I love right-clicking on a link, and telling it to open in a new tab. That way I can finish what I'm reading, but still be able to refer to the link later.
It annoys me that I can't do that on my own blog, even though I know I disabled the right-click ability a couple years ago. I had done that as a way to protect my content from being copied and pasted, although I've still seen it show up in a few places it shouldn't have. "No right click" didn't really stop them.
Well, if you're like me and you love to right-click and open a link in a new tab ... now you can! I removed the code to disallow that right-click. Which means that in all future reviews, you can easily open links in a new tab.
I did it because I care about my readers ... uh huh ... and because I was tired of being annoyed by my own blog.
I am way too polite to ever say anything like this to people ... but sometimes I wish I could. Sometimes I come home and think of all the things I wish I could say, but can't because that's not a loving and kind and appropriate thing TO say.
So, here are some responses to questions about homeschooling ... especially the intrusive ones. This is from a place I've never heard of Secular Homeschooling Magazine, and I haven't read anything else, so I am not necessarily endorsing the site ... just enjoying this article and sharing it with you. I'm sure if you've been homeschooling for any length of time, you can relate to at least some of these. The Bitter Homeschooler's Wish List
Second, did you know that The Old Schoolhouse magazine actually has curriculum reviews on their website, as well as the new TOS Crew? I kind of knew it, but didn't really explore there until I was ending my first year on the TOS Crew. Then I was able to start writing some reviews for the magazine's website. I was able to send in 5 children's book reviews before I ended up back on the TOS Crew this year. I noticed the other day that my first review has been edited and posted to the website now! The others aren't up yet, but my review of I Am Learning All The Time by Rain Perry Fordyce is there.
I just wanted to post again about the applications for the new TOS Homeschool Crew. If you're interested in applying to review homeschool curriculum with the Crew next year, go to the Crew Blog and read the post about applying. The deadline for applications is April 30, so there isn't much time left to write your sample reviews.
Over a month ago, I typed that title into a draft blog entry. I had just painted my toenails red for Spring as I pulled out my sandals to wear for the first time.
Yesterday I finally repainted my toenails again. I decided it's time to finish the post and get it out of the draft format.
My toenail color of choice for the spring, summer and fall is red. I use varying shades, but the current shade is a darker tone called Valentine.
I don't like red nail polish on my hands, but for some reason it's my preference for my toenails. I actually don't even paint my fingernails anymore ... it just is too difficult to keep them looking nice. I can't sit around painting my nails several times each week.
So, my red toesies are ready for warm weather! What's your favorite color for your toesies?
(I was going to post a picture of my red toesies, but my daughter informed me that was "sicko" ... so no pictures!)
I really like it, but it's bothering my eyes as I scroll down. I'm not sure if it's just me. I wanted flowers for Spring, but may revert to the leaves I used before.
This one ...
Is this like asking "Does this dress make me look fat?" *giggle*
I just wanted to let everyone know about the March Madness Sale at the Schoolhouse Store. Lots of great deals right now!
Do you like saving up to 80%?
Get next year's shopping done early and for less money at the March Madness sale in
the Schoolhouse Store! Check out some of the unit studies
and copy work to help round out this school year or for fun summer
activities. Almost 200 items are on sale from vendors such
as Auralog, Trigger Memory, Draw and Write Through History, American
Schoolhouse Readers, and MANY more. Remember, shipping is always free! Start shopping and saving NOW!
I'm sick. And my hair is falling out. Not that the two are related, but I still thought I'd whine.
My hair is falling out because Baby G is 4.5 months old. I've been losing hair for 5 weeks now, actually. It's normal for me to do this postpartum as hormones change. This time I notice more silver hairs mixed in with the brown hairs. That should look lovely on the black velvet cape I always feel I need around this time. They'll sparkle nicely against the black. Too bad I don't actually have a velvet cape to catch the hairs fluttering to the ground (and the couch, and the chair) all around me.
And I'm catching a cold. I've avoided most of the illnesses the kids and Steve had this winter. I had a slight cold around the time they had the respiratory flu. But I've got another cold now, and so does 2yo L. Sigh. I'm out of vitamin C, although I'm sure Steve will buy more as soon as possible. So in the meantime, I get to chew on the sour chewable vitamin C tablets we buy for the kids. Yummy.
Now you're supposed to feel sorry for me, and leave me lots of comments to make me feel better. I won't be demure and leave hints about what I want. I'll just tell you. I want you to feel sorry for me and I want you to leave lots of comments to help me feel better. *wink*
Speaking of comments, I keep thinking I need to have a giveaway when I reach an anniversary or a new level of posts or comments. But I always forget until the blogiversary or the new level has passed. So, let's see ... I have 944 comments so far. Maybe I'll have a giveaway when I reach 1000 comments. I'll have to decide what to give away. Although I doubt THIS post will garnish 56 sympathy comments. *giggle*
This will be my 557th blog entry, as well. I've got another 16 drafts for TOS Crew Reviews, which brings me up to 573 posts by the end of April, plus whatever personal posts I make. So ... I could do a giveaway when I reach 600 posts. But that's not as nice a number as the 1000 comments. I'll have to give some thought to this.
I'm babbling. Because it's my blog, and I can. Oh, I just thought of another reason for you to feel sorry for me. My Suburban has a dead battery. It used to run down and die after a few days of sitting out there, but now it's dead within 16 hours of driving it, even in nice warm weather. It used to charge up quickly with our battery charger, but now it takes forever. We're just jump-starting it whenever we need to go anywhere as a family. We've been meaning to get a new battery in it for a few weeks, but something keeps coming up ... like the 7 staples Steve had to get in his head last weekend from an injury ... the details of which are somewhat embarrassing to him, so I won't post them here. But I didn't hit him on the head with anything, not even my cast iron skillet. *wink*
See? I need comments to cheer me up ... because I'm sick, my hair is falling out, and the battery in my car is dead. Oh, and I'm out of chocolate. Pity me, please. Besides, it will get me closer to 1000 comments. *wink*
Steve Lambert, of Five In A Row curriculum, First Class Homeschool Ministry and Real Life Marriage, had some unexpected health issues recently. He had to have surgery, and they do not have medical insurance. If you can help them out, by ordering from the Five In A Row website, it would be wonderful!
Besides their Five In A Row curriculum, they also sell tote bags, and two books that are or were out of print, Higgins Bend Song and Dance and The Duchess Bakes a Cake.
In their digital section, they have the wonderful Holiday Book, full of ideas for establishing your own family traditions for each holiday. They have a digital download of a new unit study based on the great children's book, Bravest Of Us All, which is about tornadoes ... living in Kansas we need to get this study. We've enjoyed the book already. There are some wonderful looking Fold-N-Learn kits, with lapbooks for holidays, and the FIAR unit studies. They also sell a timeline, a planner, and the wonderful nature studies written by Jane Claire Lambert.
I've been window shopping, and I'm drooling. Other than the Holiday Book , Above & Beyond Five In A Row, and the Five In A Row Cookbook (which I own in print format), I haven't seen their digital products. But I know the quality of the Five In A Row curriculum, which we began our homeschool journey with, and I'm sure their new products are wonderful, as well. The Holiday Book, Holiday Fold N Learns, and the FIAR Nature Studies would be a wonderful addition to any homeschool, no matter what curriculum you use.
I'd love to complete my collection of FIAR curriculum by ordering Beyond FIAR, volumes 1 and 2, and their digital unit Bravest Of Us All. I'll probably have to settle for one or two items, though. I'll be discussing it with Steve after payday.
Steve and Jane Claire Lambert are a wonderful couple, with a heart for helping homeschool families. They have blessed me personally, through their curriculum, through their FIAR Conferences, through hearing Steve speak at our area homeschool conference, and through Jane Claire coming to speak at a small FIAR group I was once a member of.
Please consider ordering something from Five In A Row in the next few weeks, as they begin to pay off their medical bills.
This is another song I enjoy. We don't own any of The West Girls' CDs, but we enjoy watching this video on you tube, every now and then. The kids love it, too.
Now, we aren't like this family, really. Last year we didn't get a garden planted at all, and I don't really like green beans. I'm not milking a cow or plowing anything ... yet. We don't let the kids run outside barefoot, although they always try to, because we find too many surprises in the ground ... tea cups, bottles, nails, wire, broken glass. Apparently Steve's ancestors lost a lot of things. We don't wear dresses all the time, or live in Amish country, but we do like using the clothes line in good weather.
It's the positive note of the song, the contentment, and the thankful spirit within it that we enjoy. It addresses the truth that it doesn't take lots of money, a big house, or stuff to make life good. The song reminds us that the simplest pleasures are often the best -- companionship, the love of a family that is healthy, clothed, and fed. It sings of the truth that serving our family brings joy, despite the hardships.
This is "Greenbeans In The Garden" by The West Girls. It's bluegrass style, but even my teen and preteens enjoy the song. I hope you do, as well.
I wanted something that described who we are. "Walking In His Ways" is my goal for our family ... but I wanted a more "real" description of us, something more personal.
"Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet" seemed to describe the kids well, and also fit in with our little feet picture. They are busy, they keep us busy, they are creative and active children.
I had removed the feet lineup, but my husband and my kids asked me to put it back. I moved it down into the white area by our blog title so we can change our background as often as we like, without clashing with the feet. I have a variety of floral and nature backgrounds I'll be swapping in and out of through the year, but the feet will stay where they are.
I do need to update the feet. I need to add Baby G to the lineup and get an updated shot. Everyone's feet are bigger now. But first I have to make sure everyone's feet are clean, their jeans don't have holes in the knees, and find a good clean spot with good lighting to take the picture! So, it may be a little while before I get around to it.
I probably should be organizing my home, but instead I'm organizing my blog. I was already pondering how to make old posts (like homeschool tips) easier to find. I was wondering how best to do that, and then the HSB Blogging Basics email arrived in my inbox. Aha!
I added the collapsible/expandable boxes in my sidebar. So, all those little blue boxes with titles open up to show my links. Just click on the + sign and then the links will appear. This lets me keep adding friends to my friends list, and homeschool links to that section, without making the sidebar look so LOOONNGG and cluttered.
I've also added several categories:
I divided "Homeschooling" into two categories: "Homeschool Tips" and "Homeschool Updates". I also just joined the Homeschool Open House Weekly Reporters and will be trying to do weekly updates for that.
I pulled "Memes, Tags, Awards" and "The Simple Woman's Daybook" out of "Miscellaneus Chatter".
I pulled "Motherhood and Parenting" and "Married to my Best Friend" out of "Family Life".
I added "Book Recommendations" to pull out of several different areas.
So, go ahead! Check out the new categories in my sidebar. They're complete!
If you're just too stressed out and need to laugh, check out this link! Sara Groves' new single "Toy Packaging" can put a smile on your face if you're a parent who has bought any new toys in the past couple years. Enjoy the Christmas giggle!
Do your Christmas shopping from home, supporting small businesses ... shop with your fellow bloggers! Click on the button below to find other bloggers with home businesses.
And if you have a home business, stop by the HSB Front Porch to add your name to the Mr. Linky.
That's just too soon. I have so much to do still. I'm trying to stay calm, and trust that the important things will get done. I don't want to spew stress all over those around me. But ... only 38 days!?!?! I hope others are more prepared than I am this year.
I've been subscribed to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for two years. And last year, I added a third year to my subscription. I have looked forward to each issue that I have received since I subscribed. My husband reads some of the articles in each issue, and my children are always eager to see it when I've finished reading it.
In fact, I lost my Summer issue awhile back. I was constantly asking the children what they had done with the magazine. I was frustrated that it was lost because it was one I particularly wanted to keep, since it's theme was Charlotte Mason methods of education. Since this is the homeschool style I'm closest to following, I was upset that the magazine was missing.
For days, I nagged about this magazine, I'm ashamed to admit. I'm even more ashamed to admit that as I began packing to move, I found the magazine in my own stack beside my own recliner, on the floor. Oops! I did apologize to my children, who were quick to remind me they did say they had put it back.
I was subscribed to a secular ladies magazine this past year, for part of the year. I can't remember why, but Steve had been offered some deal on it. It was a disappointment -- and after a brief perusal, each issue ended up in the trashcan. Its title would seem that it would be a magazine I would enjoy, but it had changed since my Mom used to subscribe, and it was a waste of our money.
On the other hand, I have never received an issue of The Old Schoolhouse that was not a treasure and a blessing. Thank you, Suarezes, and all the TOS staff & writers, for a wonderful magazine.
You can take advantage of the TOS Buy One Get One for $5 sale going on right now. If you buy a one year subscription for yourself, you can get another one-year subscription for $5 for a friend. You can give yourself and a friend this wonderful gift for Christmas!
We have a love/hate relationships with pencils at our house. We have too many of them, and even though we have a pencil caddy in our dining room, we always seem to have pencils on the floor and floating around the house. Then we're always having to take them away from the toddler, and use our Magic Eraser to clean our walls again.
I confess that I have pencils here at my computer desk from high school and college still. These are nice pencils, except their erasers are rock hard and no longer work. It seems a shame to throw away a perfectly good pencil when it's still over 4 inches long.
The children are constantly being given pretty decorated pencils, but their "leads" are always breaking off. It's difficult to keep them sharpened, and very frustrating at times. But at least their erasers work, right? Not if the toddler can get to them and bite them off first.
So then we buy those eraser tops to put on the pencils with hard erasers or bitten-off erasers. Either my children use super-strength to erase their mistakes, or they don't make the eraser caps like they used to, either. They have a tendency to rip up one side so they won't stay on the pencil when you're trying to erase.
The girls and I were discussing the problem with keeping the pencils sharp the other day, and I told them I just thought the decorated pencils don't work as well as the yellow #2 pencils. I'm sure this was during a spelling test as we struggled to find a sharp pencil, and then it broke, which started the search all over again.
Of course, the pencils breaking wouldn't be such a big problem if we could keep our electric pencil sharpeners running. My little angels seem to have the amazing power to break those, too. It's not just the toddlers trying to sharpen the eraser end or ink pens instead of pencils. We've also had pieces of "lead" get wedged inside so nothing else could be sharpened. I've become an expert at taking them apart and unjamming them.
Our current electric pencil sharpener has a duct taped "shavings drawer". But that was my fault. It resides on top of the microwave, and when I was trying to clean that area once, I knocked the pencil sharpener off and its little drawer that catches the shavings broke. So we duct taped it. It still works, you just have to be gentle when you remove the drawer to empty it. Except, now it's not sharpening. Maybe something's jammed in it ... again ...
We've had the most luck with buying older model electric sharpeners from ebay. The new one Steve bought at an office supply store last year didn't even last two weeks. Now, it wasn't a super duper mega heavy duty one, but it still should have lasted more than two weeks. We were going to return it, but we couldn't find the receipt, and it wasn't a high priority. At the moment, my kids are having to use these teeny tiny manual pocket pencil sharpeners. We need to get a nicer pocket pencil sharpener. The teeny tiny ones they currently have keep falling apart while you're trying to use them. Which just makes the process so much more interesting and calming, you know?
I don't know why we keep investing in more pencil cap erasers, and the rectangular erasers (which are a whole 'nother blog post), and more teeny tiny pencil sharpeners that just keep falling apart ... when we should just buy some new #2 Trusty yellow hexagonal pencils which do not have dried out or bitten off erasers and stay sharp longer without their tips breaking every few sentences. Public schools require those (for tests, at least) right? Well, this homeschool Mom is about to require them for her homeschool, too.
Actually, this homeschool Mom is about to go search ebay for another electric pencil sharpener. Her wonderful hubby was just treated to a verbal synopsis of this blog entry, and his response was "start shopping ebay for a new pencil sharpener and send me a summary of our choices". Somewhere in this house, or the shed, I think I have an old school room style manual sharpener. I think. If we find it in the move, I'm going to install it ... somewhere ... in our farmhouse. Then we'll have a backup for when the electric ones get killed by the kids, or dropped by Mom.
I hope your pencils and pencil sharpeners are being less troublesome at your home, and in your homeschool.
If you're scratching your head, wondering why I just typed a long blog entry about pencils, sharpeners, and erasers ... blame Tia at The Front Porch. She challenged us to blog about a pencil. So I did. I could have written a long blog post about how I adore my favorite pencil, but I don't have a favorite pencil. I could have written a poetic post about the feel and look of this red pencil with silver swirls and a green eraser cap that's sticking up out of my pencil mug, but I didn't. Instead, I poured out the frustrations that have built up over the past couple of months since we started school. Hopefully it was entertaining, at least. For me, it was a pleasant distraction from my list of things to pack and do before we move.
If you want to read what others had to say about their pencils (you might find some of those poetic ones) you can go to Tia's Front Porch Blog Challenge and follow the links to other entries.
I just received a Vanilla Latte lip butter from www.greatcakessoapworks.com in the mail. It came with my prize -- a cake of Cinnamon Cappuccino soap. I won the naming contest for the soap, and this was my prize.
I tried the lip butter on right away. It smells yummy, and pretty. It is smooth, glides on easily, and has a nice shine, too. I like it better than my Burt's Bees lip balm which I just ran out of.
I tried the Cinnamon Cappuccino soap right away, too. I placed it at my kitchen sink since it is a coffee soap which helps remove strong smells. So far, my opinion is that It smells great, lathers well, rinses away nicely, and isn't drying to your hands.
I'm looking forward to enjoying these gifts, and hoping to order more in the future.
I'll be hosting the Carnival of Homesteading in 3 days. And I need homesteaders, wanna-be-homesteaders, and anyone who gardens, cans, or even cooks and then blogs about it to submit articles for the Carnival.
If you want to view this week's Carnival, you can view it at SuperAngel's blog. Check it out to see what type of posts are included in the Carnival of Homesteading.
You can read more about the Carnival of Homesteading's purpose and the type of articles they desire HERE.
If you want to enter an article, please Email Meby 10 pm Central Time on Sunday the 19th.
If you're interested in hosting the carnival sometime, you can find contact information at the Carnival of Homesteading blog.
I was just over at Tiany's blog, and there have been so many wonderful door prizes donated for the Homeschool Open House 2007. Don't forget to write your Open House blog post, then go to Tiany's on August 1st to add your link to Mr. Linky. The Open House will run August 1 - 15.
Enjoy the carnival, which is full of wonderful posts, and please spread the word. Also, I know they are eager for more participants. So, if you enjoy the carnival, please consider joining the fun next week.
Tiany is hosting the Homeschool Open House 2007. It will run August 1 - 15. To participate, you need to write a post about your homeschool plans for the 2007-2008 school year, and then go add your link to her post on August 1st. There will be a whole list of links to Homeschool Open Houses at her blog. She has posted a list of suggestions HERE to write about, or you could write an "a day in our homeschool" style post.
Oh, and there will be a drawing to give a prize to a participant. Go read about it, and I'm looking forward to others participating.
Baby Matthew Isaac Brenneman was born on the evening of Father's Day. He weighed 2 lbs, 2 oz. at birth. Mom and Baby are doing well, but obviously Baby Matthew has a long way to go before he'll get to go home. You can read more about the new baby and his birth HERE. Please pray for their family.
I have several Elizabeth Lee Nursing Designs Sewing Patterns, bought used, that I just am admitting I will never use. Hoping someone else can use them.
Shipping should be $1.50 for one pattern. If you send your zip code to me (click on my profile to send me a private message), I can check what postage would be for multiple patterns.
Elizabeth Lee Designs, Nursing Classics #205 (princess seams, side entrance, nursing tops) -- some of these pieces are cut on the 14-16 line, which fits nursing bustline of 40-44 inches. $2.50 plus shipping
Elizabeth Lee Designs, Nursing Classics #204 (Empire waisted, princess-seamed, side access nursing dress, sleeveless, sh sl, or l sl) -- cut on the 14-16 line (bust 39-44 inches). $2.50 plus shipping
Elizabeth Lee Designs, Nursing Classics #108 (drop waist, side access nursing dress, sleeveless, sh sl, or l sl) -- cut on the 10-12 (bustline 36-40 inch). $2.50 plus shipping
Elizabeth Lee Designs, Nursing Classics #107B (sh sl shirts with top layer you lift to nurse) -- cut on the 18-20 (bustline 40-48 inches). I did notice some of these pieces are crumpled and one appears to have a liquid stain. $2.00 plus shipping.
Send me a Private Message with questions or to make offers. These can all be viewed at http://www.elizabethlee.com.
I think I'd prefer that quote on a tote bag, though. I use tote bags when we go to the library or used book sales. I'd love one that said "we homeschool" in a unique way like that. I may have to make myself one sometime.
In case you're wondering why I am posting Tips of the Day, it's because I'm writing the Homeschool Tips of the Day on the Homeschool Blogger Front Porch for the month of June. So, there will be another 18 tips coming throughout the month, which you can read here, or at the HSB Front Porch.
BusyBodyBook is having a contest on the HSB Front Porch. To enter the contest, and have a chance to win one of their BusyBodyBook family organizers, go to the Front Porch and leave a comment HERE. The winner will be chosen, and announced, on June 11.
And finally, the HSB tech support has been working hard to complete a server change for HSB. The change is completed, but there are still a few glitches. You can read the updates at the HSB Front Porch News, or at the HSB Tech Help Blog. I'm sure they'll have it all worked out soon. I know I'm already enjoying having my Friends Page working again. Thanks, HSB!
Here are newspaper articles from Kansas that talk about different charities that are either collecting money or items to aid the Greensburg tornado victims.
The Red Cross will take donations, although I don't know how well they work with volunteers. Red Cross Article
An article in The Wichita Eagle newspaper that tells about many different organizations offering aid, or collecting for the Greensburg victims: The Wichita Eagle article
Perhaps that is a good place to start. If a person was wanting to come help in person, I suggest they contact their church. It may be that their denomination is working in that area, and they could find a church of the same denomination in Kansas who is helping in a hands-on way, that may let them come help, too.
Last Friday, Greensburg, KS was destroyed by a F5 tornado. We don't live near Greensburg, but we have traveled through it at times. We've stopped to see the Deepest Hand Dug Well there. And that town is just gone. I can't even imagine. It's bad enough to lose your home. It's terrible to have part of a town's business district destroyed. It's unimaginable for homes, schools, churches, the historic downtown area, and businesses to all be wiped out at once. How does a town recover from that? Please pray for them.
And now large parts of Kansas are being flooded. Our town has had to close its flood gates. The capital city of Topeka is dealing with flooding. Kansas City has flooding. And many small towns are also being flooded. I have no idea what impact this will have on the Kansas farmers.
It's easy to read the news or watch it and think "Wow! That's terrible. I'm glad it's not me." -- and then go right on with my life. But today, I'm just sad, knowing that many of my fellow Kansans are struggling today with losing their homes or businesses. Some are only temporarily displaced, but others are going to return to flood damage. And the Greensburg folks are facing a very long process of rebuilding their home and their hometown.
Please lift Kansas and its residents up in your prayers today.
I've never really liked ElCloud Homeschool ... at least the creative and expressive part of me dislikes it. But I couldn't think of anything I really liked, that wasn't used by someone else. I'm trying to think of a name based on some of my favorite Bible verses that relate to wives, moms, parents in general.
So far I've thought of:
Walking in His Ways
Planted By Streams of Waters
Seeking a Gentle and Quiet Spirit
Cultivating a Gentle and Quiet Spirit
Loving my Husband and Children
Busy at Home
Keeping Busy at Home
To Live a Quiet Life
Raising God's Reward
Training Up God's Gifts
Raising God's Gifts
Unless the Lord Builds the House
Impress Them On Your Children
To Teach What is Good
Unfading Beauty
Let Us Walk in the Light of the Lord
Walking in the Light of the Lord
My Living Sacrifice
Being a Living Sacrifice
As Working for the Lord
Serving One Another In Love
Live a Life of Love
Hmm. That's a pretty good list to choose from, but I will have to figure out which ones are already taken, at least here on HSB.
I wonder which one Steve would prefer. He might actually prefer I stick with ElCloud Homeschool. If that's the case, maybe I can figure out how to add one of these as a subtitle.
Welcome to ElCloud Homeschool blog. My name is April, and I'm married to my best friend, Steve. We have 7 active, creative children ages 14, 12, 10, 8, 5, 3, and 11 months. This blog is where I share about our Christian faith, our family life, our homeschool, and my reviews of curriculum and books. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is our goal for our family and our homeschool.
... uh huh ... and because I was tired of being annoyed by my own blog. 
