Mar. 11, 2008
A Carnival and Other Interesting Finds...
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The latest Carnival of Homeschooling is happening At Home With Kris. There are some thought provoking articles on various topics this week, ranging from grammar to thoughts about the California homeschooling case. I submitted an article from my other blog, Home Spun Juggling. (I don't always have time to dual post.) Be sure to read some of it! In related news, the second phase has begun in the Carnival of Homeschooling graphics contest. Please take the time to go over and vote for a medium size and whatever size graphic. In other news, last week, I was pleasantly surprised to come across an ad for the Circus Arts Camp. If you look at the website, the graphic below the telephone number is my design! I designed it while I was working at the camp many years ago. I don't know how expensive the camp is, but if you live in the area, I highly recommend it. The instructors are top notch performers and it was an honor to work with such talented people. My sister was researching distance learning degrees and came across this interesting article on open courses at MIT and Yale. Anything free is worth investigating. |
Jan. 20, 2008
Interesting Finds
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I'm in love. With words. I was searching for a word definition recently and found The Free Dictionary. This is a site that was made for word lovers like me. It features a word of the day, several search engines with links to various dictionaries and Wikipedia, and word building activities. My daughter is hooked too. She's been playing the matching game and hangman daily. She may even have discovered one or two words she didn't know before. My sister sent this interesting site that plays old kiddie records. I find this site interesting just for the children's book illustrations on the old album covers. I suppose I will always be a children's illustrator at heart. My children were also very interested in this Time Magazine photo essay about the book Hungry Planet. Have you ever thought about how much you spend for groceries in a week? This really made us think about what we are buying and also gave us a window into the eating habits of people in other countries. |
Jan. 5, 2008
We Didn't Start the Fire cool video
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HT to 40winkzzz for finding a wonderful way to kick start history for the New Year! This video rocks! I think we need to add to the song, though. How about, "We Didn't Start the Fire, Part 2?" Billy Joel, are you listening? |
Dec. 29, 2007
The Business of Being Born
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I don't know how others feel about their pregnancy and birth experiences, but I definitely have opinions about mine. I've had three natural births in three different settings. Marina was born in a hospital, Chase in a birthing center, and Sierra was born at home. My first birth was the only one I felt like I had no control over. I didn't want a hospital birth. Having grown up with frequent trips to the emergency room and the occasional hospital stay, I did not have a positive view of hospitals. They were for sick people. But because of my asthma history and what is termed "an untried pelvis," I was not allowed to use a birth center that first time. I was upset, but because I was young and not good at speaking up for my rights, I did what I was told. That first labor was 25 hours. I refused pain medications in spite of intense labor (my brother and sister could hear me screaming in the waiting room) and gave birth to my beautiful, lively, healthy Marina...who was promptly taken from me to clean her up and check her for every little thing. I think I had the best hospital birth I could ask for, but that was not saying much. A month later we also got a bill from the anesthesiologist because our insurance wouldn't pay for something we didn't use. Hospitals keep an anesthesiologist on standby in the maternity ward, which just means he's on the floor. There were 5 other births the night Marina was born, so I'm sure he wasn't waiting for me. I find it remarkable that all talk of a woman's right to choose revolves around whether or not she wants to have an abortion. If you are happily pregnant and simply want to have your baby in a particular way--with a midwife, in a birth center or at home--you are forced to jump through hoops, possibly pay out of pocket for services, and have to hope you aren't categorized as high risk. After all is said in done, you might still end up with a doctor who bullies or manipulates you into doing things their way. I was satisfied with Marina's birth until I was pregnant with Chase and a rush of memories brought home one simple fact--I did not want to have another baby in a hospital. Honestly, I enjoyed Chase birth in the Birth Cottage the best, but when I returned to my midwife 5 years later and pregnant with Sierra, the birth center had been closed. The hospital had opened a new maternity wing and decided that the Birth Cottage did not make enough money for them. Chase's midwife was the one who suggested a home birth, but she wasn't able to do it because she had to sign a contract with the hospital agreeing that she would not do home births. Which brings me to the point of this tirade. A documentary is being released in January called "The Business of Being Born." It's produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein, who incidentally became pregnant during the filming of the documentary. However you feel about your own birth experiences, I believe every woman deserves a chance to experience birth as she chooses. I told another blogger recently that I look at the birth experience as others look at extreme sports. It hurts like the devil, and you know you're going to be sore afterward, but reaching that finish line, that goal, makes it all worth the effort. If you are interested, there is a movie trailer on the website. |
Nov. 18, 2007
Silent Kimbly
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I had the pleasure of getting an email yesterday from a fellow webcartoonist. His comic strip is called Silent Kimbly. If you are a pun fan, (and who isn't?) go check out his work. Here is the description from his site:Welcome to the fun and creative world of Silent Kimbly. A place where visual puns and cute wordplay literally come to life. Follow Kimbly , a spunky space girl, her pet “Binx”, & her adorably fuzzy friend “Tenderness” as they find the joy in everyday.I love word play and this is so much better drawn than some newspaper strips. It's also very kid friendly and the idea of finding the joy in everyday follows my own philosophy. I will add a link in the Laugh and Learn Links on the sidebar. |
Aug. 28, 2007
Plastic Paradox
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Why is it that plastic will take thousands of years to break down in the landfill, if ever, but my cheaply made plastic faucet spritzer begins to disintegrate after only a year of use? I've been reading the adventures of No Impact Man. If you haven't seen this blog, it puts all of us supposed environmentalists to shame. His idea is to make no net environmental impact on the Earth by decreasing activities that hurt the Earth and increasing activities that help it. A noble cause if ever I've heard one. Of course it makes me feel guilt ridden about my own lame attempts at being an environmentalist, but hey, at least I'm trying. If I could convince all my neighbors here in suburbia to use a rake or snow shovel instead of a leaf- or snow-blower, I think the world would be a better place. Or at least quieter. (I know, I'm rambling, but I'm still sore from pulling weeds and pushing my reel mower around the yard yesterday. And the stares I get. Is it possible to feel like a relic from a simpler era when you're only 38?) |
Jul. 1, 2007
Rockin' Girl Bloggers
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My friend CarpeBanana thinks I am a It is now my honor to pass this on to 5 women whose blogs rock. I'll start with MOMflippedisWOW because she has cool pictures and links to neat places for learning and reading. Speaking of neat places, head over to Bonni's for a "jam" session and other creative endeavors. If she isn't rockin' I don't know who is. She rocks simply for being another lefty. Happy Canada Day, Bonni! Miss Robin teaches kids about the Bible in a fun and interesting way. She's started her own podcasts! I can't even figure out how to put the Rockin' Girl image on my sidebar! She also is holding a kids' pet photo contest. If you haven't been to 40winkzzz you haven't seen some incredible slideshows. You can also follow the latest fashions in boys' clothing. Last but not least, I must add Appleleaf. This Aussie author has helped me so much with her ideas to help children in their creative writing by taming the "inner editor." I'm only allowed five, but that's ok. I'm sure all of my rocking blogger gal pals will eventually claim their own prize. And if they don't, I'll add them to my list. You rock, ladies! |
Jun. 14, 2007
Ladle Rat Rotten Hut
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This is hysterical! See if you can figure it out without peeking. There are lot of other neat activities on this site as well. Enjoy! Hers a fear duffer bee bard woof? |
May. 6, 2007
Curriculum? What's that?
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I find the neatest quizzes at Life at the W.A.C.K.O.S. I've always considered our style classically eclectic, but as I've said before, by this time of year, we definitely unschool! I like the anthem, I've definitely heard that one running through my head!
  What Type of Homeschooler Are You?
 Salvador Dali Melting clocks are not a problem in your reality. You are an unschooler. You will tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort. Mud is your friend. You prefer hands-on everything. If your school had an anthem, it would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com Take this quiz!  Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code |
Mar. 31, 2007
Peeps Show
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Easter's coming. Anyone have a fondness for Peeps®? Make sure you check out their official website Marshmallow Peeps. There is a virtual factory tour, a history of the Peeps® and fun facts. Go look up how long it took to make one Peeps® chick in the 1950's! And in case you were wondering, there are now sugar-free Peeps®! Isn't that exciting? Don't have a fondness for Peeps®? Check out the Peeps experiments here. And might I add that this site does an excellent job of showing the scientific method. Our family's personal favorite is separating the conjoined quintuplet Peeps. |
Feb. 15, 2007
The Great Backyard Bird Count
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We participate in the GBBC every year. I thought I would pass the info in case anyone else is an avid bird watcher. From their site, I learned about E-Bird which is an ongoing backyard bird count. The maps, graphs and surveys are useful for me to show my kids how math, geography and science are used in the "real" world. And there is even a photo contest for the nature photographers among us! Great Backyard Bird Count begins this Friday, February 16, 2007! Continues through Monday February 19. Dear Great Backyard Bird Count participant,
Your chance to take part in the tenth GBBC comes up this weekend-February 16-19, 2007-so be sure not to miss it!
Is it a trend?
Not only do we want the GBBC to be fun for you, but also, last year, your tallies contributed to one of the most comprehensive pictures of bird abundance and distribution in the history of the count. The information provided by the Great Backyard Bird Count is especially useful to all of us-birdwatchers and scientists-when we build a long-term record of where birds are and whether their numbers are going up or coming down. Your efforts help us understand if the changes we see are part of a long-term trend, or simply random changes between years. Check the web site Be sure to visit the Great Backyard Bird Count web site before the event to learn about new information on the GBBC. Simply go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/. See the wonderful photos sent in by participants, and learn what last year's results tell us about the birds where you live. Win some binoculars!
When you send in your checklist this year, you will automatically be entered in a prize drawing that includes four Vortex Sidewinder 8x42 binoculars, donated by Wild Birds Unlimited. By taking part, you can also put your town in the running for the "Checklist Champ" title. See awesome photos
Don't forget to send us your photos too! Our website is receiving photos taken from February 14 all the way up until February 28. The best will be selected to appear on the GBBC Online Photo Gallery and all photos will be entered in the GBBC photo contest. |
Nov. 2, 2006
FBorFW-The Making of a Comic Strip
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Calling all future comic strip writers!!! I was checking Lynn Johnston's "For Better or For Worse" site because I missed an episode and I found a real treasure! She has a complete play by play of her creative process. This was so much fun, like taking a factory tour in the artist's house. I wish she had had this when I was first penning Home Spun and wanted a guide for the process. I love how she does everything with a cup of coffee at her side, that is so me. (Maybe coffee=creativity? Voltaire would probably agree.) For Better or For Worse site The Making of a Comic Strip page Thought for the day: The amount of sleep required by the average person is just five minutes more.--anon. |