My little Jude received this game from a good friend this past week. We CANNOT get enough. It has been played over and over by all or some members of our family and is helping with the hard lesson that other people can win and it's okay. Reallllly okay.
It's joined the favorites shelf with Uno, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land and Memory.
What are your very favorite games for kids?
Outside My Window... cold little Texas bushes, lunch-hour traffic, sunshine and blue sky.
I am thinking... glitter is of satan
I am thankful for... the little things, family, friends and health- as cheeso as it sounds.
From the kitchen... last night lasagna followed by pumpkin bread, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin ale. Mmmm pumpkin.
I am wearing... jeans, nursing tank, flannel, woolly socks and greasy pinned-back hair
I am creating... a lace-weight scarf for my mother. It is really boring and taking forever.
I am going... on a stroll to Kroger for oatmeal... and maybe avocados.
I am reading... Havana Nocture, Packaging Girlhood and The Lion, Witch, Wardrobe with Jake for the 3rd time.
I am hoping... tomorrow comes quickly!
I am hearing... mega blocks on hardwood, the dryer, baby babbling, and oral sound effects.
Around the house... laundry needs finishing, school stuff needs to be put away, dinner needs contemplation, mega blocks need shepherding, I could go on...
One of my favorite things... is cat sneezes.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Celebrate 8th anniversary tomorrow! Halloween festivals and trunk or treat Friday, Jude's birthday and All Saints Saturday. Also fun fall crafts and finishing that pumpkin ale.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I couldn't resist.
"Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the word of God is like fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity- the fire of love of God and neighbor- it will work wonders." (Autobiography #438-439).
Ave Maria as performed by Celtic Woman. This girl's voice is just beautiful, simple. Together with the harp it is sublime.
What do you have on this week?
Cranberry Orange Nut Bread
Makes 1 loaf (I triple it and breakfast is done for a week)
1/2 cup milk of choice, I like almond milk in this
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup chopped fresh cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease 9 x 5 " loaf pan.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the milk, orange juice, canola oil, sugar and vanilla.
Sift in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and allspice. Mix until smooth. The batter will be thicker than a normal cake batter, don't be alarmed!
Fold in orange zest, cranberries and walnuts. Spoon in prepared pan.
Bake about an hour. Let bread cool for about 15 minutes before inverting it onto a cooling rack.
"Whenever I go into the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do.
If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him.
If he gives me nothing, I still thank him since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that.
And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen.
If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen.
God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply."
- St Catherine Laboure
What was the last book you bought?
Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp. I have yet to do more than flip through.
Name a book you have read MORE than once.
Like Smock, a bunch. I will re-read anything I enjoyed. The last was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (thank you MamaT), I've read it probably 4 times.
Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Maybe not fundamentally, although all the books I've read have collectively shaped a lot of my mind. The one with the most memorable impact is the The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. I feel lightheaded every time I read it.
How do you choose a book, eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?
I love to read stuff from good recommendations. Usually I grab something (fast!) off the New Books shelf at the library based totally off cover design and title. I just discovered I can pursue the library online and have my books waiting for me. I need to utilize this more.
Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Much prefer non-fiction. I find fiction way easier to read these days of super multi-tasking though, which is fine because I heart it too.
What's more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
Gah! Both! If I HAD to choose I'd say beautiful writing. I can get lost in expression even if it goes nowhere.
Most loved/memorable character (character/book).
I just finished Atonement by Ian McEwan and was very swept up in Cecilia, so she comes right to mind.
Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution by T.J English (highly recommend), The Magician's Nephew by C.S Lewis, Jake and I are reading it for the first time together and Kids are Worth It by Barbara Coloroso which has a permanent home on the night stand.
What was the last book you've read, and when was it?
Atonement. I guess I finished it last week?
Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Mos def.
I let my eldest son pick today's entry. If you'll grant me just one more old school, groovy tune, I'll give you Let It Be:
He's learning the melody on the piano and sings along. If you've never heard a 5 year old belt the Beatles you are missing something wonderful.
Today's track is from one of my favorite bands lately, The Postal Service. They're a collaboration of people from other bands that I love- DNTEL, Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley. I can't rave enough.
This jam, Such Great Heights, has been busy on my playlist for a couple of years and is special to Papicito and I immensely.
What are you listening to today?
St Francis of Assisi is a popular guy around here. The children adore The Poor Man of Assisi year round. Today we made some pine cone bird feeders while talking about him (Jake: Naked?! Stripped naked? In front of everyone? Hardcore!), blessed a little medal for the cat's collar together, and finished up our novena- the words hit me hard everyday after the morning news:
Glorious Saint Francis, who voluntarily renounced all the comforts and riches of your home to follow more perfectly the life of poverty and abnegation of Jesus Christ:
obtain for us, we pray, a generous contempt of all things in this world, that we may secure the true and eternal things of heaven.
Hardcore, indeed. San Francisco, pray for us.
