I made this Advent wreath two years ago. I had been looking for a lower-profile Advent Wreath for the dining table. I was tired of peering in between the candles to speak to children seated on the opposite side. After finding nothing that suited me, I set out for the craft store. I completed the project very quickly. I am so pleased with the results that I wanted to share with you how to make your own!

You’ll need

1 artificial evergreen wreath
4 glass votive holders (plain sides) – you can also use baby food jars!
1 large glass candle holder (peanut butter jar would also work well)
Spool wired ribbon in a violet shade you like
Glass paints in white, gold, violet and rose
Glass paint primer (clear)
Brushes
E6000 glue ** very smelly – make sure you are in a well-ventilated area – KEEP littles away from it
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Candles (3 violet votives, 1 rose votive, 1 large white pillar candle to fit)

Wash and dry your votive holders and large candle holder, prime. The primer isn’t really a paint, it’s a liquid that gives the surface something for the paint t adhere to.

When that’s dry, stipple on the white paint like a cloud – on one side of each glass piece. Use a dry stencil brush for best effect.

Next, paint the votive holders with the words “Peace” “Hope” “Love” and “Joy”, using rose for “Joy” and violet for the other three. Paint the word “Emmanuel” on the large glass holder using gold paint.

Cure glass pieces in your oven according to your paint’s instructions. Cool

Apply a generous amount of E6000 to the base of each votive and press them into the evergreen wreath, taking care to space them evenly. Use crumpled newspaper to prop the votive holders into position while the glue cures for 24 hours. Do NOT use hot glue, it’s just not strong enough to do this job.

When the glue has cured, wind a length of ribbon around the wreath and secure with hot glue, or simply tuck the ends securely in.

Make a bow about the size of your hand and secure it to the wreath using hot glue or a wire.

Add candles (I love scented ones)!

God Bless your family this Advent!

What better day for a Baptism than Christ the King? It was a wonderfully triumphant and blessed end of the year. Now we meet the beginning of the new liturgical year refreshed, energized and inspired… and enjoying the heavenly scent of Chrism oil.

First photo: Louis with Mama, Papa and his holy godparents Mimi (holding him) and Bill
Second photo: The Gadbois Clan with Father Bob and Deacon Bob.

Praise the Lord! The Christening Gown is complete. I can’t wait to see Louis Charles wearing it on Sunday.

The gown was a refashion of a gown cut (much larger) for his big brother William Henri’s baptism which was postponed several times and didn’t fit him by the time he finally had his big day. I cut it down to newborn size, leaving the extra long length - OK, I like my babies to look like royalty. I embroidered the bodice with a Trinity Knot pattern increased to 125% and trimmed both neck and sleeves with a pretty heirloom shell trim. The slip is trimmed with oak and acorn lace that I bought in Nottingham, England on one of our trips. I had exactly enough for the hem ruffle. The back closes with silk ribbon ties instead of buttons - I despise making buttonholes.

Is it any wonder sacramental garments are my favorite projects - delicious!

Blessings,

Nissa

I just found this on Bookworm’s Blog. Below is a list of 100 Children’s Books. How many have YOU read with your children? The bolded ones I’m absolutely sure of - some others that I think I might have read, but after 6 children…

1. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
2. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
3. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
5. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
6. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
7. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
9. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
10. The Mitten by Jan Brett
11. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
12. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
13. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
14. Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawing of Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein
15. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
16. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
17. Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
18. Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
19. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
20. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.
21. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
22. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
23. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
24. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
25. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
26. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
27. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault
28. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
29. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
30. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
31. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
32. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
33. Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
34. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
35. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
36. The BFG by Roald Dahl
37. The Giver by Lois Lowry
38. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
39. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
40. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
41. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
42. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
43. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
44. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
45. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
46. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien
47. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
48. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
49. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
50. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
51. Corduroy by Don Freeman
52. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
53. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka -
54. Matilda by Roald Dahl
55. Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
56. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
58. The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
59. Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
60. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
61. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
62. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
63. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
64. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
65. The Napping House by Audrey Wood
66. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
67. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
68. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
69. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
70. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
71. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
72. Basil of Baker Street, by Eve Titus
73. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
74. The Cay by Theodore Taylor
75. Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey
76. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
77. Arthur series by Marc Tolon Brown
78. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
79. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
80. Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
81. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
82. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
83. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
84. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
85. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
86. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
87. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
88. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
89. Stuart Little by E. B. White
90. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
91. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
92. The Art Lesson by Tomie De Paola
93. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
94. Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
95. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
96. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
97. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
98. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
99. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
100. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

What about you?

We have been truly blessed this year. Brian has just brought back bags of organic produce, turkey and trimmings to prepare for tomorrow’s dinner. Here is what’s on the menu:

Roasted Turkey with Pan Gravy
Sage and Onion Bread stuffing with Apples and Raisins
Mashed Potatoes
Glazed Carrots
Broccoli with Parmesan Bechamel
Cranberry Sauce
Golden Honey Rolls

Egg Nog
Sparkling Pear Juice

Apple Pie
New England Squash Pie

There is still much to do. Jack, Carrie, and Will are working on cleaning and decorating while I tend to the food preparations. Louis is slumbering and Sophie is helping in her own sweet way. Brian is making grocery deliveries to our customers with Cate’s help. Their last stop will be Youville House, a homeless shelter for families run by Catholic Charities. They will be dropping off eight bags of organic produce to feed everyone through the Thanksgiving weekend. This evening we will be worshipping with friends and family at the annual ecumenical Thanksgiving Service where three of our children will be participating in music ministry by ringing and singing.

Yes, we are truly, truly blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Nissa

Oooh, another lovely homily from Father Augustine… Enjoy!

Blessings,

Nissa

To go shopping. Only 35 days left! So why not support your favorite bloggers’ home businesses? Click HERE to be taken to a list of them to choose from! We’re offering subscriptions to our own Hearth and Home Magazine, which makes a lovely gift for yourself or a like-minded friend!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,

Nissa

What do your children call their father?

When Brian and I got married, he knew that he wanted the children to call him Papa. I loved the idea and thought we were unique. Now I’m noticing that more and more fathers these days are being called “Papa” by their children.

What about your house? Daddy? Dad? Pop? Papa? Or something else?

Aren’t we fortunate to have all of Advent to prepare for and then 12 DAYS to celebrate Christmas? This gives us a lot of options for celebrating with friends and family. This year, Brian and I are hosting family at our home for a Christmastide Buffet.

We’ve narrowed our celebration dates to Christmas Eve Dinner followed by midnight Mass at our church where Catherine, Andrew and I will be ringing bells, and Epiphany Brunch which would be preceded by Mass at which we will be ringing. We opted for times when there would be an opportunity to worship together and to share our music ministry. None of our extended family has seen any of us ring or sing.

So now I’d like to know what you will be serving (or would be if you were hosting). Send me your menus and recipes for either a dinner buffet or a brunch buffet. I’ll post the submissions here in a couple of weeks. NOTE: Recipes will be modified to use organic and natural ingedients.

Help us spread the word about our new magazine! It will be available by subscription only, you can’t find it at the newsstand or bookstores.

If you’ve been longing for a gentler way of life, then Hearth and Home Magazine will inspire you and show you how to transform your lifestyle.

Four issues per year celebrate each season with homemaking, hospitality, gardening, and care of home and homestead. Each issue offers ideas for old-fashioned family activities, travel and discovery. We will feature families whose family-owned businesses exemplify family-centered living.

You will enjoy:
* inspirational pictorials
* instructions, plans, and patterns for projects featured in our pages
* natural healing articles
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* menus and recipes that celebrate each season
* reading and shopping recommendations
* contributions from other readers
* events calendar and so much more…

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