| Homelife ~ June 2001 Dear Sisters We have had a busy couple of weeks in the home. We have done some Autumn cleaning. Best of all ~ we started in the kitchen, which is always the last room I want to get to as it is usually the one that has the most work! Ha! My children helped me clean, and they were all pleased at the results. Sarah stood on the kitchen counters, reaching up and cleaning the top of the higher cupboards. She vacuumed the dust off first, then, with a bucket of hot sudsy water, she cleaned the kitchen grime. She was getting really stuck into that chore. Emma did the kitchen windows ~ inside and out. Each time we clean the windows, I always wonder why we didn't do it earlier. The thought of why we lived with them in that state for so long never ceases to amaze me! Just one of those things you don't get to often, I expect. Sam and I worked on the window frames and vacuumed the ceiling boards, as summer-loving spiders had made their nests there. Ha! I don't know about you, but I prefer the spiders stay in their own neighbourhood ~ outside! We then all had our own cupboard to clean out, finally sprucing up the cupboard doors with a disinfectant-soaked cloth. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> When the children went off to play, I organised the juicer, blender, mixer and breadmaker on the kitchen counters in strategic positions, ready to go! Andre made me a 'plug box', extending a cord from a nearby power-point up to the box, so that I can operate more than one appliance at a time. He made it out of stainless steel, to go with the counter top. I've heard it said that if you hide your appliances away, you don't get to use them as much. Mine weren't hidden away, but were in different parts of our kitchen. Now I have them all in one area, so that food processing will be simpler! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Remember how I told you that we are now attending a Bible Institute? Well, the children took great joy in organising their own notebooks for the different books of the Bible we are studying. We found large, leather-bound notebooks in a variety of colours at a newsagency in the outer suburbs of Canberra at a wonderfully low price. Each of them now organise their own supplies, and place them ready in the Bible basket, so that when it is time to leave home, all we need do is grab the one carrier. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We use 'living books' for our school materials. You may well know the joys of living books. For those of you who don't, living books are books that come to 'life' for a child ~ not mundane books and text books with lots of facts, which sometimes never end up in sequence. They are books that teach a child, equip them with knowledge by putting it in a way that it is real to the child. That makes the child want to learn, to love to learn. For instance, ~ for some time I have wanted to teach Samuel about volcanoes in a way that doesn't just throw the facts at him. We found a lovely second hand book on the life of a young boy who lives at the base of a volcano with his family. Although we haven't gotten into this book yet, I have had a 'sneak preview' and one part describes the eruption of the volcano and how the boy and his family felt and what they went through to escape the lava. This, I feel, helps my children relate to a subject. Letting them see the application of a situation. We have received a box full of 'living books' and it is always a time of stopping, having a drink and browsing through them. Just like new friends, the children want to take time out and enjoy them. Naturally, momma feels the same way..... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Talking of books, I have just received a new one called "Mommy Diagnostics" by Shonda Parker. Shonda is a herbalist and a mommy to five children whom she keeps in good health with the use of herbs and great nutrition. In her book, she teaches moms how to treat minor ailments, after diagnosis, with the use of natural herbs. Here is part of Shonda's introduction: "As a revival of interest in natural health care occurs, we, as families, do well to educate ourselves in the art of family health care. Family health care is an art that mothers practice on a daily basis. We observe our children. We evaluate the need for intervention. We medicate as necessary. We seek other opinions when appropriate. Mothers, by nature of our calling, become family health practitioners...." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Last week, a friend of Andre's came over to help with off-loading some workshop equipment. I was at a loss what to cook, as it was the day before our shopping day. Here's what we did: Firstly, we cut and lightly toasted some thick slices of Italian bread. Next, we saut�ed strips of red onion and green capsicum in some olive oil. As they were almost ready, we added whisked egg and a little curry paste to the frypan. We put this mixture on top of the toast, added some grated cheese, then grilled the whole lot. Our guest enjoyed it so much, that he asked for the recipe! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We have been decorating and painting the children's rooms. Actually, we started off with the intention of only painting Sam's room, as I mentioned in a previous letter. Well, the bug hit! We couldn't stop ourselves! I have noticed that when we start painting and decorating, we are so motivated, that it is hard to contain it to 'just one room'. It soon becomes 'just one more room'. Ha! Everything looks so tired and dreary, that it seems to be calling "come and cover me with a layer, please?" When the children were younger, Andre and I would do the painting. Now that they are older, they all help. Andre does the ceiling and walls, Emma paints the wall just below the cornice, as well as the windowpanes. Sarah paints around the door and window frames. Sam paints the wall just above the skirtingboard, and I paint the skirtingboard. Phew! Our home smells like paint and turpentine, but we are so excited about how the rooms are going to look once they are finished! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My daughter, Sarah, has developed her own brand of frothy cappuccino. We haven't got a cappuccino machine, but that doesn't stop Sarah. She takes a small glass plunger, half fills it with milk, then froths this up. Then, she pours a little milk in the coffee cup and heats it in the microwave ~ just to warm it a little. She adds the coffee (instant coffee), then the sugar, stirs well and adds boiled water. Then, she pours the froth on top of the coffee. Finally, she sprinkles cocoa onto the froth. Many a visitor has had one of Sarah's 'specials' and enjoyed them. It absolutely thrills her! A little praise goes a long way with her. I love to encourage my children in whatever creative ventures they may follow. No matter what they are! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We have been 'doggysitting' my brother's puppy, until they move into their new house. The puppy, Toby, has had such a bad rash on his tummy. A few days ago, I applied some emu oil cream. With only one application, the rash looked better, however, because we have been away from home, I haven't had the opportunity to put more on. Until today. Toby lay on his back and relaxed while I put some more on. Emu oil is so healing and has a number of uses. The girls and I heat it and put it on our hair, too. It is a wonderful moisturiser! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My sweet momma is due to go in for the operation on her legs this Thursday. We hope to prepare a room for her, so that she can stay with us during her recuperation. We also hope to gather a few items for her, as she relaxes. Good books, magazines, crossword puzzles, scrabble, pretty writing paper, lemonade...It's going to be a pleasure looking after her. We may have to prepare a bed for my dad, too, as with all the fuss, I'm sure he'll want to get in on the 'action'. Hee hee. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Well, Sisters, I just want to say that I am so glad that you are still here, and that I can carry on writing to you. When I was closing the list, my heart was so heavy. I am so grateful to the Lord for enabling me to continue. Praise His Holy Name! May you all continue to grow and learn more of Him. Let's feast together... Till later, With much love, Helen |