SURPRISE! CLICK HERE.............

this is where you'll find me, now!

I'M JUST ABOUT READY TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT...THE BIG EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT....  THE ONE YOU'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT ALL DAY, AND WILL PROBABLY LIE AWAKE WONDERING ABOUT, TONIGHT AS YOU DRIFT OFF INTO THE LAND OF NOD. 

I PROMISE... I WILL BE MAKING THE ANNOUNCMENT SOMETIME TOMORROW (TUESDAY!),

IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DON'T YOU SIGN UP TO RECEIVE TWO FREE COOKBOOKS FROM GOOSEBERRY PATCH?  THE SIGN-UP IS QUICK AND PAINLESS.  NO SURVEY'S, NO NONSENSE...JUST A BASIC NAME AND ADDRESS FORM...  CLICK HERE: 

http://www2.gooseberrypatch.com/gooseberry/affiliates.nsf/f.free_cookbook_gooseberry_patch_sunmaid_raisins_fall_favorites?openform&CMP=AFC-sunmaidfallfavorites

WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, MAIL ONE TO YOUR MOTHER, SISTER OR FRIEND, OR MOTHER-IN-LAW!

smile, wink, nod!

I HAVE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING UP....  STAY TUNED!

I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT OUR HOMESCHOOL DAY, YESTERDAY WAS PERFECTLY JOYOUS!  THAT TOMMIE DUG RIGHT IN TO HIS LESSONS, NEVER POUTED, NEVER TALKED BACK AND ANSWERED, YES MAM'M AND NO MAM'M, RIGHT ON CUE.  I'D ALSO LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT, HE ACES EVERYTHING... NEVER THINKS "HE'S" THE ONLY ONE WHO'S  RIGHT IN THE HOUSEHOLD...  AND, LEARNS A TON,  I MEAN RETAINS A BIG TON OF INFO, OFF OF THOSE BLACK-LINE, FILL IN THE BLANKS, WORKBOOKS! 

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE!

WHAT SEPERATES THE HOMESCHOOL WORLD FROM THE REST OF THE SCHOOL WORLD IS, THAT WE, AS HOMESCHOOL PARENTS, ARE THE CAPTAIN OF OUR OWN SHIPS!  HOW LUCKY WE REALLY, REALLY ARE, TO BE ABLE TO RE-DIRECT OUR SAILS AND FIND A ROUTE  THAT TAKES US TO OUR DESTINATION... OR MORE IMPORTANTLY... ALLOWS US AND OUR CHILDREN TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE!   IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SOME OF US JOURNEY IN OUR CANOE OR ON A YACHT.  BUT, I HAVE A HUNCH... YOU'LL BE MORE FULFILLED IN A CANOE.  smile, wink, nod.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING YESTERDAY, WHEN I PULLED OUT HIS READING COMPREHENSION WORKBOOK...  PERHAPS I DID IT OUT OF CONVIENIENCE?  I INSTRUCTED HIM TO READ A SHORT STORY ABOUT THE PANAMA CANAL AND THEN FILL OUT THE QUESTION & ANSWER PAGE.   

IN HIS WORKBOOK, THE STORY...THE COMPLETE STORY OF WHERE, WHEN, WHY AND THE HOW'S OF THE PANAMA CANAL, INCLUDING THE PEACE TREATY, WERE SUMMED UP IN FOUR, LARGE FONT PARAGRAPHS.  SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? 

IT DID HOWEVER, SPARK TOMMIE'S CURIOSITY.... AND,  UP UNTIL HE HAD TO FILL IN THE BLANKS... HE WAS THIRSTING TO KNOW MORE!  MY PUBLIC SCHOOL MENTALITY, INSTRUCTED HIM TO GET BACK TO WORK..FILLING IN THE MASS-PRODUCED WORKBOOK PAGES.  HE POUTED.  HE TURNED PALE.  HE WHINED.  HE COMPLAINED.  HE WAS YAWNING.  HE WAS BEING A ROYAL PAIN.  HE COMPLAINED SOME MORE.  HE WAS STARTING TO GIVE ME A HEADACHE.  I GUESS ITS SAFE TO SAY, BEING EDUCATED AND RAISED ON LIVING BOOKS, SORT OF SPOILS A PERSON.

IT SUDDENLY OCCURED TO ME THAT,  I WAS SQUASHING AND STOMPING OUT HIS DESIRE TO LEARN MORE...HE THOUROUGHLY ENJOYED READING ABOUT IT--EVEN ASKING ME TO PULL UP PICTURES ON THE INTERNET AND DISCUSSING IT... BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO CIRCLING THE CORRECT ANSWER AND REWRITING THE ANSWERS TO FIT IN THE BLANKS...  HE DESIRE DIMINISHED.  YOU COULD SEE HIM FADING LIKE A BALLOON!  FALLING LIKE A CARD-HOUSE!

THAT'S IT.

I TOLD HIM HE COULD WRAP IT UP... AND START HIS SILENT READING OF SQUANTO.  HE WAS CONFUSED BUT WILLING.

WHILE HE WAS READING, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET...  I HAD A LIGHTBULB MOMENT, AND DECIDED TO QUICKLY WRITE UP A "PANAMA CANAL  INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT!"...WHICH INCLUDED MY "OWN-HOMEMADE" QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS!

THIS IS THE SITE I USED: 

http://www.canalmuseum.com/canalphotos/index.htm

AT THIS SITE, YOU'LL DISCOVER THE PANAMA CANAL WILDLIFE, JOBS PEOPLE DO, BRIDGES, THE LOCKS, PANAMA CITY, TUGBOATS, AND EVEN EQUIPMENT THEY USE... AND SO MUCH MORE!  

ONE OF THE SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTIONS WAS:  GO TO THE VISITORS CENTER... WHAT ANIMAL COULD YOU LEARN ABOUT AT THE CENTER? ( A PELICAN), THEN CLICK ON THE PICTURE OF THE PELICAN AND I'D HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR HIM TO ANSWER. 

THIS WENT ON AND ON!  IT'S REALLY ENDLESS...ONCE YOU GET INTO IT.

HE WAS REALLY PUMPED UP!  SO MUCH IN FACT, HE WAS STANDING UP AT THE COMPUTER. HIS VOICE WAS SO MUCH HAPPIER, HIS COLOR CAME BACK INTO HIS FACE AND HIS EYES WERE WIDE OPEN!!!  HE WAS TELLING ME EVERYTHING HE WAS SEEING AND LEARNING!  I WAS SMILING, MY HEADACHE FADED.   HE WORKED RIGHT THROUGH LUNCH... AND WAS QUIZZING HIS DAD AND SHARING INFORMATION AND PICTURES, OF WHAT HE LEARNED, THAT AFTERNOON!

IN RETROSPECT, MAYBE WE DID NEED THAT DRY, OLD WORKBOOK TO CATAPULT US INTO  NEW ROUTES?    AND, THE STUDY IS NOT DONE YET...  I FOUND THIS SITE TO CENTER OUR HOMESCHOOL AROUND ON MONDAY: 

http://encarta.msn.com/media_461517735_761559188_-1_1/Panama_Canal.html

DON'T FORGET....  YOU'RE THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR  HOMESCHOOL SHIP...  NOT A MASS-PRODUCED CURRICULUM! BRING BACK THE JOY OF LEARNING!

 SMILE, WINK, NOD!

BUYING A BAG OF BIRDSEED IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS THESE DAYS, IS PRETTY FRIGHTENING...  IN SOME STORES, I'VE NOTICED THE BAGS HAVE TRIPLED IN PRICE!  I HAVE A HARD TIME SPENDING $23. BEFORE TAX, ON A BAG THAT WILL LAST A WEEK AND HAS A LOT OF UNMEANINGFUL FILLERS MIXED IN!

YOU SEE, BIRD WATCHING, HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR LIVES FOR SO LONG...   I SEE OUR NUTHATCHES AND TITMOUSES ARE AROUND... SNOOPING, LOOKING, WONDERING...  AND THEN THEY FLY AWAY, SEEING THAT OUR FEEDERS ARE EMPTY!

LAST CHRISTMAS, MY MOM PICKED UP A VERY SWEET LITTLE "HOMEMADE BIRD FEED" BOOK, TITLED, "RECIPE BOOK FOR FEEDING WILD BIRDS," BY DEANA JAGER...  THUMBING THROUGH IT, I REALIZED I COULD MAKE OUR OWN TREATS FOR THE BIRDS...AT A VERY MINIMAL COST!  smile, wink, nod!  AND, IT'S A LOT OF FUN!  IN FACT, IT MADE ME SORT OF EXHALE AND SMILE, THINKING I WAS DOING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD!  KIND OF LIKE THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU RECYCLE!

BELOW, I POSTED THE RECIPE... I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT OKAY.   YOU JUST BOIL THE WATER AND BUTTER (OR LARD),, REMOVE FROM HEAT AND LET COOL DOWN, THEN ADD THE PEANUT BUTTER AND FRUIT, AND THEN THE DRY CEREAL... (I WAS ABLE TO CLEAN MY CUPBOARDS- USING UP LEFTOVER CRACKERS, OLD STALE CEREAL, ETC.)  THEN, I SPRAYED A CUPCAKE PAN, AND POURED THE MIXTURE (VERY SOUPY) INTO THE TINS... STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER, THEN POPPED THEM OUT, WHEN THEY WERE FROZE.  I'M STORING THEM IN A ZIPLOCK BAG IN THE REFRIDGERATOR.  THE RECIPE IS HUGE!!!  NOT ONLY DID I MAKE THE CUPCAKES, BUT FILLED FOUR OTHER LARGER CONTAINERS, FROM THE RECYCLE BIN IN OUR BASEMENT!

YOU CAN IMAGINE OUR SUPRISE, WHEN WE FOUND OUR DOG LUCY, ON TOP OF THE KITCHEN TABLE, SITTING ON TOMMIE'S MATH PAPERS!  NO!!!!!  WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANY ANIMAL ON OUR KITCHEN TABLE!!!!  AND YES,  I DID WINDEX IT REAL GOOD, AFTERWARDS!  WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT GOT INTO HER THAT MORNING...BUT, WE SURE DO LOVE LUCY!  AND, YOU WOULD, TOO!

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses." -Alphonse Karr-

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?    ANCIENT EARRING FOUND IN JERUSALEM... IT DATES BACK 2,000 YEARS AGO...DURING THE TIME OF CHRIST, DURING THE ROMAN PERIOD!

CLICK ON MY FAVORITE NEWS SITE TO READ ABOUT IT!

CLICK HERE:

HAPPY NEWS!

WOULDN'T IT BE NICE, IF OUR LOCAL TELEVISION CHANNELS COULD ENLIGHTEN US ON GOOD THINGS?  INSTEAD OF THE FALL OF GENERAL MOTORS, HOW AMERICA IS CRUMBLING LIKE A CARD HOUSE AND HOW CRUMMY THE ECONOMY IS OR HOW EVERYTHING ON EARTH IS RELATED TO CANCER? 

COULDN'T WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER DAY IF THE HAPPY NEWS WEBSITE WAS BROADCASTED ON CABLE?  FOR NOW, IT REMAINS MY HOMEPAGE.

smile, wink, nod

IT'S BEEN JUST OVER A YEAR, SINCE WE MUMMIFIED OUR CHICKEN FOR OUR MINI-UNIT STUDY ON EGYPT....  YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AND HOW FRESH THE CHICKEN LOOKED IF YOU CLICK HERE, WHICH I THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO SO YOU CAN COMPARE...  OKAY... CLICK HERE AND THEN COME BACK AND FINISH READING: 

FRESH PICTURES OF HOW WE MUMMIFIED OUR CHICKEN

BACK TO THURSDAY LATE AFTERNOON...  BRAD DUG UP THE HOMEMADE TOMB AS TOMMIE AND HIS FRIEND RILEY WATCHED...  I MADE A LOT OF FACES LIKE THE ONE ABOVE!!!

THE BOYS WERE CHECKING THINGS OUT.....

IT APPEARS WE MAKE A LOT OF UGLY, DISGUSTING-LOOKING FACES HERE AT THIS HOUSE....  MAYBE I SHOULD USE THE PICTURE BELOW FOR OUR CHRISTMAS CARDS?

THIS IS WHAT WAS INSIDE THE TOMB!  WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES...  HOPEFULLY, YOU CLICKED ON THE LINK  ABOVE, SO YOU CAN COMPARE!

ONCE AGAIN...THE BOYS, INCLUDING BRAD...CHICKENED OUT!  (PUN INTENDED).  SO, I HAD TO PULL THE CHICKEN OUT OF THE TOMB...WHILE THE BOYS, INCLUDING BRAD HELD THEIR NOSES, JUMPED AND DID TWIRLY BIRDS AND SAID THINGS LIKE..."THAT'S JUST SICK!"... "OH, YUCK!"... AND THE LIKE.

AS I UNWRAPPED THE CHICKEN-MUMMY.... THE SMELL OF IT WAS MORE THEN ANY OF US COULD STAND...IT WAS THE WORST-SICKENING SMELL I HAVE EVER SMELLED.  THE WAVE OF NAUSEA HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS!

THE MUMMY-CHICKEN SHRUNK DOWN TO ABOUT HALF OF THE ORIGINAL SIZE.

IT WAS REALLY SLIMEY...(AM I GROSSING YOU OUT, YET?)  AND ROCK HARD.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE.... THURSDAY WAS PREDICTED TO BE ONE OF OUR LAST NICE DAYS OF THE YEAR....  AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!   

ONE OF MY BIGGEST PET PEEVES ABOUT EDUCATION IS HOW THE MINDSET OF EDUCATORS ARE....  IN MY PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, I WAS TAUGHT THAT A "GOOD" EDUCATION COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN THE GOVERNMENT'S BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING... ON PAPER, FILL OUT THE BLANKS,  DRILL, KILL AND FORGET, MOVE ON, DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, AND HEAVEN FORBID YOU LET YOUR PEERS KNOW YOU DON'T "GET" SOMETHING!!! 

I'VE FOUND THAT EVEN IN HOMESCHOOLING, IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN FILLING OUT WORKBOOK PAGES... AND TAKING PRIDE IN KNOWING YOU COMPLETED "LESSON 45"...  OR CHECKING THE BOX:  A, B OR C  TO DETERMINE ALLITERATION...(WHICH BY THE WAY, YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY TEACH IN THE CAR!!) 

 THAT SAID...  FOR US, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST KNOW HOW TO FIGURE MATH OUT ON PAPER, BUT TO  BE ABLE TO APPLY IT TO REAL LIFE.  AND, UNDERSTAND WHEN AND WHERE YOU WOULD USE THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS.

SO, ON THURSDAY, WE DID "TRUCK SCHOOL."    BRAD HAS 30 TIRES ON HIS TRUCK AND TRAILER...  I MADE A SMALL STACK OF BLUE PAPERS (SEE BELOW) THAT SAID "FLAT."  I RANDOMLY HID THEM IN THE TIRES...  AND, TOMMIE HAD TO COME ALONG AND FIGURE OUT WHAT FRACTION AND PERCENT OF THE TIRES WERE FLAT...AND REDUCE THE FRACTIONS.

WE PLAYED THIS GAME OVER AND OVER AND OVER.  IT KEPT HIS "BOY-ENERGY" MOVING!!

NEXT, WE MOVED INSIDE THE TRUCK AND USED THE MANY GAUGES TO CREATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMS...  I LOOKED THROUGH OUR HORIZONS 5 MATH BOOK, AND WENT IN-LINE WITH WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING...ONLY I TWEEKED IT TO BE "HAND'S-ON."

SUCH AS:  ROUNDING OFF, VALUE POSITIONS, ADDING NUMBERS TO VALUE POSITIONS, CREATING SMALLER AND LARGER NUMBERS...AND SIMPLE ADDING AND SUBTRACTING OFF THE DIFFERENT GAUGES. 

I ALSO XEROXED FOUR OF MY PERSONAL CHECKS OFF ON PAPER...  I GAVE HIM "USED" INVOICES TO COPY AND FILL OUT FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW TO WRITE CHECKS.  I HAD HIM FIGURE OUT SALES TAX FOR EACH, AS WELL. 

smile- wink-nod!

ON ELECTION DAY... WE TOOK A DAY TRIP TO KALAMAZOO AND VISITED A NATURE CENTER AND  HUGE FISH HATCHERY...  WELL LET ME CLEAR SOMETHING UP...IT WASN'T EXACTLY BECAUSE WE ARE THE PERFECT ADVENTURE-OPPORTUNITY SEEKING-FAMILY, WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO ON A BEAUTIFUL TUESDAY IN NOVEMEBER....  THE TRUTH IS, BRAD HAS BEEN GROWING INCREASINGLY GRUMPY WITHOUT A PICK-UP!  TRYING TO FIND THE EXACT SIZE, MAKE AND STYLE...WITHIN OUR PRICE RANGE HAS BEEN AN UNWANTED, DAUNTING CHALLENGE, SINCE HIS UNEXPECTED TRUCK ACCIDENT...WHICH WAS NOT HIS FAULT...WHICH MEANS WE'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN EXTRA $500.00 IN INSURANCE... 

OKAY, THAT SAID....

I PACKED TOMMIE'S CLIPBOARD WITH MATH PAGES ON IT AND OTHER LESSONS- AND MADE SURE TO PACK EXTRA PENCILS...BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIME, WHEN WE'RE ON THE ROAD, HE SEEMS TO BREAK MOST OF HIS PENCIL LEADS... WHICH MEANS HE JUST CAN'T FINISH HIS LESSONS WITHOUT A PENCIL ...  I KNOW YOU FIND IT HARD TO BELEIVE, THAT MY BLINDLY OBEDIENT SON WOULD BREAK LEADS ON PURPOSE TO GET OUT OF CAR-SCHOOLING... BUT, FRIENDS... IT'S A FACT.

OKAY, THAT SAID....

RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP WAS THIS GIGANTIC FISH HATCHERY AND SMALL NATURE CENTER...  SO, WITH BRAD BEING MR. HAPPY MAN WITH HIS NEW TRUCK... WE ALL AGREED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FAMILY FIELDTRIP...

OKAY, THAT SAID... BELOW: I THINK THIS IS A STURGEON...  THERE WERE THOUSANDS (WELL, HUNDREDS) OF THEM!

THIS IS THE FISH TRUCK THAT IS USED TO TRANSPORT AND RELEASE FISH BACK INTO THE LAKES AND RIVERS....

I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A HUMMINGBIRD NEST...IT WAS REALLY SMALL...BUT AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH IT DOESN'T REALLY FIT THE DESCRIPTION.

THIS IS THE BIG, LONG FISH HATCHERY...FILLED WITH A BAZILLION EGGS AND MINNOWS!

IT ENDED UP BEING AN ENJOYABLE DAY... 

EVEN THOUGH OUR CANDIDATE DID NOT WIN.

I WAS SO EXCITED AT THE CHECK OUT REGISTER, YESTERDAY AT KROGERS...I ALMOST DID THE HAPPY DANCE!  TRUTH IS, MY HEART WAS BEATING PRETTY EXCITEDLY AND I'M SURE MY FACE WAS FLUSHED AS WELL AS MY NECK...  YOU SEE, I HAD VERY, VERY CAREFULLY MAPPED OUT A PLAN, THAT MORNING...MATCHING COUPONS UP WITH THEIR ADS! 

I'VE BEEN REALLY GETTING INTO THE COUPON GAME AND FREE SAMPLE GAME, SINCE ABOUT AUGUST... I'VE DONE WELL...AND, IT IS WELL WORTH MY TIME AND EFFORT.... ESPECIALLY IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM COUPON MESSEGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET..... BUT, I STILL AM A NOVICE!

TWO THINGS THAT DO HELP OUT TREMENDOUSLY IS TO BUY THE SUNDAY PAPER, CHECK FOR COUPONS, IF THEY'RE GOOD AND YOU USE THE PRODUCTS (I NEVER BUY PRODUCTS I DON'T USE, EVEN IF IT'S A GOOD DEAL)...THEN I RUN BACK IN AND BUY 3 OR 4 NEWSPAPERS.  OR ASK FRIENDS TO SAVE THEM FOR YOU...OR YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW.  SO OFTEN, DEALS "TWO FOR $________"...  THEN IF YOU GET TWO OF THAT PRODUCT WITH TWO OF YOUR COUPONS (OR FOUR!!) VIOLA' BIG SAVINGS...EVEN MORE IF YOUR GROCERY STORE DOUBLES THEM!!

I'LL SHARE SOME OF THE ITEMS I RECEIVED AT KROGERS...FOR FREE:

2  4 PACK ROLLS OF COTTENELLE T. PAPER

6  SOAP PUMPS OF DIAL HAND SOAP

2 POT ROASTS

3  PACKS OF THIN SLICED PORK CHOPS (WHICH I CAME HOME AND SPLIT UP AND FROZE INTO 12 MEALS) 

1 BOX OF CHEERIOS

6 CANS OF CARNATION EVAPORATED MILK

1 CAN OF (LARGE 16 OZ.) OF DUNCAN HINES FROSTING

3 PACKAGES OF  STARKIST ALBACORE TUNA

PLUS, MANY-MANY ITEMS FOR .50 OR LESS...  

I ALSO PICKED UP:

 9 BAGS OF NESTLE CHOCOLATE CHIPS (AND ASSORTED FLAVORS) FOR $1.00 A PACKAGE,

(LAST WEEK):  12 JUGS OF PUREX LAUNDRY SOAP FOR $1.25 EACH (YOU ONLY NEED HALF A CUP/LID TO GET A FULL LOAD CLEAN, BTW.)

****************

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COUPON SUCCESS STORIES AND OTHER TIPS/TRICKS YOU HAVE!....  I AM JUST NOW LEARNING HOW THIS ALL WORKS...SO, ENLIGHTEN ME!

smile, wink, nod!

IT'S "ME-ME" TIME, AGAIN...  I'VE BEEN TAGGED BY MY WILD AND WONDERFUL FRIEND PENNY!  SO, HERE I GO........

SIX QUIRKY THINGS ABOUT ME... 

1.  I AM MARRIED TO A SUPER-DUPER NEAT FREAK GUY!  HE'S OBSESSIVLY (SP?) ORGANIZED, LAYS HIS CLOTHES OUT EACH NIGHT BEFORE BED AND HE FOLLOWS BEHIND ME, CLEANING UP STUFF THAT "I MISSED!"  THEY SAY OPPOSITES ATTRACT...THIS PROVES TRUE. 

2.  I LOVE LITTLE DEBBIE PEANUTBUTTER-CHOCOLATE BARS!

3.  IN ALL OF MY 44 YEARS... IN REAL LIFE.... I'VE NEVER EVER HAD TO DIAGRAM A SENTENCE, I'VE NEVER HAD TO CONVERT AN IMPROPER FRACTION, NEVER NEEDED TO USE A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE, I'VE NEVER HAD TO BE FLUENT IN A FORIEGN LANGUAGE, NOR DID I EVER FIND THE PARTS OF AN EARTHWORM (THAT I LEARNED IN 10TH GRADE BIOLOGY) USEFUL, WHILE APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE.  I NEVER NEEDED TO USE HAIKU, I ABSOLUTLY NEVER EVER NEEDED TO KNOW THE PLANT AND ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION STUFF.  FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE THEM.  AND, I MADE IT THIS FAR...NOT KNOWING WHAT NASA STANDS FOR.  I KNOW A LOT OF THIS NOW... (I'M ROLLING MY EYES AS I TYPE), BECAUSE OF HOMESCHOOLING TOMMIE.  MY POINT IS...  YOU CAN LEAD A SOMEWHAT PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE WITHOUT A LOT OF IT.  smile-wink-nod. 

4.  I REALLY, REALLY ENJOY CHILDREN'S LITERATURE!  I JUST READ A WONDERFUL AMERICAN GIRLS BOOK ON WORLD WAR 2.  DID YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS BURIED DIARIES OF THEIR CAMP DAYS IN THREE MILK BUCKETS?  TWO OF WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND AND ONE IS STILL UNCLAIMED!  THE SOLDIERS ALSO USED TO WASH UP IN THEIR HELMETS.  OH, AND THEY USED TO MAKE GLOW-IN-THE DARK BOARD GAMES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY DURING THE BLACK OUTS!

5.  OBAMA SAID WE NEEDED A CHANGE.  SO, LAST NIGHT DURING THE ELECTION, I CUT MY OWN HAIR...PRETTY SHORT!  DO YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT HE MEANT?   smile, wink, nod.

6.  FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE NEVER CHANGED MY HAIR COLOR, FRENCH MANICURE (WELL MAYBE NOW AND THEN...BUT HARDLY EVER)...OR LIPSTICK COLOR.  AND, MY WARDROBE IS BASICALLY BLACK...IT HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AS WELL.  I LEARNED LONG AGO, FROM CALVIN KLEIN, THAT LIFE IS JUST EASIER WHEN YOU STICK TO ONE OR TWO BASIC COLORS.  SAVES ON LAUNDRY, GREAT FOR MIX AND MATCHING AND NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE.  PLUS, IT'S THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED COLOR IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.  NOT THAT I CARE ONE IOTA ABOUT WHETHER I'M ACCEPTED OR NOT... I DO IT FOR ME.  smile-wink-nod.

Here are the official rules…

~ Link to the person who tagged you.
~ Mention the rules.
~ Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
~ Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
~ Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

P.S.  I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE TALL CUP OF STARBUCKS COFFEE, YESTERDAY...SINCE I DID VOTE.  STRAIGHT TICKET, BY THE WAY.  I AM, NOT A STARBUCKS COFFEE DRINKER...IN FACT, I THINK I ONLY WENT ONCE, JUST TO BE COOL AND SAY I TRIED IT... SO, FEELING LIKE A HOTSHOT, I TOOK A DRINK OF THE EVER-SO-TRENDY COFFEE...  ONE SIP.  JUST ONE SIP... IT TASTED LIKE LUKE-WARM, REHEATED ASHPALT.  I WILL NEVER, NEVER, EVER GO THERE AGAIN FOR COFFEE...NOT EVEN IF IT'S FREE.  I THREW IT AWAY AT THE GAS STATION.  I ALMOST TOOK A SNAP OF IT LAYING IN THE TRASH BIN...BUT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE ODD...ME SNAPPING MY DIGITAL INSIDE A TRASH BIN.

ON SATURDAY, OUR FAMILY TOOK A MINI-DAY TRIP...ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY.  EACH OCTOBER WE SET OFF TO WATCH SUGAR BEET HARVESTING!  ABOVE IS A TRACTOR WITH A SPECIAL SUGAR BEET CUTTER...IT'S CUTTING THE LEAVES OFF THE BIG, BUSHY PLANT!

THIS IS A SPECIAL SUGAR BEET HARVESTER...IT LOOKS LIKE A MINI-FERRIS WHEEL!   IT'S LOADING THEM INTO THE TRUCK...........

AND THEN, THE TRUCK HAULS THEM TO THE SUGAR PLANT....

AND MORE TRUCKS...AND MORE TRUCKS AND EVEN MORE TRUCKS, STILL!  NOTICE HOW OUR LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THE TRUCKS TO HAVE TARPS ON THEIR TRAILER'S? ACCORDING TO BRAD...THIS IS ABOUT THE ONLY CROP THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS REGULATION?!  NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF BIG AND HEAVY SUGAR BEETS THAT ROLL OFF ONTO THE ROAD...AND YES, WE HELD OUR BREATH AT EACH PASSING FULLY LOADED SEMI! 

THE TRUCKS UNLOAD THEIR SUGAR BEETS... AND THERE ARE LITERALLY MILES AND MILES OF THEM PILED UP!

THIS IS THE VERY WELL-KNOWN SUGAR FACTORY...WHERE THE BEETS ARE BOILED DOWN, MUCH LIKE MAPLE SYRUP...HOW DO I KNOW THIS?????  TOMMIE AND I HOPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND PICKED SOME SUGAR BEETS OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THREW THEM IN THE BACK AND CAME HOME, RESEARCHED AND BOILED THEM! OUR TWO LARGE SUGAR BEETS, PRODUCED ABOUT 2 TABLESPOONS OF CRYSTALIZED SUGAR!  THE PROCESS TOOK ABOUT FOUR HOURS...IT SURE MAKES ME APPRECIATE ALL THAT GOES INTO MAKING SUGAR!

AFTER THE TRUCKS HAVE DUMPED THEIR LOADS...THEY HEAD BACK TO THE FIELD AND DUMP ANY REMAINING DIRT THAT'S LEFT IN THE BOX...  AND START ALL OVER!

ABOUT TEN MILES FROM THE PLANT... WE VISITED A QUAINT LITTLE TOWN THAT IS GENERATED WITH WINDMILLS!  IT'S ACTUALLY A WINDMILL FARM!  WE COUNTED 35 WINDMILLS IN A ROW...

MOST OF THE OLD FARMS, LIKE THE ONE BELOW USE THIS ENERGY-SAVING METHOD, NOW.   BRAD THINKS IT'S TOTALLY GREAT AND HOPE THE TREND CATCHES ON.

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WINDMILL'S WORK.  WHEN BRAD TRIES TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME... I JUST, "SMILE, WINK AND NOD!"

   I WANT TO SHARE THIS  (CLICK HERE:) REALLY, REALLY EXCELLENT WEBSITE!  FOR KIDS AGES K-12 (AND, PARENTS LIKE ME-WHO LEAN TOWARDS THE POLITICALLY ILLITERATE SIDE)... IT GIVES YOU A VERY "UNDERSTANDABLE" LOOK AT HOW THE GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS WORK.  I AM MOST IMPRESSED WITH THE FREE PRINTABLE GAMES AND INTERACTIVE GAMES....WHICH WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE DURING OUR RAINY, HOMESCHOOL MONDAY MORNING TODAY...ESPECIALLY SINCE MONDAY'S ARE NOT OUR BEST DAY AROUND HERE!   smile, wink, nod. 

THAT'S ME IN THE BABOOSHKA AND MASK.  THAT'S HOW I'D LOOK IF I DIDN'T BLEACH MY HAIR!   

WE DIDN'T BREAK TRADITION THIS HALLOWEEN...  MY MOM, TOMMIE AND I DRESSED UP AND HANDED OUT HALLOWEEN CANDY AGAIN THIS YEAR.  WITH BOOM-BOX BLASTING, "MONSTER MASH" AND "GHOSTBUSTER'S" WE ALL DANCED UP AND DOWN HER DRIVEWAY...WITH THE TRICK OR TREATERS!  IT'S SOMETHING SILLY WE DO.. AND I THINK THE TRICK OR TREATERS AND THEIR PARENTS REALLY LIKE IT!!!  LOTS OF GIGGLES, CAMERA'S FLASHING AND FUN!  EVEN THE "TOO COOL FOR WORDS" TEENAGERS LIKE IT!!

MY MOM ALWAYS DECORATES HER HOUSE SO PRETTY FOR HALLOWEEN.  YEP, THAT'S A GREENHOUSE ON THE RIGHT!  LUCKY HER!!!  I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO HAVE ONE CONNECTED OFF MY KITCHEN!

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WE WENT ON A FAMILY FIELDTRIP...  JUST AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME! 

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS PILE OF STUFF IS????  HINT:  THERE ARE MILES AND MILES OF IT...GREAT HINT, UGH? THEY HARVEST IT IN OCTOBER AROUND HERE AND IT SMELLS REALLY, REALLY BAD WHEN IT'S BEING PROCESSED...

  GO AHEAD, HAVE SOME FUN AND LEAVE YOUR GUESS IN MY COMMENTS!!!  I'LL BE BACK WITH MORE PHOTOS AND THE ANSWER... VERY SOON!     smile, wink, nod.

THIS IS JUST A LITTLE HODGE-PODGE POST OF THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER...  I'LL BE BACK SOON, WITH SOME INTERESTING PICTURES OF THE WEEKEND....  STAY TUNED!

                Free dog bone!

     FREE KRISPIE KREME DOUGHNUT

OUR CURRENT READ-ALOUD...  (BY THE WAY...IT'S FANTASTIC!).....

Synopsis

Tony can hardly believe it. He's sailing with the wind, maneuvering through the narrow channels between the offshore islands with amazing skill. And he'sjust learned to sail! But suddenly Tony is confused. Which way had he come? Which way is he headed? And who are the mysterious couple with the high powered motor boat who are to busy searching beneath the water to answer his call for help?

Tony does some searching on his own. What he discovers leads him on a daring hunt for a 200-year-old shipwreck . . . and a dangerous confrontation with treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to keep Tony from learning their secret.

MORE FREEBIES....

FREE GLUE!

FREE BOB'S GARAGE T-SHIRT!

 HAPPY OCTOBER 31st!

I THOUGHT I'D SHARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE OCTOBER THINGS....

LIKE THIS HEAVILY-LOADED-ARTIFICAL BOX OF PUMPKIN SPICE JELL-O!  YOU DO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A "LIMITED EDITION" AND CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT IN OCTOBER...MAYBE NOVEMBER?  WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL!!!  smile-wink-nod!

AND, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRIMITIVE 100% WOOL-HOOKED PROJECTS THAT MY DEAR MOM MADE, SOME YEARS AGO!  SHE EVEN DYES HER OWN WOOL!! 

MY AUNT JANET GAVE ME THIS PUMPKIN DOLL...  SHE'S SO CUTE, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE HER UP YEAR-ROUND!

MY LITTLE MOTHER EVEN MADE ME THIS PENNY-RUG...I USUALLY HAVE A CANDLE ON IT, BUT WANTED YOU TO SEE THE WHOLE THING...  SHE STITCHED IT ON HER WAY TO AND FROM CAPE COD, A FEW WEEKS AGO...  I LOVE THE STITCHING!!!

THIS IS THE BEST, I MEAN "THE BEST!!!!" SMELLING GREEN APPLE CANDLE YOU'LL EVER FIND!  IT MAKES YOUR MOUTH WATER!  NO NEED TO VISIT THE CIDER MILL... YOUR HOUSE WILL SMELL JUST LIKE ONE!

I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS PRETTY LITTLE, FESTIVE RIBBON FOR OUR DOG, LUCY.  IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS, TOO! 

ANOTHER OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS WHEN FRIENDS COME OVER TO HANG OUT WITH TOMMIE...  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE HOOTING AND HOLLERING...THE GIGGLES AND ROUGH AND TOUGHNESS.  IT IS SOOOO HEALTHY FOR THEM!  I LOVE IT WHEN THEIR CHEEKS ARE BRIGHT RED FROM THE WIND AND COLD... AND YET, THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP!  I LOVE LISTENING IN ON THEIR CONVERSATIONS (ALTHOUGH I PRETEND I'M NOT INTERESTED...) 

TOMMIE AND RILEY,  DUCT TAPED A FLASH LIGHT TO HIS BIKE HELMET... BOTH BOYS REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THURSDAY AFTERNOONS... ESPECIALLY MY ONLY CHILD!

HAVE A SAFE OCTOBER 31ST, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE!

 YESTERDAY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH OR THROW THE TOWEL IN WITH HOMESCHOOLING! 

I KNOW, I KNOW...YOU'VE PROBABLY FORMED VISIONS OF A SWEET, PERFECT, OBEDIENT SON... AND ME, THE SWEET-LOVING, NON-SWEARING, ALWAYS & FOREVER PATIENT MOM AND WIFE... JUST PLEASING MY DEAR LITTLE FAMILY 24/7. 

TOMMIE WAS SETTLED INTO HIS HARD KITCHEN CHAIR, BAGS UNDER HIS EYS AND LOOKING PALE-- HE DIDN'T GET TO SLEEP UNTIL ALMOST 11.  HE AND BRAD WERE AT MY IN-LAWS, DURING THE PARTY, THE NIGHT BEFORE...(SEE PREVIOUS POST).   I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A REALLY "LIGHT AND SOFT" HOMESCHOOL DAY... YOU COULD TELL HE WASN'T UP TO PAR.  AND, I'VE LEARNED NOT TO FIGHT IT.

I CAME UP FROM THE BASEMENT...AFTER SWITCHING LAUNDRY AROUND...ONLY TO FIND TOMMIE MISSING!  ROLLING MY EYES, I YELLED (YES, I YELL!!!),  "TOMMIE, GET BACK TO WORK.. C'MON"... OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.  I HEARD THE ATTIC CREAKING... I'M THINKING, NOW WHAT?  CAN'T THE KID JUST BE OBEDIENT FOR ONE DAY???   I HEAR A MUFFLED SENTENCE  AND I YELL AGAIN... GETTING ANGRIER... WHAT POSESSED HIM AT THAT MOMENT ON WEDNESDAY MORNING TO GET THIS BRIGHT IDEA TO GO EXPLORE THE ATTIC...I JUST DON'T KNOW.  WITH BOYS...YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT...AT LEAST WITH MINE.

  HE PROUDLY CAME DOWN THE STAIRS, TALKING IN A HIGH-PITCHED DRAMATIC VOICE, WITH MY CHILDHOOD CHARLIE McCARTHY DOLL/VANTRILLIQUIST.  I HEARD, "HELLO, I'M STEVE.. (WHY STEVE????), AND I CAME DOWN TO HELP TOMMIE WITH HIS MATH!   I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO BURST OUT LAUGHING OR WHAT... SO I KINDA DID BOTH...  ONLY IN A HOMESCHOOL CAN YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!  smile-wink-nod!

I THINK I'VE SAID THIS IN PAST ENTRIES... I REALLY DO WISH MY SON WAS WORKBOOK DRIVEN... IT WOULD MAKE "MY" LIFE SO MUCH EASIER.  BUT, HE'S NOT.  OF COURSE, HE HAS DONE WORKBOOKS AND TEXTBOOK TYPE BOOKS... BUT, RETAINS VERY LITTLE AFTER THE PAPER IS COMPLETE.  I'M SURE I WAS THE SAME WAY...AND I KNOW BRAD WAS.

I HAD AN ELECTION WORKBOOK, THAT I PICKED UP SOMETIME AGO, AND PULLED IT OUT, SINCE IT'S THE SEASON...  INSTEAD OF MY WEARY SON WRITING OUT VOCABULARY WORDS IN THE BLACK LINED WORKBOOK, I WROTE OUT THE DEFINITIONS AND THE VOCABULARY WORD... SEE BELOW:  BLUE: VOCAB. WORD-- RED: DEFINITION.....  THEN, TOMMIE MATCHES THE WORD UP TO THE RIGHT DEFINITION.  HE MISSED A LOT-- HE CERTAINLY GOT A LOT WRONG!  BUT, WITH HOMESCHOOLING THAT'S OKAY... HE HAD AND HAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW, RE-WORK AND UNDERSTAND.  WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER SUCCESS RATE "LEARNING" THIS WAY...THEN FILLING OUT THE BLANKS AND GETTING IT WRONG- AND MOVING ON. 

DO YOU THINK IT GOT A LITTLE OLD....TOMMIE HAVING "STEVE" PICK OUT THE VOCABULARY WORD...IN HIS HIGH-PITCHED VANTRILLIQUIST VOICE?????  THE ANSWER WOULD BE TRUE.

I'M SURE WE'RE BEHIND...COMPARED TO PUBLIC SCHOOL STANDARDS...AS FAR AS GOVERNMENT ISSUES AND SUCH... HOWEVER, ANOTHER BEAUTY OF HOMESCHOOLING IS...WE CAN LEARN THINGS ON OUR OWN TIME, IN THE COMFORTS OF OUR OWN HOME (WITH STEVE!) AND BANG OUT THE CONCEPT AND UNDERSTANDING IN  A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO US...  AND, IN THE COURSE OF AN HOUR OR LESS!

BELOW, I MADE A GAME ABOUT THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT... ON EACH BRANCH I WROTE: JUDICIAL, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE.  I MADE MATCHING CARDS, IN WHICH TOMMIE (AND STEVE), MATCHED UP THE CORRECT POSITION, INCLUDING HOW MANY SENATORS ARE IN THE SENATE AND HOW MANY ARE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVES, HOW MANY JUDGES IN THE SUPREME COURT... PLUS, THE LENGTH OF THEIR TERMS,  AGAIN, TOMMIE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES...BUT, THIS HAND'S-ON APPROACH, LETS US BOTH TAKE THE TIME WE NEED TO "GET IT"...  I USED A REALLY NICE BOOK FROM "TIME" THAT MY MOM BOUGHT US...TO EXPLAIN ALL OF IT...  AND, AFTER ABOUT FIVE ATTEMPTS, HE "GOT" IT.  SEE WHAT I MEAN?  IF HE WERE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, HE'D GET A FAILING GRADE AND THEY'D PUSH HIM ON.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS GAME AND THE ONE BEFORE THAT IS...I CAN SAVE IT AND PULL IT OUT FOR REVIEW... ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND NEXT!

I MADE A BASKETFUL OF ELECTION VOCABULARY WORDS...THIRTY IN ALL.  EACH DAY, I HAVE TOMMIE PICK OUT 10 VOCABULARY WORDS AND WRITE THEM IN SENTENCES.  THIS COVERS, GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, HANDWRITING AND VOCAB UNDERSTANDING.  TRUE OR FALSE?  TOMMIE HAS STEVE PICK THEM OUT?  THAT'D BE TRUE.

  AFTER LUNCH AND THE ELECTION STUDY, I STARTED THE READ-ALOUD, "THE APPLE AND THE ARROW!"  WE'VE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE THIS!  AND IT IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD!  IN ONE SITTING, I READ OVER HALF THE BOOK... I HOPE TO FINISH IT UP TODAY!  I REALLY RECOMMEND IT!

The year is 1291, and Walter is the twelve-year-old son of William Tell, the greatest bowman in the land of Uri. Walter lives happily in the remote heights of the Alpine Mountains, caring for his family's goat herd and practicing his marksmanship in the hopes of making his father proud. But as the end of the year approaches, Walter's peaceful life is shaken as his country enters a revolution, and Walter must carry a secret that could threaten the life of the father he loves so dearly. More than seven hundred years have passed since the day Walter stood in the marketplace balancing an apple on his head while the Austrian tyrant Gessler commanded Walter's father, William Tell, to take aim at the apple with his great crossbow. The dramatic tale of William's arrest and escape and the daring revolt of the Swiss against the Austrians has become a legend around the world.

WE STAYED UP WAY TOO LATE LAST NIGHT ...OUR FRIEND BRANDI, LOANED US THE DVD, "NATIONAL TREASURE"... I REALIZE WE'RE ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATE ON THIS MOVIE... WE ALL LOVED IT!  I'M JUSTIFYING THE LATE NIGHT... SINCE IT DID HAVE A LOT OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION IT!

HAPPY THURSDAY!

THE FEET PICTURED ABOVE STARTING AT THE BLACK SOCKS ARE:  JENNIFER,  BRANDI (I THINK), ME WITH THE REALLY BONEY FEET, MY MOM, AUNT JANET, ROBYN AND THEN RHONDA...AND, THEN JACQUE.

LAST NIGHT, I HOSTED AN ARBONNE PARTY FOR MY FRIEND HOLLY.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY MY HEART WAS...TO HAVE ALL THE LADIES THAT I LOVE THE MOST...RIGHT HERE IN MY HOME!  ALL AT ONE TIME!  ALL LAUGHING, EATING, LAUGHING SOME MORE,  TALKING A LOT AND REALLY ENJOYING EACH OTHER! THERE'S NO COMPETITION BETWEEN ANYONE...  ALL SINCERE CHRISTIAN WOMEN.

 WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON IN THE NATION...IT WAS A GOOD COUPLE OF HOURS TO FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING AND JUST ENJOY OURSELVES!  WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON AND ALL THE PERSONALITIES MESH LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE!

(FROM L TO R:)  BRANDI, JACQUE AND ROBYN

A FEW BRAVE FRIENDS GAVE THEMSELVES FACIALS!  JACQUE IN THE RED, HAD HER NURSING UNIFORM ON...SHE DOESN'T NORMALLY DRESS IN ALL RED...ALTHOUGH SHE DOES A VERY COLORFUL, FUN PERSONALITY.

THIS IS MY AUNT JANET....SHE DROVE AN HOUR TO COME!  I THINK THE FOOT SPA MADE HER REALLY RELAXED AND SLEEPY!  I THINK THAT'S THE BACKSIDE OF HOLLY, IN A STRIPED SHIRT!

THIS IS MY MOM AND RHONDA.  I WONDER WHAT RHONDA IS THINKING ABOUT IN THIS PICTURE?

JACQUE AND BRANDI SHARED A TON OF GIGGLES.  THEY LIKED MY CHIPS!

THESE ARE MY FEET!

ROBYN IS GIVING HER EYES A LIFT!

JENNIFER ...  SHE IS ALWAYS SO INTERESTING...  SHE FORMED THE CHAPTER OF AUTISM IN OUR COMMUNITY...SHE IS ALSO MERGING WITH ANOTHER BIG COUNTY!  WAY TO GO JENNIFER!!

WE ENDED THE PARTY WITH FOOD... CARROT CAKE, CANNOLI'S, FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND SUGAR, CIDER AND ICED TEA....  AND, THANK YOU BRANDI, FOR BRINGING A HUGE, HUGE PAN OF HOMEMADE FUDGE, IT WAS SCUMPDIDDDLIOUSIOUS!

 WORDLESS TUESDAY.... 

I KNOW IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE WORDLESS WEDNESDAY.. REALLY, I DO.  BUT, I AM HAVING BLOGGER'S BLOCK WITH THIS ENTRY.  SO.... JUST ENJOY THE SNAPS, WITHOUT WORDS.

TODAY, I'LL BE BUSY CLEANING, RE-ARRANGING AND ORGANIZING MY TINY HOME...I'M HAVING AN ARBONNE PARTY FOR HOLLY TONIGHT, WHICH INCLUDES A FOOT SPA AND FACIAL!  IT SHOULD BE LOADS OF FUN... A HANDFUL OF CLOSE FRIENDS, MY MOM AND AUNT ... LOTS OF LAUGHTER AND DESSERT!  I'LL BE TAKING PICTURES... WHICH ARE SURE TO BE PRETTY CRAZY...  SO.. CHECK BACK HERE TOMORROW! 

P.S.  ON A HOMESCHOOL NOTE:  I FINISHED OUR READ ALOUD, "MAGELLAN, FIRST AROUND THE WORLD".... IT'S A WONDERFUL ACTION-PACKED STORY, WITH PLENTY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITES FOR GEOGRAPHY.  ODDLY ENOUGH, THERE IS A TWIST AT THE VERY END.. I THINK IT'S THE LAST PAGE OR TWO.  

I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IN THE PAST, THAT WE'VE BEEN USING PRAIRIE PRIMER'S, "ON THE BANKS OF PLUM CREEK," FOR OUR UNIT STUDY.  TYPICALLY, WE FOLLOW BEYOND FIVE IN A ROW...BUT, I WANTED TO SQUEEZE THIS IN, BEFORE TOMMIE OUTGREW IT!

LAST WEEK, I SET OUR KITCHEN TABLE UP WITH DIFFERENT ANTIQUES THAT I HAD LAYING AROUND...  I CENTERED LESSON PLANS AROUND ALL OF THEM.    I SEE NOW, THAT I DIDN'T TAKE A PICTURE...HOWEVER, EACH LESSON WAS FOLDED ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND TOMMIE HAD TO DRAW ONE AT A TIME OUT OF AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAT...

ABOVE, I MADE PRICES UP FOR ABOUT TEN PRODUCTS...  TOMMIE HAD TO FIGURE OUR 6% SALES TAX ON EACH OF THEM...(I REALIZE THAT SALES TAX DIDN'T EXIST BACK IN THE INGALL'S TIME... AND EXPLAINED THAT).

ANOTHER LESSON PULLED FROM THE HAT, WAS TO READ THE BAKING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PUMPKIN AND BAKE AND MAKE A PUMPKIN PIE...  WHICH TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD!

NEXT UP...WATCHING A VIDEO ON THE INDIAN WARS OF THAT TIME PERIOD.  TO THE LEFT, I HAVE VIDEOS OF PRESIDENTS...WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT LAST WEEK, BUT WILL DO SO THIS WEEK.

FOR MATH, I ALSO HAD TOMMIE ROUND OFF, ESTIMATE AND LINE UP THE PRICES FROM LARGEST TO SMALLEST...  SOMETHING HORIZONS 5, SEEMS TO DO A LOT OF ON PAPER.  I THINK IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT...MAYBE MORE...TO APPLY THESE SKILLS HAND'S ON AND QUICKLY!

ALSO PICTURED ABOVE...ARE TWO KNIFE SHARPENERS... THAT WAS ONE OF HIS LESSONS, TOO...  SHARPENING OUR KITCHEN KNIVES...  THAT'S A LIFE SKILL, RIGHT?  AND, I DON'T THINK THEY TEACH THAT IN SCHOOL!  smile, wink, nod!

THERE'S A BASKET OF BUTTONS PICTURED ABOVE... I HAD TOMMIE GLUE THEM TO A PICTURE FRAME...  VERY CUTE...  BUT HE THOUGHT THE CRAFT WAS A BIT GIRLY!

ABOVE... HE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO BUILD THIS WOODEN TOY PICK UP TRUCK YET... I'LL HAVE HIM DO THAT DURING READ-ALOUD TIME.

I ALSO TOOK SEVERAL DIFFERENT SIZED PIECES OF CHERRY WOOD AND HAD HIM MEASURE THE PERIMETER AND AREA.  I HAD SEVERAL OLD FASHIONED RAG RUGS AND HAD HIM FIGURE PERIMETER AND RADIUS', TOO.

I HAD MADE HOMEMADE WORKSHEETS UP... WHICH ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE...HOW MUCH WOULD 4 1/2 POUNDS OF BEANS AND 3 1/2 POUNDS OF OATMEAL COST.  THIS WAS A BIG HIT!

HE PLANTED THISTLE SEED IN THE SHAPE OF THIS BIRD COOKIE CUTTER...WE'LL SEE HOW IT SPROUTS!

AND OF COURSE, WE STOPPED A LOT IN BETWEEN LESSONS TO ENJOY AN OLD FASHION GAME OF CHECKERS.

BELOW, HE HAD THE BEST FUN...USING THIS HAND CRANKED BEAN SLICER TO SLICE BEANS!

HE WROTE SHORT REPORTS ON LEECHS AND SNIPES... AND WE DID SEVERAL LESSONS IN DICTIONARY SKILLS... 

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS WEEK BRINGS!

ON THURSDAY, A SWEET, OLDER GENTLEMAN... GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, TURNED RIGHT INTO THE SIDE OF BRAD'S PICK UP...AS HE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH....BOTH MEN ARE FINE...  BRAD'S PICK-UP DID GET TOTALED OUT AND THERE'S A BENT OVER STOP SIGN...  I WON'T  BORE YOU WITH ANYMORE DETAILS...OTHER THEN THE PICK-UP IS DRIVE-ABLE... BUT NOT WORTH FIXING.

SO?  WHAT'S A "HOMESCHOOL-ONLY-CHILD" DO FOR FUN AFTER LESSONS? 

WELL, OF COURSE..... HE ASKS DAD FOR THE KEYS AND DRIVES AROUND THE FIELD FOR AN HOUR!   ZOOMING AROUND...BLINKERS ON, BLINKERS OFF, RADIO TURNED TO COUNTRY MUSIC, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON!  TAKING THE CORNERS ON IMPULSE AND OTHER THINGS...I'M SURE I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT.

HE SUDDENLY REALIZED PUBLIC SCHOOL WAS OUT FOR THE DAY... AND DECIDED TO PULL UP TO THE ROAD (NOT ON THE ROAD...JUST IN THE FIELD)... PARK , BEEP AND WAVE OUT THE WINDOW TO THE SCHOOL BUS KIDS AND THE PARADE OF MINI-VAN DRIVING FAMILIES ZIPPING DOWN THE ROAD!  MY MOTHERLY INSTINCT KICKED IN... I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VERY NICE OF HIM TO DO... BUT, THEN I REMEMBERED...WELL....THE TRUTH IS.... I'M SURE I WOULD OF DONE THE SAME THING.  SO, WITH A SMILE, WINK AND NOD, I TURNED AWAY.

MAYBE THIS IS WHY SO MANY MOMS DON'T LET THEIR KIDS COME OVER TO PLAY WITH TOMMIE?  IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE MOMS... DON'T WORRY... I'D AT LEAST RIDE WITH YOUR CHILD....UNTIL HE GOT THE HANG OF IT)...  smile, wink, nod!

I JUST DISCOVERED THIS FREEBIE!  IT'S A SUPER QUICK FILL OUT FORM...NO SURVEY'S. JUST CLICK ON THE "GET A SAMPLE" LINK BELOW...AND WATCH FOR YOURS IN THE MAIL.  I AM SENDING ONE TO MY MOM, TOO! 

  CLICK HERE!  FREE TRUFFLES!

THIRTEEN THINGS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY WORLD...1.  I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SECOND BAD COLD OF THE SEASON!  TWO IN SIX WEEKS!2.  I RECEIVED A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET OF FLOWERS FROM TOMMIE AND BRAD FOR SWEETEST DAY!3.  I SAVED $56.00 YESTERDAY AT THE GROCERY STORE... I'M LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE COUPON GAME AND IT'S A BLAST!4.  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A FEW DAYS OF RAIN!  I LOVE RAIN!5.  I HAVE A BIG BATCH OF PUMPKIN SEEDS THAT I TOASTED...JUST SITTING ON THE COOKIE TRAY!6.  I AM OUT OF SCOTCH TAPE AND NEED SOME FOR TOMORROW!  DO YOU KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM THAT I HAVE TO RUN OUT SPECIAL TO BUY SCOTCH TAPE???7.  I'M HAVING AN ARBONNE PARTY ON TUESDAY NIGHT.  I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT!  8.  I HAVE THREE BIG BAGS OF CARROTS TO PROCESS AND NO FREEZER SPACE!9.  I MADE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE LAST NIGHT!10.  TOMMIE HAS A CUB SCOUT MEETING TONIGHT.11.  I AM ADDICTED TO GETTING FREEBIES BY MAIL!  SO FAR, WE'VE RECEIVED A PACK OF FIBER ONE BARS, HEAD AND SHOULDERS SHAMPOO, AN EDUCATIONAL DVD ABOUT PEAR HARVESTING (VERY INTERESTING!), AND A DVD ON HOW GERMAN TRUCKS ARE MADE!  WE'RE LOVING WHEN OUR MAIL COMES!12.  I ABOUT CHOKED YESTERDAY, WHILE AT MEIJERS...GET THIS... THISTLE BIRD SEED IS $24.00 A BAG!  AND, NO...IT'S NOT A LARGE BAG EITHER.  I'VE NOTICED A WILD INCREASE IN OTHER BIRD SEED BAGS AS WELL!!  WHAT'S WITH THIS?13.  NO HOMESCHOOL IN MATH TODAY... TOMMIE'S BEEN DOUBLING UP EACH DAY THIS WEEK... WE HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR CO-OP DAYS!  AREN'T I MEAN???  smile, wink, nod!  OKAY, I'M NOT REALLY A DRILL SARGENT,  HE WORKED TWO HOURS ON MATH (3-DIGIT MULTIPLICATION)  YESTERDAY...WITH A HALF WAY DECENT ATTITUDE...SO I TOOK HIM TO BURGER KING FOR LUNCH!

TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES... A.K.A. THRIFTY FUN!

WHAT'S A FAMILY TO DO, WHEN THEY REALIZE IT'S 6:45 AND PITCH DARK OUT?  DINNER'S BEEN FINISHED, THE DISHWASHER IS HUMMING AND WE'RE ALL SICK OF HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT JOE THE PLUMBER AND SARAH'S SKIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!  SINCE WE HOMESCHOOL, THERE'S NO HOMEWORK DRUDGERY...AND NO EXACT BEDTIME...IF LEARNING OPPORTUNITES ARE IN THE AIR....

I FOUND THE MOVIE, "TUCK EVERLASTING," AT OUR LOCAL LIBRARY...ACTUALLY THEY HAD TWO CURRENT COPIES...(JUST IN CASE ANY LOCAL GALS ARE READING THIS!)....  WITH MY LITTLE ROYAL BLUE LIBRARY CARD IN HAND... I CHECKED IT OUT, ALONG WITH A CURRENT DVD OF GENTLE BEN.  

WE LOVED THIS MOVIE AND THE UNPREDICTABLE ENDING!  THE MOVIE DID MOVE A BIT FAST FOR MY 10 YEAR OLD... SO, THERE WAS A FEW PLACES WHERE WE HAD TO STOP AND EXPLAIN...NOT A BIG DEAL..I'D RATHER DO THAT, THEN HAVE TOMMIE JUST "GO ALONG."

AND, OF COURSE....WHAT WOULD A BEAUTIFUL DISNEY MOVIE ON A CHILLY FALL NIGHT BE, WITHOUT BUTTERED POPCORN?  WE EACH HAD OUR OWN BIG BOWL TO CRUNCH AND MUNCH ON!

BY THE WAY... I ABSOLUTLY LOVED THE LAST SENTENCE IN THE MOVIE... WHAT A POWERFUL MESSEGE!    NOPE, I'M NOT TELLING WHAT IT IS... YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WATCH IT FOR YOURSELF!

smile-wink-nod!

I FOUND THIS SHABBY BOWL AT GOODWILL THE OTHER DAY FOR .99!  IT HAS A SMALL CHIP ON THE SIDE...AND A WHOLE LOT OF AGE MARKS.  THE INSIDE IS A TRUE SHABBY PINK COLOR!  I JUST LOVE IT... I MADE A HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIE YESTERDAY...(EVEN BAKED THE PUMPKIN!), AND THIS BOWL WAS SMILING...EVER-SO-HAPPY TO BE BACK IN USE!

SO, HAVE YOU HEARD THAT MADONNA IS CLAIMING SHE HOMESCHOOLS HER KIDS..WHILE ON THE ROAD?  I SOMEHOW CAN'T SEE HER DOING THE PRAIRIE PRIMER AND MAKING BUTTER...IN HER FIVE STAR HOTEL ROOM?  OKAY, SO MAYBE SHE USES A DIFFERENT CURRICULUM...LIKE ABEKA?  NAH!  SHE CAN'T USE THAT IF SHE'S FOLLOWING THE KABBALAH, NOW CAN SHE?  DO YOU THINK SHE MAKES FILE FOLDER GAMES?  LAPBOOKS?  I THINK NOT.  WHAT I REALLY THINK SHE FORGOT TO MENTION, IS THAT MAYBE SHE MIGHT HAVE TUTORS?? AND MANY-AT THAT?  NO DOUBT...HER CHILDREN ARE LEARNING A SMORGASBORG OF CULTURE, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY- WHILE TRAVELING...  BUT, LET'S BE REAL...MADONNA DOING SPELLING POWER AND CORRECTING PAPERS-- WHEN OH WHEN DOES SHE FIT HER DAILY FOUR HOURS OF HARD-CORE YOGA & CARDIO IN? 

OKAY, NOW THAT I GOT THAT OUT OF THE WAY...LET 'S MOVE ONTO BIGGER STUFF...LIKE HOW THRIFTY I AM!  I ASSEMBLED THE LAST OF OUR GARDEN VEGTABLES...  I STUFFED THREE BAGGIES FULL OF LEEKS, CELERY, CARROTS  PARSLEY, AND SAGE.  I JUST NEED TO ADD CHICKEN AND NOODLES AND BROTH... AND WE'RE GOOD FOR THREE WINTER MEALS! 

 smile-wink-nod!

 WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY...

THIS IS MY DEAR AUNT JANET.  SHE'S A RIOT.  SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TRY...AND SHE DOESN'T REALIZE SHE IS...BUT, SHE IS! 

YOU SEE, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, SHE INVITED ME TO THIS REAL THOUGHT-PROVOKING CHURCH...THE PASTORS ARE FANTABULOUS...AND, WE USUALLY ALWAYS GET A VERY, VERY GOOD MESSEGE.  IT'S A "COME AS YOU ARE" CHURCH... YOU CAN WEAR A LINED-FLANNEL SHIRT AND WORK BOOTS AND YOUR JOHN DEERE CAP, AND NOBODY WOULD LOOK AT YOU TWICE. OUR PASTOR WEARS JEANS...USUALLY CARPENTER STYLE JEANS AND TENNIS SHOES....  HE DOESN'T HAVE TO COMMAND YOUR ATTENTION...YOU GIVE IT TO HIM NATURALLY AND WILLINGLY.  AND, THE BAND IS PHENOMINAL, TOO.  THE DRUMMER DOESN'T WEAR SHOES.

OH SO BACK TO MY TITLE.... WHAT I MEAN BY, "WHERE THERE'S A WILL-- THERE'S A WAY," IS... SHE MISPLACED HER KEYS TO HER JEEP AND COULDN'T FIND THEM ... WITH CHURCH STARTING IN JUST MINUTES...SHE SET OFF WALKING TO CHURCH.. THEN SHE REALIZED SHE MIGHT JUST AS WELL DRIVE HER GOLF CART...IT'D BE QUICKER.

SHE HOPPED INTO TOPLESS CART AND BRAVED THE COLD...IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES... WINDY!  SEE, HOW HER HAIR IS FLYING IN THE PICTURE BELOW?

WITH A RUNNY NOSE AND WATERY EYES..AND WIND-BLOWN HAIR...SHE CAME FLYING INTO CHURCH AND FOUND HER SEAT NEXT TO MINE. 

OUR CHURCH SERVICE IS SO AWESOME...THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO HOLD THIS LITTLE LAMB BACK!  smile wink nod!

AND, AWAY SHE GOES....

SHE CERTAINLY BROUGHT A LOT OF SMILES TO SOME OF THE MEMBERS AT CHURCH, WHO WATCHED HER ZOOM AWAY! 

HOW FUN IS THIS?  I FOUND A SITE WHERE YOU CAN PUT SOMEONE'S PICTURE ON A DOLLAR BILL... (OR A MILLION DOLLAR BILL!) AND PRINT IT OFF!!! 

WANT TO TRY IT?  IT'S FREE, QUICK AND EASY...

CLICK HERE:  http://www.festisite.com/money/

I SAW THIS "I" MEME ON LISA'S BLOG AND THOUGHT I'D BE A SATURDAY MORNING COPYCAT! 

****************************

I am: ON MY SECOND CUP OF COFFEE AND SECOND PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD!