Rebekah's Insights

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Tuesday’s Tidings

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite creative activity is devising new recipes, particularly out of ordinary ingredients which I typically have on hand. The week’s menu is typically planned out ahead of time, but I always reserve the right to adjust according to taste, unexpected events, etc. I like to plan at least one day to try something new, be it a recipe I’ve found and wish to try or an opportunity to create my own. They are all more than edible, but tonight I have finally hit on perfecting a soup recipe that is easy, hearty enough for my husband’s tastes, and uses “everyday” ingredients. I thought I might share it for those who like new recipes like me! So here you are:

HEARTY SAUSAGE AND LENTIL SOUP

2 parsnips, finely diced
3 carrots, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1 medium red onion, finely diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp butter
4 C. beef broth
2 C. tomato juice
1 C. lentils, sorted and rinsed (I love lentils because they need not be soaked ahead of time.)
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp dried oregano
7-8 oz. kielbasa or smoked sausage, diced

1.) Melt butter in large saucepan or soup pot, then add onion and celery and cook for about 5 minutes. (DO NOT BROWN!)
2.) Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute. (DO NOT LET GARLIC BURN!)
3.) Add beef broth, tomato juice, lentils, parsnips, carrots, black pepper, and oregano.
4.) Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until veggies and lentils are desired (er, soft, but NOT mush) texture, stirring occasionally.
5.) Add sausage and heat through for 5-10 minutes.

Serve with crusty bread or crackers. Serves about 6.

You need not finely dice everything, but with my little ones, I find this makes it easier to eat—especially the sausage. Those seeking a meatless meal should find this works sans the sausage, too—you could add extra lentils and it shouldn’t alter the cook time much. I happened to have the parsnips on hand, along with my usual celery, carrots, and onions, but I'm sure you could use turnips, rutabagas, or even a couple potatoes--though it was REALLY great with parsnips! Also, I prefer beef kielbasa myself and enjoy the richness it lends to the flavors of the broth, but I believe ALL cooking recipes are best altered to suit individual tastes. I’m just pleased I’ve finally found what suits ours! If anyone gives it a try, let me know how it turned out!

Well, briefly, in other news, potty training is going along well for Liam and he enjoys aspiring to be a “big boy!” He continues to amuse us with his vocabulary, like lately when playing with his trains he will tell me that a certain one is "cross, that means mad inside, Momma!" Aine is putting her new walking talent to good use helping to clean up toys each day in the play room. However, I do believe Liam thinks this means he can get twice the number of toys out at one time, because of the extra helping hands. We’re putting a stop to THAT one!

Enjoy your evening!

Monday’s Memoir

Well, as we begin the month of October, it occurs to me that within a few days, we will have moved three months ago! In some ways it seems we have lived here MUCH longer than that, but in other ways it seems hard to believe it has been that long already! The end of September and now October has brought with it very “crisp” weather and due to the strong and driving winds, we typically need our winter coats and hats on. (If you’re outside for any amount of time, gloves feel better, as well.) So it is that perfect time of year to bake delicious apple and pumpkin creations, as well as to have a big pot of soup simmering on the stove. I love the scents of Autumn and that sense that all nature is preparing to rest for the winter which is fast approaching.

I have always loved Autumn, but I notice it is enhanced by the presence of little loves, whose wonder over the change of the seasons has just begun! (With both of them having been born in a state where Fall feels more like a slightly cooler version of Summer, the effect was not so pronounced as it is here… AND we actually have LOTS of trees around upon which to observe the changing of colors and falling of leaves.) I am so blessed to have the privilege of spending each day with little ones who meet each new experience and sight with great wonder and excitement. I see everything anew, through their eyes. Since I find myself in this position of experiencing new beginnings, we have tried a few new things starting today. I have been reading a book about Family Worship and so the children and I began that new habit today. In short, we will sing a monthly hymn, pray, read passages of Scripture, etc., for about 15-20 minutes in the morning. (This leads well into the time we devote to catechizing and scripture Memory anyway.)

I am also, in the few spare moments here and there, trying to learn some about photography. (I have been interested in this for several years now—since I took a photography class one summer while in grad school, but I feel incredibly inspired by the countryside on which we currently live and wish to capture what I see for William and I, but also for the children to remember this time, though they are still quite young.) There is hardly time to add a new hobby (okay, add a HOBBY period!) but we snap photos as a matter of course anyway, so I’d like to improve in taking better shots of the things I love most.) As these begin to appear in the photo gallery, we can all see whether or not I am making any progress. LOL! It should be fun anyway!

I hope everyone is having a joyful day! We’ll “talk” again soon!

Hello, again! As promised I am writing to provide an update on our exploration of the letter C! Unfortunately, I have not gotten many photos so far and none of the photos are as yet uploaded to the gallery, so this will need to wait until next week. But here is what we've been up to!

• Liam helped Momma make and bake chocolate chip cookies! He did like adding
ingredients, but tasting the chips to be sure they were good for the cookies, was
the biggest hit with both Liam and Aine!
• Liam learned a lot about colors, since the word begins with C, and loves to go
around the house identifying the colors he sees while playing with Play-Doh,
coloring, or just looking at books, etc.
• We created a list of Cc words which included, cloud, clown, caterpillar, cookie, and
cow, among others. (I’d say that COW became THE most memorable C word, when on
Sunday we looked outside at one of the pastures and saw cows trying to jump on each
other’s backs. Liam thought THIS was the funniest sight!)
• Liam completed the fifth catechism question, “Why should you glorify God?” A:
“Because He loves me and takes care of me.” He is also really enjoying learning the
songs to a variety of Scripture Memory verses and is learning to say the verse,
Matthew 19:14, “ Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them for of
such is the kingdom of heaven.”
• Liam is continuing to work on counting when he gets out his daily snack, which was
Chocolate animal Crackers for C week. (We are, of course, focusing on seeing the
letter in print at this point, not so much the sounds, so CH words work at this
stage.)
• Liam worked on making C’s on his own paper. (I have encouraged him to just make
whatever he can, but interestingly, this week he asked me to help him make a C over
and over again. He seems to want his letters to look more like the real ones, now.)

Well, that about catches us up on the school accounts. This week we are working on the letter D, and beginning some new things with the start of the new month. (It helps that William and I finally started on the third floor boxes this past weekend and I was able to locate some more of my teaching materials that I had been unable to locate prior to beginning the “School Year.”

I will endeavor to post the account of the week’s school happenings on Friday of each week!

Here’s the weekly Pre-School update for those who wish to remain informed! (Due to illness I have gotten a bit behind in reporting, so I need to catch you all up.)

• We created a list of “Bb” words, including baby, bumblebee, ball, beetle,...
• Liam counted to ten with (teddy) bear grahams for snack
• Liam helped Momma make banana bread—really enjoyed mashing the bananas and putting
in the flour, but it was hard to squeeze in time to cook. As Liam put it, “I’m busy
Momma. I’m makin’ tracks to great destinations with Thomas!” (Yes, that is an
exact quote—the vocabulary he learns from the Thomas and Friends shows!)
• We read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?," the Bear books by Frank Asch,
and "Billy’s Beetle."
• Liam learned some rhymes about bumblebees and babies.
• Liam finished learning the fourth catechism question and began Scripture Memory
using some fun DVD’s and CD’s.

We took two weeks to complete the letter B because of getting sick and then being so busy getting everything ready to celebrate Daddy’s BIRTHDAY last weekend! We had Birthday Brownies! Now has begun the rainy season here, so we cannot go outside as often to play, which allows for more fun learning inside.

In other news, Aine officially began walking two weeks ago! She still crawls on occasion, but if she stumbles now she most often stands back up and gets going again. While she undoubtedly enjoys her new-found freedom in walking, the biggest thrill seems to be a greater ability to dance when she hears music! :) She is also expanding her vocabulary, now saying more two-word phrases, such as, "Aine's turn," "Lay down," and "Get down!" She is also saying "EEeeeee!" (when she is looking for Liam,) "Wheeee" (when she swings or slides on the playground,) and "Ummy" (as in yummy.) Aine LOVES getting in school time with Liam.

Tune in later for our account of the letter C! :)

It is funny watching your children grow and the things that they learn without you realizing it. Liam recently really seems to be picking up, and acting out, things that we do to/with him. The funniest has to be in concerns with his younger sister, Aine. He thinks that he is the third parent in the house, capable of disciplining Aine. If we leave them alone to play in their playroom, Liam corrects Aine, even though we try to get him to understand that only we are allowed too.

Bekah came in one day because Aine was crying. When Liam was queried why she was crying, his response was, "Aine was being bad, so I told her 'No, No' and smacked her (hand)." I guess the pack instinct for pecking order is natural. The only problem sometimes for Liam with his antics is that strong willed Aine does not like to be told what to do. She does not have to much problem just pushing him or moving him out of her way. Ahhh, makes a father think that she may be OK when she starts dating at age 30.