Fix-it Friday #81

Used primarily Nelly Nero's "Poisoned Peach"



This one is more my own, rather than relying so much on downloaded actions, though there are still elements of Poisoned Peach in there, and Pioneer Woman's "Dim the Lights" really made it pop. But there's a lot of my own touches as well.



Here's the same thing, but I added ShadowHouse's "Difference Maker" texture. I can't decide if I like it better with or without the texture...

Weekly Wrap-up: Nearly Christmas Edition

It feels like most of forever since I last managed to do a Weekly Wrap-up, but we've been doing pretty well! We're putting the finishing touches on our Christmas gifts, and generally enjoying the season. I love Christmas! Oh, and we're counting down the days to when we get our dog on the 27th. Gotta love that!

Here's some of what we've been up to:

He earned himself a kid camera a while back, and it looks like he's still enjoying it - and learning to view the world through his lens, something I picked up from my Dad.

Oh, and I'm giving away these adorable Nativity Tags, so you should go enter to win.

What Are You Doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?

There's so much beautiful stuff on Etsy, it just seemed natural to daydream about what kind of money-is-no-object New Year's party you could throw, built around this week's "inspiration item."

(Don't forget to enter the giveaway!)

Art Print Giveaway Winner!

Tianna, you win the art print! Congratulations!



Don't forget, there is still one more giveaway going, and the odds of winning are still very good! So click on over and check out the lovely Nativity Tags that are up for grabs.

Forever Blowing Bubbles

I've needed to remind Monkey that blowing bubbles in the milk isn't good manners recently (amazing, right!), so I was pretty sure he'd like this activity. It didn't disappoint.

Monkey Plays the Banjo

Freedom Quotes

“An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed.”

–Norton v. Shelby County, US Supreme Court

Decision 118 US 425, 442 (in 1886)"

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"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

-Daniel Webster 

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We may debate how relevant the Second Amendment is in the modern United States, but knowledge of history settles the debate about the Framers’ intentions. For those who deem it superfluous in the modern world, the proper recourse is an Amendment to eliminate it, not a campaign to dilute it. The Constitution was designed to be changeable, but not to be pliable.

Dan, the Secular Constitutionalist

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“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”

-Patrick Henry

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“If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free thought, not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

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“Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.”
James Madison

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Candy Cane Bread

We've been making Candy Cane Bread in my family for a long time now. Mom used to make the recipe when I was growing up, and I loved it so I took it with me. I've since given the recipe to two of my sisters and back to my Mom after she lost her copy. Somebody always It's delicious stuff, though the resemblance to a candy cane is purely geometric: there's no mint in this bread! And, it's a generous recipe, so there's always plenty to share.

I thought I'd share the recipe:


Candy Cane Bread

2 c sour cream
1/2 c warm water
1 1/2 t yeast
1/4 c water
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c butter
1 t salt
abt 6 c flour

filling
powdered sugar
milk

To make the bread:

Heat the sour cream over low heat until lukewarm. You should be able to put your finger in it comfortably. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in warmed sour cream, water, yeast, butter, sugar, salt, eggs, and about 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth.

Mix in the remaining flour, until the bread is easy to handle, but not dry. Knead until smooth and elastic: 10-20 minutes. Let rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a greased bowl until double (about 1 hour). Punch down. Heat oven to 375F. Divide dough into 3 balls, set 2 aside. Roll the 1st ball into a rectanglish oval, leaving the dough about 1/4" thick. With scissors, cut 2" slits down the long sides of the rectangle. It should look something like a thick fringe on both sides. Fill with apple pie filling, blackberry or strawberry jam, or whatever makes you happy. Straight chocolate chips is a little heavy, I don't recommend it. But the fruit fillings are delicious. Apple pie is a fan favorite around here. "Braid" the bread by overlapping the fringes you cut, pulling first from one side then the other. Tuck the bottom fringes in the best you can: they're always difficult. I often end up cutting off 1 or 2 at the very end. Bake 15-20 minutes. Brush with more melted butter, and let cool. Drizzle with thin icing made from powdered sugar and milk. Decorate with holiday M&Ms, M side down, arranged to look like holly, only more delicious.

Repeat with the other 2 balls of dough, then give those away. That's actually probably the most fun part: folks are always so excited to see these coming! You can put them on cake boards covered in tinfoil for a pretty presentation, but build them and frost them on your big cookie sheet: that frosting makes an unsightly mess! Make sure that it's well supported when you transfer it to the tinfoiled cardboard.

Enjoy!

1000th Post Giveaway: Nativity Tags!

I've reached 1000 posts! To celebrate, I've partnered with some Etsy shops to give some wonderful gifts to some lucky people! My third giveaway is from Paper Does It. Start out by going and having a look at her cute cards and stationary. Then come on back and I'll tell you what she's sharing with one lucky blog reader!



Up For Grabs:


Paper Does It is sharing a set of 12 nativity tags or, if you're like me, they may look like cute little bookmarks. These Whimpsy Primsy designs have been printed on white cardstock and then given a gruffy look and finished off with hemp ribbon. They're adorable. Here's what you do.

How to Enter:

Step 1: Go to Paper Does It and choose a favorite item.
Step 2: Post a link to this giveaway on your blog.
Step 3: Leave a comment on this post telling us what's your favorite & a link to your blog.

If you want, you can use this code to copy for a short post:

<center><a href="http://ritsumeithoughts.blogspot.com/2010/12/1000th-post-giveaway-nativity-tags.html"><img border="0" alt="Visit Baby Steps" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-N3QcP7YBQY920GVunG_9kTD0SGIolAxkrFdxLRjzQcDDMXkoJZoTDmODCYmb3RoJf8ft19GluBY8X4XpsRTWqsdQsqJmiMHBQOEfEcbCdzmlC9FUCqO6fInDdgsw-JsOFw1a/s400/il_570xNb.jpg"/></a><br>Baby Steps Blog is giving away a photographic art print!!<br>Click to Enter.</center>

It will look like this:

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Baby Steps Blog is giving away a photographic art print!!
Click to Enter.

---

Up to Two Extra Entries:

1. Add Paper Does It to your favorite Etsy shops. Leave a separate comment, including your Etsy login name, on this post.

2. People who follow this blog, whether you jumped on the bandwagon to day or last year, can also leave a comment on this post indicating that you follow Baby Steps.

Entries must be received by 11:59PM CST the 20th of December.

That's it! Good luck!
Don't forget to enter the photogoraphic art giveaway by Dec 13th!

eBook Winner!

Congratulations, MoMo211! You're the winner of the Dying Fun With Children eBook from Syrendell! Leave a comment with your email address so your prize can be forwarded to you. And a Big Thank You to Syrendell for sponsoring this giveaway!

(Don't forget, the Photographic Art Print is still up for grabs!)

Dying eBook Giveaway

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win Syrendell's ebook, Dying Fun With Children!

Classical Homeschooling Carnival #13

Welcome to the December 8, 2010 edition of Classical Homeschooling Carnival. We have another good turnout and some great articles to share this time.


The Mama presents Rediscovered Love posted at Concordia Classical Academy.

Heidi presents Twaddle posted at The Mighty, Mighty Smiths.

Ritsumei presents On Classical Education posted at Baby Steps.

Kelly presents Fall 2010 Curriculum: What We Like posted at The Accidental Homeschooler, saying, "this is the first in a series of three."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Classical Homeschooling Carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Fall Into Reading: Question 11

If you happen to know how to count, you might notice that 11 does not usually come after 2, but life has been a wee bit busy around here, so that's how I'm counting on this project this time. Even if I'm not doing so hot on the fun questions she asks, I am making some progress in one of the books I wanted to finish off. So here's the question:

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Do you ever read the end of a book before you actually get there? Have you sneaked a peek at the last page or two to find out what happens? Or do you faithfully avoid the final pages until you’ve “earned” them by reading to that point?

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Nope, never. I never really thought about it as an "earned" thing, either. I just don't like to read the end of the book before I read the beginning. I also very seldom read a 2nd book before I read the first in the series. I find they don't make a lot of sense. And, there's a reason they call 'em "spoilers." It spoils things, knowing ahead of time. (Don't ask me how reading books repeatedly works, cuz I do that all the time, and it doesn't bother me then.)

Cute

I thought it looked like he was holding his head in a "what now??" kind of way, but his Grandpa thinks he's saluting. It's cute either way! What do you think?

1000th Post Celebration: Art Giveaway! (Closed)

I've reached 1000 posts! To celebrate, I've partnered with some Etsy shops to give some wonderful gifts to some lucky people! My second giveaway if from my own Etsy shop. Start out by going an having a look at my photography. Then come on back and I'll tell you what I'm sharing with one lucky blog reader!



Up For Grabs:


I am sharing a 5x7 photographic art print, called "All Things Testify!" Printed on glossy photo paper, the winner of the giveaway will receive the print ready to be framed to match your home.

How to Enter:

Step 1: Go to my store and choose a favorite item.
Step 2: Post a link to this giveaway on your blog.
Step 3: Leave a comment on this post telling us what's your favorite & a link to your blog.

If you want, you can use this code to copy for a short post:

<center><a href="http://ritsumeithoughts.blogspot.com/2010/12/1000th-post-celebration-giveaway-2.html"><img border="0" alt="Visit Baby Steps" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-beZNMWcCmmyUXp_jSLDOPnqhWp9jg7-uXhLZKe7ZltKYu0DYu608clpausU2xPs12ZG7LQi64rwwR43DLB6SCcSt82POZaRXkOQvsCGqyuNsk5Hw_mIgTLvY5fWYA0konPOUYw/s144/badge.jpg"/></a><br>Baby Steps Blog is giving away a photographic art print!!<br>Click to Enter.</center>

It will look like this:

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Baby Steps Blog is giving away a photographic art print!!
Click to Enter.

---

Up to Two Extra Entries:

1. Add RitsumeiArts to your favorite Etsy shops. Leave a separate comment, including your Etsy login name, on this post.

2. People who follow this blog, whether you jumped on the bandwagon to day or last year, can also leave a comment on this post indicating that you follow Baby Steps.

Entries must be received by 11:59PM CST the 13th of December.

That's it! Good luck!
Don't forget to enter the ebook giveaway, and check back soon for giveaway #3!

1000th Post Celebration: Giveaway #1! (Closed)

I've reached 1000 posts! To celebrate, I've partnered with some Etsy shops to give some wonderful gifts to some lucky people! My first guest is Syrendell. Start out by going an having a look at her beautiful yarns and handmade wooden items. I'll wait. If you happen to be in California, you might think about taking a seminar on what to do with all those beautiful yarns. Then come on back and I'll tell you what she's sharing with one lucky blog reader!



Up For Grabs:


Syrendell is sharing an ebook, Dying Fun With Children! A wealth of information on dyeing with natural ingredients, powdered drinks mixes, gelatin desserts and more! Looks like great material for handicrafts or just a bunch of fun afternoons with the kids. The ebook includes resources for families who want to get started with dyeing yarns, silks, eggs, fabrics at home. Written by master dyer Bjo Trimble of Griffin Dyeworks and published by Syrendell. This eBook will be emailed to you in .pdf format, and is for personal use only.

How to Enter:

Step 1: Go to Syrendell's store and choose a favorite item.
Step 2: Post a link to this giveaway on your blog.
Step 3: Leave a comment on this post telling us what's your favorite & a link to your blog.

If you want, you can use this code to copy for a short post:

<center><a href="http://ritsumeithoughts.blogspot.com/2010/12/1000th-post-celebration-giveaway-1.html"><img border="0" alt="Visit Baby Steps" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-beZNMWcCmmyUXp_jSLDOPnqhWp9jg7-uXhLZKe7ZltKYu0DYu608clpausU2xPs12ZG7LQi64rwwR43DLB6SCcSt82POZaRXkOQvsCGqyuNsk5Hw_mIgTLvY5fWYA0konPOUYw/s144/badge.jpg"/></a><br>Baby Steps Blog is giving away a Syrendell ebook: <br>Dying Fun With Children!!<br>Click to Enter.</center>

It will look like this:

---

Baby Steps Blog is giving away a Syrendell ebook:
Dying Fun With Children!!
Click to Enter.

---

Up to Two Extra Entries:

1. Add Syrendell to your favorite Etsy shops. Leave a separate comment, including your Etsy login name, on this post.

2. People who follow this blog, whether you jumped on the bandwagon to day or last year, can also leave a comment on this post indicating that you follow Baby Steps.

Entries must be received by 11:59PM CST the 10th of December.

That's it! Good luck!