Just Checking In. . .

The weather outside is . . .
overcast.  We had some beautifully warm spring weather a while back but its been on the chilly side lately.  We had some rain and now everything is green. It's neat to watch the world turn from brown to green so quickly. The leaves are budding; promises of pleasant weather to come.

I'm listening to . . . 
the dishwasher and "Magic Schoolbus."  Poor Miss Nutmeg is sick. She threw up twice two nights ago and once yesterday. She hasn't thrown up today but is still quite weak.  Poor thing hasn't eaten yet but has been sipping some juice. All plans have been canceled the past couple of days. I look forward to a healthy Nutmeg again! She's a tough cookie though. She's not one to make a big fuss when she's sick.

The kiddlings. . . 

Mace: His communication skills are rapidly increasing. He's quite good at communicating his needs with baby sign language. He's also saying "up," "bye-bye" and a few others that escape me right now.

Nutmeg: She's moving along in her lessons. Halfway through her first math book, finishing up her capital letters in handwriting, and playing phonics games with Mom to work on her eye muscles. "Tracking" our phonics book calls it.

Sage: Sage and I are so pleased with how his math is coming along. He's getting sharper all the time. A while back Sage started taking fish oil. I could sing the praises of fish oil (high quality fish oil, that is) in many capacities! I love that stuff. I just wish we could afford to have our whole family on it. I know it greatly improved my eye sight when I was on it. Anyhow, I suspect the fish oil has something to do Sage's greater clarity in mathematics. But perhaps it may just be the one-on-one time is finally paying off or maybe it is just plain clicking for him. All in all, its such a pleasure to see his improvement.

Basil:  is growing like a weed. In so many ways. When I look it him I can't believe how quickly he is growing up. Last Saturday he helped Dad work on the house all day. Digging, shoveling and carrying rocks, etc. He worked his tail off.

Around the house and yard . . .
its a busy time of the year. Lots to do in the house, at Doug's work, with our lessons, and outside. It can be overwhelming. We just have to do.   the.   next.   thing  . . . .  It's tough to balance it all, ya know? But I can't complain. That's everyones story. Especially with young families. So much going on. I have been trying to squeeze in some time to figure out some new ways to improve our garden this year. It is tricky to balance time and money for the garden. There is a lot to learn and do. But we are trying. I just hope we can do a little better every year. The weeds have been overwhelming the past couple years, so we will be a trying a few news tricks this year. For the size of our garden, to do some of the things I've been reading about to get a handle on our weeds could possibly take quite a bit of money. So Doug and I put our heads together and are going to try a hodge podge of two ideas that I've read about. We'll do our best, cross our fingers, and hope all goes well. I firmly believe it is worth it no matter what happens. I forgot to bring the camera with me to the garden so that I could try to share with you but let me just say, it IS worth it! One evening this week I was looking around at all six of us TOGETHER in the garden and was reminded that it IS worth it! Sage and I digging side by side. Doug and Basil building a mini-garden bed for Basil together. Mace toddling around with his plastic garden hoe and Nutmeg chattering through it all. To me, whatever money we do put into it IS worth this time working side by side and watching things grow. It is beautiful.

Pictures next time, I hope! :)

In the kitchen . . . 
I cook, we eat, we clean up, I make menus, I shop, we eat, I cook, we eat, we clean up. Round and round we go. Doug reminded me once that all this MATTERS. These meals, they are events. Important family events that I orchestrate. They are daily events that bring us together.

Chipole Burrito Bowel Copycat: Yum!

In my prayers . . .
been praying fervently these days. Praying for peace and clarity for the moms in my home school group (we are doing a prayer project right now. I LOVE it!). Praying for those who I know who are suffering. Those fighting cancer, mourning loved ones, healing from heart surgery, etc. Most of all I pray for our country and for Christians around the world. My heart is heavy for the terrible persecution that many Christians are facing right now in so many places around the world. Praying hard against those evils. Christ have mercy!

On my nightstand . . .
With Fire and Sword  by Henryk Sienkiewicz. This is the same author of Quo Vadis? that I read a while back. This Polish historical novel is the first in a trilogy.

A few excerpts from the introduction: "With Fire and Sword dealt with the terrible Hmyelnitzki Rebellion of Ukrainian Cossacks, and bloody Tartar wars in the first half of the 17th Century, which drained the stamina and military power of the Poles and gave the barbaric Muscovites the time they needed to turn themselves into the Russian Empire.. . .The Sienkiewicz "Trilogy" stands with that handful of novels which  not only depict but also help to determine the soul and character of the nation they describe. . . . A gifted Polish writer and patriot has told me: "I know of no other books in the literature of the world that have had such a powerful and lasting effect on any one People, and it is high time that intelligent readers in America have a translation adapted to their language and needs.""

This introduction discusses how various epic novels have timelessly captured the essence of the soul of the nations about whom they are written. For Italy that epic novel would be The Beloved by Alessandro Manzoni (I need to go back and finish this one). In Sweden Selma Lagerlof was that writer. In Norway, Sigrid Undset (remember Kristin Lavransdatter?). Spain has Miguel Cervantes' Don Quixote. Japan's would be Tale of the Genji.

So, for now I am tasting a bit of the heart and soul of the Ukraine, Poland, and surrounding peoples through the historical novel of With Fire and Sword. To be honest for the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure if I would keep at it. It is an enormous book. The names are long and unfamiliar. It is a war novel, so it can be graphic and gruesome to read at times. I am glad though, that I stuck with it. If you just go with it, you get used to the unfamiliar names and geography. Fortunately, I have taken some Russian in the past and that helps me a bit. There is also a smattering of Latin in the novel, which is fun, because I've been able to decipher a bit due to our Latin studies this year. If you consider taking up this novel, I wouldn't let that deter you. If you immerse yourself in the novel, you can follow what is going on without knowing any Slavic languages or Latin.

It's a good read. Put it on your bucket list. There is nothing like investing some time in educating yourself about another time and place. And you know, I am mostly uninformed about what exactly is happening in the Ukraine right now. I am hoping that perhaps this novel can begin to help me understand a bit of the history of the most current events.

The boys are reading . . . 
Since we are following  ancient Roman history this year, the boys are reading some (light) ancient Roman history. Basil has just finished up Detectives in Togas.  He would tell you the author is brilliant. I thought I heard the words "best book ever!" come from his lips. You'll have to ask him to be sure.  Sage is reading the "Thieves of Ostia." He is also glued to the pages.

This week . . .
Well, I forgot my camera AGAIN! We had a nice morning with our home school co-op on Tuesday. We celebrated Earth Day by doing some science, Earth-themed activities. It was super busy, so I don't think I would have had a free hand to take a picture anyhow. The kids and I had hoped to make the drive out to visit the Amish this week to gather some plants for the garden and pick up some delicious baked goods but we had to cancel due to Nutmeg's illness. Next week! This weekend we hope to lay down some black plastic and newspaper in our garden and also pick up some loads of straw to use as mulch. We'll see how that all pans out!

That's a wrap for today!  Sending you all hugs!!!  

Arranging the limes while we unload groceries.