Daybook - Saturday, October 16th (New House Edition!)

outside my window . . .  new grass is gingerly creeping up from the straw-strewn ground and the woods are mosaic of autumn colors.

in the kitchen . . . boxes full of long-ago packed away items wait to be opened and their contents remembered and happily stored away.

around the house . . . pictures are finding their way to new spots, new furniture in and some old furniture out.  A bit of order is emerging from the packing chaos.

listening to. . .  the heat whistling through the vents taking the chill off a night-chilled house.

thankful for. . . the joy my kids have found exploring the woods and creek with new and old friends.

one of my favorite things . . .  knowing that we have finally moved everything out of our old house and storage unit.  We are officially all moved in...now just to get unpacked and sorted.

milestones in the past week . . .  

:-: Toddler L beginning to try out new words "fishy" which sounds more like "shishy" and "sitka" ("kitka") - two of her favorite stuffed animals.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .  

:-: Tomorrow we head up to my Aunt and Uncle's cabin on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.  We are celebrating my grandmother's birthday and expect lots of our extended family to come!

:-: Unpacking, unpacking, unpacking.

We've been in the house for about 3 weeks and most of the big items are placed (furniture) with a few pieces to add in from the storage unit.  We are enjoying a bit more privacy and the beautiful woods behind and beside us.    Sometimes I feel we'll be unpacking until summer.  Maybe we will!

Daybook - Monday, Sept 13th

outside my window . . .  the grass is crisp and crackly from the late summer sun and lack of rain.

in the kitchen . . . recipe books laid open looking for a barbecue sauce recipe - a newly discovered favorite!

around the house . . . boxes are slowly filling and anticipation is growing!

listening to. . . my two middle ones enjoying a mid-day movie.

thankful for. . . 18 years of a joyful marriage, yesterday was our anniversary!

creating . . . plans in my mind for our new house

one of my favorite things . . .  leaving the windows open to the cool, dry air of fall nights.  

milestones in the past week . . .  

:-: Toddling L (previously known as Baby L) has begun to be a real flirt out in public.  She's waving hello and good-bye to everyone she sees!   

:-: Our house is complete!  All but the touch-ups to paint, etc.  We are expecting to have the walk through next week and close Friday or the following Monday.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .  

:-: Tomorrow is Holy Cross Day.  I've planned nothing, yet, but I just might be able to manage a small celebration of some sort.

:-: Wednesday my middle son, H, turns 11.  We are planning a "with friends" party in October (after we are moved in), but we'll still have a nice family celebration.

:-: Thursday all the kids head to Va Beach to visit grandparents.  Toddler L will stay home with Erik and me, but it'll be like "old times" to have just one. :)  Erik and I will have a more proper celebration for our anniversary then.

:-: PACKING!

:-: And finally, one of my best friends was just diagnosed with lymphoma.  She starts chemo Thursday.  Pray for her if you would.

Peter Piper's Picks - Sept 9th

Mary at Evlogia has posted about her family's use of Praying the Hours.  She has compiled a Children's Book of Hours that you can download in two formats.  Read her post and then scroll down to see the link to the files.  Thank you, Mary, for sharing!

From a Study in Brown, an archive only blog, this lovely reminder for those of us introverts:  Survival Guide for the Quieter Species.  HT: The Introverted Church

I've been thinking about making my own detergent for sometime.  While I was at the beach in the summer, my good friend Beth brought hers to use.  It worked well and smelled great.  I have a full jug of store-bought detergent not, but as soon as it runs out I'm making some of this!

I don't really like "Because I said so", but sometimes I just don't know what to say.  I intend to try this the next time I'm tempted to use that phrase (or an even less kind one).

Lots of Recipes added!

As I'm thinking about this whole blogging thing, I'm trying some new things out.  Tell me what you think...

I've added a whole bunch of recipes from an "old" cooking blog.  (The only reason I've updated that blog at all as is a place to store recipes online.)  You can select the "In the Kitchen" label and see them all.  Let me know if you like this addition to the Ten O'Clock Scholar.

Gratitude: Sept 8th

:-: an unexpected afternoon get-away for hubby and me (a trip to IKEA for shared dinner and shopping)

:-: the slight chill of soon-to-be-fall air in the late evening air

:-: my favorite part of the road around my new house: where it dips down low by a large creek.  The air is always sweet smelling and slightly cooler.

:-: my silly dog with a rediscovered ball

:-: the last of summer's peaches all dressed up and delicious in cobbler batter.
 

Daybook - Tuesday, Sept 7th

outside my window . . .  we woke to a subdued, slightly foggy morning.

in the kitchen . . . a new dishwasher is sloshing away.  I think a batch of 5-minute artisan bread dough is in order this week. Haven't made it in a very long time!

around the house . . . packing, packing, packing.  I started on my china cabinet, but it is not nearly as rewarding as one would hope.  Four boxes later and I've barely made a dent. I think I'll have to work in some other areas to get the feeling of accomplishment that will spur me on to keep at it.

thinking about . . .  our new home and how we'll "live" in it differently.

listening to. . . "Charlotte Talks" on NPR.  Something about war prisoners.

thankful for. . . kind words from a few of you - you've encouraged me to at least keep at the blogging a bit longer - if only modestly, and a chance to finally be in bible study!

one of my favorite things . . .  my son's new MacBook.  He doesn't like me liking it, but I do!  

milestones in the past week . . .  
:-: Baby L has officially left "babyhood" - she is now 2 and a TODDLER.  
:-: Eldest son, S, started high school at a small, Charlotte Mason private school nearby.  
:-: We started our 8th year of homeschooling with H in 6th and E in 3rd grades.  
:-: Our new home is almost complete!  We expect to have our first inspection late this week, or early next.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .  
:-: packing 
:-: Daughters of the Holy Cross meeting 
:-: packing 
:-: maybe a walk through of our new home 
:-: packing 
:-: our 18th wedding anniversary coming up on Sunday.


and a photo . . .

We learned about the cave paintings of places like Lascaux this week
and decided to give it a try, too!

The Rest of Summer

We've had a busy, busy summer in which we've rested and played and visited and more!   Would you like to see?

Sent H and Farmor off to Sweden for nearly 3 weeks!  They toured churches, castles, museums.  H also got to meet extended family on his Dad's side - lots of them!

Made forts and watched movies on rainy days.

Watched our house go from dirt to nearly completed.

Picked blueberries in Little Rock, AR with our good friends.  And then made some awesome blueberry pies to celebrate Jeffrey's 13th birthday (in the white shirt).

Enjoyed playtime with friends.

Felt a little sassy.

Got some sand under our feet, some sun on our skin, and some saltwater in our noses.

Celebrated 40!

Sent our eldest off to High School!

Started another year of homeschooling the other two.

And welcomed our Baby L into the Terrific Twos!

Is This Thing On?

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK* - is this thing on?

Yea, blogging hasn't been a real priority this summer...and frankly, I'm not sure it will be this fall either.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to publish this post, but sometimes you just have to start putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and see what comes out.

I've loved blogging the past few years, but in the past 6 months or so my desire has waned.  Honestly, it had become a bit of an obligation and chore and that is certainly not how it started, nor how I want it to continue.   So, I don't really know what is ahead for this teeny-tiny blog.   I'm praying and discerning if blogging here is in my future or not.  I am keeping up with our family blog: The Potter's Shed, so you can come on by there and see what we've been up to this summer.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you!  What have you been doing this summer?  Have you ever had blog-burn out?  Or a mid-blog crisis?  (And if so, what did you do?)

Classic Ratatouille

Adapted from by Julia Child’s Ratatouille

1 lb eggplant
1 lb zucchini
1 tsp salt
Slice zucchini into half-moons about ½ inch thick. Peel and slice eggplant to similar size. Place in mixing bowl and toss with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. Pat dry with paper towel and set on plate.

3-4 T olive oil, as needed
1 yellow or Vidalia onion, thinkly sliced
2 bell peppers (red, orange, yellow), seeded and thinly sliced
2 cloves mashed garlic
1 bay leaf
1 T fresh rosemary (2 tsp dry)
1tsp fresh marjoram (1/2 tsp dry)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Heat oil in a large skillet. In one layer at a time, briefly sauté the eggplant and zucchini (about a minute on each side – slightly browning). Remove to side dish. In the same skillet, cook onions and peppers slowly in the olive oil for about 10 min.s, or until tender, but not brown.

1 lb firm, ripe tomatoes: peeled & seeded
Salt and Pepper
(To peel tomatoes: dip tomatoes into boiling water – 10 seconds, max.; then peel. Seed by cutting horizontally and either gently squeezing or scooping out the seeds into a bowl.) Slice peeled & sliced tomatoes into pieces the same size as the zucchini and eggplant. Lay these over the onions and peppers. Salt with salt and pepper. Cover the skillet and cool over low heat for 5 minutes, or until tomatoes begin to render their juice. Uncover, baste the tomatoes with the juices, raise the heat and boil for several minutes, until juice has almost evaporated.

Scoop half the tomato/onion mixture out or to side of skillet. Spread the remaining half over the bottom of the skillet. Lay half the eggplant and zucchini on the tomatoes and onions. Return the other half of the tomato/onion mixture to the skillet. Put the rest of the eggplant and zucchini on top.

Cover the skillet and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Uncover, tip skillet and baste with rendered juices. Correct seasonings, if necessary. Raise heat slightly and cook uncovered for about 15 minutes more, basting several times, until juices have evaporated leaving a spoonful or two of flavorful olive oil. Don’t let vegetables scorch in bottom of skillet!

*Can be made entirely the day before and becomes more flavorful when reheated. Serves 6 (as main) – 12 (as side)

Daybook - Monday, June 14th

St. Basil the Great


outside my window . . .  the sun is just past its zenith, I believe, and hot and white.

in the kitchen . . . zucchini bread is in the oven, bread dough is rising on the stove, veggies are washed and waiting to be transformed into ratatouille.

around the house . . . still slowly working on painting rooms here and there.   We stalled on little E's room before our vacation and haven't quite gotten back there.  Hubby says today is the day.

thinking about . . .  a new camera, maybe

listening to. . . the clatter of dishes being put away

thankful for. . . a hubby happy to be the dish-putter-awayer

pondering the words . . . "war-torn Afghanistan could become the 'Saudi Arabia' of lithium"

creating . . . temporarily lost my crochet mojo and had to restart Baby L's summer blanket 3 or 4 times.  I might have it finished before the leaves start turning colors.

one of my favorite things . . .  new purple bath mats (all cotton - no rubber backing) I picked up for $5 at Marshalls

milestones in the past week . . .  we are finally moving on the property!  After a ridiculous of red-tape from  one lender (one my hubby works for - not mentioning any names), we've switched to another lender and everything is going much more smoothly.  We went by the property (to see what other lots had been sold) and saw that we have a drive way and home site cleared!

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .  quick meeting with our new lender to sign some papers tomorrow,   taking Little E to one of the free summer movies Wednesday, working Friday, and H comes home Saturday (from nearly 3 weeks in Sweden with his grandmother).

How to Quit Planning Meals!

Are you looking for a way to provide economical, home-cooked meals for your family? Are you tired of the constant nagging question in the back of your mind, "What's for dinner tonight?"   I've got a radical idea to pass along to you:  QUIT PLANNING!

Well, at least, quit planning so frequently.

Mary at Evlogia has totally inspired me to make my meal planning and preparation easier by having one meal plan for a whole season instead of a new meal plan each week.  (She also has an amazing series of Household  Notebooks for each season of the Church year.)

Mary is Eastern Orthodox, so her meal plans accommodate her family's needs to maintain the fasting schedule of the Orthodox church.  At first I was skeptical about the lack of variety week-to-week, but then I reminded myself that we tend to eat pizza EVERY Friday night; Indian food on Saturday night, and nachos on Sunday night and we don't get tired of it!   Mary also mentioned one time that most people tend to stick to a handful (or two handfuls) of the same recipes anyway.  And really, Mary's idea might encourage me to have more variety on an annual basis.

I've started with our Summer Menu, and will continue to add seasonal menus during the year (as long as it is still working for us!).  Future Menu plans will probably include:  Fall, Advent (fast), Christmas (feast), Winter, Lent (fast), Easter (feast), and Spring.

Here is my planned Summer Menu (click on the table for a larger view)

I've posted this on my fridge - so everyone knows what is for dinner (and breakfast and lunch) and in my Home Binder.  Right behind it, I have the grocery list (how easy - I don't have to make a new grocery list every week...just look over the one I've already got prepared).  I've typed up the recipes and filed those, too.  No more flipping through cookbooks trying to find recipes in the middle of preparing dinner!

And, Mary, thank you for sharing your meal plan...and inspiring me to keep it simple!

I'll start posting the recipes later this week.

Contemplating Liberty on Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend I've seen many political cartoons and emails about the price of liberty - lest we forget on this Memorial Day weekend.  All important things to remember...memorial and all that.  But these have brought to mind the question...what is the price of lost liberty?  Are we willing to pay that price to gain certain "perks" in our daily lives? 

When we buy and buy and buy and max out our credit cards, we've lost liberty...and we pay a price.   When we fill our days with busy-ness leaving no time for relaxation and true rejeuvenation, we've lost liberty and we will pay a price.  When we rely on the government to do what the Church should be doing (taking care of the poor, for example), we've lost liberty and we will pay a price.

Just some thoughts running through my head this Memorial Day weekend.  Another thought is how much I'd love to be attending this year's CiRCE conference:   A Contemplation of Liberty.  Many people said last year's (Contemplation of Nature) was one of the best, but I suspect this year's just might top that one.   Are you attending?   I'll just have to settle for some conference CDs this year - but the good thing is I can listen to them over and over!

The reading list for the conference has been posted!  I can't wait to start reading!

And subscribe to the blog - Andrew always has some great posts.  Here is a small sampling:

The Art of Freedom
Freedom and Planning
Freedom begins at Home
Freedom: Aesthetic and Ethical

Have a wonderful weekend...I'm off to shop for a new refrigerator.

Not dead, I swear!

Hi all - anyone left reading this blog?  Whew, what a month.  I am still living, and quite happily, too...but life is keeping me quite away from much access to my computer. 

Quick run down: 

• busy with end of school for eldest son including a wonderful Mock Trial opportunity
• became sick with a sinus infection
• became even more "sick"
• received a preliminary diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia - either caused by inflammation associated with the sinus infection or just coincidental that symptoms began at the same time. 
• went on vacation loaded with meds, felt better and had a wonderful time
• we vacationed at Rosemary Beach, FL (near Panama City Beach).  While there made two trips to the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.  Saw the Blue Angels and got some autographs!  Watched my boys have the time of their lives in a  flight simulator (blew up stuff, flew under a bridge, landed on an aircraft carrer).   Enjoyed relaxing by the pool with my mom and kids.  Helped my sons improve their swim stroke...and tried to get my eldest daughter (8) to put her face in the water.
• then my computer crashed.  Hubby is my tech support, but he hasn't had time to deal with it, yet.  So I'm stuck sneaking a few minutes on his computer here and there.
• Dealing with a advertising issue for my church and trying to help get our website launched
• Praying that at the end of my month's supply of TN meds, my symptoms will have resolved. 

I do hope to be blogging again soon, but the break is good, too. 

How are you?  Any great blogging going on that I'm missing?  Planning for next year's school?  Vacations?

Daybook - Monday, May 10th

You know when your blogging becomes sparse and only consists of daybook posts for a few weeks that you are busy or sick or both, as I am now. Vacation is coming and with it some time to rest and be rejuvenated.  I hope to be back to more regular blogging soon. Lots of things to talk about with school wrapping up and summer on its way!  Thanks for sticking with me!   ~Kerry


~~~ My home ~~~

outside my window . . . after a few 90+ days, we have had two wonderfully cool, breezy days.

in the kitchen . . . Angel Food cake with strawberries tonight for dessert.  I'm saving up my carbs for that!

around the house . . . Dining room and Library have been finally cleaned out for our move.  They both look so good with less furniture.  There is definitely a lesson in that.

from our studies . . . I'm working on our summer plan.  It will include a unit on house-building - appropriate, no?

listening to . . . my kids fixing their own lunch (small celebration!), the dog chasing something in her sleep, the breeze whistling in through the small crack I've left in the window.

in the garden . . . azaleas are blooming - warm, soft pink.

living the liturgy . . . Ascension Day coming up on Thursday.  May is always so busy for us that this day often goes overlooked.  This May is no different in terms of busyness, but I'm looking at some very simple plans to celebrate this day.


~~~ Myself ~~~

what I'm wearing . . . grey lightweight pants, rose tunic top

thankful for. . . a VERY clean van (my Mother's Day gift from my family)

reading . . .  The Mysterious Benedict Society before passing it along to my kids.  I'm enjoying it so far!

on my iPod . . .  finally got my new earbuds!  I'm trying to catch up on some of my favorite podcasts before I download new ones.

creating . . . considering crocheting a lightweight summer blanket for Baby L.   I'm thinking a pale yellow cotton or maybe pink.

thinking about . . . how good it will feel not to have a head/earache.

noticing . . . that I just love the new placement of my "chair".  We rearranged the library (removed almost all of our books and one of our "big comfy chairs" and moved sofa and remaining chair to new positions) and my chair is now nestled into a private corner with a view out the front window.  It is very restful.


~~~ My Family ~~~

milestones in the past week . . .  Baby L moved from a booster with a tray to a booster at the table!  For a long time, she was too short to eat from the table in her booster.  Now (with the booster raised to its highest position) she can reach the table!  She seemed to really relish being up so high at dinner last night.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .
- doctor today for a nasty sinus and ear infection (done - omnicef is my new friend)
- Wednesday my first meeting with the Daughters of the Holy Cross as an official "Daughter"!
- Ascension Day on Thursday with an "all Anglican" service.  (A group of the small local Anglican churches pools resources for special services like this - always fun to see our Anglican brothers and sisters from other churches.)
- Friday my Mom arrives for a visit.

Daybook - Monday, April 26th

outside my window . . . an embarrassingly shaggy lawn.

in the kitchen . . . dishes piled in the sink left from the weekend.  I dislike starting Monday with dishes in the sink.  It just makes me feel behind already.

around the house . . . boxes piled beside the front door waiting transport to the storage unit.  Daughter's room with slashes of new color on the walls.  Both projects stalled last week and need to be re-started.  And laundry.

on my iPod . . .  lots of wonderful things which cannot be enjoyed because my silly calico cat enjoyed an ear-bud cord snack a couple of nights ago.  This is the second pair she's mangled.  The first time it was my fault for leaving them out...this time is was my eldest son's!  Guess who owes mom some money?  It is very odd - she can't seem to resist Apple's white cord coating.  She's also chewed up one iPod power cord.

from our studies . . . we are sticking with our "basics" right now, the three R's.  Oldest son has his Mock Trial competition on Tuesday...and then his Challenge B program is over for the year.  We'll do school for a few more weeks until our upcoming beach vacation!

thinking about . . . living in the country near good friends with a community playground, pool, and garden.  Working together on ministry projects and sharing life.  Doesn't that sound like a good life?

listening to. . . my morning NPR - something about derivatives.

thankful for. . . a Sunday afternoon spent with dear friends in good conversation while repelling children from second helpings of cupcakes.  And, particularly, a friend who is more like family - to the point of not being overly concerned about dirty dishes in the sink or clothes to be folded when there is an opportunity for fellowship.

pondering the words . . . "Try a simple experiment.  Take a small child on your knee.  Respect him.  Do not see him as something to prune, form, or mold.  This is an individual who things, acts, and feels.  He is a separate human being whose strength lies in who he is, not in who he will become. ... We are told by many in our generation that this small child is a cog in a machine, or even that he is a possession, like a pet animal.... We must answer: No.  You are holding a person on your knee and that is wonderful."   -- Susan Schaeffer Macaulay in her book about Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy, For the Children's Sake.

reading . . . When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper (again)

remembering . . . last year being Baby L's first spring.  So many "firsts": first month home, first flowers, first meeting of friends and family.

~~~

to educate faithfully . . .  an awful sinus/ear issue last week really knocked me off my game.  I'm feeling better and hope this week will have better luck with the faithful part of our educational plan.  I think last week I would have said we were educating accidentally.  Back to our trimmed down study of the basics - but feel about ready to get back to the rich stuff....books, poetry, art, history, etc.

one of my favorite things . . . my new Order of the Daughters of the Holy Cross pin/pendant.

milestones in the past week . . . yesterday Baby L went, on her own initiative, to one of her godmothers during church!  Auntie B had a quiet and welcoming lap, just what Baby L needed.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . .   Hoping for a coffee date with a couple dear friends.  Might go to a US Naval Academy presentation for eldest son (he's entering high school and hopes to go to USNA or AF Academy after graduation).  Possibly attending a local event for some good Ghanaian culture Tuesday morning.  Mock Trial competition Tuesday evening (pray for his nerves if you are so inclined!  They are having the trial before a federal judge!).  Mother-in-Law coming to visit for her birthday and we are taking her to Biltmore House's "Homeschool Days".  Eldest son has a youth retreat this weekend.  And on Sunday I've got a relaxing "Twilight Tea Party" to attend.  Will it really be May by the end of this week?  Why yes, it will.

a picture thought I'm sharing . . .

the creek on a piece of property we are considering purchasing for a new home.