Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Christmas Book of the Day

The Legend of the Pointsettia retold and illustrated by Tomie de Paola

Christmas Book of the Day

A Cobtown Christmas by Julia Van Nutt

Happy 12th Birthday, Caleb!

Christmas Book of the Day

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Books Read in November

Reading, 1863Fiction

Books by Donna VanLiere
The Christmas Shoes
The Christmas Blessing
The Christmas Hope
The Christmas Promise

Books by Rene Gutteridge
Boo Who
Boo Hiss

Books by Karen Gillespie
A Dollar Short by Karen Gillespie
Dollar Daze by Karen Gillespie

Books by Audrey Couloumbis
The Misadventures of Maude March (Audio)
Maude March on the Run

Books by Cathrine Palmer
English Ivy by Catherine Palmer
Wild Heather by Catherine Palmer
Sweet Violet by Catherine Palmer

Books by Ginny Aiken
Design on a Crime
Decorating Schemes

One Little Secret by Allison Bottke
A Christmas Visitor by Thomas Kinkade/Katherine Thomas
A Lady of High Regard by Tracie Peterson
In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller
Till Morning is Nigh by Leisha Kelly
True Women by Janice Woods Windle
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon
The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin

Non-Fiction
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel PH.D.
Heidi's Alp by Christina Hardyment

Christmas Book of the Day

Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Christmas Book of the Day

A Northern Nativity by William Kurelek

Christmas Book of the Day

The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger

Christmas Book of the Day

"Shall I knit you a Hat? A Christmas Yarn" by Kate Klise

This is the Star book

This is the Star book
Originally uploaded by blstarr630

As we approach Christmas, I am going to attempt to read one Christmas story a day (M-F) to my kids. Yesterday we started with the book "This is the Star" by Joyce Dunbar.

Christmas Book of the Day

As we approach Christmas, I am going to attempt to read one Christmas story a day (M-F) to my kids. Yesterday we started with the book "This is the Star" by Joyce Dunbar.

For Fun!

Who are you in Anne's Circle of Friends?

Happy Thanksgiving!

How Many of Me

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 18 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Reading for October

The Reading, circa 1890-95
Fiction:

A Man for Temperance by Gilbert Morris
The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck
The Courtship by Gilbert Morris
Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy
Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser
Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake
Cassidy by Lori Wick
The Sixth Covenant by Brock & Bodie Thoene
Boo by Rene Gutteridge
The Angels of Morgan Hill by Donna VanLiere

Non-Fiction

Books by Dr. John McCormack
Fields and Pastures New
A Friend of the Flock

The Life and Times of the Last Kid Picked by David Benjamin
Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide to Love and Life by Patrice Hannon
The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs

Happy 8th Birthday, Destini!!

Books Read in September

Quiet Read
Fiction

The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
Echoes by Kristen Heitzmann

Books by P.G. Wodehouse
Jeeves & the Tie That Binds
Cat-nappers

Audio:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Non-Fiction

Birds, Beasts, and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
Beyond Facts & Flashcards by Jan Mokros
A Child's Delight by Noel Perrin

Top 10 Most Influential Books

One of the Yahoo groups I'm in posted this idea of listing your top 10 most influential books in your life. I thought I would blog about it.

1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - I discovered this series when I was around 13. I then introduced them to my friends and from there out we lived and breathed Anne. We walked around quoting the things she said. Essentially, we lived her. Around every four years I get out my copies and reread them. This last time around I listened to them on audio (as many as were available, the rest I read). I highly recommend the ones narrated by Barbara Caruso. Excellent!

2. Eight Cousins & Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott- I was introduced to Eight Cousins by my Grandma. She just knew I needed to read this since the girl had all boy cousins. That was my exact situation. I read her copy (all the pages had fallen away from the binding) while visiting her. I loved the book. A couple of years later to my joy I found the sequel Rose in Bloom at a bookstore. I snatched it up. This was a great ending to a great story. A side note: I had tried to read Little Women before I read Eight Cousins and never could get into it. After reading Eight Cousins I devoured all the rest of Alcott's books. Another side note: I now own the old fallen apart copy of Eight Cousins.

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I finally read this book for the first time last year. I had watched some of the film versions and it piqued my interest. I was greatly impressed. This story is fabulous. There are so many hardships, yet so much glory is given to God. Definitely a book to be re-read over and over.

4. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - I don't know what it is about this book that I find so fascinating, but besides Anne of Green Gables books this story really touched me.

5. The Zion Covenant Series by Brock & Bodie Thoene -Go to here for a quick preview of them. These definitely whetted my appetite to read books set during World War II. Also, this is where it really made an impression about the atrociaties of Nazi Germany. A must read!

6. Heaven to Betsy and following books by Maud Hart Lovelace - I discovered these books in the small YA section of our library. I was totally enthralled with Betsy and her "crowd". I wanted to go back in live in that time period. This was another series that I read and re-read several times in high school. There are books about Betsy and her friends when she was younger, but discovered those too late. I have started reading them to my daughter.

7. A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola - When I read this book I felt I had come home. Here was the way I wanted to educate my children. In fact, before ever reading anything about Charlotte Mason, when I had taught in a private Christian, I had started implementing narration with my students . Imagine my surprise when I read about Charlotte Mason and narration.

8. Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke - I have to include this book because it was such a mainstay when I was a teenager. I read and re-read this series many times. I know this may be considered "twaddle" and have inferior writing, but I enjoyed them very much. I personally favorite is Love Comes Softly.

9. Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace - I had to read this for in 12th grade. I only had to read two different sections of the book, but I was so drawn into the story that I read the whole thing. This story has lived with me ever since. This is one that I want to go back and read.

10. Books by Grace Livingston Hill - I know, I know, these are probably a poor choice and have repetitious story lines, but I survived my teenage years with these books. My mom, being the wise mother that she is, was pretty firm on what I could read and not read. Of course, trashy romance books were not on the list. I was allowed to read Grace Livingston Hill which then turned into a collecting habit. I have collected over 90 of her books. My personal favorites are: The Strange Proposal, White Orchids, The Enchanted Barn.

Announcing

A new BABY to arrive in April!

Reading for August

Reading Time

Fiction

Books by P.G. Wodehouse:
How Right You Are, Jeeves
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves

Others:
One Step Over the Border by Stephen Bly
Bachelor's Puzzle by Judith Pella
When the Cat's Away by Gilbert Morris
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy
The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander McCall Smith

Audio:
All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Middlemarch by George Eliot

Non-Fiction
Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life by Gregory Frizzell
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
A Vicarage Family by Noel Streatfeild
A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van DeMille
The Book of Learning and Forgetting by Frank Smith

Wedding Card

Trip to San Diego

Shade just returned from a week end in San Diego where he preached on Sunday. Here is a picture of him sight seeing.

Celebrating 15 Years of Marriage!

Images of the Fair - August 17, 2007

Look, No Training Wheels!

Way to go, Destini!

Theological Discussions of a Five Year Old

Chantry: Mom, who was born last?

Mom: You were.

Chantry: Who was born first?

Mom: Dad was.

Chantry: Nooooo, not him.

Mom: Oh, Caleb was. He is the first born child.

Chantry: Yea, he is.

Chantry: Mom, God says the last will be first, right?

Mom: Right!

Reading for July

The Story Book
Fiction:
Written on Silk - Linda Chaikin
Over the Gate - Miss Read
Remembered - Tamera Alexander
These Boots Weren't Made for Walking - Melody Carlson
Austenland - Shannon Hale

Books by P.G. Wodehouse:
Ring for Jeeves
Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit

Audio Books:
Chloe - Lyn Cote

Non-Fiction:
Better Late Than Early - Raymond Moore

Audio Books:
Think - Michael LeGault

Heat Wave

Well, not much has been happening. We are surviving the heat spell that has hit us. Yesterday, the kids and I walked to the park with the water fountains and they spent a couple of hours playing in the water. Of course in the process of making sure we had enough to drink I forgot my camera! Well, I'm off to tend to my flowers which are not surviving this heat very well at all.

Books read in June

Girl Reading to Doll
Books by P.G. Wodehouse:
Carry On, Jeeves
The Code of the Woosters
Right Ho, Jeeves
Jeeves in the Morning
The Mating Season
Money in the Bank

Other:
The Song Weaver - B.J. Hoff
The Cat's Pajamas - Gilbert Morris
To Serve Them All My Days - R.F. Delderfield

Audio:
The Finer Point of Sausage Dogs - Alexander McCall Smith

Non-fiction

Language Arts the Easy Way - Cindy Ruston
Plain and Simple - Sue Bender
Legacy of a Pack Rat - Ruth Bell Graham

Baby Cards

For my new nephew, Talon, though the Seahawk theme was for his dad. This card was from Shade and the kids. The Seahawk emblem and wording came from a piece of fabric.

Another card for Talon.

A card for a friend.

Happy 5th Birthday, Chantry!

Yes, today my baby is turning 5. Where has time gone?

Happy Father's Day!

To my Dad, FIL & my sweet, wonderful husband!!!!!!!!!

Shade's card

FIL's card (I was in Border's late Friday night and saw a card like this when I was checking. I came home and promptly "scraplifted" it. )

My dad's

We have Finished!

Today we wrapped up Ambleside Online Year 2. It has been kind of sad. We have made a lot of friends: Marco Polo, Understood Betsy, The Little Duke, Joan of Arc, Christian (Pilgrim's Progress), and the saddest to part with, Robin Hood. Overall it has been a great year. Now we will be preparing for Caleb's CAT Test before we can take a breather.

Reading List for May

Historic Reading Posters - Be Kind To Books Club
Fiction:
Miss Read
Village Diary
Storm in the Village
Miss Clare Remembers

The Great Brain Series by John D. Fitzgerald
The Return of the Great Brain
The Great Brain Reforms

Others:
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive - Alexander McCall Smith
The Midwife of St. Petersburg - Linda Lee Chaikin
Letter Perfect - Cathy Marie Hake
A Seahorse in the Thames - Susan Meissner
What the Cat Dragged In - Gilbert Morris
The Wind Harp - B.J. Hoff

Non-Fiction:
Home Education - Charlotte Mason
Parents and Children - Charlotte Mason
The Big Turnoff: Confessions of a TV-Addicted Mom Trying to Raise a TV-Free Kid - Ellen Currey-Wilson
Summer at Tiffany - Marjorie Hart

Audio Books:
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Lord Fauntleroy - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Cards

We had more birthdays in May. Here are the cards I made for my nephews who were turning 16 & 13.

Reading for April

Historic Reading Posters - Wee Willie Winkie

Here is my reading list for April.

Fiction:

An Emerald Ballad by B.J. Hoff
#3 - Land of a Thousand Dreams
#4 - Sons of an Ancient Glory
#5 - Dawn of the Golden Promise

The Great Brain Series by John D. Fitzgerald
The Great Brain
More Adventures of the Great Brain
Me and My Little Brain
The Great Brain at the Academy

Books by Miss Read
Miss Read Farther Afield - Miss Read
Village School - Miss Read

Others:
Waiting for Summer's Return - Kim Vogel Sawyer
The Winged Watchman - Hilda Van Stockum
Men of Iron - Howard Pyle
The Miracle - Gilbert Morris
On the Wings of Heroes - Richard Peck
An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor

Non-Fiction:*
The Adventures of Marco Polo - Russell Freeman
Raising Motivated Kids - Cheri Fuller
A Guide to Elegance - Genevieve Antoine Dariaux
A Woman's Call to Prayer - Elizabeth George
Island of Saints - Andy Andrews
No Ordinary Home - Carol Brazo

Audio Books:
The Upstairs Room - Johanna Reiss
Then There Were Five - Elizabeth Enright
On the Banks of Plum Creek - Laura Ingalls Wilder
By the Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder

*Please note: I normally do not read this many non-fiction books. This happened to be a month that I finished some that I had started months ago.

I'm still alive!!

I'm very sorry about my absence. Life happened! We were involved in a Convention for young people and then my parents came for a visit. After about 1 month off from school we are fixing to start up again tomorrow!

Tulip Festival!

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day. We decided to go to the local Tulip Festival. We throughly enjoyed all the different variety of tulips.

Handwriting

For our handwriting curriculum we use copywork as advocated by Charlotte Mason. I complile a list from our reading selections for the week. A valuable resource is the Ambleside Online Copywork Yahoo Group. Here is one selection Caleb had this week:

Poetry-Christina Rossetti

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry,

Take your walk

To the shady leaf, or stalk,

Or what not,

Which may be the chosen spot.

No toad spy you,

Hovering bird of prey pass by you;

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.

Snapshots of Easter

Favorite Candy!

The Handsome Brothers!


The Really Pretty Daughter!

Mom & Kids

Dad & Kids

The Real Reason for Celebration!