I am getting behind with our blog!
I have a few things to post...hopefully i will get the chance to catch up this weekend.
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Friday, 23 March 2007
Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise The Lord!
This is going to be our memory verse for this week.
It is from Psalm 150 v6
I love this verse. it is so uplifting, & reminds me to keep my eyes on the strength of The Lord, as opposed to my own weakness & shortcomings.
We do a lot of memory work. Below follows the system we use to keep our scriptures that we are learning/have learned in order.
It is taken from www.simplycharlottemason.com
Scripture Memory System
Recitation
The instructions below outline an easy-to-use system to help your family members develop the habit of memorizing and remembering Scripture. By spending just five or ten minutes a day, you and your children can learn and retain hundreds of verses.
First, a word about memorizing, or recitation. The Charlotte Mason method of Recitation is not cumbersome, yet works amazingly well. The method is simply this: once or twice each day read aloud the verse or passage you are memorizing. As the words become familiar, the family members should join in saying the parts they know. Continue the one or two readings a day until all family members can recite the Scripture together with confidence.
It doesn’t matter how long the passage is. In fact, your family should memorize longer passages regularly. Simply once or twice each day read the entire passage through until everyone can recite it together. Don’t worry about how many days it takes for everyone to memorize the selected Scripture. Hiding God’s Word in your heart is not a race; it’s a lifelong habit.
Read what others are saying about this Scripture Memory System.
The System
Step One: Get an index card box and forty-one tabbed dividers that fit inside it. It doesn’t matter if the dividers have letters on them; you can flip them over and use the other side for labeling.
Step Two: Label the dividers as follows and place them in the box in this order:
1 divider — Daily
1 divider — Odd
1 divider — Even
7 dividers — Days of the Week (Sunday, Monday, etc.)
31 dividers — Numbered 1-31
Step Three: Copy onto index cards (or slips of paper) any verses your family already knows. Record both the reference and the text of the passage. If you don’t know any yet, don’t worry — you will very soon. Place the verses you already know behind the numbered dividers, distributing them evenly.
Next write cards or papers for verses you want to memorize. (See our Verses List if you would like some suggestions.) Put one verse card or paper behind the Daily divider; this will be the passage you’ll work on memorizing first. Then stack the rest of the verses to be learned in front of the Daily divider to learn at a later time. At the beginning, you won’t have any verses in the Odd and Even or Days of the Week slots. Don’t worry, they’ll fill in; see the next two steps.
Step Four: Each day you will say together the verses behind four dividers:
Daily
Odd or Even
Day of the Week
Date of the Month
So if today is Tuesday, the 3rd, you will say the verses behind Daily, Odd (because 3 is an odd number), Tuesday, and 3. The next day (Wednesday, the 4th), you will say the verses behind Daily, Even, Wednesday, and 4. Keep in mind that only the verse behind Daily is a new one that you are memorizing; all the others are just review.
Step Five: As you master the verses behind the Daily divider, advance that card and move the replaced verses farther back in the box. So when you have memorized a Daily, move it behind either the Odd or Even divider. Move the verse that was in that Odd or Even slot back to a Day of the Week slot. And move the verse it replaces in the Day of the Week slot back behind a numbered divider. You can then put a new verse or passage to memorize behind the Daily divider and you’re ready to go again.
In this way, you will review a new verse every day, then graduate to every other day, once a week, and finally, once a month. Use the system every day of the month and you will review all the verses you know every month of the year! Of course, not all months have thirty-one days; the verses behind 31 will be reviewed seven months out of the year. We recommend putting verses that you know quite well behind that number since it gets reviewed less frequently.
When you have advanced enough verse cards that you have one placed behind each numbered divider, start at 1 again and add another card to each. Soon you’ll have several cards behind each numbered divider. And eventually, you’ll have memorized so many verses that you’ll have enough cards to expand to two boxes! What a wonderful milestone that will be!
I love this verse. it is so uplifting, & reminds me to keep my eyes on the strength of The Lord, as opposed to my own weakness & shortcomings.
We do a lot of memory work. Below follows the system we use to keep our scriptures that we are learning/have learned in order.
It is taken from www.simplycharlottemason.com
Scripture Memory System
Recitation
The instructions below outline an easy-to-use system to help your family members develop the habit of memorizing and remembering Scripture. By spending just five or ten minutes a day, you and your children can learn and retain hundreds of verses.
First, a word about memorizing, or recitation. The Charlotte Mason method of Recitation is not cumbersome, yet works amazingly well. The method is simply this: once or twice each day read aloud the verse or passage you are memorizing. As the words become familiar, the family members should join in saying the parts they know. Continue the one or two readings a day until all family members can recite the Scripture together with confidence.
It doesn’t matter how long the passage is. In fact, your family should memorize longer passages regularly. Simply once or twice each day read the entire passage through until everyone can recite it together. Don’t worry about how many days it takes for everyone to memorize the selected Scripture. Hiding God’s Word in your heart is not a race; it’s a lifelong habit.
Read what others are saying about this Scripture Memory System.
The System
Step One: Get an index card box and forty-one tabbed dividers that fit inside it. It doesn’t matter if the dividers have letters on them; you can flip them over and use the other side for labeling.
Step Two: Label the dividers as follows and place them in the box in this order:
1 divider — Daily
1 divider — Odd
1 divider — Even
7 dividers — Days of the Week (Sunday, Monday, etc.)
31 dividers — Numbered 1-31
Step Three: Copy onto index cards (or slips of paper) any verses your family already knows. Record both the reference and the text of the passage. If you don’t know any yet, don’t worry — you will very soon. Place the verses you already know behind the numbered dividers, distributing them evenly.
Next write cards or papers for verses you want to memorize. (See our Verses List if you would like some suggestions.) Put one verse card or paper behind the Daily divider; this will be the passage you’ll work on memorizing first. Then stack the rest of the verses to be learned in front of the Daily divider to learn at a later time. At the beginning, you won’t have any verses in the Odd and Even or Days of the Week slots. Don’t worry, they’ll fill in; see the next two steps.
Step Four: Each day you will say together the verses behind four dividers:
Daily
Odd or Even
Day of the Week
Date of the Month
So if today is Tuesday, the 3rd, you will say the verses behind Daily, Odd (because 3 is an odd number), Tuesday, and 3. The next day (Wednesday, the 4th), you will say the verses behind Daily, Even, Wednesday, and 4. Keep in mind that only the verse behind Daily is a new one that you are memorizing; all the others are just review.
Step Five: As you master the verses behind the Daily divider, advance that card and move the replaced verses farther back in the box. So when you have memorized a Daily, move it behind either the Odd or Even divider. Move the verse that was in that Odd or Even slot back to a Day of the Week slot. And move the verse it replaces in the Day of the Week slot back behind a numbered divider. You can then put a new verse or passage to memorize behind the Daily divider and you’re ready to go again.
In this way, you will review a new verse every day, then graduate to every other day, once a week, and finally, once a month. Use the system every day of the month and you will review all the verses you know every month of the year! Of course, not all months have thirty-one days; the verses behind 31 will be reviewed seven months out of the year. We recommend putting verses that you know quite well behind that number since it gets reviewed less frequently.
When you have advanced enough verse cards that you have one placed behind each numbered divider, start at 1 again and add another card to each. Soon you’ll have several cards behind each numbered divider. And eventually, you’ll have memorized so many verses that you’ll have enough cards to expand to two boxes! What a wonderful milestone that will be!
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Spring Reading Thing!
Katrina over at Callapider Days is running a Spring reading challenge. The challenge runs from March 21st through to June 21st. This has been just the push i need to wade through the stacks of books I have, & prioritise my reading. Wonderful!
MY LIST
Prayer
*THE CHILDREN'S LIST*
READ ALOUD
PICTURE BOOKS
I will update later with more of the childrens books
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
This Is My Father's World
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse
Romans 1:20
The world around us is astonishing. Looking up at the stars on a clear night...the beautiful colours splashed across the sky as the sun rises...the fragility of the brave snowdrop that peeps through the frozen earth.
I am enjoying nature study so much..& I really hope for my children that they keep their love for it too. By studying the creation, it tells me so much about the One who created it. The greatest artist, ever. I love to be walking in the woods, or having the time to look closely at a flower I may have come across....I feel overwhelmed by the love of God. My own creator.
My favourite hymn;
This Is My Father's World
This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world: the battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one.
Treasure Baskets
I thought i would post an article on treasure baskets for babies & toddlers, as my children love these. I have been 'updating' Baby R's basket today...
Treasure Baskets and Heuristic Play
written by Elaine Lambe
You may have heard the term 'heuristic play' but not been sure what it was all about - Elaine Lambe of http://www.littlesheep-learning.co.uk/ gives us an explanation
What do you buy for your second child for their first Christmas? There are only so many rattles / bead frame / pop up toys they need and we already had a good selection from when our eldest was a baby! I remembered that when my eldest started nursery on my return to work he really enjoyed playing with ‘treasure baskets’, so for Christmas we made our younger son one of these.Heuristic play is the term used to describe play for babies, infants and toddlers that actively encourages exploration by using and developing their senses. The concept was developed over 30 years ago by Elinor Goldshmied, a child psychologist, from her work watching children and the way they gained knowledge of the world around them. Treasure baskets are collections of objects should appeal to all the senses and are usually made of natural materials. Children will enjoy exploring the objects to see how they taste, how they feel, how they smell, how they sound and what they look like. Heuristic play helps children to learn for themselves and make choices.During the activity the children should explore by themselves, without interference. The adult’s role is to be close to the children as a support, to collect the items, to set out the activity and to observe the children whilst playing. The children can develop their manipulative skills, imagination, solve problems, sequence, anticipate and rearrange objects. There is no right or wrong way for the children to explore the materials. The activity also promotes the development of concentration skills, through the exploration of interesting objects.Every treasure basket is unique to its creator but its purpose is the same. The best treasure baskets are organic – growing over time when new items are spotted to add – older children can also help select items for their baskets.Our treasure basket is actually a large hat box which is leather like on the outside and has a suede type finish inside (I wanted something with a lid!) however traditionally the items are placed in a low sided basket. The treasure basket should be filled with approximately 60 different objects.Some ideas for items that can be included are:
Natural objects: fir cones, pebbles, shells, feathers, corks, pumice stone, loofah, conkers, natural sponge, avocado pear stones
Wooden objects: clothes peg, small bowl, curtain rings, wooden nail brush, wooden egg cup, spoons , wooden bowl, honey dipper, wooden egg, pastry brush, shaving brush, small baskets, paint brush, rolling pin, cotton reels, wood off-cuts
Metal objects: length of metal chain, spoons, tin lids, garlic crusher, metal beaker, brass curtain rings, bunch of keys, metal bowl, tea strainer, whisk, empty tin, bells
Leather, textile, rubber, or fur objects: coloured ribbons, velvet powder puff, piece of leather, flannel, woollen ball, leather purse, rubber gloves, small soft toy, small flannel, rubber ball, tennis ball, fur fabric, small raffia mat, leather glasses case
Paper / cardboard objects: notebook, greaseproof paper, egg boxes, sturdy cardboard tubes, the circles from inside sticky tape,
Other objects: small jar and lid, plug and chain, hair rollers, toothbrush, scent bags, bone shoe horn, ceramic bowl and anything else that takes your child’s interest!
It is important to ensure that all materials are safe and age appropriate - remember not to include small objects for babies and there may be some items which you would need to remove for older children (for example, chains which they might swing and hit others with). Heuristic play is safe if the objects have been checked for any obvious hazards and the adult is sitting close enough to observe when there is an imminent threat (and can move the child's hand or take an object from them). Only choose items you are comfortable with your child exploring. Children should be observed during the activity, by observing adults will be able to remove the materials as soon as the children begin to lose interest and notice popular items, which can trigger ideas for additions to the basket. Watching the children can also show skills which can be incorporated into their other play. As with all toys it is important that children do not have unlimited access to these materials as they then become bored of the items and will not discover anything new. For more informationThe Little Book of Treasure Baskets: Little Books with Big Ideas, by Anne Roberts and Sally FeatherstoneInfants at Play, by Elinor Goldschmied
Sad News
Our frogspawn appear to have died :(
We are experiencing a very cold snap, after a mild winter, so perhaps that was the cause. E seems to have taken it very well...I was really upset! LOL!
We managed to get our new fruit bushes planted out today, so, at least that is another job done!
Sunrise:6.11
Sunset:18.22
We are experiencing a very cold snap, after a mild winter, so perhaps that was the cause. E seems to have taken it very well...I was really upset! LOL!
We managed to get our new fruit bushes planted out today, so, at least that is another job done!
Sunrise:6.11
Sunset:18.22
The Day God Spilled The Paint...
The photo was taken by Barbara Mathews May 14, 2005. It shows the east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles west of Bakersfield, California.
Please see the discussion in the comments below :)
Please see the discussion in the comments below :)
Breathtaking.
Monday, 19 March 2007
Missing Frogspawn!
Some of our frogspwan is missing! As they recently developed their tales, I am hoping they have now turned into tadpoles & are enjoying swimming around their home :) The younger frogspawn are now just begining to grow their tails, so they also appear to be doing well...we are looking forward to having lots of Froggy freinds soon ;)
I went into town this morning to buy a feather duster for Baby R, as she is most impatient waiting for her turn to dust ;) Whilst passing the Pound Shop, I noticed they had lots of plant in the window....so, in we went. I purchased a Blackcurrant bush & a Raspberry bush! E will be thrilled when she finds out. (she is at pre-school)
Here are some links with information for caring for
Raspberries
http://www.backyardgardener.com/plants/graspberry.html
Blackcurrants
http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/article/39/
Sunrise:6.13
Sunset:18.20
I went into town this morning to buy a feather duster for Baby R, as she is most impatient waiting for her turn to dust ;) Whilst passing the Pound Shop, I noticed they had lots of plant in the window....so, in we went. I purchased a Blackcurrant bush & a Raspberry bush! E will be thrilled when she finds out. (she is at pre-school)
Here are some links with information for caring for
Raspberries
http://www.backyardgardener.com/plants/graspberry.html
Blackcurrants
http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/article/39/
Sunrise:6.13
Sunset:18.20
Sunday, 18 March 2007
Mother's Day
Today is Mother's Day!
How blessed am I to be a mother. My prayers this morning where full of thanks for my two blessings. I also have a third child awaiting me, with Lord Jesus.
God has changed me so much, with the arrival of my two, & continues to change me. Mothering is a constant task, nurturing, guiding, training. Here is a great article from the Above Rubies site, to encourage us mothers...
MOTHERING FREE
“Your daughter is rather wild and free, isn’t she?” folks would say to my mother with raised eyebrows. Yes, that was me! As a young girl, I would finish my jobs around the house and leap and bound over the fields, waving my arms in the air and yelling at the top of my lungs, “I’m free! I’m free!” No one could be within two feet of me or I would feel confined! Why did people make cars when you could sit on the back of a truck with the wind blowing through your hair? Extra clothes? Hindrances! There was a time when only one garment hung in my wardrobe!
I had an overdeveloped urge to be free. Nobody in their right mind could imagine me married, let alone having children! My father always said that if I ever said “Yes” to a man, there would be a major earthquake or war would break out! Well, - I was living in Israel when I eventually said “Yes” and the Gulf War broke out the next day! Guess what else? I am now happily married with seven beautiful children - and what’s more, I am mothering free!
But I am not the only one with a drive to be set free! Creation itself groans and labors with birth pangs. It yearns to be set free from the slavery of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.1
That’s not all. I too have heard groaning. It’s the cry of mothers, grooooaaaaning like the groans that rise from fields of slavery. But this slavery is not due to color, tribe, religion or race. It’s from bad attitudes that enslave the heart. For as a women thinks, so she is! We need to leave the negative fields of slavery behind and revolt in the name of Jesus! The status quo crowd can yell all they like, “You’re a little wifey without any lifey!”
The truth is…
1. You are not a member of the status quo crowd!
2. You are a nurturer! If we try to become or do what we are not, we are going against natural rules and we enter into anarchy or bondage mothering! Freedom Mothering is releasing and freeing, for it follows God’s divine decree. God counsels us to love our husband and children, to be obedient to our husband, to be keepers of our homes and be good and kind.2 Not that hard. But oh how many emotional hours are spent wishing away what we are told to do. In Job 38:2 God cries out, “Who is this who darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” We must not allow our puny humanistic attitude to darken God’s counsel.
3. You are born for the job! You are distinctively individual, yet woven and created from birth to bear and nurture children of promise, whose individual destinies can impact the world.
Before you can step into freedom, you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop talking to your friends about how hard your life is. Stop having pity parties. The Bible says that the truth will set you free!3
Are you ready for the truth? Are you ready to take the chains off?
Freedom mothering is not getting out of mothering – it’s getting into it!
It’s getting free from the bondages that hinder motherhood.
“What should mothers be free from?” I asked unsuspecting mothers, fathers and children who walked along my path over the last several weeks. As you read their responses, your hand too might pop up in agreement too.
Free from Chaos
The collective plea from all was to be free from chaos! Chaos is the opposite of order. I believe we cannot be truly free, unless we have our lives in order!
Free from Whining Children
Mothers want freedom from whining, crying, bratty children! Let’s all raise our hands for this one! We cannot have order unless we have order with our children! I love to let my children play hard. They blow off billows of steam outside playing knights, cowboys, daredevils and cooking in the mud etc. but when they come in around suppertime, they come into “Twilight Time” - dim lights, candles, soft music and a peaceful atmosphere. This really helps to melt and mellow the wild ones and cut down on bratty behavior. Try it! Of course, any fighting or excessive yelling needs discipline. Just do it with love.
Free from Toy Box Blues
Is there any order to this mess? ‘Stuff’ does not have order! It clutters our life. We can’t see, think straight, or even make decisions because we have too much ‘stuff’! Luke 9.25 says “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.” Ladies, we might not be losing our souls, but we are losing our minds trying to gain stuff and then keep it somewhere!
My sisters and I have recently coined another motto for our lives: “We are running after children – not stuff!” A lot of us run after things that do not make for peace and freedom mothering. It is better to concentrate on keeping our children in order rather than stuff. Let it go and be free! Things do not make you rich! Children do! Children do not need another toy - they need you! Excess toys create fights, chaos and mess. I hate them!
My children gave all their extra toys and stuff away. I then procured a dining room cabinet and gave each child their own drawer in which to keep their toys and precious possessions. They each look after their drawer and love to give the extra away when it overflows. And I don’t have to look at an ugly toy box!
Free from Excess Laundry
Laundry! Frown no more. It is fun when you limit the amount of clothes you own. In our family, for the sake of peace, space and efficiency we have one tub per child. Anything that overflows the tub we give away, otherwise we end up standing on clothes. With nine people in our two-roomed cabin and living on the land with no sown grass, let me tell you, we have mud! But I do not exceed two loads of laundry a day. I do one load in the morning when I wake and turn on the knob for the second load as I jump into bed at night. The beautiful hum helps me go sleep. The washing machine is not my enemy but my friend.
Free from Fear of Others
Don’t take too much stock of what people think of you. Don’t be ruled by what the Joneses think. Be ruled by what Jesus thinks. It’s okay to enjoy mothering the way you want to! Climb out of the mold of what other mothers look like. Be yourself, for crying out loud, and God will be happy too! He does not want to love ‘dear Peggy Sue’ twice over. He loves ‘dear Peggy Sue’ and ‘weird Mary Lou’, just the way He made them!
Free from Discouragement
When we feel alone or blue, we too easily rush to the phone or nearest book, person or place - anywhere but God himself. It is much easier to look at a magazine than to take the time to find out what God wants for you and your children! Instead, cry out, “God, encourage me. Call forth the greatness in my children and me - everything you made us to become - the dreams, visions and soul yearnings.” His words will feed and fill you! Praise Him and watch your prison doors burst open!
Free from Yelling and Divorce
This was an answer that many of the children gave to me. We yell when we are out of control. Let’s bring our lives and homes into order and let’s have no more divorce. Divorce is rampant but we would be blind to think that it is just from husbands. Many women try to divorce themselves from spending time with their children, rather than embracing them. Where is the mother’s heart that cries out, “Give me children, or else I die?”4 Now we often hear, “Take them from me, anywhere, just take them else I die!” “Anywhere” could be - excess daycare, television, movies, other people, anything other than deal with our blessings in front of us!
Why do we have to sacrifice our children for our dreams? Who knows? Maybe they will carry them on! King David’s dream to build God a house extended to the next generation!5 We need to have long-sighted vision, rather than short-sighted vision where our dreams end with us. God thinks generationally, not only individually. Pass on your vision.
Psalm 45.16 says, “Your sons will take the place of your fathers, you will make them princes throughout the land. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations, therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.” Wow! When a woman matures from having an ‘all about me, daddy’s daughter mentality’ into the place of mothering the next generation, she makes an impact on the world! She perpetuates her memory through the generations. Mothering becomes her greatness and glory! Live for something greater than yourself and find your feet on the way to freedom!
God threw me a whammy the other day while reading about one of the most wicked women in the Bible. There once lived a mother called Athaliah (Queen Jezebel’s daughter), who killed all the royal sons, including her own, so she could be the queen!6 For the next week, this story faced me everywhere I went or every time I opened the Bible. “What are you trying to tell me, God?” I cried. “I mean, what mother in her right mind would sacrifice her children, just to have the limelight?” Then it hit me – whammo! We sacrifice our children in order to fulfill our careers, our missions, our visions, and our limelight! It is rampant even in the Christian world. Do we have the same spirit as Athaliah? May God show us the areas where we have been needlessly sacrificing our children in order to take the stage! It is time to gird ourselves like Samuel, fill our horn with oil, break the bound vision where our dreams end with us, and anoint the new order, the new generation!7
Our true source of freedom is Christ! He calls us to jump on the freedom train and ride out our life in freedom! The whistle is blowing – who is riding with me?
Your friend, Vangi.
EVANGELINE CAMPBELL
Primm Springs, Tennessee, USA
Howard and Evangeline are blessed with seven children – 11 years to 1 year.
1) Romans 8:21-22
2) Titus 2:4-5
3) John 8:32
4) Genesis 30:1
5) Genesis Chapters 28 and 29; 2 Chronicles Chapters 6 and 7
6) 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 23:1-15
7) 1 Samuel 16:1-15
Lesser Calendine
Yesterday, E & Baby R went out for a walk in the woods with Daddy & our dog. They had a fine time & E brought a flower back for me. She looked it up in the field guide when she got home (& found it, all by herself!) & we found it to be a 'Lesser Celandine' She then helped me to press it, so it can go into my nature notebook.
Lesser celandine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Magnoliopsida
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Ranunculus
Species:
R. ficaria
Binomial name
Ranunculus ficariaL.
Lesser celandine, (Ranunculus ficaria, syn. Ficaria grandiflora Robert Ficaria verna Huds.) is a low-growing, hairless perennial plant, with fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves.
According to Gilbert White, a diarist writing around 1800 in the Hampshire village of Selborne, the plants came out on February 21st, but it is more commonly reported to flower from March until May, and is sometimes called the "spring messenger" as a consequence. The flowers are yellow, turning white as they age. Ranunculus ficaria exists in both diploid (2n=16) and tetraploid (2n=32) forms which are very similar in appearance. However, the tetraploid type prefer more shady locations and frequently develops bulbils at the base of the stalk. These two variants are sometimes referred to as distinct sub-species,R. ficaria ficaria and R. ficaria bulbifer respectively. The plant is found throughout Europe and west Asia and is now introduced in North America. It prefers bare, damp ground and in the UK it is often a persistent garden weed.
The plant used to be known as Pilewort, as it was used to treat haemorrhoids. Supposedly the knobbly tubers of the plant resemble piles, and according to the Doctrine of signatures this resemblance suggests that pilewort could be used to cure piles. The German vernacular Scharbockskraut (Scurvywort) derives from the use of the early leaves, which are high in vitamin C, against scurvy.
Lesser celandine flower
The poet William Wordsworth was very fond of the flower and it inspired him to write three poems including the following from his ode to the celandine:
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
T'was a face I did not know.
Upon Wordsworth's death it was proposed that a celandine be carved on his memorial plaque inside the church of Saint Oswald at Grasmere, but unfortunately the Greater celandine Chelidonium majus was mistakenly used.
In many parts of the northern United States and Canada, lesser celandine is invasive.
Lesser celandine
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Magnoliopsida
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Ranunculus
Species:
R. ficaria
Binomial name
Ranunculus ficariaL.
Lesser celandine, (Ranunculus ficaria, syn. Ficaria grandiflora Robert Ficaria verna Huds.) is a low-growing, hairless perennial plant, with fleshy dark green, heart-shaped leaves.
According to Gilbert White, a diarist writing around 1800 in the Hampshire village of Selborne, the plants came out on February 21st, but it is more commonly reported to flower from March until May, and is sometimes called the "spring messenger" as a consequence. The flowers are yellow, turning white as they age. Ranunculus ficaria exists in both diploid (2n=16) and tetraploid (2n=32) forms which are very similar in appearance. However, the tetraploid type prefer more shady locations and frequently develops bulbils at the base of the stalk. These two variants are sometimes referred to as distinct sub-species,R. ficaria ficaria and R. ficaria bulbifer respectively. The plant is found throughout Europe and west Asia and is now introduced in North America. It prefers bare, damp ground and in the UK it is often a persistent garden weed.
The plant used to be known as Pilewort, as it was used to treat haemorrhoids. Supposedly the knobbly tubers of the plant resemble piles, and according to the Doctrine of signatures this resemblance suggests that pilewort could be used to cure piles. The German vernacular Scharbockskraut (Scurvywort) derives from the use of the early leaves, which are high in vitamin C, against scurvy.
Lesser celandine flower
The poet William Wordsworth was very fond of the flower and it inspired him to write three poems including the following from his ode to the celandine:
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
T'was a face I did not know.
Upon Wordsworth's death it was proposed that a celandine be carved on his memorial plaque inside the church of Saint Oswald at Grasmere, but unfortunately the Greater celandine Chelidonium majus was mistakenly used.
In many parts of the northern United States and Canada, lesser celandine is invasive.
Sunrise:6.16
Sunset:18.21
Friday, 16 March 2007
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
On Being A Godly Wife.....
I recently read a wonderful post on Camilla Andersson's Blog
It is a series of points gathered from the book-
Created to be his helpmeet by Debi Pearl
Here is the post....
HELPMEET CHEAT SHEET
Refuse to miss a day of Bible Reading
Do not read in front of your husband – keep it private so that you don’t appear more spiritual.
Pray before reading your Bible, “Open my eyes, Lord.”
Teach the Word to your children
Make a commitment to prayer.
Make a habit of prayer.
Acknowledge any sin God reveals to you and confess it to the Lord.
Pray for your husband.
Pray for your children.
Seek to know your God-given role as a wife and mother.
Find books, sermons on CD or DVD and study and meditate on God’s Word and the teachings that apply to the most important things in your life: being a wife and mother!
Keep a song of praise in your heart at all times.
Keep a prayer in your mind at all times.
“Lord, be with me at work at this moment and let me be a testimony.”
“Lord, give me the energy to joyfully do my job for just five more minutes.”
“Lord, thank you for the home you have provided me.”
“Lord, thank you for this hot running water.”
“Lord, thank you for a husband and children. Help me to be the wife and mother You want me to be.”
“Lord, bless my child and help her to grow to be a strong Christian.”
“Lord, bless my husband wherever he is at this moment.”
“Lord, I am so angry right now, I’m just going to tell you about it.”
“Lord, I am so hurt right now, I’m just going to tell you about it.”
Study and know your husband.
Be a servant to your husband.
Let me get that! (water, keys, coat, shoes, seconds at dinner, ketchup, dessert, the remote, a snack, a tool, etc.)
Keep his clothes clean and put away so that they are easy to find.
Keep his “area” neat (favorite chair, desk, his side of the bed, his toiletries)
Follow his leadership at the slightest opportunity (where to eat out, how to handle a home situation, whether or not to go somewhere, whether or not to buy something, what to watch on TV, how to fix something, etc.)
Readily accept his advice for any situation and acknowledge that it is good advice, and thank him for it.
Don’t be contentious or resistant to him in your spirit.
Don’t embarrass your husband (your speech, appearance, behavior, neglect of your family or home)
Prepare for his arrival each day (make sure his first perception of the house is that it is clean—even if it’s only the entry way and the area where he sits to relax, have a smile on your face, freshen your hair, clothes, or make-up, have the children clean and occupied, and have a smile on your face.)
Never belittle him or make cutting remarks of any kind, even in jest.
Speak a sincere word of praise or appreciation whenever possible:
“I don’t understand how you can fix a car like that. I’m completely clueless.”
“Thank you for fixing that. I’m so fortunate to have a husband who can do that.”
“Absolutely you made the right decision.”
“You are absolutely right.”
“You couldn’t have handled that (work situation, etc.) better.
“That was very smart.”
“That was totally the right thing to do.”
Meet his gaze showing your love and acceptance of him—do not avert your eyes to show your hurt or disapproval and to punish him.
Respond readily to his physical affection.
Do not be stiff when receiving a hug or a kiss.
Do not resist sexual advances: Pray instead. God will provide the grace.
Offer a warm hug, a warm smile, and an unexpected kiss of approval and appreciation.
Do not be financially independent. Let him control the finances.
Even if you have always controlled and balanced the checkbook, start checking with him on budget amounts and spending decisions. Immediately concede to his input of any kind.
Look for every opportunity to praise his wise financial decisions.
Do not spend his money foolishly—make sure he never has to worry about how his wife will spend his money.
Check with him on any purchase that is not a necessity.
Do not argue or resist his financial decisions, even if you know they are bad ones. Pray instead. (Your silence and support is actually more powerful of an influence—try it and you will see!)
Remember that whatever decision your husband makes, it is God’s will for you. Your resistance and interference will actually cause more problems.
Do not take matters into your own hands. Defer to your husband’s decisions whenever possible.
Do not be your husband’s conscience.
Do not nag. Ever. It is never a life or death matter.
Show loyalty to him at all times.
Never seek counsel outside of him without his approval.
Encourage and wholeheartedly support any idea or goal he shares with you.
Listen with your eyes, your ears, and be aware of your body language. It doesn’t matter how busy you are. He cannot talk forever. Stop and listen and show him he is important to you and that you support him.
Share his excitement over anything.
Laugh at his jokes
Look at him with admiration when he is around his peers to inspire their respect. (It is your job from the Lord to reverence him and to make him look good at all times.)
Always seek to make him look successful.
Spend the time and effort needed on your appearance because it shows you reverence your husband.
Dress to please your husband.
Dress modestly so he does not worry that you may be trying to attract other men.
Remember what your husband likes:
Cook his favorite meals.
Keep his favorite snacks handy.
Keep his favorite beverages handy.
Keep his remote handy and the batteries working.
Wear clothing you know he likes on you.
Wear your hair the way you know he likes.
Wear a perfume you know he likes.
Care for your clothes and his clothes. Eliminate unused clothes.
Create order in his environment (one step at a time is fine)
Organize the bathroom cabinets
Organize his socks and underwear and keep it that way.
Make a permanent and tidy place for his pocket stuff (wallet, keys, change, receipts, screws, batteries, business cards).
Keep track of his “stuff” however you can
Keep the home free of clutter
Train your children to be neat, clean and organized
Keep a meek and quiet spirit
Do not speak in anger
Stop a backbiting tongue by silence (Proverbs 26:20)
Ask your husband your spiritual questions.
Expect nothing from him (put all your expectation for fulfillment on the Lord, especially in moments where you feel empty or alone)
Do not have the “marriage is teamwork and you’re not pulling your share” attitude. YOU commit 100% to your husband, regardless of how you think he is performing (you will only answer to God in the end for the kind of wife you were to your husband).
Learn to prioritize (quick prayers often clear up moments or days of confusion).
Organize one drawer, shelf, or area a day until your home has a place for everything and everything in its place—then keep it there.
Train the children so that they make him proud.
Train the children to love him and respect him.
Never say a bad word about your husband to your children. Don’t even suggest in any way to them that he is not the “dad” he should be.
Do not try to solve any of his problems without his consent.
Overlook his faults.
Overlook his little mistakes.
Overlook his big mistakes.
Forgive any offense that hurts you as quickly as you can (urgent prayer will take care of this—pray until you feel your anger subside and your pleasure in your husband return. At first this may take a few days. After a while, you will cut it to a few hours. With continued practice, you will be able to forgive, with prayer and God’s help, within a few minutes to a few seconds)
Remember DAILY back to the beginning of your relationship and all the things that attracted you to him. Recall the smiles you had for him them and smile them all again.
Stop for one minute and thank the Lord for your husband.
Pray for God to bless your husband as the leader of your home and as the provider for your family.
Smile.
Laugh.
Have joy.
Be lighthearted and create a lighthearted mood in your home.
Make him proud of his home, his wife, and his children.
Make sure that he would be proud to invite his boss to dinner.
Ask him for advice whenever you can, and always take it seriously—and tell him what good advice it is.
When he tells you about his work, tell him how good he is at his job, in his position, and praise his strengths at work (his leadership, his diligence, his honesty, his integrity).
Try to make all your words positive.
Never talk bad about his friends or coworkers. Do not affirm when he talks bad about someone. You can nod sympathetically, but do not verbally agree.
Do not be negative.
Keep your speech clean and pretty—becoming to a lovely wife with a sweet spirit.
Do not correct him. Especially in front of others. Let it go unless your life is on the line.
Do not criticize him about anything. Not even about a shirt, how his hair looks, how he spends his time, what he spent his money on, or…anything.
Pray for God’s strength and grace whenever—WHENEVER—you feel tired, angry, or that you just can’t do it. Even if it means praying 2,000 times a day. All you have to say is one word, “HELP!” He will.
Pray for God to reveal to you the opportunity to do something on this list whenever possible.
What a great resource for Christian Wives.
It is a series of points gathered from the book-
Created to be his helpmeet by Debi Pearl
Here is the post....
HELPMEET CHEAT SHEET
Refuse to miss a day of Bible Reading
Do not read in front of your husband – keep it private so that you don’t appear more spiritual.
Pray before reading your Bible, “Open my eyes, Lord.”
Teach the Word to your children
Make a commitment to prayer.
Make a habit of prayer.
Acknowledge any sin God reveals to you and confess it to the Lord.
Pray for your husband.
Pray for your children.
Seek to know your God-given role as a wife and mother.
Find books, sermons on CD or DVD and study and meditate on God’s Word and the teachings that apply to the most important things in your life: being a wife and mother!
Keep a song of praise in your heart at all times.
Keep a prayer in your mind at all times.
“Lord, be with me at work at this moment and let me be a testimony.”
“Lord, give me the energy to joyfully do my job for just five more minutes.”
“Lord, thank you for the home you have provided me.”
“Lord, thank you for this hot running water.”
“Lord, thank you for a husband and children. Help me to be the wife and mother You want me to be.”
“Lord, bless my child and help her to grow to be a strong Christian.”
“Lord, bless my husband wherever he is at this moment.”
“Lord, I am so angry right now, I’m just going to tell you about it.”
“Lord, I am so hurt right now, I’m just going to tell you about it.”
Study and know your husband.
Be a servant to your husband.
Let me get that! (water, keys, coat, shoes, seconds at dinner, ketchup, dessert, the remote, a snack, a tool, etc.)
Keep his clothes clean and put away so that they are easy to find.
Keep his “area” neat (favorite chair, desk, his side of the bed, his toiletries)
Follow his leadership at the slightest opportunity (where to eat out, how to handle a home situation, whether or not to go somewhere, whether or not to buy something, what to watch on TV, how to fix something, etc.)
Readily accept his advice for any situation and acknowledge that it is good advice, and thank him for it.
Don’t be contentious or resistant to him in your spirit.
Don’t embarrass your husband (your speech, appearance, behavior, neglect of your family or home)
Prepare for his arrival each day (make sure his first perception of the house is that it is clean—even if it’s only the entry way and the area where he sits to relax, have a smile on your face, freshen your hair, clothes, or make-up, have the children clean and occupied, and have a smile on your face.)
Never belittle him or make cutting remarks of any kind, even in jest.
Speak a sincere word of praise or appreciation whenever possible:
“I don’t understand how you can fix a car like that. I’m completely clueless.”
“Thank you for fixing that. I’m so fortunate to have a husband who can do that.”
“Absolutely you made the right decision.”
“You are absolutely right.”
“You couldn’t have handled that (work situation, etc.) better.
“That was very smart.”
“That was totally the right thing to do.”
Meet his gaze showing your love and acceptance of him—do not avert your eyes to show your hurt or disapproval and to punish him.
Respond readily to his physical affection.
Do not be stiff when receiving a hug or a kiss.
Do not resist sexual advances: Pray instead. God will provide the grace.
Offer a warm hug, a warm smile, and an unexpected kiss of approval and appreciation.
Do not be financially independent. Let him control the finances.
Even if you have always controlled and balanced the checkbook, start checking with him on budget amounts and spending decisions. Immediately concede to his input of any kind.
Look for every opportunity to praise his wise financial decisions.
Do not spend his money foolishly—make sure he never has to worry about how his wife will spend his money.
Check with him on any purchase that is not a necessity.
Do not argue or resist his financial decisions, even if you know they are bad ones. Pray instead. (Your silence and support is actually more powerful of an influence—try it and you will see!)
Remember that whatever decision your husband makes, it is God’s will for you. Your resistance and interference will actually cause more problems.
Do not take matters into your own hands. Defer to your husband’s decisions whenever possible.
Do not be your husband’s conscience.
Do not nag. Ever. It is never a life or death matter.
Show loyalty to him at all times.
Never seek counsel outside of him without his approval.
Encourage and wholeheartedly support any idea or goal he shares with you.
Listen with your eyes, your ears, and be aware of your body language. It doesn’t matter how busy you are. He cannot talk forever. Stop and listen and show him he is important to you and that you support him.
Share his excitement over anything.
Laugh at his jokes
Look at him with admiration when he is around his peers to inspire their respect. (It is your job from the Lord to reverence him and to make him look good at all times.)
Always seek to make him look successful.
Spend the time and effort needed on your appearance because it shows you reverence your husband.
Dress to please your husband.
Dress modestly so he does not worry that you may be trying to attract other men.
Remember what your husband likes:
Cook his favorite meals.
Keep his favorite snacks handy.
Keep his favorite beverages handy.
Keep his remote handy and the batteries working.
Wear clothing you know he likes on you.
Wear your hair the way you know he likes.
Wear a perfume you know he likes.
Care for your clothes and his clothes. Eliminate unused clothes.
Create order in his environment (one step at a time is fine)
Organize the bathroom cabinets
Organize his socks and underwear and keep it that way.
Make a permanent and tidy place for his pocket stuff (wallet, keys, change, receipts, screws, batteries, business cards).
Keep track of his “stuff” however you can
Keep the home free of clutter
Train your children to be neat, clean and organized
Keep a meek and quiet spirit
Do not speak in anger
Stop a backbiting tongue by silence (Proverbs 26:20)
Ask your husband your spiritual questions.
Expect nothing from him (put all your expectation for fulfillment on the Lord, especially in moments where you feel empty or alone)
Do not have the “marriage is teamwork and you’re not pulling your share” attitude. YOU commit 100% to your husband, regardless of how you think he is performing (you will only answer to God in the end for the kind of wife you were to your husband).
Learn to prioritize (quick prayers often clear up moments or days of confusion).
Organize one drawer, shelf, or area a day until your home has a place for everything and everything in its place—then keep it there.
Train the children so that they make him proud.
Train the children to love him and respect him.
Never say a bad word about your husband to your children. Don’t even suggest in any way to them that he is not the “dad” he should be.
Do not try to solve any of his problems without his consent.
Overlook his faults.
Overlook his little mistakes.
Overlook his big mistakes.
Forgive any offense that hurts you as quickly as you can (urgent prayer will take care of this—pray until you feel your anger subside and your pleasure in your husband return. At first this may take a few days. After a while, you will cut it to a few hours. With continued practice, you will be able to forgive, with prayer and God’s help, within a few minutes to a few seconds)
Remember DAILY back to the beginning of your relationship and all the things that attracted you to him. Recall the smiles you had for him them and smile them all again.
Stop for one minute and thank the Lord for your husband.
Pray for God to bless your husband as the leader of your home and as the provider for your family.
Smile.
Laugh.
Have joy.
Be lighthearted and create a lighthearted mood in your home.
Make him proud of his home, his wife, and his children.
Make sure that he would be proud to invite his boss to dinner.
Ask him for advice whenever you can, and always take it seriously—and tell him what good advice it is.
When he tells you about his work, tell him how good he is at his job, in his position, and praise his strengths at work (his leadership, his diligence, his honesty, his integrity).
Try to make all your words positive.
Never talk bad about his friends or coworkers. Do not affirm when he talks bad about someone. You can nod sympathetically, but do not verbally agree.
Do not be negative.
Keep your speech clean and pretty—becoming to a lovely wife with a sweet spirit.
Do not correct him. Especially in front of others. Let it go unless your life is on the line.
Do not criticize him about anything. Not even about a shirt, how his hair looks, how he spends his time, what he spent his money on, or…anything.
Pray for God’s strength and grace whenever—WHENEVER—you feel tired, angry, or that you just can’t do it. Even if it means praying 2,000 times a day. All you have to say is one word, “HELP!” He will.
Pray for God to reveal to you the opportunity to do something on this list whenever possible.
What a great resource for Christian Wives.
English Weather!
Well, today began as the perfect spring day...blue skies, warm gentle breezes...wonderful! So, after taking E to Pre-school, Baby R & I set off to the Garden Centre to pick up some supplies. We had lots of fun mooching around (Baby R particularly enjoyed the fountains & the ornamental animals) I found a sweet little gardening set for the children to use...it includes a pair of gardening gloves (for E, too big for Baby R) a tiny trowel & a tiny fork, plus a kneeling pad (very useful for Mummy!)
By lunchtime we had driving rain & winds...E was very disapointed. Ahh well, I have managed to do some decluttering! Hurray! Hopefully tomorrow will stay fine.
Sunrise:6.28
Sunset:18.09
By lunchtime we had driving rain & winds...E was very disapointed. Ahh well, I have managed to do some decluttering! Hurray! Hopefully tomorrow will stay fine.
Sunrise:6.28
Sunset:18.09
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Our Cherry Tree
E, Baby R & I all got out into the garden this afternoon. We planted our Cherry tree in a huge ceramic pot, in a favourable position. The type of cherry (Stella) has a semi-dwarf rootstock, so combined with being grown in a container, it should not get too big.
We also planted some carrots (thumbelina) which are wonderful for children, being small, sweet & round! Looking forwards to harvesting those:) We also managed to plant a couple of dwarf sunflowers in tiny pots to have outside the children's playhouse, but then ran out of compost. Ah well! We had lots of muddy fun ;)
We checked on our frogspawn...still appears to be fine. Then it was time to get washed up for dinner. We are currently reading a book called 'The Frog's Diary' which is making for enlightening reading...it is written over the course of a year, from the veiwpoint of a frog keeping his own diary of events. The children love it, even Baby R :)
Sunrise:06.33
Sunset:18.04
We also planted some carrots (thumbelina) which are wonderful for children, being small, sweet & round! Looking forwards to harvesting those:) We also managed to plant a couple of dwarf sunflowers in tiny pots to have outside the children's playhouse, but then ran out of compost. Ah well! We had lots of muddy fun ;)
We checked on our frogspawn...still appears to be fine. Then it was time to get washed up for dinner. We are currently reading a book called 'The Frog's Diary' which is making for enlightening reading...it is written over the course of a year, from the veiwpoint of a frog keeping his own diary of events. The children love it, even Baby R :)
Sunrise:06.33
Sunset:18.04
Bible Reading
27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Mattew 9:27-30
This was my Bible reading from last night. I intend to give it some more serious prayer & thought today. I am thanking God for this scripture...it has come in a very timely fashion. We all have our trials. I struggle, because I *know* that God *can* do anything He should choose. I struggle with will He *want* to do it....IYSWIM?
So, along side with this scripture, I plan to study Daniel 3...the amazing faith of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, when they were required by Nebuchadnezzar to worship a golden idol.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Daniel 3:16-17
Off to church this morning, then hopefully out in the garden planting our Cherry tree & Sunflowers this afternoon :)
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Mattew 9:27-30
This was my Bible reading from last night. I intend to give it some more serious prayer & thought today. I am thanking God for this scripture...it has come in a very timely fashion. We all have our trials. I struggle, because I *know* that God *can* do anything He should choose. I struggle with will He *want* to do it....IYSWIM?
So, along side with this scripture, I plan to study Daniel 3...the amazing faith of Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, when they were required by Nebuchadnezzar to worship a golden idol.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Daniel 3:16-17
Off to church this morning, then hopefully out in the garden planting our Cherry tree & Sunflowers this afternoon :)
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Observing Nature
E & I went out into the garden, whilst baby R & daddy napped :)
Earlier in the day we had bought a Cherry tree, & we needed to soak the roots before it could be planted. E went straight over to check on her frogspawn. (We have an established water feature in an old, half barrel) E was extremely excited & began to jump up & down, 'They are growing, they are growing!' She observed that the perfectly spherical black dot in the centre of the jelly had begun to change shape, ever so slightly, into a 'bottom-heavy oval'
Now, I was just as excited that our frogspawn is doing well, but most exciting was the fact that my daughter is *learning from her own observations*
Why is this important to me? Well, it shows me that she is really observing the world around her..taking notice. Information that we learn ourselves, as opposed to being taught, is the information we will retain for a lifetime.
After observing the frogspawn, she wandered off & found another ladybird, which promptly flew off her hand, straight into the pond. Quickley, E rescued it, & was able to see it 'playing dead' (a ladybird's protections from it's predators) ~We had a smashing hour out in the garden today, enjoying God's amazing creation.
Hopefully tomorrow we will get fine weather so we can plant our Cherry Tree & also some sunflowers.
Sunrise: 06.35
Sunset: 18.03
Earlier in the day we had bought a Cherry tree, & we needed to soak the roots before it could be planted. E went straight over to check on her frogspawn. (We have an established water feature in an old, half barrel) E was extremely excited & began to jump up & down, 'They are growing, they are growing!' She observed that the perfectly spherical black dot in the centre of the jelly had begun to change shape, ever so slightly, into a 'bottom-heavy oval'
Now, I was just as excited that our frogspawn is doing well, but most exciting was the fact that my daughter is *learning from her own observations*
Why is this important to me? Well, it shows me that she is really observing the world around her..taking notice. Information that we learn ourselves, as opposed to being taught, is the information we will retain for a lifetime.
After observing the frogspawn, she wandered off & found another ladybird, which promptly flew off her hand, straight into the pond. Quickley, E rescued it, & was able to see it 'playing dead' (a ladybird's protections from it's predators) ~We had a smashing hour out in the garden today, enjoying God's amazing creation.
Hopefully tomorrow we will get fine weather so we can plant our Cherry Tree & also some sunflowers.
Sunrise: 06.35
Sunset: 18.03
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Spring Has Sprung
Today has been a mild, changable day that began with bright sunshine & ended with heavy rain.
The girls & I spent part of the morning in the garden. E found a ladybird, which, courtesy of an old adapted sweets container, became her best friend for a good few hours :)
Able to observe her new friend properly, she discovered that ladybirds have 6 legs & that the bright red 'wings' are infact wing covers, for the actual wings tucked neatly away inside.
We didnt get any planting done today, as i had hoped, but then, there's always tomorrow ;)
Sunrise:06.40
Sunset: 17.59
The girls & I spent part of the morning in the garden. E found a ladybird, which, courtesy of an old adapted sweets container, became her best friend for a good few hours :)
Able to observe her new friend properly, she discovered that ladybirds have 6 legs & that the bright red 'wings' are infact wing covers, for the actual wings tucked neatly away inside.
We didnt get any planting done today, as i had hoped, but then, there's always tomorrow ;)
Sunrise:06.40
Sunset: 17.59
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