Homeschooling and Daddy

I don't think I mention enough the great importance of the man I love in our lives, in my life. When I dream of what sort of people my children will be when they grow up, their father is the role model of a loving, unselfish, disciplined, impassioned, life-long learner I hope they will become. 

I can teach them about so many things; make sure they can read and count and know a bit about the world now and in the past. Yes, I believe fiercely in education, travel and hard work...but an educated, well-traveled, hard-working yet cold-hearted, greedy, power-monger is a more dangerous entity than an uneducated, lazy one. The latter will know better how to work the system and do more damage.

Kindness and a strong sense of accountability are to be developed as they move through childhood and out into the world. There are ways to cultivate it, as I try to cultivate wonder and curiosity too, but the best method is to have a good example of it right in your own home and heart. The ways their father proves this love and responsibility every single day, are, for starters, in the long hours he works. They are in the care he takes of us and the extras that go beyond it all. He is the one who will stay late to help with a church or show choir event, and still be up on Sunday morning making pancakes for everyone. He will take the sheets to the washing machine in the middle of the night while I help a sick munchkin get into clean jammies. He'll make sure the snow is shoveled for me, even if I have to leave at 4:30am for work. That's love.

I HATE the presence of phones, i-pods and computers at our table at any time...but I have to admire the ease with which we can share new information with each other. Thierry is an advocate for technology, and he is amazing at finding and sharing relevant, fascinating stories with us about events and people past and present. 

He uses the library; reading books he has heard of, books on topics he is pursuing (favorites: computer technology, relationships, money management, science and biographies of old heavy metal stars), and books he finds out on shelves that peak his interest. Duncan has picked up on his style; reading an eclectic mix and sharing endlessly with us bits and pieces of what he reads, both in books and on his dreaded i-pod. Cate emulates this in a different way; checking out each week a monstrous number of books on topics ranging from naval architecture to learning Italian.

As for self-control; Daddy wins every contest. There can be cake, donuts, fresh bagels, candy and soda in every corner of an office space, and he will calmly ignore it all, warm up his lunch from home in the microwave and eat it, rejoicing in his thrift and calorie-consciousness. He gained 4 pounds while in Germany a couple of weeks ago; he's lost them again already. This does not mean he does not have all the "savoir-vivre" of the French. A seven-course meal with wine is one of his greatest pleasures in life, especially if there is a drop of good armagnac to follow. 

And he's funny. He is way more fun than Mama. The kids used to have a "Mama's Gone Dance" they would do if I were going out, leaving Daddy in charge. Of course, he made this up to keep them from getting sad, but they would jubilate all over the living room if he started up the song. I think they still do.

His enthusiasm for adventure makes life a joy. He loves his travel time for his job, and, once we get everything packed into the car or plane, even likes to explore new worlds with the whole family. Although homeschooling was not an option Father would have Thought Best when we first started, at all. his support and belief in me have made it the marvelous experience it has been thus far. Thank you, honey!

A Visit to the Putnam Museum

 Sometimes a science and natural history museum can be more than you bargained for on a cold winter's day. A playground:

A building site:

A young artist's canvas:

A space in which to collaborate:

Or to cringe before the explosion...a lieu of discoveries.

Quiche, a Recipe

Quiche may be for you the only word you know in French or a favorite dish you remember from the eighties. In France, it is a perennial favorite and considered "quick cuisine". Let me share with you my composite recipe, based on collected recipes from expert quiche makers over the years.

Winter...like in Iowa

I have vowed not to post again until I could come up with something either witty or wise to write. As it has been almost a month, I guess either this blog comes to an end or I renounce my vow. Zut.

Weather report: Snow and sub-zero temps.  Again.  I guess it's weird being just fine with this weather. It beats 90 degrees in the sunshine any time.

Fashion report: long pants, boots, sweaters and big, warm coats, hats and mittens.  Still.  Anything less = stupid...or being a teenager.

Homeschooling:

Reading (just finished a read-aloud for 3rd grade Native American studies; "Indian Captive"), fabulous read! I forcibly signed the two youngest up for the reading program at our library. This is the program that I boycotted when the two oldest were young, back when I lived my belief in reading for reading's sake. With the introduction of video games in our lives, reading has taken  a backseat and I'm having none of it. Bribery it is; they have one week to complete the month-long program. What can I say? The prizes are good.

Writing; cursive and printing, English mostly, some French and a smattering of Spanish. I think Cate is learning Runes or Swahili this week, along with the German she is pursuing consistently. 

Arithmetic; the two girls, 12 and 17, have the pleasure of a weekly math seminar with our excellent math tutor. I attend too. I am almost up to the level of my 12-year-old. Determination WILL trump math phobia.

Geography and History: water has been our favorite topic the past few months. After Cate spent a week on a tallship, we were all curious to know more about our national waterways and islands far away. Last week, the Straits of Gibraltar were mentioned while learning to spell and not spell the word "straight". (Danggit, English is a tough language to spell.)  From there, we talked about other "ways through the continents," and the creation of canals to make that feat possible.

This weekend at the library I found a great documentary on the Panama Canal that we are watching this week; "A Man, A Plan, A Canal." The narrator is David Mccullough; an American author, narrator, historian, and lecturer, whom we know and love as author of books such as "Cathedral", "City" and "Mosque". Do you remember how many lives were lost in the first years of the largest construction project ever? Do you know how they resolved the problems that were killing workers? What the conditions were of the laborers and of the engineers? How about how it was changed from a digging to an elevation endeavor? Do you know the original name of the country of Panama?

Duncan, 15, is able to chime in on the dinner table discussions, as this is a topic he has been studying in school. He likes to be outraged about (and report on) the slave labor used, the horrendous conditions, the French failure and other unsavory aspects of the Canal. It's great to have a teenage perspective on the world; justice and defense of the underdog.

We baked an unpopular dish for our Native American study unit; corn pone. Charles insisted on making 2 versions of it; the unsalted, unsweetened dish that Molly Jemison of "Indian Captive," discovered upon her first breakfast among the Seneca, and the version her mother would have made back home, before she was kidnapped. The second version was delicious while hot, but lingered as a leftover. Clearly, my children have never known hunger. It was great corn pone, as corn pone goes! Recipe below.

We've been going to the Y to run around, swim and play basketball. It has honestly been consistently colder than the deepest level of  Dante's Inferno around here for way too long. I love sitting inside, by the fire, watching the snow fall, but it does not make for good outdoor play weather. The gym membership has been a blessing this winter.

Wisdom; none of my own, but brought to you by Rumi, the 13th century Sufi poet I've been reading for an evening class. He has something to say on every topic. Here are a few, from Goodreads. 600 more can be found at this link.

 

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.”
 

“Today, like every other day, we wake up empty

and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down the dulcimer.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”  

And one last gem,  really more appropriate for a Friday than for mid-week;

"Sit, be still, and listen,
because you're drunk
and we're at
the edge of the roof."

-Rumi

Corn Pone

11/2 cups cornmeal
11/3 cups buttermilk or yogurt with a little milk
1/4 cup shortening, melted
3TBSP. vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
11/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar or honey

 In a cast-iron skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Heat oven to 370.

Mix together; cornmeal, salt and sugar (unless omitting these last two for Indian authenticity). Add in buttermilk, melted shortening and eggs (add honey now, if you choose this option). Stir/whisk 2-3 minutes.

Remove skillet from heat for a minute, pour batter into skillet (watch the splattering of hot oil, this is an adult job.) Turn off heat, put skillet in oven, bake 20-25 minutes until done. Try to remove before the edges become black. This indicates burnt pone, not the best. Enjoy with a hot drink!

Choose to Be...a great parent, in shape, a cook, a runner, an artist

Inspiration this morning comes from here: Run Laugh Eat Pie, by someone my age (ach, giving that one away, huh?) on choice. Choice as in no whining, self-pity, grumbling or complaining about it; I can choose to be mindful with my children, make water my favorite beverage, get to bed on time, make homeschooling an extraordinary experience chez nous, make time to exercise. I can choose what goes into my body wisely.

The author is also an American in the Netherlands, living a life that I can relate to in some fun ways. Thanks, Renée, for this morning's great reminder!

Early AM Teacher Prep

I find that the best way to start a homeschooling day is by making sure certain things are done BEFORE the kids are up; a load of wash thrown in, the bread in the bread machine, tidying up the playroom where we do lessons, and one more, the most important; some me, alone time. A cup of tea, a little breakfast and some exercise in whatever form it may take.

Yoga has always been my favorite; you move and stay sane and centered all at the same time. The past two months, I have been limited to seated yoga. I've tried a few videos and lots of youtube choices. Here is my current favorite:
Seated Yoga with David Procyshyn.
He is not as pretty as some of the women instructors, and his voice can put you to sleep, but the workout is very, very well done, with clear, move-by-move instructions, (very important, as my body does not always go in the direction the instructor thinks it should), and no background music, lights or distractions; a nice green field and silent birds. My the time I am through shavasana, I am relaxed to the point of a coma, yet energized to start my day with the munchkins.

Always remember to only go as far as is comfortable for you, right now, in yoga poses. It is a practice, and with time, you will grow more flexible and gain more stamina. It is not a contest. Use the extra time inbetween poses to shake out your knees or wiggle your hips.

Namaste.

Book Review: Defenders of the Universe by Cate Chenus

I had the pleasure of finding this review of my daughter's book in my mailbox last Sunday. It is from Ann Haily, author of several children's books. Thank you, Ann!

A well-developed story line-good characters-sparkling prose! That's what you will find in "Defenders of the Universe: Book One of the Alyssandra Triolgy" by Cate Chenus.

This debut novel by a young member of the UUCqc community introduces a believable group of Defenders who are protecting the (clueless) rest of us from the destructive machinations of determined enemies: powerful mages whose goal is the destruction of all that is human.

From the stunning cover photograph to the final, peaceful scene, CateChenus held my interest with her fresh interpretation of the "save the world" genre. She draws upon first-hand knowledge of sibling relationships, the Scottish highlands, archery, martial arts, Paris, and

storytelling to write in an immediate, active style that moves the plot through this well-constructed story.

"Defenders of the Universe" is available from Amazon.com in a Kindle edition. So, sad to say, no autographed copies are available! However, when I finally sat down and looked on-line, I found it quite easy to purchase a copy for my computer or Android tablet.

For the price of a 90-minute movie, you can have several hours of great reading. Folks, treat yourself and buy this book!

I look forward to Book Two.

Regards,
Ann Hailey

DIY Cellulite-Fighting Lotion: French-Style

Weight-loss guides always speak of "rewards" you give yourself for goals met. What I really need is to keep my focus throughout the day so that I do not eat mindlessly while doing other things. However, I knew right away what I would treat myself to if I operated that way; the cellulite-erasing lotions I used to take the time to use when I was young, BC (or before children). I would gaze around the skin-care wall of the pharmacy, having been lured in by the posters promising the smoothest thighs in the world, and discuss potions with the pharmacist. The pharmacists and estheticians all agreed; the properties of caffeine were the best ones for battling cellulite.

In the years since, I have barely had time to think about massaging with those bumpy, hand-held devices with a special soap inserted inside, followed by 2 different creams, twice a day. I thought about buying one, then I thought about making my own, and here is what I found:

I wondered if I could add caffeine to the cream I already make. Pinterest provided the solution and here is the easiest one: (Modification: I still use beexwax in my mixes, just beat it a little more as it cools down.) Thank you, Mom Photographer, for a great recipe and a beautiful blog!

Homemade Coffee Body Lotion

Great Weight-Loss Blog, Great Recipe

Right here: Brooke not on a diet. This young lady, a local celebrity now, went from 372 pounds to 155. It took her 4 years. It took a lot of work. Hats off to Brooke! Check out her fresh, sweet, inspiring blog.

The recipe I found immediately irresistible is for French-fry Tacos, hers is a modified version. For our dinner for 7, I ended up throwing half the potatoes that were in the oven into a frying pan after 30 minutes, because that is a lot of potatoes for one baking sheet. For toppings, we added salsa, grated cheese and sour cream. I ate 2 small corn tacos for a serving and enjoyed every bite.

Weight-Loss Tips from Great Friends

On Facebook and by email, I have had responses from kind friends, sharing their wisdom and tips. I've compiled them here, feel free to add any of your own in the "comments" part below the post. Your remarks are welcome, and I read every single one, every time. Thank you!

1) Chocolate: (of course it comes first!) "Hi! My 'diet' hint is to eat Ghiradeli baking chocolate, 100% chocolate, no sugar, in tiny bites that I suck on. No chewing! I think it helps w/ low sugar problems, and I grew to like the taste somehow. (Other brands cannot compare.) It is not really possible to eat much of this."

2) The Power of Self-Image: "Not going to focus on the amount, just on how I feel. The sun and weather here are totally my friends." from a friend who recently moved to San Diego.

3) The Details: "Good luck! I have about the same amount I'm going to lose. What's worked for me in the past was counting calories. Drinking lots of water helps with hunger/cravings."

Note: I did go back to the "My Fitness Pal" app on my phone. I got very excited the first day; stayed within my calorie limits, but friends came by with goodies and I went over a bit. The morning after, I noticed an alert, telling me that my calorie level was neither sufficient to maintain health nor lose weight; not over! I figured setting it at 1000 calories a day would be a good way to start; 1200 is the minimum for a woman. Life is fabulous.

4) There were emails I can no longer locate about the importance of water and the habit of cleansing or fasting for a day or a week. I've had greatly appreciated offers from friends to walk or run with them; thank you!  

I woke up to a feeling of contentment with the universe, life, myself, including all body parts. This well-being, I believe, is at the root of moving forward. Love yourself. Love the divine in yourself, it is each one of us. When you love and honor the goodness that is you, because you are good, you can then love and give to the rest of your family, to the rest of the world.  

Even as I know this to be a profound truth, I can't help but wonder to whom I may give my extra 25 pounds? 

Gift to Me from a Loved One: Mama Fitness

My husband came home two days ago with groceries and a plan. It seems he does read my blog...who knew! As a birthday gift to me, he has offered to prepare meals and snacks for me with power foods that will help with my weight-loss, and not "because he doesn't find me absolutely beautiful, but because he doesn't like to see me unhappy." I love this guy. And he knows how to cook, too!

For those of you who do not wish to hear about what I had for breakfast (hi Mom), you can skip to the next post. If you are looking for meal ideas, by all means, scroll down. Have a healthy day!

Here is the list of foods:
sweet potatoes
avocados
bananas
pineapple
berries
carrots
whole grain cereals
chicken thighs
hummus
turkey
egg (1 per day)
nuts
salmon

Day One, Meals:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with dried blueberries and almond milk (sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon)
Snack: Almond milk with coffee (that's the way I drink it)
Lunch: Salad: artichoke hearts, tomatoes, roasted red pepper, pine nuts, red leaf lettuce, feta, all with an olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing, recipe below, with an ounce of mixed nuts (pistachio, cashew and almonds) and a shot glass of white wine
Snack: an ounce of mixed nuts
Dinner: out for date night, we split a grilled shrimp dish with onions and avocados, a few chips and salsa

Vinegrette: 3 T olive oil, 1 T balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, stir thoroughly, or make more and shake in a jar before use. Keep in fridge. 

A New Year, New Fitness Moves

I am not a maker of New Year Resolutions. However, the very air and the internet being full of them, I find myself reflecting too, on what the past year brought and what I hope to include in this one...or discard of, such as a number of pounds. Overall, I am fitter than I have ever been; I have increased my muscle tone, my strength, my endurance...the only problem is that it is still hiding under a nice layer of body fat. 

Weight-lifting, yoga, bike and other machines are the winter weather, broken-foot friends I meet with daily. I can do more sit-ups and leg lifts than I ever attempted in my younger life...and yet my weight has plateaued. Forever ago. I have never weighed so much outside of pregnancy. It stinks. I do not, though, weigh any more than this time last year. One small achievement.

So what is the next move?  I have the firm intention of sculpting my body into a goddess-like shape in the coming year. I mentioned this jokingly to a friend the other day, but I think it might just be the very thing for 2014, a goddess my age that is. I am aiming for health and strength above all, so that I do not have to interrupt exercise every other minute because of an injury.

How to go about it? We already cook all of our meals at home, except for the occasional date night out and the occasional coffee out...hmmm, those mocha lattes are really full of goodness...and sugar...and calories. Ditch those, substitute with green tea. 

We eat lots of fruits and vegetables, protein in lean meat, nuts, eggs and beans, almond instead of dairy milk, yogurt or fruit for most desserts, not many grains, an occasional rice cake, and water is the beverage served at the table, (besides dinner which usually means a glass of wine). 

No between meal snacking...or is there? Cooking and cleaning and hanging out in the kitchen are adding up to bites of this, a sip or two of the kids' hot chocolate while making it, handfuls of that (normally Ghiradelli chocolate chips), a glass of wine before dinner, some chips with the wine. 

This is a lifestyle problem. There is a lifestyle solution, I just have to find it. I've tried staying out of the kitchen...my darling husband is a great cook, but I need to do some of it, being the main person at home. I am weak, chocolate is a drug, and I love the whole before-dinner relaxation with my husband or while cooking alone. 

Would the French have a glass of wine while cooking? NO. They might have a drink before dinner, but it would be seated and planned. Do Americans usually have a drink before dinner? Ah, it would seem that some of us have a permanent drink happening in our giant-sized soda cups. 

I have a giant water mug from the maternity ward...the nurses finally took pity on me after being there for so many births in a row that they gave me my own mother-mug. It is equipped with a straw hole,  but it is made to sit by a hospital bed and it leaks when moved. Maybe I need to buy some straws or a fresh water bottle.

I am open to ideas that have worked for you. Do you have weak spots and how did you solve them? What are your fitness resolutions for the year?

Christmas Morning

The magic of Christmas morning...we are grateful. Where are the older two? Cate, in bed with bronchitis and Duncan can be seen off to the side doing what teens do best; texting. They would hate for me to put up pics in pyjamas anyway, sadly, those days are past. Hope yours was a happy day.

Cooking Children?

I may have a recipe for you, let me look in the box...it would seem that my used microwave was previously owned by an ogre. Fumbling in the dark to warm up a rice bag in the middle of the night (we keep the microwave in the garage), I blindly hit the buttons that should have run the Quick Minute setting, only to see this on the display, in an eerie, pre-dawn manifestation in the total darkness, accompanied by a series of beeps and the impossibility of opening up the door or changing the setting. I guess you would need that particular security feature to keep the little buggers in long enough to quit wiggling. The world and its wonders...

Holiday Letter 2013

Really, that's what it comes down to, my yearly December review, doesn't it? When the warm feelings of the season take over, I want to share the joy and well-wishes with friends, family and readers. So, a happy season of whatever you might be celebrating; from Christmas to  Hanukkah (even though I am late with my wishes) to Yule and the rest, humbug or not; may you enjoy whatever beauty you find in life around you.

The children keep growing; they tend to do that. Gael, the baby, 6, is sleepily nestled across my lap as I write under a big, red fleece blanket. He is a bundle of sunshine with more and more contrariness thrown in, that's OK, he is supposed to do that. Charles is in bed, as are his two sisters.

Duncan, 15, has already left for high school, where he seems to have a ball most days, and plays lead guitar for the varsity show choir. He also played football this year, and this mother has mixed feelings on that, but he had a goal, he worked hard and met it. Who knew with raw determination and work he could go from really slim to a broad-shouldered, muscular young man in just a year? When I worry about football, I just remind myself that I was also skeptical about show choir last year, and ended up loving the fabulous production the kids put on...and seeing my kid in the back with his black shirt, white tie and guitar. He is such a good person too; standing up to bullies and ready to soothe a tired toddler or calm down a struggling child.

.

Cate turned 17 last Friday. She published her first book this year, an incredible work of fiction; Alyssandra, Defenders of the Universe. She took the ACT on Saturday and narrated the Christmas pageant in church on Sunday. She is in love with tall ships, sailing and seeing the world. She spent a week navigating the Great Lakes last summer on the tall ship, Unicorn. Imagine a 2-masted giant from another era, or go here to see photos: Unicorn. Poor homeschooled child with nothing to do and no life. Since she began driving on her own, I have understood the need some families find to own three cars; up until the month of May, we were a one-car family! Her favorite winter activity, besides kung fu and indoor archery, is curling up with a book.

Then there is Valentine; my littlest girl, who turned 12 in November! She is incredible; full of vitality and kind-hearted. When she is not arguing with her younger brothers, she is helping them with their school work or staging plays with them in the basement. She is in 6th grade, and in our world that means the Romans, the Medieval ages, geometry, physics and business math. In reality, that is what she centers part of her day around, the rest is spent reading, playing with friends, dancing and at kung-fu. She is officially the best baker in the house; her cookies are fabulous, especially the ones with white chocolate and dark chocolate chips, or maybe it's the ginger snaps...

Charles is 9. He is my most kinetic learner. Boredom is just another word for "I gotta get up and play Legos." He has a gang of neighborhood kids that regularly show up to play outside. He is thoughtful, knits like nobody's business and draws fabulous pictures. Kung-fu has been something he loves and at which he excels, but he is ready to stop for now. Since this has been a pattern for my children around 9, I no longer why, it is a age of change. Dance, Girl Scouts, ice hockey, violin; these have all had their eras in our house. 

Thierry is well. He keeps himself in great shape biking 9 miles to work, rain or shine. His reading inspires me. He reads such a wide variety of books and articles that he always has something interesting to share with us. He is my exercise partner 3 times a week at the Y. It is so good to have someone else get out of bed at 4:45 too for that early morning class, especially on these dark and cold winter mornings.

As for working out; an exercise class (non-yoga) marks a new era in my life. Or at least it did, until a stress fracture in my foot stopped me in my tracks. It's healing nicely, and the frost bite on one toe is better too (honestly, the heavens have a great sense of humor).

I have only ever broken one bone in my life; a pinky toe, so this experience of sitting more is new. We have played so many games this past month; card games and Rummikub are favorites. I can't knit while playing "speed", but then again, it is so fast, you don't want to do anything else. Gael loves chess, and playing with him is quite the experience. Scrabble is my favorite; words rather than numbers, and hours of time between plays to knit.

My job has yielded good friendships and opportunities to be of help this year. Reading King Peggy and attending lectures on West Africa have given me more insight into the people I work with as a French interpreter. I wish I could spend some time in Africa; it is a world apart. Maybe someday. 

In the meantime; best wishes of joy, love and peace for the rest of these days of Christmas and for the new year!!! Think kind thoughts and be well,

Angela

PS. If you are feeling the spirit of the season and want to help one young lady succeed in her education, the "Donate to Angelique in America" button is an active one to the right. Angelique, whose story you can read at this link, arrived in the area last week from Africa; what a lovely girl! When she has enough for the first semester of college in the US, the button will be deactivated. Thank you!