Author: Sarah

Adventures in Cooking: Maundy Thursday Lamb Dinner

1 Comment

J+M+J

Ever since my friend commented to me that her older sister was making lamb for supper on Maundy Thursday, in commemoration of the Passover Supper that Jesus ate, I have wanted to try it out. Last year I forgot about it, but this year I was on the ball, and we did eat a leg of lamb for supper. It turned out very tender, and even Maria (who had insisted she wouldn’t like it,) ate a good portion.  Joseph must have really liked it, because he inhaled it even before he ate his bread and butter, usually the first to disappear off his plate.

lamb1

lamb2

A+M+D+G

Vivaldi Loving Bird

1 Comment

J+M+J

Romeo has had a whistling explosion ever since I started playing Vivaldi in my room. I decided I would use my camera to record him so I could try to put a video on my blog. Please tell me if you can see it, ’cause I’m not sure how this works yet. I didn’t ask Dad for help, I just started exploring my blog tools.

romeo-loves-vivaldi

A+M+D+G

One Year of Penelope

Leave a Comment

J+M+J

One year ago today, I brought home my first cockatiel. I remember picking her out, she was my choice because she was swinging and chirping, and I admired her beautiful pearls. When lady who worked at the pet store got her out for me, she stood on my finger for a moment and looked at me, and I knew she would be a pet who wasn’t afraid of me. So I brought her home. When I tried to get her into her new cage, she bit me very hard out of fear, which made me wonder if I had picked a brave bird after all. I had ten days to decide whether I was going to keep her or take her back for a different one, so I chose to wait a while and let her adjust to the new surroundings.

A few days later, I was seriously considering taking her back for another bird. It already knew how to whistle, even though it wasn’t as pretty. Fortunately for Penelope, only five days after I had bought her, she sealed her fate by coming out to me, something Clover was too afraid to do. So I kept her, and I am so happy I did. She is a wonderful bird who likes everybody in the house, and she comes begging for head rubs constantly. Even though she doesn’t whistle, she has a beautiful little chirp I love.

Penelope enjoys some French toast off my plate.
Penelope enjoys some French toast off my plate.

A+M+D+G

Alexander’s 5th Birthday in Pictures

Leave a Comment

J+M+J

 

Alexander and his presents.

Alexander and his presents.

 

Landon decorated Alex's cake in chocolate chips.

Landon decorated Alex's cake in chocolate chips.

 

Alexander's candy necklace. It was gone by the end of the day. Alexander also had a tummy ache at the end of the day.

By the end of the day, this candy necklace had been eaten. Alexander also had a tummy ache. Coincidence? I don't think so.

 

I took this picture because Alex loves his age, and has been telling people he is going to be five ever since he turned four. If you come to our house, he will probably tell you that he is five, but he's turning six soon.

I took this picture because Alex loves his age, and has been telling people he is going to be five ever since he turned four. If you come to our house, he will probably tell you that he is five, but he's turning six soon.

 

It took a while for Alex to blow out his candle. Joseph is trying to get Alex to play with his new WALL-E and EVE toys, which were his birthday presents.

It took a while for Alex to blow out his candle. Joseph is trying to get Alex to play with his new WALL-E and EVE toys, which were his birthday presents.

 

Another attempt to blow out his candle.

Another attempt to blow out his candle. I think he got it this time.

A+M+D+G

Third Place!

1 Comment

J+M+J

Tuesday I was the captain of a quiz bowl team, and for the first time we got into third!

This is me and my quiz bowl team.

This is me and my quiz bowl team. We are all homeschoolers.

My trophy

My trophy.

Brandon Valley is the name of the school that was hosting the quiz bowl.

Brandon Valley is the name of the school that was hosting the quiz bowl.

A+M+D+G

Sunday Evening Pictures

1 Comment

J+M+J

 

Chocolate cookie face.

Can you tell he has been eating chocolate cookies?

a-sunday-evening2

First Joseph told me to get the camera, then he became grumpy and said he didn't want me to take a picture.

a-sunday-evening3

a-sunday-evening4

a-sunday-evening5

 

A+M+D+G

Cuddling

Leave a Comment

J+M+J

 

Joseph requested this cuddling session, and Alexander followed him.
Joseph requested this cuddling session, and Alexander followed him.
Here you can see Joseph better, but I must have been blinking.
Here you can see Joseph better, but I must have been blinking.
I almost fell asleep.

I almost fell asleep.

 

A+M+D+G

Flight Suit

Leave a Comment

J+M+J

The other day, Maria uncovered the flight suit (pretty much a bird diaper) I have for Penelope. I had put it there about six to eight months ago, when Penelope was not big enough to wear it. I was so happy when I tried it on her, and saw that it fit perfectly. Penelope is not as pleased as I am, though.

img_1430
“Get this thing off of me! It is an embarrassment! You better not take a picture of me and put it on your blog, I can’t bear the thought of everybody seeing me in this ridiculous costume!”

John Paul enjoys being able to take Penelope everywhere without worrying about her soiling his clothes.
John Paul enjoys being able to take Penelope everywhere without worrying about her soiling his clothes.

A+M+D+G

Pysanky

1 Comment

J+M+J

A few weeks ago, Maria, Landon, and I had the privilege of going to a class were a woman gave a lesson in decorating pysanky. (pi-san-kee) Pysanky is a Ukrainian method of decorating eggs by dipping them in dye, covering the areas you want to be that color with wax, and then dipping it in another color and repeating the process. The finished result is gorgeous. Here are some photos of eggs not done by me to show you how elaborate these can become.

Pysanky is also very symbolic. This egg features designs of three lines meeting and three ovals meeting, and represents the Holy Trinity

Pysanky is also very symbolic. This lovely egg features designs of three lines meeting and three ovals meeting, and represents the Holy Trinity

pysanky4

 

This egg has fish, a symbol of Jesus and Christianity since the Roman times.

This egg has fish, a symbol of Jesus and Christianity since the Roman times.

Now, for pictures of my egg. On our eggs, we did two different designs. On the first side, we did a design that was taught to us by the woman who was doing the class, and on the second side we did what ever we wanted. Here is the first side of my egg.

pysanky1

The other side.

The other side.

 

A+M+D+G

Wild Bird Sightings for March

Leave a Comment

J+M+J

Early this March, I saw a bird of prey I had never seen before. It was smaller than a red tailed hawk, and had a redder breast than any other hawk I had seen. Later, I identified it as a peregrine falcon. I was exited to have another bird to add to my bird life list. (A list of all the birds I have ever seen.)

Mid March brought a HUGE bird to our backyard. It was a turkey vulture, which I have seen before, very far off. They circle a TV tower in Sioux Falls, and I can see them from my ballet studio, but I never realized just how big they are. (A wingspan of up to six feet!)

This doesn’t quite count as a sighting, but throughout March Mom, Dad, and I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl that has been living in a group of trees behind our house. The great horned owl has the famous ‘who, who’ call, and is the only owl living in South Dakota that does. I am fortunate to have heard it.

A+M+D+G