Monday, May 30, 2016

Peace

I came across this picture and screen shot it:

I am not even sure what it was attached to or about but it struck a chord in my heart.  I have had to think over this.  Lately I seem to be pondering forgiveness, resolution, and trying to let people know they matter.

** forgiveness-- seems to sweetest when served sooner rather than later
--the hardest person for me to forgive is myself.  I find after I allow myself to forgive someone I feel the release of the prison of hurt and bitterness from offender but I can't always free my self from the guilt of my part of the offense even just for initial investment of conflict.

*Resolution--sometimes resolution takes time. Sometimes it just can never happen.  I have learned from experience that when both parties can agree the only solution is to start from where you are now.  The past can't be fixed or rebuilt sqq sometimes you just have to start from this moment on.  Agree to build from here.  Don't reach into the past and try to build with damaged materials.

Peace cannot happen on broken bridge --forgive those.  Move on. Find a strong place to build.


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Week 2 of Summer School







I am so excited to share our morning basket for our second week of "summer schooling".
My two oldest guys are doing a couple of pages a day in Handwriting for teens.


Just for fun and to keep sharp we are doing about 10 minutes a day of flash card drills followed by a group activity from Family Math.

Our artist study is Norman Rockwell.  So far we have watched a short biography about him on YouTube.  We have a calendar of his pictures we are studying.  We are finding common features in each (like how his name is always signed in stencil).  Recently we found three puzzles of his work and have put these together as a family.

While the boys work on the puzzle is a great time to get in another chapter of our current read-a-loud: Islands of the Blue Dolphins.

What fun things have you found to keep your homeschoolers fresh and sharp?

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Plan Now!


Plan your field trips now!  I know everyone hasn't finished school yet...but I also know that the curriculum sales are in full force!  However it is the greatest time to plan field trips!  Last year --about this time I found that there were a little over 700 FREE tickets available for students to The Louisville Youth Orchestra! When I called to reserve our Homeschool tickets the operator told me I got the first five! SCORE!!!

Also I was able to purchase State Fair tickets for $2each!  State fair is a great way to start the school year!  

State fairs are a great places to collect information about great places drivable, local festivals, historical re-inactments and friendly farms.

Start making plans now so that after life gets busy with schooling and public schools begin to fill up the venues you have tickets! 

Last summer I noticed that the Nina and Pinta floating museums were docking for a few days only an hour from us and the VERY week my fourth grader was studying Columbus!

Plan now!



Saturday, May 14, 2016

I.Will.Not.Start.School.

I.will.not.start.school.
I.will.not.start.school.
I.will.not.start.school.

At least not until we get our "schooling area" freshly painted .  Actually I am still finishing up a bit of paperwork, filing away last years test, just small things.  This Tuesday my co op is hosting a community used curriculum sale {which will force me to finish emptying our cabinet}.

Alas, I confess:
I love touching fresh books!
My heart is a little giddy about planning!
I am forcing myself NOT to open the lab kits!

Two day shy of being out of school for {only} two weeks and I am excited about starting again!

Friday, May 13, 2016

My Library is Happening!!

Years ago I worked in the library at the college I attended.  Recently I have came across moms in the homeschooling blogging world that have personal libraries!!! like 1000s of books!!!  I know this is my destiny!

 My job was repairing books and cataloguing audio {read cassette tapes!}  Having that job from time to time I came across treasures!  One such book arrived to my station basically a s a stack of pages.  I totally rebound it and read it.  Afterward I read it and shared it with patrons.  Soon it was the "hot" read and not available.

  In my library venture I knew I needed this book!  I bought it last week on Amazon for 78 cents!  Four dollars shipping!  And it arrived today in MINT SHAPE!!!!!!




This is a very exciting start to my own personal library!

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Summer "School"

Can I really call it school if we are just going to do a few fun things together?

The plan is light and subject to change.  We have only been "out of school" for a few days.

Here is the plan:
Math: flash card drills
Geography: 50 states puzzle
Handwriting:
-a couple of pages a day from Cursive Handwriting Practice for Teens (Ben and Nate)
-one page a day from Carson Dellosa (Eli)
Art: Norman Rockwell study 




        -

Great GF cookies


Chocolate chunk refrigerated dough!!

These are ACTUALLY wonderful!

**I have been gluten free for 34 months and so I didn't live in disappointment I have chosen to rarely seek gluten free options but to instead enjoy foods that are naturally gluten free--and to be sincerely thankful for all the wonderful foods available!

Alas! Sometimes I have that longing for a soft warm chocolate chip cookie!  And I have found it! In the refrigerated cookie dough at Walmart.  $4.99 for 12!  42¢ each! And definitely worth it☺

Www.immaculatebaking.com


Thursday, May 5, 2016

Easiest Yeast Bread!

So a friend is gifting me 2 dozen fresh eggs!  How to graciously accept them?  The only way I know to---

Easy Yeast Bread

First lightly wipe vegetable oil in the bowl that you are going to use for mixing.

6 cups of flour (all purpose)
2t. active yeast
2t. salt
4T. sugar

(to correctly measure flour spoon it into the measuring cup)

Mix all of these dry ingrediants together in a large bowl.

Then stir in 4T. of oil.
Next add 2 1/4c. of hot water--not boiling.
Continue to mix until the dough forms a ball.

Take the dough and knead it in flour sprinkled on counter or waxed paper.

Place the dough back into the bowl and let it rise for 20 minutes.

Next punch the dough working out any air pockets. Divide the dough into two equal balls. Place them into lightly greased loaf pans and allow them to rise for 4 hours.

After four hours place the pans into a preheated over set to 325. Bake for 25 minutes.

Allow the pans to cool for 2 minutes...
--run the loaves with butter then turn them out of the pans
--Leave the loaves lying on their sides to allw the bread to cool evenly (you dont want the bottom of the loave to sweat)

Theresa enjoy!!

Monday, May 2, 2016

Shhhhh It is M*A*T*H


My 4th grader just completed fourth grade a few hours ago!  And hopefully we will close out 2nd grade in the next few days!

And I am just about to introduce our summer mathematical goals!  Just a few weeks ago some moms were sharing about "Family Math" on Periscope Homeschoolscopes. 

I found it used on Amazon. Used with shipping less than $5!

Family Math is full of games,logic projects, and puzzles.  It is geared to grades kindergarten to fifth grade.  The object seems to be to solve these together. 

My hope is the each morning after we finish our flashcard drills the we will enjoy one or two of the projects together.  That way the boys will stay sharp on their skills while enjoying math.  I really can't use the phrase "summer school" as I am adopting "unschooling"!  I really feel Family Math is the perfect entrance for us.

Hello Summer!

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Finishing Up

Hallelujah!!
The point we have been journeying toward!  The completion of the 2015-2016 is here! We are on target to be done by Wednesday!!  

May has hit us like a whirl wind! This week but we are facing it practically free!!

I haven't dreaded this week but I am ready for it!  And secretly I am excited about the beginning of 7th, 5th and 3rd grade!!

Most of our materials for next year have arrived!  

Exciting news!  We are trying out the Charlotte Mason Method of learning this year.  As I read and study more into the methods my heart is filled with peace.  I plan to share our experiences and projects here.

**Also we are planning to paint and remodel a section of our basement for our study work area.

I hope that you will come along with us on this new adventure!