If only it were this easy. Take the test and see which candidate meets your criteria. Click the link below. I had to read a little about mine since I hadn’t heard of him. Mark says he may not have a chance and I should have a back-up plan, ha ha. Have fun!

Choose a candidate for 2008.

There are so many reasons why we homeschool. I added another one just this week. I realized on Saturday just how completely my mostly public education failed me in the area of reading and literture. I know that my parents tried to compensate, and I’m not sure that the elementary teachers are really to blame. The books I remember reading and enjoying the most were read during those early years.

I ask you, how can a person finish a “Survey of British Lit” without even reading one chapter of Jane Austen? any Jane Austen? Charles Dickens? Sir Walker Scott’s “Ivanhoe”? This is the book that brought me to this realization. I’m now reading “Ivanhoe” so that I can discuss it with my 4th grader. Sadly, he’ll probably finish it before I will. I told him that if he wasn’t careful he’d grow up to be a bibliophile, to which he replied “I already am a lover of books”. There’s just something about a well told story.

Two books we will never read in this school: The Heart of Darkness and The Lord of the Flies.

What will we be sure to cover in the coming years: Jane Austen, Alexander Dumas, James Fenimore Cooper, Sir Walker Scott, Gene Stratten-Porter, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop, The Brothers Grim, Charles Perrault, Padraic Colum, Longfellow, Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lewis Carroll, Pearl S. Buck, Robert Lawson, Tennyson, Ian Flemming, GA Henty, A.A. Milne, James Daugherty, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Richard Atwater, Eleanor Estes, Lois Lenski, Elizabeth George Speare, E.B. White, Rudyard Kipling, Booth Tarkington, Jules Verne, Edward Lear, Elizabeth Montgomery, Gary Paulson, Ester Forbes, Laura Ingles-Wilder and more of the Bible…. this should keep us busy until middle school.

What have we already read? Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Black Beauty, several Marguerite Henry books, the Hobbit, Strawberry Girl, Red Sails to Capri, Betty MacDonald (Mrs. Pigglewiggle), Elizabeth George Speare, Rudyard Kipling (Captain’s Courageous), versions of Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island), Jean Lee Latham (Carry on Mr. Bowditch) – a wonderful book for all ages, a beautifully illustrated copy of Gulliver’s Travels by Swift, countless picture books and the Bible.

We are currently reading “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann Wyss. In parting I leave you with this poem.

A Book by Edgar Guest

“Now” – said a good book unto me –
“Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine,
Gold and silver in every line,
And you may claim them if you but will
Open my pages and take your fill.

“Open my pages and run them o’er,
Take what you choose of my golden store.
Be you greedy, I shall not care –
All that you seize I shall gladly spare;
There is never a lock on my treasure doors,
Come – here are my jewels, make them yours!

“I am just a book on your mantel shelf,
But I can be part of your living self;
If only you’ll travel my pages through,
Then I will travel the world with you.
As two wines blended make better wine,
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.

“I’ll make you fitter to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen,
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek,
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak –
This place on your shelf is a prison cell,
Let me come into your mind to dwell!”

Rock, Paper, Scissors… Oh My!

My sister-in-law had this neat little on-line “personality” test on her web site today. YIKES! Can it be that all my work to soften the edges of my Type-A personality over the years has been for naught?

You Are Rock

Powerful and overbearing, you intimidate people with your presence. People know they can’t push you around, and they respect that. Deep down, you are calm, confident, and unmovable. You take everything pretty seriously, and you think deeply about all aspects of your life. You tend to feel smothered by paper people. You don’t mind crushing the spirit of a scissors person. When you fight, you: Use all of your strength. If someone makes you mad: You’re likely to throw something at them.

This last part is totally not true! I haven’t thrown anything in years. And I’m not a spirit crusher!!

Claire has finally introduced herself to her traveling buddies. Yesterday she gave the frog a good swat and was thrilled when he jingled. It’s hard to believe that she’s already seven weeks old today.

Born July 12, 2007
9 lbs. 15.6 oz.
22 1/2 inches long

Wilson’s a fan of the “rock-n-roll” as it were. I believe that some of his favorite artists are: Johnny Cash, Bon Jovi, REM (though he doesn’t know that’s their name), Steely Dan and Bruce Springstein. What a boy!

Sophie has a more eclectic taste, somewhat like mine. She’s been enjoying “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. She also likes “Bouncing ‘Round the Room” by Phish. Some other favorites of hers include: Bruce Springstein, Elizabeth Mitchell, Bon Jovi and LeAnn Rimes. And you should hear her rendition of Gianni Schicchi as done by Hayley Westenra, … oh my goodness. You may know it better from the “A Room with a View” soundtrack.

Sam definately has his own taste in music. He enjoys a couple Neil Young songs from the Harvest Moon Album. He also likes: They Might Be Giants (especially “Birdhouse in your Soul”), Go Fish, Bruce Springstein’s “We Shall Overcome” american folk songs, Justin Roberts, Bon Jovi and Phish. The funniest thing I’ve heard in months…. Sam singing “Don’t You Want Me Baby” by The Human League after a “lost in the 80’s” weekend on the local station.

I am sensing a common thread or two….

Nichole challenged me, and I was so distracted getting ready for our vacation, I didn’t even know it. I’m supposed to write 7 random things about myself that most folks might not know. Hmmmm?

1. I was an original Duran Duran fan, with posters on the walls and everything. This is a fact about which Mark, Phoebe and many others routinely give me a hard time.

2. Until our beach vacation at Topsail Island last year, I was NOT a big fan of the beach. I don’t like “sand in my shoes” or anywhere else for that matter. But…. seeing the kids REALLY enjoy the beach changed my feelings.

3. I played tennis all through High School and would love to take it up again. Happily… Sam, Sophie and Wils think that they would like to try it.

4. I don’t really enjoy eating out very much and prefer to eat at home. I love to cook and don’t mind the cleanup, but am REALLY happy when Mark wants to do that.

5. I actually own, and use, an iPod. My brother cheerfully pointed out that I’ve only used a fraction of the capacity….. but I do use it.

6. At one time I thought I would go to Med School, but I’m so glad I didn’t do that. I much prefer my current circumstances-no matter how hectic.

7. I don’t like to fly over large bodies of water. So, the chances of my seeing Paris, or Hawaii, or Austrailia are very slim. I’m not sure there are enough sedatives….

Walker Family Vacation….. more to come soon.

It’s been a hectic month and I’m 5 recipes behind posting. They’ve been tried, just not posted. The Creamy Jalepeno Cheese Grits and the Pecan Oatmeal Bars will definitely be repeated. Wonderful!! Here are a few photos of what we’ve been up to in the last month.