PSN5: Olivia and the Little Way

To read past library recommendations, or to join the email list, visit: Pope Saint Nicholas V.

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title: Olivia and the Little Way
Author: Nancy Carabio Belanger
Illustrator: Sandra Casali LewAllen
Publisher: Harvey House
Date Published: October 2008
ISBN-10: 0923568921
ISBN-13: 978-0923568924
Price: 10.95

Reviews:
Catholic Exchange

Radio Interview

The EWTN interview will run at 7:15 AM Eastern on Monday. It's only 10 minutes so don't blink!

Vegetarian Grilling

I got a gas grill. That's big news around here. I've been without a grill for eons which is a long time when you love cooking outside. Every birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas, a new gas grill has been at the top of my wish list. My husband hesitated to make the purchase because, well, because he's a vegetarian.

Yep, the veggie guy was worried that the carnivores who also live here would take over all the meals if we got a new grill. He saw the grill as nothing more than a vessel for delivering slabs of meat to the masses.

I assured him, over and over again, that the grill can also be a vessel for delicious, yumcious vegetarian cooking. He didn't believe me but he finally got the grill for me anyway. And, being the great husband he is, he didn't go out and buy some junky grill from the local Wal-Mart, he special ordered a well made grill sure to last a lifetime. In return, I set out to prove his meat thesis wrong.

The grill was delivered 2 weeks ago and I've used it 12 out of the past 14 days. Sunday brunch even found it's way off the grill.

I had some old standby recipes but I decided to take things up a notch. I searched the internet and found loads of great veggie recipes for the grill. Rob has been more than happy to be proved wrong. Every night has been a treat for him and he couldn't be more thrilled.

Oh, it hasn't been complete vegetarian heaven here as hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks have been grilled too but they stay on the left side of the grill and the vegetables and fish stay on the right side. (Lucky for me Rob isn't a vegan -- he eats fish which is great on the grill.)

So, if you would like to liven up your grill and add some vegetarian recipes to your cookbook here are a few to try:

• Pizza. Yep, pizza! Grilled pizza has been easily the biggest hit with the kids. Just roll out the dough nice and thin. Brush olive oil all over your preheated grill. Lay the dough on the grill for a few minutes and flip over with 2 spatulas. Then add your sauce and toppings. Close the lid to help the cheese melt.
• Sweet potatoes. This was a big hit with Rob. I peeled the sweet potatoes and then sliced them long ways in 1/4 inch slices. I marinated them in real maple syrup and a smidge of cinnamon in the fridge a few hours. Then I placed the sweet potatoes and sauce in aluminum foil with a little dab of butter on top. I wrapped up the whole thing and poked with fork so steam could escape. I put on the grill until the sweet potatoes were a little soft. Then I put them directly on the grill for just a minute or so to give them a nice crisp outside and those lovely grill marks. Totally delish!
• Portabella mushrooms. Cover in olive oil and grill. Then put them on buns and serve with the same condiments as you use on hamburgers. Rob doesn't mind the fake hamburgers, but I do. No, I'm not a vegetarian, but it seems to me that if you're not going to eat meat then you shouldn't eat fake meat either. It just doesn't seem right to me.
• Onions. These are favorites of mine. You can serve them on the grilled portebellas, fake burgers, or best of all imo real burgers (organic, free range of course). I slice them really thick and grill like burgers. There is an art to flipping them without them falling apart. If you're not adventurous enough to give it a try, that's okay. Just slice them how you like, mix them with a little olive oil and fold them up in aluminum foil.
• Pineapple. My kids look at me like I was off my rocker when they saw me bringing a pineapple out to the deck. But they soon learned I was crazy like a fox. I sprinkled cinnamon sugar all over nice thick slices and grilled away. These are Rob's second new favorite grilling dish. You gotta give this a try if you haven't already. They're good enough for dessert.
• Salmon. Rob eats fish but he finds salmon to be too heavy and too much like meat so he wasn't as excited about this dish, but it was a hit with the kids who tried it. I marinated it in soy sauce, olive oil, lime juice, white wine, garlic and pepper before grilling.
• Potatoes. This was one of our brunch dishes. I quartered the potatoes, onions, and red pepper. I tossed with fresh herbs and olive oil. I put it all in a veggie basket and grilled away. Another huge hit. Yes, you could recreate this in your oven under the broiler but that isn't nearly as fun as cooking and eating outside on the back deck on nice cool summer morning.
• Veggies and pasta. I simply sliced some zuchini, yellow squash, and sweet peppers in half, olied them, and grilled until just soft. I then sliced them and served them atop Fetticini Alfredo.
• Corn on the cob. Okay, I know. Everyone already does this. But I had never grilled corn on the cob before. I never had enough room for corn and other dishes so I always boiled the corn in the house. Now that I've grilled it, I'll never go back. I left the husks on and soaked the ears in water for an hour or so. I pulled off the access silk from the ends so they wouldn't burn. Then I just made sure to turn the ears often.

This is just a sampling of what we've been enjoying here at Chez Wittmann. I hope that even if you don't have a vegetarian husband, the next time you fire up the barbecue pit or gas grill you give veggies a special place on your grill.

Exciting Stuff at Homeschool Connections

Walter and I have been busy, busy. Walter got the brand new Homeschool Connections website up and running yesterday. It's still under construction but go check it out anyway and let me know what you think about the design. I'd love to hear your feedback. It looks a little bit like my Catholic Treasury website. Walter will have all the content loaded up within the week so you'll want to check back to see all the neat stuff Homeschool Connections has to offer, from free webinars to online classes.

Until then, I'd like to share the 2009 fall classes with you:

• Theology: Moral Theology with Monica Ashour
• Theology: Christian Anthropology with Monica Ashour
• Literature: Gawain and the Green Knight -- Chivalry, Courtesy and Chastity with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
• Literature: Christ and King Arthur -- Heroism and Holiness with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
• Literature: The Orthodox Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer -- Trust God and Tradition with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
• Science: Blood in Sickness and In Health with Kris Corriera
• Philosophy: What Do Philosophers Do and How Do They Do It with Jean Rioux, Ph.D.
• US Constitution: Democracy, Government, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet
• Economics: Principles of Economics and Catholic Perspectives with David Harris, Ph.D.
• Literature: Tolkien & Fairy Stories
• Theology: The Mass Explained
• Theology/Literature: Catholic Spiritual Writers

These are all high school classes. We have enlisted a middle school teacher who will offer classes for us in the spring and possibly late fall.

If you'd like to get on our newsletter instead of checking the website regularly, there is a sign up box in the top right hand corner of this blog. That will keep you up to date on free webinars, courses, and money-saving coupons. Between now and September, newsletters will go be going out every Monday. However, that will lighten up greatly once the fall semester starts.

EWTN Radio and Kids at Mass

I had an interview this morning with Brian Patrick on EWTN Radio. It was live in Cincinnati and recorded for the global audience later. I don't know yet when it will run, but I'll post it here when I find out.

The interview was based on an article I wrote for Catholic Exchange: Mass Control. It's a Top-10 list of ways to keep the kids not only under control during church time but helping them to learn to love the beauty of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I originally wrote the article a good number of years ago and CE decided to rerun it this week. It's kind of funny for me to go back and read it as my family is at such a different stage now. I no longer have wee children. My youngest is 7, so visits to the cry room are no longer a necessity. In fact, it was really good for me to reread that article because I can now see the fruits of putting those 10 tips into practice over the past 2 decades. I can honestly say that I have children who are reverent at Mass and understand the liturgy. Though, trust me, there have been times when I wondered if this day would ever come.

How to Keep Homeschool Kids from Getting Overwhelmed

I received an email from a mom looking for help in inspiring her children and would like to share it with you here. I answered her email with my own ideas for help, but I'd love for some of my blog readers to jump in with advice.

Here is the email:

My husband and I have been homeschooling for a year now. We are really starting to see all the benefits in our children. The only thing we are having a little trouble with is deciding how much time on each subject. Our son is 12 and daughter is 9. They both do really well, but I see that a lot of times they see all the work they need to get accomplished and get overwhelmed and basically get in a bad mood or frankly they just sit there. Eventually they do it, but I know there has to be an easier way. Is it better to give them a subject and say,"I don't care how long this takes just get it done by the end of the day." Or is it better to set time aside for each subject and say, "Get as much as you can done"? I would really appreciate your help and guidance. Thank you for your time.

So, what is your advice? What is your experience? Please tell us in the comments.

PSN5: Choosing Beauty

To read past library recommendations, or to join the email list, visit: Pope Saint Nicholas V.

Check to see if this title is already in your library's catalog. If it is, put a hold on it and check it out. If not, fill out a patron request form right away. This can usually be done online at your library's website.

Title: Choosing Beauty: A 30-Day Spiritual Makeover for Women
Author: Gina Loehr
Publisher: Servant Books
Date Published: June 2009
ISBN-10: 0867169214
ISBN-13: 978-0867169218
Price: 12.99 paperback (Amazon price: 11.04)

Reviews:


I couldn't find any reviews online. Please leave a comment if you know of any.

Homeschooling Science Webinar Tonight

Tonight is the night for Kris Corriera's Science at Home webinar. Join us tonight for a fun evening of live experiments and chatting.

Catholic Radio on Catholic Homeschooling

If you happen to read this before 9:25 AM Eastern and you enjoy Catholic radio, make sure to listen for Walter (my partner in crime at Homeschool Connections). Just go to Guadalupe Radio and then click on Listen and then click on North Texas. Make sure you go a few minutes early so you have time to get it all going.

How fun for Walter!

Save $30 Plus on High School

For those of you not on the Homeschool Connections email list, I thought you'd like to know that there is a $30 off coupon available to you, your friends, and your homeschool support group. It's only good until July 1, 2009, so you'll want to act fast. Here is the coupon code: mh22lw

In fact, there is a MacBeth class starting on Monday. It's only $60 for the class. With the coupon that makes it only $30. I guarantee you won't find a deal like this ever again -- a 4-week, Catholic Shakespeare course with a college professor who's taught at both Franciscan and Ava Maria!

Here's what the kids said about Dr. Russell's summer course (on Beowulf) that just ended:

"Thank you Dr. Russell!!!! I can't wait until next Monday for the MacBeth class!!!!"

"Dr. Russell had very interesting and insightful comments. I enjoyed the class very much."

"Excellent explanations and insights."

"I appreciate literature so much more now."

The students love these classes. So much so, that the students of the American government class started a Facebook fanpage for their instructor, Ed Rivet.

Here is a list of upcoming courses plus free webinars. (More fall classes to be scheduled within the week -- Theology, Anatomy, and Literature.)

Oh, one more thing. If you register early for fall classes you get a very nice discount.

The Last Mass

Last January we learned that our former parish of 14 years would close on June 21, 2009. Even though we had already moved away 6 months earlier, we were heartbroken. The children especially took it hard. They truly mourned. Well, this last Sunday the day came when our mourning would take a very real form in the last celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Holy Cross Church.

The final Mass before the closing of a Catholic church is not like your everyday Mass. You do not simply go to church, grab a donut and head home.

The Church in it's infinite wisdom truly brings closure to the parishioners and as sad as it is, it is a beautiful Mass.

First, the bishop is to celebrate the final Mass. Bishop Boyea con-celebrated our final Mass with our pastor, Fr. Maurice. Also there were pastors from years past, the pastor of the new parish, pastors of other closeby churches, the provincial of the OFM's (it was a Franciscan parish), and the OFM vocation director.

At the end of the Mass, the bishop, priests, and servers moved about the church, praying before all of the holy places -- the baptismal font, the confessionals, the Stations of the Cross, the holy images, etc. Blessed objects (holy water, holy oils, processional cross, etc.) were given to parishioners to be carried to the new parish.

After the final blessing, the altar was stripped. This was an extremely emotional point for me. One by one, we processed up to the altar and kissed it. I cannot begin to describe the emotions that run through you in giving the altar that last reverence. All I could think about was how many times the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass was offered over the past 85 years at the altar. After kissing the altar each person walked outside to the front of the church. Because we processed one by one, you felt so alone at that moment. (The picture above is of my 9-year-old daughter after she kissed the altar and walked toward the back of the church.) But then you were greeted and embraced by the hundreds of parishioners waiting for you outside.

Once everyone had reverenced the altar and moved outdoors, the bishop, priests, servers, and those carrying the holy objects, also came outside. The doors were all opened wide at that point. But then, after more prayer and blessings, they were slammed shut and the bishop declared, "Holy Cross Church is officially closed." The loud gasps at that proclamation were almost overwhelming. The doors were tied with purple cloth.

Then began the procession to the new parish, St. Mary's Cathedral. Bishop Boyea and Father Maurice were in the lead car with the Blessed Sacrament with the rest of us following. At the cathedral the Blessed Sacrament was reverently placed into the tabernacle and the holy objects put into place. Words were spoken, blessings given, and many tears shed.

With death comes new life. After winter comes the spring. I am praying for all my brothers and sisters from Holy Cross that they will find new life at St. Mary's Cathedral.

Addendum:
Pictures from the Lansing State Journal (including the one above)
Article from the LSJ

Win Free Stuff!!!

Lisa Hendey of CatholicMom.com wrote to me this morning:

I am working on a special project today at CatholicMom.com - we are hosting a "Blog Tour" for a great product called The Meal Box from Loyola Press. It's a terrific product, a box of 54 cards designed to prompt great family conversations around the dinner table. Today at the blog, I am hosting the authors for a daylong visit. The idea is that our readers will leave comments and questions for Tom and Bret - facilitating an online conversation. I hope you can join in the fun - please stop by the site at http://new.catholicmom.com/2009/06/22/special-event-today-catholicmomcom-hosts-the-meal-box/ and chime in with a comment of your own. Everyone who posts a comment will be entered to win a copy of The Meal Box!

Looks cool. Tell all your friends!

Homeschool Online Classes: Fall 2009

If you all have been wondering where I've been, I've been busy scheduling fall courses for Homeschool Connections.

If you're busy planning your fall schedule then make sure to check out what HC has to offer so far:

Philosophy 101
Fundementals of Economics with Catholic Emphasis
Democracy, Government & Citizenship

These are sure to be great classes for your high school students. The philosophy class is taught by the chair of the philosophy department at Benedictine! Another Benedictine prof. will be teaching the economics class -- I so love that he'll be bringing papal enyclicals into the classroom! And then there is Ed -- our democracy teacher. Ed was so popular with his students last semester that they started a fan page on Facebook for him!

Still yet to be scheduled are courses on anatomy & physiology and . . . well, I'll surprise you.

Oh, one more thing, make sure to register right away to take advantage of the huge discount for early registration.

You can keep up to date on free webinars and course offerings at the Homeschool Connections blog. The newly redesigned webpage should be up within a month.

Catholic Homeschooling Conference: Pennsylvania

There are just so many great Catholic homeschooling conferences that it boggles the mind. I wish I could get to them all.

The Family Centered Learning Conference is one that is sure to be great. Two of my favorite people will be speaking there -- Rachel Watkins and MacBeth Derham. Rachel is just so much fun and MacBeth is nothing short of way-too cool! Of course, both wrote for The Catholic Homeschool Companion (only the coolest homeschoolers wrote for The Companion).

If you've ever wanted to visit beautiful Lancaster County, PA then get your camper packed up and ready to go for July 25, 2009.

And, to make it totally the coolest, it's cheap and there's a potluck picnic the night before.

So head over to Family Centered Learning right now get yourself registered!

(Special thank you to Michele Quigley for making this conference happen every year!)

Girls in Shooting Sports

My oldest daughters made the front page (above the fold no less) of our local newspaper today. I can't begin to express how proud I am of them. When the reporter visited our home, the girls were professional and answered each question with grace.

The article is about their upcoming national 4-H shooting invitational. You may recall my oldest son took first place in muzzleloader two years ago. Laura is aiming for Christian's title while Mary is shooting for first place in .22. To accomplish that, they've been practicing at various ranges 4 days a week.

The reporter did a nice job on the story, especially depicting the girls' personalities and their love of the sport. However, there are a couple of clarifications to be made. First, Mary and Laura are the only girls on the Michigan team, but there will be other girls from other states at the national invitational.

Another clarification is the reporter's use of the word "weapons." A hand can be a weapon. A box cutter, as we know all too well from 9-11, can be used as a weapon. However, we do not regularly refer to our hands or box cutters as weapons.

In 4-H, we use firearms or shooting sports equipment. We do not use weapons. Team members shoot at targets, never people. As in Boy Scouts, 4-H does not allow paintball or airsoft because those are games that include the shooting of humans. Team members also never shoot at targets that mimic the human shape.

It would be correct to refer to firearms as weapons in police work where one is dealing with criminals who do use them to cause harm and death. However, it is completely inappropriate in this case.

On a similar note, I once heard a judge say, "I've never had a 4-H kid brought up before me."

If you'd like to make a donation to Mary and Laura's shooting sports team email Ingham Sharpshooters Club for more information.