Lord, That I May See

 1. Rosebud:  Mom, if I were a robber, I wouldn't rob you. 2. Sunshine:  I don't want to look at those stinkbugs.  If I do, then I will dream about them. 3. Turtle, after a conversation about taxes:  Maybe we shouldn't even HAVE a government! 4. Rosebud:  Do doctors know more than mothers?  Or do mothers know more than doctors? 5. Sunshine: On my birthday, I will go to the store and get Cecile.  And then at Christmas, I will get sex. . . sex . . . sexsessories.  [accessories] 6. Rosebud:  If there is no window in the jail, HOW do they BREATHE? 7. Turtle, about her multiplication tables:  I can't do it, I can't!  There's no room in my brain! (Edited later to add:  There's a second edition of "The Things They Say") Visit Jen at Conversion Diary for more quick takes  and the fifth day of the 7 posts in 7 days Challenge

Scene : One cold Sunday in February. A clothing store in the mall at the clearance rack. Characters : Mommy, Turtle, Rosebud and Sunshine.  (Daddy and Sparky just off stage ) Sunshine : Oh, Mom!  I want some clothes!  Oh look at this, this will fit me!  Ohhh, this is soooo pretty!  No, no, it really wiiiiilll fit me!  It's not just for babies! No, its not too expensive!  Rosebud :  Where's my size?  No, those are boy's clothes, I don't want any of those.  Where else can I look?  I knoooooww I have to look only on this rack, Mom, you don't have to say it again!  Turtle :  Mom, you really should just get clothes for me, I'm the oldest.  No, I don't really care what you get. Well, I guess I'll look. . .   I guess I'll get this green shirt, because I don't have a green shirt.   Rosebud :  Mom, can I get two things?  Three? Can I? Why? Why? Ohhhkay, fine, only one.  Sunshine :  This is so cute...

  Today, I'm choosing five of our current favorite books for the 6-9 year old.  I've  recommended children's books  on this blog before, but they were for younger children , and now that my girls are growing, I am listing five "older, more interesting" (as my girls say!) books that they are enjoying, some as read-alouds and some on their own. 1.  One of our favorites!  The Golden Name Day, by Jennie D. Lindquist.  A little girl from the city comes to live in the country for a time and her days are full of simple childhood joys -- animals and flowers, baking and friends.  The writing is warm and inviting in an old-timey way.  There are two sequels, The Little Silver House and The Crystal Tree. 2. Clues in the Woods  by Peggy Parish (of Amelia Bedelia fame).  My girls are reading this on their own.  The mystery of disappearing garbage scraps gets deeper as a puppy vanishes and berries get picked by someone myste...

A few days ago a friend and former classmate of mine sent an email to those of us who spent a semester in Rome with her, reminding us that it has been ten years since we spent those three blessed months in the Eternal City.   In my reminiscing spurred on by her email, I was moved to pull out my diary from the trip and as I perused it I realized that ten years ago today I was standing in St. Peter’s Basilica to the left of the Baldacchino for the Mass of Ash Wednesday ( Mercoledi delle Ceneri ).   We had gotten there very early to get a good seat and had been able to hear our group announced by name at the start of the Mass, being among those who had requested tickets for that day.  I recorded in my diary that Mrs. F. – our Art & Architecture teacher and our dear mother away from home – shared with me that morning that the Baldacchino pillars were made to represent a vine and branches growing upwards.  It was as if the very bones of St. Peter, bu...

This poor boy is tired of the long cold winter and wants him some outdoor time! I'm joining Jen's 7 posts in 7 days Challenge!

1.  Hanna Andersson on sale!  These dresses were originally $58 and $66 and I got them each for under $15.   2.   This  Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart .  I made it for D's birthday.  Very time consuming and really good!  It was my first attempt at a meringue, and it wasn't quite as stiff as it should have been, but I loved how the honey in it gave sweetness to the rest of the tart, which wasn't as sweet. (Don't look at my picture to judge its goodness, the one at Southern Living is way better!) 3.   This Shirred Tee Dress !  I love it!  Somehow, however, my imagination always deceives me and doubtless it would look alot less glorious on me. :) H.T.  Shana 4 .  This video!  Haha!  ( H.T. Simcha ) 5. And, far, far best of ALLLLL, this valentine:  (It says "Dear Wise Mommy, Happy Valentine's Day.  I like your kindness and I want to be like you.") More  Fiv...

 I can feel things changing.   The days are more stable, the nights nearly predictable.  The scales are tipping toward more good days than bad.  Finally I can see the light beyond the trees! It's been so hard, this time around. Sparky. My dear sweet boy. He came out of me screaming and in many ways he seems to have done so ever since.  The first 2 or 3 months were awful.  Everything I had to do with him filled me with dread. Everywhere I took him he cried.   No, screamed.  He screamed in the car, he screamed in my arms, in D's, in the girls.  No one in the family could hold him, no one could help him.  He didn't sleep much, and couldn't ever be laid down.   I felt like I was wound in a tight coil all the time, in the quiet moments waiting for the inevitable storm, and in the hours of distress just breathing, pacing, sweating and trying to stay calm.    I'll never forget on Turtle's 1st Communion Day -- the screaming...

"Do you believe in doom?" asked the restless Prince Saradine suddenly.   "No," answered his guest. "I believe in Doomsday." The prince turned from the window and stared at him in a singular manner, his face in shadow against the sunset. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I mean that we here are on the wrong side of the tapestry," answered Father Brown. "The things that happen here do not seem to mean anything; they mean something somewhere else. Somewhere else retribution will come on the real offender. Here it often seems to fall on the wrong person." --G.K. Chesterton, The Sins of Prince Saradine ********************************************* This quote comes from one of the Father Brown "detective" stories. I say detective with quotes because in this story the detective does not solve the mystery with his intellectual powers and neither is the criminal brought to justice.  It is a powerful stor...

A collection of my favorite links from this week -- no connection between them all other than my appreciation for them! 1.  I'm really excited about this series starting up at Sarah's.  She is one of my favorite homeschooling encouragement writers! 2. The book Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child  by Anthony Esolen, has been on my To Read list for a long time.  I loved the quote highlighted here: The Wren on the Fencepost  -- can't wait to read the whole book! 3. We've been learning about some great artists and looking at their art this week (more on that later).  I found this video that we watched on Jackson Pollock and his technique to be fascinating!  I tend not to appreciate much modern art.  However, since   I am trying to give my girls a balanced view of the kind of art that people can create I have been withholding my judgement. I found myself really liking this "Action Painting" of Pollock's. It's alm...