Though there are some repeats this week, we are trying to get better at following the plan, which really means that nothing else can break or go wrong in our home and work and family. We'll see how that works. This is the first year we won't be doing our serpent for St. Michael's**, because our schedule has been so crazy, and I just can't figure out how to fit it in, and we won't have our bonfire, either. Instead, we ate waffles and blackberry syrup for our dinner in honor of one of our favorite saints. On the plus side, I'm hoping that there will be no emergency room trips this year. Jerome's name day is this week, as well, which we always have fun with at home.

Our garden is still plugging away and Sir Francis Bacon, or Frank, is eating up a storm. We are working at putting the garden to bed, then letting him root around all over it and growing some cover crops, or just covering it all with grass clippings, leaves, wood shavings, and compost to start getting ready for next year's garden. This is Alexander's second week at the college, which is pretty cool, and our second week with the homeschool co-op. This new school schedule along with our intense ballet schedule is a bit of a bear. And then, I've been doing a ton of submissions, as well. I'm only planning one or two of them this month, maybe re-submitting some proposals that were rejected for previous magazines to see if they'll fit better in this round.

We helped our friends pack up their moving van and they have left. It's been a sad time for us, even though we are thrilled they have a great job to go to, because it is so far away. However, I found out that a train trip to visit them would cost two or three thousand dollars less than driving and hotels would. It would take the same amount of time, but we wouldn't have to drive or put the wear and tear on our van. We may look deeper into this.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. Remember that the Psalms are according to eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday Song of Solomon 3-4, Psalms 50:1–10, Proverbs 10:23–27, I Corinthians 8
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Craisins and Cream, Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Papas con Chorizo, Raspberry-Chocolate Ice Cream
• Monday Song of Solomon 5-6, Psalms 50:11–21, Proverbs 10:28–33, I Corinthians 9
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Bananas, Milky Tea and Coffee, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chef Salad with Bacon, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Cheese
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Michael Song of Solomon 7-8, Psalms 51, Proverbs 11:1–5, I Corinthians 10:1–13
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Waffles with Blackberry Syrup, Bacon
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Jerome Wisdom of Solomon 1-2, Psalms 52-53, Proverbs 11:6–10, I Corinthians 10:14-11:1
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Cream of Poblano Soup, Fried Tortilla Strips, Cucumber-Tomato Salad
• Thursday Wisdom of Solomon 3-4, Psalms 54:1–12, Proverbs 11:11–15, I Corinthians 11:2–16
  Breakfast: Pear Banana Bread with Cream Cheese, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Claudia's Chicken, Rice, Cucumber-Tomato Salad
• Friday Wisdom of Solomon 5-6, Psalms 54:13–24, Proverbs 11:16–20, I Corinthians 7:1–24
  Breakfast: Granola Bars, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potato, Squash, and Smoked Salmon Quiche, Salad
• Saturday Wisdom of Solomon 7-8, Psalms 55, Proverbs 11:21–25, I Corinthians 12:1–30
  Breakfast: Saint Phanourios Cake, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Curried Beef and Vegetables (I plan on using veggies from the garden: chard, potatoes, peppers, onions, okra, and squash), Rice, Marinated Cucumbers and Onions

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

**Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -- Revelation 12:7-9

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

Labels: Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Michaelmas, Name Day, Tales from the Kitchen