Merry Christmas

Celebrating the birth of Christ...

May you have LOVE, JOY, & PEACE from above.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Blessings,

Garrett, Johnna, Julia, and James

Understood Betsy

Understood Betsy has been our favorite read aloud so far this term. It is the one that I just cannot wait to read each week! Our last chapter is coming to an end...we will miss this book, until we read again. This is one of many of Julia's favorite parts:

It was a warm, dark evening in late May, with the frogs piping their sweet, high note, and the first of the fireflies wheeling over the wet meadows near the tumbledown house where 'Lias lived. The girls took turns in carrying the big paper-wrapped bundle, and stole along in the shadow of the trees, full of excitement, looking over their shoulders at nothing and pressing their hands over their mouths to keep back the giggles. There was, of course, no reason on earth why they should giggle, which is, of course, the reason why they did. If you've ever been a little girl you know about that.

One window of the small house was dimly lighted, they found, when they came in sight of it, and they thrilled with excitement and joyful alarm. Suppose 'Lias's dreadful stepfather should come out and yell at them! They came forward on tiptoe, making a great deal of noise by stepping on twigs, rustling bushes, crackling gravel under their feet and doing all the other things that make such a noise at night and never do in the daytime. But nobody stirred inside the room with the lighted window. They crept forward and peeped cautiously inside. . . and stopped giggling.

Owls

When my friend Katie shared with me the owl ornaments in the C&B magazine, I thought they were just adorable and had to make my very own! It was enjoyable planning the colors and finding the right fabric prints to suit these critters. These little owls were made for each of the families we adore in our nature study group. Merry Christmas! Hopefully we will get see a real owl together:)

Our Caterpillar

Isn't this a beautiful Monarch Caterpillar? We were hoping its mama would lay eggs in our garden! Last spring we sowed milkweed seed into our garden soil and just last week we observed our first caterpillars, seven to be exact.



HE PRAYETH BEST

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Tamago Sushi Roll

Garrett loves sushi and his wife and little ones love sushi vegetarian style! Last night, Garrett made such an amazing tamago sushi roll with dipping sauces for us. A friend of Garrett's is an awesome sushi chef and he says that the rice is the most important thing to get just right. The rice needs to be sticky, but not mushy. While learning the art of making sushi, it was his job to make rice for a year, perfecting it. Garrett's rice is not sushi chef perfect, but it was amazing to us and one of the best vegetarian rolls we have ever had!

Preparing the tamago was next. Tamago is like an omelet cooked with soy sauce and sugar, even it in itself is so good! After the rice and tamago were ready, he prepared the seaweed by carefully sweeping it over the flame on the stove burner to warm it a bit causing it to soften so as not to crack or tear. First, the rice was placed on top of the seaweed. Next, the thinly sliced carrots and green onions were placed. Then, the tamago and avocado topped the pile of goodness. Last, before rolling, the spicy creamy sauce was drizzled over.

The orange spicy creamy sauce is Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce mixed with Mayonaise. The green is wasabi.

He also made the best ponzu sauce for dipping! It is made from soy sauce, fresh squeezed juice from an orange, a little apple cider vinegar, and diced green onions. This is a simplified version as we didn't have the bonito flakes on hand. The apple cider vinegar was substituted for the rice wine vinegar that would traditionally be used.

The rolls were formed by hand in lieu of a bamboo sushi roll maker.

Thank you my love for making a wonderfully delicious meal!

Nature Journals

Julia and James found a very large pine cone on our nature walk this Thursday. They were so excited to bring it home as it was the biggest they ever saw. Here are their nature journal drawings that I just love!

Nativity, Giotto 1311-1320

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:8-14

Giving Thanks

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100

Tonight we enjoyed a homemade apple pie! Julia peeled and sliced every apple that filled this amazing pie. Thank you Kristine for sharing the recipe you found:)

GRANDMA OPLES APPLE PIE
Indgredients

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie (we used the ready made pie dough)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar
and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in you pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly.
Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust.
Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minute at 425 degrees. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees, and continue
baking for 35-45 minutes.

Harvest Hymn

Whoever fails, Thou dost not fail;
Whoever sleeps, Thou dost not sleep;
With fattening shower, and fostering gale,
They mercy brings the time to reap;
Man marks each season and its sign,
And sows the seed and plants the tree,
But form, growth, fullness, all are Thine,
--Lord of the harvest, praise to Thee!

O God! it is a pleasant thing
To see the precious grain expand,
And the broad hands of Plenty fling
Her golden largess o'er the land;
To see the fruitage swell and glow,
And bow with wealth the parent tree;
To see the purple vintage flow
--Lord of abundance, praise to Thee!

Praise for the glorious harvest days,
And all the blessings that we share;
For the unbounded sunlight praise
And for the free and vital air;
Praise for the faith that looks above;
The hope of immortality;
For life, health, virtue, truth and love,
Maker and Giver, praise to Thee!

~~John Critchley Prince (1808-1866)

Knitting

I'm new to the art of knitting. After practicing some, last night I decided it was time to really make something that can be useful to warm a special person. My first Christmas gift started! This Christmas will be one of giving handmade gifts.

Julia and James love to make gifts. Last weekend when I sick in bed they made me several bookmarks, so thoughtful, as they see that I have a stack of books at my bedside just wanting to be read! They made their daddy mazes on his birthday cards last week. Every morning before the sun shines they are ready to create. I love the warm thoughts they have for us and others in their readiness to make something to give!

This morning Julia woke and noticed my knitting had begun...


She wanted her little scarf to look longer like mine, so early in the morning she made her scarf grow!

I know it will bring such joy and pleasure for the children to make handmade gifts for Christmas along with me. We will each be blessed with being together, laughing, loving, talking, and singing the hours away as we create with our hands for that special loved one, making warm memories. We want to give as our Father in heaven has given us His own Son.

There is a prayer I like from Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart...

Lord Jesus, help me to learn this Christmas what it means to be humble. If You could be born in a little manger among barn animals, then I can be content with simple things too. Help me not to want a lot of "stuff" this Christmas; instead, I want to be happy with my family and friends and whatever You choose to give. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Psalm 149:4-5

And look what my little man can do!

Wrap the left side of yarn around the front of your thumb and put the needle through...

Julia taught James how to "cast on" this evening! He will be knitting very soon with his sweet little fingers.

The yarn on the right wraps behind the needle and then around the front...

Now, hold on to everything so the yarn doesn't slip off. OK, flip the yarn that is on your thumb up and over the needle. Now pull the yarn on the left side. You did it!!! My amazing little man that just turned four:)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

My Little Man Turns 4

Happy 4th birthday to my little love! You had such a lovely weekend digging with your new shovel, eating your very own blue cotton candy ice cream in a waffle cone, pulling up your sleeves to make hamburger patties, and having birthday cake with your loved ones.


THE BIRTHDAY CHILD
by Rose Fyleman

Everything's been different
All the day long,
Lovely things have happened,
Nothing has gone wrong.

Nobody has scolded me,
Everyone has smiled.
Isn't it delicious
To be a birthday child?

Nature in the Mudflats by the Sea

Slide down the hill and wade through the stream...

Cross the bridge...

Climb a tree...

Chisel some wood...

Found, a pepper tree to season food...

Celebrate a fairytale birthday...

Make a trail through the marsh land...

Found autumn seed...

FOR A CHILD

By Fannie Stearns Davis

Your Friends shall be the Tall Wind,

The River and the Tree;

The Sun that laughs and marches,

The Swallows and the Sea.

Your prayers shall be the murmur

Of grasses in the rain;

The song of wildwood thrushes

That makes God glad again.

And you shall run and wander,

And you shall dream and sing

Of brave things and bright things

Beyond the swallow's wings.

And you shall envy no man,

Nor hurt your heart with sighs,

For I will keep you simple

That God may make you wise.

Hand Picked Vegetables

Yesterday we visited Tanaka Farms to experience picking vegetables from a large farm. Julia and James thought this corn maze was so fun!

Such large radishes they have grown!

And long green beans.

Plucked right off the vine.

We brought home two pumpkins for the harvest.

We also pulled up carrots and onions. Tonight we made an Autumn Butternut Soup using the carrots and onions. You can read about it at the link here, which will take you to our group blog.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1

Riley's Farm

We visited Riley's Farm in Oak Glen last Thursday for a Colonial Days field trip. The apple country is so beautiful and was spared from the wild fires several weeks ago. The winding road divided the blackened hills and charred trees on the left from the apple orchards, raspberries, and pumpkins of Colonial Chesterfield on the right. We were blessed to experience the bountiful harvest at Riley's Farm and enjoy the rich smell of apple pies baking in the kitchen, a tradition of ours for four years now.
The children were given candles to dip in hot wax and then into cool water to learn the art of candle making.

Each of the children were allowed to drop an apple in the cider press and observe the process of making apple cider.

Other colonial activities the children experienced were writing with quill and ink, weaving, butter making, etiquette, games, and eating a caramel apple!

Then we were given word of a place down the road that makes apple cider donuts. We enjoyed our hot treat under this chestnut tree with our friends. It is said that this chestnut tree is the oldest of chestnuts in California at 109 years old.

Each little spike protecting the chestnut is like a needle. I tried to carefully handle it and I was not able to without getting poked. Isn't it beautiful?