Fourth of July

Last week we celebrated the 240th anniversary of America's independence with the usual fireworks and barbecue.

It has been so dry lately that many towns around here have placed a temporary ban on fireworks.  We watched the fireworks from the top of a parking structure.

We had a yummy dinner with one of my favorite foods, grilled corn on the cob, yummy!

Happy Father's Day

We were in the kitchen a lot this week.

  Which got me thinking about the great food my dad taught me about. Here is a short list:

1. BBQ chicken, and how to make it properly
2. Lebkuchen, I still eat it every Christmas
3. Garden fresh veggies, especially strawberries and tomatoes.
4. Deviled eggs
5. Oyster Dressing and rhubarb.
6 Bratwurst and brotchen.

The last couple of times I talked to my dad he asked about this blog and when I was going to update.  Well, dad here is your father's day gift:  I am going to try my very hardest to post weekly right here, so you and mom can keep up with everything we are doing and learning. 

Happy Father's Day 

 

 

Happy Father's Day

In what has become an annual tradition here on the blog, here is my Father's Day message to my Dad:

This year I turned 40, so I thought it would be fun to come up with one way my Dad was awesome in each of the decades of my life:

1. He hung my drawings up on the wall in his workplace, when we were separated by an ocean - I was about 4 at the time.

2. He took me with him to work, which involved traveling across country.

3. He dressed up in funny, period clothes, endured a cold day outdoors to give me away at my wedding.

4. He plays blocks, Legos, and puzzles with my kiddos.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Resolution

According to Dictionary.com Resolution means:

• A resolve or determination
• The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action
• The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose

And because circular definitions really irk me: Resolve means:

• To come to a determination; make up one's mind
• Break up or disintegrate
• Be reduced or changed by

and my personal favorite

• {music} to progress from dissonance to consonance

Isn't that what we are all trying to do at the year's beginning; figure out a way to make life less chaotic, clashing, crazy. 

I set some {specific} yearly goals along the lines of improving my health, wealth and wisdom. 

For this small space in my life I also have some ideas and a direction.  Specifically this year I am going to embark on a 365 Project.  I want to capture the beauty of the every day, seek out those quicksilver moments of joy and generally provide a record of blessings, possibilities and {yes I will get a picture of} peas.

My parameters are simple:

A picture a day, mostly mine, mostly new.  

There will no doubt be other things as well: art, craft, cooking, essay, and adventure, all the stuff that makes up life.

♥

On this eve of a new year I wish all my readers Auld Lang Syne - times remembered, friends close to hand and abundant blessings in the new year.

♥

 

Fourth of July Fun Facts

  

• July 4, 1776:  the representatives of the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.
• July 4, 1826: Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died.  
• July 4, 1870: Congress declares the fourth as a national holiday. 
• The first public readings of the Declaration of Independence on Philadelphia's Independence Square was accompanied by ringing bells and band music.
• Fourth food often include hot dogs, corn on the cob and watermelon.

Happy Fourth of July!

  

Saint Patrick's Day Homeschool Fun

Holidays are a great reason to break out of the regular schedule and do something, a little different, a little special.

Here are the three activities that we are going to do today, this Saint Patrick's Day:

♣ Watching the story of Saint Patrick on the Sumo of the Opera Veggie Tales DVD.

♣ Reading the Confession of Saint Patrick.  A primary resource!  It will be interesting what Zippy thinks of it.

♣ Doing some "Lucky Charms" Math with this printable. This works out so well as we are in the middle of a unit on graphs in the Math curriculum.

Not to leave out the Little Dude out of our green celebration, he will have the opportunity to play with green blocks, green stickers, and a new tot time activity sorting with green and pink puffs in the bottom of an egg container.

What are you doing this Saint Patrick's Day?  Make a comment and let me know. ♣