APPLIE’S PLACE

As our homeschool co-op ends for the Christmas break, the facilators are in much need of relaxation.  A party of decided upon, a White Elephant Party it would be.  This was my first year attending the White Elephant Party.  To remain in the good graces of the co-op, I decided to inquire about the gifts.  I was told it was to be something from the home or an inexpensive gift.  Something you wouldn’t be ashamed to have, something nice or silly.  

I decide to make my White Elephant Gift.  It was to be a silly one.  It took me a while to make it.  It kept getting longer and longer.  The kids began to ask, “Aren’t you done yet?”.  No, says I.  I finally finished an hour before the party.

I am ashamed to say, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures of the party.  I am really bummed about it.   Before the gift exchange we had dinner.  Ohhh it was good!  I made the Pear and Pomegranate Salad.

Once dinner was over we sat around the tree; all 19 of us.  We were all anixous to start.  I got number 13 in the drawing, so it would be a while before I could pick a gift.   The first gift that was opened was a beautiful three bowl serving tray for Christmas.  The second gift was a gift certificate to the Melting Pot.  I’m starting to get really nervous.  The next two gifts were just as nice.  I’m think they’ll kick me out of the party for bringing such a stupid gift.  My good friend was next and she picked my gift.  She takes it out and unrolls it.

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When I travel, wait in a waiting room, or just sitting around doing absolutely nothing, I get really sleepy or bored or cranky or all the above. To keep me busy I started carrying canvas bags with me everywhere. These bags were filled with yarn for crochet or my embroidery. This kept my sanity and saved the lives of my family. A bored mother is a scary thing.

The canvas bags I used were always free. They advertised for things I have no idea what. I have one that has the company name on it and then it says “24-hour Emergency Response”. I guess I could call them in an emergency if I run out of yarn. Another one I have says “Chemistry Applications”. I guess there is some kind chemistry reaction when I touch yarn or embroidery. Then there are many others that I couldn’t even tell you what was on them.

One day I was gifted with some money. The first thing I decided to do was something about those canvas bags. I wanted to go out in style, even though I look like an old young lady crocheting, I wanted to do it in style. So…I purchased a Namaste Laguna Bag. I purchased it from my new BFF yarn shop, The Local Needle.  They like people who crochet. :)  I picked the Saddle color, because they don’t come in red. Shame; a real shame.

The bag is huge and has lots of pockets. There is a divider in the middle, so I can carry my yarn on one side and my purse belongings on the other side. Oooo, I don’t have to carry two bags anymore! I’ll just carry one suitcase.

There are several pockets on the inside, one zipper pocket on the back side and one flap pocket on the front.

Everything fits in there nicely. It is so new, I haven’t even used it yet. LOL

The only thing I don’t like about this bag is that if flops over when I sit it down. I have to continuously hold it up with one hand while I look inside with the other.

Being stylish comes with sacrifices. I can deal with that.

The 2008 Olympics were held in Florida on November 17th.  Thousands of  five athletes trained for many years  weeks, to compete in this highly recognized sporting event. 

To continue with the Olympic tradition, all athletes had to repeat and sign an oath.

In the name of our Lord Jesus, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules, For the glory of God and the honor of our teams.  We can do all things through Christ who strenghtens us.

The Olympic Torch must be lit in Athens in the classroom, to be carried many, many miles feet to light the sacred Olympic Flame that is waiting in the host city.

The Olympic ladies light the 2008 Olympic Torch.

It is then passed among outstanding athletes.

At the end of the torches long journey, the torch is thrown placed into the bowl to light the sacred Olympic Flame.

There were five events. The media was in such awe of the gracefulness, strength, and ablitiy of the athletes, that they did not take pictures of all the events. All media personal have been banned from future athletic events of this magnitude.

The events were:

Mr. Stick Goes on Vacation (Javlin Throw)
Leap of Faith (Long Jump)
Ring Fling (Disc Throw)

Flightless Bird Toss

and the last was the Pass the Pig Relay Race.

All athletes did a wonderful job. All received medals.

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Melanie at Four Squares is wanting to know what kind of ornaments our children make.  This got me to thinking about what they did, so thought I would share some photos.

When my son was in Preschool, they made snowmen ornaments.  The snowmen were made from cut out foam sheets.  The black hat is painted on with black glitter paint and the eyes and nose were placed on by the young boy.  As you can see, he did a wonderful job.  I did one for his sister, it is on the right.

The second (or was it the first) year of preschool my son made these little Nativity scenes. I liked them so much, that I had a few more made by my other children. This year we need to make a few more. I have apparently lost the others and our dog just ate this one. This picture was taken just yesterday before it became a snack.

My oldest daughter likes to draw and she likes to see herself on the tree…I think. Actually, I don’t know what she was thinking when she made this one. It is probably three years old.

One year I wanted the kids to paint their ornaments. I can’t remember how I got that snowman on the ornament, but the kids were to paint the area around the snowman like it was snow. This was the best one, because you can see the snowman. The others were just a blizzard and they broke last year. Lots of ornaments broke last year.

The one below is blurry, but you get the idea. These are my favorite ones and the sad thing is, I can’t find them. This was during a year that my second daugther was having a felt fettish. Everything was made from felt and since she couldn’t sew and I wouldn’t do it for her, she stapled her creations together. She only stapled her fingers once. This ornament comes in two pieces, the snowman and the stocking.

I love these ornaments and I hope to keep them away from the dogs and children.  They are getting harder to find.

What have you done for ornaments?

 At the beginning of November, I went to the Holiday Happenings at our local university extension office. There was three days of watching these people make lovely dishes to fix for the holidays. On the last day, a local celebrity introduced some of her favorite salads. The celebrity was Chef Jessica Bright. I spoke to her for about 1 minute afterwards. She is now my BFF, even if she doesn’t know who I am.   I am her BFF too.

The first thing that she taught us was how to cut Romaine Lettuce. Do not cut off the ends. Wash it very well between layers and drain well.

Then cut off the tip, if it is dried up or brown.

Next hold the lettuce at the end and slice from end to tip on one side. Turn the lettuce over half way and slice from end to tip again.

Then slice the lettuce sideways, so that you will have nice even slices of lettuce. Cut towards the end piece.

Once the lettuce is cut up, spin it dry if necessary.

Now it is time to make this beautiful salad.

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Let’s go back to the beginning of the story.  The Prince is sent off on a mission, but is captured by a bad guy.  A really bad guy.  The prince is taken off as a prisoner.  Let’s hope he doesn’t visit the torture chambers.

While his fair princess worries of his lateness in returning, the King tries to ease her mind by having tournaments. Why men think tournaments are something that eases a woman’s mind, is beyond me.

In between the tournaments, we are served by a peasant.

We get to eat:

Drink

and be merry.

Since we are seated in the RED section. We are forced to cheer for the Red Knight. Here he is. Isn’t he so handsome? I kept saying, “Oh, he’s so handsome!” just to embarrass my son. It worked beautifully!

After each event the knights received a flower from the princess. The knights then would give it to a fair maiden in their section.

At the end of the tournaments a very special fair lady, in each section,  got the real prize.  It is handed to her on the end of the lance.

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My son’s history class took a field trip to Orlando to see the Medieval Times.  Since Sir Husband will never take me, I decided I needed to tag along.  After all I am  royalty and I will feel right at home.  Let’s start with a photo to help you put things into perspective.

Here is the Queen and her royal son.

Now keep that image in your head.

The first thing we did was tour my the village. We got to see the Blacksmith. Remind me to make him work harder. I can tell he is faking it here.

Below is a raincoat. I like to have all my subjects dressed appropriately for the weather. Nothing but the best for those peasants. 

Next we see the place where all the clothing are made. All equipment you see in these buildings are authentic. This woman said, since they were the first to open a Medieval Times, they were able to get at the equipment first. This is an 800 year old loom.

Now this thing below was in the kitchen. Behind the sign that says “Do Not Touch” is a hole. Can anyone guess what this is?

Updated:  The above piece of furniture is a baby walker.  You put the baby in the hole and the wooden thing can slide back and forth while the baby walks.  Very modern if I do say so myself. 

The hall below is on the way to the torture chamber. Yes, I am Queen, but I didn’t know this was going on. It was very creepy. It surprises us that God didn’t just wipe out the human race.  Remember what I said above.  All this equipment is authentic.  These were actually used.  I only took a few photos in this area.

This is a Head Crusher. You can guess just how it is used. All of these torture equipment pieces were used to make you confess to crimes you didn’t commit or to convert to Cathlic. Once you converted to Cathlic, they killed you so you wouldn’t convert back to your heathen ways.

In case you can’t visualize how the Head Crusher, or any other torture equipment was used, They have pictures for you.

After we tour my the village, we take our seat inside the tournament area. We are seated in the RED section. WooHoo!

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She’s brown. She’s got little beady eyes. She’s cute and she simply adores me. (Who wouldn’t?)   Since she has come home with me, she hasn’t left my side, except when we lock them up at night. She follows me around and stays at my feet.

While I am cooking.

While I am playing working on the computer.

While Maple and Popcorn are fighting.

While Maple is taking a nap. Wish I could take a nap.

Sometimes Maple gets very brave and will wonder away from me. But, when the big bad horse in the next yard comes to say hello, Maple is back at my feet. She runs through my legs. I hope she understands, when she gets bigger, that isn’t going to happen.

Look CC!  RED collars.   They aren’t wearing them now, because Popcorn has discovered if she pulls just right, she can tighten the collar on Maple and choke the life out of her.  They so love each other.  Just like Chocolatechic and I.