Friday 24 August 2012

HSMJ - Meeting Olympic Athletes

In my life this week…
I have decided to tackle my weight issues and take control.  In one sense I am pleased to have had this struggle as it's given me a deeper appreciation for others who have and are struggling to loose baby weight or life in general weight.
Up until the last ten years or so I could eat anything I wanted but no more. I have gone up and down the same 10 kg for the last five years and find that really frustrating.  I have 25 kg (60 pounds) to loose and my health to regain. So beginning next week I want to add in a weight loss and exercise check to my run down.
In our homeschool this week…
  • We took a trip to Federation Square to meet Australian Olympic Athletes.
  • Started reading A Little Princess.
  • We are working on the character trait of listening in the little book: Get Wisdom.
  • Time! We spent the day learning about time and analog clocks.  What a complicated business with a little person who listens and tries to improve upon the design as you try to explain!  We will persevere.
  • We are working on place value in maths.  I found this great iPad MontessoriTech Stamp Game app I can't use and am now trying to find one that will show place value for my android.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Finding Free Kids' eBook the No Twiddle Twaddle Way
I am inspired by…
  • Leader Boy Warrior who wrote this excellent post titled Spring is coming.  Please pop on over and be encouraged by this young homeschooler.
  • Reading Jo's post: Back to our regular scheduled program - homeschooling again! I needed this. I've had these crazy panic attacks this week about homeschooling Sir N as an only child. It's one thing to homeschool two or more children but let me tell you it's a totally different ball game raising and homeschooling an "only" child. Jo's insight and sharing of her families experience has reaffirmed my our choice. The best part is him saying he wants to be homeschooled.  Thank you Jo your heart has lifted mine!
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • Saturday
  • Sunday
  • Monday
  • Tuesday we did our trip to Kelly Sports. We also visited Granny, had a hair cut and took Miss J for a trial at a coffee shop.  I'm shocked at how low wages are for teens these days.  Pure usury.
  • Wednesday took a trip to Melbourne Federation Square to meet our Olympic Athletes.
  • Thursday make up lesson at swimming.
  • Friday We are celebrating a friends baby boys first birthday. We are also going out to dinner courtesy of my husbands work to celebrate the ROAR (Recognising Outstanding Achievement and ) award that Paul won.

My favorite thing this week was…
Meeting the Olympians of 2012 from Victoria.
Things I’m working on…
  • Contemplating our curriculum and learning outcomes for next year.  Our school year only starts in January but with all my American friends speaking about curriculum my appetite is well and truly whet.
  • Not this weekend but next is Fathers Day so I've been happily pinning ideas on Pinterest and thinking about what to do with my kids for the Daddy in this house!
In bloggy world I’m reading…
On my bedside table ...
I’m cooking…
  •  I am trying to cook healthy this week.  So far I have managed two meals out of five.
On Pinterest I found...

I’m grateful for…
  •  Friends who own books and are happy to loan them to me. I have really enjoyed the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
“Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess 
 Blessings

Chareen





This post is linking to:
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
iHomeschool

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Thursday 23 August 2012

A day at Federation Square meeting Olympic Athletes

Yesterday Paul, Sir N and I took a trip to Federation Square to join in the festivities and meet some Australian 2012 Olympic Athletes.


We had an enjoyable trip to Federation Square on the City Circle Tram. 

We were ahead of schedule and had to stop in front of Parliament House for seven minutes which gave us a window to explore.

We also had a neat time spotting the different elephant statues dotted around the city in celebration of Melbourne Zoos 150th Birthday.

The team members were generous with their time and happy to stop for photo's with us.

Then it was time to listen to all the formal speeches welcoming the athletes to Melbourne.


On the top: These four ladies (three of them are in their 90's one of them is 97) set a world record last week in their swimming relay event. Bottom: Anna Meares and Sally Pearson.


It was a lovely day meeting some wonderful people and the weather was great too.

Will you be visiting any of our Olympians in a city near you ?

Blessings
Chareen



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Wednesday 22 August 2012

iHomeschool Omnibus is here ...



To find out more head on over to Confessions of a Homeschooler for a full list of the titles included in this set.

Blessings
Chareen
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Tuesday 21 August 2012

Follow my Leader {Tuesdays Treasures}

 Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Learning All the Time Favourite Resource Link Up. 


This week ...
Follow My Leader
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0140364854
ISBN-13: 978-0140364859



Book Description: After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn all the things he used to know. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and to use a cane. Then he's given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before.

This is one of those books that I am looking forward to re reading and sharing with Sir N. It's a story revealing the consequences of our actions at the same time giving us a hope for the future. I love the way his heart changes and the way he grows as a character in the story. We walk with Jimmy as he learns to forgive and it takes the reader on a journey as to what it would be like to be blind.

Buy this book: Amazon, and The Book Depository.
Book reviews: Home School Book Review, 

Blessings
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Monday 20 August 2012

A Trail of Ink {52 in 52}

This week in 52 in 52...
The third chronicle 
of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon.
  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 256
  • Publisher:  Monarch Books
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • ISBN: 978-1-85424-954-8
  • Author Melvin R.Starr
Last week I shared about one of the best books I have read in a while. This weekend I have completed the sequel as well as the third chronicle in the series.

I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Hugh in this third  chronicle detailing his duties as bailiff.  As with book one and two this chronicle has been written in the first person. Hugh takes us with him as he attempts to unravel the mystery of Master John Wyclif's missing books.

Melvin has once again done a stirling job of taking the reader into 1300's. I enjoyed the two assignments bestowed on him by his employer to find a comely lass and discover the whereabouts of Master Wyclif's books. As always his use of out of the ordinary language is inspiring and entertaining. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to you and your family.

Melvin Starr is an avid student of medieval English and surgery and has written a page turning novel featuring Hugh de Singleton.  Melvin's website hosts a great set of resources and you are able to read the first chapter to whet your appetite for the book.
  1. The Unquiet Bones
  2. A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
  3. The Trail of Ink
  4. Unhallowed Ground
  5. The Tainted Coin

No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Here is a snippet of what others are saying about this book:

In the words of Stephanie
"A Trail of Ink is a fascinating description of fourteenth century life as Hugh searches for lost books. While that doesn't seem like much today, twenty-two books would have been a fortune for a monk during this time period. While the plot took a long time to pick up speed, once it did, it hooked me completely and I was fascinated and enthralled. With a less than satisfying ending, it did leave off with a tantalizing hook for the next book in the series, Unhallowed Ground, which I am really looking forward to reading. What Mel Starr does so well, however, is make you feel as if you're standing in fourteenth century England, with vivid descriptions and beautiful attention to detail. All in all it was a satisfying read.."

From Mel Starr Publisher's Description-
"So begins another delightful and intriguing tale from the life of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in the medieval village of Bampton, near Oxford, and bailiff of Bampton Castle at the behest of Lord Gilbert Talbot. Hugh sets his cap at the delightful Kate, who proves equally resourceful in the search for the missing books. Some very determined adversaries are out to stop him, permanently if necessary – but are they motivated by greed, or more personal animosity? Then the corpse of a poor scholar, who had tried to sell one of the books, is found in the river: but he had not simply drowned ...."

Book Reviews on the www:

Buy the book: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle, Fishpond, Koorong, Christian Book, eBook.

Blessings





This post is linking to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
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Sunday 19 August 2012

A Corpse at St Andrews Chapel {52 in 52}

This week in 52 in 52...
A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 256
  • Publisher:  Monarch Books
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • ISBN: 978-1-85424-954-8
  • Author Melvin R.Starr
Last week I shared about one of the best books I have read in a while.This week I have completed the sequel and am onto the third book in the chronicle in the series.

I enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Hugh in this second chronicle detailing his duties as bailiff.  As with book one this chronicle has been written in the first person and Hugh takes us with him as he attempts to unravel the double mystery before him. Melvin has done a stirling job of taking the reader into 1300's for it's way and wit.  His descriptions of medical procedures are an interesting look into medieval ways. As always his use of out of the ordinary language is inspiring and entertaining. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to you and your family.

Melvin Starr is an avid student of medieval English and surgery and has written a page turning novel featuring Hugh de Singleton.  Melvin's website hosts a great set of resources and you are able to read the first chapter to whet your appetite for the book.
  1. The Unquiet Bones
  2. A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
  3. The Trail of Ink
  4. Unhallowed Ground
  5. The Tainted Coin

No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Here is a snippet of what others are saying about this book:

In the words of Rebecca
"Wow, what a great book! Mel Starr, the author, has a really great writing style and I enjoyed the book immensely. I liked that the book was written in the first person and I also liked that it’s medieval history. Starr did a phenomenal job with the time period, the language, the religious aspects and the characters while winding multiple mysteries throughout the tale."

From Mel Starr Publisher's Description-
"Alan, the beadle of the medieval manor of Bampton, had gone out at dusk to seek those who might violate curfew. When, the following morning, he had not returned home, his young wife Matilda sought out Master Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff of the manor. Two days later Alan’s corpse was discovered in the hedge, at the side of the track to St Andrew’s Chapel. His throat had been torn out – his head was half severed from his body – and his face, hands and forearms were lacerated with deep scratches. Master Hugh, meeting Hubert the coroner at the scene, listened carefully to the coroner’s surmise that a wolf had caused the great wound. And yet ... if so, why was there so little blood?."

Book Reviews on the www:

Buy the book: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle, Fishpond, eBook, Koorong, Christian Book.

Blessings





This post is linking to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
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Saturday 18 August 2012

Dutchmans Pudding

Ingredients

Pudding
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon apricot jam
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
Sauce
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 250 grams butter
Method 

Pudding 
  • Preheat oven to 180'C
  • Cream egg and sugar
  • Add vinegar and jam. Mix well.
  • Add dry ingredients and mix
  • Add bicarb to milk.
  • Add to sugar and dry ingredients. Mix well.
  • Pour into oven proof dish bake for 20-30 min until golden brown and skewer comes out clean.
Sauce
  • Put all ingredients into a pot.
  • Bring to the boil.
  • Pour over cooked pudding upon removal from oven.
Serve hot or cold. Serve with cream or ice cream.

This is my families favourite pudding.
Blessings
Chareen
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Friday 17 August 2012

HSMJ - Happy Birthday LEGO


In my life this week…
I have purposed to be home more this week and really enjoyed the experience.  Feeling more rested.We had the most glorious day earlier this week that has me longing for crystal clear spring days and warming up. I could hear the birds chattering and calling as they drank nectar from the tree next door.

In our homeschool this week…
  • We watched the Olympic 2012 closing ceremony and measured out the world records for men's and woman's high jump.
  • It was LEGO's 80th birthday last Friday and Jeanne posted this neat YouTube clip on their history.  Sir N and I enjoyed watching this together.
  • We are working on understanding place value in math. 
  • Sir N finished the third book in Language Arts Go For the Code.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
I am inspired by…

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • Saturday -We rested at home after our super busy week last week.
  • Sunday - I babysat my two nieces while my sister and her half went to the Canada expo in Melbourne.
  • Monday - Blew the dust off our bicycles and went for a ride to visit the T family. 
  • Tuesday - Kelly sports and shopping for a second hand couch. We also watched the Olympic closing ceremony.
  • Wednesday  Took Miss J for an interview and Sir N had swimming lessons
  • Thursday - Stayed home. 
  • Friday - Dinner date with the T family and shared a traditional South African pudding.  It's a variation of the Malva pudding that our family enjoys called Dutchman's pudding.

My favorite thing this week was…
  • Thinking about a statement Sir N made last week:  "Sorry I didn't hear you I was concentrating on my Thoughts!"

What’s working/not working for us…
  • school first in the morning.

Questions/thoughts I have…
  • Do you know of an Angry Birds game rehab ?  My son downloaded the android game on my tablet and this is where I now find Paul and Sir N on a daily basis.  :)
  • I am in the process of creating a Homeschool Curriculum board on Pinterest.  It's been a while since I have researched or heard about what's new.  Please have a look and let me know of curriculum to add to the list.
Things I’m working on…
  • Some ideas for posts on Homeschooling High School.  I'm considering joining in on the Homeschool High School Carnival which I read about at Seven Little Australians and is starting next month.
  • Making Character Trait Trading Cards to go along with the book Get Wisdom!  I feel a little frustrated as I was hoping that there would be an online template I could use for free. Alas I have not found one.
  • I am also back to by bible study and blogging with my Mom over at One Year Through the Word.
I’m reading…
I’m cooking…
On Pinterest I found...

I’m grateful for…
  •  For Homeschoolers on Pinterest who find all sorts of treasures to post onto their boards.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Do as little as possible, as well as possible.Cutting back is hard, but just as flowers bloom best when properly pruned, so will your life.- Kat in her post I'm done living a Walmart life. 

Blessings

Chareen


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Thursday 16 August 2012

Beautiful Woman Take Two

A few weeks ago I shared with you some of the things I was blessed with at the Beautiful Woman Conference at the end of July. While at this conference I was blessed with tickets to attend the second weekend of Beautiful Woman 2012 hosted by Planet Shakers Church here in Melbourne.


 “...I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.”
— Isaiah 60:15

I didn't want to forget the treasures that were spokent to my heart and wanted to share some of them with you. I was blessed with a wonderful weekend of worship, encourgement and fellowship. I encourage you to consider comeing next year.  If you are interstate and need a place to stay inbox me.  I am looking forward to next year. 

Session 1 - Sheryl Brady
This sessions was preached from Genesis 18 and covered the story of Abraham and Sarah. Who is Sarah ? 
  • Is there anything too hard for the Lord ?
  • Do I believe the promises of my Lord or do I believe my circumstances ?
  • Sarah is known as a woman of prayer. 
  • It is NOT God's will for us to fear. You need to remain calm even when everything around you falls apart.
  • Being meek means having strength under control. (1 Peter 3:6)
  • I need to realise that I am strong enough to do it but wise enough to be still.
  • When we get too busy we loose our quiet and meek spirit.
  • We need to be the calming balm on out of control situations. Walk in and take gentle control with your inner peace.
  • Change the atmosphere with your presence. Carry the calm, peaceful presence of God with you.
  • Faith comes by what you feed yourself so you need to feed on the Word of God.
  • Remember that the battle ground is within you.  On days when you are cranky you need to ask yourself 'What is up with me today ?'
  • Sarah was a help meet, supporter, reinforce, under girder, (a ship is under girderded by the ropes that hold the hold together in a storm)
  • Satan will attack the woman because if she falls apart then there is nothing left to hold the ship together in the storm.
  • Just as Sarah was in the tent so are some of us.  Some of us are in a tent of despair/depression/discouragement.  You can be released through praise!
Beautiful Woman 2012 moments
 Session 2 - Sam Evans
 Sam preached about Elijah and started in the part where he had the alter built and challenged the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18:37)
  • We need to understand the power of God's Word in our mouths. For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [a]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12)
  • God's word is full of power to change your circumstances.
  • Jeremiah 1:9  'Behold I have put my word in your mouth.
  • We are anointed to push back the darkness and bring forth His deliverance. Joel 2:28
  • It is time we start speaking words of blessing over our husbands, our children, our homes, our finances etc.
  • Just as Elijah called forth the rain so we need to call forth the rain of His blessing on the droughts in our homes.
  • We need to deal with the lying spirit that we so readily bow down to.  The one that threatens us, frightens us and causes us to doubt, to feel depressed, intimidated, controlled, manipulated and in fear.
  • The word says that no weapon that is fashioned against us shall prosper.
  • Satan wants you to feel isolated.  
  • Satan wants to shut down prayer in your life because if he shuts down prayer then he is shutting off the power of God in your world.
  • When Elijah ran away God asked him why he was in that place of isolation and doubt for the Lord had not asked him to come there. God's instruction for him was to get back to his calling and destiny.
  • We are anointed and called to take down the spirit that is attacking this generation and reclaim them for the Lord.
  • If we stop praying we are condemning this generation as easy prey and targets for Satan.
Sheryl Brady sharing with us.
Session 3 - Sheryl Brady
This session was based on the story of Ruth.  It was an interesting look at a traditional story.  There is so much more to the story than I have imagined.
  • In the story Orpa went back and we need to learn that some things we need to do on our own.
  • If people leave you then you need to let them go.  Stop chasing after them.
  • We need to be careful of making permanent decisions over temporary situations.
  • Great decision makers wait on the Lord.
  • Sheryl gave us the meanings of the names of the places in the story: Naiomi's family left the bread (Bethlehem) and praise (Judah) for a place of no change (Moab)
  • Destiny does not happen in spite of us it happens because of us.
  • It is better to live in a place where there is need with God than to live in abundance without God.
  • Sometimes when we go through a lot of heartache then it is easier to numb and without feeling so we can rest.  We comfort ourselves there.  This is not a good place to stay.
  • Some of us need to realise that our miracle was not in what we have lost but in what we have left.
  • We need to capture our thoughts and refuse to be poverty minded.
  • Ruth was a gleaner not a reaper.  She got behind someone who knew what they were doing. 
  • We need to find someone who knows what they are doing and are anointed.  We need to get behind them and let their overflow anoint us. (Elijah & Elisha)
  • Boaz spotted Ruth and placed her in protection. The Lord has seen our sacrifice and we need to know that we are under divine protection (No weapon formed against you shall prosper.)
  • Naiomi heard what happened and instructed Ruth to do four things and so it is for us-
    1 Wash herself - Lord cleanse me
    2 Change your garment - Don't go into tomorrow looking like today.
    3 Lay at his feet - Humble yourself
    4 Let his cloak cover you - Let Him anoint you
  • We need to get possessed by purpose and move into our destiny.

Session 3 - Sheryl Brady
Was a summary of His blessing and heart towards us.We were exhorted and encouraged.

I am so pleased that I was able to attend the weekend.  I came home inpired and encouraged.

Blessings

Chareen
PS Sheryl has a blog.


Registrations are now open for Beautiful Woman 2013

EVENT SPECIAL • Ends 20th August 2012

Individual $65
Group (Minimum of 10) $60
Solo Mum / Pensioner $45

EARLY BIRD • 21st August - 17th December 2012

Individual $85
Group (Minimum of 10) $80
Solo Mum / Pensioner $45

FULL REGO • 18th December 2012 - Onwards

Individual $110
Group (Minimum of 10) $100
Solo Mum / Pensioner $45
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Wednesday 15 August 2012

Motherhood is not a battle ...

Overloaded…Overwhelmed… Over It… (used by permission)

I have been inspired and encouraged by this photo doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment. I managed to find the source and read the blog post that goes with it. I just wanted to drop you all a note and say enjoy your children those first 18 years pass by in the twinkling of an eye.

Blessings
Chareen
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Tuesday 14 August 2012

TT - The Unquiet Bones

 Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Learning All the Time Favourite Resource Link Up. 



This week ...

  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 256
  • Publisher:  Monarch Books
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • ISBN: 1854248855
  • Author Melvin R.Starr
One of the best books I have read in a while.  I finished this one at midnight last night and couldn't wait to borrow the sequel.

I do confess however when I first started reading it I wondered whether I needed to go and get my dictionary.  I had not realised just how narrow my field of vocabulary had become with some of the genre's of books I have been reading. It probably would have helped had I not skipped the glossary pages in the front!  Upon my travels in cyberspace I discovered that Mel Starr has a full Glossary / Dictationary in the resources part of his site.  Think I might just use this with my new tablet while reading the sequel.

If the cover is anything to go by I would never have taken this book off the shelf.  A friend of mine had it on her shelf and highly recommended it to me.  I am so pleased that I took her up on the offer.

Melvin Starr is an avid student of medieval English and surgery and has written a page turning novel featuring Hugh de Singleton. I was rather surprised to learn that he had his manuscript rejected 60 times before someone took a serious look at it.  I am so pleased he persisted.  The fifth novel is due for release later this year.
  1. The Unquiet Bones
  2. A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
  3. The Trail of Ink
  4. Unhallowed Ground
  5. The Tainted Coin
If you have avid readers in your midst I highly recommend this series of books.  They are set in the 1300's and are historical novels of crime fiction.

No sense in reinventing the wheel.  Here is a snippet of what others are saying about this book:

In the words of Susan Gillmor "Hugh de Singleton is a young surgeon fresh from Oxford University in The Unquiet Bones, a debut historical mystery by Mel Starr. The English countryside is still recovering from the Black Plague in 1363 when Hugh hangs out his shingle in Oxford. Then the discovery of bones in a cesspit at nearby Bampton Castle prompts Lord Gilbert to "search out the assassin." He appoints Hugh to a new and daunting role as his resident surgeon and bailiff."

From Mel Starr - "Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight in Wyclif’s England, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders. However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford. He was staring from his Oxford window, hoping for clients, when Lord Gilbert was kicked by his groom’s horse. Hugh’s successful treatment of the suffering lord led to an invitation to set up his practice in the village Bampton – and, before long, the request to track the killer of a young woman whose bones have been found in the castle cesspit. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes. From there the tale unfolds, with graphic medical procedures, droll medieval wit, misdirection, ambition, romantic distractions and a consistent underlying Christian compassion."

Else where on the www: The Unquiet Bones:Review,  The Unquiet Bones (Historical Novels),  Author Spotlight: Mel Starr,

Buy the book: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle, Fishpond, eBook, Koorong.

Blessings





This post is linking to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
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Friday 10 August 2012

HSMJ - Snow and Science Stuff

In my life this week…
 It certainly has been an over busy week this week.  I always used to wonder what was up with my girlfriend who had teens and was always tired.... well now I know.  Gosh it does certainly add a lot of work to your day.
 In our homeschool this week…
  • We have been reading High-Tech Olympics.  What an intriguing book.  Did you know that the javelin has been redesigned to stop athletes been able to throw it too far ? Apparently athletes were getting up to the 100 m mark and beyond so for the safety of the crowd it was changed for woman in 1999 and for men in 1986.
  • We finished reading the Scholastic biography: Thomas Edison. What an incredibly interesting man. This little book has inspired me to want to visit the museum where he created most of his inventions.
  • Sir N won a colouring in competition.
  • We have been working through an Olympic themed unit study
  • Started learning about the United Kingdom.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
I am inspired by…
  • My girlfriend who has lost 30 kg (66 pounds).  She got tired of diets and exercise. She simply took control and went on portion control all she eats is three to four small spoons of food at each meal time. I am amazed and inspired to get back on the weight loss trip.  I have regained all the weight I lost last year, sigh.  I am inspired to start again on Monday.
  • Candace Cameron Bure who wrote - I Choose to Fight.  Boy can I identify with what she has to say about raising teens .... I am there now.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • Saturday I had such a great day of teaching and fellowship with other woman at week 2 of the Beautiful Woman Conference.
  • Sunday was a great day to catch up with Paul.  We also went to our first ballet and tap dance recital.  It was so much fun watching the tiny tots do their ballet thing and see the skills that tap dancers have.
  • We went to see and play in the snow on Monday.  This is a first for Sir N and he so enjoyed it.
  • Tuesday we took big brother Mr T to a job interview.  He has been hired for a three month probatory period. (Sadly he had to pull out of this work as when he started he realised that due to his back surgery he was unable to do this work) We also went to Kelly sports with Sir E where the children played a number of games along an Olympic theme.
  • Wednesday was swimming and a catch up lunch with a friend.  We used to babysit her firstborn a couple of years ago.  I love seeing the great relationship this little boy has with Sir N.
  • Thursday Miss J had an interview for a cafe job as a barista.  She goes for a trial run next week.  Go Miss J.
  • Friday we visited a friend and taught her how to use Pinterest and Mr E came over to play with Sir N while his big sister did her first ballet exam.
  • And we are busy counting the days till we go on an adventure to see a solar eclipse.  This adventure was inspired after we witnessed a total lunar eclipse last year.

My favorite thing this week was…
  • Watching Sir N and his cousins enjoy the snow for the very first time together.  We went to visit Lake Mountain above Marysville.
  • Getting a phone call let us know that Sir N had won the colouring in competition that he entered last week.
What’s working/not working for us…
  • Waiting till too late in the day to start school reading.  Next week I have committed to start reading first thing after breakfast.
Questions/thoughts I have…
  • What topics would you like to see discussed about homeschooling high school on blogs ?
  • I am also looking at possibly purchasing  Who is God and Can I really Know Him ? Biblical Worldview and Truth by Apologia.  Have any of you seen this and or used it ?
Things I’m working on…
  • Expedition Earth South Africa resource post - Yes finally finished and posted.
  • Learning my way around  Notebooking Pages website.  I finally bit the bullet and purchased a subscription. I printed my first page this week: Thomas Edison.
I’m reading…
I’m cooking…
  • Corn Chowder
  • Macaroni and Cheese in my crock pot.
On Pinterest I found...

I’m grateful for…
  • My new friend Mrs T who has inspired and encouraged me.  My long term friends who have changed some special dates for a birthday party so that I too can attend.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
I found this YouTube clip and am so inspired and touched by this mans generous heart.

Blessings

Chareen


This post is linking to:
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
iHomeschool

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Tuesday 7 August 2012

Expedition Earth: AFRICA - South Africa


To round off our recent trip to South Africa we did a slow walk through our next unit in the Expedition Earth series: South Africa.

We have spent a fair bit of time at Werribee Open Range Zoo (Night Zoo & Giraffe encounter) experiencing African Wildlife.

We were blessed with many wide and varied experiences while in South Africa
Resources  

Notebook Pages
Stories
Books
On the Net
Animals
Touching a Rhino at WORZ.

Milk Tart
Cooking
  • Milk Tart this is one of my favourite dishes from South Africa.
  • Babootie a traditional South African dish
Do you have any favourite resources for learning about South Africa ?
Blessings
Chareen

Here is a 4 min video of photo's Paul took on a trip to Africa a few years ago.


  • PS We pick and choose what to read from each site. We do NOT read every article in its entirety.  
  • Due to the every changing nature of the Internet please check that these sites are still safe before allowing your children on them.  
  • This post does not contain affiliate links. 
Linking with 
Grateful for Grace: What We're Learning
 Collage Friday over at Home Grown Learners,   
Favourite Resources at Learning All the Time.
Look what we did at  Home Grown Learners
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