, the list continues...

0673
A goal at his last game.

0674
End-of-season soccer parties.


0675
Being available.

0676
Leaf piles.

0677
These men and that wonderful, leaf-sucking truck.


0678
The smell of oak burning.


0679
Quiet afternoons.


0680
Celebrating my girl.

0681
Georgetown Cupcake.


0682
Tree swings.



0683
An end-of-long-life conversion!

0684
A memorial service to celebrate.

0685
Pumpkin waffles.

0686
Hot apple cider.

0687
Brighter mornings.

0688
Candlelit dinners.

0689
Seat warmers in the car.


0690
His patience with me.

0691
Grace greater than all my sin.


holy experience

Friday, November 12, 2010

{This Moment}

Joining with SouleMama, sharing a moment from our week.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Pack a Shoe Box



You have a few more days to pack a shoe box with simple gifts that could change a child's life... possibly for eternity. November 15-22 is National Collection Week. Visit Operation Christmas Child for details... printable labels and drop-off locations make it so easy.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Making Time for Art

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.
~Pablo Picasso

Does art continually get pushed to the next day in your home? Maybe by the time you made your way through all the essentials, the energy needed to pull out the paints and brushes is pretty much gone. I've been there. But when I do bring out the art supplies, I am always thankful I did.

It brings me so much joy to see my children light up with creativity and individual expression. A delight in the process, not only the result, is something I hope to encourage in each of my children. I have a strong desire for our home school to be rich with artistic experiences. What I don't have is a lot of time to spend coming up with beautiful and varied art projects, but I have found a little planning can go a long way.

1. Keep basic art supplies on hand, and all in one place. Replenish your art supplies each year when you are busy buying curriculum. Most of the big craft supply stores have a store brand, student-grade line that is very affordable. A well-stocked art supply should include:
  • Paper - smooth drawing paper, watercolor paper, assorted colored paper (including black), and colored tissue paper. I also like each of my children to have a small sketchbook that can easily travel.
  • Nice colored pencils such as Prismacolor Pencils or Dick Blick's Colored Pencils.
  • Markers in a broad variety of colors.
  • A pack Sharpie markers.
  • Watercolors. Crayola is a great place to start, but I prefer the versatility of tube watercolors. And a few plastic mixing trays.
  • A student pack of paintbrushes in assorted sizes.
  • A basic set of oil pastels.
  • A basic set of chalk pastels.
  • Crayons.
  • Pencils.
  • Glue (not glue sticks).
  • Masking tape.

2. Have a few favorite places you go for ideas and keep those ideas bookmarked. I keep all my art books together with favorite pages marked, possibly with a quick note about what supplies are needed. I also keep a bookmark folder on my computer with links to projects I think my kids will enjoy.

3. Pick one afternoon a week for art. In our home, Wednesday is 'Art Afternoon' and I keep it on the calendar so as to not fill that time with something else. Some weeks we spend the entire afternoon immersed in art, some weeks it is 30 minutes at most. It's important to keep it open and flexible, especially if morning lessons are still lying around unfinished. Pick a project you have bookmarked that fits the time you have, and pull out the art supplies you need. Of course, this will be easy because you are well-stocked and it's all in one place.


4. Keep the mood light. Put on some beautiful music. And remember this is not math.

5. Change the scenery every so often. If you always do art projects at the dining room table, go in the backyard and sit on the grass, or maybe just to another room in the house with more natural light. My personal favorite is to throw the sketchbooks and colored pencils in a bag and walk to the park.


6. Sit down and do it with them. Let you children see you enjoying the creative process. It is always so nice to slow down and do something quietly alongside them. Also, I find it is helpful to model what it looks like to work with mistakes.

7. Display their work. And then make sure to keep the family art gallery current. It's amazing how a basic, black frame can make a child's creation really pop. My kids are always thrilled at how their art looks framed and on the wall. What a lovely and affordable way to decorate! And if there are no empty frames, there is no shame in masking tape.


8. Make sure you get them to help clean up. Get all those art supplies back in their proper place and make sure the table is clear for dinner. That way you'll be more likely to pull out the paints and brushes again next week.

Here are a few of my favorite places to find inspiration...

Books:
The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas
Discovering Great Artists, Kohl & Solga

Websites:
Art Projects for Kids
That Artist Woman
The Crafty Crow
The Artful Parent

{This Moment} - Of Capes and Under-Table Planning

Joining with SouleMama, sharing a moment from our week.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Recipe Share


An afternoon snack of hot apple cider and popcorn drizzled with melted butter... I love this fall season of food! Just wanted to share a few new recipes we have been enjoying (and hope to enjoy soon) in our home....

Jennefer shared this recipe again for golden pancakes a few weeks ago, so I gave it a try. They were a hit and so easy it is to pull together. The big thing to love about these pancakes it they stick with your kids. Pancakes are a Saturday morning staple around here, but usually leave my kids searching for a snack mid-morning. This protein-dense version can keep them going through a early afternoon soccer game.

Golden Pancakes
adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup milk (skim, 2 %, almond, soy or rice will all work)
1/4 cup grapeseed/canola/other vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
In a blender combine all ingredients.
Process on highest speed for one minute.
Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto greased hot griddle or non-stick skillet.
Flip when bubbles form on top; cook until other side is golden brown.
We serve them just like regular pancakes - with warmed maple syrup.


**************************


This is another easy (blender) recipe. I love having leftovers for lunch...

Butternut Squash Soup
adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped
4 Tbsp butter
2 medium-sized butternut squash, roasted*
1 carton of chicken broth (32 oz)
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 8 ounce package cream cheese (or even a little less)

Directions:
In a large saucepan, saute onions in butter until tender. Add squash, broth, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.

Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.


* To roast the butternut squash: Preheat oven to 350. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and place it cut side down in a buttered casserole dish. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the flesh is easily pierced with a fork. Let cool and scoop it out of its skin.


**************************

And here is a recipe that I hope to make very soon, perhaps as a little Thanksgiving gift for friends. The only thing that is holding me back is my girl's recently acquired orthodontic appliance (expander) that should probably stay away from caramel corn.

Can't Stop Eating It! Caramel Popcorn
from Jill at Sweet Diva - a high school friend (and really good cook)

Ingredients:
6 quarts popped popcorn
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt (I use 1/2 tsp.)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
Place popcorn (6 qts. = about 24 cups) in a large bowl and set aside. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda; mix well. Pour over popcorn and stir until well-coated.

Pour into two greased 13-in. x 9-in.x 2-in baking pans. Bake, uncovered, at 250 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely. (I find it easier to remove from the pan and break up when it is still SLIGHTLY warm.) Store in airtight container or plastic bags. Yield: about 5-1/2 quarts.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Celebrating : 1000 Gifts

Where to start? It has been an intense weekend of culmination, celebration, and relief this weekend in our home. Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, the list continues...

0656
After five plus years of researching and writing, my husband emailed away the first full draft of his dissertation!!! I'm so proud of him!

0657
That he did it all while working full-time...

0658
and making sure there was always time for us.

0659
Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon!

0660
All my cheerleaders along the way. Michele and Todd. Kari and Tyler. Laura and kids. Jennifer, Mike, and kids. Andy. Brandi. Ashley. MZ and Wills. Paul.... so very thankful!

0661
My husband running all over DC to cheer me on with 3 kids in tow.

0662
Finding them in the crowd around the 16 mile mark.

0663
My "GO Mommy GO" sign.


0664
My parents' enthusiasm as they tracked my run online.

0665
Legs that can run. But not today... today they cannot even go up and down stairs. : )

0667
That glorious finish line.


0668
A time better than I had hoped for!

0669
The Marines that serve. Real heroes. How humbling to let one of them put a medal around my neck.

0670
Experiencing the whole thing with a dear friend from home.

0671
AND my sweet girl is NINE today!!!


0672
Her excitement over her birthday gift (after over a year of fairly persistent asking).

0672
The good gifts HE gives... filled to overflowing.

holy experience

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