Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Dawn
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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 6:24pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn
(I wasn't sure where this question belonged, so I'm starting here. )

Can someone explain what a "commonplace" book is and how it would be used?

Thanks!

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Cay Gibson
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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 6:33pm | IP Logged Quote Cay Gibson
Dawn,
Do you have "Literature Alive!"?
There's a whole article in there about commonplace books.

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stefoodie
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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 6:38pm | IP Logged Quote stefoodie
A commonplace book is a book where you can write anything and everything -- mine always ends up containing a bunch of to-do lists, but there also bits and pieces of poems, songs, prayers, people's phone numbers, resolutions, prayer lists, shopping lists, reflections, sketches, etc. My favorite is a Moleskine.

If efficiency is the goal, I don't think a commonplace book is the answer -- I tried but it didn't work for me. But for writing down little things that matter, like quotes from the kids, things that I don't want to forget, etc. it's fabulous.

Blogs have been called "online commonplace books". My non-paid ones are exactly that.

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Dawn
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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 7:00pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn
Cay Gibson wrote:
Dawn,
Do you have "Literature Alive!"?
There's a whole article in there about commonplace books.


Oh, gosh, Cay, I don't! (But now I know what I want for my birthday! )


stefoodie wrote:
A commonplace book is a book where you can write anything and everything -- mine always ends up containing a bunch of to-do lists, but there also bits and pieces of poems, songs, prayers, people's phone numbers, resolutions, prayer lists, shopping lists, reflections, sketches, etc.


Stef, thanks for this explanation! I think I have been keeping "commonplace books" for years without realizing it! Mine are just very UN-fancy 5-subject notebooks but I fill them up with all those kinds of things. They are not efficient - not to the untrained eye, anyway - but I love them. I posted about them back in April.

Hmmm ... now to see about starting the boys out with their own commonplace books.

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MicheleQ
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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 7:11pm | IP Logged Quote MicheleQ
I made a few up for myself a while back. I keep one on my desk down here and one on my sewing table upstairs. Dawn I just looked at my blog page for these and there was one comment...and it was from you! LOL!

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Posted: Dec 29 2006 at 8:38pm | IP Logged Quote JuliaT
I have a commonplace book for each of my children. I use it, though, more as a keepsake for them as they get older. I write in my favourite quotes, scripture verses, hymns and things that happened to them throughout the year.

On one of my e--lists, a woman told of how her mother kept a commonplace book. The woman was given this book when her mother died. She said that this was a priceless gift. I started my books for my children soon after I read of that.

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Kathryn UK
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Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 3:34am | IP Logged Quote Kathryn UK
I just started one in a notebook I was given for Christmas . Here is the Wikipedia explanation of commonplace books.

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Willa
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Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 9:05am | IP Logged Quote Willa
I posted a little while ago about notebooks -- I guess my spiral is my commonplace book though I never really thought about it before.

I stick everything in it; then I have additional theme notebooks (binders) which are meant for specific purposes like the Album I showed in the blog post above, and my    Paddy-book where I record what I've read to my just turned four year old.

I like the ideas -- Dawn's clippings, Michele's beautiful cloth bindings and Julia's keepsake.   I think my blog is my keepsake now and if I ever get going on scrapbooking that will be a way to preserve memories for my kids.



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Dawn
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Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 1:52pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts on commonplace books. I just made up a fresh book for January (by taping a pretty image to the front of a notebook) and I am as inspired as ever to fill it all in.

Julia, I have often thought about that - that someday, all these journals that weave together the bits and pieces of family life will give quite a glimpse into our home and the years that pass!

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KellyinPA
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Posted: Dec 30 2006 at 9:28pm | IP Logged Quote KellyinPA
I love this idea! Looks like I'll be notebook shopping in the near future:)

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~Rachel~
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Posted: Jan 03 2007 at 12:11pm | IP Logged Quote ~Rachel~
Dawn... your notebooks with all the clippings are ALREADY commonplace books ...

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