Father Christmas Came To the Village....

... and both Alisdair and Isobel got a treat bag and a chance to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas!  The jolly old elf paid the visit at the conclusion of the Neilburg Composite School Christmas concert.  He must like books as he was in the library!  Alisdair says Santa told him that he looked like he was 14 ... maybe he was too heavy for his lap!!!

Alisdair - 2010

Isobel - 2010

LAPBOOK - More Photos of Our Leonardo Da Vinci Lapbook

We still aren't finished the Leonardo da Vinci lapbook, but we've added several more mini books to the project.

We have also received a book from the library - Leonardo's Horse by Jean Fritz.  This book is what much of the Homeschool Share templates are based upon.

Second Cover

Fritz tells the story of Charles Dent, an American man who caught the vision to create a bronze statue of a horse like the one Leonardo began to make for Lorenzo de' Medici as a gift for the Duke of Milan.  Leonardo constructed a clay model of the horse that was twenty-four feet high.  It was shown off at a special occasion in November 1493 and was a sensation.  Da Vinci collected metal to be used in the casting of the horse but in 1498, with rumors of a French invasion of Milan, this was used to make a cannon.  The French did come in 1499.  The French archers thought Leonardo's clay model was perfect for target practice with their bows and arrows.  The arrows, coupled with a lot of rain, reduced Leonardo's clay model to a lump of mud.   

Dent was first inspired to build a horse like Leonardo in 1977.  Many trials and tribulations followed.  Then Dent learned he was dying - but his family promised him they would complete the project after his death.  The statue was finally unveiled on September 10, 1999 - exactly 500 years (to the day) since the French had invaded Milan and destroyed the model horse.  The bronze horse now stands as a testament to Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Dent - on a pedestal in a small park in front of Milan's famous racetrack.

Detailed information on Italy

Alisdair tried writing backwards as an experiment!

A English translation of the words to the Italian National Anthem

Worksheets about Leonardo da Vinci - a crossword puzzle, a word search, multiple choice, ABC order, dotty letters, etc.

Will post the final photos of our book as soon as we complete the lapbook - we'll try to finish before Christmas so we can start some new activities in January.

FIELD TRIP - Anna Hergert - CHOOSING CREATIVITY

Anna Hergert with one of her "art" quilts

Alisdair has expressed an interest in learning how to quilt!  He would like to make a "Paddington Bear" themed quilt for his own room.  While I'm not sure exactly how we will accomplish this creative endeavour, I decided I should take him along on a local writing assignment late last month.

There is a vibrant group of quilters who meet regularly in Neilburg.  They call themselves the "Manitou Creative Quilters" and they stage a show every two years.  On Friday, November 26th, this group held a special evening presentation with Anna Hergert, a professional fiber artist, who came to the Neilburg Seniors' Centre to speak to the club.

I attended the event so I could write an article about the evening for the local newspapers but Alisdair and I went home inspired to try to be a bit more creative as we go about our daily lives.

While in Neilburg, Hergert gave a presentation titled "Choosing Creativity."  It is a lecture that is near and dear to her artist’s heart. She says, "Staying motivated, overcoming creative blocks, fanning the fire of desire, and fighting self-doubt are important topics any serious quilter has encountered. How do you stay focused and excited about your work?"  She shared tricks and proven techniques to keep the artist within alive and full of enthusiasm.  One of these tips included showing photographs of actual landscapes and then displaying the quilts that were inspired by those same scenic views.  She also suggested exploring creative acts in other areas of life - such as flower arranging or baking a delicious meal.  She believes that if you begin trying to be a little creative, this will start to "flow" out  into other areas of your everyday life.

As well as a digital slide presentation, Hergert brought a "trunk show" of various art quilts she has produced over several years.  These were embellished with everything from saran wrap (to make a realistic looking wine glass) to packing material she melted with a heat gun before stitching on to a quilt.  Members of the local quilting club were also encouraged to bring along a prepared "quilt sandwich" so they could practice some needlework embellishments they may wish to use on their own future projects.  Refreshments were served at the conclusion of the meeting.  The following day Hergert gave another interesting presentation in Unity.

Hergert was born and educated in Germany and was exposed to fiber art at an early age.  She says "Handwork was a regular part of the weekly school curriculum and my passion for art and textiles became a lifelong pursuit."

She was "originally an Early Childhood Education graduate and she recalls that her path rarely took her too far away from creating and sharing new skills in the fiber arts field."  Later, she taught handwork at the Calgary Waldorf School, operated The Fiber Hut for 10 years in Calgary’s North West, and taught spinning and knitting classes." These were only a few of the stepping stones that eventually led Anna to obtaining diplomas in Art, Design, Contemporary Embroidery as well as Patchwork and Quilting from London City & Guilds.

Anna says, "This lifelong focus on the arts makes me a passionate and committed artist, teacher, lecturer and writer."  In 2001 she committed to establishing herself as a full-time professional artist.  Since 2003, Anna's work has travelled further and visited more exotic countries than she has! Korea in 2007 & 2009 and Quilt National ’09 are just a couple of the interesting places where her work has been showcased. Commissions can be found in Canadian, American and European homes and public spaces."

In 2007, Anna and her husband packed up their household and moved from the big city to rural Saskatchewan where they now make their home just north of Moose Jaw at Buffalo Pound Lake. When she is not traveling to lecture or teach, Hergert creates art in her dream studio overlooking the breath taking scenery that serves as constant source of inspiration.

For more information on Anna, and her work, take a peek at her personal blog.  She has a photo gallery and also a link to a regular newsletter that she produces.  Both are inspiring in their own way.

Alisdair has found some Paddington fabric available on ebay and, after Christmas, we will see how this project takes shape!  It could be sew much fun!

Have a Very Merry Christmas - Any Way You Say It!

Just a few more days and it will be Christmas...

Celebrations will be held on the cold Saskatchewan prairies (where we will be marking the day with my parents), and on the West Coast of Scotland (where Alisdair's Dad and his paternal grandparents will be toasting the holidays) to the warm sandy beaches of Hawaii (where my neighbour is right now!) -- as well as in many countries around the world.

Here is a little taste of Christmas around the world:  

Spanish- Feliz Navidad
Arabic - I’d Miilad said oua sana saida
British - Happy Christmas
Chinese - (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Danish - Glædelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Filipino - Maligayang Pasko
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
French - Joyeux Noël
German - Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buon Natale!
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latin - Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Portuguese – Bom Natal!
Russian - Pozdravlyenie s Rozjdyestvom i s Novym Godom!
Swedish - God Jul
Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen

However, YOU say it, may you have a special day as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the true "Reason for the Season."

BOOK REVIEW - On Board the TITANIC - with a Touch of Humor...



An informative illustrated book

We were reading "On Board The TITANIC (subtitled - What it was like when the great liner sank)" by Shelley Tanaka.  I hadn't even read beyond the first page but the children were laughing.  And the loss of more than a thousand lives, and a great ship, isn't something you would think would be amusing.

Why were Alisdair and Isobel laughing?  It was all down to one sentence... The book begins with the actual events of Wednesday, April 10, 1912 as it describes 17-year old Jack Thayer and his parents settling into their rooms on the C-deck of the ill-fated liner.

One of the paragraphs begins:  "Inside their suite the smell of fresh paint still lingered, and Mrs. Thayer asked the steward to open the portholes."

The next sentence was the one that did it ... "PORTERS then arrived with their luggage, and his parents began supervising the unpacking."

"Hey," I said, Interrupting my own reading.  "I didn't know John and I were on the Titanic when she sailed!  You kids weren't on the boat, but John and I were!"

It took awhile, but we collected our composure and finished the chapter... I had always perceived the sinking of the R. M. S. Titanic to be something that happened a very long, long time ago. However, I have just realized the tragic event occurred just a little over fifty years before I was born.  So it's not such distant history, after all.

It never hurts to laugh at yourself.  Who knows?  You might even learn something from the experience!

FIELD TRIP - "THE GIFT" - A Christmas Drama

Decorating for Christmas

It's a Christmas tradition - as every year (at least for the past 15), Southridge Community Church in Lloydminster has staged an elaborate musical theatre presentation.  And 2010 was no exception!

This season the play was called "The Gift."  It was based on a book by Janet Preus, with music by Ed Kee and T. W. Hale. The drama, however, was actually inspired by O. Henry's classic Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi."  This is one of O. Henry's most famous stories.  It was included in The Four Million, his first collection of short stories, which was published in 1906, and it has been anthologized many times since then.

The program notes tell us "the story contains many of the elements for which O. Henry is widely known, including poor, working-class characters, a humorous tone, realistic detail, and a surprise ending.  A major reason given for its enduring appeal is its affirmation of unselfish love.  O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of an unfaltering love, a sweet haven from the harsh world outside."

It also states that " 'The Gift' is a delightfully entertaining Broadway-style musical theatre production which tells this story of sacrificial love at Christmas.  Set in the early 1900's, this moving story is told with tenderness and humor, yet makes a powerful statement about love, commitment and sacrifice.  Featuring detailed sets, beautiful costumes, character-driven songs, and memorable and engaging music - this production promises to be an evening of wholesome entertainment which will be enjoyed by the whole family."

Southridge presented the show from December 8th through 12th at both dinner theatres and free admission performances.  The (approximately) 2-hour long peformance featured Brad Berkan as the dramatic, musical and artistic director. John was working Sunday evening and the children and I were home alone.  Since we do not have many opportunities to see actual on-stage dramatics, I decided to take Alisdair and Isobel on a little field trip!  It was the final presentation of the season and it seemed a shame to miss the opportunity.

Luckily we left home in plenty of time as I had a bit of difficulty finding the church in the dark.  We arrived just in time and found seats fairly near the front in the sanctuary.  And then the lights began to dim and the cast appeared from out of nowhere - coming down the aisles, and then stopping and singing a medley of Christmas carols just a few feet from our seats, before proceeding onto the main stage.

Isobel was especially enthralled, telling me, "This is my first play ever!"  After the show, Alisdair laughed and said, "This was worth getting lost for!"

Shoppers on the Street

The musical was set in the early 1900's in New York City, just a few days before Christmas.  Jim and Della want to get each other the perfect present, but neither has much money to spend.  And so, Jim sells his grandfather's pocket watch to obtain the funds to purchase tortoiseshell hair combs for his bride, Della.  And Della, in turn, cuts and sells her hair to raise the necessary funds to get Jim a shiny chain for his pocket watch.

The First Act featured many catchy tunes including, "With a Watch Like That" and "A Woman's Crowning Glory is her Hair."  Both the costumes and set were spectacular and we were transported into Jim and Della's world until the intermission, when a collection was taken to help support the Tanzania Children Rescue Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, East Africa, which currently houses over 110 needy children.

The curtain fell and an equally impressive Act Two began.  Joel McCaw and Kathryn Edwards brought Jim and Della to life, as they exchanged their gifts and learned of the sacrifices each had made for the other. All too soon it was over, as the cast exited the auditorium out the doors and into the foyer to greet their audience as we left the building.  Isobel wanted to go talk to some of the cast members and she told them what a good job they had done.

Before we had even left the church Isobel told me, "I liked it that it all worked out and nobody got mad!"  Then Monday morning Isobel was on the phone to Grandma and Grandpa and began to tell them about the play.   "She sell-d-ed her hair and he sell-d-ed his watch," she explained, before telling them how it got dark and the lights went out when they "moved the furniture around!"  I was impressed that although she is only five-years old, she could understand the complications of the plot and retain the information!

I was glad we had bundled up and braved the cold and snow (and possibly icy roads) so we could take in "The Gift."  It truly was a gift -- from the company and cast itself and the entire congregation of Southridge Community Church, to everyone who was able to take in the production.  I'm sure my children will be begging me to take them back next season!

O. Henry concluded his story with these words:

"The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi."

• All photos were taken from the Lloydminster Meridian Booster website PHOTO GALLERY since photography was not permitted at the event, due to copyright restrictions.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - Neilburg United Church - "The Mouse's Tale"

Last Sunday morning was the second of four Christmas events the children are involved in.  Every year Joan Gibb works very hard to coordinate a nativity play for the Neilburg/Marsden United Church and she was short of children.  Alisdair and Isobel were glad to help her out - Isobel was a cute little angel (not a speaking part) and Alisdair was SAUL the SHEEP.

The play was called "The Mouse's Tale."

The Mouse's Tale is the Christmas story, narrated by Granny Mouse, and told by the animals in the stable on Christmas night. Meet the animals. . . the donkey who carried Mary to Bethlehem; the cow who gave up his manger for the baby Jesus' bed; the sheep who saw the angels on the hilltop; and the camels who were guided by a bright star in the East, as they witnessed the miracle of Jesus' birth.

After the service, the congregation put on a lovely hot meal - mashed potatoes, chicken (or turkey?) stew, salads, biscuits and desserts.  We had to "eat and run" because both children had to be at the Manitou Evangelical Free Church to practise for their Christmas pageant, which will be held next Sunday evening.  Meanwhile, Isobel is involved in the Neilburg Composite School program on December 15th.  Never a dull moment!

A real little angel....

SAUL the Sheep

Here endeth the tale!