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I was wondering what I would share with you today so I decided to share with you one of my favorite things to do.

My youngest granddaughter Talia is 2 1/2 years old and her favorite thing to say is "Bubbe , Can I help you?"  (said without the l sound :) All I have to do is step into the kitchen and she high tails it to the laundry room to grab her stool. Before I can even say yes she is there beside me.

Sometimes she even let's Zemeira help us. Notice who gets the whisk and how get to butter the pan!

This day we were baking brownies. Friends were coming to lunch and they needed to be extra special.

And tehy were. We had hoped they would help our friend Michelle go into Labor ( it is our favorite wives tale) but it didn't.. But she did have baby Jacob a few days later.

I don't know what makes you smile, but this little sneak tasting the brownie mix which has eggs in it ( so her mama says she can't taste it) REALLY makes me smile!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get a chance to visit all the sites participating. We have so much fun doing Show and Tell with CanadaGirl. I hope you have fun getting to know us too.

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Tightwade Tuesday and Weblink Wednesday

 

Tightwad Tuesday is hosted by Canada Girl and you can go to her site and see a lot of money saving ideas.

 

Weblink Wednesday is hosted by SoCalVal and you can go to her site and discover the whole amazing world that internet has to offer you.

 

Today I am putting up a two for one. These are great links AND I do not have to spend any money on curricula. All I may have to do is go to the Library. (Okay Gas may cost more than ordering it online from Barnes and Nobles!)

 

Either way, I think the most fun part would be in the making of a quilt.

 

Follow the Drinking Gourd 

http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/family_learning_nook/Title_Units/UnderGround/supplements/index.html

 

 

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/sweet/sweettg.html

 

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1b/5d/71.pdf

 

 

 

The Underground Railway

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/

 

Decoding the Quilt blocks

http://educ.queensu.ca/~fmc/may2004/Underground.html

 

Have fun enjoying these links. There is so much out there and we have so much to learn!

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Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE! 

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports. 

 

To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff!

Okay Now you all go and do the same thing. The time is running out! I sure hope we win this, Tirzah could use it for her mission trip to Rwanda!

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I am home from my wonderful vacation seeing my mom and two of my sisters! We swam , went to the movies, played with Barbies and played with the beads in my little sisters craft room. The result 30 new Barbie necklaces!

For the 30 barbies my sister was given by a little girl who no longer wanted the naked, dirty, matted haired dolls. We worked magic on them!

As for my picture above... I am sure you all remember that I won a $25.00 gift certificate for Amazon from the Homeschool lounge. When I came home from my vacation, the books I ordered with the gift certificate had arrived! Hooray!

I am a Star is about a little girl who spent her eighth, ninth and tenth birthdays in Terezin Concentration Camp 15,000 children were imprisoned there, 100 survived. This is the Story of one of the survivors. Tirzah, my eldest Granddaughter as a mitzvah for her Bat mitzvah last year collected and made butterflies for the Houston Holocaust Memorial Museum. They were collecting 15,000 in honor of these children.

Terrible Things is an small child's allegory of the Holocaust. Little Rabbit sees the shadows of the terrible things, first they come only for creatures with feathers....and no one stops hem or questions why. The last line is "Sadly, Little Rabbit left the clearing. He'd go tell other forest creatures about the terrible Things. He hoped someone would listen." This book matters today as genocide is so prevailant and as I flew home this week I sat with a Chico State College student; as we talked about Darfur his response was "I don't know why we think we have to police the whole world." As we talked I reminded him that when we as nations said "Never Again" we meant it. And we didn't mean "ONLY never again if it is on our soil or affects my comforts." Compassion must be taught or all is lost.

Six Million Paper Clips is about the Midde School students in Whtwell, Tennessee, there class on the holocaust and how they decided to do something instead of just learn something. They counted paper clips, Six Million Paper Clips.

Selichot A Family Service and Rosh HaShana, A Family Service are the next two books. They are like a Hagadah, not for Passover but for Selichot (apologies, perparing for Rosh HaShana ) and Rosh HaShana beginning a New Year with a clean heart. There is a Chapter in them called Teshuvah. This is Malachai's (my eldest grandson) middle name Malachai means God's Messenger and Teshuvah means Repentance. Malachai is always the first to repent and the one that seeks to please the Lord with all his heart. These holidays focus on repentance and the books do as well.

So thank you very much Homeschool Lounge you have enriched my grandchildren's education and hertitage!

Now, Show and Tell is sponsored byCanadagirl, who I adore and missed terribly while I was away.So even though this is not Friday and I am still recovering from my vacation, HERE is my Friday Show and tell at last!

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Show and Tell with CanadaGirl is my favorite Meme. This has a special heart to it as what you share can be your great-grandmother's hand-stiched quilt, Your child fishing in the sewer (SoCalVal, I REALLY loved that one!) Curling Champions (who I couldn't be more proud of) or Birthday Cakes (I am in awe of). The mosaic of our Families come alive on Show and Tell with CanadaGirl.So come over and join us!

Purim is coming as quickly as Good Friday. Why? Because of  The differences in the Hebrew Calendar and Roman Calendar. This year we had a Leap day, the Hebrew calendar being Lunar, has a Leap Month this year. Passover and Easter are usually very close, this year they are a month apart. Purim is on Good Friday this year.

But this is a post about Purim, not Passover and not Good Friday.

Purim is not one of the Seven Feasts Commanded by God, but it is Biblical. On Purim, the WHOLE Book of Esther is read. For Children it is acted out. It is a day of costumes and laughter. ( Jewish childre do NOT celebrate Halloween, this is why they don't MISS it!) Doing a Play about the story of Esther is the children's favorite part. Why? Because they do NOT have to sit quietly and listen! No they shout Hooray when Mordechi walks on stage or someone says his name; they shout BOO and make as much noise as they can, spinning groggers (noise makers) banging on pots and pans and shouting BOO! every time Haman's name is mentioned. So loudly you are not to hear his name for it is Blotted out of heaven! And than there is beautiful Lovely Esther. The small town girl made queen. Everytime her name is mentioned or she walks on to he stage a collective AWE! with your hand on your cheek is heard. This truly is a child's celebration.

Dressing up for the beauty contest and wearing a crown while you are baking, what more could a Jewish princess ask for?

Like every Jewish Celebration (except Yom Kippur, that day you fast, but food follows) There is food ! And for Purim the food of choice is hamantachen. Why Hamantachen? Because they are cookies designed to look like Haman's Three-cornered Cap. Traditionally they have a poppy seed or nut filling, but any filling your children like is fine. Jams, Marmalades, even pie filling.

Other foods to go with this are finger type kiddie food ; fruits, veggie trays , nuts etc. This is a great time to pull out our fondue pot or chocolate fountain. Tortilla wraps with thinly slices cucumbers and humus is a favorite. Think Persian, stuffed dates, figs (fig newtons) .

 

Here is a recipe for Hamatachen

Hamantachen

2/3 cup Butter (softened)

1 cup  sugar

3 TBSP  honey

1 tsp Vanilla

3 eggs

3 cups all purpose Flour

1 tsp baking powder

In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in Honey, vanilla and eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Very gradually add in the flour and baking powder to the sugar mixture.

gently roll into a ball , wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for at least two hours and up to three days.

Filling can be pre-made poppy seed filling,  mincemeat or other pie fillings, thick fruity jams and marmalades or this traditional filling

2 cups pitted prunes

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup of walnuts

2 tsp grated lemon rind

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 TBSP sugar

1 egg lightly beaten

In a food processor or hand chopper, finely chop together prunes, raisins, walnuts, lemon rind and juice and sugar.

now let's make the cookies

flour the surface you will use to roll out your cookie dough. divide the dough in to quarters and roll each section to 1/8 thick. Now if you have a 2 1/2 inche circluar cookie cutter use that. If not, flour the rim of a drinking glass. Cut out the rounds and place on a greased cookie sheet, or parchment paper or silicone cookie sheet. Now add a heaping teaspoon of filling to the centers and pinch and fold the three side to make a three cornered hat. Brush egg over the edges.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until golden brown makes about 4 or 5 dozen.

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Traditions we do not keep.

A tradition for the adults has to do with the following picture.

This way you can clearly see that this is a picture of Mordecai. Flipped upside down it is a picture of Haman!

The tradition.... get so drunk that you cannot tell Mordecai from Haman!!! Really that is the tradition!

Here is a link to explain this Talmad teaching, A Holy Drunk

I prefer to Boo and Hiss! After all I am only, 5.1. Right????

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Why we actually celebrate Purim....

These Days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants. Esther 9:28

The Word of the Lord says so!

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I know many of you will be putting up Resurrection Celebration Links over the next few weeks, so I thought I would share one of my favorite Links. It is not for Easter it is for Purim which happens to fall on Good Friday this year.

Purim is a children's holiday celebrating Esther's victory over evil Haman. There are a lot of Jewish sites with lots of information, but this one is one of my favorites.

http://www.akhlah.com/holidays/purim/purim.php

My grandchildren will be doing a purim Play for their congregation, and being a part of the Resurrection Play on Saturday following and Easter Sunday. They will have a whole weekend of dressing up!

SocalVal hosts Weblink Wednesday. Head over and see what kind of gems the internet holds for you and your families.

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This is Show and tell hosted byCanadagirl. Today;s offering will show you just how small a town we live in How small you ask??? So small that I can list every shop on my fingers/

1. Holiday Market

2. The post office

3. The video store/ barber shop/ Hospital Lab and Physical Therapy Building

4. Susan's Coffee Shop

5, Happy Day Chinese Food

6. Pharmacy/ Dentist

7. Donut shoppe

8. Liquor Store

9 Fast strip Gas Station

And now after almost 5 years of planning, permits, county meetings on how this is going to disrupt the local merchants (all of which I listed) and about six months of actual building.

We loaded up the Mini van with the Grandkids, yelled "Field Trip!"

Listed it as Economics and off we went to the Grand Opening of.....

see our lovely pines reflecting in the glass

County Officals make statements for the newspaper

And they cut a ribbon!

How small a town is this that we actually went to the ribbon cutting for a RITE_AID????

Pretty small as you can see.

And the best pary of all...it has and ice cream counter like Baskin Robbins!

Life is good in the mountains of NorCal!

So now that you are totally rolling on the floor laughing at this lesson in Economics.....

Head over to CanadaGirl's blog and see what else everyone else is doing?

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Before I share my Show and Tell today , stop , bow your head and say a Prayer for Canadagirl's boys! They are off playing today Tomorrow AND Sunday in the BC World Games; Event ~ Curling! Lord bless them as they bless you!

Now Traditions! Can you hear the song from Fiddler on the Roof just by saying the Word? I love Traditions and this is one of my favorites.

"Pa" asking his grandbabies to be His Valentine!

Talia will you be my Valentine? A sweet yes and a kis for Pa follows.

Zemeira will you be My Valentine? Oh Yes Pa with much enthusiasm.

Are you still my Valentine Tirzah? Absolutely Pa!

Kezzi Will you be my Valentine? Pa I will always be Your Valentine!

Chai, Jaden Are you be Valentines too? The smiles say it all!

Traditions... was it so very long ago that he was asking Heather and Matthew to be his Valentine?

Have I really been His Valentine through 34 Valentine's days? God is so very very Good!

 

Ok, THIS Show and Tell is hosted by Canadagirl whom I adore with all my heart. If you hang out with her more, you will too! If you want to joing us, Head over to her blog, Read about her Talented Sons , say a prayer and then come a visit the rest of us!

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Saving money is a need for all of us from time to time, some of us All the time. I would love to say that this tip is from necessity, but it isn't. It really is poor planning and bad organizational skills.

You see tomorrow is my little sister's birthday. And once again I forgot to mail a card on time. Since there is a holiday around her birthday every year (Presidents' Day) even if I remember the Post Office is closed; like yesterday! So what do you do when you know she needs a card and because you care you send the very best???

Go to Hallmark of course! Not the Store  because if you go in there you are gonna spend a lot of money! And then you will loose your Tightwad Status. No you go here http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category2%7C10001%7C10051%7C-102001%7C-2;-102001%7Cproducts%7CE-Cards

Now they have cards for everyday, like Tuesday! http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category5%7C10001%7C10051%7C183073%7C-2;-102001;11443;-102034;183073%7Cproducts%7CWork%20and%20School

And as you can tell, Hoops and Yoyo are my favorite. So when I send one, it isn't because I forgot or am a Tightwad, it is because I love them and they are animated! I really do care to send the very best!

So this one is for you!

http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category4%7C10001%7C10051%7C-102034%7C-2;-102001;11443;-102034%7Cproducts%7Choops&yoyo

Happy Tightwad Tuesday with Canadagirl! Come by, see what everyone else is doing to save a penny. For we all know "a penny saved is a penny earned." B. Franklin Woo Hoo! I even made this educational!

Oh And there are links, so maybe even Weblink Wednesday can use this and then I was also a Tightwad with my Time!!!!!

Oh and while I have your attention, I was blessed with the Award from With A Taste of Chocolate and the Journey  and Me and my Boys .Boy I love those guys, they are Excellent, and they think I am too!

Now I remember when we rated our blogs and I didn't get an "E"! (okay well I remember the Letter, if I remebered the when I could link to it!) Anyway....

Now I know that The journey ,  With A Touch of Chocolate  and Me and My Boys are Excellent   If you haven't seen The Journeys new Butterfly background, YOU need to go visit her. And if you want to learn something NEW go to With a touch of Chocolate because I always learn something new and sometimes it is something new about myself. Me and My Boys makes me giggle as she shares her Boys Adventures introduces me to Webkinz ( They are scary to me cuz it means you have to SHARE the computer) and is dedicated to logging even with a finger hat SHOULD have stitches in it.  But now I am suppose to tell you about ten more excellent blogs.

Of Course there is  The house that God Built/ Raising four Godly Men She is rearing them for the Kingdom and for the BC Nationals in Curling !Pray for them and their witness of Christ  and also for their mama. Mama's need lots of prayers when watching their children reach for the stars. Not only is she excellent she is rearing excellent Champions for Christ!

And there is Less Of Me ~ More of Him Tiany and her blog are Excellent and As busy as she is, she just needs to know that we know she is excellent because there is "More of Him" on her blog and in her life and that puts "More of Him" in ours.

And Excellent friend is Linda at Faith in Love the love and grace of the Lord flows freely here and is an Excellent place to get filled up.

You know how excellent Training Hearts is if you have a Secret Sister , go to Blog Friends school and a million other places, like The new Lounge! She is truly excellent of heart and excellent at Training her girls and us as well.

Encouragement is needed everywhere in blogland and an Excellent place to find it is at Homeschooling with Encouragement I know all about Encouragement Along the Way (hee hee) and so does this amazing Sister in Jesus!

You may not know this Excellent Navy Wife yet, but you should My Journey Within is filled with love and Joy in the Midst of Separation; which in a Navy family is all too often. This Family is an Excellent example of all that is right in America!

This is the head of an Excellent Family, an Excellent Father Serving the Lord Jesus and his Family in the midst of our prayers for his little girl, Especially Heather. I am certain you know the faith and courage of the daughter, come and meet her most Excellent Father,

Counting Our Daily Blessings has become an Excellent place to go and visit. She has excellent insights worth taking the time to enjoy. It is always excellent to remember to count your blessings.

I have an Excellent New Friend that is in a far from Excellent environment, doing an Excellent Job to advance the Kingdom in her children and living it before the world. Come and meet my Excellent friend on her most Excellent Adventure at Homeschooling in the Kingdom.

And of course my most Excellent daughter who is training up my most Excellent Grandchildren while serving her most Excellent husband as he serves a most excellent congregation for a MOST EXCELLENT GOD! And she does all this while Homeschooling, knitting, spinning, weaving and being theYarnYenta!

So if you are searching for Excellence, these are amazing places to start! But the real truth is you are all an excellent part of the Body of Christ and of my heart!

 

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God blessed me with creativity early on in our marriage. Since my husband worked swings and mids much of his military career finding moments for each other was difficult at times. But we learned very early to take something I did for the kids and turn it into something natural. Really, it was simple. When the children have a bath I would wash their hair, so of course when daddy took his, he needed his hair washed too. They never suspected a thing until their teens, honest!

Creativity and romance go together and when you are a military family without family around to ask to watch the kids, well date nights include everyone. That includes Valentine's Day.

In our home romantic evenings meant an uninterrupted conversation over candlelight looking into eachothers eyes. Romance is the best gift kids can give their parents and parents can give their kids and they giggle doing it!

Our children would start a couple days before Valentines day or our anniversary creating our restaurant. They would create menus called something like Oh-la-la Cafe including the menu for the Special evening (which is great copy work) They would make napkin holders and decorations. Lastly they would pull out the card table and set it up in the Livingroom.  This would be our RESERVED table in our own restaurant.  Now I know lots of you have done this before only to have multiple interrupts. This is where creativity comes into play.

Since we have our own table in our own restaurant they are the wait staff. They bring the water, the meals etc. They are allowed to ask, "how is the meal and is everything all right."...PERIOD! This is manners training to perfection. This is what causes strangers to come up to your table when you actually do go out with them and comment on your children's behavior. And the best part is YOUR children know they are not to talk to strangers at a restaurant so they leave you alone. If they forget a simple, "Excuse me do I know you" , works wonders.

Now I am sure you are wondering if this was fun for the children. I would say absolutely, because my grandchildren do it for their parents as well. And the grandchildren have done it for us also. If something becomes a tradition, it was a good idea.

Top your night of with a movie in the dark (just like at the theatre) and two things happen, you get to cuddle and the little ones fall asleep, just like at the real movies.

This is my first Tightwad Tuesday with Canadagirl. Head on over for other awesome Ideas.