The Potter's Shed

Welcome Fall with Michaelmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Sun dappling through leaves beginning to thin.

Honey-scent of fresh, ripe apples.

Thin mist sitting low in valleys.

Early morning chill on your cheeks and bare toes.

Speckling of leaves with shades of rusty orange and ruby.

Some of the reasons fall is my favorite season of the year.

Autumn arrived according to science on the autumnal equinox - Sept 22nd. It arrives traditionally this Tuesday, September 29th, on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas. Being a lover of "traditions" (the older the better), I do so love this feast day, especially!

Michaelmas has wonderful old traditions in many European countries. Englad has a very rich history of traditions for the Feast of Saint Michael. The link between the Celtic cultures of France and England is particularly fascinating. Did you know both have churches of St Michael...both on mounts? The famous Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France and the less well-known Saint Michael's Mount in Cornwall, England.

As much as I'd like to be perfectly traditional and keep my celebration and decorating for the actual feast day, that isn't realistic for my family. (Perfection is the enemy of the good, remember?) Instead, I've found moving some of these celebrations to the nearest weekend allows us to enjoy them in a more relaxed manner.

The beginning of our fall happened this weekend with decorations on the front porch and a feast of Pumpkin Chili and a batch of Blackberry-Orange Sangria. Both these recipes were so good - and quite easy! The pumpkin in the chili added a depth of flavor, without being "pumpkin-y". I did omit the brown sugar in that recipe. And the Blackberry-Orange Sangria could be cut in half (it makes nearly a GALLON) unless you are expecting a real crowd. And, I think the next time I make it, I'll add some cinnamon sticks....maybe even some cloves.

I plan to print out a pretty coloring page like this one or a simpler one like this for younger kids to enjoy on Michaelmas.

Visit my Pinterest board with other ideas for Michaelmas.

Blessings of the season to you!

Daybook: Lent, a beginning, March 7th

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:29:00 +0000

outside my window . . . my backyard is nothing but mud, mess, and mayhem. We've had rain - so much rain. The mulch has completely overrun the patio, the dogs have tracked mud across the porch, and there are mud-caked towel strung here and there waiting to be washed. Will it ever dry up?? Thankfully, today is sunny and cold, perfect for drying out the ground a bit.

listening to . . . the little heater that keeps my kitchen alcove warm blowing in an attempt to get the area to a comfortable 68.

wearing . . . still not totally dressed for the day, temporarily wearing my pj top (which lookes like a regular shirt), jeans, and my teal down vest.

so grateful for . . . prayers of good friends that sustain me.

pondering . . . how to get my home back in a semblance of order. We've had many weeks and weekends of travel since mid-January. The house has slowly gotten out of hand and now we all feel the chaos creeping. Also considering adding chores for Frey and Freya.

reading . . .  The Remains of the Day (Kizuro) - almost done!, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Le Carre) - just finished it - SO GOOD, On the Incarnation (St. Athanasius),  A CiRCE Guide to Reading (Kern) and still pluggin away at Beauty in the Word (Stratford Caldecott).

creating . . . determined to create a new chore chart for the littles.

around the house . . . tackling Mt. Clutter

from the kitchen . . . still deciding. Possibly we'll have BBQ from our favorite place.

real education in our home . . .  my dear Artemesia has really taken over her own education. She comes to me for help when she needs it, but she has discovered the joy and reward of learning indepenently. It was somewhat self-preservation on her part, but I'm very proud of her.

the church year in our home . . . Still struggling with getting our church year established with the littles. This new season has been very hard to adjust to in this area.

one of my favorite things . . .  my teal down vest.

recent milestones . . . I have recently accepted a position as Challenge 4 Director on our Classical Conversations campus!

the week ahead . . . well, the week is almost over. Today is Ella's work day, school, CC prep, ballet (of course). Tomorrow is our CC Community day.

picture thoughts . . .

Freya after her nap.

Advent Devotions - need a hand?

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:44:00 +0000

As promised, a few suggestions for Advent devotionals. I would not even attempt an exhaustive list...who could?? (Well, on second thought, I'm sure someone could, but not me!) These are some I've used or have seen or have some experience with. There are so, so many others.

Remember, perfection is the enemy of the good. Don't look for the perfect one...pick one and run with it. Pray for the Lord to use it in your family's hearts, and trust that He will. And enjoy!

Jotham's Journey (readings are long, so make sure it is appropriate for your kids' attention spans). There are four of these, so if you like them, you can choose another for next year.

The Jesus Story Book Bible Advent Reading Plan. I think this lines up pretty well with the traditional Jesse Tree symbols. The Jesus Story Book is a really lovely childrens story bible. This one is ideal for younger children. (But if you have older children, they'll enjoy it, too.)

Printable Jesse Tree ornaments - print and let your kids color one each day. Then hang on a tree. (I'm doing a paper tree on the back of a door, and then taping the ornaments up.) Use these with the Jesus Story Book Bible Advent reading plan above - or find another Jesse Tree devotional.

Hallelujah - A Journey Through Advent with Handel's Messiah - This one is a great one, but I'm a little biased. You'll find a reflection from various writers for each week, a daily listening guide, recipes, poems, and much more. Cindy is a winsome writer - you can't go wrong with this one.

Whatever you choose, please, don't ditch it just because you are getting a late start...or because you missed a few days. It's ok, just pick up where you left off. You can always go past Advent and into the Christmas season.

Preparing for Advent - 4 ways

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:54:00 +0000

Remember, links in the text are re-linked at the bottom of each post.

So, it is time...time to begin seriously preparing for Advent. Are your candles ordered? I scoured Amazon and decided on these. They are solid color candles and are supposed to be dripless. If you don't have your Advent candles (and you plan to use them in a wreath) order or get to the store quick! (Michaels and Hobby Lobby often carry Advent candle sets. Of course you don't have to buy them in a set, you can buy individual colors.)

That's one thing you can do to be prepared (and often the thing I forget until Saturday before Advent!!)...but what else?

Create a Holiday Binder

Over the past few years I've been collecting resources for the holiday season. I have a great make-ahead Thanksgiving menu that I clipped out of the newspaper in 2007 and have used ever since with a few adjustments to suit my family. A Santa Lucia bread recipe. Several cookie recipes. Poems to read. Lists of books and movies we own (so I won't forget them). A large stack of activity pages I found on various websites to keep the kids occupied while I wrap gifts. A list of our favority holiday shows to record. Lots of scraps of ideas scribbled down. A plan for an Epiphany house blessing. I bet you have some of this bits and pieces, too.

Find a binder and binder dividers. If you are like me, you have plenty of these around the house. One just needs to be found and cleaned out. I use, and recommend, a 3-ring binder with several pocket inserts. You can divide it up into seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany) or by topic (recipes, crafts, fun stuff to do around town, etc - I find this the most useful for me).

Print a blank calendar. This year mine runs Nov 30th - Jan 7th (Feast of St Andrew to the day after Epiphany). Mark your calendar with important dates (parties, local events, feast days, etc)

Use it and then don't forget to store it in your Advent box for next year, or whatever box will be the first you open to get ready for Christmas.

Make a plan to attend local events

The holidays are such a good time to get out and get to know your neighbors and community. Make good use of local events! We will be going to our local small town tree and town lighting, a gingerbread contest that benefits a local charity, several particularly well-decorated homes, ice-skating in an outdoor rink, for example.

Try to find several events that can be attended during Christmastide. Our culture does most of its celebrating before Christmas even gets here, so it can be challenging to keep celebrating after the 25th. I usually try to find several events or activities that will be ongoing after Christmas and save them for the 12 Days of Christmas.

Look for events on small town websites and in newspapers. Ask around, check out facebook pages, and pay attention to signs and other analog notices (posters in store windows, for example).

Get the house cleared and ready

This is a good Advent activity for the whole family. Start thinking about where decorations, the tree, etc will go. Clear surfaces to make way for those decorations. Plan where you'll move that furniture to accommodate the tree.

So many years I've left this for too late into Advent and felt harried. While you don't have to do all this BEFORE Advent, it certainly helps to begin before Advent and have a plan for getting this done.

Give the house a good deep-cleaning. Then you'll just need to do touching up and some minor cleaning as the season progresses. Clean out the coat closet a bit to make room for guests' coats. Encourage the kids to do a purge of their rooms for give aways and junk.

Clear out pantries, fridge and freezer. And stock up on food storage supplies. You'll probably be doing lots of baking and making ahead, so be prepared and get these ready.

Begin a good devotional practice for your family

Obviously, this is the MOST important thing you should do to get ready for Advent. And while purchasing a devotional is helpful, it isn't the only way. You can find free ones only...or just plan to spend some good time in bible reading and prayer with your family. If you do decide to purchase one, there are so many good ones out there for kids, kids and families, adults, teens.

In a separate post, I'll recommend some we've used (purchased or free), but don't let yourself get too bogged down trying to find the "perfect" thing....you won't find it. Maybe all you can do this year is light Advent candles and say a few words of prayer - that's ok! Just select a book or activity that seems like something you can easily stick to for the season ahead and give it your best.

Make that devotional time a priority. It can be hard to find the time in a busy schedule. Think about your days - when are you all gathered as a family naturally? If you homeschool, first thing in the morning might make sense. If your kids go to school, perhaps just after dinner. If you can't do it every day at the same time, that's ok - even a few times a week is great!

Make that devotional time appealing. What will your kids enjoy (and what makes sense for the time slot you've selected)? Snuggling on the couch in front of the fire? In the morning gathered around the table with hot chocolate or tea? At night with dessert? Maybe sitting by the Christmas tree with only the tree lights on?

Be watching for a follow-up post with suggested devotionals and activities. (Here you go!)

Above all, take a cue from the Grinch...

"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"

That goes for Advent, too!

Links:
- Advent Wreath Candles
- Christmas Poems from Christina Rosetti
- Christmas TV listings
- My suggestions for Advent devotionals

Wait! Before Advent ... Saint Andrew!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 13:58:00 +0000

Our Thanksgiving Table

(All links in the text are re-linked at the bottom of this post.)

Have you finished all your turkey, yet? Ours is slowly being digested. Last night was turkey soup, today is turkey casserole. I do love the leftovers from Thanksgiving...but my kids seem to be tiring of turkey! Maybe we'll resort to tacos later this week.

My slow roast turkey was another hit - whew! It is pretty easy, but I made the mistake of needing my oven that morning to make a breakfast casserole. Need to rethink that for next year. Maybe an intant pot breakfast instead.

With the turkey almost gone, it must be time to start thinking about Advent!

Why is Advent my favorite time of year? I'm not exactly sure...maybe it is in my contrarian nature to want to do something different from the culture. I do love the slowness of it, which is ironic because my actual days are a little crazy during early December. Maybe it is the reminder to take it slow and really dig into the season of waiting and expectation.

Is there some link between how we approach Advent and how we live the rest of the year? Perhaps. We do live in Advent days...days of waiting for the coming of the King.

Frey enjoying the
Thanksgiving feast...
with a little kitty helper

Advent traditionally begins the Sunday after the Feast of Saint Andrew (Nov 30th). So this year, it will begin on Dec 2nd. But let's not overlook dear Saint Andrew in our rush to get to Advent! Saint Andrew was fishing with his brother, Peter, when he answered Jesus' call to follow him, and thus became Christ's first disciple.

Because he is very closely associated with Scotland, and we have Scottish heritage, we lean toward those customs, but you can certainly find customs from the other cultures he's associated with (Greece, Russia, Amalfi in Italy, and Barbados).

Share the story of Saint Andrew's life with your children. Many Saints' lives books will feature him. The pickings are a little slim for individual books about his life, but I found a couple. There is a Kindle book (I haven't read it, so I can really vouch for it - but it is only 99 cents!). And another written for Scottish children by Lois Rock.

Here's a little kid-friendly video that will give you and your kids a quick overview of Andrew's life:

What other ways can we celebrate this last feast day before Advent?

Scottish Stovies -
doesn't that look delicious?!

Enjoy some Scottish delights: shortbread (buy it or make it), Scottish Stovies, or serve fish for dinner.

Hang a Scottish flag (or the flag of one of the other countries that claim him as a patron saint)

Draw a Scottish thistle (a guided tutorial)

Of course right on the heels of St. Andrew's feast (especially this year!) is the beginning of Advent. Time to begin planning what you and your family might do. In the next day or two, I'll start posting some ideas to get your family started! Until then you can check out my Church Year page and follow the links under "Advent".

Blessed Feast of Saint Andrew!

Links from the text:

Kindle book - Saint Andrew, and this one by Lois Rock
5 Things You Didn't Know About St. Andrew
Scottish Shortbread Recipe
The Order of the Thistle
Draw a Scottish Thistle
Craft a Scottish Thistle to wear
Wear a thistle (a Scottish custom) - here's one you can make!

Christ's Soldier: St Martin, November 11th

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 18:41:00 +0000

St Martin and the Beggar - El Greco

I am a complete sucker for a good medieval festival...and one that we don't know much about...and one that has given us many traditions without us even being aware of it. It's like a little treasure box of mystery! Gourds, squashes, turnips being carved into lanterns, kids going begging (like the beggar in the most famous story of St Martin) house to house for treats, having a big harvest feast including a large bird, and honoring soldiers...all these can be traced back to the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours.

Who was Martin of Tours?
From the Encyclopedia Britannica:

"St. Martin of Tours was born in 316, in what is now Hungary and died November 8, 397, in Candes, Gaul (France). He is know for being the father of monasticism in Gaul, and the first great leader of Western monasticism.

Of pagan parentage, Martin chose Christianity at age 10. As a youth, he was forced into the Roman army, but later he petitioned the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate to be released from the army because “I am Christ’s soldier: I am not allowed to fight.” When charged with cowardice, he is said to have offered to stand in front of the battle line armed only with the sign of the cross. He was imprisoned but was soon discharged.

Legend holds that while he was still in the military and a catechumen of the faith, Martin cut his cloak in half to share it with a beggar. That night, he dreamed that Jesus himself was clothed with the torn cloak. When he awoke, the garment was restored. Moved by this vision and apparent miracle, Martin immediately finished his religious instruction and was baptized at age 18.

On leaving the Roman army, Martin settled at Poitiers, under the guidance of Bishop Hilary. He became a missionary in the provinces of Pannonia and Illyricum (now in the Balkan Peninsula), where he opposed Arianism, a heresy that denied the divinity of Christ. In 360 he rejoined Hilary at Poitiers. Martin then founded a community of hermits at Ligugé, the first monastery in Gaul. In 371 he was made bishop of Tours, and outside that city he founded another monastery, Marmoutier, to which he withdrew whenever possible.

During his lifetime, Martin acquired a reputation as a miracle worker, and he was one of the first nonmartyrs to be publicly venerated as a saint."

Lanterns
One story surrounding St. Martin involves his donkey becoming lost in the woods at night and children helping him to find the donkey with lanterns. This transformed into a tradition of a parade of children with lanterns on St. Martin's day. There is an old tradition of using a root vegetable carved into a lantern that probably grew into our pumpkin jack o'lanterns.

Your jack o'lantern is probably long gone by the time St. Martin's rolls around on November 11th, so maybe instead of lighting that you could make lanterns another way: luminaries (paper bags with some sand in the bottom and a small votive candle, hole-punched tin cans, mason jar lanterns, or paper mache lanterns.

The Beggar
Saint Martin is best known for sharing his cloak with the beggar. Perhaps a recognition and remembrance of St. Martin's generosity would be to follow his example by giving away warm clothes and coats to those in need. Spend the day culling clothes and deliver them to an organization that will get them to those in need.

Fall Feasting
In the Medieval church, the time of preparation for Christmas began in the middle of November. People saw St. Martin's (which occurred right before Advent), as a mini-Mardi Gras type celebration before the fasting of Advent began. This, of course, is also a time of harvest and putting up food and supplies for the winter. It was a natural impulse to have a feast to celebrate, and on St. Martin's day a fat goose was the tradition. This tradition continued well into the Renaissance and then came over to America with the settlers (in Virginia first and then in Plymouth), where it became a turkey very quickly! It might be hard to pull off a big feast on St. Martin's day with Thanksgiving right around the corner, though. But it is fun to know where this tradition originated.

Instead, perhaps a different type of "feast"? This time of year is when vintners begin tasting the year's new wine. Beaujolais Nouveau is still realeased right around mid-November, so why not find one to enjoy on St. Martin's day!

Another idea for modified feasting is to serve items that can be cut or torn in half and shared with the person beside you.

A Roman Soldier, Armistice Day and Veteran's Day
At the end of World War I, November 11th was chosen as the day for the ceasefire. Was this just a wonderful coincidence that they choose a day on which people had traditionally celebrated a former Roman Sodier who became a Christian and gave up warfare? That's a good question that I haven't found an answer to...but I have a suspicion that someone chose it purposely. Regardless, it is a wonderful day to remember our Veterans (as we do in America) and give thanks for them and pray for soldiers and those affected by war all over the world.

A good children's book:
Snow on Martinmas by Sleightholm

Coloring Page:
I found this lovely copy of the El Greco for coloring.

More reading:
St Martin traditions
Martinmas Lantern Walk
Some interesting articles on Martinmas

Fright Night, Fun Night

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:18:00 +0000

Erik, Frey, Freya, and Faramir sorting
out the pumpkin seeds.

(There are several good links to articles and a podcast in this post for futher reading/listening. I've also posted them at the end of the article. Enjoy!)

Our pumpkins are carved, the candy is purchased, the last feather has been hot-glued into place...it must be Halloween!

Of course, Halloween can be a bit of a minefield for Christians these days...with mines mostly laid by other Christians. So, I understand if you feel some real apprehension about how to celebrate. And if you are particularly sensitive to scary images or have issues with the occult, then it makes sense to find an alternative for your family.

Artemesia, Freya and Frey
working on their jack o-lantern
designs

But if you enjoy celebrating a day of imagination and fun, then let's frolic on Halloween! It's like one big scary, fairy tale story...a great way to face our fears and laugh.

Most of you probably have your own Halloween traditions, and I'd love to hear them (comments!)! Please share! Here's what we enjoy:

Selecting a pumpkin, creating a design and daddy cuts it out. Then we turn out all the lights and light the candle.

Toasting the pumpkin seeds. This one takes some work!

Seperate the seeds from the pumpkin pulp and give them a rinse. Let them dry a bit (30 minutes or so) in a colander.
Spread them on a cookie sheet and put in a 200 degree oven. Leave for several hours (4 hours is about right). Turn off the oven and leave overnight. They may need more time, so check them in the morning. They should be crunchy more than chewy.
Once dry, coat in vegetable oil (olive or whatever you like) and season. We use Old Bay, but even just salt will be good.
Cook again at 250 for about 30 minutes.

The final pumpkins! Frey's drawing
was the inspiration for the one on the right.
Artemesia and Faramir did the Studio
Ghibli cat on the left.

Trick or Treating, of course! Then we come home and swap candy and enjoy a belly-full before bed. My girls are pretty good at regulating and don't drive me crazy about the candy, but in the past when all the kids were little I had a three-day rule. They had three days of unrestrained access (they had to have a good breakfast first) and then all leftover candy went in the trash.

This year I'm adding a new tradition: pumpkin spice latte. I do enjoy them, but only in small doses. So, Halloween seems like an appropriate day to enjoy my ONE pumpkin spice latte for the year.

Artemesia and Friend
(Cheshire Cat and Katniss)

This is a great day to talk about heroes of the faith - saints! What are your beliefs, which saints might be appropriate to learn more about as a family? Maybe choose a few to learn more about for the year ahead. Some your kids might enjoy: St Francis, St Martin, St Nicholas, St Brigid, St David, St George, St Patrick.

All Saints and All Souls Days
Of course the next two days are for remembering our loved ones who have passed on. If you have access to your loved ones' burial place, Nov 1st or 2nd is a good day to go visit and clean it up a bit. Perhaps add pictures of loved ones to the mantle or in another place of honor and tell some fun stories and memories. This year we'll be remembering my grandmother who passed away last year in October, the day before her 100th birthday.

Friend and Friend
(Malificent and Misty
Copeland's "Firebird")

Books your family might enjoy for Halloween:
Gibbons, Halloween is...
Dr. Seuss, What Was I Afraid Of?
Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
Willliams, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Links from above:

a podcast from the Anselm Society (for Christian Arts): Welcome, Great Pumpkin

a classic article from The Internet Monk: The Great Pumpkin Proposes a Toast

another article from Anglican Pastor: What is All Saints Day?

Freya as a princess; Frey as a
Stormtrooper

Time to go run and get my one and only pumpkin spice latte of the year!

Four years later.... a daybook

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 12:29:00 +0000

outside my window . . . chilly air has finally settled in after a few bouts with tropical storms and hurricanes. Leaves are *just* beginning to blush.

listening to . . . my morning NPR. Little Fiona (6 month old border collie/lab puppy) attacking her newest toy.

wearing . . . grey workout pants and a UNC Chapel Hill sweatshirt.

so grateful for . . . afterschool care for Frey. The first month without that was incredibly exhausting and stressful.

pondering . . . whether or not I can actually get this blog up and running again.

reading . . .  Dead Wake (Eric Larson), Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear (Stephen Manes) - this is ONLY a book for those in the dance world, Beauty in the Word (Stratford Caldecott) - that one you gotta take in tiny chunks!

creating . . . Not a darn thing right now.

around the house . . . time to pull out the fall clothes, the space heaters (we have a room that doesn't get sufficient heat and my homeschool area has a lovely, but chilly bay window), and down comforters.

from the kitchen . . . Chicken and Dumplings tonight!

real education in our home . . .  Reading Charlotte's Web with my nephew. I'm really enjoying going back through the many wonderful children's books we have! Artemesia is becoming a very independent learner.

the church year in our home . . . Because ballet has taken over our lives so thoroughly the past 2 years, we are finding less and less time for these celebrations. I'm trying to adjust our celebrations a bit to fit our current schedule. One saint a month...and of course the big seasons.

one of my favorite things . . .  this funny little fuzzy hedgehog ornament that sits on my desk, a gift from my girls.

recent milestones . . . Faramir just started a new job. It involves a lot of travel. He's in VA for a week and then OK for 3 weeks!

the week ahead . . . errands today and a home visit from the kids' social worker, then a full week of school and dance. Hoping to buy and carve our pumpkin this weekend.

picture thoughts . . .

Backstage at our Nutcracker production - one of my favorite places to be!

Music for Advent - 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 01:03:00 +0000

Links for Advent Week 3

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:00:00 +0000

Oh, my - busy week! The Nutcracker (Kalliope's first!) is one for the books. She did great - as did all the young dancers. So - anyway - very quick on the links today.

How to wrap gifts like a Japanese professional.

Making traditional mincemeat pies - I do LOVE mincemeat!

You know, the Advent and Christmas season can positively buzz with activity making it difficult to provide healthy home-cooked meals. And right at a time when you are trying to spend more time as a family...and less money at restaurants! Once a Month Meals is a like the honey in that wild buzzing beehive of the holiday season. Check it out - great resource for quick fix and make ahead meals.

Do you, like me, seem to wind up every year with some oddly-shaped gift that absolutely defies wrapping? Oh, sure you can just get an enormous gift bag...but then the gift just sort of knocks around in there always tipping over. Check out this helpful idea!

Links for Advent Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

The parade coming down Main Street.

Good Sunday evening, friends! Our little Kalliope is going to be in the county youth ballet's production of The Nutcracker...and today all the cast members got to participate in our small town Christmas Parade! She was so excited to ride the float and feel like a "star".

There is something so comforting and lovely about a small town at Christmas, especially: walking the town today, seeing some familiar faces, hearing greetings of "Merry Christmas" yelled back and forth. Love it!

Here's the float - I marked Kalliope with a yellow arrow.

On Saturday, we had a very low-key St. Nicholas feast day. Shoes by the fireplace and gingerbread for breakfast. The weather was awful, so we ditched some outdoor plans and opted instead to drive to a local house that does an amazing light show. Then we came home and watched "Rudolph".

Here are some links from the last week:

Anne Kennedy at Preventing Grace with a funny and heart-rending post about Advent.

Faramir, Erik, and Artemisia

An Advent calendar from The Economist - not at all "Advent-y", but interesting!

This is an older post, but I just love the humility and grace she expresses as she shares with us her desire to incorporate Advent into her life. (Becoming Peculiar)

Christmas Trivia Game - One is more secular, the other has more religious-oriented questions. I'm going to combine the two to use with my classes for a fun game on their last day before break (Dec 4th)...and then again with my family!

More serious: Ferguson in the Shadow of Advent

Artemisia and I enjoying some Peppermint Mocha
from our awesome coffee shop.

This one isn't particularly Advent-ish, other than that I've put this book on my list to Santa...wonder if he'll bring it? Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead" books, now a trilogy, are by far my most favorite pieces of contemporary literature. Some people find them too slow...I adore them for their slow, careful pace. I haven't read Lila, yet, but I can recommend it highly based on the previous books. And I think it would make exceptional, if un-orthodox, Advent reading. A good review by Amy Frykholm.

Saint Nicholas Feast is nearly upon us!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:22:00 +0000

Jan Steen - The Feast of Saint Nicholas - 1663
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Today I had to run a couple of errands, and so that means, as is almost always the case, a child or two is with me. This makes shopping for Christmas tricky. But I'm good at distraction and subterfuge. Which is good, because I had a couple more things to pick up for St. Nicholas' feast day.

Are you celebrating? It doesn't have to be a fancy celebration...shoes by the fireplace with a bit of chocolate and maybe a very small gift is certainly in the spirit! Sometimes we do a lot, sometimes we only do a little.

This year it will be a little feast as we have a busy Saturday. Some goodies in the shoes and a breakfast of freshly made gingerbread.

Here are some posts to get you started:

So why Saint Nicholas?

Santa, santa everywhere....how to turn those Santas into a Saint!

My own past posts about St Nicholas

And, if you homeschool, perhaps a little Picture Study using Jan Steen's Feast of St Nicholas (that's the image above). Here's a little background from the Rijksmuseum where this painting is housed.

I'd love to hear how you celebrate! Please share in the comments - and link to your blog if you have a post about your celebration! I'll update here!

Links for Advent Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Advent week 1!

Here are some links I've collected in the last week for you. Just a few this week to whet your appetite.

Lent and Beyond is an amazing and extensive resource for Anglicans and other liturgical-minded Christians. Loads of Advent links!

Christmas Movies - I love to record them and have some to watch during the 12 Days. This website has a very complete listing, and very easy to copy and paste into a document for printing. The bold ones are this blogger's top picks (classic movies and such).

Yesterday, I let the girls dig through the Christmas crafts box.
Oh, they had fun, which is obvious from the mess they made!

The Celebration Project - my IRL friend Amy (and a friend of hers, Deb) are blogging their way through the Church Year - a project near and dear to my heart! Be sure to subscribe to this blog if you also love the Church Year. And don't miss her guest posts on St Nicholas from Anne Kennedy (of Preventing Grace) and yours truly. (I'm so honored that she even asked!)

Preparing for the New Church Year - from Internet Monk. This is an exceptionally-complete introduction to the Church Year. If you are new to this whole concept, this is a great place to start. But even if you are quite familiar with the Church year, you can find some very helpful resources. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

A grown up's Advent calendar - Professor Carol puts out a fascinating email-based Advent calendar. Lots of interesting historical and cultural tidbits!

Daybook - Monday, Dec 1st

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:23:00 +0000

outside my window . . . the leaves are falling as fast at I can pay my kids to clear them. I'm torn between trying to keep a cleared driveway and yard and just waiting until they ALL FALL.

listening to . . . Kalliope's spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl of her favorite breakfast: Cream of Wheat. She's the only child who really likes Cream of Wheat, which makes me quite satisfied. I've passed on the love of creamy wheatiness to another generation, as well as the jingle my Dad always sang when he served it to me, "Cream of Wheat, Good to eat, Makes the Baby fat and sweet!"

wearing . . . Oh, heavens - I'm still in my PJs. At 9:45.

so grateful for . . . really good friends.

pondering . . . see below

reading . . . finishing up the last couple of chapters of The Litte Way of Ruthie Lemming by Rod Dreher, which has made me want to really put down some roots in this little town of mine, but also it has made me want to move home to Va Beach. Dreher's writing about his sister's illness has helped me understand more clearly the purpose of suffering in this life.

creating . . . Russian Tea Mix for gifts this week. I'm not sure this really counts as "creating" since it is really only mixing and dumping.

around the house . . . Plotting and planning rearranging my den and sun room. Maybe pictures to follow! We have a nice sized den, but with two full-sized couches (which we need with 6 of us - and four of them full-sized humans) it is cramped. I'm thinking a slight rearrangement just might work.

from the kitchen . . . Ok - I posted this on Facebook, so disregard if you are a FB friend and have already seen this. Made a most-delicious pie for Thanksgiving: Buttered-Maple Black Walnut Pie. NO corn syrup! Made the old-fashioned way with maple syrup and butter. Really, really lovely - custardy and delectable! That website is all "old" recipes - so a great resource.

real education in our home . . . We always break for the holiday season. This will be our last week of school. Instead, we'll focus on Advent, puzzles, playing checkers (a new favorite thing), learning some kitchen skills, and preparing for Christmas.

My new-to-me teapot.

the church year in our home . . . Thanksgiving and Advent falling on the same weekend always means I don't quite get my Advent act together.

one of my favorite things . . . Just bought this lovely little teapot at a local consignment store. It is perfect for our school morning tea.

recent milestones . . . My eldest is just about to complete his first semester of college. He's attending my (and my husband's) Alma Mater: James Madison University.

the week ahead . . . Last day of classes (I teach 2 classes on Thursdays to homeschoolers), last day of Classical Conversations, getting ready for Saint Nicholas Day (more posts about this very soon), and putting Advent up.

picture thoughts . . .

Girls and I spent a morning at a local park. This heron, cautiously hunting
his breakfast, is a resident of the pond. He is reamarkable.

A weekly feature hosted at The Simple Woman's Blog.

Advent Season: Music for Advent

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:00:00 +0000

Well, the Christmas music has started on the local radio stations. Since they'll stop playing it on December 26th (only the 2nd day of Christmas, y'all - not to be too much of a curmudgeon about it), we will enjoy it while it is around.

But I also like to play some Advent music, too! Hard to find on the local radio stations, but if you do a search on Youtube for Advent music playlists, you'll find some.

Here's one I put together:

Super Easy Bone Broth in 4 Steps!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 19:21:00 +0000

So, have you heard all the hoopla about BONE BROTH? If not, go read those links. It's really just the hip new way of referring to something that homemakers have known about for an awfully long time: making stock. And it is so simple!

Here's how I do it in the slow cooker:

STEP 1) Save the bones from any meat you've recently eaten (chicken carcass, turkey carcass, beef bones from steak, etc). You can also ask for bones from your butcher, but it is recommended that you cook the bones before using them if they are raw. Some people will save bones in the fridge or freezer until they have enough to make broth. I'd say you'd want bones from about 5 pounds of meat, at least.

Here is the broth above at the 18 hour
mark. You can see the color is a nice
dark gold. The flavors have started
to mellow.

STEP 2) Throw the bones into a crock pot with a splash of vinegar (helps pull minerals from the bones), enough water to just about cover the bones, some veggies for flavor, herbs, if you like, salt and pepper. For veggies, I usually use an onion and 2-3 stalks of celery, maybe a carrot. Anything else you have on hand is good - I used a bunch of parsley that I had leftover from Thanksgiving this time. The broth will have a distinct vinegar scent at first which will mellow and disappear by the time the broth is done.

The broth after 24 hours.
The color hasn't darkened significantly,
but the carcass has broken down quite a
bit. Bones are still hard at this point,
but beginning to release their gelatin
making the broth quite unctuous.

STEP 3) Set the cooker on "LOW" and let it do its job for the next day or two. Yes - day or two! The broth will darken and mellow... you'll even begin to see a gelatinous oil towards the end... and those bones may get positively soft. That's all good!! If you just can't wait that long, you can take it out at the 18 hour mark. But, oh, do try to wait a little longer! The results are much better.

Bone broth at about 36 hours.
Notice the color has gone from dark
golden to a rich brown. Bones are soft
and crumble when squeezed with your
fingers. It could be left it cook longer,
but I think this is a perfect point to
finish the broth.

STEP 4) Once you are satisfied with the broth (anytime after the 18 hour mark, but I'd suggest letting it go for at least 24 hours), let it cool a bit and remove the larger bits of veggies and bones with a slotted spoon. Then carefully (get someone to help with this) pour it through a sieve and into another container. Now you can serve it, use it for soup, or store it.

Final product! I wound up with
about 3 qts of broth which
I divided into two gallon ziploc
bags to freeze.

If you refrigerate it before using, you can skim off some of the excess fat, if you like. I don't generally do this as I think that stuff is GOOD FOR YOU! I let mine cool quite a bit and then freeze it in gallon freezer bags.

Do you make bone broth regularly for your family?

Thanksgiving 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 18:46:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a lovely day with family and/or friends...and for those of you who got snow, I hope you enjoyed it!! My kids were a little jealous.

We had no company, nor did we travel for the first time in a LONG time. It was a quiet and relaxed Thanksgiving. Not how I'd want to spend every Thanksgiving, but it was nice this year.

We laid out a craft paper banner for everyone to write or draw what
they were thankful for...this was so easy and enjoyable, that I think
it will be a new tradition!

Here is our table. We have inherited quite a bit of china and
silver, but this is our wedding china. I love using it!

Mid-feast - (right to left) Artemisia, Kalliope and Erik.

(left to right: Faramir and Athos)

Our cat, Zeke, is a notorious
counter-surfer. We had to put him
while we ate for fear he'd get into
turkey on the counter. He sat on the
windowsill and pouted.

Faramir and Athos enjoyed a
checkers throwdown.

And at the end of the evening - the
turkey carcas, an onion, some
celery and the leftover parsley
all went into the crock pot with
water and a little vinegar (and salt
and pepper). Bone Broth!!

Summer travels

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:08:00 +0000

We travelers, walking to the sun, can't see

Ahead, but looking back the very light

That blinded us shows us the way we came,

Along which blessings now appear, risen

As if from sightlessness to sight, and we

By blessing brightly lit, keep going toward

That blessed light that yet to us is dark.

--Wendell Berry

Sabbaths 1999, VI

Kalliope and I went away - the two of us, intrepid travelers. We flew far away to Washington state for a special visit. We stayed in Seattle for a few days with a dear friend and her family. This is one of those friends with home whom you've shared your youth and early adulthood...and with whom you always feel a whiff of "home". Then Kalliope and I drove through a piece of the Cascade Range (Wow - how beautiful!) to a charmed valley and the inviting town of Ellensburg. There we visited very new friends, but ones with whom we share a great deal. They showed us their town and schools and church...and shared their home and extended family. These are those friends who, eventhough you've just met, you know you share a deep kinship. A few days later we returned to Seattle for one last visit and then flew home. But not before we stopped at Bakery Nouveau to get treats for our trip home.

It was good to get home, and yet, that trip was such a wonderful moment in time.

Here are some photos:

Study of Mary

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sun, 25 May 2014 18:38:00 +0000

Our parish currently meets at a Roman Catholic high school outside of which is a life-sized statue of Mary.

Enjoyed taking some photos of it today.

These are my favorites.

Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:16:00 +0000

"Nature is a sister, and even a younger sister: a little, dancing sister, to be laughed at as well as loved."

-GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Daybook: May 13th, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 13 May 2014 12:26:00 +0000

outside my window . . . We are nestled back in our green camouflage making the house seem so private and cozy. Our yard needs lots of work (compacted and mossy lawn, messy and weedy beds).

listening to . . . fan blades whirring, grandmother clock chiming, pots already boiling, and some NPR morning news.

wearing . . . my favorite pjs - white with bright orange, pink and lavendar flowers. Later: jean capris, white shirt - plain for a cleaning day.

pondering . . . how life will be different with one less child in the house.

reading . . . Ivanhoe, Figures of Speech, Quiet, The Faith - and not a few online articles.

creating . . . a plan for a baccalaureate celebration; some nice mounted icons for a prayer corner.

around the house . . . Artemisia has asked to earn more money in her allowance by taking on the laundry. She had a "test" run this week and has done an amazing job. She even delivers the cleaned laundry with sweet notes. Is the goal to work my way out of a job?

from the kitchen . . . Oh, my kitchen is a "hot" kitchen. I have discovered that cooking in the late afternoon is a recipe for a VERY warm house. So, I've decided to try to do any open flame cooking (seems to make the kitchen the hottest) in the early morning hours. Thus the boiling pots and whirring fan blades.

real education in our home . . . We are STILL reading Watership Down. We sit outside and read while Kalliope plays. Both my middle kids are determined to catch up/get ahead in math this summer. So, we are still doing math all summer, it seems.

rhythm and beauty in our home . . . I've determined to start a new tradition: Sunday family dinners. My eldest has been very active in our church's youth group, which meets on Sunday evening. However, things are changing (eldest leaving for college and a new youth leader to be hired). It's time.

the church year in our home . . . I'm working on setting up a prayer corner. I'll post some photos later this week. Kalliope likes to make sure the holy water is always ready.

one of my favorite things . . . my bullet journal:

recent milestones . . . Athos submitted 8 applications and received acceptances from 6 colleges and was waitlisted at a 7th. He has decided to attend my and my husband's alma mater: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA! We visited in the late fall and he fell in love, so when that acceptance came it is was almost an instant decision. Go DUKES! AND his younger brother, Faramir, is finishing up the classroom portion of driver's ed. How did they get so old?

the week ahead . . . Mom and step-dad arrive today!! Athos turns 18 tomorrow!!

picture thoughts . . .

"CURLY TREE" Taken in mid-March on an early spring hike.

on a frigid morning

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:49:00 +0000

"There is nothing like bad weather to reveal the shortcomings of a dwelling, particularly if it is too small. You are, as they say, stuck with it and have leisure to feel all its peculiar irritations and discomforts." from Watership Down by R. Adams (chapter 12)

Daybook - November 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:22:00 +0000

outside my window . . . most of the leaves have fallen, but the trees are still clinging to quite a few. The raking will continue for a few more weeks. Today is beautifully sunny and makes the remaining leaves look like amber jewels.

listening to . . . dogs excitedly running to the backdoor for their morning romp. Hubby trying to quietly let them out.

wearing . . . still in my fuzzy blue robe, soon to be in my running clothes. Later? No idea.

pondering . . . appreciating moments, activities, and things for their simple "goodness" with no thought to achieving some goal through them... and productivity as vanity

reading . . . "No God Zone" by Cristina Odone (Kindle Single)

creating . . . a crocheted infinity scarf for myself, and soon to start the same for the girls.

around the house . . . laundry has piled up in the laundry room and den. Time to get my laundry-helper (Kalliope) on the job! Still have towers of boxes to dismantle.

from the kitchen . . . leftovers tonight for dinner. Need to make pasta salad for lunches at CC the next two days.

real education in our home . . . the girls and I finished A Samurai's Tale last week and have now started Watership Down. I'm sure Kalliope doesn't get most of it, but that's ok!

rhythm and beauty in our home . . . still finding my footing here in this new house, and in this new phase of life (teaching outside the home). I'm finding it is very odd how a home can shape your family life.

the church year in our home . . . Advent is just around the corner. We had a family meeting last night to discuss some of our Advent and Christmas activities.

one of my favorite things . . . my new favorite tea: cinnamon spice.

recent milestones . . . Athos has submitted his first two (of about 8) college applications! (Elon U and Chapel Hill)

the week ahead . . . the week is half over, already! School and co-op preparation today, Challenge tomorrow, and Foundations on Friday. Need to prepare my tutor gifts for the Foundations group as Friday is our last day before Christmas!

picture thoughts . . .

Our Artemisia-designed All Hallow's Eve pumpkins

Red Wine Beef Stew

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Recipe from Southern Living One Dish Meals, Jan 2011.

This is so yummy and warming! It is a fairly simple recipe, but does take several hours to cook. (ie., It isn't something you can decide on for dinner last minute)

4 lbs beef boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2" cubes
4 T flour, divided
1 3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
2 T veg oil
1 c dry red wine
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans beef broth OR 1 (32 oz) carton (I prefer the cartons)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 small turnip
1 8 oz pkg fresh mushrooms
1 16 oz pkg baby carrots

(I use slightly less beef and quite a bit more veggies just for my family's preference.)

Pat beef with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Combine 3 T flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp pepper in a bowl. Toss beef with flour mixture to coat.

Cook beef in batches in hot oil in a dutch oven over med. high heat, stirring often, 4-6 minutes or until just brown. Remove beef from dutch oven. Add red wine, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of pot. Return beef to pot; add broth, thyme, bay leaf, and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour.

Meanwhile, peel turnip, and cut into 1 inch cubes. Halve mushrooms. Add all veggies to pot (including carrots) to stew. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender.

Whisk together remaining 1 T of flour and 1/4 tsp salt until blended. Whisk 1/2 c of hot broth into flour mixture until smooth. Whisk flour mixture into stew until smooth. Cook, stirring often, 20 minutes or until thickened.

Serve with thick crusty bread, or rice to soak up all the gravy. Don't forget a nice glass of red wine for the adults!

Productivity and Stew

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 23:00:00 +0000

You know how you enter a house where someone is making something delicious for dinner, and the whole house is filled with that aroma? Earlier this evening, I stepped outside for a minute to talk to some roving missionaries, (the good kind -collecting donations for Thanksgiving meals) and when I stepped back in I was enveloped by the overwhelming scent of beef stewing in a rich red wine sauce. It is so nice when that good smell is coming from my OWN kitchen!

My pathetically-congested eldest son, Athos, actually commented on how good it smelled..and that is saying something coming from someone with little sniffing ability left.

This recipe is actually one of my favorites - "Red Wine Beef Stew". I discovered it several years ago in a "One Dish Meals" magazine while I was looking for good meals to make in my new-at-the-time dutch oven. And while it isn't a difficult recipe, it is quite time-consuming. In fact the directions state: "This takes some time to prepare, so make it on a day when you have a bit of spare time."

Spare time? Who has "spare" time these days? I've been feeling a distinct LACK of spare time in the past several months. The sale of our home, the crazed search for another, the complicated move from home to apartment to home (and all the storage and moving details), and then the start of college visits and applications on top of our eldest's high school football season (his first!), and trying to homeschool and direct our Classical Conversations Challenge 3 level! Honestly, when I start to really think about it, I start to get heart palpitations.

Beyond the heart palpitations, I also realize that I have done what I set out NOT to do...become too overburdened with "doing" leaving me with very little "spare time". I've not even had time to really unpack from our move! There are still boxes filling my sun-porch, dining room, and upstairs hallway. Which wouldn't be so bad, but I've no hope of really making much headway until the late spring when our classes end.

All this "important" stuff, stuff that is leading to some worthy goal, is keeping me from getting to the "good" stuff, stuff that is just good in itself: reading a good book, taking time for favorite hobbies, having time to make our new house feel more like "home", etc. But the tyranny of the "to do list" keeps me ever pushing forward. If it isn't a productive use of my time, I'm forced to skip it, or suffer the consequences.

Liz Horst, in her article at Human Pursuits, makes a case for the "good" being goal enough. Imagine that, reading a book just for the sake of the enjoyment of it! Not to check it off some "BBC List of 100 Books Everyone Should Read", or to complete some assignment. Ms. Horst's ideas about things being "good" in and of themselves is something I do believe, but have not been living out lately, maybe not ever, really.

Well, that isn't altogether fair, but perhaps it is fair to say I've only succeeded in fits and starts. Perhaps fits and starts isn't so bad in this day of uber-productivity and multi-tasking (which it turns out may not be so productive after all). Ms. Horst even goes on to make the case that it is vanity to pursue productivity. I'm inclined to agree.

I read her article while the Red Wine Beef Stew was simmering away, and it made me wonder about other areas in my life where I seek productivity or some "goal" over simple enjoyment of an activity or moment, or even worse, where I encourage (or force) my kids to do the same. And, darn it, that isn't why we started homeschooling! Their education was to start a fire (ie. desire to learn) rather than fill a bucket (industrial/productivity/checklist - cram it all in model). Credit to William Butler Yeats. My recent focus on the pursuit of productivity in our homeschool, church, daily life, hobbies, and work needs to be reconsidered.

What is good? Seek it. If something productive comes of it, all the better.

So, in an hour when I serve up that delicious Red Wine Beef Stew, I'm going to really enjoy it - not just as fuel, but as a delicious meal.

Want the recipe? Red Wine Beef Stew