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~