Pollywogs Place Homeschool – Page 5

Comfort Foods for Cold Weather Cravings

Published on October 11, 2025November 2, 2025 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

I don’t know what it is about the cooler weather that makes me want a bowl of something hot, but I sure have been wanting some here lately… I usually have my cup of coffee in the morning, and then the weather warms up through the day, so my craving fades.

I wanted to gather our favorites here in one post so I can find them a little easier and share them with you… just in case you have those same cravings! These are also the perfect ‘comfort foods’ for sick days or times when you just feel a little down. There are a lot of chicken recipes, but that’s probably because our bodies crave the healing properties that come from broths, which we use a lot in different recipes.

Beverages

Dandy Morning Coffee

Ms. Shirley’s Hot Apple Cider

The Best Hot Cocoa

Susie’s Sweet Tea – we like to drink it warm in the winter, or we will make single-serve cups of herbal teas!

Continue reading →

Special Holiday Meals: Columbus Day Menu

Published on October 10, 2025October 7, 2025 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

Columbus Day is celebrated on the 2nd Monday of October…

“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…

We tried to do a little research to find out what a ‘traditional’ meal would be, but the results were a little crazy!

This is what we came up with:

Columbus Day Menu

Grilled Pork Chops w/Greens or possibly a seafood dish

Eggplant Parmesan or Italian Shakshuka

Caprese Salad w/Bruschetta or Breadsticks

Cannoli or Indian Pudding w/vanilla ice cream

Columbus Day Menu Download

Celebrating these Holidays gives us a chance to make history a little more interesting!

What do you think you would add to this menu?

A Hobbit Day Celebration with Pictures

Published on October 7, 2025October 8, 2025 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place BlogLeave a comment

Our first Hobbit Day went well even though we had to postpone it once. We had planned to start with Breakfast at 7:00 on Saturday but we had overnight guests and a late night so it ended up being more like 7:45ish.

“Good morning! I’m not quite sure what you mean,” said Bilbo, “but my meaning was that I wish you a good morning, or rather, that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?” – Bilbo Baggins

Mr. Awesome got up early and put some meat on the smoker. He put a couple of lamb quarters on too as those would be used for the pot roast later on.

Hobbit Day Menu Plan

Continue reading →

Biblical Feasts: A Sukkot Menu & Activitities

Published on October 3, 2025October 8, 2025 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

If you’ve been around here for a bit, then you probably know that we have been on a journey to learn more about the Biblical Feasts. Well, Sukkot/The Feast of the Tabernacles is almost upon us, and I decided that being prepared makes it more likely that I can follow through with the intentions of celebrating this year. Definitely ask for help from your family if this time seems overwhelming, as Sukkot embodies the theme of unity, and we all need to come together as one to make this a special time of the year.

We will be trying to incorporate some of the garden harvest into our menus during this time, as this is a type of ‘Harvest Festival’ and we plan to eat by candlelight whenever possible. Please note that I am not an expert, and most of these ideas are just ideas that I have, and I can not say that they are traditional or ‘allowed’ for a traditional Jewish celebration.

The Challah bread is usually round by tradition. Wine is normally served with meals as well, although we will probably opt for sparkling wine, apple cider, or juice.

You can change whatever recipes you need to make this work for you… you can even buy premade foods and make this work. The idea is to celebrate your BLESSINGS and show THANKFULNESS to GOD.

DON’T FORGET TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Click below for FREE printable invitations:

Biblical Feasts: An Invitation to Attend

Biblical Feasts: Celebrating Sukkot as a Christian

Here is the menu that we have come up with:

1st Day

Breakfast

Make Ahead Breakfast Quiche, Toast w/Jelly

Lunch

Cold Plate Lunch

Dinner

Baked Salmon or Mississippi Pot Roast w/rice – We’ve been making this with smoked lamb and it is so good!

Lentils, Rice, Salad, Seasonal Veggies w/Dip

Stuffed Mushrooms w/Dipping Sauce – can be prepared ahead and heated before serving

Challah or Sourdough w/honey butter

Dessert

Apple Pies, ice cream

SNACKS:

Fresh fruits and veggies

Beverages:

Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Apple Cider, Hot Cocoa, or Coffee – I might even set up a Hot Cocoa Bar for everyone

Notes:

You may choose to read Scripture during breakfast, or you may also choose to do a special Bible Study during this time.

You should already have your Sukkah or outdoor living space prepared. We will be using our back porch area. Set the table with some pretty festive fall decor, if applicable. Add candles too!

Say a prayer before sitting down to eat.

Read Scripture and/or say a prayer of Thankfulness after the meal.

Free Party Planning Printables!

Grab your FREE printables so you can make your menu and grocery list right now!

Continue reading →

Biblical Feasts: Celebrating Sukkot as a Christian

Published on October 2, 2025October 8, 2025 by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog3 Comments

Please note that I am NOT an expert on the BIBLE or on any of the BIBLICAL FEASTS, but I know others are feeling led to celebrate the FEASTS as we are, so I am just sharing what we have been learning. This post, like many of my posts, is a helpful reminder for myself and a place to put links that I might otherwise forget about.

Who should celebrate the Seven Biblical Feasts?

Well, that is a debate among many, and I have been doing TONS of research. During that research, I read somewhere that we are not commanded to celebrate them, but we are invited to celebrate them as Jesus did. How would you feel if you had invited someone to celebrate with you and they didn’t show up?

First and foremost, I would say that you need to pray and see if GOD is leading you to celebrate… you should pray about any big changes in direction before heading down a path that life may be leading you down.

Holy Days vs. Holidays

I have read some theories that Thanksgiving may have actually been based on the Sukkot Celebrations… it lasted three days while Sukkot lasts for seven, so there may be some truth to this. They both occur around harvest time, and Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration when it first started. The Pilgrims were well versed in the Bible and Hebrew, so they may have adopted this celebration as a time to remember all they had been through.

Why celebrate Sukkot?

Secondly, you should do your own research about Sukkot. Find out the who, the what, the when, the where. the why, and the how… all of it! Then you can decide if and how you want to celebrate it. You can start by reading through Leviticus 23.

Continue reading →