The Witch of Blackbird Pond

 Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Learning All the Time Favourite Resource Link Up. 



This week ...

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Laurel Leaf (May 15, 1978)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440995779
ISBN-13: 978-0440995777
Sonlight: Core D

I kind of raised my eyebrows at this book when we first received it from Sonlight.  The word forbids us to have anything to do with witchcraft and here they send me a book with this title.  I felt a little bent out of shape over the title and after a little hesitation I choose to trust their choice and read the book outloud.  I am so pleased that I did as this book brings back many happy memories of reading out loud with my teens.  It's a sit on the edge of your seat in anticipation book, full of great illustrations of wrong perceptions and commited friendships.

Follow Kit Tyler, orphaned and on her way to live with her Aunt in Connecticut.  Kit's journey goes ary from day one when she dives over board to rescue a childs toy and rumours of her in the community begin. Feeling deeply out of place in the Puritan household of her Aunt she soon befriends another outcast who is considered a witch by most. Whereupon innocent acts soon find her on trial for witchcraft.

Many of the places in the novel are actual places in Old Wehtersfield, Connecticut.

Reviews:

• "The book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality." The New York Times 
• "Rarely has a book taken us back into seventeenth-century life as this does." The New York Herald-Tribune
• "Strong plot, fully realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative." Booklist, ALA 

Mc Graw Hill Education has an excellent site with a 22 page Study Guide (FREE) in PDF format for you to download.  Simply choose your state (there is an international option) choose to use as a student/parent and search other books.  Excellent site worth bookmarking.

This book is available from:  Book Depository UK, Book Depository COM, Amazon, Fishpond.

Blessings

The Sea Shepherd

We joined some fellow home schoolers for an outing and tour of the Steve Irwin last week.

I asked about their logo which is rather controversial and discovered that it is based on pirate lore.  It takes a pirate to catch a pirate.  The fork represents Neptune's Navy, the shepherds crook those who care for the oceans fauna and the skull is part of their aim to catch the pirate.

I have always been under the impression that Sea Shepherd were a part of Greenpeace.  I learn't that they parted ways in 1977 hence the 77 on their ships.  Their history makes for some interresting reading.

Our guide (whose name I can't remember) is a former ice road trucker was excellent.  He was engaging funny and relevant to the age of the students.

Sir N enjoying being at the helm

The ship is covered in amazing works of art. Most of the staff on board are volunteers.  A few of the professional staff are employed.

The diet on board is Vegan. All staff sign an indemnification when boarding.  They acknowledge that it could be dangerous and they could loose their lives while on board and in pursuit of a whaling ship.

When in the arctic zone all staff working outside have to wear the orange suit.  The orange is for visability. It helps them to stay warm and will protect them if they fall in the water.  The water is so cold that you would die within three minutes if you had no protection.

They have a chopper on board and have a policy to always help when asked for helicopter assistance.
The chopper is stored in a hange on the top deck.  It takes three crew 15 minutes to have her fully operational.

This particular ship was renamed the Steve Irwin with Terri Irwins blessing."Steve Irwin's life demonstrated how one person can make a significant difference in the world," said Watson. "Steve wanted to come to Antarctica with us to defend the whales and now he is able to join us in spirit with his name emblazoned on the fastest and most powerful whale protection ship in the world." - The Fleet

We had a wonderful morning on board and enjoyed the sight of Melbourne from the deck.  So if you are in Melbourne make some time to come down to the quay and have a look around you wont be dissappointed.


Blessings
Chareen

More on the web

• Sea Shepherd.org
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
• Sea Shepherd Australia
• Sea Shepherd on Flicker
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook

Sea Shepherd's Flagship the Steve Irwin.

The Steve Irwin is currently docked in Williamstown VIC, at Seaworks located on Williamstowns Waterfront, at Pier 82, Nelson Place.

Free tours and donation stall are on Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM to 5 PM.

HSMJ - Permission to Pin

In my life this week…

With all the hype in the blogging world over Pinterest on whether to pin or not to pin I followed a link from All Things Beautiful and I read Do You have Permission to Pin over at Corkboard Connections and decided to give official permission for people to pin from my blog.

I took the plunge this week and started a Facebook page so if you are on Facebook I would love to connect with you and chat.  Please pop on over and like the page and say hello. 

I met some new bloggers and enjoyed surfing the www. I struggled about whether or not to do a product review after I discovered that they wanted life long advertising in exchange for a 90 day use of their site.  What would you have done ? 

In our homeschool this week…

• We went to see the Sea Shepherd. (post on this adventure tomorrow)
• Played with lego and built all sorts of amazing structures.
• Completed week 16 of Core K and Science A.
• Watched episode three from the The Private Life of Plants.
• We finished the book Eggs and Chicks. 
• In the Internet-Linked Children's Encyclopedia we read about plants, Victorian Era and Dolphins this week. We used their Quicklinks page to view a few sites on Dolphins.
• We are still enjoying Dr Doolittle 
• While reading The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose I have noticed that Sir N is starting to understand the subtle innuendo when I am reading these poems to him.  It's so cute listening to him giggle at the funny bits.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Sarah over at Amongst Lovely things has posted a post titled Ruth Beechick 101. If you are a little worn out and in need of some encouragement. Head on over and check out Sarah's post.
• Rebecca over at Mom's Mustard Seeds has written a well balanced post on how she decided on their method of homeschooling.  This is a great article to share with new home school Mums and veteran Mums alike.  There is a Method To our School at Home.
• Are you homeschooling in New South Wales (Australia) ?  Would like a little insight into how to do your exemption? Pop on over to Rendezvous Junction where you can look at Miss Z (high school) registration, Master J documentation (Year 7) and Miss E Year 1  You can view pdf's of the process and what to submit.

I am inspired by…

• My bloggy friend Jo.  Jo bloggs over at Princess Warrior Lessons and suffers from hashimotos-disease and this week had to make a very difficult decision to send her boy warriors to school due to complex health issues.  Jo has blogged about this heart rending decision and as a result of this majour change is experiencing many feelings and has asked for support.  Please pop over and encourage her during this hard time. 
• Stacy over at Your Sacred Calling who has two great posts recently: Worldliness: Don’t Walk as the Gentiles… and Serving God in the Mundane

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• Last week Saturday evening I joined my father, brother and his kids for a train trip to Etihad Stadium to watch a rugby match.  We watched a match between Wales and Australia.  Australia won by the skin of their teeth in the very last seconds of the match.  It was nail biting and so much fun. It's been at least 30 years since I last joined my Dad for a ride on a train to a match. 
• Monday saw us visit my sister and help her on her newest adventure which just happened to be my favourite thing this week!
• On Tuesday we joined some fellow home educators and went for a day trip to see The Sea Shepherd.
• It has been too cold to venture out for the rest of the week so we have been enjoying our centrally heated home.
• My Mom came over for a cuppa.

My favorite thing this week was…

• Helping my sister start her new blog.  Maryleen has been blessed with an artistic gift and I love to see the things she has made or the things she is currently working on.  I have been encouraging her to start a blog and share some of her creations.  The result is Cherished Moments in Time. Please pop on over and welcome her to blog land.

What’s working/not working for us…

• not making it to the library to stock up on books for our next adventure on Expedition Earth.

Questions/thoughts I have…

• What are the sorts of things you like to see shared on Facebook pages ?

Things I’m working on…

• Heee Heee Meme started by Victor with the intention of spreading laughter and hilarity throughout blogland. I was tagged by Vicky and reminded of my need to add a post by Erin.
• Back in April Jennifer from Little Homeschool on the Prairie tagged me in a Good Random Fun Meme.  

I’m reading…

•  Strangers Passing Judgement over at Seven Little Australians.
• Cream of the Crop by Erin about an Australian History living book series which has whet my appetite.
• Fit for Photography by Peter Lik. 

• Friendship sound advice over at Mrs Clark it's about blogs tea and me. 
• The daily 7 for a highly successful household over at Totally Together Journal.
•  Time Management for Moms over at Totally Together Journal.
• Starting a Family Game Night  over at Totally Together Journal. It's not about winning or losing. It's how you play the game. - Grantland Rice.  This post has a great breakdown of family games in three sections: Preschool Games(No reading required), Young School-Aged Children (but still fun for older kids/adults) & Older Elementary-aged children to adult.

I’m cooking…

• Soup.  It's cold here and the time of the year for old fashioned crock pot cooking and soup.  Got any favourites you like to cook ?
• My husband cooked some trout in the barbeque /smoker.  Can't wait to try out the new flavour. 
• I found a great blog via Pinterest  called A Year of Slow Cooking.  I am keen to try use some of her recipe's. The recipes have been listed in two ways: The Entire Year, in order OR Table of Contents, A Year of Slow Cooking.

On Pinterest I found...

• Plenty of Photography tutorials.  This is my latest adventure and I am really enjoying learning how to use a DSLR camera.
• One of my newest projects is looking for home school helps in teaching Character.
• Sir N has been enjoying playing with his lego.  Pinterest has some excellent practical ideas for you.

I’m grateful for…

•  Great friends who support and encourage me.  For my new blog friends who inspire encourage and coach me on this blogging journey and the ones who are donating e product for a blog birthday give away.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Break Free from Your Mold Zenos Frudakis 2000

Blessings

This post is linking to:
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
The Homeschool Chick

The Home school Mother’s Journal began as a single post on a Friday morning over at The Homeschool Chick, and turned into a link-up for homeschool mothers across the blog-O-sphere to share a piece of their journey with one another each week.

The link party has moved and is now hosted over at iHomeschool Network and is open from Friday to Monday so join me in The Homeschool  Mothers Journal and lets encourage one another on our homeschool journey.