More to be Thankful For

More of my continuing list of things to be especially thankful for....


1.  the absence of flies....  which hasn't actually happened yet, but I'm sure looking forward to it...  (my country sisters share my pain I'm sure).


2.  warm, fuzzy socks on a cold autumn night


3.  God's tender mercies that we receive every single day


4.  homemade spicy Asian peanut sauce.....  YUM!


5.  the sound of the wind through the trees on a warm spring day


6.  waterfalls...    I find them breathtaking no matter the size or scale and someday I'm going to have one in my house (I'm not kidding).  


7.  digital cameras, so when my younger children take 27 photos of each other's feet and nostrils, I can simply hit delete instead of having to pay to develop the whole role for the one precious picture on it...   like with my older children  (you all still owe me).


8.  breastfeeding my babies... I've spent a total of 15 years of my life lactating to date (no, that is not a typo) and for me it has been one of the greatest privileges and blessings of motherhood.


9  musicals...   because I like idea of people just bursting into song at random moments.  I think musicals should be taken off stage and into real life...  wouldn't that be something?


10.  homemade soap...  love love LOVE it... love making it, smelling it, using it.   The 130 bars I had in my basement are almost gone and I think I'm gonna have to make some more soon. (yeah!)

Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

I love cranberries, but I'm not a big fan of the canned, jellied cranberry sauces.  They're ok.  They have their place (I guess).  And I know some of you really really like it.  But you have to try  fresh cranberry orange relish!  Only half my family will touch a cranberry sauce/relish of any kind...  and this is what they prefer.  It's super easy to make, good for you, and yummy!  Cranberries have anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties...   you can't say that for much of the food on our Thanksgiving tables, so eat up!

You'll need 1 lb of fresh or frozen whole cranberries, sugar, canned mandarin oranges (or fresh orange sections if you prefer), and a bit of cinnamon.

Use a blender or food processor to chop the cranberries.  You don't want a fine puree.  If a few berries make it through practically whole, no problem.

This is how they should look.  If you use a blender or small processor, you'll want to do this is 2 or 3 small batches.  

Add about 1 cup of sugar.  You may want it a little more or less tart...  so you can add slowly and adjust to taste.

Now you can put in 2 small cans of drained, Mandarin oranges, (or about 2 cups of fresh orange segments)

About 1/2 tsp of cinnamon..  again you can adjust to taste.  You really can't mess this up.

Give it a stir and let it chill for a couple of hours to mix the flavors and dissolve the sugar. You want the oranges to break into smaller pieces, so don't be too gentle.  I love how the cranberries keep their crunch this way, and how some larger bits of cranberry burst in your mouth.  Heavenly!  


(In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll tell you that this recipe can also be made as a cooked version, but that would be so sad.) 

Where in the World is..........?

We are studying the wonderful world of geography this year!  It's something I've always been fascinated by, and decided to learn more  with my children.  Since we're studying US History, we're starting with the United States, but we'll move on to the rest of the world shortly.

I've always been fascinated by other places.  As a child, I went on many  trips with my family.  I was born in upstate NY and we traveled the New England states for camping and fishing.  Later, we moved to Virginia and my mother's parents moved to Alabama.  We made many road trips  from Virginia to Alabama.  My father was from Hungary and all his family still lives there.  When I was six, we traveled there to meet them.  I went on to live in UT, NJ, CA, and finally WA.

I remember driving through little towns seemingly out in the middle of nowhere, or big cities all lit up at night,  and wondering who lived there, what their lives were like, and what was it like to live there.  I used to wish I could live in all  of those places just for a little while, to see for myself.  (I still feel that way sometimes...  I  warned you earlier, I'm a dork).

The world is just so amazingly beautiful and diverse.  Wouldn't it be cool to travel the US in an RV for a year and just explore as you go?  Well, that's not happening for us this year (but maybe someday), so instead we're taking a virtual trip.

We found a great little resource for basic facts about each state (they have a world one too).  We've learned them in order of statehood, doing our best to memorize the first 13 that changed from colonies to states.  We use a dry erase marker to outline and label by number each state, doing about 5 each week.  We have this great wall map that's laminated, so we can write on it and erase later.

Once we've done them all (we're almost finished), we'll learn state capitals, and read some about each state's  history.  I had almost forgotten I even had this book on my shelf, and we're looking forward to diving in.

We'll take some extra time to mark the map with states we were born in, or traveled through, and talk about which states we'd like to visit someday.   We'll work on a puzzle of the United States so they get a physical feel of how they all connect together. We'll probably connect it to cooking, and talk about regional cuisine and make some together.  Geography is the favorite part of their morning, which makes me happy, because I love it too.

Thankfulness

I believe abundance and prosperity begins with gratitude for all we  have and a true and deep appreciation for  the little things.  I also know I get busy and take for granted what many of these things are.  Shame on me!  I was at a wonderful leadership training event last night where a mentor of mine talked about the "language of increase".  If we want prosperity and abundance then we must talk about the blessings, good news, and success in EVERY situation.  This past year has been like a hard, bumpy roll downhill.  We have experienced a lot of discouraging and frustrating circumstances.  I'm sorry to  admit I've struggled to see anything to be grateful for in some of the things that have happened.  My children are watching, and I need to do better.  


 I'm going to make some random "gratitude lists" this month of the little things that need my focus and appreciation.   I'm hoping a little public acknowledgement of my former ingratitude will help set me straight!  


1.  I'm thankful for music!  I LOVE a huge variety of  music (well ...   not rap, and not screaming death rock).  Music can turn your whole mood around in just minutes.  


2.  I'm thankful for the variety of four seasons.  Each one has beauty and something to look forward to.


3.  I'm thankful for dark chocolate.  I mean really...   right?   The darker the better too.  72% cocoa?  Perfect!


4.  Water.  Trust me, it's AWESOME!


5.  I'm thankful for three year olds.  Every day is discovery and mastery and the most amazing things come out of their mouths.  


6.  Books (and highlighters.....  don't forget the highlighters).   Give me a book and I'm a happy camper!  (as long as I've got a highlighter)


7.  My bed.  We recently watched the movie The Blind Side (EXCELLENT true story).  The main character is in high school and tells his foster mother he's never had his own bed before.  Wow.  And I complain because my comforter is old.  


8.  I'm thankful for mentors.  I'm grateful to have amazing mentors in my life who have willingly taught me all they know, believed in me more than I believe in myself, and always cheer me on.  


9.  I'm thankful for geography.  We have a varied and beautiful earth.  We're having LOTS of fun this year studying states and countries.  If I could, I'd live in each of the 50 states, just to see what they're like (I know, I'm a dork).  


10.  Corelle ware.  I have seven children.  Enough said.  

PUMPKIN RECIPES

I don't love how early it gets dark in November.  I don't like the cold wind that can blow right through a person.  But I do love the warmth and comfort of fall foods!  We especially love pumpkin.  First of all, it's a vegetable, so how's that for healthy! 1 cup of pumpkin has 19% of your daily vitamin C, and 245% of your vitamin A!  It's loaded with important anti-oxidants.   And it's pretty versatile.  I thought I'd share several of our favorite pumpkin recipes....  some we use year round, because we like it that much.  


I don't have pictures of all of these.  That would require me to actually stay home for a few days in a row and cook and bake (which I LOVE) but I haven't been finding the time for... but I'm going to have to!  These are too yummy to pass up.  Oh, and if you've never discovered the bliss of dark chocolate with pumpkin....   you've been missing out.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

These are light and fluffy and yummy and good for you and a little indulgent too.  I quadruple this and freeze the extras for quick breakfasts because I'm just that lazy.  They defrost nicely in the microwave. 

2 cups flour (I use at least half whole wheat)

2 Tbs packed brown sugar

1 Tbs baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 Tbs oil

1/2 cup or more semi-sweet chocolate chips

Go ahead and preheat a griddle.  I prefer cast iron, but whatever you're used to is fine.  Then combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.  Add this to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened.  The batter will be fairly thick.  Add the chips and stir lightly.  The batter is too thin if the chips sink to the bottom.  They should be held in suspension.  

Using a 1/4 cup measure, pour batter onto the hot seasoned griddle.  Cook until the edges appear slightly dry, then flip.  

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

We love cheesecake.  We love pumpkin pie.  So this is the perfect combination.  

3 8 oz packages of cream cheese (we use 1 fat free and 2 low fat)

1 cup sugar, divided

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1 cup pumpkin

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

dash of cloves

2 cups crushed ginger snaps

1/2 cup chopped pecans

6 Tbs butter

Crush the gingersnaps, add the finely chopped pecans, and add the 6 Tbs of butter.  This is the crust.  Press this into the bottom of a springform pan and 2 inches up the sides.

Beat the softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup of sugar, and vanilla.  Add the eggs.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups of plain batter, then stir the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin, and spices into the batter.  Spoon 1/2 the pumpkin batter over the crust.  Use 1/2 the plain batter and drop in dollops.  Repeat the layers and cut through gently with a knife to swirl.  

Bake at 325F for about 55 min, til almost set.  Chill for 4 hours.

Pumpkin Bars

1 cup wheat flour

1 cup of white (you could use all whole wheat)

1 Tbs pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup pumpkin

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Combine dry ingredients.  Beat butter and sugars in a large mixer til creamy.  Beat in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.  Slowly beat in flour mixture.  Spread in a greased jelly roll pan. Sprinkle the chips on top and bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes.  We get RAVES on these wherever we take them, and they're gone in minutes at home.

Pumpkin Banana Smoothie

This is a super healthy, super tasty breakfast treat.  It'll make 2 adult servings and will stretch further if feeding little ones.  

• 1  cup  low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 3/4  cup  canned pumpkin, chilled
• 1/2  cup  ice cubes
• 1/3  cup  fresh orange juice
• 1  tablespoon  brown sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• Dash of ground cloves
• 1  ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• Dash of ground cinnamon (optional)

I hope this adds to your autumn enjoyment!  

Math Appreciation

Can you draw really well?  Well, none of us can.  We just don't have any gift or talent for it whatsoever.  So if I said to my kids that we were going to study art, and at the end of  6 weeks they would have to create a masterpiece painting on canvas.....   they would scream and run the other way.  It would be too intimidating, right?  Any of you non-artists can relate!  Yet they very much love learning about art and looking at it.  Well, we have a bunch of children in our family who dislike (ok, loathe) math, and think they're terrible at it (they aren't, they just expect perfection and immediate mastery).  So, my saying to them, "Let's do these math lessons, then we'll do some worksheets, and after a few weeks we'll do a test (aka masterpiece), well..... they scream, and run the other way.  It's too intimidating for people who have an inborn fear of math.


Of course, I want my children to love math and understand it.  I find it fascinating, though at times a bit frustrating and challenging.  The wonderful thing about homeschooling is how much there is available in the way of choice when approaching learning.    We've tried several different math curriculums  which I was very pleased with (Math U See with it's great DVDs and manipulatives and Life of Fred with it's quirkiness and humor), but the kids still aren't big fans.  


A homeschool coop project I'm helping with inspired me to do some math appreciation with my kids for now, rather than expect the masterpiece.  The coop math class only lasts five weeks, but  it's so great to see my kids do things with math they wouldn't at home by themselves.

They are more willing to make new rules to old games, experiment, and have fun when working with other kids.  They've collaborated really well in sharing ideas and solutions (which would be called cheating in school, but is actually  great  preparation for real life, don't you think?)


So,   I started searching and  found some wonderful resources that I hope will change my children's feelings about math along the way as we learn about math from a different angle for a while.

We really enjoy Joy Hakim's "A History of US". (I am aware we're talking about math....  stick with me.)  I'm reading it to the second set of children and I love it and so do they!  She has such a wonderful way of weaving history into the amazing STORY that it is, rather than a bunch of facts on a timeline.  She also does a remarkable job of integrating many topics into that story; economics, religion, ethics, science, art, poetry, etc.  So I was really ecstatic when a friend told me she has also started writing "The Story of Science".  YES!! ( My kids also think they don't like science much.  Silly kids.)  

Hakim  beautifully weaves a fascinating story  and integrates so many subjects, including math!  I've been trying to tell my kids that math is simply a language;  a foreign language to some of us, but one that the universe is based on.  In chapter 2 she quotes Galileo, 


"The universe cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written.  It is written in mathematical language." 


Just what I've been trying to explain!   Did you know that Einstein gave a lecture at Moscow University in 1955 where he wrote something on a blackboard that has NEVER been erased?  


 "Physical laws should have mathematical beauty."


When in school did you ever learn about "mathematical beauty"?  Einstein seems to have thought  it exists.  I'm not going to argue with him, we're just going to try a little harder to find it.  ALL knowledge is one great whole.  I'm learning this on my own educational journey because my experience is from  public school which is all very compartmentalized.  I  found a group of books on Amazon and I ordered one to start with.  In "Mathematics  Appreciation" by Theoni Pappas he says he, "Introduces you to the fascinating interrelationship between mathematics and other subject areas, the evolution of mathematical thought, and the beauty of mathematics."  Right on.  He has many many books about math written for all ages.   I have a feeling we'll be getting more of them!  

I'm determined to help my children appreciate mathematics.  They may never be brilliant at it, or truly love computations and that's ok, but I want them to lose their fear of it and understand the beauty of it in our every day lives.  

Random Thoughts for Today

I wanted to post something profound; something deep and meaningful.  But my brain is like jello and I've drawn a blank, except for some strange and random thoughts (which I usually try and keep to myself).


1.  teenagers sometimes seem like God's way of getting back at us for past mistakes


2.  flies in late October!  it's like a plague or something


3.  strawberry marshmallows are surprisingly good


4.  Chloe is not old enough to be 3 years old tomorrow


5.  why is Thanksgiving "turkey day", but Halloween isn't "pumpkin day", or "candy day"?


6.  I get tired so much easier than when I was 23.... it isn't fair


7.  the Columbia Basin gets 300 days of sunshine a year...   why do we seem to get the 65 days of gloom all in a row?


8.  laundry is eternal


9.  a child of any age can say the word "mom" 34,394,182 times a day


10.  it's only 7:06, and I wish it was bedtime