Lest I Forget

Yesterday, we made our first trip into France. One of Anna's favorite saints is Joan of Arc. Her birthplace happens to be 2 1/2 hours away. My great grandmother lived and worked in Metz until she saved enough money to come to the US. That happened to be halfway between home and Domremy, Joan's birthplace. So we planned a day excursion to see both places. The day dawned overcast and cool. We packed accordingly and headed out. Once we left the autobahn (or whatever they call it in France), the drive was so completely breathtakingly beautiful that I could not help saying so out loud every few minutes. At one point, I called out to the kids and asked if they were enjoying the scenery. I turned to see Jack's nose planted firmly against the window. Without turning his head, he gave me a hearty thumb's up. As we drove through a canopy of trees dressed up in their finest fall foliage, it felt almost magical or sacred. Something not to be disturbed. I loved Joan's litt

I feel like I am a fairly observant person. Looking out the window while we are riding in the car, observing nature, or the beautiful houses, or the little oddities, that is what makes the drive interesting. The kids will call out from the back if they see something exciting. An antique car, a bicycle built for two, some large bird perched on the entrance sign to the autobahn. So how is it that after living in this village for eighteen months that I never noticed the statue of Our Lady nestled in a little alcove above the door of one of the prettiest houses in the village? I have gazed at that house so many times, yet I just noticed Mary the other day. I have been thinking about her and this morning I thought of her as leading us toward the narrow path to Heaven. There are many ways to enter our village. The main one has recently been blocked off though, to allow for bridge repairs. So we must choose one of the smaller roads into the village. The most narrow one is the street with Ou

I finished the mouse and gave him some pants. The sweater is on the needles. He really is a cutie and I can't wait for him to have a warm little sweater for the cooler weather we are experiencing.   Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. A friend had posted a link with the idea to make an edible rosary out of chocolate chips. Since I almost never do things like that, I decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a whirl. The little kids loved it, but Anna said at the end that she thought all the chocolate was too distracting. But we prayed our rosary, which is always a good thing. I am still reading "The Middle Moffat" to the kids at bedtime. I finished the Don Camillo book last night and when we made our weekly trip to the library yesterday, not one, but two of the books I had requested were available. So I now have to decide which one to read first. Such troubles I have! Joining Ginny , as always.

Today was a perfect fall day. Cool temperatures, a beautiful cloudless blue sky, and an orchard full of apples. This was our second visit to this orchard with our little home school group and it was such a pleasant, fun, relaxing day. We strolled among the trees. The kids were running hither and thither. We got to eat apples. I bought some honey. I asked whether it was local. The lady gave me a funny smile and replied, "Well, the bees are out there with the apples." So, yes, I would say it is local honey. Listening intently to how they grow the apples Hugging the giant apple No, we did not pick this many. These are waiting to be pressed into fresh juice. Watching the apple press in action Juice, being pressed out of the ground up apples. Proof that is was indeed a perfect fall day. Apples! The moms