Dear Mr. Obama
If you haven't decided how you are going to vote on Tuesday, why don't you take a minute and watch this You Tube video. Maybe it will help you figure it out.
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October 30, 2008
Book Review: Best Friends or Not? by Paeony Lewis and Gaby Hansen
We have followed author Paeony Lewis for several years and were excited to see her latest book. We weren't disappointed. This is a sweet book about what it takes to be a friend. And the tale is wrapped up in delightful illustrations as we watch two polar bears work out the challenge of 'who gets to pick the games to play?'
If you have a child who always wants to be the one to pick what he and his friends are doing or if you have a child who has a friend that never wants to play the games she wants, this book may help them to have more fun with their friends and less strife.
With Christmas around the corner, this book will make a lovely surprise under your Christmas tree for your child!
October 29, 2008
Six Wheeling on the Moon!
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Moon Rover!!!!!
Just in time for a 2020 roll out date, NASA is hard at work on the next Moon Rover which will combine old school smarts with new technology.
From National Geographic:
The new lunar rover, informally known as the Chariot, is a prototype being developed as part of NASA's Constellation program, which aims to put people back on the moon by 2020.
The current version combines 35 years of technological advances with lessons learned from the original "moon buggies" used during the Apollo missions of the 1970s.
One of the biggest modifications is an optional pressurized cabin that comes fully equipped with beds, a pantry, a waste-management system, and a pair of space suits, allowing astronauts to live and work "on the road" for up to two weeks.
Sign me up! I want to take a test drive!
Mosquitos and Ticks Move Over and Make Way for Vampire Moths!
As if blood sucking mosquitos and ticks weren't bad enough, now we have to watch out for vampire moths.
Beware! Political Polls Don't Show the Whole Truth
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1988. I learned many useful things while in college. But as a Sociology major, one of the most important and lastingly helpful things I learned was to take every poll with a grain of salt.
As this very difficult election season heads towards its culmination, we are bombarded with poll statistics on every side. They mostly say Obama is in the lead, but the lead ranges from tenths of a point to 15 points. The percent of undecided seems to be between 6% and 10%. The thing that worries me about this bombardment of polls is that people are already believing Obama is the winner. They see he is ahead, and that is what they focus on. Then, should the undecided swing the way of McCain, or the votes don't go the way the polls are stating, there will be a cry of foul play! The vote has been fixed! Likewise if Obama were to win by a landslide, the same cries will be raised because of doubts already in place due to voter registration irregularities. Polls are really a detriment to the political process.
For those voters who want to say they voted for the winner, they will simply vote for whoever is in the lead. For those voters who don't want to have to check into the issues, who want someone else to do the hard work for them, they will also vote for whoever is in the lead based on the polls because they believe that person must be the best choice if most of the people are voting for them. I know we don't like to believe that people are so 'weak minded', but there are those that are and polls don't encourage them to gain information on their own.
Another problem with polls is who is answering the questions. Within 12 hours, I received two phone calls yesterday from the same pollster. Now, we have two phone lines and I am not sure if the calls came on the same line or two different phone lines, but it still points out a flaw in the system. We have a total of four phone lines: two land and two cell. Now, we could potentially get tapped four times for the same poll....that would certainly throw off the results. And I know we are not the only ones who have more than one phone line.
Another problem with polls is the way the questions are asked. Ones that require 'yes', 'no' questions can lead you along. Studies have shown that if you are on a roll of saying 'yes' or 'no', sometimes you will say 'yes' or 'no' to a question you didn't meant too. And then there is the emphasis placed on different words in questions, the word order of the questions, and you don't know what the pollster is doing with your answers. Do they have a quota? Are they taking the results that they don't like and tossing a certain percentage of them, so that the results that they want are the ones we hear?
Let me share the questions I was asked last night?
1. Are you planning on voting in the November 4th election?
2. For the Presidential election, are you going to vote for John McCain?
3. Are you ProLife?
For me, these quesitons were a series of 'yes' answers, but I can't help but wonder if the survey would have simply stopped if I had said no after either of the first two quesitons.
Then there were the demographic questions:
1. Are you male?
2. Are you over 35?
3. Have you ever given given money in support of a political candidate, church, or non profit organization?
Thank you.
Question 3 gives me pause. I think most people could say yes there, especially since they throw in the non-profit organization. But I wonder how the results will be presented. Will it say something like 80% of church supporting, ProLife females over 35 plan to vote for John McCain on November 4th? Technically they can say that, but maybe my support was for a political candidate or a non-profit organization, and maybe I don't attend church at all. This is just one example of how polls can say what the pollster wants them to say.
So, my thought to you is simply this. Read polls (all polls, not just political ones) with a grain of salt, or better yet, don't pay them any attention at all. And keep a sane attitude next week. Our country has grown more and more divided over recent years. I pray that sane attitudes will prevail and that those on the 'losing' side will be graceful losers and those on the 'winning' side will be good sport winners.
Movie Reviews: Tales from the Hood, The Gathering, Blood Moon
With Halloween around the corner, scary movies are the ones we have been watching. We decided to go into the movie archives (our movie shelf) and pull out some movies that we hadn't seen in a lnog time...long enough that basically when we saw the DVD title, we couldn't remember what the movie was about. Allof them were good. Two out of three were very good and I would recommend them to you.
Tales from the Hood is a movie of stories. Much like Twilight Zone - The Movie, Cat's Eye, and Creepshow, there is an overall story that surrounds a few other stories. I liked the stories in Tales from the Hood. The language leaves a great deal to be desired and it has some bloody moments, but the stories are very good and if you can get your ways past that and the very bad language, you will enjoy the inventive scary tales!
The Gathering with Christina Ricci, is a very good movie. It has spooky elements, but the overall story is not scary. Instead it is a story of wrong choices, punishment, and redemption. There are some gruesome scenes and it is definitely not a movie for children, but the story is excellent and I highly recommend it!
Blood Moon aka Wolf Girl was the final movie. I have to tell you, with a title like Blood Moon (which it turns out is the Canadian title), we weren't expecting a lot. And since neither of us could remember the movie, though presumably we had watched it at some point, we figured we probably didn't remember it because it wasn't good. But quite the contrary. This movie was very good. It is not your usual horror movie, though it has creepy elements. This is a story of a freak show. And you will see some amazing things in this movie. This is also a story of how who we are inside is more important than our appearance. This movie is really, really good and I highly recommend it.
October 28, 2008
Another Reason to Enjoy a Cup of Coffee...
...or hot chocolate or tea...whichever your favorite warm beverage is. I love this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere. The days are getting shorter, the leaves are beautiful, chilly winds chase falling leves across the yard (and puppies scamper after them in delight). These are great days to sit by a fire, read a book, and enjoy a warm cup of ___________________ (fill in the blank with your favorite warm beverage).
Well, I was reading an interesting article at National Geographic that says holding a warm cup of beverage can give you a warmer outlook. People who are physically warmed were found to be more likely to buy a gift for a friend than themselves and to think more favorably of the person they are meeting with during or after the hand warming time.
I am thinking Starbucks should tune into this study to improve business during these economic times...invite your interviewer to Starbucks (or date or whatever) and you treat. Between the fact they aren't picking up the tab and everyone is sitting around with a warm beverage...great things are bound to happen!
October 27, 2008
Old City Cemetery Field Trip
Today, families from my homeschool group went on a field trip to the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg. My kids and I have visited this site many times and learned a lot at the variety of tours we have signed up for. Today we were very excited about the opportunity to picnic in the autumn weather, swing on the swing that hangs from the pecan tree and learn more about the cemetery.
In years past, we have learned about composting, pond life, the railroad station, the pestilence house, bats, tombstone rubbings, the Confederate Cemetery, and some of the historical markers. Today we were supposed to learn about the trees in the cemetery and some African American history.
The kids and I packed lunches, packed up for the afternoon (the children had group piano lessons after the field trip). It was overcast and cool, but we were expecting the temperatures to reach 55 and for it to be sunny without precipitation.
As we headed into town, sprinkles began to fall. The closer we got into town, I noticed that it wasn't just sprinkles of rain we were seeing. We were also seeing little white balls of ice. SLEET! In October! In Virginia!!!! This is unheard of! We had a couple of intense sleet showers when we arrived at the cemetery. I spoke with the lady in charge of tours, and she offered to let us eat in the community room because it was so cold. We enjoyed some time on the swing, then we headed inside for lunch. After we ate, we met back up with our tour guide who moved the tour inside. We learned a lot about the trees and other interesting plants at the cemetery. There are over 500 species in the cemetery! Fortunately, the weather cleared up a bit and we got to enjoyed some outside nature treasure hunting.
Here are some of my favorite photos of our fun today:
Katrina and Jack enjoying the pecan tree!
Trying to find shelter from the rain, sleet, and cold!
Kids Learning!
From statues to plants we saw many fascinating things!
And I love the beautiful autumn colors!
And for a few extra pictures, you can check out my Old City Cemetery set at Flickr
October 26, 2008
Awanas Fall Festival
My children have gone to Awanas for several years now and it is a highlight of their life. Not only do they learn a lot of bible verses and ways to get along with others, but they play fun games and enjoy crafts and they spend time with Christian adults who are kind enough to volunteer their time every week to spend with them.
Tonight, there was a special event at Awanas. We had a Fall Festival. The weather was perfect and we all had fun. We are very blessed to attend a church that has members with such a heart for children.
So without further ado...some photos...
After enjoying dinner, the children decorated lunch bags to put their pinata candy in. And then they painted some bears and other fun ceramics.
The kids loved hitting the pinata! And they loved getting the candy even more!
The cakewalk came up next. And there was something for everyone - because we give cupcakes to each child as their number is called.
Then we ended the evening with a lovely bonfire, s'mores, and guitar music. It was a lovely evening with good friends and happy children.
Amazing Rock Art May Revise Australian History Books
Art has long been the way for people to express themselves as evidenced by the art found in The Cave of Lascaux. People are driven to draw the world around them. Whether it is for posterity or just for fun or to record a hunt or other important event, they draw. And fortunately we have found drawings from the past that give us insight to the people who made them and the times they lived in.
Recently, Aborginal Rock Art has been discovered in Australia that may revise the Australian History Books. In years past it has been believed the Aborginies were relatively isolated, but this recent discovery shows that they have had contact with others throughout the millenium.
Enjoy more pictures at National Geographic.
October 25, 2008
Gigantic River Cave in Laos and Virginian Caverns
When I was growing up, I spent one week each summer for several years with my maternal grandmother. She and I always had fun shopping, visiting, and sight seeing. Every year, she would take me to tour one of the local caves in the Shenandoah Valley, and over the years, I have visited almost every cavern in Virginia. The most well-known one, with the most amazing formations to view, is Luray Caverns. But all the caverns in Virginia are beautiful and if you are in our fine state, here are the Caverns you can look for.
Dixie Caverns
Natural Bridge Caverns
Grand Caverns
Endless Caverns
Skyline Caverns
Shenandoah Caverns
Ironically, there is a cavern in Virginia that I haven't visited. It has only recently opened, and wouldn't you know it...it is in my parent's hometown of Strasburg - the very same town where I spent those summer weeks with my grandma. It is located on Hupp's Hill (which is named after relatives on my mom's side). One day, I'll have to stop in and take a tour of Crystal Caverns.
The only other cavern I have ever visited was one in Colorado, Cave of the Winds. Daniel and I visited in during our honeymoon. We didn't see the normal sights, though. We took what they called "A Walk on the Wild Side". We dressed up in our most raggedy clothes and crawled on our hands and knees through places where the roof of the tunnel was just about against our back. It was amazing (and I was younger then). Not sure I would do that again.
I hope someday to visit Carlsbad Caverns and Ozark Caverns is because of a Trixie Belden book I read as a child. The Carlsbad Caverns are supposed to be spectacular.
What got me thinking about all of these caverns? Well, today I was reading about a Gigantic River Cave that has been recently mapped in Laos. Click on the link...the photos are amazing!
From the National Geographic website:
An expedition in February 2008, co-led by veteran caver John Pollack, comprehensively mapped and photographed the 5.9-mile (9.5-kilometer) length of the little-known cavern for the first time.
The spelunking team encountered some of the largest rooms and most impressive structures of any river cave on Earth, Pollack said.
A river cave is any cave with an active water source flowing through it.
Everything about the cave is big–from its towering entrances to its phobia-inducing spiders, which can be 10 inches (25 centimeters) across, Pollack added.
"It's also extremely well decorated with spectacular formations," Pollack said.
Who knows, maybe someday, I will be so lucky to visit such a cavern!
Ancient Temples Found in Peru
Ever since I was a youngster, I was fascinated with history and with those that had gone before. Egyptians, Mayans, Aztecs, Incans. Those ancient civilizations that had accomplished so much with such primitive tools. The pyramids and ziggurats. The ancient calendars. The discovery of chocolate (hey, that alone is amazing!)
And my fascination lives on which is why I keep track of new discoveries via National Geographic.
Today, I watched a video about Ancient Temples that were found in Peru. These buildings are in amazing condition. This is not just a historically significant find, but one for architects to take note of as well. And the other amazing thing is how such magnificent structures have remained hidden from us for so long. Only the Lord knows what other interesting finds are waiting for us to find here on earth, below the land and the sea.
October 24, 2008
Rock on With Rock Band 2
Last Christmas, my husband surprised us with Guitar Hero. I tried it a couple of times, but just didn't get it. The kids and Daniel enjoyed it though and played it from time to time.
Well, last night, Daniel surprised us with Rock Band 2. We like to sing Karoake as a family, but it can get a little old, so Daniel thought this would be a great way to spiff up our fun family time. Of course, my first concern was...where the heck is this stuff going to sit when not in use...we literally have no room for it. My second thought was...oh geez...I couldn't play the guitar in guitar hero, how will I ever manage this....
I have to tell you that after about 4 hours of singing and playing last night, I love this game! We had so much fun!!!!!! My favorites were playing the bass guitar and singing. I am awful at the drums. Jack and Daniel and Katrina are great with everything...I think it is because of their piano training.
I am already thinking how much fun it is going to be to play this at Thanksgiving when all of our family is here! Still don't know where I am putting the band stuff when not in use...perhaps it is time to try hanging stuff from the ceiling!
The Joys of the Magnifying Glass
On Wednesday, we visited Liberty Lake Park in Bedford. We have been trying to get there once a week as a homeschool function, but we have had a hard time getting others to come. Not sure if it is the day or if everyone just has so much to do, they just don't need or want to do a 'park day'. Anyway...this past Wednesday, we met a new family. The oldest daughter, Melinda, had been exploring with her magnifying glass and the sun. Pretty soon, Melinda, Rebecca, Jack and Katrina were busy setting small fires.
They were not content though just to try to burn leaves and nuts, they got creative too and now I have some fun Halloween decorations!
Jekyll and Hyde Pumpkin
Last Saturday afternoon the kids and I went Five Blessings Farm for their Farm Fall Festival. It was fun. There was an inflatable bouncy thing. We got to feed goats from our hands and we got to see Tickles and Billy (they are doing great in their new home and they are getting to see lots of children).
We enjoyed a hayride and pony rides (Katrina went three times). And there were pumpkins to paint. Katrina decided that the Jekyll and Hyde approach was good. We put out Jekyll during the day, but then turn it around for Hyde in the evening!
Ginger is Happy that Daniel is Home for a Few Days
...and he gives the best treats!
October 22, 2008
Mother Daughter Sleepover
One of the things I love most about the church we attend is that the members there really have a heart for children and family. We are a small church, but we have Awanas and during the year do a lot of things with our youngsters in mind. Our Pastor started a father/son campout and the boys and dads love it. They go camp near a creek in tents and fish and swim and spend time together.
Well, of course us moms and daughters didn't want to be left out, so we started the Mother/Daughter sleepover. We didn't want to go camping, so we spent the night at the church. We had so much fun.
We ate pizza for dinner.
We made scarecrows and turkeys from little flower pots...well, we tried to. The project called for tacky glue. Either we had bad tacky glue or it needed hot glue.
We painted pumpkin picture frames (and yes, the moms joined in all the fun!)
We carved pumpkins.
We made cookies, played bingo,and put on make-up.
Even the youngest daughters joined in.
And one mom went above and beyond the call of being a good sport by letting the girls paint her face.
We all got snuggled in and watched The Great Pumpkin before going to sleep.
In the morning we woke up and had coffee, milk, and cinnamon rolls before packing up, cleaning up and heading home about 9 a.m. It was a wonderful time!
October 21, 2008
Ginger Update
For the last week, I spent all my spare blogging moments working on the Homeschool Carnival. Now that it is posted, I can update you on how things are going with Ginger and a little bit about what we have been up to.
Ginger is doing better with sleeping (well except for last night, but I guess we all have off nights...) She is sleeping up to 4 hours before waking up and then she goes back to bed within a few minutes after going out and taking care of business. But when she wakes up around 5 or 6, she is ready to be up for today.
Here are some photos...after all, they always speak more than words...
Friday night, Katrina and I enjoyed a fun event at our church - Mother/Daughter sleepover (more on that later). Daniel was out of town, Jack spent the night with a friend and our favorite kid sitter became our favorite puppy sitter for the evening. Ashley and Ginger got along just great!
Katrina and Ginger enjoy some relaxing moments together.
Check out those long legs...you should see her run!
Of course, after running, she is pretty tired out!
Okay, Mom...that's enough pictures already!
Today Katrina went to visit her friend, Annie. And Ginger was invited along to meet Annie's 10 month old Pomeranian. This is the first dog Ginger has met since coming to live with us. At first, Ginger was terrified and kept trying to get away while Sweetie wanted to meet and greet in the way that dogs normally do. But within about 15 minutes, the two of them were running, romping and jumping. This lasted for about an hour, but then Sweetie decided she had had enough. Ginger had asserted herself as the Alpha dog of the two of them and Sweetie complied, but after awhile, Sweetie didn't look like she was having fun anymore, so we separted them. However, below you can catch some more shots of them having fun.
Taking a break from play.
Getting ready to pounce!
Not sure what these girls are up to here...but Ginger looks like she is showing her dominance.
Welcome to the Carnival Of Homeschooling...Who Let the Dogs Out?
I always enjoy hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling. It gives me an opportunity to pick a topic that is near and dear to my heart and intersperse information and pictures about it with interesting homeschool posts. A big thanks to Janine and Henry Cate at Why Homeschool for starting The Carnival of Homeschooling way back when! If you have never visited their site, be sure to check it out for great articles and information how you can submit to future Homeschool Carnivals.
Now on with the show...today, the topic is going to be something which is currently near and dear to our hearts...puppies! Well, dogs, not just puppies. We have recently adopted a sweet little Irish Setter and we will be adopting a companion for her in just a few weeks...a cute Goldendoodle. I hope you will enjoy learning about these breeds and others! So grab a cup of coffee, because there is lots of great information here!
Some posts don't fit into your categories no matter what theme you cover, but this post touched me, so I wanted to put it top of the pack. Beverly at Beverly's Homeschool Blog shares a sad moment and an idea that we should all consider in her post When A Homeschool Mom Dies....
One day her body will grow up and match those wise old eyes that she already possesses and she will look something like this:
Irish Setters are energetic, intelligent, affectionate, high-spirited, and full of energy. They have no guarding instincts, get along with other animals, and are good with children. Irish Setters are responsive yet sensitive. Train this breed firmly at an early age to prevent development of bad habits, as this breed tends to pick up bad habits quickly. Sounds a lot like children doesn't it? It can often be a challenge to keep children busy as the colder days move in, but never fear, here are some ideas for you to try!
Shannon at Song of My Heart has a wonderful project she and her children did as part of an ocean study. Check out this ocean art project. Your kids are sure to love it!
Melitsa at Play-Activities.com shares some wonderful ideas about keeping those little boys occupied with some riveting reads.
Don't want your children to spend their days in front of a video game? Well, hold up a minute, because Silvia over at Po Moyemu--In My Opinion has a different take on gaming and how your child can benefit from it in her article Some Game Making Software and Benefits of Gaming
Just like we want to avoid teaching our children bad habits, we want to teach them good habits. And one habit that will last them a life time is the habit of reading. Whether it is reading for fun or reading to learn, reading is something we all want our children to master and enjoy. But before they can read words, they have to recognize letters and they have to understand the sounds letters make. Amy from Kids Love Learning shares a couple of different ways she has taught these concepts to her children who have very different learning styles in her post Learning Letter Sounds .
Annette at Craft Stew shares how your children can make a Birdhouse Bookmark.
SoCalVal at Homeschooling With Encouragement - Homeschool Blogger shares a recent homeschool study in his post: If You Give An Eclectic A Textbook...
Kris at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers shares an annual tradition in her post Around the World Day 2008 . This is a fantastic idea and I would like to try something like this with our homeschool group!
And now for the Goldendoodle! Here's a picture our puppy. Ain't he cute!
Interestingly, when he grows up, he will look much the same...cute and cuddly!
The Goldendoodle is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. One aspect that draws a lot of people to the Goldendoodle is they often have the temprament of a Golden Retriever and they tend to be hypoallergenic for people who suffer from dog allergies. Just as the Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog, homeschooling is a hybrid way of life. Most of us take a little of this and a little of that to create a program that best suits our family. Our hardest thing nowadays is figuring out which of the dozens of programs out there is what we want to use.
Crystal at Site4Teachers.com shares resources and freebies that will benefit all teachers on her blog. For an example, check out her post Home-school Resources.
The Internet is an invaluable tool to homeschoolers. One example of this is shared by Sebastian at Percival Blakeney Academy who shares a free and chock full of information post in Take a Virtual Trip to Hawaii Island . Aloha!
Lapbooks are a favorite tool of many homeschoolers. Dana from The Sunny Side shares their first lapbook in her post Our first lapbook: The Wright Brothers.
Liz at Holy Family Classical Academy shares how she is striving to teach her children things that are not as tangible as not to climb on the furniture. If you are looking for ways to teach your children virtues such as charity and modesty, you should stop by and read her post, Parenting and Virtue Studies.
Amanda at the Daily Planet shares a fun ditty about her diverse family in her post, Homeschool Memoirs: The __________ Family.
For those of you looking for something new for your homeschool shelf, Dana at Principled Discovery is having her First Blog Giveaway. She ended up with an extra copy of "Junior Science on File" and wants to share it with a lucky reader!
Mary at The Informed Parent shares links to Two excellent interviews — Jeanne in VA and Natalie in MS. Both of these recent interviews offer excellent information for any new or veteran home educator.
Jane is sharing a post from Homeschool Bytes that reminds us of the fun science can be. Screaming Balloons - A Fun Science Experiment!.
Go to Reese's View of the World and enjoy a step-by-step homemade science experiement in the post
Our Rotten Science Adventure . You'll never look at a pumpkin the same way again.
There are all kinds of ways to encourage your child to think, learn, and exercise their brains. Sharp Brains shares some Brainy Haikus for brain training.
Christine presents a Few Notes on Our Homeschooling and Family Life This Week posted at The Thinking Mother.
We have owned three golden retrievers in the past and they make for excellent pets. These are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent dogs with a great charm. They are easily trained, and always patient and gentle with children. Loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding family dog. They prefer to be around people and don't do well when left alone. Much like our own children who thrive in an interactive environment.
Good manners are essential, whether you are a dog or a person. Jennifer at Homeschool Roster reminds us of the value both to ourselves and to others of good manners in her post Did You Remember to Say Thank You?.
While Golden Retrievers can become mischievous when left alone for prolonged amounts of time, some alone time is good for all of us. Dogs need time to relax, to explore the world on their own terms without being constantly taught tricks and manners. They also need time to relax and assimilate what they have done so far this day. Michelle at Organically Inclined shares her experience with us as she has taught her children both in a very structured and an unstructured way. She reminds us that amazing things can occur when we Find the Courage to Let Children Be…
Puppies, like children aren't free. They require a lot of care, and nowadays, people can spend tons of money on everything from organic food to clothes to amazing toys to make their dog's life a happier one. But when we think back 100 years ago, there were happy dogs then and they didn't have 'the finest' things in life. In fact, they were often free to get and families fed them scraps from the table so there was no extra money involved. There are few things nowadays that are free, BUT Sarah at Eduk8 shares a list of not one, not 10, but 100 Free College Rides You Don't Need Daddy to Pay For. Trust me folks, this is a post you want to check out and bookmark!!!!
And while we are talking about freebies, check out for How to Find Free Textbooks (or cheap ones) for College
The Papillon is a dog that my daughter was interested in. My hubby preferred bigger dogs, so she will have to wait until she is grown up to adopt this cute little critter. The Papillon is sometimes called the butterfly dog - because the ears look like butterfly wings. It is a friendly, intelligent dog that is tougher than it looks, and loves outdoor exercise. A gentle and affectionate dog, lively, vivacious and charming. Playful and amusing but can also be calm, patient, gentle and dignified. Steady and silent. Loves to be cuddled but also likes to romp outdoors. They are steady, obedient and are not yappers. On the downside, these puppies can be given too much power by their well-meaning owners and become possessive and aggressive. If they are allowed to be the leader of the pack, problems will ensue.
Balance is essential for dogs as well as people. For your dog to be its happiest, it needs food, water, rest, activity, and socialization. Renae at Life Nurturing Education addresses the need for balance in her post Learning the Language of Love.
It is important that before you choose a dog that you choose a dog that has qualities that will fit with your family. Reading about different breeds is a good way to prepare and help you to make a good decision. Young adults that are going to be taking the GMAT can benefit from Christina's post at BSchool.com Business Schools Directory . She shares The Ultimate Guide to the GMAT: 100 Tips, Tools, and Resources.
Did you know that dogs can train dogs to behave in certain ways by their examples? Visit The Reluctant Homeschooler and learn just What can one person do? By our example, we can teach our children more than words alone ever could.
Laura at Practical Homeschooling reminds us that there are more things to learn than reading, writing and arithmetic in her post 28 Skills any Child Needs to Learn .
German Shepherds are beautiful dogs. They are known for their leadership abilities, their loyalty, their guard dog abilities, their status as wonderful service dogs and their service with law enforcement. Energetic and fun-loving, the breed is very fond of children once a relationship is established. He is a loyal family pet and a good guard dog, the ideal choice for many families. He requires regular exercise and grooming.
Denise at Let's Play Math reminds us of the qualities of great leaders in her post
Great Leaders in a Crisis: Lincoln, Churchill
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Lori at Camp Creek Blog takes us back to the basics. As homeschoolers, one of our goals is to raise children who are independent thinkers. Lori shows us one way we can raise the leaders of tomorrow is let them make choices today in her post Fostering Independence.
Tonya at Domestic Entropy shares the reasons why she and her husband began homeschooling and how those reasons have changed over the last 2 1/2 years in her post: Why Do We Homeschool?.
John at Ace Online Schools gives us food for thought as explains Einstein’s 5 Maxims for Creative Excellence.
Louis at NLP Marketing addresses a way of helping to bring out positive attributes in students and ourselves in the post Presuppose Greatness
Lance at Home Educate in the Sunshine State shares information about another important event that occured on October 31st in his post: Reformation Day Celebration in South Florida
The English Cocker Spaniel is a hardy, energetic, merry and lovable, sweet and affectionate dog. This lively dog is excellent with kids: gentle and playful, but does not tolerate teasing well. It is sociable with strangers, a moderate barker, and obeys respectfully the orders it is given. Cockers should be trained very gently, but firmly, as they are sensitive but also independent and intelligent. They can do well with cats in the household.
Joseph at Learn English Articles shares Some Tips for Navigating Nouns in English.
The 3 Moms over at Happy to be at Home have some suggestions on how moms can build a network of moms to encourage them and support them in a post titled Homeschooling--Don't go it alone
Some of our homeschooled children love to go to co-ops and outside classes, but some prefer to work on their own, maybe with an online course. Andrea at Homeschool Blog wrote about how homeschoolers can get ahead in college by testing out of classes in her post: Considering the CLEP exams for homeschoolers.
Katherine at No Fighting, No Biting! would like to share about a recent visit to the National Portrait Gallery
Kris at The Homeschool Classroom shares some things we all will appreciate in What I Wish I'd Known
Henry and Janine Cate from Why Homeschool share some of the frustrations and Joys of Homeschooling and they include some thoughts from their daughters as well.
Tricia at Best in the Nest Homeschool shares a very thoughtful post titledWhy I Homeschool, Parts 1 and 2
Mutts are special dogs. They sometimes look like someone in their ancestry, but they often don't. They are a mix of various dogs that have bred over the years and a lot of times can be healthier than purebred dogs because purebred dogs gain some frailities from the breeding process. My first dog was a mutt. Her name was Candy. She had a nose like a Golden Retriver and the color of a pale golden and the body of a sausage dog. She was my best friend from the time I was about 3 until her death when I was 12. And who can forget one of the most lovable and famous mutts of all time...Benji!
Just as Mutts make some of the most sociable pets, homeschool kids are very adept at social interactions. Tiffany at Homeschool Nature Study and More ~Charlotte Mason Homeschool Plans & Ideas shares a her thoughts and experience regarding The "un" socialized issue...
Homeschoolers are a different breed. We come from all walks of life with all kinds of different backgrounds and educational levels. Sarah at Small World wrote a very interesting post about a matter we don't often hear discussed. Platitudes and Misconceptions #2: Why Aren't You Using Your Degree? reviews a question I have heard before 'why aren't you using your degree?'. Check out Sarah's response.
Homeschoolers are a creative lot and Shez at Homeschooled Twins found out just how creative homeschoolers can be and shares that information in the post The Book Arts Bash Finalists.
Cristina at Home Spun Juggling shares a light-hearted comic strip that reminds us that all kids are not created equal in her post Home Spun Comic Strip #280.
People pick dogs for companions for different reasons. Just like people choose to homeschool for different reasons. Barbara from Barbara Frank Online talks about one reason that some people use and shares her thoughts on it in her post Must Homeschool Success Equal Homeschooled Grandchildren?.
If you are looking for an unusual way to deal with your kids 'inappropriate' giggles, Christine at Welcome to My Brain.net shares what works for them in Parenting Tip #478.
Sherry at Semicolon shares 100 Pumpkin Ideas just in time for the fall season!
Thanks for stopping by and joining in the fun! For more information on your favorite dog breed, check out Dog Breed Info Center which is where the dog information in this post came from.
For next week's carnival, which will take place at Roots, Shoots and Fruits, be sure to send your submissions using the guidelines posted here.
October 16, 2008
Light Shed On Something I Thought I Knew
Do you notice now that when you go through the drive through at restaurants, there are little warning signs in the windows that say be careful...hot beverages may be hot.... Did you know thost signs haven't always been there? How many times have you heard mention the woman who sued McDonald's for spilling coffee on herself and was awarded millions of dollars? How many times have you heard that used as a shining example of the fact that we live in a sue happy society where no one takes responsibility? We throw around these things that we have heard via email or partially on the news or around the water cooler, but we don't necessarily know the story.
Last night in class, our teacher reviews the Stella Liebeck Story with us and it made me see the whole thing in a different light.
Stella Liebeck was 79 years old back in 1992 and her grandson had stopped in the McDonald's drive thru so she could get a cup of coffee. He pulled up a ways and stopped so she could take off the lid and put in her cream and sugar. When she pulled the lid off, the cup, which was filled to the brim, spilled all over her lap. She was wearing cotton sweatpants which absorbed the liquid and held it close to her skin where she sat for about 90 seconds. During that time, she suffered third degree burns to her legs and groin. She spent 8 days in the hospital and had to continue with skin grafting operations for 2 years after that.
She went to McDonald's and asked them to pay her medical bills (she was on Medicare, but it didn't cover all of it). They refused. She hired an attorney who approached them and again they refused. Finally they offered her $800. (this was towards what was now over 100,000 in medical bills!
At this point, the case moved forward and McDonald's was sued. During investigation, it turned out that McDonald's franchises were encouraged to keep their coffee at a piping 180 degrees! This is about 60 degrees warmer than coffee would be if you made it at home and about 45 degrees warmer than you would get in a restaurant. It is hot enough to cause third degree burns in a matter of a few seconds.
Stella was awarded 200,000 by the jury for compensatory damages (this is the money to cover her medical bills). Then the jury was furious because of the way McDonald's had treated her, so they wanted to award punitive damages. They came up with a number of about 2.6 million dollars (which at the time was equal to about 2 days of coffee sales for McDonalds.) The judge lowered the amounts to 160,000 (because Stella was considered to be 20% at fault, so 20% of her settlement award was rescinded) and then he lowered the punitive damages to 480,000 which is three times the compensatory. She did not receive even this amount of money because McDonald's appealed saying it was too much and her attorney appealed saying it was not enough.
In the end, they settled out of court in a sealed settlement agreement, so no one knows how much she was awarded exactly. Mrs. Liebeck died in 2004 at the age of 91.
When you hear the complete story, it does give you a different take on the situation. So consider yourself enlightened in case you didn't already know!
Shhh...Ginger is sleeping...and I am Working on Next Week's Homeschool Carnival
Well, Ginger's night time sleeping continues to improve and we are getting into a bit of a routine with her. She is actually fitting into a routine much faster than either of my children did (hee hee). Right now, she is sleeping next to me on the sofa and I am trying to get caught up on email, and working on next weeks Homeschool Carnival post! Yep, that's right, I am hosting next week and you'll never guess what the topic for the Carnival is!!!
Hey...how did you know the topic was dogs? Have you been peeking in my computer again? Anyway, I am having fun with putting the Carnival together and have already received several awesome posts! Be sure to come back next Tuesday and check them out. Also, feel free to send me anything you would like to add to the Homeschool Carnival. You have until 6 pm Monday to get your submission in (of course, I appreciate it when you don't wait til the last minute;). Just go to Why Homeschool and follow the directions there to send in your submission! I look forward to hearing from you.
BTW, I got back my second test last night...I scored 103! My average is now 100.5 for the class. But the test next week is going to be a doozy! Tons of information I have to learn.
October 13, 2008
Ginger and Dreaming "LOST" style
Well, after much deliberation, many names presented and tossed aside, the vote was between two names last night. Gypsy and Ginger. And it was a tie. Three of us really liked Ginger, three of us really liked Gypsy. Daniel didn't care for Ginger and Jack didn't like Gypsy at all...I think it may have something to do with all the times over the years I have told him I would 'sell him to the gypsies'. So in the end, Daniel voted for Ginger but says that gives him more say so when we pick up the Goldendoodle next month. Seems fair to me.
At least now she has a name...I was getting tired of calling her puppy all the time!
Her sleep is getting a little better. She is waking up every 2 hours now and pretty much going right back to sleep. She even slept for 3 hours a couple of times...
As to dreaming...because she wakes me up regularly, I am remembering more of my dreams and last night when she woke me up, I was dreaming about the cast of LOST and they were having to solve a mystery...some were going to this area, some were going to that area...just like on LOST. I don't remember all of the particulars, but it was funny to me that I was dreaming about my favorite TV show. January gets closer every day....
October 9, 2008
Mark Warner Lost My Vote...
I am not a party voter. I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and even 'third party' candidates like Ross Perot. The way I roll is to vote for the person that I think will do the best job.
For instance, I am voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin. I don't think Obama has the country's best interests at heart. I think he is naive and is likely to make some very costly mistakes because of it. I would love to have a national health care plan, but that is not enough to make me vote for a man I just don't feel comfortable with having as President.
On the other hand, I had decided to vote for Mark Warner. I didn't want Mark Warner to be governor, but I felt like he did a good job when he was Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He brought a lot of business into the state and helped areas of the state that had been hard hit economically as they tried to move from old standbys (like tobacco) into the new century. The last Saturday of September, I was working with Jack and Katrina at a youth fundraiser booth in Bedford for Centerfest. I looked up at a man who stopped by and was shaking hands with people in our booth, then I realized it was Mark Warner! How cool! He said something to me to the effect of 'are you trying to get people to stop by from both sides of the fence?' because I was wearing a McCain sticker and a Warner sticker. I talked with him and the reporters following him and explained that I voted on the person, not the party they were running with. Another gal in my booth said the same thing, though she wasn't voting for Warner.
Today, a gal sent a link to my homeschool email list regarding a political ad. First, that is a no-no on our list because we don't discuss politics or religion on our list. We keep things friendly. But, I know why she sent it. It was of importance to homeschoolers. I saw the title of the link and went to check it out. This video is what I found. As a homeschooler, a person of faith, and the daughter of a NRA member, I am appalled to see what Mark Warner really thinks of me.
Mr. Warner, you have lost my vote. I can only hope the word gets round to the other people like me in the Commonwealth as to what you really think. And Mr. Warner, in case you are at all concerned...I believe the very people that you say are threatening what it means to be an American are indeed the ones that are trying to keep America on the track that used to make it a beloved country around the world. And Mr. Warner, I have many homeschool friends that sit on both sides of the political spectrum. I cannot begin to imagine how they will feel that you have lumped them in with people that they are often opposed to.
Big foot in mouth moment, but thanks for your honesty. I would have hated to have voted for you and found out your opinions when it was too late.
October 8, 2008
More Puppy Pictures
Hopefully you will forgive me for not visiting and for having a few posts. Between sleep deprivation due to the new puppy that doesn't want to sleep at night and trying to keep some semblance of a homeschool schedule and trying to prepare for a test in tonight's class...I am having a hard time thinking straight, much less keeping up. But fortunately, I am still able to use the camera so that you can see the reason for the current havoc in our lives;)
"Whatcha got there, Mom? Can I see it????"
"Come on Sis...I wanna go this way!"
Wise eyes...
Sleepy eyes...
October 6, 2008
New Family Member....
Well, I have been hinting that change was in the air. My friend over at Homeschooling in Illinois figured out what was up...she's pretty observant!
Well, we have been preparing for a change. We adopted a purebred Irish Setter and this past weekend, Katrina, Ashley (neighbor) and I drove to Beaver Falls, PA to pick up this cute little bundle of fur! She is so sweet, does very well with riding in the car and she has readily accepted us as her new pack. The only 'issue' we are running into is that she hates being in her cage inside without us (we got her a crate and have attached an exercise pen to it). Even if she can see us a few feet away, she howls, whines and whimpers unless she is sleeping.
October 1, 2008
A Riddle Meme...Are You The Answer?
My friend over at Homeschooling in Illinois caught me with this clever meme. I think you will enjoy it too! Read the clues below and if one applies to you, then consider yourself tagged!
1. History is my thing....history and books and politics. And if you don't agree with me, you can take it up with my 18 year old, 6 foot tall daughter and her black belt!
2. Flying the friendly skies gives me great stories to tell my readers. Some would qualify for the show Believe It or Not?
3. My child is in preschool and I am obsessed with eggs and cute lunches!
4. I enjoy walks, riding my bicycle, swimming in the pool, helping my son with his paper route and blogging.
5. I love taking photos, I recently lost a dear friend and am looking for a substitute, and thoughts of my mom come into my life every day.
6. I have a son with Down's Syndrome. I enjoy writing and sharing my knowledge with others to help them on their homeschooling journey. I want them to know that nobody's perfect!
So, if a clue points to you, then you are tagged to join in the fun!
10 Days in Review
Wow...another 10 days have sped by, and I have barely had time to post. So for those who have inquiring minds as to what we are up to, here goes.... (For those of you who could care less, feel free to move on in your Internet surfing).
September 19th-20th - Katrina had a friend come over and spend the night. My neighbors came over and we watched Stephen King's The Shining (the one made for television that is actually way better than the Jack Nicholson one). On Saturday afternoon, Katrina went to FunQuest to skate with her friends. I worked on my paralegal homework.
September 21st - We went to my mom and stepfather's church as he was going to be preaching. Afterwards, they had a birthday lunch. It was very neat, instead of sitting with your family or maybe the friends you always hang out with, you sat with other people who had a birthday the same month you do. Each table was decorated based on the month (red, white and blue for July for instance). I had a lovely talk with a young man named Spencer who regaled me with fishing stories. Then the kids had Awanas in the evening and I did more class work for my class.
September 22nd - school in the morning, group piano lessons in the afternoon.
September 23rd - We had to get up and leave early to go to the Orthodontist. One of the brackets for Jack's braces had come loose from his teeth, so we had to go have it reattached. Then we went to Sam's because we had gotten a letter from them that the bag of Members Mark Catfood we had recently purchased had been recalled due to a possibility of Salmonella contamination. Then we came back and did some school work and waited for the fence guy to come. We are having a fence built around our back yard. In the afternoon, we did some work on cleaning out some of the woods that the fence will be going through.
September 24th - School in the morning. The guy came back and finished fixing our freezer...we are so excited, ice comes out again! Then, the kids and I worked on another wooded section (there are three wooded sections that will be impacted by the fence going through them. Then I had class (which I blogged about how great that was). And on the way home, I stopped and got groceries.
September 25th - School in the morning. Library to pick up books. Lowe's to get shelves for our small storage thingy we bought last week. Back home I mowed our yard (the first time in over a year for me because of my knee) and weed eated (can you believe that some of that grass that I mowed just last Thursday has already grown four inches!!!! GEEZ!!! Daniel came home. We had hoped to burn some brush, but Daniel was not feeling well and the rains came in... So I made a pound cake for Saturday instead. And I made a sign for Saturday too.
September 26th - I had an appoinment with my knee doctor. I am amazed how wonderful my knee feels with me following his recommendations. I am exercising 30 minutes 5-6 days a week and taking the glucosamine. It's awesome to be able to move better, though steps are still troublesome for me. Before going to the doctor, I made three loaves of pumpkin bread and some French Breakfast Puffs for Saturday. After getting back from my appointment, I worked on PL class work. I took my baked goods and sign to the church.
September 27th - we left the house about 10 and headed to River Ridge Mall. The kids were both scheduled to play the piano in a recital at 11:00. After they were done, we grabbed some lunch at Golden Corral, then headed to Bedford for Centerfest. We spent about an hour wandering around visiting the crafters, local businesses, and other booths set up for Centerfest. Centerfest is a big deal in Bedford once a year. People from all over come there to sell their wares. Also businesses set up booths to give people information about themselves. And there are rides, lots of yummy food and there was plenty of political action going on. We helped to man our Youth Group's bake sale booth from 2-5. This is a youth fundraiser where the kids try to raise money towards going to Go Tell camp next summer. We had a great time and I even got to meet Mark Warner and shake his hand as he came through campaigning. We helped the Pastor and his wife pack up, then headed for home...pretty tired. We watched a Jean Shepherd movie and then fell fast asleep.
September 28th - church, the kids and I burned three piles of brush, school work, Awanas. While the kids were at Awanas, Daniel and I had a chance to sit and talk about things I needed to be working on in the week ahead.
September 29th - Field Trip! We visited Johnson's Apple Orchard. It is a wonderful field trip and it was a beautiful day. After a picnic lunch, we headed to Lynchburg for a trip to the Pet Store and then piano lessons and then to Goodwill to shop for some pants for Jack. He has grown another two inches! His inseam is now three inches longer than his dad's! Then we came home and I did some work for my class. I am still watching LOST by the way, and I have two more episodes to watch before getting to the end of season four. Christian is alive??? Claire has abandoned Aaron??? Only 6 get rescued??? The island gets moved???? So much going on!!!!
September 30th - school in the morning, PL class work for me in the afternoon as well as some phone calls and the first day we didn't have to go anywhere at all in ages!!! It was nice to be home!!!!!!
In three more days, we will be heading to PA to pick up something...but you will have to come back Sunday or Monday to find out what! (That is assumiing you have read this far).
Have a great day!
Book Review: The End of the Road by Tom Bodett
I picked this book up at a book sale thinking to sell it on eBay, but when I looked it up, the value wasn't worth listing and I kept it for myself to read. I am glad I did. An interesting tale set in Alaska, this story is very interesting. A bunch of stories in the lives of people living in the frozen north. It is like getting a peek into people's homes and lives.
If you would like to read a book by the man who made Motel 6 famous, a book that has a 'down home' quality, and a book that will make you alternately laugh and shake your head in disbelief, you may very well enjoy this book.
If you would like to read my copy of the book, just leave me a comment. First come, first serve (sorry, U.S. addresses only). I'll pop it in the mail to you!