HappyMama

I hope it’s not in bad taste to follow the previous post with a recipe. 

This is a delicious, cold soup that makes a great appetiser on a hot day.  It’s called “Cool-cumber Soup” from Sassafras cookbook.  (Love that book!)

• 3 cucumbers (i’ve used 4)
• 1/2 C chopped onion (i use powder)
• 1 clove garlic, chopped (i use powder)

I also added dill.  Process until smooth, then pour into a large bowl.  Add & whisk:

• 2 C sour cream (could sub. plain yogurt)
• 2 C chicken broth
• 3 T. white wine vinegar (i assume you can sub. reg. vinegar)
• salt & pepper to taste

Cover & chill for several hours or overnight.  May garnish with diced tomato & minced green onion tops. 

pukey - my spell checker says it’s not a word, but it’s how i describe our weekend.  we’ve all had the flu except hubby, what a trooper.

“MOM!”

I looked at the clock - 3 a.m.

“MOMMY!”

Sounded urgent.  I got out of bed and stumbled to the boy’s room.  “What is it?” 

My 2-year-old, without opening his eyes said, “Can I have a Popsicle please?” 

In the previous post, I mentioned the manual I’m using for the Good Shepherd Catechesis.  I wanted to list the presentations in the book and note which ones we’ve done.  CGS follows the liturgical schedule, so I’ll begin with Advent activities.  Each listing is a separate presentation.  I’ll bold the ones we’ve completed.  Right now I’m working on the rest of the ordinary time presentations.

• Beginning advent
• Isaiah’s Prophecy
• Micah’s Prophecy
• The Annunciation
• The Visitation

Presentations for the Christmas season:

• The Birth of Jesus
• The Gesture of Epiclesis
• Epiphany

Presentations for Ordinary Time:

• Altar work 1-4
• Geography 1-3
• Gesture of Offertory
• The Presentation
• The Mustard Seed
• The Leaven
• The Pearl
• The Hidden Treasure
• Creation

Presentations for Lent:

• The Grain of Wheat
• The Good Shepherd
• Psalm 23
• The Cenacle

Presentations for Easter:

• Baptism 1-4
• The Trinity
• The Sign of the Cross

I have several friends using or getting ready to use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in their homes or parishes, beginning with children in the 3-6 age group, but continuing on from there.  In brief, it’s religious education the Montessori way.  This program is designed by Catholics, but is easily adapted for Anglicans, and other Protestant denominations can simply omit the altar work.  The presentations involve a lot of preparation, unfortunately - I think in the future there will be “kits” of some of the materials for you - but it’s something I’ve enjoyed immensely so far. 

There is extensive training to learn how to be a CGS catechist, and the only resource I’ve found so far for “the rest of us” who can’t do the training right now is Moira Farrell’s book sold by Our Father’s House.  I have her 3-6 manual plus a few of the books sold here, which I highly recommend.

A sample presentation shown below is for one of the parables of the kingdom from Matthew 13, the Pearl Merchant.  At left is our little Merchant in his home with his prized pearl collection.  At right is a seller of pearls, and on his display stand is the Pearl of Great Price, which the Merchant falls in love with.  At bottom is the Merchant full of joy, after he has sold his home, his other pearls, and even his cloak, to purchase The Pearl. 

One thing that I really appreciate with this method of catechesis is that nothing is watered down for the children; it is only made tangible.  During the presentation I read the actual verses out of an adult Bible to my son, I didn’t dumb down the words or simplify them.  The Bible is the Word of God, and can be appropriately given to even young children in it’s true form.  Children have a pure openness to God’s Word that can actually instruct and witness to the adults in the room. 

As with all Montessori materials, the learning is in the using.  After initial presentations, the materials are put in a specific place, and the child is free to reenact the story as he pleases.  He is also given the Scripture verses written out.  It is during the quiet moments that the child uses these materials that he is reflecting and meditating; there is room for the Holy Spirit to converse with him and inspire him.  “What is worth selling everything for?”  The catechist is only there to prepare the meeting between God & His child, not to get in the way or be disruptive. 

There are many purposes to what Maria Montessori called Practical Life activities.  Gross/fine motor skills, ability to concentrate, self esteem, and so on. 

Of course children love things like pretend stoves and food, (I don’t condemn having them!) but if given the choice, they prefer helping you make real food and doing real housework.  By giving them tools that they can use - child-size if necessary - and by giving them small tasks that they can accomplish, then they will discover self-worth in a way that a plastic toy can’t provide. 

One practical life activity my kids enjoy is washing dirty clothing.  (It also elicits good conversation about how most people around the world wash their clothing.)  Last April we did this work in the bathtub, and when hubby came home from work, one of the boys ran to him and proudly said, “dad, we washed your stinky socks for you!” 

To have a successful learning experience requires careful preparation.  We had laundry soap in a small dropper bottle, which they dropped into a tub of water.  We had a small washboard for scrubbing.  They learned “rinse”, “wring”, and how to use the clothespins.  This activity worked much better when we did it outside on the deck recently in the 90+ heat.  My little guy stood by the rinse bucket and splashed happily in the cold water the entire time.  Too bad for us our HOA frowns on clotheslines in the yard.  So ridiculous. 

Other ideas:  whisking eggs, measuring flour with measuring cups, using a non-electric carpet sweeper (ours was $22 from Michael Olaf - a great investment), pouring liquids, hammering nails into a tree trunk or hammering golf tees into clay, using a sandblock, putting nuts & bolts together, kneading dough and making pizza, dusting, polishing, tablesetting, sweeping, plant care, pet care, folding laundry.  Practical Life.  Good name.