tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1434852696267031182024-03-18T18:13:43.491+11:00A peaceful dayJeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.comBlogger1437125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-18262355800851925632017-12-04T12:41:00.000+11:002017-12-04T12:41:13.451+11:00And she’s back!And here I am. It’s cleaner and whiter than before, and I can’t work out how to link to social media, but there’s no more photobucket spam and you can actually read what I’ve written, so im pretty happy about that.
I still need to learn about this new layout, but it looks like most things are working. Please let me know if you notice a glitch and I’ll try to fix it. In a timely fashion too. Ahem.
Now that im back, what do you want me to talk about?
Okay, now im going to add a photo to see what it looks like and then press publish. Wish me luck!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="../Documents/FAB213AD-789D-4FD0-8BEE-11AB15CD46BE.JPG"><img title="Christmas books" src="../Documents/FAB213AD-789D-4FD0-8BEE-11AB15CD46BE.JPG" alt="" width="500" height="500" data-json="" /></a></div>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-34802061465625033302017-06-24T18:45:00.002+10:002017-06-24T21:50:20.007+10:00The story of Lachlan Macquarie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wonder what you know about New South Wales' fifth Governor, Lachlan Macquarie. If you're like most Aussies, you'll recognise his name because of the things named after him - Canberra's suburb of Macquarie and Lachlan Street, Sydney's Macquarie Street and Macquarie Place and Hobart's Macquarie Street, Macquarie Island south of Tasmania, Lake Macquarie on the NSW coast, the Macquarie River in NSW and the Macquarie River in Tasmania, Port Macquarie, and the Lachlan River to name a few. Maybe you've sat it Mrs Macquarie's Chair, overlooking Bennelong Point and the Sydney Opera House. The inscription on his tomb on Mull in Scotland names him "The Father of Australia" and yet we know longer know who he is. Should we?<br />
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Arriving in Australia in 1810, Macquarie took up the position of Governor vacated by William Bligh who had been deposed by the military during the 1808 Rum Rebellion (remember that?). From the beginning Macquarie saw the colony as both a settlement as well as a penal colony. "This country," he wrote, "should be made the happy home of every emancipated convict who deserves it." He was frustrated by what he referred to as 'the party spirit' - the class divisions and factional fighting that were so rife in the colony. "Free settler in general...are by far the most contented persons in the colony," he wrote to the colonial office in England.<br />
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Macquarie believed that the solution to the convict problem was to put them to work. During his 12 years as Governor Macquarie was responsible for over 250 new buildings, including churches, schools and hospitals. He built roads and tidied up the design of Sydney's streets. He built Sydney into a city as fine as any in the world. But England was not keen that Sydney become too attractive. New South Wales was meant as a place of punishment and they worried that people might actually commit crimes in order to be transported!<br />
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Macquarie produced the first official currency for the new colony. He authorised exploration of the 'west' beyond the Blue Mountain where well watered grassland and forests were discovered. It was Macquarie who ordered all traffic on New South Wales roads to keep left. He encouraged the creation of the colony's first bank. He drew up plans for Castlereigh, Pitt Town, Richmond, Wilberforce and Windsor.<br />
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<i><a href="https://www.readings.com.au/products/23899640/the-startling-story-of-lachlan-macquarie-founding-father-or-failure">The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie - Founding Father of Failure</a></i> by Michael Sedunary and illustrated by Bern Emmerichs goes some way towards introducing Australian kids to the unfairly forgotten Governor Macquarie. It's an oddly sophisticated book, and I am not quite sure who its written for. It is aimed at kids of 10-12, but I suspect that without some prior history knowledge the story would go over the heads of most of them. It's a long book using complex language and discussing deep questions, and I suspect that most kids would lose interest long before the end. That said, it is wonderful for use as part of a study of Australian History. It is well balanced, discussing Macquarie's considerable accomplishments with his many less than stellar decisions. It covers Macquarie's treatment of the Aborigines in a way that is sensitive to our native Australians but without falling into the trap of revising history inappropriately with the wisdom of hindsight and putting our modern worldview onto past events.<br />
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Sadly the book paints Reverend Samuel Marsden as a villain, referring to his moniker as 'the flogging parson' and telling the story of the public lending library - which is probably true, but without balancing the considerable good also accomplished by this powerful man of God. I am saddened by this. So it is not perfect, but in general <i>The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie</i> is an excellent book for a child keen to learn more about the early history of our great country and willing to put in the work to understand it. It is also great for use as part of a history study for school. Those of you using my <a href="http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/our-australian-curriculum.html">Australianised AmblesideOnline</a> will want to grab up a copy for use during both cycles through Aussie history - it is well worth using twice, and who knows how long it will be in print?<br />
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<i>The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie</i> is the third in a series by this author - illustrator trio and published by Berbay Books. The first two are <i>The Unlikely Story of Bennelong and Phillip</i> and <i>William Bligh - a Stormy Story of Tempestuous Times</i>. I haven't seen either of these but I am keen to. I am sure they would be excellent.<br />
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So there you are. Hopefully you now know more about Governor Macquarie. Perhaps once you read the book you will be able to decide whether he deserves to be remembered as the father of Australia. Do tell me what you think. Can a country really have a father anyhow?<br />
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<br />Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-64503154766725690372017-06-23T22:42:00.000+10:002017-06-23T23:05:26.278+10:00A hello and a farewell<div class="tr_bq">
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My dear friend, Ruby, was buried today. She had a strong faith in our gracious and merciful God and I know she was ready to be with her heavenly Father, but I can't quite believe she has gone.<br />
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It is entirely possibly that many of you might know Ruby too, because when I blogged more regularly Ruby was one of a special group of close friends - a coterie that included Ganeida, Sarah, Rosemary, Mel, Erin, Therese, Jo, Rebecca and maybe you, too. It is these girls who have kept me blogging at least sporadically over the lean years, who have prevented me closing down the blog completely because I needed a way of staying in touch and I need to know that they're still out there somewhere and caring about me the way I still care about them.<br />
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And now Ruby has gone. And I feel bereft.<br />
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I can't remember when we both got to know each other, but it was some time in 2008. We quickly became close friends and discovered that we shared much in common - we both homeschooled, we both blogged. We attended Reformed Presbyterian churches of almost the same denomination. We both loved our families dearly and we both shared a love of the English language and word play. We both had a dry wit that could, and did, get us into trouble. We talked about deep things and we knew each other's secrets. I considered it a privilege to be included in Ruby's prayer group and we prayed regularly for each other's families.<br />
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Ruby was much more willing to share her faith than I am and I envied her knowledge of God's word and her assurance. She was wiser than I am, too, and encouraged me to justify my decisions in light of the Gospel, which often made me worried that she found me shallow. She was always encouraging and she never wavered in her beliefs. She inspired me greatly and I so appreciated her down-to-earth wisdom and gentle mentorship.<br />
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At their end of 2010 Ruby flew to Melbourne with her two teenaged sons to spend a week with us in our peaceful home. It was the first time she and her sons had travelled out of Queensland and they had a long list of sights to see and things to do. My, we fitted so much into that week! You can see a little bit of what we got up to in the photos here, but what you can't see it how much our friendship grew as we spent time together. She was every bit as wonderful in real life as she was online and we spent hours talking and laughing and joking and just doing what friends do.<br />
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My friendship with Ruby was as strong and true as the friendships I have with my local friends - possibly even closer because we got to know each other through our shared interests, not through random circumstance. Even though we haven't been in touch in recent years as much as in those early days - Ruby's much loved children and grandchildren took much of her time and other interests took over mine - I still considered her a very special friend and I have spent this past week since her death, and especially this day of her funeral, thinking about her and praying for her husband and children almost constantly. She will be so missed.<br />
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To those of you who I met online and know only in my computer, I thank you for your loyal friendship. I thank you for reading here and leaving nice comments and encouraging me to continue blogging. Your friendship is no less real because we don't see each other every day, and I just want to tell you all that now, before its too late. Because thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.<br />
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Hugs to you all, my lovelies.<br />
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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.<br />
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14">John 14:27</a></blockquote>
Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-6691667872314595742017-04-21T11:16:00.001+10:002017-04-21T11:16:03.515+10:00We're all Australians now.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-URg-Y7D2xHo/WPlcb578UlI/AAAAAAAAKPA/1VZ5ckRCKC8/s648/Photo%25252020170421111200810.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-URg-Y7D2xHo/WPlcb578UlI/AAAAAAAAKPA/1VZ5ckRCKC8/s500/Photo%25252020170421111200810.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360056.826" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><p>I'm a big believer in commemorating Anzac Day and remembering those who fought so we might be free. I'm also a great fan of our National bard, Banjo Paterson, and of the illustrations of Mark Wilson. Put them all together and you're going to have a pretty special book. </p><p><em><a href="https://www.readings.com.au/products/22879474/were-all-australians-now" target="_self" title="">We're All Australians Now</a></em> was published in 2015 but I only discovered it the other day in my local Australia Post store. Have a look and see if yours has a copy too. It was $9.99.</p><p>When Australians went to war in 1914, Australia had been a nation for all of 13 minutes. Well years, really, but it's still a really short time to forge a national identity, isn't it? The brave men and women who fought together in WWI as Australians played a great part in defining us as a people, as a country, as Aussies. By 1915, we had already suffered through Gallipoli when Banjo Paterson penned an open letter to Australian troops there at The Dardanelles , a poem entitled <em>We're All Australians Now.</em></p><p>The book is Mark Wilson's beautifully illustrated rendering of that poem.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wOxV3iaLnvw/WPlcmNkbhuI/AAAAAAAAKPE/fCNUp-HnBog/s2048/Photo%25252020170421111200879.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wOxV3iaLnvw/WPlcmNkbhuI/AAAAAAAAKPE/fCNUp-HnBog/s500/Photo%25252020170421111200879.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360060.7742" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3FqSCbG3ALA/WPlcw6DjCPI/AAAAAAAAKPI/hgDMFbIY4HY/s2048/Photo%25252020170421111200953.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3FqSCbG3ALA/WPlcw6DjCPI/AAAAAAAAKPI/hgDMFbIY4HY/s500/Photo%25252020170421111200953.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360045.861" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-teGaDj1PxmY/WPlc8fXiOgI/AAAAAAAAKPM/Mgqi03iAy44/s2048/Photo%25252020170421111201035.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-teGaDj1PxmY/WPlc8fXiOgI/AAAAAAAAKPM/Mgqi03iAy44/s500/Photo%25252020170421111201035.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360035.4644" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="367"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OfjT3AUa0Kk/WPldHBbVzbI/AAAAAAAAKPQ/NcamigYlcqA/s2048/Photo%25252020170421111201126.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OfjT3AUa0Kk/WPldHBbVzbI/AAAAAAAAKPQ/NcamigYlcqA/s500/Photo%25252020170421111201126.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360023.2595" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="353"></a></div><p>Here's a copy of the poem if you really can't find the book, but do try. As I say, it's pretty special. It's times like this that I remember that living books really are still being published. And that's a really good thing.</p><blockquote><p>We're All Australians Now'</p><p> </p><p>Australia takes her pen in hand</p><p>To write a line to you,</p><p>To let you fellows understand</p><p>How proud we are of you.</p><p> </p><p>From shearing shed and cattle run,</p><p>From Broome to Hobson's Bay,</p><p>Each native-born Australian son</p><p>Stands straighter up today.</p><p> </p><p>The man who used to "hump his drum",</p><p>On far-out Queensland runs</p><p>Is fighting side by side with some</p><p>Tasmanian farmer's sons.</p><p> </p><p>The fisher-boys dropped sail and oar</p><p>To grimly stand the test,</p><p>Along that storm-swept Turkish shore,</p><p>With miners from the west.</p><p> </p><p>The old state jealousies of yore</p><p>Are dead as Pharaoh's sow,</p><p>We're not State children any more —</p><p>We're all Australians now!</p><p> </p><p>Our six-starred flag that used to fly</p><p>Half-shyly to the breeze,</p><p>Unknown where older nations ply</p><p>Their trade on foreign seas,</p><p> </p><p>Flies out to meet the morning blue</p><p>With Vict'ry at the prow;</p><p>For that's the flag the Sydney flew,</p><p>The wide seas know it now!</p><p> </p><p>The mettle that a race can show</p><p>Is proved with shot and steel,</p><p>And now we know what nations know</p><p>And feel what nations feel.</p><p> </p><p>The honoured graves beneath the crest</p><p>Of Gaba Tepe hill</p><p>May hold our bravest and our best,</p><p>But we have brave men still.</p><p> </p><p>With all our petty quarrels done,</p><p>Dissensions overthrown,</p><p>We have, through what you boys have done,</p><p>A history of our own.</p><p> </p><p>Our old world diff'rences are dead,</p><p>Like weeds beneath the plough,</p><p>For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,</p><p>They're all Australians now!</p><p> </p><p>So now we'll toast the Third Brigade</p><p>That led Australia's van,</p><p>For never shall their glory fade</p><p>In minds Australian.</p><p> </p><p>Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,</p><p>Till right and justice reign.</p><p>Fight on, fight on, till Victory</p><p>Shall send you home again.</p><p> </p><p>And with Australia's flag shall fly</p><p>A spray of wattle-bough</p><p>To symbolise our unity —</p><p>We're all Australians now.</p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-suLIupglug8/WPldTmcZ07I/AAAAAAAAKPU/DsPw9lKm2Fg/s2048/Photo%25252020170421111201244.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-suLIupglug8/WPldTmcZ07I/AAAAAAAAKPU/DsPw9lKm2Fg/s500/Photo%25252020170421111201244.jpg" id="blogsy-1492737360076.1838" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="432" alt=""></a></div><p>Here's <a href="https://youtu.be/1oAVdtaiWSY" target="_self" title="">Wallis and Matilda's version</a> set to music. It's pretty special, too. </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-31938016727391762042016-12-26T15:06:00.001+11:002016-12-26T15:06:02.981+11:00Things to do...<p>...on Boxing Day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LxYPdAxesGQ/WGCWfuOrUaI/AAAAAAAAKL8/YW8bP1bBSFI/s2048/Photo%25252020161226150228304.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LxYPdAxesGQ/WGCWfuOrUaI/AAAAAAAAKL8/YW8bP1bBSFI/s500/Photo%25252020161226150228304.jpg" id="blogsy-1482725161046.531" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WLF0LzGpmhc/WGCWqwMSrgI/AAAAAAAAKMA/YmhGHmtEfzw/s2048/Photo%25252020161226150228372.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WLF0LzGpmhc/WGCWqwMSrgI/AAAAAAAAKMA/YmhGHmtEfzw/s500/Photo%25252020161226150228372.jpg" id="blogsy-1482725161020.0325" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtQcS2IDkfk/WGCW1UeBMTI/AAAAAAAAKME/YNSVCIgf4cQ/s2048/Photo%25252020161226150228443.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtQcS2IDkfk/WGCW1UeBMTI/AAAAAAAAKME/YNSVCIgf4cQ/s500/Photo%25252020161226150228443.jpg" id="blogsy-1482725161060.1516" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="450"></a></div><p> :: Get outside and play games in the fresh air.</p><p>:: Drink glögg.</p><p>:: Sing a carol.</p><p>:: Eat mince pies.</p><p>:: Walk along the beach.</p><p>:: Discuss life, the universe and everything with your family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SIsn4cC8V5s/WGCW_uh5CXI/AAAAAAAAKMI/-v-V0EqkHjo/s2048/Photo%25252020161226150228508.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SIsn4cC8V5s/WGCW_uh5CXI/AAAAAAAAKMI/-v-V0EqkHjo/s500/Photo%25252020161226150228508.jpg" id="blogsy-1482725161063.286" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> :: Read your Christmas presents.</p><p>:: Spend time alone.</p><p>:: Watch the candles flicker.</p><p>:: Write a letter to a friend.</p><p>:: Watch Love Actually with your significant other.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yOz9SSdzk0g/WGCXKOISaaI/AAAAAAAAKMQ/Fhax24U3pww/s2048/Photo%25252020161226150228555.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yOz9SSdzk0g/WGCXKOISaaI/AAAAAAAAKMQ/Fhax24U3pww/s500/Photo%25252020161226150228555.jpg" id="blogsy-1482725161000.5513" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p>:: Start a jigsaw.</p><p>:: Eat cherries. </p><p>:: Bake gingerbread men.</p><p>:: Snuggle.</p><p>:: Phone a friend.</p><p>:: Enjoy the simple things.</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-73917922044361131402016-12-03T11:44:00.001+11:002016-12-03T11:51:13.354+11:00Daisy chains and simple things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zEbyz_iqMVw/WEISGDijp_I/AAAAAAAAKK8/VM95aeF0OpM/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006600.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zEbyz_iqMVw/WEISGDijp_I/AAAAAAAAKK8/VM95aeF0OpM/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006600.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238081.1482" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><blockquote><p> </p><p> Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do…So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.</p><p>Lewis Carroll <em>Alice in Wonderland</em></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yo_DX6wHS0o/WEISIaapxxI/AAAAAAAAKLA/Pi3a3lZooWc/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006683.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yo_DX6wHS0o/WEISIaapxxI/AAAAAAAAKLA/Pi3a3lZooWc/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006683.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238096.8503" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COw-VP_S9ao/WEISLaWLeRI/AAAAAAAAKLE/6uds173DPWk/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006776.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COw-VP_S9ao/WEISLaWLeRI/AAAAAAAAKLE/6uds173DPWk/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006776.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238060.5835" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p>She might be almost as tall as me, but I'm so glad that she's not too old for making daisy chains. It's one of those simple, peaceful things, isn't it, and I'm thankful that amongst the busyness of Christmas she had time today to have nothing to do. </p><p>Why don't you sit outside today for a bit and make a daisy chain, too? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWzvZaX410U/WEISNk-szZI/AAAAAAAAKLI/9qTY8WH1uRg/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006846.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWzvZaX410U/WEISNk-szZI/AAAAAAAAKLI/9qTY8WH1uRg/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006846.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238066.9905" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tUFXsSoLjZc/WEISST7SYaI/AAAAAAAAKLQ/q3jsYIqryk0/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006945.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tUFXsSoLjZc/WEISST7SYaI/AAAAAAAAKLQ/q3jsYIqryk0/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006945.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238115.4226" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A_8uXqEhZ8Y/WEISUoKgB5I/AAAAAAAAKLU/2DT2tJv-uOc/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113006992.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A_8uXqEhZ8Y/WEISUoKgB5I/AAAAAAAAKLU/2DT2tJv-uOc/s500/Photo%25252020161203113006992.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238041.4766" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xnAqFkO1GSg/WEISWxbZ79I/AAAAAAAAKLY/G5I03vROHnk/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113007037.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xnAqFkO1GSg/WEISWxbZ79I/AAAAAAAAKLY/G5I03vROHnk/s500/Photo%25252020161203113007037.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238058.7246" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-csKnChzLd9M/WEISZxU4oKI/AAAAAAAAKLc/98NHhKc33AM/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113007090.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-csKnChzLd9M/WEISZxU4oKI/AAAAAAAAKLc/98NHhKc33AM/s500/Photo%25252020161203113007090.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238117.9082" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mA1Bju_G3u8/WEISmFMsQaI/AAAAAAAAKLg/68cHgtumgeo/s2048/Photo%25252020161203113007133.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mA1Bju_G3u8/WEISmFMsQaI/AAAAAAAAKLg/68cHgtumgeo/s500/Photo%25252020161203113007133.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238132.2214" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tM9kYHseHQw/WEIVcQprBgI/AAAAAAAAKLs/c7FtpwRj4SM/s2048/Photo%25252020161203114424222.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tM9kYHseHQw/WEIVcQprBgI/AAAAAAAAKLs/c7FtpwRj4SM/s500/Photo%25252020161203114424222.jpg" id="blogsy-1480726238129.8506" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="555"></a></div><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-58646861272285257252016-12-01T17:44:00.001+11:002016-12-01T19:18:34.582+11:00Christmas greetings, my lovelies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, my darlings! It's the first of December. I guess you knew I couldn't stay away for the whole of my favourite month, didn't you, and here I am inspired to write to you on the very first day. Wow! So how are you all? Well and happy? We are, and I do hope you are too. It's been so long since I've written that Blogsy didn't recognise me and I had to register all over again. Now I can't find the photos that I've only just taken of our Christmas decorations to show you, so I think I'd best write now and worry about that later in case the inspiration leaves me and the post won't get written at all.<br />
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Is your tree up? Ours is, even though it's only the first day of December today. A few years back we decided that putting up the tree on a weeknight was too stressful for words, so now we do it the weekend before. Much better. We trimmed our tree on Sunday night, with much laughter, glögg and shortbread, and <i>The Snowman</i> on the telly. It's gotta be <i>The Snowman</i> while you trim the tree. <br />
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Jemimah is at rehearsals for her dance concert at the moment. In December she's almost always at dance, but she loves it, and she has good friends there, so all's good. She's 15 in February - can you believe that? Do you remember how young she was when I first started writing here? Now she's almost as tall as me. I still have a few centimetres on her, but not for very much longer, I fear. She's a lovely young lady, and I enjoy her company very much. AO10 next year. How can that be when she was only in kindergarten last week?<br />
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We started our Christmas read alouds today. I posted them on Facebook for you to see. I love doing my picture book advent countdown over there each year. I have some lovely books lined up for this year, and even have a few blog posts planned to tell you about them, so we'll see how that goes. I especially want to share my very favourite super special books, so I'll try to get that post up at the very least. I haven't started my 'book for mum' yet. I have my book club breakup next Tuesday, and I still need to read that book, so I'm trying to be good and sensible. What are you reading this December? Any ideas for me? I've picked up Jeanette Winterson's new book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Days-12-Stories-Feasts/dp/1911214306">Christmas Days</a></i>, and it looks beautiful, filled with stories and recipes - yes, recipes - for mince pies and trifle and red cabbage and mulled wine and other perfect Christmas food. Did you know that Jeannette Winterson has a Christmas Eve ritual that includes champagne? Champagne AND smoked salmon? She even gives her favourite French champagne choices. I just knew we were kindred spirits. There are twelve stories here, so I was thinking of saving this for the 12 days of Christmas, but I'm not sure I can wait that long. Besides, I might need to try that trifle. And some champagne, of course.<br />
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We are almost halfway through our long summer holiday this week, and I don't feel organised about AO10 at all. I need to order the books at least, so that they arrive before the start of term. I've got lazy over the years. Long gone are the days when I planned years in advance. Poor child deserves better from her teacher than this. It's amazing how it all seems to fit together, though, in the end. I love the books she'll be reading next year. I hope she does too. <br />
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Okay, I'm going to stop now so I can sort out how to upload these photos and resize them so they fit between the columns. Hopefully I'll be back in a day or so with some booklists. If not, feel free to give me a nudge. It's been so nice chatting to you all. Let's just imagine for a moment that I'm standing under the mistletoe in our hallway waiting to give you a kiss.<br />
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Milles Bisouxxx.<br />
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Jeanne<br />
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<br />Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-30480775529257608852016-06-15T10:10:00.001+10:002016-06-15T10:10:27.697+10:00What's a double dissolution?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jT0sO_WEB0g/V2Cc8HaEPoI/AAAAAAAAKI0/B3SvWZJP1Bs/s2048/Photo%25252020160615101003454.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jT0sO_WEB0g/V2Cc8HaEPoI/AAAAAAAAKI0/B3SvWZJP1Bs/s500/Photo%25252020160615101003454.jpg" id="blogsy-1465949427006.7031" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Are you teaching your Aussie teens what makes July's election different?</p><p> The 2016 federal election will be a relatively rare double dissolution election, meaning that Malcolm Turnbull has been to the Governor General as required by <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/xx5.html" target="_self" title="">Section 5</a> of the Australian Constitution who has granted permission to dissolve both the Senate and House of Representatives. <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s12.html" target="_self" title="">Section 12 </a>of the Constitution also requires the state governors to issue the writs for the election of the senators in their own states. This will be the 7th double dissolution election since federation.</p><p>In a normal election, we vote for all the members of the House of Representatives but only half of the Senate. Generally, Senators hold their seats for six years, and half of them fall vacant every three years. In a double dissolution election, all the 76 Senate seats fall vacant at the same time. So that's what we're doing this year.</p><p>Here are the resources we've been using to make ourselves clever:</p><p><a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s57.html" target="_self" title="">Section 57 of the Australian Constitution</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/house_of_representatives/powers_practice_and_procedure/00_-_infosheets/infosheet_18_-_double_dissolution" target="_self" title="">Parliament of Australia Info Sheet</a></p><p><a href="http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/double-dissolution.html" target="_self" title="">Parliamentary Education Office Learning</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/double-dissolution.html" target="_self" title="">Printable Fact Sheet</a> </p><p><a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2016/April/Double_Dissolutions" target="_self" title="">Parliamentary Library Flagpost</a> </p><p>Learning about things like this fits into Current Affairs, Politics, Citizenship and more. It is also quite interesting when it is actually happening. Let me know if you've used any other useful resources with your teens! </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-88449325749237654432016-06-14T16:51:00.002+10:002016-06-14T16:52:53.442+10:00Hold your breath...<p>...cross your fingers...here we go!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAJoFT8qEBk/V1-ntTV-RHI/AAAAAAAAKIk/5uszGOsWGCAJegrs0sYwziiKZrTp4BKbwCLcB/s1600/bfg-big-friendly-giant-movie-film-trailer-1068x534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAJoFT8qEBk/V1-ntTV-RHI/AAAAAAAAKIk/5uszGOsWGCAJegrs0sYwziiKZrTp4BKbwCLcB/s640/bfg-big-friendly-giant-movie-film-trailer-1068x534.jpg" id="blogsy-1465887163572.8525" class="" alt="" width="500" height="250"></a></div><p><br>Okay, call me a big kid, but I am super excited to see this film. As long as they haven't gobblefunked around with it too much, that is. <br></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yUnUXc0gMlo" width="500"></iframe><br></p><p><br>Are you a BFG fan, too? What's your favourite quote? This is mine:<br></p><blockquote>“Words', he said, 'is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life. So you must simply try to be patient and stop squibbling. As I am telling you before, I know exactly what words I am wanting to say, but somehow or other they is always getting squiff-squiddled around.” </blockquote><p>Hmmm, I wonder whether they'll sell lovely bubbly frobscottle at the cinema.</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-57338937718791501162016-06-11T16:14:00.001+10:002016-06-11T16:14:22.478+10:00So who's the lucky duck?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IR1p7uJcdFo/V1usOzk83HI/AAAAAAAAKIU/_BCIJczXwCk/s2048/Photo%25252020160611161327668.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IR1p7uJcdFo/V1usOzk83HI/AAAAAAAAKIU/_BCIJczXwCk/s500/Photo%25252020160611161327668.jpg" id="blogsy-1465625662580.8298" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p>There was nothing sophisticated about our choosing ceremony this afternoon. It wasn't really random, either, because I had to check that you had liked us on Facebook, and I couldn't do that if I couldn't identify you, so sorry about that. I also took your plans for using <em>Wild Canary</em> into account.</p><p>In the end I didn't need to worry much, because the name my Best Beloved chose with his eyes screwed shut was Natalie Wright, and I'm really excited and happy that this beautiful book is going to such a good home. </p><p> Thank you all for entering. I have a few more duplicate books - not all Aussie ones - so let's do this again soon, yes?</p><p>Natalie, dearest, can you PM me your address on A Peaceful Day's FB Page, and I'll get this in the mail to you just as soon as I can. I do hope you and your kiddiwinks enjoy it. </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-39855834025273856972016-06-03T10:46:00.001+10:002016-06-03T18:27:13.316+10:00Book giveaway <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mfpXzKtw5T4/V1DTUpTqIhI/AAAAAAAAKH4/sVkjX04bbn4/s2048/Photo%25252020160603104550565.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mfpXzKtw5T4/V1DTUpTqIhI/AAAAAAAAKH4/sVkjX04bbn4/s500/Photo%25252020160603104550565.jpg" id="blogsy-1464942368369.8137" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p><em>Old Bob's Birds</em> by C K Thompson, which I used in AO1, came up on eBay earlier this week for the ridiculous sum of $140.00. Which is frankly scandalous. No book is worth that much, and I offer some alternatives in <a href="http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/substituting-aussie-books-in-ao1.html" target="_self" title="">this recent blogpost</a>. The eBay listing caused some amused banter on our Aussie CM Facebook page, along with some lighthearted ribbing over the fact that I don't lend out my books. Which is true, I don't. I do, however, sometimes give them away. </p><p>Which made me think about the fact that I have a spare copy of C K Thompson's <em>Wild Canary</em>, and it might be time for a book giveaway. Yay!</p><p>Canaries are obviously not native Australian birds, and this book tells the story of a caged canary, Boofie, who is accidentally released into the bush. How can an ordinary canary, born and raised in captivity, survive the perils of the Aussie bushland? The story is delightful, and during Boofie's adventures you and he meet lots of other birds that do happen to be Australian, making this a great substitute for <em>Old Bob</em> in AO1, or in later years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VhmZeRXSM-M/V1DTZTgwXpI/AAAAAAAAKIA/s0q_GbgJU5A/s2048/Photo%25252020160603104550801.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VhmZeRXSM-M/V1DTZTgwXpI/AAAAAAAAKIA/s0q_GbgJU5A/s500/Photo%25252020160603104550801.jpg" id="blogsy-1464942368366.8352" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="699" alt=""></a></div><p>You can see the book in the picture. It is in pretty good condition, with a decent dustcover, which I will wrap in plastic for the winner. So how to enter? First of all, this give-away is only open to those who will actually use the book. That probably means someone in Australia, or an Aussie living overseas. Sorry to the rest of you, but I hope you'll understand. </p><p>1. Leave a comment here explaining how you plan on using<em> Wild Canary</em> in your homeschool. Next...</p><p>2. Like my FB page, and join the conversation. I like to know who you are. If you've already liked us (thank you), leave me a message there telling me so! I know counting follower numbers isn't cool, but I have never been one of the cool kids. </p><p>Edited to add: You need to do both to be in the running!</p><p> I'll choose a winner next Friday 10th June. Good luck.</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-7850423613929760752016-05-30T15:19:00.001+10:002016-05-30T19:53:28.989+10:00Karlimoot the scarlet robin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EPbz1k-_ytI/V0vNXgaXTEI/AAAAAAAAKHk/rKMF7hpMWsg/s920/Photo%25252020160530151910128.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EPbz1k-_ytI/V0vNXgaXTEI/AAAAAAAAKHk/rKMF7hpMWsg/s500/Photo%25252020160530151910128.jpg" id="blogsy-1464601873606.0754" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="390"></a></div><p> The sweet little Sarlet Robin, <em>Petroica boodang, </em>has returned to our patch of Central Victorian bush for the winter, and I was delighting in their antics this afternoon. They're impossible for me to photograph, though - too quick and too small, so I grabbed a photograph from<a href="http://www.warragulcitizen.com/blogs/nature/three-common-red-robins-nature-blog" target="_self" title=""> this page</a>. Pop over there to find out about Victoria's other red robins -we have five. </p><p> Noongar Aboriginal legend tells us that long ago during the Dreamtime, Chitty-Chitty the wagtail and Karlimoot the scarlet robin were in a dispute over hunting rights. The two were forever fighting, and one day Chitty-Chitty attacked Karlimoot, hitting him in the face and making his beak bleed. The blood ran down his breast, forever staining his feathers red.</p><p>The fight still goes on to this day. Chitty-Chitty continues to chase Karlimoot from his territory, and remains king over the hunting ground. Bit of a bully, really.</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-48483091329045718272016-05-27T09:53:00.000+10:002016-05-27T09:53:52.276+10:00Happy 90th birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes Disney does something very right, and this is one of these times. This new story, written to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth (and Winnie the Pooh, incidentally), is just delightful, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.<br />
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If you're the kind of family that needs to read the book before watching the movie, you can do that, too - <a href="http://inspired.disney.co.uk/winnie-the-pooh/winnie-the-pooh-and-the-royal-birthday/">here it is free</a>!<br />
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So from a forest far away, for your special day, We’re sending you some quiet and a little time to play.</blockquote>
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Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-61542113295119037912016-05-26T18:03:00.002+10:002016-05-26T18:08:22.625+10:00Substituting Aussie books in AO1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxUlMHU6_Z0/V0ar3JkFHgI/AAAAAAAAKGc/s47t7ZepTTsG4dNv4IrFIAOliP-McST2gCLcB/s1600/2009%2B01%2B05%2BJemimah%2Bfirst%2Bday%2Bof%2Bschool012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxUlMHU6_Z0/V0ar3JkFHgI/AAAAAAAAKGc/s47t7ZepTTsG4dNv4IrFIAOliP-McST2gCLcB/s320/2009%2B01%2B05%2BJemimah%2Bfirst%2Bday%2Bof%2Bschool012.JPG" id="blogsy-1464250093189.656" class="" alt="" width="500" height="748"></a></div><p><br>I thought that today we might have a chat about substituting books. The post is for Grace, who asked for it, and for Melissa, Tara, Becci , Agnes, Belinda, Kathleen and LouLou, who got excited about the idea. Grab that coffee, girls, and let's talk books.</p><p>Okay, firstly, I've spoken about substituting books before. That post is <a href="http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/on-substituting-ao-books.html">here</a>, but Ambleside Online is written for Americans living in America, not Aussies living in Australia, and part of the curriculum just isn't relevant for those of us living over here. A certain amount of substitution has to take place, and this is what I want to chat about. </p><p>Set?</p><p>I'm going to start today by looking at AO1, since that's what you most wanted to hear about. If you like, we can continue on to other years after that. So let's take a look at the AO1 booklist as written. You'll find it <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml">here</a>, but you might want to print out a copy to scribble on. Go ahead, I'll wait.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5LeccAm5-xY/V0asGliiewI/AAAAAAAAKGk/hTdkqReLx0sPyQ0gsSnfRalQwkF0P3voACLcB/s1600/2008%2B07%2B30%2BJemimah%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bgarden%2B-%2Bflowers009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5LeccAm5-xY/V0asGliiewI/AAAAAAAAKGk/hTdkqReLx0sPyQ0gsSnfRalQwkF0P3voACLcB/s320/2008%2B07%2B30%2BJemimah%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bgarden%2B-%2Bflowers009.JPG" id="blogsy-1464250093170.709" class="" alt="" width="500" height="334"></a></div><p><br>Okay, so you'll see that AO1 covers the years 55 BC to 1066 AD - a huge time period, basically overviewing the time from the invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar up until the...er...invasion of Britain by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. Now, the history of Britain is really the history of Australia as well, so you're not going to mess much with the books under history, are you? Here they are cut and pasted:<br></p><blockquote>Trial and Triumph, by Richard Hannula <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1885767544/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1885767544">$</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BSH1IG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004BSH1IG">K</a></small>) <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b02"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#02"><small><sup>[2]</sup></small></a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b03"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#03"><small><sup><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></sup></small></a><a href="http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/marshall/england/england.html">An Island Story</a>, by H.E. Marshall <small><a href="http://manybooks.net/titles/marshallhother07history_of_england.html">β</a></small> <a href="http://archive.org/details/ourislandstoryhi00marsuoft"><small>Δ</small></a> <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440442258/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cmasonideas-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1440442258">$</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CIOQ20/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B003CIOQ20">K</a>)</small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/our-island-story-part-1-by-he-marshall/">Ω</a></small> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b04"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#04"><small><sup>[4]</sup></small></a> (<a href="http://www.cidadevirtual.pt/poge/kings/index.html">Kings and Queens Timeline Figures</a>)* ** <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18442">Fifty Famous Stories Retold</a>, by James Baldwin, <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#bal">selected chapters</a> <small><a href="http://manybooks.net/titles/baldwinj1844218442-8.html">β</a></small> <a href="http://archive.org/details/fiftyfamousstor01baldgoog"><small>Δ</small></a> <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599150069/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1599150069">$</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CPBHWU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008CPBHWU">K</a>)</small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/fifty-famous-stories-retold-by-james-baldwin/">Ω</a></small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/fifty-famous-stories-retold-version-2-by-james-baldwin/">Ω</a></small> <small><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TPGBK0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004TPGBK0&linkCode=as2&tag=thecomroo-20&tag=thecomroo-20">Κ</a></small> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b05"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#05"><small><sup>[5]</sup></small></a>** *** <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24811">Viking Tales</a>, by Jennie Hall <small>, ch 1-11<a href="http://manybooks.net/titles/halljenn2481124811-8.html">β</a></small> <a href="http://archive.org/details/vikingtales00lambgoog"><small>Δ</small></a> <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599150042/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1599150042">$</a>)</small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/viking-tales-by-jennie-hall/">Ω</a></small> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b06"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#06"><small><sup>[6]</sup></small></a></blockquote><p>Viking Tales is there mainly because the first discoverers of America were the Vikings. You could leave it out for this reason, or substitute, but I didn't. It's a really interesting book. Trial and Triumph is church history. You'll want to read this, unless you're Catholic, then you'll want to read <a href="http://ohpeacefulday.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/this-book-could-change-your-life.html">this</a> first and decide.</p><p>Next up is a group of books entitled American History Biography. Here are the books:<br></p><blockquote>* Benjamin Franklin, by Ingri D'Aulaire <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964380390/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0964380390">$</a>)</small>** George Washington, by Ingri D'Aulaire <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964380315/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0964380315">$</a>)</small>*** Buffalo Bill, by Ingri D'Aulaire <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964380374/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0964380374">$</a>)</small></blockquote><p> At first glance, people are inclined to leave these out of an Aussie AO, but I'd encourage you not to. Firstly, the D'Aulaire books are delightful, and are beautifully written. You might want to read them just for that. Secondly, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were really great men. They also happen to be American, but really, they're men important to world history, not just to America. You are going to want your kids to know about Ben and George sometime. Now, here's the rub. If you continue following my Australianised version of AO, you're going to discover that I leave out pretty much all American History, so if you want your kids to know these men, this is your chance. These books give your kids a delightful introduction to two men that they're going to need to know about. Leave them in. I leave in <em>Buffalo Bill</em> and <em>Pocahontas</em>, a free read by the same authors, too, because it is good for your kids to know these stories. You could substitute, if you want, but you'll struggle to find books as good as these, and most Aussie heroes you'll want to save for later years. Leaving the books out completely is an option. Do that if you want, but I wouldn't.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqW3yPkszbo/V0asTJQfnEI/AAAAAAAAKGo/Pip26XqofVkaBGCPeU1264Mf6G7JrV3DwCLcB/s1600/2008%2B08%2B29%2BJemimah%2B%2540%2BHome%2BSchool001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqW3yPkszbo/V0asTJQfnEI/AAAAAAAAKGo/Pip26XqofVkaBGCPeU1264Mf6G7JrV3DwCLcB/s320/2008%2B08%2B29%2BJemimah%2B%2540%2BHome%2BSchool001.JPG" id="blogsy-1464250093164.9822" class="" alt="" width="500" height="334"></a></div><p><br>Next up is geography, where the scheduled book is <em>Paddle to the Sea</em>, by Holling C. Holling. You could substitute this for Alison Lester's <em><a href="http://www.readings.com.au/products/19386127/are-we-there-yet">Are We There Yet?</a></em> if you want. It's a fabulous book, and a great intro to Aussie geography. The only problem you'll have with this book is that it's much shorter than <em>Paddle</em>, so you'll want to use it over maybe a term, not a whole year. You could do it in addition to <em>Paddle</em>, if you choose. That would be extra good. I didn't do that, but in hindsight, perhaps I should have done. I used it in AO0 instead. I chose to use <em>Paddle to the Sea</em> because it is beautiful, and I'd always wanted to know the Great Lakes myself, and this book teaches them to you. <em>Paddl</em>e covers America, Canada, and even across the Atlantic to France, and it teaches it all so delightfully that I can't imagine leaving this book out. You can if you want, but don't tell me if you do. The two books used for physical geography, Charlotte Mason's <em>Elementary Geography</em>, and <em>Home Geography</em> by Long are relevant for Australia, so you'll want to include both of those.</p><p>Are you still with me? Let's march onward to Natural History/Science.:<br></p><blockquote>The Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Botsford Comstock <a href="http://archive.org/details/handbookofnature002506mbp"><small>Δ</small></a> <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801493846/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0801493846">$</a>)</small>, as scheduled in <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/NatureSch.shtml">Nature Study</a>; <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/handbookofnature002506mbp" title="This links to the 1911 version in various formats">online</a>.James Herriot's Treasury for Children, by James Herriot <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312085125/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0312085125">$</a>)</small> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b08"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#08"><small><sup>[8]</sup></small></a><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3074">The Burgess Bird Book for Children</a>, by Thornton Burgess <small><a href="http://manybooks.net/titles/burgesstetext02bbbfc10.html">β</a></small> <a href="http://archive.org/details/cu31924022561272"><small>Δ</small></a> <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486428400/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0486428400">$</a>)</small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/the-burgess-bird-book-for-children-by-thornton-w-burgess/">Ω</a></small> <small><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082P7SBO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0082P7SBO&linkCode=as2&tag=thecomroo-20&tag=thecomroo-20">Κ</a></small> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b09"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#09"><small><sup>[9]</sup></small></a></blockquote><p>I have Comstock, and I use it all the time. This handbook is a cheat-sheet for mum. It's designed to make you look clevah in from of your clevah kids. The idea is this: You find that aphids have taken over the new spring buds on your roses, right? You're irritated by that and try to squash them all, but your kidlets are fascinated, and want to know all about them. You know nothing about aphids except that they suck all the loveliness out of your roses, so you sneak inside (pretend to be going in to collect an icecream container or something), and grab out your book. There on page 351 you'll find a nice big juicy section (heh) on aphids. Speed-read the section, grab up the container and rush back outside. You are now super clevah, and your kids are super impressed Win! There's even an experiment listed for the aphid. Sacrifice a bit of your rose, and bring it inside. You'll learn all sorts of stuff that turns nature study into science. All this comes from Comstock. You want it; you need it. There are lots of things we don't have in Oz that you'll find in the book, but there is plenty enough to make it a useful addition to your homeschool library.</p><p>I also list Nuri Mass's The Wonderland of Nature in my curriculum list for AO1, but in hindsight, this book would be better in AO3 or 4. Leave it to then.</p><p>James Herriot's book is super lovely. Read it, adore it. Don't forget to read the Christmas story at Christmas time. That's why it's not scheduled, so you can put it where it needs to go.</p><p>Which brings us to Burgess. If you look at the footnote for <em>The Burgess Bird Book</em> (You do all read the footnotes, don't you? You absolutely have to), you'll see that you're to do 6 birds per term based on the season and birds that frequent your geographical area. For those of us in Australia, there are almost no birds in this book that frequent our area, so it will be useless for us. What the footnote is telling us, though, is that we are to read about 18 birds that we should be able to find and see. The idea here is to start learning about the birds we know and love. We have no equivalent book to Burgess in Australia. <a href="https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/childrens-non-fiction/Famous-Australian-Birds-Gisela-Kaplan-9781865088358">This book</a> is a possibility, but even though it was only published recently, it is not currently in print and is hard to find. I used a delightful book by C K Thompson, <em>Old Bob's Birds</em>, but all of you gals who have followed after me have bought up all the copies, so it's really expensive, and not worth inflated prices, in my opinion. Sometimes you can get hold of his other titles - snap them up if you see them, but I wouldn't pay more than $10.00. Failing that, Leslie Rees's books are good. You're looking for the ones starting The Story of... Again, don't pay more than ten or twelve dollars. Lyla Stevens wrote a beautiful book, <em><a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=lyla+stevens&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=2&sts=t&tn=Birds+of+Australia">Birds of Australia in Colour</a></em>, which is still available on Abe. Today, at least! I'm inclined to think I would use this book as a spine, reading a bird a week, but read one of Thompson or Rees's books per term to do an in depth study of three over the year. Again let me remind you to study birds you see. Put a birdbath outside your kitchen window, too, and get to know your feathered neighbours! If you really can't find a book, just study your own birds using a field guide. That will do.</p><p>Moving right along to poetry<br></p><blockquote>* <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25609">A Child's Garden of Verses</a> <small><a href="http://manybooks.net/search.php?search=A+Child%27s+Garden+of+Verses">β</a></small> by Robert Louis Stevenson; <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689823827/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0689823827">$</a>)</small> <small><a href="http://librivox.org/a-childs-garden-of-verses-by-robert-louis-stevenson/">Ω</a></small> <small><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083Z4HJO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0083Z4HJO&linkCode=as2&tag=thecomroo-20&tag=thecomroo-20">Κ</a></small> <a href="http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/59/a-childs-garden-of-verses-selected-poems/"><small><strong>☊</strong></small></a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="b10"></a><a href="http://amblesideonline.org/01bks.shtml#10"><small><sup>[10]</sup></small></a>** Now We Are Six <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525479295/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0525479295">$</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013TPY3A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0013TPY3A">K</a>)</small> and When We Were Very Young <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00375LK68/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B00375LK68">$</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X27LEA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B003X27LEA">K</a>)</small> by A.A. Milne <small>(<em>4-Volume Pooh Library: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525444513/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0525444513">$</a></em>)</small>*** A Child's Book of Poems, by Gyo Fujikawa <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402750617/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1402750617">$</a>)</small>, <em>OR</em> The Oxford Book of Children's Verse, by Iona and Peter Opie <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192801880/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0192801880">$</a>)</small>, <em>OR</em> AO's free online collection of <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/Year1poems.shtml">200 Classic Children's Poems</a>. <small>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0066E11W0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0066E11W0">K</a>)</small></blockquote><p>You can use the recommendations at listed if you choose, but if you haven't already introduced your child to C K Dennis's <a href="http://www.readings.com.au/products/1860680/a-book-for-kids"><em>A Book for Kids</em></a>, you'll want to do that this year. I would substitute it for the third term anthologies. You really need to use this book while your kids are young.</p><p>I left all the literature and free reading titles as is, and added Australian titles to them. Generally my rule is one book in; one book out so as not to overburden my student, but in AO1, the amount of reading is light enough that a couple of extra books can be added without a problem. In fact, somewhere it says that the book load is deliberately light to allow parents to add their own favourites, but I can't find that right now. Anyhow, to literature - that is scheduled books that required narration after each reading - I added <em>Dot and the Kangaroo</em> by Ethel Pedley, and <em>The Way of the Whirlwind</em> by Mary Durack. I also added <em>Snugglepot and Cuddlepie</em> by May Gibbs and <em>Blinky Bill</em> by Dorothy Wall to the Free Reading list. I did not require narration of these two. </p><p>And that, I think might be that. I do hope that's what you are after, ladies, and I'm sure your coffee is cold by now. Have I left you with more questions than answers? Let me know what else I need to address.</p><p>Here's pne mpre photo of my beautiful girl. Wasn't she cute?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLgYrz_TS1Y/V0askP5_ipI/AAAAAAAAKGw/ugnahlmHHusF-3yj0gKkfx4rv3CLFmeEACLcB/s1600/2008%2B09%2B17%2BJemimah%2BNature%2BStudies%2B%2540%2BThe%2BBasin%2BSt%2BArnaud006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLgYrz_TS1Y/V0askP5_ipI/AAAAAAAAKGw/ugnahlmHHusF-3yj0gKkfx4rv3CLFmeEACLcB/s320/2008%2B09%2B17%2BJemimah%2BNature%2BStudies%2B%2540%2BThe%2BBasin%2BSt%2BArnaud006.JPG" id="blogsy-1464250093184.7217" class="" alt="" width="500" height="334"></a></div><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-46689622636834259392016-05-18T10:12:00.001+10:002016-05-18T10:12:36.648+10:00A Little House movie...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kz9lcagrOS8/VzuzYSYoW8I/AAAAAAAAKF8/m1qj9jZPzbw/s1772/Photo%25252020160518101203166.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kz9lcagrOS8/VzuzYSYoW8I/AAAAAAAAKF8/m1qj9jZPzbw/s500/Photo%25252020160518101203166.jpg" id="blogsy-1463530357558.666" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="780"></a></div><p> Are you excited about the possibility of a <em>Little House on the Prairie</em> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/27/little-house-on-the-prairie-movie-back-in-development-paramount" target="_self" title="">movie</a>? I am, although they're going to struggle to find actors who look just like Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, and...well...authenticity is important, and those two are Pa and Laura, and that's all I have to say about that. </p><p>I guess I was not alone in wanting to be as good as Mary, as beautifully dressed as Nellie, and as independent as Laura. Even as a youngster, I admired the Ingalls' sense of family, and their ideas of what were important. I loved their simple life.</p><p>I'm suppose that before the film comes out I should reread the series. I read the first four or with Jemimah a few years back, but she took over the reading of the rest, and I haven't read them since school. I have <em><a href="http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-laura-ingalls-wilder-20141130-story.html" target="_self" title="">Pioneer Girl</a></em> sitting on the shelf, too. You can't do enough preparation for these very important events, now, can you, and this is clearly important. Mind you, every time I read these books I find myself needing to make quilts, and corn dollies and maple syrup candy. Maple syrup! I've always wanted to go to a sugaring! See? I just get carried away. Imagine what a movie will do. If they can find the right actors, that is. Otherwise it'll be a wash.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jPTP8e3xAd8/VzuzcTyV_BI/AAAAAAAAKGA/swAeNeThuUg/s2048/Photo%25252020160518101203442.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jPTP8e3xAd8/VzuzcTyV_BI/AAAAAAAAKGA/swAeNeThuUg/s500/Photo%25252020160518101203442.jpg" id="blogsy-1463530357607.3142" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-39447235486458918722016-05-10T19:34:00.002+10:002016-05-11T09:28:02.254+10:00Seeking to be wise<blockquote>The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. William Shakespeare, <em>As You Like It</em></blockquote><p>I suspect I've been living my life as a fool, knowing not what I did not know. It's a humbling place to be. I mean, I guess I always knew that I knew nothing about philosophy, but until last week, I didn't think that mattered very much. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p8F5kHYg7bc/VzJuf2QSrSI/AAAAAAAAKFs/pMtCxJ-8R6U/s2048/Photo%25252020160511092739594.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p8F5kHYg7bc/VzJuf2QSrSI/AAAAAAAAKFs/pMtCxJ-8R6U/s500/Photo%25252020160511092739594.jpg" id="blogsy-1462922879913.714" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p>Last week, Jemimah started AO9 Term II. The week before, she'd been in kindergarten, but that's another issue. Anyway, there were two books in the first week that actually brought both her and me to our knees. One was <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Times-Christian-Contemporary-Worldview/dp/0891077685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462871210&sr=8-1&keywords=postmodern+times">Postmodern Times</a></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Times-Christian-Contemporary-Worldview/dp/0891077685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462871210&sr=8-1&keywords=postmodern+times"> </a><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Times-Christian-Contemporary-Worldview/dp/0891077685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462871210&sr=8-1&keywords=postmodern+times">- A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture</a></em> by Gene Edward Veith Jr.; the other, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Who-There-Francis-Schaeffer/dp/0830819479/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462871251&sr=1-1&keywords=the+god+who+is+there+francis+schaeffer">The God Who Is There</a></em> by Francis Schaefer. Jemimah managed the first chapter of each with little problem, but - oh my - those second chapters were doozies! Liberally peppered with words like existentialism, postmodernism, classical rationalism and positivism, and assuming at least a passing knowledge of the beliefs of Kant, Nietzsche and Freud, the chapters were almost meaningless. Even having the word defined on first usage is useless if you've confused it with myriad others a few pages further on. </p><p>I say that these chapters were almost meaningless, but there was one powerful message that came out of these chapters, and that is that modern evangelistic methods must depend on the beliefs and knowledge of the age in which we live, and that if we are unaware of the issues in the minds of those we seek to minister to, we will fail to engage them at all. That was sobering, and it made me want to read more. It made me want to understand. But how?</p><p>I turned, as I always do, to those clever than myself, the leadership and members of AmblesideOnline, and as always they were my saviours. Clearly it became evident that we would need some introductory philosophy books to act as a bridge between foolishness and wisdom. They couldn't be too complicated - they were to be a means to an end, in this case providing a foundation for the understanding of these two books and those that will come after, and they couldn't be too long. They also couldn't be more difficult that the books we were attempting to read..</p><p>This is the list they came up with:<br><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Consequences-Ideas-Understanding-Concepts-Shaped/dp/143350314X"><br></a></em> :: <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Consequences-Ideas-Understanding-Concepts-Shaped/dp/143350314X">The Consequences of Ideas</a></em> by R C Sproul<br>:: Books on <span class="highlightNode">philosophy</span> by John Frame, Vern Poythress or Groothuis<br>::<em> </em><a href="https://www.biblicaltraining.org/history-philosophy-christian-thought/ronald-nash"><em>History of Philosophy and Christian Thought</em></a> by Ronald Nash<br>::<em> </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Leonardo-Secular-Assault-Meaning/dp/1433669277/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462870930&sr=1-1&keywords=saving+leonardo.+nancy+pearcey"><em>Saving Leonardo</em></a> by Nancy Pearcey<br>:: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-About-God-First-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B004LQ0BPI?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc"><em>Thinking About God: First Steps in Philosophy</em></a> by Greg Ganssle<br>::<em> </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-World-History-Philosophy-Classics/dp/0374530718/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462870974&sr=1-1&keywords=sophie%27s+world"><em>Sophie's World</em></a> by Jostein Gaarder<br>::<em> </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Next-Door-Worldview-Catalog/dp/0830838503/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462871029&sr=1-1&keywords=universe+next+door+sire"><em>The Universe Next Door</em></a> by James Sire<br>::<em> </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-101-Key-Ideas/dp/0658012045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462466709&sr=8-1&keywords=101+Key+ideas+in+philosophy"><em>Teach Yourself 101 Key Ideas: Philosophy</em></a> by Paul Oliver<br>::<em> </em><a href="http://www.livingtheanswer.org/"><em>Living the Answer</em></a> (website) by David Vogel</p><p>Wow, what a wonderful selection. If you're a member of the AO Facebook Group, you can read <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/18541076090/permalink/10154308561946091/">the discussion</a>, and the comments that were made about the books. It's worth your while. </p><p>In the end, we decided on <em>Sophie's World</em>, mainly because it's a novel, it's by Gaarder, whom I love, and most importantly, I already have it. I scheduled it at three chapters a week to get through it by the end of term. Veith we are continuing with at a slightly slower pace; Schaefer we have moved to Term III. We started last week. </p><p>Learning what you do not know is humbling. I realise now that what I thought of as my scientific rationalism may have been thought of differently by those who understood more, and it leaves me wondering how foolish I must have sounded in conversations where I thought I knew what I was talking about, but in reality was merely a fool. </p><p>Gaps in education - we all have them. A big, gaping hole in mine is just about to be filled. </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-79932146422542920782016-05-09T17:45:00.001+10:002016-05-09T17:45:16.294+10:00Mother's Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgLBxLrzZ9g/VzBACQNojnI/AAAAAAAAKFc/xyfdZzlSNSU/s1563/Photo%25252020160509174453251.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgLBxLrzZ9g/VzBACQNojnI/AAAAAAAAKFc/xyfdZzlSNSU/s500/Photo%25252020160509174453251.jpg" id="blogsy-1462779914643.4856" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="622" alt=""></a></div><p> Hello, dear mamas. I do hope your Mother's Day was as happy and peaceful as mine was. My day was filled with flowers, from this sweet little chrysanthemum boutonnière given to me by a delightful older lady at church, to the lovely bunches of pink roses arranged by Jemimah on my bedside table and vanity unit. I felt truly blessed, and much loved.</p><p>Our Mother's Day was simple, because, really, how complicated is it to give thanks to the mother in your life? We had no cards, no expensive gifts, no fuss. I heard people yesterday complaining about the commercialism of the day, but really, I didn't see it. Most of the mums at church had enjoyed a yummy breakfast ( eggs and bacon or pancakes seem to make most mums happy, it seems), some had received little gifts, or had planned a picnic or other outings, but really all the expensive fripperies were startlingly absent. </p><p>Mother's Day is about family, not stuff. It is about eating lunch together and showing each other that we care. And somehow, without the gifts and the brouhaha, I felt loved and special and truly blessed. </p><p>I hope you did, too. Happy Mother's Day, friends.</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-33657165718521019992016-05-07T18:58:00.000+10:002016-05-07T19:38:15.398+10:00How to stop me twitching<p>Those of you who follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/18541076090/?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_self" title="">AmblesideOnline's Facebook group</a> (and if you don't and you use AO then you really really should - I'd love to see you there), will know that there is little that makes me twitch as much as discussions about whether or not to toss the dust jackets from old books. Dust covers are beautiful, people. Beautiful. They also add value to your books, not that that actually had any bearing on anything, because who's going to be silly enough to actually ever sell a book, but they do. Anyhow, once I've convinced people on FB that they need to love and cherish their dust covers, the conversation invariably leads on to how to protect them, and I've lost count of the number of times I've tried to explain my method.</p><p>Those of you who follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/A-Peaceful-Day-119218774771656/?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_self" title="">A Peaceful Day's Facebook page</a> (and if you don't then you really should - I'd love to see you even more there) will know that we're just back from six blissful weeks gallivanting around the Middle East and Europe, and will have been blessed (or bored to tears) by the copious photos I've been posting there. </p><p> Part of the trip included a week or so visiting my beloved's parents in beautiful South Wales, and whilst there, I was gifted with a couple of books that were precious to my hubby and his sisters in their youth. Entitled <em>Simple Heraldry</em> and <em>Simple Custom</em>, both written by Ian Moncreiffe of Easter Moncreiffe O. St. J., M.A., LL.B., F.S.A. Scot., Advocate, Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary and cheerfully illustrated by Don Potting, M.A., D.A. Herald Painter Extraordinary to the Court of The Lord Lyon King of Arms (I kid you not - that's what it says on the title page. The pair were clearly characters - take a look at their wikipedia entries to see what I mean. And now they've made me lose my train of thought completely), the two books were in poor condition, and are not precious to anyone except my beloved and perhaps his siblings, and therefore to me, but they provide an ideal opportunity to explain how I repair and care for delicate dust covers, and how to make the old and fragile robust enough for use by the next generation. So today I photographed the whole process, and here it is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I3Gu5vmLQb0/Vy2Khyb7QoI/AAAAAAAAKEc/dwd6ifm3wYI/s640/blogger-image-10038198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I3Gu5vmLQb0/Vy2Khyb7QoI/AAAAAAAAKEc/dwd6ifm3wYI/s640/blogger-image-10038198.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881314.5354" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p>You can see here the poor condition of the jackets. Step 1 in their repair is clearly to mend the paper, and for that I use a special archival tape called <a href="http://www.archivalmethods.com/product/filmoplast-tapes" target="_self" title="">filmoplast P 90 by Neschen</a>. Normal sticky tape will not do if you intend to keep the repaired books for any period of time, since it goes brown, brittle and loses its stick quite quickly. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RzYn-0FByTE/Vy2KoQ0firI/AAAAAAAAKEw/sPPZUvSL4nI/s640/blogger-image--1584842979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RzYn-0FByTE/Vy2KoQ0firI/AAAAAAAAKEw/sPPZUvSL4nI/s500/blogger-image--1584842979.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881275.6184" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p>I prefer to be quite conservative with my repairs, doing only the bear minimum. Repairing books reduces their value, but like I said, who actually ever sells books, and anyway, all I want to do with these is make them tough enough to endure reading by people old enough to take care of them. That said, the folding bits always need reinforcing, so first I run a strip of tape down those, even if they've not yet torn, gently edging together any tattered areas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OKMMKUsoyUg/Vy2Ku47Nh8I/AAAAAAAAKFE/zAXqB-tBYuw/s640/blogger-image--594708864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OKMMKUsoyUg/Vy2Ku47Nh8I/AAAAAAAAKFE/zAXqB-tBYuw/s500/blogger-image--594708864.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881294.6868" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>The spine of this cover had split entirely in two, and clearly needed special care. I mended it in the same way, with a strip of tape down each side. I don't like to fill in the missing areas on my covers, although some people do, so I carefully cut the tape away from the areas where the paper is missing.</p><p>Sometimes, if a jacket is particularly fragile, I also run tape right around the edges. I didn't bother with these books, mainly because the edges were in much better condition than the fold lines, but also because I don't intend using these books for school, where more wear and tear would be anticipated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LNoswSKpQ2A/Vy2KsAb45zI/AAAAAAAAKE8/5t29Po7RiAY/s640/blogger-image-810916576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LNoswSKpQ2A/Vy2KsAb45zI/AAAAAAAAKE8/5t29Po7RiAY/s500/blogger-image-810916576.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881293.9534" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Now on to Step 2, protecting the cover with plastic film. I use a clear polypropylene film called Pro-lene, which you can read about <a href="http://www.bookcoverco.com.au/pro-lene.html">here</a>. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to buy an equivalent product in most countries, only I can't find it on Amazon. Anyhow, it is just plastic. I pay $130.00 for 100m, so this product is cheap. !00m lasts me an awful long time. Years, even.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRfpXo2lA4I/Vy2KgoKUF5I/AAAAAAAAKEY/8UO3kKHBBN4/s640/blogger-image-1282392209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRfpXo2lA4I/Vy2KgoKUF5I/AAAAAAAAKEY/8UO3kKHBBN4/s500/blogger-image-1282392209.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881277.0522" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Cut off a bit that is about 7 cm bigger all round than the front, spine and back of the book. You can best do this by removing the dust cover and using this as your template, but remember that you don't need to cover the whole of the flaps that fold inside the book. You just need 7cm wider than the actual book. Got that? Don't be too particular about the 7 cm, either. Just about that much will be fine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7h8hp23E9Vo/Vy2Kts7MLAI/AAAAAAAAKFA/LOwKfaG8Pww/s640/blogger-image--2046892380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7h8hp23E9Vo/Vy2Kts7MLAI/AAAAAAAAKFA/LOwKfaG8Pww/s500/blogger-image--2046892380.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881230.5957" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Covering the actual jacket is easy. Fold the top and bottom of the plastic over the cover and hold tightly in the centre, over the spine. Tightly is the operative word.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_4Gx5zUy0A/Vy2Kpm-izKI/AAAAAAAAKE0/2I7U4TDHv8k/s640/blogger-image-1563481079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q_4Gx5zUy0A/Vy2Kpm-izKI/AAAAAAAAKE0/2I7U4TDHv8k/s500/blogger-image-1563481079.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881321.0042" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p>Next, place the book spine where it belongs, ensuring that the plastic remains neatly folded around the cover and hasn't become loose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cgkAvvoK7iY/Vy2Kv30sf2I/AAAAAAAAKFI/Q9ACK6Mync0/s640/blogger-image-1568917696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cgkAvvoK7iY/Vy2Kv30sf2I/AAAAAAAAKFI/Q9ACK6Mync0/s500/blogger-image-1568917696.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881255.0798" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p>Hold the plastic together, and gently lower the book onto one side of the plastic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZPXgIVd8-4w/Vy2Kq3uu-AI/AAAAAAAAKE4/QNKJ2Cq9phM/s640/blogger-image-575194399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZPXgIVd8-4w/Vy2Kq3uu-AI/AAAAAAAAKE4/QNKJ2Cq9phM/s500/blogger-image-575194399.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881295.1665" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Holding the book tightly against the plastic, gently fold the flap into place inside the book. What you're trying to do here is keep the edges of the plastic tightly against the top and bottom of the dust cover. It is really easy for these to get loose, and this results in a sloppy finish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q_HNzF2POeo/Vy2Kl077hfI/AAAAAAAAKEo/zCLhNhovrYY/s640/blogger-image-1702408748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q_HNzF2POeo/Vy2Kl077hfI/AAAAAAAAKEo/zCLhNhovrYY/s500/blogger-image-1702408748.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881233.0146" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Almost done. Now you just repeat the process with the other side.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HzBrhfiFfW4/Vy2KfcWMPTI/AAAAAAAAKEU/c35JhwUeiOI/s640/blogger-image--1430250220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HzBrhfiFfW4/Vy2KfcWMPTI/AAAAAAAAKEU/c35JhwUeiOI/s500/blogger-image--1430250220.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881284.402" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Once again, position the spine and tighten the plastic over the cover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-joMwH8eFd9Q/Vy2KksE_VOI/AAAAAAAAKEk/C4GX1ie2eGQ/s640/blogger-image--1163393863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-joMwH8eFd9Q/Vy2KksE_VOI/AAAAAAAAKEk/C4GX1ie2eGQ/s500/blogger-image--1163393863.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881333.3135" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Turn thee book over the cover, again ensuring they're tight. Yes, I know I'm harping on about that, but it's really the only hard part of the whole process. Fold the final flap into place</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f9KqRbmwKSg/Vy2KbP9Ef7I/AAAAAAAAKEI/miBDa3iNgBQ/s640/blogger-image-1883792400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f9KqRbmwKSg/Vy2KbP9Ef7I/AAAAAAAAKEI/miBDa3iNgBQ/s500/blogger-image-1883792400.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881243.184" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>Run your finger firmly along the edges to crease the plastic and neaten them up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ytn5pJmfAcM/Vy2Kct2VAcI/AAAAAAAAKEM/DKlljx-5B4g/s640/blogger-image--629174831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ytn5pJmfAcM/Vy2Kct2VAcI/AAAAAAAAKEM/DKlljx-5B4g/s500/blogger-image--629174831.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881267.0037" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="376"></a></div><p>And <em>voila</em> - you're done. Make yourself a cup of tea and have a chocolate to celebrate a job well done! I'm so proud of you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ioxKxnE2yQ8/Vy2Km8oI4hI/AAAAAAAAKEs/m-E7rixkiuE/s640/blogger-image--841917182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ioxKxnE2yQ8/Vy2Km8oI4hI/AAAAAAAAKEs/m-E7rixkiuE/s500/blogger-image--841917182.jpg" id="blogsy-1462613881291.2402" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>I can't tell you what to do with your own books, and if you don't tell me, I'll never know, so I won't even lose sleep over it, but I'll hope you'll agree that the covers of these books are much more attractive than the mildewed red covers they protect. Plus, they don't make me twitch!</p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-81799890175146354072016-02-01T22:46:00.002+11:002016-02-01T22:51:38.670+11:00Rabbit! Rabbit!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pBYrUJaeNLo/Vq9Gx3EpziI/AAAAAAAAKBo/KiRUn4WnK7U/s450/Photo%25252020160201225134516.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pBYrUJaeNLo/Vq9Gx3EpziI/AAAAAAAAKBo/KiRUn4WnK7U/s450/Photo%25252020160201225134516.jpg" id="blogsy-1454327501895.4365" class="aligncenter" width="313" height="450" alt=""></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Even Mr. Roosevelt, the President of the United States, has confessed to a friend that he says 'Rabbits' on the first of every month—and, what is more, he would not think of omitting the utterance on any account.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><em>The Nottingham Evening Post </em>27th November, 1935</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">When I was a very little boy I was advised to always murmur 'White rabbits' on the first of every month if I wanted to be lucky. From sheer force of unreasoning habit I do it still—when I think of it. I know it to be preposterously ludicrous, but that does not deter me.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Sir Herbert Russell, <em>On Superstition. Life's Fancies and Fantasies</em> 1925</blockquote><p><br>It always gives me a great deal of satisfaction if I remember to say, "Rabbit! Rabbit," on the first day of the month. I'm not superstitious - never have been, but somehow I still like to think that if I remember to say the magical words, the month will be a happy one. I don't know anybody else that follows the old tradition, although google tells me I'm in good company - which is somewhat of a relief. It's nice to know that I'm not entirely nutty, even if I do try and sort of turn the words into a rough type of mumbled cough if my Beloved is still in the room. "Cough, cough, ahem, er rabbits, cough." <br></p><blockquote class="tr_bq">Trixie Belden awoke slowly, with the sound of a summer rain beating against her window. She half-opened her eyes, stretched her arms above her head, and then, catching sight of a large sign tied to the foot of her bed, yelled out, “Rabbit! Rabbit!” She bounced out of bed and ran out of her room and down the hall. “I’ve finally done it!” she cried ... “Well, ever since I was Bobby’s age I’ve been trying to remember to say ‘Rabbit! Rabbit!’ and make a wish just before going to sleep on the last night of the month. If you say it again in the morning, before you’ve said another word, your wish comes true.” Trixie laughed.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><em>Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Emeralds</em></blockquote><p><br>This was not a family tradition for me - my first introduction to the idea was in my early teens through my much loved Trixie Belden books. Book 14 (yes, I read them all) begins with an explanation of Rabbit! Rabbit!, and so my method is exactly the same as Trixie's, although it seems there are a lot of variations. Some people say Rabbit; others Rabbits or White Rabbits or Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! Some have variations for the night before - Trixie said Rabbit! Rabbit! there, too, and so did I, only at some stage in the last forty years or so, I've changed from that to saying "Hares". The magic still works, though.</p><p>To be absolutely honest, I don't know whether a Rabbit month is luckier than a non-Rabbit one. Once I say the words I tend to forget about it all until the end of the month comes around, and if I forget, well so far life has gone on much as before. But the idea that a ritual like this could actually influence anything isn't the point. The point is that it is fun, and it is one of the many things that makes our family life a delight. I love passing traditions like this onto my daughter. I love creating memories for her of things that make us special and different.</p><p>To be honest, I don't think I could give up the habit even if I wanted to. I don't actually plan to say Rabbit! until I remember. And then I do, and I feel inordinately pleased with myself.</p><p>So today has been a good month. And February's going to be a very, very good month. I've done my bit, anyhow. How can it not be after that?</p><p>Rabbit! Rabbit!</p><p>I hope February is great for you, too. </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-49639180789766873582016-01-18T15:59:00.001+11:002016-01-18T15:59:53.212+11:00Summer in Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l5t-aSBux3o/VpxxQqm0lEI/AAAAAAAAKBY/GLsgxacZPC8/s2048/Photo%25252020160118155926878.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l5t-aSBux3o/VpxxQqm0lEI/AAAAAAAAKBY/GLsgxacZPC8/s500/Photo%25252020160118155926878.jpg" id="blogsy-1453093191337.7407" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p>From my commonplace book: </p><blockquote><p>My hair was grey with dust, so I washed all over, arrayed myself in a cool white dress, and throwing myself in a squatter's chair in the veranda, spread my hair over the back of it to dry. Copies of Gordon, Kendall, and Lawson were on my lap, but I was too physically content and comfortable to indulge in even these, my sworn friends and companions. IBsurrendered myself to the mere joy of being alive. How the sunlight blazed and danced in the roadway--the leaves of the gum-trees gleaming in it like a myriad gems! A cloud of white, which I knew to be cockatoos, circled over the distant hilltop. Nearer they wheeled until I could hear their discordant screech. The thermometer on the wall rested at 104 degrees despite the dense shade thrown on the broad old veranda by the foliage of creepers, shrubs, and trees. The gurgling rush of the creek, the scent of the flower-laden garden, and the stamp, stamp of a horse in the orchard as he attempted to rid himself of tormenting flies, filled my senses. The warmth was delightful. Summer is heavenly, I said--life is a joy.</p><p>Miles Franklin, <em>My Brilliant Career</em></p></blockquote><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-33512285928088532192016-01-09T20:36:00.001+11:002016-01-09T20:36:14.884+11:00Painting ain't work <blockquote><blockquote><p>“Say—I’m going in a swimming, I am. Don’t you wish you could? But of course you’d druther work—wouldn’t you? Course you would!”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said:</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“What do you call work?”</p><p>“Why ain’t that work?”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly:</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it aint. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Oh come, now, you don’t mean to let on that you like it?”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>The brush continued to move. “Like it? Well I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom swept his brush daintily back and forth—stepped back to note the effect —added a touch here and there—criticised the effect again—Ben watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more absorbed. Presently he said:</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little.”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind:</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“No—no—I reckon it wouldn’t hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence—right here on the street, you know—but if it was the back fence I wouldn’t mind and she wouldn’t. Yes, she’s awful particular about this fence; it’s got to be done very careful; I reckon there ain’t one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way it’s got to be done.</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“No—is that so? Oh come, now—lemme just try. Only just a little—I’d let you, if you was me, Tom.”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Ben, I’d like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly—well Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn’t let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn’t let Sid. Now don’t you see how I’m fixed? If you was to tackle this fence and anything was to happen to it—”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Oh, shucks, I’ll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say—I’ll give you the core of my apple.”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“Well, here—. No, Ben, now don’t. I’m afeard—”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>“I’ll give you all of it!”</p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face but alacrity in his heart. </p><p>Mark Twain, <em><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/74/74-h/74-h.htm" target="_self" title="">Tom Sawyer</a></em></p></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6eLViEhKhpw/VpDUNJQOcBI/AAAAAAAAKA4/SRHv7buJKLg/s2048/Photo%25252020160109203357350.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6eLViEhKhpw/VpDUNJQOcBI/AAAAAAAAKA4/SRHv7buJKLg/s500/Photo%25252020160109203357350.jpg" id="blogsy-1452332172361.6003" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="412"></a></div><p> Tom didn't want to paint his fence. Aunt Polly told him to do it, but Tom found a way to get his friends to finish it for him. He pretended to be the only one who could do the job as well as his aunt wanted; he pretended to be enjoying it. Then they all wanted a turn. Tom even received payment from them for the 'privilege', in the form of their small treasures. It is perspective that defines something as fun or drudgery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OpRLrJv2M4A/VpDUYHFCtZI/AAAAAAAAKBA/6DnfeVnow5I/s2048/Photo%25252020160109203357849.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OpRLrJv2M4A/VpDUYHFCtZI/AAAAAAAAKBA/6DnfeVnow5I/s500/Photo%25252020160109203357849.jpg" id="blogsy-1452332172407.8171" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="402"></a></div><blockquote><p> Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it – namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.</p></blockquote><p>Jemimah dad has read Tom Sawyer, and it certainly showed today. He made Jemimah find old clothes to wear if she wanted to paint. He told her she couldn't paint in her shoes, so she fashioned some out of plastic shopping bags ( the height of fashion). He told her she couldn't paint without sunscreen, so she found some. He told her she needed to tie her hair back, so she did. By then she was desperate to get out there.</p><p>The two of them have been out scrubbing back and painting that fence for much of the afternoon. They're having an absolute ball together, and they're doing a wonderful job covering up the ugly graffiti that the local hoons chose to gift us with over Christmas. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FFnLIuDsvAQ/VpDUiqd0nrI/AAAAAAAAKBI/1o7ThSyp5kU/s1971/Photo%25252020160109203358897.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FFnLIuDsvAQ/VpDUiqd0nrI/AAAAAAAAKBI/1o7ThSyp5kU/s500/Photo%25252020160109203358897.jpg" id="blogsy-1452332172351.3298" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="447" alt=""></a></div><p> Painting a fence with Daddy is so much better than sitting inside with an iPad, or even reading a book. Theyre outside. They're working together as a team. They're having fun getting a job done well. They're creating whimsical memories of nice times together. </p><p>Painting fences, climbing trees, fishing in streams, camping out, running away from grownups, finding buried treasure - they're all adventures of childhood, and they're things we all dream of doing. Which is probably why Tom Sawyer has remained popular for so long. Tom lives life to the full, and he has fun, and never really gets into trouble. Well, I'm kind of glad the things that happened to Tom never happened to me - or to Jemimah - but I guess that's why I liked reading about him doing them while I was snuggled safely in my living room, but you get the idea. </p><p>Classics are classics for a reason. Their messages are timeless; the friends contained in their pages are timeless. Tom is Jemimah's friend, but he's also her daddy's. And through the pages of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain has taught us all lessons we need to know. Like how to get your daughter outside to paint the fence with you. And how to make her think that it is not drudgery but fun. And while you're at it, Tom can also teach you how to make her think the idea was hers and not yours. Hah! Booyah! (Jemimah might just have taught me that one.) </p><p>Is Tom your kids' friend too?</p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-86484580869570122502016-01-02T21:37:00.001+11:002016-01-02T21:37:38.393+11:00Who are you, my friend?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NX-sNlKYy0s/Voeob_B8UUI/AAAAAAAAKAo/8QHxDQkKElo/s600/Photo%25252020160102213725972.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NX-sNlKYy0s/Voeob_B8UUI/AAAAAAAAKAo/8QHxDQkKElo/s500/Photo%25252020160102213725972.jpg" id="blogsy-1451731056553.6938" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="374" alt=""></a></div><p>Y'all know I've been in a blogging slump for a while. For a couple of years now, really. I look back at my old posts sometimes, and I'm sorta in awe that I wrote them. I mean they're good - really good. I can't write like that anymore, and that makes me sad. </p><p>Nowadays, all I write is boring AO posts, and mostly even those are written so I don't forget something that I think some of you need to know, and because I feel that I should. There is no spark, no joy, no something special. Sometimes I think I should call it a day, but I find it really hard to just stop. I mean, I've made some really wonderful friends blogging, and I'd hate to lose touch with you all. So I keep trying, and I keep failing, and keep trying and keep failing and...well, repeat.<br></p><p>This Christmas I treated myself to Pip Lincolne's ebook, <a href="http://meetmeatmikes.com/downloads/ebook-shake-it-up-30-days-to-a-rad-more-true-to-you-blog/" target="_self" title=""><em>Shake it Up - 30 Days to a Rad, More True-to-You Blog</em></a>. Pip is one of my blogging heroes. She is always up-beat, always fun, always interesting. When I grow up, I'm going to be Pip. Once I went into her old shop, Meet Me At Mikes, and she was there, and I wanted to tell her how amazing she was, but I was afraid she wouldn't find that cool, and so I didn't, and I've kinda always regretted that. After all, nobody hates being told they're awesome, right? Even an überblogger like Pip.</p><p>Over the Christmas holidays, I've been slowly inching my way through the inspiring ideas contained in Pip's book, working on the exercises, and trying to decide exactly what I want the pages of my blog to look like. One of the more interesting tasks was to define my Favourite Reader Profile. She wants to know who you are, or rather, she wants me to know. So for the last few days, I've been thinking about you, and just who you are.</p><p>Let me see how close I am.</p><p>One thing I know for sure, and that is that you're my dear friend. You're probably a homeschooler, or at the very least, you're homeschool friendly, and you're most likely a Charlotte Mason fan. You may use AO, and you like ideas that make your homeschool day run more smoothly. </p><p>You love books and reading, and you want your kids to love them too. You may have a bit of a book problem, and you delight in encouraging me with mine. You love photos of my library shelves, and ideas of books for you and your kids to read. My Japanese literature fetish leaves you scratching your head, but you're willing to give one a try. Your favourite books include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charing-Cross-Road-Helene-Hanff/dp/0140143505/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51mj2NeuupL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR102%2C160_&refRID=0FDGX09BCGGGB2Q4SFY6" target="_self" title=""><em>84, Charing Cross Road</em></a> and <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guernsey-Literary-Potato-Peel-Society/dp/0385341008/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=510SEVxoVcL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=0Y7V25Q6RESS0D88ZBY5" target="_self" title="">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a>, </em>both of which really fuel your desire for more book titles. </p><p>You're either an Aussie, or you like learning what makes my life different from yours. You love living vicariously through my travels, and my insatiable desire to see new lands amuses you. You wish we could travel together. </p><p> You don't watch much telly, but you love a good movie. You're a secret Dr Who fan, and you may just have looked forward to December more for the release of the new Star Wars movie than for Christmas. You've seen the movie, and are privately rather disappointed with what you saw. Christmas, on the other hand, was perfect because, you know, Christmas. </p><p>You love 70% dark chocolate, peanut butter and a combination of the two. You don't drink much, but are amused by my love of champagne. You join me in a love of good tea and coffee. </p><p>You are a Christian, and are interested in what makes my flavour of Reformed faith different from yours. The fact that my church practices exclusive psalmody and doesn't celebrate Christmas intrigues you. </p><p>You don't vaccinate your children. That's all I have to say about that. </p><p>Actually, I think I have nothing more to say about you, except to reiterate how much I love and care for you. When I write here, I write for you, and I want to write what you want to read.</p><p>How did I go? Did I picture you correctly at all? Tell me where I went wrong. I'd love to know you better, and hopefully, if I get I better idea of who you are, I might be able to get a better idea or how to make this blog one that you want to read and I want to write. I'd like that very much. </p><p>Oh, and Happy New Year. May God bless and keep you throughout 2016. You are very special to me, dear one. Thank you for being my friend. </p><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-84054189600780247902015-11-11T19:56:00.001+11:002015-11-11T19:56:05.206+11:00One minute's silence<blockquote><p>They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;</p><p>Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.</p><p>At the going down of the sun and in the morning</p><p>We will remember them.</p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ysTsY297ZwQ/VkMBgnYqYaI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/r7iXjK6Nyb8/s2048/Photo%25252020151111194828675.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ysTsY297ZwQ/VkMBgnYqYaI/AAAAAAAAJ_0/r7iXjK6Nyb8/s500/Photo%25252020151111194828675.jpg" id="blogsy-1447232162750.672" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="626"></a></div><p> </p><p>Did you remember our Diggers this morning? Did you recite the ode, listen to the Last Post and observe a minute's silence?</p><p>What did you think about as you stood in quiet contemplation? </p><p>You probably thought about the brave young Aussies risking their lives so that we could have peace in our land, but did you also think about the young Turks fighting to save their land from the invaders? </p><p>You may have remembered our fallen heroes, but did you remember the Turks who never went home again either? They're buried there together, side by side. Did you think of that when the second hand clicked slowly round? </p><p>Did you think about the tragedy and the futility of war, and honour the men in both sides of the conflict, who fought for the land and the people they loved?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dNKfG93bMo0/VkMCDP4IPqI/AAAAAAAAJ_4/iTx6ymloQiA/s2048/Photo%25252020151111194828969.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dNKfG93bMo0/VkMCDP4IPqI/AAAAAAAAJ_4/iTx6ymloQiA/s500/Photo%25252020151111194828969.jpg" id="blogsy-1447232162766.6792" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="348"></a></div><p><em>One Minute's Silence</em> written by David Metzenthen and illustrated superbly by Michael Camilleri tells the story of a class of young people observing a minute's silence, just like we did, and probably like you did, too. And as they wait, they imagine themselves as soldiers at Gallipoli, and they think about how it would have been.</p><blockquote><p>In one minute’s silence……</p><p>you can imagine the grinding in your guts as the ironbark bows of the Australian boats bumped the stony shore of Gallipoli on the twenty-fifth of April, 1915… when twelve thousand wild colonial boys dashed across the shivering Turkish sand in the pale light of a dairy farmer’s dawn lashed with flying lead.</p><p>But can you imagine, in one minute’s silence, lines of young Turkish soldiers from distant villages, hearts hammering, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in trenches cut like wounds… firing on the strangers wading through the shallows, intent on streaming into the homeland of the Turkish people.</p></blockquote><p>This is a wonderful book to share with your children as you commemorate Remembrance Day, and observe a minute's silence together. <br></p><p>Today when Jemimah and I stood together we remembered our loved ones who fought for us in the "war to end all wars", the men and women who have fought in other wars, our peacekeeping troops, and their loved ones left at home alone. But we also remembered the soldiers we fought against, and it was powerful.</p><p>I think when you read this book, you'll think so too.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Lest We Forget</em></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bgl2QLSWvAA/VkMCoIZ7clI/AAAAAAAAKAE/AIqQ5twfoao/s2027/Photo%25252020151111194829324.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bgl2QLSWvAA/VkMCoIZ7clI/AAAAAAAAKAE/AIqQ5twfoao/s500/Photo%25252020151111194829324.jpg" id="blogsy-1447232162753.968" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="524" alt=""></a></div><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-81883744074626227642015-11-09T17:01:00.002+11:002015-11-10T09:49:11.699+11:00Once a year foods<p class="tr_bq">I almost committed the unthinkable yesterday. I went to the pantry to get out the ingredients to bake our annual Guy Fawkes Parkin, only to discover that I had no treacle. None. Worse, I figured that the chances of my local supermarket having a tin of<a href="http://www.britishsweets.com.au/lyles-black-treacle-454g" target="_self" title=""> Lyle's Black Treacle</a> to be less than 0.</p><p><br>I think no parkin on Guy Fawkes Night might just constitute reasonable grounds for divorce around here, both from husband and daughter, not to mention the dog, because parkin is a once-a-year-food, and once-a-year-foods absolutely taste better than any other kind. Think Anzac biscuits and mince pies and plum pudding and Easter eggs and mooncakes and even radishes. The radishes we eat on Christmas morning are the sweetest, most delicious radishes evahhhhhhh. A year without these foods is absolutely unthinkable, as is the idea of eating them on any other day. Our family is built on traditions, and most of those traditions revolve around once-a-year-foods. Like parkin.</p><p>And I had no treacle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-orqzs8wnDXg/Vjr1Q_naiNI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/BSf_F2MWlvo/s2048/Photo%25252020151105172020024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-orqzs8wnDXg/Vjr1Q_naiNI/AAAAAAAAJ-0/BSf_F2MWlvo/s500/Photo%25252020151105172020024.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297238.481" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="780" alt=""></a></div><p><br>But my supermarket did!!! (See all those exclamation marks? That's how excited I felt!) Sure, it wasn't Lyle's, and it wasn't quite as black as we're used to, but it was treacle, and it made pretty fine parkin. My marriage is safe for another day.<br></p><blockquote>Please to rememberThe fifth of November,Gunpowder treason and plot;I see no reason Why gunpowder treasonShould ever be forgot...</blockquote><p>Parkin is integral to our Guy Fawkes Night, but I don't rightly know why. Hailing originally from Yorkshire, its sticky, treacly gingery deliciousness is perfect for the invariably freezing cold of a Northern English bonfire night, but how it came to be traditional, they don't rightly know. Only it did, and it is.</p><p>Guy Fawkes Night, of course, refers to the November 5th commemoration of the 1605 Plot to blow up the House of Lords in London - the Gunpowder Plot. The annual bonfires celebrate the fact that the plot was foiled and King James survived. It used to be an anti-Catholic day, but nowadays it's enjoyed by everyone. The banning of fireworks in Victoria in 1985 sort of sounded the death knell of Guy Fawkes Night in our state, but our family is tough. We can overcome such obstacles. They can't stop us building a bonfire and eating parkin, no sire. </p><p>And thanks to our supermarket and the plastic jar of CSR treacle syrup, that is definitely not Lyles, but did the job, we did. </p><p>And just like every other once-a-year-food, it tasted divine.</p><p>In case you feel a need to hunt down your own tin of Lyle's Black Treacle, in time for next year's bonfire, here's the recipe:</p><h2><span style="color: orange;">Guy Fawkes Parkin</span></h2><h3><span style="color: #e69138;">Ingredients:</span></h3><p>450g treacle (or a whole tin of Lyle's Black Treacle if you find some) <br>125g butter<br>150ml milk<br>125g soft brown sugar<br>170g plain flour<br>1/4 teas salt<br>1 teas bicarbonate of soda<br>2 teas ground ginger<br>1 teas mixed spice<br>350g quick oats<br><span style="color: #e69138;"><br></span></p><h3><span style="color: #e69138;">Method:</span></h3><p><span style="color: #e69138;"><br></span>:: Preheat oven to 160°c<br>:: Grease two loaf tins 10x25cm and line with baking paper.<br>:: Sift flour, bicarb soda, salt, ginger, and mixed spice twice, then add oats.<br>:: Gently heat treacle and butter in saucepan until the butter is melted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ex69_BEWl2E/Vjr1fI74UxI/AAAAAAAAJ-4/JIEuADf8jHk/s2048/Photo%25252020151105172020431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ex69_BEWl2E/Vjr1fI74UxI/AAAAAAAAJ-4/JIEuADf8jHk/s500/Photo%25252020151105172020431.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297222.6208" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p><br>:: Add milk and sugar, and stir until sugar dissolves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nN-XEKPfNDE/Vjr1rvgi0OI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/tyBeJHcZh_0/s2048/Photo%25252020151105172020733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nN-XEKPfNDE/Vjr1rvgi0OI/AAAAAAAAJ-8/tyBeJHcZh_0/s500/Photo%25252020151105172020733.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297181.954" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p><br>:: Add liquid to dry ingredients and mix until combined. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4_eCXkZaeY/Vjr19szsAZI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/VW4eu0MEfBI/s2048/Photo%25252020151105172021067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4_eCXkZaeY/Vjr19szsAZI/AAAAAAAAJ_E/VW4eu0MEfBI/s500/Photo%25252020151105172021067.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297189.151" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p><br>:: Pour into cake tins and bake for 40 minutes, or until the top of the parkin is set. It should still be a bit gooey in the centre.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XL85n8F43HQ/Vjr2SLwAa-I/AAAAAAAAJ_I/bpsvIRE1WcQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151105172021385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XL85n8F43HQ/Vjr2SLwAa-I/AAAAAAAAJ_I/bpsvIRE1WcQ/s500/Photo%25252020151105172021385.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297179.982" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p><br>:: Leave to cool, and then eat with custard and ice cream. They say parkin actually improves if stored for a few days before eating. I'm never that organised, ahem clearly, but you can try it if you like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JE6oDjh2vKk/VkAxhy44zAI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/-qycsQ1F9Dg/s2048/Photo%25252020151109163828781.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JE6oDjh2vKk/VkAxhy44zAI/AAAAAAAAJ_k/-qycsQ1F9Dg/s500/Photo%25252020151109163828781.jpg" id="blogsy-1447109297279.186" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p><br>Here's something delicious to read while you eat: </p><blockquote>“When I'm married, may I wear this dress?" </blockquote><blockquote>"Of course," said Loveday. "It will need no alteration. It's a perfect fit." </blockquote><blockquote>They went downstairs and found that Robin hd already changed into dry clothes and set the table for tea with bread and butter, honey and cream, and golden-brown parkin. The kettle was singing on the hob, the white kitten was purring loudly, and the strange cave-room was glowing and cosy, lit by the leaping flames of the log fire. When she had put the children's wet things to dry, Loveday made the tea in a big brown pot like a beehive, and they sat down and fell hungrily upon the lovely food. Robin, sitting opposite Maria at the oak table spread with its snowy cloth, gazed at her in astounded appreciation of her appearance, but was at first too occupied in eating to say anything about it. However, when he had devoured half a loaf and a lot of parkin he at last gave tongue. </blockquote><blockquote>"That's a pretty dress," he said with his mouth full. "It looks like a wedding dress." </blockquote><blockquote>"It is a wedding dress," said Maria thickly, for she too was ravenous and was devouring bread and honey at the rate of two bites a slice. "It's my wedding dress. I'm trying it on to see if it fits." </blockquote><blockquote>"Are you going to be married?” asked Robin sharply, his munching jaws suddenly still. “Of course,” said Maria, reaching for the cream. “You didn’t expect me to be an old maid, did you?” </blockquote><blockquote>“Are you getting married today?” demanded Robin. </blockquote><blockquote>But this time Maria’s mouth was so full that she couldn’t answer, and Loveday, who hadn’t had her hunger sharpened by fresh air, danger, and exercise, and was nibbling very daintily at a very thin slice of bread and butter, answered for her. </blockquote><blockquote> “Of course she isn’t being married today, Robin. She isn’t old enough to be married yet. But when she is married she will wear that dress.” </blockquote><blockquote>“When you do marry, who will you marry?” Robin asked Maria. </blockquote><blockquote>Maria swallowed the last of her bread and cream and honey, put her hand on one side and stirred her tea thoughtfully. “I have no quite decided yet,” She said demurely, “but I think I shall marry a boy I knew in London.” </blockquote><blockquote>“What?” yelled Robin. “Marry some mincing nincompoop of a Londoner with silk stockings and pomade in his hair and a face like a Cheshire cheese?” </blockquote><blockquote>The parkin stuck in his gullet and he choked so violently that Loveday had to pat him on the back and pour him out a fresh cup of tea. When he spoke again his face was absolutely scarlet, not only with the choke but with rage and jealousy and exasperation. </blockquote><blockquote> “You dare do such a thing!” he exploded. “You – Maria – you – if you marry a London man I’ll wring his neck!” </blockquote><blockquote>“Robin! Robin!” expostulated his mother in horror. “I’ve never seen you in such a temper like this before. I did not know you had got a temper.” </blockquote><blockquote>“Well, you know now,” said Robin furiously. “And if she marries that London fellow, I’ll not only wring his neck, I’ll wring everybody’s necks, and I’ll go right away out of the valley, over the hills to the town where my father came from, and I won’t ever come back here again. So there!” </blockquote><blockquote>Maria said nothing at all in response to this outburst. She just continued to drink her tea and look more demure than ever. And the more demure she looked the angrier Robin became. His eyes flashed fire, and his chestnut curls seemed standing straight up all over his head with fury. Maria as quite sure that if she had been standing behind him she would have seen the twist of hair in the nape of his neck twitching backwards and forwards like a cat’s tail. She drank her tea with maddening deliberation and spoke at last. </blockquote><blockquote>“Why don’t you want me to marry that London boy?” she asked. </blockquote><blockquote>Robin brought his fist down on the table with a crash that set all the china leaping. “Because you are going to marry me,” he shouted. “Do you hear, Maria? You are going to marry <em>me</em>.” </blockquote><blockquote>“Robin,” said his mother, “that’s not at all the way to propose. You should go down on one knee and do it in a very gentle voice.” </blockquote><blockquote>“How can I go down on one knee when I’m in the middle of my tea?” demanded Robin. “And how can I do it in a gentle voice when I feel as though I had a roaring lion inside me?If I didn’t roar, I should burst.” </blockquote><blockquote>“You can stop roaring, Robin.” said Maria. “You can stop, because for the sake of peace and quiet I have suddenly made up my mind to marry you.” </blockquote><blockquote>Robin’s curls flopped down on his head again and the crimson tide receded from his forehead. “That’s all right then,” he said with a great sigh of relief. “That’s settled. I’ll have some more parkin, please, Mother.” </blockquote><blockquote>Elizabeth Goudge, <em>The Little White Horse</em> </blockquote><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143485269626703118.post-5563363116519963682015-10-22T16:47:00.001+11:002015-10-22T17:15:15.122+11:00Chocolate buttercream frosting<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6-c9r1eoxHQ/Vih39n_52AI/AAAAAAAAJ-E/4O4cJxwT8v4/s2048/Photo%25252020151022164502879.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6-c9r1eoxHQ/Vih39n_52AI/AAAAAAAAJ-E/4O4cJxwT8v4/s500/Photo%25252020151022164502879.jpg" id="blogsy-1445494449571.023" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p>Yesterday, I made cake. I used our tried and tested chocolate cake recipe, the one that I've used over and over, and that always turns out well. But this time we tried a new icing, and it was just so head-over-heels fantastic that I wanted to share it here with you, just in case you wanted to turn somersaults too. It really is that delicious. Honest.</p><p><strong>This is what you'll need:</strong></p><p>250 g butter at room temperature, but not melted</p><p>3 cups icing sugar </p><p>1/2 cup cocoa powder</p><p>1 teas vanilla extract</p><p>4 tabs cream</p><p><strong>This is what you do:</strong></p><p>Cream butter in mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. While this is beating, sift icing sugar and cocoa together, and then add all at once to bowl, mixing on lowest speed (to avoid covering the room with sugary clouds) until combined. Add vanilla and cream, increase speed to medium and whip for three or four minutes until light and fluffy. </p><p>Be sure to make enough to taste-test a good dollop, because this icing is so good that you could just about forgo the cake and just eat it straight. </p><p>Why adulterated perfection with cake?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uJ6zNI0E990/Vih4FM9TF_I/AAAAAAAAJ-M/N0AVZ4Zxwco/s2048/Photo%25252020151022164503219.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uJ6zNI0E990/Vih4FM9TF_I/AAAAAAAAJ-M/N0AVZ4Zxwco/s500/Photo%25252020151022164503219.jpg" id="blogsy-1445494449525.8926" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yqmhhJV31uk/Vih4MLed14I/AAAAAAAAJ-U/9nLV3Pfwl_E/s2048/Photo%25252020151022164503483.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yqmhhJV31uk/Vih4MLed14I/AAAAAAAAJ-U/9nLV3Pfwl_E/s500/Photo%25252020151022164503483.jpg" id="blogsy-1445494449580.42" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q07zBzqZxYk/Vih4TVR_dpI/AAAAAAAAJ-c/btW09oe7MWQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151022164503772.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q07zBzqZxYk/Vih4TVR_dpI/AAAAAAAAJ-c/btW09oe7MWQ/s500/Photo%25252020151022164503772.jpg" id="blogsy-1445494449584.8687" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uVqtoupsaCk/Vih4ZctCFmI/AAAAAAAAJ-k/Iqm81UbDQkQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151022164504083.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uVqtoupsaCk/Vih4ZctCFmI/AAAAAAAAJ-k/Iqm81UbDQkQ/s500/Photo%25252020151022164504083.jpg" id="blogsy-1445494449535.453" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> </p>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09573473465011631325noreply@blogger.com9