Oct. 8, 2008 - Behemoth.com

We have been seeing ads about this new site, but wasn't sure what it was all about.  Today it has been unveiled it and you can visit it at Behemoth.com.  Here is how they describe it:

Behemoth.com's vision is as big as its name: to provide a large-scale, cost-effective download venue for customers of all ages, featuring trustworthy, downloadable audio and video content for the Christian family.

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Oct. 8, 2008 - A beautiful fall day

This past Sunday was a beautiful fall day.  Warm and sunny, light breeze-just perfect.  We decided to take the blankets out and just hang out in the back yard. Of course, the paints and the camera came, too.


Emily spotted this praying mantis underneath the picnic table.


Breezy brought her pocket palette and basket of supplies.  Bently enjoyed the sun by snoozing and rolling around on the blanket.  He also drank some of Breezy's paint water when she wasn't looking. 


I watched this praying mantis fly in from the field and land in the oak tree.  When we got up to get a closer look, it turned it's head and looked right at us.  Just creepy.  I thought it was strange that we would see two of these on the same day.



Breezy painted several little scenes, this one is looking to the southwest. 

We never really made a habit of nature studies.  It was always hit and miss, but over the years the girls have realized what a treasure it is to capture what we are seeing and experiencing. 

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Oct. 7, 2008 - An Ideal Life

To marry and have children is the ideal life for a woman.  What career could ever be as fine?  To give the world splendid men and women - isn't that the noblest thing a woman could possibly do?
                                                                                ~ Jessie Willcox Smith

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Sep. 29, 2008 - Simple Woman's Daybook #3

For Today... September 29, 2008

Outside my Window... a foggy, sunny morning (I type too slow)

I am thinking... about the art exhibit that we will be setting up at our local library this week.  The library has graciously allowed us to have an art exhibit for local homeschoolers for the entire month of October.

From the learning rooms... Emily has her website up and running, it is called Simply Vintagegirl.  One of the assignments in Tapestry of Grace is to have your student set up their own website.  I had originally thought a blog would be enough, but the girls decided that they would go ahead and make their own websites.  Go give Emily a visit at her new site and leave her a comment, she'll love it.  Good job, Emily! I am very impressed.

I am thankful for... our friend, Jason, who made the above possible.  And to Jocelyn and Eric for technical help and encouragement along the way.  

From the kitchen... hmm.  Do we have to eat this week?  Oh, I forgot, we have 100 lbs of apples waiting for us to make into apple pie filling.

I am reading... Creating Keepsakes magazines from the library.

I am hoping... to get all those apples peeled and frozen within the next few days.

I am creating... a scrapbook of our week.  Just an ordinary week.  You can join in the fun and read more about it at Ali Edwards blog. 

I am hearing... our bird making happy sounds.

Around the house... clutter, but not for long.

One of my favorite things... God's mercies are new every morning!

A few plans for the rest of the week... apples, put up the art exhibit, possible trip with my mom, SAT test for the girls on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


Bently Scribbles....our new cat/dog.   He makes me think of a cat when he sits in our window.

You can visit The Simple Woman to read more daybooks.

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Sep. 22, 2008 - Simple Woman's Daybook #2

For Today... September 23, 2008

Outside my Window... The sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful day.

I am thinking... I will need to make a trip to the apple orchard.

From the learning rooms... Book studies temporarily on hold while the girls finish up some projects they are working on.

I am thankful that... My husband finished a very time consuming job last night. He was able to finish up the entire interior of a 57 Chevy for a customer after several weeks of late nights and he didn't have to go to jury duty out of town today.

From the kitchen... I am going to make up some mocha and hot chocolate mixes.

I am reading... Unwrapping the Pharoahs and the book of Exodus

I am hoping... That we can get away for a few days and go camping.

I am creating... A larger version of the notebook that the girls and I did a couple of weeks ago.  Also, I am trying to get my hands into scrapbooking.  I am a little hesitant.

I am hearing... Clicking on the other computer and soft little sounds of a brush on watercolor paper.

Around the house... the dog is sleeping, the washing machine is working and dust is accumulating.

One of my favorite things... our public library.
 
A few plans for the rest of the week... ?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Here is a picture of our grape jelly that we made last week.  Since this was the first time we had enough grapes to make jelly, I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing, but it turned out to be a very delightful experience.  We used the recipe that came with the Sure Jell package.  We have had our two grapevines for three years and they were already mature when we got them.  My husband had saved them from a home that was being torn down and rebuilt into a business property.  My daughter, Emily Rose, is planning on posting more pictures of our grape jelly adventure on her blog soon.

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Sep. 17, 2008 - A Few of My Online Favorites-Homeschool Memoirs # 5

Jocelyn over at The Homeschool Post has asked us to share some of our favorite online sites for Homeschool Memoirs #5.  There are several sites that I enjoy looking at and I have listed them in my sidebars.  So feel free to browse my links, blogs, and friends lists.  I also have buttons on my sidebars that will take you to my family's blogs and also other sites that I enjoy. 

Emily Rose and I also started the Right Here in Indiana blog to have a place to put  more links that have to do specifically with homeschooling.

As for other sites I have been visiting, such as some crafty inspirational sites and such, I will add those in another post later this week. 

To read what others are saying about their favorite online sites click here.

 

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Sep. 16, 2008 - Simply Woman's Daybook

For Today... September 16, 2008

Outside my Window... The sun is shining brightly and hummingbirds are visiting the feeder.

I am thinking... about fall and the nice temperatures we are having now.

From the learning rooms... the girls are busy working on a practice 25 minute essay.

I am thankful for... My sister, Glenna, who has a vast amount of knowledge of the subject of grapes.

From the kitchen... We are making grape jelly this week.

I am wearing... brown capris, pink top and my faithful Merrells

I am reading... Exodus, The Golden Goblet and lots of things about Ancient Egypt, Scraptastic and Life Artist.

I am hoping... my sister, Lou, is feeling better after having a minor surgery.  

I am creating... a baby blanket, I haven't been spending much time crocheting so it is taking a very long time to finish..

I am hearing... the fan from the kitchen

Around the house... our new little doggy is sleeping in a blanket near the girls and smells of grapes simmering are floating around the house.

One of my favorite things... our treadmill.

A few plans for the rest of the week... getting the grape jelly finished and getting a lot of school done.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


These are the grapes that the girls picked from our grapevines yesterday.  They smell so good. 



To read other's Daybooks you can visit The Simple Woman.

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Sep. 10, 2008 - Homeschool Memoir #4 Something New

This week at Homeschool Blog Awards they are asking us to share what we are doing new this year.

This will be our first year doing the Redesigned Tapestry of Grace Year One.  We have already gone through Classic Tapestry of Grace Years 2, 3, and 4.  This revised edition looks to be much easier to use and as always, very thorough.  It is by far my favorite curriculum.

The other new item on our list this year is the One Year Adventure Novel.  The girls started this last Tuesday and have really been inspired by it.  I originally leaned about this program from an ad right here at Homeschoolblogger.com.  I clicked on the link, explored their website and signed up to receive a free demo DVD.  After watching the demo with the girls we decided that we would do it.  I have been watching the video lessons with the girls and have found them to be very informative and entertaining.  The first semester is a series of lessons on setting up your outline, characters and plot. The second semester is actually putting the meat on the story and getting your novel written.  It is a very ambitious goal, but with perseverance and hard work, by the end of the school year they should have a completed adventure novel!

To read what others families are trying new this year, go to the Homeschool Blog Awards and read Homeschool Memoirs #4.
 

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Sep. 5, 2008 - Thanks to my cutie-pies!

I want to thank my girls for making my blog look so sweet!  Breezy took some time this afternoon to paint me a new header and Emily Rose enhanced it in Photoshop and put it on my blog. 
Oh, I just adore it!  Thank you girls!

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Sep. 3, 2008 - Updated Schedule

Schedules, schedules, schedules.....can't live with them and can't live without them.

We have to keep on schedule.

We are so off schedule.

Hurry up, or we'll be off schedule.

What's the schedule?

Schedule?  I don't know where it is.

What are we supposed to be studying now?

Look at your schedule.


No, those are not things my daughters say or ask, they are things that I have said and I am sure I will say again.  I am not by nature a list or schedule person, but homeschooling has a way of making you into one. So, we have a schedule; I even write it down and then we try to stick to it. 

6:30 - 9:00  Up | showers | breakfast | Bible | catch up on news and bloglines
9:00 - 10:15  Copy can | Latin & Greek roots | SAT review | practice 25 min. essays | Geometry
10:15-11:00  One Year Adventure Novel
11:00 - 11:45 Biology (Emily) | Art (Breezy)
11:45 - 1:15 quick clean-up | Lunch prep | Lunch with Dad | short break
1:15 - 2:30  Tapestry of Grace
2:30 - on  Graphic Design | Photography | Literature | Violin | Health (Emily)*
                  Art/ Physics | Piano | Literature (Breezy)*
8:00 or 9:00ish- Family worship time with Dad.  We sing psalms, Dad reads God's Word to us and we pray.

*From 2:30 on they can work on those subjects as long as they want or can.  We also get some blogging in here and there.

Every other Tuesday, Breezy takes piano lessons and then gives art lessons to her piano teacher's sons.

Emily takes violin lessons on Thursday.

Tuesday afternoons we go to the library.

One thing that I try to work on is to limit our outside activities.  It would be really easy to get over involved in a lot great things, but I have to limit our activities so that we can focus on what is BEST.


I also began scheduling our cooking days. 

For lunch we all pitch in, it is usually salad, sandwiches or leftovers.

For suppers we will each take a day.
Monday - Emily
Tuesday - leftovers for Rob and the girls and I meet at my mom's along with my sisters and niece, Maggie
Wednesday - Me
Thursday- Breezy
Friday - take turns - it's pizza
Saturday- we all pitch in and make a brunch and then something simple for supper.  I will usually make something for Sunday, like soup or prepare something to put in the crockpot for after church.

Wow, that looks great.  Now put that schedule into action!!!  (talking to myself)


*Disclaimer* 
This schedule looks very busy and it is, however, I am not so strict that we don't have down time or longer breaks in between subjects when necessary.
Life happens and you get off "the schedule", what do you do?  The next day or next week, you just get back on it and if you have it written down, it is much easier to get back on it!

To see more scheduling ideas you can go here.

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Aug. 27, 2008 - Please pray...

Please pray for this sweet family from Texas, their little 3 year old son drowned last night.  You can read more about little Dozer at Heart of the Matter.  Our hearts our heavy with this sad news.

May the Lord give them comfort and strength.

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Aug. 22, 2008 - Time for a New School Year

It's time. 


The pencils are sharpened and ready to go. 

We have been doing "some" school throughout the summer, but now we are in "official" school mode.   That  means we have picked back up those subjects that we just don't gravitate toward naturally, like geometry, biology, chemistry, SAT prep, etc. 

One of the things that we did a lot of last year and will do again this year is give the girls a large block of time to work on their favorite subjects; art and graphic design. For us, a large block of time means around 2 hours of the school day .  Since these are their favorite subjects they also work on them in their free time.  So they could be working on art and graphic design 2-5 hours a day. 

I am so thankful that we have been able to homeschool all these years.  This will be our 12th year and it has been such a wonderful adventure.  We had Breezy in public school for K and 1/2 of first grade and her teachers were concerned that she doodled too much on her papers - it was a problem for them.  A year ago, I spoke with a teacher at the high school that the girls would have gone to and she told me they had no graphic design teaching at all.  None.  Nada.  Nothing at all in that field.  Wow.  When we began to homeschool it was the Lord's leading in our life, it had nothing to do with these issues.  12 years later, I see that not only was He leading us to homeschool for biblical reasons, but also He knew what the girls giftings were when we didn't.

This will be Breezy's senior year and Emily Rose's sophomore year.  Our schedule looks full and busy and it is, and we may not get everything done that we want to, but that's OKAY.  Life doesn't stop at the end of the school year.  We are life-long learners and that is what we are about.  Learning is a way of life.

Here is a list of the subjects and curriculum that we will be using this year.
Polished Cornerstones (this will be a life-long study)
Tapestry of Grace (finish Year 4 and begin Year 1 on Sept. 2)
High School Essay Intensive with Andrew Pudewa
One Year Adventure Novel
Geometry with Math-U-See
Chemistry/Physics with a focus on light and color (Breezy)
Biology - Apologia (Emily Rose)
Art using a variety of books and practice (Breezy)
Graphic Design using a variety of books and practice (Emily Rose)
Piano (Breezy)
Violin (Emily Rose)
Life Skills/Consumer math/Driver's Ed (Breezy)
Blogging
Copywork using the copy can
Latin & Greek roots

Earlier this summer we worked on our summer schedule and used Titus 2:3-5 to help us prioritize and get our schedule the way it should be; I kept that in mind with this new schedule. 



This sweet little clock is a new addition to our home.  My mother gave this to Rob and I for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It is engraved on the back.  It will be near us in the dining room to help keep us on track this year.  Thanks Mom.

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Jul. 31, 2008 - Just a little blast from the past

I visited my sister's blog last night and found that she had put music on her blog. While I wasn't surprised that she had music now; since her daughter, Maggie, had recently added music to her blog, I was surprised at the song she had playing.  It was the theme music to the TV show Rawhide, a real "blast from the past" kind of song. 

When I was growing up, our family owned a riding stable and my dad was western through and through.  Our lives revolved around the horses and the farm and any TV shows that we watched at night were usually western shows.  So when I heard that song playing, memories of my childhood came flooding in. 
My two older sisters had this little conversation going on for awhile about the words to the song; trying to remember what they were exactly.  Finally, one of them found the song and wrote down the words.  They had better memories of this show than I did and they were excited about reliving it some.  While I don't remember the show that much the music is definitely in my brain.  We would often play around singing parts of that song while we were herding the horses in from a field or getting ready to head out on the trail with some riders.  

I told my oldest daughter, Breezy, that to me Rawhide was like our "classical music".  Something like that was always playing in the background. 

Emily, I guess you could call it our "soundtrack".

Dad

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Jul. 24, 2008 - 25th Wedding Anniversary

My dear husband and I were blessed to be able to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary last week.  We decided to go back to the same place that we had went on our honeymoon.  We had such a lovely time together.



It's incredible to think back over the years and see what the Lord has done in our lives.  When we were first married, neither of us were Christians.  Jesus Christ was not even on our radar, but He had us in His radar.  After several years of walking together in the darkness, the Lord saved me and then a few years later He saved my dear husband.  While we are far from perfect, the Lord's mercy and compassion have kept us together and blessed us with a sweet marriage. 

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Jul. 15, 2008 - Random happenings around our home

We have been enjoying a beautiful summer.  The weather has not been hot and muggy, which is so unusual for this time of year.  We've been having the windows open and letting the breeze come through the house.  It makes it feel so peaceful. And occasionally we have had a summer storm come through with all the amazing clouds and wind.  The latest storm was to the south of us and we were not affected by it, other than the awe of watching it blow in.  Emily and Breezy both took several pictures of it and Emily was able to catch this one with the lightening striking.  You have to look to the middle of the picture to see it.



When she took that picture there was no wind blowing around us at all.  It was one of those calms before the storm, but it stayed to the south of us.

Jocelyn interviewed Breezy for The Homeschool Blog Awards site, you can read that interview here. She won the 2007 Best Artistic Content Blog Award and they have interviews of the different winners in the Wednesday Winners column. 

Emily has been doing a weekly craft post for The Backyard and this past week her post was on making a flower dryer.  It was made using the leftover twigs from our trellis in my last post.  It is hanging in my kitchen and it is just adorable.  The Backyard is a blog on HomeSchoolBlogger for the young people on HSB. 



Last week we went to a library book sale, went to a family reunion out of town, and then on Sunday we hosted our church family for a picnic in our backyard. 

This week this handsome man and I are going to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.  It amazes me how fast the time has gone.


More to post on that event later!

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Jul. 14, 2008 - The encouragement of conferences

I really enjoy going to conferences, especially homeschooling conferences.  My family always make it a priority to go to our state's homeschool conference.  I think the Lord has used the different speakers and just seeing all the other homeschooling families each year to encourage us and to help us to have a vision for the beauty and blessings of homeschooling.  

In the past we have also signed up with online conferences.  Those are very convenient and affordable because we don't have to go out of town and pay for a hotel room, but then again you don't get to see and talk with other people face to face.  There is an online conference coming up that sounds great and the price is very reasonable.  It is the Heart of the Matter Homeschool Conference.  It starts on July 31st and like other online conferences you can listen to them live or download the talks so that you can listen to them at your convenience or just listen to them over and over.  Some great speakers are lined up and I am really looking forward to hearing them.  One of the speakers that I am most excited about hearing is Ami from Homeschoolshare.com.  Her topic is on How to Keep Your Child's Natural Desire to Learn Alive.   She always has great insights to share. 

I also am a member of The Homeschool Lounge, and while I am not on that site everyday, when I do go poke around on it I usually find some great resources or encouragement.  This site is what I found today.   They have the speakers from the last 3 year's conferences online for you to listen to.  You need to pay for them if you want to download them, but to just listen to from your computer they are absolutely free!  You will be amazed at all the speakers and different talks they have listed.  And it's all FREE!! 

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Jul. 10, 2008 - A Place for My Morning Glories

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Jun. 24, 2008 - Titus 2 Woman

I found a blog this morning that made my heart sing! 

When I first started homeschooling, one of the first women who encouraged me and taught me what it meant to be a homeschooling mother was Sally Clarkson.  She and her husband, Clay, wrote Educating the Wholehearted Child, it is one of my all-time favorite books on educating your children.  I have several of her other books, as well as some of her teaching tapes from conferences that she has done.  Sally was also the speaker at the first homeschooling mother's retreat that I went to.  I still have the sweet little coffee cup she gave to each mom there. 

This morning I stumbled onto her blog and just squealed.  I don't know where I have been, but I hadn't seen her blog before.  So go visit I Take Joy and be blessed!

Thank you, Sally Clarkson, for being a Titus 2 Woman!!

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Jun. 6, 2008 - Inspirations

It amazes me to think about how God orchestrates events for purposes we know nothing about and may never understand this side of heaven.  I was thinking about how God used two friends of ours in very similar ways that have been such blessings to my daughters.  At the church that we used to attend there were two young married women who were both artists, but in different ways.  Each of these women had a talent and interest that sparked and encouraged Breezy and Emily Rose in very significant ways.

Natalie, the painter, loves using different techniques to capture her subject and bring them to life. She gave Breezy watercolor lessons and encouraged and helped her to develop her own style.  Natalie has recently started a blog showcasing her work.  You can see her work and learn more about her at Artwork by Natalie Thoman.

Susan, the graphic designer, has such an eye for design and uses everyday things in amazing ways.  Susan taught Emily some basic Photoshop tools and settings and inspired Emily by showing her how she came up with designs for her own work.  She sparked a passion in Emily for graphic design that has really blossomed.

These two young talented women were able to share with my daughters and inspire them in their own unique areas.  When I think of them I am reminded of how God can use us to teach and inspire others for His purposes and His glory.  What a blessing they have been in our lives. Thank you, Natalie and Susan.

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Jun. 4, 2008 - Interview by Sarah Mae

Several weeks ago, Sarah Mae contacted me and asked if I would do an online interview with her. The Lord has shown great compassion on our family and anything of value that we have to say is only due to His mercy and kindness.  So I agreed and you can read that interview here.   Sarah Mae, along with fellow contributor, Amanda, have a lovely new blog called "Like a warm cup of coffee".  It is a place to strentghen their faith and encourage others in godly womanhood.  May the Lord encourage and bless you. 

I wanted to add the following two verses that have deeply impacted our family over the years.  These two verses, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New, have humbled us and shown us our utter dependence on our Lord. 

And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you' and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."      Exodus 33:19

For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."     Romans 9:15

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