Link-reading book recommend, squirrels

Dawn, over at By Sun and Candlelight wrote up this book recommend on a Cynthia Rylant book. We really loved Cynthia Rylant's "Mr Putty and Tabby" series- really a sweet read for beginner readers. Anyways, this new book is about a red squirrel- and we like squirrels. -at least so far, they just moved onto our street about a year ago, so for now they are still a new treat! Dawn gives some good links on squirrels and even one with photos of a drey. If you don't know what that is, go on over and see... I have Dawn on my bloglines list, she is very crafty and very into nature, she inspires me to get outside and do more.

the perfect book storm

Memo to self: not a good idea to start Harry Potter #7 a week before the start date of homeschool. when.I.should.be.planning/organizing. Just saying...

I have to mention that this afternoon was the perfect storm; bibliophile-wise.

Picture it:

  • Me
  • a glass of chilled diet coke with a slice of lemon
  • a tin of Natural Cougar Gold Cheddar Cheese- aged 2 yrs
  • a box of ritz crackers
  • a box of water crackers..just cuz I can go back and forth between crackers...
  • HP #7, about 2/3 way through...

sometimes your week just can't get any better.

Wrap-up, Spring reading thing


Today is the first day of Summer, and time to do the
Spring reading thing 2007 wrap-up

Katrina hosted the Spring reading challenge over at her place, go *here* to see a list of wrap-ups!

So, how did I do?
Well,... here is what happened with my list:

  • Life Study of Romans by Witness Lee (from last list...it usually takes me a year to get through one of these) well- I'm going to have to move it over to the next list..not done

*The original home education series vol. 1 by Charlotte Mason -finished, what can I say, it's a classic and a gem.

  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau -finished, really, really good- I did a book review on it *here* I also went on to finish #2 and #3 in this series.

  • Orbit by John Nance -didn't read, never reserved it at the library

  • The Novelist by Angela Hunt- Finished- very well written, but not something I really enjoyed..but, I was impressed with her writing ability to pull off such a different kind of story.

  • Miss Julia speaks her mind by Anne Ross Finished! And I loved it! I went on to read #2 and #3 in this series, and I will for sure look for more. Miss Julia rocks!!

Now I have to add all the other books I read, not on my list...ahem..

*Queen Bees and wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
*Lion boy by Zizou Corder -great read, I am now reading #3 in the series
this book is a great one for kids, very clean.
*Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
*Princess in the Spotlight
*Princess in waiting
*Princess in Love

ahem...yes, I was having a binge-fest, as chronicled in this post...

*Framed by Frank Boyce -Finished, another pre-read for my kids, it was a good read, clean.

-the rest of my list:

read aloud with Josie

  • Little House in the Highlands by Melissa Wiley (look for the unabridged version)Finished! but we both read it independently, the tandem reading fell by the wayside.

Read aloud with Josie and Meg

  • Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter -started, but didn't get far..the kids loved it

Read aloud with all 4 children

didn't get to this one, couldn't find a copy-another book for next time!

Loaves and Fish

I am enjoying these thoughts on Matthew 14:14-21... and pondering...

"Here were the disciples, staring at a large crowd, seeing all the needs of the people, and knowing full well they couldn't meet those needs. The only solution they saw was to send the people away. And here I was, seeing the many tasks and needs of my home- for my children, my husband, homeschooling, not to mention myself- and the only solution I could see was to send the children away....."

...."And then it dawned on me. It wasn't the apostles' meager five loaves and two fish that fed the crowds, but their offering combined with the blessing of Jesus. And Jesus was telling me to give Him my five loaves and two fish, my insignificant efforts, and He would bless them, and the needs of my family would be met."

..."At prayer that evening, it dawned on me: the answer to my perplexity about why Jesus had not "helped me as he'd promised....I had to give a full five loaves and two fish-not three loaves, not two loaves. I had to apply all of me to the task and mission I was called to be and do, not haphazardly, but fully, methodically, completely..."

-A Mother's Rule of Life by Holly Pierlot

a thoughtful word for those of us in the homeschool trenches, way burnt out right about now.
This is my new book in my reading basket.

Dragons- delight driven learning


We are into all things dragon these days... My 7 year old son is enamored of anything dragon right now. So, what is a homeschool mom to do? Make it a unit study of course!!
 (you knew this was coming, didn't you??).

We are currently reading My Father's dragon, and we just finished "Jeremy Thatcher, dragon hatcher". We found "The Irish Cinderlad" at the library- great dragon action here... And purchased this book- "If I had a dragon, si yo tuviera un Dragon" at a book fair.

I found a cute backpack outline *here*, which we used along with "My father's dragon"
- to draw and list 5 things the boy packed in his backpack for his trip.

We added in learning about maps, using The book "Legends & Leagues, or, Mr. Tardy goes from here to there" and the accompanying workbook put out by Veritas press. (the workbook also has several cute projects to do too).

We've done lots of artwork involving our reptilian friends, and wrapped it up with a letter-illustrated of course to Steven Spielberg, suggesting that they get to work on a "Spyro" movie ;because it is Rand's favorite game-cube game, and would, in his opinion, make a great movie. Sypro is a dragon if you didn't guess that already- a small, purple dragon.

Next up on our dragon journey is the book St. George and the dragon, and learning the words to the song, "puff the magic dragon". I'll be sure to let everyone know if Mr. Speilberg writes back.

does anyone know how to find an address to send the letter to Mr. Speilberg? I'm not getting anything on google...

Spring reading thing challenge-update


My original post on the spring reading challenge is *here*, you can go there to see my complete list with links.

Just a quick update here:

Finished!!
Real Learning: Education in the heart of the home by Elizabeth Foss

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The Novelist by Angela Hunt

Miss Julia speaks her mind by Anne Ross

also read, not on my list...
Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau, Lion Boy , the Cuckoo Child, (these for the reason of approving them for dd10 and dd12 to read)
and 2 Grace Livingston Hill novels (because I love those..).

With the kids:
How is was with Dooms by Xan Hopcraft

had to add Jeremy Hatcher, dragon hatcher...for Rand

I did a book review on Duma and The city of ember, I hope to get a few other reviews out soon. Everything I have read has been good.

Happy reading!

I'll take potpourri for $10...

I can't really claim anything intellectual or spiritual sounding like a blogging break, the truth of the matter is more like a brain-numb-stupor... I've basically spent the last week announcing that I am going to work on catching up with my homeschool records, then aimlessly sorting and piling papers next to the computer. If I am brave, maybe I will post a picture. Maybe.
I did get my son's work all entered and up to date, but it is a small victory when you consider that out of the 3 students I have, the 1st grader generates the least amount of paperwork.
My goal next month is to have all 3 entered and up to date. I will throw some kind of serious party if I achieve this. Heck, Gracefulmom will probably throw me a party (she is the person who reports on all my ahem..record keeping). Hey Gracefulmom, next month it will be you and me at cheesecake factory to celebrate my end of rambling and disorderly conduct. There is a godiva cheesecake there with our name on it. I will triumph just in time for summer break...

Changing the subject, it's meme time! Joyful days tagged me last week for this meme:
a 7 Things About Me meme. I'm supposed to write seven random facts or habits about myself and then tag 7 other people to do the same, here goes:

7 random things about me
1) I couldn't pronounce 'discernment' until way past adulthood. I actually know lots of big words from my endless reading, but I am usually afraid to use them in a discussion for fear I will mispronounce them...like my misadventure with 'discernment'. (DH still teases me about that one)

2) I have diet coke for breakfast

3) darling husband takes me out on a date night once a week, forever- since our oldest child was a few months old. Smart man, I get this wild look in my eyes if he doesn't take me out somewhere.

4) Tonight was date night and DH treated me to a bacon cheddar cheeseburger at TGIF's and to a movie to see the new Spiderman movie. (it was awesome, if you like Spiderman!) we rarely go see a movie...the last one we saw at the theatre was Narnia...

5) We like the Spiderman movies, and I have read several of the Spiderman books. They were surprisingly good...(my engineer-husband turned me on to them, it's in the bylaws...all engineer majors must love Star-trek and Spiderman)

6) I won a prize at my sister's baby shower this weekend. We had to list names of baby animals, I was the only one to know that a baby swan is called a cygnet (not that I could be sure of how to pronounce that..but no one else knew how to either...) and that a baby owl is called an owlet.

7) I love bagels. I could live on bagels. I am dying for a chocolate chip bagel with strawberry cream cheese right this very minute. And a diet coke. of course.

Now the hard part...I have to tag 7 people...
I will tag: An OC Sitcom, Lindsey, Susanne, Cyndi, Jeana, Melissa, and Heather

Last thought;

Our son Demi-Sky has been into dragons lately. He has put aside his goal of growing up to be Spiderman (at least for now) and has announced that he plans to be a dragon hunter when he grows up. He has asked me to teach him how to read maps, a very important skill to have-to be hunting dragons...and apparently little sister Amie is to be his sidekick. She reminded Demi today in the van, out of the blue, that they needed to remember to bring plates for dinner when they go dragon hunting. As a homeschool mom, I am trying to jump all over this teachable, delight-driven moment. I need to dig out or buy a new map reading skills books, and Demi has me reading this book: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher- to him every chance he can catch me. I am planning on reading "My father's dragon" to him next. Anyone else have any good suggestions?

A mouse, a PM, and Chinese food

Monday night hubby and I had a date night out. Yeah!! We went to P.F. Chang's china bistro...really good food, we love the orange peel beef there. After, we went home to have some of *this* strawberry dessert with the kids, and watch a few episodes of Yes, Prime Minister on netflix. A very nice, relaxing evening.

The kids and I are listening to The tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo on audio. I have to highly, like 5 star recommend this book on audio. The narrator, Graeme Malcolm is just so talented and funny, and the characters have these killing, great accents. The mom mouse has a French accent, the rats seem to be Russian...alot of English accents..it is just great. We originally started this book over a year ago when we drove to the Oregon coast for vacation, but somehow the last cd wouldn't play. Our library finally got a new cd set (and nothing else but the audio would do, after listening to this...) and the kids voted to start it from the beginning because it had been so long.

You have to listen to this book!! Go check your library now!! Five star review!!

Here is the blurb on the book:

"This is the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in darkness but covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl with a simple, impossible wish. These characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other's live.
And what happens then? Reader, it is your destiny to find out."

Speaking of good books on tape, we went to visit my mom-about 1 1/2 hours away and listened to Hank the Cowdog and the case of the haystack kitties on audio. Another great recommend, it is just fall-down funny, even I like listening to it.