December 21, 2023

Cutting paper snowflakes is one of my favorite Christmas/winter traditions--fun for adults and children alike. Probably everyone reading this post has done it a million times, but just in case you haven't, here's a quick tutorial.

 

I use a jar, mug or small bowl to make circles on a piece of regular paper folded in quarters.

 

I fold each circle in half three times to make a six-sided snowflake. However, Qorban has been making a lot with me this year, and he prefers the four-sided model (two folds.)

A good starting base is the classic star shape, created by cutting the bottom (curved portion) into a V shape. The folded snowflake is on the right, unfolded is on the left.

 

For more detail, a smaller V cut in the top portion creates a central star, and an upside down V and parallel lines echo the angles of both stars. Again, the folded snowflake is on the right, unfolded on the left.

 Another series of matching triangles continues the "echo" pattern, while a few larger cuts open out the lower part of the snowflake, creating a simple but elegant design.

And there you have it! I'll try to share some of our Christmas 2023 designs soon.

December 15, 2023

Getting reading for Christmas...

The boys created outfits for their cousins out of thrifted clothes, and we had a gift exchange--the first for this generation.

 

Qorban learned lots about troubleshooting faulty Christmas lights...

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 And Ayesha wasn't particularly interested in cute Christmas poses this year.

November 24, 2023

 We moved! Thankful to be in our very own house again...

The Lightner Three perform the traditional celebratory Dance of The Plastic Chairs...

We will miss the "foresty" areas and leaf piles we enjoyed in Essington, though...

Now that we're in our new place, we have WiFi, so I hope to be able to update and share photos more frequently.

August 4, 2023

 Some highlights from our time in NC and Aunt Esther's wedding!

June 22, 2023

 Fun in Philly with the Lightner cousins...

 

 

June 1, 2023

 Lightner Boys' Favorite Reads Spring 2023

 

    Dragon Scales and Willow Leaves by Terryl Givens

    If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon by Joyce Lapin

    The Gardener by Sarah Steward

    Eloise Takes a Bawth Kay Thompson

    This Bridge Will Not Be Gray by Dave Eggers

    Very Good Hats by Emma Straub

    The Nut that Fell from the Tree by Sangeeta Bhadra

    Larky Mavis by Brock Cole

    Stellaluna by Jannel Canon 

    Alice's Farm by Maryrose Wood (Z)

    The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Betty Bao Lord (Z)

    Oh, Sal! by Kevin Henkes (Z)

    The Scarecrow's Servant by Philip Pullman (Z)

Note: To date, our bi-/ tri-annual book lists have consisted solely of picture books. However, since we now have a young, and very enthusiastic, independent reader among us, the lists will also sometimes include simple chapter books (indicated by a Z.)

 

 

May 11, 2023

 Sidewalk artists...

May 4, 2023

First of all, the runner-up from the Easiest Indoor Plants to Grow contest is...

Marble Queen Pothos

The only reason it didn't push out one of the other Easiest to Grow entries is because this variety happens to be so heavily variegated it needs more light than the "standard" all green Pothos (Devil's Ivy) and also it tends to grow very slowly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now it's time for my Top Three Favorite Indoor Plants!

These aren't necessarily the easiest, or the ones most likely to flourish wherever you happen to put them, but they are the ones I most enjoy growing.

1.Lucky Shamrock (Oxalis Triangularis)

While this one is really more of a cold-sensitive outdoor plant than a true "houseplant" I really like it because it's so beautiful. The fact that I can make it go dormant for a couple of months during the winter is also nice, when good window space is hard to come by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Croton

Another plant that is happiest when outside during the summer....during the winter it squeaks by, shoved as close to the window as I can get it. The all-green leaves it produces during the winter turn red and yellow in summertime.

3. Rex Begonia

This one is cheating a bit, because my begonias don't always last very long (though happy outside, they have been known to die in protest when brought in for the winter) but there simply isn't a variety that isn't beautiful, and they are very easy to "re-start."

April 19, 2023

Are there any devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

 

Ayesha as the Easter Bunny...

We enjoyed not one, but TWO Easter Egg hunts. The second was in the Pinkerton cousins' backyard.

 

It didn't take long for Ayesha to discover that Easter Eggs can be opened, and they have treats inside. Fortunately I was able to keep the tinfoil consumption to a minimum.
 

April 6, 2023

 It's been over a year and a half since the establishment of the Essington Botanical B&B. Now it's time for...

EASIEST PLANT AWARDS (indoors)

1.Snake Plant

It's tall, elegant and easy to care for. While it does prefer a sunny spot, it also does just fine in lower light, though it won't grow much. Water once a month at most. The Snake Plant produces "pups" on runners under the soil. It's tough to break apart, so I have used a serrated kitchen knife with great success.

2. Swiss Cheese Vine

Like most vines, this plant just keeps growing...and growing. Before long you'll find yourself with some very long vines. For a fuller plant, wrap them around inside the pot. Eventually the root nodes (little brown knobs on the stem) will produce roots and anchor the vine down. The Swiss Cheese Vine prefers a sunny window. Water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are dry.

3. Arrowhead Vine (this particular variety is called "Maria")

Another plant that just keeps on producing...division is a little different, but still easy. If the plant's getting too big for its pot, lift it out and pull it apart (making sure both sections have roots.) The Arrowhead vine tends to bend toward the light, so it's good to rotate it every couple of weeks for more even growth. Water when the soil is dry.

 

And there you have it for now! Next up...PERSONAL FAVORITES.

March 22, 2023

 We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with lots of green...

...and Ayesha got her first haircut!

March 2, 2023

 

 

February was fun. The indoor garden continues to flourish, bringing brightness to the dreariest times of year...

 

Friends from St. Louis visited, and we built a cardboard and tape "clubhouse."

 

Ayesha has become alarmingly good at getting places. Her location of choice is the stool by the window, but she's also not against standing in the crockpot, or diving into Daddy's lap while he's working on the computer...