Home School Sharing Night

This has become an annual tradition, timed for when Great Grandma and Grandpa Pietsch are in town for Thanksgiving. We all gather at Holly and Casey's beautiful home for an evening of recited poems, Latin readings, geography and science fact demonstrations, and music recitals! We are truly impressed with the range of learning and knowledge which Holly and Christina {Jake's Mom and the preschool teacher} are imparting.

Craft projects included an ocean diorama and indian costumes for the preschoolers Jake and Ivy, a telegraph machine by Drake, and a charming advent swag.

Blessings

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.

~Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)

With Greatgrandparents in Town

to appreciate the activity, playing in the back yard is way more fun. Tree climbing, teeter-totter, slides and swings. They all have more charm with a fresh audience.

I Heart Faces~Sun Flare

This week at *I Heart Faces* the theme is Sun Flare~that capture of sun in the lens that creates interesting spots and flares of light on the photo. {It reminds me somehow, of skipping stones on water.}
Once I realized that it was OK to face your camera directly into the sun! all manner of interesting, cool effects were possible! I'm still learning :) !!

Check out other lovely SUN FLAIR photos this week.

Living Lovely--Savor Slow Food~Late

I think I'm over a week late on the living lovely challenge from Heidi at Mt. Hope Academy {savor slow food} but I needed Heidi's and my trip to Bob's Red Mill to get some ingredients for this Gluten Free cranberry bread. {That's my lame excuse anyway.}

I'm happy with the way it turned out, though it may not be quite as moist as the wheat version that I used to make. {see the recipe Heidi posted last week.} This cranberry bread is made from the recipe on the back of the GF Biscuit and Baking Mix package. In addition I added 1/4 cup more sugar, some grated orange peel and 1/2 cup nuts to make it a little more like the original recipe.



{Bob's Red Mill is a wonderful source for gluten free grains and mixes of all kinds as well as regular wheat and whole grains, spices, and all manner of yummy stuff!}

Our Fall Photo Shoot

from last week, when Ilex and I went exploring and looking for Fall beauty, resulted in some fun and exciting photos. {I'm trying to get out of my box, when it comes to settings and backgrounds. Can you tell?} Ilex is a great sport! {and a beautiful model, I might add.}

This train trestle makes for a little drama and I tried some different edits on one of my favorites.

This one has a couple of actions in Photo Shop then just sizing, frame and sharpening in picnik.

This one starts the same as above then 'Ambrotype' at 50% in curves (picnik)

This one has 'Faded Daguerreotype' at 50% (also picnik-curves)

The Little Things-Sunday Citar

Check out freshmommyblog.com for more beautiful photos and quotes.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back

and realize they were the big things.

~Robert Brault~

Fall Beauty-at I Heart Faces

Most of the leaves are off the trees now, and on the ground, most yards have been raked and the piles hauled away. This spot however, that Ilex and I found down by the river the other day, has been left in it's more natural state, and there were plenty of leaves, at least on the ground. She could hardly shake any more loose. It was a stunning place to enjoy the afternoon.

This is my entry for *I Heart Faces* photo contest this week. The theme is fall beauty.

Teach Me Your Paths

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Psalm 25:4

Courage

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

~Cynthia Ozick~

Gratitude

I'm joining freshmommyblog.com this week in her

*sunday citar*

with this autumn collage

and a favorite quote for the season.

Go on over to enjoy some of the other fine photos and quotes.

His Lovingkindness

Ilex~Take Two

Ilex is our sweet 13 year old

who loves to;

sketch birds,

write poetry and short stories,

care for small children,

Read,

volunteer at the animal shelter,

spend time with her grandparents,(yay)

and doesn't own a cell phone.(three cheers!)

She's a little bit dreamy...

(her mother would say her head is sometime in the clouds :))

Vintage Trucks~ Make Great Backdrops

Time with the grand kids doesn't ALWAYS turn into a Photo shoot-honestly.

But I thought we'd take a little time out yesterday, after the history lesson Ilex and I usually do on Wednesdays, and also from the work Drake came over to do with Poppy.


Drake would much rather be doing this...

Than this! :-)

But isn't he handsome, though?

Ilex, on the other hand, seems to enjoy 'modeling' for me and it gives me much needed photography practice!! The result is that I get WAY more pictures of her. (sorry Drake!)

We took full advantage of Poppy's vintage trucks. ('Future projects', you know, but hey we kind of like them like this!)

I'll be posting a few more later.

To Perceive Freshly

It is only necessary to behold the least fact or phenomenon, however familiar,

from a point a hair's breadth aside from our habitual path or routine,

to be overcome, enchanted by its beauty and significance ...

To perceive freshly, with fresh senses is to be inspired.

~Henry David Thoreau~

This post is in response to Heidi's 'Living Lovely' challenge for this week.

I Heart Faces~Balloons

This balloon cluster was given to Leif's brother Luke at his birthday party, but Leif soon appropriated them and attached them very securely to his trike. There was no way they would be wrested from him now! not by gust of wind or by big brother!

The theme is balloons at I heart faces. Check out all of the other great entries at...