Maggie's Place: random, abstract living in a sequential, concrete world . . . - Homeschool Blogger

England Day Two

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:05:00 -0500

Day Two - Goodbye to Canterbury

Ate breakfast at the Greyfriar Inn. Although my girlfriend Lyma was quite excited about the full English breakfast – having lived here for four years and missing it – there was very little of it I could eat. Offered were:

Tea or coffee
Fried egg
Baked beans
½ broiled tomato
Sausage
Bacon
Toast

I had a few bites of egg, a few bites of toast and some coffee. Hint: only stay at a B & B if you actually eat the breakfast – otherwise you are spending money for food you don’t eat.

Off to Dover. The white cliffs look just like the pictures. Although the Dover Castle was interesting, my favorite part was touring the “Secret War Time Tunnels” used by Admiral Ramsey during the famous retreat from Dunkirk. (Often referred to as the miracle at Dunkirk, over 330,000 English soldiers were rescued from Dunkirk in France, where they were surrounded by the Nazis and losing ground, fast.)

These tunnels had been started many years earlier, some of them dating back to hundreds of years ago. They also housed barracks for soldiers and even for the women working there in the various war offices. An interesting part of history I knew nothing about!

Hint: “Mall walking” does not prepare one for “hill walking”!! Yikes!!!

Another short drive and we are at Battle Abbey – built on the land where the Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. Gorgeous grounds! Used the audio walking tour. (These audio tours were available almost every where we went. I’d love to see this done more in the states!) We had an amazing view – the sky cleared and the remaining clouds turned pink. Daffodils in bloom as well as tulip poplars, cherry trees, and some sort of incredible “rose” tree. Wish I knew what it was. Do you know??

Walked into town and I was able to pick up some cheese and a cheese knife for the rest of the trip. Oh, and some cashews. Have I mentioned that everything here costs a small fortune????

Drove as far as Portsmouth where we spent the night at the Travel Lodge. (Think Howard Johnson’s from the early 70’s) Neat, clean, old, but relatively cheap. And so the sun sets on day two. God is so good!

England Day One

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:06:00 -0500

Day 1 of my 9 Day Excursion to England

Arrived at Heathrow Airport about 10:00 a.m. The flight over was probably the worst part of the entire trip. So if all I have to complain about is being squashed and uncomfortable for one night then I figure the trip was about perfect.

Challenge #1 – find Christy, whom we were meeting over there, find a cell phone rental place, find Avis and pick up our car. Found all 3 within the hour and were shortly on the road.

Challenge #2 – survive driving a stick-shift van, sitting on the wrong side of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road, and figuring out the “round-abouts” as soon as we leave the rental car lot. Whew! Praise God! We did not get killed, nor did we kill anyone!!! (His angels were working overtime, however. )

Challenge #3 – make it to Canterbury and find our B & B. We won this challenge despite the “secret” location of our little B & B. The Greyfriar’s Inn was built in 1267 and stood on a road unknown to us . . . or pretty much anyone else in town.

We made it to Canterbury Cathedral before it closed. What a totally amazing structure! I stood in awe of the ability God has given man to build such a work of art. And to think it was done in an age without any of the advantages of we enjoy. I doubt that such an edifice could even be built today – even with all of our technology I don’t think we have the artisans and craftsmen left that could do this type of work. Wonder of wonders - we were able to attend Evensong! During it, the men’s choir sang accapela – a more beautiful sound I have never heard. Truly, I could have listened for hours. Their voices harmonized up and down - singing songs of worship in the most beautiful place I have ever been – and filled the acoustically exquisite space.

Nighty-nite! Considering how very little sleep we all got, I think we did remarkably well to make it this far on our first day. God is good.

Washing Machines & 5-year-olds

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 10:00:00 -0600

Washing Machines & 5-year-olds

I was encouraging my friend Melissa this morning to teach her sons, 8 & 6, to do their own laundry. (Well, I just mentioned the 8-year-old because I knew she would be hesitant to let even her older son near the machines.) This friendly advice, from me – her children’s Godmother – was received rather lukewarmly. Now you have to picture this: Melissa in the basement with the laundry chute open and clothes backed up to the second story and the rest of the clothes knee-deep around her. (You know if she reads my blog I might be in trouble here! ) With four very active kids and clothes rivaling books for space in her house, she is ALWAYS doing laundry.

So . . . I was just giving her sociable suggestions based on my experience with the mountains of clothes our family generated with only two children. Then I made a mistake. I told her the following story:

When JB (our oldest son) was five, I decided he should be in charge of his own laundry. “You dirty it – you wash it” is my my motto. We placed a stool by the washer and I carefully explained the system:

dump all your dirty clothes on the floor
sort into two piles – dirty and REALLY dirty (this kept church clothes from being mixed up with “I was digging for buried treasure in the mud, Mom!” pile. Yes, I know that piles are usually sorted by whites, colors, etc. but if the whites are coated in mud it is hard to differentiate . . . )
dump load #1 into the washer
dump in one capful of detergent
set on: large, cold, regular
pull knob
CLOSE THE TOP OF THE WASHER

This last instruction was paramount because our washer would not fill with water while the top was open. This concept was evidently intriguing to JB. . . hence the excitement later when he proudly told me he had figured out what made the water stop and start. When the repairman came out to replace the part JB had ingenuously discovered, he confirmed that JB was indeed correct in his guess.

That was not the story to tell to encourage Melissa to give her children wings in the washing department. However, I am here to tell you that both my boys have done their own laundry ever since and for a number of years they did mine, as well. I list this as one of the smarter things I have ever pulled off! Someday I’ll blog about the some of the dumber things . . .

Clean off Your Desk Day!

Mon, 8 Jan 2007 10:37:00 -0600

So today is the National Clean Off Your Desk Day. I am doing my part by throwing away all the misc. food/drink type trash off my desk. I totally don’t subscribe to the “A clean desk = an organized mind” theory. I forget who said that . . . the quote is on my desk somewhere.

But for those of you who just needed a National Day to get started on the dreaded task – here it is.

Below is a press release from www.organizingresources.com I am only including the first few paragraphs because the origin of this day cracks me up. I am the opposite of the Anne described below: I throw cloths over my OWN desk so I can work without all the visual abstraction of my own clutter.

I am taking a poll – how many of you have a clean desk right now? Honestly!

PS - I just cleaned off my desk. My method? Buy a large can of compressed air and blow, blow, blow!

Press Releases

National Clean Off Your Desk Day

Second Monday in January

Are you concerned about what may be hiding in those piles on your desk? Start the New Year off on a good start by tackling that messy desktop during National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

This special day was originated by Anne Chase Moeller, the daughter of Mr. Chase of the Chase’s Annual Events—the very book where special events are listed. Anne often helped out in her father’s office and shared his incredibly cluttered desk. In order to create a place where she could work, she would spread a cloth over his chaos and then do her work. When she finished, she would put her things away, including the cloth and leave. The end of 1982 she declared that he would clean off his desk at least once each year. Naturally, being in the business, they entered National Clean Off Your Desk Day into the record book for the second Monday in January, and the rest is history. The record book has since been sold to a larger publisher, but the event is still celebrated each year. It is a great time to get a fresh start for the new year.

http://www.organizingresources.com/pressreleases/cleandesk.htm

Bats, Part I

Sat, 6 Jan 2007 15:17:00 -0600

Bats

Summer 2006

I am not, in general, opposed to bats. They are afterall God’s creatures. They are small, sort of cute (from a DISTANCE) and they serve a purpose in life. (I forgot what it is but I am assured, they do.) So you will believe me when I say that I have nothing personal against them. Well, HAD nothing personal against them. Now it is personal. We have bats. Bats in the attic. Now, bats in the attic isn’t a truly horrible thing. After all, I NEVER go in the attic so I don’t have to see them there. But they got uppity and decided that their living quarters weren’t posh enough and attempted to move in downstairs. With us. With me. IN MY KITCHEN. I have never been especially good at sharing my kitchen, even with people. I certainly am not interested in sharing it with bats. I did not fuss too much when we found dead bats in the downstairs hall. They were, in fact, dead. I did not fuss too much (well, ok, I did fuss a lot,) when we found a live bat downstairs. BUT the final straw was when I not only found, but almost touched, a LIVE BAT hanging from the inside of my back door. The door I use 1,000 times a day. It was not even up high – it was right at my hand height – and it had no business being there. So, I declared war.

After spending an inordinate amount of time (I’ll spare you the details of all the fruitless phone calls) getting an exterminator to come “take care of the bat problem,” They came. They went in the attic. They confirmed (surprise, surprise) that we did, indeed, have bats. Then, and I am NOT making this up: they said they could not kill the bats as they are a protected species. They would be happy to remove them for a mere $100.00 per bat. Seriously. Only $100.00 PER BAT. Bats the size of my hand. Little, harmless, furry critters that don’t fight back and are, in fact, ASLEEP while you remove them!

But wait, it gets better. (And remember, I am NOT making this up.) They could not begin removal (assuming I would even pay them to do this) until AFTER THE “OFFICIAL BAT MATING SEASON” was over. So let me get this straight, I said. We have to wait around while they do their thing, bringing yet more bat-lets into this world (do they charge half-price for baby bats?) and once they have happily produced large, homeschool-sized bat broods, then and only then, can we have them removed? Righto.

Where’s my shotgun?

On Writing

Sun, 9 Jul 2006 12:17:00 -0500

On Writing

Must write. Uh-oh, my pen is running out of ink. Naturally, instead of writing on the computer I begin searching Google for cheap refills for my favorite pen: Pilot G2 (retractable gel ink rolling ball) and find, sadly, that I might as well buy the pen which in bulk is not any more expensive than the refill. BUT, to get to this point I spend . . . ahem . . a LONG time totally engrossed in this site: http://www.moleskinerie.com/ where I learn, among other things, that �Moleskine is officially pronounced mol-a-skeen-a, although it can vary.�

From there I can�t but help look at their project in which five notebooks are sent out around the world to participants who each are allowed a one page spread in which to draw or write before mailing it on to the next person. (Reminds me of Flat Stanley for grown-ups.) This leads me to a search for the favorite pen of one author - the Expensive Waterman Expert 2 - which I find on sale for a mere $29.95 plus shipping. (No, I didn�t buy it. Yes, I thought about it for a nano-second. It takes refills from the G2, my favorite pen . . . see I knew I would get back to my pen somehow.) But alas that lead me to www.43Folders.com which led me to http://del.icio.us/ which led me to http://tinyurl.com/ov2p7.

The data visual posted there just blew me away! I did not like the way the content READ: �Death and Taxes, a Visual Look at Where Your Tax Dollars Go� but I was amazed at the impact such dry information had when presented in a visual format. Check it out!

How can we help our students, ourselves, to communicate more effectively? Visual Data is certainly one key. I would encourage you to learn more about this technique and allow for opportunities to use it. From a powerful Power Point presentation to a web site to a graph in a report, visuals have an irresistible pull that the written word sometimes lacks.

Rats, haven�t ordered any pens yet.
ADD or over 50 or just waaaay too interested in everything???
Has it really been this long since I have blogged?

Love, Maggie

From Florida

Wed, 31 May 2006 11:10:00 -0500

Notes from Florida

I'm sitting in our dear friends' home in Jax whilst recuperating from FPEA and preparing for leaving in the morning for a conference in Houston (SETHSA). Bob and I had a most marvelous time in Orlando, meeting lots of HSB friends. I got to know Kate, Kris, Kolbi and JenIg in REAL LIFE and realize they are:

A. Waaay smarter than I am and

B. Waaay cuter in person than in Avatar form!

They did, however, leave me with many burning questions:

How does that JenIg manage to MEET EVERYONE?
How does Kolbi speak coherently late at night after a very long, hard day filled with speaking to about 2.5 gazillion people?
Do their names all really start with "K" or is that a stage persona for them? The 3K's from HSB - very catchy!
How do JenIg and Kate manage to carry on in-depth conversations about Reformed Theology while simultaneously being as silly as two women sharing a hotel room could possibly be?
And lastly, how CUTE are Kris and her DH???!!!!!

Here's what I learned:

God is amazinginly creative and His people in a small way reflect that creativity and I am ever-so-blessed to meet each and every one of His people, not matter how different, no matter how similar, they each have something to TEACH ME about HIM! Praise God!
Do I remain open to being used by the Lord to each and every person I meet?

EVERYONE should try if at all feasible to go to a homeschool conference. And drag along their spouses if possible. You Will Be Blessed. So plan now for 2007!

Happy Mother's Day

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:33:00 -0500

Blessed Beyond Reason

God has blessed me beyond all reason. My mother, almost 80, is alive, well, spry and probably headed to the Bahamas on her boat to go fishing! She is a dear lady and a good friend of mine. I am blessed to have had a close relationship with her all my life. . . even (especially) when I was an obnoxious teen and a lost and confused young adult.

My oldest son, JB, is finally home from Iraq. There is little likelihood of his return as he signed on with the Army National Guard when they committed to both shorten his guard duty by almost two years and guaranteed he would not deploy. He knows the Lord. I am blessed.

Tyler, 18, is in India right now presenting the gospel message through mime and music and drama and words (using interpreters). He was able to manage a two minute phone call today to wish my happy Mother's Day. He is running hard after the Lord and planning a life of full-time ministry. I am blessed.

My husband is a Godly man who has a great sense of humor and almost unlimited patience. (Trust me, he needs it around me!) Without him I would not be who I am today. He has allowed and encouraged me to follow my dreams. I am blessed.

My God and Saviour Jesus Christ died for me. He rose again from the dead and defeated death for all time. He took my sins to the cross and I am forgiven and saved. I am eternally blessed.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow . . . .

If you do not know the Lord this day and you know something is missing from your life, I hope that you can find someone to talk to who does know Him. Pick up a Bible and begin reading in the New Testament, perhaps in the book of John. Pick up the book "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. He that created you and the Universe, loves you! Be blessed.

Featured Friday!

Thu, 27 Apr 2006 21:25:00 -0500

Home Businesses--Take Note

Whooooot! I feel special!!

Friday, April 28th, Bright Ideas Press is the Featured Friday Spotlight at the uber-cool marketing hang-out: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PRMama/

When you get there, just look to your right and click on "Featured Friday." If you have a home business and would like to take it to the next level, PRMama's blog (along with its great e-zine) will be worth your while to read.

So join me there - and let me know what you think of it.
Maggie

JB's Home!

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 09:51:00 -0500

JB's Home!

JB returned home this past Tuesday morning. He is now not only out of Iraq but out of the Army. (He does have a commitment with the National Guard, though.) We are so grateful to the Lord for JB and for his safe return home. We continue to pray for other sons and daughters still over there. Today I am going to shamelessly steal his xanga post - I thought it was an interesting perspective on his return home.

From JB:

"Today is my first day back inside my home in Delaware as a free man. I am no longer bound to the Army and there is no likelihood of my ever deploying again. It's a strange sensation, I feel like I am existing on multiple planes. I am hyper-aware. Everything seems familiar and yet brand new simultaneously. Images, colors and sounds flash across my field of perception. It's as if I have additional senses beyond those five with which I was born. I have another organ capable of detecting rays of possibilities, hopes, and future struggles- but my mind is only passingly familiar with how to interpret these impulses from this yet unnamed organ and can only process snippets of information. I feel like I could pass through the walls of my house unhindered. If I tried just a little harder I could cover a mile with a single step, jump up to such a height that I could take in the whole city before me in my field of view. If I were to breathe in just a little deeper I'd absorb the thoughts and psychic emanations from my sleeping neighbors and experience their dreams. The world unfolds before me like drop of red colored water released into the clear blue ocean, and its secrets are mine. Tomorrow this will all have passed, but the possibilities remain."

(Shameless Promotion Alert!) If you enjoyed this post - check out JB's book, From Basic to Baghdad - A Soldier Writes Home. Available from Bright Ideas Press.com and other fine home education supply companies.