Just an accounting of life in our all-girls homeschool out here in Central Virginia. Written mostly for grandparents on the other side of the country - way out west in Colorado and California. Very Charlotte Mason in the way we study history and natural science. Grammar is also pretty important. Miss Annie Lee's influence carries on to the next generation! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0500 Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0500 Books for Home Economics   Cookery Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker; Simon & Schuster Inc., 2006 More-with-Less Cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre; Herald Press, 1975 Simply in Season by Mary Beth Lind & Cathleen Hockman-Wert; Herald Press, 2005 California Kosher Compiled by Women's League of Adat Ari El; Wimmer Brothers, 1991 A Cookbook for Girls and Boys by Irma S. Rombauer; Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1952 Not Just Beans by Tawara Jean Kellam;  NotJustBeans Publishing, 2002 Ball Blue Book of Preserving; Jarden Home Brands Publishing, 2006   Etiquette Etiquette by Emily Post;  Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1942 Good Manners for Every Occasion by Emilie Barnes; Harvest House Publishers, 2008   Caring for People Laugel's Kitchen Caring by Laurel Robertson; Ten Speed Press, 1997   Household Management The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar; Howard Books, 2008 Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook; Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2006 A Mother's Manual for Holiday Survival by Kathy Peel & Judie Byrd; Focus on the Family Publishing, 1991 Life-saver!: The Jewish Homemaker's Suvival Kit by Sarah Glaser; Targum Press, 1996   Nutrition Chew on This  by Eric Schlosser & Charles Wilson; Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006 (9th, 10th grades) Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser; Harper Collins, 2002 (11th, 12th grades) What to Eat by Marion Nestle; North Point Press, 2006 SuperFoods by Steven Pratt, M.D. & Kathy Matthews; HarperCollins, 2004 Real Food by Nina Planck; Bloomsbury, 2006 Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; Harper Perennial, 2007   Gardening Gardening When it Counts by Steve Solomon; New Society Publishers, 2005 Mrs. Greenthumbs by Cassandra Danz; Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1993 Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon; Timber Press, 2008 (also counts for Science) Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew; Cool Springs Press, 2005 Nature-Friendly Garden by Marlene A. Condon; Stackpole Books, 2006 The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch; Workman Publishing, 1988   Miscellaneous Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home by Mrs. Craig (Ann) Ward; Smiling Heart Press, 1995 Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton; Three Rivers Press, 2002 Country Wisdom Almanac Compiled by Amy Rost; Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2008 Crisis Preparedness Handbook by Jack A. Spigarelli; Cross-Current Publishing, 2002 A Return to Modesty by Wendy Shalit; Simon & Schuster, 1999 (12th grade) Nickled and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich; Owl Books, 2001 Dominion by Matthew Scully; St. Martin's Griffin, 2002 Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, PH.D; Bantam Books, 2006 Fire Safety  Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Series, 1997 Made You Look: How Advertising Works  by Shari Graydon; Annick Press, 2008 And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion by Beth McLeod; Rodale, 2002 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/725052/ Tue, 8 Sep 2009 14:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/725052/ Walked in the footsteps of my forefather and foremothers at the Charlotte Museum of History. Left Winter behind and drove into Summer. Hugged a mouse. Hugged a duck. Hugged a blue alien and his Hawaiian ohana. Lost my husband and two of my children for a day. Met Prince Caspian. Got freaked out by The Crazy Christmas Tree Lady, who apparently spends her days stalking Disney characters. Took a photo of her hat. Lamented the loss of the original Pirates of the Caribbean. Got my youngest on a fast ride. Went soaring over California. Found Mary Poppins. Met the Julenissen. Ate some really good Mexican Food. Watched Dopey make a break for freedom. Heard an amazing Christmas Concert. Got hugged by the world most loveable [and pathetic] donkey. Went to the hot tub. Went to the pool. Went to the beach. Saw Becky's new home and got to spend a few hours visiting!! Shopped at a Piggly Wiggly. Drove back into Winter. And a good time was had by all!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/635844/ Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/635844/ Yes, I am a shlub.  I haven't been writing on my Blog - as my children have kindly pointed out about 100 times.  So, in the interest of time, I will complete a tag that two of my girls have sent to me: 1. What are your initials? AER 2. How old will you be in 30 years? 69 3. Where would you most like to vacation? Hawaii 4. Rainy or Sunny? Sunny!! 5. Do you make anything for Thanksgiving dinner? Yep, though less each year. 6. If so, what? Turkey, Dressing, Jello Salads, Rice Dish, Spiced Peaches,  Pumpkin Pie and anything else that my girls don't make. 7. What do you want to be when you grow up? A librarian with a lot of cats. 8. What is your favorite day of the year?  The first day of summer. 9. What is your favorite subject in school? History [may not by my children's favorite subject, though] 10. Look left, what do you see?  A printer, bunch of books, "Great Courses" DVDs on Mythology 11. Look right, what do you see? My daughter asking to take a shower. 12. Do you have a favorite stuffed animal? Yes; two in fact. 13. If so, what and who is it? Edward Bear and Rachel's Stitch 14. Have you written any books, or short stories? Only for myself. 15. Do you ever wish for a different hair color? At times.  16. Superman, Spiderman, or Batman? Superman 17. Do you have a pen pal, or e-pal? No. 18. What is your lucky number? My favorite number is 10. 19. What is your favorite Holiday? Thanksgiving. 20. Who will you tag?  No one - everyone else I know has been tagged! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/619898/ Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:08:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/619898/ The newspaper The Independent reported today that children have lost touch with the natural world.  Concerned, I clicked onto the quiz thoughtfully provided for readers and called my 17yo to come take it.  I figured I would either be smug and pleased that she has an amazing knowledge of the World of Nature.......or I would be humiliated beyond belief and she would be sent right outside with her Nature Journal. The first photo popped up.  Sarah identified the creature carefully, suspecting a trap, it was so easy.   The next one, a fruit, was a little harder [read: tricky] but she got it.   Then we got to the third photo and came to a dead stop.  It was a flower.  A pretty flower.  A pretty BRITISH  flower.  As in: not seen in American gardens unless they spend oodles of money and pamper that plant along in our wild North American environment.  So basically a flower that will never be seen in MY garden.  Sarah made a guess [by guessing the only British flower she knew and, thank you Charlotte Mason, one about which she had read in a book], I made a guess.  Sarah was right, I was wrong.  And yes, this flower IS in North America - - it just looks totally different over here. And that was the way the quiz went.  There was not one creature that I hadn't heard of.........they just look a bit different on this side of the pond.  So I have provided the quiz link for any readers who wish to feel either smug and stupid.  A hint:  if you have seen "The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe" and read plenty of English children's books, you should do quite well.  Take your best shot! QUIZ  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/568634/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 12:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/568634/ We're finished with Geography!!!  Last geographical area covered: Pacific Islands: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/546345/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/546345/ So, I'm downloading some photos today and I came across some I had never seen before.  They were taken last night according to my camera....which doesn't lie.  And they really explain a lot about why it was SO hard to wake up the almost-17-year-olds this morning. Exibit One: Rosie looks on in disaproval.  Her people should not be up at this hour - an hour which happens to be 10:31pm   And here are the two culprits who have taken over my kitchen and MY camera!!   Apparently they got hungry   And decided to have a little snack   With MY waffle maker!!   The final result.......at 11:20 PM!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/539256/ Wed, 28 May 2008 11:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/539256/ Learning happens all over the property. Inside..... On the back deck.....   And on the front porch...     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/537599/ Sat, 24 May 2008 21:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/537599/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/535737/ Wed, 21 May 2008 11:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/535737/ Getting ready and trying to ignore moms with cameras!  Getting the makeup on. Ready to start!!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/534214/ Sun, 18 May 2008 19:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/534214/ We "celebrated" the first day of May by working outside.  Rachel and Beka raked and cleared out the drainage ditch, Sarah mowed the meadow [aka: our lawn], and I attempted to break through the rocks to plant three forsythia bushes.  I only got two planted before I realized that I need a more heavy-duty pick-ax to get through the rocks out here.  So the third forsythia bush is waiting patiently on our driveway until I get up to the hardware store. I also had to deal with yet another Eastern Ribbon Snake [what is it with this snake that follows us from state to state??].  This one, however, will not be bothering us again thanks to Sarah and the lawnmower.   The snake carnage is now at the bottom of the hill in the woods. It's a beautiful day out here - lots of flowers blooming!  A perfect May Day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/525545/ Thu, 1 May 2008 12:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MelwoodGirlsAcademy/525545/