Circling Through This Life

I believe that every student should study literature as part of a well-rounded solid education.   I’ve been looking for years for a curriculum to study literature.   Last year as part of the crew, I was exposed to a series called Excellence in Literature written by Janice Campbell.  These are published by Everyday Education. I really liked what I heard about Excellence in Literature and so while at my homeschool convention this past summer, I purchased the British Literature Survey course for my oldest daughter.  Imagine how thrilled I was when I saw a vendor interest form   asking for my level of interest in book one, Introduction to Literature . Introduction to Literature is the first level in the Excellence in Literature series. There are four other levels including the Survey of British Literature.  (Click on the image to read more about the series as a whole.) Janice Campbell divides Introduction to Literature into 9 units. Designed to t...

The other night we tried an experiment for dinner (sorry I didn’t think to take pictures!) and I think it turned out very well.   For lack of a better term I told the girls it was “hash”. My oldest daughter said “Was this an emealz?”  I said “Nope,  I made it up!”   She then asked me for my inspiration.  Thought I would share it with all of you. A few months ago at Bible study, we were discussing sauerkraut and the different ways to use it.   I’ve been meaning to try it rinsed and fried with potatoes but just hadn’t gotten around to it. A week or so (or more?) ago one of my emealz was “beef hash”.  It called for frozen cubed hashbrowns.  I knew I wouldn’t have any left over roast so I planned to use some cooked ground beef.  Well we never made that recipe because… well because life happens <grin>. So then I was at the grocery store with Honeybear and we found smoked sausage on sale.  Hmm, could I do something wit...

There are many great reasons to study Latin such as “studying Latin improves a student’s critical thinking skills” or “studying Latin improves a student’s understanding of English vocabulary and grammar.”   I know that studying Latin can provide an excellent foundation for studying other romance languages such as Spanish, French, or Italian. Despite these great reasons for choosing to study Latin, Latin wasn’t on my radar for this school year.  We’ve dabbled a bit here and there with Latin but we decided to go in a different direction.  God, apparently, had alternate plans for my daughters’ education. As part of the TOS Crew, we received the bundle package from Memoria Press for First Form Latin which includes the DVD, audio CD, Student Textbook, Student Workbook, Teacher Manual, Workbook and Test Key, Quizzes and Tests, and even the flashcards! I wasn’t sure I wanted this program because we’ve used Latina Christina 1 from Memoria Press and it wasn’t a good...

Words are powerful tools.  They can be powerful weapons.  It grieves me when I see words misused and tossed around in hurtful ways. “Everyone” knows that communication on the Internet is difficult.  We bring our conceived notions and ideas and even our presumptions to the table when we read an email or forum discussion.  We cannot hear the tone of the person writing.  We cannot see her face.  We cannot read his body language.  We interpret what we read through the lens of our own knowledge, experience and understanding.  And most of the time we get it wrong. But miscommunication happens just as much in face-to-face contact as well.  I don’t know how many arguments, disagreements and fights could have been avoided if my husband and I had stopped to truly hear one another.  Even having the body language, facial expressions and vocal tones, we still talk past each other bringing our own baggage to the table. It grieves me when I see word...

Last year as part of the TOS Crew my family had the opportunity to review Wits and Wagers (Family Edition) from Northstar Games . (You can read my review here .) We noticed then that Northstar Games had listed Say Anything (Family Edition) as “Coming 2011”.   We spent the summer looking through game shelves but hadn’t found it.  Then this year’s Crew began.  I saw that Northstar Games was an upcoming vendor.  We were thrilled to be chosen to review this new game. From the Rules:   Overview (Read to new Players) Say Anything is a light-hearted game about what you and your loved ones think. It gives you the chance to settle questions that have been hotly debated for centuries.  For instance, “What magical power would be the coolest to have?” or “What would be the most fun thing to throw off a tall building?” So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty- this is your chance to Say Anything! Requiring at least 3 players and allo...

  Recently, as part of the TOS Review Crew, my family received a copy of the DVD, George Washington Carver: His Life and His Work.   Published by Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc, this 30 minute documentary covers 5 areas: Inspiring Words:   Quotes from George W. Carver set to music with fantastic scenery Early Life:  narrated as if Mr. Carver himself is telling us about being born into slavery and his father dying and other tidbits from his early life. College Years:  with scenes from the different places Mr. Carver traveled we learn about how he worked his way through several schools. Tuskegee Years:  An overview with photos of his time at Tuskegee and his commitment to his students. Final Years: This part contains actual footage of Mr. Carver! Though a narrator speaks for most of the DVD, we actually hear Mr. Carver’s voice as he gives a speech. We enjoyed some parts of the DVD more than others.  We particularly enjoyed t...

I tend to shy away from typical romance novels.  When I read this line from the back cover “While her heart does a happy snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her,” I thought to myself nope this isn’t a book I want to read.  But I kept reading the description.  “When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries.”  That did it.  This wasn’t going to be a typical romance.  It’s a mystery.  With some romance interwoven. From the Publisher: She serves him breakfast at her café every morning … but he never seems to notice her. Carrie Carter’s small café in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals … although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoop...