Wednesday with Words~ The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization

I'm joining Cindy at Ordo Amoris for her Wednesday with Words feature.  This is my first time, so I hope I'm doing it right!

We remember them [the Jews] for one thing alone, but it is the most important thing: the revelation of the one, holy, all-knowing, almighty, all-loving God.  Whether you believe it or not (and I do), it is a plain fact that this single revelation--with all the history in which it is embedded and by which it comes to light--has been the most important idea in the history of the world.  Secular historians today explain the past in terms of accidents: Who had steel?  Who bore which germs?  What wind blew which ships where?  Bit if you really ask how we got where we are today (and by "we" here, I mean almost everyone in the world), you inevitably return to the city walls of Ur, and Abraham's revelation from God.~ Anthony Esolen, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization

I'm enjoying this book because Prof. Esolen deals mainly with the Big Ideas of history and not so much the events, people, and dates.  Not that I don't love those too, but I have a pretty good grasp of the nuts and bolts already.  My weakest area is ancient history.  It all comes of being married to a classicist who is more than happy to tackle that part of our daughters' education, so dealing with the overarching themes and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome has been helpful to me.

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ February 15, 2014

It's time for {phfr}!

{Pretty}

As in most of the rest of the country, winter in our neck of Illinois has been incredibly cold and snowy.  I took this picture through the window of our front door because I particularly liked the light.  It was probably something like -8 at the time, so there was no way I was going outside to do it!  (We have more snow now!)

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One morning last week I randomly took an orange Fiestaware bowl out of the cupboard for my soft-boiled eggs and realized that it went perfectly with my likewise randomly chosen tea cup.  Even the eggs are color coordinated!  I thought it was very pretty!

{Happy}

Hannah celebrated her birthday on the 4th.  As I expected, she just wanted a quiet celebration at home.  So I made some of her favorites~ corned beef and blueberry pie~ and she opened her presents:  nine yards of Kona cotton for new curtains for her room and more crates to serve as bookshelves.  Lizzie and family sent her a book about the invention and history of paper . . . ironically in the Kindle edition!

Fabric makes this girl happy!

Using candles in a pie is not very practical, so Hannah just held them while Dave and I sang.

For more {phfr}, visit Leila and daughters at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ Feb. 1, 2014

Goodbye, January! Hello, February.  February is the time of year that is toughest for me, despite the two birthdays we celebrate this month.  Winter has grown old and spring seems so slow in coming.  I'm going to try to keep myself cheered up with little things I enjoy (like flowers from the grocery store, Jane Austen movies, and Ralph Vaughan Williams' music).

{Pretty}

Here's more Christmas show-and-tell.  Hannah made this quilted wall-hanging, which I admired and thought would go especially well over the bed in my bedroom.  So sneaky Elizabeth, Justin, and Dave bought from her (at a discount!) and gave it to me as a joint gift at Christmas.  As of this evening, that empty space is filled with something bright and a little bit quirky. :)

It was made from leftover scraps.  Even better!

I especially like the juxtaposition of pink and turquoise.  It's not a combination
 would have thought of, but it really works together!

{More Pretty}

When the sun shines through these patchwork curtains I made for the bathroom, I always think of stained-glass windows.

{Happy (and Pretty too!)}

The day Hannah took the Junior Classical League's National Etymology Exam, she was sicker than the proverbial dog, but she managed to pull out a bronze medal despite it.  We are proud of her for persevering and for doing so well!

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more {phfr}!