We’re wrapping up school this week and I have a lot of work to do to plan some summer routines and activities, not to mention next year’s school (I usually start much earlier in the spring!). But for now, let’s look back at May — I think I have a lot of good recommendations to share.
Read
For my “Books of Centuries” challenge I actually finished three books: The Warden (19th century), Kim (20th century), and Fahrenheit 451 (20th century). (The Warden was my favourite… surprisingly relatable.)
For our Pulitzer reading, we finished Trust by Hernan Diaz. I love the idea of an intriguing structure but didn’t love the book as much as I’d hoped.
This weekend I read the last few chapters of Know and Tell by Karen Glass; she makes a case for using narration as a key element of education and I found it encouraging.
Finally, I have to mention a surprising picture book that we checked out of the library; it’s about a Victorian-era gentleman bat taking a stroll with his lady friend!
Eat
I’ve got some delicious suggestions/recipes to share this month.
My sister recommended a recipe for creamy chicken stuffed peppers (try it with jalapenos!). This recipe for Korean braised pork ribs is also good with pork chops (I’m planning to make it again tomorrow). I also plan to make Mediterranean meatloaf and tzatziki again before long. For our anniversary I made these labour intensive peanut butter truffle brownies — totally worth it. For Phoebe’s birthday she requested pineapple upside down cake, which apparently she hadn’t eaten before, and she was very happy with it.
I’ve made chicken curry in the slow cooker a few times, never finding exactly the recipe I want online, so last time I wrote down what I did so I can replicate it. Here’s the recipe I plan to make again this week.
- Olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 inch piece of ginger, minced
- 1 Tbs minced garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 2 lbs carrots, sliced
- 2 green peppers, chopped
- 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 3 1/2 lbs boneless chicken thighs
- 1 12-oz bag frozen peas
Since I have the use of an Instant Pot I use the saute function to fry the onions, ginger, garlic, and spices in oil before adding the other ingredients and slow cooking on high for 4 hours, adding the peas at the end. (I don’t cut the chicken, it falls apart in the end.) I’ve been eating more protein and fewer carbs lately and I really like this with no rice, but with cottage cheese on the side.
That said, I had Jell-O salad at someone’s house (with burgers and hot dogs) last week and I must admit that it was creamy and yummy.
Drink
I know I mentioned the Ginger Rogers cocktail once before, but here’s the simplified recipe, which I made for a special occasion recently:
- Juice of half a grapefruit (3 oz)
- 1/2 oz ginger syrup (make by boiling equal parts sugar and water with lots of fresh ginger, then straining)
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 2 oz club soda
Do
We went back to Indian Creek and found tadpoles and frogs, then went again for a bird walk, led by a local university professor. I’m so impressed by people identifying birds by sound and hope to get better at it.
As you know, it’s gardening season. The kids and I helped out a lady from church and we also went to the church work bee, where we mainly pulled weeds and spread mulch. My three oldest joined the Ogdensburg Youth Garden Club, which meets weekly through the third week of August.
[Update: I forgot to mention that I took the girls to a dance recital as a birthday treat. Pros: dancers are so talented and strong; the girls loved watching. Cons: the music was very loud and I found some songs obnoxious or inappropriate for children.]
Andrew’s brother, sister-in-law, and niece visited from Toronto on Victoria Day weekend. We had some good food and walks and learned some new games (see below).
For the kids’ last art class they drew landscapes by the river, ate fruit and cookies, and played on the playground. (I’m hopeful that we’re making some new friends!)
Play
I tried three new games in one day: Tiny Towns (“Plan well as you build your town one building at a time. Will it fit?”), Splendor (“Renaissance merchants race to grab gems, acquire property, and please nobility.”), and Arboretum (“Build the Arboretum of your dreams, and prevent your rival from building theirs.”). I’m not that great at strategy games, but I’m usually up to give them a try and I would play any of those again.
(None of these games is depicted above!)
Listen
Our last folk song for the year is an Australian one that my kids love.
After listening to this cover, “Somewhere Only We Know” has been stuck in my head. (I’ve listened to five versions now and I like this one best.)
Meditate
I forgot to update my Bible-in-a-year progress last month so here are the books I finished in April and May: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Luke, and Acts.
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.'” – Luke 18:15-17