I donated 500 grains of rice....

See how much rice you can donate at freerice.
Warning, this seems to be addictive!

Laura's Creation

Laura has finished her first sewing project and it came out beautifully.

Just lovely,

and it works.....

it really works!

Please Remember to Honor Our Veterans....

past...

and present.

An Anniversary

Six years ago today I had a splenic artery aneurysm rupture. Through a series of true miracles over the next several months I survived. Please join my family and I in a prayer of thanksgiving. In Thanksgiving for my life and the lives of the two children God allowed me to have following this health crisis.
God is good!
God is great!

Our Thanksgiving Tree

We made a Thanksgiving tree today so that during this busy season we will be reminded of what is truly important in our lives.
Mark and Grace have added some animals to our tree, and they also have contributed the lovely turkeys under the tree.
I will have everyone in the family add a leaf with what they are thankful for written on it.
I also have a feeling that this is where all our turkey crafts will also end up.

A Wonderful Friend...

stopped in today with two loaves of fresh baked bread, a creme de menthe cake and (because we are studying Australia) the movie Miracle Down Under.Thank-you Ann. It was all delicious!

A Cold Snowy Sewing Day

It was quite chilly today, and in fact, we saw our first snowflakes of the year, so we hunkered down in the house and I did some sewing.

First, I made Kimberly a hat to match the coat I made a few weeks ago. I used Simplicity pattern #7363. I had made several of the other hats in this pattern before, but I hadn't tried this one. I was very pleasantly surprised with the results.

Kim at a soccer game this past Saturday wearing her new coat.

I also made Kim a pair of pull on blue jeans. They are cute. As soon at I finished them, my friend Sharon came in the door with bags of clothes for the kids, including jeans. Thankfully, a girl can never have too many clothes.

This and That

Our day started out a little stressful today because Gracie had a doctor's appointment. She needed a physical and three shots. I don't keep these things from my children. I don't want them to be surprised about what is going on, so I told her about the shots before we left the house....so.....she started to cry....before we left the house. Her crying reached a climax as she received her shots. I believe her shrieks could be heard outside the building. The next time, it will be a secret until they bring out the needles.

Because of her trauma, I proceeded to spoil this poor little tremendously. I purchased for her the "Little People" nativity and the "Little People" campsite set. You can see above that all her "Little People" spent some time adoring Jesus in the manger.

Later in the day, when everything was calmed down, we made very cute hand print turkeys. I got the idea and pattern from my favorite craft site--DLTK Crafts
Her turkey puppet came from Joann's Fabrics--it gobbles--loudly.

Mark also made use some very delicious chocolate pudding on the stove.
Thank you, Mark, for a very yummy dessert!

As many of you may know, we have been studying Australia, and today we read a wonderful book, Flood Fish. It told us about the rains that come only every few years to the desert areas of Australia. Amazingly, full grown fish appear in the river that is made by the floodwater. Scientists still aren't sure how this happens. There are many theories in the story which we discussed and analyzed. Everyone in the house got into the discussion, from Daddy on down to Grace. It was a very good read aloud.

"Great" Nieces

I sent some mittens I made up to my beautiful great-nieces this past week, and I couldn't resist showing off these lovely s.

You can visit them and their mom, dad, and horses over at My Three s.
Stay warm s- it is going to snow tonight!

Away to Australia

Last week and this week we have embarked on an exciting trip to Australia.
We have begun our journey with the help of a lapbook from Hands of a Child.
I have come to realize that this type of learning is very helpful in the education of Mark and Grace. They definetly learn more, the more "hands on" projects they do.

I have found quite a few wonderful picture books about Australia thanks to the 4Real Learning
ladies. I can always count on them to come up with super reading lists.

Our Australia Books:
REFERENCE
Coral Seas--Roger Steene-Great Barrier Reef
Australia in Pictures--Ann Kerns-reference
Top to Bottom Down Under--Ted Lewin-GREAT reference

PICTURE BOOKS:
Farmer Schultz's Ducks--Thiele
Wombat Stew--Vaughan
Rainbow Bird--Maddern-Aboriginal Folktale
Wombat Divine--Fox-Australian animal nativity
Ernie Dance to the Didgeridoo--Alison Lester
Bright Star--Gary Crew
Flood Fish--Robyn Eversole
Sebastain Lives in a hat
The Old Woman Who Loved to Read
Pumpkin Runner

Chapter Book
The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie--May Gibbs

I was quite a bit surprised.....

when the reading level of my blog was ranked at this....

Get a Cash Advance

Now everyone go check out the levels of your own blogs.

Sewing

I made Kim a new outfit last night. It is a very snuggly fleece for the chilly days ahead.

I used Butterick pattern #6362. It is the same pattern I used for Luke's Thomas sweatshirt.

Laura is trying her hand at making a pieced quilt. She cut out squares from the left over material and will try sewing on the machine later today.

I just had to add this picture of Kimberly. This is what she does now when she even sees a camera---one of the hazards of having a blog I guess.

Just Pat and I......

took a hike around Mount Hope Reservoir this afternoon after he got home from work.It was just a perfect day for a walk and wonderful to spend some time alone with Pat.

Here we are.

The following are views from the trail..enjoy.

Poetry Friday

The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness---
- John Updike, A Child's Calendar

Another view....

For those wondering where we keep it......

Beautiful photo

A nice hat tip to Jessie, of Our Elsie Rae of Sunshine, for this beautiful photo of my great-niece Josie, as she ran to meet her mom and their horses.

Catechism Lesson

Mom: What must we do to be happy with God in Heaven?

Gracie age 6: Know Him, and love Him and feed Him.

It's Time to Carve the Jack-O-Lantern

A Hike to the Bottom of the Falls

Who could ever imagine that we would be able to head outdoors on October 30th in Central New York and take a hike in 50 degree, sunny weather.

We found creeping myrtle plants still looking beautiful with their purple blossoms.

Mushrooms are still growing,

and this cabbage butterfly should be finding a milder climate soon.

Kimberly had the easiest hike to the base of Chittenango Falls. It is about 15 minutes from out house and just wonderful.

It is very easy to stand at the base of this waterfull and realize the greatness of God.

Just breathtaking

We finished the afternoon with a ride on the swings.

Oh, winter, we will smile when you send your first snowflakes, but for now we will keep smiling because you are nowhere to be found.