Dec. 5, 2009 - THANK GOD IT'S SATURDAY
Got up at about 2 this morning. Did schoolwork that included posting to Discussion Forums and answering questions online. Talked on the phone to my best friend who lives in Ohio. My boy made his own breakfast while I took a short nap around 10:30. It's early afternoon and I'm about to make lunch.
Yesterday, my son attended a kid's fitness class. Only he and one other girl showed up, so the instructor let the two moms who were there use the equipment too. My legs were hurting a bit afterwards, but I felt highly energized. Starting in January, I'm going to start some kind of exercise program--probably conditioning and power walking. Okay, when am I going to fit that in?
This homeschooling, training for work, going to school is a lot, but you know, it's kind of energizing too.
I know where there's a will, God will make the way!
Ms. Phyllis
Dec. 4, 2009 - WORK AND HOMESCHOOLING
LiveOps contacted me! I am now finishing courses so I can certify with them as an Independent Contractor. Once I finish the courses and get my second, dedicated phone line installed, I can begin taking customer service calls and making money. I am grateful for this opportunity, and have to keep diligently working toward the goal. I also finished two of my classes via Grand Canyon University and two more classes started on November 30. All of this along with homeschooling. Hmmmmm . . . there's definitely a lot of stuff going on.
I'm still homeschooling my son. Right now, we are using Time4Learning. I had the frustration of not being able to access it for about a month. I discovered this was because my new computer was running a 64-bit browser instead of a 32-bit browser. Once I accessed the 32-bit browser, which was also available on the computer, and started using it, the problem was solved. Too bad it took me slightly over a month to figure this out. Time4Learning's support people offered some suggestions, but they didn't work. It's not their fault though, Windows 7 is so new, and of course, there are always glitches and bugs with new operating systems. The people at Time4Learning were nice enough to give me a free month to make up for the lost time--a great blessing to me.
My boy is still doing a lot of reading, Time4Learning, projects, etc. His capacity for knowledge and application of that knowledge amazes me. Yesterday, he hooked up my printer with ease, and he's not quite 10. He definitely has the gift for figuring out how things work and putting them together. Me, I have to read the directions and am lost without them. Him, he looks at the picture and goes to work. He is a blessing and God blessed me to be his mom.
Just wanted to stay in touch, and thanks for reading my blog.
Ms. Phyllis
Dec. 2, 2009 - Family Photo
A dear sister in the Lord took this lovely picture of our family while she, her husband, and her sweet daughters were visiting a few weeks ago. I think the photo came out well, though I'm not sure of the reason for the look on my second son's face. Maybe this one makes up for it....
Dec. 1, 2009 - Changes, again, at DaCabin
Bryan is working on his Persuasive Writing assignment for the Charter School. He has been so frustrated and has not enjoyed it one lick! I keep telling him to just write, do the best you can and get over it. Life hands us all sorts of things that we do not like, not one bit, and yet, we press on.
Charter School...did I get an earful this past weekend. We spent the holiday with friends and I got it loud and clear that I am taking part in the ruining of homeschooling in CA...I suppose that would mean in the whole country, as well. We chose to go with the Charter School because of our lack of finances, not because we think that it is the best way to go. I absolutely hate how politics gets ahold of everything!! I have homeschooled Bryan since day one and I do not NEED anyone else to succeed, but help is appreciated. We have had a good experience so far with our school but I may change my mind for next year. Time will tell.
I wish I had all the answers to life, but I don't. My goal is to teach my son character first, helping him to develop into a Godly man. Bookwork comes after that and we have always tried to give Bryan the tools to do well. He has high goals for his career choices and we will do what we can to help him achieve thoses goals. Along the way, we have successes and failures, times where we wish we would have made better choices, but, overall, I'd say we have done pretty well.
He is nearly finished with his assignment and I can see the look of relief on his face....isn't it good to finally finish what we start!!
Nov. 30, 2009 - Marie-Madeline Studio Happy Scrappy Quilt Give-Away
Nov. 27, 2009 - vacation
Hi Friends! Thanks for the Thanksgiving Blessings......my family and I are on vacation on the Coast of Oregon and having a fabulous time. We are staying in a beautiful beach house. The ocean/sand is literally right outside the door. We had a terrific Turkey Day as well, as we watched the tide come all the way to our door........ I'll be back to blogging when I return. Oh yea, of course we are finding the coolest surprises on the sand - sand dollars, shells and a poor dead sea lion. So there is a little learning to be had as well as relaxing.
Nov. 23, 2009 - Thanksgiving 2009
Here are some Turkey Tips from Food network. There are those of us that have the same conversation every time it's time to cook a turkey...how long do I defrost it or cook it???
Whether you're tackling a Thanksgiving turkey for the first or hundredth time, our top 10 tips will ensure your big bird is the best it can be.
1. Thawing a frozen turkey requires patience. The safest method is to thaw turkey in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead — it takes approximately 3 days for a 20 pound turkey to fully defrost.
2. For crisper skin, unwrap the turkey the day before roasting and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.
3. Cooking times will differ depending on whether your bird was purchased fresh or frozen. Plan on 20 minutes per pound in a 350 degree F oven for a defrosted turkey and 10 to 15 minutes per pound for fresh.
4. A turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed. Consider adding flavor by loosely filling the cavity with aromatic vegetables — carrots, celery, onion or garlic work nicely — or by carefully tucking fresh herbs underneath the breast skin. For the stuffing lovers, cook the dressing in a casserole dish on the side.
5. For even roasting, truss your turkey.
6. Before roasting, coat the outside of the turkey with vegetable or olive oil, season with salt and pepper and tightly cover the breast with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning (it will be removed in step 7).
7. Don't be a peeping tom (no pun intended)! Once you get the turkey in the oven, resist the temptation to open the oven door and admire your handiwork. When the oven temperature fluctuates, you're only increasing the likelihood of a dry bird. About 45 minutes before you think the turkey is done, remove the foil from the breast to allow it to brown.
8. Remove the turkey from the oven when the deepest spot between the leg and the breast reads 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Check the internal temperature of the stuffing as well; it should be at least 165 degrees.
9. Tent the bird with foil and let rest for about 15 minutes before carving. If you need more time to make gravy, heat up side dishes, etc., you can let the turkey set for up to an hour without losing too much heat.
10. Remember to carve your turkey with a very sharp or electic knife.
Maybe you just want to cook the turkey breast...here is The Barefoot Contessa's recipe for Herb Roasted Turkey Breast....yum!
Ingredients
- 1 whole bone-in turkey breast, 6 1/2 to 7 pounds
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons good olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup dry white wine
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the turkey breast, skin side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.
In a small bowl, combine the garlic, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice to make a paste. Loosen the skin from the meat gently with your fingers and smear half of the paste directly on the meat. Spread the remaining paste evenly on the skin. Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan.
Roast the turkey for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. (I test in several places.) If the skin is over-browning, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the pan juices spooned over the turkey.
Nov. 23, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank Thee for this place in which we dwell;
for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day;
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies, that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in this place.
... Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends,
soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavours.
If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come,
that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune,
and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving one to another.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
Nov. 20, 2009 - Spinach Salad: A Yummy Recipe
Spinach Salad
1 pkg. spinach (10 oz)
1 (12 oz.) carton small curd cottage cheese
½ c. chopped pecans
½ c. sugar
3 T. vinegar
2 tsp. prepared horseradish
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. dried mustard (very important, and I always use more than ½ tsp.)
Directions:
In a large serving bowl, layer half of the spinach, cottage cheese, and pecans. Repeat layers.
In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Note: If you don’t plan to use this immediately, just add the dressing right before serving.
Nov. 19, 2009 - WORK OPPORTUNITY, PATIENCE, AND SITE CHANGES
WORK OPPORTUNITY
Yesterday,I heard from LiveOps, a company where I applied for an Independent Contractor (IC) position and business opportunity. You have to pay for your own background check, because you contract to receive work from LiveOps as an IC or as a business owner. Once I received my background check information, I thought LiveOps would create my account immediately, so I could start training, then accessing the work. After the investigation company sent the results of my background check to me, I emailed Liveops letting them know (as if they didn't already know). They didn't respond, so I sent two or three more emails; finally, they answered and asked if I could please be patient, and they would notify me as soon as my account is created.
PATIENCE
Well, I have to admit that I did email way too much about the account creation issue. Enthusiasm and elation about the prospect of work had overtaken me! I now realize that probably hundreds, even thousands, of people all over the U.S.A. have applied for this work/business opportunity. The prospect of working from home is desired by many. I'm sure that once LiveOps receives the background check information, they create the accounts as soon as possible. Nevertheless, I am still anxious to begin working. I do need to be patient; patience is a sign of spiritual maturity, and I have a lot of maturing to do in the spiritual area. Father, please help me!
SITE CHANGES
I'm about to change this site and start offering homeschooling helps for a set fee or a donation. I haven't decided which one yet. Soon thereafter, I will create another site solely for the purpose of selling e-books, sharing homeschooling information (for a fee), etc. Currently, I have an online group with a wealth of free/low cost homeschooling information on it and have spent many hours researching this information. The workman, or rather workwoman in this case, is worthy of her hire.
I'd like your input regarding the above, especially the homeschooling help site.
Ms. Phyllis
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