A Little Woman

Another year is dawning, Dear Father let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.
A Happy New Year! Ever Such May it Be!

-Frances Ridley Havergal

I found this in Hymns for a Kid's Heart Volume II.

I have been studying sea snakes in school. These amazing creatures are Aquatic Herps. You probably know what aquatic means, but I will explain the word herp. The word herp comes from the Greek word herpeton meaning “creatures that creep on their belly”. Scientists use this word for reptiles and amphibians. Herps are ectothermic (cold blooded); vertebrates (have a backbone). Sea snakes are ovoviviparous which means that they lay their eggs inside their bodies and give birth to live young.

Most snakes have scutes, which help them to move on land. Sea snakes have no scutes, so they must stay in the water. They have a paddle on the end of their tails which helps them to swim.

Sea snakes are very poisonous; one chomp of their venom can kill five men. They have enough poison to kill fifty-three adult men. Sea snakes also have a bite reflex which works up to an hour after they are completely dead.

There are more than fifty different kinds of sea snakes. However, no sea snakes can be found in the Atlantic Ocean or the colder parts of the Pacific Ocean. Most species live near the coast, from the Persian Gulf through Southeast Asia and down to the Australia. Sea snakes are truly an amazing part of God’s creation!

[Why] should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and nobel. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and probably if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind.

-Fisher Ames

Hanna is 9 now!

We went to the zoo on Hanna's birthday. They were giving the animals christmas presents!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2 (New International Version)

If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constiution framed in the Convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it.

-George Washington

I have been working on playing this while daddy plays the guitar.
It is great fun!

Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good goverment, it shall be the duty of the legislature to pass suitable laws...to encourage school and the means of instruction.

-1875 Nebraska constitution

Made with trimmings from our Christmas tree and from the ornamental pear in the front yard.

I made an A-line skirt. Mostly over Thanksgiving break. I even put in a zipper.
I will post pictures of the finished product soon.

[I]f I were asked, now that I am drawing to the close of this work in which I have spoken of many important things done by the Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people are mainly to be attributed, I should reply, to the superiority of their women.

Alexis de Tocqueville
Democracy in America

I found this quote in So Much More by Anna Sophia and Elizebeth Botkin.

...and herb roasted chicken.

Mama and Hanna made Lemon Poppy Seed Bread yesterday.

Ingredients:
3 Cups Flour
2 ½ Cups Sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ Cups Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 tsp. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
Zest of one Lemon
1 ½ tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Poppy Seeds
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 Cup + 2 TBSP. safflower oil

Glaze:
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
¼ Cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

*combine all ingredients and beat 2 minutes *pour into 2 prepared loaf pans *bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour *while still warm, poke holes in bread with toothpick and pour some of glaze over bread *after the bread is cooled, drizzle with remaining glaze (I thickened the reserved glaze with more powdered sugar before drizzling the second time)