Such is This (and so on)

A new use for an old knife block

2011-12-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

My husband purchased me a nice new knife set for my birthday (yes, he's a keeper).
My old knife set had been reduced to just two usable knives, that I now store in our knife drawer, and left me with a wooden block that I hated to see dumped in the trash. So, I came up with this school supply caddy! Perfect for my little area at the homeschool table.
Repurposing is f-u-n!

Step 1. Give the block a light sanding all over. Wash well and let the block dry completely.

Setp 2. Pick your color palate (I later decided not to use the orange).

Step 3. Give your block 2 nice even coats of paint, letting the paint dry before applying the second coat. I used standard acrylic paint. Be sure to use long strokes from top to bottom. Try to avoid a quick up/down motion as this will leave unsightly brush marks on your finished product. The wood grain was just barely visible with two coats; if you'd like more of a wood grain look, try one coat, or if you want no visible grain, try three.

Optional Step 4. Let paint dry overnight. Add stripes or other embellishments. I chose a few vertical stripes. Be sure to use painters tape to help guide the stripes, other tapes will remove your old paint job when removed. Let dry overnight.

Now you can add you desired items. The top part held scissors and rulers perfectly, along with a bone folding tool (which I use to make folds and creases on all those lap books). The bottom part is holding some binder clips and I made a little paper clip dangler with the paper clips themselves and stuck it inside one of the slots. Along the side I attached a Post-it Flag Pad with a Command strip. I also found a Post-it dispenser and attached this to the front with the adhesive strips provided.

Now I have a nice little buddy to keep all my other supplies at the ready. I imagine this would work splendidly with other slender supplies and artists tools. The possibilities are endless!

Bright and Beautiful

2011-10-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Upon which Harry turns two, admissions are made, and smelly things are dissected on my grandmother's dinner plates.

I am not making stuff up.

Harry is now two. My smallest, blue eyed, sweet as candy boy, growing up and becoming terrible. And I mean that in the most cordial way ever. Terrible twos are a right of passage.

He now spends every waking moment prying open front door locks and sneaking out to drive his new car.

Admission #2 (#1 here): Homeschooling can deplete you of yourself.

Wondering where I've been? Me, too. This is my sixth year homeschooling. #5 was rough. #6 has been rough. Every veteran homeschool mom to whom I have spoken has told me it happens. It happens to the best of the best. And it takes its toll. The definition of "rough" is completely relative to the persons involved in their own respective environments. For me, it's defined by depression, resentment, and laziness. I yell(ed) at my kids, took too many naps, and forgot to hug and laugh and say nice things. Also, I consider myself a control freak and the fact that I have lost control of the household happiness threshold means failure in my eyes.
Here's the point: It's either cave-in or dig out. I am currently holding shovel and gazing above, unsure which route will cause a collapse or rescue us all from suffocation and misery.

Onto smelly things.

Our co-op has been doing dissections every other week. You can now thank me for not posting pictures of the cow's head (definition: entire furry head with eyeballs and eyelashes and bullet hole). You're welcome. Also, I do not involve myself in the dissections (too many years of being a vegetarian), but instead ship my daughter off to the respective classroom as she desires to one day rescue animals from sickness and fertility; ie: become a veterinarian. But, last week, time ran away from us and I was sent home with a baggie of squid bodies.
We made do with nail scissors, exacto knife, tweezers, and printable instructions.

I only got sick twice. Score.

It was actually pretty neat-o. "Neat-o" is not to be confused with "let's do it again".

And now, as coldness sets in, all I want to do is read and burrito myself in a fluffy blanket.
And also make stuff like this:

And this:

Cooking blogs sometime in the future.

Ground Beef Kebabs with Creamy Dill and Feta Sauce

2011-08-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Towards the close of summer, our school year ends. We break at the peak of seasonal enjoyment. The mornings are cooler, so gentle strolls out to water the garden seem to take a bit longer, as children pick and savor little tommytoes, or help me coddle and coo at the butternut squash...no nasty heat to blast our morning to rot.

My level of contentment seems to rise, also. Cooking seems less a necessity. I spend a lot more time around the stove or counter, tinkering away at new recipes. To wrap up my sentiment toward this time of year, I just plain old LOVE fall.

This recipe came from 1) my boredom with ground beef, 2) an excess amount defrosting in my fridge, and 3) my children love anything on a skewer.

I gave the meat mixture a Mediterranean flare, but you could add any of your favorite seasonings or veggies to make it your own. Also, this meal was as kid friendly as I could make it. If I were dining alone, I would include marinated artichoke hearts, stuffed olives, and maybe some stuffed grape leaves along with.

Ground Beef Kebabs with Creamy Dill and Feta Sauce

For Kebabs
8 wooden skewers, soaked in water at least 10 minutes
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp dried oregano, or 1/2 tsp fresh oregano minced
1/4 tsp onion powder, or 1/4 of an onion, grated
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, divided into small wedges and separated a little (or any other veggies that you might want to add to your skewers)

For Dill and Feta Sauce
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1/4 cup crumbled feta
1/8 tsp dried dill
1 to 2 tsp water

Heat your indoor or outdoor grill to medium high and spread a little vegetable oil on the grates, especially if you are using very lean meat like I did. Mix ground beef with garlic, cinnamon, oregano, onion, salt, and pepper. Using about 1/4 to 1/3 amount of the meat mixture, form a loose ball in your palm and then wrap that around a segment of skewer. Tuck a small onion wedge on each end and one in between your next meat mixture.

Place the kebabs on the grill and let cook for about 6-8 minutes on each side. Give a little extra sprinkle of salt and pepper on the top, for extra flavor. Be sure to rotate them so that all edges cook on the grill surface. Don't be too hasty to move them about, but rather let them alone so they get lots of toasty marks on all sides.

Once removed, let sit for a few minutes while you assemble a few accompaniments. Mix the sour cream, feta, and dill to make your sauce. Add enough water so that your sauce can be spooned and delivered onto your plates easily. I served our meal with pita bread, that I grilled for a few seconds on each side, and some chopped tomatoes. You can fill the pita with the meat and onions, adding a dollop of sauce and some tomatoes, or you can eat them separately. Little Harry enjoyed dipping everything, not so neatly, in the sauce.

Mangia Bene!

Grilled Pimento Cheese

2011-08-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sandwich time again! I L-O-V-E pimento cheese. Never did I think to grill it, though. Let me just say, it is heaven.

I didn't measure, really, so I have just included the ingredients.

Grilled Pimento Cheese

1 small jar of pimentos
8oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
real mayo
3 green olives, chopped
a fistful of chopped ham
butter or olive oil for pan

Combine pimentos, cheese, olives, and ham. Add enough mayo to mixture to make it stick together and creamy enough to smooth onto a slice of bread easily. Snuggle two slices of bread with the cheese. Spread a small amount of butter on each outer slice or spray with olive oil. Grill until golden brown on each side and the cheese starts oozing out around the edges.

Our Summer

2011-08-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

To play a bit of catch up, here is a pictorial view of our very hot summer.

My father grew blackberries the size of small children (who readily consumed abnormal amounts on every visit).

(here Cohen shows off one of the BOOS -blackberries of obese size)

The children graduated from their respective grades.

( here they show off their favorite subjects from the year. Ashton- 4th grade graduate, favorite subject: Grammar; Keaton- 2nd grade graduate, favorite subject: Math; Cohen- 1st year PreK graduate, favorite subject: Numbers)

Ashton turned double digits.

(happy with her new ipod)

(10 years old!)

My awesome kids. My, how they grew this summer....

(Pictured from left to right: Ashton, Keaton, Harry, and Cohen)

Lots of suffocating, heat-filled days meant many trips to the creek and surrounding lakes.

(my little water bugs)

We got a puppy! But, hey, you already knew that!

(Layla, 4 month old bundle of cuteness.)

And lastly, beautiful amounts of cuddles, dancing, singing, playing, running, bike riding, puppet shows, and the like.

(here Cohen puts on a Pooh theater show for us)

At every moment-- every cry, laugh, scream-- I found within an incomparable peace. It makes those miserable days of putrid heat so worth it. I hope you all, also, were able to find enjoyment with the little things.

May God bless and keep you safe!

This, and nothing else

2011-07-27T05:31:00.001-07:00

Sticky kisses. Tangled arm hugs. Squeals and giggles and puppy howls. Mommy, watch me. I love yous.

Seriously...who needs blogger. (there is no question mark because i dont need an answer). I might be back. Or not.

Meet Layla

2011-06-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

or....Layla Virginia to be exact. She's a bluetick beagle. And, yes. She is as awesome as she looks.

We are keeping her, for what appears to be forever.

God help me....it's just like having an infant. *wiping eyes in tired-like strokes*

HoWL: Part 2-- Organize

2011-05-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling with Littles: Part 2-- Organize!

Now that you have some items prepared, it's time to organize them all.

Why? Well, if you are like me, you may forget what's in all those bags, or you might be teaching your preschooler about the letter "c" and wonder if you have anything in your arsenal that you could use to assist or reinforce the topic taught. We also implement the "A place for everything and everything in its place" mentality in our home. That way you can find what you need right away and don't lose any precious school time. Organization is KEY to this system.
Here are some organizational ideas that I have found to be very useful in our home.

1. Keep things close to your school area-

I keep all my preschool items within arms reach of the school area. I have an organizing shelf that is strictly preschool friendly. I keep toddler friendly books in a basket next to the shelf. Teach your child where the "home" is for each item, have the child put away that item after they are done, and monitor them for the first couple of weeks to maintain the "place for everything and everything in its place". After a few weeks, your child will automatically (in theory) put away the item when they are done, in the correct "home", with little to no reminding on your part. I keep this organizing as uncomplicated as possible and as easily accessible as possible.

I keep my extra empty boxes a little bit higher on a bookshelf, out of toddler-hand reach. I do this because I can get these out when all other activities fail. I don't use them often, so when they come down, it is a special time. Each container can be used in different ways. A few boxes I have taped shut and cut a small opening in, so they can place small items inside, others have flaps or doors cut in. Egg cartons make great sorters.

I keep my activity bags in the shelving unit also, stored in two easy to slide out bins. One bin holds bags that we are currently working on, that incorporate with lessons, or bags that my preschooler still has not mastered. The second bin I keep bags that he has mastered and still enjoys using.

When one of my older children has finished their lessons for the day, but is still in the school area, they can help mommy out by pulling activities out of the second bin and sitting on the floor with my toddler. They act as a fun playmate/teacher and both parties enjoy this time (including Mommy who can use this toddler-free time to work with another student at the table). I store any other bags that are no longer age appropriate in our attic until a younger sibling can enjoy them later.

2. Catalog your items--

I have the memory of a bowl of oatmeal. If I do not immediately jot something down (ideas, conversations, dates) it will whiz right out my brain, never to be thought of again. To keep me from forgetting what's in all those activity bags or what books I can use for my preschooler, I came up with a catalog system. Right now my "catalog" is a crude sheet of ruled paper, with a list of every activity bag, book, and manipulative that I can use with my preschooler. I numbered all of my bags, front and back with a permanent marker (if you look closely, you may be able to see some numbers at the top of the bags in the pictures above). On my list I wrote down the bag number, the "title" of the bag, and included my own list of icons that help me understand the purpose of the bag and for what age it is appropriate. I keep a "key" at the top of the paper so I can easily identify the icon or icons I wrote next to the bag title.

For example: #22 Foam Letter Sorters A // 2+
According to my "key" at the top, I can tell that it uses letters (A), is a matching activity (//), and is appropriate for ages 2 and up (2+). You can come up with any icons that you choose, just be sure to include a key so that you can actually decipher your catalog later.

When I store my activity bags, I try to keep them all upright in the bins, with the numbers visible. You don't have to store them in numerical order, but it might help in locating a bag that much easier.

I include preschool educational books (like ABC books or shapes and colors books) and wooden toys in the list as well. These don't have a number, but I included the book title and what it's purpose is, or a description of the wooden toy/manipulative.

This catalog can now be my quick reference guide when planning out my school day or making out my lesson plans. But that's a whole 'nother blog post!

For the next installment, I will continue on with organizing...Your SCHEDULE!

A Recycled Wool Sweater Diaper Cover

2011-05-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

I found the idea here.

It went together rather quickly (a little over an hour, but I also had to re-teach myself how to make a chain using a crocket hook. thank goodness for youtube). I made the indicated "large" size, which was 2o inches for each side and left 4 inches in the leg openings. The leg openings were a bit snug for my hefty legged 1 1/2 year old, but worked! I loved this and am looking for any other shrunken wool sweaters I might be able to procure from our local thrift store....I want to make lots more!

This sweater had a rather wide waist and extra long cuffs, which I think worked well for the over all look. I can imagine that each sweater used could make dramatically different covers in size and appearance.

I made this to use as an actual cloth diaper cover, as the wool is naturally leak resistant (once lanolized and all that jazz), but really this would be adorable as just some bottoms to wear any old day, over any ole diaper.

HoWL: Part 1-- Prepare

2011-05-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling with Littles (aka: HoWL)

Part 1:
Prepare

When we sit down at the school table every morning, I like to have a handy supply nearby or already pulled out to entertain my youngest two. Your "supply" may be a stack of board books or a coloring book and crayons. And, although these are great staples to have on hand, little ones grow tired of these, or you are stuck reading the same book over and over and over again when you really should be instructing grammar or conducting a spelling test. To help out, here are some of the ideas we use in our house.

Make:

Most of you have seen or heard of Preschool Activities in a Bag. If you haven't, then I strongly suggest borrowing copies of their two books, or purchasing the e-books through their website. Once you get the general idea of filling a zip-close bag with little hands-on activities, you can expound from what they suggest and make variations of your own. Before you know it, you can have a HUGE supply on hand. I have made plenty, and have had friends pass theirs on to me when their older children grew too old for the activities. I have also found tons at used curriculum fairs, most of which were free or very very cheap. I have 58 bags in all!

I have also been a part of a few Preschool Activities in a Bag co-ops. Basically you and a few other moms share the load in making a large sum of activities and then separate the bounty out when your done. In turn you don't have to buy supplies for all 36 activities, but just for 12 or so. You can meet and assemble them together or just meet up to divide the bags out in the end. The website I gave above has a coordinator book that includes all the tips you need to host a successful swap/co-op.

Here are a few ideas for bag activities:

1. cut straws into 1, 2, 3, and 4 inch segments. place those and some colorful pipe cleaner/chenille stems in a bag. for the activity part, the child will push the pipe cleaners through the straw openings, placing as many on as possible. works on hand-eye coordination. suitable for 1.5 years and up. *possible choking hazard! use discretion.

2. save spent canning lids (not the rings for this), or save frozen juice can lids. decorate two with identical stickers. repeat with the other lids. you can use any stickers you have on hand. this will be a basic matching activity. you can use basic shapes and colors for younger children and numbers and letters for older children. you can also affix magnets to the backs so that they stick together as pairs or can be sorted on the refrigerator or other magnetic surface. suitable for 2 years and up.

3. cut shapes out of foam craft squares. use a hole punch to punch holes close, but not too close, along the edge of the shape. take a shoe string, and tying one knot at the end so that it will stay in place, show the child how to lace, or "sew" around the shape. to make them extra sturdy, if you want these to last through multiple children, glue two foam craft squares together before cutting them into a shape. suitable for 2 years and up.

4. pipe cleaners and cheerios, beads, or circular pasta. show the child how to place the pipe cleaner through the objects. work on patterns if you use colorful cheerios or beads. use discretion when choosing the object to place in the bag, beads and pasta can be choking hazards for babies and some toddlers. suitable for 1.5 years and up.

*I want to make this a regular segment on my blog, so be looking for bag activity posts in the future!

For littles who have not developed hand-eye dexterity, keep a supply of used cereal/cracker boxes, laundry detergent lids, empty oatmeal containers, etc. and let them fill and pour and close and open to their hearts delight. Some items that I have found that young toddlers enjoy placing in the containers are clothes pins, large hair bows, measuring spoons, and plastic spoons. Any item that is not a choking hazard works well and really can absorb a child for long periods of time.

Borrow:

We've all probably heard the idea of separating out your children's toys and putting some away, so that when you pull them out later, it is as though they have these new toys they have never seen. You can also implement this idea outside of the home!
Chances are you have a handful of friends who have children around the same age as yours. And chances are they have a handy supply of toys, bag activities, and books that they currently use in their homes. If they happen to mention how their child just seems bored with the toys they have currently, then why not ask if they would be interested in a Swap. If each family filled a tote with toys, books, and bag activities (along with a detailed list of what's inside the tote, family name, etc.) and if you had 3-5 families involved, you could host a Swap weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly and your child would have new toys and activities at the ready. Of course there is always a risk that items could get lost or damaged, so be sure to only put those objects in that you or your child don't have emotional attachments to.

If you have a local homeschool support group, try sending out an email asking others if they are interested in such an idea.

Invest:

Investing in good toys, educational supplies, and books is instrumental in rounding out your supply. But be wise in your investments. Sure, those electronic toys hold their attention and bring a smile to their face. And some are worth the price. But, electronic toys don't last. They need batteries. They are noisy and, when brought into the schooling area, can cause disruptions. Paper and plastic toys and supplies are wonderfully inexpensive, but these also don't last.

I have a supply of 5-10 sturdy wooden toys, 5-10 wooden puzzles, and wooden blocks of varying size and shapes. These have lasted through all four of my children and show little to no signs of wear. I divide them up and put half up on a high shelf, so that I can switch out the supply as needed.

Check used books stores and used curriculum fairs for sturdy board books. Plastic bathtub books will also take a large amount of abuse and are drool proof when you have them on hand for teething 6-8 month olds.

The biggest investment we make each year is on our school books. This is also playing a huge role in my "Prepare" segment because the choices you make in curriculum could have the most impact on how well you survive homeschooing with littles.
When my third child was born, I was teaching my two oldest, then in 2nd grade and kindergarten. I thought I could handle a full regiment of academically challenging (yes I realize they were little, but I was a little over-ambitious at that time) school subjects. Halfway through the year I thought I was going to throw every school book I purchased out the window. I over-curriculumed myself. I had to take care of nursing and holding a 12 hour a day crying baby. I couldn't keep up and it took a toll on all of us.

If I was handing out advice, the one that I would stress above all others would be to invest in the minimum (both academically challenging and how many subjects to implement) of what you think you will need. Don't buy that full year, 5 day a week, Science curriculum, with weekly experiments...blah blah blah....yes, that one. Invest in two easy to implement Science unit studies. My next school year, when my third was a one year old, I purchased two easy unit studies, one on botany and one on anatomy (for k-3rd grade). I thought I would have one done in 6 weeks to 3 months depending on my ambition, and the same with the other unit study, with ample time at the end of the year to make up for days missed or to just take it easy. Turned out it took me 6 months to do just one! Yikes. Thankfully it was in my plan and it worked. I didn't over-curriculum myself.

By the time #4 came along, sweet Harry, I knew my limits and I knew where I could push it. My oldest could handle a bit more academically challenging subjects, but I chose to limit that to subjects that she could do on her own and would not require me to invest time away from baby and *ahem* intense toddler. She did challenging Bible studies and way above age-level Reading requirements, but stayed easy on Math, Grammar, History, and Science.

Also, don't invest in expensive co-ops that require a lot of your time and that you know will require extra homework. Save soccer, softball, basketball, and the like for another year. Over-committing yourself can affect your homeschool environment. Your littles won't be littles forever, and it will be easier another year to add in your extra-curricular activities. For now, be content with the minimum. Know your boundaries. Organize playdates or small unit study based co-ops with others to get your socializing in.

That was it! This post was a doozy! Thanks for hangin' in till the end!

For the next post, I will discuss how to organize your supplies and schedule. Why go through all that work preparing and not know where anything is or how best to schedule it all in to your busy day?!

Homeschooling with Littles About

2011-05-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

I write this for me. Because I don't know how I survive some days. And, when asked, "How do you homeschool with a baby and toddler under-foot?", the only answer I can give is, "I just DO. I don't know how....it just happens."
I write this for my children, for if they ever choose to homeschool their own brood, I might get asked this question again, and I want a REAL ANSWER to give them. And goodness knows my memory is to shot now, I can't imagine what I will remember when I am 50.
I write this for you. If you struggle with homeschooling your older children and keeping your smaller children occupied, then I hope you can find something useful to utilize in your home. Or, if you don't struggle at all, but have grown tired of the plan you have now, you might be able to find something here, too!

This is a synopsis of what I hope to cover over the next few posts. I plan to cover a lot of ground, so grab a notebook (or turn your printer on) and keep up!!

1. Prepare: make, borrow, invest in all the tools you'll need
2. Organize: a place for everything, and planning your day
3. Enlist: don't be afraid to ask for help
4. Accept: when nothing works, breathe and move on
5. Enjoy: don't forget to enjoy them while they are little

I also hope that these posts might generate some feedback. So, for my 3 actual readers, chip in any tips you find relevant to a post as you read along.

Also, because I get sidetracked often and need breaks from self-mandates, be looking for a craft post (recycled wool sweater diaper cover!), and a happy birthday post for my (gasp!) 10 year old daughter. And food...you know THAT has to happen.

Oh, the calamity!

Cornbread Breakfast

2011-05-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

I recently realized that I had abandoned all other subcatagories on this blog and have, for the most part, just taken pictures of food. So, next week, expect a big installment titled: Managing a Homeschool Environment with Littles About. It is sure to be exciting! Well, not really. But you should come away with some good tips and tricks of the trade that I have observed and utilized over the past 6 years.

I leave you now with one final foodie blog before I am swept under, into the abyss of screaming babies and whiny toddlers, bloggin' that is.

This is, hands down, #2 (here are some others: #1, #3, #4,) in my top favorite breakfast meals list (yes, I have food lists). Leftover cornbread, in our house, is put either in stuffing or eaten by itself with a glass of milk for snack time. But, when I can, and don't mind the extra calories in the morning, I will indulge in this simple and satisfying meal.

Toasty Cornbread topped with Cheese, Fried Egg, and Tomato

1 piece leftover cornbread (we prefer the sweet johnnycake style in our house, but any ole southern white cornbread would do marvelously)
1 slice sharp cheddar cheese
1 egg (or two, if you're naughty)
1 slice tomato

Place the cornbread on an oven safe plate and top with slice of cheddar cheese. Put it in the oven (400 degrees) or toaster oven (medium toast) and let the bread get all toasty and the cheese melts, about 3-4 minutes. While the cornbread is in the oven, heat up a skillet and cook your egg how you like it. Perfection, to me, is an egg over-easy....but do as you wish. Once the cornbread and egg are done, place the egg over the cornbread and top with your slice of tomato.
Eat.

You could get a little fancy and put some fresh basil or crumbled bacon over the top. Maybe a splash of hot sauce. But for me, I keep it simple.
And when my fork pierces the yolk, and all the runny goodness seeps into the nooks and crannies of the cornbread...oh, heaven.

As the World Turns

2011-05-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Life has been so dull around here, what with homeschooling, co-op planning and current co-op year finishing, oldest daughter birthday planning, weekend retreat camp, tornadoes, yard sales, spring cleaning, mother's day weekend extravaganzas, kitten care, field trips, play dates...
So dull, in fact, that I have been able to laze around and take pictures of little else but kittens. Oh my...so dern cute.
This one is Jenny. Who was referred to as Jimmy until one week ago. Somehow I think I kept looking at the same gray kitten twice and never noticed that this one was a girl!
I plan on more homeschool style posts in the weeks to come...and maybe a few delicious food posts to appease my food readers.
Peace and Blessings!

Gabby has her kittens

2011-04-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

We have 3 gray tabbies and 1 charcoal tabby. Mommy did splendidly. Although I suspect the names will change daily (perhaps minute by minute), for now they are called: Jimmy, Buddy, Sissy, and Cosmo.
We watched the last one, Cosmo, being born. It was a beautiful thing. Gabby moaned faintly and his siblings mewed the little guy into being.
The children all watched. It was most distracting to complete our Spelling, but worked out well that our day turned into an impromptu biology lesson. There is no covering up all the nasty bits, like Gabby eating the afterbirth and chewing off the umbilicals. But also, what a beautiful exhibition of Gods design and creation.
I consider this a school day well spent.

Oh, and...who wants a kitten?!?!?!

The Best Oven French Toast

2011-04-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

And I aint lyin...

This dish is SO worth the extra time in the morning, and far better than plain ole toast and eggs.
It has this caremlized crunchy crust over the top, reminiscent of monkey bread. Swoon.

Oven French Toast with Buttery Nut Topping

1 loaf french bread, thickly sliced (about 15 slices)
6-8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup half and half
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Topping
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup half and half
1 cup sweetened and roasted pecan or walnut pieces

Let the bread slices dry on the counter overnight, or for at least 6 hours. In the morning, about 1 hour before you want to serve the dish, beat the eggs and then add all the ingredients through the cinnamon. Mix well. Grease a large baking dish (I used a large roasting pan or you can use two rectangular pans) and place the bread on the bottom, slightly overlapping. Pour egg mixture over top and let sit on the counter for at least 30 minutes, being sure that all pieces are covered with the mixture. Flip bread about 15 minutes through to make sure all sides are soaking up the egg mixture. Preheat your oven to 350.
Meanwhile, make the topping by mixing the butter, brown sugar, half and half and nut pieces in a small bowl. Right before baking, drizzle the topping over the top of all the bread slices and use a spatula to spread it out gently so you have bits of nuts over each slice.

The drizzle oozes happily over the bread.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until all your edges are a beautiful golden brown.

Its a masterpiece for the taste buds.

Serve with warmed syrup and a puff of powdered sugar. Some fresh bananas and strawberries and maybe some spicy breakfast sausage wouldn't mind being alongside, either.

Oops...sorry. You have a bit of drool...

Oh, that ham? YES, please, and thank you!

2011-04-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

I purchased this book a few weeks back and have been absolutely devouring it. Although I would not consider our family of 6 a “large” family, the ideas and methods mentioned within can be utilized no matter the size of your household.
I knew nothing of the author, aside from reading the reviews of her book in a few homeschool catalogs I receive. I also did not know that she had a blog! Score!!! She has included lots of recipes, and she follows almost the exact guidelines that I have for my own menu planning. She cooks a lot out of her slow cooker. I think I love her.
In reading this recipe post, The Ham that Jumped into my Shopping Cart, I was instantly motivated to remove the large 9.4 pound ham that had been idling away in my big freezer. And I put this recipe out for you guys (all three of you) just in time for Easter ham season. But, I have to warn you, this ham did not make me think of bouncing bunnies and prismatic eggs. Nope. It reminded me of Christmas. Good thing I LIKE Christmas. And, yes, as the author states, “Your stomach will growl all day”. This is factual.
I am copying her recipe exactly, with the exception of one typo (which she later corrects in her comments), the orange zest that I substituted for the orange powder she has listed, and my own personal addition of honey because I just L-O-V-E a good honey ham. Feel free to omit the honey if you aren’t feeling as sweet and sassy as myself. I also stuffed the little spent orange carcasses in with the ham for good measure, which you can do, or not do. What-evs.

The Crock-Pot Ham from Kim Brenneman

1 (7.5) pound bone-in ham
6 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground ginger
4 small or 2 regular sized oranges, zested and juiced
1/3 cup honey

1. Place the ham in the slow cooker.
2. Pour in the apple cider.
3. Add the spices and stir into the apple cider a bit.
4. Put the lid on and turn the slow cooker to low.
5. Cook for 8-10 hours.

(see the disintegrated remains of those oranges? now *that's* good flavor)

(ham for DAYS!)

I took a couple of cups of the cooking liquid leftover and reduced it in a saucepan for half an hour. Then I cooked up some egg noodles, scooped up some of the meat, and drizzled the sauce reduction over all to make a quick pasta dish. Served with sliced cucumbers that were sprinkled with sugar, red wine vinegar, and a hint of dried thyme.

*cooks notes:
My ham was a hefty 9.4 monstrosity and didn’t entirely fit into my slow cooker. So, I had to lop off a side and wedge him in there. It worked, but left a bit of him uncovered, so I basted the tippy-top a few times during the cooking period. I also had to ladle out a bit of the liquid half-way through cooking as it was threatening to spill over.
Also, if you prefer your ham “sliced and sturdy”, lessen the cooking time. I cooked mine exactly 8 hours and the meat fell off the bone and pretty much shredded on contact…this was FINE with me, but you may not want yours to shred as such.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Dijon Glaze

2011-04-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

A top favorite in our house! I make my own stuffing and have included a very simple no-precook recipe for stuffing, but feel free to use your favorite stuffing recipe or the boxed variety. I use a leftover assortment of bread that is on the cusp of molding in my pantry. This go around it was 2 pieces of cornbread, 3 small yeast rolls, and four wheat dollar rolls.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Dijon Glaze

4 cups bread cubes, about 1/2 inch pieces
2 tsp dried onion
1 tsp dried garlic
1/2 tsp sage
1/4 tsp celery salt or regular salt
1 cup broth (or more)
1 tbs butter, melted

For the Dijon Glaze
1/2 cup dijon mustard
2 tsp honey
1 tsp dried thyme

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

To make the stuffing, leave out the bread cubes on a dry surface (avoid placing them on a towel, as they will hold onto moisture) for a day and a night to let them dry out. If you are pressed for time, you can toast the cubes in the oven until just crunchy but not browned and skip the overnight/all day step.
Preheat oven to 400. Place cubes in a mixing bowl and add the dried onion through the butter. Mix well. Your stuffing should be very moist and almost soggy, add more broth if you need it.
Take each chicken breast and make a pocket opening along one side but not all the way through (imagine a pita pocket). Stuff each breast to overfilling with the mixture and place in a large greased baking dish. Give each breast a light pinch of salt and pepper. Dump any leftover stuffing in between the breasts.

Once you have all the breasts stuffed, make the dijon glaze by mixing the dijon, honey, and thyme in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze over each breast, but don't rub it in.
Cover and bake 45 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees in the thickest part of the meat.
We ate ours with steamed broccoli with a homemade cheese sauce and some applesauce with cinnamon.

*feel oven lazy? this recipe works WONDERFULLY in the crock-pot. make just as directed above, except assemble the breasts mid morning and let cook on low heat in the crock-pot until dinner time.

*You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or pork chops!

It's Called "Junk"

2011-04-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

And, yes. It's delicious.

I didn't name it. I definitely didn't make it up. But, it is a staple at our table none the less.
What is "Junk"? Well, it is one of the most versatile dishes; and simple, and satisfying, and my children....they adore it. So there! Kudos to fellow homeschooling pal, Crystal for cluing me in.

The principle is this: you build on a theme; cubed potatoes on bottom, a meat on top, dump in all the other elements that fit your theme, cheese it, bake it, eat it.
Usually the best "Junks" have been a mish-mosh of leftovers. Like the one time our "Junk" was cubed yukon potatoes, chorizo and leftover taco meat, olives, raita, queso fresco, and half of a stuffed poblano pepper from our local Mexican eatery. It was heaven. And I mean H-E-A-V-E-N.

The most common and base recipe is as follows:

Junk (and no, you are not allowed to change the name)

2- 3 medium potatoes, peeled (or not, if you like that), and cubed into 1/2 inch pieces
1-2 pounds ground meat, cooked and seasoned with salt and pepper (or anything leftover hanging out in your fridge)
1 can tomato sauce or 1 1/2 cups ketchup (that's right, KETCHUP! no shame...)
1 tomato, chopped or 1 can tomatoes, drained and chopped, if needed
sprinkle of seasoning (like taco or Italian)
1 cup shredded cheddar

Grease a 9x9 inch dish. Place potatoes on bottom (a sprinkle of salt on top wouldn't hurt), and layer first the meat, then the sauce, tomatoes, seasoning, and cover with cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender when you poke around hungrily with a fork.

This is a typical lunch or dinner in a pinch for our family. Other themes that we have made that work well are: BBQ Chicken Junk (cubed potatoes, shredded chicken, bbq sauce, sour cream, chives, and cheddar...it's like a loaded potato!), Greek Junk (mashed potatoes, ground meat with a pinch of cinnamon and oregano, tomato sauce, olives, onions, artichoke hearts, and feta), Pizza Junk (cubed potatoes, pepperoni and pork sausage, pizza sauce, mushrooms, mozzarella, parmesan).

Yet to try but plan on next week: Hawaiian Fajita Junk (chicken, bell peppers, onions, pineapples...oh....my)

Really...if you can think of a theme, you can pull this off. And it is so homely and divine in the same mouthful.

There is no shame in simple. And surely no shame in utilizing what your fridge seems to accumulate in a week.

So, eat well (and less stressed)!

A confession

2011-04-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

That's right.

I confess my failing, to the whole blogger kingdom. My New Year's Resolution to eat raw food twice a week...never actually happened.

I lasted all of one week.

So, there you have it. Such is This...is not perfect. I am far far from it. I make a goal and fail sometimes (miserably as seen here).

I could gripe about how it was sooooo hard and that I didn't have the time. But, really, I lost my motivation. I over committed myself. Maybe a better goal, like once a month raw lunchtime or some such thing. Who knows.

Oh, and I ran...once, with my friend Bethany. Once.
I did get up early ever day, though, and did really well...until the dreaded Spring time change. Now we do good if we start school by 10am.

OK. Le Sigh.

Yummy recipes next week (with pictures OF COURSE!) to make it up to you.

xoxoxoxo

Hamburger Steaks with Spicy Sweet Tomato Sauce, Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, and Cheddar

2011-03-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

I made hamburger steaks for my family last week for the very first time. You'd think I had invented the tastiest food ever made. They LOVED it and have asked for it again this week. I fancied them up a bit this time around, though.

Hamburger Steaks with Spicy Sweet Tomato Sauce, Cheddar, Caramelized Onions, and Mushrooms

1 tbs butter
1 red onion, sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 15 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 small chipotle chili pepper
1/2 cup prepared bbq sauce
1 small peach, sliced, skin and pit removed
pinch salt
4 lbs ground meat (i used a combo of ground turkey and ground beef)
3 tbs Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
sharp cheddar cheese, sliced

Start the onions and mushrooms by melting the butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and bring the heat down to medium. Let onions cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms and cook an additional 10 minutes. Your onions should be a beautiful golden brown.

While the onions cook, start the sauce by pureeing the tomatoes, chili pepper, bbq sauce, salt, and peach in a food processor until almost smooth. Pour into a small sauce pan and bring to an even simmer. Let simmer until dinner is almost ready, then remove from heat to let cool just before serving.

For the hamburger steaks, mix the ground meat, Worcestershire sauce, and desired amount of salt and pepper. Shape mixture into 8 oval shaped patties and cook on a griddle or skillet, medium high heat, 8 minutes on each side or until no pink juices remain (i do like my beef a little rarer, but since i used ground turkey, i did not want any visible pink). Before removing each patty from heat, spread a bit of the tomato sauce and top with a slice of cheddar and let melt.

To serve, plate each patty and scoop a generous helping of your caramelized onions and mushrooms on top of the melted cheddar. A simple salad and seasonal fruit are great compliments.

It's called "Reverse"

2011-03-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

i created a tumblr.

daily dodd

*warning. it will be nothing like "Such is This". it will be like my facebook. which i do not have anymore.

what you can expect: something every day. sometimes twice (or thrice) a day. sometimes old pics, but mostly new pics, quips, and quotes from daily family life.

so quit pestering me already about missing me on facebook. you know who you are....

Lenten Lunch on a Monday

2011-03-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

I gave up leavened bread for Lent. Yes...you heard me right. I, the sandwich lover, gave up all breads containing yeast, baking soda and powder. I also gave up coffee, but that is not pertinent in regards to this post (but you can emote sympathizing tongue clicks my way).

I did allow myself to browse the endless aisles of wheat goodies in search for convenience items made without leavening and was able to procure a few boxes of simple crackers. I splurged on some specialty cheeses and stocked up on meats (which I do not eat much of, but felt inclined to eat more of so my belly would feel full. that's not scientific, just what my brain came up with).

Today's lunch was quite satisfying. I purchased some Dubliner cheese (in honor of the forthcoming Irish holiday), boiled some chicken, and assembled a meager luncheon masterpiece.

I have included a chicken salad recipe that I used today, but my chicken salads vary from day to day and season to season. Feel free to experiment with other additions. A few of my other favorites are pecans and cranberries, curry and grapes, dill and lemon zest, or bacon and shredded carrot. You could also replace the tomatoes with sprouts or cucumber slices. If I were going completely wheat free, the Dubliner is such a sturdy cheese that it could stand in for the cracker and hold up under the salad and tomato.

Simple Chicken Salad on Crackers with Tomatoes and Dubliner Cheese

1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast, boiled and shredded (or 1 12oz can of good quality, organic chicken breast)
2 small stalks celery, minced
1 green onion, dark tops and root removed, thinly sliced
1 cup real mayonnaise (or more to taste, you can also use a light real mayo)
1 small sweet apple (such as gala or lady pink), chopped (keep the skin on)
salt and pepper to taste
3 or 4 thin slices of Dubliner Cheese (or another aged, sweet, hard cheese) Crackers (I used Carr's Table Water Crackers with Cracked Pepper)
2-3 slices of tomato, cut into fourths

Mix the first 6 ingredients together in a medium bowl to make the chicken salad. On each cracker place about a tablespoon of the chicken salad, then top with half of a cheese slice, and cap it with a tomato. Munch.
Served here with honeydew wedges.

Now it is almost 4 and I am fighting a hunger twinge. Perhaps I should divulge in my new favorite snack, Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt with Caramel. Yes, you can die happy eating this way.

In the way of the leftover rice noodles (and more pics of sushi to make you jealous)

2011-03-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

After our evening of Asian sinfulness, I had leftover rice noodles and assorted Vietnamese Spring
Roll fillings, along with that delicious Peanut Sauce. What to do, what to do? But, of course! Rice Noodle Salad.

Next Day Cold Rice Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

1 small package rice noodles, cooked and cooled (about 2 1/2 cups cooked)
about 1 cup thinly sliced veggies (cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, red pepper, green onion, etc)
a few sprigs of cilantro and/or mint, torn to smaller bits, plus a few more for garnish
1 cup Peanut Sauce (recipe follows), room temperature (start with the least amount, but add more if you like it a bit saucy)

Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until sauce coats everything. Let sit room temp for 20 minutes to let the flavors become friends. Enjoy.

Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (for the dipping of Fresh Spring Rolls or for this salad)

1 tbs peanut oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili paste or sriracha sauce (optional)
2 tbs tomato paste
1/2 c broth or water
2-3 tbs peanut butter
3/4 tsp sugar
1/2 cup hoisin sauce

Heat oil and add garlic, chili paste, and tomato paste. Cook until garlic is golden brown. Add the broth, peanut butter, sugar, and hoisin sauce. Whisk untill the mixture is smooth. Let it come to a nice rolling bubble, then reduce heat and let simmer 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Let cool before serving with Vietnamese Spring Rolls or for the Cold Rice Noodle Salad.

And one more sushi pic, because jealousy if very becoming of you.

In which sushi was eaten. And Chi comes to visit.

2011-02-28T18:22:00.000-08:00

The church ladies came over and we giggled (yes, church ladies giggle...and occasionally snort) over sushi mats and bowls of warm rice wrapper water.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls, assorted Sushi Rolls, and Inari Sushi. I also made a peanut sauce for dipping. You would like some? Too bad, so sad. I ate it all. Cough, ahem..I mean, uh...WE ate it all.

Not pictured: chocolate covered strawberries, oreo balls, and chess cake squares. And yes, thanks for asking, it was all delicious.

Not as delicious as this little guy, though.

Cousin Chi (short for Malachi) came to visit. I cannot get enough of those cherub cheeks and hazel eyes.

Thrifting on a Saturday

2011-02-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

You might ask yourself how this mid 50s tin plate depicts myself and Sir Cohen in the midst of our favorite pastime. I wondered the same. But there we be. It now has a content home above my kitchen sink window.

And this plate, also. I tend to thrift in color schemes, though I don't realize it till I am home and placing things. I just LOVED the flower detail in this pie plate, especially the 'barely there' lacy brown buds in the background.

It met nicely with a simple reed placemat in the center of our dining table.

Also found among the dusty thrift shelves was a very loved copy of the South Pacific soundtrack on vinyl, Emile and Nellie wrapped in a passionate embrace on the cover. And, yes, the children giggled as I twirled little Harry around the room cooing about some enchanted evening...

Montessori Giveaway!

2011-02-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

---------------------This event is over-----------------------------

I am a huge (HUGE!) supporter of the Montessori method. Being a "hands-on" type mom and teacher, this method really fits our home. What better way to teach kids math, grammar, science and the like than with manipulatives?!
There are plenty of websites that offer help and one in particular actually makes a full preschool (for ages 3-6) program for homeschoolers. It has been getting some great reviews.
And, guess what? They are offering a FREE program ($999 value) to one lucky homeschooler that leaves a comment on their page. If you post a link to your blog, you get to put an extra comment and receive an extra chance to win. (well, duh, I said to myself. why not do it?!)
So...go, go! What are you waiting for?!

Montessori for Everyone

A Day in the Life (on a Monday)

2011-02-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

This is an unglamorous, but fairly typical version of what our school day looks like. Monday...

(times are approximate, notes scratched onto paper throughout the day and then typed up during free moments, and I have tried to correct the present and past tense mistakes as much as possible, but a few might have slipped through the cracks. be kind.)

[Child key: Ashton - daughter, oldest child, 9 years old, 4th grade; Keaton - oldest son, 7 years old, 2nd grade; Cohen - son, 3 years old, preschool; Harry - youngest son, 1 year and 4 months old, drooling and pooping.]

7:15- Wake up. A bit earlier than usual, but there are too many bodies making too much noise for one to sleep any later. I am awake, but hide under the covers until I must make an appearance.

7:45- I start the water for Harry's oatmeal, take some tylenol and ibroprofen (for my ever present headache), and settle back under the warm covers for just a few more minutes.

7:55- I let Harry's oatmeal cool in the freezer, have the boys put away their breakfast (Keaton makes his and Cohen's cereal) and they get dressed and ready for school {requirements are: dressed, teeth brushed, school books on the table, and animals fed}. I put a roast in the crock-pot : salt, pepper, 4 cloves of garlic --minced, and a jar of red currant jelly.

8:15- I open my daughter's door in hopes that all the noise will wake her up. I feed Harry. Keaton starts a load in the washing machine.

8:30- I break up an argument between my two older boys, which ends with the oldest sent to his bed until school starts. My daughter is now up and eating breakfast. I change Harry's diaper and sit down with a bowl of Grape Nuts and fish through emails and facebook notifications. The children finish getting ready, clean up any messes made, and make their way to the school room. My husband and I communicate through texts about a big housing decision (after months of time and stress about getting our house ready to sell, we decide it is NOT the time in our lives to be doing this and we back out of listing it--I was to turn in the paperwork to list it TODAY) and we coordinate a time and way to get our van, which decided to breakdown this weekend, into the shop. These are little things, but take a lot of time to discuss.

9:30- School starts*, later than usual--we try to start between 8:30 and 9:00--, but it's Monday, it happens, and I just have to deal. Harry roams around or sits in my lap while the three olders sit at the table. Ashton and Keaton recite their Memory Bible Verses (Psalm 56:3-4). I then start Cohen's preschool while the older two complete their Bible reading and answer questions in their workbooks.

10:00- I finish Cohen's preschool, but the others are still working on their Bible. I turn on a movie for Cohen while I make a cup of coffee and clean up the breakfast mess. I feed the littles (Harry and Cohen) some bananas and put Harry down for his nap.

10:15- I am back at the table for Math and Reading help. We are taking a break from Math lessons this week and focusing on rote memory (this actually makes the kids pretty happy and they fill out their fact sheets in a flurry). Cohen's movie is done and I feed him some graham crackers with peanut butter, then he sits on the floor with a huge truck book and a couple of books on bugs.

10:45- Keaton moves onto Cursive and Ashton finishes up her Math and moves onto her independent English work. I take this time to type up half of this blog post. I grade Math facts and have the kids correct their mistakes in-between typing and finding new books for Cohen.

11:20- I am back at the table for Spelling (I do both children's lessons at the same time) and then instruct Keaton in his Grammar. Cohen is ever present and ever distracting. I give him a pair of scissors, a strip of contruction paper, markers, and some stickers and have him make "something" at the dining room table.

12:30- Phone calls and appointment changes interrupt much of that last hour, Keaton is still diagramming sentences. Lunch time is way overdue. I make Cohen's lunch and Ashton picks up the house (without being asked--this is actually quite abnormal behavior--she deserves much praise here). Ashton then makes her own lunch. I make Harry's lunch and then get him up from his nap. He had been crying for a good 15 minutes in his crib. Bad mom award...right here *points to self*. Lunch consists of PB&J or grilled cheese, leftover soup, and grapes.

12:45- Keaton cleans off the school table and makes his own sandwich to go with his lunch. I clean up a spilled lunch plate mess and Cohen's craft session mess. I am, at this point, very grateful that I ate that bowl of Grape Nuts because it looks like my lunch will have to wait until after afternoon school.

1:10- I finish putting away all the lunch items and Ashton sweeps up under the kitchen table, picks up the school room floor, and starts dishes. I clean up Harry and I play with him a bit before he wanders off and gets into mischief (which today includes pulling down all my vintage aprons off a shelf and taking batteries out of the VCR remote). I type up some more on this blog, while I wait for Keaton to finish eating so I can wipe off the counter and move onto afternoon school.

1:20- Cohen starts cleaning up the boys room and we put on a Baby Einstein movie for Harry. I settle down on the school room couch to do our History reading with the older two {usually the littles are taking a nap at this point, but our whole schedule is off, so we make do with minor interruptions here and there}. This is my favorite part of the school day. History was my major in college and I still really love the subject. We read about the Visigoths, Stilicho, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The kids draw their favorite parts of the story, including Cohen, who didn't hear the story, but had finished cleaning so he wanted to join in on the fun. I change Harry's diaper and check the roast in the crock-pot, which is beginning to fill up the whole house with fragrant loveliness (the roast, not the diaper).

2:00- School is done. The kids do their afternoon chores. Keaton sorts the clothes from the dryer into their appropriate spot**, gets the wet clothes started in the dryer, and cleans up what Cohen didn't quite clean up correctly in their room. Ashton folds her portion of laundry, and finishes cleaning up her room. I start a load of diapers, put away my things in the school room, and serve the littles their afternoon snack (leftover treats from my last Bookclub meeting, which included Valentine cookies, sugar cookies, and brownies. SCORE for not having to make a snack).

2:30- I take a picture for the blog (shown above), give the olders their snack, clean up crumbs from table and counter, and sweep the floor. The littles go down for their nap. Ashton has her free time and disappears into her room while Keaton, who had his play and electronic privileges taken away this morning sits on the school room couch with a stack of books (and pouts).

3:00- Lunch time for me. My meal is the same as the kids, except my grilled cheese is on cinnamon bread (seriously the best combination of bread and cheese EV-AR!). I type up the remaining notes into the blog while I munch and upload the picture I took earlier onto the laptop. I catch up a bit on facebook and emails, too.

3:30- I proofread the blog, start the next cycle of diapers, and escape to take a shower (I was able to wash my face and brush my teeth before school, but remained in my jammies and stinky armpits until now).

4:00- Fresh, clean, and slightly pickled, I emerge from the shower. Cohen is now awake and
apparently very grumpy. He cuddles his pooh bear, takes his thumb, and starts his afternoon movie. I turn the crock-pot off, pull out the rest of the dinner ingredients, and settle into the couch next to Keaton (who is still pouting) for a few minutes while I wait for Daddy to come home and Harry to wake up.

5:00-7:00- These hours were a blur of packing kids into one van to drop off the other van at the mechanic's and getting dinner put together (aforementioned roast, butter and parsley mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and wheat rolls), eaten, and cleaned up. All the family chips in to finish after dinner chores. The boys clear the table, Asthon washes dishes, I wipe down the counter and kitchen table and arrange leftovers in the fridge, Daddy sweeps the floor. Harry is given many kisses and put to bed. I finish the last wash cycle for the diapers and check emails one final time.

7:00-8:30- The children play quietly until about 7:30 when Keaton and Cohen go to bed, and Ashton plays a little on the Wii before she is down for the night at 8:30. She is allowed to read in bed until 9:00.

8:30-11:00- This is the time of day when all our continual cleaning up has payed off. Relaxing for the next few hours is heaven. The husband and I chill until bedtime watching a movie and playing (he plays, I watch and give support) on the Xbox. I put the load of diapers in the dryer and pack a few things for a trip to the dentist in the early morning (some school subjects will be done in transit or while in the waiting room). We are both asleep by 11:00.

Like I said, unglamorous, but there it is. I should make a point to blog on the days where we do our big co-op or when we have super cool projects to do...but, those can't cover up the "real". And THIS is pretty real...

*You can see what we use as far as curriculum here.
**You can visit my "paying" gig here to view our laundry routine.

Fortuna Salad, for the last oozings of January

2011-01-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

Our whole household has been ill with some sort of virus every week since before Christmastime. This is wearing on a mom. And these dreary days of winter are going to linger for many many more months.
Today I decided I needed a pick-me-up. And a little imaginary luck might just do the trick!
This bean salad was inspired by a Nava Atlas post I saw this morning (sigh, I *heart* her). I adapted it to fit with what I had on hand. Let me just say, it was spectacular! Bright and filling. I have heard it said that black-eyed peas bring good luck. If they do, bonus! They are full of fiber and nutrients and mixed with the black beans they made for a happy mommy mouth. And the grapefruit was like welcome sunshine to the taste buds.
(this recipe is vegan, but feel free to add some feta or prosciutto if you are feeling a little more adventurous.)

Fortuna Salad
1 14oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 14oz can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 red pepper, seeds removed and chopped
1 roma tomato, chopped
1/2 cup pimento stuffed olives, chopped
half of a grapefruit, segments removed and halved
juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Italian Garlic Croutons (recipe follows)

In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients, except for the croutons, until well combined. Let sit at room temp at least 10 minutes to let the flavors marry. Top each portion with croutons before serving. Enjoy!
This makes about 2 largish dinner sized bowls, or three lunch portions. I paired mine with whole wheat bread drizzled with raw honey.

Italian Garlic Croutons

two slices good quality bread*, cubed
olive oil spray
italian seasoning, a pinch
garlic powder, a pinch

Preheat oven to 350. Place bread cubes on a cookie sheet. Spray lightly with the olive oil and sprinkle with italian seasoning and garlic powder. Toss to coat. Place in the oven until toasty on all sides (tossing after a few minutes), about 5 minutes.
When pressed for time, or if I don't want to heat up my whole oven, I put these in a toaster oven and put on the medium to dark toast setting.

*My family does not enjoy the heel portions of a sandwich loaf. I end up with a bag or two of just heels by weeks end and HATE to see them go to waste. I save them, or if I don't think they will get used up soon, will put them in the freezer. They are perfect for making croutons, or dried on the counter in cubes for stuffing, or, my favorite...breadcrumbs!

Oh Snap!

2011-01-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

Can't get enough of me through here and facebook? Well, now I am now a bonified blog contributor for Oh Snap, Baby.

Oh SNAP!

RAW breakfast on a Tuesday

2011-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

day 1 of RAW (if you recall i will have two of these a week)

for breakfast, a simple fruit stew.
orange segments
grapes
chopped lady pink apples
raw almonds
flaked, raw unsweetened coconut
*hint: keep the almonds and coconut in the freezer for a crisp, ice box cold, fruit salad.

it was actually quite satisfying, with help from the almonds.

there was even a bit left over for Sir Cohen.

A gift for Brother

2010-12-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

Could not resist these bread slice shaped coasters I found at a thrift store. I cut out some photos of my children and affixed them inside. Voila! Picture frames for my brother. Hope you all had a very joyful Christmas. It was simply magical here in the south...

Travels in RAW: take 1-- Falafel Patties

2010-12-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

Before I take on my New Years Resolution in full swing, I figured a trial run was in order. I am using the book RAW as a reference and decided to try out the Falafel Patties given inside.

First you are to sprout some chickpeas. I loved the happy little tails that started showing the next day.

Then you pulse those and a bunch of other goodies, like onion, garlic, and cilantro in your food processor.

After a bit, it looks like this.

You then shape patties and dehydrate them at 90 degrees for about 8 hours. Your house will smell of cumin and onion. This is a good thing.

They are lovely when they are done. Speckled with green, crispy on the outside, and moist in the center. They have a nice "bite" from the onion and cilantro, but the chickpeas give it a nice mellowness in the end.

I ate mine on a bed of greens, with some homemade RAW cheese (with a touch of chili paste--cheating...i know), some chopped dates, a cucumber slice or two, and grape tomatoes. Oat crackers and an orange are great compliments.

Interviews with Children: Cohen

2010-12-19T07:36:00.001-08:00

Name: Cohen Joshua

Age: 3

What do you want to be when you grow up? a heffalump or a bridge builder

If you could be any animal, which one would you be? giraffe

Why is the sky blue? Because it helps the moon go up.

If you could be any movie character, which one would you be? Piglet

Favorite word? apple

What is your favorite book? *points to all the books*

If you could have a super power, which one would you choose? Superman

What is your favorite food: apple

If you discovered something AMAZING on Neptune, what would it be? Superman will throw in the sky and throw him down on the snow.

What is your favorite school subject? color pages

If you could have any talent, what would you want the most? To read books.

If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask yourself?
How do you...? I don't know. I can't talk.

A Goodies Basket for Christmas

2010-12-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

*spoiler for any member of the RHE Co-Op...

Traditional fare... and not so much. For the ladies and children at our Homeschool Co-Op.

Pumpkin bread slices, itty bitty banana chocolate chip bread loaves, peppermint bark, and
sunflower seeds (remember these?) all tied up with red yarn. Also (not shown), a whole tin filled with chocolate peanut butter fudgle.
fudgle: (fuh-j-l) n. a rich substance, somewhat like fudge and somewhat like a truffle...except not so rich.

Merry, Merry Christmas.

Interviews with Children: Keaton

2010-12-14T11:34:00.001-08:00

Name: Keaton William Jackson

Age: 6

Favorite color: Probably green

What do you want to be when you grow up? A builder

If you could be any animal, which would it be? Lion. No, a snake.

Why is the sky blue? Uhhh....because it makes His world beautiful...?

If you could be any movie character, which one would you be? Aragorn

Favorite word: God

Favorite book: Ottie and the Star

If you could have any super power, which one would you want? Just.....strong

Favorite Food: pizza

If you landed on Neptune and discovered something AMAZING, what would it be? An alien

Favorite school subject: Math

If you could have any talent, which would you wish for most? Building really well.

If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask yourself?
How do you make legos?
You get something plastic and then you cook it down and it makes legos.

Interviews with Children: Ashton

2010-12-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Name: Ashton Ellison

Age: 9. Well, almost 10. 9 and 1/2

What is your favorite color? dark pink or almost white pink

What do you want to be when you grow up? a vet

If you could be an animal, what would you be? a horse or a wolf

Why is the sky blue? I don't know. That's how God made it..?

If you could be any movie character, what/who would you be? Spirit

Favorite word: manipulate. I like to say it. ma-nip-u-late.

Favorite book: I have three. Moonlight Shadow, Spring of the Poacher's Moon, and When Someone Leaves

If you could have any super power, what would it be? being invisible and having a force field

Favorite food: french toast

If you were to land on Neptune, and discover something AMAZING, what would it be? A unicorn

Favorite school subject: Science and History

What talent would you love to have? being a famous trick rider or a singer

If you were conducting this interview? What question would you ask yourself?
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be?
A dragon. Or, a unicorn. No, a horse.

the husband purchases a dehydrator for his wife

2010-12-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Dehydrator's first use:

If I had known that homemade raisins were this delicious, I would not have been wasting my money on the nasty, gummy imitators that you can get at the store. And, they are HUGE compared to their mass produced brothers. The flavor is deep and intense, and almost sun-dried tomato like. I am in love.

nesting

2010-12-03T12:31:00.000-08:00

i like these little guys. birthday present to myself, actually.

nesting tea cups, starbucks, $9.95.

i especially like the one-handled sides. they snuggle very
nicely in the palm and are perfect for individual pot pies or a brew of hot chamomile tea. (i also tried french onion soup...sigh...forgot to take the picture...it was perfection, though).

buy them for someone you love.

new year eats

2010-12-02T07:53:00.000-08:00

my new year resolution lists are usually very small and simple. last year, my list said, "be healthy(er). laugh more. cook breakfast."
i did OK.
this year, my list reads, "be a runner. wake up early(er). eat raw 2 times a week."

a visit to S.F., CA a few years back, yielded me an interest in the RAW movement. the place was called Cafe Gratitude and there i feasted on items given names such as: I am Insightful and I am Cheerful. really. it was revolutionary [to me].

this book (shown above) reads like a life guide. and the simplification of instruction, as in: chop. mix. munch. ......

.....swoon.
i will break this poor book's spine by year end. mark. my. words.

one thing is for certain, though, this book betters you if you have a food dehydrator. which i have not. (note to persons in the action of gift giving: jami needs dehydrator with at least a 90 degree temp setting function).

the end.

2010-11-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday Season!

A soup for Autumn

2010-10-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells

-- from John Keats poem, To Autumn

Autumn Bounty Soup, AKA Rock Your Socks Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (for the slow cooker)

2 medium sized butternut squash, unpeeled, halved, and seeds removed
1 medium onion, peeled and cut into quarters
6 whole garlic cloves, peeled
olive oil
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup apple cider (or more if you like it sweeter)
3-5 cups broth or water (use more for a soupy consistency and less for a thick consistency)
1/2 cup instant potato flakes (used as a thickener and not absolutely necessary if you have an aversion to such things)
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
3 to 4 good shakes of tobasco sauce (omit or decrease if serving to children or the heat impaired)

(special equipment: blender, mesh sieve)

Preheat oven to 350. On a cookie sheet place a quarter onion and a garlic clove or two in each seed cavity of the butternut squash halves (see picture above). This is not a necessary step, I just enjoy the way it looks and I don't have to scrape crispy bits of onion and garlic from the bottom of the pan later. Drizzle all pieces with copious amounts of olive oil, or less if you choose to not wear this soup on your hips. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper to your taste preferences. Roast until squash is very soft when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 15 minutes.

Once cool to the touch, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, onions, and garlic away from the butternut squash skin and plop gracefully into a slow cooker. Try to not let any pieces of skin mingle with the flesh as this will leave unsavory bits of chewy matter in your finished product. Once you have removed all the roasted pieces, you can add the remaining ingredients. Place the lid on the slow cooker and set to low for about 4 hours. It is OK to have large scoops and pieces in your slow cooker as they will all be subjected to rigorous pureeing in the next step.

After 4 hours has passed you can now begin the process of pureeing. You need a large separate bowl and a mesh sieve set over the bowl ready to go. Some may find this a tedious thing and if you would like a more rustic and textured soup you may use an immersion blender to break up the big pieces and serve as is. I find a smooth as pumpkin pie consistency more palatable so I do put up with the extra step. In small batches, ladle the soup into a blender. Do not fill the blender more than a 3rd full or you will wear your soup to the dinner table. Pulse until you see nary a chunk and pour slowly through the sieve and into the bowl. Let drain while you begin your other batches. Repeat until all the soup has been pureed. Using a rubber spatula, squash down (pun intended) the soup leftover in the sieve, getting as much soup pressed into the bowl as possible. Discard any solids left over. Pour soup back into the slow cooker and give a quick taste test, adding more of any seasoning if you feel the need. Cook an additional hour.

When ready to serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with a dabble of cream, half and half, yogurt, or sour cream. A little chopped cilantro adds color and flavor. An extra splash of hot sauce is also devilishly satisfying. I served mine with a simple pear topped salad and toasted crusty bread with an ample wedge of melty cheese atop.

Yield: a lot
Should you have any remaining soup, it freezes well for up to 6 weeks.

Harry Turns One

2010-10-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

A Very Hungry Caterpillar cupcake cake for Harry.

So very sweet.

Breakfast on a Tuesday

2010-09-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

the simplest of breakfasts.

this is also my refuge whilst in the midst of veganism during lent or after a night of culinary indulgence.

whole grain toast, light smear of dijon, and thinly sliced lady pink apple. paired here with green tea.

Grilled Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Sandwich

2010-09-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

I told you I would try to take a picture!

This sandwich is RICH. Pair with salty items or a nice big dill pickle (neither of which i had, so here i ate it along side some summer squash and green peppers, and some figs on romaine hearts with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese). This also makes a good afternoon snack for kiddos. Make as directed below, except cut into thin sticks and pair with a nice tall glass of milk. Your children will wear delightful chocolate joker grins and milky mustaches too cute for wiping.

Grilled Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Sandwich

2 slices whole grain bread
1-2 tablespoons peanut butter (i used creamy, but chunky would be just as tasty)
1/2 of a semi ripe banana, sliced (bright yellow with no brown spots--maybe even a little green on the tips--over ripe bananas make this sandwich a bit too rich)
10-12 semi-sweet chocolate chips
itsy bitsy pat of butter

Heat a non-stick skillet on medium high. Spread peanut butter on one slice. Top with sliced banana and evenly disperse chocolate chips. Cover with other slice of bread. Smear a teeny bit of butter on the outside of both slices and grill about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until outside is a nice golden color and chocolate chips have melted.
Eat immediately.

*for anyone that i have told my dieting woes: you will kindly disregard this post and nary mention it again

Toasty Salad Sandwich

2010-08-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

if i could devote an entire blog to just sandwiches...sigh........
well, you get the idea.

i have stated in the past that i am unequivocally in love with and adore sandwiches.

this, pictured at top, is my favorite sandwich that uses up leftover salad toppings. we usually have a "build your own salad night" at our house 2-3 times a month, and there are ALWAYS some toppings leftover.
my favorite way to use up said toppings is smushed between two exquisitely toasted bread slices. Salad toppings can vary and change the sandwich dramatically. Any salad theme would work (greek salad toppings, taco salad toppings, cobb salad, ceasar salad....)

Toasty Salad Sandwich
2 slices multi-grain or whole wheat bread (or, my fav, ezekial 4:9 bread)
sliced cheese (try munster, sharp cheddar, or pepperjack)
salad veggie toppings ; pictured above: summer squash, green pepper, roasted red pepper, apple chunks, thinly sliced pears. (also try: avocado, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms...your options are hardly limited)
sunflower seeds (or other small toppings like dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and crispy rice noodles)
regular or low fat cream cheese (or, better yet, goat cheese)
good quality dijon mustard

with sliced cheese on one piece, toast bread until lightly browned in a toaster oven. once removed, slather a frugal amount of cream cheese (or goat cheese if you have it) on the slice of bread without the cheese. spread mustard on the melted cheese side and sprinkle with sunflower seeds (this is to give the seeds something to adhere to or they will all topple out as you take bites). place veggies on the cream cheese side and top with the mustard and cheese slice of bread.
enjoy!

i am thinking grilled chocolate, banana, and peanut butter sandwich for tomorrow. if i don't immediately gobble up the sandwich, and can bear to take a picture before consumption, i will gladly post the recipe.

Marinated Grilled Tempeh in Pita with Sprouts, Tomatoes and Vegan Chili Spread

2010-08-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Tempeh is a mild tasting soybean product, with a slight nutty crunch and texture. Here it works perfectly grilled and snuggled inside a warmed pita.

Marinated Grilled Tempeh in Pita with Sprouts, Tomatoes and Vegan Chili Spread

1 package tempeh (try Lightlife Organic 3 grain)
1 pita

for marinade:
1 lime
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbs brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger paste
1 small clove garlic, minced
fresh ground pepper to taste
teeny splash of olive oil (you can omit for lower fat version)

sliced tomato
alfalfa sprouts

for Vegan Chili Spread:
Vegenaise (or regular organic mayonnaise)
Chili Sauce ( try Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce)

For marinated tempeh, zest and juice one lime and mix well with other ingredients. Slice Tempeh into thick strips and place in a shallow dish. Pour marinade over and let sit in refrigerator for 1-3 hours, turning occasionally. Heat grill (I used my indoor George Foreman grill) and cook until sear marks appear and tempeh is heated through. Keep warm.

For Vegan Chili Spread mix 2 tbs Vegenaise with 1/8 teaspoon Chili Sauce (or more if you like a lot of heat).

Warm pita bread (in the picture above I did not cut mine or open the pockets--I served it gyro style) and spread with a little bit of Vegan Chili Spread (you will have some spread left over to put on other sandwiches or smear on crackers or dip veggies in later). Top with cooked tempeh, sliced tomatoes, and sprouts (or you can add any of your favorite veggies). Makes about 3 pita-wiches.

I served mine with a fresh fruit salad and some homemade iced peppermint tea.

The What and Why

2010-08-24T07:24:00.001-07:00

***links have been fixed. let me know if any other links don't work and i will get on it!!***

Many have asked what I am using this year for homeschooling, and I thought best to go ahead and just post all my "what and why".

Preschool (Cohen, my 3 yr old):
What: Rod and Staff ABC series and Toddler Activity Books, and a bazillion manipulatives (anticipate my ultimate Preschool post in a few days/weeks--it may even be a week long event!)

Why: Rod and Staff still ranks high on my list of fav publishers. Pros: a simple biblical approach, uncluttered and easy to follow teacher manuals, and are uber inexpensive. I have used their preschool books with my older two and loved them as did my children. Also try their Math, which is very simple to follow, and their Grammar which is, in my opinion, VERY thorough (will have to supplement with a writing curriculum). Cons: (for grades above Preschool) colorless, redundant at times, my children HATED the phonics, but were both reading by age 6, so...it worked, but your children may hate it.

Math:
What: RightStart (level E) and BJU (grade 2, 3rd edition)

Why:
RightStart--I was sold on Rightstart from the moment I researched it. Pros: different and ingenious approach to teaching math concepts, uses hands on manipulatives and games, easy and short lessons. I only wish I had known about this sooner so I could have started it early on with my daughter, who really struggles with math. Cons: some of the lessons lack a little in organization, colorless and a teeny bit bland, price (most kits cost well above $150-- BUT once you buy the manipulatives and games, using it with your younger children will only cost between $9-$20), some days there is a lot of teacher prep.
BJU (3rd editions)-- BJU is my fallback in a lot subjects if I do not find what I am looking for after many tedious hours researching. Pros: flashy, lots of color, teacher manuals are organized VERY well with color and are spiral bound --which I prefer, thorough and slightly challenging without being overwhelming, my children loved the stories and workbooks. Cons: you need all the components sold online if you plan on teaching from the workbook as scripted, quite a few lessons are not homeschool convenient (lessons use a lot of "put 12 students in one line, and 4 students in another line" examples when teaching a concept).

Reading:
What:
Ashton-- The Chronicles of Narnia and Guide, Black Ships Before Troy and Guide, The Twenty-One Balloons and Guide, Prudence and the Millers and Guide, and Beorn the Proud.
Keaton-- Rod and Staff Reading grade 2,

Why: no real rhyme or reason for my choices for Ashton, except I thought she would like them and I liked them...and she needed some lessons in Prudence and the Millers. Keaton's is going to be Rod and Staff because their Reading is straight from the bible and he needed to build some biblical knowledge. And the R&S workbooks include vocabulary and phonetic skills that he needed to work on (and I can combine his Reading and Bible conveniently this way).

Bible
What: Ashton-- Christian Studies by Memoria Press.
Why: I love the use of the Golden Children's Bible and the studies seem to be very thorough so far.

Latin
What: Prima Latina by Memoria Press
Why: Latin is huge for me. I have a 6 year plan for studying Latin and we decided to start off with Prima Latina because I had heard many good things about it. It has been easy to teach so far (I have no background in Latin AT ALL).

Spelling
What: A Reason for Spelling (level B and D)
Why: Pros--my children like the tie-in story, different activities to tie in the spelling words, teacher manual is easy to follow, once you get the groove it is easy to teach with minimal to no prep work, no complaints from the children. Cons-- lacking color, some exercises are not easily implemented in a homeschool environment.

History
What: A History Odyssey, Level 1

Why: This is our second year using this curriculum. It is a 3 year course (for us, since we study it twice a week) and uses Story of the World and The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History. Pros: has done most of the organizing of lessons for you, maps and map work included, the use of Story of the World and The Usborne book (which are WONDERFUL!). Cons: some lessons are out of order with the Story of the World and may lead to some confusion, would not purchase anything else that they say are recommended (not worth the $$ spent). I would not recommend this curriculum, instead I would get the Story of the World and the Study Guide that goes with it. We are using A History Odyssey because I spent the money on it and am too stubborn to purchase anything else.

Science
What: Apologia Zoology III- Land Animals
Why: because I had to...this is what our Co-Op is using. I am not sold on it yet (at least for younger grades) but it may grow on me.

Devotions
What: Draw to Learn: The Book of Proverbs
Why: Pros-- my children love to draw, the reading is simple and short, my children whine when we DON'T DO IT. We completed Draw to Learn: The Life of Jesus last year and LOVED it. Cons: not flashy, sometimes the drawing assignments seem redundant and too simplistic.

Grammar
What: Montessori R&D: Language Arts and BJU Grammar 4 (2nd edition)

Why: I love the Montessori approach. It is hands on and uses manipulatives and cards to teach basic concepts. I really had to search high and low to find this curriculum and am still working my way through it to decide if it works for our home. Pros: uses cards, games, and manipulatives to teach the basic parts of speech and sentence structure, affordable teacher manual. Cons: website does not list materials needed to complete each lesson, materials can be VERY pricey or you have to make them yourself, lesson layouts were not organized the way that I thought they should be (but that is just nit-picky-ness). BJU was my fallback for Ashton. I couldn't find what I wanted for her, and she finished her 3rd grade Grammar early so I had to purchase something early. The Montessori Language Arts is actually compatible with 6-9 year olds, so I may end up shelving the BJU for Grammar and only use its writing assignments.

Poetry
What: A Child's Treasury of Poems and Poetry for Young People: Seasonal Poetry
Why: My children have memorized 4 poems per year for every year that I have homeschooled. I try to make them seasonal and they have 3-4 months to learn and constantly recite them. Keaton started out with simple haiku, but will this year graduate to a few more lines. I will list the poems they are learning:

Ashton--
To Autumn by John Keats
Velvet Shoes by Elinore Wylie
What is Pink by Christina Georgina Rossetti
The Wind by Christina Georgina Rossetti

Keaton--
Bed In Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson
Dust of Snow by Robert Frost
Depression Before Spring by Wallace Stevens
The Owl by unknown (old folk poem)

Well, that's it! Enjoy your school year as much as I hope we will.

in which the day met me

2010-08-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

i spent the day to myself, at home, this very day. alone. what a glorious word to type. just saying it. ALONE. that word is something that a wife, a mother of 4, and homeschooler RARELY knows exists.
this was my time, spent doing what I like.

i sweat myself silly, toiling in the garden, getting dirt under my nails, and ingesting the ripe cabbage smells of late summer gardening.

i turned the AC as high as it would go, curled up with a blanket and book, and read for hours.

i ignored toys and laundry that were strewn about in rooms and under tables and chairs.

i didn't pull my chair up to the table to eat, deciding instead leave the chair askewed and placed one foot up on the seat of the chair, letting my knee curl up to my chin. and the other foot i let dangle above the floor in a willy-nilly erratic sort of way. there was no one to see. no one to tell me to show more propriety whilst dining.

i took a bath. a really long bath. and not because i needed one. but just because.

i changed out of my pajamas and got into a clean pair of pajamas, at 2 in the afternoon.

i did not look at school books or my calendar, or wash my dishes, or answer emails and texts.

i read some more.

i let myself get distracted watching butterflies court and twirl among the leaves of our fig tree.
i closed my eyes and tried to hear their love making. it sounded similar to the little pit-pat-pat that the rain gives just before a big ole downpour.

my family is due to return any minute. i missed them, in a way that any mother would. they are a constant part of my life, ever present. their little souls, even with the nasty bits that come with raising little children (and i hear even the grown ones), i missed. my head and body needed this rest today, though. a little windex clean for the brain does a mommy good.

ahhh, here they are. their tiny faces greeting me.....
and so, with that, i resume my former life. rested and content.

simple pleasure

2010-08-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ah, Sun-flower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun,
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done:

Where the Youth pined away with desire,

And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow
Arise from the their graves, and aspire
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.

~By WILLIAM BLAKE~

we grew mammoth sunflowers this year, hung and dried them in our faithful school room, and today, under the sun - with sweat bees tickling our skin - we plucked the seeds from their clutching heads. hot work, but oh the bounty.
our plan is to bag them and sell them for 25cents this fall, that is if i can convince the littles to not nibble them all away...

where have i BEEN?

2010-08-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

or did anyone notice?......

yeah, so, 6 months. 6 months we had no personal internet service at home. in that time, my husband and i built and concreted and steel rodded (and any other structurally sound additive you can think of) our already awesome relationship. it was so good for us on so many levels. but that would be a different blog, for a different time (i once promised no "emotional fluff" on this blog, and i think that personal diatribes on family philosophy and dynamics count as "fluff" --- not that there is anything wrong with that, in any sort, i just wanted to only do a nifty tricks and recipe blog and not too much personal life....junk).

let's just jump right back in, shall we?

two easy homeschool projects:

1. when studying julius or augustus caesar (or anything in ancient rome) , my curriculum suggested sewing a toga with a purple trim. to save time and energy, i went out to the back yard and picked some vines and made "laurel crowns". two minutes and some clear packing tape later:

*lesson learned long ago..."you don't always have to follow the project in the book, especially when kids really don't care either way, and as long as they can make or wear or play with SOMETHING!"

2. when studying the human body, try making these easy brain models. my curriculum suggested cutting a tennis ball in half and hot gluing items onto it (have you ever TRIED cutting a tennis ball....?). i had some styrofoam balls, which are much easier to cut, some quick drying gray paint, some yarn of two different colors, and some paper clips. voile! model brains.

step 1. cut styrofoam ball in half
step 2. coat top off each half with gray paint (or just one half if using for one child)
step 3. while the paint dries, cut 3, 12 inch strands of yarn to braid into one piece for each child (this will become the brain stem). i chose an off white yarn.
step 4. tie strands together at the top with a knot and braid the strands together. knot the end.
step 5. once paint is dry, pull one knotted end of the "brain stem" through one of the loops in the paper clip and shove the paperclip into the bottom of your brain along one edge, far enough to where the loop will hold the "stem" in place against the styrofoam. you might want to put it in at an angle so that the top part of the paper clip doesn't poke through the top of the ball.
step 6. cut one extreamly long piece of pale greenish yarn (about 1 yard long) for each brain.
step 7. on a paper plate, pour white school glue out in a large puddle and have the child soak the long strand of yarn from top to bottom.
step 8. have the child swirl the yarn all around the top of the ball. these will be the wrinkles on the brain. press the yarn firmly and let dry.

this project holds up really well over time, for when you need to review the different parts of the brain several weeks or months later.

posts to look forward to:
my curriculum picks for 2010-2011
yummy recipes
and a week long view of our daily homeschool routine

building a model ziggurat

2009-12-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

history.
and somewhere...off in the distance...a child yawns.

for some people, history is a big ole snore fest subject. i feel likewise about math. no. scratch that. i have a hatred beyond earthly realms towards math. but HISTORY....i like meself some history.

we are studying the ancients right now. we just covered the fertile crecent, the sumerians, and ancient mesopatmia. our curriculum, History Odyssey, gives some craft projects to look up. among those was one for a model ziggurat. zigga-what? oh yes....ziggurat. a temple for worshiping gods. the reference model given in my curriculum used plaster, clay, waiting...and waiting...and painting. ummm......not me. not now. not EVER. i have FOUR kids, one being an infant. so we improvised. i knew my stock of empty boxes that cluttered a cobwebbed corner of our schoolroom would come in handy someday.

try these websites/books for references of study:

The Story of the World: Volume 1, Susan Bauer

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: an Activity Guide , Marion Broida

http://mesopotamia.lib.uchicago.edu/

simply stack and glue or tape down large to small boxes, cut openings in each level, tear some strips of a box top to make stairs, have the kids make little men and food offerings on leftover scraps of boxes.

this went together in 12 minutes flat and the kids played with it for the next four days. but, of course, it is made with boxes...so don't expect it to withstand kid fingers and drooley two year olds.

p.s. bonus mommy points if you stand over the ziggurat while the kids are in mid play, and using your best mock "god" voice say, "INFIDELS! YOU HAVE ANGERED THE GODS! ROOOOOOARRRrrrrrrr," and tickle them silly.

food club: december

2009-12-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

i started a local food club among my friends in september. a host picks a food and we all gather to chat, prepare food, and share recipes. like a well yeasted loaf, our small group has grown and multiplied and we have made a hodge podge of delightful goodies.

our first meeting we made small, freezable pizzas. month two brought meatballs and meatloaves, again a freezer staple. for november we got a head start on the christmas baking season and made bounds of cookies. oh, how i wish my newborn foggy brain would have let me remember to take pictures at those meetings!

but i was of right mind at this month's food club.

we made christmas candy. everyone brought their own supplies, recipes, and merry moods. there were 9 of us and about a million kids and the chatter and noise and good cheer was just what i needed to help boost me through this unfortunately stressful holiday season.

there were peanut butter balls, pretzels, and crackers that were given oozing heapfuls of chocolate. one brave soul made peppermint patties and i've no doubt her hands still smell like mint today. i even discovered a mother's secret recipe ingredient for her fudge....velvetta! i brought my mother's candy molds and made almond joys and mounds, along with almond studded white chocolate and some peppermint bark.

these treats won't last long if kept around for busy hands to snatch and toothy smiles to gobble.

i give you some "recipes". i am not a measure cook. i hate and despise to pull out my cup and measure anything, unless in the necessary case of baking. so these are guesstimations at the recipes i used. i encourage you to step out of your measuring spoon and make the knightly leap into willy-nilly chefing. you may have some pitfalls along the way, but i assure you that you will come out richer...

store all these candies in a covered container in cool, dark spot. do not refrigerate.

almond joys and mounds bars

candy molds
milk chocolate or dark chocolate for melting (you can use chocolate flavored almond bark or milk
chocolate hershey bars)
sweetned flaked coconut
confectioners sugar
corn syrup
whole almonds

melt chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave until smooth (if using the microwave, cook for short increments and stir between each cycle--it will burn very quickly if let cook too long). using a small spoon to help, take a bit of chocolate and drizzle it in the bottom and up the sides of your molds. if you are making almond joys put an almond in the bottom and push it gently into the bottom chocolate. tap your mold against the counter to release any bubbles. freeze for a few minutes to harden. while your first molds freeze, mix your coconut (i used about 2 cups) with confectioners sugar (about 1/4 cup) and corn syrup (about 1/4 cup). it will be sticky and thick. pull the molds from the freezer and fill the cavity with your coconut mixture, leaving a bit of room on the sides for the top chocolate to fill in. cover with melted chocolate and tap again to let chocolate settle around the mixture. freeze again to set, just a minute or two.
makes about 20-25 candies.

for both the white chocolate with almonds and the peppermint bark i used the same chocolate mixture, and seperated it out into two equal portions.

white chocolate or almond bark
peppermint candies, crushed
whole almonds

melt your white chocolate or almond bark as directed above. chop mints and mix in with the peppermint bark batch. pour each batch onto seperate cookie sheets lined with wax paper and smooth out to about 1/4 inch thickness. gently press the whole almonds onto one batch, and gently press crushed peppermints onto the top of the peppermint bark batch. place cookie sheets in the freezer for a few minutes to set. break off into chunks.

my friend, kim, also made these cute little pretzel sticks. they were a huge hit with the kids.

pretzel sticks
colored melting chocolate
peppermint candies, crushed

melt chocolate. dip one end of the pretzel sticks into the chocolate and lay on a sheet of wax paper. sprinkle peppermints onto the chocolate before it cools. let cool in the freezer or on the counter.

i wish you all a happy holiday season and a merry christmas!

harry meets his uncle

2009-11-29T12:44:00.000-08:00

my brother visits from california. he and harry meet for the first time.

thanksgiving in tennessee

2009-11-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

my contributions to this years thanksgiving feast

pecan pie

chocolate cream pie

both recipes are from Martha Stewart's Baking Cookbook.

i hope your thanksgiving was as splendid as ours!

loving harrison

2009-10-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

cohen and harry.

dinner on sunday

2009-10-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

some might say quiche is best suited for old ladies luncheons or tea banquets. but not me. tonight, as i settle back into my old--very pliable--skin, and also resume my vegetarian ways, i craved this eggy delight.

to cut calories, i made this quiche crustless. and, seeing as though i am the main grocery buyer and have.....you know....been birthing a baby and all.....our pantry was bare. so improvise i did!

typically i would make quiche with an assortment of specialized soft and hard cheeses. i had only cheddar and parmesan and sour cream on hand. i also added a dab of bottled dressing (i really don't know where i discovered that this added just the right zip to the quiche, but i have done it for the past 10 years and i like it...so there!).

this makes 2 small or one large quiche:

10 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup cheddar cheese, divided into halves
1/3 fresh grated parmesan
2 tbs ranch dressing (or green goddess, or blue cheese)
diced yellow and red peppers
diced red onion
shredded carrots
salt and pepper to taste
butter or no stick spray

beat eggs. add all ingredients to eggs except 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. mix well. pour into well greased glass baking dish. sprinkle cheddar on top. bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes until center is set.

you can easily substitute the veggies for any that you like, or make a bacon and sausage one.

i served this with a simple fruit topped salad with nuts and a banana chocolate chip loaf . there is something deeply embedded in my palate that makes it a necessity to have a sweet bread when i make quiche or cheese grits. it is just a must.

3 over ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1/3 cup milk
1 cup chocolate chips
butter or cooking spray

mush bananas in large bowl. in small bowl beat sugar, egg, and butter until creamy. add sugar mixture to banana along with the baking soda, flours, and milk. mix well but don't over mix. add chips. pour into well greased bread pan and bake at 350 for one hour to one hour and 15 minutes, until center is done.

and this morning, my harrison sleeps.

how sweet it is.

harrison arrives

2009-10-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

welcome baby harrison.

affectionately called harry. or, as my daughter refers to him, "the reason we didn't get to go to the beach this year".

mothering resumed almost immediately as my two year old decided his eye would apply itself nicely to a bed frame after i had been home from the hospital exactly one hour.

family life resumes. but for now, rest.......

an easy sew nursing cover

2009-10-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

my days of late have been spent doing the bare minimum. just survival around here at this point.

school is down to basics.

meals are made as easy as possible (or not homemade at all for that matter).

we are down to days until baby arrives. hours if i really obsessed over such things (and i do).

i have been doing little things with my hands to keep me occupied. knitting a few hats, hemming and mending. my frazzled brain could not handle much more.

but i did manage to make my last project today. a nursing cover. i mulled and fought and battled over a previous design. finally, this morning, i chucked the old and just whipped out an easy one instead. i like the bright bold peonies, the easy tie straps at the top and the reversible orange side when i don't feel so flowery.

this whips together in under an hour, which is right up my alley for any project.

now i'm just awaiting a little body to hold and cuddle and nurse under my new cover.

my next post will undoubtedly be pictures of the new baby. see you soon!

a new member to the household

2009-09-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

meet Jesse,

our newest rat acquisition.

he is timid, lovable, and already likes to snuggle up and nap atop ones shoulder.

simple sandwich salads

2009-09-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

confession time. i adore, love, and find supreme enjoyment in sandwiches. tasty fillings, squished between two pieces of grainy goodness. i C-A-N-N-O-T get enough. i especially love filling sandwiches with simple salads. this afternoon i made a tuna salad and an egg salad. because, after all, choice is always nice....and you can't beat leftovers for days.

i thank my mother for this tuna salad recipe. i have changed it only just barely from the original.

flaked tuna
plain (full fat) yogurt
shredded carrots
crispy crumbled bacon
itty bitty squeeze 'o lemon
salt and pepper to taste

mix and enjoy. i find this particular concoction is especially good as a tuna melt. here, my husband enjoyed it on a croissant toasted with provolone and, yes, more bacon.

this egg salad is absolutely my favorite. perfect for dipping crackers or veggies, a sandwich filling, topping a mix of salad greens, or eaten just with a spoon.

hard boiled eggs

good quality mayo

sprinkle of dill

pinch of curry powder

hearty pinch of fresh ground pepper

it is saturday. impending fall is in the air. college football is murmuring in the background. i'm daydreaming of hot cocoa and a cuddly blanket. and of holding the new baby. just a few more weeks........

wednesday lunch with mom

2009-09-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

decided on a whim to take the day off.

since lunches around here aren't that fancy most days, i figured i would force some effort out since i was being a big lazy slug otherwise.

on a freezer scan i found a roll of leftover puff pastry dough. hmmm, that might make a crust for.....oh, yes....three cheese pizza!

a quick trip out the fig tree produced 3 perfectly ripe figs, i cut up a nectarine and some romaine, sprinkled some queso seco. voile, salad!

my mom was off today, so a quick call provided me some additional company.

lovely afternoon, indeed!

rainy game day

2009-09-07T06:18:00.000-07:00

yesterday was a rainy sunday for us. we decided since labor day was going to be a busy one that we would play hooky from church and spend a drizzly morning playing games.

this jewel is called Fellowship. i L-O-V-E it. it is a family game that we had when i was young.

it is a spin on monopoly except it carries a biblical point of view. i love the scripture verses, cows and sheep as opposed to houses and hotels, and true biblical pieces of land that you "purchase" with points. our 5 year old gave us a wallop! he made wise purchases, then kept his points and made us all pay splendidly when we landed on his property.

we capped off the day by picking up burgers and fries and eating them at our local walking track park. an after dinner stroll was the highlight of the evening. the kids chases squirrels, marveled at cranes and loons, picked wildflowers.....

one could die of such contentment.

i wish you all a happy and blessed labor day!

mornings with abel

2009-09-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

mornings with abel.

rat kisses must be the best.

giving away inspiration

2009-09-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

there is a local group here that meets up twice a month called Moms 4 Moms. you get the idea of what it's about. this group was integral to my early motherhood survival. i try to show up now and then to make appearances, catch up with old friends, meet new moms, and hug everyone. and especially now that we are slowing down our school schedule in preparation for the baby, i wanted to come and show my support and let people dote on my glowing belly.

one of my favorite parts of this day is browsing the give away tables. people simply drop off what they don't want and it is just like Christmas to a gal like me. i never go away empty handed. i have gotten cloth diapers, clothes, toys, shoes, martha stewart mags....you name it. today was no different.

i got the flowered plates and wooden platters shown above. i can see these flower plates filled with splendid leafy salads and dainty sandwiches, and the large platters will suit any fresh baked bread loaf just right.

these fabrics choices started out as just me, merrily grabbing what i liked from a big box. but once i got home, i immediately saw how they all rhymed with each other. the earthy tones will do just nicely as a quilt project for ashton and me this fall. leftovers made into pillows, skirts, and such. amazing what the brain juices permeate when given a little visual aide.

i L-O-V-E jewelry making. it produces almost instant gratification and you don't need any special talents to pull off something great. this bag of beads has left my finger tips all tingly. big chunky bead bracelets, hair clips, earrings....yes, yes, and YES. the ribbon will make perfect embellishments to aprons or skirt bottoms.

be looking for completed projects soon! i have already started my Christmas gift planning, and seeing as though we are, once again, money strapped, everything will be hand made. i will try to post some Christmas projects from the past in upcoming posts.

have a happy day!

Chelsea Buns

2009-08-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

baking these makes your entire house smell like christmas and cheer. and in the ravages of hot hot summers, don't we all need a little christmas and cheer?

this is a bread machine recipe.

scant 1 cup milk (that means, just shy of one cup)
1 egg
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 ts salt
6 tbs sugar
1/4 cup butter softened
1 ts rapid rise yeast

for the filling

2 tbs butter, melted
2/3 cup chopped dried fruit, we had dried cherries on hand
3 tbs orange marmalade
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp apple pie spice (i did not have this so we just mixed cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)

for the glaze

1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tbs water
zest of lemon or orange

makes about 12 buns

all bread machines are different. ours calls for liquid first and yeast last. add milk and egg. cover with flour. make indentations in separate corners of flour for salt, sugar, and butter. make a well in center for the yeast (being sure to not touch the liquid beneath). set the bread machine to dough setting and press start.

lightly grease a large baking pan with sides.

when dough cycle finishes, remove dough and place on lightly floured surface. punch down dough and then roll out to form a large rectangle. brush dough with melted butter. mix ingredients in separate bowl, then spread over the dough, leaving 1 inch border along the edges. roll the dough up, like a jelly roll, and press edges to seal. cut the roll into about 12 buns and place cut side up in the prepared pan.

cover and let set for 30-45 minutes until doubled in size. bake 15-20 minutes at 400. cool completely. mix the ingredients in a small bowl for the glaze. once buns are cool, spread glaze over the entire top.

mmmmmm. ENJOY!

A Year in the Life of Here

2009-08-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here is what our family will be studying this year:

Ashton 3rd Grade:

Grammar and Spelling: Rod and Staff

Math: Bob Jones Math 3

Reading Studies:

Sarah, Plain and Tall; Progeny Press Study Guide

The Courage of Sarah Noble; Progeny Press Study Guide

Swiss Family Robinson; Veritas Press Comprehension Guide

Little Women; Veritas Press Comprehension Guide

Keaton 1st Grade:

Math, Phonics, and Reading: Rod and Staff

with a bonus unit study on Reading: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Edcon Publishing

Together they are studying:

History: History Odyssey Level 1

Bible: The Notgrass Company, Draw to Learn The Life of Jesus

Science:

we are doing two large unit studies. one on Botany, and the other on Human Anatomy. i purchased a large quantity of study guides and books, and will compile my own lessons using what i can from many different resources so that both children can learn the same topic simultaneously at their own level.

Art: Draw Write Now, 7 & 8; and also watercolor paintings around the world

in addition:

Seasonal Poetry Memorization (each will memorize separate poems, one per season): Poetry for Young People, The Seasons

thinking about doing a blog on why i chose to use the curriculum i did, but for now...that'll do.

chocolate mounds cake

2009-07-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

after suffering through a bad bout of flu here, i am back into the land of posting.

with the help of my propitious cake here.

it is like a mounds bar, except crumbly.

whichever way you make it, from scratch or not, it will be sure to please the chocolate lovers palate.

milk chocolate cake, milk chocolate frosting, and then mush a coconut frosting hat upon the top.

saturday

2009-07-25T10:47:00.001-07:00

a perfect summer saturday.

early morning baking and barefooted walks to gather flowers.

an easy fruit tart. the ideal way to use the bounty of seasonal fruit you have on hand.

use this easy basic pie crust. slice thinly your fruit of choice. sprinkle with a bit of flour, sugar, and accompanying spice (for the plums i choose nutmeg, for a pear i would use cloves). squeeze a slice of lemon liberally to cover all. dab with bits of butter, and a pinch of salt. i make a jelly and butter glaze to spread over the edges, so they gleam with sweetness. pick jellies that pair well with your fruit. for this one i picked an orange marmalade, the little bits of orange peel dribbled beautifully along the edge. bake about 20 minutes at 400. i also sprinkle a bit of raw sugar once out of the oven to give it extra homeyness.

a cheery welcome to all that enter.
a quick, barefoot trip outside provided me with armfuls of white hydrangea and butterfly bush, which i planted together two summers ago. they are a dazzling couple to see against the house, especially when wind danced with lazy bumble bees and butterflies.

toddler distractor of the month

2009-07-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

noodle play

materials: dry tri-color noodles (the bigger the size the better), egg carton, old laundry caps, play utensils.

instruction: show him/her how to pour using the caps, scoop with spoons or other utensils, and dump into carton or additional caps. for slightly older toddler, you can have them sort the different colors into different carton compartments or different caps.

distraction time: 45 minutes

clean up level: medium

and for your extra enjoyment:

watching buddy-muffin (yes, that is the actual name of the frog now) getting ready to devour his morning cricket.

tuesday morning

2009-07-21T06:32:00.001-07:00

last day of near perfect weather.

windows, open.

birds singing their summer carols.

math.

we've used Rod and Staff for the past 3 years, but this year will try out BJU.

think the birds will notice if i throw out a few number facts in their general direction?

monday morning

2009-07-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

coffee and Seuss.

quick rye bread

2009-07-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

a martha stewart find. quick rye bread. it is brilliant. a little sweet and moist as can be. this is NOT the dry tasteless bread of my nightmares.

after i cut these slices, i went to poach an egg, and upon returning discovered all four eaten up by my children. their little taste buds don't tell lies. this is GOOD bread.

here, i enjoyed a toasted slice topped with a poached egg and a bit of crumbled white cheddar, a slice of mango and tomato. a dusting of fresh chopped mint to remind me i'm here on earth. and of course, i had to see how a slice withstood some farmers market jam.

the verdict: resplendently beautiful to the palette

a summer cut

2009-07-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

keaton, my middle son, was in serious need of a hair cutting. i think we all loved and adored his glorious waves of golden hair, but a massive heat rash around the base of his hairline was enough to designate today shearing day. so, off to our designated hair cutting porch we did go!

before:

after:

amazing how much older he looks. even his limbs look longer.

i think i might have cried as i cut...just a little....

stolen moments

2009-07-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

little moments stolen before bed.

must enjoy these before my wee one becomes the big brother....

breakfast

2009-07-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Dear God,

Please let the peach season extend just a few more months....at least past fall. Thanks, Jami

the little distractor, hard at work, while the older ones finish their devotions.

i L-O-V-E our devotion program. a local company, the Notgrass Company, makes simple and unassuming products. i most love their "draw to learn the bible" selections. if your children love to draw by themselves, using their imagination, as mine do, they will really enjoy this book. currently we are in our second year of the same book, titled: Draw to Learn--The Life of Jesus. it gives a verse for a selection out of the bible that your child can read, and then a brief description at the bottom to help guide them as they draw. i find my children really retain what the message represents if THEY get to draw what inspired them out of it. each page has a very large drawing box, perfect for younger ages, but this could easily be used for ANY age group.

i would not recommend their "learn to draw" program. i found the lessons a little amateur and dull. we only made it through the first 12 lessons before i shelved it.
for a great "learn to draw" program try the Draw Write Now curriculum. my children LOVE it as do i.

little pincushions

2009-07-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

these happy little guys i made today.

i am taking on the task of teaching my daughter sewing this upcoming school year. so, i made these two as example pincushions for her first project.

aaaaaaaand, i selfishly needed another pincushion. mine was in said disrepair.

both of these were made from clothing that i absconded into material use.

the ruffle down the middle of the smaller one was removed from the hem of a toddler dress that was also the main source of fabric.

the fatter one is made from a vintage maternity top.

you can whip these out quickly if you machine sew them, as i did. but my daughter will begin by hand sewing.

warm serenade

2009-07-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

hot and sultry summer buzzing bugs serenade us through an open window.

warm flavors are our guests.

coconut milk infused rice. pineapple and lime juice, garlic, cumin, and nutmeg simmered down before adding tiny shrimp. a simple tomato and mango chop tossed with lime juice, honey, salt and pepper, served over spinach, with a sprinkling of queso fresco.

i think i can escape for just a few minutes....

imagine myself with little handmade palm frond sandals and hat. permanent open book tan line across my tummy.

muffin

2009-07-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

meet the newest family member:

muffin. i think this name will bring much hilarity when he is a five pound blob on a log that does nothing but moan and croak.

likes: moonlit serenading, skinny dipping, and eating other smaller froggy tankmates for dinner.

lucky, our other frog, had to be rescued from the tank last night because dear old muffin tried to ingest him.

good thing his name is lucky. or,was lucky. HE is back in nature now.

mangiare bene -- to eat well

2009-07-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

today in school, the kids and i continued our architecture watercolor paintings, traveling to the city of Pisa, Italy. we learned everything about "Torre pendente di Pisa", or The Leaning Tower of Pisa. did you know, that if not for war and upheaval over a few hundred years, that this modern marvel would have collapsed long ago. true story.

i have been craving italian food ever since.
i'm pregnant. craving is an art.

try making these meatballs. it's my favorite recipe and the creator is someone i look up to greatly.

and use your leftovers to make these little sandwiches for dinner.

whole wheat kaiser rolls, some provolone, and fresh parmesan. broil it for a few minutes with the tops off to melt the cheese and give it a gooey caramelized color.

served here with a simple fresh cucumber pickle.

2 small cucumbers

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp pickling spice

1/3 cup vinegar

freshly chopped mint or oregano

pinch of salt

water to cover

combine all and refrigerate. best served the day after, but can be eaten right away.

a perfect summer cooling compliment to the meatball sandwiches.

cheers! eat well!

little fingers, tingly fingers

2009-07-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

a bird to carry with me at all times.

felt and fabric on canvas

these things i make.

embroidery floss makes my fingers tingle.

take flight little bird.

a duo of gentle turtles, made from clay and tiny fingers.

a backdrop of rainbowed carpeting is all the imagination needs to let these little guys come to life and roam unnamed lands.

how to turn oranges into lemons

2009-07-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

the following is a true and accurate story.

my feet did tread to the store, to purchase some yummy vittles for the fam and myself. my first stop was the fruit, and i had my eye on a bag of navel oranges. tranquil, sweet...delicious.

the first bag i did grab, i took a moment to assess the quality. then, while extending the bag over the floor to place into my cart, the entire bottom split open and consequently showered out the entire contents of the bag onto the floor. those beautiful orange spheres, rolling about in mad drunkenness around my splayed feet, under the cart, and into the aisles.

looking about, with my legs slightly askew, the girth of my belly shadowing about them on the floor, it looked as though i had just birthed these oranges. i stood there betwixt the mangoes and limes, a bewildered looked on my face and a veritable orange grove of thudding and rolling obstacles round about.

i picked them all up, as any good shopper would do. heaved a sigh and grabbed the next bag of oranges.

i inspected these, of course, prolonging their flight from bin to cart (and in hindsight i should have taken heed of what had just happened seconds before--and really, what WERE the chances). then, just as before, as i was about to place them in my cart, the bottom of this bag, too, so gladly spilled its contents onto the floor.

had i not already created a display before, i was sure to have audience now.

i suppose it could have been worse. grapefruits perhaps. those would have produced a much louder thud and drawn more attention.

one bag of oranges remained. i looked at it for a few seconds. dare i tempt the gods again....?

i bought lemons instead.

"them's RIPE tomatoes, son."

2009-07-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

fried green tomatoes. those words conjure up thoughts of kathy bates movies, or seedy southern restaurants that serve deep fried, almost blackened and soggy tomato like substances.

the movie, really did nothing for me at all in glamorizing food....it actually made me leery of eating any form of bbq rib meat from a restaurant in fear that i was eating some poor soul who did unsavory things to the chef or one of his friends.

but i suppose it did make my overly active mind want to try fried green tomatoes at SOME point. the first ones i tried at a decent southern establishment, were of course, fried and beautifully tasty. but in an effort to save my hips, i searched for better ways to make them at home, and maybe have them come close to tasting like the ever fattening delights.

my mom served the first oven fried variety to me, and i was instantly hooked.

so, funny story. and of course, off track just a little. feel free to skim to the recipe at any time.

i purchase 4 beautiful green tomatoes from the local farmer's market, along with red tomatoes and other veggies. the green ones were only meant for ONE thing. oven fried green tomatoes. my yearly summer craving (and sometimes winter, fall, and spring craving). i lined them up, all pretty in a green row, along the top of my microwave, where i place all my non-refrigerated goodies.

a few days later, when i went to assess the green tomatoes, they were gone! i only had one solitary green one. i was so astounded and perturbed that i set out to accuse every person i knew of being a tomato thief. i thought perhaps the kids had mistaken them for apples, had taken a bite, and had tossed them into the garbage, thinking they were bad. they swore they did not know where they were. i called my husband, to see if he had done anything with them. he didn't have a clue. i started running through a guest list in my head. the birthday cookout we had for my husband a day or so before. yes! one of those ruffians had stolen the other three green tomatoes.

i called my mother to tell her my quandary. she calmly said, "how many RED tomatoes do you have?"

"huh?", said i.

oh my goodness. yes, that's right. the other three had turned red. slap myself upon my brow!

so the lesson here: best to not accuse your friends of stealing your tomatoes. you will look like a dum dum.

so tonight, we had one oven fried green tomato and three oven fried red tomatoes. and actually, i have found that i almost prefer the red tomatoes better than the green!

Oven Fried ~~Green~~ Red Tomatoes

1. start by marinating your tomato slices in buttermilk and freshly ground pepper for about an hour to 3 hours. you can skip the marinating step, but it does make them that much tastier.

2. make a dredging mix. equal parts white cornmeal, course yellow corn meal, and unbleached white flour (about 1/3 cup each), and add a teaspoon of pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and 1/8-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you want it). mix well.

3. take each tomato slice directly from the buttermilk and lightly cover each one with the mix, being sure to tap off any excess.

4. line each piece up, being careful not to let them touch, on a non-stick cookie sheet. spray olive oil or other non-stick spray on each piece, top and bottom.

5. bake at 375 for about 45 minutes (or until brown and crispy on the outside), turning them after about 30. you can leave them as such, or after the turn you can add a little kick with some pinches of goat cheese. (i have a small love affair with goat cheese and will put it on just about anything to satiate my lustings). my family does NOT share the same sentiment, so i only added the goat cheese to half.

6. top with either a pasta sauce (which is what we had on hand, leftover from a spaghetti night), or make a red pepper sauce: roast some red peppers with olive oil and garlic, then blend it up with a wee bit o' cream to make a wondermous covering. i served mine tonight with a cornbread salad and some grapes.

cornbread salad is usually my summer salad staple. it is more filling than the standard lettuce based variety and i think it lends well to most meat dishes. it can easily be eaten as a light lunch as well.

typically i would add tomatoes to the salad to give some color boost, but left them out tonight for obvious reasons. this salad also looks particularly beautiful in a glass bowl, with all the different color variants visible, or in smaller mason jars for individual picnic fare.

Cornbread Salad

1.start by crumbling some day old cornbread in the bottom of a medium dish. it is best if the cornbread has been left to dry all day or night on the counter. it will absorb the flavors a bit more. but fresh, cooled cornbread can also be used last minute.

2. next, find various sorts of colorful raw veggies to layer. i love the colors of red onions, yellow or red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, some sharp cheddar cheese, yellow squash, corn, or zucchini. using at least one color from each color group looks the best.

3. chop and layer these on top of the cornbread, with the last being the cheese. top with a white style dressing like mayo, or yogurt mixed with herbs, or ranch dressing. don't mix until ready to serve.

i hope you take the time to enjoy some simple summer indulgences this year. and, enjoy some tomatoes a little extra for me!

wanted: motivational booster seat

2009-07-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

although we have the first week, post month vacation, under our belts, we (as in NOT me) were still lacking in the motivation department. the kids needed a pick me up. a SERIOUS boot to the bottom kind of thing to get them interested in this "school" business.

i came up with these little motivation/incentive posters for each child. it took a while to actually figure out the dynamics of the whole thing, and i worked on various designs and such in my head. and they may change as the years roll on.

i started by setting them up with their own little notebooks. then, as we would do reviews, each child would get a sticker for remembering a certain question. they also received stickers for doing assignments quickly, or doing assignments without getting any questions/math problems incorrect.

then i took some of last years posters (they had miscellaneous german alphabet and german numbers on them), and turned them over to use the other side (thrifty props for the day!). each child chose a theme. for keaton, he chose dinosaurs, and for ashton, she chose horses. i simply took computer paper and traced over old coloring book pictures that were just the right size. cut them out, and sticky tacked them onto the posterboard. you can make them more permanent if you wanted, but i know i will be re-using these so i wanted to make them as reusable as possible.

next i chose areas of incentive. the three that i chose were "knowledge", "expedience", and "goodness". the small notebooks will contain all their accumulated knowledge stickers, and for every two that they get, one sticker will be placed in the assigned knowledge outline. for every assignment that i require timing for, i am even including chores and other duties here, and if they finish said project in the time allotted, they get a sticker straight to the expedience outline. and for every exceedingly good deed, or for helping mommy without being asked, or for doing their list of chores without being told, they will get a sticker in the goodness outlines. i chose 5 outlines in all. 2 for knowledge, 2 for goodness, and 1 for expedience. i placed these tabs next to the outline of the child's choice, and they are also sticky tacked to the wall so i can easily move them around as they progress throughout the year.

then came the fun chore of deciding prizes and how these will be doted out. i decided that for every outline they fill, they will get to pick, out of a small container, a "prize". i let the kids help me choose some of these incentive prizes, the only kicker is that it required little to no money. a few we came up with were: picnics in the wilderness, 3 days of no chores, a pizza and movie night with one friend, one toy from the dollar store, 30 extra minutes on computer day, or an ice cream date out with mommy or daddy.

my hope is that these keep them motivated to fill all the outlines. and once all the outlines are filled, they get one large prize at the end, something of some worth. ashton chose a new Webkinz doll, and keaton chose a Hot Wheels car carrying semi truck.

i will keep you up on the progress of these charts and let you know if they have "staying" power. so far, they are working SPLENDIDLY. ashton already has done the dishes without being asked, and my son started folding laundry without being asked. they were so excited to pick and place their own sticker!

*gives self satisfied pats on back*

i am currently working on a reading incentive chart for each child. ahhh, my creative juices are flowing!

ok, who am i kidding?! i needed this motivation boost just as much as the kids did!!!

i think you think i think about food a lot. you are right.

2009-07-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

i think about food 90% of my day. what the last superb meal was that i ate, what the next meal is i am going to make. food, food, food. and especially since i come ever closer to the last few months of my pregnancy. food!

i crave mostly vinegar based or salty things. dunno why. i am sure there is some medical explanation for that somewhere, but i just really don't care that much to find out.

recently, i crave sauerkraut. i have literally filled a hot dog bun with only kraut and pickles.

i figured i would snazzy up my taste buds a bit tonight and make an old standard kraut dish. reuben sandwiches. of course, i did not have the exact perfect ingredients, but these worked exceptionally.

mine, of course, with EXTRA sauerkraut.

Jami's Reubens:

wheat french loaf
pepper studded thin sliced pastrami (i used hillshire farms)
provolone cheese
thousand island dressing
dijon mustard
sauerkraut

slice the bread, layer ingredients, and grill. we grill on, what i consider the king of ghetto indoor grills, the George Foreman. but, by gum, i use that thing like crazy and it makes excellent grilled sandwiches.

to cap off the meal, i treated myself to a post kid's bedtime snack. coffee and butter topped banana bread. i, no lie, have hidden the last 3 inches of this banana bread loaf under the aforementioned sauerkraut, and have snuck slices whenever i can the past week. thankfully, no one has asked if there is bread left. i don't think i could lie about it......or COULD i?

Banana Bread:

3 overripe bananas
1 cup unbleached white bread flour
1 cup whole wheat bread flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup butter, room temp

1 cup sugar
1 egg

mash the bananas in a large bowl. add flours, salt, and baking soda. in separate bowl, cream sugar, egg, and butter. add to banana mix. stir until you see no more clumps. pour into oiled/or buttered/or sprayed loaf pan. bake at 350 for one hour. let cool about 20 minutes before turning out. voile!

sweet endings to you!

old things

2009-07-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

i like old things. i guess i could say "vintage" as opposed to old, but i always thought that word sounded too sophisticated for me. but, "vintage" does have such a nice beautiful tune to it. i'll use it anyway, just to bemuse myself. that was off subject....

i like old things. most styles of dresses or fabrics, 40's to early 60's era suit me just fine. i like old books. they smell musty and make me sniffle, but quite nice. i like old people. wrinkles and wisdom. i have always wanted to be older. even now, i turn 30 this year, and i anticipate it. i've wanted to be 30 since i was 20. perhaps my sentiment may change when the 4-0 comes, but not right now. i eagerly await gray hair, wrinkles, and the old sage things that i am sure i will be saying. like, "get yer hair cut".

but most specifically i collect something old. vintage aprons. i turn into a squealing little wide eyed school girl when i land upon one. usually i don't have the money to get it, and i have to piously place it back under a pile of applique bed sheets at an antique store. but i have managed to amass a little treasure trove of dainty, food speckled old beauties.

collections are intriguing to me. why do people collect things? it's like we are a bunch of hoarders. my son collects rocks. every place we go, he will pick up the most unassuming rock and place it in his drawer (and he has a special big drawer now, chocked full of them). and, by golly, he remembers each and every place he got the rock. i've quizzed him several times. he is spot on.

but, why? what is it about rocks? i speculate it was because he always did like to hold and carry things around with him in his hands. i guess he feels naked without something in them. he would travel home with a rock in his hand, and then, i suppose he just didn't want to get rid of it. but why do other people collect things? why do i collect the aprons? is it just simply a "like" factor? do we just "like" these things, so now we hoard them in boxes, or on shelves, on walls, or in closets?

i have no idea. i just know that i LOVE my collection.

last night, at my book club meeting, my friend Leia, who is a vintage Etsy seller, gave me a huge box full of vintage aprons (for free, mind you!). i think i about passed out. literally. those you see in the above picture are what she gave me. i was proverbially happy. and still am.

obviously....i just wrote a stinkin' blog about 'em.

you think, perhaps in some other time, i would have collected something else? like, say, if i were me, in the year 2130...what would i collect? still the aprons, still the style? or, perhaps something cooler would have come along to collect. perhaps "vintage" auxiliary cable cords, or those dreamcatchers i saw at an Indian Festival one year made of Mariah Carey CD's.....
now THAT would be cool.

A Summer Hunt: Buying Curriculum

2009-07-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

summer. sublimely cool shade trees, a sundry goodies cooking away on the grill, fresh cut watermelon or peaches, freshly mowed grass. those smells. they make my nose hairs quiver with delight. but, not my favorite smell. nope. my favorite smell of summer.....used book fair. more specifically, my nose, buried deep in the crevices of the low low priced, gently used, coffee ringed stained curriculum teacher guide that i have just purchased. now THAT is the stuff summer is made of.

hey, i'm a homeschool mom. i get thrills from little things.....

locally, the used fairs here are gone. the big one that is left is the new book fair. the place to go where you want to see new editions in hand, hear lectures from different facets of knowledge, buy science kits and experiment materials, and get your registration form from your umbrella school of choice...among a million other things. but, before i break out the benjamins on curriculum in this place, i make sure to have covered all my other bases.

some parents have unlimited amounts to spend on homeschooling books, and God bless'em. but not me, nor many other moms of single income families i know.

here is my simple run down of ways to save money, before buying new books straight from publishers.

1. do research: the hardest and most time consuming of all the steps. get this done early.

ask friends or your local homeschool group for suggestions. find and join local homeschool yahoo groups. most of these will let you post any curriculum question you have and you will be really surprised at the responses you can get.

request catalogs. i much prefer having a catalog to hold in my hands than view page after page online, plus i can highlight, sticker, or dog ear any page that i want to remember. take advantage of the free ones. Rainbow Resource is still my favorite catalog for doing my bulk research. and the catalog is H-U-G-E and is free. others i have used are CBD and Homeschooling Books (CBD sends out a discounted books homeschool catalog once a year). also, most publishers will have catalogs, but will also obviously make their curriculum out to the best thing ever created. i always prefer a non-biased distributor.

book review websites. my favorite website to finalize my curriculum choice is Homeschool Reviews. it is free from publisher bias and does not just list links to reviews. it has had almost everything i have ever tried to research. or, just try to Google your book, and add the keyword "review" after. but, scrolling through links is a beast.....

libraries. you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get from your local library. if they don't have what you want, they can sometimes do an inter-library loan from another branch. and even more rare, you can ask them to buy a book to keep in their stock, IF it is new and they think it will generate a lot of check outs. also, try college libraries. most have elementary teacher editions of curriculum for education majors. (become a friend to your librarian....make them cookies or sweet breads and you will be amazed at how quickly they will "have" a book for you faster than anyone else)

2. price it out.

get the full from publisher price. this gives you the cap. you know that you will not spend any more than that amount (plus shipping).

distributor prices (like the catalogs listed above). they will have new books, but will cut prices by 5-50% at times.

find used book sellers online. my ultimate go to place is still and always will be Amazon. i get almost everything from there. more to try are Homeschool Classifieds (thanks Sally and Sarah), and VegSource (thanks karin and kindra). Ebay and half.com (owned by Ebay--thanks Julie and Justin) are also good places to search.

3. the purchasing. IN ORDER....

check local groups, websites, friends, and newspapers for used curriculum fairs in your area. this is my first stop among purchasing. i make a list of all the ones in the area (usually always held in the summer or late spring) and map them out on my calendar. i try to go to as many as possible. check back later this week for my ultimate guide to curriculum fair shopping. it's an art unto itself.

used book stores. this will save you shipping and you can usually find some good deals on teachers books, CD roms, books on tape, and paperbacks. locally, i live and breathe at McKays Used Books and CD's.

purchase from distributor websites or distributor catalogs.

school supply stores. especially the ones that have winter sales going.

buy from new curriculum fairs. this is my second to last resort. it will save in shipping...unless you spend a whole tank in gas money to get there.....

buy straight from the publisher online or through catalog. last resort, but sometimes necessary if it is a hard to find item, a brand new edition, or sold out anywhere else.

if your brow creases as mine does, when you think of all the trails you have to hike to get your books, you are NOT alone. homeschooling is not marketed as easy, and it never should be. i hope this blog can help you to ease some of the time wasted that i did over the past 4 years. happy hunting!!!

and always, comment with your tips to be published in later posts!

marker sniffers and toddler stickers

2009-07-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

who knew desperate mothers could be so creative?! oh, wait! i DID know that!

i'm just starting to get through the buckets of tips i have either gotten through facebook, emails, or the ones i received on here.

marj's ideas of stickers worked splendidly today. kept him entertained, and sticker covered for well over 45 minutes! whoop-whoop holler holler!

the happy son after a good school day. (and equally as happy mommy!)

i can feel the continuing theme of toddler pleasers for months and years to come!

another great source was sent to me through email by carrie. it's an e-book version of the Preschool Activities in a Bag II. i was familiar with Preschool Activities in a Bag I, but never really got around to making any of the projects due to my children's ages. although most projects are for preschoolers (lots of shapes, letters, and numbers sorting), there were quite a few that i thought i could tweak to work for my little 2 year old.

these few we are planning on trying next week:

clothes pins: lists a few projects that have your child clip and place the clothes pins on various objects (including canning lids and paper). and seeing as though i have a blue million clothes pins that i "intend" to some day put on my imaginary clothes line outside....i digress....

pipe cleaners and straws: snip straws into smaller segments and have the child thread the pipe cleaner through the straws.

click here if you are interested in getting either of the Preschool Activities in a Bag I or II in e-book form. and while you are there, check out their other resources. downloading Science Experiments in a Bag as i type!

in other, but similarly crafty news, my children are marker sniffers.

and they have the colored undernoses to prove just how inviting the scents really are. my favorite is the coffee scented one.

my husband is 30 today, so they kids got their craft on by making mish-mosh cards. i learned that children can be very wasteful if not monitored with construction paper/printer paper and other art supplies, so when i organized our school room, i gave them their very own drawer full of scraps and bits of leftover paper, yarn, felt, and magazines that they can use up to their hearts desire, and they are NOT allowed to just decimate my other things unless it is a supervised craft project. if you have an empty box, drawer, tote, you can designate it as "kid friendly" and know that your other supplies are relatively safe from boredom ensued afternoons.

keep the tips coming!!

yield: 10 cups toddler tears

2009-07-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

oh yes. you're feeling where this is going right?

enter this pic into any scenario where you, the parent, are in the midst of some purposeful deed. fixing dinner, doing bills, teaching astronomy, or reading/writing/relaxing.....face it....you insert this image into any daily doing and it makes your brain cells wither with defeat.

i find this most difficult while i am homeschooling the other children. mostly in little spurts it is handled, but a constant, all day whine and cry and scream and need, need, need....sigh. this was my day today (and every day this week thus far).

he is my most "hard to handle" child, and also the one that makes me laugh the most (an awesome predicament that God has obviously found delightful in letting me handle). i struggle, though, to keep him happy. he is two, still in that phase of not quite grasping what "not right now" means in his terms, and cannot under any circumstance be told "no" when he has asked to do something that i can't or won't get or do for him. this resulting in high pitched screaming that no form of punishment has yet to qualm.

so, i'm left with distraction tactics. websites offer many helpful hints for toddler "busiers", but most are just a bit outside the 1-2 year old age (and in my point of view, the hardest ages of keeping happy in the young years). here are some that we have tried and had mild to high success in:

totes. these being filled with various toys that are only brought out on a semi weekly basis and rotated to keep the toys seemingly new to the young ones.
educational shows in limited doses. i have found Mighty Machines particularly effective for my child and for his age. others of course being Barney, Sesame Street and most other PBS shows.
a pair of blunt toddler scissors and some scrap paper. this needs no explanation, but requires a super electric swiffer pad to pick up all those irritating pieces of paper carnage after the doing is done.
play dough. but never, ever, ever, ever near carpet or rugs that you especially like.
pasta of different shapes with cups and pots. toddlers love to pour and re-pour, and large pasta shapes are a bit easier to clean up than, say, water or sand. and can be consumed, if you have one that likes to taste everything.
older child guided activity. especially effective if you have an older child who can willingly (necessary to be willing) take the little one out of the room for a bit, to build block towers, or piece together easy puzzles.
scheduled play. the most time consuming and evasive of all the diversions. it involves a daily schedule, where you dote out each task for a limited amount of time, and then clean it up and move onto the next. for example: if you need distractions from 9-11 in the morning. start with the one your child finds the most fun, usually one that is the messiest in my experience. only do this for about 20 minutes (or before the child becomes bored with it--never wait until the child is over it and fussy and wanting something else), then gently phase in the next task and clean up the first after the child is enthralled in the new one, same amount of time and clean up after, continue on as needed. i always save the tv/movie/book on tape/longer distractor for the last. this method is the most challenging when you are trying to teach other children and don't want to be pulled away constantly. and it needs to be changed around daily or have special things added in on some days to break up the monotony. like, say, add in their favorite movie on tuesdays, or chalk and chalkboard on thursdays, macaroni pouring on friday, and so forth. if you can enlist the brawn of other children to help with the transfer of tasks, this helps greatly (maybe even have a different helper child each day on a scheduled daily task sheet).

but there are ALWAYS more ways. so i pour my heart out to you. i need some other tried and true tips to list in future (and more structured) posts. and if yours works for my son, then you get a special bonus shout out across internet land.

and now anyone can post a comment on my blog, you don't need to have a blogger or google account.

thanks in advance!

a chill, if you will

2009-06-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

today in school, the kids and i did memorization reviews. this year i gave them seasonal poetry to memorize (a simple haiku for the 5 year old, and a little more complex one for the 8 year old). the ones my daughter memorized are among my favorites, ever.

and seeing as though it is wretched hot outside, i found her winter poem especially soothing today.

join me for a moment.

close your eyes (well, actually don't do that...). ummmm.....let your eyelids become slightly heavy. like you just sipped your first bit of morning coffee or tea. that's it.....

now transfix yourself all the way ahead of time to winter. dead winter. a wide open field encompasses you, with large naked oaks cutting a few inches off your peripheral view on each side. snow covers everything. and it is snowing now. no other noises. just the "pit pit pit" of big and small snowflakes waltzing together through the ever so slightest breeze. not even so much that you feel the breeze.....just enough that it moves the snowflakes around in little happy swirls.
you hold out your hand just in time to have one fat ole snowflake float right down on your fingertip and stay there, refusing to melt until you can see every single stem and structure of icy beauty.

now, this is key. imagine the softest voice you have ever known and love. perhaps an actor or actress, or your mother's, or grandmother's. for me, i hear gabriel byrne.

now this voice begins to speak. perhaps this person you visualize is right there beside you. just talking above a whisper (because of course you don't want to drown out all that "pit pit pit" of snow). or maybe it is like a story in your head, a bedtime poem that your mother softly spoke as your mind fell off to sleep.

and this is what is said:

before i melt
come, look at me
this lovely, icy filigree

of a great forest
in one night
i make a wilderness of white

by skyey cold
of crystals made
all softly on your finger laid

i pause that you
my beauty see

breathe
and i vanish instantly.

simple beauty. that's walter de la mare. genius. find him, read him.

perhaps tomorrow, while i'm in the throws of a heat ridden hot flash, courtesy of the pregnancy, i will sit my extra wide self down upon a pillow, close my eyes, and let this piece remind me that the mind can win out over body if given the chance.....

first day

2009-06-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

lesson # 425 in homeschooling:

each day brings new and challenging...uhh....challenges

starting back to school after a month off is rough. i won't lie or sugar coat it. screaming 2 year old, wiggly 5 year old, daydreaming 8 year old, and heartburned and tired of pregnancy mommy/teacher. but, the first day is over and we look forward to a new start tomorrow. and the rest of this week. and the weeks after. all uphill from here*!
*keeping up the optimism.

answer to general question of the month:

what is year round homeschooling? well, i'll tell ya! you have state laws for homeschooling, different in every state. in tennessee it is a minimum of 4 hours a day, 180 days a year. however you choose to use those parameters is up to you (unless you register with a public school or christian school that has set requirements). the first year, i took off every friday, and then a whole month off in summer (give or take days here and there). the past two years we have done a month, plus some, from thanksgiving to christmas, a lesser month in spring, and a lesser month in summer. and it works splendidly for us. so, our school year pretty much goes from september to september.

today, our school day was about 5 1/2 hours (doesn't include lunch break), due to the aforementioned daydreaming daughter. and we also took an unexpected bonus trip to france on the internet and painted the Pont du Gard, that then led to a mini lesson on the roman aqueducts. here is the inspiration pic:

here is keaton's rendition (the 5yr old)

and, oh......ok! here is mine (cause i like to show off my mad watercoloring skillz)

i sit back now, relaxing in sublime peace. children are either in bed, or doing chores quietly. the baby is moving a bit, probably digesting my dinner. and off in the background, my husband plays baseball on the ole x-box.

in a few minutes i will fall off into some daydreaming bit, most likely involving schooling projects, baby things, or lives that i would live if given the time, money, and sanity. perhaps that vegan/raw restaurant that i will own someday, or the call from martha stewart herself asking me to be her assistant photo editor. sigh.........

oh, this girl can daydream.......

Sophista-play Date

2009-06-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

Playdates are almost essential in the life of a mom, whether the mom is working or stay-at-home. It gets children together with their peers and gives the moms time to chat and share adult conversation.

Being a mediocre foodie, I find this an optimal time to include a little sophisticated eating. Something only for the mommies, that makes us all feel a little pampered, right in the midst of a busy day.

I invited my friend Bethany over (using the lure of smallish kiddie pool to entice the kids into thinking this is for them), and utilized my most recent trip to the farmers market to help set the theme. On the menu: marinated heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced roasted garlic ciabatta, cranberry studded white cheddar, and honeycomb. Add in a little POM mixed with mineral water to seal the deal.

Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes

7-8 smallish (cherry sized) heirloom tomatoes, variety of colors, cut into quarters

drizzle of honey, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper

couple of basil leaves and mint leaves, thinly sliced, or chiffonade

mix well and let set, room temp, for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld

The bread can be used as a spoon to help scoop up the tomato mixture and the cheddar can be spread with a bit of honeycomb on a slice as well. If you don't have a specialty cheddar, try blue cheese or gorgonzola instead, or thinly sliced good quality swiss. And also, any bread will do, but mostly ciabatta is the best. Plain or other special tastes of ciabatta work equally well.

This summer snack takes all of 10 minutes to prep and makes a normal playdate feel like a girls day at Martha's Vineyard. Well......with screaming kids and cool splashes of kiddie pool water dazzling into sunlight as the backdrop.

that rhythm to stir the feet

2009-06-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

i am not a good dancer. i mean, i can move around and keep a somewhat steady rhythm, but i always end up making a face or moving my arms too much. my arms much like long ostrich legs waving about in mad cadence, and my face crumpled up in deep, almost bowel movement straining concentration. it's actually quite sad.

but i do like to dance. and today, i did. i did my little white girl, pathetic, gangly dance on the floor in our new school room.

a satisfied jig of accomplishment.

monday morning we start fresh and new in our sparkly, month old school room. we converted our carport into a snazzy den of education and fun. and since we homeschool year round, and still have exactly 40 (that's quite biblical) days left to finish out our school year, i really needed some change to get me over the "these are our last days of redundancy" slump. we always use up all the fun curriculum first, and then are stuck with math, reading, and english at the end. and we trudge through....just barely. but this new room will be the kicker, the syrup on the pancake!

and so today i start a blog journey. the means of this blog....i suppose to post mainly of our family's homeschooling adventures, a bit of photography, and food stuffs. and not any emotional or personal fluff. EVER.

and we will trudge on with you along side us. viewing each step, misstep, and challenge as they come up. i hope for the least of the missteps and challenges....optimism is K-E-Y!

see you on the next page!