Classically Speaking... - Homeschool Blogger

A New Home for the New Year

Thu, 4 Jan 2007 14:52:00 -0600

Get your bookmarks ready... I am moving my blog for the new year!
After having a number of problems on here recently, and in order to streamline my blogging, I have moved my blog to http://www.jacobiterose.blogspot.com
See you there.

Now Advent is Here:

Mon, 4 Dec 2006 12:51:00 -0600

Getting a little worried about the holidays? Then why not download that infamous planning celebrity, Martha Stewart�s planner?

http://marthastewart.com/images/pdf/2004_holiday_planner_high.pdf

Maybe you are stumped for winter nature study activities? You could try making your garden a wildlife sanctuary!

http://www.nwf.org/backyard/

And then there are the gifts for the Christmas Holidays� you might try here:

http://www.herbaltreas.com/herbsforholidayfare.html

or just take a gander over at my garden blog ( http://wortcunning.blogspot.com ) for some great fun with Christmas Herbs!

The Home Companion: Remade

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:52:00 -0600

So I remade my 'Home Companion'. Oh... well sort of anyway!

I got a new binder... and bought some scrapbooking paper...

Which I slid into the pocket on the front. (I erased our name from the front page ). I LOVE my new cover... I am such a fan of Monet and Renoir, that I KNEW this was the page for me!
Then using the templates from Kim over at Starry Sky Ranch, I made the divider pages.

I still have the same old ziploc baggie of stuff in there...
And I have 'fancy divider pockets' because they were the only dividers I could find that would stick out beyond the edges of the binder.
But I still used the title pages for each division.

And my old book? It became my cookbook. My binder didn't want to make room for that what with the entire year in calendars in there! So I made a separate binder for my cooking!

Inside I print out my recipes and place them in the page protectors. Instant shelter from cooking splatters. I think I will do ALL my recipes this way!

Living Lives of Loveliness

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:54:00 -0600

The Loveliness of Handmade Gifts is up over at By Sun and Candlelight� go check it out :).

Some fun and Games

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:45:00 -0600

I promised to keep you up to date with the Christmas Happenings...

So here is a fantastic Advent idea over at O Night Divine!

And check out Jenn�s Christmas Card Ornaments! How to make them can be found here: Christmas Card Ornaments.

In the mood for a little contemplation? Then read this AMAZING post at �Et Tu, Jen?�� Very moving!

Still need some ideas for a good charity for this year's boxing day? (Age old custom of giving to charity the day after Christmas)? It looks like Sophia Institute Press could use our help.

Perhaps you can make it one of your charitable contributions this year�

This was a fun quiz from Belief Net: (HT to College Street Academy )

And here are *MY* results!

Your Results:

The top score on the list below represents the faith that Belief-O-Matic, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks most closely matches your beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that your views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa.

Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths in order of how much they have in common with your professed beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more closely it aligns with your thinking.

1. Eastern Orthodox (100%)

2. Roman Catholic (100%)

3. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (95%)

4. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (90%)

5. Orthodox Quaker (79%)

6. Jehovah's Witness (76%)

7. Seventh Day Adventist (74%)

8. Orthodox Judaism (74%)

9. Bah�'� Faith (71%)

10. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (67%)

11. Islam (66%)

12. Sikhism (52%)

13. Liberal Quakers (47%)

14. Hinduism (40%)

15. Jainism (40%)

16. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (37%)

17. Reform Judaism (37%)

18. Unitarian Universalism (33%)

19. Mahayana Buddhism (30%)

20. Theravada Buddhism (29%)

21. Neo-Pagan (25%)

22. Nontheist (20%)

23. Secular Humanism (18%)

24. New Age (17%)

25. New Thought (17%)

26. Scientology (16%)

27. Taoism (16%)

Not bad! Although I would switch the top two...

The Loveliness of Handmade Gifts

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 15:34:00 -0600

When I saw that Dawn had mentioned a Loveliness of Handmade Gifts faire, I knew I'd have a submission... but not just because I like to make gifts, no. Because I am fortunate enough to be the recipient of such gifts.

Both of my children were brought home from hospital, cradled in my arms and wearing a special outfit that their Nana (my Mum) had made. Photos do exist, but are not available on this computer unfortunately!
When I had my daughter, some kind soul had donated hand crocheted hats to the nursery, and my bald headed daughter was the lucky recipient of two of them (one was a little large).
I treasured these gifts, and the kids wore them as often as the weather and their size would allow! I was delighted that my Mum and my own Nan, would send me such gifts. And I made sure to use them... because the best thing to be said about a handmade gift, is that they are used! These treasures are now safely locked away... either 'just in case' or for future generations of the family.

I was a very lucky child in that I was made many clothes as I was growing up... dresses for summer, dresses for school Our school uniform was a red and white gingham check, and my sister and I declared our dresses much prettier than the store bought ones.
It was the rare birthday or Christmas that passed without a knitted jumper (sweater) or cardigan... and we were most upset if one of us got one, and the others did not!
There were many handmade gifts that were given to me, that were literally worn into holes. Sometimes my Mum would have to physically take something from me and throw it in the bin... I was that loath to part with it!
And if I am lucky... I still get one... like the cardigan I am wearing in this picture from last year!

Since I left home, I have tried to continue the tradition of handmade gift giving. A few friends over here have been the recipients of such delights as baby slings I sewed for them, or knitted cardigans or jumpers (sweaters) I made for a newborn.
Then there are the presents I made for the family.
This is a hat I made for my son when he was small... I was in need of a hat with earflaps... the poor little chap's ears were getting cold! So I went online and found a nice snowman hat... which I then adapted and changed into a cat hat. It has since become a family deal... known as 'the cat hat', my daughter has taken to wearing it with delight... since she loves cats!

and a better view of the CAT:

Then there is the saga of the sweater DH is wearing in the photo at the top of this post... it literally took me YEARS to make :)
I promised him this one birthday... and started to make it. Well, I got bored, the needles were just so small that the yarn was knitting up VERY slowly... and I was starting with the back.
I picked it back up later, unravelled it and started it again with a larger sized needle.
This knitted up fast, but then I learned the yarn was not so good... and this was AFTER DS spilled coffee on it and I washed it... the back was pilling after one go!
So, we got some new, pure wool, yarn.
And I worked on it... this time I managed to finish it OK... but not before I ran short on yarn and had to try and find a dye lot match. I never did find a complete match, but did get something close!
When it was finally finished, DH was ectstatic... he'd been wanting it forever... the only problem now was waiting for cold enough weather to wear it. Being pure wool, it is definitely warm!

Last Monday (the 6th November) was my sister's 18th birthday. I jumped at the chance to make her something... I had long since wanted to knit something using a ribbon yarn... so I chose one in her favourite colour and knitted up a 'capelet'. Of course there is no such thing, a cape being by it's very nature a short cloak, and at that, this one is more of a wrap or poncho than a cape... but I still made it. And told her if she didn't want it to send it back!

I kind of liked the fit...
I was inspired by how well it turned out, so I decided that this year, the 'second little' present I like to give my siblings (even though I dont usually manage this) would be a homemade one.

So I started with hats... (I am modelling them all, yes, since hats look funny on a bed rather than a head)

One for a sister...

One for a brother... in his team colours ;)

A small black hat for a sibling...
Then there are other kinds of gifts...

A crocheted bag...

A scarf in a sibling's favourite colours!

These are not the only things I have made... the sweater in the photo at the top that DS is wearing, is one I made him... one of many over the years I have made both of the kids.
All handmade gifts are given with a little piece of the giver in them... because when we make a gift, we put a little bit of ourselves into it. Sometimes this is more literal than others! (Some of my handknits end up with hair in them LOL).

This year, I challenge you to make your own gifts... whether it be a knitted hat for your Mum, a square for a charity blanket, or a basket of cookies for the nursing home... make this Christmas mean something... give a little bit of yourself!

Bear with me...

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 15:32:00 -0600

I appear to be having a few issues with the blog :(
Three posts never posted, so I deleted them, and two of my browsers are having issues!

Oh well... here's hoping ;)

What Kind of Death?

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 14:37:00 -0600

Just for fun!

What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?

You will be smothered under a rug. You're a little anti-social, and may want to start gaining new social skills by making prank phone calls.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Sharing...

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:41:00 -0600

There are so many talented people out there, who just have wonderful ideas for homeschooling... take Suzanne for instance at Blessed Among Men... her stained glass windows look a treat!
Then there is the lovely Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight, who is full of great ideas. I loved her Prayer Journal! Then there are her seasonal notebooks... well worth a look!

Perhaps you prefer baking? How about Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea's festive Pumpkin spice dessert? Or the delicious looking treats at Baking Sheet?

Then there are Jenn's liturgical year ideas at Family in Feast and feria...

Autumn, cold and inspiration

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:14:00 -0500

I guess we were not the only ones to get the first frost last night... so many people are speaking about autumn on the web right now, that I took the time to mention a few favourites over at my nature blog!

And then there is this very inspirational story which I got at this blog.