Dewey's Treehouse

From the archives: Make It Do

2012-01-28T13:28:00.009-05:00

First posted January 28, 2007

Make It Do has always been one of my favourite topics. Except that the phrase Make It Do sounds a bit grim, like Grin and Bear It. I prefer the DHM's question What Do You Have In Your Hand? Or in your cupboard...or on your bookshelf. What DO we have in this camp kitchen to feed the vegetarians? (I talked the cook into putting some of the soup into another pot before he added meat.) What can we do with all this coloured telephone wire in the crafts room? (Braided bracelets for eighty campers.) What would you do with these hypothetical food hamper groceries for four hungry people for three days? (That was for a community nutrition class--and I got a good mark on that one! Nobody else thought of making peanut butter balls...) [In 1996 or thereabouts, we weren't as worried about peanut allergies.]

What's In Your Hand is Ma Ingalls and blackbird pies. It's popsicle sticks and Cheerios for math, and teaching phonics with a pile of old Highlights magazines. It's all those recipes invented to use up things like rhubarb that really don't taste so good on their own. (OK, I know there are people who chew on raw rhubarb...) It's how my friend Marsha and I once taught Sunday School in a un-child-friendly college classroom: we stuck pictures up with Stick-tack and took them down again every week, brought old couch cushions to sit on and our own toys to play with, and let the kids colour at the adult-sized tables. And they really did manage fine without mini-sized chairs.

It's a dull prairie cabin with sunflowers planted around it. (Virtual sunflower seeds if you can help me remember where that story came from, because I've forgotten.) [2012 update: I still haven't found the story. Any ideas?]

Use Your Creativity is about surprise and discovery, instead of just "I suppose I can make do with it." It's Athena's kids retelling stories with Playmobil. It's Ponytails' coloured-pencil drawing to go with Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave. It's Homeschool Radio Shows' Fourth Annual Make-Your-Own-Radio-Show Contest. It's Meredith's closet makeover and tree-frog-painted table. It's two balls of Dollarama yarn that got turned into one pair of slippers (for Crayons), a dolly hat and scarf, and a couple of hair scrunchies. (You couldn't buy all that even at Dollarama for the two dollars the yarn cost.)

Make It Do is combining two or more parts to make something better than a whole. Instead of waiting for the perfect thing to arrive, the perfect homeschool curriculum to be written, or our body to revert to the perfect size, we use what's there. Can we use it a little differently? Do we need to adapt, go faster/slower, make it more challenging, skip the questions or tests, include more hands-on activities? Or should we use just the best part of it? (For Meredith: Every cloud has a cashmere lining.)

We're using a not-perfect curriculum for math; but it doesn't matter that it doesn't cover everything, because there are lots of ways to learn the things that it doesn't include, and it's kind of interesting having a break from the same workbook all the time anyway. Combining resources for homeschool science can make a stronger overall program than trying to pick one perfect textbook or study guide. We just got an Astronomy book for next year's school--but we also have an old Sky Science experiment kit and several books about the solar system, so we'll combine what we have.

And Make It Do is finding new ways to use what you already have. Cutting holes into the bottom edges of a cereal box is one surefire way of getting kids to notice long-neglected marbles (you shoot them at the holes). You can use wooden blocks to build temporary furniture for plastic trolls. You can learn new rules for cards, checkers, or dominoes.

Not what you ordered? Not just what you hoped for? Make it do. And have fun.

Crochet Class Number Two: Make a Scrunchie

2012-01-28T05:38:00.101-05:00

Did you crochet along with us last Saturday?

Today the girls will be getting together again, and the planned project is a hair scrunchie.   Scrunchies are endlessly variable...searching for "crocheted scrunchie" will bring up all kinds of patterns.

The basic idea is this: take a coated ponytail elastic, and in this case, cheaper is not better: you don't want the ends to pop apart in a week. Make a slip knot with the yarn--any kind is fine, and scrunchies are a great place to experiment with little bits of novelty yarn. Attach the yarn to the hair elastic, using a slip stitch; in other words, hold your slip knot against the elastic, bring the yarn over the hook, and pull that through both the elastic and the slip knot so that they hold together. It's really easier than it sounds, but if you have trouble, watch one of the videos linked below.

All attached? The very simplest version is to single crochet around the elastic, filling it up as much as possible, just like last week's pipe cleaner ornaments. Slip stitch to end off, and work in the ends. That's what I had the slightly younger group of girls do a couple of years ago, and some of them found it fairly challenging. However, a much nicer scrunchie can be made by combining chain and single crochet stitches, for instance, chaining five in between each single crochet stitch. If you're confident enough to do a second or third row, you can keep going and make an even bigger, loopier scrunchie.

Here’s a good video, except that she’s using double crochet instead of single crochet. Here’s another one I like: (this one has a pattern of five chains, one single crochet; she also shows you how to add beads without stringing them on first). One more. (Notice that everybody has a slightly different way of getting the yarn locked on the hair elastic?)

One thing to remember from today's lesson is that chains are used in more than one way in crocheting.  When you learn to crochet, you're probably shown chains as just a base for learning to make the other stitches: you make a chain of a certain length, then you work crochet stitches into those chains (something we'll be doing in the next class). But they're also used within the crocheted work, both to begin rows (getting the row started at a certain height by making one or more chain stitches) and to make spaces or loops. Lacy doilies are full of chain stitches. If you've ever seen something crocheted in a mesh pattern, or filet crochet, that's usually a combination of single crochet and chain stitches.

Another example of chains used to leave a space: when I crocheted a hat for a doll with a ponytail, I just stitched along to a certain point and then made a chain of about ten stitches, skipped over the same number of stitches in the previous row, joined the chain back to the work with a slip stitch, and then kept crocheting. When I got back around to the chain, I worked ten stitches over the chain (just like crocheting over the hair elastic) and then just kept going from there.  That created a big "buttonhole" in the side of the hat.

Last example of chains as spacers: last week I made a big "granny square" for a baby afghan. The granny square has been a popular crocheting motif for years; usually you make a lot of small ones and sew them together, but I hate sewing things together so I made one big one instead. Anyway, the pattern for a big or small granny square is the same: you work, usually, in blocks of three double crochet stitches (double crochet is a bit taller than single crochet--you "yarn over" first, and then bring the loops off in two steps) with a chain stitch in between each group of three. Corners are made, usually, with two groups of three double crochet stitches, and three chain stitches between those--that's what makes the square corners. If you want to know more, check out You-tube videos on granny squares, or most basic crochet books will show you how they're made.

Does all that sound like too much information if you're just trying to make a scrunchie? Well, the point of this project is that you can think of the chains as loops to dress up the scrunchie, and the single crochets more just as "connectors." Use whatever combinations you like with this project--you really can't go wrong.

And next time we'll get into the "real stuff": figuring out where the stitches go, when there isn't an elastic.

What's for supper? (Day before groceries)

2012-01-27T15:20:00.001-05:00

Broccoli quiche, made with Parmesan cheese, yogurt, leftover vegetables, powdered milk, eggs, and a whole wheat pat-in crust
Leftover sausage and a bit of perogy casserole
Baked potatoes
Rye bread
Carrot and celery sticks, canned black olives

Peach crisp with milk or yogurt (canned peaches and peach jam)
Extra cookies and fruit, because we ended up having a friend stay to supper

Baby afghan, baby "stress toys" (crocheting)

2012-01-27T09:28:00.002-05:00

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (mostly. I think the dark brown might have been another brand--I bought that awhile ago).
Pattern: Just a big granny square
Photos: Mr. Fixit. Copyright 2011 Dewey's Treehouse.

Travelling the Underground Railroad (Crayons' Grade 5)

2012-01-26T19:23:00.000-05:00

We don't usually do unit studies in our homeschool. But I had thought about spending a couple of weeks during February emphasizing the Underground Railroad. We are just about at that point in our Canadian history book, February is Black History Month, and so on.

So I was very interested to come across an ad for a homeschool mom's unit study on that topic, and went so far as to ask Mr. Fixit to pay to download it.

I'm not going to name the study or the company, because I was very disappointed in what we received. What we got, we'll use, but it certainly is skimpy. However, I did make a list of other related material that we are going to work into February's school. Here are some ideas:

Adventures in Odyssey Episodes #314-316, "The Underground Railroad." We borrowed these on CD from a friend. Note that they are a bit intense--not for the youngest children.

The American Girl Addy books, from the library. I took the six books out from the library last weekend, and Crayons has already read through all of them. They're quite well done, and they cover not only Addy's early life and escape from slavery, but also what life was like afterwards for her family in Philadelphia. Each book has historical notes in the back.

The Last Safe House, by Barbara Greenwood (combines story, historical notes, and a few activities)

Underground to Canada, a novel by Barbara Smucker (there's a chapter-by-chapter study guide here)

Freedom Train, by Dorothy Sterling (biography of Harriet Tubman)

Poems from this website

Composers such as William Grant Still and Joe Sealy

One book I found which I did not like that much: The Underground Railroad for Kids. Maybe it was the title, maybe it was just the fact that the library's copy was so beat up, but it just didn't seem like the sort of book you would want to turn kids loose with--more than intense, this one was a bit on the Martyr's Mirror end of things. There are lots of great photographs, which you could use selectively. Some interesting activities, but they're the sort of projects we probably would end up just reading about, not doing.

And there are lots of websites, of course.

More ideas?

What's for supper? Sausage and things

2012-01-26T18:55:00.000-05:00

Tonight's dinner menu:

Perogy casserole, made with shell pasta instead of lasagna noodles because that's what we had
Farmer's sausage baked with sauerkraut
Broccoli

Banana muffins and brownies

Found at the thrift store

2012-01-25T17:46:00.000-05:00

Today was the first Wednesday in a long time that I did not work primarily on books. I was asked awhile back to help with some data entry work for the store, so today was my training day.

But I did find a few books towards the end of the afternoon. And Crayons found a bathrobe, which she needed. And a Jean Little book she had wanted to read.

(We do have a copy of the Blue Fairy Book, but it's the Puffin Classics edition and it's missing about five of the stories that are included in the Dover book.)

What's for supper? Chinese Beef Thing and Baked Squash Doughnuts

2012-01-24T21:03:00.000-05:00

Sounds luscious, doesn't it?

Actually, this was the menu:

Rouladen-cut beef (we get it already flattened at the store--resembles minute steaks), cut in strips, cooked slowly in a covered skillet with hoisin sauce, beef broth, and a chunk of ginger, and with frozen green beans added towards the end
Brown rice

Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts, but made with a mixture of cooked butternut squash and apple butter because we didn't have any canned pumpkin. It worked fine!

Crocheting check-in, and a note on gauge (now with photos)

2012-01-23T17:11:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I posted some notes about our first crochet class. The girls (and a couple of moms who came) all did splendiferously. Later that day I went to Walmart and picked up a big skein of blue Red Heart Super Saver, and two smaller multicoloured skeins of the same. You'll see complaints about RHSS all over the Internet, but I like the colours and it's affordable (especially at Walmart), so I keep using it.

I decided to use some of the blue yarn to make a hat for the Apprentice, like the red one shown on the cover of that pattern book. I often do "forget" to do a sample swatch and check the gauge before jumping into a project (yes, I know it's one of the ten rules), but this time I wanted to be really careful. Good thing too, because it took three swatches and two changes of hook before my stitch size lined up with the pattern. But I got it worked out, and the Apprentice liked her hat fine. (Photo coming)

So I started a second hat, using the Primaries mix above. This time I didn't bother to check the gauge, since I had worked it all out the first time. And you can guess what...it turned out bigger than the first one. Not miles bigger, but enough that I probably should have gone back to the original hook size. Same Red Heart Super Saver--but the multicoloured yarn was slightly heavier and also had a bit different texture (what RHSS critics call "scratchy").

Go figure.

Crayons said she would like that hat, even though it was a bit big, and she also requested a smaller one for one of her dolls. The doll has a side ponytail, so I left a gap for her hair.

I also brought home some scrap yarn from the thrift store: the fuzzy, furry eyelash kind. I used it to make a long, skinny boa scarf--two strands held together to make a long chain and then three rows of double crochet. Almost three, because I ran out of yarn just before the end of the last row, but it's not too noticeable. Fuzzy eyelash yarn isn't a great choice for beginners, because it's really hard to see where your stitches are--I just guessed as I went along. On the other hand, it's very forgiving, even if you run short of yarn or have to work in a lot of ends (the yarn was in small balls and scraps that I had to work together), because mistakes just disappear into the fluff.

Did any of you try the bead bracelets or the snowflake ornaments? Have you been making anything else? Crayons has been making jewelery for her dolls this week. My friend Krakovianka does awesome things with thread--but if you want a lesson in that, you'll have to go to Krakow.

What's everybody doing today?

2012-01-21T08:42:00.000-05:00

Just in case anyone was expecting a crochet lesson--our next gathering isn't until next weekend. But maybe I'll post a "weekend update."

The Apprentice is at a weekend conference on the theme of Failure. (Yes, really.) Well, actually it's about interdisciplinary education, but the speaker topics are on failure.

Ponytails is going bowling with two friends from her improv comedy team.

Crayons is going to visit a friend that she met years ago in a dance class and who's now in the Saturday sewing/crochet group. Turns out she lives only a couple of blocks away.

Mama Squirrel and Mr. Fixit do not have any meetings to go to or classes to plan for or anything else too pressing today. Mama Squirrel wants to go to the library. Mr. Fixit will probably work on his clocks and radios. And there are always groceries...and some snow to shovel...

How's your weekend shaping up?

Quote for the day: "Writing springs new experience into being"

2012-01-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

In an article first published in The Writer magazine, the late poet William Stafford asked the question, "How can we carry our most fervent feelings right into the living room of our readers and still be firm, solid, satisfying, convincing?" Near the end of the article, he listed examples of stories and poems that "make the reader encounter the human involvements that command our emotions," including David Copperfield and Emily Dickinson's "I heard a fly buzz when I died."

So here's the quote:

"Writing--literature--springs new experience into being; it is much more than just partially achieved recollections transferred from a fervent author to an accepting reader: a new life springs into focus, by being told. To create means to change, to change writer and reader.

"I never came back to earth after reading Chekhov.

"Now when I reach for my book--or my pen--Mr. Murdstone raises his heavy cane. I hear a fly buzz. Beyond the hedge in a gush of color and laughter Mr. Dick releases his gigantic, staggering kite to the wind."--William Stafford, "Being Tough, Being Gentle," reprinted in Crossing Unmarked Snow: Further Views on the Writer's Vocation

Crayons' Year 5: A quiet Friday

2012-01-20T13:31:00.002-05:00

On today's homeschool menu:

Singing "Holy Holy Holy" (not the Heber hymn, the Schubert Sanctus that I learned during a brief stint in the Presbyterian Church of Canada)

Singing "Ontari-ari-ari-o" (we usually sing something Canadian on Friday mornings)

Online math game

Reading about William Tyndale in Makers of the English Bible

Short keyboard (music) lesson

Plutarch's Life of Dion, half of lesson 4. King Dionysius keeps the philosopher Plato trapped in his palace in Syracuse, and sends Plato's older friend Dion off to Greece, because he wants Plato to be his (and only his) best friend forever. 300ish B.C. is not that far removed from the experience of some ten-year-olds!

(short break here)

Picture study: Mary Cassatt, Woman and Child Driving.

Cursive writing practice

Silas Marner, most of chapter 10, and written narration

Lunchtime: reheated minestrone, bagels, and Magic Milkshakes (Mama Squirrel recently received the lovely gift of a Ninja blender, so we're making things we haven't had for awhile)

Helping shovel snow, and sliding down our hill

That's about where we're at now...some things left to do like laundry and cleaning. Also we're going to work in a chapter of Ballet Shoes.

And it's the weekend!

Written narration by Crayons: Silas Marner

2012-01-20T12:51:00.004-05:00

Silas Marner's comfortably isolated existence has been interrupted by the theft of all his savings. Although the robbery devastates him, it also brings him into closer contact with his neighbours. This narration is from a section near the end of chapter 10.

Dolly Winthrop came to Silas’s cottage one afternoon with her little son Aaron and a basket full of lard cakes Silas greeted her a little shyly “I suppose you didn’t hear the church bells?” she asked “I did.” He said “but don’t you know this is Sunday?” she asked “I do.” He said “but you were working!” she accused “well I always do.” He said

“Um well yes…” she said slowly “I brought you these!” she handed him the box of lard cakes. “Thanks” he said then she talked for a while about church and then she said: “Well now Aaron get up and sing your song!” Aaron did and the only thing Silas thought he could do was give the boy a lard cake then she talked some more about church then said: “Well we most be going. Do consider church. Goodbye. Aaron, bow!” Aaron bowed and then they left Silas was a rather glad they had gone.

Illustration found here

Found at the thrift store

2012-01-18T22:03:00.000-05:00

It was a busy afternoon at the thrift store. Several boxes to empty, lots of empty shelves to fill. Today's finds: five books and four balls of yarn. And some nightwear for Crayons/Dollygirl.

Cozy Crochet: 26 fun projects from fashion to home decor, by Melissa Leapman

Radio wizard: Edward Samuel Rogers and the revolution of communication, by Ian Anthony (that was for Mr. Fixit)

Leaving Home: Survival of the Hippest, by Andie Parton and Lynn Johnston (about roomies, finances, keeping food in the cupboard, and stuff like that). That was for the Apprentice...no, she isn't actually leaving home yet, but it's good survival stuff anyway.

Northrop Frye: A Biography, by John Ayre.

And Queen Victoria's Children, by Daphne Bennett. That one will probably be a gift for a monarchy-loving relative.

Most interesting thing I didn't bring home today: a souvenir book from the 1979 King Tutankhamun exhibit, with two original ticket stubs still stuck in the book.

Learn to sew like it's 1889: from a vintage Home Journal

2012-01-18T10:24:00.000-05:00

HOW TO TEACH OUR GIRLS TO SEW.

I would like to make a practical suggestion, and tell exactly how I made of my own little girl an accomplished needlewoman. I commenced when she was eight years old by cutting and planning her doll's plain clothes for her, such as skirts and aprons, making myself the more particular things, such as dresses, drawers, sacques and bonnets. I taught her to hem, fell, overseam and gather. Early in life she learned that no really first class seamstress ever finished the making of a set of undergarments with uncovered seams. She was taught, as a little girl once said, to "gather like a lady," and always to use a double thread.

When her gathering had been finished, I taught her to lay gathers without the aid of pin or needle. I find many ladies who still adhere to the old time custom of "stroking" them, which is tedious and often injurious to fine, thin goods. For those who do not understand this particular "knack" I will explain. When the apron, or other garment, as the case may lie, has been gathered, draw up the thread as tightly as possible, stick in the needle and wrap the thread around it to prevent slipping. Now take the gathers in the left hand between the thumb and forefinger, and with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, pull tightly over the nail of the forefinger of the left hand, and if done according to directions, beautifully laid gathers will be the result. In this, as in everything else, "practice makes perfect."

For a number of years this little maid has taken upon herself the making of the pillow cases for "Papa's" night pillow, and receives for her work, from the aforesaid "Papa," a little money consideration, and from her "Mamma" a great deal of praise for well executed work. I cut and baste them for her, she then overhands them, hems and finally puts on the finishing touches in the shape of neatly worked buttonholes. A pillow case, by the way, is an excellent article to commence your instruction on, as it embraces the most important kinds of sewing, and is plain, straight work throughout.

When she was proficient in plain sewing I taught her to darn, first of all giving her a gay bright darning bag, to hold her unmended hosiery. This bag was supplied with embroidered flannel leaves containing some long slender needles. The pocket held a pair of scissors, thimble, cards of black, brown, navy blue and white darning cotton. This pretty bag I gave her when she was ready for her first lesson, with the request that when her work was finished the cotton, scissors and thimble should be put in the pocket, the needles in the leaves, and the bag hung on its proper hook. I gave her her first lesson on a pair of stockings very little worn. Seating her at my side I showed her how to go back and forth with her darning needle, until the hole was covered, then to cross it, weaving in and out until a smooth, flat surface was the result....

After she was thoroughly up in the rudiments of sewing she was encouraged to do some fancy work, which, from her knowledge of plain, prosaic work, will bear the scrutiny of close attention much better than if she had been allowed to commence with the ornamental first. At fifteen she is nearly as fond of her dolls as at eight, and so proficient has she become in the art of sewing, that she can make from a Parisian hat down to a pair of well shaped crocheted bootees.

It was not always "clear sailing" in these lessons of ours, little tempests sometimes arose that seemed likely to upset the frail bark, the thread would snarl or break at the most inopportune times, a pucker would sometimes appear in the heel of the stocking, but patience and perseverance, those wonderful elements of success, finally conquered. --Annie Curd.

From Ladies' home journal and practical housekeeper, Volumes 5-6, July 1889

From the archives: a day that really schmecked

2012-01-15T06:16:00.001-05:00

Originally posted January 15, 2007

Today's the day! It's also the day that would have been Edna Staebler's 101st birthday. In honour of that, and to celebrate the reissue of her first cookbook, Food That Really Schmecks, Jasmine at Cardamom Addict organized a good-schmecking roundup of recipes. I counted (I think) eleven bloggers who are linked from Jasmine's page, including our Schnitz Pie post.
Happy birthday to Edna. And thanks again to Jasmine and WLU Press for sponsoring this.

Teaching a crochet class: here are the rules, and here's how we're starting

2012-01-14T06:53:00.001-05:00

This weekend Mama Squirrel has agreed to start teaching some of Crayons' friends how to crochet. (The same girls who usually sew together on Saturdays, only we're doing crochet for awhile instead.) We did something like this two years ago in a homeschool co-op, but the girls there were slightly younger. This time the average age is ten, plus there are a couple of moms who want to hang around and learn as well, so I'm hoping we can do a bit more than we did in the other class.

Want to learn along with us? For the first class, you will need some worsted-weight yarn (not too dark a colour), a few pony beads to go with your yarn, a crochet hook somewhere between 4.5 and 5 mm (that's metric sizing--Americans need an H hook, or something around that size), and a yarn needle for weaving in loose ends. Also some white yarn and a pipe cleaner, plus a cookie cutter for shaping the pipe cleaner into a nicer shape, plus some sparkly fabric paint or other trim of your own choice.

Here are Mama Squirrel's Rules for Crocheting.

1. If you make a mistake, go back and fix it. It’s easier to fix it NOW than to wish you had at the end.

2. Make your hook do the work. Don’t pull the yarn off the hook with your fingers.

3. Don’t work too tight.

4. Don’t let the yarn split.

5. Don’t work too long without a break—do something else and let your muscles relax. Otherwise you can hurt yourself.

6. If you’re following a pattern for something where size matters, make a sample swatch (test piece) first and measure the gauge (the size of your stitches). You might have to change hooks or try another kind of yarn. But if you are making a small item, or making up your own pattern, it’s not so important.

7. If you’re using a new skein of yarn, pull from the inside.

8. Ask for help if you’re not sure of something. If you can’t find someone right there who knows, there are lots of places to find crochet help online.

9. Don’t crochet while eating chocolate-chip cookies.

10. Don’t crochet in the bathtub.

In our first class, we're going to start by learning to chain stitch--what else?--but we're going to jazz it up a bit by stringing pony beads on the yarn first, and incorporating them into the chaining (slide them up as you want them). Instant friendship bracelets. We started doing this last summer at VBS, and the kids really liked it. Some of them chained with hooks, and some just used their fingers--it works either way. Leave a decent-length tail at the beginning (for a wrist tie), then just start chaining--chain a few stitches, slide up a bead, chain a couple more stitches, slide up a bead, and so on until it's long enough. End off (you can find out how to do that online--really simple), and leave a tail of yarn the same length as the other end. Tie around your wrist.

After a break, assuming everybody's caught on to chaining, we're going to single-crochet around pipe-cleaner loops. The advantage to this is that you can concentrate on making the stitches without having to worry about putting them into chain stitches, which can be a bit frustrating for beginniners. If you've ever tried to learn to crochet, you'll know what I mean. Make the pipe cleaner into a circle, attach the yarn with a slip stitch (look this up online if you don't know how--leave a bit of a tail), and start single crocheting around. Keep going until the pipe cleaner is covered. Join the two ends together with a slip stitch and end off, leaving a tail of yarn. Either tie the two ends together in a bow for a hanger, or weave them into the crocheting with the yarn needle.

The pipe-cleaner loops will probably be finished for homework. Next time, or whenever they're done, we'll shape them around a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter, and then paint them a bit with glittery fabric paint. I had planned on using sparkly yarn for this, but couldn't find anything thick enough; so we'll just use plain white yarn and add the sparkles afterward. I used two strands of white cotton yarn, which looked pretty good; but when you're just learning, I think one strand is a better idea.

If you don't have a snowflake cookie cutter and want to try this, you could use green yarn and call it a Christmas wreath. Or use another shape--a heart would be nice, if you can find a cutter that is about the same size around as your pipe cleaner. (Cut the pipe cleaner first if you need to.)

The nice thing these days about crochet class (or just about anything else) is that if you get home and forget everything you learned, you can easily find an online tutorial. Ehow has good ones for basic crochet stitches.

Let me know if there's something you can't figure out!

From the archives: a quiz for Ponytails, Crayons, and The Boy

2012-01-12T08:28:00.001-05:00

Originally posted January 10, 2007. Ponytails (then in the fourth grade) made up these questions and answered them herself; then we posted answers from Crayons (in kindergarten) and from Crayons' friend Schmoo's brother, then known as The Boy.

Ponytails' Questions and Answers

How much snow is there on the ground where you live?
--Enough to shovel but not enough to make a snowman.
How do you make a snowbear?
--You make a humongous ball and a little ball, and five snowballs.
Do you know the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--Yes!
Do you like the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--Yes, but it's a little depressing.
What do you put in baked peanut butter cookies?
--1 egg, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of peanut butter.
Do you like writing stories?
--Yes! I'm writing one right now. Well, I kind of finished it, but I might put some finishing touches on it.
You can answer these questions too!!

~~~Ponytails

Answers by Crayons:
How much snow is there on the ground where you live?
--Enough to make five snowmans.
How do you make a snowbear?
--Well, you make a big ball, you make five snowballs and a little ball.
Do you know the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--Yes.
Do you like the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--No, I hate it!
What do you put in baked peanut butter cookies?
--A whole bag of chocolate chips and a whole bag of marshmallows! And a little tiny bit of peanut butter.
Do you like writing stories?
--It's kind of hard.Would you like to write a story?
--Yes.

Answers by The Boy:
How much snow is there on the ground where you live?
--None.
How do you make a snowbear?
--I don't know.
Do you know the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--No.
Do you like the song "The Minstrel Boy?"
--I don't know??!
What do you put in baked peanut butter cookies?
--Peanut butter.
Do you like writing stories?
--Yes.
Would you like to write a story?
--Yes. I'm going to be an author. Or an illustrator. Or both.

Found at the thrift store

2012-01-11T20:20:00.001-05:00

All I brought home today was Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness. And a couple of Star Trek-related books for Mr. Fixit. Crayons found a little book about towel origami.

Best book I almost bought: an omnibus volume of Graham Green's novels. But I figured we had most of the ones included already.

Funniest book seen today, and it's only funny because there always seems to be at least one copy of The Celestine Prophecy on the thrift store shelf:

The Cellulite Prophecy: An Adventure

Crayons' Grade Five--work for today

2012-01-10T08:30:00.001-05:00

1. Picture study: We are starting a study of Mary Cassatt, beginning with "Woman in Black at the Opera."

I found several notes for this painting online; here's one page that makes some interesting points. "Because the Opera was a symbol of Modernity, it became the subject of a number of Impressionist paintings. The Opera was an important space for women artists like Mary Cassatt because they were able to gain access to this space whereas other public areas were unavailable to them."

(Crayons' note: Why is that man spying on her from across the room?)

2. Plutarch's Life of Dion, Lesson 3.

"Now things being in this state, Plato arrived in Sicily, where he was marvellously received and honoured by Dionysius. For when he landed on the shore, leaving his galley that brought him: there was ready for him one of the king's rich and sumptuous chariots to convey him to the castle: and the tyrant made sacrifice to give the gods thanks for his coming, as for some wonderful great good hap chanced unto his seigniory. Furthermore, the wonderful modesty and temperance that was begun to be observed in feasts and banquets, the court clean changed, and the great goodness and clemency of the tyrant in all things, in ministering justice to every man, did put the Syracusans in great good hope of change, and every man in the court was very desirous to give himself to learning and philosophy. So that, as men reported, the tyrant's palace was full of sand and dust, with the numbers of students that drew plates and figures of geometry."

3. Halliburton's Book of Marvels. I think we're at Part 2, chapter 3. The Colossus.

(Seems ironic to be clicking on a button to make the Colossus "small." But there you go.)

4. Noel Streatfeild, A Young Person's Guide to Ballet. We are just starting this book.

"It is not I think possible to write a book about how to watch ballet--so much depends on where you live. So I have made up two children, Anna and Peter, who learn to dance and, at the same time, pick up a little ballet history. What this book tries to tell you is that, quite apart from a career, dancing is a lovely thing to be able to do and, because you have learnt something about it, watching dancing will give you pleasure all your life."--Noel Streatfeild

Plus we will be doing a short Bible reading, a bit of math, and a couple of other things.

Quote for the day: So there.

2012-01-10T05:50:00.001-05:00

"[Mathematician Leonhard] Euler moved to Germany to be at the royal academy there, but did not get along with the Germans, who enjoyed long philosophical discussions not to his taste. Catherine the Great of Russia invited Euler back to the St. Petersburg academy and he was more than happy to come back. At that time, the philosopher Denis Diderot, an atheist, was visiting Catherine's court. The empress asked Euler to argue with Diderot about the existence of god. Diderot, in the meantime, was told that the famous mathematician had a proof of God's existence. Euler approached Diderot and said gravely: 'Sir, a + b/n = x, hence God exists; reply!' Diderot, who knew nothing about mathematics, gave up and immediately returned to France."--Fermat's Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem, by Amir D. Aczel

(The same story is online here (see #16), as told in Mathematics for the Million, but with a note that it may not be plausible. But it's still interesting.)

Whatever happened on January 10th?

2012-01-10T04:02:00.007-05:00

49 BC – Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.

1776 – Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.

1811 - Norwester David Thompson 1770-1857 crosses the height of land of the Rocky Mountains on the Athabasca Pass; he will ascend the Columbia River to its source, then descend it to Astoria, becoming the first person to explore and map the whole length of the river.

1815 - British government bans Americans from settling in Canada.

1863 – The London Underground, the world's oldest underground railway, opens between London Paddington station and Farringdon station.

1920 – The Treaty of Versailles takes effect, officially ending World War I.

1929 – The Adventures of Tintin, one of the most popular European comic books ever, is first published in Belgium.

It's also the birthday of more famous people than I can list. Here's just one: Gisele MacKenzie, performing with Roger Williams, who died just three months ago.

Back to school: all we've done so far

2012-01-09T12:15:00.003-05:00

I did have a schedule for today, but we seem to be going at it very slowly.

As of lunch, we have gotten through one chapter of Silas Marner* (first chapters of things are always slow), two pages of math, and one history lesson about what happened when the prairie people started doing all their business with the Americans down south, in the middle of the 1800's. (One factor that led to Confederation a few years later.)

Just call it quality rather than quantity.

UPDATE: In the afternoon, we watched a Wishbone episode, started reading a French story, and practiced some chords on the digital piano. Crayons also did some Pet Store Math with her dad.

*Yes, we are making the experiment of reading Eliot with a fifth grader. Or at least trying a few chapters and seeing how it goes. We got through Great Expectations last term, and that's really no harder.

Do we pick our mental mentors, or do they pick us? (and more long sentences)

2012-01-09T08:45:00.003-05:00

Best thing I read in this weekend's papers:

“Who are these figures who take residence inside our heads,” Pico Iyer asks in The Man Within My Head, “to the point where we can hear their voices even when we’re trying to make contact with our own?”

“Who put them there?... “ Iyer adds, noting how, if he were to choose a “secret companion, an invisible alter ego,” he would select someone more “dashing” than British novelist Graham Greene. Greene, he admits, “is not a hero or a counsellor” to him. Instead, he is the ongoing presence who whispers the “secrets and fears” that burrow to the core of Iyer’s preoccupations. --Charles Foran, "He shoots! He waits! How a young writer found Samuel Beckett", in The Globe and Mail

For Pico Iyer, it's Graham Greene.

For Charles Foran, it's Samuel Beckett. Foran doesn't try to write like Beckett, he says: "Much as I adore his mordant, cadenced prose, I’ve never tried to write like him. Nor do I have either the temperament or courage to address so frontally the strangeness, and unease, of being human. Most writers, it should be said, stop short of where Samuel Beckett starts." For him, Beckett is more of a reminding voice, something that keeps him on track with where he wants to be in his own writing.

George Bailey: Well, you look about the kind of angel I'd get.

Do you have an imaginary "mentoring relationship" with someone you've never met? Is it someone you "chose", or did they "choose you?"

P.S. Pico Iyer has an essay here called "The Writing Life: The point of the long and winding sentence." "Not everyone wants to be reduced to a sound bite or a bumper sticker."

Crocheting to music: fun video for kids

2012-01-07T06:14:00.001-05:00

"Grab that hook and take a look."

Pearl Bodine's Sweet Potata Pie

2012-01-06T18:03:00.002-05:00

Mr. Fixit got a Beverly Hillbillies DVD for Christmas and we've been watching some of the early episodes.

(Pie comes up at the 11 minute mark. Recognize Paul Winchell as Homer Winch?)

There are lots of ways to make sweet potato pie. This is the way I made one tonight, out of leftover mashed sweet potatoes. The recipe is actually "Squash Pie" from Food That Really Schmecks, but it works fine with sweet potatoes too. It's a lot less spicy than most pumpkin pie recipes, which I think some kids would like.

Pearl's Man-Catchin' Sweet Potata Pie (or Squash Pie)

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust (I used a deep-dish pie plate)
2 cups milk (I used slightly less because I thought the sweet potato might be a bit wet)
1 1/2 cups pureed sweet potato or squash (if you've just cooked it, let it cool slightly--otherwise just use it chilled)
1 1/2 tbsp. flour
1 1/4 cups sugar (I used only a cup)
1 tsp. salt (or less, I used less)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Cinnamon (or cinnamon-sugar), nutmeg

Combine sweet potato or squash, eggs, flour, salt, and sugar; gradually add the milk. Pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. (If you have too much filling, you could bake some in a separate dish without a crust.) Sprinkle with cinnamon or cinnamon-sugar and a bit of nutmeg. The recipe says to bake it at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until set; I gave it 10 minutes at 425 degrees and then turned it down to 350 for about 45 more minutes. When I took it out, it still seemed a bit jiggly, but it did slice without a problem about ten minutes later.

Homer would have been mighty pleased.

Oh my, now that's a poem

2012-01-06T13:42:00.000-05:00

Jeanne (or anyone else), here's a Canadian poem you can twist your lips around.

From the archives: Epiphany 2008

2012-01-06T08:26:00.000-05:00

First posted January 2008

Overheard in Squirreldom:

Squirrel 1: It's Epiphany this weekend.

Squirrel 2: That's the Three Kings, right?

Squirrel 3: Mom said we could maybe have medieval food. Or you could have, you know, like what the Three Kings ate.

Squirrel 1: Oh no, like on Arthur's Christmas? [Update: You-tube link added]

Squirrel 2: Give me another piece of camel.

Squirrel 1: No, like what Arthur's dad really made.

Squirrel 3: Hummus.

Squirrel 1: Ewww. That's part of a sheep's insides...

Squirrel 2: No it isn't.

Squirrel 1: Yes it is. Martha ate hummus.

All the squirrels puzzle over this one...

Squirrel 2: You mean haggis!

Squirrel 3: Hummus is just chickpea dip. You've had hummus.

Squirrel 1: Oh. Phew.

We celebrate Epiphany

2012-01-06T08:19:00.001-05:00

The Magi

W. B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Now as at all times I can see in the mind's eye,
In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones
Appear and disappear in the blue depth of the sky
With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones,
And all their helms of silver hovering side by side,
And all their eyes still fixed, hoping to find once more,
Being by Calvary's turbulence unsatisfied,
The uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor.

Found at the thrift store: mostly for school

2012-01-04T19:51:00.011-05:00

We are still on school holidays because Ponytails' school doesn't start until next week. So Mama Squirrel decided to bring home a few school-related books to jumpstart some winter planning.

Who Rules in Science?: An Opinionated Guide to the Wars, by James Robert Brown (that was for The Apprentice)

Crossing Unmarked Snow: Further Views on the Writer's Vocation (Poets on Poetry series), by William Stafford (this one's for me!) The Amazon review recommends reading Stafford's Writing the Australian Crawl first, but I think this one's pretty cool on its own.

Write Source 2000 (for English class)

Seven Men Who Rule the World From the Grave, by Dave Breese

How Math Works: 100 Ways Parents and Kids Can Share the Wonders of Mathematics, by Carol Vorderman

Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales, by Theoni Pappas

National Geographic Body: The Complete Human. For some reason, we got several almost-new copies of the same book (the 2007 edition), and I decided to bring one home. Seems very readable, and the photography is amazing. Parental warning: not recommended for casual student browsing.

Funniest book seen today:

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, by Vincent Lam. Not because the book is funny, but because it had been stacked for pricing with the health books.

Okay, well, it is medical fiction. But still.

Why my New Year's resolutions do not include decluttering

2012-01-03T11:53:00.008-05:00

"I have a whole room just for trying on clothes." --Ken Doll, Toy Story 3

At least not systematically.

I thought about pursuing the 366-item declutter challenge, but decided that it's not an especially useful focus for us right now. Why?

1. Sure, I could give away or sell a hundred books this year (just to pad the numbers)...but I'll probably replace them with others.

2. We did some haven't-used-it-since-we-moved-in decluttering some time back, so we really don't have a lot of complete white elephants taking up space.

3. My decluttering is usually the kind that ends in the paper recycling bin or in the trash.

4. In some cases, I actually need to get a few more things, not discard them. I am down to a couple of pairs of almost-trash shoes, mostly because I hate shoe shopping and have hard-to-fit feet. One reason I like winter--I can often get away with just snow boots.

5. The kind of pack-squirreling I do usually ends up in a finished product. Sooner or later, and later is okay. I don't buy groceries that I know we will not eat (okay, the jar of Tandoori paste was a wash for us), school books that are unlikely to be read, or expensive hobby materials for something I'm only potentially interested in. But I do buy interesting pieces of fabric, balls of yarn, yard-saled science kits, Parmesan cheese on sale, dollar-store seasonal napkins (because for us, those make dinner a bit of a party), and older books that need a home. I brought in a whole boxful of Christmas-type trims and other mess this year (unusual for us), and Crayons helped me sort through it, discard what was just awful, and think of ways to use the rest. In fact, those made up a large part of our decorations this year--we didn't even get all of our usual ceramic trees and paper angels out of storage. Question is, now that we're putting away the seasonal stuff--will that small treasure trove become just more clutter? Should I send it all back to the thrift store? No, I think I'll keep most of it--I had fun decorating with the bits and pieces and I think we can use them again.

Mr. Fixit got homemade handkerchiefs in his stocking again this Christmas...mostly because I still had a large piece left of the white fabric that came from a church sale, that became hankies and sachet innards two Christmases ago. Use it or lose it.

6. I don't like to declutter things that belong to other people. There are some Squirrelings (ahem) who could stand to trim down on toys or might benefit from cleaning out storage spaces. But that's just a suggestion.

7. Finally, and this goes with number 6: some clutter just goes with being a family. Strangely enough, Crayons and Ponytails are re-watching Toy Story 3 this morning, which takes its whole premise from Andy's mom demanding that he get rid of his beloved toys since he's now going to college. "He called us junk! How could he?" "This doesn't make any sense," says one of the toys. I'm in agreement with that. Yes, there's a time to move on; but in our haste to declutter, I wonder if sometimes we push that too hard, too fast. I had a high school friend whose mother (even a step up from Andy's mom) demanded that bedrooms be kept as clean as convent cells; personal possessions were regularly discarded to the point of having no personal possessions. But surely there's a middle ground on this.

So maybe we're better with a resolution to use what's in our hands, make our stuff last longer, be more organized, use things in different ways, look for ways around perceived "needs," and thank God always for what he has given us to use and enjoy. And to pass on what others can use--but just not so much by the numbers.

Carnivals This Week

2012-01-03T08:15:00.000-05:00

HelpMeToSave hosts the Totally Money Carnival: First Foot into 2012 Edition. It's a lot like the Festival of Frugality, which has a New Year's edition up at Funny about Money.

Carnival of Homeschooling #314 (the 6th Anniversary Edition) is now live at Why Homeschool.

There isn't a Charlotte Mason carnival this week--back next week, though, with a theme of "Favorite CM Moment."

Around the blog world, the week after Christmas

2011-12-31T14:51:00.001-05:00

Jeanne shares her continuing Christmas celebrations.

But at Bread and Honey it's Post-Christmas with the Crank.

The Apprentice updates everyone with Still Alive and Cutting, and adds two illuminating posts on science-and-hair.

Krakovianka shares her favourite books from this past year. Cindy too, but you'll just have to go over there and search because it's more than one post.

And the Common Room has a very big Guess What. But you can probably guess what.

A PSA from the Carnival of Homeschooling

2011-12-31T14:33:00.000-05:00

Henry Cate at The Carnival of Homeschooling asked me to pass on this message re this week's carnival:

"Almost six years ago we published the first edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. It became a tradition that my wife and I also published the anniversary editions.

"As one of the hosts for the carnival I am asking you if you could help by doing two things:

"1) Send in a submission. Note, Blog Carnival is currently broken, so could you send the entry to: CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com

"2) Encourage your readers to also send in a submission.

"Entries are due January 2nd at 6:00 PM PST."

Thanks!

Finished Middlemarch today

2011-12-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

"All who have cared for Fred Vincy and Mary Garth will like to know that these two made no such failure, but achieved a solid mutual happiness. Fred surprised his neighbors in various ways. He became rather distinguished in his side of the county as a theoretic and practical farmer, and produced a work on the "Cultivation of Green Crops and the Economy of Cattle-Feeding" which won him high congratulations at agricultural meetings. In Middlemarch admiration was more reserved: most persons there were inclined to believe that the merit of Fred's authorship was due to his wife, since they had never expected Fred Vincy to write on turnips and mangel-wurzel.

"But when Mary wrote a little book for her boys, called "Stories of Great Men, taken from Plutarch," and had it printed and published by Gripp & Co., Middlemarch, every one in the town was willing to give the credit of this work to Fred, observing that he had been to the University, "where the ancients were studied," and might have been a clergyman if he had chosen.

"In this way it was made clear that Middlemarch had never been deceived, and that there was no need to praise anybody for writing a book, since it was always done by somebody else."

I've been looking for this French joke for years

2011-12-30T14:16:00.002-05:00

This is a story based entirely on number puns. I remember reading it years ago in a French class, but I've never been able to find it online until now. Our story had someone phoning the police, and having the police clerk hang up in terror after misunderstanding the number of robbers. Here is a similar but older version, from Le Briard almanach républicain: contenant tous les renseignements administratifs, politiques et commerciaux les plus nouveaux concernant le Département de Seine-et-Marne.

A rough translation:

A hunter was attacked by robbers at the edge of a wood.
"Where have you been?" asked a friend, seeing him rush in trembling.
"I just came from the forest of Bondy."
"And you were scared crossing the woods?"
"Yow! [hard to translate that] I was attacked by robbers."
"Really? How many were there?"
"Seven."
"How many are you saying?"
"I'm saying, seven."
"Seventeen?" ["saying seven" sounds just like "seventeen"]
"No, without the ten." ["without ten" sounds like "a hundred and ten"]
"A hundred and ten?"
"No, seven without ten."
"Seven hundred and ten?"
"No, good heavens! Seven without ten! Seven!"
"Seven hundred and seventeen?"
"Don't you understand? I'm saying seven, without ten!"
"Seventeen hundred and ten?"
"No, confound it, no! I'm saying, seven, without ten, seven!"
"Seventeen hundred and seventeen? Well, that's different. I forgive you for being afraid."

Quote for the Day: That's some choice

2011-12-30T07:36:00.001-05:00

"I am persuaded that many excellent persons, if they were confronted with the alternatives of reading "Paradise Lost" and going round Trafalgar Square at noonday on their knees in sack-cloth, would choose the ordeal of public ridicule. Still, I will never cease advising my friends and enemies to read poetry before anything."--Arnold Bennett, How to Live on 24 Hours a Day

Found at the thrift store this week

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Painted Horse, by Peter Etril Snyder

Exuberance: The Passion for Life, by Kay Redfield Jamison

The Country Child, by Alison Uttley

Most interesting book that came in: a mid-1800's copy of "Brown's Bible." A lot like this:

It's amazing what people will send to a thrift store.

Boxing Day Ruminations

2011-12-26T17:44:00.001-05:00

Everybody here said it was a very good Christmas.

We ate lots of chocolate hazelnut cookies and cut-out shortbreads. We found a quick and easy way to turn a can of refrigerated crescent rolls into mini cinnamon buns (drop butter/marg into muffin tins, sprinkle with cinnamon, and add a slice of roll dough (slice across the roll instead of unrolling it first)--bake ten minutes).

We went out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve. About the only Christmas Eve we haven't gone to the same restaurant is the year that Mr. Fixit absolutely wasn't supposed to have any soy sauce. (And even then we only held out until New Year's...he stuck to lemon chicken.) This year he is down to minimal meds and up to hot and sour soup. Much thankfulness.

We had a Christmas Eve service with our church family, and a worship time / one present each time at home afterwards.

There wasn't much snow on Christmas Day. A bit in the evening, but even that didn't amount to much. No tobogganing this year.

Crayons got all excited over her mini Kit and Molly. Mama Squirrel gave her a book.

Ponytails got a watch and some other things she liked. Mama Squirrel gave her books.

The Apprentice got geeky stuff. And some grownup presents too. Mama Squirrel...

There were funny presents.

(That's just one mini bottle, not 300 of them.)

And useful ones.

We ate turkey and trifle with Grandpa Squirrel and the Squirrelings' uncle and aunt.

We thought of our Far-Away-Nephew Number 2, celebrating his first birthday. And others that we would have liked to have closer to us.

We prayed for a nearby family who lost two children this year, one of them on Christmas Eve.

We found ourselves wanting to hug each other a special amount...and to say thank you. For everything.

What does our culture expect of us at Christmas?

What do our traditions offer us?

What does our faith in Christ require of us?

What does Christmas mean when our holidays are especially joyful

or especially sad?

On Christmas Eve we read from Colossians 3

and put the symbols of our faith on a small tree

as our gifts to the Lord.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

A Christmas table with Victorian leanings

2011-12-26T14:26:00.000-05:00

China: Grandma's.

Tablecloth: Wedding-present lace cloth, over rummage-saled giant piece of red knit fabric. (It looks pink in the photo, but really it's red.)

Floral decorations: Thrifted. (Large arrangement same one as here.)

Battery-operated tealight candles in salt-filled canning jars: seen on Coffee, Tea, Books and Me

Cornucopias: Paper Christmas napkins, stapled into cone shapes, paper doily section stapled on, decorated with pretty 3-D stickers (dollar store). Filled with candy canes, chocolate sticks, and lebkuchen.

Photos by Crayons. Copyright 2011 Dewey's Treehouse.

Bob and Larry's wild ride: something for Boxing Day

2011-12-26T08:43:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas, 1950 style

2011-12-25T05:30:00.001-05:00

"A star is dancing on the snow": Merry Christmas from the Squirrels

2011-12-24T22:00:00.004-05:00

CHRISTMAS SONG

by Bliss Carman

Above the weary waiting world,
Asleep in chill despair,
There breaks a sound of joyous bells
Upon the frosted air.
And o’er the humblest rooftree, lo,
A star is dancing on the snow.

What makes the yellow star to dance
Upon the brink of night?
What makes the breaking dawn to glow
So magically bright,—
And all the earth to be renewed
With infinite beatitude?

The singing bells, the throbbing star,
The sunbeams on the snow,
And the awakening heart that leaps
New ecstasy to know,—
They all are dancing in the morn
Because a little child is born.

Photograph: Mr. Fixit, January 2011.

Treehouse, Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T08:21:00.000-05:00

Transoceanic radio courtesy of Mr. Fixit. All photos, Mr. Fixit.

Slumber My Darling

2011-12-24T05:25:00.003-05:00

Crocheting Red Things, or, when life hands you potholders...

2011-12-23T22:03:00.001-05:00

I posted pictures of Crystal's red popcorn hat (made from a potholder pattern) a few days ago, although in these photos I notice it's slid a bit south. Crayons made the red jumper at her Saturday sewing class, and the white stockings/black boots are made from this go-go boots pattern.

The potholder is made from the same yarn and same popcorn pattern as Crystal's hat, just with a larger hook and with a green border.

The red purse was an early Christmas present for Crayons. It's made with the same cherry red Red Heart SuperSaver, but in a thick front-post-back-post crochet stitch which makes the purse good and solid. (Okay, this started out to be two potholders too, but I wasn't using a big enough hook and they turned out a little too solid for potholders. Good for a purse, though.)

Crystal's other holiday outfit this year is a long vest with a fleecy collar. It was cut down from a thrifted baby jacket; we cut out the sleeves and restitched the side seams, but kept the collar and buttons intact. When I get a few minutes, we're going to blanket-stitch around the armholes with navy embroidery floss, to match the other stitching.

366 Items Lighter? Declutter Challenge

2011-12-23T13:20:00.005-05:00

I just read on Penny Pinching Professional about a Declutter Challenge hosted by Single Saver.

Here are the rules, as posted by SS.

1.) Declutter 366 (or more) items from your home.

2.) Items may be donated, sold, or given away to count towards the 366 item total.

3.) Trash does not count towards the 366 item total... but you are encouraged to get rid of it, too!

4.) Items don't count towards the 366 total until they actually leave your house... we all know how easy it is to set aside something to sell or donate, only to forget it about it and have it contribute to clutter in anther room of the house. Our goal is to get rid of clutter, not just move it around. :)

5.) Tell me you are participating in the Challenge and I will add your name to the official list of challengers, below!

I'm not sure yet about officially joining up, but I'll think about it. Like PPP, I think the "no garbage" limitation is a bit of a stumper here; I'd rather just chuck a "white elephant" rather than put the thrift shop to the trouble of sorting and disposing of it (says one who knows); but I guess if you don't KNOW if they are going to chuck it, it still counts, right?

Actually yesterday I did something that falls within the parameters of the contest: I sold my long-loved-but-getting-neglected guitar to someone who wanted one for a Christmas gift. But the purchaser brought us a book of Christmas carols (library discard, but I love it!) along with the payment, so, hm, if we're counting actual numbers of things, that was one thing out, one thing in. But still.

Are you supposed to actually list the stuff that goes out? That could get slightly embarrassing, no? Or long-winded, in the case of every book I decide to give away.

But okay, we'll start here.

What's the password? What? Too late, look out! (Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney)

2011-12-23T05:15:00.002-05:00

(Paul Winchell is also known as the voice of Disney's Tigger.)

Newspaper gift bags--make your own!

2011-12-22T18:04:00.000-05:00

I saw this gift bag tutorial featured on Dollar Store Crafts this week, and couldn't pass up passing it on. Wouldn't this be a great week to make a few with all the December holiday headlines, seasonal comic strips and so on? Or maybe the travel section, or Wheels, or Entertainment (if you're giving a movie or music), or the NYT Book Review section...

Too bad most of my presents are already wrapped!

Del alto cielo bajo yo: in whatever language you like

2011-12-22T08:44:00.005-05:00

(Illustration: "Singing 'Vom Himmel Hoch' From A Church Tower At Christmas," by Ludwig Richter, from "Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan," by Clement A. Miles (1912). Found here.)

"The hymn has enjoyed great popularity in Germany since it was written. It is said that "Vom Himmel Hoch" was one of the hymns sung during the Christmas Truces of the Frank-Prussian War (1870-1871), and World War I, 1914."--Hymns and Carols of Christmas.com

I don't speak Spanish, but I liked this video, especially "From Heaven Above" (the angel's song). Here are the Spanish words. Here are the German ones. (Lots of notes and links below the lyrics.) Here's one English translation (we don't usually sing all the verses). The French title, according to Wikipedia, would be "Du ciel là-haut, ô vient ange," but I can't find lyrics for it online.

2011 Christmas Book Quiz: Answers

2011-12-22T05:28:00.010-05:00

Here's the quiz.

1. We went early to bed on this holiday night. For Christmas morning was to be unlike any we had ever known. It began with a blue mirage. We were away at sunrise, driving south, then west to Yaqui Well. Looking east toward the Salton Sea, across the California Painted Desert, we became aware of what appeared to be a range of distant mountains, bluish and banded. As we watched, they altered shape. The higher peaks became lower. The skyline changed. At times, we seemed to see trees and buildiings, all vague and wavering, as though glimpsed through blue water. By the time we turned away, the long mirage had begun to dissolve into vertical bands of lighter and darker blue.

Answer: Edwin Way Teale, Wandering Through Winter

2. On the night of Christmas Eve the Abbey was so still it might have been thought to be empty, or the nuns asleep, but when the bell sounded at ten o'clock, from all corners, especially from the church, silent figures made their way to their station in the long cloister....Voice succeeded voice through two hours until the priests, vested in white and gold, with their servers came in procession from the sacristy for the tenderness and triumph of the midnight Mass. Lauds of Christmas followed straight after, and at two o'clock the community went to the refectory for hot soup, always called "cock soup" because it was the first taste of meat or chicken they had had since Advent began; the soup was served with rice--"beautifully filling," said Hilary in content--and after it came two biscuits and four squares of chocolate. "Chocolate!" "We need to keep our strength up," said Dame Ursula.

Answer: Rumer Godden, In This House of Brede

3. Mother used to send a box of candy every Christmas to the people the Airedale bit. The list finally contained forty or more names. Nobody could understand why we didn't get rid of the dog. I didn't understand it very well myself, but we didn't get rid of him....Muggs lived to be almost eleven years old and even when he could hardly get around he bit a Congressman who had called to see my father on business. My mother had never liked the Congressman....but she sent him a box of candy that Christmas. He sent it right back, probably because he suspected it was trick candy. Mother persuaded herself it was all for the best....

Answer: James Thurber, "The Dog That Bit People"

4. "I wish I had a pink Angora sweater," Anne said. "Marilyn has two. A pale blue one and a pale pink one."

"Two?" Joan said. "Are you sure? They're twenty-five dollars, you know."

"Marilyn's rich," Anne said. "She gets thirty-five dollars a month just to spend on clothes."

Don said, "I can't understand why we let the Russians into Berlin."

Anne said, "Marilyn's going to spend Christmas in Palm Springs."

I said, "Palm Springs is the last place I would want to spend Christmas. Who wants hot weather and palm trees for Christmas?"

"I do," Anne said wistfully. "I'm so sick of rain I could die."

"Me too," Joan said. "Marilyn's going to get her own car when she's sixteen."

Don said, "Of course Russia had the world bluffed and our policy of appeasement, uncertainty and double-talk isn't fooling anybody but ourselves."

I said, "Possessions don't bring happiness. Happiness is something you must find in your own self."

"Well, it would be a lot easier to find if I had a car of my own," Anne said.

Answer: Betty MacDonald, Onions in the Stew

5. But in Raveloe village the bells rang merrily, and the church was fuller than all through the rest of the year, with red faces among the abundant dark-green boughs--faces prepared for a longer service than usual by an odourous breakfast of toast and ale. Those green boughs, the hymn and anthem never heard but at Christmas....brought a vague exulting sense, for which the grown men could as little have found words as the children, that something great and mysterious had been done for them in heaven above and in earth below, which they were appropriating by their presence. And then the red faces made their way through the black biting frost to their own homes, feeling themselves free for the rest of the day to eat, drink, and be merry, and using that Christmas freedom without diffidence.

Answer: George Eliot, Silas Marner

6. December is the first winter month. The ground is often covered with snow. The days are dark and cold and night falls early. Now is the time to be in the barn. There is hay and grain to eat. There are places to play or hide or dream. There are warm straw beds. December is the last month of the year. Now is the time to catch up on sleep. Everyone goes to bed earlier in wintertime.

Answer: Alice and Martin Provensen, The Year at Maple Hill Farm

7. "Well, my last crime was a Christmas crime, a cheery, cosy, English middle-class crime; a crime of Charles Dickens. I did it in a good old middle-class house near Putney, a house with a crescent of carriage drive, a house with a stable by the side of it, a house with the name on the two outer gates, a house with a monkey tree. Enough, you know the species. I really think my imitation of Dickens's style was dexterous and literary. It seems almost a pity I repented the same evening."

Answer: G.K. Chesterton, "The Flying Stars" in The Innocence of Father Brown

8. For all of our twenty-eight years in Switzerland we have had the five-o'clock Christmas Eve Service in Champéry, with over a hundred candles to be put in wooden candleholders made of rough logs, and also fastened on fresh green trees....The Christmas tree has been trimmed the night before, during a traditional time of drinking iced ginger ale and eating homemade Christmas cookies spread out in lovely rows on a tray. The Christmas stockings, filled with all sorts of interesting but inexpensive things, are the old hand-knitted stockings our girls wore the first years in Switzerland. Full of holes, but still usable, they add much in the way of memories as they are pulled out one night and filled and then found on Christmas morning.

Answer: Edith Schaeffer, What is a Family?

9. It didn't matter any more that she had once chased me through the Glen with a codfish--it didn't matter that she had smeared goose-grease all over my dreams of romance....I would never dislike Mary Vance again. I went over to her and kissed her....She got Susan and me a tip-top breakfast and made us eat it, and 'bossed the life out of us,' as Susan says, for two days, until the roads were opened so that she could get home. [The baby] was almost well by that time and father turned up. He heard our tale without saying much. Father is rather scornful generally about what he calls 'old wives' remedies.' He laughed a little and said, 'After this, Mary Vance will expect me to call her in for consultation in all my serious cases.' So Christmas was not so hard as I expected it to be; and now the New Year is coming--and we are still hoping for the 'Big Push' that will end the war....

Answer: Lucy Maud Montgomery, Rilla of Ingleside

10. I do think it's a very uneven exchange of Christmas presents. You'll eat yours up in a week and have nothing left to show for it by New Year's Day. I'll have mine till the day I die--and die happy in the knowledge that I'm leaving it behind for someone else to love. I shall sprinkle pale pencil marks through it pointing out the best passages to some book-lover yet unborn. Thank you all. Happy New Year.

Answer: Helene Hanff, 84, Charing Cross Road

Found at the thrift store

2011-12-21T19:49:00.000-05:00

Today was actually the first time since mid-October that the thrift store wasn't filled with Christmas decorations, books, and everything else. Most of the Christmas stuff was moved out this week to another location for a special "warehouse sale." So, other than the silly songs playing over the radio, and a few last-minute holiday things that came in, it was a surprisingly non-Christmas-overkill kind of afternoon. (Good thing we bought all those ornaments and things last week before they disappeared.)

Mama Squirrel did find a few books and videos to bring home. A couple are for particular people, but I'll list them anyway.

Today's best find: a complete VHS boxed set of Narnia videos. Not the more recent theatre films; the BBC version. We've seen several of them before, from the library; our favourite is probably The Silver Chair, with Tom Baker as Puddleglum. Also we found a couple of Christmas videos that we had been wanting to watch.

Everything Origami: cool oversized book with a pack of paper included.

Dante, The Divine Comedy, III: Paradise, translated by Dorothy L. Sayers and Barbara Reynolds.

Light from Heaven, by Jan Karon. The one Mitford book from the original series that I didn't have.

A Penguin Pup for Pinkerton, by Steven Kellogg. We are big Pinkerton fans.

Our Man in Havana, by Graham Greene. One of my favourite Alec Guinness movies.

Was there a "strangest book seen" today? Can't think of one in particular...

But hold your breath and it's Christmas...

2011-12-21T08:05:00.000-05:00

This is the time when the days have shortn'd and the nights grow steadily more important,
And in mid-afternoon, across the park, the towers start to twinkle in the thickn'ing dark.
It's the solstice, the solstice, the time when the sun stands still.
Outside you, and inside you, you feel a bitter chill.
It's the solstice, the solstice, when the cold north wind could kill;
But hold your breath and it's Christmas,
Peace on earth, and to men good will.
Peace on earth, and to men good will.

--Randall Thompson, "Solstice"

Carnivals this week Homeschooling, Frugality, and Father Time

2011-12-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

The photo post of our thrifty decorations is included in the Festively Frugal Edition of the Festival of Frugality, hosted at Help Me to Save.

The 312th Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling.

And don't forget the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: It's About Time Edition, hosted right here.

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: the It's About Time Edition

2011-12-20T08:20:00.012-05:00

Welcome to this week's Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival! It's still a couple of weeks until New Year's, but with this week's theme of Timelines and Books of the Centuries, a tribute to Father Time seems appropriate.

Timelines

Introducing the World presents Our Timeline, As It Now Stands, saying, "A simple, not-too-expensive, reusable timeline for early elementary students."

Harmony Art Mom presents History Timeline with Notebook Pages in High School, saying, "Our high school version of a timeline using notebooking pages, narration, and then working it into a formal essay."

PracticalPages presents Taking Time to do Timelines, saying, "Our timeline is full and crowded at the end of each year -clusters of events, inventions, major changes and important people …"

The Tiger Chronicle presents A new dynasty. "Here we are, at the start of the Plantagenets."

Book of Centuries

Fisher Academy International presents Our Book of Centuries: A Pictoral Update. "Previously, we only kept a communal timeline notebook (the littles still add to this one), but this year my boys have been keeping their own; adding entries on a weekly sometimes daily basis."

Ambling presents The Evolution of Our Book of Centuries, saying, "I’ve learned a lot from creating our Book of Centuries – The people and events which were contemporaneous (up through the 1800’s anyway), how Charlotte Mason used the BOC in her schools, and most importantly the simple fact that the less I talk, the more Georgianna learns!"

All Things Charlotte Mason

All That's Goood presents Glorified Map Drill, saying, "Last week we skipped doing map drill due to important interruptions. However that led us to something even better this week. In an attempt to save the map drill lesson I ended up incorporating it into a project we were doing with some info from our reading this week."

Changing Times

~ a teaching heart ~ presents Beethoven helps us be thankful, saying, "At 14 his father’s voice, the chief source of income for the family was gone. The responsibility now fell to Beethoven to earn a living for his family. At 14? Times are so different now, any given 14 year old now, in affluent western culture, would be hard pressed to earn a living for their family."

Time for Poetry

Sage Parnassus presents Love All Lovely, a favourite Christina Rossetti poem.

Time to Listen

A peaceful day presents On audiobooks. "When she is grown, I hope Jemimah remembers these days with pleasure. I hope she will be able to hear her old friends speaking aloud to her, each in her own special voice. And behind it all, I hope she hears the love in her mother's voice as she says, Try. Tri. Triantiwonti. Triantiwontigongolope."

Time for Art

Blah, Blah, Blog presents Awesome Art History. "The funny thing was, when it was time for Art History, no one wanted to leave. Every single kid stayed. I'm pretty sure they initially stayed just to continue hanging out and having fun with their friends, but by the end of the first workshop, I think I had most of them actually interested. Even the boys....in art....Renaissance paintings no less."

Hodgepodge presents Christmas Ornament: A Pastels Tutorial, saying, "A simple lesson you can enjoy this week before Christmas!"

Baby Steps presents Art and Artists.

Outdoor Time

Dewey's Treehouse presents Our nature find of the year (book review). "Imagine that you have a groovy grandma who loves to spend long rambling afternoons with you, who tells you equally rambling stories about stuff that happened fifty years ago, who can show you how to make everything from a wooden spoon to a pine needle basket to a rope swing, and who knows the names of just about everything that wiggles, flies or grows around you."

Handbook of Nature Study presents Outdoor Hour Challenge - Preparation for Winter #2 Animals, saying, "Hoping some families will want to join in our winter challenges. This one is to get us thinking about how animals prepare for winter."

Time for What's Important

Holistic Homeschooler presents The Face of Homeschooling: Interview with Blossom. "Q. What’s been the most rewarding part of your homeschooling experience? A. The chance to get to know my kids more. To spend time in the middle of the day with them. And the time we get to spend as a family that we wouldn't if they were still in public school."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of The Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival using our carnival submission form. And stay tuned for more CMBC in the New Year.

P.S. We have been having some trouble with the carnival submission page. So if you submitted a post before the deadline and do not see it here, please leave a comment and we'll check into it.

Father Time clip art found at Webweaver's Free Clipart.

A all-new Treehouse Christmas book quiz, Now With Hints

2011-12-19T11:09:00.006-05:00

Answers are posted here.

If you've ever tried one of our Treehouse Christmas Quizzes before, you know that we like to play hard. But we hope you have fun too. (2009 Quiz. 2007 Snowed-in Quiz, mixed with a Carnival of Homeschooling. 2006 Quiz. 2006 Quiz with helpful hints.)

UPDATE: No guesses yet? Okay, Round Two: I've added hints.

As always: your "mission Impossible, played on jingle bells" (to quote Amy Dacyczyn) is to identify the book or story to which the passage belongs.

Ready?

1. We went early to bed on this holiday night. For Christmas morning was to be unlike any we had ever known. It began with a blue mirage. We were away at sunrise, driving south, then west to Yaqui Well. Looking east toward the Salton Sea, across the California Painted Desert, we became aware of what appeared to be a range of distant mountains, bluish and banded. As we watched, they altered shape. The higher peaks became lower. The skyline changed. At times, we seemed to see trees and buildiings, all vague and wavering, as though glimpsed through blue water. By the time we turned away, the long mirage had begun to dissolve into vertical bands of lighter and darker blue.

Hints: Ambleside Online. Natural History. Seasons.

2. On the night of Christmas Eve the Abbey was so still it might have been thought to be empty, or the nuns asleep, but when the bell sounded at ten o'clock, from all corners, especially from the church, silent figures made their way to their station in the long cloister....Voice succeeded voice through two hours until the priests, vested in white and gold, with their servers came in procession from the sacristy for the tenderness and triumph of the midnight Mass. Lauds of Christmas followed straight after, and at two o'clock the community went to the refectory for hot soup, always called "cock soup" because it was the first taste of meat or chicken they had had since Advent began; the soup was served with rice--"beautifully filling," said Hilary in content--and after it came two biscuits and four squares of chocolate. "Chocolate!" "We need to keep our strength up," said Dame Ursula.

Hints: Author better known for children's books. Nuns. Film with Diana Rigg.

3. Mother used to send a box of candy every Christmas to the people the Airedale bit. The list finally contained forty or more names. Nobody could understand why we didn't get rid of the dog. I didn't understand it very well myself, but we didn't get rid of him....Muggs lived to be almost eleven years old and even when he could hardly get around he bit a Congressman who had called to see my father on business. My mother had never liked the Congressman....but she sent him a box of candy that Christmas. He sent it right back, probably because he suspected it was trick candy. Mother persuaded herself it was all for the best....

Hints: American humorist who liked to draw odd cartoons.

4. "I wish I had a pink Angora sweater," Anne said. "Marilyn has two. A pale blue one and a pale pink one."
"Two?" Joan said. "Are you sure? They're twenty-five dollars, you know."
"Marilyn's rich," Anne said. "She gets thirty-five dollars a month just to spend on clothes."
Don said, "I can't understand why we let the Russians into Berlin."
Anne said, "Marilyn's going to spend Christmas in Palm Springs."
I said, "Palm Springs is the last place I would want to spend Christmas. Who wants hot weather and palm trees for Christmas?"
"I do," Anne said wistfully. "I'm so sick of rain I could die."
"Me too," Joan said. "Marilyn's going to get her own car when she's sixteen."
Don said, "Of course Russia had the world bluffed and our policy of appeasement, uncertainty and double-talk isn't fooling anybody but ourselves."
I said, "Possessions don't bring happiness. Happiness is something you must find in your own self."
"Well, it would be a lot easier to find if I had a car of my own," Anne said.

Hint: Author of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books.

5. But in XXX village the bells rang merrily, and the church was fuller than all through the rest of the year, with red faces among the abundant dark-green boughs--faces prepared for a longer service than usual by an odourous breakfast of toast and ale. Those green boughs, the hymn and anthem never heard but at Christmas....brought a vague exulting sense, for which the grown men could as little have found words as the children, that something great and mysterious had been done for them in heaven above and in earth below, which they were appropriating by their presence. And then the red faces made their way through the black biting frost to their own homes, feeling themselves free for the rest of the day to eat, drink, and be merry, and using that Christmas freedom without diffidence.

Hint: Classic English novel, NOT Dickens. Missing gold.

6. December is the first winter month. The ground is often covered with snow. The days are dark and cold and night falls early. Now is the time to be in the barn. There is hay and grain to eat. There are places to play or hide or dream. There are warm straw beds. December is the last month of the year. Now is the time to catch up on sleep. Everyone goes to bed earlier in wintertime.

Hint: Children's book. Lots of animals.

7. "Well, my last crime was a Christmas crime, a cheery, cosy, English middle-class crime; a crime of Charles Dickens. I did it in a good old middle-class house near Putney, a house with a crescent of carriage drive, a house with a stable by the side of it, a house with the name on the two outer gates, a house with a monkey tree. Enough, you know the species. I really think my imitation of Dickens's style was dexterous and literary. It seems almost a pity I repented the same evening."

Hint: English detective stories, NOT Agatha Christie.

8. For all of our twenty-eight years in Switzerland we have had the five-o'clock Christmas Eve Service in Champéry, with over a hundred candles to be put in wooden candleholders made of rough logs, and also fastened on fresh green trees....The Christmas tree has been trimmed the night before, during a traditional time of drinking iced ginger ale and eating homemade Christmas cookies spread out in lovely rows on a tray. The Christmas stockings, filled with all sorts of interesting but inexpensive things, are the old hand-knitted stockings our girls wore the first years in Switzerland. Full of holes, but still usable, they add much in the way of memories as they are pulled out one night and filled and then found on Christmas morning.

Hint: Wife of well-known 20th century theologian.

9. It didn't matter any more that she had once chased me through the Glen with a codfish--it didn't matter that she had smeared goose-grease all over my dreams of romance....I would never dislike Mary Vance again. I went over to her and kissed her....She got Susan and me a tip-top breakfast and made us eat it, and 'bossed the life out of us,' as Susan says, for two days, until the roads were opened so that she could get home. [The baby] was almost well by that time and father turned up. He heard our tale without saying much. Father is rather scornful generally about what he calls 'old wives' remedies.' He laughed a little and said, 'After this, Mary Vance will expect me to call her in for consultation in all my serious cases.' So Christmas was not so hard as I expected it to be; and now the New Year is coming--and we are still hoping for the 'Big Push' that will end the war....

Hint: Last book in famous Canadian fiction series.

10. I do think it's a very uneven exchange of Christmas presents. You'll eat yours up in a week and have nothing left to show for it by New Year's Day. I'll have mine till the day I die--and die happy in the knowledge that I'm leaving it behind for someone else to love. I shall sprinkle pale pencil marks through it pointing out the best passages to some book-lover yet unborn. Thank you all. Happy New Year.

Hint: Film with Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft. Lots and lots of books.

Poem for today: "In the Week When Christmas Comes"

2011-12-19T08:51:00.002-05:00

In the Week When Christmas Comes

by Eleanor Farjeon

This is the week when Christmas comes.

Let every pudding burst with plums,
And every tree bear dolls and drums,
In the week when Christmas comes.

Let every hall have boughs of green,
With berries glowing in between,
In the week when Christmas comes.

Let every doorstep have a song
Sounding the dark street along,
In the week when Christmas comes.

Let every steeple ring a bell
With a joyful tale to tell,
In the week when Christmas comes.

Let every night put forth a star
To show us where the heavens are,
In the week when Christmas comes.

Let every stable have a lamb,
Sleeping warm beside its dam,
In the week when Christmas comes.

This is the week when Christmas comes.

Václav Havel has died: quotes for your pondering

2011-12-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

"Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.."

"Without free, self-respecting, and autonomous citizens there can be no free and independent nations. Without internal peace, that is, peace among citizens and between the citizens and the state, there can be no guarantee of external peace."

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."

More quotes here.
CNN news report here.

Thank you for the Liebster Award!

2011-12-16T13:33:00.001-05:00

Karen at Wisdom and Righteousness has given us a blog award: the Liebster Award.

"The Liebster Award is for small blogs (fewer than 200 followers) that can be described as dearest, sweet, beloved, kind, or favorite.”

Thank you so much! I am delighted to be a "liebster."

Which "small bloggers" to pass it on to? It's hard to pick, but here are five from my Google Reader. (To misquote The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, there are no small bloggers, just small blogs.)

1. Wings and Prayers: Birdie doesn't post all the time, but her thoughts are always worth hearing.

"I look up to see my baby staggering toward me on unsteady little legs that cannot yet support him without help. He can see me across the room. I’m the help he needs, the thing he longs for. He’s not hungry, or in need of a change. In fact, he is doing quite well, but he suddenly realizes that he has strayed from me, that he is not as close to me as he thought he was and feels that sudden desperate need to get back to that safe place again. Yeah, I know that feeling, and just like my Father in Heaven, I run to meet that little one who needs me and wants to return."

2. The Duchy of Burgundy Carrots: Like Wings and Prayers, this blog doesn't show a follower list, so I'm assuming it fits the 200-or-less criteria. Queen of Carrots is a homeschooled, homeschooling mama who will tackle anything, even taking out blackberries:

"Even better, it's a job that the kids prefer to observe from a respectful distance. When I'm whipping about a forty-foot length of vine with inch-long spikes, I never find myself suddenly tackled at the knees. And since it involves clearing new play places among the underbrush, they are happy to occupy themselves.

"And it even seems rather Christmassy. At least, the third verse of Joy to the World sounds appropriate."

3. A New Day: A former AO mama who could probably use some extra lieb.

"I am very excited about graduating from Mercy, and I am looking forward to starting my PhD program at the University of Phoenix. I worry a bit about how I will do it, but I consider the One who is behind all of this, and I rest in the knowledge that He is God, and that as such, He is more than able to help me to accomplish this goal."

4. Tea Time with Annie Kate: homeschooling, health, theology, and more.

"When you can’t see the forest for the trees, just keep on going, step by step. Just because you temporarily lost the map doesn’t mean that the path you laid out earlier is no good."

5. Home Joys: life on the farm, life with a family.

"I've been reading through some of the Christ's healings in the Gospels. I have faith to believe that an overwrought mom can be a recipient of the Master's healing touch. Not just from back pain (which is much improved) but in wrong thinking.

"Maybe the first thing I need to do is dig out my neglected gratitude journal and start looking for blessings.

"Because God IS good. I have just been too distracted to notice."

Thank you all for sharing your lives, families, and faith with us. Merry Christmas.

Recycling pretty book pictures: what's in your hand?

2011-12-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

I bought this hardcover quotes/journal book at the thrift store, thinking that it was in nice enough shape to slip in with other gifts for a Treehouse Anne fan. Unfortunately, it turned out to have several written-on-in-ink pages that I hadn't noticed--which wiped out its gift possibilities.

Dump the whole thing then?

No way. There were several full-page illustrations of events from the Anne books, and a few of those made nice gift tags, trimmed down and pasted onto card stock. I particularly liked the one of her in her bedroom with her brand-new brown Christmas dress hanging nearby. (Yes, it's supposed to be brown, not blue, if you've only ever seen the movie.) And the non-Christmasy ones will keep for other occasions.

There are also quite a few small illustrations in the book--pictures of baking, sewing baskets, flowers and so on. Good for clipping and pasting here and there.

It may sound awful to rip apart a book like that, but as somebody said, even a hardcover book (not considering its intellectual content) is really just paper between cardboard covers, and this one had no other real use. So I'm good with that.

What are the Squirrelings doing today?

2011-12-16T11:43:00.001-05:00

The Apprentice is at the university for a pre-exam review class. She's already written most of her exams but there are still a couple left.

Ponytails is at high school--she's not done until the 23rd of December. But she told me yesterday that there only about twenty school days left in the semester, so that's kind of motivating!

Crayons/Dollygirl has just finished a Plutarch lesson and is now transforming herself and Crystal into big and little Josefinas. She's also re-doing her homemade fashion-doll snow cabin "dupe" that she put together last year. Small wonder that math has little attraction this week. But we are almost done A Midsummer Night's Dream, and we're re-reading Prince Caspian. Re-reading because I'm sure that Crayons has heard it somewhere along the line, but I don't think she remembers it very well.

What are you all doing today?

Gift baskets and Christmas cheer at the Treehouse: photo post

2011-12-16T08:13:00.001-05:00

Crocheted bells hung on the wall; Crayons added the angel.

Gift baskets for extended family members (who I hope aren't reading this before Christmas). The baskets were picked up this week at the thrift store, along with most of the picks, pinecones, and other doodads. The monkeys are handmade.

A bowlful of Christmas, to put on a table in the living room. The crystal bowl was a wedding gift. Mama Squirrel made the origami boxes from an old (thrifted) book of Christmas photos. The ornaments and picks were all picked out of this week's thrift store boxful of stuff.

The four wooden apples on the stove came inside that red and green bucket that we used for one of the gift baskets. The brown angel box also came from the thrift store. The squirrel and acorn salt-and-peppers came from another thrift store several years ago--a gift for Mr. Fixit.

The dining room buffet, improved this week by finds from the thrift store--gold garland and ornaments, candle rings. The candle rings don't match but they're the same colours, so I'll live with that unless I can find something else. Good Mousekeeping isn't keeping tabs here.

Found at the thrift store: Mama Squirrel goes squirrelly with decorations and baskets

2011-12-15T13:57:00.002-05:00

What did we bring home from the thrift store this week?

Quite a lot. Some of it, I can't say, because it's almost Christmas. Just say that I had my eyes open, looking out for certain peoples' particular reading interests.

And some of it, I can say, because it's almost Christmas. I earned a bit of pin money last week by sitting through a bunch of prototype commercials with four other ladies and discussing what we thought of them. So I used some of that money to buy several nice baskets, and a whole boxful of trims, picks, bows and other holiday miscellany to dress up the baskets. What we do with the baskets (most years) is fill them with food gifts and other small items, and those are our family gifts for a few of the relatives.

Mr. Fixit is going to take photos later today, so come on back and you can see what the filled baskets look like.

Funniest book I sorted yesterday:

Funny not because of the content, but because of the shape of the book. If you can't see from the photo, the hardcover edition is a parallelogram.

Best thing I've read this week: "Such difficult ease"

2011-12-14T10:24:00.003-05:00

Which one of these is poetry?

"Words of the fragrant portals, dimly-starred"

"Now when I walk around at lunchtime"

Not like I was trying to fool you, right? But the answer is, both.

"Both lines come from poems (by Wallace Stevens and Frank O'Hara, respectively) and are therefore "poetic" to the same degree. It's a subtle but important point, and it helps explain why so many debates over the meaning of poetry--in particular, debates over the perceived difficulty or simplicity of poetry--are often really arguments over style."--David Orr, "Ways of Saying", also titled "The Rediscovery of Luis de Góngora," in the New York Times Book Review

It's a thoughtful article, invoking Robert Frost and George Herbert to make the point that, in poetry, "'plainly saying' entails not plainly saying."

Worth checking out.

(And somebody tell me how you'd make a movie of that.)

Books are a movie written down for you? This is serious...

2011-12-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

So says an Ontario elementary student, interviewed in an article about a recent survey saying that third- and sixth-graders are "better" at reading than they used to be, but that they don't like to read.

And she was one of the ones who DID like to read.

The most successful teacher interviewed found her greatest success through having students make movies and video games of the novels they read.

What would Marva Collins think of that? What would Dao Ngoc Phung think?

Those of us who hang out in the homeschooled, reading, classical/CM/literature based, "I have two thousand books here" subculture may not even be aware of how big this problem is. Charlotte Mason talked about opening doors into wide places, through books. This youngest generation (in large part) not only hasn't been shown the open door, but doesn't even know there is one. One wonders if many of their teachers are in a much better position.

Our education system is running on fumes, folks. "Get them reading anything" may be today's mark of success; it may get the car out of the garage; but good luck doing more with it than a few laps around the block. What used to be a cruise down Main Street is as intimidating to today's children as a superhighway...or perhaps the problem now is that people just can't be bothered driving much at all--maybe just turning the key and listening to the engine is enough. "We are too easily satisfied," C.S. Lewis said about spiritual matters, and the same phrase can be applied to educational issues.

Life is not a movie. Books are not video games. Fun is good, humour is good, but learning is also a journey, a quest, an adventure, and you take real adventures seriously. As I've said elsewhere, quoting the late Carol Bly--can't we please, please have permission to be serious?

I'm serious.

Mama Squirrel's Reading List, 2011

2011-12-14T06:08:00.011-05:00

I didn't have a particular goal for this year's reading, so the list is pretty eclectic. This is the year I discovered George Eliot and Lloyd Alexander (I read through the Prydain Chronicles twice, once myself and once with Ponytails). It was also a good year for art-inspired fiction. (R) means it was a re-read. § means I actually finished it. A few of the books I didn't finish or didn't like have been left off the list..

Classic-type stuff

On the Art of Writing, by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch
Meno, by Plato (and I started reading a couple of other dialogues) §
"Lancelot and Elaine," by Alfred Lord Tennyson §
"Self-Reliance," by Ralph Waldo Emerson §
Parts of Plutarch's Lives (R)
Silas Marner, by George Eliot §
Scenes of Clerical Life, by George Eliot §
Middlemarch, by George Eliot
Great Expectations (R) (re-read with Crayons) §
The Abbot, by Sir Walter Scott §
Guy Mannering, by Sir Walter Scott §
The Incredulity of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton §
The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton (R) §
The Scarlet Pimpernel (R) §
Candide, by Voltaire §

Science-type stuff
Not Even Wrong: The Failure of String Theory...., by Peter Woit

Theology-type stuff
The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer
Making Men Whole, by J.B. Phillips §
The Call, by Os Guinness (R) §
Serious Times: Making Your Life Matter in an Urgent Day, by James Emery White §
Lessons I Learned in the Light, by Jennifer Rothschild §
One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp §
Parts of the Bible (RRRRR)

Old-favourites-type stuff
Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon (R) §
At Home in Mitford, by Jan Karon (R) §
Light from Heaven, by Jan Karon (R) §
The Trail of the Conestoga (R) (re-read with Crayons) §
Meet the Malones (R) (re-read with Crayons) §
Beany Malone (R) (re-read with Crayons) §
Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey (R) §
An Episode of Sparrows, by Rumer Godden (R) §
In This House of Brede, by Rumer Godden (R) §
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, by Anne Tyler (R) §
84, Charing Cross Road / The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, by Helene Hanff (R) §

Teaching-type stuff
Norms and Nobility, by David V. Hicks (R) §
Marva Collins' Way (R) §
"Ordinary" Children, Extraordinary Teachers, by Marva Collins §
Read & Grow Rich, by Burke Hedges §
Homeschooling Only One (R), by Donna Conner §
Schoolproof, by Mary Pride (R) §
Parts of Charlotte Mason's books (R)

Gurgi stuff
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander §
The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander §
The Black Cauldron, by Lloyd Alexander §
The Castle of Llyr, by Lloyd Alexander §
Taran Wanderer, by Lloyd Alexander §
The High King, by Lloyd Alexander §

Madeleine stuff
Walking on Water, by Madeleine L'Engle (R) §
A Wind in the Door, by Madeleine L'Engle §
A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeleine L'Engle §
A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle §
Two-Part Invention, by Madeleine L'Engle (R) §

More space-and-time stuff
C.S. Lewis: A Biography, by A.N. Wilson §
Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis (R) §
The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis §
Out of the Silent Planet, by C.S. Lewis §
Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis §
That Hideous Strength, by C.S. Lewis §
Prince Caspian (R) §

Homey stuff
More Make it Fast, Cook It Slow, by Stephanie O'Dea §
Canada's Slow Cooker Winners, by Donna-Marie Pye §
Hooked: A Crocheter's Stash of Wit and Wisdom, ed. by Kari Cornell §
other craft books that I can't remember
Creating a Beautiful Home, by Alexandra Stoddard (R) §
two other books by Alexandra Stoddard §
Flanagan's Smart Home, by Barbara Flanagan §
Does This Clutter Make My B---- Look Fat?, by Peter Walsh §

Miscellaneous
Madam How and Lady Why, by Charles Kingsley (R) §
The Long-Ago Lake, by Marne Wilkins
A Passion for the Impossible (bio of Lilias Trotter), by Miriam Huffman Rockness §
Trial and Error, by Anthony Berkeley §)
Detectives in Togas, by Henry Winterfeld §
Roman Ransom, by Henry Winterfeld §
Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper, by Harriet Chessman §
Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier §
Out of the Storm, by Grace Livingston Hill §
Not Under the Law, by Grace Livingston Hill §
Beauty for Ashes, by Grace Livingston Hill §

If you embed You-tube videos, you might want to know this

2011-12-13T15:36:00.000-05:00

I just looked at our site meter and saw that our blog has a "You-tube page" featuring all the videos we have embedded here lately. The beginnings of each post appear there along with the videos.

I'm not saying that as an advertisement, rather as a caution to bloggers. Sometimes you just don't know where you will find yourself (and the stuff you've said) popping up. I don't know how long that's been a feature, I don't know if it's possible to opt out, and I don't know how many people would be likely to look at your blog's video page, but if it concerns you, you might want to avoid posting videos.

Butterscotch drizzle: stretching what you have

2011-12-13T15:25:00.000-05:00

Today I made a double batch of Doreen Perry's oatmeal cookies, using crushed cornflakes and butterscotch chips as the extras. I purposely didn't use the whole bag of butterscotch chips, because I wanted to use them somehow as topping to fancy up the cookies. But there weren't a lot of chips left, maybe a cupful, and the double recipe made five panfuls of cookies.

So I thought about that while the first two pans baked.

And this is what I came up with: I mixed about two-thirds of a cup of icing sugar with a bit of milk, the same way I do when I'm making glaze for pumpkin doughnuts. I melted the butterscotch chips in the microwave and mixed them into the glaze. It was too thick to drizzle, so I added just a bit more milk and then put the whole thing back in the microwave for half a minute, reasoning that sauces and syrups get thinner when they're heated. (You know the old trick of warming up honey or pancake syrup that has crystallized in the jar? It also works with jam, if you want it thinner to pour on pancakes or spread over a cake.)

Expecting a disaster at this point? No, it actually worked. There was enough butterscotch-flavoured glaze to give each cookie a good drizzle.

And now I just have to go figure out what we're having for supper.

Festival of Frugality #309: Don't Be a Cash Potato Edition

2011-12-13T07:24:00.003-05:00

This week's Festival of Frugality takes its inspiration from Prairie Eco Thrifter's post I Exercised at Home for 25 Years and So Can You. From couch potato to cash potato, P.E.T.'s principles can be applied to many areas of the frugal life.

Principle 1: Wake Up Your Body

No more excuses: just get moving on it.

You Have More Than You Think presents How To Instantly Improve Your Living Conditions When Money Is Low And Times Are Tough. "Just because you can’t get everything you want, doesn’t mean you’re free to let what you have fall apart."

Watson Inc presents Is It Possible To Live Without Debt?.

One Cent at a Time presents Only you can take care of your finance. "You, only you are responsible for your own financial life."

Principle 2: Make It Routine

Good habits are important.

The Frugal Toad presents ShopSmart Poll - Coupon Savings are Real.

Begging To Retire presents Fast Food Is More Expensive Than You Think. "After spending more than $100 at a fast food restaurant just for a grilled chicken value meal, I'm reconsidering my eating habits."

Michael So You Think You can Save presents 7 Ways To Save Money On Gas. "Don't just follow these habits when gas prices are high. Follow them all the time for the maximum savings."

Passive Family Income presents Top 5 Reasons Why You Are Overspending at the Grocery Store and How to Stop.

Money Mum presents 6 Tips for Eliminating Food Waste.

Dewey's Treehouse presents I am Not an Anomaly, I Just Make Dinner.

Principle 3: Do Different Things

Mix it up a bit. Try different angles.

Financial Highway presents 50 Home Business Ideas.

Thirty Six Months presents 11 Cheap gift ideas for co-workers.

PT Money Personal Finance presents Just in Time for Christmas: Toy Rental Service.

Money Is the Root suggests The Gift of Want. "If your child is asking and hoping for an expensive gift item this year, you may want to gear up to handle disappointment if they don’t receive it. One way to do so is to give them the gift of want."

Free Money Wisdom presents Can Doin' It Yourself Save You Money?

Free By 50 asks Is Cheap Gasoline Bad for Your Car?

Boomer & Echo presents ecoEnergy Retrofit Program. "With the ecoEnergy retrofit program, Canadian homeowners are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in grants."

Principle 4: Do Something, No Matter How Little

As Bobo the Bear says in Muppets From Space: "Baby Steps."

Bucksome Boomer asks Are You Piddling Away Your Money?

Shopping Detox presents Stocking stuffers: cute, or a threat to humanity?

Money Beagle reminds you Don't Forget To Check For Promo Codes.

Principle 5: Feel Superior – Stay Motivated

Give yourself a financial pep talk when you're tempted to slack off.

CardHub.com presents Card Hub’s 6 Credit Predictions for 2012. "Foresight is key in finance, so let’s make some predictions for things that will affect your wallet in 2012."

Wallet Blog asks How Much Does Watching TV Really Cost You?

Money Talks Coaching wonders Did a 3 Hour Sales Pitch Get Me to Open My Wallet?

CreditDonkey presents Happy Holiday Means Staying Out of Debt.

Principle 6: Be Selfish – Make It ‘ME’ Time

Look for ways to make your saving efforts enjoyable.

My Dollar Plan presents Throw a Holiday Party without Breaking the Bank.

Squirrelers presents Sometimes the Best Things in Life are Actually Free. "We often get so caught up in making and saving money, that we might overlook the reality that some of the great moments in life are free."

Smart on Money presents Appreciate What You Have and Enjoy It!

ReadyForZero Blog presents 4 Financial Mistakes to Avoid During The Holidays. "There are now only 23 days left in December — and the holidays will be over before you know it. Take it all in. Believe it or not, that’s the financially smart thing to do!"

Principle 7: Use Electronics

Or other make-it-easy resources that get you moving.

HowToSaveMoney.ca presents How to Minimize Your Cell Phone Bill with a Smart Phone and Data Plan.

Penny Pinching Professional presents Cell Phones Are Like Soup?.

Dough Roller presents 15 Ways to Slash Your Cell Phone Bill.

Bargaineering presents What Tax Bracket Am I In?

Principle 8: My Equipment

Don't get oversold. Use what you have, and make the most of what you do buy. Comparison shop.

Thriftability presents Save Money at Home: Use What You've Got.

The Family Wallet presents Easy Ways to Save Money on Glasses and Contacts.

Lazy Man and Money recommends Things I Like: Progressive International's Lettuce Keeper.

NerdWallet Credit Card Blog presents Nerd Q&A: What Are the Best Credit and Debit Cards to Travel With?

Free From Broke presents What Are Consumer Driven Health Plans and How do They Work for You?

Beating Broke presents Save on Health Insurance with These Tips.

Principle 9: Exercise Other Times as Well

Find ways to integrate your financial skills and creativity into new areas of your life.

20s Finances presents Graduation from College and Its Financial Challenges.

Money Cone asks If You Are Happy with Your Big Bank, Should You Still Switch to a Credit Union?

Free Money Finance presents Six Steps to Making a Successful Low-Ball House Offer.

And that's all for this week. Next week's carnival will be hosted at Help Me to Save, which also happens to be the host this week of the Totally Money Carnival #46: Countdown to Christmas. If you're looking for even more ways not to be a cash potato.

Crayons' photos: our bookshelves, the monkey mob, and Crystal's popcorn hat

2011-12-12T13:51:00.000-05:00

Jeanne wanted to know where we put all our books.

Most of the school-related books are on this wallful of bookcases in our downstairs rec room. This is what you'd call a candid shot, because Mama Squirrel did not attempt to get rid of the leaners or the over-stackers before Crayons took the picture. You can see more books in the photos of Crayons' doll Crystal.

Mr. Fixit has a small personal bookcase in his workshop, and there are bookcases in the bedrooms. And a few cookbooks in the kitchen. But that's about it, except for a few boxes of stored books--our living room upstairs does not have a good spot for bookshelves. A few years ago, having an excess of time on my hands, I did a rough count, and I think it was about 1600 books. I cycle them in and out pretty evenly, so I still don't think we have over 2000 total: probably more than the average North American household, but still less than many homeschoolers we know.

Crystal has a new hat to cover up the fact that her back hair is embarrassingly skimpy. It started out to be a potholder, but the sides kept curving up and it just looked better as a hat. Mama Squirrel added chain-stitch ties to each side so that it can be tied under the chin or under her hair. Crayons is making Crystal a red holiday jumper at her Saturday sewing class, so this will finish off her outfit.

A back view--see the popcorn stitch?

I also stitched the monkeys' hands together so that they can hold candy canes. Much more cheerful, I thought. People can snip them apart later if they want.

Piano Book Giveaway at TheChurchPianist

2011-12-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

The Church Pianist website is hosting a draw for a downloadable Christmas piano book. The book is called Christmas Inspirations: Intermediate/Advanced Christmas Piano Classics, and it's arranged by Joshua Harrison. Leave a comment there and you'll be included in the draw.

Where have we been all weekend? and beautiful music...

2011-12-12T10:03:00.001-05:00

We had a church turkey dinner and Christmas program Saturday night, which kept Mama Squirrel at the church all day since somebody had to watch the door and put the potatoes on. We had an enthusiastic crew of kitchen helpers in and out all day, so at least she did not have to help with the dishes afterwards. And the lull in the middle was good for some crocheting time.

Mr. Fixit did a funny monologue about the time he sold the most chocolate bars at school. The Apprentice sang "Sing of Birth" from the Medical Mission Sisters' album Gold, Incense and Myrrh. (We have been singing songs from that album during Advent as long as we've had Squirrelings, so they carry a lot of memories for our family.) Ponytails and Crayons sang a song with their Sunday School group.

The Apprentice has been crazy busy studying for exams and then driving back and forth to take them--she had one Saturday morning and has one this morning too.

Ponytails has been crazy busy with a ton of weekend homework.

Mama Squirrel has been crazy busy putting together the Festival of Frugality (it's going to be a BIG one, but that doesn't mean I don't want more submissions). And figuring out how much school we can squeeze in before Christmas and still have some time to play.

And everybody has been getting acquainted with a recent arrival in the Treehouse. No, it doesn't bark and it doesn't cry, but it does make lots of noise (if you want it to). It has 88 keys (count 'em). It plugs in. It was something Mama Squirrel had wanted for a very long time, and this year we made it a family gift. It is wonderful for getting ready for church piano subbing (no more fighting with the loose cord). It's also nice because we can practice when the Apprentice is going to be singing.

Would it have been more frugal to look at second-hand traditional pianos? When we compared the costs of buying one, having it moved and keeping it tuned, we decided that this was a better choice for us. Also, we are somewhat limited in good spots for even apartment-sized pianos, so we got a stand for ours that allows it to be taken down if necessary. And we were able to "shop local" and support a nearby music store. So that was our "money well spent" decision.

That's our story--what are you all up to?

Flashback: Christmas, 1967

2011-12-09T08:41:00.000-05:00

From the archives: Frugal is not a bad word

2011-12-08T19:58:00.002-05:00

First posted May, 2007

Some people have been giving thrift shoppers and other blogging frugalistas (how do you like that one?) a hard time recently. [Link to Like Merchant Ships updated 2011]

The arguments run kind of like this: the Bible doesn't say anywhere to go out and look for bargains. If we're not "really down and out" ourselves (define that as you will), then we're robbing from the poor if we buy something nice at a thrift shop--especially if we resell it and make a profit. (Heaven help the Christian who mentions making a profit on something. Didn't some Christian songwriters go through this one a long time ago?--God gave you this talent, you write this song and it's for everybody to sing, how can you ask us to pay you for copies of it?) Wait, there's more: if we're picking up books or vintage aprons or other frou-frou at yard sales or thrift shops, then that ranks as non-essential anyway, so then we're getting addicted to stuff or wasting the little money we did spend. (Wait a minute, I'm already seeing some contradictions here. If it's frou-frou stuff, then wouldn't it be just as silly for the "really down and out" to buy it?) And overall, we should be willing to pay "full price" for whatever it is, so that we're not ripping anybody off.

Now Stingy is bad. But Stingy is not Frugal. Stingy is putting dollars out on pizza delivery (full price) and pennies in the offering plate. Stingy is illegally photocopying textbooks. Stingy is not providing what your family needs even though you have the means to do so. Stingy lives next door to Chintzy Hardbargain and down the road from the Misers.

Frugality is making life as beautiful as you can on a little bit of money. Sometimes that little bit of money is all you have, period. Sometimes you have more than that but you're using what's left for something else that's important. Anybody with a credit card can throw money at a problem (full price, I assume); Frugality teams up with Creativity to make the most of what's there. And sometimes Frugality just has to say no to things. I can't bring myself to pay $2.19 a can for something at one grocery store when I know the discount supermarket sells it for half that price. What's full price, then? Store A's price or Store B's?

The comment was made on another blog I will not name that Mrs. Frugality wouldn't invite people over "to evangelize to them" if she didn't have the right cake pan, and that she wouldn't go out and buy the cake pan unless she could get it used or cut rate or something. First of all, I would never invite people over "to evangelize to them." About anything. I've been on the other end of the cake in that respect, and I did not appreciate it. Second, I don't know even the most frugal person who would feel that way about having a perfect cake pan before inviting guests. In fact, most frugal people I know would bake the cake in a casserole dish or something, or make something else, or just have tea and 99 cent oatmeal cookies. People are the point, not food.

And finally, as many people have pointed out in response to this ongoing issue: it's not a crime to shop at thrift stores if your shoes are intact and the stroller you're pushing didn't come straight off the curb. In fact, you are SUPPORTING THEIR MINISTRY by shopping there. It happens to be a delightful side benefit of this kind of shopping that we often end up with something unique, vintage, out of print, or otherwise amazing. And isn't that a whole lot more creative than getting something exactly the same as your neighbour's at Stuff-mart?

If you want more thoughts on this, I can't do better than refer you (once more) to this old post at The Common Room: Frugalities.

P.S. to this post

Holiday decorations at the Treehouse...getting started

2011-12-08T08:37:00.000-05:00

We haven't actually gotten any boxes of Christmas ornaments out yet...but we always have a few things put away in the hall cupboard, so I pulled those out and mixed them with year-round decorations.

By the front door...I know there's nothing on the tree, but it was a start.

Six little monkeys, sitting in a tree. I borrowed the tree so you could see how the monkeys turned out...but they're going here and there for gifts. After we took the picture, I got an even better idea: each monkey is going to hold a candy cane.

Another view of the table by the front door.

The top of our buffet, just playing around with some teacups and dolls. (Does it look a bit like Brenda's?) What it really needs is some greenery, flowers, bows, all that dress-up stuff...but we'll get there.

Forgot to tell you this about the CM Blog Carnival

2011-12-07T21:47:00.000-05:00

The next Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival will be focused on the theme "Timelines/Book of Centuries."

Your submissions do not have to be on this theme, just CM-related, but that's the focus. If you'd like to do some pre-reading on this theme, we suggest looking at Charlotte Mason's Volume 6 pages 169-180, her Volume 4 pages 36-38, and at the Parent's Review articles "The Book of Centuries" & "The Teaching of Chronology."

Okay?

Who is Mr. Dressup? Your Canadian education feature for today

2011-12-07T20:16:00.000-05:00

Mr. Dressup was the TV name of Ernie Coombs. Although he was an American actor, he was best known for his long, long, long-running Canadian TV program (1967-1996). Think Mr. Rogers (they actually worked together early on). Only on this show, the puppets came to hang out at Mr. Dressup's house instead of staying inside the Neighbourhood of Make Believe.

Mr. Dressup visiting Fred Penner's show...this is the way The Apprentice remembers him. (She went to see him at a theatre when she was three years old.)

But this is the way I think of Mr. Dressup! The 1960's version.

And here's a clip, from the post-Casey and Finnegan era.

Found at the thrift store: seasonal stockpiling

2011-12-07T19:38:00.048-05:00

Today was a busy afternoon with lots of book boxes to unpack and lots of empty shelves to fill. Crayons kept busy sorting cutlery, folding reusable shopping bags, and putting clothes on racks. What did we bring home? One pair of doll pants (for Crayons' baby doll); one bag of felt squares, and an armload of books.

Best, coolest, awesomest out-of-print book treasure found today:

The Long Ago Lake: A Childs Book of Nature Lore and Crafts, by Marne Wilkins. Reviewed here.

How Far to Bethlehem?: a novel by Norah Lofts

The rest of today's books I'm just going to list:

A Festive Christmas: Wonderful Ideas for Decorating, Cooking & Gift Giving, published in 1997 by Creative Publishing International
Mr. Dressup Giant Christmas Annual
Christmas Treats: Inspirational Ideas for Decorative and Edible Gifts, by Fiona Eaton

(Do we have a theme going here? I was feeling in need of inspiration.)

Two small books about the history and uses of chocolate: maybe to match with gifts of homemade candy

I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What it Was, by Barbara Sher

Things as They Are, by Paul Horgan (If you've never heard of Paul Horgan, please run and read this wonderful essay about his work! "Horgan's literary style is about as far away from Flannery O'Connor's as can be imagined. Yet much of Horgan's fiction, and especially Things As They Are, is an expression of O'Connor's "habit of being:" that spiritual intuition that allows us to see life, not simply as one damn thing after another, but as a dramatic arena of temptation and fortitude, creation and redemption, sinfulness and grace — a cosmic drama being played out here and now, a drama in which God is producer, scriptwriter, director, and, ultimately, protagonist."--George Weigel, "Introduction to Paul Horgan's Things As They Are")

And finally:

One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw, by Witold Rybczynski.

Our nature find of the year (book review)

2011-12-07T19:33:00.008-05:00

The Long Ago Lake: A Childs Book of Nature Lore and Crafts, by Marne Wilkins, illustrated by Martha Weston. ISBN 0-684-15614-8

The copy we found at the thrift store is the Sierra Club edition from 1978, but there is a 1990 paperback reprint with a different cover.

"Sometimes it is hard to see what you look at. In the out-of-doors, it is so important that sometimes it not only saves you a whole lot of trouble, but maybe even your life."

This book is unique. It's somewhat like Jim Arnosky's Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher, somewhat like a Scout handbook, but with stories of a 1930's childhood thrown in Imagine that you have a groovy grandma who loves to spend long rambling afternoons with you, who tells you equally rambling stories about stuff that happened fifty years ago, who can show you how to make everything from a wooden spoon to a pine needle basket to a rope swing, and who knows the names of just about everything that wiggles, flies or grows around you. If you can't find such a grandma (or grandpa), this book comes pretty close. There are no photographs--just lots and lots of diagrams, and also black and white drawings illustrating her stories.

A sample of the writing:

"Tracks and nests are storytellers if we can see what we look at. Meadows have hundreds and hundreds of living places in them, and if you sit still and look closely, you'll almost lose count of the animal villages and houses you can see. Start with anthills, gopher towns, and spider and insect caves. Next count the mice nests [sorry, DHM] and snake holes and badger burrows and rabbit forms and ground nests belonging to birds.

"It gives me the shivers when I see dune buggies or motorcycles zipping through meadows and deserts instead of on designated trails. I know the drivers can't see such things as the mother kildeer running away, limping, to lead intruders away from her young in their nest. A week later that same elegant lady bird strides proudly along with her young who look like minature striped fluff balls on toothpick legs teetering along behind her. Well, no one who had seen her would wreck her house, I'm sure. But her nest is just a simple saucer shape, open and exposed among pebbles and rocky places. It is hard to see and so easy to destroy."

The book is occasionally very blunt about life, death, and our relationships with the natural world.

"I very often find a bird that has died for some unknown reason, and I have learned how to preserve them. My first effort was the result of thinking I wanted to become a great surgeon. I found a dead owl at the foot of a huge pine tree and dissected it with a pair of crude kitchen scissors. My father was very cross and told me I had no right to do that to the owl, dead or alive. He was right. I'd only made a bad job and didn't learn anything, except that owls have more feathers than anything else. Eventually I found someone who could teach me. As with so many crafts, I discovered the main ingredients for doing a good job were patience, practice, and the proper tools."
The author also shares her reminiscences about some Chippewa boys that she knew during those long-ago summers. I'm not sure how politically correct her stories are, so please be forewarned about this; she seems to just tell things as she remembers them.
"The Chippewa boys were such good shots that one day my aunt asked them if they would get a bunch of bullfrogs for us. The boys were enthusiastic and started off toward the bogs. Suddenly, one of them came back and asked my aunt why she wanted the frogs. She said, 'To eat, of course.' To our surprise, the boy turned slightly green, and his eyes practically popped out of his head. He said, 'Well! I've heard of people who eat snakes and frogs, but I've never seen one before!' And away he ran.
"The boys not only refused to bring any frogs, but they didn't come to visit for a few days, either. When they did, one of them happened to shoot a chipmunk but only wounded it. Then it was our turn to be upset. We made a box for it and nursed it until its broken leg was well. My dad explained to us all that not everybody values life in the same ways. He said that it was all right to be different from each other sometimes. Later, when the chipmunk bit me instead of the food I offered it, I didn't feel so different from the Chippewas."
Worth looking for! There are currently quite a few inexpensive copies listed on abebooks.com, or you might be able to find it in a library.

Festival of Frugality, and other carnivals today

2011-12-06T12:51:00.002-05:00

Festival of Frugality #308: 19 Days Until Christmas Edition is up at Living Richly on a Budget. Money savers, money wasters, tips for new moms, strategies for teaching kids about money, and even some lessons from frugal billionaires. Something for everyone. And remember that we are hosting the next FoF, so please send in any and all frugal submissions by next Monday night at 9 (Eastern Standard Time). (Remember that FoF has had some problems using the central Carnival submission page, so please use that link.)

The HSBA Post blog (the Homeschool Blog Awards team) hosts The Carnival of Homeschooling: Relevant Edition. (Relevant as in the Relevant Conference.)

Harmony Art Mom hosts a Music-and-Composer-Study-themed Charlotte Mason blog carnival. And guess what? That's right...we are hosting the next one. It's not until December 20th, but send submissions our way anyway. (Early, if possible? I would so appreciate that.)

Tammy Grimes does Maurice Sendak...and other things

2011-12-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Last night we were watching a really old (1963) Route 66 episode, and I couldn't figure out who was playing the seriously strange female lead--there was something familiar about her...I was thinking "Juliet Mills?"...but I wasn't sure. IMDB to the rescue: oh, Tammy Grimes. Of course. How many times have we watched our VHS tape of The Borrowers (1973)?

And people who were kids in the 1970's would recognize her voice from this Christmas cartoon:

You-tube doesn't have the Route 66 episode, but it does have Tammy reading two Maurice Sendak books that were early favourites of The Apprentice.

Donna-Jean, have you seen this CD?

2011-12-05T19:51:00.000-05:00

Thinking of you and yours.

What a wonderful gift: New Mules in Pennsylvania

2011-12-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

Gina at Home Joys turned a family story into a children's book--complete with photographs of her own children. You can order copies at her blog...or maybe seeing the photos there will inspire you to write your own family's history.

As Father Tim likes to say--"Well done!"

Advent concert last night: want to hear?

2011-12-05T18:41:00.007-05:00

[Apologies for the formatting issues: Blogger is giving me some trouble.]

The Apprentice and I went to see a family friend perform in a university chapel choir's evening of readings and music for Advent.

One of the poems I liked unfortunately comes from a book celebrating the Winter Solstice (and by extension, the beliefs associated with that). Here it is anyway:

"Between Darkness and Light"
by John Matthews

It is within the darkness and the silence
That the magic of Christmas starts;
Somewhere between the glimmer of lights
And the first breathless moment
When children come
Stumbling like new-born angels
Into morning light.
Within the darkness and the silence
We sit, watching wonder
Evolve into form; where we
Enter the ringing silence
In which the first bells of Christmas
Sound the music of the soul;
Where the morning joy begins
With a single carol
To a half-forgotten tune.
It is here, between the darkness
And the light,
That we wait, uncertain,
Seeking the moment
That challenges us to believe
In a freshly minted miracle
Born every Christmas Day.

From The Winter Solstice

The choir also performed music on handbells, including "Creation's Dawn: A Prairie Hymn," by Sondra K. Tucker. Here's a different bell choir playing the same piece:

They also sang Edward Elgar's "The Snow," and here it is sung by an Australian choir. (Is there some irony in that?)

Another poem:"This is no time,"

by Madeleine L'Engle

This is no time for a child to be born,
With the Earth betrayed by war and hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out and the sun burns late.That was no time for a child to be born
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome
Honor and truth were trampled by scorn --
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.When is the time of love to be born?
The inn is full on planet earth,
Any by a comet the sky is torn --
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

And this one: "Watane/Iroquois Soundscape" by Mark Sirett. This is a more complex version of a lullaby that many Canadians have heard sung in English and French as well as Iroquois. The words mean, 'O little one, go to sleep now.'

Crayons' Grade 5: Term 2 begins

2011-12-05T14:43:00.000-05:00

We will have two weeks of Term 2 before we break for Christmas.

I'm planning on following Ambleside Online's Year 5 a bit more closely this term; that is, moving back to some of the books we had planned on skipping. We won't begin all the new books before Christmas, but we'll have time for a couple of them anyway.

The history topic over the next couple of weeks is the fur-trading days on the prairies, and the battle for control between the big fur-trading companies. Today's lesson described voyageurs and their Montreal partners meeting to swap furs and supplies at Grand Portage. What happened to Grand Portage? It's now a historic site in Minnesota, just south of the Canadian border.

We started A Passion for the Impossible, a biography of Lilias Trotter.

We read one of Mama Squirrel's vintage Bonjour magazines (the current ones look at lot different from MS's 1977 stash).

We did a bit of division in Math Mammoth Light Blue Book 4B. Yes, the dreaded division.

We'll also be reading Halliburton's Book of Marvels, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Plutarch's Life of Dion, and Makers of of the English Bible. And looking at herbs, for nature study. And continuing Madam How and Lady Why, Pet Store Math, art, and music.

And oh yes--I settled on Prince Caspian for our next read-aloud.

Christmas bookshopping, ca. 1886 (vintage Good Housekeeping)

2011-12-02T13:31:00.004-05:00

LOOKING AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS.

Some Hints And Helps Concerning Christmas Gifts.

"IN season" is the "sign-manual" before which many a door swings open, and a little forethought saves the futile knocking at many a portal, or, instead of a grating, reluctant opening, secures a magical movement of harmonious hinges. Christmas preparations, to be satisfactory, demand an early beginning. Left until the Christmas stir is in the air, and the Christmas shoppers are in the streets: till the days are shortest and coldest; till the nerves are tense and quivering with hurry and excitement; till the mind is confused with the sight of many beautiful things and tempting bargains; till our reckoning gets awry, and expenditures are sure to slip beyond the bounds of prudence, and we have to show for them, moreover, articles whose utility and fitness we more than doubt, giftmaking becomes a bugbear and a burden. With many of us) gifts must, in large measure, be bought with little savings, made at odd moments, or in the intervals of other tasks, and be determined, perhaps, by the little sacrifices or the labor of love we may find possible to allot to them.

A little careful, generous forethought, a judicious reckoning of what we can spend, and a thoughtful apportionment thereof, will add to the pleasure of giver and receiver, and leave some space, perhaps, at the blessed Christmas-tide for the fellowships, the recollections, the influences, of which gift and greeting are only accessions and reflections. The gifts planned beforehand, too, will be likely to be most valued after Christmas. We are more likely to take account of individual needs and preferences. I must confess to a liking for those gifts which supply some real want, which are more than bric-a-brac, which are meant not only to be admired and treasured, but to be used and enjoyed, to become some real part, however small, of the life and belongings of the one who receives them. Such gifts have a double preciousness, for they reveal the thoughtful love which, only, could have prompted them, and bespeak for it, on the part of the receiver, a grateful recognition and remembrance. Not all gifts can be such, perhaps, but the ideal gift will always be, like the love behind it,

"A simple, fireside thing,—

A thing to walk with, hand in hand,

Through the every-day-ness of this work-day world."

Christmas cards are a happy invention of some one, and they serve a gracious purpose, but many times the money they cost might buy something which would be more truly a delight than they. And it may be possible for deft fingers to fashion some dainty or durable article that shall better represent herself and better serve her friend's need.

Never, it seems to me, could one make choice of so many beautiful, expressive, serviceable tokens with but a little "siller in the purse," as now. The lovely little books of daily readings are the choicest of souvenirs. They come in all sizes and at all prices. As I write, there is at hand a late announcement of new books, and I especially note some new books with Scripture texts for one month (E. P. Dutton & Co.), for ten cents: "Sunshine for Life's Pathway," with daily readings, accompanied by poems by Miss Havergal and others, for one month, thirty-five cents; and in Cassell's "Chimes Series," uniquely bound, illustrated volumes, at fifty cents,—"Bible Chimes," "Daily Chimes," and "Old World Chimes," containing readings for every day in the month, and "Holy Chimes," being "thoughts in verse for every Sunday in the year," which last, it seems to me, would be an especially appropriate gift for those dear invalid friends, of whom doubtless we can all count one or two, whose Sabbaths are brightened by no song of choir or words of preacher, and whose sanctuary is home. "Helps by the Way," one dollar (D. Lothrop & Co.), will be a help and comfort evenday of the year to come. And there are many other books, to be had at the cost of a Christmas card, which would outlast and outweigh a score of such tokens. There are two or three of Mrs. Ewing's delightful stories,—"Jackanapes," "Daddy Darwin's Dovecote," and "The Story of a Short Life," which Roberts Brothers, of Boston, issue, with illustrations, and in comely, serviceable bindings at thirty-five cents each. The two books first named, by that English woman whose stories are so fast finding place beside our own best-loved household authors, are, perhaps, best adapted for children. That last mentioned can hardly fail to be full of interest and significance to that invalid friend. The three, bound together, with life of the author, comes at one dollar.

Of other costlier books there is little need to speak. These are specified because of their peculiar fitness for inexpensive gift-making, and the possibility of their commutation for gifts of far less worth and fitness. And what gifts do we give that are so likely to be treasured, so sure of a welcome, so certain to perpetuate the finest part of our friendships, stored with such pleasantness and helpfulness as some coveted or well-chosen volume? How often such a book brings to Our friend wiser and more potent suggestions than the one most loving could!

Of the little gifts one may make with little trouble, it may be well to mention a few, which are to be especially commended to the attention of busy, not over-skillful people, in that they are all very simply and speedily fashioned, and they require, moreover, little outlay. [Directions follow for small gifts such as needlebooks.]
All the things I have named are the simplest and most inexpensive of gifts. They may, therefore, be within easy reach and answer a purpose that richer gifts could not. Or, being simple, it may be possible to remember, with some of them, some weary toiling, discouraged body who, maybe, will not have else even such gifts as these. And to bestow such gifts, to give a bit of gladness, even at a little cost of time or money or effort, to some one no other may remember, some one we ourselves remember only with Christian love and kindliness is to embody the spirit of the day, to express the spirit of Him, "who, though He was rich, yet," on this day, "for our sakes, became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich."—Olive E. Dana.

Original link: Good Housekeeping 1886

Photos copyright Dewey's Treehouse.

Merry Thrift Store Christmas (free e-book)

2011-12-02T10:28:00.000-05:00

Jamerrill Stewart at The Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling blog has a free e-book for you when you subscribe to her site: "Have Yourself a Merry Thrift Store Christmas." She includes gift ideas and "tricks of the trade," like this:

"Ask about Sale days: You're already saving a huge amount of money by shopping at the thrift store. But wait...there's more! Oftentimes thrift stores have sale days on top of their cheap prices. One thrift store that I frequent has a $5 bag day. That's a 20-gallon trash bag for $5!"

Well, the store where we volunteer doesn't have bag days, but we are on a four-colour weekly system where one of the four colours is always half-price and another is always a dollar. If you watch your colours, you can do pretty well. Even though thrift store items cost more than they used to (the idea of books for a quarter seems to be gone forever), they still make up a fair-sized chunk of our Christmas shopping. So do check out Jamerrill's book if you'd like some how-to's.

Molly, the 1886 Leftover Queen (one more vintage clip)

2011-12-01T11:35:00.001-05:00

Molly, a Victorian housewife, has set herself a challenge to spend only $10 on housekeeping for the whole week. She presents the week's grocery bill to her husband.

"Now, although that amount has been spent this week, you must remember that of several of the articles bought, a little is left, and I have not to begin this week without a scrap in the house as I had last," explained Molly. "We only need ice a week or two longer, but when that need ceases we shall need more fuel, but I think a dollar a week all the year round will average ice and fuel, so I shall allow that. We shall use two dollars a week for a few weeks, but barely fifty cents the rest of the year."

Molly laid the accounts before her husband as she finished, and he gravely looked them over.

"And if, this month, I come out even five cents ahead, we may count ourselves safe, for buying in the very small quantities I am now doing is an extravagant way. But I wanted to make sure my 'paper housekeeping' would work in practice."

There was rather an anxious look in Harry's eyes as he read over the accounts. He was afraid Molly had sadly miscalculated, and he hated to prove her at fault, although he loved to poke fun at her.

"What's the matter?" asked his wife, starting up and looking over his shoulder.

"Only, dear, if you remember, we had chicken in one form or other several times this week, but there is only one chicken counted, and that is to-day. Also, lamb chops we have had several times." He glanced up at her deprecatingly, for he felt such criticism ungracious yet necessary, but Molly was quite serene.

"The box of chicken in Monday's bill was all I've used; the chops also were from Monday. There's one thing, though, I will call your attention to, and that is, that the most expensive meal we had was the steak, yet people who use steak every day are supposed to live plainly and economically."
"Then we come out wonderfully, I acknowledge."

Want to read more? Molly's hints and recipes are quite extensive. (Just search at the top for Good Housekeeping, Molly, chicken.)

A Literary Christmas Dinner (more vintage clippings)

2011-12-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER.

A Literary Dinner, Dished Up By Various Authors.

[I am including only the menu--the original link is longer.]

The Bill Of Fare,

Soup.

In soups and second courses.—Bennett.
A plate of turtle, green and glutinous.—Anon.

OYSTERS.

'Twas a fat oyster—live in peace.—Pope.

FISH.

Fishes that tipple in the deep.—Lovelace.
I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.—Shakespeare.
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair.—Charles Kingsley.

TURKEY.

A morsel for a monarch.—Shakespeare.
A most delicate creature.—Shakespeare.
Have it tender, and smoking, and juicy.—Thackeray
Lobster Salad. Quaint in green, loose enrobed.—Shakespeare.

PLAIN SALAD.

Herbs, and other country messes, which the neat-handed Phillis dresses.—Milton.

Cranberry Sauce.

Whose edge is sharper than the sword.—Shakespeare.

VEGETABLES.

The unbending corn.—Milton.
I'm a careless potato.—Moore.
Commend me to mistress Squash.—Shakespeare.
Can you cat roots and drink water?—Shakespeare.
Onions, whose fragrance smells to heaven.—Anon.

RELISHES.

Butter is a lordly dish -Judges v: 7.
I have peppered two of them.—Shakespeare. Heaven's blest beam turns vinegar more sour.—Anon.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ex and hatred therewith.—Proverbs xv: 13.

PIE.

"Without the door let sorrow lie;
And if for cold it has to die,
We'll bury it in a Christmas pie,
And evermore be merry." —Anon.
What calls back the past like the rich pumpkin pie?—Whitticr.

PUDDING.

Pudding made hot.—Goldsmith.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.—Dutch Proverb.

BREAD.

Bread is the staff of life.—Dean Swift.

DRINKS—WATER.

The cups that cheer, but not inebriate.— William Cowper.
The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.—Samuel Woodworth.
Its draught of cool refreshment may give a shock of pleasure to the frame.— Thomas Noon Talfourd.

COFFEE.

Coffee which makes the politician wise.—Pope.
Give me water with berries in it.—Shakespeare.

DESSERT.

Beautiful as sweet.— Young.
A feast of nectared sweets.—Milton.
Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?—Herbert.

FRUIT.

The golden peach.—Gray.
Chestnuts in her lap.—Shakespeare.
Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig.—Shakespeare.
A heap of candied apples, quince and plum, and gourd.—Keats.
Glorious apples with smooth, shining cheeks.—Alexander Smith.

THE DINNER EATEN.

That my poor stomach's past reform.— Trowbridge.

All he wants now is sugar plums and rest.—Lowell.

—F. A. Lincoln. Original in Good Housekeeping, 1886

What to give to the Strugglehards (vintage clipping)

2011-12-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

"Of course you have got cousin Sophia Strugglehard on your list?" asked John changing the subject.

"Oh, yes," answered Kitty briskly.

"What are you going to send her?"

"Well," hesitated Kitty, "I have bought her a couple of pretty handkerchiefs."

"Two for a quarter ?" queried John relentlessly.

"Now, John, you are too bad," began Kitty.

"No, I am not," answered he indignantly. "If ever anybody needed something pretty and bright she does, shut up in that dull country town with herflock of little children, and not a cent for anything beyond clothes and food. Think how one of your plush banners or painted easels would brighten her shabby parlor, while in Aunt Easymoney's it is simply one thing more too many."

"Yes, but you know, John," said Kitty eagerly, "she often says she wishes people would not send her handsome presents for she can't make any in return."

"Give and take again," answered John, "but don't you suppose a pretty bit of your own work done for love's sake, would hurt her pride less than the two cheap handkerchiefs given, as she knows as well as you do, just to 'give her something ?'"

"I wish you wouldn't say anything more, John," said Kitty disconsolately, " I think Christmas presents are dreadful anyway, and I shall be glad when it is over with."

"The trouble is not with the Christmas presents, my dear, but with the way you make them. The finest things must be given to the richest people because anything else will seem shabby, and because they give handsome things themselves. There is no affection about it. And the presents themselves, look at the heap of trash that gathers in our parlor Christmas week. Ornaments that keep me a week putting up and buying fixtures for, embroidered nonsense of all kinds, things of no possible use nor comfort, to be brushed up, or picked up, or nailed up for the whole year, till they are faded or broken. When I think of the money that goes into them and the care and bother that must go after them, I feel as Kitty does, Christmas is a burden and a bore. It is too bad to have such a beautiful custom spoiled. No, girls, don't waste eyes and time making something nobody wants just to give something. Give to people because you love them, and give them something they want. If they have so much that you must rack your brains to find something they have not got, for mercy's sake don't burden them with anything more. Give food and clothing to some perishing child in their name and tell them of it. Do anything but take all the heart and the blessedness out of the beautiful Christmas time. Remember who gave Himself, not to the rich and full, but to the poor and perishing, and let us keep our Christmas comfort not smother it under bric-a-brac and embroidery." —Mary Blake.

(Good Housekeeping, 1886)

Found at the thrift store

2011-11-30T21:47:00.000-05:00

Spirit of Canada, edited by Barbara Hehner. This is a lovely big book of stories, poems and songs that came out a few years ago. It has been very popular with homeschoolers, and I don't think Crayons is too old for it.

The Brothers Karamazov, translated and annotated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Red Heart Yarns One-Skein Bazaar. Just a short booklet, but useful.

Strangest title seen today:

'
How to Make Your Man Behave in 21 Days or Less Using the Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers.

'Nuff said, right?

Festival of Frugality is up

2011-11-30T21:34:00.001-05:00

Last week I posted about the Festival of Frugality, but due to a technical glitch that carnival didn't happen. This week's Festival is now up at Frugal Family Life, and there are quite a few posts included--so go see.

And for the first time ever, coming soon, the Treehouse will be hosting a Festival of Frugality. We will be doing the December 13th edition. If you're interested in contributing to this carnival, you should know that they have had some trouble with the carnival submissions form, so there's a backup form here.

In which I make a monkey of myself a ball of yarn

2011-11-28T20:01:00.001-05:00

Today I tried out the Red Heart monkey pattern.

It went pretty smoothly and came out about the right size--7 inches. That's 17.78 cm for the Canadians.

I got to the end and suddenly realized--this monkey doesn't have a tail.

Since that wouldn't do, I added one. Make a chain the length of desired tail, then single crochet one row into the chains. It will curl a bit, as single crochet into chains does even when you don't want it to. Sew to the monkey's...um...tail-hitching place.

What's for supper? Stovetop lasagna

2011-11-28T19:55:00.000-05:00

Tonight's menu:

Skillet Lasagna (I'd forgotten how much I like this recipe, especially when there are only seven lasagna noodles left in the box)
Europe's Best Nature's Balance frozen vegetables (Food Basics doesn't carry this anymore, but Walmart does--yeah!)
Grapes, cookies.