Tag Archives: Boston area

November Cluster Meeting

Yee Haw!

Welcome Au Pairs!!!

Welcome Au Pairs!!!

On a cold autumn evening last weekend, two clusters and our many guests enjoyed an evening of good old-fashioned line dancing with Cowgirl Mary Rinker at the Bay Path Barn. Although the barn was cold when we arrived, it soon heated up with the tunes of American country western favorites.  Au pairs, many in their boots and cowgirl clothing, seemed to get into the spirit immediately and the fun began when we tried out the first dances that Mary had taught us.

After 2 straight hours of line dancing, the au pairs were heated up and ready for a break!  We used the time to catch up with each other, to welcome our many new au pairs, and to say farewell to those that had finished their year in the USA!  All in all, we had a great time.  It was the perfect way to spend time together before heading out into the darkness.

Line dancing is particularly well suited for our gathering because all interested participants can learn the steps quickly and it requires no partner.  The best part is that the steps can be adapted to all sorts of music and it is great exercise. Language is optional as we just follow the demonstrations.  Everyone lines up, (that’s why we call it line dancing!) and the fun begins.  So, as we like to say at line dancing, “Yee Haw, Cowgirl!”

view photo album ->  Country Line Dancing

NOVEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER

1102Election Day

Would you like to know more about the American political system? Check out http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ for a simple presentation of information about the US government including elections. Talk to the children about what you learned and create an Election Day theme at home: decorate in red, white and blue (how about colored napkins on the table?) Put out an American flag, and serve red, white and blue snacks. Blue and white corn chips with red salsa, vanilla ice cream with strawberries and blueberries or layers of colored Jell-o served with whipped cream.

1107Daylight Savings Time Ends

Move your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night and enjoy the extra hour of sleep…

1111-1Veteran’s Day

A day to honor American veterans of all wars, Veteran’s Day is a federal holiday. You can find some suggestions of activities to do with children at www.va.gov/KIDS/.

1125Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dates back to the first European settlers in North America. After hardship, illness and hard work, the Pilgrims celebrated a successful harvest that they shared with their Native American friends. This national holiday is a day to feast and give thanks. Visit this site to compare Thanksgiving to other harvest festivals: www.familyculture.com/holidays/thanksgiving.htm.

1126

Black Friday

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer door buster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Merchants and the media use the term Black Friday to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

Our October Meeting- Going Back in Time

Our October meeting was held at Minuteman National Park right within our cluster towns!  It was really nice to see so many of you there from both Melinda’s and Patti’s cluster on one of the first days of October.

Gathering at The National Park Visitor Center

Gathering at The National Park Visitor Center

We said farewell to two au pairs after their very successful years, greeted our many new au pairs, had a picnic, and heard one of very own au pairs play guitar, but there was even more!  We went inside to hear about the first days of the American Revolution that started right here!  We enjoyed a multi-media film narrated by Colonel Doolittle, a reenactment of the minuteman’s responses to the British, and a tour of the historic Hartwell Tavern, one of the places where colonists gathered.   This makes the Minutemen’s struggles towards their goal of independence that much more real for all of us. Many au pairs can now better understand why we have somany tourists arriving daily from all over the world!  They are coming to see where American freedom all began!

Hartwell Tavern

Hartwell Tavern

Melinda’s August Cluster Meeting

Staying Cool? Melinda's picture (2)

Last Sunday was a beautiful day and a record number of you shared a part of it together to greet new au pairs, say good bye to cherished departing friends, and discuss the ever-important topic: education.  After getting settled in, we chilled out of the heat and shared information and advice about what to take, where, how, and why!  It was an interesting meeting and experienced au pairs were so important telling us about course work, transportation, sleeping arrangements and good food on the weekends away, and much more.  Thank you all for sharing this vital information!  See you next month!

Melinda

Fall is Apple Season

apples1 Apples come in many varieties, colors, shapes and sizes.  Some are wonderful to munch on, others are best when cooked.  Regardless of the variety apple picking is a fun activity.  If you do go apple picking you will almost certainly bring home more apples than you can possibly eat, but there are lots of fun things to do with apples, and many ways to eat them as well.

Applesauce is very simple to make.  Remove the core and quarter the apples.  If you leave the peel on during cooking it will give the applesauce a pink color.  When the apples are very soft, remove any peel that is left, mash the pulp or put it through a sieve.  Add sugar if needed.

Try making dried apple rings.  They are easy and can be used as a nutritious snack.  Peel, core and slice as many apples as you like into 1/8 inch rings (Macintosh or Golden Delicious apples work best).  Dip each ring into a mixture of lemon juice and water to help the apples keep their color.  Pull a piece of string through the center of each ring and hang in a dry, warm place.  They take 1-2 weeks to dry and become chewy.