Apr. 7, 2006 - Yes I am alive and well....
and I just lost my entry that I just spent 10 minutes writing. boo hoo I clicked on a link on accident in trying to find a website address for you all. Oh well. I am ok. My house is getting cleaned thanks to Lady Catherine's decluttering help on her blog....here is the link: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=mrscatherine Check it out!!
Also check out Lady Lydia's blog.... http://www.homeliving.blogspot.com/ This one has alot of encouragement in area of homemaking and family.
I am currently reading a great book. It is Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. I love it!! We are implementing his system and already have peace about our finances. Hubby and I will be writing something up either tonight or this weekend about this book. So come back soon!!
I will be writing more on this blog about school and life here since I am keeping my house clean and organized. I still have a long way to but I feel good about it now. So I am going to try to blog three times a week.
As some of you know we had 27 chickens. Yes I said had. We now have 25. Hubby is ready to cull them all because they haven't been laying much at all. We only got two eggs this week. We are letting them out and rooting around all over our property. We are still feeding them the feed. They are not even a year old yet. I love fresh eggs but it is costing us more to feed them than to get the eggs elsewhere (local organic farmer which is about $3.00 dozen). If you are a chicken expert maybe you can help us figure out what is going on. I think this is more than them getting spooked and scared. I do know that we have been getting lots of storms but that shouldn't have bothered them right??
If you are new and came to see my blog, post a comment so I can go visit your blog and get to know you a bit. 
Blessings~
Holly
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Feb. 3, 2006 - Thankful for Walmarts low prices!!!! here is why
My youngest son finally got a bike of his own. His very own bike!!! Yeah!! All because of Walmarts low price. The bike originally cost $100 then the sticker price said clearance for $79.00. My dh and my two boys thought that was a bargain until they went to the cashier who rang it up and showed it being $64.00. WOW!!! If it wasn't for Walmart we wouldn't have been able to afford to get a brand new bike for my youngest son. He got hand me downs from my oldest son so this was a very special treat that I am so glad we can do for him.
So hooray for Walmart.
Blessings~
Holly
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Feb. 3, 2006 - Walmart ban by some homeschoolerbloggerss???
I read Jeannie's blog here at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CreativeHomeschooling/62144/
I do not agree with her stance on this base on some documentary video about Walmart. Before I would even take Jeannie's word for it I am going to check out who actually produced this documentary. It would be my bet that it is the Liberal Wackos of the Democratic Party that made this documentary. If I am wrong then do tell me who produced this video and what is their backgrounds. Yes Walmart is very low price and I am so thankful for it. Sam Walton had a dream about helping low income families. I never never heard of them being a corporate going into city and putting mom/pop stores out of business. Well, most mom/pop stores do not even carry the stuff I need or it is way overpriced for me to afford it. Sorry I am not buying into this video. I think we need to be careful about this and do extensive research on this documentary.
To help you get started on your research:
http://www.robertgreenwald.org/about.php (Director/Producer of this movie who ACLU adores)
http://www.bravenewfilms.org/who.php (company that helped make this film and they are professing to be part of the Democratic Party)
Blessings~
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - A Great Blog!!!!
Sorry I can no longer promote this woman's blog (no it is not a homeschool blogger blog). So I deleted my post.
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - Do I get visitors here?
I know this is my fault since I have not been very good at keeping this blog updated. I am wondering if I am having any visitors because my counter is saying my visitors are dropping off. I used to get about 1000 a month but in January I got 215 hits. My report graph is showing a steady decline.
What can I do to make this blog exciting for people and will encourage people to check back??
Thanks and blessings~
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - Indiana Homeschoolbloggers!!!
Are you going to the IAHE convention? I am going on both days. I am so excited!! We have wonderful speakers on the roster. If you would like to know more about it then here is the website: http://www.inhomeeducators.org
Blessings~
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - WriteShop...opinions please!!!
I am looking into WriteShop for my son for next year. I need opinions if you have used it. Can you tell me why you like it or not like it? Also what do you like or not like about this program? Is it easy to use? Do your children like it? Does it improve their writing?
Thanks
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - Pancakes: Homemade favorite recipes please
Hi~
I want to get away from boxed pancake mix but I can't find a homemade one that my family likes. I have tried 3 different ones. Do you have a favorite that your family loves??
Blesssings~
Holly
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Feb. 2, 2006 - Art!! I am not good at it but my dh is teaching it to the kids!!
Yippie!!
I am so happy that my kids are finally getting an art education. The kids are doing great and look forward to this time with Daddy while I am work. We bought each child a very nice professional bounded art book that they can keep (and good record keeping for me). Even my autistic dd is happy about doing art. I am so thankful for my dh to do this for me. I am still going to do fine arts education of looking art work and learning about artist in the future. I just do not have time right now. By the way my dh is a wonderful artist. Look way down below on this page to see a picture of my dd's room. He painted all that except the faires on the walls and the flowers on the walls (he did the stem and everything else--yes he did even the well and the fence). I will have to show you a picture of the hummingbird he did in our window seat room.
The books he is using are:
"The Art of Cartooning" by Walter Foster
"How to Draw Cartoon Animals" by Christopher Hart
I will try to link these two books from Amazon since I became a commision based person (not sure of the formal name for it). Sorry!! So if you ever click on my links to buy I get a percentage. Just a small way of making a bit of money for recommending books. Something for you to think about for your blog. It is free!!
Blessings~
Holly
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Jan. 27, 2006 - Urgent!! Indiana homeschoolers!! HSLDA sent me an alert tonight...
Here is what I got in my email!! This bill is not what we need here in Indiana. We take many field trips and many trips to the library so this will have a big impact on all of us if this is passed. So please call your rep and tell them to vote NO on the HB 1347. Read the alert down below!!
Thanks
Holly
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
======================================================================
January 27, 2006
Dear HSLDA members and friends:
Calls are urgently needed to defeat House Bill 1347 which would make
it a crime for your children to be out in public or drive a car during
public school hours. Calls are needed before Tuesday, when the bill
could be voted on in the House of Representatives.
Action Requested:
Please call your representative no later than Monday and give him this
message: "Please vote 'No' on H.B. 1347, which creates a daytime
curfew. Daytime curfews take away freedom and create an atmosphere of
fear, but studies show they do not lower juvenile crime."
Use our legislative toolbox at http://capwiz.com/hslda/home/ to get
contact information for your representative.
Background:
1. Daytime curfews do not deter juvenile crime.
A recent California study compared the juvenile crime rates of
counties that enforced curfew ordinances and counties that did not.
The crime rates were the same. The curfews had no effect on juvenile
crime.
2. Daytime curfews allow searches without probable cause.
The Fourth Amendment forbids any investigation of a citizen without a
"probable cause." H.B. 1357 allows policemen to stop and interrogate a
person merely because he looks young enough to be violating the
curfew. It is an invitation to harass homeschool families.
3. Daytime curfews assume a person is guilty until proven innocent.
In several incidents where homeschool students were stopped by police,
they had done nothing to arouse suspicion. There was no evidence they
had committed a crime or intended to. Nonetheless, the police
interrogated them and treated them like criminals until they had
proved their innocence.
4. H.B. 1357 allows some exceptions. Unfortunately, the only way for
a policeman to determine if an exception applies is to stop and
interrogate the frightened young person. By then the damage has
already been done. The child may be afraid to go outdoors again. The
right to homeschool includes the right to be free from
fear--especially young people, who are most vulnerable to feelings of
fear.
Sincerely,
Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney
======================================================================
UPDATE!!!!
They are making provisions to this bill to cut out the curfew law. That is great news!!
Holly
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Jan. 18, 2006 - Hello everybody!!! THANKS so much for the comments!!
I have several updates!
I am now a contributor for the Indiana HSN here at homeschoolblogger. So if you are from Indiana please send me your link to your blog so we can post it to the Indiana blog here at homeschoolblogger. I will try to link it soon. I lost all of my directions for linking here. Aslo if you belong to a support group could you please send me basic information about your group so we can post it on the blog as well (please send me the contact person as we will need to contact them for permission to list the support group on the blogs and magazine).
My oldest boy just turned 11. He is almost taller than me. YIKES!! My other son is 8. I have to give them names here so I have decided to name the oldest Frodo and my other son who is 8 to be Sam. My dd will be named Eowen. I hesitate to post their real names. Anyway both of my boys played Beginner Bible Bowl in Louisville, KY this past weekend. They placed 6th place out of 20 teams. They played with two other players from our church. We are well pleased by this. I had a good time down in Kentucky.
I am currently working on scheduling this week. I am also currently reading Christine Field's Help for the Harried Homeschool Mom. It has been an eye opener. It is funny that it is an eye opener because this is my 3rd time reading it. ha ha
For Christmas, Frodo got the movie from Vision Forum called "The League of Grateful Sons". This is a wonderful video. This is coming from my oldest son. They watched it while I was at work. I heard good comments about this movie. I am glad it was good. This is more of a documentary than a movie. It is a keeper in our house. I will provide a link tonight or tomorrow once I figure out how to do it (again).
I may be taking Kris up on her offer to help me play around with the blog templates soon. She is having a special this month. Again will provide link later so check back.
My dh got me wonderful gifts for Christmas. He got me several shirts, two jeans that are stretchable (I am hooked as I hated jeans for a long time), and a pair of shoes (my favorite brand ECCOS).
I got him several things from Vision Forum. I got him several movies such as Private Eyes and The Patriot. I tried finding the Revolution movie by Al Pacino (I think) but can't find it anywhere (do you know where I can get one??).
Anyway that is the update I have so far. I will be posting alot more so come back.
Oh and your comments are greatly appreaciated!!! If my friend from Pennsylvania is reading my blog....Hi there!!!
Blessings~
Holly
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Dec. 9, 2005 - Lesson planning....
Here is my struggle that I have:
Lesson planning and having it together.
I am at my wit's end over this one. I only have 3 children (I do not know the large families do it but I did talk to quiverfullmomof10 and she has a been a help)
I have edu-track for computer tracking but I do not want to have to go to the computer for everything especially for figuring out what I need to do next.
I am thinking of having a notebook with all the kids information on what they need to be doing and what I need to be doing. I am also wondering if having individual notebook for each child is better but the problem with that is we do science, history and read aloud together. We also do math meeting together (calendar work, money-via Saxon Math). Any ideas????? Also I am thiniking of having a schedule on the wall like MOTH schedule only on a posterboard with post it notes (the smaller version and get 4 different colors so I can change them around if needed).
Also I have an autistic dd who really needs me to get the ball rolling on her therapy. We took a long break from that. We also took this month off from school.
I need some ideas so if you can telll me what you do that would be great.
Blessings~
Holly
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Dec. 2, 2005 - still here....
Sorry for not keeping up with this blog. I have been very very busy with working almost every night in November. I will be busy with work in December too. I am planning on doing some reviews soon on several books that I bought. I also will be doing a review on a newsletter that somebody is giving me for free. So keep on the lookout for the reviews.
Thanks for the comments everybody!! I enjoy reading them. I am planning on making friends today thanks to Gena's inspiration on making 10 friends every Friday!! Woo whoo!!
Holly
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Nov. 15, 2005 - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFER: Old Schoolhouse magazine!!!
Wow!! This is a great offer!! Click on the link below...
This special offer will expire on December 25th so hurry and check out this great offer. I think I am going to take up on this offer and send my dear friend this gift. It is a bargain!!
This magazine has come a long way. I was one of the early subscribers when it was more of a 4-5 page flyer. Guess what?? It is now a whopping 200 pages long in most issues. I say they came along way. Each issue keeps getting better and better. They also keep adding new sections of the magazine. The two newest sections are home baking and special needs. I have subscribed to every homeschool magazine out there and this is the best magazine I have ever subscribed to.
Click on the link above and take advantage of this special offer.
disclaimer: I do not work for this magazine or the owners. I am just sharing my excitement of this very special Christmas offer!!
< a href='http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/subscribe/promo_subscribe.php>Old Schoolhouse special Christmas offer
Oldschoolhouse Christmas offer
Blessings~
Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - Do you want to know more about Homesteading?
The best conservative Homesteading website I have come across is this:
She also has a blog here in Homeschool Blogger.
I will be recommending some homesteading books sometime soon.
Enjoy!
Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - A good deal on TEACH magazine...
Lorie Flem is offering a very good deal for those that signed up for a two year subscription to this magazine. $60.00 worth of products for free. The products is listed below. I have several back issues of this magazine. I love it!! It has a touch of everything from homemaking to homeschooling. Click the link below and it will take you to the webpage where you can get this. Hurry Fast!! She only has 135 spots left to grab this offer.
www.TEACHmagazine.com/Treasures
Free products:
Your gift is Lets Get Organized,
A gigantic $15.95 ebook for you to download and devour. Chock full of great articles.
The Learning Parent - www.thelearningparent.com
Your gift is The Runt
This action-packed adventure novel for young people is sure to be
a winner with readers of all ages. A $9.95 value.
Urban Homemaker - www.theurbanhomemaker.com
Get your copy of Marilyns newest title,
Fast and Healthy Recipes for Busy Homeschool Moms - Reliable Recipes. A $9.95 value.
Your gift is Spring Has Sprung
This lovely booklet is filled with wonderful ideas to help you
celebrate spring with a fling.
It is fall now, but it will help you think ahead and get you ready.
Recipes and party ideas included. A $5.95 value.
Trivium Pursuit - www.triviumpursuit.com
You will receive the Encoder Decoder
A wonderful $9.95 book with all the spelling and phonics rules you could ever want to know.
Future Christian Homemakers - www.futurechristianhomemakers.com
This $6.95 gift set includes a beautiful 5 x 7 piece of vintage art ready for framing,
a Stitch & Learn Bookmark, photo illustrated Gingham Embroidery Lesson,
and a charming set of parchment note cards.
I do not work for Lorrie or this magazine. I just wanted to pass along this good deal!!
Enjoy!!
Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - Sorry guys for the black text in my picture post....
I forgot to disable my HTML function when I posted the pictures. I tried to go back to fix it, I can't copy the text so I can flip it over to non-html entry. I think it is stuck being black in those two post unless you know how to change it to white text.
Sorry!!
Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - Our chicken's egg...a big shocker....
We had a big shock over our chicken's egg. Here is the picture...
The egg on the left is the biggest egg we have gotten so far!! The one on the right is a regular size egg. The big egg measured almost 3 inches long and the width was around 2 1/2 inches. This was a double yoker. We also had several more big eggs like this one since this picture. We also have been getting eggs where the yoke was huge. Still delicious!!
Enjoy~
Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - My dd's room...
My dh painted my dd's room. He is a wonderful artist. Here is the picture of her room.
He did more paintings. I will have to clean up her room and take pictures for you. She loved it!! She gave her daddy a big hug and a kiss. Holly
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Oct. 28, 2005 - Our Wonderful Chickens!!
Well here they are!! All 27 chickens. Sorry I can't get them all in one photo so I posted several pictures.
We have several different breeds. They all are brown egg layers. Right now we are getting about 15 to 19 eggs a day. Yummy eggs!! If you never had fresh eggs, you do not know what you are missing. I never liked eggs as they were always stale and rubbery. Now I love eggs!! So tasty and yummy!! My dh built the coop. I will post some pictures of the kids painting the coop. The chickens are considered free range in a sense that they are not caged and have more than enough room to walk and free to go inside or outside the coop. Next year we are planning on having them go free on our property. We are not comfortable with them doing that yet as they are in their first year. Also this coop is a Chicken Tractor. We move the coop all over our property which gives the chickens fresh grass to eat. They get all excited when they see us coming out there getting ready to move them. Enjoy!! Holly
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