I love the outdoors!
• Nov. 26, 2007 - Well, I've done it again!
I am the queen of forgetting to attach attachments and failing to attach photos, and I have struck again!
I saved my previous entry for several weeks, so that I could forage for the picture CD in my piles of moving-to-another-city debris. Don't even ask why do I not have a digital camera!
Stay tuned in coming days to see if I finally come upon the aforementioned photos. I know you all are just waiting with bated breath to see if I come up with them! Don't pity me, just get a good laugh at my expense, and pat yourself on the back because you are not as dis-combobulated as I am! |
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• Nov. 6, 2007 - Monday Memory
I really shouldn't be doing this now, but I have been wanting to post these darling photos for several days now!
My life is in total transition, so what better time to reflect upon the past?
I love kids! So these are photos of a group of children whom I have become very fond of. They are boys in our home school Cub Scout Pack, and Boy Scout Troop. And of course their lovely parents, and siblings. Some of the teenagers would probably prefer that these pictures not be published, but oh well!
We all grow up fast, and we also grow old fast. I realize how many things I would like to have done in this wonderful community in which I live. Hopefully I will do some of those things that I wish I had already done. Like...have certain families into my home, say certain words of appreciation for all the many wonderful pieces of advice that fellow home schoolers have shared with me. Like...go and have lunch with a friend (just me and the friend, not, MY KIDS and the friend!)
I have tears on my cheeks as I say these words, but I do love this community of people, and I cannot believe I will not be here in the next little while to see them change and age, and to see their children grow into young men and women. Lord help me keep the connections! And thank you so much for bringing these wonderful people into my life!
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• Oct. 5, 2007 - Grosser that Gross, Mommy Style
I guess The Queen tagged me since I have been out of the Blogosphere for so long. The details behind that are another story!
Grosser than gross...
The smell of my upstairs bathroom, complements of boys with bad middle-of-the-night aim!
The petrified raisin toast in my sons' closet, from an unknown era
The zuchini in the recesses of my vegetable bin, found on refrigerator clean-out day
The dead bird that thought our window was the sky, with worms crawling out of its brain
A container of compost material that was sitting out in the hot sun, that I forgot to put in the compost pile.
Oh, there are so many more, but that is enough for now.
Just another day in the life of a somewhat over-extended home school mom. |
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• Jul. 1, 2007 - I'm Rockin'
Smallworld has dished out some compliments, and I have received a generous portion! I hope I still can pass out my own Girl Blogger awards, even if I can't figure out how to copy that rascally pink award. I don't like pink anyway. I favor green, even though my quiz said I was violet! I digress. Here's to all you rocking girls!
Kristina: You are so rockin', because you are oh so creative and VIOLET.
Laurie: You are so rockin', because you have been EVERYWHERE and still favor the greatest state in the land of the free!
Donna: You are so rockin' because you tell about the simple and funny pleasures of your daily life. Made-up words and all!
Sarah S: You are so rockin' (in spite of being a grammar nerd) because you make all the villagers feel welcome, as well as anyone else you meet.
Sarah K: You are so rockin' for your sneaky humor, hilarious stories of life, and daring tales of homeschooling Moose and C.
Tia: You are so rockin' because you are the most prolific and energetic writer I know. You also have an incredibly contagious enthusiasm!
Amy: You are so rockin' cause you dare to wade into those sensitive and scary areas of your heart!
Keep Rockin' Ladies!
And to the rest of my fellow villagers, you guys rock as well! You are an awesome group, and I thank God for you every day! You make me laugh, and make me believe in my educational voyage with my boys.
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• Jun. 26, 2007 - Blackberry Cobbler means summertime!
Fresh fruit in the summertime is a true blessing! I love strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and the list could go on!
I have been scouting out places to pick blackberries for the past few weeks, and now picking time has arrived. My kids like it too. I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I promise to make a blackberry cobbler if they will "please" brave some poison ivy and some thorns to pick the little gems. In my younger, less hurried days, I would have made a good old-fashioned, homemade piecrust version. But these times require desperate measures to get a confection to the table!
I am long overdue to post a recipe, especially since it is one of my hobbies that has not fallen to the wayside! So here is an easy version that my children, and many others have loved. Yes, some of you will be amazed at my inclusion of sugar, but it just isn't the same without it!
Blackberry Cobbler
1 pint blackberries
4 Tblsp sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup suger (I did cut back a dab here)
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp grated lemon rind
Wash and dry berries. Put berries in a 2-quart oven-proof dish and sprinkle with 4 Tbsp sugar. Mix together the remaining ingredients until combined. Pour over berries and back in a 350-degree oven for 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. YUM YUM!
Oh, and BTW, this is our wedding china. If I had a digital camera, I could have taken my own lovely photo of the finished product, sitting on one of these plates. Maybe someday I'll be able to afford one of the cameras that Lynn told me about...
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• Jun. 5, 2007 - To follow up on a theme...
Yesterday, I pondered a little about the weaponry fixation at my house. My boys have spent the past 48-72 hours doing pencil drawings of tree-house shootouts. If I had a digital cam, I could give you a sample. The camera is on our "most wanted things to buy", so maybe sometime in the future...
Anyway, I received this link today in an email an thought it was funny. So funny in fact, that I purchased the book that it was promoting so my adventuresome trio could read through more "Dangerous Things to Do", and maybe be inspired to do some other dangerous things besides shooting guns all the time!
BTW, I did a little researching after I read the Queen's suggestion, and found much historical evidence demonstrating that boys and men fought with whatever weapon happened to be in vogue at the time. Oh well, watch out community, they may read this book and get really good at making sling shots and paper bombs! |
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• Jun. 4, 2007 - "Wild at Heart" or Disturbed Home Schoolers? You decide!
(OK, so I am experimenting with adding photos to my blog! )
If you do not know my boys, then this could be very disturbing. Or maybe my children are disturbing, and you do not need any photos to prove it!
This photo makes me laugh for several reasons. But is also begs a question.
My sister gave my oldest son an Amazon coupon for his birthday in '06. My sis is not so big on weaponry in the hands of children, even if it is for play only!
Upon sending her the photo of my son brandishing the Airsoft gun which had just arrived UPS from Amazon, she cackled out loud like only my sister can. She questioned me lovingly about whether on not my boys may be pictured in the next most-wanted bulletin posted in the MPD.
I used to be a mom that cringed at my son pointing small plastic guns at others, and pulling the trigger. But you know, I realized that they make them out of their fingers, sticks, carrots, you name it. They do not have to own a gun, to enjoy imaginary target practice!
Boys need to be challenged, tested, and to find themselves as worthy of the battle. Am I engaging them in their world? I want to be a mom that helps them be sensitive and competent. I pray that I will help them grow up to be men with a deep faith in their Lord Jesus Christ, first. Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Are my boys lions, or lambs? Jesus was both. Boy is that a hard thing to teach.
Maybe this airsoft fad is just our 20th century version of jousting? Maybe it's a bad idea. I know there are a few more holes in things around my house, than there were a year ago!
...just a side note...don't you think the pose reminds you of another trio that we saw in silhouette in the 80's. Call me crazy...
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• May. 24, 2007 - This may be the week for "You may be a redneck if..."
But in my case, it's not,
"You may be a redneck if..."
In my case, it is:
"You may need a vacation like your friends at Smallworld if..."
While reading the label of the supposed 3rd coat of LEATHER conditioner that your son is slathering all over your old leather couch, you read this,
"...make sure to use strokes which follow the grain of the WOOD..."!*?!*?/
Maybe my first clue should have been that the manufacturer of the "Leather" cleaner was Homer Formby!
Any ideas folks!? |
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• May. 23, 2007 - Your 13 year old son may be bored if...
• May. 4, 2007 - Superman.......NOT!!!
How do children make it through life if one piece?
I have 3 boys that are pretty rough and tumble. They tumble, and they are rough!
Tonight, my youngest did a face-plant on the side walk, with nothing to break his fall...but his face. I am so thankful that he is alright! People screaming my name in the middle of a pleasant covered dish cub scout dinner at a local park, is not what I was expecting. Finding my husband holding my son gingerly as blood oozed out of somewhere on his forehead, was also not what I was expecting!
But several hours, 6 stitches, and a popsicle later, he is as good as new. What more, he is his same cocky self.
"Mom, I was lying on the ground with blood dripping out of my head, and this kid says 'Are you all right?'"
"What is he THINKING? No I am NOT all right!!! Dude, I just jumped like Superman and then did a face plant on the sidewalk! Go get help!!"
I am glad this time that I can stand on the back side of an accident, and have a smile creep across my face. |
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• May. 3, 2007 - Precious words in the mind of a child
Tonight our Cub Scout Pack had it's last Pack meeting of the school year. I enjoy these meetings, because I think of what it would be like if I was a young boy, and having this experience. Of course this is a stretch for me since I am a grown woman. But I do have experiences from my childhood which cause me to look at the evenings events in a certain light.
As a child, I was horribly shy. I was not the most attractive of specimens, especially in my high school years. I have seen childhood photos of some of my fellow bloggers, and I can tell you that I was not nearly as cute as wife to Dad2three, Smallworld, Partyof five, Queenofthehill.. OK, I'll stop there! For some reason, attractive physical appearance was not something that God blessed me with, but he did put some wonderful mentors in my life. Those mentors called attention to, and cultivated the talents and gifts that I DID have. I have come to see these people as having immeasurable value.
So how do these things relate?
I was blessed to see 9 boys be affirmed by their parents tonight. Each parent of a Webelos scout told how their son exemplified at least one character trait in the scout law. They told about how their sons were compassionate, good citizens, and kind-hearted. Too often in this world, we hear about how we do not measure up to some subjective standard. These boys will by the grace of God grow up to be fathers, husbands, church leaders, and community helpers. And with them, they will hopefully carry the words that their parents spoke to them tonight.
Words can warm your heart and brings tears to your eyes.
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• Mar. 14, 2007 - Queen in my own home
I am outnumbered in my home.
I share an abode with 4 of the male species, and sometimes it gives me pause. (Like when they make various bodily noises, or when they fake bodily noises, and then laugh, or when they talk about the bodily noises! I mean really, how funny could all this be?!)
Or I experience mayhem like dad2three described so fiendishly in his recent post.
But tonight I experienced one of those sweet moments with 2 of my younger men (ages 7 and 8).
We are reading in bed. I am doing the reading as usual, and they are listening.
Youngest son,"Mom, you have tangles in your hair". He is trying to run his hands through my hair while I still have a pony-tail holder in it!
I take the stretchy band out of my hair, and he proceeds to run his fingers through my hair. He sweetly explains with his rough, raspy voice that "You need to get all these tangles out".
Son, aged 8 lays his not-so-small-anymore arm across my back to give me a big hug.
At this moment, I am being blessed.
I am appreciating the moment. |
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• Feb. 22, 2007 - Roadtrip
Yesterday my sons and I visited the capitol of our state. We drive through there quite often lately, but usually do not stop.
Yesterday morning, I was in serious need to see some new territory. We are living half-time in a small town which is removed from any kind of larger city. I would say the population is about 5,000 or less.
This was not a well thought out trip. Often, when restless, I will throw something together in 30 minutes or less. I went online and found the addresses of 3 interesting tourist sites in Nashville, all in the downtown area, and off we went! The boys love the spontaneity in the beginning, but once into the trip, they might be frustrated with mom for not knowing the exact hours of the museum that we are supposed to visit! Small detail, right?
In the end, we enjoyed the Parthenon and the Tennessee War Museum. I was surprised to learn that the Parthenon is actually a duplicate of the original, not just a scale model. And of course my boys enjoyed the war museum. Oldest son (12 almost 13), spent the whole first part of our school year studing about WWII, so this was his favorite stop.
It was a fun trip on an amazingly warm February day. The high was 71 and it was sunny and breezy!
I love home schooling because I can do something like this, and also learn about those things that I hated when I was in school! I had a history teacher in 9th grade that absolutely killed my interest in history by making me memorize an endless list of dates! So now, I am making up for lost time, and enjoying the adventure with my kids.
I am blessed in so many ways!! |
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• Feb. 22, 2007 - Decoration Day?...No, I said, Excavation Day!
Recently, my friend Queen of the Hill brought up the topic of Decoration Day. I would give you a link here to Wikipedia, but my internet service is being spastic. Decoration Day in Appalachia is typically a day that families remember family members whom have died. They memorialize this day by visiting family cemeteries, placing flowers, and having family picnics. It often can be a grand family reunion! My family participated in many such occasions in the past; although, not so many recently.
Well, this came to mind last week for me in a very random way as MY FAMILY and I had a GATHERING in my younger sons' room.
There were no picnics or cemeteries, but there was a gathering of family to remember old times. 
I called this day Excavation Day! And ground zero was my 2 younger boys' bedroom!
I don't know about you, but at my house, with all the home schooling responsibilities, dad working out of town, field trips and sports activities, and service work, tidiness at home takes a major back seat. I turn my head and try not to look at the piles of debrie that have accumulated in all corners of my house!
But I could handle it no longer!!!
We reminisced over candy wrappers from Halloween, Easter, and other random events.
We sorted through clothing, clean and dirty, and put them in their "places".
We said goodbye to toys that had been crushed under foot and weren't even fit to be airsoft gun fodder!
All in all, we had a cheerful, productive day together, and my 2 boys actually enjoyed the process (for once). I think they enjoyed being able to walk across the room without getting Legos stuck to their feet!
And my husband says "we will not live like this anymore!"...
I hope he is right! But I know we do not have the money to afford a live-in maid, so I am interested to see how things will go...
At least we had an enjoyable day together! |
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• Jan. 30, 2007 - Amused by my child's writings...
Yes, please reserve the comments on how long it has been since I blogged ! Life in my neck of the woods has been very interesting!
I am reading an English assignment that my just-turned-7 year old wrote today. I wonder what a 1st grade teacher would think once reading his sentences, which were supposed to have all the nouns and verbs labeled. (Please forgive me because I will break all 11 rules of grammar in this one entry!)
The assignment for my son went like this...Copy 3 sentences from your book, and label the nouns and verbs. No problem!
"Mom, may I write my own sentences?"
"Sure!"
Well, the results caused his brothers to roll in the floor! And it went like this:
1. The dog farted.
2. The dog used the cat to wack the other dog.
3. We threw the cat over the gate and hit a dog.
4. When the cat hit the dog the dog bit the cat as if it was a chew toy.
Before you call all the animal rights people on us, I will say that my son loves animals. But he is all about making his brothers, and anyone else laugh. And apparently, these topics were ones he knew would elicit roars of laughter!
Oh, and he got all the nouns and verbs labeled correctly! |
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• Nov. 30, 2006 - The new neighbors have moved in
Of course I said I would not blog, but I often have to eat my words!
I was talking with a fellow blogger and commenting that this would be a good way to journal the daily grind, and help myself remember life. I find in my, ahem, old-age, that I am not remembering as I use to. Anyway, on to the subject for today...
My children have been praying for some new home school neighbors. Our last neighbors rarely showed themselves outside the house. They had a child, but alas, she was a girl. And a girl that wanted nothing to do with my boys. I cannot imagine why! I should not have had so little faith, but I admit that I kept telling them that it was very unlikely that we would have neighbors that home school. Well we do have new neighbors, and they actually have kids. Which, out where we live, is unusual. I feel like this is a whole new chapter of our lives! (I do not feel like I have finished the current chapter! Things are moving too fast!) There is a boy and a girl. Ages 10 and 13. My children are ecstatic! The new kids immediately invited my children to play hide-and-seek with some other neighbors and themselves. They had a fantastic time. I look forward to meeting the grandparents of the kids. This will honestly be one of the first opportunities that my children have had to make friends with children that are not home schooled, outside of their friends at church. How weird is that, and how weird am I! This is going to be an interesting chapter, and one of which I am entering into in a tentative manner.
Any words of wisdom? But, some of you out there were unsure if I could post, so you may never see this!
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