Think Back Thursday (late)

This week, for Think Back Thursday, I get to remember what I was doing 24 years ago.

 Miss B was born near Denver. There was still snow on the mountains. Her big sister was almost three.

 So quickly they grow.

She was ten when her brother (my current home school student) was born.

 She was my second child to graduate high school, and the first girl in our family to graduate college. (Not me, not my sisters, not my mother, not my aunt, not my grandmothers... you get the picture...)

 And now she's getting married. That's my girl. I love you, Boo! Happy Birthday!

 

Menu Monday - 6/24/2013

Here's my carnivore/vegan blended menu plan for this week:

Sunday:
Rotisserie chicken (vegan chicken patty), mashed potatoes, broccoli

Monday:
Beef pitas (garbanzo bean pitas), salad

Tuesday:
smokey corn chowder (skip bacon, make with almond milk), salad, pumpkin muffins

Wednesday:
 green chili enchiladas (substitute soy crumbles), salad, chips

Thursday:
grilled chicken sandwiches (Fake chicken veggie patty), salad

Friday:
Salmon, potatoes, green beans (potato stuffed with vegetarian chili)

Saturday:
 home-made pizzas (one pepperoni, one veggie)

Modesty and Men's Brains

This YouTube video is absolutely intriguing! Studies have shown that when men see women in swimsuits, the part of their brain that shows activity indicates that they view the women as tools, things... Not as people to value and treasure. Take a look:

Summer Reading for Boys

Tuesday Tidbit:

Summer has finally arrived. In our home it arrived with Math not quite finished for the year. It also arrived with a certain boy in our home having some unjustified attitude of entitlement - a feeling that this summer time is his time; a feeling that he should be allowed to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants; an attitude that he should be allowed to watch television whenever he wants, that computer usage should be unlimited and that "bedtime" is not a word in his vocabulary.

Does this sound like a middle-school boy?

Anyway, this boy-child attitude is hitting a wall against parental attitudes that extended video/computer usage is not good for a 13-year-old, that the person who pays for the internet has some say over how it is used, and that the person who pays for the satellite television has ultimate say over what hours this will be made available to little people. 

We're still trying to find a middle-ground that we can live with here, but for starters this mom has made it clear that before an electronic device goes on a Math page will be done and reading will occur. I wanted one hour of reading a day, but that just isn't happening. And I have to improve on the Math oversight, because I haven't been checking the work. I think I've been getting a chapter a day of reading, so I was thinking of other ways of stating the reading goals.

I was reading over at Ben and Me and her list of 10 Summer Classics for Middle School Boys.

Marcy's list:

The Red Badge of Courage - Print Kindle

Robinson Crusoe - Print Kindle

The Swiss Family Robinson - Print Kindle

Treasure Island - Print Kindle

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Print Kindle

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Print Kindle

Moby Dick - Print Kindle

The Call of the Wild - Print Kindle

Where the Red Fern Grows - Print Kindle

White Fang - Print Kindle

It is a good list, but my son has read some of the titles already. So I thought I would adopt the list idea but take out the titles we have already done, and insert some titles I've been meaning for us to get to. Her goal is for Ben to read five of the ten titles between now and the end of August. That sounds like a good goal for my home, too, but I don't know how well I will be able to enforce it. But if you don't set goals, you achieve what you planned for, so...

I followed Marcy's link to more summer reading for boys titles:

 

That link wasn't working for me when I tried it, so I guess I'm on my own. So, here's the revised list for my home:

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle - Print Kindle

The Swiss Family Robinson - Print Kindle

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Print Kindle

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Print Kindle

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling - Print Kindle 

Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling - Print Kindle

Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge - Print Kindle

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome - Print Kindle

Penrod by Booth Tarkington - Print Kindle

I could go on and on, but I think ten is a good list so I will stop there. What is on your summer reading list?

TOS Crew Spotlight

Oh, look! I'm in the Spotlight this week! Go to the TOS Crew Blog and read all about me!

Thanks! :)

Memoria Press: Geography I - A TOS Crew Review

In early May I was fortunate to receive a set of Geography I from Memoria Press to use with my son to review. 

Memoria Press, launched in 1994, is a publisher that provides easy-to-use curriculum for a Christian classical education.

Menu Monday - Week of 6/17/13

Here is my family menu-plan (vegan/carnivore blend) for this week.

Sunday (Father's Day):
Steak, Caesar salad, baked potatoes (stuffed baked potato - vegan chili)

Monday:
Pot luck picnic activity (taking black bean dip and chips)

Tuesday:
barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, green beans (vegan "chicken" patty)

Wednesday:
cheeseburgers, baked beans, cole slaw, rolls (vegan "quarter pounder")

Thursday:
leftover lasagne (wheat spaghetti noodles, sauce), salad, TX toast

Friday:
Tuscan White Bean and Spinach Soup, salad, rolls

Saturday:
Homemade chilimac, broccoli (vegan leftovers)


 

Blogging Through the Alphabet - The Letter M

 This week is brought to you by the Letter M!

In my world, M reminds me of Mathematics. Last year's book is dying. Next year's book is not yet out of its box.

M is for Milly, my daughter's dog.

 M is for mummy, when studying Egypt.

 M is for homemade marshmallows!

 M is for mullien, which we studied in our nature study.

 And M is for music. This month's composer is Giuseppi Verdi. Here is "Triumphal March" (Grand March) from Aida:


What does the letter "M" make YOU think of?

George Washington's Rules - Rule #7

In continuation of my previous weekly theme, we are up to Rule #7 of George Washington's Rules which says:

7th	Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed.

In other words,

Do not take off your clothes in front of other people, and do not leave your bedroom only half-dressed.

Backyard Birds, by Birdcage Press: A TOS Schoolhouse Crew Review

In late April I learned that I would be receiving Backyard Birds, a game and learning product by Birdcage Press, to use with my son and then review.

Birdcage Press is a small company created by a mom who was making games for her three children to make education more fun. She made fact books to go with each game, and her kids acted as her editor. The company now produces

Blogging Through the Alphabet - The Letter L

When I think of L, this time of year, I think of flowers (predominantly lilies): Lily of the Valley, day lily, and tiger lily. Only my Lily of the Valley has bloomed so far.


Then there are the lizards we met last month in Arizona.

 What can YOU think of that starts with "L"?

Christianity Cove - A TOS Crew Review

In April the TOS Homeschool Review Crew learned that we would have the opportunity to receive a product from Christianity Cove to review. 

My son has experienced some bullying, so I was intrigued by a title called Bullying and the Bible. I was asked if I had a second choice, so I also put down the title Freedom Ride. I was really surprised when I received both Bullying and the Bible AND a copy of Freedom Ride! So I will be reviewing both. I will review Bullying and the Bible first.

Menu Monday

Here is my (carnivore/vegan blend) menu plan for the week.

Sunday:

Church picnic (each family brings food just for their family--we got subs from Subway. Did you know they have a veggie patty sub now?)

Monday:
Boy Scout Court of Honor Picnic - I'm taking Speedy International Stew and blue corn chips.

Tuesday:
Salsa Soup, salad, chips

Wednesday:
Barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, broccoli (leftover vegan food)

Thursday:
Hamburger/baked bean casserole, salad (vegan crumblies and no bacon in my part)

Friday:
Salmon, yams, spinach (the vegan is happy with yams and spinach)

Saturday:
Lasagne, salad, Texas toast (trying for vegan lasagne, but cannot find whole wheat or brown rice noodles this week...)

What's for dinner at your house this week?

Cicada Life Cycle

Oh my! Amazing video I just watched! Enjoy!

Nature Study; Boy Scouts 2nd Class Requirements

So yesterday we did a nature study that was prompted by a Boy Scout requirement for 2nd Class Rank: Identify ten native species plants that grow in your area.  Today I went back and took photographs, since we didn't think of that yesterday. I didn't get a sycamore leaf; maybe I'll come back later and insert it. 

I also add additional plants that JD either knows, or that I figure he should know so I am posting them here to remind myself to help him become familiar with them. How many of these plants and trees can you identify? If you want me to come back later and identify them for you, post a comment.