The Hummingbird

We have been enjoying watching hummingbirds this summer.  Yesterday, Brendan used my little Canon to take photos and a short video of one of our guests.  He is hoping to get a video of the hummingbird in the sun, so that its colors are fully visible.

Happy Birthday to Our Blessed Mother!

Updated: The slideshow has been updated with more videos and photos taken by Brendan. Some of the photos were taken with my husband's Canon (it takes great pictures). I am amazed by my son's ability to follow a hummingbird with a camera. I couldn't do nearly as well as him. The 4 minute slideshow is worth watching in its entirety.  :)

Third Man on the Mountain

Last night, we watched Third Man on the Mountain. My husband had seen it many years ago, but it was the first time that the children and I had seen it.  We thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  

The movie is based on a true story.  Rudi, is the son a famous mountain guide who died while trying to save the life of a climber on the 'Citadel' (the Matterhorn). As he washes dishes, Rudi dreams about climbing to the top of the Citadel and placing his father's red shirt there. Unfortunately, his mother and uncle do not want him to climb, but as Elizabeth (Rudi's sweetheart) states, trying to stop Rudi from climbing mountains, "would be like trying to bottle up the wind." As the film progresses, Rudi and the viewers learn an important lesson about sacrificing desires and putting others first.

The film was made in 1959, when Disney still knew how to make family movies. I was pleased to see that a crucifix hung above the bed of Elizabeth and that Rudi prayed before a little shrine.  The beautiful Swiss scenery and intriguing story line kept all of our attention.

We will be adding this movie to our collection.

Picture Books for Second Week of Kindergarten

Each day, after lunch, I sit on the couch with Patrick (and any other children who want to join us) and read him a picture book of his choosing.  Last week's books can be found here.  This week's books are listed below.

The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown (aka Golden MacDonald), illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

This book is a well-known classic that follows the little island throughout the seasons, sharing the visit of a little kitten and the "secret" that it learns.

A Boat for Peppe by Leo Politi

Peppe, a Sicilian boy, lives on the coast of California where his father is a fisherman.  Peppe has a friend, Geramia, for whom he gathers shells.  Prior to the festival for the feast of St. Rosalia, Geramia gives Peppe a gift which he has been wanting.  We enjoyed reading how this coastal town celebrated the feast of Finnian's godmother's name saint.

The Cat in the Hat  by Dr. Seuss

I am assuming that everyone has heard of this book, and the antics of the cat, and thing one and thing two.

I was surprised that Elizabeth listened to the whole story.

Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha

Mark Shasha tells the story of when he was seven and spent the summer with his grandmother, helping her at her little restaurant, Mar-Gra, returning a glowing moonjelly to the sea and seeing the beauty of all the moonjellies in the sea at night.

Homeplace by Anne Shelby

This is a beautiful story of a family, its ancestors, and the house in which they live over the years.  I thoroughly enjoyed how the author described how a great-great-great-great-grandparent, a great-great-great-grandparent, a great-great-grandparent, a great-grandparent, a grandparent, her daughter, and her granddaughter grew.  I also appreciated the little glimpses of family life years ago.  Patrick (and my other children) liked listening to the story and requested it again.

Please note, I also read picture books to my three youngest before bed, but I am not keeping track of those titles.

I Have a Little Shadow

My Shadow

by Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

First Week of Kindergarten

Patrick completed his first week of Kindergarten today.  I think that his favorite part of the each day was when we sat on the couch and read a book of his choosing.

The books that we read this week were:

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business

The Seven Silly Eaters

From My Morning Reading

"But how is this government of the tongue to be practised? The very detailing of the evils will implicitly at least suggest the remedies. Listen to an hour of conversation in any Christian company. How much of it turns, almost of necessity as it would seem, on the actions and character of others! The meaning of judging others appears to be this: the judgment seat of our Divine Lord is as it were already set up on the earth. But it is empty. It is waiting for Him. We, meanwhile, unmannerly and unbidden, keep ascending the steps, enthroning ourselves upon His seat, and anticipating aud mimicking His judgment of our brethren. To put it in this way brings home to us the wretchedness of what we are doing. It will also surely assist us in endeavoring to cleanse our conversation of so much unnecessary canvassing of the motives and actions of others. Yet, for the most part we have gone far along our road in devotion and done ourselves many an irreparable mischief, before we bestow half the carefulness on the government of our tongue, which it not only deserves, but imperiously requires."

~ Rev. Frederick William Faber, Growth In Holiness,72.

Doing Everything for God

"The female dove has this peculiarity, that she does everything for her mate, so that when she sets, she leaves to him the care of herself and of whatever is needed, and thinks of nothing but cherishing and protecting her dovelets, to please her mate and rear for him new offspring. Oh, what a pleasing rule is this—never to do anything except for God and to please Him, and to leave to Him all the care of ourselves!"

~ St. Francis de Sales.

I Can Relate to Tabitha Twitchit

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to keep my two youngest busy by having them paint outside.

Yes, some of Elizabeth's hair was painted green.  Yes, she had some help.  Yes, I needed to give her a bath before our guests arrived.

It's not the first time that a child has been painted in our house and it probably won't be the last.

My Little Knight in Shining Armor

"H, hhhhh!"