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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CathinCoffeland
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Posted: Sept 01 2008 at 11:57pm | IP Logged Quote CathinCoffeland
Im not sure how it happened but evidently I have monthly "themes" in my life.

So strong evidently even my four yr old recognizes them.

We picked up a huge load of local organic apples and I was planting mums and 7 yro dd asked "so its September now right?"

And 4 yr old ds get big eyes and says "yeah pumpkins and are next!

And dd jumps back in "then indian corn and we plant kale!yeah ooh ohh them gingerbread and Christmas!!!"

Hmmm..so I asked dh and he rolled his eyes... sure enough I plant mums in september and decorate with lots of apples and bake lots of apple treats.

october the apples are out and pumpkins are in -lots of tasty muffins and gourds are everywhere. evidently acorns and squirrls come in september and october too

November we put in ornamental kales and cabbages if we can find them to replace the droopy mums and decorate with indian corn and lots of chili and cornbread.

And december all the pots are filled in with pinecones and all the usual fun stuff.

and so on and so on.

I had no idea i was doing this- i dont plan it -and no idea I was so predictable

I just sort of follow my impulses and moods - I guess they are strong.

My family couldn't think of any summery stuff I do but knew "what we always do" in fall , winter and spring- I guess its because i really don't enjoy summer- I feel very out of touch and unsettled-sort of like im wandering around with out a purpose.

September 1st is like a huge cleansing breath for me.
I guess i really need that rhythm however unaware of it i was.

Do you have regualar planned or unintended "themes" in your life- monthly, seasonaly?

Im very curious now
Maggie
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Willa
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Posted: Sept 02 2008 at 9:11am | IP Logged Quote Willa
I think that's wonderful!

I homeschool differently during different seasons -- sharpened pencils and nice office supplies in fall, books and the fireplace in the winter, etc.

February's usually an Anti-Burnout month when we plan something different.   March is testing/evaluating/looking forward to the end of the year month.

September is a great month for me too -- I was just talking about it to one of my older kids -- even though I disliked school when I was growing up, I loved the "cleansing breath" as you say, of early fall.

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Theresa
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Posted: Sept 02 2008 at 12:09pm | IP Logged Quote Theresa
Maggie, I think that is sweet that your children notice. I wouldn't call it predictible in a negative sort of way but traditional. Those are the great things that I remember from growing up. Things that were dependable and constants in my life. Always there. Comforting.



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TracyQ
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Posted: Sept 04 2008 at 11:10am | IP Logged Quote TracyQ
These are the TRADITIONS and the beautiful memories you are creating for your children. Predictable for kids equals family tradition, and special memories, and are PRECIOUS!!!! You're going a GREAT thing by doing just that!!!

That's why the Liturgical Year is so precious to our Faith. It created beautiful, special feelings of our Lord that we can count on time after time, and it brings sheer JOY to us!!! Because it's the tradition of our precious Church!

Yay! Apple time is here in NY State for us as well!!! I LOVE Fall, and our traditions...especially FOOTBALL which starts tonight!!!

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Cay Gibson
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Posted: Sept 04 2008 at 5:28pm | IP Logged Quote Cay Gibson
Such a fun topic.
I enjoyed reading Dawn's weekly kinder-themes for autumn at her blog the other day.

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Sept 04 2008 at 6:34pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn
I try and change my icon for seasons really.. all of them are black cats (I had a black kitty raised from a kitten for a long time and loved the black cat silouettes and stuck with it for my icon)

I have a pole with a hook for hanging a plant from out front.. right now a bird feeding is hanging from it. But about mid-Oct. I'll change it to a harvest sign with a scarcrow.. then after Thanksgiving I change it to a snowman sign.. I'm still working on what I'd like for spring though.. and finding it and being able to afford it etc.

I light candles much more in the fall and winter and they're the yummy smelling candles.. mostly cranberry and apple and cinnamon and vanilla scents. Warm and homey. Occationally I'll use one in the summer but it'll be a citris or melon or floral.. something that smells "clean and crisp and cool".

I don't think I have as clear a delineation as you mention.. but I think part of that is that I'll do things like in the midst of summer when I'm hot I'll put on Christmas music because it feels refreshing.. or in the midst of winter when it's not fun (meaning cold and no snow or too cold to be out anyway) we might throw an extra log on the fire and turn on some calypso music to brighten up the house with the feel of summer.. and that does muddy the waters for seasons even though it's fun.

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