Finding Things that Pinterest You

I was interested, but had been putting it off. Meggar gave me a tutorial today on Pinterest, and now I have a board to "pin up" my ideas and interesting pictures from other people around the world!

Cleaning on the Sabbath

Even though we don't believe in "working" on the Sabbath, I took advantage of Captain being at home to help me sort through the storage room in the basement. We needed to make room for all the extra STUFF that Meggar brought home for the college break. *Sigh* In about three hours, we had consolidated, reboxed, labeled, and restacked our own stuff related to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Halloween. That left only 6 more boxes of homeschool papers for me to sort later this summer (meaning six year's worth). I just can't bear to part with anything until it is properly sorted, labeled, reboxed--well, you get the idea. Success!
After our little project, we shared some Parmesan Chicken Pizza and wine out on the patio (yum!) Then we watched another episode of our newest favorite series on Masterpiece Theatre -- a modernized Sherlock Holmes. Note: Season One is on NetFlix Watch Instantly, and Season Two is on PBS.org link in case no one told you either. I'm fascinated by it. "The game is on...."

Good Food on the Weekends

My trip to the farmer's market means I finally have rosemary, chives, and lavendar again the herb bed outside the kitchen window. Perfect for adding to omelettes or egg salad sandwiches (which I shared with Meggar). Top it off with romaine lettuce from Tracy--so delicious.
Meanwhile, Dorito took Captain to Oklahoma Joe's for his first visit, and I heard that it was worth the 45 minute wait to get inside the 13th best 'hole in the wall' restaurant in the world. Here's a picture of the burnt ends sandwich with side of onion rings. Dorito ate the usual. Oh man!

8th Graders Set to Graduate

Last night, the twins and Captain went to the Father-Son Graduation Dinner for 8th grade homeschoolers at San Jose Steakhouse. I had reserved the back room for them, in keeping with a tradition we had started with both our older kids. Two diplomas were calligraphied and laminated (shown). Captain also found a poem to read along with a few wise words about being mature enough for high school. We have already gifted them with wrist watches, and they each chose a different style in keeping with their aim to no longer be "identical" type twins. Today they completed all their Algebra so they are officially graduated! Yea! But that means I am left without grade schoolers any more... I truly loved teaching middle school--now can I bear to part with the books and materials?!

I Met Willa Cather at the KC Library

Her dress was burgundy velvet with pink satin collar and cuffs. Her hat had an ermine fur band and feathers on two sides. Her pose and mannerisms were the same as this portrait of the famous author from Red Cloud, Nebraska. Crosby Kemper III interviewed Willa Cather (nee Jan Chapman) for KCPT at the Downtown Library to a packed audience, which included three of us from Book Club. How wonderful that she mentions her admiration for Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare, and Homer. How timely that our book club is reading "My Antonia" for June.

KC Symphony Tickets

Alison gave us two free tickets to the KC Symphony, so Dorito and I got our first peek of Helzberg Hall! Luckily, Dale was already driving to KC for hockey practice with the twins, and he could easily drop us off. The interior environment is magical with its glass-walled lobby overlooking KC skyline, and a blond paneled auditorium with excellent acoustics. We applauded the "Helzberg Jewel" concerto written in honor of the Hall's major donors. Next was a stunning concerto played by the Young Artist Competition winner--a 15-year-old Russian girl whose violin technique was flawless. Later came  an organ solo with the organist playing from the loft 30-feet above the stage floor. After the fun Slavic Dances, they final number was "Church Windows," a reverent and appropriate ending.

Mosaics of Mary for Art Co-op

Our last homeschool co-op started with potluck lunch (yummy) and ended with a pinata (fun).  My art project for students was to create a mosaic of the Blessed Mother during her special month of May.

My inspiration came from the mosaics which are beautifully pictured in a poetry book given to me by Aunt Barbara and are found in the Clyde Monastery. Those Missouri nuns are known for baking Communion wafers and for their relic chapel.

All the kids started off very enthusiastically cutting and gluing squares, but after half-an-hour they complained, "This is hard to finish" and "It doesn't look very good." But I assured them that art appreciation is partly about experiencing different mediums and partly about recognizing how hard the gifted artists did work to make their masterpieces.









Here is Winger's mosaic.

 Here is Dorito's mosaic. (Polar Bear's mosaic is not finished yet.)

Picking up candies.