Nov. 11, 2009 - Carnival of Homeschooling- NaNoWriMo Edition- Posted!
Everything from growing cowboys, to creative teaching ideas, to dealing with swine flu, and more is addressed in this latest edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. In honor of National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo), it's laid out in book parts, from preface to epilogue.
There's a lot of good reading here from homeschooling parents (and even a grandparent), so you won't want to miss it;-).
Enjoy! |
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Feb. 19, 2009 - When Mom Loses Her Voice- Tips for the Unnaturally Silent
I lost my voice last weekend. Sometime between Sunday and Monday it packed up and disappeared, leaving me with only a whisper. I'm not much of a talker under normal circumstances, so this wasn't a problem Monday through Wednesday.
Of course, normal circumstances don't apply to this week. I was scheduled to do two Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshops this week-- today and tomorrow. Tonight, we were going to have dinner with Andrew Pudewa while he was in town (he published my recent American and British Literature books in the Excellence in Literature series), and it looks as if we'll have to miss that as well. It's not much fun to dine with someone who can't speak above a whisper!
I've learned a few things this week that may be useful if you ever lose your voice due to a sinus or ear infection, or simple overuse. If you feel lousy, the tips below are for you. If you lose your voice but feel fine, just pick and choose the tips you need.
- If you need to summon someone, a loud "Psssst!" works very well.
- If #1 doesn't work, try stomping on the floor.
- If #1 and #2 doen't work, try whistling. Very loudly.
- If you have cordless phones with an intercom feature, this is the time to use it.
- Keep a legal pad and Sharpie marker handy for quick notes. Save notes such as "ANSWER THE PHONE" for repeated re-use (no one in our household likes to answer the phone).
- Drink lemon juice and honey in hot water about every two hours.
- If you tend to be absent minded, make a note every time you take your antibiotics and decongestants, or you'll spend ridiculous amounts of time counting pills or trying to remember if you've taken them (don't ask me how I know this).
Things to do while you can't talk:
- Take the opportunity to rest and read good books.
- Write a few notes to people who need encouragement.
- Do hands-on activities with your children. Make sure to choose things that don't require instruction such as coloring, scrapbooking, clay modeling, or other handwork. Just plan to have fun.
- Plan your spring garden.
- Clean out a closet.
- Enjoy the silence!
And finally, here's the challenge: After you've been voiceless for a couple of days, think about the difference it's made in your home atmosphere. Do your children and your husband miss your voice, or are they relieved to have it quieted for a few days? My goal is to be the kind of communicator my husband and children enjoy, and this time of unnatural silence reveals that they do miss my voice. As you regain your voice, remember to "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt...." so that your voice is a blessing to your family and to others. If it isn't, then it's better to be silent forever. |
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Dec. 23, 2008 - Visit the Carnival of Homeschooling (and Paris, too)!
I just posted a new Carnival of Homeschooling with a "Winter in Paris" theme. There are some great posts, and even a couple of recipes you'll enjoy, both involving chocolate, of course!
Really, it wasn't just an excuse to browse through my Paris pictures again, but I have to admit, that is a fun thing to do. Paris was a revelation to us when we visited. It's beautiful architecturally, but it's accessible and friendly, too. I'd love to go back every year!
Contrary to all the rumors you hear about Parisians, we found everyone we encountered to be cordial and courteous. This reinforces my belief that almost anyone anywhere will respond nicely to a pleasant, courteous approach. When visiting a foreign country, it's important to learn what is considered courteous, and what is not, so that you don't bumble around being unintentionally rude. It's surprising how many people behave rudely in a foreign country, and are then offended when the natives are less than friendly!
For example, the French are generally more formal than Americans. When you enter a shop, it's considered courteous to greet the proprietor with a 'bon jour." As you shop for food, you don't touch the beautiful displays. Instead, you tell the shopkeeper what you want (it helps to practice the language before you go), and in the case of fruit, when you will eat it, so they can select the best item for you, much as our general stores did in the olden days.
When we were there, I enjoyed shopping at the little food shops. It's very acceptable to take a picnic lunch on the train, so before we left for Italy, I visited the bakery, the fruit stand, and the cheese shop to create a lovely picnic. At each place, I explained that I wanted [bread, fruit, or a cheese] that would be suitable for a picnic on the train with children.
Each shopkeeper offered suggestions and selected goodies of perfect ripeness. The cheese merchant said, "ah.... a small smell, eh?" and provided a selection of delicious cheeses that didn't advertise their presence to the entire train. The fruit vendor pointed out some particularly lucious grapes, and indicated that they wouldn't be messy for children, which was an excellent idea. All the packages were beautifully wrapped in gift paper with a bit of string or ribbon holding them on. It was a lot more interesting than fast food!
The only problem was that after collecting our lovely picnic, we headed for the train station, where we discovered that we were to leave from a small auxiliary station a couple of metro stops down. We got directions, hopped on the ever-efficient metro with a couple of minutes to spare. When we got off, there was no sign of anything resembling a train station. Yikes. The clock was ticking, and it was almost time for the train to leave!
I handed my suitcase to Donald, and ran into the first little cafe I saw. It was crammed with working men, enjoying lunch. I summoned my rudimentary French to ask the room at large where the train station was hiding. A small man near the door looked at my ticket with it's fast approaching departure time, and dropped his fork, and said "Come!"
He ran out the door and down the street, with all of us running after, dragging suitcases. We were huffing and puffing when he arrived at a steep flight of steps and leapt up them, running to a train that was going through it's final departure process. He reached the last open door, stuck one arm in so that they couldn't close it, and waved us in. We thanked him profusely as we staggered in, and he smiled and waved as the door slammed and the train pulled out. That was only one of the many kindnesses we experienced there, and I will always remember that very nice Frenchman with gratitude.
Anyway, I digress. Visit the Carnival for some enjoyable reading, and visit Paris for beautiful sights and scrumptious food. Enjoy! |
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Nov. 22, 2008 - C.S. Lewis- 35 years ago today
Just 35 years ago, Clive Staples Lewis left this life. He is one of my favorite writers and thinkers, and his works continue to inspire Christians everywhere.
There are many excellent websites where you can learn about C.S. Lewis and his life and works. He didn't write "twinkie" books-- things to skim through without thought. They are meaty and thought-provoking, and will provide long-term mental and spiritual nourishment.
Here are some links:
Into the Wardrobe is a nicely organized, well-designed site that offers a great deal of information about Lewis, along with many links and other resources.
The C.S. Lewis Institute ""endeavors to develop disciples who can articulate, defend, and live faith in Christ through personal and public living."
C.S. Lewis Foundation in an organization whose "mission is to advance the renewal of Christian thought and creative expression in the university world and the culture at large. |
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