Light: The end of Candlemas week

May light stream into you that can take hold of you.
I follow its rays with the warmth of my love.
I think with my thinking's best thoughts of joy
On the stirrings of your heart.
May they carry you,
May they cleanse you.
I want to gather my thoughts of joy
Before the steps of your life.
That they unite with your will for life,
So that it finds itself with strength
In the world
Ever more
Through itself.

~ Rudolf Steiner

To celebrate Candlemas this week, we decorated candles...

Made sun bread...

Making a stained glass lantern for nature table...

Sunshine paintings...

And painting with sunshine yellow...

Edible candles for St. Blaise Day...

Moon phases beanbags...

Pretending to be in a groundhog burrow...

Groundhog puppet...

Pretending to be groundhogs...

And Jack jumps over the candlestick!

Happy St. Brigid's Day!

We made these beautiful Nativity silhouettes from That Artist Woman today. Aren't they lovely?

Santa Lucia (minus the crown)

St. Nicholas Day, revisited

Because St. Nicholas Day was on a Sunday, our celebrations were a bit rushed. Not only was there the whole "clergy family" thing to contend with, but the children's choir, which my two oldest are members of and which I direct, was singing at the 8:15 service.

Saturday night, we set out our shoes in front of the fireplace along with a carrot for St. Nicholas's horse.


Daniel tried to confiscate it, but we saved the carrot!


Then we all curled up and read our favorite St. Nicholas Day book, The Baker's Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale.


We kept things pretty simple, or should I say St. Nicholas did-- just some chocolate coins, a peppermint stick, and a small chocolate St. Nick.


And today, some wooden "cookies" along with another visit with the book.

Nicholas, give me the spirit of giving.
Teach me that it really is
more blessed to give than to receive,
and that to whom much has been given
much will be expected.
Help me to overcome my fears
that if I give generously
I will suffer want.

Circle Time: A Thankfulness Circle

This week we'll be doing a thankfulness/gratitude circle.

Generally, I like my circle times to last two to three weeks, perhaps adding something here or there or taking something away to keep it fresh. I'm hoping to show this to you next month with our four Advent circles.

November, however, was a bit of an odd month, with Martinmas the second week and Thanksgiving the last, so we ended up starting out with a Harvest Circle Time, then Martinmas, then the story of The Little Red Hen, which I felt went with the harvest mood of the month. And now we'll wrap things up, returning to the harvest and focusing on a spirit of gratitude. Unfortunately this isn't a terribly active circle, but it's also not terribly long.

Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow (Because Daniel REALLY likes this one!)

Sing and Do (A Child's Seasonal Treasury)
Sing, sing of the Harvest Wreath binding,
Sing, sing of the Harvest Wreath minding.
Sing of the wheat and the oats and the rye.
Sing of the ribbon to hang it up high.
Sing, sing of the Harvest Wreath.

Sing, sing of the threshing of the corn,
Sing, sing of the threshing of the corn.
Sing of the barley, the wheat and the rye.
Sing of the flail and the husks flying high.
Sing, sing of the threshing of the corn.

Sing, sing of the candle a-glowing.
Sing, sing of the candle a-glowing.
Sing of the fire, the wax, and the tin.
Sing of the wick and the dipping in.
Sing, sing of the candle glow.


We have a gratitude bowl, and at the time each day, we'll think of something for which we are thankful, write it on a piece of paper, and add it to the bowl. Some people also do a tree. There's a lovely one over on Zach Aboard. Then, we'll sing:
Let's give thanks for what we've got,
Whether it's a little or whether it's a lot.
It may be something simple or maybe not,
But we're thankful for all we've got!

And a small bit from a favorite John McCutcheon song:
Thankful for the food,
Thankful for the company,
Thankful for the things that we do and say.
Thankful for the friends,
Thankful for the family,
Glad to be together on Thanksgiving Day.

May the way that we treat others
Be the measure of our worth.
May our memory be a blessing
On the future of the earth.

Thankful... etc.

Thanksgiving Time (A Child's Seasonal Treasury)
When all the leaves are off the boughs
And nuts and apples gathered in,
And cornstalks waiting for the cows
And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,
Then Mother says, "My children dear,
The fields are brown and Autumn flies,
Thanksgiving Day is very near
And we must make Thanksgiving pies."

Table Stretches (A fingerplay)
Every day when we eat our dinner,
Our table is very small.
Show size with hands
There's room for Daddy
Hold up tall finger
And Mother
Hold up pointer finger
And Baby, that is all.
Hold up pinky.
But when Thanksgiving Day comes
You can't believe your eyes.
For the table stretches and stretches and stretches
Stretch out arms
To an enormous size.

This Is the Way...
This is the way we set the table,
Set the table, set the table,
This is the way we set the table
On Thanksgiving Day.

This is the way we...
(pass the food, eat the food, clear the table, wash the dishes, etc)

Hearth and Fire
Hearth and fire be ours tonight (today)
And all the dark outside.
Fair the night (day) and kind on you,
Wherever you may bide.

And I'd be the sun upon your head,
The wind about your face.
My love upon the path you tread
And upon your wanderings, peace.

Hearth and fire be ours tonight (today)
And the wind in branches bare.
O that the wind we hear tonight (today)
Would find you well and fair.

And I'd be... etc.

Martinmas

Lantern, Lantern,
Sun, moon and stars,
Burn, my light,
Burn, my light,
But not only the light of my dear lantern.

Weekend Round-Up: Martinmas edition!

I love Martinmas. It's such a gentle, loving celebration, shining a light in the darkness as the days grow colder and longer.

We've opted for a week-long celebration of the feast of St. Martin of Tours. Who was St. Martin? He was a Catholic bishop who died around 397. The Baldwin Project-- how I love this website!-- has several stories of St. Martin on their website:
The Story of the Patron Saint of France
St. Martin from In God's Garden

St. Martin's Cloak is one of the most-told stories of Martinmas. In honor of St. Martin, we'll be going through all the coats, hats, scarves, and mittens up the attic. We'll get the kids' winter coats and things down, and give away what we don't need.

We like to couple the St. Martin story with a reading of Matthew 25:31-40. Lantern walks are a traditional part of Martinmas, and there are many sites that show how to make lanterns. Here are a few of my favorites:
Balloon lanterns, with jar and can lanterns shown as well
Uncommon Grace has beautiful oiled watercolor lanterns
Watercolor lanterns with cutouts from Our Little Nature Nest
More beautiful balloon lanterns from Klease
Jar Lanterns
More jar lanterns
Still more jar lanterns
Folded paper star lanterns
Paper bag lanterns

And hopefully at some point this week, we'll have a little lantern walk.

We may have to make some of these little St. Martins as well.

And Teaching Handwork has some beautiful examples of Martinmas art.

And of course, don't forget the free St. Martin's Day study at Alphabet Garten.

Of course, Martinmas has food traditions as well. Here are some of my favorites:
Goose with apple stuffing
Hobby horse cake
St. Martin's horseshoe cookies
Martinmas steaks from Scotland
St. Martin 's Day croissants
And, for the grown-ups, Bishop's Wine

Martinmas is celebrated in many countries, and you can read about some of them here:
School of the Seasons (scroll down to November 11)
Wilson's Almanac
Martinstag
Martinmas in Ireland

I'll hopefully be posting our Martinmas circle tomorrow, but here are some other sites with great ideas for stories, songs, poems, and more:
Our Little Nature Nest: Martinmas links
Fun Facts About St. Martin's Day
Song: Martinmas Time
Wonderful German Martinmas songs
And more Martinslieder

June 5: Feast of St, Boniface

For dinner:

German Meat Balls with Sour Cream Gravy

Melt butter or margarine in saucepan; add onion; sauté until tender. Combine ground beef and bread crumbs; add butter mixture and beef broth or bouillon. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, parsley, Tabasco, 3 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and eggs; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape meat mixture into 2-inch balls; place in baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare sour cream gravy: In saucepan combine beef gravy, remaining pepper, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Add Kitchen Bouquet; heat to simmering point, stirring occasionally. When ready to serve, fold sour cream into hot gravy; heat a few minutes longer; pour over meat balls. Serve with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

Recipe Source: Cook's Blessings, The by Demetria Taylor, Random House, New York, 1965

and for desert

German Cinnamon Stars

Beat egg whites stiff. Add powdered sugar slowly. Continue to beat till it holds shape. Add cinnamon and almonds. Sprinkle a board with flour and sugar. Pat out dough three-eighths inch thick. Cut with star cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheet in moderate oven (375°) for 15 minutes.

Recipe Source: Cooking for Christ by Florence Berger, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310, 1949, 1999

And then, afterwards:
Litany of St. Boniface

Whitsuntide, or Pentecost Sunday

O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore thee: enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do, and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive to everything that thou shalt ask and to accept all that thou permittest to happen to me; only show me what is thy will.

Whitsun Cake (we've also just made a plain old birthday cake for the church)
A Paper Dove (these are pretty hanging from a chandelier)
Flying Dove (A little silly, but these are fun for outside)
Felt dove

May 30: Feast of St. Joan of Arc

Excerpts from Christine de Pizan's
The Poem of Joan of Arc
XIII And you, the King of France, King Charles,
The seventh of that noble name,
Who fought a mighty war before
Good fortune came at all to you:
Do, now, observe your dignity
Exalted by the Maid, who bent
Your enemies beneath your flag
In record time (that's something new!)

XIV And people thought that it would be
Impossible indeed for you
To ever have your country back,
For it was nearly lost; but now,
It's clearly yours; no matter who
Has done you wrong, it's yours once more,
And through the clever Maid who did
Her part therein -- thanks be to God!

XXII You, Joan, were born propitiously;
May He be blessed who gave you life!
Young maid who was ordained of God,
In you the Holy Spirit poured
His ample grace (in whom there was
And is divine munificence),
Refusing none of your requests.
Who'll grant reward enough to you?

XXIV When I reflect upon your state,
The youthful maiden that you are,
To whom God gives the force and strength
To be the champion and the one
To suckle France upon her milk
Of peace, the sweetest nourishment,
To overthrow the rebel host:
The wonder passes Nature's work!

XXVI But as for us, we've never heard
About a marvel quite so great,
For all the heroes who have lived
In history can't measure up
In bravery against the Maid,
Who strives to rout our enemies.
It's God does that, who's guiding her
Whose courage passes that of men.

XXVIII And Esther, Judith, Deborah,
Those ladies of enormous worth,
Through them it was that God restored
His people, who were sorely pressed;
Of many others I have learned,
Courageous ladies, valiant all,
Through whom God worked his miracles.
But through the Maid He's done much more.

(The Writings of Christine de Pizan, 355-357.)

May 29: Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

St. Madeleine Sophie is a great saint for young homeschoolers. Her older brother, a theologian, taught her Latin, Greek, history, physics, and math-- all by the time she was 15! She grew up to found the Society of the Sacred Heart, which founded many Catholic schools. She grew up during the Reign of Terror in France, a time when Catholic schools were being suppressed.

Be humble, be simple, and bring joy to others.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

She's a great saint for mothers as well. While she (obviously) never had children of her own, she had a deep respect for the vocation of motherhood.

What is needed for winning parents and children is to be busy about them, at their service from morning to night; to forget oneself and enter into what concerns the children, body and soul; to listen to them with interest; to console and to encourage them; finally to sacrifice for them everything except one's soul; and become for their sakes gentle, patient, indulgent, in one word, a mother.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

As a matter of fact, she is an excellent saint for anyone who works with or for young children.

Let us respect childhood; let us honor the soul of that small creature of God who can already make choices of the best if we take the time to awaken her reason and make her use her judgment.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

You can read many more quotes from St. Madeleine Sophie here.

Blessed Ascension Day!

Christ is already in that place of peace, which is all in all. He is on the right hand of God. He is hidden in the brightness of the radiance which issues from the everlasting throne. He is in the very abyss of peace, where there is no voice of tumult or distress, but a deep stillness--stillness, that greatest and most awful of all goods which we can fancy; that most perfect of joys, the utter profound, ineffable tranquility of the Divine Essence. He has entered into His rest. That is our home; here we are on a pilgrimage, and Christ calls us to His many mansions which He has prepared.

- Cardinal John Henry Newman

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy 8th Birthday, Katie Grace!

Eight years ago, after my most peaceful birth, I held in my arms the fussiest little baby. For her first three months, she screamed and cried, and so did I.
Once we moved back to Seminary, she magically turned into a much happier baby, and her sense of humor really started to shine through.
In a house full of boys, Katie Grace holds her own.


Happy Birthday, Katie Grace. May you continue to be a blessing to those around you.