The last week of September

"B" is for Bat. Manny and Gabriella decided to make some funky ones. :)
Jackson, the awesome goalie!
and defense man....what else? :) He's about a half a foot taller and 50 lbs more than most on either team :)...which this photo shows clearly LOL!
George is my new favorite photographer!

Outside my window: a very lovely fall day.

I am thinking....about all the things on my" honey- do list" I should try to ask Tim to get to since he is in a stellar mood today. The. LIONS. WON.

I am thankful .....for a fantastic fall day spent at Greenfield Village.

From the schoolroom....B is for Bats with the preschoolers. Manny has finally started to show an interest in preschool type things. We made some "handprint" bats, and read books on the subject. I thought to celebrate the first day of fall by going swimming :) ( it was warm enough) but didn't get to it. The rest are cooking along. Signed Naomi up for the PSAT October 14.

From the kitchen ....there were so many saurkraut themed meals at GFV yesterday, I felt I had to make some today! :) I tried a corn chowder recipe that was pretty good. Usually I do crab/corn chowder, but this time just corn.

I am wearing . ..khaki capri's, navy and cream knit top, grey, short sleeve hoodie, flip flops.

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

I think I am suffering from the "I just read a great book and now everything else pales in comparison" because I am having a hard time finding anything that keeps my interest. I bring home an armload from the library, and check the reviews on Amazon, but not much luck. I am keeping with "Sarah's Story" by
As stated on Amazon, the writing is a bit juvinile and the modern part of the story a bit cliched of course she is an (american living in Paris, of course she is a journalist, of course she has a handsome, rich,French husband and they are remodeling a chic apartment. Of course she has the token gay male couple for friends, who cook marvelous meals and throw fabulous dinner parties, and, of course, she is working on a controversial story with a dark secret! blah blah blah :).....but the *historical* part of the story is interesting.

reading:

The Case of Cornielia Connely.

Yes, this is SOME case.

Unto the Daughters by Karen Tintori

Very fascinating book about an Italian family in Detroit in the early parts of the 20th century. The author was investigating her family history and found an alarming skeleton in the closet. Also descriptions of their lives in Sicily before coming to the US. I feel like I've read lots of books about immigrants to the United States, but she has so much interesting information about how it was, some I've never heard. Engrossing.

Nuns in America: by John Fialka

Watched:

Nothing much watched this week. But I did see Phantom of the Opera on stage. :)Which was outstanding!

I am hearing . ...Sports Center, what else? The Lions won for the first time since 2007. LOL!

Around the house. ..wahhhhh! Trying hard not to mutter about the fact whenever I take a day off, it's all waiting for me when I come home, plus some. :) (but I did mutter, anyway)

One of my favorite things. ....the first,crisp apple from the apple orchard. And doughnuts and cider. Time to get over there!

What will we do this week. ...the usual, soccer, school, classes ...catechism starts this week. Jed's first time. :) Going out to eat with my parents. It won't be long until they are all heading back to Florida. :(

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ...a pictorial of our week......:)

My little corners of the world.......

What I finally decided to do with my bed. Ignore that funky lamp, I'm not sure it that is staying. ;)


My sewing room. Not used often enough. ;)

Summer wrap up

Nan with "the boys"
The three birthday boys with VERY cheesey smiles


Pool time! Warm enough weather to swim didn't last long.......




Manny has finally learned to love the cat. A bit TOO much at times.

Daybook, September 20, 2009

The kids in their HEP uniforms, ready for their classes. :) George looks thrilled!
George, hard at work.

T-shirt painting was a hit with this crowd.



Some people can take pictures of their kids in the schoolroom with them sitting placidly at their desks. Mine prefer ninja moves. ;)


Outside my window: Bright and sunny after a c-c-c-old morning.

I am thinking....."where charity and love prevail, there Christ is ever found!"

I am thankful .....for Fr Dino's homilies

From the schoolroom....another pretty good week. Outside the house classes went smoothly, I guess we are getting in a routine. We even got a craft in this week! :)

From the kitchen .....did we eat? did I cook? Nothing comes to mind this week.

I am wearing . ....beige capri's, green and brown knit floral top, brown hoodie sweater and tennis shoes.

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

The Seamstress by Frances De Pontes Peebles

Enthusiastic "high five" for this one. It was one of the books that brings you into it and makes it hard to forget that you aren't there anymore even when you are not reading it or ( in my case) listening to it. Enthralling descriptions of pre-World War 2 Brazil. My only criticisms are that it was a bit too brutal at times, and I thought the cangaceiros got a bit too much sympathy for their evil ways ( poor upbringing, poverty, etc) while other naughty people didn't get the same pass. Even so, she seemed to redeem herself by being even handed to all the characters throughout. It was thoroughly refreshing to read something that didn't seem to overtly have some kind of agenda. (She may have, but I am too dull to be assaulted by it. :) One of those books where you marvel at the author. How did she come up with this story, and carry it to the end so smoothly and satisfyingly?

Very , very sorry to have this one end, but couldn't stop listening to it every time I had the chance. :)

reading:

The Case of Cornielia Connely.

Yes, this is SOME case.

Nuns in America: by John Fialka This is really a fascinating book so far. It's amazing all the work & services religious sisters provided to the general public ( not just Catholics) Hospital, schools, and other charitable endeavors. I have to say it is pretty inspiring. Their uncomplaining sacrifices are a rebuff to me. A needed one, for sure :) It was also interesting, and disturbing to read more about how the Irish Catholics were treated by the English in the late 17th and early 18th century. I guess I should not be so enamored by English society back then. ;)

Watched:

The Six Wives of Henry the 8th.
This was produced awhile ago, and it is evident. Still, it has some marvelous scenes in it, despite knowing the story like the back of my hand. :)

Tried to watch "A Portrait of A Lady" with Nichole Kidman ( I know I saw it in the theaters when it came out) and just couldn't go past the first 10 minutes. Ugh....I am too spoiled now by the BBC. :) I may try again just because the costumes and scenery was very beautiful.

I am hearing . ...Tim playing the keyboard, Spongebob....erg! Gabriella reading a book of prayers and saying the ones she knows. :)

Around the house. ..nothing very exciting. Just trying to maintain order right now.

One of my favorite things. .... a pretty, orange, pumpkin.

What will we do this week. ...the usual, soccer, school, classes BUT! Naomi and I are getting taken to see "Phantom of the Opera" by my parents on Friday. So excited!

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ...a pictorial of our week......:)

Daybook, September 6th First Week of School!

Outside my window: Still dark and cool.

I am thinking.....

I am thankful ......for all my birthday boys this month! A dear husband, a darling 17 yo and a new teenager! ack! That makes 4 (teens) in the Vrazo home for the next year or so. :)

From the schoolroom.....All in all our first week went pretty well. Only a few temper tantrums ( and NOT from anyone under 6 :) The little kids were very geeked, maybe a little less enthusiasm would have been appreciated. ;)Our "outside the house" classes on Thursday all went smoothly. It's nice to be back in the routine. Summer freedom is great, but a little like chocolate cake.....you can only eat so much of it before it starts causing problems. :) Jed, as usual, was the biggest surprise. That is how 5/6 year olds are, but it has been awhile since I've had one. I asked him how his reading skills were so good despite spotty practice this past month ( gulp!) and he said "I've been watching you while you read, Mom" :) He also had surprising answers to many questions I asked. A reminder of how much they pick up just by listening to various goings ons. :)

From the kitchen ..... Lots of culinary delights this week. Saturday; chicken penne with vodka sauce. Roast beef and roast pork for the birthday celebration. Chicken lemon rice soup for lunch on Wednesday, which made Jed happy ( and me happy! a break from his favorite...ramen noodle,ugh!) homemade granola yesterday, this weekend, bbq ribs and steak for the other birthday fete.

I am wearing . ..short sleeve gray hoodie and brown knit shorts.

I am reading and watching . .listening on cd :

Martin Chuzzlewaite: This was very entertaining. I love Dicken's interpretations of Americans. Hilarious!

The Importance of Being Earnest: First thing I've read by Oscar Wilde. Unbelievably funny!
Portrait of A Lady, Henry James: You know, I saw the movie long ago, but the book didn't call it to memory. I know my memory is bad, but I think the way you read something can be different from how it is interpreted on screen, even if the story is basically the same.

Of Time and Memory: This is the true story of a man trying to find out more about his mother who died when he was just 19 days old ( she had pre-eclamsia during pregnancy, and they didn't have the technology to save mothers back then other than take the baby early, which usually meant death for the child). It turned out to be a beautiful tale. Interesting, thoughtful....and very pro-life, even though I'm not sure the author intended it to be.
The Seamstress by

reading:

Clover: Henry Adams wife. I gave up on listening to "The Education of Henry Adams" There was too much in there to read over and ponder, not easily done while listening. So, I found a book about his wife, which includes him, of course. Very interesting, so far. I need to find a hard copy of TEofHA.

A strange co-incidence regarding this book, which I finally finished. I thought it was one of the better biographys I have read despite the obscure subject matter. After I did ( finish it, that is) I started listening to a book on cd about General Grant, called "Grant" ( imagine that :) Unbeknown to me, this book was filled with references to the Adams! I had no idea!

It was very strange. doo doo- doo doo ( Twilight Zone music fading in)

Nuns in America: by John Fialka This is really a fascinating book so far. It's amazing all the work & services religious sisters provided to the general public ( not just Catholics) Hospital, schools, and other charitable endeavors. I have to say it is pretty inspiring. Their uncomplaining sacrifices are a rebuff to me. A needed one, for sure :) It was also interesting, and disturbing to read more about how the Irish Catholics were treated by the English in the late 17th and early 18th century. I guess I should not be so enamored by English society back then. ;)

The Rose of Sebastopol : Katherine McMahon I really enjoy her writing style. I loved "The Alchemist's Daughter", although it was a little saucy for my taste. This one was less so but no less gripping. I couldn't put it down, and it was a great book to have while camping since I had lots more time to read :)

Watched:

Miracle at Carville: PBS Documentary about the famous Leper hospital near New Orleans. Very well done.

Barchester Chronicles ( BBC) You could tell this one was filmed long ago ( 1982?) but it was really entertaining. I told Naomi I was struck by the fact that in many BBC productions, every actor from the smallest part to the largest seems to be a master of his/her craft, while in a lot of modern films, you MIGHT get one or two good performances by the lead. This one was absolutely full of marvelous acting. Astonishing, really. Alan Rickman as Mr Scope was a treasure, along with, as Mrs Proudy.

I am hearing . ...the littles watching an old family film. Mee maw and Papa visiting us in Virginia when Naomi was just a baby. To hear her little cries right now....sniff!

Around the house. ...we gave the house a pretty good scrubbing on Monday and I am pleased to say it has stayed that way. Mostly. Of course this is for OUR family, not general public standards. :)

One of my favorite things. ..The first weeks of September, such lovely weather. You can almost count on it.

What will we do this week. ...( or what we did this week) Labor Day birthday party for the birthday boys. 4 soccer games. HEP classes for George, Jed and Manny, Mr Mc Alpine classes for Naomi, Jax and Noah.

Soccer practices ( of course!) Dyl, Noah and Naomi went to a going away party for Mary Giroux last night, then slept over at various friends and went to a pro-life prayer vigil this morning. Noah will have a birthday party at Al's tomorrow ( video games will be the main activity :) and we will celebrate quietly here today...I think. :) Perhaps Tim and I will go out tomorrow for his birthday. I saw he could get almost half off his meal at El Charro! :) ( They give you your age as a percentage off :)

Here’s a picture I am sharing. ....well, since I inherited a new computer ( cough!) all my picture files aren't on yet. So I stole one from Naomi. :)