Pinewood Castle

Lots of Questions About Resources! A Homeschooling Meme

Lots of Questions About Resources:: A Homeschooling Meme

The amazing Grace at Our Field of Little Flowers tagged me for this meme ...

Of course I am way behind on blogging and you are probably wondering what is going on over here and why I am returning to blogging with a meme of all things. Well, because it's easier! Easier than updating everyone on our camping trip to the North Shore and resuming school and all the little ways our children are growing and changing.

I will get to all that eventually but this post was a little easier to prepare while listening to music practice. Yes, although I used to get offended when my clarinet professor read the newspaper during my lesson, I now multitask while my kids practice piano and violin. This is not the Suzuki way. Shhhhh - don't tell their teachers!

Anyway . . .

One homeschooling book you have enjoyed::
One? Ha, ha, ha.

In the early years: You Are Your Child's First Teacher.

A little later: Katrina Kenison's Mitten Strings for God and Susan Schaeffer Macaulay's For the Children's Sake and For the Family's Sake.

A little after that: Sally Clarkson's Educating the WholeHearted Child and Elizabeth Foss' Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home. (there is a new edition of the Whole Hearted Child on my wish list).

What I eventually (after meandering through Waldorf and Charlotte Mason inspired approaches) modeled our curriculum after: Berquist's Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum.

When my family grew and things weren't so easy anymore: Jackie Wellwood's One Hundred and One Devotions for Homeschool Moms and Large Family Logistics.

Currently exploring: Carol Barnier's books.

One resource you wouldn’t be without::
Well, I have to agree with Grace that an internet connection is invaluable. In fact I am intrigued by the idea of using an iPad with apps for homeschooling fun and exploration, or getting one for the coffee table so we can cuddle on the sofa while we surf.

An even more valuable resource would have to be my husband. There is no way I would or could homeschool without his support. He totally supports what I am doing, lets me make most of the curriculum choices and is generous with the education budget. Even though he does not take over teaching any subjects, he is always the answer man when the kids have questions, the comedian when we need humor and takes over doing the dishes when I am too tired at the end of a day (even if I am tired for a year or two). He puts in extra hours at home to help out instead of spending lots of extra time at the office or taking on side jobs for extra money.

Third, I have to say I have been totally blessed by attending a homeschooling mom's support group once a month. I feel much less like a homeschooling hermit by attending meetings, hearing talks and gleaning ideas and inspiration. Really, over the course of three years I have learned more from these meetings than all the books I have read.

One resource you wish you’d never bought::
Lots of wooden Montessori manipulatives. I paid too much for them, didn't really know how to properly use them, and now they just sit on the shelf.

 One resource you enjoyed last year::

Phonetic Zoo for spelling. Sorry I keep plugging this program, but hey - it works for us. Also, doing Artistic Pursuits with another family kept us faithful to art time.

One resource you wished existed::
A unit study for 1st grade based on Aesop's Fables - complete with narration of the stories, drawing the animals for art, studying the animals for science, poetry, biblical references for the lessons and virtues, and simplified versions of the stories in the form of phonics readers.

One more - I think someone should go into business selling boxed kits for Little Saints. I am so thankful to have all the weeks' supplies in ziploc bags ready to go, but would have paid $$ to have it all done for me.

One homeschooling catalogue you enjoy reading:
Emmanuel Books for sure. The Sonlight catalog gives me ideas of how to spice up geography with living books. I also keep the Veritas and ChistianBook.com catalogs for ideas.

One homeschooling website you use regularly:
Hmmm, I enjoy reading the 4Real and Well Trained Mind forums, though I seldom comment on either one because I feel like I have nothing new to contribute. Really, whatever question I have I just use the search feature first and come up with a wealth of information from previous threads. I have recently discovered two new collaborative blogs - Simple Homeschool and The Heart of the Matter and enjoy these quite a bit.

Thank you, btw, to those who have clicked book links and ordered something recently. A little Amazon credit came my way and it was most welcome!

Now I have to tag six other homeschoolers to join in this Resource game:

Kirsten at Sonlight Garden. (I keep thinking about a quote she posted, "The most extraordinary education begins with a mother who smiles.")

Lori at Loving Them From Scratch

Sarah at With a Hopeful Heart

Jamie Jo at Lord Make Me a Saint

Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things

Jen at Northwoods Classical Academy

 

Name This Minnesota Small Town

Fall Meme

HT: Dawn

When does fall begin for you? The week of Michelmas, St. Jerome, St. Therese, Guardian Angels and St. Francis. (Whew!)

What is your favorite aspect of fall? The hunkering down feeling that comes over me mid-October. I suddenly get a mad urge to make pot roast with carrots and potatoes, popovers, bake apple crisp and light candles. In fact I made this exact meal yesterday for my in-laws. Except they brought apple crisp and I made chocolate zucchini cake - a recipe I will share when I post about our "Z" week!

What do you like to drink in the fall? More coffee. With biscotti.

What's your favorite fall food? Apple or pumpkin anything. With cinnamon. I also like to make squash soup this time of year.

What is fall weather like where you live? Fall in Minnesota comes much more quickly than the ones I grew up with in Oklahoma. I imagine it to be more like New England. The temps are cooler and the possibility of an early snowstorm keeps one on task with the winterizing jobs. 

What color is fall? Pretty much all the colors of the rainbow, counting the clear blue sky!

What does fall smell like? Musty leaves. Fireplace smoke.

Holiday shopping in fall: yes or no? Last year I had it all done before advent, but missed out on some free shipping deals!

If you could go anywhere in the fall, where would you go? East.

What is your favorite fall sport? Can't say I am a sports enthusiast. I once ran a 5K in the fall and would like to again someday. Someday.

Do you have a favorite fall chore? Getting out the autumn decorations and planting bulbs.

What is your least favorite thing about fall? ASIAN LADYBUGS. RAGWEED. When daylight savings ends. Football making the 10pm news late. Deer hunting widows. When the frost kills my morning glories. Dreading a long winter.

What is your favorite fall holiday? My birthday! My husband's is three days later so we celebrate together.

What's your favorite kind of pie? Lemon meringue or key lime in the summer. Pumpkin and apple in the fall. And pecan pies - they remind me of the little Bama pies I used to eat growing up. The Bama factory was across the street from my undergrad alma mater and the sweet smell wafted across the campus.

What was your favorite Halloween costume? I only remember one really - from a photograph. My mother drew a big Queen of Hearts on posterboard and attached it to a big box painted red. I must have worn red tights on bottom and the box on top.

What was your favorite Halloween candy? Candy corn mixed with peanuts. And those fun size chocolate bars. Such a weakness for those!

What was your least favorite Halloween candy? Jolly Ranchers

Which do you prefer, the Farm or the Fair? Farm. The fair wears me out!

Do you have a favorite fall book? Oh, the ones on my typelist. I am partial to Woody Hazel and Pip - and usually save it for November.

How about a favorite fall poem?

James Whitcomb Riley. 1853–1916

10. "When the Frost is on the Punkin"

WHEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best,	5
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here—	10
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock—	15
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;	20
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover overhead!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps	25
Is poured around the cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such a thing could be
As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me—	30
I'd want to 'commodate 'em—all the whole-indurin' flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

Happy Fall!

Craving Solitude Here

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Prioress

You scored 18% Cardinal, 67% Monk, 59% Lady, and 30% Knight!

You are a moral person and are also highly intellectual. You like your solitude but are also kind and helpful to those around you. Guided by a belief in the goodness of mankind you will likely be christened a saint after your life is over.

You scored high as both the Lady and the Monk. You can try again to get a more precise description of either the Monk or the lady, or you can be happy that you're an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

The One Word MEME

Someone listed me as their guess as to who they thought might re-post this.

How did you know that I'm a push over for quick and easy posts these summer days?

1. Where is your cell phone? DiaperBag
2. Your significant other? Sleeping
3. Your hair? There
4. Your mother? Living
5. Your father? Deceased
6. Your favorite thing? TicketsToSummer
7. Your dream last night? Friends
8. Your favorite drink? Coffee
9. Your dream/goal? Heaven
10. The room you’re in? Den
11. Your church? CatholicOnes
12. Your fear? Homelessness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
14. Where were you last night? Home
15. What you’re not? Superficial
16. Muffins? Moist
17. One of your wish list items? Mulch
18. Where you grew up? OK
19. The last thing you did? CoverTheBaby
20. What are you wearing? Nightgown
21. Your TV? Off
22. Your pets? Meow-Meow
23. Your computer? On
24. Your life? Cherished
25. Your mood? Calm
26. Missing someone? No
27. Your car? Comfortable
28. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
29. Favorite store? Bibelot
30. Your summer? Muggy
31. Like(love) someone? Sure
32. Your favorite color? Blue/Green
33. Last time you laughed? Yesterday
34. Last time you cried? Yesterday
35. Who will re post this? I think most bloggers have by now!

ABCs

As seen on Paula's blog

A is for age:
Thirtysomething

B is for burger of choice:
Braums. It's an Oklahoma thing.

C is for what kind of car you drive:
White Toyota Sienna. Not much choice in the matter. I still want a Karmann Ghia!

D is for your dog's name:
No dog! Four children are enough work right now.

E is for essential item you use everyday:
The computer of course.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment:
No time for TV these days!

G is for favorite game:
Pente - it's the only game I can win against my husband!

H is for Hometown:
Sapulpa, OK

I is for instruments you play:
After Kids - violin, piano and recorder with the kids.
Before Kids - Buffet Prestige Bb and A clarinet with silver plated keys and adjustable thumb rest.

J is for favorite juice:
Pomegranate.

K is for what kind of ball you'd like to kick:
Socccer.

L is for last restaurant you ate at?
Do I have to admit to this? Where I'd like to go and where we end up with children an hour from the metro are two different things!

M is for your favorite Muppet:
Beaker.

N is for Number of Piercing:
Two used, two unused.

O is for overnight hospital stays:
Just for childbirth!

P is for people you were with today:
My children. And my husband.

Q is for what you do with your quiet time:
Sleep. Read.

R is for biggest regret:
Not finding a way to stay in Europe once I finally got there.

S is for status:
Like, marital? Or social?

T is for time you woke up today:
5:30 - to the cry of the baby.

U is for what you consider unique:
Contented peaceful modest serene prayerful gentle joyful at home mothers.

V is for vegetable you love:
Asparagus.

W is for worst habit:
Do I have to admit to this too?

X is for x-rays you've had:
Not that many. Teeth. Spine. MRI of spine. MRI of head. MRI of abdomen. Lots of ultrasounds.

Y is for yummy food you ate today:
Oven roasted asparagus! And dinner from my new favorite cookbook Deceptively Delicious.

Z is for zodiac sign:
Libra. You know - balance. I so value being in balance!

You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation. At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable

What's Your Personality Type?

I have so many other topics I'd rather be blogging about, but these silly quizzes are quick and easy!

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Favorite Posts

Have you ever visited Sarah from In These Hills?  The description from her profile reads:

We are a Waldorf family following the circle of the year with crafting, playing music, and loving the      
seasons. We have recently built a house on 18 wooded acres in New England. It is high in the hills on old  farmed land. Our daughters are 8 and 11. I work full-time as a historian.

Blessed with numerous snow days lately, she has been entertaining her children (and the neighbors' children) with a wintry mix of crafts, treats and outdoor activities.  If you have snow in your forecast, a visit to her blog for inspiration would be well worth the time!

Anyway, Sarah has tagged me for a "Five Favorite Posts" meme.  The rules: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you've written. But there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are... what you're all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love
Link 5 can be about anything you choose.
Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better.

Well, I have only been blogging since Michaelmas and have published a modest 148 posts.  Perhaps this will be an effective mid-year review.

Family: My First Post.  I had months worth bottled up while I discerned the call to blog.  Lots of family events captured on this one!  Immediate family, that is.  My family is down south and have not been able to visit Minnesnowta since I began blogging.  My husband's family mostly lives within 1-2 hours and though we see them from time-to-time I haven't composed an in-law post yet.

Friends: Mom's Midwinter Break.  Wow, I don't seem to have many posts about friends so far.  I want to protect their privacy, of course!  As I have mentioned before, the trouble I have with posting about friends is that I am so excited to see another adult that I forget to use my camera!  My social calendar is not a huge priority in this season of my life, but I am not so homebound that I don't get out or have others over!

Who I am: The Four Temperaments.  This pretty much pegs me in my natural state.  Pretty sad too after hearing that one cannot readily tell the temperament of a person who is truly growing in holiness.

Something I Love: The Novels of Jane Austen.  I am not a particular fan of these Masterpiece Theater adaptations currently airing on PBS (though they are fun to watch) but I love reading the books.   So witty, such comedy.  So formulaic.  The heroines encounter adversity, generally behave virtuously and their wildest dreams come true in the end.  I love a happy ending!

Anything I Want: Is This a Sacrilige?.  This one photo tells the story of my life as a mother of four.  Teaching and exposing my children to what is good, true and beautiful.  Fending off what is cheap, plastic and irreverent.  Finding the balance between the two while respecting their individual tastes and expression.  It will be a lifelong challenge I am sure!

And I tag:

Renee at Go East They Said

Laura at Simple Ordinary Lives

Meredith at Sweetness and Light

Ann at Mozart and Mudpies

Regina at House Art Journal

Pick Your Gentleman

Which Jane Austen man is right for you?

Find out here

The Four Temperaments

This is the week for self-reflective blog posts!

I am 86% Melancholic, 14% Phlegmatic

What are you?

Take the test here

My Virtues and Vices                    

Strengths and natural virtues:

analytical, artistic, careful, cautious, choosy, conscientious, deliberate, delicate, discreet, detailed, elegant, exacting, guarded, idealistic, introspective, judicious, lover of truth and beauty, meticulous noble, orderly, painstaking, particular, quietly passionate, persevering planned, pondering precise, prudent reasoned, reflective, religious, reserved, restrained, romantic, shy, serious, sensitive, studious, thorough, thoughtful

Weaknesses:

aloof, apprehensive, brooding, cool, critical, demanding, distrusting, envious, fearful, grudge-bearing, haughty, hypochondria, highbrow, jealous, judgmental, nitpicking, perfectionist, pessimistic, reluctant, scrupulous, self-righteous, skeptical, snooty, standoffish, strict, superior, suspicious, timid, uncommunicative, unsocial, undemonstrative, wary

I know I was much more like Marianne back in the day

Take the Quiz here!

Meme

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ? Not that I know of.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I can't remember. It takes a lot to get me to cry. Maybe when I had PPD?  Can't be that long ago.  Probably the last time we read The Rag Coat or the Clown of God.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? With the right pencil!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I try to avoid lunch meat, but when I do buy it I prefer that Hormel nitrate-free brand in the brown cardboard package.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Four small people so far.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  Depends on who who the other person is! 

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I try not to since it's not good for the children.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  Yes. 

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  Don't know.  I'm a lot less daring now that I have a family! 

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I also try to avoid buying cold cereals but could eat ten bowls of Honey-Nut Cheerios if I bought them. 

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I am trying to be better about this when I am not wearing slip-ons.  That and turning my socks right side out!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically or emotionally?

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Breyers vanilla.  Goes with anything.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?  If they have positive energy, modesty, grace and a prayerful approach to life.

15. RED OR PINK? Red! 

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?  My size. I feel like a thin person trapped in a plump body.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?  A friend I grew up with who really knows me and loves me anyway.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?  Grey nubby fleece pants and black wool L.L. Bean clogs.

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Roast chicken a la orange with sweet potato and carrots.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The hum of the computer.  My husband reading Pippi Longstocking to the children.

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?  Purple. 

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Lavender, rose, lemon, bread baking.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Nova Naturals' customer service.

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?  None, I really have no interest in sports.  Something I should cultivate to fit in with American society, I know! 

25. HAIR COLOR? Brownish blond.

26. EYE COLOR? Blue?  Green?  Hazel? 

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes. 

28. FAVORITE FOOD? I wish this were more sophisticated - cookies, pizza, ice cream and chocolate. 

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings hands down. That's why I love Jane Austen. 

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?  Chesterton's Father Brown Mysteries on DVD.  Northanger Abbey on PBS.

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Red nubby fleece that goes with my pants.  My favorite cozy winter outfit from Motherwear.

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Well, has to be summer after becoming a Minnesotan!  The high temperature forecasted for tomorrow is 1 degree!

33. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs from most people.  Wet kisses from my 2nd child. 

34. FAVORITE DESSERT? See number 28.

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Too many to list.  See the nightstand post!

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?  A big M&M cookie - it was free from the grocery delivery service.

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?  I didn't. 

38. FAVORITE SOUNDS?  Silence.  The clinks and clanks of silverware and dishes in a restaurant.  An orchestra playing anything written before about 1900.  Josh Groban's singing.  The garage door when my husband comes home.  The crunch of new snow under foot.

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?  Neither. Well, some Beatles like "When I'm 64".

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?  Europe.

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not really but I used to play the clarinet semi-professionally.

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Oklahoma City, OK.

If you are reading this and have a blog, you're tagged!

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?    Both.

2. Tree--Real or Artificial?  Real until last year - allergies compelled us to switch.  We miss having a real tree!

3. When do you put Christmas tree up?  The third weekend of Advent.

4. When do you take the tree down? After Epiphany. 

5. Like egg nog? Yes, even better when it's spiked.

6. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, the mostly child-friendly Fontanini set.  We add figures as we go and keep the manger empty until after the kids go to bed Christmas Eve.  In the morning they wake up, go downstairs and kiss Baby Jesus - so sweet!  Then the Three Kings start from afar and travel closer to the stable, arriving on Epiphany.

7. Favorite gift received as a child?  Beaded leather moccasins.

8. Hardest person to buy for?  My father-in-law.

9. Easiest person to buy for?  Myself!  Gifts that I give my husband to wrap for me!

11. Mail or email Christmas Cards?    Both.  Well, stay tuned for our blog card.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Martin the Cobbler.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Do I have to answer this one?  It's the green thing to do, you know!

15. Favorite food to eat on Christmas?   Chocolate of course!

16. Clear or colored tree lights? Colored outside, clear inside.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night.

18. Do you prefer to travel during Christmas or Stay home? Stay home!

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Oh yeah.

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? Angel.  Growing up it was an angel in a star.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - to teach the children how to wait. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I missed out on free shipping deals by ordering gifts in November!

23. Do you attend Christmas Eve services? Christmas Day.  I'm too wimpy for Midnight Mass these days! 

24. What's on YOUR list this year? Knives.  Really!

I tag: Margaret, Paula, Laura, Sarah and Marianna

I would have guessed German or Dutch, but I am also part French!

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?