Unit Study: Beatrix Potter Resources

So, we've been working on a Beatrix Potter Unit and I thought I'd post about the myriad of resources we've been using:

Videos:

• Beatrix Potter: A Private World from BWE Video (Yorkshire Television Classics)
• Beatrix Potter: Artist, Storyteller and Countrywoman (narrated by Lynn Redgrave) from Weston Woods (Scholastic) -- excellent overview of her life before, during and after Peter Rabbit and his friends
• The Tales of Beatrix Potter (with Dancers of the Royal Ballet) -- beautiful ballet weaves multiple stories into a single unit; lovely music!
• Miss Potter -- still haven't seen this, but as of today I'm 11th on the list for one of 55 copies from the library!
• Complete Beatrix Potter Collection (2 DVDs) -- these are amazingly well-done children's videos of the BP stories; start live-action and then go to animation.

Books for Children to read/look at:
Fiction written by Beatrix Potter

• Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales from Warne
• The Fairy Caravan by Beatrix Potter -- full-sized chapter book (her only one) that details the lives of animals in a circus; cute!

Biographies (juvenile)

• Beatrix Potter by Alexandra Wallner
• Beatrix Potter: The Story of the Creator of Peter Rabbit by Elizabeth Buchan
• Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit by Nicole Savy -- EXCELLENT biography that includes pictures of BP and her art; a small-sized book like the original books published by Warne.
• The Country Artist: A Story about Beatrix Potter by David R. Collins
• My Dear Noel: The Story of a Letter from Beatrix Potter by Jane Johnson -- wonderfully written and illustrated fictionalized account of how "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" came to be.

Just Fun Books to Look at or Do

• Beatrix Potter: A Journal from The Penguin Group -- great book packed with lots of things to open, peep into, or just marvel at; facsimiles of letters, original art work and other surprises abound
• The Ultimate Peter Rabbit: A Visual Guide to the World of Beatrix Potter, Camilla Hallinan (Dorling Kindersley) -- one of those great DK books PACKED with information and fascinating facts
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit Coloring Book from Dover Publications
• The Tale of Benjamin Bunny Coloring Book from Dover Publications
• Cut-and-Assemble: Peter Rabbit Toy Theater by Anna Pomaska -- we haven't started this yet, but it looks like it will be so much fun; it's detailed and very elegant looking.

Books for Adults or Older Children:
Her Writings

• The Journal of Beatrix Potter: from 1881 to 1897 transcribed from her code writings by Leslie Linder -- fascinating glimpse into the real BP; too bad she didn't continue to write it during her writing years or even when she bought Hill Top
• Beatrix Potter’s Letters selected by Judy Taylor

Her Life Story

• Beatrix Potter: 1866-1943 The Artist and Her World by Judy Taylor, Joyce Irene Whalley, Anne Stevenson Hobbs, Elizabeth M. Battrick
• Beatrix Potter: Artist, Storyteller and Countrywoman by Judy Taylor
• Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear -- recently written and takes into account years of scholarship on BP's life; it's a fascinating read to really understand this product of late-Victorian England.
• Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane

Her Art and Drawings

• Art of Beatrix Potter by Anne Carroll Moore -- if you only get one book about BP's art, get this one -- it's got color plates of all her art divided into sections; a really great book for showing the breadth of Ms. Potter's talent!
• Beatrix Potter’s Art: A Selection of Paintings and Drawings, selected and introduced by Anne Stevenson Hobbs
• A Victorian Naturalist: Beatrix Potter’s Drawings from the Armitt Collection by Eileen Jay, Mary Noble, Anne Stevenson Hobbs -- second best book of her art, but only includes those pictures that are housed at the Armitt Museum.

The Lake District:

• At Home with Beatrix Potter: The Creator of Peter Rabbit by Susan Denyer -- gorgeous setting book to show the kids why BP loved the Lakes so much!

Knitting, Cooking and Fun Reads:

• The Beatrix Potter Knitting Book by Pat Menchini -- some of the designs are quite dated (very 80s), but the approach is unique and I LOVE knitting books
• The Beatrix Potter Country Cookery Book by Margaret Lane -- recipes in this OOP book are wonderfully authentic and really yummy
• The Beatrix Potter Country Cooking Book by Sara Paston-Williams
• The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert -- these stories make PERFECT read-alouds; we're in the middle of Hill Top right now and the kids are begging for more!

The Tale of Hill Top Farm
The Tale of Holly How
The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Hill
The Tale of Hawthorn House

WEBSITES:

• Ami’s Homeschool Share Unit


• The World of Peter Rabbit


• Visit Cumbria – biography and links


• Armitt Trust’s Beatrix Potter collection


• Beatrix Potter Society


• Miss Potter’s Lake District (from the movie)


• Beatrix Potter Collection at the National Trust (UK)


• The Cottage Tales (mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert, site has recipes, tea parties, etc)

Sometimes, ya just have to have table time ...

especially for things like math! We avoid it as much as possible, but we haven't yet found an alternative to sitting down and practicing writing down math. String Bean and Lego Maniac are using Singapore while BamBam (in the background) is practicing writing numbers on a mark-and-wipe board ....

Learning: 100s Board for Math

OK, I admit it -- I'm cheap! I just couldn't see paying about $50 to get a magnetic 100s board for my littles to use for practicing counting, math facts, multiplication concepts, etc. Surely I could do the same for less ....

So, I bought an 11x14 mark-n-wipe board (magnetic), a roll of magetic "tape", 1" square wood "tiles" and proceeded to make my own version -- all for less than $20.

I first made a 10x10 grid (roughly one-inch squares) using a permanent marker and ruler on the mark-n-wipe board. I numbered the grid from 1-100.

I cut 1/2-3/4 inch pieces from the magnet roll. The white paper is easily peeled off to allow for sticking the magnet to the wood squares.

The wood tiles are then placed on the board to cover the number-grid.

Here's the grid, filled with the wooden tiles. There are many uses for this grid -- here, I've shown BamBam how to count by 5s ... you can also use the board to learn to count to 100, count by any multiple, count backwards, teach multiplication concepts, etc.

You could also get colored wood "tiles", but I like the natural simplicity of these unfinished tiles ... what do you think? Any suggestions for other uses of the board?

Locks of Love

My 16 yod finally did it .... here's the before picture:

... and the after:

Home Educators' Discounts

OK, here's my latest "campaign" -- trying to convince companies to give home educators the same discounts that they offer "real teachers". I mean, here I am spending hundreds of dollars on supplies, manipulatives and books for my little learners ... wouldn't you think some of the locals would want to "cash in" on my largesse? Wouldn't you think that I would be a better, more loyal customer if I received the respect of a "real teacher" that shop-owners give to those who aren't going to spend as much in a year as I will (due to purchase contracts that districts cut with other vendors?????). It just doesn't make sense. I'd willingly purchase locally, but when I can order online or from a catalog for A LOT LESS than buying locally, it's hard to rationalize it!

However, those who are willing to give me a discount, have now got me as a loyal customer. I'd also like to support companies who see home-educators as REAL educators.

Here are the ones that I know of:

• Jo-ann Fabrics and Crafts -- gives a 10% discount to educators (you can show another's educator card to qualify)
• Barnes & Noble -- gives 20% discount for educational purchases (excludes video/music)
• Office Depot -- gives 5% discount on purchases, 10% on printing + money back on qualifying purchases (very easy to work with!)
• Office Max -- gives $10 for every $75 spent on "qualifying purchases" tracked through their "Teachers' Perks" card; no discount at POS; currently running a laminating offer (till 9/13/07) which seems to be handled differently in each store....

Any others you know of?

Recipe: Our Lady's Pie

Yesterday was the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Because it's been SO DARN HOT here in the Big Square State (and of course, we don't have air-conditioning), I KNEW I could NOT fire up the oven to bake something .... so, what's a mom to do who is trying to incorporate cooking math with living the liturgical year?

Invent her own dessert -- and BOY was it well received! For those of you who might be in a similar situation, here's the recipe ...

* +++++ * +++++ *

OUR LADY's PIE

(prep time -- 20 min; chilling time -- 1 hr + at least 1 more hour)

Ingredients:

(1) 9-inch chocolate cookie pie crust (such as Keebler or Oreo)

(1) 8oz. tub frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)

(1) box blueberry flavored gelatin (such as "BlueBerry Blast" from Jello)

(1) cup fresh or frozen blueberries

(12) round chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos)

First-layer of gelatin:

• Open gelatin packet and measure out slightly less than 1/4 cup of powder (this is half the package).
• Pour 3/4 cup boiling water on the 1/4 cup of gelatin and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
• Mix in 1/3 of the FROZEN whipped topping; stir until the topping is mixed in completely. Place the remainder of the whipped topping in the 'fridge to thaw till dinner.
• Pour into the 9-inch pie crust and chill for at least an hour.

While the first layer is chilling, you can start the next layer:

• Pour 1/2 cup of boiling water over the remainder of the gelatin package. Stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
• Add frozen blueberries or fresh into the gelatin; if using fresh blueberries, add 1/4 cup of cold water.
• Place in 'fridge for an hour or just until the gelatin begins to set.

After an hour or so, spoon the blueberry-filled gelatin over the top of the whipped-topping gelatin, being careful not to mix the layers. Continue to chill the pie at least one more hour or until ready to serve.

When ready to serve:

• Spoon remaining whipped topping over the pie.
• Place 12 round chocolate sandwich cookies on-end round the rim of the pie.

ENJOY!

Here's the meaning we developed for this pie:

• Cookie crust -- dark like the devil, crushed under Our Lady's foot
• 1st Layer -- Our Lady's pale blue veil
• 2nd Layer -- Our Lady's rich blue gown
• Whipped topping -- the white covering of her purity
• 12 cookies -- the stars, as related in Revelations 12, the surrounded her head symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel as well as Mary's part in conquering death for once and for all.

Living the liturgical year is not hard -- just combine it with meal-planning (and throw in some cooking math) and you've got a celebration that will be remembered!

Feast: Queenship of Mary

Today is the Feast of the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This is a very hard Catholic concept for many. Here's an explanation from the Catholic-Forum website:

The feast of the Queenship of Mary was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII. The
original date for this feast was chosen as May 31st, but was later moved to the
octave day of the feast of the Assumption, August 22nd. This memorial celebrates
the same event that is highlighted by the fifth glorious mystery or the Rosary.

Throughout the New Testament, Mary's role in heaven is mentioned. Mary is alluded to as Queen in the book of Revelations, and throughout the Bible. It is because of Jesus close relationship with his mother that she shares in his kingship.

The Church and the faithful for have also referred to Mary as queen since the fourth century. Various songs, litanies, and prayers refer to Mary as queen. (e.g. Regina Caeli during Eastertide.) The Church has affirmed the title of Mary in modern times through documents including Lumen Gentium (..."and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son" Lumen Gentium 59) and the papal encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam.

The title Queen is used to indicate the final state of the Virgin, seated beside her Son, the King of glory.

Here is an excerpt of the Ad Coeli Reginam written by Pope Pius XII:

38. From these considerations, the proof develops on these lines: if Mary, in
taking an active part in the work of salvation, was, by God's design, associated
with Jesus Christ, the source of salvation itself, in a manner comparable to
that in which Eve was associated with Adam, the source of death, so that it may
be stated that the work of our salvation was accomplished by a kind of
"recapitulation,"[49] in which a virgin was instrumental in the salvation of the
human race, just as a virgin had been closely associated with its death; if,
moreover, it can likewise be stated that this glorious Lady had been chosen
Mother of Christ "in order that she might become a partner in the redemption of
the human race";[50] and if, in truth, "it was she who, free of the stain of
actual and original sin, and ever most closely bound to her Son, on Golgotha
offered that Son to the Eternal Father together with the complete sacrifice of
her maternal rights and maternal love, like a new Eve, for all the sons of Adam,
stained as they were by his lamentable fall,"[51] then it may be legitimately
concluded that as Christ, the new Adam, must be called a King not merely because
He is Son of God, but also because He is our Redeemer, so, analogously, the Most
Blessed Virgin is queen not only because she is Mother of God, but also because,
as the new Eve, she was associated with the new Adam.

Makes perfect sense to me!

Queen of Heaven rejoice,
alleluia
The Son whom you merited to bear alleluia
Has risen as he said
alleluia
Pray for us to God alleluia
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary,
alleluia!
For the Lord has truly risen alleluia

Day 2: Two feasts and lots of fun work

Today is not only the feast of Our Lady of Knock, it is also Pius X's feast day! So for religion we didn't start reading the Old Testament (as originally planned) but instead reviewed these two wonderful feasts.

Our Lady of Knock, one of my favorite Marian apparitions, occured in the small Irish town of Cnoc (meaning "hill") on August 21, 1879 to a crowd of 18 parishioners. It's a "silent apparition" -- the tableau was described as the Blessed Mother, hands raised in prayer, with St. Joseph to one side and St. John the Evangelist on the other. Near the church gable, a lamb floating over a table, surrounded by circling angels. In other words, no one needed to speak -- this apparition is so filled with Catholic symbolism. It is an absolutely awe-inspiring site!

It is also Pius X's feast day. He's the one who said:

"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven".

He also believed that children as young as 7 should receive First Holy Communion -- so he's a popular guy around here (and we're fortunate to own a first-class relic of him)!

In addition to learning about these two wonders of Catholicism (and making sure we included the info in our new "Book of Ages"), we got math done in record-time. Even Bam-Bam got into math when I read him, 20 Hungry Piggies, a fantastic picture book that helps practice both cardinal and ordinal numbers!

We also started our history unit using a wonderful book mentioned on 4real, called A Little History of the World, written back in the 1930s (but updated by the author when he was 94 in 2003!). This book is written for children and really does a good job. The kids loved it! We were originally going to use Bauer's Story of the World, but it just doesn't compare for interest and readability!

We also got some copywork done (which is probably the first time in the past year or so!). And began our read-aloud for our Beatrix Potter unit, The Fairy Caravan, which is Ms. Potter's only long novel about a wonderful jumble of animals on the road. I was only going to read the first chapter, but the kids were enjoying it so much we got through the first four!

Just before lunch, we tried our hand at mysteries by reading three Challenging Whodunit Puzzles. These are fun and really get the kids focused on WHY something happened or WHY someone did something. We also fit in a game called "Cross-It" which is a cooperative game (I'm trying to cut down on the competition around here!) sold by FUN Books. We had fun, working together, coming up with words that worked and just generally enjoying the non-competitiveness of the game!

We also fit in some reading practice -- my three children are so very different in learning to read that we're all over the board with what we use. But, I think it's all finally starting to kick in -- LegoManiac is a BIG fan of the Asterix series and is avidly reading those, String Bean WANTS to read the basal readers (the old style, Catholic school type where it's "Jean and John" or "Joan and John" instead of "Dick and Jane"), and BamBam is just so thrilled that he knows his alphabet he's ready to jump right in.

Another GREAT day at St. Athanasius Academy!

St. Pius X and Our Lady of Knock -- PRAY FOR US!

First Day of School 2007-2008

Well, we drove Kotch to the diocesan high school for her first day as a transfer junior. Then I headed to daily Mass with the littles. I always try to attend Mass on the first day of school -- it gives us a chance to dedicate our year and focus our attention on what really matters: doing God's will in everything!


It's St. Bernard's feast day who is one of my favorite saints. St. Bernard lived from 1090-1153, revising and reforming the Cistercians in the early 1100s. He was an advisor to two kings, and a spiritual director of Pope Eugenius III. An extensive author, he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII. One of my best retreats was held at a Cistercian monastery, Heiligenkreuz in Austria. St. Bernard also has a DEEP devotion to the Blessed Mother.

In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect
not to walk in her footsteps.

– St. Bernard of Clairvaux

After Mass, we headed to Hobby Lobby to stock up on a few craft items and to get each of my students a craft project for them to work on today. Handcrafts are such an important part of our homeschool! I'm so convinced that handcrafts are an integral part of a home-learning adventure that I'm even giving a talk on that very subject in Lancaster, PA in August 2008!


When we got home we went through all the cool new stuff we've gotten for this next school year -- manipulatives and resources, living books, and Singapore Math. I find the kids can focus better each day if they've gotten a peek at all we're going to do ...


They then worked hard on their crafts from the morning -- so hard that Bam-Bam and Lego Maniac didn't even want to stop for lunch!

A trip to the library -- always a great time -- and then on to the park for an hour or so!


So, if you've started up for this next year, what did you do your first day?

Simple Craft-of-the-Week: Paper Weaving

Sarah at Plainsong, came up with a great idea to make it easier for moms to include an art/craft activity in the weekly lesson plans. Each week different 4 Real homeschoolers will be posting the instructions for making a craft geared toward the 4-9 age group. The projects are meant to be non-complicated and use materials that are readily available.

This week is my week! The following is a project that I can remember doing when I was in Kindergarten or 1st Grade: Paper Weaving! It's a great hand-eye cooordination exercise as well as great practice before trying weaving with yarn. This project also gives lots of options for what and how to make.

I invited the gang from Our Domestic Church to come craft with us ... and boy did we have fun creating all different types of paper weaving from the simple to the elaborate!
First, get all your supplies -- different kinds of paper (construction, scrapbook, typing, wallpaper book .... ANY kind of paper will work for this project!), crayons and markers for embellishments, ruler, scissors, glue (either stick or liquid), tape (either masking or clear), pencil for drawing (draw lightly, then it's easier to erase if you make an error or change your mind!).

SIMPLE RECTANGULAR WEAVING -- placemats or pretty designs for the wall

Mark a pencil line at one end of your paper about 1/2-1" in from the edge -- you will then cut lines of equal width toward this line (using a ruler for placement or eye-balling it -- either way it comes out great!). Another way is to fold the paper in half and cut lines toward the end line (this way both ends of paper are solid).

Begin weaving with strips of paper -- either all the same width or differing widths -- first row, under/over across all the "legs". Alternate for the next row doing over/under across. Push the rows together gently so there are no gaps. Keep weaving until the paper is full -- you can center the weaving by stopping with a "hem" the same depth as your original pencil line.

When your weaving is complete, trim any ends that may stick out and tape or glue the lose ends. You can either laminate the finished piece or mount it on another sheet. Here are some of the "simple" shapes done ...

Simplest -- all strips (warp and weft) are approximately the same width
Different widths, colors and "decorator" scissors Wavy lines with straight strips -- kinda 60s-ish, eh?

WOVEN PICTURES -- More Elaborate Drawings with Weaving

Now, this is where the imagination can REALLY kick-in! The kids really had fun with this -- and the more you do, the more ideas you discover!
Draw any shape -- animal, plant, geometric, etc -- on a piece of large constuction paper. Cut out your shape. Decide which way you want to weave and cut drawing for your "loom".

When you're done with the weaving -- and remember, you don't have to weave the WHOLE THING (just a section of the overall drawing) -- you can draw eyes, wings, other embellishments (using paper, glitter, etc) and outline the overall picture.

And the finished products:

This craft was "remembered" when I was looking through The Usborne Book of Art Projects. Thanks to MaryM's suggestion, I've gotten many of these books and they are wonderful -great projects, clear instructions and lots of room for creativity. Here are some others that are definitely worth a look: The Usborne Book of Art Skills, The Usborne Book of Art Ideas, Usborne Art Ideas: Big Book of Things to Draw, The Usborne Book of Paper Engineering, and The Usborne Book of Papier Mache. They also have one that combines art appreciation and projects -- The Usborne Art Treasury -- which has 22 different famous works of art, a bit about the artist and a project that imitates the artist's work. VERY COOL! Usborne has TONS of great craft books, but these are the ones that seem to have a great mix of ideas.

So to everyone, a prayer for you for a wonderful new school year -- whether you're learning in the heart of the home or the heart of the classroom. Here's an apple for each of you teachers:

Mark your calendars now ...

... for the Family-Centered Learning Conference on August 8-9, 2008 in lovely, historic Lancaster County, PA! Speakers will include:

• Alice from Cottage Blessings talking about living the liturgical year


• Margot from Hillside Education talking about literature


• MaryEllen from Tales from the Bonny Blue House talking about special needs


• Michele from Mater Amabilis talking about Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education


• Molly from Heaven-not-Harvard talking about Unschooling

and (drum roll please)

yours truly talking about handcrafts in the home learning environment!

There will be more speakers and vendors who will be announced soon. You can subscribe to the RSS feed to get updates as the conference nears.

Please, mark your calendars NOW to join us in Pennsylvania Dutch Country for a wonderful, family-centered learning conference where you'll learn more about how to live, love and learn in the home!

Feast: St. Stephen of Hungary

Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.

– St. Stephen of Hungary

Stephen (or, in Hungarian, Szent István ) was born in 969. In 995 A.D., Stephen married Gisela, a sister of Duke Henry of Bavaria, the future Emperor St. Henry II; in 997, Stephen succeeded to the throne of Hungary. In order to make Hungary a Christian nation and to establish himself more firmly as ruler, he sent Abbot Astricus to Rome to petition Pope Sylvester II for the royal dignity and the power to establish episcopal sees. The pope acceded to his wishes and, in addition, presented him with a royal crown with which he was crowned on August 17, 1001.and united the region into a single nation, suppressing revolts led by pagan nobles, organizing dioceses, and founding monasteries.

In Hungary, his chief festival is observed on August 20, the day on which his relics were transferred to Buda. Thus, August 20 is celebrated as "St. Stephen’s Day - Szent István Nap" - in Hungary, where it is a national and public holiday. In Budapest, the day ends with fireworks over the Danube, much as the 4th of July might be celebrated in the USA, or July 14 - Bastille Day in France.

He was the father of St. Emeric, who died in 1031. Stephen was buried beside his son and both were canonized together in 1083. Stephansdom, the Cathedral in Vienna, is named for this saint. He is also one of Bam-Bam's patron saints.

St. Stephen of Hungary, pray for us (especially Bam-Bam)!

Death LOSES and Today Proves It!

Today, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother -- the day when she went to Heaven, body and soul, to prove death's defeat and the triumph for once and for all over Satan! This is a fabulous feast.

This picture, The Assumption of the Virgin, by Francesco Botticini is housed in the National Gallery of Art in London. Jesus did not allow His mother to be buried but rather brought her, body and soul, to His side in Heaven -- with all the angels and saints cheering and looking on in wonder.

So tonight we party -- thanks to Jennifer at 4Real, we have dessert -- Lemon Cloud (as in, Mary was taken up in a cloud) Pie. Of course, because I CAN'T follow directions completely, we're having LIME Cloud Pie (and ours is a graham cracker crust).

So how did y'all celebrate?

Art and Nature

Yesterday, we went to the Denver Botanic Gardens and found, much to the delight of String Bean, a water garden with a myriad of water lilies floating on the pond. String Bean loves water lilies and water gardens, primarily because her favorite artist is Claude Monet! She has loved his works for a couple of years now and has collected pictures and books about this famous Impressionist.

We used up many digital pictures, trying to get a good shot at one of the waterlilies. When we got home I was asked to IMMEDIATELY load the pictures so she'd have something to study and work from.

Here's the result of her morning's work:

By the way, she created the "easel" from scraps of wood left from a renovation project dh and I are working on (more about that if we EVER finish!)

Nature Study: Denver Botanic Gardens

Yesterday, the "littles" and I went to the Denver Botanic Gardens with Our Domestic Church (+ a friend) -- this was our first visit, but definitely WON'T be our last!

This is a wonderful place to do nature study -- it's got different environments including the rain forest, alpine plants, cactus and succulents, ornamental grasses, dryland mesa, plains garden, Japanese tea garden (where they host full Japanese tea ceremonies!), herb garden, cutting garden, water smart garden and more.

There is a kids' area with a REALLY cool Mulberry Tree hide-out (which would be a GREAT substitute for a sunflower house!) where we could get away from the "hovering round 100" weather we had yesterday! The kids' area also has container gardens such as a "Pizza Garden" with peppers, tomatoes, herbs or the "PeanutButter and Jelly Garden" with grapes, peanuts, strawberry, and wheat grass all growing happily together.

The best spot for String Bean, though, was a water garden with water lilies ... she just loves these and we used up many digital pictures on trying to get a good one of these lovely, floating flowers.

This field trip was yet another example that on our outings with friends ... we ALWAYS have good times and good learning intermixing to create GREAT memories!

Feast: St. Maximilian Kolbe

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.

– St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) was the Polish Franciscan that began the Militia Immaculata movement. Tuberculosis made him frail throughout his life, although he set up the Militia Immaculata throughout the world (including making trips into Japan and China). In 1941 he was sent to Auschwitz -- a place I've visited once and don't think I could ever go back to -- where he offered his life in exchange for another prisoner who was a husband and father. After two weeks of starvation, he was killed by lethal injection. John Paul II canonized this martyr to charity on October 10, 1982.

Brikhead chose St. Maximilian as his confirmation patron -- may St. Max watch over Brikhead today as he starts on his first Fall Semester at LSU!

St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyr to charity, pray for us!

A Pithy Quote from GKC

Now if anyone says that this duty of general enlightenment is in itself too exacting and oppressive, I can understand the view. I can only answer that our race has thought it worth while to cast this burden on women in order to keep common-sense in the world. But when people begin to talk about this domestic duty as not merely difficult but trivial and dreary, I simply give up the question.

For I cannot with the utmost energy of imagination conceive what they mean. When domesticity, for instance, is called drudgery, all the difficulty arises from a double meaning in the word. If drudgery only means dreadfully hard work, I admit the woman drudges in the home, as a man might drudge at the Cathedral of Amiens or drudge behind a gun at Trafalgar. But if it means that the hard work is more heavy because it is trifling, colorless and of small import to the soul, then as I say, I give it up; I do not know what the words mean.

To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite area -- deciding sales, banquets, labours, and holidays; to be Whiteley within a certain area -- providing toys, boots, sheets, cakes, and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area -- teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene: I can understand how this might exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it. How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No; a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.

I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness.

From What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton (via Blackberry Bramble's post on 4Real)

LOOK at this picture ...

... taken by our good friends over at Our Domestic Church yesterday. Good friends, good times AND a morning of nature study at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (which used to be on the top-10 list for Superfund recovery --ie, REALLY bad waste stuff) .... what more could kids want??????

(And, because I'm a bit nature-challenged, it really makes it GREAT to go with a biology major -- especially when my PhD biologist husband is unavailable!).

Today's the Transfiguration ...

... and I'm not sure why it's not a holy day of obligation. This is SUCH an important feast for the Catholic Church -- the Transfiguration is the feast where Jesus proves to Peter, James and John that he truly is the Son of God and the Son of Man. This feast is considered the culmination of Jesus' public life. This feast gives us a glimpse at Jesus Glorified; it gives us a glimpse at Heaven.

And as our pastor pointed out today during the Liturgy ... this feast reminds us that we get this same glimpse of Jesus glorified, the same glimpse of Heaven EVERY TIME we watch the priest consecrate the Host, EVERY TIME we are witnesses to the great gift of Jesus in the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into Jesus' body and blood.

As I've said before when "waxing poetic" about the Catholic Faith -- HOW COOL IS THAT??????

Now, for a more eloquent meditation on the transfiguration, here's Pope Benedict's Angelus message from yesterday's audience.

Here's our favorite Cinderella story ...

... and no, it's NOT the Disney version!

Thanks to CK overat 4real forum, we have found our favorite Cinderella story. Little Gold Star, retold by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Sergio Martinez, is a Spanish-American version of the classic tale. But this one is SO MUCH better than any others I've read. In this one, Teresa (the Cinderella character), is beautiful inside more than outside ... her fairy godmother is actually the Blessed Mother ... and the mean stepmother and stepsisters are shown as being repentant, NOT because Cinderella is the princess or because she's so beautiful; they finally realize that being good is what's important and what makes Teresa so blessed.

Definitely add this one to your "keep for grandchildren" or your "buy for every godchild on the list"! Yes, it's that good!

THANKS CK!