Never be with in doors when you can be with out!

Today we spent the entire day at the Park. It was a perfect day for an outing. Because the air was cool and crisp this morning, we had to dig out our jackets and sweaters for the first time of the season.

This was our first field trip of the year. For many of the sutdents and parents, it was their first nature walk aside from the ones we do around the school.

Everyone paired up with a buddy to hold hands with...

We viewed the lake first...

We found several leaves that had changed color and fallen already.There were many red and yellow silver maples, yellow elms, brown oaks (probably left over from last year). We compared the leaves we found to our nature book to learn the names!

Next, we spied a school of fish swimming back and forth along the shore.

We rubbed the bark of a pine tree which stretched way up high and touched the sky. We listened to the leaves clap their hands as the northerly wind blew through them.

Did we locate Peter Rabbit's hole?, or at least one of his relations.

We finished up the day with a picnic.....






and playing on the playground.

A good time was had by all. The children, parents and teachers enjoyed the sights and sounds of their first Nature Walk together.

La Mi Nonna Sansone Minestra Di Pollo

My grandmother passed away many years before I was born. Every Christmas we have an Italian Feast in honor of my dad and his family who are no longer with us. One Christmas, I asked my uncle to recall some of her best recipes. I had to improvise a bit, but I'm happy to report it turned out benissimo! It has become a staple of our Italian Christmas Feast.

Because a dear friend was feeling under the weather this weekend I thought some good Chicken Soup was in order,

along with some cheery flowers...

and a good detox bath.....
I hope she feels better soon. I hope you'll enjoy our family soup....

My Grandmother Sansone’s Chicken Soup

Appetizer (First Course)
As remembered By Joe Sansone December 16, 2006

Chicken boullion
Chicken stock
Carrots, sliced
Onion, sliced
Celery, chopped
Soup greens
Salt & Pepper
Other soup spices

Add bouillion, chicken stock, carrots, sliced onion, chopped celery, and other soup greens and spices

Boiled chicken breast was shredded into the stock pot after it was cooked separately.

that all cooked together to a slow simmering (I don't know how long) low boil.

then she added cooked pastina, (cooked separately), into the soup so that it became quite thick.

Just before serving, she would beat an egg or two and very slowly, with a fork, drip the eggs into the pot, a few drips at a time which poached in fine little egg drops .

After serving, add grated Pecorino Romano or Locatelli Romano Italian cheese to taste.

Buon Appetito!

CHILDREN'S BEATITUDES

I found this over at Higher Up and Further In .
Good way to start the day after a hard one.....

Blessed is the child who has someone who believes in him, to whom he can carry his problems unafraid.

Blessed is the child who is allowed to pursue his curiosity into every worthwhile field of information.

Blessed is the child who has someone who understands that childhood's griefs are real and call for understanding and sympathy.

Blessed is the child who has about him those who realize his need of Christ as Saviour and will lead him patiently and prayerfully to the place of acceptance.

Blessed is the child whose love of the true, the beautiful and the good has been nourished through the years.

Blessed is the child whose imagination has been turned into channels of creative effort.

Blessed is the child whose efforts to achieve have found encouragement and kindly commendation.

Blessed is the child who has learned freedom from selfishness through responsibility and cooperation with others.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

A Salute To Our U.S. Constitution

By Chuck Baldwin
September 17, 2008

On this date in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was adopted. 39 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (Rhode Island did not send a representative) affixed their signatures to the greatest civil document ever conceived by men. Famous patriots such as George Washington, Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Gouverneur Morris, James Madison, George Clymer, and Abraham Baldwin were among this gallant group.

Under divine Providence, it has been allegiance to the Constitution that has preserved our liberties and protected our very way of life. Most of the problems, failings, and frustrations that plague our nation today are due to the propensity of our civil magistrates to ignore or blatantly abuse constitutional government. Accordingly, fidelity to the Constitution would likely repair most of the damage done by this neglect.

It is the responsibility of a free people to jealously guard the principles upon which their liberties are predicated. For citizens of these United States, the principles that duly protect our liberties are contained in the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every American to studiously familiarize himself with these documents.

Furthermore, it is the duty of every American to stubbornly hold their elected representative, at every level of government, accountable to his or her oath to the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution is the contract that every civil magistrate makes with "We the People." Failure of an elected representative to fulfill that oath to the Constitution should be met with swift and certain rejection by the people at the polls. Nothing else should matter. Republican or Democrat, man or woman, black or white, believer or unbeliever: it is the responsibility of every civil magistrate to submit to the restrictions and instructions of the Constitution.

Our Constitution (along with the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence) was formed, framed, and founded upon the eternal principles contained in Natural Law, which proceeds forth from man's Creator and Redeemer. No people in human history have ever been so blessed as the people of the United States to inherit such a legacy. Such a heritage serves only to heighten our own responsibility, as "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

On this Constitution Day of 2008, may this generation of Americans live up to its responsibility to valiantly bequeath to our posterity the same legacy of freedom that was so bravely and miraculously bequeathed to us. For the sake of freedom, for the love of our children, and for the safety and security of our republic, may each of us determine for ourselves--and commit to Almighty God--to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The Love of God

One of my all time favorite songs....

Thinkerup: Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Thinkerup: Why Do Bad Things Happen? by Voddie Baucom

Charlotte Mason Wordle

Found this from Debi at Charlotte Mason & Home Education .
You can even print it out.



For a larger view: http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/153317/Charlotte_Mason

First Day of Preschool was swell!

Our first day of preschool went so well. The children came in and played well. We had our morning devotions, sang a song (Jesus Loves Me, I signed along). Then we talked about the alphabet. We also sang the alphabet while jumping to release some energy.

Soon afterwards, we went outside for our first Nature Walk. Guess what! One of my new friends is scared of outside sounds & sights. He was leery of walking on the sidewalk hidden by maples and when a bumblebee buzzed by, he covered his face and ears! Oh no!, I thought. Has this little one never been introduced to the wonders of outdoor life? We did find a millipede, that look exactly like this one:


Initially, the child tried to stomp upon, then shied away from, but we did manage to observe it walking to and fro and decided he must be going home to find his children.

I was so happy to find the Handbook of Nature Study at Google Books which I'll be studying and sharing with my little friends and their parents. Hopefully by the end of the year, we'll all love to be outside more than inside!

At last, we played on the playground. It was hard to decide which activity to do first! Swings, slides, monkey bars, oh my!

We came in and ate a yummy lunch, tidied up the room and settled down for a read aloud. Attention span was pretty good, probably because it was at the end of the day and with full bellies, sleepiness was setting in.

All in all, everything went extremely well. This is the day that the Lord has made....

Looking forward to tomorrow!