Slaying the Dragon

Happy St. George Day! After telling the story, we had to set up our own scene. Nicholas particularly enjoyed acting it out.
We were going to go outside and play dragon tag (silk in the waistband for the dragon's "tail" and everyone has to try to catch it) but we were surprised by the first thunderstorm of the spring.

We did manage to make Cheese and Chive Scones to go along with our not-so-British baked spaghetti. We were going to have some plum pudding and hard sauce I found at the Surplus Grocery Outlet, but I couldn't find it. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

I found some other great St. George ideas I'm going to tuck away for next year:
Recipes from Catholic Cuisine (and how did I not know this blog existed? It's awesome!)
Some Teaching Tips from Britain on St. George's Day
A pattern for a dragon hoodie that once again leaves me wishing I could knit something more than dishcloths.
A ferocious crocheted dragon
And Norbetta from Knitty


And finally, a really cute baby playing dress-up. I should have added this to my list of things that made me smile today!

Candlemas, but not candle-less

Our Brigid's Bread was yummy! And yes, all the best bakers wear tutus.


We didn't get to read Brigid's Cloak until today--the roads were a sheet of ice and I couldn't get to the library to pick up my holds--but we read it tonight, and it was beautiful. I definitely need to score my own copy.

Tonight was our Candlemas-Africa feast. We learned about Ancient Africa in Story of the World, and for dinner we had chicken with figs, rice (it was going to be papaya rice, but the papaya went over and I didn't know in time to get a new one), peas, and fried plantains.


After dinner, we talked about the Presentation and had some snow-white meringues for desert. They were definitely a hit!

We ended our day with a lovely story and prayer time.


Good night, and have a blessed Sunday!

Feast of St. Brigid

Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an la dul chun sineadh
Is tar ets na Feil Brighde ardoidh me mo shel.
O chuir me I mo cheann e ni stopfaidh me chotiche
Go seasfaidh me sios t Ias Chontae Mhutgheo.

Now with the coming of spring, the day is beginning to stretch
And after the feast of St. Brigid I'll rise up and go.
Since the notion came into my head I'll not even stop for a second,
Till I set my foot down in the middle of County Mayo.
Antoine ÓReachtabhra (Raifteiri) 1784-1835

Here are some yummy St. Brigid Day recipes. We're planning on making Barm Brack for tea, when our lovely friends from down the street will be joining us. I'd love to make the St. Brigid's Cross bread here, but I have little faith in my baking skills. I'm hoping that Brigid's Cloak is among my on-hold books that they have available for me at the library.

We don't generally "do" a lot of school on Fridays, but this little poem would make a beautiful recitation or piece of copywork:

The dandelion lights its spark
Lest Brigid find the wayside dark.
And Brother Wind comes rollicking
For joy that she has brought the spring.
Young lambs and little furry folk
Seek shelter underneath her cloak.
W. M. Letts

And this is a lovely prayer:

Dear Saint Bridget of the Kine
Bless these little fields of mine,
The pastures and the shady trees,
Bless the butter and the cheese,
Bless the cows with coats of silk
And the brimming pails of milk,
Bless the hedgerows, and I pray
Bless the seed beneath the clay,
Bless the hay and bless the grass,
Bless the seasons as they pass,
And heaven's blessings will prevail,
Brigid - Mary of the Gael.

And so, we celebrate St. Brigid, who, according to legend, shared what little food she had in time of famine and, like the widow and Elijah, found herself with a full jug of water and complete bannock cake when there should have been none.

Oh come to the water all who are thirsty:
Though you have nothing, I bid you come
And be filled with the goodness I have to offer you.
Come, listen, live. (Is. 55)

Our Lady of Guadalupe and Getting Ready for Santa Lucia

Today we read the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The the two older children drew pictures in their main lesson books. I found this blog too late, but it has some awesome ideas. I can't wait until next year!

Tomorrow is Santa Lucia, and we spent a good chunk of the day making our Lucia buns.
Katie Grace kneaded the dough:

See those bangs? She cut them herself. Sigh.

Rolling the dough




The rolls are cut and ready to bake (OK, I admit it, we used a mix. But we still had to add yeast, knead the dough, etc. The only thing the mix did was premix the flour and stuff!)


And we have Lucia buns!


Nicholas helped clean up.


Katie Grace is very excited, although she has to do sans wreath. But I am trying hard not to let perfection be the enemy of the good.

Then, we put together our Advent nature table (finally). We are adding stars to the sky each night.


We also have a family altar, with an Advent wreath Katie Grace made at Advent Family Craft Night:

The October/November Update

Holloween/All Saints Day
St. Therese (The Little Flower), a cowboy, and Frodo




Pumpkin Carving










Pumpkin Butt


Pumpkin Heads


The Butterfly Project I Never Did Post About






And Thanksgiving Dress-Ups