Eli's 6th Grade Homeschooling

"Old Testament Bible People & Bible Times" by Gustav K. and Doris J. Wiencke
Critical Thinking's "Cranium Crackers" by Anita Harnadeck
"How Great Thou Art . . . An Inspirational Approach to Drawing" by Barry Stebbing
Moving Beyond the Page "My Side of the Mountain" Literature Unit by Kim A. Howe
"The Mystery of History - Volume 1 - Creation to the Resurrection" by Linda Lacour Hobar
"God's Design for Heaven & Earth - Our Planet Earth & Our Wind & Weather" by Debbie & Richard Lawrence
"Moving with Math" by Math Teachers Press, Inc.
"Sequential Spelling" by Don McCabe
"The Private Eye - Looking/Thinking by Analogy" by Kerry Ruef
"Nature Friend" Magazine
"Dr. Fry's Computer Keyboarding for Beginners" by Edward Fry
"Bastien Piano Basics" by James Bastien
DK's "Language Learner Spanish"

P.S. Don't be fooled - Eli's not ALWAYS smiling when doing his schoolwork!!

Watching While Podding Lima Beans

Breakfast or Dessert?

Both.

A piece of pound cake with slices of fresh peaches and whipped cream over the whole thing.

German Pound Cake

1 C. sugar
1 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 lb. butter
2 eggs
1/4 C. milk

Place ingredients in a mixer bowl and mix on low for 30 seconds until combined. Beat on high for 10 minutes. Spread into a greased, large loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Allow to cool a bit then remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Slice cake then add peaches and whipped cream. Eat a large helping on a summer morning (and later again that evening) on your front porch. Keep saying, "This is SO good."

Late Summer Luncheon

This afternoon I had two friends over for lunch. What a beautiful day - a bit warm but pleasant enough to let the windows blow some fresh air in. We ate in the living room near the window to give the guests a view of the pond. It was very lovely to sit for a few hours, enjoy good company and good food.

For our late summer luncheon, we enjoyed:

* Homemade Orangeade
* Fresh Summer Fruit Salad with a Garnish of Sweetened Coconut
* Veggie Bake
* Cranberry Orange Bread
* Blackberry Trifle - Layers of German Pound Cake, Vanilla Pudding & Fresh Blackberries


Homemade Orangeade

Combine the following:
6 oz. orange juice concentrate (most oj concentrate is sold in a 12 oz. can so you can double this recipe or use the other half for plain orange juice)
1 1/2 C. sugar
Enough water to make a gallon
2 lemons squeezed in and then toss in the shells

Veggie Bake

1 - 10 oz. frozen bag of broccoli in cheese sauce
5 slices of multi-grain bread
10 eggs
1 1/2 C. milk
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 C. chopped onion
2 C. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 C. chopped tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350. Cook broccoli and cool. Spray 13x9 pan. Cut each of the bread slices into 4 pieces and lay in bottom of pan. Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper and whisk until well blended. Stir in veggies and cheese. Pour mixture over bread, spreading evenly with spoon. Bake approx. 50 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Price Book

I recently started keeping up with my price book again. Actually, I call it a "price book" loosely based on the idea of the same name from "The Tightward Gazette." However, mine is only a two-page spreadsheet versus a little notebook. The price book idea is basically keeping track of the cheapest price you can get for each grocery item that you typically buy. In a notebook (or on a spreadsheet), you list each item, the package size, the price, the unit price (per oz. or lb.), the store where you can purchase the item the cheapest, and a column for any notes you might want to make. I use this list most frequently when visiting discount or surplus stores. I compare their price to my list to see if it's worth buying or if I can get it at my regular store for cheaper. (The best priced store in our area is Aldi. If you have one is your town, check it out. They have a consistent selection of the same Aldi brand items.) I mostly buy generic items but do purchase a few brand-name items. This list is handy when shopping at other name-brand food stores to compare sale prices. It takes a bit of time to set up - you have to write down all the prices at the store (or just do a few at a time), then plug them into the computer and print them out to keep with you. But I've found it's well worth the work as it was driving me crazy trying to determine if I was getting a good deal by keeping prices in my head!

Meditating on the Word

Psalm 1 tells us that they are blessed who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on it day and night. Out of curiosity, I looked up the word "meditate" to see what it means in the original language. The word "meditate" in this case means to murmur with pleasure. What a delightful definition! Meditating on the word means to murmur over it with pleasure! I can recall moments when I have, indeed, murmured with pleasure over a gem of Truth discovered in the Word. But, oh how much more I desire to delight in and murmur over the sweet Word of God day and night.

Cultivate that desire and give me that delight, O God.

Kisses & Fishes

Since E. and his cousins couldn't play the exploration pretend game they made up due to rain, we made Kisses & Fishes inside yesterday afternoon. I got the recipe for Hershey Kiss Cookies off the back of the Kisses package and threw another 1/4 cup peanut butter into the batter for good measure. The cookies tasted so good and made the house smell very yummy!


As for the fishes, the boys made marble-painted fish tanks and beaded fish (and jellyfish and crabs) to put in them. This fun idea came from the blog se7en - the life and times of a home schooling mom of 7. You'll find the instructions here. There are actually several other items that you could make to put in the "tank" including chalk jellyfishes, clay starfish, painted turtles, etc. It's a project that keeps on giving!

Gardens at the Park

Our family spent last evening at a local park. M.'s company plays just-for-fun softball once a month, and he and the older boys join in the rousing game. Eli and I usually alternate between walking the trails enjoying the wildlife and watching the game. Last evening though we enjoyed a new activity - visiting the gardens on park property. There are beds of flowers and vegetables in the park that are planted and tended by local master gardeners. They do it, of course, because they enjoy it but also to educate the public. The plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits are marked and include some basic information. It was interesting to discover some things that I had never seen growing before and only read about. We enjoyed wandering around discovering the orange globes of pumpkins, okra (which I was surprised to see growing this far north), blackberries dripping off the vines, native ragwort, the lovely winterberry holly, and a beautiful monarch butterfly which we chased all around the gardens to get its' picture! E. plans on sharing some more of his photos of the lovely gardens on his blog tomorrow.


I was excited to see that these were elderberries which I have never seen before:


The smell of ripening grapes is JUST amazing. Eli took this photo.

Old Shows

Though our family doesn't watch commercial television, we DO enjoy watching old TV shows on DVDs. We've gathered a collection of shows from the '50s and '60s that we like - I Love Lucy; The Andy Griffith Show; Wild, Wild West; Hogan's Heroes; Get Smart; and Green Acres. We also have a large collection of The Lone Ranger episodes on videos. Our DVD collection has been slowly gathered from Amazon.com and our local Target store.

We have a couple episodes of Ozzie and Harriet, but I'd like to get a season of those sometime soon. They don't make 'em like these "oldie but goodies" any more!

Words of Wisdom

Lately as I've been listening to this series of talks on wisdom, I have gained a new appreciation for the book of Proverbs. As I read through chapter 10 this morning, I was struck by how many times the mouth, lips and tongue were mentioned.

vs. 11
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

vs. 13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

vs. 14
Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

vs. 18
Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

vs. 19-21
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.

vs. 31-32
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Obviously, our words have much to do with wisdom (or a lack thereof). Is anybody else saying, "Ouch?!"

O God, that my lips (and the heart behind them) would know wisdom.

Pretzel Making

Eli and two of my nephews made soft pretzels today - some in the shape of cinnamon rolls, a few pizzas, letters in their names and some that actually looked like pretzels! Though I've tasted better soft pretzel recipes, I like this one because it's quick and easy to mix up with kids. (And, of course, children aren't terribly particular!)


Soft Pretzels

In a large bowl, dissolve 2 tabl. yeast in 1 C. very warm water; let sit for 5 minutes. Add 2 tsp. honey and 1 tsp. salt. Then add 2 2/3 C. flour. I used bread flour but you can try all-purpose flour. Knead dough for 5 minutes. Then divide into balls and allow each child to make what shapes they want with it. Place on cookie sheet, brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 10 minutes at 425. Best when eaten warm from the oven.

Series on Wisdom

From now through August 25, Nancy Leigh DeMoss on the Revive Our Hearts radio program is doing a series of sessions on wisdom from the Book of Proverbs. It has already been so beneficial to me, and I hope that you, too, will take advantage of this series. Visit here to find a radio station in your area that carries this uplifting program.

A few notes from the session today:

* Wisdom is ordering every area of life around God and His Word.

* Wisdom is looking at every season of life as God does.

* Wisdom asks in everything: Does this please God?

* Wisdom is seeing the relationship between behavior and consequences. Every action is a choice and has a consequence. Connect the dots to see the cause and effect of your choices.

For more, visit www.reviveourhearts.org for a transcript of today's (and every day's!) program.

Bas Bleu Books

From time to time, my sister passes along a Bas Bleu Bookseller-By-Post catalog to me. (Bas Bleu means blue stocking or bluestocking in French - a term for a literary woman.) I spent part of yesterday afternoon reading through and dog-earing pages of books that I want to look into. Bas Bleu puts out a large variety of books and does a catalog of fascinating reviews for each one. You can call 1-800-557-2647 for a free copy or visit here. Here are a few titles that I ear-marked to whet your whistle:

* Charles Harper's Birds and Words
* Kitchen Essays by Agnes Jekyll (written in 1922)
* Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood by Robyn Scott
* The Bedside Book of the Garden by Dr. D. G. Hessayon
* Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt by Nina Burleigh
* Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer
* Rhapsody in Green: The Garden Wit and Wisdom of Beverley Nichols
* The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

Don't those titles sound intriguing?!

Blackberry Cobbler for Breakfast

Wow - what a breakfast this makes. (And a mid-morning snack. And probably an afternoon snack. You get the picture.)

As you may notice from the photo, I adapted the recipe as follows:

Blackberry Cobbler

4 C. fresh blackberries
3/4 C. water
3/4 C. sugar
1 tabl. cornstarch
2 tabl. cold water
1/2 C. milk plus 4 tabl. melted butter
2 C. Bisquick

Heat oven to 400. Heat fruit and water; stir in sugar. Dissolve cornstarch in 2 tabl. cold water and blend into fruit. Boil fruit mixture 1 minute. Pour into 2 qt. baking dish. Dot with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Mix milk, butter and Bisquick thoroughly. Drop by spoonfuls onto hot fruit mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Let sit a few minutes to cool a bit.

Frozen Melon

The last few mornings I've been spending some time cutting up melons for the freezer. As we have more cantalope and honeydew than we can eat fresh, I've been chunking them up and placing the pieces on a cookie sheet to freeze. Once frozen, they get put in a large freezer bag for eating this winter. Thawed melon is incredibly mushy, so the guys get it out and eat it frozen or partially frozen for a sweet treat. That should cut down (a bit!) on my grocery bill this winter. It is truly AMAZING how much food teenage boys eat . . .

A Barnyard Birthday Cake

Yesterday the boys (prompted by their dad) decided to hold a belated birthday dinner for me since they were away during that time. Eli made the cake, I helped with the frosting, and Caleb and Eli spent two hours creating this barnyard cake for me - complete with a goat on top of the graham cracker chicken coop (which isn't too far off reality). They decided that they wanted to put 38 candles all over it - which they did. Once lit, it nearly set the chicken coop aflame . . .

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY - August 10, 2009

Outside my window . . . a breeze blowing through the pine trees (though it's a hot breeze!) and our huge corn field waving in the wind.

I am thinking . . . that it's good to be back again into a normal routine after vacation.

I am thankful . . . my new, deep bathtub M. installed this weekend, for health and energy, that the boys are home safely from their trip, and for honeylopes (a delicious cross between a cantalope and a honey dew) fresh from the garden!

From the learning rooms . . . types of mountains, poetry writing, magic rock making and the newest "Hank the Cow Dog" book.

From the kitchen . . . For treats: zucchini bread and peanut butter pie. For supper: tacos and melon, I think.

I am praying . . . that I would remember how very much the Lord loves me and that I would live life with that thought foremost in my mind.

I am creating . . . an inspiration list inside a small chocolate-colored tablet to write down fun ideas that I don't want to forget. This week I added the following to the tablet: make sugar cakes (saw some advertised on a sign and it made me hungry for them), order "Tribulation Force" from the library (Eli's asking about end time events), and make jam (my neighbor gave us some and it inspired me to make more of my own).

I am wearing . . . navy shorts & my light green Old Navy top.

I am going . . . nowhere today.

I am reading . . . "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life," "Vision for God - The Story of Dr. Margaret Brand," and I'm re-reading "At Home in Mitford."

I am hearing . . . water drip from the air conditioner (so humid here!!), the dryer going and Eli asking me how to spell something to add to his cartoon drawing.

Around the house . . . schoolwork, finishing the laundry, cutting up melons to freeze, and doing a magic rocks science kit with Eli.

One of my favorite things . . . the counters filled with the bounty of produce & eggs from our farm.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . a library run, more garden harvesting, working out a new school schedule, crafts with E. and anyone else who wants to join us, tea each afternoon while I listen to "Revive Our Hearts" on the radio and baths in my new tub!

Here is a picture thought. It's a beautiful birthday basket a friend gave me last week filled with pure maple syrup, cranberry bread mix, candy sticks, flowers, a gift certificate to a local bakery/tea room and a sweet card. What a wonderful treat . . . from a wonderful friend! (Thanks again, C.!)


The Simple Woman's Daybook is an original creation of Peggy's. If you'd like to participate and/or view other's Daybooks, click here.

A Road Trip to Gettysburg

Yesterday my mom and I enjoyed the day in the historic town of Gettysburg. We began by walking along the streets surrounding the square - peeping in this store and that. One of our favorites was Dirty Billy's Hat Shop. The owner of this store creates amazing reproductions of Civil War period hats and bonnets. It's a favorite store of re-enactors - 6 of whom were in the shop while we were there - dressed in their Civil War garb trying on hats. Dirty Billy's also creates hats for various museums and events - truly amazing work.


We enjoyed lunch outside at a little restaurant called the Blue Parrot Bistro. Their menu was delightfully filled with all kinds of wonderful sounding soups, sandwiches and salads.


We decided on the Bacon, Spinach & Cheddar Quiche with Fresh Fruit, and we weren't disappointed - delicious.


A few miles outside of town we stopped at the Thomas Bros. Country Store. This 100-year-old store is literally a blast from the past. The cash register is a huge gold machine with the name of the store on the top, the Russian sleigh from the movie of Doctor Chivago sits in the back of the store, and a bin for pretzels and cookies that would have been used long ago still sits behind the counter. Wow.


Our last stop was a visit to the Round Barn in apple country. The bottom of the barn contains a farm market with all kinds of treats. You can peep into the silo which has been cleaned out as a little play area for kids. I climbed the steps to the second level to see the immense barn floor. Looking up into the rafters is truly breath-taking. A piece of artwork in the top of a barn. What a masterpiece.

Homeschooling Blog

Here's a fascinating homeschooling blog that I recently discovered and have been exploring.

Housekeeping & Remembering

"Work is sacramental as well. In a traditional Christian understanding, sacraments are points at which material and spiritual things come together and God is present and active in particular ways. Christians usher new members into the church by baptizing them with water. Christian worship is centered on a meal of bread and wine. These physical objects and practices remind Christians of God's past and present faithfulness and undergird their hope for the future: the wedding supper of the Lamb, the new life with which God promises to clothe each of us.

Other practices, while not sacraments properly speaking, may in a similar way allow physical objects and actions to link believers to Christian memory, hope, and present faithfulness. The work involved in making a home can be such a practice. The provision of home is a central aspect of God's creative and redemptive activity. Housekeeping can provide a way of remembering, anticipating, and participating in the kind of home-providing work that God does."

-- From "Keeping House - The Litany of Everyday Life" by Margaret Kim Peterson

Eggplant Parmesan

To use up a few of the eggplants in the garden, I thought I would make Eggplant Parmesan for our supper tonight.

Eggplant Parmesan

Drizzle enough olive oil to coat the bottom of a 13x9 pan and sprinkle with garlic powder. Peel 2 small eggplants and slice them the thickness of your finger. Place a layer of eggplant on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on each piece and spoon spaghetti sauce over each slice as well. Sprinkle all with garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. Do another round of layers. Cover with foil and bake at 350 until tender. (A metal pan typically takes 1 - 1 1/2 hours; a glass pan is usually done in about 45 minutes.)

Add melon as a side and ice cream for dessert - a great summer supper!

A Trip to the Mountains

The boys have been away for the week with their grandparents and cousins, so M. and I took the opportunity to go to the cabin for a few days by ourselves.

On Saturday we visited a Woodsmen's Show in Cherry Springs and learned about the logging industry of Pennsylvania, watched a chainsaw competition where the contestants had an hour to create something from a large piece of wood, had a rootbeer float and French fries, and enjoyed the lumberjack competition where they had springboard races, crosscut competitions and axe throwing!



Sunday brought a restful day of church, a grilled lunch, board games, a movie about Mark Twain called "Roughing It," and a long drive through the mountains and up onto several vistas. At one turn in the road were all these signs alerting you to the fact these hunting cabins were down the road:


On Monday we played a few rounds of miniature golf (I didn't do too well!) and took a long ride to the middle of nowhere for a county fair while we listened to a book on tape about the events of 1908 in America. At the fair we enjoyed some food, walked the grounds and visited the historical society set up in an old schoolhouse. The displays were very interesting, and M. and I enjoyed stepping back in time for a bit.



And, of course, we had ice cream every day!