Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello, Friends.

Winter in Indiana and the United States is wonderful for meeting friends and family for feasting and fun. To get set for the feasting, find the new tabs at the top of our webpage: our classic and updated International Friends Recipes. And, November 26 is Black Friday. Get out in the crowds and get some Christmas shopping done.

There is no excuse not to make a traditional or not so traditional turkey this year. Turkey roasting tips: 

• Butterball: check the web page or call the hotline: 1-800-butterball.
• Butchers Box: here are five different ways to cook your bird.

Remember, no meetings or classes November 22-26. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Local Winter Fun

Outdoor fun for all to enjoy.

• Christkindlemarkt in Carmel opens November 21. Enjoy German style food, drink and holiday shopping, ice skate, enjoy live entertainment. Open Thursdays through Sundays until December 24.
• Winterfest in Zionsville offers food, music, gifts and ice skating in Mulberry Park through January 1.
• And all the Hamilton County fun…there is too much to do!

COVID 19 Update

It has been a while since we had new COVID news. All around Indiana we are beginning to see relaxing of mandates. Many schools are relaxing the mask mandates beginning after the new year. Look for announcements for your particular district and school.

If you are fully vaccinated, you can return to your normal activities without wearing  a mask, except where required by rule or law. If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a face mask properly, maintain social distancing, get a flu shot, wash your hands frequently, clean and disinfect surfaces; in communities you may visit restaurants and public places and enjoy outdoor activities safely where COVID-19 is not spreading.--Mayo Clinic

The COVID boosters have been opened to everyone (although they were readily available in Indiana) in the U. S. To be eligible for a booster, you need to have been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna at least six months or Johnson and Johnson at least two months. You can mix and match boosters. Find out more with this WebMD article.

Indiana Considers Lifting COVID Public Health Emergency

Governor Holcomb announced what he needs to end the public health emergency after a month by month extension of the emergency. The governor's statement"

When extending the last state public health emergency for another 30 days, I asked my team to bring me a plan that would allow us to wind it down responsibly. The plan identifies three key items that must be preserved if I am to responsibly allow the state pubic health emergency to expire. To carry this out, I am working with Senator Bray and Speaker Huston to consider passing three statutory changes to continue protecting Hoosiers by allowing continuation of enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid expenditures, the continuation of the enhanced benefit for those receiving federal food assistance and  extend the ability to efficiently vaccinate our 5-to 11-year-olds.

A statement from House Speaker Todd Huston regarding the request:

I think that we feel like we're reaching that point where we've had vaccinations available, we now have boosters available. We've got, thank goodness, much better therapies available. At some point, we move from a government response to an individual responsibility.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

After free conversation, we worked on numbers and time, extended family and reviewed holiday words. We covered non-manual signs (or signs that are driven by expressions and physical action almost as a short cut). 

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid

We read Ephesians 4 where Paul writes that he is a prisoner for Jesus Christ meaning that now as Jesus prisoner he is possessed or in control by Jesus to act accordingly (previously he says a prisoner of meaning that he is possessed or in Jesus' control). Paul further explains that human changing direction and instruction can follow the whims of fashion, politics, society or you name it based in "the cunning craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." Paul writes to be humble, gentle, patient, and bearing each others burdens in love as having been taught by Jesus. Because of the firm and decisive leadership that comes from the authority of God, people do not need to be lost in confusion of the bad leadership of people who put self first and wish to harm others for self gain. 

Part two gives great advice for living with others. "Do not let the sun go down on your anger," is advice we could all benefit. And the last verse are excellent words to live by: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as in Christ God forgave you."

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid

Four of us gathered to feast. Our menu included: Roast turkey (prepared the previous week during class), cornbread dressing, pan drippings gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, garlic know rolls, sweet potato and fig salad, Japanese style rolls, pumpkin pie and Tarta de Santiago (Spanish Almond Cake). It was nice to get together and spend time talking face to face and pick up our traditions.

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

No takers this week. No one wanted to hear about my trip to the dentist, I guess. That's ok, though. I will tell you all about it! I drove up to Gas City to see my dentist because a chunk of a tooth fell out (while I was eating fried chicken, no less!). He was able to keep the tooth since the damage did not extend into the dentin and the nerve was well preserved. I think the tooth must have been giving me some trouble for a while, because my jaw is much more relaxed than before.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We covered our M, N and O frequently used words and talked about what can be troublesome verbs for native English speakers. For our next meeting we prepare P, Q and R.

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We had a full house on Friday! It was fabulous to meet new Friends and see old Friends (and guests). People shared food they cooked or food they created artistically. Thanks for Zooming guests and pets. It is fun to share our lives!

Musicians, prepare to play Jingle Bells. Everyone can sing along!

artistically: from a creative point of view

craftiness: skilled in deceit
cunning: subtle in deceit
deceitful: guilty of misleading others

eligible: to have the right to get something

for: in behalf of; in the name of

just as in Christ God forgave you: an unusual looking sentence because there is no punctuation. Rearranging the words a bit helps...because of Christ you were forgiven by God forgive others.

mix and match: combine different things (I mix and match during the Christmas holidays with one red and one green shoe.)

of: belonging to or connect to 

scheming: a plan to harm or trick others maliciously

takers: participants

whim: impulse or arbitrary thought

wind it down: end slowly (pronounced like wine with a "d")

Winter is Here (for a couple days)

 Hello, Friends.

In Indiana, the leaves are falling fast. The best way to take care of them is to mow them into your grass. It is also the easiest way to take care of them! Another great use is to pile them into your flower beds. They protect your plants during cold weather and act as compost.

We had snow and wintery mix over the weekend. Get out your mittens and hats!

International Friends Feast and Fun

You are invited to join us in person (with a Zoom back up) for an International Thanksgiving Celebration.

Bring a dish to share. You do not have to be currently registered to come. Just show up!

November 16, 10:30-12:00, Room 100 (enter Door 6)

Cornerstone Lutheran Church, 4850 East Main Street, Carmel

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We chatted about the week. We also reviewed the names of family members: mother, father, children, son, daughter, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, in-laws, spouse. The holidays mean family gatherings and this year we all are looking forward to seeing family again!

November 15: We are dragging out our holiday sign vocabulary. We haven't used some of these words since last year! How many do you think we will remember? I am going to guess that like the holidays these words are pretty memorable!

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid

This week we read and discussed Ephesians 3 where Paul begins by saying that he is a prisoner of Christ. What does that mean? When Paul was writing this letter, he was a Roman prisoner, yet his heart and mind free in Jesus Christ. How can someone be the prisoner of someone who has set him free? The message of this chapter is that Gentiles (non-Jews) with the Jewish believers are heirs and members of the body of Christ. Revelation 7 (John's vision of the end times) provides an amazing word picture of all the saints. Sainthood belongs to all who are in the family!

November 16: We will discuss Ephesians 4 both at church and on Zoom. Join us in Room 100 or online.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Hybrid.

We planned for our Feast on Tuesday. 

November 16: Have you heard we are feasting???? Join us in person (or on Zoom!)

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

I had a dental emergency. My apologies for having to cancel our class. 

November 17: Let's catch up. I can tell you all about my wonderful tooth!

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

Sentence sharing for JKL was job that kept us learning. Conjugation can be a conundrum that can be overcome. Check additional links on Our Meetings and Classes for American Accent textbook links and the free Mastering the American Accent App for iPhones and iPads or for your Google or other devices.

November 18: Review M and NO. Sentences, please. 

Kids' Conversation and More:  Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (GMT-5) Zoom

We expanded our world to Japan this week. It is nice to have Friends around the globe and in different time zones. It is funny to think that we are tired or hungry but at different times of the day!

We talked about Queen's Gambit on Netflix. The Queen's Gambit is a chess move to learn!

November 19: 

Prepare to tell us "All About Me" in five sentences. 

Cook a feasting dish and either bring it to Zoom or snap a shot and share. Tell us how you made it.

Have fun coloring and write about what you are thankful for:  

• Fancy Thanksgiving Coloring Sheet
• Thankful Thanksgiving Coloring Sheet

Learn a little about the history of Thanksgiving. 

 

Fall Back on Sunday November 7: Get an extra hour of sleep

 Hello, Friends.

It is time to set you clocks back one hour to standard time. The best ways are to set your clocks back before you go to bed or to rely on your computer and/or cell phone to set your time for you. Don't forget to set the time in your car! I always panic when I hop in my car to go somewhere and suddenly I am too early or too late!

If you are reading this Sunday. Go catch an hour nap to catch up with the rest of us!

What Are We Reading?

• Leadership and Self Deception
• Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict
• Economics 5th Edition by Thomas Sowell (audiobook)

Our Kids' Conversation Meeting has a great reading list (all of which have movies and series to watch on PBS, YouTube, and other video sources):

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen 
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• Lucy não gosta...
• Miss Marple books by Agatha Christie (and you can watch the series, here is one episode)

Yankee Doodle

We talked about The song Yankee Doodle. Have you learned this song? Are your kids singing this song in school? This nursery rhyme song has roots in the American Revolutionary War. Read The Story Behind the Song from the Kennedy Center to learn the history and crafting of this classic American song. 

And since we all know the tune, why not sharpen our English language skills?

The Preposition Song (Sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle)

Verse 1:

Aboard, about, above, across

Against, along, around

Amid, among, after, at

Except, for, during, down

Chorus:

Under, underneath, since, up

Like, near, past, throughout, through

With, within, without, instead

Toward, inside, into, to

Verse 2:

Behind, below, beneath, beside

Between, before, beyond

By, in, from, off, on, over, of

Until, unto, upon

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30, Zoom

Sentence writing is our jam! This year all of our classes are building our skills with sentence writing. You may wonder why this works when learning a new language (more than just word flash cards). For adults, this a great way to memorize. Adults are extremely efficient learners! We learn best in context and when we use information or skills. What better way to learn than by creating sentences? 

November 8: Join the conversation and add to your vocabulary.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30, Zoom

This week we read and talked about Ephesians 2. This wonderful chapter Paul writes:

 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So, as you plan your week, you can be sure that your plans are good.

November 8: We are talking about Ephesians 3.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00, Zoom.

We planned for our cooking and talked about how we liked to cook our turkeys. In Turkey, turkeys are stuffed with rice and cranberries for Christmas. This may be the perfect dish for Thanksgiving here in the U.S.! We could start a new tradition this year.

November 8: Zoom over to learn how Carolyn prepares a turkey and we talk about preparing the classic dishes.

 Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00, Zoom.

November 9: Shhhh. Private lessons!

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00, Zoom.

November 10: Prepare your sentences using J, K, L words.

Kid's Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00, Zoom.

November 11: Bring your five sentence stories or five sentences about yourself.

excel: the best

hop in: get in

is our jam: is what we like to do and probably excel at

Good bye October. Hello November!

 Hello Friends,

We are leaving October behind. November comes with some spectacular American-style of celebrating. We will gain some time when we "fall back" and we will celebrate the harvest with Thanksgiving. As we get ready for sweater weather (and they say we might have some wintery mix on Tuesday), we are thankful that the weather did not get colder faster. While we are tired of hunkering down as Hoosiers, having the excuse to stay home and enjoy a warm home and our Friends is a nice option. Are you ready for a driveway movie? Let's plan one or two!

Let's Get Together

We are easing getting back together in person and as a hybrid. For those of you that are not close enough to come to class, still log on to Zoom. We are working out the kinks to get close to wifi! Cornerstone Lutheran Church offers the space and ventilation to safely meet in person. Are you ready? 

We are watching

El Secreto de Feriha on YouTube

COVID 19

Cases of COVID 19 are dwindling in Indiana. Overall, the CDC advises that if you are fully vaccinated you can return to your normal life.

Allergic Reactions to the Vaccination: The CDC recommendations for COVID vaccinations updated as of October 7. The CDC recommends you do not get another vaccination or booster if you have had a severe reaction.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM, Zoom

We learned to sign time and we learned spooky Halloween signs. There are costumes and treats to sign about, too. We learned that actual "words" become actions when telling stories or carrying on conversations.

November 1: There is so much to talk about...talk with us and compare this new language.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM, hybrid

Paul speaks the Gospel of Jesus in this first chapter of Ephesians. He sheds light on God's gifts of wisdom understanding. Through his enlightenment: we receive wisdom and light. It is God's pleasure and will to  Paul writes that we are all part of God's plan and that he predestined us to know his love. Paul uses the word "lavish" to explain how richly God shows us his love and care. 1 John 4: 7-19 teaches, "We love because he first loved us." Read these together as companions go get a full picture of God's great love and freedom.

November 2: Join us to talk about Ephesians 2 on Zoom only.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00 PM, Zoom

We met in the parking lot at CLC to have a minitailgate and to carve Jack-o-Lanterns. A picture is worth 1000 words!

 We have decided to continue to meet in person on occasion as weather and COVID permits. 

November 2: Zoom. Let's plan the next weeks...Do you want to get together in person? Where should we meet? And what is your prep shopping list for a traditional Indiana Thanksgiving?

November 9: Zoom Demonstration of traditional American dishes. We will talk mashed potatoes, casseroles, cranberries, and turkey.

November 16: Feast at CLC bring a dish to share. Come and devour some traditional American Thanksgiving dishes along with your favorites.

November 23: No Class Thanksgiving Break 

November 30: Getting ready for December holidays. What is ahead? How do we celebrate in Indiana. 

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM, Zoom

We met to chat. How do we best listen to each other and practice anything we want to talk about and get correction? Join Afternoon Conversation. This is a very, very small Zoom gathering (yes, it is tutoring).

November 3: Zoom over to practice English, free flowing conversation.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00, Zoom

We met as a large group to review our "F" and "G" 1000 Common Words. We practiced critical listening to each other and corrected our pronunciation. We also talked about the cadence or the music of the American English. Keep your mouth closed and "talk" in your home language. How does it sound? You can tell a language by it's cadence or the musical intonations without hearing the words. This is one reason that Nursery Rhymes are so important for very small children learning language. The silly rhymes teach the song of the language they are learning. What are your home language nursery rhymes? Mother Goose is given author credit, and in America this is a collection coming from Boston! The Poetry Foundation provides lists of common Nursery Rhyme poems to sharpen your pronunciation and cadence. 

We added the YouTube links from our American Accent Training book to Our Meetings and Classes page. Learn more about how to pronounce American English Sounds.

November 4: Bring sentences using "H" and "I" Common Words. Combine as many words as possible in one sentence to spark learning, application and memory. Be ready to read a few Nursery Rhymes!

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00, Zoom

Wow, wow, wow! We had a great international concert from two of our Friends! Amazing to know that they played ukulele and cajon and sang internationally! We got to know each other, again because we are adding new Friends and practicing our English conversation. Listening first and then trying will get you there!

November 5: Work on writing five sentences that tell about you. Be ready to share them with the group. We have told about ourselves, now let's share it in writing. Also, we will talk about Nursery Rhymes. Do you remember any from when you were little?

working out the kinks: solving procedural problems

Halloween is Coming!

Boo, Friends!

Halloween is coming! 

Halloween is a fabulous community party. Rain, wind, snow, pleasant weather...Any of these could be on tap for Sunday.

Trunk or Treat: go to a parking lot to "trick or treat". This is a new tradition and a great way for a community to get together and to have fun: wear costumes, decorate their cars, hand out candy. 

Cornerstone Lutheran Church (our sponsor) has Trunk or Treat events Friday and Saturday at the different locations in Carmel, Fishers and Indianapolis for children through 4th grade. If you live in an apartment and want to host a trunk, you and join in the fun (Trunk or Treat at CLC). If you have children to Trunk or Treat, please join!

Trick or Treat: Sunday is Halloween. 

Kids dress up in beautiful, fun and scary costumes and go door to door. They ring your doorbell or knock on the door and say, "Trick or Treat." Hand each child a piece of candy or drop it in their bag or basket (many kids use pillowcases for this). The kids say, "Thank you."

Turn your porch lights on and decorate if you want to host Trick or Treaters.

Turn your porch lights off if you don't want to host or when you run out of candy (And yes, sometimes we have over 100 kids trick or treat in our neighborhood.)

Kids through high school trick or treat. Older kids come out later. Younger kids make the rounds earlier.

No candy is better than any other...Some kids like chocolate, others like Nerds, others like gum. Just make sure it is wrapped. Check through your kids' candy and throw away unwrapped pieces. If you are concerned you can take your candy to the local fire station or police station and they will look through it for you.

Be safe! If you are driving, watch for children running across the street. It is a very exciting time and people forget to look both ways.

Be safe! Stay together with your friends. Stay with your parents. Stay with your kids.  

Parents: some neighbors have adult treats (Because what dad doesn't need a can of beer when he is taking his children through the neighborhood?). Some neighbors have hot dogs or other treats.

 Enjoy this fun holiday, rain or shine!

 Your community sets official times. Please honor them. Here are the official times in the greater Indianapolis area

Each community hosts different events: parades, picnics, and so much more. Check out other fun events in your city and in the surrounding area: Central Indiana Halloween 2021 Events

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30, Zoom

We met and practiced our conversation. We discovered that there are four different uses of the word "use" in English! 

• use: Don't use your phone while you are driving.
• used to: We used to go trick or treating two nights when I was young.
• get used to: In the winter we get used to colder weather, so the 55 degrees feels pretty warm.
• use up: Did you use up all the eggs?

This great CNN article talks about Hawaiian Sign Language or HSL and the woman that is teaching and keeping this language alive. Be sure to watch the video at the end about the Demigod Maui and the story of the creation of the Hawaiian islands.

October 25: Continue to learn continue conversation.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30, Zoom

We wrapped up Galatians. In this final book, Paul tells the Christians of Galatia the true "mark" of is to be kind and loving, not a physical "look".

We talked about sacraments or physical acts that are sacred. Theopia has a nice discussion about how Christians in different denominations view sacraments.

October 26: Join us in person at CLC or on Zoom. We begin the letter to the Ephesians.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30AM-12:00 PM, in person and on Zoom

We made pumpkin pie. This was a great recipe! It was simple and you don’t need more than a bowl to mix in a  pie pan to bake it in!*

October 26

Tailgate at Cornerstone Lutheran In Carmel

4850 East Main Street

or join on Zoom

10:30-12:00

Park in the rear lot…look for the yellow Jeep

Bring a snack to share. 
Bring a beverage for yourself.
Bring your pumpkin to carve (don’t forget a knife and large spoon)

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM, Zoom

It was nice to meet on Zoom this week. We talked about this exciting time of the year. One holiday rolls into the next:

• October: Halloween-kids dress up and go door to door and ask for candy 
• November: Thanksgiving-a harvest feast.
• December: Christmas-a secular and religious holiday

We talked about how in the United States we have many cultures and customs that meld together. While we all may have different celebrations, our Friends have observed that in the United States we all come together as a community.

October 27: Meet and practice your conversational English. Bring your questions about English or life in the U.S.

*notice this sentence ends with a preposition. Some people say a sentence should never end in a preposition, but the sentence and instructions would be too convoluted in a different order.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM, Zoom

We stayed together and shared our D and E sentences as well as practiced saying each of the words. We also talked about those illusive prepositions "in, on, at". 

October 28: Review letters F and G and combine as many of these words as you can in sensible or nonsensical sentences. USE YOUR WORDS!

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:30 PM, Zoom

We all got acquainted with each other. Friends that have not had the chance to meet each other before met. 

We discovered musical talents of two of our friends: Ukulele and cajon. They will play a piece for us next week! We are excited for the concert.

October 29:

• Bring a short story (about five sentences) about yourself to share (we may not get to them all).
• Decorate a cookie for Halloween to share.

be on tap: options, possibilities, choice

convoluted: twisted and confusing 

denominations: a group or branch within a religion

honor: follow, pay attention to 

meld: blend, combine

nonsensical: silly, not making sense but funny

piece: a song or piece of music

Welcome Back!

 Hello Friends

I hope you had a productive break  now let’s get back to work! Check out our last Update on line to refresh yourself for where we left off.

The Headless Horseman

The scary story behind this icon of the season is the story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. This story is written in English that challenge you, but overall the language has not changed that much. Enjoy The Legend of Sleepy Hollow movie from the 1980s starring Jeff Goldblum.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM EST, Zoom

We practiced conversation. We observed that in American English we use the word "find" in a variety of ways that are translated into three distinct signs:

• find: as in "to look for something that is lost" (Help me find my car keys, please.)
• find: as in "to look for something" (I am trying to find pink Nike shoes.)
• find: as in "to choose" (This is a great find! Buy it!)

October 18: Join us as we continue our conversation!

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EST, Zoom

Galatians 5 is another great chapter. In this chapter, Paul discusses freedom in Christ: He came to set all people free. Paul warns people to follow the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the outward expressions of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness  (v 22) .

October 19: Galatians 6 is the last chapter. How will Paul end his letter? 

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00 PM EST, Zoom

Apple Day! Prepandemic we would meet at an apple farm. The next week would be wonderful cooking and crafts with apples, apples, apples. Not to wax nostalgic, but these are some of the nicest days! We Zoomed Apple Day and made baked apples, apple fritters (or apple rings) and apple shrunken heads. Wow and whew! That's a lot!

Our baked apples can be doctored up to taste. Core an apple (or slice it in half and scoop out the "star" or core. Fill the center with a mixture of spices (ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg), a sweet (brown sugar, honey, chopped dates), a smidge of fat (butter or coconut oil), chopped nuts, oats. Bake your filled apples at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 minutes to an hour depending on the size of your apples (and whether they are sliced in half or whole). Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream. If you want a formal recipe, try this one for Stuffed Apple Crisp.

Our fritters or apple rings are super simple. Slice apples thinly. Cut out the seeds as necessary. Dip in a light batter (I like to use thinned pancake batter). Deep fry or fry on a griddle (or try out your air fryer and let us know how it works).

Carving an apple into a shrunken head is a great Halloween craft. Try it!

Lagniappe: More Fall Sweet and Savory Apple Recipes from Food and Wine

October 19: Let's bake a pumpkin pie. Betty Crocker recipes are always reliable  Let’s try this one has a crust and filling from scratch  

October 29: Let's Tailgate! Meet in the parking lot at CLC or zoom over. Get a pumpkin and bring a sharp knife and we will carve pumpkins.

Open Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM, Zoom

This room opens at 4:30 and will close at 5:00 if no one appears. Please e-mail me if you will not be able to attend until later and we will adjust the time.

doctored up: add extra 

icon: a cultural representation, emblem, symbol

lagniappe: a little something extra

left off: where we ended

refresh: rest and renew

super simple: really, really easy

smidge: a little bit

to taste: how you like it

wax nostalgic: reminisce longingly

Fall Break October 14 and 15. No classes or meetings.

Hello, Friends.

October is underway. It is nice to hear about your "field trips" and explorations around Indiana. If you don't live in the Heartland, you can learn more about American life and celebrations. Many schools are taking their fall breaks. Carmel Clay Schools is breaking this coming week. We continue to follow the local school calendar, so we will not hold classes on Thursday or Friday.

Fall Break 

October 14 and 15

No Classes or Meetings 

Get Out and About

• Indiana Fall Festivals
• Zionsville Halloween Events
• Hamilton County Fall Bucket List
• Newfields Lume Exhibit
• Newfields Harvest Nights

Amber Alert and Silver Alert and Blue Alert

National and local alert system operated by the State Police for raising public awareness and soliciting public help in finding someone or if there is a threat to the community:

• Amber Alert: a child is missing
• Silver Alert: an impaired adult is missing
• Blue Alert: a law enforcement officer is missing, seriously injured or killed and the police are looking for someone or they pose a threat to the community

You can learn more:

• Here is a great article on how Amber Alerts began and how they work from Moms.com. 
• Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Justice that explains the national programs and processes.
• Here is the link to the Indiana Standard Operating Procedure for how and when these alerts are issued. 

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM, Zoom

We cranked on our conversational language skills. As we build our vocabulary, we are becoming more and more efficient. We challenged our skills by sharing our mutual interest in cultural

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM, Zoom

Galatians 4 is a wonderful chapter. Paul tells the people of Galatia (and us) that we are Children of God! Heritage does not matter. Galatians were being told they had to act and follow particular practices, but Paul points out that they know and understand the Gospel. Paul uses the story in Genesis 21:1-21 as the example to explain how all children receive an inheritance from the father: through God's promise both Isaac and Ishmael became the founders of nations. God sent his Son to live under the authority law to set us free from the authority of the law (verses 5 and 6).  

October 12: Galatians 5 talks about freedom and faith as well as the balance that comes through and from the Holy Spirit. 

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00 AM, Zoom

We didn't meet this week. That doesn't mean I didn't miss you and our conversations. 

October 12: Fall kitchen craft time! Let's bake stuffed apples and carve an apple to make a fun and scary Halloween decoration. You need apples, a knife, brown sugar, oatmeal, nuts, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, etc. and butter. 

Open Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 PM, Zoom

We had no takers for this class this week. For future reference, the room will remain open for a half an hour. If no Friends join the Zoom, the room will be closed.

October 13: Join us for a free flowing conversation group with feedback to improve your pronunciation, grammar, etc. on the fly.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM, Zoom

We are continuing to study the most common 1000 English words. This week we reviewed words with the letter C. Students shared sentences created from the words. We were curious: could our complicated and convoluted constructions contain cohesive concepts. 

Prepositions of time always give people trouble. This chart from All Things Grammar shows you how to use them. Notice that in the U.S. we say "on the weekend" not "at the weekend" if you were in London.

 

 October 14: No Class. Fall Break

October 21: Study the "D" and "E" lists. You have free rein. Sentences can combine "D" and "E" or they can keep them separate. Try for six sentences, though.

 Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM, Zoom

It was so fun to see the animal creations! They were amazing an so creative. It was fun to meet two new friends! Here is our plan for the rest of October. 

October 15: No Class. Fall Break.

October 22: Write a story about yourself. You have to include at least five sentences. Email me the story.

October 29: Decorate a cookie for Halloween. 

on: moved forward working hard

free from: released

free rein: you decide and act

no takers: no participants

on the fly: while in progress; while moving

raising awareness: a processes or informing or 

soliciting: asking for something specific

under: be subject to

underway: moving forward