The Classical Cat Corner

Snow in Georgia

2010-12-26T15:50:00.000-05:00

Who are you?

2008-07-17T19:09:00.001-05:00

Take the Quiz here!

Would someone PLEASE turn out the lights?

2008-07-06T14:23:00.002-05:00

Those flashes of "lightening" are killing me! Can't ANYONE get any sleep around here?

On a mission

2008-06-04T10:03:00.002-05:00

I watched a movie the other day and it has inspired me to read all of the Jane Austen books. I watched the Jane Austen Book Club. Now, I'm on a mission to read all of the Jane Austen books. (I thought it was great that one of the characters in the movie is also a knitter like moi. :) ) I'll be starting with Emma. I'll keep you posted on my thoughts. Reading, knitting, and spinning....I wonder if I can put off the start of our homeschool year this Fall. ;)

It is that season again....

2008-04-22T15:04:00.006-05:00

BASEBALL!

Sweet Pea 1 is playing County Rec Ball this year. Sweet Pea 2 is playing Upward Baseball. Would you believe that they ended up with the SAME team name? LOL Just call me "Baseball Mom". I'm between 4 different fields 3-4 days per week! We love it though and I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

Rest in Peace, Jazz (1994-2007)

2007-12-29T20:43:00.001-05:00

We'll miss you.....

Christmas

2007-12-26T15:27:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas day.

Sweet Pea 2 on his new scooter

Sweet Pea 1 on his new scooter

Popeye with his new lounging clothes

What my sweet Honey got me; and since I'll be making my own lattes from home now, he knew I would need this to buy the beans and also to use to go chat with my friend on Saturdays.

We had a nice, mostly-quiet day. We were blessed this year in many ways and I hope you were too.

A few changes I've made already

2007-09-08T19:33:00.000-05:00

As satisfied as I am with my choices, I've had to change a few things to fit us better.

Christian Light Education math was NOT for us. It was too choppy and too much review for Sweet Pea 1. We've changed to Bob Jones University Math. SP1 and I are much happier and think this will be a good choice.

The science area is bombing out for us. SP is not liking the Real Science 4 Kids or the God's Design. He says "I want REAL experiments." So I ordered Exploration Education. I still plan on possibly doing the Apologia Botany this Spring along with EE. SP will get to build 8 projects over the year and all the materials are included. He's excited.

JAG is going great. DS likes it and it takes only a few minutes each day. It is easy for him right now though, but I know it will get a little harder over time.

Everything else is smooth sailing. We're happy with all the rest of our materials.

Now, if I could just SELL those other things that we don't like.

Health care costs

2007-08-25T16:46:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to get on a tirade about the cost of health care. But let's just say that I'm not too happy about it right now.

I am very blessed that we have excellent insurance through Popeye's company and without it, who knows what we would do. We aren't a family who normally has a lot of medical bills, but I had something going on which I've been dealing with for over 2 years causing me a lot pain. I did something about it. I had some outpatient surgery on July 27.

The doctor fee was over $2000. With insurance and network discounts that they give him (or however that works), our portion was $168. But can I ask why no one at the hospital or doctor's office told me that we would be getting a bill from the anesthesiologist AND the hospital? I just didn't think about it and neither did Popeye. We had received a letter saying that we had to pay the $168 before X date when I did my pre-op visit. Okay, that's fine, we did it. Nothing else was said about having to pay anything up front to the hospital or that we would be getting a bill in the future from the hospital. We received the bill from the anesthesiologist today....$610 before insurance, $97.60 our part with insurance. YIKES! A couple weeks ago I received an Explanation of Benefits from our insurance company about the hospital bill and about fell OVER! The charges for the hospital for those 5 hours I was there and all they did to me minus the anesthesia was near $10,000. Thank God for our insurance even though I'm NOT pleased with having to pay the 20% that is remaining. That amount came in a bill to us today.....$655.

The following is the conversation between Popeye and myself:
He said, "I thought we paid it already." Me: "Yeah, I did too until I got the insurance explanation; that was the drs. fee." Him: "How much is the hospital?" Me: "$655. I guess that's better than the $10K that it cost without insurance." Him: "I need to take you back."

Decision made...

2007-08-25T16:45:00.001-05:00

JAG it is! :) I'm excited and I was hoping it would get here in order to start on Monday. Nope. But when it does get here, we'll start.

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!

2007-08-21T20:55:00.000-05:00

Yep, I'm doing the UNTHINKABLE!

We are leaving Classical Writing and going with Tapestry of Grace's Writing Aids program. THAT means I have to find a good grammar program. So far Junior Analytical Grammar is leading that race over Easy Grammar that TOG recommends. I like the diagramming and review in JAG quite a bit.

If worse comes to worse, we can always go back to CW, but I'm not trying to create the next Thomas Jefferson. ;)

A long time coming....

2007-08-19T12:11:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I haven't blogged in awhile. I've been "dry"; nothing much to say.

We did start our new homeschooling year and I declare the first week a SUCCESS!

We went back to the neo-classical approach this year and I'm finding it fitting us better than a more traditional classical approach (ala Latin-centered Curriculum). We still place a high emphasis on Latin and math, but we prefer a chronological history and teach English grammar within the scope of our writing.

Here's what Sweet Pea 1 is doing this year:

Tapestry of Grace Year 2

We are LOVING this curriculum this year and we're only one week in. It includes our Core history readings, literature tied to the time period, world geography, and church history (this year). Tapestry does include a writing component, but we're not using that because I prefer another writing curriculum. SP loves the map work, the reading is great and he can listen to some on audio or read the print copy. We have "threads" that we follow for the week and have a discussion about what he has learned at the end of the week. SP2 is not doing TOG with us this year for a variety of reasons but will probably be joining us next year or possibly mid year this year.

Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry I, God's Design for Chemistry Atoms and Molecules and Elementary Apologia's Botany

Real Science 4 Kids is only a 10 week course. I'm going to stretch it out by interspersing a few chapters from God's Design. Then in February we'll start the Botany course so we can finish it up in the Spring and move our "greenhouse" plants into the yard.

RightStart Geometry and Christian Light Education

We finished the RightStart Math sequence last year so I had to choose something to go to for SP1. He needed more practice with long division, fractions, percents, and decimals. I also wanted him to increase his speed in regular addition, subtraction, multiplication so I decided to try Christian Light. It is spiral in nature which normally I'm against, but I think he needs the review. We may go on to BJU Math 6 next year or stick with this. I'll decide and talk with SP about it as the year goes on. The RightStart Geometry is a fun program that will give SP a chance to use the fractions and some other concepts in his drawings. It is a neat program written to the student. He likes using the T-square and triangles necessary for the drawing.

Latin Prep I

We were seriously bored with Latina Christiana. We have worked through Prima Latina and Latina Christiana I (or almost through it). Latin Prep was getting REALLY good reviews from many on Well-Trained Mind. Latin is not one of SP1's favorite subjects, but this series should add some humor and fun to the difficult learning.

Spelling Workout

We have had enough of Spell to Write and Read. I need something more independent for SP1 this year and thought we'd give this a whirl. It works great for Zoomom's boys, so figured I'd give it a shot.

Classical Writing-Homer

We have done CW-Aesop A and B so it was time to move on the CW-Homer. This curriculum is one of the better ones out there for writing. I think I've expressed my dislike of Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), so I'll save you from that soap box. CW is based on the ancient way of writing called the progymnasmata. Our grammar assignments are included in this writing program. I like that when we study direct objects, we're doing it in the context of a story that has just been read and re-written in a student's own words. Homer gets into the next step of the progymnasmata using longer and more difficult narratives. It is excellent in that this program can be used across curriculum so I can choose something from our history studies to be written using what has been learned in Homer.

Typing (Keyboarding)

He's still just practicing typing (I like to call it TYPING vs keyboarding. :) ) I have a few different programs that SP1 has used, but so far he likes Word Wacker the best.

Other Geography

I decided to try this program, Maps, Charts and Graphs with both boys this year. So far it is a hit. It just hits on some basic skills they should have about maps and graphs and geography.

Logic

I went with the Well-Trained Mind recommendation of MindBenders. So far they are REALLY bending our minds. hee hee I bought all of Level A to work through this year. There are only 15 problems per book so doing 2 each week should get us through the year and ready for the next level.

Sweet Pea II is getting some new curriculum this year.

He is using the I See Sam books to practice his reading and increase his fluency. He has struggled with learning to read and we're looking into a few things for him.

We are also using ABeCedarian for his reading lessons. This is a good program for children who may be dyslexic.

Handwriting without Tears is the program of choice here for handwriting. I will be adding in some copywork this week also.

We also have several computer programs going on. One that is to help with some auditory issues is Sound Beginnings. The other programs are part of our at-home vision therapy. We go to Athens once every two months for SP2 to be checked by the developmental optometrist for his progress and assigned other exercises for homework.

I'm thinking of adding SP2 into our history studies with TOG in January when we start some American History. He says that SP1 gets to do "all the fun stuff" so there will be projects that SP2 can do and books I can read to him.

Math is still RightStart. It seems to work best for him since there are many manipulatives to use. I was really impressed with how much he remembered from over the summer with NO math work done since mid-May.

Oh, and I almost forgot....I bought MathShark for the boys to use to practice their math facts. They both LOVE it! It times them and they try to beat their previous scores.

We start an enrichment co-op in a few weeks which will round out their studies and add some fun. SP1 will have Drama, Science thru History and a REAL art class studying artists and doing projects similar to the artist. SP2 will have a craft class (some of that fun that mom won't do at home), health and a hands-on science class.

Homeschool PE, various other sports and Awana will be rounding out our year.

I think we're going to have a really great year!

Haaaappy Birthday to MeeeeEEEEE!

2007-06-30T19:38:00.000-05:00

Well, on July 4th that is.

I'll be 39 for the second time! So look what I did to treat myself!

I wonder if this is just the beginning of my midlife crisis!? LOL!

Summer fun

2007-05-22T12:15:00.000-05:00

Shocked? I know! I am actually blogging!

Last week was our first week off of school for the summer. We're still reading this summer and doing a few reading lessons with Sweet Pea #2. We went to see Meet the Robinsons (in 3D).

We had Awana Year-End Awards on Wednesday night.

On Friday Popeye was off work so we headed to the zoo.

The boys wanted me to post some of our favorite pictures.

Mr. Gorilla stopping for a snack

The newest Black-footed Kitten (born in Feb)

And my personal favorite, the Meercat. They actually had TWO lookouts that day. We even saw the "changing of the guard" as one said he was done with his shift and another little guy climbed up to take his turn.

See those two penguins behind the pair of legs? The woman was cleaning out their tank and they followed and followed and followed her every step she made. They pecked at her keys, tried to get in her pocket and even goosed her now and then. Hee hee

Oh...there's Popeye! And in the words of Ree "that man sure makes my hiney tingle!"

Then there is today. My neighbor's friend loaned her this water slide to use this week. The kids are having a BALL!!!!

I promise to try to update more often.

Nothing to do with learning....

2007-04-03T17:51:00.000-05:00

Okay....maybe home ec!

Enter here to try to win a new Dyson Slim model vacuum. I sure do want one of these....it is a pity my Oreck isn't that old though.

Baseball

2007-03-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

The Sweet Peas have started Upward Baseball at a local church in the area. They are LOVING it!

Sweet Pea 2 loved it so much that he was trying to get us to get our lunches to go so that he wouldn't be late for his game!

Heading to the games

Sweet Pea 1 on 3rd base (his defensive position)

Sweet Pea 2 up to bat

Homeschool Meme...I've been tagged

2007-02-05T09:10:00.000-05:00

I read the Writing and Living blog and was tagged. Here is a fun meme for a homeschooling blog.

ONE HOMESCHOOL BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED:

Well, there are two actually. I can't choose just one. The first one is Well-Trained Mind. This book started me on the road to classical education. Then came my most favorite book about homeschooling: The Latin Centered Curriculum (Homeschooler's Guide to a Latin-Centered Classical Education).

ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT:

The internet. Honestly, I can't imagine trying to homeschool without the internet.

ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT:

That sure is hard to narrow down! I had to do some experimentation in the beginning days of homeschooling. I bought MANY things then that I wish I had never bought. I try to hold back now from too many unnecessary purchases. I consider our goals now before purchasing but every now and then I'll fall prey in a desperate moment. Such as the other day when I thought ABeCeDarian would be the answer to my problems. It wasn't and Sweet Pea 2 is trucking along with good ole Spell to Write and Read.

ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR:

Story of the World CDs...my boys listen to these almost every night when they go to bed. I can't BELIEVE the information that they have gleaned and RETAINED from listening to these.

ONE RESOURCE YOU'LL BE USING NEXT YEAR:

Latin Book One...this is an out of print Latin text. I'm excited about this because it brings translation into our studies. We are doing some now in Latina Christiana I and I had planned on going on into Latina Christiana II, but have decide to use Latin Book One over two years. I think it will bring some fun into our Latin studies.

ONE RESOURCE YOU'D LIKE TO BUY:

I can't think of any right now. The only thing that might interest me is a piano teacher who comes to my house. I'm not really in the market for a piano teacher, but if I had to choose, I think I would choose that.

ONE HOMESCHOOL CATALOG YOU ENJOY READING:

I really don't read homeschool catalogs anymore. I know our goals, I know where we are headed, so I don't really see a need to read many catalogs anymore. The one catalog which is more of a magazine that I LOVE is the one from Memoria Press. I drop everything the evening that "magazine" arrives, pour a cup of coffee, and snuggle in my bed to enjoy it.

ONE WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY:

Well-Trained Mind.com I don't follow WTM any more like I used to, but I still get some good information from other moms and dads in the areas I'm looking for.

TAG OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS:

Tag! You're it!

No more Bah Humbug for me....

2007-01-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling better. We've completed our first 1.5 weeks of school of 2007. I have changed a few things and I think this is helping me.

I decided to change the phonics program for Sweet Pea 2. We decided to try ABeCeDarian. This program is similar to Reading Reflex and the author has also studied theWriting Road to Reading. The program we were using Spell to Write and Read is based off of the Writing Road to Reading. I didn't feel like it would be too far of a stretch to use the new program. So far, so good. I don't dread teaching it and SP2 is learning.

I changed the spelling program that Sweet Pea 1 is using. He too was using Spell to Write and Read, but I felt the need to go with something else for awhile. We are trying out Calvert Spelling. SP1 has only worked on the pretest so the jury is still out on that. I will also be adding a vocabulary program soon. Not sure which one yet though.

I've also needed to add more required reading for SP1. My wonderful friend has made up a great list of books for the Ancients and has graciously posted it on her blog for all to use. I ordered those last night from Amazon and we will be on their way soon.

SP1 is able to work almost independently and that is relieve a big burden while I work with SP2.

How many?

2007-01-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
4
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

School....

2006-12-31T19:56:00.000-05:00

Bah HUMBUG.

That's how I'm feeling right now....I just want to enjoy these last 2 days before getting to work again. Thank goodness it will be a short week! LOL

Hopefully, we'll just get on autopilot soon and the days will fly by.

We've dropped piano for awhile so that should help all of our attitudes.

So, if you've been wondering why I haven't been posting here about school....it is because I have nothing to say about it. We cover our basics (math, Latin, writing (and phonics for Sweet Pea 2)) and read to get the rest done.

A Meme of 24 Things...minus one

2006-12-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

Lover of Dolphins tagged me with this meme, so here goes:

1. What's your weakness? Junk food
2. Are you an emotional person? Yes and sensitive.
3. Are you conceited? Sometimes with the things I am most comfortable with.
4. Ever felt jealous of a friend? Sadly, yes.
5. What was the last thing you did? Called the tag office .
6. Who was the last person you ate with? my sons
7. How many times has your page been viewed? I don't know...no counter.
8. Last person who called you today? My hubby. He's the only who has called today.
10. Last song you sang? Can't remember, but it was a hymn in church yesterday.
11. Last time you danced? Saturday night at dh's work Christmas party.
12. Lost a friendship over something stupid? Yes.
13. Last time you felt truly happy? Saturday night at dh's party dancing with him holding me.
14. Last thing you said out loud? "Get OFF of the computer; you've had enough time."
15. Been really depressed before? Yes.
16. Faked being sick to miss school? No.
17. Current taste? Huh?
18. Do you like the person who previously posted this? YES!
19. What are you wearing right now? green velour sweatsuit with orange shirt
20. Are you too shy to ask anyone out? It has been too long that I don't remember! LOL
21. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? How he is dressed and how he smells.
22. Are you mature or immature? I have my moments.
23. Do you like books? Yes.

In the right place at the right time

2006-11-25T21:03:00.000-05:00

That is what happened to us today. We were driving back from Popeye's mom's house and we stopped to get some lunch. When we pulled into the parking lot, we saw this.

I've never seem the Budweiser Clydesdales before nor ANY Clydesdales, so after we ate we decided to stay and watch what was going on.

When all eight horses were "dressed" and ready, here came their little sidekick.

He was so happy to be up on top of that wagon...tail just a waggin'. They let us get up close to the horses, but we couldn't touch them. I've never SEEN horses as big as these before. They were just BEAUTIFUL!

Then off they went around and around the parking lot. We left then to try to beat the crowd. We don't know why they were there, but we were all excited to see them.

The boys even made a new friend.

We all had a nice Thanksgiving but are glad to be back home. Hope your time was blessed too.

Surprise, surprise

2006-11-18T21:40:00.000-05:00

Look what landed in our neighborhood today!

Talk about a shocker!

The Newest Family Picture

2006-10-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

We had these pictures made for our church directory. I think they turned out nice. Sweet Pea 2 told us the day we were going to have pictures made "I'm NOT going to smile." And he didn't....no matter what the photographer did or said, or how we threatened him.

New CAR

2006-10-14T19:32:00.000-05:00

This has absolutely nothing to do with homeschooling but I wanted to write about this. Our family bought a new car today! It is a Hyundai Sonata. I'm SO excited. Popeye picked it out and it isn't the exact trim I would like (no leather seats!), but listen to this. He is such a great hubby. He has been concerned about the kids and I riding around in the other car we have. I get to drive the new car while he drives his little car to work. The other car will be sold (maybe). After about 14 months of driving the new car, I get to choose ANOTHER new car for myself and he takes the current new car and we get rid of his little car! Isn't he just the best?

Pictures for your perusal

I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-10-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

Shew!!!!!!!!!!

THANK you KathyJo! The first time I tried to contact the Blogger folks, I got no reply. This time KathyJo sent me a different way to contact them and we solved my problem!!!! Now, if I could only have my new knitting blog and this blog under the same user name. Hopefully the blogger folks will be helping me with that too.

Update on school: It is going well! I'm not quite getting to some things that we should/could, but the main basics are being covered (Latin, Math, Writing, piano, and phonics for Sweet Pea 2). We'll be adding in the other things a little at a time. I'm beat by the time I jump back and forth with these guys.

Back to school time....

2006-08-12T23:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah, I know....I haven't blogged in a LONG time. I've been busy! I've been turning our toy room into a school room. I'll post pictures of that when it is totally finished (just waiting to get the dry erase board put up and some Latin charts laminated and hung). This room has made a WORLD of difference in our schooling so far this year. The guys run to their desks when they hear me tinkle the little bell telling them it is time to start for the day!

But in the meantime, here is a picture of Sweet Pea 1 working away on our first day of school last week.

And then there is Sweet Pea 2. He was practicing his phonogram sounds on the computer.

Our newest student joined us just for the first day. I decided that he isn't the BEST student to have around and he causes lots of havoc in the classroom! ;)

We started back easing into our work. Since we are following a Latin-Centered Education this year, we started with our basic subjects. (Just for the record, I know that I never finished the post on what we would be using this year, [there was supposed to be a Part 2] but consider this part of that, ok? Just humor me.)

We start each day with devotions. I decided to have the boys memorize the Catechism from Bob Jones University. I'm not sure how closely it follows the Shorter or Westminister Catechisms, but I like it. We do one new one each day and recite the review ones. There are only 50 questions in this catechism and with 180 days of school, we'll run out quickly. But we have 32 days of co-op where we will be having devotions there, and some of the questions/answers are long so I think we'll be fine moving along as we can or staying on one until we have it down cold. We're also reading biographies of Christian men and women who are Heroes of the faith. That is the name of the series Heroes of the Faith. I chose for us to read about Eric Liddell, Corrie Ten Boom, and David Livingstone. I don't know if these three will last all year or not, but I'll get a few more if they don't. I just read aloud a chapter or part of a chapter each morning, then have prayer.

We will have recitation time once we start Classical Conversations in a few weeks. Our Latin studies will dovetail right into that time and then we'll have a little more concentrated time of Latin study. Sweet Pea 1 and I are learning this together using Latina Christian I. Sweet Pea 2 is just around in the room coloring during the concentrated Latin time so that he can get the exposure. I'm not requiring this of him yet since he is not reading.

I decided that SP 2 needs some closer attention this year to get him reading so his work is first after our group time. RightStart Math is on the agenda. He told Popeye the other day that it is easy...."Mom holds up something and I tell her what it is." That isn't EXACTLY what we've been doing, but close enough! LOL I'm very pleased that we did not have to do any review in math. He has just taken off from where we left off in May and is zooming forward.

While SP2 and I are doing math, SP1 is busy working on a Latin worksheet or game(if there is one for the day) or Latin copywork. He accomplishes this as well as keyboarding practice, and soon to add, Awana Scripture copywork in cursive to get that handwriting practice done.

By this time, SP2 and I are finished with Math and it is SP1's turn for math. He too is using RightStart. SP2 practices his "typing" (yeah right) and/or takes a short break and/or works on his handwriting on a small chalkboard with tiny pieces of chalk to help with that pincher grasp he needs to hold a pencil well.

After SP1's math lesson, he goes to work on his worksheet, then it is SP2's turn again for phonics/reading/spelling practice with Spell to Write and Read. This program will turn out excellent readers and spellers. I teach handwriting to SP2 as we go along with this program versus having a whole separate workbook.

And that was our schedule for last week. This coming week we'll be adding in Classical Writing-Aesop for SP1 and First Language Lessons for SP2. We'll have to get a little earlier start to get those extra things in.

The following week, I will be adding in our literature studies using the books Wonderbook for Girls and Boys and Tanglewood Tales, both by Hawthorne. We will read these aloud and discuss them one day a week. I'll also add in our Greek Myth studies using Memoria Press' Greek Myth study guide and D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book. We'll read and discuss another day during that week.

We will start our co-op, Classical Conversations August 29th, so we will have our memory work to add to the beginning of our day as well as adding in our Christian Studies (another Memoria Press product) and Modern Studies (US History). We'll be rolling with a full load by then. It has been nice to stagger start our work like this and then I should be able to stagger it at the end too.

Editing here to add: How could I forget?! SP1 will be doing some assigned reading and reading aloud with me. I guess because I count this as a natural part of our learning, I don't think to list it here.

The latest creature that was caught

2006-07-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

This is a tobacco hornworm. He also loves potatoes and tomatoes. Sweet Pea 1 found him on our tomato plant.

This tobacco hornworm will one day be a Carolina Sphinx Moth.

Have you ever seen this????

2006-07-19T08:29:00.000-05:00

A cat that loves corn on the cob! This is Toby. I may have blogged about this before, but I'm not sure. Toby has diabetes. He will soon be leaving us but I couldn't let him go without getting a picture of this.

Cat pictures....

2006-07-19T08:16:00.000-05:00

Our new kitties have adjusted to life here just fine. They love each other and us! Here is a picture where I "caught" them snuggling.

The Baby and Baby Bolero

2006-07-03T20:55:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest knitting project. It knit up very fast and wasn't too hard. I used Blue Sky Alpaca's 100% Organic Cotton. LUCIOUS yarn to knit with! And in the other photo is my model wearing the sweater. :) Little Graham is 4 weeks old and liked his sweater!

What a sweet brother I have!

2006-07-03T20:51:00.000-05:00

He MADE me a yarn swift!!! Isn't he the greatest! My made it for me for my birthday.

On the needles

2006-06-27T13:41:00.000-05:00

One of my close friends is having a sweet baby boy in August. I wanted to make this for her....so Lisa and Beth...shhhh!!!!! ;)

I'm using Knit Picks Shine Worsted Weight in Terra Cotta yarn (60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal).

I like this pattern because it changes every now and then just enough to keep it interesting while not requiring too much brain work.

I'll post a pic when I'm finished.

My latest creation

2006-06-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

These were really fun to knit...and quick too. Think I'll make a few more soon.

EXACTLY!

2006-06-07T21:27:00.000-05:00

What she said! I wish I could be this brilliant! ;)

What do YOU want out of education for your children?

2006-06-07T08:59:00.000-05:00

First Things

Before what Latin curriculum to choose...

Before whether or not to put Latin at the center...

Before whether or not to read the pagans...

Ask: What is the purpose of education?

And also: What is my vision of an educated adult?

Then, and only then, can you ask how to realize that vision.

Written by Drew Campbell, author of The Latin-Centered Curriculum

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

Some important things to think about, huh?

[Update: I've calmed down now. I don't think I could add anything to this that could make it better than it is now.]

Stop the discussion?

2006-06-06T16:44:00.000-05:00

Now I know why some folks stay away from certain online websites.

Popeye and I have decided to teach our children using Latin-Centered Curriculum guidelines. This seems quite the hot topic on a certain homeschool board. I hope that this discussion makes Andrew a rich man!

I believe I blogged on this topic last year but it bears repeating. Studying the Ancients from Jerusalem, Greece and Rome only enriches us. Were those societies filled with all types of pagan images and perverted actions? Yes. Is our society that we live in NOW filled with the SAME pagan images and perverted actions? I say YES! The Bible itself has stories of adultery, murder, pagan worship, prostitution. How I approach the study of this within the classics is what matters.

I am not as eloquent with words as some of those whom I admire, but I know enough to know that you can't learn about literature of recent times without knowing from WHERE these ideas have come.

Am I convinced that Latin is the best way to learn English grammar? Not yet...I haven't seen it in action. But I'm trusting those who have gone before me. I'm *almost* a convert. ;)

Time for curricula talk....

2006-05-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

I will be posting about our curricula and a few thoughts on that the next week or so. I'm still reading through Drew's book. I read the draft manuscript last summer, so this isn't totally new reading, but I still need to go slow and probably read the book a second time. There have been some changes made from draft to published copy. For now, I'll list the things that I've decided on and talk about those a bit.

Math

Both boys will be using RightStart Math. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this program. I can't say ENOUGH good things about it. It works for both boys even though they have differing styles of learning. Sweet Pea 1 doesn't always need all the manipulatives, but they are there if he does. The way Dr. Cotter approaches topics just leaves me in AWE! Here is a child who was crying over multiplying a two or three digit number by a one digit number using a different program. We gradually ease into it by Dr. Cotter's methods and BAM! (to quote Emeril), he's got it! No tears anymore! We are a little behind in SP's book because I changed programs to RS January of 2005, but we'll have it finished up by the end of summer with a few weeks to spare before starting the next level.

Then there is my little Sweet Pea 2. He has a late birthday, so he basically did more Kindergarten things this year but started first grade work about March or so. We'll be continuing on from there with a rest over the summer. I really think he is on the brink of taking off all around...math, reading, handwriting. He is my auditory learner. Anything he hears, he can repeat. RightStart works well for him because he can use the manipulatives, remember auditorily, and learn visually.

Latin

Last year, Sweet Pea 1 and I started with Latin for Children. This was going to be our second year of Latin. Actually it wouldn't be a complete second year because we worked through Prima Latin when he was in 2nd grade but started it midyear and finished before the end of Spring. We like this program quite a bit. We ended up dropping it because of my burnout. (This really needs to be a separate post but I'll add it here. I think trying to school year round is just not for me. I was tired and having some physical problems as well. I really like the concept of schooling year round, but I just don't think it is something doable for us. Now, in all honest, I don't feel like we totally stop learning during the summer as we are always reading. Sweet Pea 1 reads all types of books on his own, but I think we need a rest from the scheduled school year.) We only completed five chapters of Latin. I plan on taking a week or two and reviewing those five chapters and heading forward. We used the DVDs that come with this program last year, but we will be dropping those this time. I told SP1 that I will get my own workbooks and work through this with him. He will be quizzing me. (He liked that idea!) We really like the activity book that goes with this program. It makes learning Latin fun.

And can you believe I have my plan for Latin completed through High School? It is a rough sketch, but there. Yea, me!!

Sweet Pea 2 won't be formally starting any Latin until we get his reading solidly established. He is getting there with reading, but it just hasn't clicked for him yet. I will have SP2 playing Latin Go Fish with us just for the exposure of the language. I also have a cute little book called Quot Animalia. It lists the names of common animals in Latin and Roman numerals.

Writing

This has been a toughie for me. This past year we used Classical Writing. We did the first seven writing projects in Book A. Classical Writing is based on the progynmasmata. I put it aside for various reasons and has Sweet Pea 1 doing Rod & Staff English, some free writing, and copywork. I feel that after we both have the summer to relax and get refreshed we'll be ready to go forward with Classical Writing.

Before I made that decision though, I was going to enroll SP1 into the Essentials program with Classical Conversations. The Essentials program would consist of grammar using Our Mother Tongue, Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), spelling (of which I can't remember the name of the program) and math drills/games. My main concerns are writing and grammar. I have never been a fan of IEW, but I also know there are other programs out there that I don't care for. I felt I was choosing the "least of the evils". I knew there would be accountability attached with doing Essentials and SP1 would have the opportunity to be under someone's teaching instead of mine all the time. By the time I had sent in the registration for Essentials, I just knew that that was not what we were supposed to do. I read and researched more and more about Classial Writing. I read about what was covered in each level. I read more on the progymnasmata. I also was trying to convince a friend that she might need to consider it too. I basically researched my way into it and I'm VERY excited about it. SP1 is practicing his typing (Popeye says I have to call it keyboarding...I'm dating myself!) this summer. I've also read enough to be convinced that Latin will cover English grammar much better than English grammar will cover English grammar. Classical Writing will have a little bit of grammar included during the Analysis section; it will be using applied grammar versus canned sentences in a separate program. When we get into the next level of CW (Homer), grammar will be covered more thoroughly but still be applied. I'll assess at that time if I will continue with that grammar or let Latin cover that for us.

Sweet Pea 2 will be doing some copywork and some oral narrations in preparation for his next higher level of study. I'll be using First Language Lessons with him beginning in January. I think that having a basic knowledge of the parts of speech is helpful when you begin Latin, so this will be a good start for him over the next two years.

Christian Studies

We will be using Christian Studies First Year as our Bible/Christian Studies this year. We will also be using the Catechism from Bob Jones Press and the related Scripture as our devotional each morning. We will work on memorizing the catechism. I'm excited about how the Christian Studies books will give us a deep study of the stories in which we are already familiar.

I still have a few areas to cover but those will have to wait for tomorrow or the next day.

What IS a Latin-Centered Classical Education?

2006-05-29T19:34:00.000-05:00

My friend recently asked me "How in the world are you going to do all that for school?" She was meaning a Latin-centered curriculum plus Classical Conversations co-op, plus....I'm not sure what else she thought I was going to do. So, if any of you out there are wondering what a Latin-centered classical education is, then just read this.

{HT to Drew.}

Latin-Centered Classical Education: It's Not What You Think

Latin-centered classical education is not… an attempt to adopt uncritically any ancient or medieval curriculum.

Latin-centered classical education is… the renascence of an educational model that flourished until only a few generations ago and continues to this day in a few tradition-minded schools.

Latin-centered classical education is not… “sola lingua Latina,” training in Latin alone.

Latin-centered classical education is…a rich and varied curriculum, “grounded upon—if not strictly limited to—Greek, Latin, and the study of the civilization from which they arose” (Tracy Lee Simmons, Climbing Parnassus, p. 15).

Latin-centered classical education is not… based on Dorothy Sayers’ reinterpretation of the medieval Trivium.

Latin-centered classical education is… the type of education Dorothy Sayers herself had.

Latin-centered classical education is not…Great Books read only in translation.

Latin-centered classical education is… the type of education enjoyed by those wrote the Great Books: Cicero, Virgil, Quintilian, Augustine of Hippo, Benedict of Nursia, Thomas Aquinas, Vittorino da Feltre, Thomas More, Martin Luther, William Shakespeare, Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Jefferson, C. S. Lewis, T. S. Eliot, and G. K. Chesterton.

Latin-centered classical education is not… vocational training. Its goal is not to turn out efficient workers or satisfied consumers.

Latin-centered classical education is… dedicated to enlightening the mind, refining the senses, and ennobling the spirit. It aims at a life beyond getting and spending. Its goals are the inculcation of virtue and the fostering of wisdom.

Latin-centered classical education is not… student-led. Classical education does not endorse Rousseau’s notion that, left to their own devices, children will naturally educate themselves.

Latin-centered classical education is… teacher-led. To achieve its goals, traditional classical education assumes the presence and active involvement of a dedicated teacher who acts not just as a conduit for knowledge but as a role model and mentor. While older students must be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their learning, the Latin-centered curriculum assumes that teachers can teach because they know more than their students.

Latin-centered classical education is not… an uncritical affirmation of pagan beliefs or values.

Latin-centered classical education is… devoted to the Good, the True, and the Beautiful wherever they may be found. It assumes that a thoughtful student will see fit to entertain many ideas without feeling the least compulsion to adopt those that prove unworthy. Constant exposure to the best endows the student with the ability to recognize virtue and vice for what they are.

Latin-centered classical education is not… humanistic in the sense of “irreligious” or “making man the measure of all things.”

Latin-centered classical education is… humanistic in the sense that the development of the mind and the refining of the aesthetic sense are worthy activities for creatures that bear the image of God:

To each species of creatures has been allotted a peculiar and instinctive gift. To horses galloping, to birds flying, comes naturally. To man only is given the desire to learn. Hence what the Greeks called paideia, we call studia humanitatis. For learning and training in Virtue are peculiar to man; therefore our forefathers called them Humanitas, the pursuits, the activities proper to mankind. -Renaissance humanist B. Guarino

Latin-centered classical education: It's not just what you think. It's how you think.

Drew Campbell is the author of The Latin Centered Curriculum.

Wanting to share this....

2006-05-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

This is a BRILLIANT piece and wanted to share it with those that come here....I've often thought that I was "spoiling" the story by reading children's versions to my kids before they could read the "real thing" for themselves....now, I don't have to fear anymore.

It's Never Too Early - Or Too Late - For Great Books

From the beginning of our homeschooling journey, I have been reading the advice of experts. Many experts encourage parents to use simplified retellings of great books in their homeschool, explaining that an early familiarity with the stories will make the books less intimating to the student later on.

The advice made sense, but I sometimes wondered if I was doing the right thing. By reading Black Ships before Troy and Garfield’s Shakespeare Stories, wasn’t I, in a way, ruining it for them? Would it in fact be better for them to experience Shakespeare in the original language, and Homer, if not in the original, at least in the form of one of the classic translations?

I never, however, questioned the merit of telling my children Bible stories. I realized there were a few who only read to their children from the King James Bible, but I didn’t agree. I felt kids needed to understand the stories, to gain an intimate familiarity with them. The analysis would come much later.

It wasn’t until I started reading Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare that I began to see the contradictions in my thinking.

In this book, Asimov helps the plays of Shakespeare come alive for the modern reader by explaining the background and allusions in the plays. The audience in Shakespeare’s time was expected to have an understanding of Greek mythology and Roman history, and Shakespeare’s plays are liberally sprinkled with references to them. While someone without such background knowledge can still follow the plot of the plays and enjoy the beauty of the words, many of the deeper nuances will be missed.

I reveled in this book, delighted with the deeper meaning Asimov helped bestow. Even the plays I was familiar with became more alive as I began to understand the background and see allusions I had never before been aware of. But some allusions, I realized, I knew quite well:

There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is ’t to leave betimes? Let be.

As someone who was raised in church, with weekly Bible lessons told by teachers armed with felt boards, I have long been familiar with Matthew 10:29:

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Asimov, however, does not assume such familiarity, and explains the allusion.

I am far from a Bible expert, but I realized how much I take my biblical knowledge for granted. Phrases like “pitched his tent toward Sodom,” and “making bricks without straw,” do not need to be explained to me; I’ve heard the stories from my earliest childhood.

But this familiarity has not detracted from my adult delight in the scriptures. The story of the first Passover was once just an exciting tale; now it’s a beautiful foreshadowing of how the crucifixion saves us from death. As a child I loved hearing how Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal; as an adult I ponder how our mountaintop moments are often followed by periods of doubt, and how God comes to us in those times in a gentle whisper.

My nine-year-old catches allusions to Greek mythology everywhere – which he often has to explain to his mother. He sometimes can decipher the meanings of difficult words (and the spells in Harry Potter) from their Latin roots. He thinks of Shakespeare as a writer of exciting stories filled with intrigue and exciting battles, not dry, incomprehensible plays to be slogged through in a high school classroom.

As a Christian, I don’t consider the Great Books as important as the Bible, but I value their contribution to Western culture. As Hamlet says:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

By exposing my children early to the Great Books, I am building a strong foundation. The deeper meanings will become clear to them later, when they have the maturity to understand. And when that time comes, they will have a ready store of knowledge to draw from; the back-story will be firmly in place.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.

Staci Eastin blogs at http://writingandliving.blogspot.com.

And I thought I am addicted to yarn!

2006-05-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Yarn Thieves in Atlanta

[HT to Pixie Purls]

What she said....

2006-05-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

I'll be posting more about homeschooling things in the near future. But until then, I'll probably be posting bits and pieces of good things I read....like this from KathyJo's site.

FINISHED!!!!!

2006-05-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

with 2 hours to spare! I was seaming and sewing buttons on in the car so this photo was taken before. I'll have an updated photo in a week or so.

Hat is finished; Sweater questionable

2006-05-04T06:46:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of the finished baby hat...it might be the only hand-knit item my sister-in-law gets at the baby shower from me....I'm quickly running out of yarn for the sweater unless I can figure out a good place to change over to grey...I don't think I'm going to get the other yarn I ordered in time.

Baby items

2006-04-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

The hat is coming along. I frogged it MANY times. It was huge no matter what size needles I used. Thanks to Carolyn, it is being knit in a appropriate size. It seems my pattern was off as far as the circumference for a baby's hat.

The sweater is not making much progress. I'm trying. I figure if worse comes to worse, I can have a hat and socks knit up in no time.

New kitties

2006-04-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Our new kitties have adjusted to their new living arrangements just fine. We've adjust just fine and the old kitties have adjusted fine. Still a little hissing from the old cats every now and then, but that is expected. My only problem is that the new kitties like to play soccer in the hall on the wooden floor at 6 AM. I don't like getting up at 6AM! Poor Popeye tries to feel around in the dark to take the balls away but they find something else each time! LOL

Calvin, Hobbes, or a little of both?

2006-04-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

ign="center"> Mostly Calvin

You are 70% Calvin and 30% Hobbes
Your inner Calvin often prevails, but, as in the image below, you have
a significant Hobbesian component. I'm going to try to stretch the
visual metaphor here: you have a good head on your shoulders, but when
you don't use it, your crazy body gets you in trouble? Does that work?
Odds are you're impulsive and imaginative, but it's possible you've
collected just enough wisdom to hold your most anti-social urges in
check. Most of the time. It's a precarious balance, like a boy on one
foot with a tiger head.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 89% on calvin
You scored higher than 3% on hobbes

Link: The Calvin Or Hobbes Test written by gwendolynbooks on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

In progress knitting.....

2006-04-08T21:04:00.000-05:00

My sisterinlove is having my brother's first baby in June. It will be a boy. So, the knitting bug has turned to baby items. :) Here is a swatch that I've made to experiment with a pattern I want to use to knit a baby sweater for the Fall. Also a baby hat is forthcoming. I experiemented with putting a similar design on the hat but I'm not 100% satisfied with it. I'm not sure what to do about that one line of grey toward the bottom unless I purl it vs. knitting since I'm knitting in the round.

Just flashin'....

2006-04-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

my stash. It is April 1st and I've read that we are supposed to flash our stash. So here's mine!

Fraternal Twins

2006-04-01T00:26:00.000-05:00

I finally did it!!!! I have a PAIR of socks! My FIRST pair of socks!

Unlike what some people around here think, I actually DO other things that knit. (rolling eyes....are you STILL working on that sock?) Errr!

I decided to try making the toe on sock #2 (bottom) more rounded than pointed. I figured who would see it inside my shoe. Also I ended up picking up WAY more stitches in sock #2 than the first one...I'm not sure why that happened. I needed to or I would have had holes. But they both fit and feel just right. It was a good time to experiment. But in reality, for ME, it didn't matter. I have a long second toe so ALL my socks look pointy when I wear them. But I'll know when I make socks for the boys that I DO prefer the more rounded look. I am VERY happy with my Kitchener stitch this time too!

It will be 80 degrees here in Georgia tomorrow. But guess what I'll be wearing!

Aaaarrrrrr, Matey!

2006-04-01T00:22:00.000-05:00

Do you see what I see? Pirates!

This is what little boys can do with time on their hands.

My kitty

2006-03-28T17:42:00.000-05:00

Toby is his name. He is almost 13 years old. He has been a sweet cat. Kind of persnickety at times, but that's just him. We found out last week that he has diabetes. The treatment for this is very costly and time-consuming. He's led a good life, so we are just going to let nature take its course. We did change his food to one that a friend's vet recommends for his diabetic cat patients. Our vet says he has about 3 or 4 months left with us. We'll miss him and I dread the day we have to take him to the vet to have him put down. But I would rather do that than have him suffer.

I've GOT to have

2006-03-03T19:11:00.000-05:00

one of these.

Isn't it just precious?!

It is feminine-looking while telling those around me that I like sheep and knitting. :) They have ones with alpaca, cats and bunnies too.

I won't make it....I just don't think I can....

2006-02-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks everyone for their support and cheering on my Olympic sock. Just today (about 3 hours ago), I noticed that my heel flap looked different than the other one....WAY different than the other one....sigh....so I frogged ALL the way back to before the heel flap....and now I have some places in the yarn, that are all twisted up. I've got to pick up all those stitches and see if I can make some sense of where to start and keep going.

Oh, well.....I tried.

Down to the wire....

2006-02-24T08:29:00.000-05:00

I don't know if I'll finish my sock! :( I have until Sunday night when the Olympic torch goes out and I will be working on it furiously today and tomorrow. I'm taking the boys to the park this afternoon so I hope to get lots accomplished. We have Awana Olympics in the morning for a few hours so I'll be working there and I have a conference at church and I'm hoping I'll be able to knit then too. That will be 3 hours of no knitting if I don't!

My new sock for my new class that started Tues only has about 4 rows completed on it and I have MUCH to do before Tues night! EEK!!!!

I'll be posting pictures of both socks really soon....cheer me on!!!!

Knitting Podcasts

2006-02-17T00:52:00.000-05:00

I've developed a new addiction (and for some reason I'm really chatty tonight!)....KNITTING PODCASTS. I remarked to Popeye one night that we need to catch up with technology and get an iPod one day. He said we could get a free mp3 player because OfficeDepot would give us one if we ordered so much in office supplies....so we did! I LOVE it!!!!! It only holds 119M but that is over 3 hours of downloads. What I've learned to do is download the podcasts to my hard drive and then copy onto my mp3. Then all it takes is a plug and a click for me to retrive the next few downloads and I'm ready to go again! I hope to one day have an iPod with more memory, but for now, this works fine.

Anyway, back to podcasts.....Cast-on is one of my favorites so far. I don't really agree with Brenda Dayne's political thoughts or lifestyle, but I do enjoy her knitting and talking about knitting....so I listen. Her voice is smooth and really nice to listen to. She has music on her podcasts too that is podfree (new artists that are good but not signed with record labels..yet). You can even listen to these just on your computer. That is how I started before Popeye was so sweet to me!

Another podcast that I enjoy is About Time with Whit Larson. Well, I might as well tell you the others too, right? I have only listened to About Time, Cast on, Knitting News, KnitCast and Pointy Sticks. I haven't even caught up on all the episodes, but I intend to! I'm almost finished listening to Cast-on's older episodes with a new one coming out tomorrow morning!

I just love knitting now and can't think of ever putting it down!

A homeschooling post! GASP!

2006-02-17T00:29:00.000-05:00

Well, well...I think I'll actually post about homeschooling! SUR-prise, SUR-prise! as Gomer says.

I have found what works for us. I may have to take the "Classical" off of my Blog title though! But my heart does just love the classical style of education. We've settled on Robinson Curriculum. We really haven't even started reading any of the books, but Sweet Pea 1 is learning some of the vocabulary for the first book he'll read in another week or so. Actually sometime last year he read a few books from the RC and we both really enjoyed them. He read them alone and then I read them again aloud so that Sweet Pea 2 could hear and enjoy.

We have our system going with our lessons and life is much more pleasant around here now. SP1 is working on all math facts. He knows I would guess around 85-90% of the facts over all operations. He knows his subtraction and addition superbly, so we are working on speed for those. He knows most of his muliplication and division but those 7s, 8, and 9s are rather hard for him and are the ones he doesn't know without skip counting. So each day we work on math (Singapore math)and/or math facts. He reads for 30 min. each day (this week we went up to 45). I haven't had him start on the Robinson books yet, but that will be coming soon. Today he read from the encyclopedia. Yesterday, he read from Child's Story of America. Before that he read Apologia Elementary Zoology I. He is a sponge when he reads so I don't fret about not having "formal" science or history. He does copywork each day and has been copying his Awana verses that he would recite the following Wednesday. He has almost finished his book for the year so yesterday and today he copied from the encyclopedia anything of his choice. Today, he chose gasoline. Yesterday, he chose oil. The day before it was cats. We took a trip to the library today and guess what book he chose? One on small gasoline engines! I'm not going to stop that reading!

We do grammar two or three times per week. I like the Growing with Grammar program quite a bit. It is very much like Rod & Staff without so much work. It will provide a good foundation in writing by starting with the basics. We also do Writing Trails in American history but we haven't been so structured with getting that in lately. I will soon though. I want to do one of those assignments every other week. It is really good for teaching dictionary skills, using a thesaurus, and working on key work outlines and rewriting their own story.

Latin...well, let's just say that I've decided to sit that on the shelf at least until Fall....maybe longer. I really believe in the educational value of it, but I have to get SP1 more mature and not bucking the "sysem" aka ME so much. So far, so good, but I don't want to rock the boat with that just yet.

We do have our Bible curriculum and we cover that a day or so during the week, but with Awana, he learns a lot too, so I don't sweat that. Cursive handwriting is coming along well. SP1 actually has a nice cursive handwriting but I only require that he keep the skill fresh by writing one line per day. He is fine with it, and so am I.

Well, I think that covers it for him. (Besides piano practice, which is still a bone of contention with us sometimes....he just gets frustrated too easily.)

With SP1 doing his own work, that leaves quality time for SP2 to learn and grow. I'm very pleased with his progress since we started this way of learning in January. He does his own copywork each day on his own, we're working on his math facts, learning to read and almost finished up with his first level of RightStart Math. He'll be getting ice cream next week for finishing his book!!!

Both boys are enjoying listening to Series of Unfortunate Events on books on tape. They tell me things and we discuss it. They get so excited to listen to these stories. I'm not in the "reading aloud" mood but they still get to enjoy books being read to them for awhile, while I regroup and can take up the banner again!

A little update....

2006-02-17T00:07:00.000-05:00

Just a little update to let you know how the Knitting Olympics knitting is going. So far, so good.

Sock #1 is now finished and you can see the picture of it below. Sock #2 is about 1/4 of the way complete. I'm not worried about finishing it in time UNTIL I throw in the factor that I start a NEW sock class on Tuesday night and I'll have homework that will need to be completed before the NEXT Tuesday night. One good thing about this Local Yarn Store (LYS) though...the lady that teaches quite a few of the knitting classes is usually always there working or teaching on Tuesday nights. Even if I don't finish the first sock in the 4 weeks of class, she'll be there for me to come to.

Have I mentioned this LYS before? I don't think I have. It is GREAT! A very nice sized store with a BIG table for all the knitters to sit around and just knit. This table has seating for 10 people. There is also a small sitting area for 3-4 people near the table. I have really enjoyed my Tuesday nights going to knit with the ladies that come by. There are several "regulars" that come each week.

The yarn that this store carries is FABULOUS! Some is very pricey and some is around the same cost as what I can find online (Knitpicks excluded). I just love to go and touch all the yarn and dream about all the projects I want to knit someday!

Oh! I got my yarn winder today! I found a really good deal on one at Joanns.com. It was $29.99 with free shipping. I can't wait to get to my stash and have all these nice little cakes of yarn sitting in my baskets. Yarn winders really are pretty expensive. Most of them have been around $40-60 so I was glad when I found this one (with good reviews) at Joanns. I rearranged my stash the other day. I'll have to post a picture tomorrow. Popeye is sleeping now, and I don't think he would appreciate me turning on the lights! ;)

This is supposed to be a homeschooling blog.....or is it? Hmmm...Oh, well; it is MY blog so I'm officially declaring this blog to be about homeschooling, knitting, cats and just whatever I want to talk about!

What kind of knitting needles are you?

2006-02-12T19:19:00.000-05:00

You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every

eventuality covered and every opportunity

just has to be taken. Every fiber is

wonderful, and every day is a new beginning.

You are good at so many things, it's amazing,

but you can easily lose your place and forget

to show up. They have row counters for

people like you!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

The end is near

2006-02-09T18:58:00.000-05:00

The end of my 1st sock, that is! I'm so excited!!!! I will finish it up tonight and guess what my challenge will be for the Knitting Olympics? Yep, you're right.....to complete the 2nd sock. That isn't stretching my abilities TOO much, BUT I'll also be taking another sock class in 2 weeks so I'll be knitting on the 2nd sock and a NEW 1st sock.....that should make the challenge harder for me. Doing the knitting so far isn't the hardest thing for me...it is finding the TIME to get as much knitting done as I'd like.

What kind of knitter are you?

2006-01-27T23:31:00.000-05:00

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting

and do it all the time. While finishing a

piece is the plan, you still love the

process, and can't imagine a day going by

without giving some time to your yarn.

Packing for vacation involves leaving ample

space for the stash and supplies. It can be

hard to tell where the yarn ends and you

begin.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
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What kind of yarn are you?

2006-01-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when

you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly

born to clean. You are considered to be a

Plain Jane, but you are too practical to

notice.

What kind of yarn are you?
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About homeschooling....

2006-01-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

This blog is about homeschooling really....but I do enjoy sharing my knitting projects...I hope you don't mind.

After many days of feeling that I could homeschool no more, I finally made the decision that I can't homeschool classically....and not even traditionally classical. It was killing Sweet Pea 2s love of learning. He hated school, not that he loves it now, but he does much better with what we've come up with.

He is basically almost self-teaching. We are using Robinson Curriculum, learning vocab from that, reading the books, reading whatever else history and science-wise that I can find for him because he really likes those subjects. We are still doing grammar a few days per week and will continue with Latin, but we are taking a break from that for a few months. He is doing copywork (which he seems to enjoy), and still doing spelling with Spell to Write and Read, but we've changed it to where he only needs me to dictate new words each day and that takes about 5 min.

That isn't all that we are doing, but if I need a short day, he does math, reading and copywork, and I call it good.

Knitters of the world, UNITE!

2006-01-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

I think I'm going for it! I'm joining the Knitter's Olympics. I'll be close to finishing my one sock by then (which I need to post a pic of, but we need batteries in the digital camera), and I'll be wanting to work on my tote bag. I think this tote will give me the challenge I need within a short timeframe.

Shew!!!

2006-01-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

I couldn't remember my password! I was wanting to blog and couldn't get on...thank goodness I finally figured it out!

Pictures of the new creations

2006-01-13T22:00:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love my model? :) He's a sweetie pie! You can't see the blue one as well but there would be a fight if Fluff had not worn BOTH hats and been posted on the blog!

Stay tuned for my first try at socks!

I'm here....sort of....

2006-01-13T15:59:00.000-05:00

I guess I'm just not so good with this blog thing. I really started it as a place to type up my thoughts. I didn't know anyone would actually want to READ them!

I've been busy knitting and finishing the hats for the boys. I'll get pix posted soon. I'm starting a sock knitting class on Tues night AND the boys want me to knit scarves....ummmmm....it has been 70 degrees here lately? Do you REALLY need a scarf NOW? They may have to wait on the scarves until I get the socks complete...we'll see. If I use big needles it will go fast!!

On the school front, I've been re-vamping AGAIN. Things just were not working out. I was tired and hating school, and the boys were grumpy about it so after Sweet Pea 1 and I had a discussion, we decided that self-teaching may be the route for him...at least for now. So, I switched him over to Singapore Math (did I say this already?) and he is doing VERY well...even stumping ME on the word problems this morning! LOL I've ordered Robinson Curriculum and we are going to focus on vocabulary and good books. He has been reading for 30-40 mins per day in science and history related topics. Latin is shelved until April once we have time to get used to our new schedule/routine. I've added in some English Grammar that is self-teaching and Writing Trails in American History. I think this is a nice prelude to Classical Writing-Aesop. So he'll work through some of those and then we'll go back to CW either in the Summer or Fall.

Sweet Pea 2 is coming along very well in his studies....mainly because I now have consistent time to devote to him.

That's all folks!!!

A Finished Object

2005-12-26T19:39:00.000-05:00

Since I was out of yarn for the hats, I decided to knit Popeye a scarf. He deserved to have something since he basically foots the bill for all this yarn and needles! (hee hee) I was DYING to try out my new Addi Turbos....I LOVE them! Oh, and I think the scarf turned out nicely too!

Works in Progress

2005-12-26T19:37:00.000-05:00

What is a girl supposed to DO if she runs out of yarn and can't start her next project in line? She buys MORE yarn and starts knitting a few dish cloths. I figured I had a few hours in the car so I'd go for it!

2005-12-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

Same problem here...ran out of yarn. This is for Sweet Pea 2.

2005-12-26T19:33:00.000-05:00

This is Sweet Pea 1's hat in progress...I ran out of yarn of I would have finished.

Waaaaaay past time to update....

2005-12-21T16:59:00.000-05:00

I am SO sorry I've been MIA....haven't felt like talking but I've had some various things going on. I'd like to share now.

First on the knitting front.....I am about half way finished with the hats that I mentioned below. I will probably finish those this weekend. I'll have 5 hours to knit in the car tomorrow, 4 days at my MILs house and then 6 more hours in the car on Monday. I'll post pix of these when I finish. Next up is a scarf for Popeye. That should be a quick knit and I'll post that too in process since I hope to get started on that this weekend. I found a GREAT place to get circular needles (Addi Turbo) for GREAT prices. I did bite the bullet today and paid full price at the LYS for some today to use this weekend.

Next....homeschooling. I'm in the process of re-vamping a few things so that Sweet Pea 1 can work on his own much more than he has been. I haven't updated my curriculum choices in the sidebar, but I will do that soon. I'm changing him over to Singapore Math. I think he is just a "math" kid and would do well with any program. This will allow me to be free more than before. I've also twiddled around with our Spell to Write and Read program to make it almost independent. He'll need me for 5 minutes each day to dictate 5 words to him; the other parts will be on his own. I'm also sidelining Classical Writing-Aesop until Spring or Fall. We will be using Writing Trails in American History by Logos School. This gets my pencil allergic guy working with short models, outlining and rewriting while learning some American History also. He'll be reading much more on his own than he was before too. I think this will work really well for both of us.

Lastly....medical issues. I have been diagnosed at Insulin Resistant. I've "blown out" my "wiring" basically. I'm not diabetic but it COULD happen if I don't do something about it now....so I'm following the Insulin Resistant Diet. So far, so good. This is based on eating every 2-3 hours combining protein and carbs but limiting the number of carbs during that 2 hr period. I've dropped a few pounds and my measurements are falling...mostly around the waist and middle where I've been having problems losing before.

Well....that is about it for now. I'll be on hiatus again until next week.

What Christmas ornament are you?

2005-12-03T07:36:00.000-05:00

You are the Christmas Lights.

What Christmas Ornament are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

No I haven't been blogging....but here is a great Latin resource.

2005-11-20T12:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mungo.

Latin fun for all.

On point

2005-11-12T08:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Zoomom I will soon have two new projects on my needles. Here is a picture of one hat that Sweet Pea 2 wants me to make. He picked out the exact same colors!!! LOL

Here are the colors that Sweet Pea 1 picked out. I'll be starting on both of these today.

The bug has bitten me....

2005-11-12T08:49:00.000-05:00

The knitting bug that is!! Last year I started working on this purse. I chose different colors as you'll see below.

I laid it down because Spring sprang and I lost my knitting "bug". Here is what I have done thus far last year and since picking it back up. I probably won't be working on it much more until I get the hats done for the boys.

Our school room/office....

2005-11-10T16:26:00.000-05:00

Someone was wanting to see pictures of school rooms...this is about as close as we get. I do have a dream one day of something larger with a nice couch, but for now we use this and our living room which is right off the school room/office.

Another view of our school room/office

2005-11-10T16:24:00.000-05:00

The messy desks

2005-11-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

Going for a ride

2005-11-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

Poor little Fluff (that's the cat)....he wasn't feeling so well that day so Sweet Pea 2 decided to take him for ride in his dump truck....and he just rode and rode.

I haven't forgotten everyone.....

2005-11-06T20:04:00.000-05:00

I just haven't felt much like "talking".

Cutting our school work back to the basics has been GREAT for all of us. It also gave me a chance to figure out what to do so that we can be finished around lunch time and have the afternoon off. And I think my new plan mentioned in a previous post has now evolved into an even GREATER new plan.

We start back tomorrow including our classical studies which we usually read in the afternoons. We will be read that over lunch time while the boys eat, then I'll eat when we are finished. It should work out well....tomorrow will be day one to try it out. I also changed our piano lesson day to a morning time instead of afternoon and I REALLY like it. I would have preferred it closer to lunch time so that would be the last thing of the day but it didn't work out that way...maybe next year if I can get someone to permanently swap with me. Last week was our first time going at 10:15. When we finished we came home and finished up a subject or two, then were off for pizza and library. It was a nice break for all of us.

I'll try to check in at least once a week from now own.

Reporting in....

2005-10-20T19:54:00.000-05:00

Well, this week was trying out the new plan....it went fairly well. Sweet Pea 1 had an attitude one morning so that wasn't pleasant. Then another morning I just let him sleep late while I did all of the lessons that Sweet Pea 2 needed to get done. I REALLY enjoyed that morning. I had forgotten what it was like to be teaching ONE child and to see his handwriting click, and his math clicking and his reading starting to take root in his brain....lots of fun that morning.

I haven't worked out Classical Studies back into our reading time, but I intend on trying that out the week after next. I'm going to take all of next week off. Time to regroup and schedule things our for SP2 since his handwriting is in place and I believe his reading will take off. I'm also streamlining our Spell to Write and Read studies for SP1. We have two field trips (one with an art project) next week so I'm going to focus the other days on getting our schedules working, then we'll be off and flying for another few weeks!

Thanks for checking in with me especially those who commented and were hoping for the best for us.

I'm burning out.....

2005-10-16T19:40:00.000-05:00

I'm tired. I don't like doing school until 2 pm each day (that is with a 45 min lunch). So, I'm going to shift some things and see how that works. The Sweet Peas are still so little and I want them to have time to play and read and just be boys.

We will cover basics in the mornings from 8:30 until 12:30 (with a 15 min break in there); that also covers AWANA memorization time and piano practice. I'm moving our Classical Studies reading until night time before bed or late evening on Mon, Thurs and Fri....once soccer is over, I'll probably do it Mon, Tues and Thurs.

I will be instituting a few days per week "Storyfest". I really miss just sitting and reading something short and fun to the boys. We have our long read alouds but there are some picture books that they are outgrowing and I want to be sure to read those before they won't want to read them. (Taking this idea from Poppins.

I'll let you know how it works out....and if I still feel too burned, then I'll drop all but the basics until January and then I think I can pick up steam again.

I keep forgetting that this is a JOURNEY and not a RACE.

Me.

2005-10-16T19:33:00.000-05:00

I thought I would post a picture of myself....not the best, but better than the one in my August Archives.

Did that really happen????

2005-10-04T15:37:00.000-05:00

Oh, the day we had yesterday....the first time I've had SERIOUS thoughts about putting Sweet Pea 1 in school. It was crazy! I'm just chalking it up to starting back after a break. We haven't had this bad a day in I don't know WHEN! SP1 was being sassy, SP2 was being sassy; SP1 was being whiney about school work, about piano practice, about the dinner I cooked. It just seemed like ALL the training and the rules we've set up were just THROWN out the window. SP1 ended up with "homework" too....more work assigned to him for being disobedient and also the work he didn't finish within our normal time frame.

But today was another day....and it was NOTHING like yesterday. We had a VERY pleasant day and it was a day that I was very glad to say that we homeschool.

PLEASE don't let too many days like Monday come around again.

Our "off week" with field trips

2005-09-28T14:22:00.000-05:00

This is our "off" week in our 3 on, 1 off schedule. We have gone on two field trips this week though.

The first (pix at the bottom) was to a small airport. We got to see the private planes in the hanger, the mechanical shop, talk with EMTs that work on an Emergency Transport helicopter and sit in small planes that are used for instruction.

The second field trip was called "Ravenous Raptors". We learned how to use a field guide (which my boys have already been doing for several years) and learned much about owls and hawks. They had a live Red-tailed Hawk and Barred Owl. It was really a very interesting trip. We also got to see owl pellets and to try to discover what was in them (bones, fur, etc.).

2005-09-28T14:13:00.000-05:00

2005-09-28T14:05:00.000-05:00

2005-09-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

2005-09-28T13:53:00.000-05:00

Fifth Sentence Meme

2005-09-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

Here's how it works:

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to it).
3. Find the 5th sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

Here's mine: LOL!

"And what did we talk about? HOMESCHOOLING!!!"

The BEST thing to talk about, right? ;)

I won Honorable Mention with T-tapp!!!!!!

2005-09-23T17:44:00.000-05:00

I entered a contest on T-tapp. I won Honorable Mention!! I've never won anything like this before!!! I am so psyched!! The prize is a BIG discount to Safety Harbor Spa. This is where T-tapp has its annual "convention". Teresa Tapp teaches the classes, gives LOTS of pointers, new trainers get certified, everyone just has a BALL together. I really wanted to go to this. The cost JUST for the 4 days is $800. It would cost me $250 because of my prize. Popeye said I couldn't go.

I'm disappointed. I never EXPECTED to win! I just entered the contest to win discounts on some products. I'll still get the discounted (free) products, but I didn't know how bad I wanted to go to Safety Harbor until I won! sigh....maybe some other time, I guess. They have contests several times per year so maybe some other time.

It sure is hard to be respectful at times....

We were OFF to see the Doctor! The wonderful....(you know the tune)

2005-09-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

I can't remember if I posted about this, but about four weeks ago, Sweet Pea 1 feel while roller skating. His arm was hurting so we took him to the dr. Got x-rays, etc. No fracture....just a sprain.

Guess where we were today????? The DOCTOR!!!

THIS time Sweet Peas 1 and 2 were horsing around. SP1, somehow, bent back his thumb on his right hand, jamming it into SP2's side....possible dislocation. We were off for xrays again. No fracture. Lots of swelling and soreness. He can write a little, he can play the piano a little....sigh. The doc said to try to go 6 months this time without getting hurt! LOL

Ten Good Things

2005-09-19T14:34:00.000-05:00

Here are my Ten Good Things. What are yours?

1. My salvation in the Lord

2. My dh "Popeye"

3. My ds "Sweet Pea 1"

4. My ds "Sweet Pea 2"

5. Peanut butter ice cream

6. Email

7. Homeschooling my boys (as hard as that is some days...like TODAY!)

8. A clothes dryer

9. The sound of children's laughter

10. A shower

Sharing my kitties....my first babies

2005-09-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

Toby being frisky...playing our weekly game of change the sheets.

2005-09-16T20:21:00.000-05:00

OUCH! That light is bright, says Jazz.

2005-09-16T20:19:00.000-05:00

Fluff sitting pretty.

And what about YOUR birthday?

2005-09-16T16:26:00.000-05:00

This is pretty cool too! Thanks, Shelly.
Birthday Calculator

This webcam is TOO cool!!!

2005-09-15T19:18:00.000-05:00

National Geographic's WildCam Africa

We were GLUED to this website this morning! I was having a hard time getting going with lessons today but this turned out to be one of the BETTER homeschooling days we've had in a while.

The boys slept in after being up really late after church. I got up late too. I sat here at the computer watching this webcam and listening to the flies in Africa while I perused other websites at the same time. You could say we had "unschooling science" class today. We talked about the different time zones since Botswana is 6 hours ahead of our time zone. We looked at the different pictures of the animals that come to get water at this pond. We saw several Nile crocodiles, a family of warthogs that were just too cute, a large herd of Blue Wildebeests and some other hooved animals that I can't decide between (Steenbok, Common Duiker, or Bushbuck). Tonight we've seen two giraffes! I really wanted to see an elephant but we were eating dinner when they came by.

After this, I assigned Sweet Pea 1 his Latin work and explained his math and I was off to get my shower. After I worked with SP1 on questions he had and then cuddled and worked with SP2. His reading is starting to come now AND his handwriting. He is just a young 6 year old so giving him time has been a good thing for him. We listened to our Latin chant CD to practice those while waiting for the pizza man to bring our FREE pizza. They messed up on our order last time so I contacted corporate. :) The boys and I listened to some classical music for awhile and then we went to the library and SP1's piano lesson.

We had a really good day! I think I might start doing Thursdays like this all the time!

Our day in the woods

2005-09-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

We went on a field trip Friday to a local forest reserve. It is called Spirit Creek. I was BEAT after walking around in the woods all day, but the boys had a lot of fun.