Review: The Family Illustrated Bible



   The Family Illustrated Bible is a huge hardback full-color collection of Bible stories, timelines, facts and background information, a glossary of people of the Bible, an index, maps, and illustrations and photographs.  Published by New Leaf Press and DK, this book resembles the DK Eyewitness books with its "encyclopedia" pages interspersed between the Bible story pages.  These help to bring the stories to life and add much appeal to both young and older learners.  For example, after the story of Jesus calling his disciples, there are pages of facts about Galilee, showing photographs of a coin from Jesus' time, the ruins of the bath house, the synagogue of Capernaum, and a landscape view of the area.  A map is included as well as other facts about the region. 

   This book is visually stunning and will immediately appeal to kids, and it is suitable for younger elementary through middle-school aged kids.  The history of the Bible is explored through the supplementary pages, and the beautifully illustrated stories will hold kids' interest as they listen to or read the stories.  My kids enjoy being able to find out more about the places, architecture, artwork, people, weapons, modes of transportation, etc. they are hearing about in the stories.  It is nice to have all this within the same volume.  It truly is a "family" Bible, as everyone can gather around to listen and each will take away something valuable from it.  We will be enjoying this book for years to come.

{The publisher has provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.}

Happy Birthday, Dude!

This was just yesterday wasn't it?  You are growing into such a remarkable young man, and I am so proud of the person you are.  After eight years of homeschooling, I still treasure each day with you.

Learning about hurricanes

 

 Ready, Set...WAIT!, a book about what animals do before a hurricane will be available free in ebook format for the next few days on the publisher's website.  You can flip the interactive pages and read it with your child or listen to the audio version.  The book includes a free educational section in the back and tons of teaching activities, quizzes, and related websites on  the book’s homepage. 

Butterfly time!

   Thanks to my son for teaching me how to use a focus setting on my camera, I was able to capture this butterfly taking a drink from a flower on our butterfly bush yesterday.  To celebrate all the butterflies and moths (and skippers) we have been seeing around our garden, how about a giveaway?

   Simply leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite thing about August for a chance to win this field guide to butterflies and moths.  For an extra chance to win, blog or facebook about this giveaway, then come back and tell me you did in a separate comment.  A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, September 1.

   Giveaway is now closed--thanks for your comments!

Nature Journal: When is a moth not a moth?




Sachem Skipper
(Atalopedes campestris)

  
Do you know the difference between a butterfly, a moth, and a skipper?  According to our field guide, this is a female Sachem Skipper, characterized by "hindwings that are brown below, with pale band," and wings that are "brownish orange and brown above."  Although there are several differences between butterflies and moths, an interesting thing that we learned is that butterflies' antenna tips are swollen, or clubbed.  Moth antannae are feathery or threadlike, and the antenna tips of skippers are hooked.  If you look closely, you can see the hooked end of the antenna on the right, above.  Skippers seem to "skip" from flower to flower, and this one didn't sit still for long, but she enjoyed the purple flowers and didn't stray far.

Review: SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student

    SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student by James P. Stobaugh is a complete high school course to prepare students for the SAT.  Included in this text are:  Helps in building disciplined study skills, Development of an extensive vocabulary, Encouragement in the development of writing skills, Opportunities for writing practice essays, Advanced reading selections to enhance critical thinking skills for both verbal and math problems, and Answers to general questions about the PSAT, SAT, and NMSQT tests.  Rather than being a "cram" crash-course, this book will lead students through a year or more of SAT preparation with a focus on building Godly character. 

   The recommended way to use this text is to incorporate the 150 lessons into a three-year high school course of SAT preparation beginning in ninth grade, but the course can also be used for a two- (beginning in 10th grade) or even one-year course (for juniors.)  Each lesson involves a daily devotion, reading and vocabulary exercises, math and verbal exercises, and test taking strategies.  Students will keep a reading journal, create vocabulary cards, practice test-taking techniques, keep a devotional journal, and write 300-400 word essays.  Although SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student is a literature based program, there is enough math and critical thinking included to make this a truly comprehensive SAT preparation course. 

   The appendix includes a suggested book list for high school students, test-taking tips, resources for developing critical thinking skills, tips for writing (and samples of) college admission essays, and sample home education high school transcripts. 

   As the homeschool mom to an 8th-grader this year, this book has already proved to be a great resource for me in beginning to plan his high school course work.  The author has done a thorough job with this book, and I appreciate all the extras it has to offer.  I will cater my son's reading list to include many of the suggested resources mentioned in this book, and as the author also explains the value in learning a classical language in high school, we will be looking into options for studying Latin.  I will use this book with my son beginning in ninth grade for an elective course and following the suggested three year schedule. 

Highly recommended!

{The publisher has provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.}

Nature Journal: Garden Visitors

Can you see him?

There he is!

   Our parsley is being munched away by this very hungry caterpillar which we think is a Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes.)

This looks like it's a Clouded/Common Sulpher Butterfly
(Colias philodice.)

Review: God Gave Us You

Written by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Art by Laura J. Bryant

   God Gave Us You is a beautifully illustrated board book that is equally beautifully written and just right for sharing with your kids, no matter their ages.  Although intended for ages 0-3, I read this book during read-aloud time with all my boys, and they all thought it was well-written and had a valuable message.  The cute pictures feature a polar bear family with a little cub who likes to ask questions, and as his mother tells him the story of how he came into the world, she explains that he was given to them by God.  This book captures the feelings a new mom has when gazing into the eyes of her child and the awe and wonder of all that God can do.  "Mama lowered her voice.  "And then we took you home.  And it was just us.  Our family.  We just stared and stared, wondering at the miracle of incredible you.'" 

   This is a quality book and, unlike some board books, it contains a substantial story.  Little ones will love to hold it and study the pictures, and parents will love to read it and share special times with their little ones.

{Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.}

Produce basket round-up

What's in the basket?

  
   We've joined a produce co-op run by a couple of homeschool moms in our area, and this week was our first pick up week--we get a laundry basket full of produce each week straight from the Farmer's Market.  This week we got corn, carrots, cucumbers, red bell peppers, green kale, spinach, jalapenos, a beefy tomato, garlic, squash, potatoes, oranges, limes, and grapes.  (I am facing the reality that our garden will not sustain us for the winter!)

   I cooked kale for the first time by sauteeing it with olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar.  My oldest liked it, I found it to be okay, but not my favorite thing, and the peewees wouldn't even taste it.  My husband likes greens but didn't like the kale.  I made corn on the cob and mashed potatoes to go with some bbq chicken, and the kids have been eating oranges and muching on peeled carrots (these carrots are really big, and the peeling is a bit bitter.) 

    Last night I made veggie pizza with some of the spinach on top (delish! with a little cracked pepper added too.)  This weekend, I'm going to make salsa with some of the jalapenos, cilantro, lime, and the tomato, and I'm going to roast and freeze the rest of the jalapenos.  I'm also making philly cheese steaks this weekend with some of the red bell peppers--the rest of them I'll slice and freeze to use in *fajitas.  The rest of the spinach will be used in a salad topped with some of my garden pear tomatoes and this:

Hidden Valley® Spinach Salad Kit
Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, cranberry-almond clusters and toasted, salted sunflower seeds.

   One of our favorite side dishes is sauteed veggies, and I'll slice some carrots and squash and sautee it with olive oil and a little parsley from the garden one night.  I am looking forward to incorporating more veggies and variety into our meals, and I love the challenge of trying to use up what we get.



*My San Antonio Fajitas

Slice boneless chicken into thin strips (I use about 3 breasts to serve 5 people)
Slice one bell pepper into strips (any color)
Slice one large tomato
Slice one large sweet onion

Throw everything in a large pan and drizzle generously with olive oil.  Sprinkle all over with fajita seasoning (I use Bolner's Fiesta Brand, salt-free kind.  Since we can't get it locally where we live now, I order it from them.)    Cook over medium-high heat until veggies start to carmelize and meat is thoroughly cooked.  Keep stirring and scraping so veggies don't stick to pan.  Serve with warm flour or corn tortilla, grated cheese, refried beans, and chips & salsa or guacamole.  I learned how to make this when we lived in San Antonio, and the nice thing about it, besides it being delicious and easy, is that you can vary the recipe depending on what you like and what you have on hand.  You can add more veggies, leave out the meat, substitute steak for the chicken...

Friday photo

Empty nest

Review: Multiply on the Fly

Written by Suzanne Slade

Illustrated by Erin E. Hunter

   Multiply on the Fly is so much more than a picture book.  The story follows different insects through natural settings and incorporates multiplication facts with each insect serving as an example:  5 grasshoppers with 2 wings each = how many wings in all?  Kids will see multiplication as a concrete activity as they count their way through the book.  For kids who have not mastered the multiplication tables, the fun rhymes and beautiful illustrations will entice them, and for kids who understand the concept, this book will expand on their knowledge with its generous database of hands-on activities.  The book includes several pages at the end with resources and activities for learning more about insects and math facts:  from insect body parts and life cycles to insect math table activities.  There is so much to learn and do here that this book will not be a one-time read. 

   The suggested age range for Multiply on the Fly is 4-8, but both older and younger kids will enjoy sitting in as this book is read aloud, as evidenced by my kids, and older kids will want to read the book on their own, spending time with the activities at the end.  My youngest tried to count all the parts of the insects before his brothers could remember the answer, and they all tried to be the first to give the correct answers.  For my nature lovers, the incorporation of insect facts in this story was right-on and made the math  seem not so "mathy."  My 5th grader commented that, "you know, math is everywhere."

   This book would be a fantastic addition to the elementary or homeschool classroom, and it would be a nice inclusion in an insect unit study.  The publisher's website also provides a free Teaching Activities download (fabulous!) for this book as well as a list of related websites and alignment to science and math state standards.  You can view a sample of Multiply on the Fly here.  The book is available in both print and ebook versions.

{The publisher has provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.}

Guitar Shop 101

 

 

  The guys' two-year guitar-making project is finally finished!  My husband is a weekend woodworker, and he has made some beautiful things, but the biggest so far has been this guitar which he and the boys worked on together.  It began with a large block of wood (which turned into a second block of wood when the cut piece did not line up exactly.)  Through many weekends of trial-and-error, progress began, and everything came together beautifully.  Not only did the guys have to work out plans and drawings, but beyond the actual cutting and finishing of the wood, they had to do the electronics and soldering.  My oldest is a talented guitar player, and though he loves his Les Paul, he is now using this guitar much of the time.  It has an really nice Blues sound, and because it was so lovingly and painstakingly crafted, he is especially proud to play it.   







"Within every block of wood and stone, there dwells a spirit, waiting to be released."
-Hap Hagood

Whose nest is this?

   The last time I checked, there were two spotted eggs, and now this little guy is quietly waiting for its Mommy to come back.  The nest is in a bush beside the water spigot we use to water the garden.  Every time we get near the hose, the mommy bird flies out, fussing at us to hurry up and leave.  

Garden Breakdown

Week of August 15

   Last weekend, I pulled up most of the remaining plants in the garden.  The beans that were taking over the garden (scarlet runners) must have been purely decorative, because no actual beans ever showed up.  Once the deer found the corn, they spread the word, and cantaloupes and tomatoes disappeared.  Because it has been so hot here, nothing was really thriving, so I decided to clean out and plan for a late Summer/into Fall garden.  I left one tomato (pear,) because it still has some green ones on it, but it looks like it's about over.  There is only one cantaloupe still attached to the vine, but the vine is still stretching and blooming.  I've harvested and dried lots and lots of basil, and they are still going strong.

Lone Cantaloupe

Monster Okra

   The okra is growing like crazy--the plants are about 5 1/2 feet tall, and the okra get huge really fast.  It's finally putting out enough at one time to be able to use. 

Strawberries, the Sequel

   The strawberries seem to have started all over, and we are picking some every day now.  I'm not sure what to plant now, but I want to start some new things to have for Fall. 

Easy-peasy Saturday Lunch



Fiesta Pie

  It is always a challenge for me to find something to fix for lunch--especially on the weekends.  It seems like we have the same thing over and over, and we all get tired of sandwiches.  Here is my variation on a recipe that Pampered Chef had in one of their cookbooks several years ago.  It got a thumbs-up from all my guys, and it was really easy to make using just a few ingredients.  I used two packs of crescent roll dough, 1 pound of ground beef, one packet of taco seasoning, one can of pinto beans (you could use black beans instead,) some grated cheddar cheese, and finally some lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa.  I really just used stuff I already had on-hand, so this recipe could vary based on what you have.




First, brown 1 lb. of ground beef (or turkey,) drain, and add in
a packet of taco seasoning, stirring to coat well.  I did
not add any water, because it makes the meat too
juicy and it will drip off the pan in the oven.





Spray a round pan with cooking spray, then lay the crescent rolls
around the pan, overlapping them slightly.  Be sure to place them inside the edge
of the pan enough to allow for filling.



Scoop meat mixture onto the ring of dough, sprinkle on grated cheese, 
fold over dough, and tuck in points.

Drain a can of beans and pour into center of pan, then bake at 375 until
golden brown (about 15 minutes.)

Sprinkle some more cheese on top of beans.

Add lettuce and tomato, and whatever else you like.
Cut into wedges, like you would cut a pie, and serve with salsa, sour cream or
spicy ranch dressing.

  
If you precook the meat and save it in the fridge, this would make a really quick ballgame- or after-practice-night supper to put together.

I had four triangles of crescent roll dough leftover,
so I rolled up four pigs-in-blankets using
leftover dogs from my freezer.  The dough
freezes just fine, and we'll have these for lunch
during the school week.

Book Review: The Daughter's Walk

   The Daughter's Walk is the story of Clara Etsby, who in 1896 walked across America with her mother to try to win a $10,000 prize and save the family farm.  Based on true events, this historical fiction novel traces Clara's journey both during and after this historic, but little-known walk.  The walk itself is only part of the story, as the novel spans 46 years to describe Clara's exile from the family and ultimate reunion with them.  Jane Kirkpatrick's obvious painstaking research is evident throughout this novel, and the reader is transported back to a time when a woman's world was much different than it is now; where independence was not a woman's right.

   I enjoyed this story and was fascinated to learn about the walk that Clara and her mother took as well as how Clara was able to become an independent woman and make her way on her own at a time when it was unheard of for women to do so.  I kept thinking about my ancestors--my great-grandmother would have been about Clara's age at that time, and how strong these women had to have been.  Another theme in this story is that of family secrets.  Every family has them, and this story inspired me to want to discover more about my family's stories.  And-- how as family members feud and reconcile, it all boils down to love keeping family together generation after generation:  "No one had said, 'I forgive you.'  No one had asked.  It wasn't needed.  Love would rebuild like bricks raising a cathedral."

I think Jane Kirkpatrick did an excellent job of telling Clara's story, and anyone who enjoys historical fiction will be enriched by adding this book to their shelves.  I'll be saving it to add to our high school reading list.

{Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.}

2011/2012 Schoolroom

   We have the luxury of a bonus room which has been designated as our schoolroom.  After six years of homeschooling in our old house, having to share the kitchen table for school and meals and store everything in the pantry, it is so nice to have a designated room for all of our "school" stuff.  We lined the walls with bookcases from Target, and all our books are somewhat organized by category.  We usually sit at the table for schoolwork, but when the weather is nice, we take it outside, and big brother has his own desk this year as he is doing more independent work.  We have one big window which gives us good natural light, and by positioning the fan in front of the a/c vent, the temperature is comfortable most days.  July is the worst for the heat upstairs, but that is the month we usually take time off from school.  The ceiling is too low for a ceiling fan.  These photos were taken on a good day, but we try to keep the clutter under control. 

Back porch visitor

Whenever our crickets get too big, we toss them out the back door, and it seems that the neighborhood reptiles have discovered that there's good eatin' at our house.  This little guy hung out around the back porch all afternoon, and he was as quick as lightning.  My kids kept seeing a flash of blue tail around the porch steps, and he finally came up on the porch long enough to have his picture taken.  We identified it as a Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus,) according to our field guide.

Nature Journal: Maypops



Passiflora incarnata




The little green pod is a fruit





The vine stretches along the ground and up a
neighboring plant.



The flowers look like they belong in a rain forest,
 but the blooms don't last long.



   Near our garden is a maypop plant growing wild.  My mom told me what it was and said to tell the guys to keep the weedwacker away from it.  We noticed right away that the bees love the maypop flowers, and they were seriously hard at work.  The fruit of the maypop passionflower is edible, resembling the flavor of guava, and  it is similar to the passionfruit used to flavor Hawaiin Punch but is hard to harvest because critters usually snag the fruits as soon as they get ripe enough to eat.  The plant is also a larval plant for Zebra longwing, Julia, and Gulf fritillary butterflies.