I hope we don't jinx ourselves

What is super big, super strong, and red all over?

A 22 ton log splitter! Our neighbor's newest toy! Wasn't it nice of him to come out to play?

See all the wood? Lot of fun here!

Wait! This is what we already have.

More, still. God bless him. I love that Hubby has us exceptionally prepared for a cold, hard winter. However, I am sooooo happy and grateful for the warm weather we're enjoying now.

The Sun is out and so is Sweetness

Let's give thanks to God,

we who belong to Him in a special way.

He has created us for greater things:

to love and to be loved;

to be holy as he is holy. - Mother Teresa

Basketball and Bubbles

I know these aren't the greatest photos, but it's all I could get.
This was her second game and she scored! Yeah!
Think she has a slight advantage over the other girls? Well, there were a few other "towers" out there. At one point, the opposition raised the ball up over her head to "keep it safe" and Bubbles reached over and just took it out of her hands. It surprised everyone, including Bubbles, especially when the girl just let go and let her have it! Absolutely hilarious!

Christmas Time and Table Conversation

The girls really took last month's lesson on centerpieces to heart. For this Christmas party, each girl made a part of the nativity. They brought it to the meeting and assembled it. Pretty cool, I thought.

This month's meeting was an extension of last month. Now that the girls had learned how to set a table based on a menu and be discreet while attending to the needs of others, it was time for them to learn how to have a conversation at the table, while trying to eat etc. I think this is a great skill for so many of us have found ourselves in a situation where the silence was awkward.

I didn't remember to get any pictures of the lesson or the role playing games that were side splitting, but below are pictures of the afternoon when our guests arrived. (We invited four guests: one recently widowed parishioner, one amazing woman who just lost her father a few months before, the most kind hearted lady ever, and our priest. Only Father Ron couldn't make it due to his holiday schedule.)

Here they are doing a great job of making conversation. You can see that one of our little women is attempting to bring her spoon to her mouth and also take small enough bites that if she needed to, she could still answer someone's question.
We drew names to see who would sit with whom and it just so happens that the older girls got placed at the same table.
Enjoying the first course of homemade broccoli potato soup with homemade rosemary bread. It's a good thing that the cooking was the first lesson of the year.
The girls did ALL the place settings, right down to the name plates, candy canes and and folded napkins.
A beautiful, store bought, cake with some extra "copper coin carrots" in the background.
This is a peek at the truly addicting ribbon dessert brought by my friend who once moonlighted as a caterer. Imagine pecan shortbread on the bottom, fluffy white sugary middle, and pistachio green pudding all topped off with whipped cream and pecans! Heavenly.

We gifted each of the guests with a homemade ornament and the girls had the pleasure of being served by their mothers. It was a blessed meeting with lots of good things learned. Perhaps the best were the thank you notes which expressed the immense gratitude of having had the loveliest of all afternoons. The saying is true: to give is better than to receive.

Little Women set and clear the table--just in time for Thanksgiving!

Grace is the gift that transforms our hearts into those like Christ, and we use this skill to transform a table into a truly welcoming place for our guests.

Our Lady of Grace, intercede for us.

In November's meeting, we learned how to formally and informally set a table for guests depending upon our menu. One rule to remember is that the first item to be used for the meal will be on the outside. (in our picture, the coffee cup would have been brought at the end of the meal and would not have been on the outside there). The forks go to the left of the plate in the order of how they will be used. The knife and spoons are placed on the right with the blade facing in towards the plate.

One thing I have never gotten into the habit of is that all dishes are always served on a plate and the plate is removed with the dish. The girls also got to practice serving on the left and removing from the right. In addition, I taught how to refill drinks off to the side of the table which would keep you from crowding your guests as well as keep your guest dry, in the case that you happened to spill. The best part was having them practice being quiet and discreet. As mentioned in the handbook, "....focus on the job and not on the table conversation, as it is not necessarily our business."

I was especially excited about this month's skill because Bubbles is at the age where she can be clearing, without being asked, as the different courses come to a close and the next one picks up. I think dinner parties will be much more enjoyable for her, with something meaningful to do and for me since I can pay close attention to my guest's conversation verses my dishes.

Serving at a table is a wonderful form of hospitality as we let others sit and enjoy good conversation, and a time of rest.

The above quote is something I put on the top of the girl's notebooking pages. I think that sums it up nicely.

Here the girls are playing a game to see which team could set all the essentials of an informal place setting correctly.
Can you tell that it is a race?
This was a totally random game, recommended in the handbook, where the girls raced with plates "and more" on their heads.
No holding aloud, but readjusting was okay. Don't you just love being able to laugh at yourself?
I love the frustrated face! :)
Can you tell who's the dancer and who knows that she has won this by a mile?

After the lesson and games, the girls got to work on an informal place setting for our FABULOUS lunch! Here I am discussing the importance of a center piece, but also the simplicity of one.
Somehow I forgot to take pictures of the delicious ham and cherry sauce, homemade turkey stuffing, delectable broccoli salad, melt-in-your mouth rolls, and yummy dessert.
After lunch, the girls and I headed over to a neighbor's house to spend some time with her and deliver some of the enormous amount of leftover food. I've discovered that not many of the older people out here like to cook for themselves. I probably wouldn't want to heat up the oven and dirty up dishes for myself either, so we try to remember them as often as possible.It was a memorable afternoon and we have many things to be thankful for....especially the gift of faith and of each other!

St. Thomas Aquinas

Fourth day of study with another great saint and now we're beginning to get creative! :)

Bubbles had the urge to make this amazingly scrumptious, perfectly flaky, sweet apple pastry today. With the kitchen being tied up, I decided there must be a way to use it for today's incredible saint. So, here it is....

St. Thomas Aquinas, who was extremely intelligent, discovered the joys of the Dominican order of priests. He joined the Order of Preachers, but his family was adamantly against it. His brothers kidnapped him and brought him back home where they kept him, almost like a prisoner, for about fifteen months, trying to get him to change his mind. However, St. Thomas' attitude through it all actually changed their minds and he was allowed to leave. He went on to write many books which are still referred to today. Even though he had a brilliant mind, he knew that holiness was the way to heaven. He puts it this way, "I learn more things from praying before a crucifix then I do from books." He died in the year 1274 while on his way to the important church meeting called the Council of Lyons. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church and is the patron saint of universities, colleges, and schools.

I think the pastry shows how one can be trapped, but still remain sweet. (A stretch, I know).

Intercede for us, St. Thomas Aquinas, that we all grow in humility and that our intellect leads us to Christ in all things.

Saint Angela Merici

Third day, in a row, of great saints to study and we're still going strong! This amazing saint had a vision where she saw herself teaching young girls. She asked friends to join her in teaching girls from poor families. Her group of teachers used St. Ursula, the patron of universities as their patron saint. Later this small group developed into the order of the Ursaline Sisters who are still active today.
Because St. Angela was born in Northern Italy, it was an easy decision to make up some pizza! My deacon had just told me of a prayer that his mother, an Italian, would use to bless her bread when set to rise. You take your knuckle and make the sign of the cross in the dough while saying, "Let this bread rise as Christ rose from the dead for the salvation of our souls."

I then ran across one of the prayers that St. Angela encouraged her sisters to pray:

“My Savior, illumine the darkness of my heart, and grant me grace rather to die than to offend your Divine Majesty any more.

Guard, O Lord, my affections and my senses, that they may not stray, nor lead me away from the light of your face, the satisfaction of every afflicted heart.

“I ask you, Lord, to receive all my self-will that by the infection of sin is unable to distinguish good from

evil. Receive, O Lord, all my thoughts, words, and deeds, interior and exterior, that I lay at the feet of

your Divine Majesty. Although I am utterly unworthy, I beseech you to accept all my being.”

Intercede for us, St. Angela, that we may reach out to others and that the Lord may use us to bring blessings to others.

Feast of St. Timothy and St.Titus

Two great bishops of the early church and two converts of St. Paul. Last year we didn't do more than just talk about these great examples, but this year I was in the mood for Greek food, so it all worked out perfectly.

Timothy was born in Asia Minor and his father was Greek. Timothy was like a son to St. Paul and went everywhere with him until he was made bishop of Ephesus and died a martyr's death, like St. Paul.

Titus was a Gentile convert who had a special gift of being a peacemaker. St. Paul was preaching in Crete when he was called away. He left Titus as bishop there to shepherd the Christian flock. Titus spent the rest of his life there.
By now you might know that one of my favorite meals is Souvlaki. I make mine with chicken. The recipe is here and it is definitely tastier when it is grilled. However, when I am crunched for time, I take the meat and veggies, along with the marinade and put it all in a 13X9 then bake for 15 - 20minutes on 400 degrees. DELICIOUS! Notice the bread and tzatziki on the side. Awesome!
Here is just one last little thing.....the letters we have from St. Paul in the New Testament to these great saints who were faithful to God in using their gifts to better the kingdom of God on earth.

Intercede for us, St. Timothy and St. Titus, and our bishops that we understand our faith fully and desire to live it to its fullest.

Rainy Day Happenings

Hubby and I have talked about wanting a pond, but this was not what we were envisioning!

Anyways, this was the result of a day of downpour and so are the pictures below....

Prez pulled out a birdhouse kit that he had saved from his birthday. Here he is painting the parts.

Getting it put together took some patience as the glue didn't dry as quickly as he wished.

The kit came with pieces for two birdhouses, which I might add, must be for toy birds. Those things were MINI!

After painting, and while waiting for the glue to dry, Prez begged to pull out the kid's china tea set. Bubbles readily agreed to wash it all up as long as she was allowed to make a special chocolate banana smoothie to go with the party.

With smoothies, two types of crackers, and cookies, I'm surprised that either of them even wanted dinner.

Bubbles being a very good big sister and "playing along".

Even though we'd lost power in the morning, we were able to finish all our schoolwork as well as paint and party. It was a good day! Praise be to God!

The Lunar Landing Module

The experiment: create a model of a "vehicle" that will land upright, without harming your two astronauts inside, when dropped from two feet, three feet, and five feet etc.

Here we go...in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

It's almost there. (Pretty lucky shot, eh?)

Sweet success! Go Bubbles!

January's Little Women Meeting

Why in the world are these girls smiling while folding sheets, you ask? Well, it just so happens that cleaning can be fun; when you're a Little Woman.

This month's skill was how to prepare a room for a guest. For holy inspiration we looked to the Nativity. St. Joseph had to prepare the "room" where Jesus was to be born. Our Savior was coming and things needed some tidying up. In our meeting, we discussed the things that should be done in our rooms so that any guest would feel comfortable and welcomed. The checklist the girls used included things like: clearing a spot (top of a dresser or bookshelf) for the guest to put their belongings, make a space in a top drawer and/or the closet for the guest's clothing, a small dish to put coins or other miscellaneous things, clean linens, nicely made bed with extra blanket handy, as well as a fresh set of towels.
Here, the girls had learned the proper way to make the bed which meant squaring the corners, making sure the flat sheet is upside down so that when turned down the proper side is showing, and putting the pillows in order so that decorative pillows are on top.
After lunch, we had the very fortunate opportunity (thanks to an extremely generous friend) to have the use of a time share cabin to enjoy as well as to reference as good service. It felt reassuring to see how they folded their towels, made their beds, and provided "extras" that a guest would need when staying.

After careful examination, we proceeded to play a little game of.....race to make the bed.
Our beautiful judge.
The girls split up into two teams, one downstairs and one upstairs. The beds were stripped by the opposing team and then rapidly made again.
If you didn't center the sheets right, then one person ran out of room on their side to tuck the edges in. Yikes!
Every corner had to be squared. Way to go, girls.
The finished product...just as pretty as when the maids do it. If you were wondering, Bubble's team did not finish first.

After that, we pulled out all of the supplies to make some extras for a gift basket to have ready in our homes for the next time a guest came over. Earlier in the day, during the lesson, we had discussed some things that could be done to make a guest's stay even better. These things included a gift basket that had an extra toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap, lotion, water bottle, or a note of welcome. You could also keep a stack of magazines or prayer books that the guest might like to read at night. Rather than buy a few sets of each item for the girls to put into a basket, I decided to have them make potpourri sachets to put in a drawer, in the towel set, or send home in the guest's luggage.
This little woman chose a lavender fabric to make into a lavender scented sachet.
Inspired by the log cabin, this little woman went with the red gingham.
We had a vanilla and a lavender scent to choose from. We soaked polyfil and cotton balls with the scent. Once they are finished, you just have to put them in the dryer or the microwave to refresh their scent.
One girl added a ribbon to hers so that she could hang it on the dresser or the bedpost.
Look who added the sweetest bow to hers which gave it such a nice touch.
Bubbles made a door sign to put in her guest basket.
It just so happened that her grandmother was visiting that weekend, so she gifted her sachet to her.
One last picture before leaving the cabin and heading back to the house.

It was a wonderful day and the girls learned a lot about preparing your room, as well as your heart to receive each guest as if you were receiving the very Christ child himself. It was a message that we could all heed.