Apply the Breaks!

In a testing week, things are pretty serious here.  Very serious and not all that fun.  So, we decided to make a cake.  Chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  During Lent. 

Good thing Mommy didn't give up chocolate.

A Boy's First Communion

You know, I am starting to question the gender balance with First Communion.  I really couldn't find blogs with advise on preparing for a boy's party, clothes or .... well ... just anything.  No debate, no tirades ... nada.  (That's Latina for "nothing").

So, in keeping with my son's newest passion to blend we will not be purchasing a white suit.  He will be wearing a navy suit, but with a white shirt and white tie.  A real tie, he will quickly and proudly point out.

A party is after mass, since we will need to fast before, I am sure everyone will be hungry.  So cookout, pool party ahead!

My daughter, on the other hand, is still undecided about what dress she will wear. 

Marco Polo - It's not just Pool Play!

So reading up on Marco Polo for the History class was pretty fun.  I was amazed at the significance that this one person's adventure had on exploration, not just for Marco Polo but for Europe.  Christopher Columbus made notes in his copy of "The Travels".

For the kids, going to Marco Polo at home is stepping back in time, but valuable none the less.  I found a few books at the library and thrift store.  I am looking at the "for kids" series (Marco Polo for Kids by Janis Herbert isbn 978155652377).  The Marco Polo one focuses on the countries and cultures he visited, so it is less about Marco Polo than with things he encountered on his travels.  The activities are a great help for kids that don't hours of inactive study.  The Who Was Marco Polo by Joan Holub (isbn 9780448445403) is an easier read than the Penguin Classics Latham translation of The Travels.

Although it is a great resource to look at as adult or teen, the text of the original is daunting. 

We also used maps to trace Marco Polos route to Asia and back.  There are trivial academia tirades on where exactly he went and what he did there, but overall, unimportant at this point in our studies.

Update:  Waiting on my library copy of You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Marco Polo!: A Really Long Trip You'd Rather Not Take to come in.  My kids have really enjoyed the "You Wouldn't Want" series.

  

Little Women Hospitality - Cleaning

Okay, so if you are dividing hosting duties and Cleaning is one of the sessions available -- take it!  Who wouldn't want a group of young ladies learning to clean to work in your house?  Okay, so it's not like cleaning the bathroom, but I am sure you have never dusted your living room ten times in the same day before. 

I think the girls liked the button game most of all.  The hostess hid buttons in various locations, behind picture frames, under brik-a-brac and other places that if they follow the directions for dusting properly they would naturally find.  Needless to say, the girls had a great competition to see who found the most.

The Literature Example comes from All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, as well as the button game.  I think the girls are awaiting their turn reading the excerpts with excitement ... both nervous in front of the other girls as well as eager to show off their skill.

Chill Zones for Florida - Apples Peaches Nectarines

We were looking at Varieties of fruit trees that will bear fruit in Florida. 



available online through groworganic.com

 There are some exciting new varieties out there, but we were stumped at the store nursery by the chill hours requirement for different varieties.  Frustrating, but although the nursery attendant really wanted us to take home some trees, they weren't able to tell us whether they were good for our area. 

With a little searching, here is the chill zone map for Florida from the UF Extension Office.

January through March are considered the best times to plant apple trees in North to Central Florida.  (Although it was mentioned that December was okay too.)

Here is a link to the Low Chill Apple Page at the UF Extension Office.

Update:   I found an interesting website that addressed apples grown in hot climates at Kuffel Creek.

Fort George Inlet at Talbot Islands Florida State Park

Todays trip was about seeing and feeling marine.

Hermit crab without silly glitter and paint.

A1A is that bridge.

The sand "was like walking in snow" another visitor warned us.

Not legal.  But, can you imagine the sound?  Amazing.

A jelly caught in a pool, spinning in circles.

Racoon went left.

Bird went right.

We went straight.

Sea slugs?

Succulents in the Sand ...

This isn't dry desert sand, this is salty salt marsh sand, but the leaves of these little succulents store fresh water for itself. Cool and pretty. 

Added bonus, no needles.

Little Women Hospitality - Cooking

This skill is so necessary, not only for our young ladies, but for our young men too.  It was a lovely connection for me to see the recommended reading as Little Men, by Louisa May Alcott.

Although it doesn't show up well in this file, the recipe cards and clippings are well contained in the plastic sleeves of page protectors.  We found recipes in various places, such as Tea and Cake with the Saints by Alice Cantrell,  Tiana's Cookbook (She is Disney's The Princess and the Frog heroine) and American Girl books. 

The girls learned of basic kitchen safety, measuring procedures and were able to make a non-bake recipe, (the facility was not equipped with a kitchen we could use).  If you are working with a similar space, bring in measuring cups, types of utensils and baking pans to let the girls become familiar with them. 

We are fortunate to have a food bank within our parish, so touring and donating items were very easy to arrange and carry out.

Betz-Tiger Point Preserve

I may get in trouble for this.  But .... the nicest of ladies, Elaine, mentioned that all the tourists seem to stop at Pumpkin Hill Preserve and go no further.  (Oh, it was a little painful to be catagorized as a tourist in Florida, but I can be a big girl and move beyond that). 

Why? It's hot, sandy, and really not a lot to see if you are not into hoofing it through the trails.  So they go home.    If you take the time to continue to the end of Pumpkin Hill Drive, there is the sign for Betz-Tiger Point Preserve and a lovely looking gate. 

The signs are quite beautiful as far as park signs go.  The entire drive into the park is lined by newly planted oaks, which will grow into a spectacular entrance. 

There is a set of toilets, clean and toilet paper was stocked.

a map of the island preserve, a bike rack,

and a pavillion with picnic tables. 

A very nice pavilion with picnic tables.

A ground level boardwalk leads to a dock on the marsh, and miles of trails wind through the island. 

There are also other educational signs along the trails. 

Pumpkin Hill Creek State Buffer Preserve, Cedar Point Preserve, Betz-Tiger Point Preserve among other areas are all part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic National Preserve, State Park and Jacksonville Park Preserves. 

Lemon Blossom and Orange Blossom

Which is which? 

Lemon blossom buds have lavender on the outside. 

Oranges are all white. 

Take a look!