Monday's Front Porch Visit - Activities at Home

Come on over and join me on the front porch for our Monday visit!

It is almost supper-time already and I haven't even visited with you yet! We've been busy playing games for most of the day. But I did manage to accomplish a few things.

Matthew (17) was looking for loose change around the house. I offered him $5 in coins which were in my purse. This is what he said, "Why don't you make me a list of chores in exchange for the money." I smiled brightly and said, "I really like you Matt!" He is such a good boy. Then I mentioned I had more money available if he wanted to do a ton of heavy cleaning. He grinned and said, "Make a list." So, I have an extremely clean home and Matt is rich. (smiles)

Amy (15) did all of her schoolwork today. She even woke up at a reasonable time this morning. When we were at church yesterday, our pastor spoke about Veterans and those in the Army. Then Taps were played and Reveille. That gave me the most lovely idea... *sly grin*. I think I can wake up Amy in the morning by playing Reveille:



I just have to figure out how to take this sound and bring it to her room??

John (12) did most of his homework today. He moved up to the next level in Math and was delighted!

We have been enjoying a nice quiet day. We have been playing "Clue" throughout the afternoon. Amy invented a quick version which is really fun.

I have been reading Jane Austen's Emma to Amy during school time. I slowly read two paragraphs a day and have her copy it down in her notebook, in her neatest handwriting. Then she looks at the book and corrects any spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. It is a nice way to read through Jane's work together.

I saw my father out in the yard. (He and Mother live with us.) He has been mowing the grass and waving to me, while John and I play a little basketball. We just take turns throwing the ball into the hoop.

I still have some laundry to do and supper to plan. I have to run to the market and pick something up. I have no idea what to make. I better look through my cookbooks for an idea.

What are you making for supper?

Blessings,
Mrs. White






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Church Bells and a Respectful Appearance

I love the sound of church bells on a Sunday Morning. It is like the whole town is awakened and being called to think about God and to come together to worship. It is a somber moment when those bells ring. I can hear them from my house.




For some reason, many people stopped dressing up for church. It used to be that we put on our best clothes and our biggest smiles and walked gratefully to the church building. We did this out of respect. We dressed up to show it was an important event and it meant something more than just being casual at home.



Ladies used to wear hats and gloves to church. The gloves were often a pretty white and were crocheted. You can still find gloves like this at The Victorian Trading company. But we should be able to buy them from our local stores. Why are they so hard to find?

I have a box of gloves we found in the attic of one of our investment properties we bought several years ago. This box has gloves of different colors and fabrics and were well worn. There were also letters and postcards inside, dated from the 1940's. It is a treasure!


Imagine the family getting their Bibles and heading down the street to the local church. What a precious sight! 


Blessings,
Mrs. White






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Puttering Around the Home

My Father is back home with us again. Both my parents live with us, but Mother is in another state caring for my sister who has been in and out of the hospital. Mom and Dad have been gone for several weeks. Dad came back to get some things settled and take a break. It is nice to have some life back in their section of our house!

Dad is normally working around the property or puttering in the garage. He always has a project to do. He is 70 years old, but as busy as ever. I visited with him yesterday. I sat and sewed while we caught up on the family news.

Today, it is very quiet. I did some housework this morning and am now puttering around the house. I want to bake cookies. I am not sure if I have the energy, but I will try to do it later. I am so worn out lately. There has been a lot of stress and worry in this house. I need to bring back some cheer and rainbows! Maybe cookies will be just the thing?

The other day, Amy and John went around the property and picked flowers. They put them in a pretty vase on the dining room table. It looks lovely.I think the most imporant thing, to remain cheerful at home, is to do your regular chores and just talk and enjoy being together.

I think I will play a game of cards with the children later this afternoon. In the south, our family used to play cards every night, and drink Dr. Pepper. Those were fun summer evenings and created happy memories.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Mrs. White

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Homeschooling for the Rest of Us by Sonya Haskins

Book Review - Homeschooling for the Rest of Us by Sonya Haskins


Publisher - Bethany House


Pages - 176
  



Official Description from Bethany House:

Overwhelmed?
Wonder how others do it all?

Not sure you're cut out for homeschooling?

 

"It's time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren't perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be--and are--successful homeschoolers! That's the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits." 

My Thoughts:

Sonya Haskins lives in Tennessee with her husband and five children. She has also been a foster parent for many years. She is a homeschooling consultant and shares lot of fun and helpful infomation on her website,
http://www.thehomeschooladvocate.com/

Her latest book, Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, is Christian-based and refreshing! If you are tired of reading about homeschoolers making it to Harvard and want to know how normal families homeschool, then you'll love this book as much as I do! Here's some of what you'll find inside:

1. Pressure and Perfection.
2. Routines and Schedules. (Her lists include a variety of possible family scenarios.)
3. Homeschooling on a Budget.
4. Following your own Path.
5. Living in a (Very) messy house.

Sampling of key points she covers:

1. How to evaluate discouraging comments from others.
2.  Information about co-ops.
3. Evaluating different options in education.
4. Making children responsible for their own learning. 

I've read a variety of books about homeschooling, but this one is my favorite. 


*Disclosure: I received this book from Bethany House for review purposes.*

A Restful Evening at Home and Organizing Recipes

The sun has set. It is quiet and pleasant here at home. As I look around me, I see groceries still on the table. I didn't put them away yet. I haven't been able to do much cleaning this week. I know this affects my mood. When I have on a nice, pretty apron, and listen to my gospel music while I work, somehow it brings me peace and joy. I think I will spend a half an hour tidying up and enjoying the quiet evening.

I have a great project idea for Amy (15) and I to work on together. First I will tell you what happened yesterday. I had a lot of errands to do. Mr. White was home with the boys, Matt (17) and John (12). I took Amy to dance class and waited for her in the car. I had a book with me and a hand-sewing project. When her class was almost over, I decided to use the office phone to call Matt. I offered to buy a big bag of shredded mozzarella cheese if he would make a batch of homemade pizza dough. I didn't know where the recipe was back at home, so I recited it from memory. He copied it onto our chalkboard. (It was delicious!!) This gave me an idea:

Amy and I are going to make a list of all our favorite meals. Then we can write them out, in a fun way, and place them in my homemaking binder. (I'm  really not as organized as I sound - don't be fooled. - smiles) It will be a great way to handle emergencies such as what happened yesterday. I love having someone back at home all the time. If I am not here, the house still runs without me. The children have been trained to take over and, even though they don't "Love my Kitchen" (or house) as much as I do, they do a decent enough job.

I'm off to clean up a bit and enjoy a quiet evening. Hope you have a wonderful night!

Blessings,
Mrs. White

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Fit Mommy (Week 21)

The following is my check-in for Fit Mommy Friday. It is hosted by Denise. This is a way for many of us to encourage one another, to share our progress and to meet our own fitness goals. When you visit our blogs and read about our week, would you take a minute to share an encouraging comment?

Here's my week:

Monday,
Rested

Tuesday,
Evening - 30 minute workout with Amy (15). I am helping to prepare her for new classes in Classical Ballet, which start in June. She needs to work on strength and maintaining her position for long periods of time.

Wednesday,
Morning -Short, 10 minute workout.

Evening - 15 minute ab-workout, using a DVD instructional tape. (A review product.)

Thursday,
Morning - 30 minute workout using light weights

Friday,
Morning - 20 minute workout - no weights.(I really didn't have the energy to do more than this.)


Nutritional Failure- Let's see how it went.... One hot fudge sundae, 3 Ghirardelli brownies and four slices of delicious homemade pizza. It didn't happen in one day, but it did happen. (smiles)

Fitness Goal: To have strength and endurance. I do not have any weight to lose, but need to keep my energy levels high and avoid eating too much sugary, junk food.

How was your week?

Blessings,
Mrs. White

Happy Homemaking

Good morning! We are going to be happy today, aren't we? The sun is shining. The day is warm and lovely. What are you doing today?

I am going to bake a batch of whole wheat, chocolate chip muffins before anyone wakes up! My family will be surprised and delighted.

For some reason, I woke up very early today so I will be able to get plenty of things accomplished. I want to wash my floors, vacuum, sweep, bake and then do some sewing.

Yesterday, while I was washing my dishes, I was thinking about Amy (15). She, like all my children, has been homeschooled all her life. She already excels in reading and writing. She is also studying history, science, math (mostly using online programs like mathscore), and more. But lately, school has felt more like a chore for her. She is not excited about it. I thought I would add in some electives to her daily studies. But I want to do this in a fun, unstructured way. We are doing our sewing projects and she is running a small business selling what she creates. I will write more about this soon. I also want her to help me more with hospitality. I want her to help me create an inviting table and make things pleasant here at home. This will be a fun part of school. It will be her domestic science class! I would also like to find some classic literature for her to enjoy. I wonder if there is a list of suitable, inspiring books she can read? I am aware of Jane Austen, but what else is there?


Blessings,
Mrs. White

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Get Fit - Belly Burner Giveaway

Product: Belly Burner Belt.

Created by - Bobby Waldron

Price: $39.99 plus shipping and handling

What is the Belly Burner Belt?

"The Belly Burner Belt intensifies your calorie burn by increasing your thermal core temperature. Made of high quality neoprene that naturally generates more heat in your core, which increases metabolic rate, the belt focuses energy, and burns off unwanted inches. Neoprene fabric is most commonly used in wetsuits for insulation and in such other items as laptop sleeves, iPod holders and remote controls. The Belly Burner's simple Velcro design makes it easy to take on and off. It can also be worn under clothes so you can squeeze every extra calorie out of normal daily activities. Available in either medium or large, it is available online at www.thebellyburner.com for $39.90."

What did I receive?

The package included the following:

1. Belly Burner Belt.

     This is a large, black belt which fastens using Velcro. It is designed to be worn during physical activity or a workout, in order to help burn calories and tighten your stomach muscles. The belt is washable and comes in two sizes - medium or large.  Nicole (20), Amy (15) and I all tried using this. The girls said there was heat, or warmth, coming from the belt after wearing it for awhile. We all loved using it.     


2. One DVD - workout video

     The workout is hosted by Bobby Waldron. He is entertaining, humorous and motivating. I put on my belt and started exercising. There was a warm -up, heavy exercises and then a short cool down. Throughout the program, he instructed us to take stretching breaks and was very encouraging. I managed to do half the work-out and then watched the rest. I absolutely loved this program and plan to continue with this, possibly three times a week.

3. An informative letter from the Creator of this product - Bobby Waldron.

    This short note is a welcome letter. He quickly explains how to use the belt, gives washing instructions and a quick motivating nudge to inspire the reader to start working-out.

4. Exercise and Food Journal.

   This pamphlet is packed with helpful information. It is an excellent guide. 

5. Calorie Counter - at-a-glance.

   I loved being able to see how many calories are in our foods. Here are some examples - One Saltine Cracker is 12 calories.  3/4 cup of Oatmeal is 100 calories.  1 slice of Turkey is 30 calories. 

6. Meal Planner Nutrition Log.

   This containes a suggested menu for 14 days, along with tips from Bobby. The ideas are excellent and do-able.

Overall, this is an amazing product. I am going to incorporate this into my weekly Fit Mommy fitness program.

How would you like a chance to win your very own Belly Burner Belt? I have one available for a giveaway. All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me how often you think you'll be able to use this.

For additional entries:

2. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

3. Tweet about this Giveaway.

4. Post about this on Facebook.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Thursday, June 3, 2010. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you.  Your prize will be shipped directly from the company.


This contest is closed.

The Winner is - Debra! She has already been contacted and will receive her prize soon.


*This is a Mama Buzz review.  Belly Burner provided me with the free product, information, and giveaway for this review.*

Giveaway Winners

For the Betty Crocker - Delicious Dessert Pack, the winner is:

Katie!!


For the Grill Daddy - the winner is:

"Tj and Amy"

They have already been contacted. Thank you so much for entering!

Blessings,
Mrs. White

A Little Vermont Visit - Vintage Sewing Machines

I forgot to do my Front Porch Visit on Monday (shudder), so will share a little visit with you now.

Amy and I have been busy working on sewing projects and getting our playroom set up as a large sewing room. Mr. White went into one of our storage rooms and pulled out an old Kenmore sewing machine. It is inside a cabinet which looks like it was made in the 1970's. The instruction book for the machine is dated 1971. It is an electric machine, a pretty pale green and very simple (basic), which will be wonderful. Amy and I will use this for making clothes, etc. We will continue to hand-sew but the machine will be for fun! I can't wait to test it out!

This treasured machine is one of many antique items that came with our 1850's house when we bought it several years ago. I also have, what looks like, a black, vintage, singer sewing machine in a cabinet that might be from the 1940's. I have never used this one, but it looks amazing.

Right now, Mr. White is putting up some large pictures on the walls to decorate. It will be a lovely room when it is all finished!

Blessings,
Mrs. White

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Mama as the Guardian Angel

There are so many things in this world that attack our children. There are subtle influences that seem harmless but draw our teenagers away from us. Many times, our children don't have any common sense. As Mothers, we want to trust their judgment, we want to help nurture their gifts, creativity, and growing wisdom. But we must remain on guard. They are still children, lacking discernment and maturity.

How many times have you overheard a phone conversation, or children discussing some sort of plan, and had to intervene? How many times have you caught your teenager unknowingly heading into danger? How many times have you wept at the thought of what could have happened?

The problem is when we get complacent. We cannot let the world destroy our precious ones. We have to be on watch - on guard at all times. This is exhausting, but we mothers must be alert.

I cannot tell you how many times I've stayed up all night because I sensed danger. Or the times I had to drive, in the middle of the night, to help one of my older children.

But it is not enough. I feel my own frailty. I know I am weak and half-asleep most of the time. I am not always on-guard. This is what scares me. This is what drives me to pray constantly and fervently for their safety. I cannot do it alone, but I often feel as if I am the Guardian Angel of my own children.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

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What Makes a Virtuous Woman

It cannot be forced. It takes much time, much heartache and much courage. What is it I speak of? It is the virtuous woman.  She has been deeply wounded. If you look at the shadow of her life, you will see a lake of tears following her along the path to heaven. Not only has she suffered immensely, she has learned where to go for strength.

She is fully dependent on God. She is like a frightened child, inside, who became so hopeless, that her Heavenly Father had to carry her for a time. Now she clings to him, and will never let go of His hand. She cannot make it alone.


Many years ago, when we first bought our store, my husband gathered us all around, and taught us how to treat our customers. He has been in retail for most of his life.  He said something profound. This is what he told us:


"When you walk into the store, you have no pride. The customers will step on it, and destroy it. You have to let them. We cannot stay in business if we do not cater to our customers."


How does this relate to real life? It is about taking care of everyone around you with a servant's heart. Nothing is personal. Their attacks, their moods, their complaints are all part of the package. We are there to make their lives better, not to build up our own ego.


This has always stayed with me. It is just like the virtuous woman. Her husband and children, at times, can cause her to cry. But for her to yell back? Or to be mean? It can't happen. She has to destroy her own pride and become a loving servant despite the pressure. It is the hardest, most painful process you could ever imagine. 


The Bible speaks of the refiner's fire. Does that sounds painful? Of course! Yet, it takes years and years of suffering before a virtuous woman will emerge. 


You will know when this happens - "self" is gone. Instead, you will  see humility and sorrow and the tender love of God coming through her. She is much more quiet - she speaks less. She is forbearing of the faults of those around her. But you will always see the silent tears. Those will never go away until she reaches her Heavenly home.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

Summer is Almost Here

Good morning! Do you hear the birds chirping? The sun in warm and shining brightly! It will be a lovely day! I just finished my last TOS Crew Review for the school-year. We do not begin again for at least a month. It is bittersweet, but I will enjoy a lovely rest during the month of June. What are your plans for the summer? Here is what I want to do:

1. Make plenty of ice-cold lemonade and iced tea.
2. Buy chips and burgers for lots of BBQ's outdoors.
3. Watch the children play basketball in the backyard.
4. Sit on the porch while the children ride bikes down our long driveway.
5. Attempt to teach one of the children how to drive.
6. Eat watermelon!
7. Make fruit salads with lots of strawberries, blueberries and canteloupe!
8. Have all the older children come home for fun weekend visits.
9. Watch the sun set in the late evening.
10. Sit on the porch when it rains, to cool us all off.
11. Head into town for ice-cream sundaes.
12. Bake lots of cookies and cupcakes to serve outside.
13. Swing on the swing-set.
14. Do housework as fast as possible and then head outside for the day.
15. Find a way to set up a volleyball net.
16. Play horseshoes with my Father.
17. Have long chats with my Mother on her porch (next door to mine).
18. Toast marshamallows.
19. Drink an ice-cold Dr. Pepper.
20. Listen to the children's laughter as it makes a permanent echo in my memory.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

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Kregel - Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure - Review

TOS Crew Review

Product - Book - Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure by Susan K. Marlow. Part of the Circle C adventure Series.

Publisher - Kregel Publications

Price - $7.99

Reading Level - 8 - 12 years old.

This 144 page book is packed with adventure. Set in 1881, four young teenagers head off into the mountains, for a summer camping trip, hoping to find gold. There are many shocking twists and turns. It certainly held my attention. This a Christian- based book and has a wonderful ending. The only drawback for me, was the subject matter, which did not interest me. I am not the kind of girl who enjoys reading about tomboys or descriptive explanations of handling a terrifying wound (did you just see me faint? - smiles). However, the book is very well written and would be a great addition to your home library.

The author is a homeschooling Mother and lives in Washington State. She has written 6 books in this series.

You can find reviews by fellow crew members:

To find out more about my reviews, please visit "Introduction to our Homeschool Parlor"

*I received this product, from the publisher, for review purposes through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew *

Lobster Network - Review

TOS Crew Review

Product - Website - LobsterNetwork.com - A free resource

Lobster Network is a virtual Library.. Here are some things you are able to do:

1. Set up an inventory of items you own that you are willing to lend to friends and neighbors.
Examples:

You loan a book to a friend. You agree on a due date.  The website tracks the date for you.

You are searching for a steam-cleaner. You find that your neighbor has one listed and is willing to loan it out. Just contact her to make arrangements. Now you are all set to borrow it!

2. List items you no longer need, to sell or give away.
 
3. Request items you need.

4. Organize a private list of your own items for your own reference.

Example:

Perhaps you can never remember which movie you own? Or what books you have on hand. You can organize all your items and set up an inventory list on the website. Then simply search through this private listing anytime you need to.

5. Set up a community. Here you can add a group of friends or neighbors in your own virtual community where you lend and share items. Another good idea would be to set up a community of your local church. This would be a fabulous resource for churches!

The best part is- this website service is completely FREE!! There is an excellent video tutorial found on the home page. It is called the Lobster Network Tour.

My Experience:

I set up a free account and started to look around. I was delighted to see several members there I already knew. I love the marketplace where members are selling homeschool products and other items at really low prices. I also loved the option of finding friends to invite them to join, simply by entering their email address. The site is easy to navigate and a lot of fun to use.


You can find reviews by fellow crew members:

To find out more about my reviews, please visit "Introduction to our Homeschool Parlor"

*I received this product, from the publisher, for review purposes through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew *

Church Time at Home

I just finished having our daily church time with John (12). No one else is around. We had a lovely time singing hymns, reading the Bible, hearing a story and praying. I remembered what it was like when all my children were little. Bible time in those days was fun too. It did not always go well, there were good and bad days.  But the effort was a blessing.

Since the children were familiar with our hymn books, they would read them for fun.  I remember when my father came over one day. Amy (now 15) was around 4 years old. She was sitting on the couch, cute as could be, holding a hymn book in her hands. Dad was trying to fix my stove. He walked through the living room and saw Amy reading. Then he did a double take when he noticed her excitement about the hymn book in her hands, and her little voice singing. It is a precious memory.

On another occasion, Nicole (now 20) was around 8 years old. She was a feisty one, and loved to quarrel. (smiles). Well, I offered to let her pick out the hymn so we could finish our church time. She was being quite the brat. So she looked through the book and said with a mischievous smirk, "Number 315!"  We all looked it up and then I noticed the title of the hymn. It was "Take my Life and Let it Be!" 

Our latest situation was a few days ago. Nicole was home from college. She sat with John, Amy and I for our evening church time.  Amy was waiting for a phone call and was fidgety. Being the nice mother I am (smiles), I told her she could be excused when the call came through. So she sat and waited, and tried her best to participate. We just happened to be reading an interesting passage in Deuteronomy and Nicole volunteered to read. Her shock and questions and tone of voice made us all extremely interested in the reading. (It was Deuteronomy chapters 21 through 23 and yes, Nicole read all of it out loud to us.)  Then we did our prayers and hymns and story. We were just about finished and still no phone call for Amy. Finally, she stood up and mumbled to herself, complaining about her friend who never called, "Way to save me from Bible time!"

The best memories of all are when every single one of us is home and sitting all together doing our church time. I almost cry with joy at those moments. I have mentioned before that I record, in a little homemade book, who is present at each home service, and what we read and did. So I have a permanent record, which I love.

All in all, it is an adventure to have a time of church at home. There are sometimes tears, strivings, and even laughter. But it is worth every moment!

Blessings,
Mrs. White
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Other posts you might like:

When Mama is an Invalid

As Cheerful as Ever

How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty

Betty Crocker- Mississippi Mud Bars- Giveaway

I received the most delicious present in the mail today. Fed-Ex delivered an 8 x 8 metal baking pan and a box of Betty Crocker Supreme Bars Mix. They look just like brownies but are even better. Go ahead and read the description from General Mills:


"Get ready to wow them with new Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars - a decadent, down-south dessert that nobody will believe came from a box!

With layers of chocolate cookie crumbs sprinkled over mini marshmallows in a chewy chocolate center and a crunchy chocolate cookie crust, this brand new recipe is sure to impress friends and family. Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars provide an out-of-the-box flavor, with in-the-box convenience. You don´t have to go to Mississippi to snag the mix for these delicious bars; Betty Crocker makes it easy to make a tasty treat anytime, anywhere."

 Did you hear the part about the mini-marshmallows and cookie crust? Yum! I have to tell you, I was in a pretty down mood all morning and this package really brightened up my day! I went into my kitchen and got to work.

I laid out my equipment - 2 bowls (one for the main mix and one for the cookie crust), A fork, spoon, pan (for melting butter), and a sharp knife to open the packages.

Extra ingredients- One egg, a little water, melted butter (I used less than one stick), and some white flour (this is optional for those who are using the high-altitude recipe.)

It took only a few minutes to get this mixed up. I put the cookie crust on the bottom of the 8 x 8 metal pan, and then spread the main batter on top of that. Finally, I topped this off with some remaining cookie mixture and placed it in a pre-heated oven.

As I was working, people started walking into the room. "What are you making?" Asked Mr. White. (smiles) John (12) stood next to me and wanted to know when they would be finished. He said, "It's too bad Amy won't get any of these!" (Amy is 15 and not home! He figures by the time she gets back, we will have eaten every bit of this delicious dessert!)

Would you like a chance to win your very own delicous dessert prize pack?  This includes one box of Betty Crocker Supreme Bars Mix and one 8x8 metal baking pan.  All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me who in your family would appreciate this dessert the most.

For additional entries:

2. Become a Public Follower of my blog.

3. Subscribe to The Legacy of Home through Feedburner. 


4. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

5. Tweet about this Giveaway.

6. Follow me on Twitter.

7. Post about this on Facebook.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Thursday, May 27, 2010. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you.  Your prize will be shipped directly from the company.


This contest is closed.

The winner is  - Katie!! She has already been contacted and will receive her prize soon. 

Disclosure: Betty Crocker  provided me with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark. 

A Quiet Evening Visit

The house is quiet and dark. Everyone has gone to bed. Late last night, I recorded my first radio program. It was difficult to sit in front of a microphone and stay still. Whenever I moved, there would be static from the wires. It will take some getting used to. Matthew (17) is going to edit some of the static out of the recording and then it will be ready for me to email to the radio program host. At that point, it will be available for anyone to listen to online. I will try to do one recording a week.

I spent some time in the front yard this afternoon. I sat on my porch and read all the mail. Then I leisurely walked around the property and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.

I did some grocery shopping today. It made me so tired. There was just so much to do today. Oh.. that reminds me... I left the laundry on the clothesline.. (horrors). I am grateful I have a pulley system out the window, so it will be easy for me to bring the clothes in, but I hate to do it when it is dark out.  I cleaned and sparkled the kitchen today and did some general cleaning. But by 8 pm, I was almost shaking and ready to drop. I rested for 2 hours and feel so much better. I am going to do a little reading and then head off to bed. I plan to sleep late tomorrow!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Mrs. White
Subscribe to The Legacy of Home

Other posts you might enjoy:
Remembering Suppertime

A Catered Thanksgiving

Our Life at Home

Peterson Directed Handwriting Review

TOS Crew Review

Product: Peterson Directed Handwriting

I attended a live, on-line training session to learn about this program. I found this to be extremely helpful and came away with lots of good ideas.

I was given an e-book download called, "Step 4 - Cursive," from the "We Write to Read" series. It is also called an electronic workbook. It can be found on their "Print Your Own Handwriting Workbooks" page.    Step 4 is designed for older students.  It is 64 pages long. You will find detailed instructions, sample worksheet pages, and plenty of examples. I loved the use of colors onscreen which helped us visualize exactly how to craft each letter.

I had Amy (15) sit at a desk next to the computer. I opened the workbook file on my computer and brought up a few sample pages. I loved being able to point and demonstrate, using my finger, exactly how to replicate the cursive strokes. She did a great job with this. We also found that she was making a few minor mistakes in handwriting and we were able to see this clearly, from the screen, and make corrections.

In John's case (he is 12 and dyslexic), I had to print out a couple of pages. It was easier for him to work with the papers right beside him, while I followed along, demonstrating what was onscreen. He also found this very helpful.

Basically, I gave the children words to write, from their normal spelling tests. We took our time and  used the Peterson workbook as a guide. They were able to write very neatly.

 Some other neat items I received, include:

1. Cursive Rubric (4 page download) - This explained criteria to evaluate a student's handwriting.
2. Muscle Memory story (2 page download) - This is a great explanation of what students are doing when they practice handwriting.  It encourages you to keep working your memory skills so you become successful.
3. Tracking Fluency (2 page download) - This is a fabulous idea. It gives you complete directions on how to have your child practice writing, and has a chart to time their writing and accuracy. I love this!

Overall I think this is an excellent program. I will continue to use this with my children.

You can find reviews by fellow crew members:

To find out more about my reviews, please visit "Introduction to our Homeschool Parlor"

*I received this product, from the publisher, for review purposes through The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew *

Fit Mommy (Week 20)

The following is my check-in for Fit Mommy Friday. It is hosted by Denise. This is a way for many of us to encourage one another, to share our progress and to meet our own fitness goals. When you visit our blogs and read about our week, would you take a minute to share an encouraging comment?

Here's my week:

Monday,
Morning - 45 minute workout.

Tuesday,
Rested

Wednesday,
I was gone all day.
Very late evening- Did target toning exercises with light weights.

Thursday,
Morning- 30 minute workout. (Just for fun.) This was going to be my rest day, but I couldn't help myself. The workout was calling me. (smiles)

Friday,
Morning - 45 minute work out.


Nutritional Accomplishment - Ate light and mostly healthy. I had one small piece of chocolate cake, and lots of soda, but one cannot be perfect.

Fitness Goal: To have strength and endurance. I do not have any weight to lose, but need to keep my energy levels high and avoid eating too much sugary, junk food.

Will you join the Fit Mommies? There are 3 levels - beginner through advanced and we'd love to have you!

Blessings,
Mrs. White

Announcing the Winner of My Anniversary Prize - The Housewife Gift Pack

On my one year blog anniversary, I offered a prize pack for Housewives. This included a 1950's TV series on DVD - The Donna Reed Show; A Vintage-style Apron; and a 1950's Betty Crocker Cookbook.

This morning a winner was randomly selected. The winner is - Michelle from Delightful Learning!

Congratulations Michelle!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Blessings,
Mrs. White