Nov. 24, 2009 - Tightwad Tuesday ~ Participating In A Craft Fair
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Participating In A Craft Fair
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The last 3 years I have participated in a craft fair in November. I started off with beaded bookmarks and fudge. the second year I did fudge, necklaces, earrings,candles, and rhubarb juice. This year I did fudge, rhubarb juice ( two kinds plain and also a raspberry rhubarb which was a BIG hit),candles-beeswax, knitted baby booties. I have worked up to this as my youngest got old enough for me to be away for two days with big brothers taking care of them.
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Each year I set a goal to try to reach. This year I wanted to earn enough to buy a grain grinder. I also try to go into the fair with having everything paid for. I came close to attaining that. I did earn enough to pay for my supplies, table, my goal and very close to buying more supplies for more candles that I will be dropping off at a local artistan store.
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I have been working each year to get something to help me make it easier to make healthier food inexpensively. Last year I got a Kitchen Aide Mixer and boy did that make my life easier in making food from scratch quickly. I am putting this out there to maybe help start someones wheels moving in brainstorming how you can make things that seem to be out of reach normally but can be attained with some elbow grease and a goal.
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I am very thankful God has helped me and my family in this way. I also have to say that I am thankful that this is only once a year. I sold twice as much as I did last year. God put in my mind to also sell raspberry-rhubarb juice along with the rhubarb juice. It was a BIG hit along with my fudge. I was very pleased how everyone liked my baby booties. I had stitched snow flakes on the toe and also I blanket stitched on the top cuff. Next year I will be making bigger kid sizes and some adult sizes too.
. I have to say that I couldn't be this pulled away for very much more. I love being a mom first and let this be a side thing to help my family in a short term. I thank the Lord for blessing this last week ends sales.
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Now to join in the fun of Tightwad Tuesday....
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Link your TWT post click on MckLinky and give exact the URL of your post. (each Tuesday that you join in on the fun)
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example of a URL ...
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Canadagirl/693425/
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Now go ahead link and read and comment on all these other's wonderful TWT's.
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Lets save our pennies, nickles, dimes, and dollars together !
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"There are only a few big ways to save money but there are many small ways ....that all adds up."
November 23, 2009 - This Morning
It's a lovely morning here in the Northwest, as in it is forcasted to be cloudy today and not rainy.
It is a trying time of year for me. My Dad loves to tell a story about me that when I was a little baby, he'd take me out in the rain or the cold and immediately I would start crying. I feel like that on the inside now. Oh, where I live is beautiful. The terrain, the wide variety of activities within a short distance from one another, the green...but the constant rain... Well, I'm sorry, you probably didn't come to my blog to hear a lot of whining. I live in the jet stream and I live on the foothills. This time of year I dream of moving somewhere a little sunnier. In the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall, I wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. Our ties have us rooted here anyhow.
This morning, I felt like a "normal" family. Jon was taking Riah to school and he and I got up early (as in 7:00) to get her ready to go. I cleaned, the other kids slept. We have such freedom with our business that we tend to not get up till 8:30 or 9:00 and often Jon doesn't leave until 10:00. I'm always so behind in my day because of this...at least this time of year when it's dark before 5:00. It seems like with most families the husband has to be to work by a certain time and that provides some routine. Of course, I know of other families where the Dad work swing shift. That would be a definite challenge. I am challenged enough to establish a routine for my family with a decently early bedtime and a decently early wake time.
I'm planning on going out and soaking in some light and doing a bit of shopping before the Thanksgiving rush. Then, I'll homeschool. Wish me God's blessings.
In Him-
November 21, 2009 - Article On Cell Phone/Internet Use
A homeschooler here in Washington wrote this article. I thought it was pretty good, so I'm sharing it with you. The only thing I think I would add is that actual involvement in pornography is not the only danger of cell phone and internet use (although that's a high enough risk all in itself) and just because we homeschool does not mean our children are protected from these dangers. There are scales of grey regarding what we choose to center our minds on and the internet (and texting and movies and what we see in stores and what we listen to on the radio, etc.) are all real dangers. They can also be a blessing. Let's go for God's best. Let's honor Him with our lives.
Thinking about Giving a Cell Phone, iPod, or PDA for Christmas?
Protect Your Family from Pornography
By Lori from WA
While technology can be a fantastic tool for worthwhile endeavors, it can also be an instrument for engaging in grave evil. Advancing electronic technology has made pornography and sexual content readily accessible on cell phones, iPods, and PDA’s (and basically any other wireless or mobile entertainment device). If that’s not bad enough, individuals can buy long distance phone cards at the grocery store to use for anonymous “phone sex,” and download music mp3s with explicit content. In other words, we’re not just talking about protecting children from internet porn any more. Even if your family doesn’t own any of the previously mentioned electronic devices, your friends do and your children’s friends do too. Most of us have a TVan electronic device that will become more problematic as it continues to morph and merge with other technology.
Pornography is a global problem, but America owns a lion’s share of the blame. According to Michael Leahy, recovering sex addict and bestselling author of Porn Nation: Conquering America's #1 Addiction, pornography is “a 57 billion a year global industry and America is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of porn in the world.” Leahy is an expert on emerging tech trends in pornography and has been featured on ABC's 20/20, The View, USA Today, and numerous other major media sources.
According to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, children are often exposed to pornography between the ages of 10-14, if not before. I would add that today’s pornography is exponentially worse than what my generation saw in 1970s magazines (featuring women). The Internet contains the most vile filth of every kind, including the sexual exploitation of very young children, sodomy, bestiality, and horrors that would be inappropriate to mention here. All of these images and video are just a mouse click away.
Approximately 60 percent or more of the Internet is made up of sexually explicit content. According to Family Safe Media, 72 percent of males and 28 percent of females (yes, females) visit pornography sites. Pornography is easy to access and easy to engage in privately and secretly. The same goes for explicit conversation via texting (or “sexting”) which can be typed out right under a parent’s nose.
Here are four reasons I’ve heard from parents as to why they are not safeguarding their children:
(1) “I’m computer/electronics illiterate--I don’t know what these devices are capable of doing and my kids know way more than me. I don’t feel equipped to figure out how to install or administer filtering software or parental controls.”
My response: Hold off buying or allowing your children to have these electronic gadgets until they become necessary. And, when you buy, consider your children’s needsnot wants. For example, there are cell phones on the market without picture/video/internet capabilities (research and ask about them). There are also “stand-alone” electronic organizers you can buy as opposed to a PDA (does a 15-year-old really need to sync their schedule with a computer?). If you decide to consider a mainstream electronic device, ask retailers and service providers if you can shut down certain capabilities (learn also if the phone can connect to internet via other wired/wireless connections outside your home, and if the device can download and upload media). In summary, get informed with the basics. Then, get help from on-line resources, friends, and your local retail/computer store to be sure you can put filtering or specific parental controls in place.
(2) “I trust my children. They can only go on the Internet when I’m at home, otherwise they know they’re not allowed.”
My response: My husband and I don’t trust ourselves not to sin, and we don’t trust our kids not to sin. I recently read a quote from a pastor named Bill Perkins that pretty much sums it up: "If you think you can't fall into sexual sin, then you're godlier than David, stronger than Samson, and wiser than Solomon.” The stakes are high with pornography so my husband and I take serious precautions to reduce the risk of exposure. Here’s what we have in place: We log on to our computer with a parental password (important: it’s not written down anywhere). I have an administrative password for our filter which only I know (important: it’s not written down anywhere). Our filtering company sends regular Internet activity reports to my husband and me (he and I are both accountable to each other as well as with the kids). We have a separate user account for our oldest who needs access to the internet for classes. His user account is filtered down to a “white list” of preapproved sites with no search capability. Further, his email may only receive messages from pre-authorized senders. Now, you may think all of this is extreme, and your family may choose do the filtering differently (it’s a personal decision and it’s up to you). However, I’m trying to stress that I’m much more concerned about limiting the risk of exposure to pornography than other less “risky” areas where my children might disobey me. If a device poses a risk, it’s either treated as a “controlled substance” or it’s out of here.
(3) “I’m so busy, I don’t have time.”
My response: Please make the time and let something else slide for a while. Our children are an inheritance and a gift from the Lord. They deserve our responsible and reasonable protection.
(4) “Sooner or later my children are going to be exposed to pornography. I can’t control their sinful hearts, or their temptations. If they look for something hard enough, they’ll find it.”
My response: While there are many aspects of our children’s lives that we cannot control, including the sinful nature of their hearts and the sin that surrounds us, it’s important that we don’t assume a fatalistic attitude that equates to laziness. Our children may gain access to pornography elsewhere. But, my husband’s and my personal goal is to make it as difficult as possible for our children (or anyone else’s children) to access pornography in our home, or on a device someone in our family carries around with them. As parents, we must also pray consistently for our children’s hearts, their pursuit of holiness, and for the restraint of evil in this world. We also must pray for the salvation and/or rescue of those who are trapped in the slavery of pornography, which is an addiction that affects non-Christians and Christians alike.
Parents, you can do this! Please visit the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families (NCPCF) at http://www.nationalcoalition.org/home.asp You will find a wealth of information including opening lines of communication with your children regarding pornography, and how to be a wise shopper (learning about the capabilities of electronic devices before buying). You’ll also find information about filtering software and applications for the Internet and portable electronic devices, statistics, and other excellent resources. The two filters recommended on the website have filtering for internet and mobile phones whereas most others do not.
A sister-section of the NCPCF website has a page that’s an excellent starting place: http://www.icarecoalition.org/icarepurpose.asp
Lastly, if you have a child who has, or is engaging in the sin of pornography, here is an excellent article for parents about a Christ-centered approach to helping them: http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/teens/11600384/
Nov. 20, 2009 - Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina
I write you sitting comfortably in my home - although that may not sound surprising - I have been without use of my pc/internet access for what seems like forever. But tonight, it is working again, and I am sitting on my couch with my laptop, watching The Sound of Music with my family at the same time. I do hope to visit with all my friends, but before I go around and visit, I wanted to at least finish my post of Biltmore Estate.
Have you ever visited the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina? If not, it is worth the effort if ever given the chance to visit it. The house covers 4 acres, totaling 175,000 square feet. It consists of 250 rooms and includes 35 guest and family rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens. The old fashioned kitchens are my favorite rooms in the house. In fact, I love everything in the basement - the 70,00 gallon indoor pool, the old fashioned laundry rooms, and the multiple pantrys. I wish I had pictures to share of all this, but you are not allowed to take pictures once in the house. Also in the basement is a gymnsasium and a bowling alley.
.A favorite room of my children and husband is the two story library. This is an amazing room filled with old books and beautiful woodwork.
Upstairs on the third floor, in addition to more bedrooms, are areas where guests once
played parlor games and took afternoon tea, as well as rooms formerly occupied by ladies’
maidservants.
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Fully electric and centrally heated, Biltmore House, at the time of its completion, was
considered one of the most technologically advanced structures ever built. It used some of Thomas Edison’s first lightbulbs, elaborate indoor plumbing for all 34 bedrooms and even had several elevators (that still work today.)
So that's it - now I'm going to see if I can come by and visit and say hi!
Nov. 20, 2009 - Cute Quotes
Here's a couple that make me smile:
Later in the day, after we told the kids that we would be having another baby, my 5yr old son piped up with:
"Mama! You're going to need four arms! You're going to have to grow another pair!"
"I am?"
"Yeah, for the new baby!"
He's probably right!
My sleepy 3yr old daughter wandered through to breakfast the other morning and said:
"Is it Christmas time?"
"No, not quite yet."
She replied "After breakfast will it be Christmas time?"
(Congratulatory flowers from my mom!)
Have a wonderful day!!
Nov. 17, 2009 - Counting down until Thanksgiving Break!
School has been going pretty good this year. Right now I'm behind on grading papers, but tonight or tomorrow night I'll get caught up with that. I'm almost done making assignments until Thanksgiving break. I'm going to have the kids do school on Monday and somewhat on Tuesday. It will be more of "holiday school". We'll be shopping for food items, reading Thanksgiving books and watching holiday movies, but it will also be a catch-up day for my high schoolers if they need it, and they probably will.
November 17, 2009 - My Big Two Year Old
My big two year old had her first potty success tonight. A poo poo on the potty! I've been telling her "poo poo" when I see her making that face and tonight she told me "poo poo" so we sat her on the potty and soon enough she had a success. It may be silly, but I couldn't be prouder.
November 16, 2009 - Did You Know?
Baking Powder
Did you know that baking powder, commonly used in most of our baking, contains large amounts of aluminum? Did you know that aluminum is associated with an increased risk for Altzeimers and other neurological issues? And that eating baked goods containing baking powder increase the load on your body?
There are alternatives.
Rumford's Non-Aluminum Baking Powder is one such alternative. But, I have found that Rumford's Baking Powder doesn't rise as well as regular baking powder. It rises, but then peters out, leaving you with concave loafs.
Another alternative is using Baking Soda and Cream Of Tartar. I actually found this alternative in Betty Crocker, under the emergency substitution section. Use 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar plus 1/4 tsp Baking Soda for every 1 teaspoon of Baking Powder called for in your recipes. I just put the substitution on the side of my Baking Soda box and substitute this in all my recipes. You can buy Cream of Tartar in bulk (I buy this at my local Fred Meyer) to keep the cost down on that.
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