4.14.2018

Holy Week Photo Dump

It just seems wrong to have the words Holy and Dump in the same sentence. Back in the day I used to do posts about each of our adventures. I seem to have trouble fitting that type of blogging in these days but this blog is also a sorta scrapbook and I like those memories being saved. So I'm trying just to dump a bunch and write about it. Some of this will be repeats if you follow me on instagram. 

For Holy Week, we did our regular family seder dinner with the kids helping me make matza. After using the same recipe for the last 6 years but never actually writing in down, the blog that held it disappeared and I was left scrambling. But I managed to find the ingredients list on another blog and I knew enough of the directions to make it work. So for next year, here's my version based on the one that used to be on the Tammy's Recipe's blog:

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup honey/sugar
2 t salt
3 eggs
1.5 cups water
6-6.5 cups flour (I've used all purpose and whole wheat but normally use a mix)

Combine everything but flour. Slowly add flour until its soft and smooth and slightly sticky (don't overflour). Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick, sprinkle with salt and roll one last time to make salt stick.  Poke with a fork a few times, cut into rectangular-ish shapes and transfer to a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-12 minutes. 






We also colored eggs the night before since we needed hardboiled eggs for the dinner. We did a marbalized technique where we added a bit of oil to the dye for a second dip and I really did not confident but it worked really well. Which of course meant sad kids the next day when I insisted we actually crack and eat them - even after Jonah had given each of his an individualized name! What can I say, I'm a cruel mother. 

The dinner itself went great. We upgraded to an actual script this year after just reading the bible and talking about them the last few. It was a short script but just enough to for the kids to get a bit more. And Norah was adorable because as soon as we sat down she kept asking "what is dat?" and "oh, and what is dat?" 






Good Friday we did a Good Friday nature walk that a local homeschool mom had set up. Despite the rainy cold days before and after, that Friday was actually nice out and the path was dry enough (although I made my kids all wear ALL THE RAIN GEAR just in case). And I actually took my good camera. Although that came back to bite me. The event had several stations that held signs and props with the bible story of Easter and we made story rocks at each. It was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again next year. And we had never used story rocks before but my kids have already asked if we can get paint pens and make more. 








Picnic fun with homemade leftover matza "lunchables"

But after using my good camera, I forgot to charge the battery. So I got a few Easter pictures at home that were too dark. Then I moved the kids to a better spot only to have Jonah accidentally elbow Norah in the eye as he sat down. So no good pictures then and my camera was flashing its battery warning at me. So I thought I'd just charge the battery while we finished getting loaded up for church and then I'd take some at church in our fancy new foyer. Except I'm sure you can see where this is going. I get to church, no battery. It's charging in the outlet right by our door, where I "wouldn't be able to forget it." So the one year I actually make sure the kids have cute Easter outfits, I have no camera! I took a few with my phone but Jonah and Norah are so bouncy its hard to get a non-blurry shot of them. I mean, Jonah tries so hard but he just doesn't get the concept of NOT MOVING. And Norah was looking at everyone BUT me. 







There, got one!


But all in all, a good week for celebrating our Lord and Savior!

4.05.2018

Classic Challenge: The Secret Adversary

I've read lots of Agatha Christie but never any of the Tommy and Tuppence series. The Secret Adversary is the first in that series and I do hope to get my hands on more.

It seems a bit less intense and something else that I'm having a hard time putting a finger on, maybe less, philosophical, than some of her others reads. By that I mean that a book like Murder on the Oriental Express has you thinking not just about details of the crime and the characters inner thoughts and motives but then also bigger ideas of justice and revenge. This is not like that. It's fast and snappy and a lot of fun. But it's still very clever and of course, excellent writing. It sucks you right in. Then there is the great twist. And while I do love Dorothy Sayers, I never really feel like I have a chance at actually figuring those out. Lord Peter is just much smarter than me. Maybe I've got a bit of change with Poirot or Miss Marple but it's a stretch. But here, I did pretty well without feeling like the answer was too obvious and contrived - maybe Tommy and Tuppence are more of my intellectual equivalents. I love mysteries so I'll take them on all levels.

The Secret Adversary is my Back to the Classics Challenge Crime Story. Check out more Crime stories over at Books and Chocolate. Since this is one of my favorite genres, I'm sure I'll be reading all the reviews for more books to add to my stack!