I was "tagged" by my friend at Jak-in-the-house for this book meme. I have never done one of these, but since she is such a dear friend, I will do almost anything she asks me to (even show her a breakdancing move that I was working on last summer while we watched our favorite summertime show- "So You Think You Can Dance". I think she probably regretted that she ever asked me that one! Speaking of SYTYCD... I just had to include a link to Wade Robson's site!!!!) (Okay, okay... back to the book meme!)
Book Meme Rules -
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.) 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Tag five people.
Oh, here we go. Mansfield Park. It's my current book for the book club I'm in. Can you guess the theme? Yes. It is a Jane Austen book club.
So, page 123...
"Will not that do, Mrs. Grant? Everything seems to depend upon Sir Thomas' return. You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you see him in his family, I assure you. I do not think we do so well without him. He has a fine dignified manner, which suits the head of such a house, and keeps everybody in their place."
I would just LOVE to tell you the context of this passage, however, I have not read up to page 123 yet. These books are slow-going and require being read only AFTER the children are asleep. They require every ounce of concentration and focus that I have (left at the end of the day). Which is why I am not yet up to page 123. There is usually not much intellect left at 9pm...
Oh, and I will follow all of the rules except for the last one. I am not going to tag anyone. However if anyone of you would like to play along, just leave me a comment and let me know so I can come read your book meme!
Well the Houle Family is once again "under the weather". All we could do was just stay home and really relax today. Sunday mornings in our home are typically anything BUT relaxing. Usually Mike or myself have an early-morning commitment at church and this means that the children come along.Staying home with no agenda feels so great, even though everyone is not at their best. Reading. Snuggling. Folding laundry (I had no choice in the matter). Followed by more reading and snuggling. It wasn't until after I napped on the sofa with my my two eldest that I felt any motivation whatsoever.
It was at this point, at about noon, that I decided that I would start cooking. Well what else could I make for a couple of sickies but chicken soup. Delicious and loved by all in our house. This is one of those made-up recipes where I just add what I feel like. I like to shred by chicken instead of dice it for an earthier feel/look. Yum.
I was in the comfort-food mindset, so I tried to think of something really comfort food-ish to make as a dessert. Alas my inspiration was found when I spotted this delicious recipe for rice pudding. This recipe is a keeper. We made half with raisins and half without. So rich and custard-y. Everyone LOVED this dish. And everyone was much more pleasant after their bellies were full.
Sometimes I think that my family's love language is FOOD. I am okay with this. Food is my second language...
A friend of mine recently told me about a book that she had been reading about a mother with a large family (who, no doubt, homeschools, right?) who made it a priority to spend time alone with each child on a regular basis AND take a "mother's sabbath" for herself.
Well, I am one for always clinging to and claiming good ideas. And that's just what I did today.
Mike and I arranged for him to stay home, take of the duties of meal preparation, schooling, seeing children off to play-dates and such, while I took AN ENTIRE EIGHT HOURS to spend some time decompressing (this sadly and often translates to "shopping", or more safely put- "browsing").
I spent the day in Northampton, MA- a town that is near and dear to my heart. Not only did I spend a considerable amount of time there during my high school and college days, but Mike and I celebrated our marriage there nearly eight years ago.
Ahhh, what a day. No strollers to push, no jackets to zip. No requests for mass quantities of scones at bakeries ("just ONE please"). No little faces to wipe or requests to "hold my hand". I was free to browse shops without the fear of merchandise being, well, destroyed. Do you know how easy it is to walk in and out of a building without having to push a stroller with one hand whilst keeping the door propped for two other children to pass through? Yes, you probably do.
Now don't get me wrong. My children are a delight to me and while they are, shall we say, "energetic", I do believe that overall they are well-mannered and travel well. But to say that I did not enjoy my day flying solo would be nothing short of a lie.
A few high interesting finds...
I was (of course) thinking mostly of the children as I browsed around these lovely and unique shops. And I did see some adorable French flash cards by EbOO that would really enhance our (meager attempt at learning) French (lessons). Along with a little box of beeswax for molding and modeling.There are some amazingly funky shoes in Northampton that you just won't find where we live. I think I saw about FIVE pairs for each of us that I just loved. Who can resist felted wool?
A great debate about whether or not to purchase a hat that (I might never wear because it wasn't exactly my style, but I loved the IDEA of) I tried on about a half dozen times took place at Faces. My (not seen nearly enough) practical side won out in the end.
Essentials. Need I say more for any of you who have even been into this store. It should be illegal for one store to be home to so many of one's obsessions and passions. French tableware/glassware, oilcloth, baby blankets, eclectic children's toys, unique stationary and right as I was leaving I saw an adorable wood-beaded necklace. Ouch. That one hurt walking away from.In the end I left only with a thank you card. Yes, one card.
I have to admit that by the end of the day I felt a bit lonely and really missed being with my family. I guess the point of getting away for solitude's sake is being alone.
Coming home felt like a real event and I relished every minute of settling back into the "swing of things". I really like the way things swing in our home. And I think that more than anything, I became grateful and content for the life I live. My day away made me really appreciate the three little lives that have been given to Mike and I to raise and love and teach.
Here it is, Monday afternoon, and I'm still dreaming about our French dinner from Saturday night. Our friends, John and Heather, treated us (once again!) to our annual "gourmet dinner night out".
This year our tradition took us to an amazing restaurant right here in our town- Cavey's. We dined downstairs at the French portion of their establishment (the upstairs serves Italian food).
We knew we were in for an adventure, but I don't think we ever imagined that we would be tasting some of the most interesting and authentic cuisine we had yet to taste.
After starting with some amazing French wine (Bordeaux). We were started with a "teaser"- venison pate, seared rare tuna and a seafood mousse of sorts. Tasty, very tasty.
I was a little nervous for Mike at this point- a recovering "meat and potatoes" kind of guy- if we were being "teased" with these tidbits before our meal, what types of dishes would actually being served for the main course?
My fears were put to rest we experienced "confit" for the first time- our appetizer- duck confit. Delicious. So delicious that we have been trying to figure out how we might prepare it ourselves (short of traveling to Paris and studying French cuisine!).
I was really proud of my husband for being open to ordering foie gras (goose liver) stuffed beef. It was a defining moment in our relationship (I consider myself to be "adventurous" in the realm of trying new foods. He equates this same adjective
If anyone has noticed, I haven't posted any authentic photos on this blog since before Christmas. For some reason I just cannot download any photos from my camera. Is it the cable or the camera? Who knows. At this point I'm saving up for a new (bigger and better, yes, I said it) camera.
This week was a very relaxed week as far as homeschooling goes. I had every good intention of schooling all five days this week, but we had two really nice visits with some fellow homeschooling families this week that really took up the bulk of our schooling hours. They were very enjoyable
and I think that sometimes you just have to choose meaningful connections and relationships over math problems (isn't that a real life lesson?).
The highlight of our week was an impromptu nature study outing that we took on Thursday morning. Boy was I proud when we left the house with a bag packed with everything needed for a good nature study outing-
nature notebook and pencils, camera, crackers to feed the birds and extra mittens.
We saw so much wildlife that day-
mallard ducks, Canadian geese and a red fox.
So very exciting for the children and myself. And I even managed to keep my mouth shut and simply let the children be and watch and observe (no pointed questions or urging to notice what I was noticing!) I think that Charlotte Mason would have been proud.
{I have some lovely candid photos from that outing that perhaps one of these days I will be able to post}
A clean slate. A fresh start. An empty page to write on. However you put it, the new year has begun.
As daunting as it was to say goodbye to our lovely and lengthy Christmas break, we did it. We have slowly gotten our feet wet and have now officially dove into "Term 2" of our First Grade year of homeschooling.
The smell of gingerbread has now faded out of our home (yes, we are all quite sad about it). There are no more fabric wreaths hanging from the windows. No garland wrapped around our banisters. And sadly enough, my baking as slowed to a snail's pace.
But on the brighter side, we have started taking on a few new endeavors in our house in 2008.
Mike and I have really begun trying out some new methods of cooking/preparing foods. After reading the "Maker's Diet" a few years back (and again and again since) and reading our new cookbook- "Nourishing Traditions"- we are taking baby steps to taking our already-healthful-eating habits to a whole new level of HEALTHFUL!
Project#1 (or should I say "experiment"??)- sprouting almonds. If you're unsure of just what this means, let's just say that there are several Mason jars filled with wet almonds sitting on our counters just waiting to sprout! The health benefits are amazing, including increased enzymes, more minerals and loads more of Vitamin C.
As for our other endeavors... the children and I have started to learn to speak French. It is really exciting to learn new words and French songs everyday. And it is such a hoot to hear them walking around saying things like, "Bonjour, Je m'appelle Sophie" (yes, "Sophie" is a lot more French than "Sophia" she has figured out). Although I have to say that I was shocked to read that the song "Alouette" is about an lark getting it's feathers and beak "plucked off"!! This is not just a French nursery rhyme, but also a lesson in French Cuisine!
Which brings me to my first obsession of 2008... I have been devouring the book "My Life in France" by Julia Child. I picked it up Saturday morning at the bookstore (whilst sipping my cinnamon tea and eating my blueberry scone- a very special moment in the life of amommy!) and haven't been able to put it down since.
It is all really good timing because we will be dining out at a French restaurant this Saturday evening with some dear friends of ours. Perhaps I will be able to accomplish to goals that night- ordering my food in French AND having some knowledge of just what it is that I'm eating! To say that I am anticipating the meal would be an understatement!
(Okay, okay... back to the book meme!)
