The politically incorrect ramblings of a sage rat den mother. As well as thoughts on adoption, special needs children, and My Lord and Savior. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:24:00 -0600 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:24:00 -0600 The greatest man-made invention, in my opinion, isn't the steam or gasoline engine, or the computer, or even airplanes. I think it's the mattress. The kind the would make Goldilocks very happy, not too hard, not too soft, but just right. I'm incredibly fond of my bed, made up of a mattress. If I no longer had a computer I wouldn't cry. If flight became a thing of the past I wouldn't worry. If I had to start walking everywhere I would probably grumble and whine, but I would get used to it. However, if I lost the use of a good mattress, I don't think I'd ever get over that. You may think that I'm a hard-core blogger, but I put more time and effort into being a napper. Sleeping at night is only intensive training for my napping, and like a runner after a good, long run, I find it to have been hard work but well worth it--it gives me a rush. It can be exhilarating and then my body is ready for a good nap to recuperate. Before the modern bed was invented, people had to sleep on poky straw or feathers. Quite a problem for those with allergies and deadly for those with asthma. Before that it was soft dirt or hard dirt, but I doubt there was ever any "just right" dirt. That's why the bears lived in a house and slept in beds. It wouldn't have been the same story if Goldilocks had wandered into a cave and tested three different bear wallows. I completely and totally love my bed and all of the cozy comfort that it has to offer. It's just fills my heart with joy to crawl under the covers and snuggle down. Waking up in the morning is most painful. At least I have naps to look forward to. To whoever invented the modern mattress, I am truly grateful. I wouldn't be half the napper I am now without it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/743758/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/743758/ My grandpa, my Papafather's dad, was a country vet. He had a little office off the side of the house where he did small animal surgery, and exams. He made house calls all around the country, some trips taking him an hour or more to reach the animal in need of help, be it cow, horse, sheep, or pig. Very often he would have one of his children in tow. He had 10 of them so there was no shortage of helpers. It all sounds very James Harriot like, and in a way it was. James Harriot's stories are popular with that side of the family and each story reminds them of one like it that grandpa experienced. Grandpa's office was, as I said, just off the house. Just off the kitchen to be exact. My grandma had a dutch door put in so that she could just open up the top half to talk to him and yet keep the little ones inside. Think about that. A vet's office, just off the kitchen. Do you recall how a vet's office smells? That smell still lingers in that office to this day and it's been over 10 years since my grandpa died. Aside from the smell, I never gave grandpa's office much thought. We would traipse our way through it on the way to play outside, to gather in the clothes from off the line, to pick grapes, collect eggs, or to find grandpa. The office doubled as grandma's laundry room so I suppose that's why it didn't seem like a room that needed much attention. I never spent any time in it other than to get from point A to point B. Which is strange now that I think about it, all those fascinating instruments, chemicals, medicines, and the like just within reach. I never touched them or was ever tempted to do so. One temptation I did give in to was a special barrel out back that held two skunks. Grandpa would warn us to leave those skunks alone. My numerous cousins and I would stand around the barrel peering in, and those skunks would peer back. The lot of us cousins would look for only a moment and then run away as fast as we could before we got sprayed. I didn't find out until I was much older that those skunks couldn't spray because my grandpa had "deskunked" them. I don't know if my cousins were aware of this at the time or not, they ran just as fast as I did. Grandpa's warning hadn't been for us, he had been worried that we would torment the skunks. Skunks actually make a great pet and are positively darling, if you can legally keep them. My uncle kept one for awhile. She was just like a cat, had a litter box and everything. Her name was Rosie, and then some, but I won't repeat that part. We have a family story, told every couple of years or so I guess, about grandpa and one particular skunk he was de-scenting. While in the process of removing the gland that contains the hideous skunk musk, it was ruptured. It squirted all of its contents right in my grandpa's face. He came into the kitchen to clean up and the only thing he said was, "It's such a beautiful color." Apparently skunk spray is an amber color, and my God fearing grandpa could still recognize the beauty of God's handiwork even in a skunk's musk. Funny, while my aunts and uncles roar with laughter about this story every time they tell it, I don't remember anyone talking about the smell lingering in the kitchen or what on earth my grandma said or did. I'll have to ask them about that. After the laughter dies down, someone will always mention how my grandpa was such a quiet, gentle, and patient man. Oh he had his moments when a cow would stomp him, but how many men do you know who would take it from a skunk and only comment on it's beauty? Update: I asked one of my aunt's if she remembered grandma's reaction to grandpa coming in smelling of skunk that badly. She didn't really remember, she figured grandma probably dealt with it in stride. Believe it or not there are a lot worse smells a vet can have lingering about his body. My aunt remembers one smell that caused everyone near grandpa to be physically nauseous. Grandpa had to clean out a cow whose calf had died inside her at near full term. The calf had become a decaying mass of jelly, with only bones left. The smell lingered on grandpa for quite awhile--no matter how often he washed or what he tried, the smell wouldn't go away. He actually got infected pores on his arms from cleaning that cow out. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742794/ Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742794/ When I was a young and silly girl I really wanted a certain record. Yup, I said record. They still existed even though cassette tapes were beginning to make their appearance. The problem was, I didn't own a tape player, I owned a record player. I can't even remember now how this record made it to the top of my wish list. I'm guessing that what really happened was that I had seen it while digging through the records at the store and it called to my fickle heart. I trotted off to the nearest money source, which just happened to be my Aunt Sissie. I was spending a couple of weeks with her during the summer. Her children were all grown and possibly gone, that part of my memory is a little fuzzy. Anyway, I guess Aunt Sissie saw nothing wrong with indulging me and she bought it. Oh, I was a happy music lover! I listened to that album for years. Perhaps all of two-years. I have no idea what my mother thought of this present. I don't recall her ever expressing it to me. I may have to ask her about that. I do remember that my aunt loved me and wanted to give me something simple, like a two week invasion of her home and privacy wasn't enough. She was just like that, quietly giving. So what record sang to me and held my attention for so long? Irwin the Disco Duck In the Navy. Groovy! Here are the popular titles on this record that I boogied to: In the Navy Macho Man Y.M.C.A. Music Box Dancer Last Dance Knock on Wood Le Freak Instant Replay I Love the Night Life Goodnight Tonight What a horrendous track of songs! I think the only reason they threw in Music Box Dancer was to appease parents who thought the record might rot brains. I know it did mine, but at least I still love Music Box Dancer. Believe it or not this album was made by Peter Pan Records, a company that made records for children. I'm sure it was that dashing figure of a duck in his sailor uniform that caught my eye in the first place. I wanted to join the Navy after all! As one of those grown cousins that no longer lived in the house was in the Navy, it was probably what tipped the scale in my aunt buying it for me. I wouldn't buy anything like this for my own children, let alone my nieces. It is however a somewhat fond memory, mainly because of my Aunt Sissie. I can't ever hear Y.M.C.A. without thinking of this record, and I can't think of this record without remembering her. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742466/ Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:16:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742466/ "The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."  ~Erma Bombeck That common thread, I know what it is. It's love. Not necessarily for each other, but for the same group of people. For instance, my sister and I are very opposite from each other, but our love for our mother is the only thing that keeps us together. We also love the same aunts, and uncles, and cousins, but it's our mom that keeps us in communication.  I pray that I will always remember the fun my family has had. I don't ever want to forget the good times. I'm going to be writing some of them down, more for my benefit then yours, but I hope that I write them well enough that you can enjoy them too. I want to weave my memories together on "paper" before my mind unravels. I'm not expecting that to happen anytime soon, but I've already noticed that a few strands have been pulled and the edges are wearing. My mom keeps a box full of all the comic strips that made her truly laugh. She wants to read them when she is old and feeling unhappy. I want the same thing of my memories. In case I can't remember, I can pull one out and hopefully it will help me to remember and I can be happy because my life has been so truly blessed. I may even pull them out before I'm very old, because so often lately I do forget just how blessed I am. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742216/ Wed, 4 Nov 2009 22:07:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/742216/ Why on earth do I feel like a criminal on the run while keeping one step ahead of financial ruin? To date I've done nothing criminal, nor do I plan to, and yet I feel like I am dodging "the law" of creditors. Just so it's clear, we actually still have good credit, but only due to the grace and mercy of God. Still, there are days when I think it would just be a whole lot easier if I turned myself in and went to debtors prison. Not that we have that anymore, but I am so weary of this flight into financial freedom. Flight might be a strong word for it--it's more like dragging a penguin on a leash. On the whole I have no one to blame but myself, we gambled and we are losing, but there have been outside influences that have played their part. Just as a farmer must still depend on the weather in order to produce a good crop, while doing what he can to help it along. Frost, tornados, and hail can all destroy a crop, it shows no mercy to a dedicated farmer or a lazy one. Remember how I said that our good credit is still only good because of the grace and mercy and God? It's true, but I have several friends who were finally captured by the credit Pinkertons--Bankruptcy and Foreclosure. In no way do I think that God's mercy and grace were pulled away from them, although I'm sure they may feel that way. I just don't understand how I can feel like I've done something so morally wrong, as if I committed first-degree non-payment, and why I have to keep looking over my shoulder and dodging the long arm of the law, certain that I am about to be caught. While I know that the enemy can beat me up, there must be a reason why I feel so guilty. I don't think it's all the bad guy in the black hat. No, we didn't spend our money on extravagances instead of paying our bills. I'm not saying that we have always spent our money wisely, but we've not been neglectful either. Yet, have I been a good steward? Sadly, no. There is only One who can grant me immunity, riding the white horse, swooping down, scooping me up, and riding away into the sunset. Okay, I don't have to wait for the Rapture, He can still save me, but it painted a good picture for my theme, don't you think? Christ is who I must run to, instead of dodging from payday bush to payday bush, and hiding out in dark caves of no cell-phone service so the creditors can't call. He won't tell me that I don't have to pay my bills and He won't actually pay them for me like He has my sins, but He can give me much needed rest and focus. He still answers prayer! If only I would take the time to actually look for Him instead of at how far away the next payday bush is. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741771/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 12:08:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741771/ Free Holiday Idea Book for Thankgiving and Christmas. Unwrap our beautiful holiday gift  for you! The staff and friends of The Old Schoolhouse® have come together to share their favorite family traditions, recipes, and more with you. It's your FREE gift . . .   Get ready to . . . Wrap your family in a ribbon of thankfulness and joy and season your holiday with laughter, love, and togetherness. Start planning now for a wondrous holiday season with . . .   The TOS 2009 Digital Holiday Supplement WOW . . . a gorgeous Holiday/Christmas Digital Magazine filled with a fabulous lineup of planning, recipe, gift, and craft ideas you'll love.  If you're looking for inspiration to get your holiday spirit revived for the upcoming season of festivities, you've come to the right place. TOS has put together a gorgeous, full-color, digital magazine filled to the virtual brim with traditions-in-the-making. "This is TOS's gift to the homeschooling community, and anyone is welcome to it. The 2009 Digital Holiday Supplement will fulfill your yearnings for fresh and original additions to your long-treasured, family customs, and maintain Christ's honored position first, and foremost, in your celebrations." -Gena Suarez, publisher of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. Don't forget, this holiday idea book is free--no strings attached. Feel free to share it with your friends, homeschool support group, family, church group, blog visitors, customers, newsletter subscribers, and anyone who would enjoy making memories of an unforgettable Thanksgiving and Christmas.. Download Directions: Open and browse the Holiday Digital Supplement. In the top toolbar, click the Download link. A dialogue box will appear. You will want to use the first option that is listed. It will have a small PDF icon to the right and the file size-35 MB. The radial button next to "All Pages" should be darkened. If it is not, click on it to darken. Click the "Download PDF" button in this first section. A download dialogue box will appear with options to "open with" or "Save" the PDF. Click on SAVE. Please do NOT try to open the PDF before downloading. Click on OK. You will be prompted to select the directory on your hard drive where you wish to store the Holiday Digital Supplement PDF. Make a notation of the directory you select. Click SAVE. This is a 35 MB file and many people will be accessing it, please allow extra time for the download-especially if you have dial-up Internet service.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741412/ Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741412/ Wow. I can't believe it's been 4 years since I started blogging. A lot can change in a year, think of what can change in four! When I first started blogging I was a small time homesteader. We had goats that we milked. (We had chickens, too, but that was before the blog.) We also had two dogs and three cats. We don't homestead anymore because I have asthma and even walking into the barn would make me sick due to all the hay and straw. We now have one cat. When I first started blogging I lived in Oregon. Now I live in Kentucky. I lived in the country, now I live in town. The economy was a lot stronger four years ago. When I first started blogging I was homeschooling my four children. Now I only homeschool three because my oldest is a homeschool graduate. When I first started blogging I had a staunch supporter in Nanna Nina. She read my blog daily, encouraged me, and told her friends to come read my blog. She died 2 years ago, and oh how I still miss her! The pain is still so fierce that I can't ever think about her without crying. I've also lost 3 other family members but I've gained 2 with the birth of a cousin-once-removed, and a great-niece. When I first started blogging I wasn't the Senior Editor of HSB or an Assistant Marketing Director, or any of the other things that I do for TOS. Sometimes, I really miss being "just a mom," but if I have to work, I'd rather work for TOS then anywhere else. When I first started blogging I had a lot of good friends. Now I have even more! For all of you who have been following my blog, thank you! Outside of family, I don't know why some of you would; I don't really have anything new or different to tell you then any other homeschool blogging mom, but maybe it's nice to know that there is one more, just like you, who loves what she's doing and wouldn't change it for the world. That's important in today's society where feminists rule the work place and stay-at-home mom's are viewed as ignorant and down-trodden. It's why I still read your blogs. I started my blog on Halloween, for no special reason other than we don't celebrate the holiday and I had totally forgotten what the day was. Then and now, we still live our lives for Christ, the best that we can, and we let our little light shine for all the world to see. Happy Blogiversary to me!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741090/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/741090/ Did you read this week's The Homeschool Minute? It was about the games the families of the THM team like to play. As I'm a behind the scenes team member I'll post the games my family likes to play here. Don't get THM? Sign up! When we lived in Oregon our family played a lot of the standard games at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandma loves games! We would play: Farkle Yahtzee Uno Phase 10 Chicken Foot Apples to Apples Crouquet Badminton Which are all very fun, but the games I like the most are the ones my family made up or recreated. Famous Last Words--invent new and funny tombstone epitaphs or dying breath statements. Laughter or groans let's you know how well you are playing. Paper Airplane Races--My children would create several paper airplanes, drawing fancy designs on them, and then they would race them. After a few races the bad planes were auctioned off to the other players, and then they would race all of their planes again. The person with the fastest plane wins. License Plate Capitol--When we see a license plate from a different state the person who can call out the correct capitol of that state first wins. Name that tune--We hum a few notes of a tune and everyone tries to guess what it is. The person who guesses correctly gets to do the next tune. That's all that I can remember for now, but I know we've made up a few more. I love how creative my children can be! We have many other things we play on a regular basis but they aren't exactly games. Like talking in a funny accent. Dear Man is good at Australian, Bluejane at Chinese (she's also very good at imitating movie characters), and Kekoa an English accent. I'm good at laughing at all their antics. Poor Eyebright has my talent for accents--nil. With all these ridiculous accents, conversations can take an interesting turn! Families can be so much fun, take time to play with yours! You don't need to buy a boxed game or create a game night. It just takes imagination, a sense of humor, and an opportunity to stifle boredom. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/740685/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/740685/ My cousin sent me an email yesterday with some pictures of these darling, street legal, bumper cars! I want one! I tried to find a website for them to link to, but apparently they don't have a club website, or I'm not searching correctly. As it was it took me awhile to find a website that had several, decent sized pictures and didn't have nasty ads. Even so, click the above link at your own risk. I can't promise the language in the comments is decent. Scroll down and keep looking, past the really big picture, to see even more cool bumper cars.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/740251/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/740251/ Eyebright tagged me with this thoughtful tag. I won't tag anyone to join me, but if you feel like doing this tag you can. The rules are that you have to say things you like about the four seasons, not things you don't like. In Spring, my favorite things are seeing all of the baby animals learning to walk, running, and frisking about. The weather warming up and thinking about summer. Flowers blooming. In Summer, I love lazy days on the porch swing. Hiking, camping, and geocaching. Going to visit family and friends. Bright, sunny, blue skies! Long drives to nowhere, yet somewhere. In Autumn I love the colors and smells. I like having a reason to stay indoors and slow down. It's exciting to hear the men talk of hunting! School is starting and that is always fun. In Winter I love snow storms with big, fat flakes, especially if we are driving in it. I curl up and read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, no matter where I live and what the weather is like outside. I love going to my Papafather's hometown and spending Christmas with his family. This season, more than any other, fills my mind with warm and wonderful memories. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/736516/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:11:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/736516/