Homeschooling Is Life!

• Jun. 28, 2009 - My Hollyhocks are blooming!

Posted in Gods Garden

I'm so happy to see them. Aren't these lovely?

We'll be making hollyhock dolls real soon!

Nancy

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• Jul. 11, 2007 - A Tribute to Lady Bird Johnson

Posted in Gods Garden

I love wildflowers. Bet you didn't know that! LOL!

I just found out that Lady Bird Johnson died today. She was 94 years old! If you would like to learn about her and what she did about the cause of "wildflowers" go here and see.

Blessings,

Nancy

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• Jul. 2, 2007 - Creative Colors ~ Colorado State Flower

Posted in Gods Garden

How is this for perfect and beautiful?

{The white and lavender Columbine, Aquilegia caerules, was adopted as the official state flower on April 4, 1899 by an act of the General Assembly. From www.Colorado.gov }

We came across this beauty on a hike over the weekend. I am just in awe of the beautiful design of it! We have been seeing so many wildflowers here due to the abundant spring rain we had. How about you? Have you seen anything spectacular lately?

Just look around!

Here is a link for a wildflower coloring book that you might enjoy. Hope you are enjoying your Summer to the fullest!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

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• Jun. 11, 2007 - Visions of Lovliness

Posted in Gods Garden

Ok, the longer I look at that word the more it looks weird! Is it "loveliness" or "lovliness?" Spelling problem aside, look at this view!

That is the Continental Divide, seen from Wilkerson Pass. It was a beautiful day and you could see for miles! The bluebird liked the view too.

We saw so many amazing things on this little jaunt. We saw a beaver up on top of his lodge, we saw scattered antelope, a herd of buffalo and we even saw a vulture swoop down from nowhere and snag a snake off the road. Each one happened so fast I never even had time to think of my camera! Thankfully, those visions are etched in my mind.

I hope to try to "draw" or "sketch" from my memory. If you want to read a really neat post with some wonderful examples of "drawing from nature" just head over to Jill Novak's blog, ok? You will love it!

Nancy

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• May. 16, 2007 - What life is made of....

Posted in Gods Garden

What a great week! And it's only Thursday! We have had a terrific time last weekend . We went camping with another homeschooling family, really roughing it at a KOA about 70 miles from home. LOL! Tent camping at it's best! They had free horse-drawn carriage rides, and it was a treat. Look at these beautiful horses!

We also went geo-caching for the first time. That is pretty cool---although I am not sure if I can get hooked on it. The kids had fun though!

We also went to this really creepy place called Bishop's Castle. This is a creation by one man out of granite and mortar and wrought iron. It is a work that's been in progress for many years and we were semi-brave and did some exploring, but it absolutely gave me the creeps. There were a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts there, aka "bikers" and one of them coming down the steep stairs was overheard saying "makes you appreciate building codes, doesn't it?" Out of the mouths of ....well, anyway, check out this picture:

Bishop's Castle

Next, we went on a wonderful edible plant walk/class with Tracy Bookman! This homeschool Dad is awesome, and has been studying this stuff for about 10 years.

We found out that you can use plantain leaves for mosquito bites and other stings, see the leaf here in my daughter's hand?

And you can make soap out of yucca roots! That is what is in the bowl above, see the suds?

And that pretty little yellow blossomed stalk is tansy mustard!

Tracy has a wonderful blog here: Creation Adventures. While you are there check out his Micro-farming blog and his Photography blog.

Ok, so if that wasn't enough, a friend sent me this link to a GREAT article that will encourage YOU, homeschool Mom. We need that don't we? Read it and be blessed by the revelation of how important what you do is!

Homeschooling IS Life!

Nancy

p.s. go check out my column today on unschooling, ok? Just hit the link on my sidebar! AND if you are going to be in the Colorado Springs area this weekend, check out the sale at Born Again Used Books! You can see their notice at my Colorado Blog, just click here.

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• Mar. 30, 2007 - Oh, that Nature Journaling chat was so fun!

Posted in Gods Garden

Last night Cindy Rushton had a conference preview chat with Jill Novak of the "Gift of Family Writing" and it was so fun!!! It lasted for almost (gulp) three hours. I enjoyed it so much, it was really only the second time I have participated in anything like that.

If you missed it you can find out info about it on Cindy's Talk-a-Latte site. (You will have to find that link yourself, sorry!) Anyway, Jill not only draws beautiful pictures with her hands, but she can paint a picture with her words too! That is the amazing thing about journaling your life story. Whether you are putting lines down on paper and sketching a flower or other wonderful thing, you can write down the event as it happens; in your own words, or your kids own word. Those descriptions are life as it happens, and they willl be treasured forever by your family.

Ok, gotta run! Have a wonderful day and blessed weekend!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

p.s. "Becoming God's Naturalist" is available at www.thegiftoffamilywriting.com and it is sooooo good! You will love the stories and ideas you will get from Jill about inspiring your kids! AND you will certainly be inspired by her daughter "playing" Beatrix Potter! Your kids will love it!!!

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• Mar. 22, 2007 - Boing! Boing! Boing!

Posted in Gods Garden

Oh, I know that is such a weird title.....it's just that Spring has Sprung here, finally!

This is the first flower to bloom in our itsy bitsy yard. It is a miniature daffodil, only about four or so inches high. Isn't it the cutest? My 10 year old daughter took that photo.

Spring is such a time of renewal for me. Finally, the grey days start disappearing and the green grass starts appearing. The robins hang out in the trees right outside our bedroom window and boy those birds can chirp up a storm! Remember the turtle doves that appeared at Christmas time here? They have stayed around! We see them often at our feeders and now on the lawn. What fun to have them here.

We went up to the mountains this weekend and saw many bluebirds. Here is one for you:

Ahh, renewal. Rest. Peace and Blessings. Confidence, Contentment and Courage. That is what we all need everyday in our home education endeavors.

I shared something that happened last week on my front porch column. I think as homeschooling Mothers no matter how confident we are in our methods sometimes we need to think outside of ourselves! I know I preach a lot here about trusting your intuitions, believing in who you are--by God's grace, and trusting in yourself to do what is best for your kids. Sometimes even those of us who have been at this for a long time can suffer periods of burn-out, or confusion and sometimes we can get that feeling of wanting to walk off the gangplank---or make someone else!

But one thing I try to share with you is to never, never, never, never give up. (Who said that? Sounds like a history question for you...or your kids!) Always be open to new ideas, take them to heart if they work for you and toss them out if they don't.

Just remember, burnout can be caused by staying in a rut! Get a jumpstart, get out of that deadly rut and get going again. It might not always be smooth sailing, but I don't know of any journey that can give that guarantee. After all, nobody said homeschooling was going to be a pleasure cruise, did they? Remember what they said about the Titanic? "Not even God Himself can sink this ship."

Famous last words.

Just remember who your Captain is, and your homeschooling ship will stay on the straight and narrow course.

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

p.s. Last week I had a bit of a random contest and the lucky winner is Ali! I will be sending you a Homeschool "Spring" sticker....hope it helps usher in the Spring to your neck of the woods!

All content (C) Nancy K. Baetz, all rights reserved

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• Jul. 12, 2006 - Aren't these lovely?

Posted in Gods Garden

We didn't pick these, but they are from the organic farm.

Freshly picked little squishes, or squashes or whatever they are! We have had the most yummy produce these last few weeks. Lettuce and spinach, green onions and peas, beets and turnips, and even organic popcorn! Then there are the fresh eggs, and today we were given a very refreshing smoothie made with grape juice and limes. Yum!

What a bounty, plus the company is great and the work is hard and satisfying. I am ready for a much needed nap now.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

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About Me

Hi There!

Welcome to my blog.
How nice of you to drop in. What is this all about you say? Well, take a look and see.

Just like the plants springing forth we are following the Son, soaking up the living water and pulling the weeds. We can't wait to see what will bloom THIS growing season!

Oh, and just for fun, I will tell you a little about me, since that is what this space is for. :)

I am a mother of four lovely kids who are perfectly human in every way. They are sinful, selfish, loving, happy, grumpy, excited, capable, frustratable, (I know, that isn't a word but sometimes I make up my own) and sometimes contrite, and just like their parents. But they are ours and we think they are all keepers!

We have homeschooled them all since birth with the trial and error method. I think they all have "made the grade" and they are now 17, 14, 12 and 10 years old.

We're not experts, except in the area of making mistakes and living to tell about them and hopefully learn from them! We hope you will find some encouragement here as you read about the seasons of our life as a homeschooling family.