March 31, 2010
March 26, 2010
The Tongue
How beautiful is your tongue?
Or haven’t you ever really considered your tongue in terms of its attractiveness?
You don’t look at it very often in the mirror.
You don’t go on shopping trips for it.
You don’t have a weekly appointment at the tongue beautician.
A.von and Revl.on don’t sell cosmetics for it.
You don’t have to diet to get it back in shape.
Men don’t ogle it or whistle at it or write poems about it.
It doesn’t appear on the centerfold of P.lay.boy.
Yet it is your tongue, more than the form of your face, or the dimensions of your figure, or the lavishness of your wardrobe, or the size of your income, which determines whether or not you are a beautiful person.
From the book "Beautycare for the Tongue" by LeRoy Koopman
Or haven’t you ever really considered your tongue in terms of its attractiveness?
You don’t look at it very often in the mirror.
You don’t go on shopping trips for it.
You don’t have a weekly appointment at the tongue beautician.
A.von and Revl.on don’t sell cosmetics for it.
You don’t have to diet to get it back in shape.
Men don’t ogle it or whistle at it or write poems about it.
It doesn’t appear on the centerfold of P.lay.boy.
Yet it is your tongue, more than the form of your face, or the dimensions of your figure, or the lavishness of your wardrobe, or the size of your income, which determines whether or not you are a beautiful person.
From the book "Beautycare for the Tongue" by LeRoy Koopman
March 24, 2010
March 23, 2010
Latest project
I'm working on a table runner for our kitchen table. Lots of hand applique, but it has been a good learning experience - I'll stick to purses and totebags!! ;-)
Do you love the strawberry pincushion (with emery too) ring as much as I do? I was so excited when I found it on etsy. I even bought my mom (a quilter) one. Too cute! You can find them here, if interested.
*I'm not receiving anything for mentioning or linking to the etsy site. I just love the ring and wanted to share!
March 18, 2010
March Madness! A ball and a bucket!
One of the people I remember learning about in college was a PE teacher named James Naismith. He took a couple of ordinary items, and turned them into a game, that 118 years later, has grown to become one of the world's most popular sports.
The story of this teacher has always challenged me to make things new and exciting out of the ordinary. I didn't spend my 4 years teaching in a wealthy school district. I was in an inner city school that needed to spend what funds it had on reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic. Extra funds weren't available for me to purchase the newest equipment that I drooled over in the PE supply catalogs. I searched for ways to make my own equipment with things I already had. I wadded grocery bags into grocery bags and wrapped them up with duct tape to create a soft ball for the younger ages to catch and for the older kids to use as a hockey puck.
I used wire coat hangers, knee-high stockings, and more duct tape, to make paddles for the younger elementary students to use to hit balloons.
Naismith challenged me to think outside of the box in my PE classes.
I was further challenged to think outside of the box (in a more formal classroom setting) by watching the teachers in our school. I walked into a 3rd grade class one morning, during writing time, and noticed the kids were scattered all over the room. Observing the children, I saw them laying on the floor, some had their feet up on their desks. Another student was sitting at the window, writing. In an instant, I realized these kids were at their most creative, when they were allowed to choose where they would do their work. They didn't need to be confined to their seats/desks. They were given a choice - which inspired their creativity.
I never realized, with my training in teaching, that 13 years after graduating from college, I would be homeschooling my children. It has been and continues to be a privilege to teach them. And, to the best of my God-given abilities, I try to teach them using methods that keep me thinking outside of the box, as well as them.
Lately, our son has taken to basketball, but we don't have a basketball net. He's been asking for one for his birthday - which isn't until June.
Earlier this week, in his eagerness to play, I discovered this.
At Springfield YMCA, Naismith struggled with a rowdy class which was confined to indoor games throughout the harsh New England winter and thus was perpetually short-tempered. Under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education, Naismith was given 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide an "athletic distraction." Dr. Gulick demanded that it would not take up much room, could help its track athletes to keep in shape and explicitly emphasized to "make it fair for all players and not too rough."This game started with a peach basket, attached to a wall. (picture and above quote taken from wikipedia)
The story of this teacher has always challenged me to make things new and exciting out of the ordinary. I didn't spend my 4 years teaching in a wealthy school district. I was in an inner city school that needed to spend what funds it had on reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic. Extra funds weren't available for me to purchase the newest equipment that I drooled over in the PE supply catalogs. I searched for ways to make my own equipment with things I already had. I wadded grocery bags into grocery bags and wrapped them up with duct tape to create a soft ball for the younger ages to catch and for the older kids to use as a hockey puck.
I used wire coat hangers, knee-high stockings, and more duct tape, to make paddles for the younger elementary students to use to hit balloons.
Naismith challenged me to think outside of the box in my PE classes.
I was further challenged to think outside of the box (in a more formal classroom setting) by watching the teachers in our school. I walked into a 3rd grade class one morning, during writing time, and noticed the kids were scattered all over the room. Observing the children, I saw them laying on the floor, some had their feet up on their desks. Another student was sitting at the window, writing. In an instant, I realized these kids were at their most creative, when they were allowed to choose where they would do their work. They didn't need to be confined to their seats/desks. They were given a choice - which inspired their creativity.
I never realized, with my training in teaching, that 13 years after graduating from college, I would be homeschooling my children. It has been and continues to be a privilege to teach them. And, to the best of my God-given abilities, I try to teach them using methods that keep me thinking outside of the box, as well as them.
Lately, our son has taken to basketball, but we don't have a basketball net. He's been asking for one for his birthday - which isn't until June.
Earlier this week, in his eagerness to play, I discovered this.
May he continue to develop that creativity
and to keep thinking outside of the box basket.
March 17, 2010
March 16, 2010
March 15, 2010
Squeamish - don't worry, no pictures! ;)
This weekend I roasted a turkey.
I am very squeamish when it comes to pulling those giblet bags out. Well, OK, the bag isn't so bad, it is the long, raw turkey neck that gets me in the stomach.
Unfortunately for me, my husband was not home Saturday morning as I prepped the bird for my oven.
I also get squeamish when thinking about putting a worm on a fishing hook. I have told my husband I plan to conquer that fear this summer. However, I still do not think I'm ready to remove the fish from the hook. Baby steps.
It has been raining all weekend and there are worms are all over our driveway. My youngest likes to walk around, pick up the "snakes" and cuddle them in his hands.
I'll spare you the rest of the squeamish things in my life. Worms and turkey necks were at the top of the list for my weekend.
How was your weekend?
I am very squeamish when it comes to pulling those giblet bags out. Well, OK, the bag isn't so bad, it is the long, raw turkey neck that gets me in the stomach.
Unfortunately for me, my husband was not home Saturday morning as I prepped the bird for my oven.
I also get squeamish when thinking about putting a worm on a fishing hook. I have told my husband I plan to conquer that fear this summer. However, I still do not think I'm ready to remove the fish from the hook. Baby steps.
It has been raining all weekend and there are worms are all over our driveway. My youngest likes to walk around, pick up the "snakes" and cuddle them in his hands.
I'll spare you the rest of the squeamish things in my life. Worms and turkey necks were at the top of the list for my weekend.
How was your weekend?
March 11, 2010
Happy Birthday!!
A big hug from us to you!!
Me: "Yes."
Elle: "Yeah!"
I see a follow-up post in the future! ;-)
March 5, 2010
Friday's Five
1 - Went to a Casting Crowns concert Sunday night and it was AWESOME! Rather than just listening to them sing, or singing "at one another" (as CC's lead singer called it) it was a praise and worship night and was unforgettable.
2 - We didn't return home from the concert until just before midnight. The kids were staying at Grandma and Grandpa's. T took a vacation day and we had breakfast together and just a fun morning of uninterrupted time! We rescued G/G just after lunch - finding out that the kids had all woken up before 7am!! They *all* slept that afternoon!
3 - Does anyone think it odd that the same day I would post about our new "pet" I would also make a shoo-fly pie? (Link to shoo-fly pie for those reading who aren't locals!)
4 - T took Quintin snowboarding a second time this winter. They both had a great time.
5 - We are currently studying insects in school (hence the perfect fit of that new pet!) Part of yesterday's lesson was for Q to make up a funny story about an ant. His story was clever and it didn't surprise me when it included snow. The ant was snowboarding down his ant hill. There may or may not have been a half pipe involved!
Have a great weekend!!
March 4, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Well, it isn't really wordless and it isn't Wednesday either. ;-)
But, it is less than 30 seconds long!!
But, it is less than 30 seconds long!!
March 2, 2010
March 1, 2010
February 26, 2010
Snow -vs- Wind
There's an 8-inch drift at my kitchen door, but my driveway has bare spots and the front walk is totally dry.
All the schools are closed. Roads are in poor condition.
I think the Wind is winning this one! ;-)
February 24, 2010
February 23, 2010
"Passionate" Playtime
Last evening, I made a suggestion to the kids to act out one of the two Bible stories I had read to them at breakfast. The two stories were Daniel in the lion's den and the story of Jonah and the big fish. (side note: we read them both from The Jesus Storybook Bible and I can't put enough good plugs in for this book - and no, I'm not getting paid or given anything for plugging this book - Its awesome and if you haven't checked it out, take a look, now!)
Thinking my kids would have fun acting these two stories out (since they act out every other movie/adventure we see/read) I was sure I'd have enough time to finish the dishes after supper and get some other odds and ends finished.
As they left the kitchen, I suggested doing Jonah's story first.
It didn't play out as well as it did in my mind.
But, I can say, they passionately displayed Jonah's persistence!
And that was before even acting out the story. ;-)
Thinking my kids would have fun acting these two stories out (since they act out every other movie/adventure we see/read) I was sure I'd have enough time to finish the dishes after supper and get some other odds and ends finished.
As they left the kitchen, I suggested doing Jonah's story first.
It didn't play out as well as it did in my mind.
But, I can say, they passionately displayed Jonah's persistence!
And that was before even acting out the story. ;-)
February 22, 2010
Sleeping Beauty
I was looking back on some old pictures where my daughter would fall asleep in the strangest of places. I really wanted to find the one of her sleeping in the closet while on vacation at the ocean.
This first one is from when she was 2.
This next one, she is 3.
And do you see her up there? In front of that door?
Let's take a closer look.
This is when she was ... oh wait, this was just last week.
And yes, she's sleeping.
This first one is from when she was 2.
This next one, she is 3.
And do you see her up there? In front of that door?
And yes, she's sleeping.
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