Sweetness and Light

Clicking Around

Good clicks this week ~

This is good stuff, God Bless America!! (Bye, bye American Idol)

Oh, my goodness, I've got to re-read Little Women now! I think I'm Jo....(thanks Karen & Ramona)

Here is a click that I bookmarked a while back. It's such an economical idea for Charlotte Mason art appreciation studies. Barb always has super ideas!

I am really digging all the goodness at this site, a bread bakers indulgence :)

And speaking of baking, a baker's day isn't complete without a visit to Rose Beranbaum's site, wow!! (As an aside, we used to know her step-son)...

What have you clicked and loved recently??? Have a great weekend!

**NB :: The delightful little "Sweet Clicking" Mouse is courtesy of my Matthias and his 3D Art skills, thanks sweetie!!

Sunday Linky Love

 
A few points of interest I wanted to share here ~

:: My Summer Notebook: The Spirit of Our Homeschool High-School  (by Susan formerly of High Desert Home) This is part of a High-School series she just started, well worth a peek :) Here's the 2nd installment: Homeschool High-School Ramblings 

:: Notes on Waiting for Superman at Mental Multi-Vitamin, I always enjoy what she has to share :)

:: Great ideas to spice up your Arts & Crafts this year at Deep Space Sparkle! Love all of her ideas.

Hope you're having a super weekend. See you back soon with a few menu planning/recipe ideas, still would love a few of your favorites if you have time to share :) Many blessings!

Tuesday Happy Links

Found some fun stuff on the web today and wanted to pass along for anyone who is NOT watching the ALLStars Game tonight  (yes, my boys are glued to the set as we speak) ;-)

Free YA audiobooks from Sync. H/T: Handmade Homeschool :: This is a really great site and not one I had heard of yet, so enjoy!!

Evernote :: A remarkable site for keeping track of all your notes, clippings, sites and images all synced to your PC, mobile device, etc. H/T: Bonny Glen  (she mentioned it somewhere recently... G+ perhaps??)

Summer Scones  :: I am SO making these for breakfast tomorrow, yum!! Saw them at Elisa's too, she always shares the best stuff. Am luvin' strawberry season :)

And a gratuitous cute summer photo ~

 

He's about to lose his very first tooth....update will follow after the game :)

Weekend Notes

 Just wanted to thank you all for your kind notes and comments on my What's Cookin' post! We are passionate about what we feed our family, aren't we?

A few things to note on the blog ~ I've updated my sidebars a bit to include many of my Advent and Christmas seasonal sharings. You'll find direct links to single posts and also a few with a compilation of links as well, so enjoy browsing through to see if anything strikes your fancy for this year :)

Also, don't miss the newly re-vamped and updated O Night Divine site for Advent and Christmas this year, it's going to prove to be the "go to" site for celebrating Advent, Christmas and all the way through to Epiphany for me!!!

The kids and I brainstormed and we think we've decided to do a Scandinavian Christmas and Lapbook this year as we are hitting on many of these themes and customs from our current WW II studies. Violet and Matthias had so much fun putting together their lapbooks, now it's the younger two boys' chance! Should be a fun and cozy time, enjoying all things Jan Brett, Astrid Lindgren and many other favorites with a Scandinavian flair!! Hope to have booklists in the side bar by the end of the weekend....Please note that I've added a sample of our Lapbook just under the new Advent and Christmas links!!

I have a new learning notes post up at Mama's Muse today :) Enjoy this next week of learning and loving with your family as we enter into Thanksgiving week! We will be busy watercoloring "thankful leaves" and cooking up some goodies! I am so grateful for beautiful and kind friends far and near! Many blessings in your weekend!

Saturday Snippets

~ Updating lots of books for Violet on Goodreads and her new 2009-2010 Reading Page!

~ This is worth watching for sure :) 

~ If you're looking to add more pizazz to your Art and Music Appreciation this year, go and visit Jennifer :) You won't be disappointed!

This kept someone happy a bit this week:

 

 

We have discovered that simple is best!

Happy weekend everyone, many blessings to you!
 
 

Happy Links :: Summer Reading

:: I finally got around to updating my 4 x 10 Reading progress! I've added some more books as well and have been enjoying them immensely :)

:: Books seen being read around the house by various members:

• High Rhulaine
• The Boy's King Arthur
• Magic Tree House #3
• Swallows and Amazons
• A History of England I'm actually reading Volume 2 on Catholic History, but I can only find  link to Vol 8 here, sorry)
• How Your Child Thinks
• Saddle Club #6
• Homeschool Open House (guess who is featured in this book, take a peek ;-)

:: Always a fun visit is the Picture Book of the Day blog and the many Non-Fiction Monday posts for great reviews and suggestions for picture book reading. Here is  link to some of our past Non-Fiction Monday books!

::  In case you missed this elsewhere, here is a link to the May, Carnival of Children's Literature, grab a cup of tea and relax with some great books!

Hope your Summer reading is enjoyable and plentiful! Many blessings in your day.

Happy Links :: Tuesday Trails

::  What we enjoyed this morning after our Rosary and prayers.  Inauguration Day Poem

::  Am totally enjoying this lovely new site dedicated to Nature.  In Heywood's Meadow

::  Some lovely quilting inspiration here.  Uncommon Grace (Did I mention I am joining in on a virtual quilting bee??? Stay tuned...)

::  Started a neat Ecosystems Study to tie in with my Ecology Album presentations. Download the free project pack at Hands of a Child

Hope you are all enjoying a lovely day with your sweeties.  May God bless you in all you do today :)

Happy Links :: Christmas Joy

Thought I'd share some of the beauty of Christmas that I've been enjoying whilst nursing sick kiddos during Christmas break. 

Eye candy at Allsorts!  She's so creative and colorful, dazzling for the eyes indeed!

More delight for your eyes and so much inspiration at Handmade Homeschool, one of my favorite places to visit before I begin any new knitting project.

This 4 x 10 Reading Challenge that Nina is doing looks interesting.  I don't usually challenge myself like this as I usually set myself up for failure, but sheesh I think I could muster 40 books in a year...do picutre books count???

And speaking of reading, I always enjoy keeping up with Mental Multivitamin, another great list!

I also added many new books that are now favorites to our reading lists thanks to Lissa at Here in the Bonny Glen!  Please pray for the safe arrival of the newest Bonny Babe due any day now :)  Can't wait to hear...

Have a great weekend!

Happy Links :: Fun Stuff

Okay, here's some fun for your pre-Thanksgiving week:

:: I just love the Let's Explore Creativity site and for the second weekend in a row she's offering $5 off on any purchase over $35.00!  She's got some really fun stuff, and I'm thinking about St. Nicholas day which is not too far off!  Happy shopping!

:: Crochet a leaf with wire??  Oh yeah, you can see how to do it at A Foothill Home Companion, just beautiful!

:: Need some ideas for a Kids Handmade Holiday? The Crafty Crow has an extraordinary list that's sure to please even your hesitant crafters :)  Enjoy!

:: Also  showcased at The Crafty Crow, some variations on the Thankful Tree!  Ours is in progress, we are thankful for SO MUCH this year! 

:: Some absolutely adorable Embroidery Patterns from Wee Wonderfuls!  Be sure to check out the beautiful quilt she created with these!  Very inspirational and gorgeous!

So what are you up to this weekend??  I am taking a cue from Kathy at Restoration Place and creating a Journal of sorts for myself. She created a delightful Visual Journal and I think mine will be similarly visual, reflective and mostly prayer filled!  A Prayer Journal, we'll see how it turns out :)  Thanks for the lovely idea Kathy :)

Happy weekend everyone!

Happy Links :: Creativity

Fun creative links for your weekend!

These are SO adorable, check out these FREE embroidery patterns at the delightful Pattern Bee!  I can't wait to show Violet the Thanksgiving Girl :))))

Know anyone having a baby soon??  This Baby Pillow by Primrose Design is delicious and vintage!  She also has some delightful tutorials in her Stitch School posts, not to be missed, thanks Janet!

What could be better than a Play-doh Recipe Montessori-style!  Thanks to The Moveable Alphabet and Montessori by Hand for showing just how easy this is for our littlest people!  Enjoy!

Is is a rainy Saturday where you are??  Check out the Kitchen Table Clubhouse, oh yeah, we'll be doing one of these this weekend for sure!!  Anyone know the special clubhouse password???  Thanks to The Crafty Crow for linking this one from Garden Nymph.  Totally fun.

Michele's got the most darling Slippers going on over at On Pins and Needles!  She is a master at whipping up these delightful designs, and they are just so cute!

If you've never created a Nature Table, feast your eyes on this one.  Another hattip to The Crafty Crow for linking to Restoration Place for this beauty, aaaahhh Autumn!!

Have a blessed Saturday and enjoy some creativity this weekend with your sweeties!