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Showing posts from September, 2004

Reads of Interest....

Phil Wade has an update about the new Narnia movie at Brandywine Books Robert Williams compares the Presidential Candidates over at Dead Man Blogging ... Just a bit humorous if you're pro-Bush... best to just avoid if you're not. Carolyn at Guilt-Free Homeschooling reminds us that "parent" is a verb. Get caught up in the fun of GeoCaching with Karen and her seven little ones.

How to Dine

How to set the Table Basic Table Manners Dining Etiquette How to Play the Spoons

Link of the Day

TeachersFirst.com ...a service of Network for Instructional TV, Inc. ("NITV") -- Have fun exploring!

Update on my daughter's recipe...

I found out she didn't use canola oil, but sprayed the non-stick pan with cooking spray (okay, it was Pam, can we name namebrands in BlogLand?)... then she fried the non-coconut side first, and the coconut side last... that way when it was done she could scoop up coconut flakes that had fallen off and put them back on the tortilla.

My daughter, the Chef

Rembrandt made up something really yummy. I'm not sure exactly how she made it, I'll have double check with her when she's awake tomorrow morning... but... She drizzled a flour tortilla with a bit of honey, sprinkled it lightly with shredded coconut, and fried it, coconut side down, in a bit of canola oil (probably about a Tbsp, maybe a bit less) ... just when the coconut began to brown lightly, she flipped them and fried the other side. The honey kept the coconut in place during frying. They tasted deliciously like a coconut baklava. Teenagers are so much fun to have around!

Moms with a van full of kids....

You will love the Ode to John Denver over at Chris's Big Yellow House... I think I want a recording of this to play and sing along to when we start our trek from California to Ohio!

The carpet arrives tomorrow! And other good things...

What did I do to deserve such great kids? Last night after my dad's 62nd birthday party, Rembrandt went and cleaned grandma's kitchen and did all of the dishes, shooing everyone else out of the kitchen! This morning she is upstairs getting a bedroom ready for her other grandma, all of her own volition... cleaning out the closet, washing windows, dusting, vacuuming... and SteamVac-ing the carpet in that room! She blesses her two grandmas without any prodding from me. I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mother. The downstairs carpet will arrive tomorrow... Wait... What's that? I hear very loud music upstairs... whose kids are those??? Oh whew, it was only temporary. I guess they were checking to see if the CD player still worked.. ;o) Okay, I'm off to... wait... I haven't told you about my latest find at Motivated Moms! They offer a home management solution for the right-brained mom. If you click on order you can download their 2002 eBook for free... I lo

Goings on in BlogLand....

Zelie has not written anything lately. After almost a daily dose of "something to think about" last week, she has left us high and dry. Of course, she is freshly pregnant, and probably a wee bit queasy when faced with a monitor, not to mention probably needing naps by now... but I do miss her posts. When I have a moment and a cup of coffee, I'm thankful there is this cozy spot on the web. I love to sit down at Pamela Spurling's virtual kitchen table and glean from her thoughts. If you don't subscribe to her "welcome home" newsletter , I highly recommend it. The last one was very convicting and eye-opening for me.... and very inspiring... as her newletters always are!

Verses for home schools..

" May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. " - Deuteronomy 32:2 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. ~Psalm 32:8-11 "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.&quo

Very busy day...

...celebrating my dad's birthday today, so I'll update more later. Answering two quick questions from Denice.... The countdown thing is from BlogTricks and you can set it to count down to any number of events up to ten events. The free version includes the little ads. ;o) My thumbnail picture thingy is also from BlogTricks and it's easy to customize it to include more or less pictures; to show random pictures each visit, or the same pictures each time; and to designate how many columns of pictures to show. You can also set picture size. The referring web thing shows you where people clicked to your site from if they clicked on a link on another web-site. It's available from TrueFresco Heather

Two of my favorite research tools....

refdesk.com - The Single Best Source For Facts iTools - Quick access to the best Internet tools

Japanese Lessons

A dear family friend, who has been an English teacher in Japan, is teaching Rembrandt Japanese... here is one of Rembrandt's first lessons: Hiragana Lessons

EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it

Link of the Day

The Electronic Text Center - University of Virginia Library is an incredible resource containing tens of thousands of SGML and XML-encoded electronic texts and images combined with a library service that offers hardware and software suitable for the creation and analysis of text. Some of my favorite gems located here are the Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799

Link of the Day

A Charlotte Mason Education Who is Charlotte Mason? Why Use Her Methods? This link includes information about the Charlotte Mason Method (overview, narration, nature study, language arts, habits, and application) as well as tips on how to apply it to Daily Life (scheduling, tips, field trips, coping). There are also book recommendations and other resources. Enjoy!

Blog of the Day

Would you lie on a test because you know it's what your professor wants to read? The Dawn Treader brings up Professor Problems Is our purpose in life to succeed any which way we can? Or to please God? Do we continue to please God, even though it may mean sacrificing a grade? Or does God even care, as long as it turns out favorably for us? Just how humanistic is Christianity getting? (These questions kept me awake last night. ;o)

Link of the Day

Don't miss this treasure! Parables From Nature by Margaret Gatty was recommended by Charlotte Mason and includes the wonderful conversations of bees, birds, horses, trees, flowers and many other creatures. The link brings you to the full online text.

Another Heather-brained moment

I didn't pack my Anne of Green Gables series.... I gave them to my friend Sharon to sell on Ebay!!! I just found out while looking at her listings!!! Kind of ironic I was too lazy to look for them in the moving boxes and bought one on Ebay....

My Favorite Blog of the Day

Carolyn speaks my mind at Guilt-Free Homeschooling - Standing up against "The Lie"

Link of the Day

The Tanglewood School Curriculum Offering a complete, classical homeschooling curriculum merged with the delightful teaching method of Charlotte Mason.

w.bloggar

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I'm trying the w.bloggar software on for size, and so far, I really like it! It allows me to strike through things. I have no idea why I want to strike through things, but I think the idea I couldn't strike through things before made me want to strike through things. AND I can underline!!! It's also easier to insert images! Pretty neat, huh?

Back To School After a Laze About Weekend

Last night I ordered Where Brook and River Meet from CadronCreek for Barrett. She loves "old-fashioned" stories and poetry, so I think it will be a really good fit for her. Until it arrives, we will be using SOS. I found I own a lot of the required books... but I have already packed them. ;oP Lazy me went and spent $3 at Ebay for another copy of the 1987 Bantam paperback copy of Anne of Green Gables, rather than open up ten of the possible moving boxes it's packed in. I'm hoping I did not already pack The Hidden Art of Homemaking (Schaeffer) and The Way Home (Pride)... I have two copies of The Way Home... so it's possible I left one unpacked. Rembrandt is still doing LIFEPACS 9th grade, though she has asked to switch back to Apologia for science, and Singapore for math. I did already pack those, but they may not be in a box that is sealed, so I'll check through the three boxes that are open later today. The Rose is thoroughly enjoying all of the

Wipe Out

This morning we went to the beach to watch my #3 nephew (son of sister #1) and brother-in-law (husband of sister #2) get baptized! Steadfast had left for work around 5 am (Cloud Factory Outage still in progress) but he was able to leave work for a while to witness the events at 9:30 am. It's now 8:30 pm and he's still at work... After the baptisms, I came home and took a nap... I just woke up.... This seems to be my pattern after a miscarriage... The first day I'm fine & courageous... the second day I shed one or two drops of tears in moments I have my guard down, but I'm still stalwart... the third day I completely melt down and make an emotional mess on boards all over the internet... and the fourth day I sleep.... and the fifth day I'm usually back to my "normal" level of sanity... Thank goodness for teen daughters who are willing and able to take charge of the household for a day. I still feel wiped out, but I know tomorrow will bring fre
For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:13-16
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Happy Birthday, Birthday Girl!

The Princess is Three!

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Michael Spencer: A Contrarian Manifesto for the Church Growth Debate

Our excitement of the week

Our dog, Ginger, has been restless the last four nights. She never barks, unless there is a darn good reason. Last night after 9 pm we had a knock at our door... it was the neighbor west of us letting us know that his son (13) had been on their trampoline and he saw a mountain lion crouched on our hill, watching him. We brought Ginger and the PigWeet in, but left the barn cats to their own defense (hiding!). Rembrandt then said she had seen a big cat down the road that had the coloring of a mountain lion, but was about the size of a bob-cat.... and she thought perhaps it was a young mountain lion, though the young ones are usually spotted, like a bob-cat, rather than the solid color she reported. The neighbors to the east also had the flood lights on in their yard last night, which they *never* do, so I suspect they've sighted something too. I'll have to check tomorrow. The game department will send out a tracker... until we get the all clear, the little ones will not be pla

Mielke's Fiber Arts, LLC - Your complete fiber arts source

A web delight for spinners of wool..... Mielke's Fiber Arts, LLC - Your complete fiber arts source

Poor little PigWeet

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Pumpkin looks so lonely without MoonShine. :(

New Carpet!

I ordered carpet today. They will come measure two bedrooms and the living room on Monday, and then the carpet will be delivered a week later. When the rooms are done, I will post before and after pics. We always buy new carpet when we are moving but at least I will be able to enjoy it for a little while.

Where the Brook and River Meet

I am planning to use Where the Brook and River Meet with Barrett, and perhaps Rembrandt, but I am having a most difficult time finding out more about it. Does anyone know more about it? Has anyone used it?? Does anyone know anyone who has used it???
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In Memory of MoonShine, beloved pet of Barrett (b. April 10, 2004 - d. September 1, 2004)

Sadness

Steadfast and I celebrated our anniversary with an early dinner at Applebee's, then a movie (The Village), then shopping for carpet... After coffee and pie at Marie Callendar's we went to Grandma's House to pick up the kidlets. Steadfast went straight to bed, due to the fact that he has to get up at 3 am to be at The Cloud Factory to start his annual Work-Fourteen-Days-Without-Any-Sleep-Thingy. The rest of us went to tuck in animals for bed... and we discovered a dead PigWeet... er... PennyGig... er... GuineaPig.... Barrett's beloved 4 month old MoonShine had passed away. :(