Past due Pp Post

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We took our time on Pp week and now I've taken my time Posting all the Particulars. I don't always Post all we do along the Alphabet Path, but Pp was Particularly Packed and Pleased the People in my house enough to make it worth recording for Posterity.

Pp is for Packages delivered by Post.

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We don't know who sent it, or even the Place from where it came. Perfect Present for these little girls (and some brothers, too)! They so enjoyed making Paper dolls. Thank you to the Present Person!

Pp is for Pellets.

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Nicky is studying birds and, with Stephen's help (and not a little Persuasion), he dissected owl Pellets and reconstructed a mole skeleton.

Pp is for Peter!

Karoline was so taken with Peter in a Snowy Day that we read a few more Peter stories for Pp week:

Peter's Chair

Whistle for Willie

and we brought a Peter doll into our home to love.

Pp is for Painted Pebbles

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We painted stones a la Egyptian scarab stones, an activity in Global Art.

Pp is for Pope

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Lolek: The boy Who Became Pope

This book truly deserves its own Post. Nicholas has read it countless times since he got if for Epiphany. And I've read it aloud to everyone several more times. I can't say enough about the sensitivity with which it's written. Clearly the author-illustrator team has a deep love for John Paul II. I find the illustrations utterly charming and Nicholas was quite taken with finding the whisper-printed "Totus Tuus" in every illustration. Just a perfect, perfect picture book! Check out the website here.

Warning: it has ignited in my children a Passion for Polish Pottery;-)

Pp is for a Pink Princess Party

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Pretty, Pretty Pretzels. The Pink Princess book was also a present, from those Alphabet Path Pals across the country. Nothing like kindred spirits, is there girls?

Pp is for Popcorn Balls

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We love to make and eat these and now, we think they might have magical Powers;-).

Pp is for Patricia Polacco

The Lemonade Club

Thank You/ Mr. Falker

Ginger and Petunia

When Lightning Comes in a Jar

The Keeping Quilt

I Can Hear the Sun

Thunder Cake

Rechenka's Eggs

For the Love of Autumn

Chicken Sunday

Pink and Say

The Trees of the Dancing Goats

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair

Mommies Say Shh!

Luba and Wren

Nearly every Post on the Alphabet Path has its own Author Study now. We are enjoying becoming intimately acquainted with each author.

Pp is for Pedestrian

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Sarah Annie, always the dramatic one with timing milestones, has a Pp Post of her own

And, of course Pp is for St. Patrick, but we're Procrastinating a bit and we'll get to that next week.

Podcast Notes and Spring Cleaning Inspiration

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We're chatting about Cleaning and Simplifying today at the Faith and Family Livecast!

Podcast Notes:

Simplicity Parenting. At last, this is my favorite parenting book. I have never had a favorite before this book. It's not Catholic, but it's just good, plain common sense. Combine it with Lifeline, for a complete parenting library. Very simple;-).

CrazyBusy, Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap! This is lifestyle simplification for adults.

Simplifying Your Domestic Church a beautiful, thoroughly Catholic guide to bringing simplification principles to your environment.

Keep it Simple: The Busy Catholic's guide to growing closer to God. This is simplicity for your prayer life.

Homemaking Prayers

More Links to inspire your springtime clean-sweeping:

My Not So Simple Life

More on simplicity

Rhythm and Prayer

On Being Intentional and Making Lists

Why Bother with Cleaning? (But then, be sure to read this one and this one, too;-)

Laundry, Linens and Love

Homemaking Companion Notebook (with lots of forms to use, if you like)

More Home Management Notebook Links  (look to the righthand sidebar for lots of links)


Daybook

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Outside My Window::

::I can see my entire front lawn. It's a curious thing though because when I visit my neighbor across the street, it still feels like the day after a big snowstorm. I face south; she face north. Life is like that isn't it? It all depends on your perspective

I am Listening to::

::a whole lot of noise downstairs. Nine children--more or less--are cooking, eating, planning more eating and doing "pregame prep" in advance of the hockey final.

I am wearing ::

:: jeans and a cream colored sweater that is Mike's favorite. I have a date at the airport a little later, a date I'm very eagerly anticipating.


I am Thankful For::

::an amazing, unexpected avalanche of blessing in my inbox. You are dear, sweet, kind people and I read and treasured every single word.


I am Pondering:

::St. John of the Cross

"Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others."

This quote will define my Lent. And, of course, the St. Ephrem prayer is  back at the forefront for this holy time. Plenty to ask God's help with here:

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.  But give rather the spirit of  chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother; For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen


I am Reading:

::I have three different books that I'm eager to share with you here. I'm hopeful this week will present some pockets of time for that.

Oh, gracious! I wrote that last week. This week: book reviews, I promise.


From the Kitchen::

::It's spaghetti carbonara for lunch and homemade kung pao chicken for dinner. Not sure exactly what the game food is...


I am Thinking:

::that some thoughts are better kept private ;-)


I am Creating::

::new plans for Serendipity. Pardon the temporary closure. We're getting some work finished as quickly as we can. Feel free to email me if you absolutely must have a page this afternoon.


On my iPod::

:: I Have Been Blessed. Oh, boy, have I ever.


Towards a Real Education::

::Stephen was really ready to change gears for awhile. Since he's so into My Side of the Mountain right now, I downloaded this unit for him. It's so complete and he's really relishing the change of pace.


Towards Rhythm and Beauty:

::Basketball season has ended for the big boys and the Olympics will end tonight. Those two endings will make a good time for some beginnings of new rhythms. I'm very ready:-).


::To Live the Liturgy:

::a little complaint: is anyone else bothered by the "alleluias" in the compline at iBreviary? Alleluias during Lent? Didn't we bury those?

::I am Hoping and Praying:

::for Colleen and for Elizabeth deHority. Some people don't get to choose their Lenten sacrifices.

In the Garden:

::It's time to do a little cleaning up. I can see just a couple tulip shoots. Spring? Really. Oh, happy, happy day!


Around the House:

::The great basement cleanout continues. Slowly.

On Keeping Home:

::Part of the new rhythm is a new chore routine/rotation. It's time.


One of My Favorite Things:

::the way the light streams through the sunroom in the morning, awakening us to a new day of discovery there.


Sarah Annie this week:

::she turns 16 months this week. I'm not sure exactly when; what do you do with those birthdays that fall on the 31st? Whenever, my baby took her first steps the week she officially became a 16-month-old. I rejoiced again in the miracle of her. And, truth be told, I wept a little, too. My baby is a toddler.


A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:

::I'm dedicating the week to re-establishing some warm, bright rhythms in our home.

A Picture Thought I'm Sharing:

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When Karoline first saw Sarah this morning after yesterday's momentous event, she said, "Oh, Sarah Annie, today is the best day! Now you can walk and you get to be my best friend!"

Wouldn't you love to be Karoline's best friend?