An egg of a different color

By Monica Brand, 10 November, 2009, 2 Comments

Are you guys tired of me talking chickens yet?

Today we found our first blue Ameraucana egg. It’s been way too long since we’ve had blue egg layers in our chicken coop. Of course, the kids went crazy when it was discovered. Like finding a nugget of gold. Such is the life of the home schooled kid with chickens as “pets.”

Here’s a picture.

And with that… maybe now I’m really back into the blogging mode? I can’t believe how lazy I’ve been lately. I want to record what busyness we have with Life, Home Learning, etc., yet at the end of the day I find myself unwilling to devote the time to sharing. I feel guilty, which is ridiculous because it’s’ not like this blog is necessary for our daily survival. Blogging is supposed to be FUN.

Anyway. We have a blue egg! That’s the most important thing right this moment.

Blog book tour: O2 (Breathing New Life into Faith) by Richard Dahlstrom

By Monica Brand, 30 October, 2009, No Comment

I think it’s really telling when a pastor’s bio on the back of a book promotes his blog, especially a site with a catchy title such as Raincitypastor.

Also from the back cover of O2,

Your physical body needs oxygen in order to survive. Inhale, exhale… one leads naturally to the other. Inhale too long, and you feel as if your lungs will burst. Exhale too long, and you get light headed. The same rhythm is essential in the life of faith. You inhale life-giving strength from God through things like prayer, study, solitude, and silence. You exhale generosity, hospitality, and service to the poor. If you try to do one without the other, you won’t last very long.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.

I bet you didn’t know

By Monica Brand, 27 October, 2009, 3 Comments

Check it out: when newbie hens begin to lay, their eggs are slightly smaller. The egg on the left is from a young chicken. The difference is obvious.

We’re getting more eggs everyday. And all I can say is: It’s about time these ladies started earning their keep. With Susan’s love for baking, and neighbors wanting to buy fresh eggs, we can’t keep up.

The real purpose of math manipulatives

By Monica Brand, 23 October, 2009, 5 Comments

As I was saying…

By Monica Brand, 13 October, 2009, 3 Comments

Preoccupied with homeschooling these days, still trying to find a balance in what to do with the boys, how much to push them, and if they aren’t doing “school”, what should they be doing in replace of it.

So far this fall, we’ve tried letterboxing, started back to Community Bible Study classes and AWANA, resumed Wednesday night church youth programs and various other activities. I enjoy busy, but busy doesn’t write pithy blog posts or get the housework done or let me stare out the window as much as I’d like. I’m a big fan of daydreaming…

Vacation. Never did blog about it here like I wanted. We had a nice time. Did a lot of hiking, biking, beach combing, and swimming. For me, one of the highlights of the trip was listening to Peter – unprompted – read aloud. That was a memory to remember. It wasn’t much, just the packaging from a fast-food toy, but it’s something, right?

And that thought brings me to an quandary that may be to blame as to why I’ve been so quiet here. I’m not sure how much I want to share about my kid’s performance with the 3R’s in a public forum. Will they come to resent it? Will they be embarrassed later in life? I’m glad I had the foresight to not use their real names.

Not sure how I’m going to resolve this dilemma. If any of you have thoughts as to yea or nay in regards as to how the home learning is going, I’d like to know. Do you care if I write about homeschooling or not?

As for reading, I’m deep into three books at the moment. The United States of Argula by David Kamp, Homeschooling on a Shoestring by Melissa L. Morgan and Judith Waite Allee and Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Osten. I’m reading Dinotopia aloud to anyone willing to listen. I need to prepare intelligent thoughts about a book for a book tour by the end of the month. Overloaded is the key word here.

Okay, then. I guess I’m back. All is well here. Normal fall back to busyness.