Exerpts from Master and Commander: Childbirth

I like to read some nice, long novel (or two, or seven...) during my 40 days.  I've begun the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, of which several provided material for the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.  These men, who fight battles at sea and are no strangers to pain and blood, have no idea what to make of a woman in labor.  An amusing read for someone who has experienced childbirth firsthand a few weeks ago.

At this point in Master and Commander (the first novel of the series), the Sophie, commanded by Captain Jack Aubrey, is pursuing a French ship through one night and intends to take her as a "prize."  Upon morning, the pursued ship behaves erratically giving the appearance, among other things, that no one was on lookout.  It finally signals its surrender to the crew of the Sophie.  James Dillon is Captain Aubrey's lieutenant.

The following ensues:

The reasons for her behaviour were clear enough to James Dillon once he was aboard her, taking possession: the Citoyen Durand was laden with gunpowder—was so crammed with gunpowder that it overflowed her hold and stood in tarpaulined barrels on her deck; and her young master had taken his wife to sea.  She was with child—her first—and the rough night, the chase and the dread of an explosion had brought on her labour.  James was as stout-hearted as the next man, but the continuous groaning just behind the cabin-bulkhead and the awful hoarse, harsh, animal quality of the cries that broke out through the groaning, and their huge  volume, terrified him; he gazed at the white-faced, distracted, tear-stained husband with a face as appalled as his.

Leaving Babbington in sole command he hurried back to the Sophie and explained the situation.  At the word powder Jack's face lit up; but at the word baby he looked very blank.

To be continued....

Apostles' Fast and Summer Learning

While I am nearly through actively planning homeschool lessons for the summer, we will continue to do a few learning-type activities into Summer.  We'll be working through the Bob Books series along with the exercises designed to go along with them at Letters of Grace (at a lazy summer pace).

I'd like to increase our time outdoors (even if it's just sitting in our backyard) by getting into doing a Nature Notebook.  Keeping one of these journals by sketching wildlife (or taking photos?) can be a gentle introduction to the scientific world.  As a bonus, the drawing combines the subject with Art, and the notebook can include Poetry if you are creative.  I may start doing this on my own before I foist it on the girls.  If I do a few entries, they'll probably ask to make one of their own anyway.  Then, it's their idea, not mine!

Eventually, I'd like to purchase a copy of The Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna Botsford Comstock to facilitate our learning in this area.

Since we are nearly into the Apostles' Fast, I'd like to do some kind of activity related to the apostles with my kids (although, since I am about to give birth, I don't have any big plans).

Some of the resources I am considering include:

• The Holy Apostles at evlogia.typepad.com ~ a reading list: namely, we ordered this lovely book: The Twelve Apostles, by Marianna Mayer.

• Go and Make Disciples at craftycontemplative.wordpress.com ~ a Jesse-Tree-style list of twelve readings and accompanying symbols to color or craft.

• And for adults, my husband has alerted me to the book Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church, by Pope Benedict XVI ~ transcripted talks on several themes related to all of the apostles; on each apostle specifically; and on a few who were not numbered among the twelve, but worked alongside them.

Finally, for our summer education, we'll continue to use the Let Us Attend program at Antiochian.org to prepare for each Sunday's Gospel reading.  I like to do this on the Thursday or Friday before that particular gospel is read so the girls have something to listen for during the actual reading at church, and something to look for in the icon, if the coloring page corresponds to the one we will venerate at church.

With Bob Books, Nature Notebooks, a Let Us Attend activity each week, twelve apostles to read about from Ms. Mayer's book, and twelve readings and symbols from Go and Make Disciples, I think we will have plenty to keep us busy this Summer.  I'd like to lay out some of these resources in some kind of orderly fashion to give it some kind of structure (sound vague enough?), and if I do, I'll post it here.

Quotidian Comforts

In combining the titles of two of my favorite books dealing with homemaking, I have found an appropriate category title for my posts regarding housekeeping, routines, and the like.

The two books that have inspired me:

• The Quotidian Mysteries, by Kathleen Norris
• Home Comforts, by Cheryl Mendleson

Catching Up

The kids are both sleeping (and Mommy managed to get in a little nap and then sneak away!) so I am going to try to get us caught up. On a related note, our updates may need to pause for a while because I just tried to turn on our camera and nothing happened. I replaced the batteries to no avail. We have been using a digital camera donated by Andy's Uncle Dave and Aunt Patsy at I think my first Thanksgiving with the Kishlers, and it may have retired!

This must be just after awakening because Maggie is in her "kity 'jamas" and she's got a great smile. Ok, so that means it must be several hours after awakening because Maggie never smiles just after awakening. I must also point out "Maggie's George" as Maggie calls him, who Maggie just very excitedly noticed in this picture.

Susannah has a pretty smile too.

"I'm so cute."

Susannah loves to bounce in her seat suspended from the door frame, and Maggie likes to entertain her while she's in it. As long as Maggie isn't grabbing the straps and violently pushing her to narrowly miss the walls in the hallway, this is a good thing.

Maggie reading from her prayer book to Susannah.

"I know I'm cute."

P.S. This "pink doggie dress" is Maggie's absolute favorite. She would wear it for days on end if we let her, and it is always her first choice when I ask her what she wants to wear. Most days, I have to tell her it's dirty, to which she replies, "I'll wash it."

Last Night's Activities

Last night, Daddy and Maggie read a Sesame Street book on Sign Language together. Daddy would say the name of whatever was in the picture, and Maggie repeated nearly everything he said. This photo just doesn't convey how cute it was.


Meanwhile, Mommy did some dishes while practicing her new "back tie" for her wrap. (Remember that bus trip in the snow? That's what we went to learn.) Susannah seemed to like it and snoozed.