tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62324230920363530422024-02-19T03:55:01.959-06:00The Diary of a Sower<b>Cultivating rich, fertile soil in our children's souls</b>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-635122487821745772015-06-20T15:21:00.000-05:002015-06-25T10:53:30.735-05:00Online Curriculum Sale - Part IWow, hard to believe it's been nearly a year since I've posted on this website! I've spent the year teaching 3rd grade faith formation classes, marketing a Catholic school and parish, developing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at my parish, and -- of course--chauffeuring my kids to sports and dance!<br />
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I noticed that Jessica (at Shower of Roses) is again having her Curriculum Sale Blog Hop. I still have some great homeschooling materials that I would like to pass on to others, so thought I would participate.<br />
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Thank you, Jessica, for hosting this blog hop again! Check out what others are selling (at great prices) by going to the blog hop home, which is <a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2015/06/5th-annual-book-sale.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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I'm following Jessica's suggested guidelines for the swap, which include:<br />
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1) Please just request items that you are seriously interested in purchasing, and for which you can submit payment within 24 hours via Paypal.<br />
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2) If you are interested in something, please email me (caswrite at aol dot com) to ensure the item is still available. I will try to update this page as soon as items are "sale pending" or sold.<br />
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3) Shipping: I'm keeping it as simple as possible! <br />
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Fees:<br />
- For books and media items, $6 for 1-3 items and $8 for 4 or more items. (Covers packaging and postage).<br />
- For other items (games, etc.): Please email me with your zip code and I'll compute the least expensive method for shipping the item. <br />
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Here's what I've got so far. Please keep checking back as I clear off shelves!<br />
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<b>Pearables' Lessons in Responsibility for Girls. </b>A part of the Home Economics for Home Schoolers Series. This is Level 1, for ages 6 and up. Retails for $9.99, asking $5. Never used. </div>
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<b>Edupress' Hands-on Heritage Series: Native Americans Activity Book. </b>For grades 2+. Retails for $7.99, asking $4. Never used, although there is a bend in the cover at the bottom right hand side. (Does not affect usability or readability.) Hands-on arts, crafts, cooking, research and activities that help kids learn about tribal territories, different type of homes/shelter, culture, daily life and more.</div>
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<b>Lingua Mater Primary Language Lessons by Emma Serl/Hillside Education. </b>Retails for about $18, asking $9.99 Never used. (We copied exercises on other pieces of paper for more writing practice.) Sorry about the photo--tried several times to flip it and it would not turn! </div>
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<b>Connecting with History: World History Through Catholic Principles, Volume 1 and Founders of Freedom by Neumann Press. </b>Founders of Freedom is used as the main textbook with this volume. The Connecting with History book retails for $40 and the Founders of Freedom for about $22; I'm asking $30 for both items.Connecting with History is 2010 edition. </div>
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<b>Everyday Graces by Karen Santorum (hardcover); A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson (paperback by Wordsworth Classics)</b>. Everyday Graces retails for about $17; A Child's Verse retails for about $4. Asking $10 for the two.</div>
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The above items will be shipped media mail.</div>
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I also have this popular game:</div>
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<b>Guess Who? Game (newer version). PENDING SALE</b><br />
<b> </b>Retails for $18, asking $9. We never used it, although I began to assemble the parts to put the plastic frames together. I also printed out some cards from Equipping Catholic Families so we could convert the game into "Guess Who: the Catholic Cardinals Edition." We never got around to using it. I'll include the cards I printed out.</div>
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<b>For this item, please email me your zip code! I'll compute postage and get back to you! My email is caswrite at aol dot com. </b></div>
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<i>I have more items coming soon, including math games, books, manipulatives and more. Some of these would be perfect items to help your children keep up their academic skills over the summer (in a fun way!) </i></div>
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-29074859075088251702014-06-28T19:25:00.001-05:002014-06-30T11:09:50.492-05:00Online Curriculum Sale: History I'm continuing to clean out my homeschool curriculum and supplies, which means some great deals for you! If interested in any of these items, please email me (caswrite at yahoo dot com) with your zip code and I'll compute postage using least expensive shipping method. Please note that unless the item is less than 1 pound, or qualifies for media rate, that I will be shipping them via priority mail (cost starting at $5.25 depending on package size and weight.)<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Famous Women of the Civil War Coloring Book</b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Famous Battles of the Civil War Card Game</b></span></h3>
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(Selling these as a lot of two. Asking $7. Coloring book retails for $3.95; card game retails for $13 on Amazon). </div>
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PENDING SALE (6/30/14) </div>
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These are new and never used. Purchased them to use along with our Civil War study but we never got around to using them! <br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-66980062582523343032014-06-03T14:40:00.003-05:002014-06-30T13:18:26.109-05:00Online Curriculum Sale: Phonics Books and GamesI also have some great items for teaching phonics, which I will list on this page as I go through the boxes and take photos of them. As usual, if you are interested, please email me (caswrite at yahoo dot com) with your zip code and I'll compute postage using the least expensive method available from USPS.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Pumpkin Patch Phonics Board Game</b></span></h3>
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(asking $6)</div>
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This hard-to-find game is a fun way to reinforce phonics sounds and concepts. It has a fall/Halloween theme, but my daughter and I enjoyed playing it all year. It includes playing board, spinner, instructions, four playing pieces and a box to store everything in.<br />
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Game is for 2-4 players, ages 4+. To play the game, players take turns spinning the spinner until it lands on a letter. Then then move their playing piece to the nearest picture that starts with the same letter as the one indicated on the spinner. There are also special spaces on the board where players can jump forward one whole line, or move back one line (similar to Chutes and Ladders.)<br />
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For more advanced players, use the other side of the spinner. Players then move based on the ending sound of the word instead of the beginning sound.<br />
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Although we played this quite a few times, it is still in very good shape. Such a fun way to learn basic phonics sounds!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Kumon Long Vowels Write and Wipe Flash Cards</b></span></h3>
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(Retails for $9.95; asking $4)</div>
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These two-sided cards are great for reinforcing long vowel sounds. Included are 30 double-sided cards, 2 instructional cards on how to use the set with your child, a dry erase marker with an eraser on the topc, and a box to store it all in. Recommended for ages 4+.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
On the front of the card (the write and wipe side), your child can practice writing the three words that features long vowel sounds (each card has three words.) On the back side there are three pictures that represent the words on the other side of the card. Help your child sound out the words as s/he looks at the picture and the word.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
The dry erase marker appears to have a lot of life in it yet (its still dark when used to print). The cards are in good shape with no bends, tears, etc. There is some residual black "dots" in some areas where the marker was, but these are small and do not affect the usability of the cards. (They could probably be wiped away; haven't tried.)<br />
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The storage box has some normal wear on the corners (the cardboard inside is rather flimsy.) I'm including it but it would probably be better to store the cards in another container. My daughter was usually frustrated when she tried to put them away because the box is almost too narrow for the cards and pen.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Set of 5 Interactive Phonics Books from Scholastic's "Fun with Phonics" Series</b></span></h3>
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(asking $12.99; each of these retails for about $7)</div>
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My daughter was a reluctant reader until she ran across the <i>Posy the Pig, </i>one of the five books in this Scholastic "Fun with Phonics" series. She read that book over, and over, and over... Decided I needed to and get the other books for her. After a search, I found them all.<br />
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All of these books are in good to very good shape; small discrepancies are noted below. <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
Included in the series:<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<i>Posy the Pig </i>(reinforces the short 'i" sound). Purchased this book second hand so it has a name and date handprinted inside the front cover. Does not affect usability of the book. This is a hardcover book<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<i>Bug in a Rug </i>(reinforces short "u" sound). This is a paperback book that has an interactive feature--a dial that moves the letter so the child can practice the short "u" word. No tears, writing, etc.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<i>Fat Cat </i>(reinforces short "a" sound). This was another favorite in the group. I must have read it a million times! This is a paperback book that has an interactive feature--a dial that
moves the letter so the child can practice the short "a" word. There is a small dial by the dial but this does not affect the usability of the book. No writing, highlighting, scribbling, etc.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dog in the Fog </i>(reinforces short "o" sound). </span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also a paperback book that has an interactive feature--a dial that
moves the letter so the child can practice the short "o" word. No tears, rips, scribbling, etc. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Jen the Hen </i>(reinforces short "e" sound.) Also an interactive paperback book with the dial that moves so the child can practice the short "e" words. No rips, tears, etc.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">These are very unique books and I highly recommend them for anyone who has a child who does not want to read! </span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></h3>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-90146779306817901622014-06-03T14:19:00.000-05:002014-06-28T19:14:16.859-05:00Online Curriculum Sale: Geography Games, BooksI am also clearing out some gently used geography games and books that we are no longer using. Great way to keep the kids entertained this summer while helping them learn more about our country and our world! I will be adding to this as I go through my homeschooling boxes so please keep checking back.<br />
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All items come from a non-smoking home. If interested, please send me an email (caswrite at yahoo dot com) with your zip code, and I'll compute postage using the least expensive method, depending on the item.<br />
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Thank you for your interest!<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>McGraw-Hill Children's Publishing:</b></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Countries and Cultures for Young Explorers: Australia</b></span></h3>
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(asking $4.99; retails on Amazon for $8.25 used)</div>
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What a fun way to teach preschoolers through second graders about the "Land Down Under!" I used this with my son, who loved the song "Waltzing Matilda" when he was young. I also used it with my niece in elementary school so it can definitely be adapted to older kids. It includes 48 pages of fun, with projects such as making a kangaroo puppet, learning the words to "Waltzing Matilda," making a laughing kookaburra from foam eggs, crafting a boomerang or an aboriginal musical instrument called a didjeridoo. There are some Australian folk stories in it, and some simple recipes for favorite foods. </div>
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Your children will love learning about Australia with this book! </div>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-60384810509076264822014-05-20T12:14:00.000-05:002014-06-30T13:14:52.839-05:00Online Curriculum Sale: Math items, part 2 -UPDATED 6/30/14 If you are interested in any of these items, please email me (caswrite at yahoo dot com) with your zip code and I will compute postage. I'll combine items to save shipping. Whenever possible, I'll ship media or first class mail to save postage.<br />
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Unless noted, most of these items are in like-new condition. Some of the manipulatives were only used a couple of times! <br />
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If you are interested, please let me know as soon as possible, as I also plan to list these in several places including Cathswap. (Need to raise some money to help pay my son's tuition as Catholic high school!) <br />
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All items come from a non-smoking home. <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Harcourt Math, Grade 2, Units 1-6 books</b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>New/unused--</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Units include:</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unit 1 - Numbers and Operations</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unit 2 - 2 Digit Addition and Subtraction</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unit 3 - Money, Time and Data</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unit 4 - Geometry and Patterns</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Unit 5- Measurement and Fractions</b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Unit 6 - Exploring Greater Numbers and Operations</span></span></b></span></h3>
(asking $10) </div>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-35844884642341519172014-03-05T10:40:00.000-06:002014-03-10T07:58:20.614-05:00Idea sharing: some of our past Lenten activities<div style="text-align: left;">
Looking for some special ways to observe Lent with your family this year? Here are some photos of things we've done in the past, along with information links...</div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2013/02/keeping-love-in-lent-our-lenten-prayer.html" target="_blank"><b>Lenten Prayer Tree</b></a></div>
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<b> </b><a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2012/02/lent-plans-and-activities.html" target="_blank"><b>Lenten Spiral</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/04/craft-project-stations-of-cross-prayer.html" target="_blank"><b>Stations of the Cross Prayer Gems</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-prayer-for-lent-litany-of-humility.html" target="_blank"><b>Litany of Humility Prayer Ring</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqbVRpVOT4oOq5YdBBeaeSjOpX_lg2BsB5JoMFHPVjywMmn2maFIJPcIL4r1lqjsJO2dDWsvudYiq5mtG-p5nlS1mEcomVfvOPSyYi86x-nop4t4RM8xM19x7iD4MLmkfxBzl4aVQyP8/s1600/stations+of+the+cross+candles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqbVRpVOT4oOq5YdBBeaeSjOpX_lg2BsB5JoMFHPVjywMmn2maFIJPcIL4r1lqjsJO2dDWsvudYiq5mtG-p5nlS1mEcomVfvOPSyYi86x-nop4t4RM8xM19x7iD4MLmkfxBzl4aVQyP8/s1600/stations+of+the+cross+candles.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2012/04/good-friday-stations-of-cross-at-home.html" target="_blank"><b>Stations of the Cross Candles</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/02/printable-stations-of-cross-cards.html" target="_blank"><b>Printable Stations of the Cross Cards</b></a> (these match the images on the candles)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiIHAKOL1BHOZjKcg-sqzOKfB2GteVcDco8px4rOCT8bmHuR3wvh0NhSjL71mZFcjvhFV4P2X6ZnSElHujIzVSw_oVKyCKi0wkhZIy7ZATzfSVIhgdImikljR1w99sywOVHnjKc7n88Q/s1600/sacrifice+crown+of+thorns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiIHAKOL1BHOZjKcg-sqzOKfB2GteVcDco8px4rOCT8bmHuR3wvh0NhSjL71mZFcjvhFV4P2X6ZnSElHujIzVSw_oVKyCKi0wkhZIy7ZATzfSVIhgdImikljR1w99sywOVHnjKc7n88Q/s1600/sacrifice+crown+of+thorns.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/02/printable-stations-of-cross-cards.html" target="_blank"><b>Sacrifice Crown of Thorns</b></a></div>
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Hope these ideas inspire you! What new traditions are you trying this Lent?<br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-33499640480471466642014-03-05T10:28:00.001-06:002014-03-05T10:28:58.581-06:00Don't forget to "bury the Alleluia!" When I was a catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atrium, one of the childrens' favorite activities before Lent was to "bury the Alleluia." <br />
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We gave the kids 8" x 4" slips of paper with the word "Alleluia" printed on them, along with a variety of water color pencils and metallic pencils -- items not often available in the atrium -- and they were encouraged to decorate the word and make it look beautiful.<br />
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After decorating, we placed all of the alleluias in a large jar, which we then sealed. If the weather was nice, we went outside and dug a hole, then literally buried the alleluias. If the ground was frozen, we would cover the jar with a purple cloth then place the cloth and jar in a special place in the church near the tabernacle. The buried Alleluias reappeared on Easter Sunday.<br />
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Although my kids have "aged out" of the of the CGS program at our local atrium, they still ask if we can "bury the Alleluia." So I came up with a way we could observe this practice at home. I painted some wooden letters and a box with gold paint. This is the result:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1vRPXDTowOjVandI8aEpjbDXarjoj6_v3DmA-fDoGoDDGj40qCc4WwkWWRkTE6skO5QRST70pLiEigY85FkdVqznQXAh24EwAKtrn4Ws48GVoqCjGIpjVovqy7NyjMBrK_uwKbFP6Ys/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1vRPXDTowOjVandI8aEpjbDXarjoj6_v3DmA-fDoGoDDGj40qCc4WwkWWRkTE6skO5QRST70pLiEigY85FkdVqznQXAh24EwAKtrn4Ws48GVoqCjGIpjVovqy7NyjMBrK_uwKbFP6Ys/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I display the letters on Mardi Gras and leave them out overnight. Then, on Ash Wednesday, we say "goodbye" to the Alleluia by singing a song or two with the word "Alleluia" in it while we carefully place the letters in our gold box. I usually wrap the letters in white tissue paper but I ran across some cheesecloth in my craft supply, so think I will use that instead (to represent Jesus' burial cloth).<br />
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We then put the gold box away in a dark closet. It will reappear on Easter Sunday on top of one of our cabinets...<br />
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Or near our tomb...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUTwMCUjOeKBlwHDbnl5ZZ04MOdBo02m2RRzkR9mytDtH4xyKHRoqwGJW6lldqsSe5iP0hH5MuP4snOraq1foAflrMi-vM9E4rn-jf_0bvn7hsu0WG-lyP0O2hW7HlUeChQ_vqs2okIs/s1600/tomb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUTwMCUjOeKBlwHDbnl5ZZ04MOdBo02m2RRzkR9mytDtH4xyKHRoqwGJW6lldqsSe5iP0hH5MuP4snOraq1foAflrMi-vM9E4rn-jf_0bvn7hsu0WG-lyP0O2hW7HlUeChQ_vqs2okIs/s1600/tomb.JPG" /></a></div>
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We then leave the Alleluia out for all of the Easter season.<br />
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Do you have a custom of "burying the Alleluia?" If so, please tell us about it in the comment box below!<br />
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-7518476240959166192014-03-03T10:15:00.000-06:002014-03-03T10:26:47.040-06:00Tomorrow is "Pancake Tuesday!" As I mentioned in a <a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/03/were-celebrating-pancake-tuesday.html" target="_blank">2011 post</a>, Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) is a big day around here. However, we've renamed it "Pancake Tuesday." It started when my kids were young. I was looking for an easy way to celebrate before we began the serious fasting of Lent. After reading about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday" target="_blank">Shrove Tuesday celebrations</a> in England and Ireland, then discovering that Russia (my daughter's birth country) celebrates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslenitsa" target="_blank">Maslenitsa</a>, I decided that we should have our own little pancake-themed celebration.<br />
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Even though my kids are now 11 and 14 years old, they really look forward to Pancake Tuesday. They are even asking if they can skip their activities tomorrow night so we can celebrate. <i>(Tuesday's swim team and basketball practices mean we won't be home until 9:45 p.m. -- a bit late for a celebration.) </i><br />
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In fact, it is one of the few times each year where we eat pancakes for supper. But not just run-of-the-mill pancakes. No, the kids are invited to create "pancake masterpieces" by decorating their hotcakes with a variety of toppings such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, whipped cream, Nutella, chocolate chips, peanut butter, even colored sugars. I usually scour the refrigerator, freezer and kitchen cupboards to find our "embellishments." As I've shared with the kids, I'm following the "Fat Tuesday" custom of using up food items that we will not be able to eat during Lent. I display all these delectable items on the table. Here's a photo of our table last year:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAxawMlI4wEpDei4ULQ-r7kCZEJ594k-w7Mbd3nZpJJMsp_HqFtSFlkWhXpSqRRUSopwOt2h5mPIBWLPUnDN5CKUhiH8_BMeqwTm-Nv0MHnh2clWiuz7GHJvHO206uX83Q1_srdQcIw0/s1600/camera+feb+20+2013+bb+games+blog+stuff+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAxawMlI4wEpDei4ULQ-r7kCZEJ594k-w7Mbd3nZpJJMsp_HqFtSFlkWhXpSqRRUSopwOt2h5mPIBWLPUnDN5CKUhiH8_BMeqwTm-Nv0MHnh2clWiuz7GHJvHO206uX83Q1_srdQcIw0/s1600/camera+feb+20+2013+bb+games+blog+stuff+068.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Our table included strawberries, marshmallows, peppermint candy pieces, nuts, applesauce, sprinkles, Nutella, cherries, a couple of different types of syrups, honey, peanut butter and two whipped creams.)</td></tr>
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After dinner prayers, the kids are invited to decorate their pancakes. Here are last year's creations. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4RQtnMcUYdcpXfPHeyZuPvtovZtmHU9nJV_6wgveyrKLBCYhfXRfyzN8lnSU2EfL6NriP2bazzZPcGArnW7kFFRbZy-eaqXntLXkDHYCgxUVvqlOzreRMmidsfgoeR9uu3A04U4D_5w/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4RQtnMcUYdcpXfPHeyZuPvtovZtmHU9nJV_6wgveyrKLBCYhfXRfyzN8lnSU2EfL6NriP2bazzZPcGArnW7kFFRbZy-eaqXntLXkDHYCgxUVvqlOzreRMmidsfgoeR9uu3A04U4D_5w/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
We had a chocolate/cherry and raspberry theme going last year. In other years, our creations have included "banana split pancakes" (with pineapples, bananas, cherries and chocolate), mint pancakes (with chocolate syrup and mint chips), tutti fruitti pancakes (fruits galore), and many other creations. It's fun to see the kids' imaginations at work! <br />
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After the decorating is finished, everyone casts their vote for the
creation that looks the most delicious. The winner's name is added to
our "World's Best Pancake Chef" plaque:
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<i>(I need an updated photo of our plaque, since we've been doing this for years and this photo only shows one winner!) </i><br />
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The plaque proudly hangs in our kitchen. It's not only a conversation piece for visiting guests, but reminds us throughout the year of the fun we have on Pancake Tuesday!<br />
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How do you celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday? Please share in the comments box below! Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-64100023915428163912014-02-26T09:59:00.002-06:002014-02-26T10:00:34.367-06:00Giving up--or adding something--to LentHard to believe that Lent starts one week from today! I'm still diligently making my <a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2014/02/preparing-for-lent-making-felt-jesus.html" target="_blank">Jesus Tree felt pieces</a>; will I finish in time?<br />
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Have you been thinking about what you will give up for Lent? Or some people suggest adding something--like praying the Rosary every day or keeping a prayer journal. <br />
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I'm hoping to add two things to my Lenten schedule:<br />
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1) <i>Attend noon Mass every Tuesday at a nearby church. </i>My kids' school drop-off schedules mean that I can never make morning Mass at our parish. I was thrilled to learn recently that another parish in our area offers a noon Mass every Tuesday. I plan to be there! <br />
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2) <i>Spend an hour in the adoration chapel at our parish each week.</i> I was a regular adorer two years ago. But school and activity schedules changed and I haven't been able to carve out a regular time to visit the chapel. I've picked out a day and time and am going to schedule the time in my <a href="http://www.cozi.com/live-simply?redir=home" target="_blank">Cozi calendar</a>. I'm less likely to skip or forget that time if I "carve it in stone" in my online planner/calendar.<br />
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I'm hoping to give up one thing during Lent:<br />
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1) <i>TV at night.</i> After everyone has gone to bed, I relax by watching TV. We don't have cable, so I'm limited to about 10 broadcast channels. Unfortunately, the programming isn't very good and most of the programs promote values that make me uncomfortable. If I'm truthful with myself, I'm using TV as a passive way to relax at night. But there are much better ways! So I've filled a basket with good reading material--spiritual stuff, classic novels, stuff that intrigues me and says "read me!" I'll place the basket near the chair where I relax at night. Instead of switching on the remote, I'll be picking up a book and filling my mind with good stuff! <br />
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That's it. Three things I'll be changing during Lent. Only three, because I really need to keep my life simple these days!<br />
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How about you? What are you going to give up or add? If you need some inspiration, check out Catholic All Year's <a href="http://www.catholicallyear.com/2014/02/outside-box-66-things-to-give-up-or.html" target="_blank">Outside the Box: 66 Things to Give Up or Take Up for Lent </a>or Held By His Pierced Hand's <a href="http://www.piercedhands.com/100-things-to-do-for-lent/" target="_blank">100 Things to Do for Lent.</a> Then share your "giving up" or "adding" ideas to the comment box below!<br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-54591146177047555182014-02-23T14:37:00.002-06:002014-02-23T14:40:31.874-06:00Preparing for Lent: Making a felt Jesus TreeAfter debating it for several years, then purchasing (and storing!) the kit for a year, I've finally decided to create a felt "Jesus Tree" for my family to use during Lent. We have two small wooden ones (you can read about them<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-lenten-jesus-tree-new-tradition.html" target="_blank"> here</a>) which I've hung on the kids' bedroom doors, but I thought it might be nice to do something different this year.<br />
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If you aren't familiar with the "Jesus Tree," it's a Lenten version of the "Jesse Tree" used during Advent. But the Jesus Tree Biblical readings focus on Jesus' life, ministry, death and resurrection while on earth. Like the Jesse Tree, there is a daily reading. After the reading, children can put a related symbol on their Jesus Tree.<br />
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I'm using this kit from Scripture Trees:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2rt27WeHITxThE3Uq-6VIgke4OSSpL45rgAyBQfxYgSUYlp5vPOlvgBLXCoBzSn506HCPCjHd9HARllLQzPh5V7RHmV-fq6c5RN0aBPb3RLmmelKAahjNErg6D6aam_i6EjTR35pGnY/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2rt27WeHITxThE3Uq-6VIgke4OSSpL45rgAyBQfxYgSUYlp5vPOlvgBLXCoBzSn506HCPCjHd9HARllLQzPh5V7RHmV-fq6c5RN0aBPb3RLmmelKAahjNErg6D6aam_i6EjTR35pGnY/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Upon opening the package, I realized this is a bit of daunting task to tackle just 10 days before Ash Wednesday! They are many, many small pieces to cut out and glue together. So I'll just do my best to finish as many pieces as I can before Lent begins. <br />
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To make it less overwhelming, I decided to prepare one sheet of patterns (usually about 6 days) at a time. With this kit, you pin or tape the paper patterns to various colors of felt, then cut them out and glue some of the pieces together. I cut out the first sheet of patterns today. Here are a few photos of the work in progress:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIsZFVaQESexEAzK5ZKAdYZk1lR2CYt5hcmgkI13qoRJEG_ArBllg8yHLIpNUCO-3ap1ZFtJ_MtvOdEsZf2nRLL_bRd1iA6MWg3hCdVyqeeDhIUx4oqYKWFvuHcTK3Q41UcW0b26Qbk/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIsZFVaQESexEAzK5ZKAdYZk1lR2CYt5hcmgkI13qoRJEG_ArBllg8yHLIpNUCO-3ap1ZFtJ_MtvOdEsZf2nRLL_bRd1iA6MWg3hCdVyqeeDhIUx4oqYKWFvuHcTK3Q41UcW0b26Qbk/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a photo of several cut pieces, waiting to be glued together. Some pieces have parts or details that need to be glued onto the main piece. For example, the mountains pictured below are cut out of green felt, then white felt snow caps are glued on top of the green felt.<br />
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And a few quick photos of a completed "dove" ornament for the Jesus Tree:<br />
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I'll try to post updates on my progress as we near Lent.<br />
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If you would like to try using a Jesus Tree during Lent this year, there are a few options for creating one. I purchased the Scripture Trees kit from <a href="http://www.leafletonline.com/Jesus-Lent-Tree-Kit/productinfo/11938/#.UwpYvYUiopc" target="_blank">Leaflet Missal.</a> Unfortunately, it looks like it is out of stock. However, <a href="http://artmama.blogspot.com/2011/03/jesus-tree-easter-bibleunit-study.html" target="_blank">The Art of Being Mama</a> has some paper patterns that you could color (or have your children color), then cut them out and use them on a paper or felt banner. Or, if you are artistic, you could try designing your own ornaments. For inspiration, check out the photos and detailed descriptions at the <a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2011/02/preparing-for-lent-our-lenten-journey.html" target="_blank">Shower of Roses </a>blog (scroll down the page to the Jesus Tree paragraph, which has week-by-week links of her Jesus Tree.) There are also some photos at <a href="http://starrymantle.blogspot.com/2009/02/jesus-tree-for-lent.html" target="_blank">Under Her Starry Mantel. </a>There's a list of readings (and symbol ideas) at <a href="http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2100.html" target="_blank">EasyFunSchool</a>, too.<br />
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Have you created and used a Jesus Tree for Lent? How well did it work? Please share your ideas and thoughts in the comments section below! Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-53352173754234819272014-01-19T11:37:00.002-06:002014-01-19T11:37:56.987-06:00Revisiting Advent: Marian inspired Christmas tree<br />Back in early December, I promised to share photos of the Marian inspired tree I was creating for Advent and Christmas this year. But life happened, the kids kept me very busy, and the photos have been sitting in a draft folder waiting for me to do something with them. So this post is <i>very overdue, </i>but thought they might inspire others who like to plan months in advance for next Christmas! ;-)<br />
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I discovered this beautiful glass ornament in a Christmas display at a garden store (of all places!) in early December: <br />
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Suddenly, I began picturing a Christmas tree draped in midnight blue, gold, and silver and embellished with ornaments depicting the Blessed Mother. But how could I create it? </div>
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I clipped photos of Mary from old Christmas cards, in addition to printing images of her from the Internet, then Mod Podged them to wooden ovals and rectangles. Before decoupaging the wooden pieces, I painted them a deep midnight blue, then sprinkled them with gold and silver glitter. </div>
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I wrapped the tree in midnight blue and gold pieces of wide tulle ribbon. <br />
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I topped the tree with two large blue bows with "tails" that draped down from the top of the tree. <br />
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I added my glass Mary ornament, in addition to the wooden ornaments I had created, scattering them throughout the tree. Then I added blue poinsettias to fill in the spaces. <br />
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Finally, I sewed a new tree skirt for the tree. I purchased an uncut, discontinued Daisy Kingdom tree skirt panel on eBay. It took only 30 minutes to cut out the panels, sew them together, then give them a border of gold seam binding. This tree skirt is so pretty! Gold images of the Nativity are printed on a midnight blue background. <br />
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Here are a few photos of the finished tree:<br />
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The tree lit up during the day: <br />
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The tree lit up at night: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLzPJl_CA6JL4wtMIVKWI1LtNviJaO6TtXztrb3CesEeX9M6WIWlx_dWAEQS5p3CKW7yngkBBiAVkFXT7W9mpPfE9swd62bATN2ngVwjRXJb4mv_UmXtmM-U2IOOJyFqmzI0W0se4mug/s1600/masha+in+front+of+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLzPJl_CA6JL4wtMIVKWI1LtNviJaO6TtXztrb3CesEeX9M6WIWlx_dWAEQS5p3CKW7yngkBBiAVkFXT7W9mpPfE9swd62bATN2ngVwjRXJb4mv_UmXtmM-U2IOOJyFqmzI0W0se4mug/s1600/masha+in+front+of+tree.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(My daughter and her puppy Addie with the tree.) </i></td></tr>
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This was a nice change from our usual Christmas tree, which is traditionally decorated with a mix of homemade ornaments and heirloom pieces inherited from my mom. Best of all, gazing at the ornaments encouraged me to think more deeply about Mary's <i>fiat </i>throughout Advent and the Christmas season. <br />
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Monday was a busy day (as usual) around here; we usually aren't home until 8 p.m. because of swim team practice. Although I just served leftovers for dinner, I wanted to do something special for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. So I made this white blueberry cake in my Ninja cooker! It was the first time I attempted to bake in the Ninja. The cake turned out delicious -- so moist! I used Betty Crocker's wild blueberry muffin mix, but steam cooking it in the Ninja gave it more of a moist cake texture. Then I drizzled a bit of white icing on the top. It was a hit with my husband and kids. They are asking me to make more cakes in the Ninja!<br />
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-62668579977816072772013-12-11T10:27:00.000-06:002013-12-11T10:27:15.642-06:00St Nicholas Day BreakfastWanted to quickly share some photos from our surprise breakfast on the feast of St. Nicholas (December 6). The kids woke up to shoes filled with an orange, candy cane, Christmas-themed book, and chocolate coins. But what really made them jump up from bed was the smell of cinnamon caramel rolls baking in the oven! <br />
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I set the table with a red cloth and red charger plates, then added our white everyday plates. Breakfast consisted of fresh caramel rolls, fresh chocolate chip muffins, watermelon chunks, clementines, milk, juice or coffee.<br />
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Also pictured is the "St. Nicholas workshop" puzzle that St. Nicholas left for the kids. It's a secular puzzle, but thought the kids would enjoy tackling it during the holiday season. <br />
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-88362438211854680052013-12-10T13:18:00.001-06:002013-12-10T13:28:53.753-06:00What We're Doing This Advent (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>"Advent's here...Advent's here...light one candle, Advent's here!" </i></b></span></div>
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My 11-year-old daughter is singing this cheerful little tune she learned in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium when she was six years old. Yikes! Even though Advent started later this year, I am still behind with my plans. Are you? Between the usual soccer, swimming, basketball and ballet sessions, we're researching and visiting high schools for my son, and helping him prepare for his confirmation in January. I wonder -- how can I squeeze in any other activities?<br />
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Because there is so much going on, I've vowed to keep it simple this year. Here are the things we will be doing:<br />
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<b>Advent Spiral</b> - for the first year in many, I've opted not to use our Advent Wreath. However, we will be counting down the days to Christmas with our Advent spiral,<a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2010/12/beautiful-tradition-advent-spiral.html" target="_blank"> a tradition we started in 2010. </a><br />
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<b>Decorations </b>- I usually like to add touches of pink and purple around the house to remind the kids that it is Advent. Instead, I'm borrowing my parish's tradition of keeping the decor to a sparse minimum until a few days before Christmas, when we will "deck the halls" with red and green, and our "Marian" inspired Christmas tree (more on that in a little bit.)<br />
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<b>Feast Day celebrations during Advent</b> - I usually like to "go all out" when celebrating Advent saint days like St. Nicholas Day and St. Lucia's Day and feast days like the Immaculate Conception. But my plate feels so full, that I will be keeping it simple this year! Perhaps some special breakfast treats before everyone heads off to school (or work), or maybe a special dessert at night. I'll post some photos later about these celebrations.<br />
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<b>Jesse Tree Celebrations </b>- We have a little tree that we usually use to display the wooden Jesse Tree ornaments I made a few years ago. But this year, I participated in Michelle's<i> <a href="http://liturgicaltime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">(Liturgical Time: Walking the Seasons</a>)</i> Jesse Tree ornament exchange. We're excited to give these creative ornaments a place on our Christmas tree this year! We're slowly reading the various Biblical passages that match each ornament, and then adding the corresponding ornament to our tree. I may attempt to do another <a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2012/12/follow-up-our-jesse-tree-inspired-dinner.html" target="_blank">Jesse tree inspired meal </a> like I did last year a couple of days before Christmas, when the kids are off school. It's a bit of work but hey, we gotta' eat, right?<br />
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<b>O Antiphons</b> - We will again be celebrating the O Antiphons from December 17 to December 23. We will use the <a href="http://diary-of-a-sower.blogspot.com/2011/12/simple-o-antiphons-project.html" target="_blank">O Antiphons magnetic board</a> I created in 2011, and enjoy a special little treat or surprise each night at dinner. <br />
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<b>A Marian-inspired Christmas tree</b> - Our Christmas tree is usually filled with a loveable mish-mash of ornaments collected throughout the years. Nothing designer here, but rather 'lots of memories of our favorite things and people. However, this year I wanted to do something a bit different. Believe it or not, a bottle of Ameritech's "Midnight Blue" acrylic paint inspired me to create a "Midnight Blue" tree in honor of Our Blessed Mother. I purchased the paint to use on the Jesse tree ornaments I made for Michelle's swap. Fell in love with the deep, rich color! Decided to use the leftover paint and wooden plaques, plus some beautiful reprints of Mary and Jesus, to create ornaments for our tree. They are almost done, and I can't wait to share them with you! (Hopefully my camera will cooperate and take some nice photos!)<br />
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<b>Reading</b> - Although I'm not homeschooling this year, reading is still an important part of our lives. So we'll be reading our favorite Advent picture books each evening. Hopefully I can share some of them with you. For my own spiritual enrichment, I'm reading <i>The Nativity Story: Contemplating Mary's Journey of Faith</i> by Rose Pacatte, FSP. I hope to share some tidbits of inspiration from the book on this blog.<br />
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<b>Keeping the Faith </b>- Can't forget the most important ways that we can prepare for Christmas! Of course, there's Sunday Mass, which is especially meaningful to me during Advent. Our area is blessed with some beautiful old churches, so we try to
attend at least one Mass during the holiday season at one of those fine old churches. We'll also go to Confession as a family. I'll spend some extra time in our parish's Adoration Chapel. I also hope to participate in the Advent Vespers that our church holds each Friday and perhaps attend a Latin Mass on Christmas Eve. <br />
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<b>Crafts and Projects </b>- Two years ago, I purchased a bunch of Christmas fabric at a deep discount after the holidays. I'm finally getting a chance to turn that fabric into gift bags! It's been one of my goals (for years!) to eliminate some of the paper waste by slowly transitioning to fabric gift bags. We'll see how it goes! In the meantime, my sewing machine is again humming, after many years of sitting idle in a cabinet!<br />
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I'll also be sewing some pajamas that I cut out last year and never made! Gee, I hope they still fit the kids! <br />
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I'm also making the Marian ornaments for our Christmas tree, plus a few small gifts for the stockings.<br />
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Those are my paired-down plans for this year. Realistically, they will undoubtedly change as we progress through the month! (Nothing is ever set in stone around here with two busy kids!) But at least it's a framework that will ensure that we enjoy some of our favorite Advent activities. <br />
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Happy Advent to all of you! What are you doing to prepare?<br />
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-23072075072544909972013-12-01T09:58:00.000-06:002013-12-01T09:58:14.402-06:00An updateHi everyone,<br />
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Sorry I've been a bit quiet! Haven't had much time for blogging since May, especially since my husband was out of town on a field assignment all summer and part of the fall. (I have so much respect for single parents after having to play that role for 10 months!)<br />
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I plan to post soon about our Advent plans, a cool Marian inspired Christmas tree I'm working on, and a few other stuff! "Talk" to you soon...!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
CherylCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-46712564940446544282013-05-22T09:15:00.006-05:002013-05-22T09:15:55.648-05:00Pentecost SupperIt was another hectic weekend but I managed to pull together a special meal on Sunday to celebrate Pentecost. I incorporated the colors of red, yellow, orange and the symbols of flames/tongues of fire and wind into the meal. Then we played a little dinner time game, with the kids guessing why I used these elements in the meal.<br />
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Thought I'd share some photos.<br />
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Red, yellow and orange sweet peppers cut into flame shapes and served with hummus.<br />
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Pinwheels made with Sara Lee puff pastry. I used these with the catalina chicken I whipped up in the crockpot earlier in the week. <br />
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<i>(Have you ever made Catalina chicken? It is so easy and delicious! Simply put chicken breast in a crockpot, top with Catalina salad dressing to cover chicken, then let simmer throughout the day until done.) </i><br />
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The finished chicken has a reddish/orangish tinge to it; perfect to match our theme colors! I served the chicken on top of the pinwheels like this:<br />
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For dessert, a tart with strawberry and peach flames. Another easy peasy recipe with Sara Lee puff pastry (baked at the same time as the pinwheels!), instant vanilla pudding and sliced peaches and strawberries. Here it is:<br />
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This was definitely one of my easiest celebration meals and I think we will make it a Pentecost tradition.<br />
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<i>Did you do anything special for Pentecost? Please share in the combox.</i><br />
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-81595397023774009242013-04-22T08:46:00.000-05:002013-04-22T09:07:47.278-05:00Good Shepherd SundayI planned to have a special meal yesterday for Good Shepherd Sunday but last Thursday's flooding in our area threw off my schedule. Between cleaning up our basement and dealing with a shoulder injury I didn't have the time or energy to make the shepherd pie and other special treats I planned to make. However I finished decorating the lamb cake, which we enjoyed last night. Here it is:<br /><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/22/654.jpg"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/22/s_654.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a><br />I also set up a Good Shepherd display on our sideboard:<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/22/787.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/22/s_787.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/04/22/788.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/04/22/s_788.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I will be giving the CGS Good Shepherd presentation to my daughter this week. Or perhaps she will be giving it to me? She has heard it many times and practically knows it by heart. It is a presentation that touches my soul in a new way each time I share it.<br />We will also be reading Gennady Spirin's book "The Lord is my Shepherd". I found it in the bargain bin of a discount store last summer and can't wait to ponder the beautiful artwork while we ponder the Twenty Third Psalm.<br /><br />Hopefully we will still enjoy shepherd pie later in the week.<br />Did you do anything special to celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday? Please share in the combox.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-58807625482069361312013-04-07T18:30:00.000-05:002013-04-10T08:57:17.049-05:00Divine Mercy Sunday BrunchI thought it would be fun to do something new to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday: a "red and blue" brunch:<br />
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We had:<br />
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1) Baked French Toast with red "rays" made of strawberries and blue "rays" made of blueberries:<br />
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2) Skewers of red strawberries and blueberries<br />
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3) White grape juice tinted red with grenadine:<br />
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During the meal, I talked with the kids about St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy promise. You can find out more about it <a href="http://www.thedivinemercy.org/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Later on today we will be attending reconciliation and praying the Divine Mercy chaplet at a nearby parish. I'm hoping this little celebration will eliminate a bit of the anxiety that comes with going to confession while helping the kids better understand God's infinite mercy. Who knows, maybe it will become a looked-toward tradition in our home!<br />
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<i>Looking for some good reading? Check out these link-ups? </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check it out <a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2013/homemaking-link-up-118/" target="_blank">here</a>! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcuYHKz1UXlN29a8pbmS8G6lBCV6LxIleVXyOitplrIXIKY0eyZUmgtjORYYmowzYstSbXQCL7PqjIgGV2PbevWwAgO0q9KKsQphkhw21UHBXng-VygeKWrW7BorIG5HC-cbLlv4Vi1g/s1600/Sunday+Snippets+a+Catholic+Carnival.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcuYHKz1UXlN29a8pbmS8G6lBCV6LxIleVXyOitplrIXIKY0eyZUmgtjORYYmowzYstSbXQCL7PqjIgGV2PbevWwAgO0q9KKsQphkhw21UHBXng-VygeKWrW7BorIG5HC-cbLlv4Vi1g/s1600/Sunday+Snippets+a+Catholic+Carnival.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2013/04/sunday-snippets-catholic-carnival.html" target="_blank">Sunday Snippets: A Catholic Carnival</a></td></tr>
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-89892543046885046272013-04-07T13:41:00.000-05:002013-04-07T13:41:55.054-05:00A few photos of our EastertideWanted to post a few photos of the Easter decorations around our house:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGYRbra5eAhwhGkmtHBWQpmb58absWwscyr0VYr3ZQQsXMRg0Aht28UhsswN5LkNLAAQCOyKbU8VVBN_xuRBPjpo1MA4wvmZ3IMWqPSieMeZPsmwZhdrCcPJFdK2Bb9kOrNQ0kf-m7bw/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGYRbra5eAhwhGkmtHBWQpmb58absWwscyr0VYr3ZQQsXMRg0Aht28UhsswN5LkNLAAQCOyKbU8VVBN_xuRBPjpo1MA4wvmZ3IMWqPSieMeZPsmwZhdrCcPJFdK2Bb9kOrNQ0kf-m7bw/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our gold "Alleluia" letters, embellished with dogwood blossoms.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhBnkdy9PdCP8AyB5uLnBBgk_I9f62iJreCOGonXWj7NqH7WwBaZ-92l1laXF_BMiys2UnK601vO7LqgzK1K0c_Du3pn1tXvD0ArpjatRnAASMKbXtUlx6UMDtqTYF8UcNfz0m3NiXUs/s1600/IMG_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhBnkdy9PdCP8AyB5uLnBBgk_I9f62iJreCOGonXWj7NqH7WwBaZ-92l1laXF_BMiys2UnK601vO7LqgzK1K0c_Du3pn1tXvD0ArpjatRnAASMKbXtUlx6UMDtqTYF8UcNfz0m3NiXUs/s320/IMG_0747.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My bi-fold "Saints Day" frame, with Easter themed pictures (I used drawings from Catholic Artworks).</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPTthfqocNYazhSukSRYhWaVemRyRk6WWMqvTQ2KiPW2Y57_gs0cXlr-_L30uiuLn2U5tp1WPB-XpaUQLlb-Rcj3ZMWGy5finZi3S7MbvfXioezyx6XqJeuEdvnuF-jEw9ZJcBbCMQiQ/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPTthfqocNYazhSukSRYhWaVemRyRk6WWMqvTQ2KiPW2Y57_gs0cXlr-_L30uiuLn2U5tp1WPB-XpaUQLlb-Rcj3ZMWGy5finZi3S7MbvfXioezyx6XqJeuEdvnuF-jEw9ZJcBbCMQiQ/s320/IMG_0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our Easter candle, encircled with a grapevine wreath embellished with dogwood blossoms and a butterfly</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPL3N2BFc22kz2XLCD9rq5vLx1rL4Pe0MxoXxC9z81TTYmEsSZb3a9f1Hn4LXLrTvgqfkWhCCiD1vhvmn9ImfufEG2WvMz0TkJlKCfCrj3QfAAPkvcD5EHCb_JcYogxrRxV7ufzWsc5o/s1600/IMG_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPL3N2BFc22kz2XLCD9rq5vLx1rL4Pe0MxoXxC9z81TTYmEsSZb3a9f1Hn4LXLrTvgqfkWhCCiD1vhvmn9ImfufEG2WvMz0TkJlKCfCrj3QfAAPkvcD5EHCb_JcYogxrRxV7ufzWsc5o/s320/IMG_0752.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our tomb, embellished with butterfly, birds and a bit of greenery</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDpsw4SMG06BQAaWjnR_mfDXt8dfcPnsLewOYh2xNPsnjYcprTRj8TivRLAqGJztzaxi7hoU_vNg_RyfKpSW9zOjf-aaiQ2UWcEjkNsSx5G7J5eLsCYFMVWEKZWFrkTBCGMUN2oVL1Pk/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDpsw4SMG06BQAaWjnR_mfDXt8dfcPnsLewOYh2xNPsnjYcprTRj8TivRLAqGJztzaxi7hoU_vNg_RyfKpSW9zOjf-aaiQ2UWcEjkNsSx5G7J5eLsCYFMVWEKZWFrkTBCGMUN2oVL1Pk/s320/IMG_0753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBXi-0CRs5irEfCHQt8iwCxndkHCiAF9ezlEDPyIH8IXQaCqjlL2a4-RaSc6DOmBou706K7H8TCLOfqU-wRpay5LhikZi5LuYs0AC-QR38Y345feuVmQKPdeGJxpqnw3HB5sffa_3mhM/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBXi-0CRs5irEfCHQt8iwCxndkHCiAF9ezlEDPyIH8IXQaCqjlL2a4-RaSc6DOmBou706K7H8TCLOfqU-wRpay5LhikZi5LuYs0AC-QR38Y345feuVmQKPdeGJxpqnw3HB5sffa_3mhM/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He is risen!</i></td></tr>
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Do you see a "dogwood blossom" theme? The kids received this book in the family Easter basket this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXiq4W-itxltVTdOOHocu5FLqGy511-GU-jnHnBRrsrtIwm1D3nDeNiWslMAAUCIubIXW335wcg10QdCO6nVcu4QqNAD2yPX6LhClk42CwEkAfilBdnECPsrZhy0RGSHyTBAaObZTwoU/s1600/the-legend-of-the-dogwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXiq4W-itxltVTdOOHocu5FLqGy511-GU-jnHnBRrsrtIwm1D3nDeNiWslMAAUCIubIXW335wcg10QdCO6nVcu4QqNAD2yPX6LhClk42CwEkAfilBdnECPsrZhy0RGSHyTBAaObZTwoU/s320/the-legend-of-the-dogwood.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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I explains the "legend" of the dogwood blossom. I'm not sure if it is true, but it is a beautiful story! I decided it would be fun to decorate the house with dogwood blossom garlands to carry out the theme throughout Eastertide. We may do some crafts based on the dogwood blossom legend too; there are some easy ones at <a href="http://catholicicing.com/dogwood-flower-craft-to-go-with-the-legend-of-the-dogwood/" target="_blank">Catholic Icing</a>, <a href="http://www.catholicinspired.com/2012/04/the-legend-of-dogwood-tree-crafts-and.html" target="_blank">Catholic Inspired</a> and at<a href="http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/2013/03/craft-for-kids-legend-of-dogwood.html" target="_blank"> JDaniel4's Mom</a>. <br />
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<i>Wishing you a beautiful Eastertide!</i><br />
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-81309007618314720962013-03-22T06:33:00.000-05:002013-03-22T06:33:00.585-05:00Organizing my "liturgical" baking suppliesAs part of my Lenten cleaning and purging, I decided to go through my
cookie cutters, cookie stamps, jello molds, candy molds, cake decorating
items and other tools I inherited from my mom. I was blessed to receive so many wonderful items, including candy molds shaped like little Bibles, cookie cutters shaped like churches and Nativity figures, and many other items that could give normal food a liturgical touch.<br />
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I live in a small house with limited cupboard space in the kitchen, so I've been storing these treasures in two large Rubbermaid bins in the basement. It really wasn't the best solution because the items were disorganized and jumbled together. The mess discouraged me from using them. I didn't want the hassle of digging around in the box until I found the chalice cookie cutter, the lamb shaped candy mold or whatever other item I needed.<br />
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So I spent a Saturday going through the boxes. I sorted them first into two broad categories: "secular" and "liturgical" items. I divided the secular pile into seasons and holidays, depending on how many items I had. I kept the "liturgical items" together. <br />
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For example, my "fall" pile has items that I probably wouldn't use for most liturgical holidays, like an acorn shaped cookie cutter or a leaf shaped muffin molds. My "liturgical" pile has cross shaped cookie cutters, my lamb butter mold and other items I might use for holidays like Easter, a Jesse advent tea, etc.<br />
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I purchased some smaller stackable boxes which would fit on top of my refrigerator, and created labels for each box. I listed the items in each box so I can quickly access what I need without digging through different boxes. <br />
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So far, the system has worked well. I find that I'm using the various tools more often because I can quickly locate them.<br />
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<i>Have you figured out a way to organize your cookie cutters and similar tools? I'd love to hear about it; please share in the combox.</i><br />
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-18100351631650422372013-03-21T09:25:00.000-05:002013-03-21T09:25:18.733-05:00Dinner to celebrate our new popeAfter watching Pope Francis' Inauguration Mass on EWTN, I thought it would be fun to celebrate this special day with a themed dinner. <br />
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I decided to go with a gold, red, yellow and white theme to represent the colors of the papal flag. So my daughter set the table with our gold tablecloth accented with white and red napkin "runners". She also used red napkins and a picture of Pope Francis.<br />
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For dinner, I served Argentinian gaucho steak sandwiches with chimichurri sauce. I used thin flank steak, so the meat grilled quickly on my panini press. They were delicious; even my picky eater teen son liked them! You can find the recipe <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/the-surreal-gourmet/steak-gaucho-style-with-argentinian-chimichurri-sauce-recipe/index.html?ic1=obinsite" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I also served two "red, yellow and gold" salads: a fruit one made with strawberries, peaches and crushed pineapple; and a veggie salad made with red and yellow grape tomatoes. <br />
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For dessert, I served vanilla ice cream with strawberry and butterscotch toppings.<br />
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It was a fun little meal to commemorate this special day!<br />
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-84459610458432094402013-03-13T13:55:00.001-05:002013-03-13T13:55:47.246-05:00Habemus Papam!MJ and I couldn't believe it when we looked at the computer screen (live feed) and saw this:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hS4e5L-EEw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Habemus Papam! We have a pope!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-28589058306414989922013-03-13T08:44:00.000-05:002013-03-13T08:44:06.261-05:00Waiting and Praying...<br />
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<b>We are watching this:</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TmFDWK8tMYo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>And we are praying this:</b><i></i></div>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1363181883613_2059" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Come Holy Spirit, fill the
hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send
forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the
face of the earth.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1363181883613_2061" style="text-align: center;">
<i>O, God, who by the light of the
Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the
same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations,
through Christ Our Lord,</i></div>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1363181883613_2062" style="text-align: center;">
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1363181883613_2063" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Amen.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-19187749575263889792013-03-07T10:06:00.000-06:002013-03-07T10:06:10.712-06:00Saints Day frameWanted to share an easy way to add a liturgical touch to your home decorating. <br />
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I quickly put this framed artwork together for St. David's Day, but we will be using it in the future to highlight other saint days and liturgical holidays.<br />
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Basically, I purchased a plain white hinged frame. Mine holds 3.5" x 5.5" photos, but you could purchase any size that meets your needs. Mine was just a few dollars purchased from Michael's with a coupon.<br />
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I may eventually decorate the frame with paint pens or saint symbols, but for right now I'm keeping it simply white. <br />
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When a saint's feast day rolls around, I insert a printed image of the saint in frame on the right side. If I don't have a print, I'll search the internet for appropriate images. <br />
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On the left side of the frame, I'll write a short message like "Today's saint is..." I use a dry erase marker to write directly on the clear glass; it can be easily wiped off with a damp paper towel whenever I want to change the message.<br />
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Here are some of the Lent printables I'll be using in the frame in the next month. Most of these are images from a Catholic Artworks CD that I purchased, but you could use holy card or other images, too.<br />
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I'll be using this for St. Patrick's Day in a couple of weeks; I think I will print
part of the "breastplate" prayer on the left side, or perhaps something
about how St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach about the Trinity.<br />
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I will also add special images throughout Holy Week, especially for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and of course, Easter! <br />
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<i><b>Do you have any simple items you use to give your home a "liturgical" touch? If so, what are they? Please share in the combox! </b></i>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232423092036353042.post-33585780410185715332013-03-05T14:45:00.000-06:002013-03-05T14:45:01.407-06:00What are you reading this Lent? Just curious--what books is everyone reading right now to help them on their Lenten spiritual journey?<br />
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I'm absorbing this book: <br />
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Father Longenecker writes on of my favorite faith blogs, <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/" target="_blank">Standing on My Head</a>. So I decided to purchase his book<i> <a href="http://dwightlongenecker.com/shop/the-gargoyle-code/" target="_blank">The Gargoyle Code</a></i> and download it into my Kindle to read while I'm waiting at sports practices and dance classes. It is subtitled "Lenten Letters between a Master Tempter and his diabolical Trainee." <br />
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Needless to say, it isn't your typical Lenten meditation book. It reminds me a bit of C.S. Lewis' <i>Screwtape Letters</i>. Both books are based on a series of letters between a young tempter and his senior mentor. <br />
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Although the book is a satire, it makes one ponder about the many subtle influences of evil in our world today. It also proves that it is possible to laugh and cry at the same time. (Yes, I've shed a couple of tears over the sad state of our world and how easily the devil can tempt us away from our loving Father.)<br />
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So, if you have finished your heavier Lenten reading and want something that will make you think while you laugh, check out <i>The Gargoyle Code.</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What are you reading this Lent? Please share in the combox! </b></span></i></div>
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13879501981487394073noreply@blogger.com0