Sidewalk Paint = FUN!!!!

Yes, I am actually blogging.  WOO HOO!!  :-)  

I have had trouble in the last few months actually making myself sit down and blog.  I WANT to blog.  I LIKE to blog.  But, I don't always have something to say.  Being on facebook I kind of feel like I am just repeating myself if I blog about it later.

Then, sometimes I have nothing to say "blog worthy."

Other times I have A LOT to say, but refuse to blog about it.  I don't want to use my blog to "rant", "complain", or have political debates... and lately it seems like that is what I would end up doing.
You know the old saying, "If you can't say something nice....."

OR, my favorite, " It is better to remain silent and have people think you're a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."  I will always remember my college Prof. Bro. Doug Wilson saying that.   I believe Abraham Lincoln actually said it, but I will always here it in Bro. Doug's voice, with his Mississippi accent.  :-)

Anyway, it's been a very busy, fun summer so far.   Little Mark has had a very successful year in 4-H, and I do intend to blog about that later.

But, for now I'll just go with a simple, fun activity that you can do with the kids.  :-)

"Angel" and "Little Mark" painted the driveway last week.  I made the Sidewalk paint that I saw on Kid Concoctions.

If you have not seen this book:   

 

Then you need to run to your bookstore, library, or computer to get it.   Kid Concoctions is AMAZING!!   

And, I should probably do a post about them some time.  (Note to self:  Do a post)  :-)

But, for now we'll just go with the this one.

If you've ever made goop, then you already know how to make the Sidewalk paint.   I don't measure exactly, but I'll tell you how I did it.

Ingredients: 

Cornstarch

Water

Food Coloring

I used an ice cube tray to mix the different colors in, but a muffin tin or egg carton also works great.  

I put in one tablespoon of cornstarch, about 5 or 6 drops of liquid food coloring, and a LITTLE bit of water at a time.  When I say little I mean LITTLE.  I probably ended up with a teaspoon or so before all was said and done.   I thinned mine just a little more than I would "goop".  The colors were nice and bright, and the paint had the consistency of acrylic paint.  It worked very well.

I gave the kids some sponge brushes and this was the result. 

 As you can see, they had a lot of fun. AND, it's inexpensive, non-toxic, and easy clean up.  

 I also thought this would be a great homeschooling lesson.  You could cover Science, Art, Math, and Handwriting all at once!!  :-)   I hope you and your family give it a try.

Love,

Wendy Darling

 

Jalapeno Cheese Spread

 It's no secret that I love Pioneer Woman's recipes.   It's no secret that I love to cook/bake and read cook books.  I also like to adapt a recipe to fit my families taste.  Such as with PW's Cinnamon Rolls that I posted about here:


One of my FAVORITE PW recipes is her Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos.  I love them!  But, I could never get the bacon to cook all the way through.  So, my VERY smart brother suggested using bacon pieces and adding them to the cheese mixture, rather than wrapping it in bacon.  We tried it and IT WORKED WONDERFULLY!!  :-)


So, a couple of weeks ago we wondered how the stuffed jalapenos would work as a cheese spread for crackers?   Today I gave it a try.  SUCCESS!   


I wish I could take the credit for it, but it all originated with Pioneer Woman's original recipe.  I just put it all together and slathered it on a cracker.  And boy am I glad we did!!


I have already decided this will be making an appearance at the next Singles Game Night.  :-)


Here's what I did to make it:


About 8 -10 jalapenos, cleaned, rinsed and cut in half
2 8ox blocks of cream cheese
3/4 C of grated cheddar cheese
1/4 C of green onions; chopped
1 bag of REAL bacon pieces
1/2 - 3/4 C of BBQ sauce


Preheat oven to 350 F.   Line a pan with aluminum foil and lay out the peppers.  Bake for 30 min.  Place all ingredients in a mixer and mix using the paddle attachment.  Just until it's mixed well.  Enjoy on crackers.  

I'm sure it would also be wonderful with veggies.  I'm even toying with the idea of placing it in a dish and pouring BBQ sauce on top and heating it in the oven for a hot dip/spread.  We'll have to wait for another day to try that though because I'm pretty sure there won't be any left tonight to try it later.  :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Grocery Cart Challenger Recipe Swap

It's been quite awhile since I've participated in the recipe the recipe swap, so I felt I should dive right back in with something totally unhealthy that tastes amazing.  :-)  And Easter is coming up so perhaps you want a new recipe to take to your family/church gathering.  I have taken these cookies to Singles events, 4-H bake sales and to a church event.  Believe me when I tell you they were VERY well received.  :-)

If you'd like to see more recipes, or participate in the challenge, please go to Gayle's blog HERE:

I actually found this recipe on Pinterest thanks to my friend, Sunny.  :-)   (Side note:  Are y'all addicted to Pinterest yet?  HOLY MOLY there's so much there)   :-)   One of these years I'll make all of the recipes I've "pinned" to my board.  LOL.. :-)

Of course,  I  put my own twist on this recipe, and that is the one I'll be posting here.  I have noted where I made a change to the original.  I like to give credit where credit is due, so if you'd like to see the original recipe you may go HERE:

Nutella Chocolate Chip, Toffee Cookies 

 Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla ( my change)
1/4 cup Nutella
1-1/2 bags chocolate chips ( my change)

1/2 bag of Toffee bits (My change)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prep baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, the sugar and the brown sugar. Add the eggs and the vanilla until combined.

4. Gradually add the flour until the mixture is combined.

5. Then mix Nutella. Finally add in the chocolate chips and Toffee Bits.

6. Use cookie scoop and drop on baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes.

Oh. My. Goodness!!!  If you think these sound sinful, you'd be right. Remember, moderation is the key.  And it will be hard to put into practice.  :-)    I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Love,

Wendy Darling

Baking, Books, Business and Birthdays

 Mercy, it has been awhile since I've posted.  Well, for those who were waiting with baited breath, no we did not win the camera mentioned in the post below.  I know that relieves your mind.  :-)

 My business is doing pretty well, and if I may say it again, "I LOVE YOUNG LIVING OILS!!" That is all. ;-)

 Also, I have taken a part time/part time job.  I say part time twice because technically the hours don't even qualify as part time and of course there are no benefits.  However, I LOVE my job and the money is paying off some bills.  So, I thank God for it.   The best part is it's only 3 hours a day which still means I can homeschool Little Mark and tutor Angel.   

My job is really "on the job training."  I am an administrative assistant at the local Christian radio station.   I get the mail; keep the books; write the newsletter; answer the phones make the bank deposit; do the faxing (is that a real word?); vacuum, clean the bathrooms; record sound bites when asked.... you get the picture.  ;-) And, this job was a Godsend because I pretty much had no experience in the accounting department for this job.  But my boss?  She is AWESOME!!  And is teaching me all I need to know and more.  :-)

The family and I got away for a night this last weekend.  We went to a book signing by Joann Fluke.  If you never read any of the Hannah Swenson Mysteries you should check it out.  :-) Mrs. Fluke is very funny and the character of Hannah is a baker :-)   She's also a plus size beauty who has the two most eligible bachelors in town wanting to marry her.  ;-)  Our family loves the books, including Little Mark, such it was a treat to get away and meet Mrs. Fluke personally.

Little Mark turns 16 this summer.  I still can't believe it.  We began planning his party back in November.  He wants a murder mystery dinner for the party, so we have purchased the '57 Class Reunion game. 

 

 

It is written especially  for teenagers and youth groups, so it's one of the "clean" versions.  :-)

I have already begun purchasing things for the party and begun to make out the menu.  Little Mark's uncle has agreed to be the "soda jerk" and take care of the food.  We all have our "roles to play"; mine being the hired party planner/hostess.  So, I take all of the pictures and help keep the game moving.

It really seems like it will be fun.  The only thing Little Mark has seen are the invitations, so he doesn't accidentally see the clues/murderer.  He will be playing one of the detectives, so he needs to know just as much as the other guests at the beginning of the game.  Which is pretty much nothing.  :-)

If you can't tell, we are pretty psyched about the party.  :-)

I plan to make the birthday cake look like a 45 record.  We will have burgers and shakes as well as "party food" for during the game.  And, we are building a cardboard jukebox.  It will fit over a speaker with an iPod hooked up to it that will be playing "Golden Oldies", so it sounds like it's coming from the jukebox.

I have to tell you about one of "goals" for a party favor.  I say "goals" because it depends on if I can pull it off financially.  I'll need 10 -12 of them.  BUT, since I'm the photographer I plan to take photos and then the day after the party have "yearbooks" made from those digital scrapbooks you can do at Wal Mart or somewhere.  Just the inexpensive ones, but nice.   Then, have them mailed to each of the guests along with a thank you note from Little Mark.  Just a little something extra from the party.  It's something I would like if I attended a party like that.  :-)

This has also been a very busy year for 4-H.  Little Mark has done well.  His next competition is THIS WEEK.  YIKES!! He's still working on his presentation.  He's doing a power point about Gluten Free Living.  I think it's just unique enough to get him to state if he pulls it off right.  :-)

Well, that should be enough to catch  you up and relieve my guilt from not posting lately.  :-)

Love,

Wendy Darling

I'm Spreading the news!!! :-)
The nephew wants a new digital camera. BAD. He wants a Nikon. Just so happens Oh So Posh Actions is giving one away. :-)

Have you priced a Nikon D90??? HELLO!! To say I hope I win would be an understatement. :-) If you wish, head on over and sign up for the drawing. The deadline is TOMORROW, December 17th.
Love,

I feel as if I should introduce myself....

It's obviously been a long time since I posted last. Sorry about that. We'll have to see if I actually finish this post and publish it. I'm so far behind on things I have wanted to post about that I don't even know where to begin. This may end up looking like a hyperactive kid who's had WAY TOO MUCH CAFFEINE typed this. :-) It's going to bounce around all over the place. So, bear with me, okay?

I guess "first things first" - It's Christmas!!! If you've been here before you know how much I LOVE this time of year. There are many reasons why. Yes, I love the music, the lights, the decorations, the food, the smells, the colder weather, the movies... it's "magical". I don't know if a word has been invented to describe the feeling I have about Christmas. I do, indeed, act like a kid about Christmas.

I love decorating the tree, playing Christmas music and baking cookies. I love making or buying gifts for others, but that's not the main reason. My family and I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, as it should be. To celebrate and thank God for His gift to us. To celebrate that He came to earth in human form, to live among us, love and teach us. And give us a glimpse of our Heavenly Father. What an amazing gift.

It's true that it's not about the presents, and all of the "hoopla" (although I love the hoopla)... all of that's fine, as long as it doesn't take away from the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas.

This week I have read two blogs that speak about this very thing, and they blessed me so much I'll share them here.

My "real life" friend, Amanda posted this one.

This one was shared with me by several friends and really blessed me.

I have to admit that as this week has felt different even for me. Not in a bad way, just different. I've been looking past "tradition" and looking at doing things differently as a family.

First, I didn't put out all of the decorations. Don't get me wrong, we did a good bit, but it just didn't seem important to put out everything. And, I was totally okay with it. :-)

We did go on annual trip to Santa Land this year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love driving through the park and seeing all of the lights and cut outs. There were some new things this year, and that's always exciting. It's a wonderful family experience that we have shared with both of the nephews. Seeing the looks on their faces and hearing their excitement when they point and shout, "Look at that!" :-)

But, the nephews are getting older, and I think some new experiences may be in order for our family. SO, I believe we'll save the Santa Land money (and a little more) and head to Grapevine, TX, "The Christmas Capital of the World" next year.

Doesn't that look awesome!! New family experiences; great photo opportunities, and the same "Christmas Magic".

On a totally different topic, I really hate that it's been so long since I have blogged. I use this as my way of "thinking out loud", and keeping up with people. Unfortunately, it is just so much easier to put out a quick "blurb" on facebook. That doesn't always allow me to say all I'd like to say though. But, then time and energy are factors and I end up not blogging. I'm definitely going to need to do better though.

In the last few months I have REALLY gotten into listening to Jason Crabb. I've seen them some on Gaither videos, etc. But, this last year I have taken time to really listen to his solo stuff, and I LOVE it!! There are two songs I play A LOT, and they're on youtube, so I'll post them here. (Family, if you're reading; $2 in the stocking to purchase these songs on amazon would be awesome. Please and Thank you.)






Both of these songs are such a blessing to me!!

I'm in the mood to create something and need a creative outlet. It's been a long time since I've painted or done any crafts. I'll have to work on that. :-)

However, my baking/cake decorating mood is getting satisfied now that it's Christmas. :-) LOVE that.

My sister, "J", has gone gluten-free. She can already see a major change in her health. She doesn't get sick after eating, which is a major plus, and doesn't seem to be as tired/fatigued as she usually was. It's been interesting finding out all about gluten-free stuff, and how VERY careful you have to be when you eat out, or prepare food at home. It truly must have NO contact with any gluten whatsoever. We are doing pretty good with it though. :-)

We have found MANY blogs/facebook pages/websites that have helped. Here's one
It's amazing how much stuff has gluten. Things I never would have thought of. Like shampoo. Gluten is in more stuff than just food.

A friend shared a recipe with me recently that we LOVE. Well, most of us. I have no clue if it's gluten free, but it's awesome. Here's the recipe:

Cowboy Dip

2 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese
16 oz of Sour Cream
1 can or Mild or Original Rotel
1 can of HOT Rotel
1 lb. Mild Jimmy Dean sausage ( browned and drained)
1 lb. of HOT or SPICY Jimmy Dean sausage (browned and drained.)

Put everything in a crock pot on low and let it melt together. Enjoy with chips! :-)

Well, I guess that catches me up for now. :-) I will try to do better about blogging more regularly.

Until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Love,
Wendy Darling

My friend, Amanda, at Royal Daughter Designs is having a "Countdown to Christmas" featuring other bloggers ideas for homemade ornaments. I'm participating. :-) Please, visit her often as she always posts things that are inspirational/helpful, and for more ornament ideas. :-)




This is a great one to do with the kids. It's messy, fun, and they make cute ornaments. It's also very inexpensive, and makes the house smell GREAT! :-) The size of the cookie cutters you use will determine the number of ornaments you will get. We got A LOT!!

I made these a long time ago with my nephew, but neglected to take photos. So, the photos you see are not mine. I borrowed the photo from this site, http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/cinnamon-dough-ornaments.html
Here's what you'll need:

• 1 cup of regular applesauce (not the chunky variety)
• 1 1/2 cups of ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup of white glue

• Assorted cookie cutters
• Drinking straw
• Colored ribbon

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together ingredients. Form the mixture into a ball, wrap it in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes until the "dough" stiffens.

2. Sprinkle more cinnamon on a cutting board or a waxed-paper-lined surface, and turn the chilled dough onto it. Dust a rolling pin with cinnamon and use it to roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness (if it's thinner than that, the ornaments will be too fragile).

3. Cut out decorative shapes with assorted cookie cutters or a butter knife, then use a plastic drinking straw to make a hole through the top center of each cutout.

4. Let the ornaments air-dry completely before stringing them with ribbon. Ornaments will need to be flipped daily for 3-5 days while they dry. They will shrink some as they dry out. Once they are completely dry you can add a string the hole and hang on the tree or throughout your home. String several together to make a beautiful garland.

** Some people remove some of the cinnamon and add other spices such as Pumpkin Pie Spice, all-spice, cloves or nutmeg. This is totally a personal preference.

Hope you enjoy making these with your kids. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It was a good drill....

You may have heard about the severe drought/wildfires we have been battling here in Texas. To say it has been HOT would be an understatement. Last Sunday we had a wonderful cool front come through, that brought much cooler temperatures, and some wind. It's reported that later in the day the wind knocked a dead tree down on a power line and that started a fire. It's also been reported they have started other ways as well; everything from cigarettes to arson.

It seemed like every few minutes reports of another fire popped up, and we had no idea which way there were going. People were understandably scared and confused.

Praise God the closest fire to us came within 10 miles, but never reached us. However, we are the "cautious" type, and always try to be prepared for "just in case" situations.

So, we decided to go ahead and pack the cars "just in case."

Everyone was told to pack a bag of clothes, and only take what cannot be replaced. We had 2 car trunks and 1 back seat we could use, but not overload.

I am proud to say we thought of almost everything. Everyone had 2-3 pairs of pants, 1 weeks worth of shirts, a pair of PJs, and underclothes, socks, etc. We packed our 2 First Aid Kits, including ALL of the Young Living Oils we own, along with the diffuser.

And photo albums. LOTS of photo albums.

I say it was a good dry run because we did learn a few things. 1) We each learned what was important, and what wasn't to us. 2) We only forgot a couple of things that really should go if we ever actually have to evacuate, and 3) I will no longer do traditional scrapbooks. While I LOVE the creativity it allows me, they are too heavy and bulky. So, it's digital scrapbooks from now on. Cost about the same, and take up a lot less space.

Other than that, we did really well.

Another thing I learned is just how grateful I am for Facebook.

Our local news station kept us VERY WELL informed via facebook. We were able to get notices of fires and evacuations a lot faster than if it had been on TV. There is also a page for fires all over Texas, so we were able to share information. People were so great to immediately offer help for families, and even for land to relocate their animals. It was amazing to watch all of this unfold before me on the internet.

I'm sure the creators of FB never thought of it being used in this manner, but either regardless of that I say, "Thank you."

The fires are still burning over many parts of Texas, and many people have lost their homes. We know people who have been evacuated, and also many who had their homes saved.

I have to say "THANK YOU" to ALL of the firefighters, many who have been fighting since it started, almost a week ago. YOU ARE HEROES.

To any of you who are also being affected by the fires, my prayers are with you, and please stay safe.

Please, pray for RAIN IN TEXAS.

Love,
Wendy Darling

The Word of the Day is "Flexibility".

First, I'm sure you have noticed the new look. :-) I want to thank Amanda at Royal Daughter Designs for the amazing "face lift" she gave the blog. She is AWESOME. Be sure to check her out, and like her on facebook.

"Little Mark" and I are break this week. We, FINALLY, finished 8th grade last week, and we will begin 9th grade on September 8th.

I am now ending day 3 of my break, and this is the first time I have stayed up past 10:00 pm. I have managed to sleep in some. This morning I actually slept until 8:00 am. UNHEARD of for me. 1) because I don't like sleeping that late. It makes the rest of the day drag on, and I feel like I have missed most of the day when I could have been productive. I end up taking longer to get dressed, get my morning routines finished, etc. 2) By that time my back hurts from being in bad too long. Guess I'll have to do better about staying on my schedule; that way it won't be so hard to adjust when we begin school again. :-)

Speaking of school, we haven't even started yet and I'm already making changes to curriculum and our school calender. :-)

I sent a question to Alpha Omega regarding their Monarch program (which I was very excited about using) The nice person who responded sent me a side by side comparison of Monarch vs S.O.S. Most I knew, but a couple of things I didn't. So, I decided to stick with S.O.S. again this year for some of the subjects.

Also, we switched around our some of our days off, added some extra around Thanksgiving, and because we finished 8th grade 2 days later than planned we are starting 2 days later than planned. SO, this means we only get 3 weeks off in December instead of four. (Have I lost you yet?)

This is why I do my lesson plans/calenders in pencil. Again, "Flexibility" is my motto. ;-)

"Angel" has begun second grade, and comes over 4 days a week for me to tutor her. At least I try. She is in a dual language class, after all, and I remember very little from my ONE YEAR of Spanish. So far, I have remembered most of what she is doing this week, so I'm able to "hang in there." Of course, this is only the second week of school, so we'll see how long I last. :-)

And, that about completes my week. I have not been all that productive. I have mentioned to read the Sunday School lesson I will be teaching in a couple of weeks, but have not written it.
I read it while "Little Mark" was in his orthodontist appointment. The braces come off October 3rd. PRAISE THE LORD!!! He's been waiting for this since the day they put them in, over 2 years ago.

So, really, the last couple of weeks have been uneventful.

Well, except for the snake.

The BIG snake.

The one my brother found in the air conditioner closet a week ago tonight, that the policeman let go of, so it went in our attic!!

We are believing it is gone now. We have NO evidence to this, other than the fact that we have not seen it, and we are CHOOSING to believe it is gone.

Please, do not ruin our fantasy by telling us otherwise.

It is just a chicken snake, according to the policeman (And the animal control who were NO HELP because they are not allowed to go into the attic.) but, a snake is a snake in my opinion.

And enough about that because I will be going to bed soon and I don't want to dream about snakes. Thank you very much.

Y'all have a safe Labor Day weekend.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Curriculum Round-up, 2011

Most of you won't really care about this post. But, DeeDee (at Fiddledeedee) is having a curriculum round-up today. And, because I don't really have anything worth posting about right now, and because I don't want to feel like I am the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO THIS "HOMESCHOOLING THING", I am going to participate. :-)

So, sit back and enjoy.

I have had the pleasure (most days) of homeschooling my nephew for about 12 years now. (And yes, I'm getting an eye twitch realizing I just typed 12 YEARS).

I was VERY idealistic (or is it overwhelmed?) when we first began. I was truly blessed with so many people giving me curriculum, and "created" my own using a little from each one. I pulled from KONOS, Weaver, various "store bought" books, etc. I did that for about 2 years.

I do NOT recommend you do that. For pre-K to 2nd grade take advantage of things around your home, your public library, multicolored blocks, craft supplies and M&Ms. That's really all you need for the first couple of years. Just sayin'.

After a few years of "trial and error" with curriculum, and spending too much money at book fairs, I finally got a good grasp of what works for us, and stayed in that direction.

I've pretty much used the same curriculum for the last few years.

Bible/History and Geography/Language Arts

I use Switched on Schoolhouse by Alpha Omega. My nephew LOVES computers. He always has. If he had his way we would have done all of our subjects on computer. But, I didn't want him sitting and looking at a monitor the whole time. And, since he really is a hands on learner as well, I wanted something more well rounded. So , we use other curriculum for the other subjects.

Math

We have used Math U See for several years now. I have to confess we were a little late getting started with math. I did it on my own, for awhile. You know, the basics of adding and subtracting. (He loved subtracting, because he got to eat the Goldfish or M&Ms.) But, since math is NOT my best subject, I definitely wanted to go with a curriculum that was a good fit for both of us. A great friend introduced me to Math U See.

All I can say is, "Hallelujah!!" Steve Demme is amazing. THIS is how I should have been taught to do math when I was in school. Maybe I wouldn't have freaked out when they through letters in with the numbers.

I love that there is a DVD and that each lesson is appropriate for all learning styles. It has been a Godsend for us.

Health/Science

Abeka is a really great, Christian curriculum. We were very blessed when a friend gave us the curriculum they no longer needed.

For a couple of years I also used "Considering God's Creation." This is a wonderful, hands on science curriculum that teaches science in the order of Creation. It can be used for grades 2-12. There are a lot of options for assignments at any grade level. My favorite part was the "Evolution Busters". This brought everything back to the Bible to show how only God could have hung the stars in the sky, and put together the complex wonder known as the human body.

Reading/Spelling

For reading I just use books we have, or those from the library. I began buying classics at used bookstores or curriculum sales a LONG time ago. I get lesson plans for them off of the internet, or if I don't find one I like then I purchase one from our Christian Bookstore.

For spelling, I choose words from the other subjects. I did use a spelling curriculum when he was younger, but another friend showed me that it is more practical, and economical, to use words from things he is already doing. Made sense to me.

Writing

As you can see from my awesome grammar/punctuation skills I do NOT handle the writing. That job has been passed on to my very intelligent brother. :-) He uses Writing Strands. He also handled the reading this last year as well. Yes, he ROCKS!! :-)

Good Citizenship

For this I have used everything from visiting policeman and the fire station to voting. My nephew has attended every election I have voted in since he was 4. He gets to see the ballot, watches me vote, and then we discuss why I voted the way I did. I always stress to him that voting is personal. It reflects MY beliefs, which may not always reflect his. The important thing to remember is that YOU vote YOUR beliefs, and you stick by them. But, know WHY you are voting that way. Don't vote for someone just because they are the most popular, etc. I believe he has a good handle on that subject. I also used a unit study that taught about our entire legislative/voting process, but can't remember the name. Sorry.

This last year we also used "Drive Thru History America". If you have not had the pleasure of seeing a Drive Thru History video, hosted by Dave Stotts, then I encourage you to do so. He is just quirky enough to hold the attention of almost anyone, but really gets the facts to you so you will remember them. I have learned just as much as the nephew has. The DTHA really focuses on the character of 9 early Americans, so that students learn not only more about the sacrifices made for America to become a nation, but about the character traits they need to become better people.

We've also used various things for Unit Studies, etc. And, he has had other subjects through our co-op, such as drama, Astronomy, etc.

P.E. has always been a "freelance" thing, I guess you'd say. We've done everything from karate, playing in the park, attending a gym, water aerobics, and just playing on the Wii.

Like a lot of homeschoolers, we school year round. My goal has always been to take all of December off, and be finished mid July, so we can have a 4-6 week break before beginning the next "school year." Of course, there are other days "off" thrown in there as well. It doesn't always work, but it's what we aimed for.

I've also done the 4 day school week, as well as the 5 day school week.

Now that we are entering his Freshman year in high school (there goes the eye twitch, again) I will be making some changes.

Switched on Schoolhouse will be changed to Monarch. It's pretty much the same things, but I don't have to deal with installation CDs. We will also add Science to the Monarch mix. We will go 5 days, and our goal is to have all of December off, be finished by July 31, and have August off, and of course there are scheduled holidays/days off throughout the year. Even a week off in April and 2 weeks off in June.

Lest you think he is chained to a desk in a dark room this entire time, let me assure you he does have outside activities. He is very involved at church and 4-H. He also does more than his fair share of volunteer work. As a matter of fact, we have cut back on activities this year, because we were both a little "overloaded" the last couple of years. And, since I am a little more than anxious about homeschooling high school (eye twitch) I felt it was in both of our best interests to take some of the pressure off.

Because there are not enough M&Ms in the world to help with that kind of stress.

Hope you saw something that helped you, and I pray you have a very exciting year of homeschooling your family. :-)

Love,

Blogs I read...

Well, I told y'all I'd be back with a list on Sunday or Monday. It's Monday, just a week later than planned. :-)

In my busy schedule I do try to take a little time for myself, and there are a few blogs I read regularly. Some everyday, some a couple of times a week, and some whenever the owner of the blog has a new update.

I'm rather eclectic, and there are many blogs I read, all for different reasons. Some give me a much needed laugh/smile every time; some are nostalgic and bring good memories. Others are informative or creative, and I love to learn new things, while some are inspirational and uplifting. And others? Well, they just help me to feel "normal" because, like me, they just want to feel like they are reaching the "outside world", but not on a "political crusade."

Does that make sense?

And, I especially love the ones that use more run on sentences than I do because then I don't feel like the lamest person on the earth who should have flunked English instead of getting an A or B.

Which would be why Little Mark's Uncle handles the Writing subjects in our homeschool.

Thank you very much and AMEN.

So, if you feel like trying something new, you might give these other blogs a try. :-)

http://thebigmamablog.com/

http://boomama.net/

http://www.fiddledeedee.net/

The above three are the very first blogs I ever started reading. I don't even remember how I found them, but I just love them. :-)

http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/

If you haven't heard of Ree Drummond, AKA "Pioneer Woman" then let me introduce you. :-) I began reading her blog in '08 or '09, can't remember. It started when someone recommended her "love story" she had entitled "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels". I thought it was very fitting. :-) She was putting on her blog, a chapter a month I think. At least it felt that way when you were waiting for the next chapter! Yes, I was one of the women waiting at the computer in my PJs on Saturday morning when she said the new chapter would be up by 8:00 am.

I have no life; thank you for pointing that out.

(You can now purchase it in book form, here) Or her cookbook here.

OR her children's book here.

I have read them all, and own the cookbook. (LOVE the cinnamon rolls and chocolate sheet cake.) OH, and the jalapenos. (Sweet mercy, they are AWESOME!) I do make one change to the recipe though. I throw in a bag of real bacon pieces instead of wrapping it in bacon.

Did I mention the are AWESOME? I also make a change to the cinnamon rolls which you can read about here.

The woman can do it all. And she homeschools and runs a cattle ranch with her husband. Did I mention they are also turning Black Heels to Tractor Wheels into a movie? Yep, they are. Ree will be played by Reece Witherspoon. If she has said who is playing her husband I must have missed that post, but I have some great suggestions. :-) OH, and she will have her own show on Food Network very soon. They already filmed the episodes.

I want to be Ree when I grow up.

I have to admit, I don't read PW everyday anymore, because HELLO, there is a lot there. But, it is informative and fun. And, she still writes like she always has, even though now she's "famous."

OK, more links:

http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/

This one is fairly new to me, but I am loving it. :-)

http://www.thethriftymama.com/

Again, fairly new to me, but great info.

http://daeofourlives.blogspot.com/

I love reading my friend, Amanda's blog. :-)

http://cozylittlecabin.blogspot.com/

And my friend, Vera's blog. :-)

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

This one is also new to me, but I LOVE the craft projects she shows. I especially want to make THIS.

http://juliesthoughtstothink.blogspot.com/

My friend, Julie, is always uplifting and inspiring. :-)

There are others that I read and recommend, but I'll stop here for now. I hope you enjoy them, and find something that interests you. :-) I know they will appreciate new visitors, just as I do. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's a list....

Goodness gracious, I can't believe I've let so much time go by since I posted, AGAIN!

Actually, I can... and I really have no excuse except that I don't feel I have a lot to say that would be all that important to someone else. And, I'm lazy, but that's beside the point.

Actually, I have had a lot to say, but since I try not to post anything "overly political", or use the blog to "vent" too much I tend to not post anything. I guess it's my blog, and I should get on my soap box if I want to, but I'd prefer this to haven of good things for me, and for others.

Oh, I do tend to get sentimental and nostalgic, and that's quite acceptable, but I just don't want it to be a place of negativity. And, I guess I've been looking more at the negative than the positive lately. I need to work on that.

So, here is a list of the positive, sentimental, nostalgic... not negative stuff I've been thinking about lately. :-)

1. My Young Living business is going really well. :-) I'm learning a lot about using the natural oils for healing, and I'm finding great success with what I have personally used. I'm walking without pain, have more energy, and I've even lost a few inches. But, best of all, I'm able to share it with others and they are having success as well, without the high cost of doctor bills. :-)

2. Little Mark and I are almost finished with the 8th grade. :-)

3. I am almost prepared to Home School High School, and I'm no longer overwhelmed by it.

4. Have y'all been playing on Gardens of Time on FB? It is relaxing. It's the only app I play, and doesn't take long during the day. Not one I would become "addicted" to, or have to keep up with lest I should "lose the crops, etc." But, it's a nice, occasional break from reality.

5. God has truly, truly blessed us the last couple of weeks. Need to praise Him for that.

6. Season 2 of Haven is back on!! :-)

7. Friday Night Lights has ended, and the final episode was wonderful. Still get teary eyed when I think about it.

8. I've been thinking about redesigning my blog. Still not quite sure about it.

9. Little Mark won the 4-H scholarship for record book keeping for the second year in a row. :-)

10. He missed going to state by 1 place. I count that as a great accomplishment, since this was his first year to qualify for state.

11. I'm contemplating joining the church choir.

12. I'd really like to take a day and tank full of gas and just drive around and take photos all day. :-)

13. I cannot wait for the movie "Courageous" to come out in September!!! :-)

14. There are 155 days until Christmas! :-)

There, lets end it on a really happy note. :-) I plan to be back tomorrow with a list of blogs I follow pretty faithfully. :-)

Okay... maybe Sunday. Or Monday... SOON!! :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's been awhile....

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have blogged!!! Mercy! Things are so busy. Looks like this will be a random list. Please forgive me.

We are still doing school. We go year round and take several breaks throughout the year. As a matter of fact, 8 days from now begins a two week break for us. One is a family "staycation"; as in we won't be going anywhere, but the siblings have the week off from work and we don't do school. :-)

Well, that's not entirely true. We do plan to go to the zoo one day.

The week after that "Little Mark" goes to youth camp for a week. (Do you hear the Angels singing Hallelujah?!") :-) I get a whole week break. :-)

I have been posting at my YL blog, so if you are at all interested in using Essential Oils to help maintain your health, or help manage illnesses, please take a look. :-) We are so pleased with the successes we have had.

It is HOT!!

We had Vacation Bible School last week. We did the Big Apple Adventure. LOVED it. ;-) I was in charge of Missions for the 4th-6th grade. This is my 3rd year to do Missions. I really enjoy it. I hope to do it again next year.

I do plan to shower early and watch the Mavs beat Miami tonight. I'm thinking nachos are in order.

If you are at all interested in visiting East Texas you might want to check out this magazine. You can also find it in a hard copy if you are anywhere in East Texas. :-) I love that Neal McCoy is in the very first issue.

Did I mention it's HOT?

Our school year should end in August, and begin... in August. ;-) I've already picked my curriculum, and only have a couple to buy, so I'm set there. I've decided to go with MONARCH this year. Only for the subjects we already use Switched On Schoolhouse for though. So, no major changes.

I'm sure y'all are finding my list fascinating. :-)

I do have several recipes I need to share with y'all. I have been so horrible I can't even remember the last time I linked to the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.

Again, did I mention it's HOT, and I've been busy?

Hopefully this didn't bore you too much. I think I'm going to take a cold shower and get ready to watch the game. Y'all stay COOL!!

Love,
Wendy Darling

I love "throw together" meals...

Don't you just love a meal you can throw together in one skillet? You just heat, add a salad and eat. ;-) That was lunch today. And it was good. I used a new ingredient, the Savory Garlic Cooking Cream. Yeah, it was VERY good. :-) Here is the recipe I, literally, threw together. You can change any of it to suit your needs/use your leftovers. :-)

Veggie/Chicken/Spaghetti Thing - great name, don't you think? LOL.. ;-)

Left over spaghetti from last night's meal. (or cook any pasta you wish)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 bag steam fresh veggies - I used the mixed veggies with the corn, peas, carrots and green beans
about 3 tablespoons of the Philadelphia Cooking Cream
1 can of chicken breast, drained
1 small tomato, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
about 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
dried parsley - to garnish

Place skillet over medium high heat. Put in soup and a couple of large tablespoons of cooking cream. Add about 1/4 cup of water and stir together to break up the soup. Add the leftover spaghetti and coat in the "sauce." Put the veggie bag in the microwave and cook according to directions. Stir spaghetti to keep from burning, and keep it heating through. Add veggies when they are done, as well as the chicken, tomatoes and salt and pepper. . Heat everything through, stirring often. When it is hot turn off the heat and add the shredded cheese and parsley. Serve with salad. :-)

Best part, 1 pan to clean up. I don't really measure anything, so that's even less dishes. :-) Enjoy. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

I have a business blog...

Well, things have been busy around here. :-) "Little Mark", finally, finished Texas History. He's on the tail end of his 2 week break, and then it's back to school.

We only have one more 4-H competition to prepare for. He has until July to get his record book ready. He participated in the District photography contest and received 2nd place in 2 categories, so he moved those photos on to State.

My Young Living business is growing, in baby steps. I'm learning a lot, and having great success with the oils I have used. :-) I started a blog, just for the oils, so if you care to take a look at that feel free. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Happy Valentines Day...

.... or, as several of my friends refer to it, "Happy Singles Awareness Day."

Because really, what does Valentines Day do except force couples to buy each other cards, flowers, candy, and jewelry, and tell each other they love them on a specified day of the year. And make Hallmark and Whitman's a bunch of money.

OR, it just points out the fact that single people are.... I don't know.... SINGLE more prevalent.

But, I'm not bitter. Really.

Seriously, I kid about the last part. I believe I have stated that I am happily single, knowing that God is in charge of my life, and until He sees fit to include someone else in that plan, I'm content to be single.

But, I can't lie and say it doesn't bother me, occasionally. It does. I think that's only human.

Which makes me wonder about those women, and men, who aren't content with their lives, or who don't believe God is in control of it. Or the ones who think love is only proven with jewelry, chocolate, or roses.

Last week my Sunday School lesson was about HOW we truly show someone we love them, as well as WHAT love truly is. In the words of DC Talk, "Luv is a Verb." It's an action.

The greatest show of love was when Jesus died on the cross for us. THAT was love in action. The proof that that love still lives is when He arose 3 days later. The love of God is the greatest love I will ever know, or ever need.

But, that doesn't mean I don't need to feel love from humans. And we all receive that differently.

I recently took the quiz for the "5 Love Languages", again, and my answer came out differently this time. I always thought my love language was "Words of Affirmation" and "Acts of Service". They are still high on the list, but the one that got the highest score was "Quality Time."

I can see that. I would much rather spend quality time with someone than receive gifts. As a matter of fact, "gifts" didn't score at all on my test. Not that I would not appreciate them, but they just don't "show me the love" that 2 hours of uninterrupted time would, or a note telling me something nice about me.

Or someone scrubbing a floor so I don't have to. Now, that's love people. :-)

So, what about you? What's your love language? What's one thing someone can do for you that would show you how much they love you?

And, if you want to "show me some love", let's sit down and play a card game, or some dominoes together and just have fun. :-)

But, I wouldn't turn down the chocolate or roses should you desire to bring some along. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

"I've got an oil for that..."

This very well may become my new mantra. Seriously, I believe I have uttered this phrase at least a thousand times over the last 3 days.

Ok, maybe not a thousand, but I have said it A LOT. And with good reason. ;-)

I have not mentioned it to many people, but I am now an Independent Distributor for Young Living.

Relax! There is no need to run and stop reading; this is not a sales pitch. However, for me, it is turning out to be a blessing in disguise. :-)

I believe I have mentioned SEVERAL times before that I lack heavily in the "health insurance" department. (i.e. I have none.) Hospitals and doctors kind of frown on that sort of thing. So, I have been looking for "alternative medicine" for quite some time now. A couple of my friends (THANK YOU "J" and "V") shared these oils with me.

Oh. My. Goodness! So much information. It took me several weeks of looking at the website and doing some research, but I finally decided this sounded like something that could help my situation, and it was natural. So, I ordered one of the starter kits and waited for the first opportunity to try it out.

It didn't take long. The first day was spent smelling the oils and reading about each one and how it could help us. That very day I used one on my sore ankle and within a minute or so my pain was gone. Mom was stuffy, so we used the peppermint oil and she has been breathing easy ever since. :-)

The nephew has slept through the night, treated warts and "been energized" with a few of the oils. When I was deciding whether or not to try them I asked myself: 1) Is it cost effective in the long run, and 2) Does it work. Answers: Yes, and Yes. So, I decided to give it a shot. AND, in the long run, it's cheaper than a doctor/hospital/pharmacy visit.

OH, and don't even get me started on the all natural cleaner. Heavens to Betsy!! It's a Godsend.

AND, did I mention, it's cheaper than going to the doctor?! :-)

Did this sound to much like a sales pitch? Sorry about that. I just got excited about the millions of ways these oils can help me. I'll have to see if there is one for chronic exaggeration. ;-)

Anyway, in the last 3 days anytime someone has mentioned any sort of physical ailment I immediately respond, "I've got an oil for that, " and I run to my trusty oils and the info book/catalog. :-) It kind of reminds me of the character in Holes that always says, "I can fix that." LOL... ;-)

Just thought I'd share.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Chance for $500 Visa gift card...

Melanie over at Big Mama is giving away a $500 Visa gift card, sponsored by Swanson's Broth. You may find all of the info HERE.

Love,
Wendy