Dirt Cake—Ultimate Chocolate Edition

In our family, birthdays means choosing your birthday dessert a birthday dinner. Tomorrow, my older boy turns ten, so this is the perfect opportunity to share his chosen dessert, two years running. Enjoy!

Dirt Cake—Ultimate Chocolate Edition

From the kitchen of Lisa-Marie Duffield

Make a wish!

Ingredients

Layer 1

5 boxes chocolate pudding mix

10 cups whole milk

Layer 2

2 boxes cream cheese (8oz)

2 sticks salted butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

Splash Whole milk

2 tubs whipped topping (8oz)

Layer 3

2 boxes cream cheese (8oz)

2 sticks salted butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

Splash Whole milk

Layer 4

4 packages original Oreo Cookies

Instructions

A.    Prepare each layer:

1.     Make pudding per package directions and refrigerate to firm while preparing the other layers.

2.     Make the ganache layer (frosting + whipped cream).

                                         a.     Cream the room-temperature butter and cream cheese. Whip in the cocoa powder, vanilla, and powdered sugar, adding just enough milk to make a creamy frosting. Then whip for another 3-4 minutes.

                                        b.     Fold in the whipped topping, blending thoroughly. Set aside.

3.     Make the frosting layer.

                                         a.     Prepare as above. Set aside.

4.     Make the Dirt. Using a food processor (best), mixer, or hammer 😊, crush and completely demolish the cookes, in batches, until it is just crumbs that look like potting soil.

B.    Assemble:

1.     Decide how many rounds you want to do, based on your container. For the full recipe, using a large rectangular basin, I recommend just two rounds. But if you divide up into smaller pots, you could layer differently.

2.     For each layer, first spread out Pudding, then Ganache, then Frosting, then finally a generous layer of Dirt.

3.     Place the container(s) in the refrigerator to set firm and let the flavors blend, preferable overnight.

4.     Serve the next day. It is fun to decorate with gummy worms or plants (real or artificial but clean and not poisonous!).

On Fire

On fire is an apt description of my physical well-being over the last several days. It is no fun to have a fever.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? Or instead make my favorite, sour mix for an amaretto sour!

So while my fever was going I used the time to work on two projects that required me to sit and do nothing, which is all I was up for anyway. And there was a bonus VICTORIA!

Commentarii Latinii, Idibus Martiis

Ave, amici! Nomen mihi Gaëlla erat. Gaëlla nomen est quod in cursum linguae gallae do. Sed nunc nomen Latinum reperire necesse est. Nomen de sanctorum volo..........Optavi.

Ave, amici. Quid est nomen tibi? Nomen mihi est Isidora, de Sancto Isidoro de Hispalis.
Quid agis hodie? Bene? Ut valeo? Male mihi valeo quia aegra sum. Caput mihi dolet. Nunc dormitum eo.

Vale, amici!

[Traupman, John C. Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency. Chapter I, Greetings]

In ephippio refero. Back in the Saddle Again.

It would seem, looking at my last post in the Latin category, that I did already write about beginning a Latin Journal. My primary memories of this exercise when I took German are a dazzling display of the confidence that I felt at the end of the first semester when I held my journal in my hand after having successfully written it for seven times a week. The experience had worked wonders, and I could then compose actual German drawn from what I knew and could read and speak. I had moved the studied words into active usage.

Lovely, ne? But the truth of experience is more than the end result.

Victoria dulcior

Victoria dulcior quam omne solacium est.

On our way to Victory. This way to the Arc de triomphe!

Victory is sweeter than any comfort.

Victoria dulcior est: this is the motto for the mission.

I am on a mission to recover, uncover, discover the person that God made me to be. If I am to be an effective witness, I must begin with establishing a firm foundation. How can the dove fly away with no home to rely on. How can the Spirit find a new home within me if I am but a shell of the glory within.

God is no further away than your own heart in which he dwells.

Quid ad cenam paro : Trinidad Chicken Curry

What am I preparing for dinner?
A lovely new recipe for Trinidad Chicken Curry adapted from The Pioneer Woman.

In the beginning

I came upon this recipe because I was looking for things that one does with turmeric. Turmeric has many health benefits and is great from a food-as-healer perspective. It has long been known as an anti-inflammatory and is useful in helping to relieve a number of chronic conditions. And it doesn't turn your teeth yellow, which is always good.

There are many possibilities. You can sprinkle and cook it with all manner of dishes: smoothies, steaks, chicken, rice, pasta, eggs, potatoes, et al. I learned that it is one of the ingredients in mustard. Besides mustard seed, of course. But Hot Dog with Mustard wasn't doing it for me. So I came upon a recipe for Trinidad Chicken Curry, and it looked like just the type of thing to start from.

The Recipe

Trinidad Chicken Curry

"Native Turmeric Cooktown.jpg"
By John Hill (Own work)
via Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut to 1-inch pieces

2 teaspoons salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

1 whole onion

1 green pepper

2 Roma tomatoes

4 teaspoons (8 cloves) minced garlic

1 handful cilantro

1 Tablespoon lime juice (or key lime juice)

1/2 to 1jalapeño, chopped (optional)

2 Tablespoons (well-rounded) curry powder

2 Tablespoons turmeric

4 Tablespoons peanut oil

2 teaspoons coriander

Instructions

1. Start the rice. Nice sticky rice is best, so if you start it first in a rice cooker or nice and low on the stove, it has all the time it needs.
2. Place chicken in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and add mustard.
3. Chop and then add half the onion, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, green pepper, and black pepper (plus jalapeño). Add the lime juice.
4. Stir the whole mixture together so that the chicken is totally coated in the seasoning ingredients. Allow chicken to marinate while you prepare the rest, or this part can be prepared in advance.
5. Add curry powder and turmeric to a bowl. Pour in 3/4 cup water and stir until dissolved. 
6. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-low heat. Toss in the coriander and seeds and allow to sizzle momentarily. Pour in the curry mix cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly. The color will darken. Add a little more water if needed.
7. When the curry has become a thick paste, add the other half of the chopped onion. Then add in the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken, then cook, half covered, for five minutes.
8. Add in 1 to 2 cups of water. Stirring occasionally, cook for another 20 minutes.
9. If you like a more structured sauce, add the corn starch at the 15-minute mark by scooping out a tiny bit of sauce and mixing it with the cornstarch until smooth, then add that mixture back into the whole.
10. Add salt and pepper and fresh cilantro to taste.
11. At the end, be sure to taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve with chopsticks (because fun!) over sticky rice; spoon sauce over the top. If you want more vegetables, steam some in your rice cooker and serve on the side. I recommend asparagus. It tastes great with the sauce!
12. Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. AMEN!!

The Verdict

Who can go wrong with chicken curry? I didn't burn the curry paste, or the rice (thanks rice cooker!), so the dish came out great. Flavor-wise, this recipe is a keeper for me. This version has more vegetables per serving that most curries, and double that of the Pioneer Woman's version. If you are into fresh kale or spinach, this recipe would work well. Maybe I will try that with the leftovers. The intersection of the hint of lime and the sweetness of the coriander were an excellent backdrop for the spicy mixture of curry, turmeric, black pepper, and jalapeño. Bonus: the sweetness lingers on so the house smells great!

Attack of the Bubble Wands

This post is part of a series about ONE THING that we did in our homeschool this week that I loved.

See Listening Map, K. Edwards

Our Second Week of School is in the books! This week, my One Thing is the music appreciation activity we did on the Finale of the William Tell Overture, by Gioachino Rossetti.

Using the materials found at ClassicsForKids as a guide, first I told the story of the life of Rossini, then of Guillaume Tell. I had pictures of a flute and an English horn, and we did some eyes-closed imagining of pastoral countrysides in the mountains. Then I introduced the listening map.

Cue the music! We pretended to be the breeze, birds, and butterflies in the first section, dancing with abandon. At the call-to-arms of the trumpet fanfare, we grabbed our swords (bubble wands) and prepared to fight occupying soldiers. Needless to say, we were victorious, on the floor, and laughing when it was all over.

They asked to do it again. So we did.

And it is on the list of things to show Daddy this weekend!


Lesson: Music Appreciation
Age/Grade: K-2
Time: 20 Minutes
Materials: Guide from Classic for Kids has all the links and printables + tons of ideas.
http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/lessonplans/#rossini

Lent Prayer Chain

[Draft: I will write more about our prayer chain and family Lenten observances, but for now, please make use of my prayer chain documents if you like. Blessings upon you this lent!]

I printed the activity charts on different construction paper, 9 x 12 trimmed to 8 1/2 x 12 so that it fit in my printer. Dark blue = Ash Wednesday and all Fridays, Purple = M-Th, Light Blue = Saturdays and Holy Week M-Th, White = Sundays, Gold = Easter. You need to laminate the top banner, and hole-punch at top and bottom.

I stapled the chains. You may glue if you wish.

Et voilá!

In the morning we read the one for the current day but leave it on. We do our night prayers around the chain and tear off that day's link.

Here is the doc. Use and share as you like!

Lent Prayer Chain

Pax!

What to do when you have a hankering for apples and cheese cake, but it needs to be something you can share? A recent MOPS meeting was the perfect opportunity to bake up this goodness. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Apple Crumble

Lisa-Marie Duffield

Yield: 24 Apple Cheesecake Crumble Bars

Ingredients:

Crisp Crust and Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups regular oatmeal
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 6 ounces butter, melted

Cheesecake Layer:

• 1 (8-ounce) package softened cream cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 large egg

Apple Topping:

·         3/4 cup light brown sugar

·         1/4 cup all-purpose flour

·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling

·         6 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

·         1 lemon, zested and juiced, or equivalent lemon juice

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch glass pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and nuts. Stir in butter until finely crumbled. Pat 3 cups of mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, pressing to make an even layer. (Reserve at least 1 cup for topping.) Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. 
3. Meanwhile, make the cheesecake filling by beating together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, vanilla and egg until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked and cooled crust. 
4. Sprinkle apples with the juice of 1 lemon and stir. Gently spread the other ingredients over the apples. Stir evenly to coat the apples. Spread apple topping evenly over cream cheese mixture and sprinkle with reserved crust mixture.
5. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until apple filling is bubbly and topping is golden. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before cutting into 24 bars and serving.

French Club Curriculum

The following are the primary materials that we are using for our French Club learning this year:

1. L'Art de dire

L'Art de dire is available from nallenart.com
"For pre-readers and/or beginners in grades Kindergarten-3. A great introduction to learning French. Detailed lesson plans, reproducible teaching aids and a totally oral approach make this program ideal for teaching French to children who are not yet ready to learn to read in French."

I chose this curriculum for our family with French club in mind because it seems like it will be a good way for families to learn together at a gentle pace without any traditional study. It is easy to supplement with games, songs and daily repetition.

2. Play and Learn French

Play and Learn French is available at Amazon.com

We use this for some extra vocabulary in between L'Art de dire lessons. It is good for introducing parents to phrases and games that they can use to help create a French environment for immersion-style learning at home. I think it makes a good supplement to other learning materials or for those parents who already speak at least intermediate-level French. It would not function well as a stand-alone learning tool.

3. Yadeeda/Alan Le Lait

The French Songs of Alan Le Lait are available through Amazon.com

His main website is http://www.yadeeda.com/

The songs can also be watched on YouTube!

4. YouTube

The world of language learning is at your fingertips in YouTube, and below I have linked to my playlists for French Club.

But Be Warned!

There are ads on YouTube before many of the videos, and it is not advisable to leave your children watching a playlist unless you are handy to skip the ads as they begin to play. Even on children's content, the ads are not always appropriate for younger viewers.

Français en famille
This playlist is added to each week with a few videos to help reinforce what we did at French club. Listen often, even in the background.

Français: chansons enfants
French songs, nursery rhymes, ear worms. Great for listening to at breakfast or while mom and dad get dinner ready!

Français: dessins animés
When you are feeling brave, offer cartoons - in French!


Bienvenue au club Français!

This week begins another brand new adventure: French Club. Check out the tab at the top of the blog for posts relating to French club and keep up with our weekly progress!

Choo-Choo Cheese Snack Crakers

These Snacks are a delicious treat for train-loving kids and adults, but of course other shapes will do just as well. These are a good substitute for store-bought cheese crackers. The texture of store-bought ones are nearly impossible to replicate at home, but these are just as tasty. Enjoy!

Choo Choo Cheese Snack Crackers

1 cup All-Purpose flour

1 cup Quick Oats
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter
8 oz grated cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey jack or any combo)
1/2 cup cold water
Train cookie cutter, or similar (optional)

Tips: Have the oven pre-heated and all supplies ready to go before you pull the butter out of the refrigerator. If you work quickly you can then go from 0 to Crackers in 15 minutes.

 

1.      First pre-heat the oven to 350°. In the bowl of your mixer, stir salt into flour and oats.

2.      Cut the butter into 8-10 chunks and mix with flour and oats on medium speed until blended and crumbly. Then add grated cheese a handful at a time.
3.      While mixing, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough can form a ball. You want the dough as dry as possible without being flaky.
4.      Form into a ball and flatten out with your hands. Flour well and roll out to 1/8 inch. Flour both sides when finished.
5.      Cut the crackers into shapes. I use a train but any cookie cutters do fine. Pull out shapes and place on the first tray and get it in the oven. Then cut the remaining into random shapes by criss-crossing with a knife or pizza cutter. Do not re-roll. If you just want squares or rectangles you can skip the cutter all together, even cutting right on the tray.
6.      Place on un-greased cookie sheets (about three) and bake one at a time, putting the other trays in the refrigerator to wait.
Bake at 350° for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from trays immediately. Store in an air-tight container, unless all are consumed immediately!

Summer Baking: Summer-Style Banana Oat Bread

Hot

Hot. Hot. Hottie, Hot, Hot.

*!#@ Hot.

I know it is July, so this is to be expected, but it sure puts a crimp in my baking style. A couple of summers ago, it was so hot that I decided to forgo all attempts at baking or any oven usage at all. That method left us desperate for all things baked by the time cooler weather rolled around, however.

Since then I have been more creative at making the most of oven time inspired by a few simple principles: 1. Shortest oven times possible; 2. Shortest time spent near oven; 3. Make the best use of nighttime; 4. Revival of the Summer kitchen - outside.

What follows are a few suggestions based on these principles - and please share your own ideas in the comments!

Summer Baking Tips and Ideas

1. Instead of thick-crust pizza, make multiple pans of thin crust at the same time for shorter baking times.
2. Cookie bars. Have a favorite cookie recipe? Make it as a bar, spreading it into a pan (I always grease pan first. A little shortening will not cause you to have a heart attack.)
3. Spread it out. If you usually make something in one size pan, try a larger, flatter one, or a cookie sheet. This is the trick for Spinach Artichoke dip, plus the cheese gets a little crusty just like I like it!
4. Crock pots and toasters can help you heat up only the space you need.
5. Take it out! Plug that crockpot in outside on the porch and keep the heat all the way out! Or when hot things come out of the oven, leave them to cool in the shade outside (covered with a thin cotton towel to protect from critters). Set up tv trays on the back porch and move your hot dishes (with a lid of course!) outside to serve from.
6. Make it in muffins. This works for the standard items like cakes or even cookie batter, but meatloaf muffins and any casserole you can think of does wonderfully well in muffin format, too.

Summer-Style Banana Oat Bread

So, for your summer pleasure, I would like to share my delicious recipe for Summer-Style Banana Oat Bread. This recipe "Winters" by baking for an hour in two loaf pans. Yes, an hour with the oven on in the middle of July when the temps are 100° ? Yeah, I don't think so. So I spread it out into muffins and a large dish and shazam! 20 minutes.

Something else that gives this recipe a special touch is the orange blossom water. This little ingredient gives just the right hint of exotic to an already yummy treat.

“Where do I get orange blossom water?”

You’ll want to look for this wherever international foods are sold. It is the magic ingredient to real Belgian crêpes and can be used to add a gentle fruity hint to many Mediterranean and North African foods. And once you have a bottle there are many creative uses for it, like crêpes, Victorian martinis (add several drops with gin and vermouth), Ramos gin fiz, Crème brulée, as an herbal fragrance to whipped cream, meringues, buttercream frosting, pie crust, tiramisu, other sweet things, try it in your coffee or espresso or hot tea (Thank-you Tunisia!). The possibilities are vast!

If you really must, substitute each 1/2 tsp orange blossom water with1 to 2 drops orange oil plus water to make 1/2 tsp OR 2 to 3 tsp orange liqueur such as Triple Sec.

In the recipe which follows, you could deprive yourself completely and splash in a little water or skim milk instead. But be prepared for the consequences:

Wha?? No Orange Blossom Water?

How could you do this to me?

No! I can't go on!

Don't make me invoke Clause 374 of the Shadow Proclamation.
 (theft of an artefact of great cultural value
legitimises the use of lethal force to ensure the artefact’s recovery)

SO, Consider yourself warned! Try the Orange Blossom Water!

Happy Hot Baking, Y'all!

Summer-Style Banana Oat Bread

Makes 12 muffins and a 1 1/2 inch x 9x13 loaf.

Easy to halve if you only want one or the other.



Banana Breads are like a Pro-Life movement for bananas,
since only Yellow bananas are permitted to live in this house.



 Ingredients

 1 cup shortening
 2 cup white sugar
 4 eggs
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 cup all-purpose flour
 2 cup quick or whole oats
 2 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 1 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
 4 cups mashed bananas
 4 teaspoon orange blossom water
 

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups and grease and flour one 9x13 inch glass baking dish and set aside.
2. Stir together the dry ingredients and set aside: flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and pecans.
3. In a mixer, cream together the shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until fluffy.
4. Add dry ingredients. Layer on the bananas and pour in the orange blossom water. Mix until just blended.
5. Ladle 1/2 cup per muffin tin, then pour the rest into prepared dish. Put both into the oven at the same time. Bake for 15-18 minutes for the muffins (until evenly golden) and another 5 minutes for the dish. Let each set for five minutes in pan and then carefully remove to finish cooling. Sometimes it can be difficult to get the large loaf out of the dish without the bread breaking. Make sure you grease and flour the pan. I also recommend cutting it in half and using a large spatula or two to assist.

Being Hrabana: The scholarly research and writing of an early-medieval historian/historical theologian

Hrabana

Hrabana might seem strange and made-up word to designate research writing, but it's not just a word. Hrabana is my scholar alter-ego. She is Me. My "main guy" - medievally speaking - is Alcuin of York (+804), and Hrabanus was one of his more famous students. I consider myself a student of Alcuin, as well, if considerably less famous than dear Hrabanus. I intend to label my scholar blogs with Hrabana. I have been assuming Hrabana as persona for over five years in my research work. It helps me to get in the mood, as it were, for intimate scholarly pursuits.

Salve, amici.

Now that my Ph.D work and dissertation are behind me, I have returned to the study of Latin alongside my research and translation projects. There was a lot of translating in my dissertation, and I read and translate much better than I did two years ago, but I still have not conquered the task of being able to to JUST READ and JUST WRITE in Latin. This is my goal.

To be truly comfortable.

I have that in German and French, and I speak them well. I am pretty comfortable in texts with Italian and Spanish. Yes, my Latin is fine, but in comparison with comfort, I am just not where I want to be. So I have gone back to the beginning, using Adler's text and the aid of Evan Milner's Latinum materials.

In addition, one technique I have learned as both student and teacher of languages is aimed at the invaluble skill of writing. It is imperative to move the learned language from the left side of the brain to the right, and WRITING in it is the key to doing this. After that, the possibility of becoming a fluent speaker is attainable. I think, in the end, this is what I desire for Latin. To have speaking and thinking and writing and dreaming fluency.

Why? I just want it. I just do. So many of the texts I want to read and work with are in Latin, why not be able to "converse" with the author and with other people who like such texts?

I'd like to be able to breathe in Latin, rest in it.

While the days of my being able to go off to Latin groups or weekends is in the future because of my life and means, now is the time to begin to prepare. And whether or not I find a local Latin circle to connect with, beginning to write is Imperative.

So for a while, this blog will be the recipient of my Latin, such as it is. Just like I did for German and French and Italian and Spanish, both as student and teacher, I assign myself a daily journal requirement. It will no doubt be ridiculous at first, but hopefully after a few weeks will get better.
Valete, y'all!

Something New

It cannot hurt to try something a little different to shake things up! Welcome to my first friday Weekly Wrap-up...

In my life this week…

We are finally getting ready to settle down after weeks and weeks of upheaval. Bill began a new job over a month ago, but we have yet to take advantage of his ability to be home every weekend. This week we did a lot of activities out of the house and just played catch up on some of the household basics after being gone or gearing up for so long.

In our homeschool this week…

I have been doing planning and reading, getting ready to start our first project. I discovered the world of lapbooks, and we are going to do our first one centered around Trains because we are going as a family to the Day Out with Thomas event in August. I am excited about this project.

An idea, resource or activity that was a big hit...

I have been dreaming of having a piano, a recurring dream that grips me like a Ghost.

(Indigo Girls: "And I start to feel the fever of the warm air through the screen; You come regular like seasons shadowing my dreams.")

But I have a lovely guitar that I have twice started learning how to play but never seen it through. Now is the time. I know I still want us to have a piano, but I really love my guitar and it will suit my purposes just fine. All the other instruments that I play cannot be played while also singing! And I want to play and sing for and with my family.

So I got out the guitar today, and Nico was thrilled. Music adds so much to our lives!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I am new to lap books, but here are some of the links I looked at:
Lapbooking

Mini-books to get you started!

Lapbooking 101

Trains Lapbook

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We were so glad to have had a wonderful visit with Uncle Kent and Aunt Linda!!

My favorite thing this week was…

My husband coming home for the weekend. It may be a while before that is Not my favorite thing each week!

Things I’m working on…

Getting a better handle on a planning our time so that I get enough rest and work!

I’m grateful for…

Supportive family and friends

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Cyril and Bill rocking each other to sleep.

Here I Am

Nobody's worth comes from their job. Not from the money you make, nor the things you have. Not what you do with your day or from the people that you serve. Not what you create, buy, or sell. Not your awards, or your family, your husband, or your children.

Your worth comes from God alone, and you know it by doing what God calls you to.

Salve, amici.

A great deal has happened since I started this blog. It is too bad I did not keep up with writing about my writing, but probably for the best. Now, dissertation all but behind me, I have returned to the study of Latin. There was a lot of translating in my dissertation, and I read and translate much better than I did two years ago, but I still have not conquered the task of being able to to JUST READ and JUST WRITE in Latin. This is my goal. To be truly comfortable. I have that in German and French, and I speak them well. I am pretty comfortable in texts with Italian and Spanish. In comparison to many people, my Latin is fine, but in comparison with comfort, I am just not where I want to be. So I am going back to the beginning, using Adler's text and the aid of Evan Milner's Latinum podcast. In addition, one technique I have learned as both student and teacher of languages is aimed at the invaluble skill of writing. It is imperative to move the learned language from the left side of the brain to the right, and WRITING in it is the key to doing this. After that, the possibility of becoming a fluent speaker is attainable. I think, in the end, this is what I desire for Latin. To have speaking fluency. Why? I just want it. I just do. So many of the texts I want to read and work with are in Latin, why not be able to "converse" with the author and with other people who like such texts? While the days of my being able to go off to Latin groups or weekends is in the future because of my life and means, now is the time to begin to prepare. And whether or not I find a local Latin circle to connect with, beginning to write is Imperative. So for a while, this blog will be the recipient of my Latin, such as it is. Just like I did for German and French and Italian and Spanish, both as student and teacher, I assign myself a daily journal requirement. It will no doubt be ridiculous at first, but hopefully after a few weeks will get better.

Angels We Have Heard on High

The Eucharistic Prayer during Mass has always been the occasion for powerful encounters for me. When I altar serve (or have done, since my current parish doesn't make room for adult servers) it is always with great difficulty that I don't pass out. Of course that could be the acrylic talking, as in the hot robes, but I never experience that anywhere else. Some of my best revelations/conversations with God happen then, even when I am completely focused.

Today was Nico's turn. Right in the middle, just before the Epiklesis, he whispered to me, "Look, Mommy, here they come." He waves his hand in the air in an arc above the altar. "They're here," he said, "the Angels." I repeated, in our custom, "They're here, the Angels." He was pleased, and hugged me close.

They're here, the Angels.

The Ice Cream Truck Cometh

So this has been the status of things around here since last Friday when the ice cream truck made it's first appearance for the season:

Thank God we do not actually have this many cats.

Just Kidding.

Actually this is probably closer to the truth:


Survival Skill 101: The Scream: "When I scream like this, all humans, animals, plants, and even aliens are struck with fear."


This is a picture of Nico last year at the zoo when a sheep said, "baa." Nico must speak sheep, and whatever that sheep said so offended him that he let loose with Freak Out.

Apparently, Nico can also decipher the hidden messages in the creepy music of the ice cream truck, because he's been putting on his Freak Out whenever he hears it, bless him. On Friday when it came by we were outside on the front porch and our neighbors were visiting. He Freaked. So the neighbor actually bought him a popsicle. But it probably didn't help that the worker was missing most of her teeth.

He ate the popsicle willingly enough of course - he's never met a dessert he didn't like - but that did not serve to remove any fear. All weekend long - even at lunch today (Monday) - Nico has spontaneously asked, "Ice cream truck, it's okay?" and then he repeats it to himself several times (It's okay Ice Cream Truck) for further reassurance.

Today it came by, I was upstairs and Bill and the boys were downstairs. The ICT came by. A few minutes later Nico bursts into tears, sobbing. Bill finds him in his room, distraught, and he won't say why he's crying. Bill says to him, "Nico, the ICT is gone. It's okay." Nico: "Ice cream truck, it's okay?" B: "Yes. It's gone." Nico stops crying, but repeats "It's okay Ice Cream Truck." When I come downstairs, he cries out again. I pick him up and he talks to me about the ice cream truck. I assure him it is gone, it is not in the house, it just drives by.

It's tough being a kid sometimes.

I'm sure Nico is simply exhibiting an awareness of the danger of ice cream trucks, and their probable connection to clowns and mall Santas. He is ahead of his time, as this oh-so-very-true article from Avant News indicates: "London, August 29, 2009 -- Ice cream trucks, the ubiquitous roaming purveyors of frozen dessert products that infest suburban neighbourhoods around the world, announcing their arrival using strident, uniformly irritating off-pitch melodies, have been found in a recent study to be a leading international cause of insanity." (you can read the rest of the, ahem, "article" here.) :-)

Good Times, y'all. Pass the popsicle.

About Medieval Mama

Happy New Year, Cats and Kittens! It has been a while. Pregnancy and new baby and dissertation, Oh My! So lots is happening and I am excited about sharing. I'll start the new year with a little update to the blog: the About page. Here 'tis:

I am a medievalist, an historical theologian, a wife and a mother. My husband works in the fields of education and ministry. We are Christians, the straight-not-narrow kind. I became a mother in April 2008 and again in November 2010. My darling husband (DH) and my two boys, pumpkin (approaching 3) and mango (in his first months), are part of my soul.


We currently live in Springfield, IL. Besides being a stay-at-home-mother, I am writing my dissertation and plan to have finished in August 2011.


My hobbies include cooking and baking, knitting, crochet, and sewing, singing and playing the flute and french horn. I also love to read. I enjoy learning and using multiple languages, and I love computers and technology. I also enjoy sports and find myself being converted into being a fan with actual sports knowledge who watches, listens to, and talks sports. I watch little television and few movies, but Netflix has become a friend. I like swimming and walking and dancing.


In short, I am both a geek and a nerd.


As for lifestyle and parenting philosphy, my husband and I strive for simplicity. We aim for fiscal responsibility, not spending money we don't have and spending what we do have according to budget based on our values. I breastfeed, and we cloth diaper and enjoy cooking most of our meals and snacks from scratch. We don't believe in spanking but do believe in consistent discipline. We enjoy attending Mass every week and being involved in our parish.


But all that being said, I firmly believe in idea expressed in the following quote from Jennifer Garner from an interview published in Parade on Jan 24 2010: "I will tell you what I can’t abide—and I think the Internet has really created a space for it—women criticizing other women and mothers criticizing other mothers. It just makes me crazy, whether it’s between staying at home, going to work, how long you breastfeed, if you use formula. I feel like we should just assume everyone is doing the best they can. Women should take care of each other, not tear each other down."


I hope this blog is a place where we may inspire each other.

Pax, Shalom, Salaam: Peace to you all!

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Blessings upon this new year! Party on, y'all!