Home's

Yesterday I was reading a version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from my  Seasons of Joy Spring Edition.. One of the suggestions, which I have done before with other books too, was to act the story out with some puppets.
So as I had not made any puppets I found three bears that we have around the house and a doll from the girls collection and used these with a few other small items like silk, a plate and spoon and a small basket to represent a chair.
As it was a beautiful day we went outside on the balcony and I used one of the play stands that Braedon had made years ago for a 'stage'.
The little ones really enjoyed this version of the story and the props were fun to use too.
After the story we grated some nutmeg by hand and added it to a honey milk drink.

I have never grated nutmeg before even though it is one of my favourite spices. I could not get over the beautiful aroma that was wafting around the kitchen.
As we grated we sang the little song that Annette uses
" Grate the nutmeg!
Grate the nutmeg!
Smell the nutmeg sweet.
Grate the nutmeg!
Grate the nutmeg!
Sweet enough to eat.

We made up our own tune as I cannot read music from the sheet. The children loved this activity and adding the fresh ground nutmeg to the top of one of their favourite drinks.

It is a wonderful experience to share the wonder of a story with children and then add that something extra as well.
Every time I do an activity like this ( Frances Lunch) I remind myself to keep doing it. That is until I get caught up in the basics of learning and forget to add the fun stuff.
But it is the fun stuff the kids remember and one of my goals as a mama is to make memories with the children.

What better way to do this!!
Linking with Annette today...

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

You can never have too many books right?

Of course right!
Well with my Amazon gift card from the older boys, yes I did use it once but actually made a mistake in processing- long story and had not actually used it.
So I bought these books with the money, and guess what I love them all!

 So here is a quick review on them so far.
Twenty Six Letters to Heaven I bought this one for Corbyn to use for his start to lessons instead of my Alphabet Path which I think might be a little too, um, girly for him.
I like the simple and yet crafty, reading structure of this programme.
A Christmas Dress for Ellen This is a most beautiful Christmas book, in fact one of my all time favourite books for telling the message behind the birth of the Christ Child.....pure unselfish love.
Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle This is a sweet story too but in my opinion the above book is a better choice if you had to choose.
Pheobe's Sweater I loved the idea of this and Pheobe's Birthday after reading about them from Nicole's blog. I really love them and two of my younger girls have asked for items from the book. So I need to start some knitting and sewing for them
Fancy Nancy: Pajama Day These four Early readers I got because both Moran and Myffwyn love Fancy Nancy. Well we all do really but I wanted to have these as an incentive for the girls to progress to more advanced books.
Fancy Nancy: The Show Must go On
Fancy Nancy: Sees Stars
Fancy NancY: At the Museum
Gyo Fujikawa's Little Library These I bought after falling in love with the illustrations. Yes I so love a great illustrated book, especially one with children in them.
These will be perfect for little Trahaearn to be read to and for him to look and hold.

So there you have it what we are snuggling up with to read with at the moment.

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Family traditions are so important don't you think?
Special occasions that bring a smile to your face!
There are so many opportunities for us to have these in our lives and  they are the ones we have that are to be treasured.

One of these for our family is reading from the books written by Russell Hoban.
Last week I was reading Bread and Jam for Frances to the little children. It was Arwen's choice for the day and when I finished reading it we decided to have a Frances Lunch.

Now we have had "Albert Lunch's" before from another favourite book Best Friends for Frances complete with a red wagon packed with luncheon goodies. We have had this happen so many times and the children have such fond memories of it.

So this day we made a new memory by creating a Frances Lunch. Then main thing in this lunch was the setting up of the  meal like in the book..

First we made paper doilies of which I had a few and as is Winter here I thought we could make some snowflake doilies too. However I really could not get the hang of it, I was so embarrassed. Here was this so simple paper craft and I could not do it. So in the end we went with a couple of my snowflake placemats and the bought doilies.
The next important item to have was the  flowers in the vase, followed by the egg in an egg cup.
As we did not have thermos we simply had milk in a glass.
For the food as we were having a lunch type of meal anyway - Frances has carrot and celery and we just used some leftovers and salad.

The interesting thing with these type of activities is the fact that while it was aimed for our little kids it was not long before we had more takers for our Frances Lunch.

Again I am so thankful to be able to 'enjoy the journey together' with our children, which is one of the most special aspects of living and learning at home.

Blessings to you and your homes,

 For my birthday this year I was given a fairly substantial book voucher by my older sons.

I worked out a wish list and then finally after much deliberation placed an order for the books.

Guess what? Today they arrived, well all except one that I am still waiting for. I can tell you there is much joy in opening a box full of books in our family. The children were all vying for their favorite new picture books and I was keen to look at my 'boring mother books' as the children call them.
I am really excited about reading them, some for myself and some to the children.
In fact I really should link to the books for you but I just am going to read them instead, sorry.

However you will certainly be able to find them on line from the title in the pictures if you are interested.

Any way have a lovely day what ever you do, and  me what will I be doing? I will be reading to my hearts content to our children and then a little for me too!

Blessings to you and your homes
,

For my birthday this year I was given a gift certificate for books from our older two sons. Truly they know what I love!!

As it was with Amazon I  created a wish list on my  account to try to narrow it down. However I was really very  surprised that when I made the list I did not have a VERY huge list as I usually do.
Of course I was trying to get books for me and not get picture books which are my downfall. I could possible start a Christmas picture book list or even an Easter one.

No that will very quickly use up my allowance :)

So I am sharing this here as an idea of some of the books I would like to get.
If you have any  advice on these books or other similar suggestions please do share.
There can never be too many books on the list!!

Blessings to you and your homes,

For a confirmed 'bookaholic' I was very skeptical and I admit quite scathing about the whole Kindle or E-reader idea.
I mean who would want to read on a small electronic device when you can have a choice of the many beloved and often sought after, especially if they are out of print books by favourite authors which are on our many bookshelves.

There is nothing like picking up a cherished book, no a friend and opening up to the first page knowing what will be coming but still waiting to be captured by the print within the pages.
I love to see collections of favourite books on the shelves in our home all neatly lined up together. In my rare free times I enjoy walking along just gazing at the spines of the books knowing we have so much to offer our children in the depths of the many pages of these books.
I love being able to see the joy on our children's faces as we look for a book together as see some of the books we have read and start to reminisce about the time we read that one aloud together.
So it was a small, perhaps a large surprise to my family when I indicated that I thought I would like a Kindle.
What? How can that be? 'Why would you want a Kindle Mummy?'

A fine question and I would attempt to answer that here!
Well it all started when I was reading Wheat Belly on my computer and found that I really did not like reading a book on my computer as it tied me to one place. It really wasn't portable and frankly you can't take your computer to bed to read with you now can you?
However I was committed to reading this book on our new found journey and therefore persisted. I was at this stage investigating e-readers and talking to my friend Erin about it as she (being quicker on the uptake with technology) already had one.

As I was reading Wheat Belly I also was researching this way of eating and came across another book I was intrigued by Nourishing Traditions. Now although I had seen this I wasn't real interested in paying the price for a paperback AND having to wait for it to be delivered internationally. So I just waited.
As it turned out another friend told me you could download books for Kindle on to your computer and still be able to transfer them at a latter date to a Kindle.
Thus began the downloading on to my computer of books:  first off the Nourishing Traditions book (which I am keen to share) and then some others BUT still I was tired to the computer which I seriously don't like.

So in discussing this Autumn said she was interested too and wouldn't it be fun to get them together.........and we did.
We talked about how it would never replace reading the favourite books we own and that it would be, for me mainly a way to read those 'how to' books I love.
But it has become so much more than that!

I really love my Kindle! Yep! There it is!
I do love it. I love how I can have access to so many FREE classic books on it that I DON'T have to wait for. As soon as I 'buy' them they are instantly on the Kindle. Yes many of these classics are on our shelves but I still like to have them on the Kindle too, perhaps that is the bookaholic in me :)

I have even put other free books I have found on the Internet as well as free booklets on 'how to' etc on from my computer.
I love being able to get other free books too. I recently enjoyed a great fantasy series that I got for free and most of all I love getting access to the books immediately.

One of the best aspects of my Kindle is that I can take it with me when I run errands or have appointments. I don't have to worry about the book being bent or damaged while out and it slips easily into my backpack and I have many 'books' to choose from on the Kindle right at my fingertip
I know you all take along at least one book (or two) like me to have just in case you have a few minutes to spare and can read while you are out. In all honesty I usually take two in case I am not in the mood for the first one and I take along some hand work as well, knitting, embroidery etc, in case I don't want to read. After all a girl has to be prepared for anything doesn't she?
Come on now tell me you all  do this too? I am not alone out there and I?

So with all that is there anything I don't like?
Yes. I don't think the battery lasts as long as I thought it would.
For me and this is a purely personal one  I don't like how I can't just skip to the back few pages and see how the story ends ( I know lots of people don't read this way but I always have. I read the first few or more, find the main characters and then check to see if it is an ending I am happy with and then continue reading form the start).

I did think I would be able to buy books like All Year Round and other planning books and not have them spread all around me when planning Feast days etc, but I found that I can't get them on Kindle and even if I could I now know it would be difficult to 'flick' from one book to another easily.
So my planning books will still be 'hard copies' which I have decided I like better anyway. It is far more visual for me and that is how I plan best anyway.

So for me I am sure I will continue to buy books the old fashioned way and I will continue to buy books for my Kindle (and get free ones too).

I will live in the best of both worlds: both on paper and on screen.Life is Good!

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Just thought I would share with you our listing of favourites within our family~

Favourite Family Movies ♥

As I am interested in other people and what they like to read and collect I thought it might be fun to see what others have on their bedside tables or bookcases and have a little link party!!

To be part of the fun simply take a photo of the place beside your bed where you collect all your treasures, whether a small chest of draws like myself or a beautiful table or simply a stack of stuff  and then tell us what you have on or in this this space.

You may or may not tidy up first, which ever you feel comfortable with and then simply add your link to this post.
Please, spread the word so we can all have a little peak into others head space too. Perhaps we can even pick up some decorating ideas or books to read as well.

So on my bedside table I have~
My bible
My prayer book that has had the cover torn off it and greasy fingerprints on
a bookmark from the children
A lamp with various Madi Gras Masks and Birthday felt crowns on it
A recent embroidery from Rogan for Christmas
A Sunbonnet Sue embroidery from Autumn some years ago

A WHOLE collection of books ( I won't mention the basket full beside the bed ) in various stages of completion - some nearly finished and some barely started or being read for the third or more time
Mothers Treasury of Prayers
Season's Of a Mother's Heart
Mitten Strings for God
Story Telling With Children
The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder
You are your Child's First Teacher
For the Family's Sake
Heaven on Earth
Mockingjay

Sometimes I even clean it and often have a few pieces of craft, some flowers from the children and a cup of coffee, (all on this quite small space) but not today.

Well thank you to any one who would like to join in and I look forward to seeing other inspiring bedtime places!

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

These books are ones we have enjoyed reading in our home. I must admit that some of them cause me to cry every time I read them (and frankly I could never read some out loud because of this) BUT they do inspire me to be a better person living the 'CHRIST'mas message in my daily life.
I am sure we have some others but just can't find them at the moment! For other book lists for Advent and Christmas visit my Book Blog.
I hope you enjoy~
The Christmas Shoes 





The Christmas Journey

The Christmas Secret

A Lakes Christmas




















Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Have you ever have a book that you read over and over?
Of course you do, as do we.
This of course can change at a moments notice.
However at the moment our little ones are getting whoever they can to read this one So Much!

It has been a much loved favourite for many years. In fact it was first introduced to our family when Saxon was a very little 'tacker' and he picked it up from the library. He loved this book right from the start and I must admit it is one of those books that is fun to read aloud. I love to do 'all the voices' as Jo March says in Little Women.

So last week we had this book read so many times a day I lost count. I think it holds many precious memories of holding an excited little child and  reading together enjoying this special time.

I especially love to re visit those favoured books from when the older children were little as it draws the family circle closer together I think.

So what are some of your family's favourite books to read over and over again?

Blessings to you and your homes,

As we are a book loving family and books play a large part of our education and free time. I though I would ask the children to update their lists of 10 favourite books or series. I have these on my side bar for some of the children  and looked recently and wondered 'are they still the same?'

Interestingly enough some are the same and some are different for each child. The other significant  fact is that we definitely have some family favourites that we ALL love to read.
I haven't linked to any of these books but they are all (I think in print)

So on with the children's lists:

-Autumn-
 All Agatha Christie's Mystery books.
The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy -Clare B. Dunkle
The Inheritence Cycle- Christopher Paolini.
The Belgariad series - David Eddings
All the Regina Doman Fairy Tale Novels.  (Except  The  Midnight Dancers)
The Chronicles of Narnia-C.S.Lewis
The Royal Diaries series
The Betsey,Tacey (series)-Maud Hart Lovelace
All of  l. M. Montgomery's books
All of L. M. Alcott's books.

EDEN -
The Redwall series -Brian Jacques
The Belgariad series - David Eddings
The Rangers Apprentice series -John Flanagan
The Sun-Sword trilagy - Belinda Murrell (oops these ones are out of print)
The Inheritance Cycle - Christpher Paolini
The Hollow Kingdom Trilagy -Clare B. Dunkle
The Inkheart Trilagy- Cornelia Funke
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman -Brian Jacques
Little woman - L. M. Alcott
The Squires Tales-Gerard Morris
All Of Regina Doman Fairy Tale Novels

Comparing with 2 years ago for Eden's favourites were-
Nancy Drew Mysteries
Ranger Apprentice Series
Redwall Series
The Royal Diaries
The Sunsword Trilogy
The Year of the Black Pony

 SAXON~
The Inheritance Cycle- Christopher Paolini
The Rangers Apprentice Series- John Flanagan
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman- Brian Jauqces The Lord of the Rings-J. R.R. Tolkein
The Penderwicks Series- Jeanne Birdsall
The Melendy Quartet - Elizabeth Enright
The Regina Doman Fairytales
All the William books
G. A Henty books
Midshipmen Qunn Collection

Saxon's list from 2 years ago~
All the William books
Rangers apprentice
The Belgariad Series
The Hobbit
The Inheritance cycle
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The Melendy Quartet
The Midshipman Quin Collection
The Penderwick Series


The Inheritance Cycle-Christopher Paolini
The Rangers Apprentice Series-John Flanagan
The Chronicles of Narnia- C. S. Lewis
The Inkheart Trilogy-Cornelia Funke
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman-Brian Jauqces
Little Woman-L. M. Alcott
The Eagle of the Ninth-Rosemary Sutcliff.
The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy-Clare B. Dunkle
The Mistmantle Chronicles-M. I. McAllister
The Squires Tales-Gerard Morris
All the Regina Doman Fairy Tale Novels.

Comparing with 2 years ago for Vellvin her favourites were ~
Bells on their toes
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Complete Star Wars Dictionary
The Inheritance Cycle
The little House Martha books
The Penderwicks
The Rangers Apprentice Series
The Royal Diaries: Isabel
The Sun sword Trilogy

ROGAN~ 
The Mistmantle Chronicles-M. I. McAllister
Addy - American Girl Series
Enid Blyton stories
The Little Red Shoes...Hans Christian Anderson
The Penderwicks Series- Jeanne BirdsallThe Spiderwick Chronicles - Holly Black

Next up is the favourite Picture book series!!

Blessings to you and your homes,

I know, I know, the title is SO obvious if you have known me for any length of time. We are huge book lovers in our family and the Education of our children has been based around a living book ideal. We have been blessed over the years to build up  a fairly extensive library.

We have made exhaustive use of the public libraries but have reached at each one the stage where there is not much new material unless we research and order it in on intra-library loans.
Just recently we were able to order a significant amount of new books. Some of these were books we had read from the library and were wanting to add them to our own library....what we call 'keepers'.
Some were ones we had had 'our eye on' so to speak for a while.
When ordering these from Book Depository I tried to get a variety of books taht would appeal to our whole book loving family.
Above we have Some Rosemary Sutcliffe ( a favourite with just about all of us), Redwall Series ( Stephen, Kynan and Eden's favourites) The Hollow Kingdom series (part of, more still to come) The Mismantle Chronicles, Rogan really started to love reading from this series (with more to come) and Alex O'Donnell and the 40  Cyber Thieves (always a line up for these books) and Story of the World Book 4
The picture books are a huge success with all of us: We have some new Patricia Polacco, I think we now have an almost complete collection Daniela Drescher picture books and the latest Elsa Beskow.
Today we received Saxon's favourites the Murderous Maths series, two new Fancy Nancy books (everyone's favourites) and a 'Mummy book' for me. We still have a few to get that we are looking forward too.  We all rush down to check the mail for a car to pick up the parcels from the post office!!
Funnily enough on the day we received this big book of new books the children wanted to go to the library and get some books.
Who knows why as we had some very excited children starting to read the new books.
However getting new reading matter is always fun no matter where it comes from So off we trooped to the library and came back with a fairly descent haul. Not to big for us ........only three bags full.
And of course where their are books in our house there you will find at least one person reading. As soon as I put them into our library baskets/boxes Saxon and Vellvin sat down to read some.

We keep all the library books in assigned baskets in an assigned area (the area can change in the house) but you must read them near the basket or bring them straight back to the basket if you are an older child as soon as your finish reading them. This we I can keep track of the books and have less chance of losing them . It has worked for us for a very large number of years.

So having books all over the house means we can be assured of children all over the house too☺. Not good when you are looking for them to do their jobs though!
It is a joy to see our children LOVE spending time reading, and thus opening their horizons to many interesting tales and lands.
This is the blessing of a literary lifestyle, one I am so glad we embarked upon many years ago.

Good reading to you all this night!!

Blessings to you and your homes,