More Praiseworthy Video: Jot the Dot

The animated short Jot the Dot appeared on my local television station's afternoon Children's show (anyone remember those?) in the early 70's. Jot was created in 1964 and aired all over the world teaching short bible lessons to kids. I remember these vividly and loved them. I have looked for them for years and just ran across a couple on YouTube, a site with some praiseworthy elements, but also a lot of unpraiseworthy elements so beware. In the comments section I found out the a video can be purchased here. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy the two I found on YouTube.

Bayeux Tapestry

For those who may be studying the Middle Ages as we are this year you may want to show your children this YouTube video. If you do, make the image full screen because, unfortunately, people who leave comments on YouTube don't always make those comments family friendly. But in full screen mode (done by clicking on the icon at the lower right of the image that looks like a rectangle within a rectangle) you can watch the video without your children seeing indecent comments. I thought this video was fun, educational and helped to reinforce the main points of the Battle of Hastings.

Free Cones at Ben and Jerry's!!

I LOVE Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. So I was thrilled to learn they were offering free cones on tax day, April 17th. I was even more excited to go here and discover there is actually a shop close to me. Check it out yourself and celebrate with something free on tax day.

Storybook Woods Giveaway!!

One of my favorite bloggers is Clarice of Storybook Woods. She is a fellow homeschooler who fills her world with beauty. I remember when she started her blog and I've enjoyed it ever since. As a celebration of her one year blogiversary she is giving away some fun things. Run over to her blog and check it all out!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

Easter Garden

My good friend, The Jacobite Rose, gave instructions last year for making an Easter Garden on her old blog. It's very simple and she gave step by step instructions with pictures. You basically make a small replica of Jesus' tomb with rocks. The rock that covers the entrance is rolled away on Easter morning. It's a great activity to do with your children. It was so memorable for my children that they begged me to do it again this year. Even though it is now Saturday I'm going to do it with my children today. It is so wonderful to see their excitement when they see the open tomb on Sunday morning.

Good Friday and Hot Cross Buns

Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks for me and even thought I've shared a lot of recipes lately...I'm going to share more! Hot Cross Buns are traditional food for good Friday. They are marked with a cross to remember our Lord and Savior's death on this day. In the past I have used this recipe with success. A good friend tells me that in England the cross is made on the top of the roll with a paste of flour and water. But, my goodness, icing could only be better!!! My children love this recipe and look forward to making them with me.

Other activities this week were to read the account of Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday together as a family on Sunday night, dying Easter Eggs and then taking some to people we love, and tomorrow we will make lamb cookies according to my mother's tradition. Just a sugar cut out cookie frosted with white with a snipped raisin or a dried current for the eye. Yummy. We died our Easter eggs using this kit by Easter Unlimited called Easter Sunday Egg Decorating Kit. It had great Christian decals that my kids enjoyed. Sorry I don't have a picture though. Another fun place to visit is http://www.tentwostudios.com/countdown/ for her Easter countdown of paper ephemera downloads.

In movies I'm planning to watch the Ten Commandments, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Passion and maybe the Gospel of John too. For books I love Easter Bunny Are You For Real. There is also a book in this series about Santa Claus that is excellent. I highly recommend them both.

I hope you are having a wonderful week preparing for Easter with your family as well. I'd love to hear what you are doing.

Praiseworthy Website: The Art Tea Life

This is actually a sneaky way to post about St. Patrick's Day again!!! The Art Tea Life is a very creative blog that I read frequently. Her post last Wednesday on "Wearin' o The Green" gave a wonderful poem and account of Irish history that I wanted to share it with you. The Irish flag displays a green bar to represent the Catholics and an orange bar to represent the Protestants and a white bar to represent the peace between the two. Art Tea Life's post helps us to understand why even though we are Protestants wearing green is a wonderful thing to do!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the wisdom of God instruct me;

The eye of God watch over me;

The ear of God hear me;

The Word of God give sweetness to my speech;

The hand of God defend me;

And may I follow the way of God this and every day.

-St. Patrick

Make a library run and try out these books with your kids today:

St. Patrick's Day - Mary Cantwell

St. Patrick and Irish Christianity - Tom Corfe

Saint Patrick - Ann Tompert

Goodbye Sweet Lucy

Jane and Lucy,
originally uploaded by jillpettis.

This is a picture of my Great Aunt Jane and her sister my Great Aunt Lucy. Lucy has the black hair. Lucy passed away last Saturday and in honor of her I'm posting her recipe for Apple Cake. My Aunt Jane loved Lucy's Apple Cake so in a way I'm honoring them both!

Lucy was an interesting person. Her temperament was not all that warm, but she had a hearty laugh and loved her grandchildren. At the funeral they said things like, "she let us get toys out all over and never said anything about it." That's something coming from a woman whose house was spotless every single time I entered it. Really, her floor was SHINY! You could quite happily eat off it as they say. And her BLACK hair was always perfect.

When their mother passed away Lucy said to Jane, "we're the old ones now." Looks like I'm one generation away from the old ones now myself. I thank God that I knew them and I hope that they, their mother, father, sister and brother are having a wonderful homecoming.

For me, I'll just have to wait to see them. But at least I can have the cake.

Lucy's Apple Cake

4 cups chopped Apples

3 cups flour

1 cup oil

2 beaten eggs

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup raisins

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup flaked coconut

Mix apples and sugar and let stand a few minutes until juice forms. Sift flour, soda, salt and add to apples. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Pour into a tube pan and bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.