The Piano Man

This is what my middle child likes to do in his PJ's

And he is quite good!













And this is what my oldest likes to do in his PJ's......

 but I won't let him!

This is our Family timeline from our first year of a Classical Education!  Isn't it sooooo cool!

Can you see the change from BC to AD?  That's around Jesus' birth.  We studied about ancient history and the beginning of Christianity.  Our required reading was out of the New Testament.  We used Holy Scriptures for our school study!  And look what else, we even included Book of Mormon stories on our family timeline!  How happy am I....... off the Richter scale!

More painting and crafting at the Dichmann's

We love to paint!  Kirsi's brother, Matt was coming home from his 2 year mission.  We like to make posters to welcome the homesick missionaries when they get off the plane.  And so Abby and I got out the paints!

See the strawberries in the lower left!  Do you see remnants of our timeline on the wall behind the poster?  This is a great day for homeschooling!

And since we have been homeschooling we do many projects.  Here Kirsi is helping Michael paint his ancient Roman aqueduct.  I'm not sure who is having more fun, Kirsi or Michael.

Party at my House

A dear friend of mine is getting married and I volunteered to have a bridal shower at my house.  And then I started looking at my house differently..... What a mess!  It's been years since I've done anything new to the decor.  I saw many things that needed changing with my new eyes.  The first, my kitchen window.  It is a beautiful window, with an AMAZING view.

 However, during the summer the sun sets right into my kitchen.  During our first summer living here, we wore sunglasses while eating supper.  There are wooden blinds and hotel grade shades through out the house, but the kitchen window is too large and unique for any professional coverage.  You see there is an arch on the top.  Any way, I set out to make my own blind with velcro.  I did this 8 years ago.

It attaches with velcro and I hate it!  I have always hated it but it served it's purpose.  So now with the party approaching and the time of day that I choose to have the party forced me to do something different.

I saw these GREAT blinds at Smith & Noble, pretty pricey and the arch would have to go (be covered).  Maybe one day I can get those blinds, but the party is right around the corner.  I was looking for an easy way out.  I looked at duvet covers and sheet patterns, but I couldn't find what I was looking for until I hit the shower curtain section.

My friend the bride to be needed a shower curtain and her wedding theme is "Nature".  This is a bare tree and I added colourful pattern fabric leaves that I cut with my Cricut (well someone else's Cricut, I now own my own!!!)  When my bride friend left after the shower I put her new shower curtain in a box with the rest of her shower memorabilia.  I sure hope she likes it!  I did, while it was hanging in front of the blazing sun.

Now all I have is the brown back drop hanging.  I'm looking for another shower curtain!  Target has a nice selection.  I'll keep you posted!

Did we go anywhere?

We've been home from our adventures for over a month now.  We immediately got back into the swing of life.  So busy that, I'm thinking did we go to Egypt?

Once home I've started on a rampage of crafts.  Thanks to my discovery of the Cricut!  And a bevy of special occasions that simple needed some crafty attention.

I cut out flowers from tissue paper (no Cricut for these flowers).   I painted the boxes an opalescent white or metallic blue.  Then, with modge podge I applied the flowers, layering them.  These boxes turned out so cute!  I used them for May Day, to surprise my friends with little hand carved alabaster vases from Egypt in side the pretty boxes.

If it was not for Pompeii.....

Just when I think that I have my favorite place, I wake up and it's a new day!  Did you know that if Pompeii was not discovered we would only guess what ancient Rome was like, only guess!  It's true, all the knowledge that we have gained from daily life in Ancient Rome is from the discovery of Pompeii.  It is an AMAZING place.  (I think I have totally burnt out that word!)
                                                                              

First  I want to say that I thought that Pompeii was a small excavation.  Wrong, there are streets upon streets of homes and shops and even fast food shops.  A little history about Pompeii...... around 600 -500 BC Pompeii was extablished.  Pompeii is mentioned in Ancient Rome history with the various rulers of Rome.  However, in 79 AD the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the city with ash and soot.  So much covered the area that people were buried alive right in the middle of their day, leaving behind evidence of they daily life preserved for nearly 2000 years.

 

Chris is standing at the entrance of the home of Caecilius and his family.  The textbook that Chris has been studying Latin from is called "Cambridge Latin Course".  And the entire first unit is about this family.  Chris was able to tell us about each room, it's purpose and about the family.   Cool, huh!

I took this picture with my camera inside the gate, so as to not see the bars.  This is one room of items that have been removed from each room during the excation, there are about 10 of these rooms.  Each vase, pedestal, chest, table, chair and body (plaster) has been catalogued and put out of reach of the tourists.  Most of the frescos, and mosiac floors have been removed and put into museums.  Do you see the shape of a man on the shelf?

There are a few casts of real humans and pets.  These remains were found but an archilogist, who while excavating realized what he was finding.  He decided to pour plaster into the next holes he discovered and once dry was able to see what position some of these people were in when they died.  There is one plaster that shows a broken skull.  It is speculated that that one was hit by dropping pumice from the exploding volcano. The people seemed to be in living positions when they were buried by the ash. Including a pregnant lady protecting her face.

This is a public toilet, imagine a large marble shelf with holes in them. The refuge (ahem) would drop into the ditch.  Enough said! This was an open room, where people sat side by side.

This is one street.  The road is lower for when it rains and the side walk is raised as to not step into the water.  There is a small area for the water to flow.  On the larger streets there are stepping stones to aid in crossing the street so as not to get your feet wet.

Pompeii is a large city about 1 square mile, with a population of about 15,000 people.  It is unbelievable how large it is and how much has been excavated.  There is still a large section covered.  The volcano is still active, and the residents of the surrounding area know that Mount Versivuis could erupt again.





I'm so glad we came to Pompeii.  We took a fast train from Rome to Naples, about 1 hour, (to cover 200kms)  but a great way to travel.  We are standing in the forum and behind us is the Volcano.

  And then back to the hotel again.  BUSTED!!! Look what I'm doing while posting on our blog......

Did I mention that the bakery is right across the street from our hotel?  Chris and I stayed home so I could work on the blog and Bob made a bakery run, alas the last one!  He tried to trick me that the bakery was sold out, but he knew better than to come back empty handed with creme on his nose!!!

Oh one last think...... There is a church by our Hotel.... and it is the strangest thing...... very strange.  
Let me try to explain,..... here is a photo....

The Crypt of the Capuchins.  So, I want to explain and show respect....   I will copy the brochure.   "In 1631, The Capuchin friars left the friary of St. Bonaventure and came to live in this church, of which only the church and cemetery remain.  The remains of the deceased friars were transported from the old friary and laid to rest.  The bones were arranged along the walls, and the friars began to bury their own dead here, as well as poor Romans.  Over the years, until 1870, further alterations transformed this burial place into the work of art we see today.  It's message is clear: death closes the gates of time, and opens those of eternity."  No cameras were allowed inside, this is a picture of a brochure.

There are 6 rooms with different scenes depicted...... all in human bones!   NO KIDDING!

So, Ciao, we're leaving in the AM for NY!!

Creme puff,,,,,, what creme puff!!

That creme puff heading should have shown me and not Abby!!!

Ancient Rome and modern creme puffs!

No I'm not the creme puff!  Although I haven't exercised this whole trip.  I may look like a creme puff, however...... I have had 2 already..... and some of Abby's.  I wouldn't share with Bob today, he had to get his own creme puff!

Here is the spot where Marc Antony said "Fellow Romans lend me your ears...", while Caesar's body lie dead.  The place certainly does not look as grand as the steps in the "Julius Caesar" 1953 movie with Marlon Brando.  But our guide said there are still some ruins under the earth.  This area is the forum and was covered with marsh land after the fall of the Roman Empire and not excavated until the late 1800's.  It's all incredibly interesting.  "Is there a bakery near by?"

We did a whirl wind tour of Rome, including of course the Colleseum.  Back in Ancient times it was not called the Colleseum, it was called the amphitheater.  Not just a theater, which is usually a half circle but and "amplified" theater, 2 half circles , thus Amphitheater.

The middle picture shows where the floor of the amphitheater was before it collapsed.  The underground was a labyrith of walls and chambers.  There were lifts with counter weights and trap doors into the arena for the various animals that were fought.  The amphitheater was used up untill about 600 A.D.  The Christian leaders were not fond of the type of games that were played in the arena and eventually they were stopped.  There were naval games played here as well but there was too much leaking into the ground level seats, so the naval games were moved else where in Rome.  It is said that up to 80,000 people could sit and watch an event here, but you had to sit in your class or be arrested.  Virtually no women watched the games except for the vessel virgins who were allowed to sit with the aristocrats.

This statue of the she-wolf with Remus and Romulus was spotted up and in the back of the Forum.

We made a quick trip to the Vatican.  The wait into St. Peter's Basica was about 3 hours long, so Mom and Dad were out voted 3 - 2.  We ate a delicious lunch and headed back to the Hotel.  Where now we sit and relax!   Getting ready for our next meal!



Oh did I mention, I love points!  POINTS, POINTS, POINTS!!!  If it wasn't for our points we wouldn't even be able to walk by this hotel let alone go into the lobby, but alas we have points!  Check it out!