Outside My Window… it’s a beautifully cold and blustery day out there today, with the sun’s warmly shining rays seeming to shoo away the day’s soggy-gray beginnings. The wind’s now blowing through the mostly bared branches of our Maple tree, tugging on her last few brown and withered leaves, beckoning their surrender, parading them through the air and scattering them carelessly along the littered, wet ground. A Northeasterly wind has brought this year’s first wintery flurries of crystalline flakes our way this morning, quietly covering the fading colors of Fall strewn about our yard with a translucently thin veil of lacey white.
I am thinking… where to start… *sighs* lots… feeling a bit melancholy today I think.
I am thankful for… being able to be home, and therefore available to comfort my cranky-crying-oh-so-miserably-because-she’s-teething-baby by holding her close and snugging most of our day away in the rocker, comfort nursing and distracting her […]
Original post by Beth
I haven’t participated in this meme before, Blogger Friend School, which provides a weekly “blogging homework” theme. As I was browsing through some of the amazing blogs listed over at the HSB Awards, I clicked onto this week’s theme for the BFS, and was totally inspired to join in, since it goes hand in hand with thoughts and observations I’ve been having here in the last couple weeks anyways. Technically, I believe that the “assignment” is supposed to be posted on Tuesday?, but in my natural way, I’m posting mine a day two days late!
The passion to sing, the passion to draw, the passion to build, the passion to ride, the passion for reading, the passion for nature… the list is endless. Some children exhibit their passion from day one, others need an experience to spark that passion.
Assignment: Share a field trip/lifestyle learning experience where you really felt you were […]
Original post by Beth
I was inspired by today’s meme over at Heart of the Matter Online to show you around here a bit and so I’m doing a post here about our “schoolroom”.
I know that there are those that have amazing and elaborate school rooms dedicated to housing anything and everything related to homeschooling. There are also those who have mad skills when it comes to organizing and integrating the school into the home rather than having an ‘area’. We then have homeschoolers that pride themselves on the world being their school house and the couch being their desk.
Where do you school? If you are one of the super-organized mothers what tips can you share? If you are more laid back, what encouragement and insight can you offer?
Well, as many of you probably already know, we are definitely not in the first group there, but rather somewhere in that second and mostly even […]
Original post by Beth
ONE!
To see some more pictures of her sweetness eating her cake(s), you can click here on my flickr.T helped me to make a cake from scratch for baby S, and we found this great recipe from a friend. We also made real Butter Cream frosting from scratch for the first time, which was so delectable! I’ll share that recipe below as well.
Delicious Marble Cake Recipe
Batter Mix
1/4 c. butter
1.5 c. sugar
4 eggs, separated
3 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Chocolate Mix
3 Tbsp. cocoa
4 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. hot water
Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks in one at a time and beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to cream mixture. Add vanilla and mix. Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into batter. Remove 1/3 of batter and set aside.
Mix together cocoa, sugar, baking […]
Original post by Beth
Outside My Window… it’s dark, curtains pulled. We had crisp Autumn weather outside today, and we were loving it… windows closed to the cold now. It’s a beautiful sun-shiny Autumn day… T is out there “building a fort”.
I am thinking… how nice it is when the house is quiet in the evenings like this, and the kids all tucked in their beds… makes it hard to make myself go to bed. I’d rather sit up and read, write and ruminate. Someday I’ll feel less scatter-brained and will find time to blog more regularly, surly! Okay, I’m trying to finish this and post it for the third or fourth time this week! Pitiful! Yes, I’d started it on Sunday night, and then Monday morning was starting again, and then thought forget it yesterday… I know it’s Wed. already and I’d hoped to have these up every Monday, and I almost didn’t […]
Original post by Beth
The most important motive in the school and in life is the pleasure in the work.
~Albert Einstein
This picture was sneakily taken last Spring, with my handy-dandy zoom lens feature. I had a hard time choosing between it, or this one for this theme. One things I’ve loved about homeschooling over the years is all of the extra great quality time the kids have gotten to spend learning with their Dad, afforded to us by our being able to work around all of his wacky work-schedules.
Thursday Challenge: for fun and learning
Photo Theme for Today: “SCHOOL” (Students, Campus, School Building, Backpacks, School Supplies, Desks, Books,…)
Next Week: PLANTS (Garden, Vegetables, Fruit, Flowers, Trees,…)
Original post by Beth
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
Author Unknown
PhotoHunt, baby
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Original post by Beth
Outside My Window… It’s a rainy morning. The pepper plants and marigolds that I transplanted over the weekend, from the garden boxes down by the apple tree, to a new bed here in the backyard, with a bit more shade, are looking much happier in their new home.
I am thinking… I’m trying to be more disciplined and consistent with my writing. Thus, even though it’s a day late, I’m still posting my weekly daybook here, on Tuesday. I also entered my last entry, livid in the library, into a carnival, which is a first for me. Renae did such a beautiful job of hosting the 139th Carnival of Homeschooling Edition this week. I just love her Women’s Independence Day theme. Be sure and check out the wonderful posts at the HS Carival if you get a chance sometime this week, or whenever.
I am thankful for… the rain, a wonderfully thoughtful […]
Original post by Beth
Outside My Window… A sunny morning has turned into a breezy, somewhat cloudy afternoon. Clothes drying on the line, and a new swing set that our neighbor gave us over the weekend. Their grand kids have outgrown it, and we thought that it would be wonderful to have here for baby S, who LOVES the slides and swings at the park. It’s turned out that N and T are having as much fun on it as baby S is… well, almost as much.
I am thinking… Has it already been a whole week since I did my first daybook post? Wow! Yikes… and I’d really like to finish reorganizing my books closet today.
I am thankful for…
*The joy that resides in my 9yo daughter’s heart, evidenced by how she often hums to herself as she writes, or draws, as she’s doing now, while working on her “Horse Study Notebook” at the table […]
Original post by Beth
Well, I wrote a little update about what our baby girl has been up to lately and need to now update you on our big girl, T’s latest accomplishment.
As many of you know, T loves animals, and training them. She’s specifically fond of horses, birds and dogs, and even more especially the ponies she rides, her late cockatiel and Samson, our German Shepherd dog, whom she’s been “training” for years.
Something I’ve really come to admire about T is how she’ll get an inspiration, an idea, and will go after it with gusto… whether it’s writing a story, creating or researching something, or “training and showing” her animals. She keeps her eye on a goal and makes it happen, regardless of discouragement, doubts and sometimes a lot of waiting.
Here she is in 2005 (she was 6 years old, he was 6 months old!) around the time that she first became interested […]
Original post by Beth
She loves biting into stuff with her four new teeth now, two on top and two on bottom, perfect for munching strawberries and crunching cheerios (which she picks up with her wee little fingers and bites in half to eat). Who knew eating could be so much fun?!
Original post by Beth
Last week baby S, at 9 months and 3 days of age, took her first THREE unassisted steps, with only a little prompting from Dad to “come here”, as he kneeled down in front of her. It was so exciting, and I surprised myself with a squeal! Oh, our baby can’t be walking already?! Yes, we’ve certainly suspected that she’d definitely be our earliest walker, with the way she walks all around the house behind her push-along walker toy, and has been pulling herself up to standing alone before she even started crawling (gleefully clapping her hands for herself, knowing exactly what she’s doing), and walking all around the coffee table and dining room chairs holding on.
And all last week she practiced… Now she’s taking 10+ steps from here to there regularly, and lots of crawling on her feet, with her rump up in the air. It’s too funny. She’s […]
Original post by Beth
We fed baby S her first bites of cereal a few weeks ago, a few days before she turned six months old. She was certainly ready, and loved it! Up until this week she’s only been eating cereal once a day, but I’ve just now started feeding her solids in the mornings as well as in the evenings sometimes too… so far she’s tried pureed plums, bananas, peaches and even a bit of oat cereal, but mostly just rice cereal.
Home-made Organic Brown Rice Baby Cereal
To make her baby cereal, I’ve just been putting organic short grain brown rice (which we order in bulk from here, much cheaper than HFS) through my Wonder Mill, and it comes out very finely ground, basicly as rice flour (which I keep in the freezer).
Then I pour about 4 oz. (I was only using 2-3 oz. a month ago- she’s eating more now) of either […]
Original post by Beth
We fed baby S her first bites of cereal a few weeks ago, a few days before she turned six months old. She was certainly ready, and loved it! Up until this week she’s only been eating cereal once a day, but I’ve just now started feeding her solids in the mornings as well as in the evenings sometimes too… so far she’s tried pureed plums, bananas, peaches and even a bit of oat cereal, but mostly just rice cereal.
Home-made Organic Brown Rice Baby Cereal
To make her baby cereal, I’ve just been putting organic short grain brown rice (which we order in bulk from here, much cheaper than HFS) through my Wonder Mill, and it comes out very finely ground, basicly as rice flour (which I keep in the freezer).
Then I pour about 4 oz. (I was only using 2-3 oz. a month ago- she’s eating more now) of either […]
Original post by Beth
he was so small, my first baby… Now, not so much!
On Feb. 26th, N, our eldest child, turned 12 (yeah, I’m a bit behind, I know)…
He is growing up to be such a fine young man, true to his namesake. He’s such a great big brother to his two little sisters and blesses his Father and I every day. I am so thankful that the Lord chose to bless us with this most delightful gift of his presence in our lives.
Original post by Beth
Well, I didn’t get my “green” picture posted on Thursday, but I did take it yesterday. Spring is definitely in the air around here this week. The kids and I spent a couple of hours yesterday, as well as Wednesday, just sprawling on the lawn, strolling through the warm field, discussing our gardening plans and examining the honeybees flying amongst the blooming crocuses and daffodils up close. I took this picture of T from across the yard, zooming in on her soaking up some rays… It wasn’t until I uploaded the pic into iphoto that I saw the red outline effect (I guess from the extremely bright glare of the sunlight on her?), which I like. It nicely contrasts the green and literally illustrates the vibrant energy we’ve all felt touched with from the sunshine this week… it certainly was a “green” day yesterday, and looks like it shall […]
Original post by Beth
Our journey down picture book lane with old and new friends. Here’s baby S reading to Bub, Bub reading to baby S, one of her favorites… see how she’s grabbing at it? I kid you not when I tell you that she likes to turn the pages and study the pictures intently already! What fun we shall have introducing our baby girl to so many wonderful books. She loves to chew on good literature already, literally!
Original post by Beth
joyful: adj: experiencing, causing, or showing joy: HAPPY syn see GLAD — joy.ful.ly
joy. n [ME, fr. OF joie, fr. L gaudia, pl. of gaudium, fr. gaudere to rejoice; akin to Gk gethein to rejoice] 1 a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of posessing what one desires: DELIGHT b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion: GAIETY 2: a state of happiness or felicity : BLISS 3: a source or cause of delight syn see PLEASURE
~ Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary
THURSDAY CHALLENGE
for fun and learning
“EMOTION” (Happy, Joyful, Contented, Surprised, Fearful, Distressed, Angry,…)
Next Week: FOOD (Cooking, Ingredients, Vegetables, Fruit, Meat, Dairy, Restaurants,…)
Original post by Beth
It finally snowed yesterday! Actually it snowed a few weeks ago too, but just a few small flurries that never even stuck. This time it actually snowed, and looked like a white wonderland here - for a day. It was mostly melted by the late afternoon though. In the meantime, they had some friends over and had a wet, muddy blast.
It took Samson a few minutes to get used to it. He was walking very strangely at first, but romping around and tackling the kids in no time.
Original post by Beth
Remember these miracle babies?
Well, here they are about a month ago (or two?!) now… cute as can be!
Babies S & V
Isn’t our heavenly Father just amazing? I squeeze this girl and thank Him for her, N and T every day. I can hardly believe that baby V has a tooth already and is already tasting new foods! Baby S has quite a few new tricks lately too… let’s see, where to start? She seems to be changing so much every day!
She loves to grab her feet and try to stick them in her mouth, along with everything else. She’s gotten very good at picking things up and then retrieving them once she’s dropped them. She reaches out to touch everything now. She is noticeably interested in her board books, grabs the pages and turns them (well it seems like she’s turning them anyways! and stares intently at the […]
Original post by Beth
Remember these two miracle babies?
Well, here they are about a month (or two?!) ago now… cute as can be!
Babies S & V
Isn’t our heavenly Father just amazing? I squeeze this girl and thank Him for her, N and T every day. I can hardly believe that baby V has a tooth already and is already tasting new foods! Baby S has quite a few new tricks lately too… let’s see, where to start? She seems to be changing so much every day!
She loves to grab her feet and try to stick them in her mouth, along with everything else. She’s gotten very good at picking things up and then retrieving them once she’s dropped them. She reaches out to touch everything now. She is noticeably interested in her board books, grabs the pages and turns them (well it seems like she’s turning them anyways! and stares intently at […]
Original post by Beth
spun by heaven from silken strands…
of the same gossamer threads God uses to weave the butterflies’ wings,
that they may carry with them summer’s warmth…
and with it, drape autumn’s retiring fields…
Yes, she wears a golden crown,
atop her tiny head
like her brother~
I just love this color…
Original post by Beth
Today Yesterday Tuesday (that’s how long it’s taken me to get this ONE post written- granted it is long, but that’s what happens when things keep piling up that I want to write about) was N and T’s last riding lesson of the season, and I am so ready for the break. It’s one less place that I’ll be taking them each week, until they start their lessons back up in the Spring. Their riding instructor takes the colder months off from teaching, but I’m sure that the kids will still get to go over to her house a few times to ride and visit with her and the ponies and horses that they love so much- just for fun, so long as its not too miserably cold outside. T sure won’t be missing the hours of barn chores that they do each week to pay for their lessons, […]
Original post by Beth
On Sept. 15, during the Days of Awe, we dedicated and blessed our baby S during our Messianic fellowship’s Shabbat service, under the chuppah, which is actually a tallit (prayer shawl) right after we all sang the Sabbath Prayer of blessings over our children (the same one sang in The Fiddler on the Roof, beautiful!).
[MOTHERS AND FATHERS]
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May He always shield you from shame.
May you come to be
In Israel a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther.
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, Oh Lord,
And keep them from the strangers’ ways.
May God bless you and grant you long lives.
(May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.)
May God make you good mothers and wives.
(May He send you husbands who will care for you.)
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
Favor them, […]
Original post by Beth
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