Big toe in the water...

Getting back into the school routine is a little like getting into the water of a cool Adirondack lake. Refreshing, in a shocking sort of way. This year I'm going slow, and starting way in advance of when I actually need to start swimming, so to speak. I got my big toe wet today...shelves have been cleared of last year's debris to make room for this years goodies. Filling the shelves with delicious books is a joy that even Emma was able to appreciate as she proudly stacked her own school books on her shelf. Implementing a schedule is a focus of mine these days. Disciplining myself to rise before the children in order to get some much needed exercise and prayer time before the start of the day, designated play times between older siblings and younger siblings, and delegation of chores are the big issues I'm trying to address, on top of the academics. Andrew is beginning his Freshman year of High School...... What!!??? Did I just write those words? Jon is beginning 4th grade-both of these years are serious schooling years, in my opinion. 4th grade seems to be a transition year to more challenging work. 9th grade the preparation for adult life becomes more concentrated. The expectation gets raised, the work gets harder--more independence is required. I admit to a little fear and trembling as I look ahead. Grace and strength for the day; it's His promise.
I'm counting on it.

Zuchini bread, anyone?

So, after lots of rain, and a weekend of no one picking, I have been bombarded with about 25 yellow squash and zuchini of various sizes, with a couple being of the baseball bat variety....

Forced to dive into the scary world of preserving...For two days I have shredded, sliced, parboiled and bagged up squash and zuchini. I am currently looking for some different ways to use it...some thoughts are zuchini relish, stuffed zuchini, and chocoloate zuchini bread, which is currently baking in the oven! I have a renewed sense of awe for the women of yesteryear who had to preserve enough food to get through the long winters. It was necessity... no supermarkets to run to when they ran out of things. They did without, ate what was in season, and suffered some rumbly tummies through the winters, I imagine. Canning, freezing and preserving never made sense to me, til now. If I want the nutrition that squash can give, during a time when there is no local squash to be found, I must put some away for later. It makes perfect sense now.... I know, it takes me a little while, but I do finally get it eventually.

Hit me with your best shot, tomatoes! I'm ready for ya!

Still enjoying that little manners book...

Of Behaviour at the Table.

#6 Find not fault with any thing that is given thee.
(I guess mine are not the first to complain about what's on the dinner table, eh?)

#14. Make not a noise with thy tongue, mouth, lips, or breath, either in eating or drinking.
(One of Ken's biggest pet peeves!)

#22 Stuff not thy mouth so as to foll thy Cheeks; be content with smaller Mouthfuls.
(Need I comment?)

#25 Smell not to thy Meat, nor move it to thy Nose; turn it not the other side upward to view it upon the Plate.
(Funny story--I used to babysit from time to time for a little boy who could tell food was different from his mom's brand just by smelling it. I am not exaggerating--I served Tuna one day-he immediately knew it was different. Spaghetti sauce, same thing. He would bring the food to his nose and sniff. If that didn't send up any red flags, and it almost always did, he would put a little on his tongue. That was usually the end of the meal for him!)--

#26 Throw not any thing under the Table.

(what I would give to the person who could teach my 1 1/2 year old this one!)

I can't explain how comforting it is to know that these behaviors were problematic enough back then that someone addressed them in a manners book. It's the same feeling I get when I watch Super Nanny, which is either:

a. Thank God my kids are not that bad!

b. So I'm not the only parent dealing with that behavior issue.

or

c. I am not the meannest parent in the world for making my child _____________.

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Here's an excerpt from a book called The School of Manners printed in 1701. The section is called
Of Behaviour among Boys,

1. As near as may be, converse not with any but those that are good, sober and virtuous; Evil communication corrupts good Manners.

2. Be not quarrelsome, but rather take patiently, than mischievously occasion any manner of wrong.

3. Reprove thy Companions as often as there shall be occasion for any evil, wicked unlawful, or indecent Action or Expression.

4. Give always place to him that excelleth thee in Quality, Age or Learning.

5. Be willing to take those words or actions as jestings, which thou hast reason to believe were designed to such: and fret not at thy companions innocent mirth.

6. If thy Companion be a little too gross of sarcastical in Speaking, yet strive not to take notice of it, or be moved at all therewith.

7. Abuse not thy Companion either by word or deed.

8. Deal justly among boys, thy equals; as solicitously as if thou wert a man with men, and about businesses of higher importance.

9. Be not selfish altogether, but kindly, free and generous to others.

10. Jog not the Table or Desk on which another writes.

11. At play, make not thy hands, face, or cloaths dusty or dirty: nor sit upon the ground.

12. Avoid sinful and unlawful recreations: all such as prejudice the welfare either of body or mind.

13. Scorn not, Laugh not at any for the natural infirmities of Body or mind, not because of them affix to any vexing title of contempt and reproach.

14. Adventure not to talk with thy Companions about thy Superiors, to raise discourse reflection upon, or touching another's Parents, or Master: to publish any thing of thine own family or Household affairs. Children must meddle only with the affairs of Children.

My favorite rule is # 10. Boys need to be told these things! They needed to be told 300 years ago, and they need to be told today. Hilarious, isn't it? You're laughing because either you've seen a boy do that, or you are a boy and it still makes you laugh!

Boys will be boys. They will fight, get dirty, laugh at bodily gas, tease and wrestle. The rules have not changed for the last 300 years! We can't blame bad behavior on tv, or video games or lack of proper social programs. The answer is the same now as it was then-- we parents need to teach our children to:

1.Fear God.

2. Honour the King.

3. Reverence thy Parents.

4. Submit to thy Superiors.

5.Despise not thy inferiors.

6. Be courtious with thy Equals.

7. Pray daily and devoutly.

8. Converse with the Good.

9. Imitate not the wicked.

10. Hearken to instruction.

11. Be desirous of Learning.

12. Love the School.

13. Be always cleanly.

14. Study Verture.

15. Provoke no Body.

16. Love thy Schoolfellows.

17. Please thy Master.

18. Let not play entice thee.

19. Restrain thy Tongue.

20. Covet future Honour, which only Vertue and Wisdom can procure.

Please welcome her to the blogging community. She's a super intelligent, super loving, super wheat grinding to make her own bread, homeschooling kind of gal. My friend, and my sis-in-law...

Poppy and Grammy's Christmas in July

Stephanie, Chris, Jon and Anthony at Plimoth Plantation
The cousins
Emma and Mom on Plymouth Beach
Ken and Dan playing in the water
Matthew and Dougie working--they dug and played in that hole for at least an hour!

Walking through Plimoth Plantation--the woman to the right is my brother Mike's daughter, Jessica
Dan's turn in the carrier!
Andrew and Anthony were "buddies"--older kids were assigned to younger kids at the Plantation


For Christmas, instead of buying toys the kids will play with for a day and then lose or break or get bored, my Dad and step-mom plan a trip for my siblings and me and our families to some campground or tourist attraction to have a reunion each July. We just came back from our4th trip...Plymouth, MA. We visited Plimoth Plantation, and the Mayflower II, and spent some time on the beach. It was a great time connecting with family and seeing the sights.

Thanks, Dad and Judi!

Magical Days

This past weekend all of Ken's family gathered to give honor to his parents for 50 years of love and commitment in marriage. In testimony to the countless lives that Oma and Grandpa have enriched and touched, over 70 people came from all over the world to celebrate the occasion. People who have known them for over 60 years, people who have known them for much less, people from California and North Carolina and NJ...and all the way from Germany! It was a beautiful thing to see old friends connect again. Grateful tears were shed as people thanked us for bringing them together one more time. Oma's nephew from Germany came, with his family. All a surprise to Oma and Grandpa, and our children played with their children...swimming, jumping on the trampoline, and the soccer game to beat all soccer games lasting long past 10 pm! Oma and her niece visited long into the evening, speaking German and laughing and catching up on lives in Germany. I wish I had pictures to share, but was so caught in the joy of the moment I forgot all about capturing it! I'm not sure words can do justice to the feeling of love and richness we feel after having connected with so many people who love our Oma and Grandpa. There are moments in life when you know your life will never be the same. You know that your heart has grown, your mind has grown, your soul has grown. I think these magical days have been just such moments.