Spelling Power

Spelling Power

We use the Spelling Power curriculum in our studies. My son really does learn many, many words each day in only 15 minutes, just as the book suggests. As an add-on to the teaching text, I often have him go outside and re-write the words he missed on his daily spelling test using sidewalk chalk.

This kinesthetic method seems to work well with boys. And what 8-year-old doesn't like to go outside in the middle of the school day!

And this has absolutely nothing to do with spelling. Miss Pitty Pat just looked so crazy after she groomed the dead leaf off her fur, I had to snap her paparazzi shot.

Have a Happy Week,
TCB

Make Your Own Butter

Make Your Own Butter

We have been studying the pioneer days for our homeschool social studies and reading subjects during the last few weeks. My son has been reading a book perfect for his third grade reading level, “A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840.”

It is an example of the realistic fiction genre and provides an interesting day-by-day look at how hard it was to accomplish simple homekeeping, hunting, and farming tasks in those days.

He was enamored with a recipe included in the book about how pioneer women made their own butter. It was adapted for a small quantity (no huge butter churn needed), so he was excited to do this project on his own. Here it is, adapted from the book, in case you want to try it:

Ingredients and Supplies:

1 c. whipping cream (room temperature)

Small jar with secure lid

Bowl

Wooden spoon

That’s it! I didn’t even have to travel to the store to buy anything.

He poured the whipping cream into the jar, closed the lid, and shook vigorously. The cream separates into a blue-white liquid (buttermilk) and yellow clumps (the butter). It takes about 10 minutes of shaking to see the solid and liquid start to separate and another 10 minutes before it’s finished. It’s a workout!

Then, pour it all into a bowl. Next, strain off the buttermilk. Wash the butter with cold water and press it against the sides of the bowl with a wooden spoon. Don’t use metal because it alters the taste of the butter. Keep rinsing the butter until it runs clear. Add in a little salt to taste.

Here’s what my son’s finished product looked like.

Minus the large pat for the bowl of broccoli we had at supper, of course.

He learned how butter is made and how difficult it was generations ago to make something we take for granted when we pull it off the Publix shelf. (I did point out to him that at least he didn't have to take it from the cow milking stage. He got to start with whipping cream.)

It also helped him remember some of the other pioneer reading material in the book, as well as the time period it covered. Hands-on learning always works for my son. I don't think he is too different from most boys.

Happy schooling,
TCB

Goin’ Fishin’

Goin’ Fishin’

Sometimes February in South Carolina can be blissful, just as it was these past few days in the 70s. Sunny and warm and not too windy. Even though it’s February, it seemed a perfect day for fishin’ to my husband and son. So they hauled all their gear down the steep hill behind the house to the river.

But first they had to get their boat ready. After all, it has actually been under a pile of snow TWICE this year! Miraculous down here.

Seats had to be put back in.

Thankfully, somebody remembered safety.

The view was beautiful from the bank. Look closely – see the lone turtle?

Unhooking the boat from the 4-wheeler’s wench so it can float free is my son’s favorite part.

Some like the rest. Others love the fishing. Can you tell which is which?

Here’s the turtle party the lonester was trying to get to.

And here are the geese that flew overhead honking as I was doing a little reading, er…napping.

Ahhh…can’t wait ‘til spring.

Love,

TCB

What I'm Reading this Month

What I'm Reading this Month

I'm on to reading two books at once this month and into March.

I told you last month I am reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God as part of a DVD/book-based Bible study.


Francis is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. One part of this week's Chapter 7 really jumped out at me. Early in the book, he talks about the Americanization of Christianity. For most of us, we have it good in this country - plenty to eat, plenty of clothes, and a culture that accumulates so much we have entire industries revolving around our "stuff." Think storage unit companies and organizational consultants who show us how to "declutter."

But Francis points out we often accept God's materialistic blessings and say "thank you, thank you" repeatedly to God. We may be grateful but that's as far as it goes. What if Jesus' disciples did the same thing when there was a food shortage and it was time for lunch? In Matthew Chapter 14, Jesus took one boy's 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and gave them to the disciples. The disciples could have acted like many of us today (I'm guilty) and said, "Thank you, Jesus, for providing plenty of food for our lunch today." Instead, they turned around and distributed food to everyone in the crowd, totaling more than 5,000 people according to the Bible.

Why are we different? Why shouldn't we do the same?

Interestingly enough, no one really knows where Francis Chan and his family are right now. He has stepped down from Cornerstone and his blog says he is deciding what God wants him to do next.

The second book I'm reading is Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life.


He is the author of many interesting and knowledge-filled books. You may know about A Short History of Nearly Everything. 

"At Home" is another inquisitive book where Bryson explains the history of how each room in our house came about. How did the Wardrobe begin? What is the history of the bathroom and how did it become a place of bath-taking? From the "one bath a year" mentality to the bathroom's coming of age as a normal, frequently used part of the house, Bryson covers all kinds of interesting angles. He writes about the bedroom, stairs, the nursery, and the attic, among many other rooms in houses in ancient times to modern times. History becomes both odd and fun in this book.

I would love to hear any interesting books you're reading now. I always need something new to add to my list!

Love,
TCB

Top 3 Things that Keep Me Healthy

Top 3 Things that Keep Me Healthy

There are three food and/or natural substances I can’t live without:

(1)   Lemons – I drink ½ of a squeezed lemon after each meal to aid in digestion. No heartburn! See my Drink Lemon for Good Health post for more information.

(2)   Flaxseed Oil or Flaxseeds – Add seeds to your morning cereal or to your noon salad for a healthy dose of omega 3 essential fatty acids. Or you can simply take a teaspoon of organic cold-pressed flaxseed oil, available at your local health food store. Flaxseed reduces inflammation in your body, a precursor to all kinds of bad sicknesses and diseases and helps keep your arteries clear of cholesterol’s effects.

(3)   Lemon and Peppermint Essential Oils – I only use the doTERRA brand because I believe in its purity. Just one drop of each oil in my “shot” glass of water first thing in the morning, and I have just taken a natural liver detox, helping my liver to more successfully do its filtering job for the day.

Be healthy.

Love,

TCB

Essential Oils for Good Health

Essential Oils for Good Health

Essential oils are an ancient remedy for ailments, illnesses and general physical and emotional distress. They are mentioned in the Bible; remember, the wise men brought baby Jesus frankincense and myrrh. Why was that? Essential oils have medicinal qualities that help heal the body.

I have been using essential oils for a few months now. I signed up with a company named doTERRA because I wanted to begin to build an inventory of oils as my “medicine kit.” One of my favorites is actually a blend of several essential oils. It’s called DigestZen, and I use it to treat my reflux and general digestive upsets.

DigestZen contains seven essential oils:

• Ginger
• Peppermint
• Tarragon
• Fennel
• Caraway
• Coriander
• Anise.

Essential oils are very concentrated extracts from flowers, berries, roots, leaves, stems, seeds, and the bark of plants.

I use DigestZen in conjunction with my lemon routine, which I explained in the post Drink Lemon for Good Health. I rub one drop of oil on my stomach and one on the part of the bottom of my feet that corresponds to the stomach on a reflexology chart. You can find reflexology charts online. I use one in a book I’m currently reading, “Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils.”

Whenever I feel a little upset stomach, or I’ve eaten something I shouldn’t, I use this oil. I must say it makes me feel better within 30 seconds. And I really love it because it is natural (like the lemon) and has nothing to do with pharmaceutical drugs, which are just a band-aid anyway. By using this combination, and staying away from the black tea and oatmeal that doesn’t specifically agree with my body, I have been free of prescription meds for 9 months now. And I feel better than ever.

In good health,
TCB

Winter is Ideal for Composting

Today was another fairly warm (for February) but windy day. I decided it was time to get outside and do a little more winter yard maintenance. I tend to do this in dribs and drabbles during the winter because I am a TRUE SOUTHERN GIRL and much prefer 100 degrees to 50 degrees.

I began to rake the dead leaves from my backyard shrub beds to add to my compost pile. Once full just two months ago, the compost pile has shrunk down to about 1/4 full. I think that's good news as far as the composting process is concerned. I did however notice the fruit and vegetable scraps I've been adding to the bin have been disappearing just as fast as I put them out there. Knowing that decomposition is impossible in one night, I suspect the pesky raccoon I caught one night pilfering the bird feeder is having a field day (or night) in my compost bin.

But I digress.

As I was raking the leaves, I decided to try a little trick with my mulch shovel. Instead of all the back breaking raking, I simply decided to shovel up the leaves into my wheelbarrow to transport to the compost bin. Wa-la! It worked beautifully and took me less than half the time it would take to rake it all. The mulch shovel skimmed right over the existing mulch in the shrub beds, leaving it intact while removing the leaves. I'm not lazy, but I sure like easy!

I took it all and dumped it into the compost bin.

Full again!

Then I decided to cut chicken wire to fit the top of the compost bin. I will win, raccoon!

Until the next sunny day,
TCB