10 Days of .... Blog Hop Encouragement comming up

When I first started my blog I shared about 10 days of ...... blog hop over at Confessions of a Home Schooler and was really impressed with the content, encouragement and variety as well as the realness of the ladies who posted.

I was poking around on Heart of the Matter Online and found out that they will once again be having a 10 Days of ..... Blog Hop begining on Monday.

Collage of Contributors.

Introducing the Authors:

Jimmie from Jimmie’s Collage, Jenny from Planner Perfect, Kris from Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers, Sally from I Take Joy, Christine from Fruit in Season

Courtney from Women Living Well, Amy from Raising Arrows, Heather from Blog, She Wrote, Brenda from The Tie That Binds Us

Jenn from Daze of Adventure, Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler, Maggie from Bright Ideas Press, Cindy from Our Journey Westward, Amy from Milk & Cookies

Amy from Cajun Joie de Vivre, Kendra from Preschoolers and Peace, Montserrat from Chocolate on My Cranium, Toni from The Happy Housewife, Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds

In anticipation of some Home School / Motherhood / Wifehood encouragement.

7 November 2011 As the 10 Days posts go live I will Update the list below:

Be sure to visit these during the 10 days adventure between November 7th-18th!


Blessings

Treasured Moments 9

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Seeing Sir N delight in his new swimming lessons at Paul Saddler Swimland and conquer his fear of standing on the small step to jump into the pool for which he received a BIG effort certificate.

2.
Seeing Sir N enjoy a day out 4 x 4 with us and our camping trip to Mansfield.

3.
Being blessed by Miss J who bought some groceries for me when I was feeling too sick to do anything. 

4.
Having my first born Mr T offer and cook dinner on Thursday night for the family.
5.
My order of Elsie Dinsmore books arriving from Christian Book.com.  My set is now complete. 

6.
Being encouraged by a few blogs.

7.
Discovering Memory Balls on Sue-Ella Signature Designs blog.  I'm in love with this piece of jewellery and would love to bless my Mom with one as well as my Mother in law.


To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting Treasured Moments 32 using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings

Today I was encouraged

some Encouragement to your mail box

I have been feeling really really ill this week.  Somehow I managed to get the flu as well as a gastro bug.  I was sitting here feeling rather sorry for myself and decided to do a little bit of blog hopping. (OK the little bit turned into a few hours BWG, and my favourite part was listening to Paul read Heidi out loud to Sir N and hear Sir N begging for more.  Ah that sound warms my heart.  A living book proclamation!)

I have also decided to import my posts from GEMS 2 TOTS and delete the GEMS blog.  I have spent some time contemplating what to do with this blog and decided I would rather have it all under one roof.  What are your thoughts ??

 I feel really encouraged now and thought I would share a few things I found on line:

Home School Burnout / Encouragement.

• Home Schooling should be Joyful over at These Temporary Tents by Aadel great thought provoking questions on motive.
• The Burden of Home Schooling over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle
• Home School Burnout over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle.  Has a lot of practical ideas and thought provoking questions.
• It's Not All Up To Me over at Kerugma by Susan
• Wisdom from a Homeschool Veteran over at Homeschooling Downunder by Michelle.
• Candid Conversation with God over at Confessions of a Homeschooler by Erica
• Are you a Mummy Martyr over at Doves Rest by Renelle
• Unschooling Successes and other Failures over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky
• Giving yourself permission to STOP over at Serenades and Solace by Alecat
• Cultivate your Soul

Home School Mums Reading List

• Recommended Reading for Home School Mums over at Kerugma by Susan. 
• Self Education over at Educating Mother by  Renelle.
• Who's Teaching Who ? over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky.
• A Color befitting Mother Culture over at Moments with Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.
• Seeds of a good Attitude over at Moments with Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.

Family Worship

• Training our Children to Worship over at Home Education Foundation by Craig and Barbara.
• Family Worship - Let Kids Lead ? over at The Better Mom
• Our Family Bible Study over at Kerugma by Susan. Susan has provided us with a list of links around her great site.
• Teaching our Children to Study Scripture over at Women Living Well by Courtney
• What does God have to say about Learning and Teaching over at Doves Rest by Renelle.
• To Teach or Not to Teach the Truth over at Creating with Wisdom by Vicky
• Memorising Scripture The Simply Charlotte Mason Way over at Practical Pages by Nadene

Marriage

• Is the grass Greener in other Marriages? over at The Better Mom by Courtney
• Honey the house is on fire over at Women Living Well by Courtney
• How important is date night to your marriage over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney.

About Blogging - Motives of the heart.....

• What I learned at Relevant Conference over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney. I enjoyed reading Sally Clarksons quotes.
• The Biggest Disappointment of Relevant over at Women Living Well Ministries by Courtney. Courtneys quotes really inspired and encouraged me.
• Awards & Stats over at Kerugma by Susan.
• Watch my own heart ... not be idle ... my weakness over at Kerugma by Susan. I too have struggled with this and still do ....

Children

• What do my children need from me over at Doves Rest by Renelle
• What fruits would you like to see over at Hunter Home Educators by Renelle
• Education is an Atmosphere over at Seven Little Australians by Erin.
• Turning off the screen over at Seven Little Australians by Erin

Source Blogs

• These Temporary Tents
• Homeschooling Downunder
• Kerugma
• Confessions of a Homeschooler
• Doves Rest
• Creating with Wisdom
• Serenades and Solace
• Educating Mother
• Moments with Mother Culture
• The Better Mom
• Women Living Well
• Practical Pages
• Hunter Home Educators
• Seven Little Australians
• Home Education Foundation

Blessings my friends may you be as blessed as I have been by the Titus 2 woman who are out there willing to share their journeys with us.

Bran Rusks

In preparation for the long weekend away my mother made some of the family favourite rusks. Rusks are a traditional South African dry biscuit which is dunked in your tea and eaten or it can be eaten as is.

Ingredients:

This recipe is from one of my mothers recipe books. It was submitted by J. Schmidt from Pretoria and can be found on pages  281 & 282 of The Housewives League Cookery Book published in 1976.

Favourite recipes submitted by the
members of House wives League
1975 / 76 

1.5 kg (3 lb) self raising flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
250 grams (8oz) margarine or butter
1 packet of hi bulk bran
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups cooking oil
500 ml buttermilk





Method:

Combine all dry ingredients and rub in butter.

In a separate bowl combine eggs, buttermilk and oil.
Add to dry ingredients.

Mix till soft dough is formed.

Form balls from about a heaped tablespoon of mix.

Pack rolled balls in baking dish.

Bake for one hour in a 180 'C (350 'F) oven.

tip out onto a tea towel. Put another tea towel on top and tip over.
Using a sharp knife separate balls and lay onto trays.

Lay in single layer and return to oven on coolest setting to dry out. 
My oven was 100 'C and took about 3 hours.

Store in an air tight container and enjoy with a cup of tea.

This post is linked to:


Enjoy

Treasured Memories 8

Do you find yourself falling into a pattern of daily grind, skipping the 'fun' activities because you don't have time or lack energy?Do creative arts, nature walks, drama, read aloud or spontaneous acts seem only a distant dream in your life?
Yet these Treasured Moments shared with loved ones uplift us, nurture our soul, remind us of the beauty and joy in our lives.
We want Treasured Moments for ourselves, for our children, for our families but how can we make it happen?
... Commitment ... Encouragement ... Support ... Ideas ... Plans.

I invite you to join us every Saturday and share your plans and ideas, your targets and goals and your stories ... your 'Treasured Moments'. In this way we may inspire one another, encourage ourselves and start achieving our dreams. Hosted by Erin at Seven Little Australians and Counting

My Treasured Moments this week are:

1.
Watching Sir N succeed at floating on his back during swimming lessons.

2.
Enjoying the anticipation of going away for the long weekend here in Victoria.  Tuesday is Melbourne Cup Day and we are leaving tomorrow to join extended family for three days up at Mansfield where Paul is intending to spend a day fishing and Sir N and I will join my dad for a 4x4 adventure.

3.
Watching my oldest rose Mr T connect with his younger cousins and brother one afternoon. 

4.
Seeing the pleasure it gave Paul to be involved with the Gorilla translocation from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo yesterday.

5.
Seeing my second rose Miss J hand in her final project for her Cert III in Children's Services.  Can't wait for graduation.

6.
Baking home made rusks (recipe to come) with Sir N and cousin Miss A with Granny in preparation for our trip away.

7.
Today I had fun redesigning my blog look and was blessed by Shabby Blogs tutorials and free images.


To join in you are welcome to add your post on Seven Little Australians and Counting using the Mr. Linky form (please link to the individual post) and include a link back to Erins post. If you haven't a blog we would still love to hear your voice, just leave your stories in the comments.

Blessings

Robert Gallagher Quote

Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed.
~Robert Gallagher

Hanging Rock

When we completed Week 5 with Sonlight we took a day trip to Hanging Rock. It always amazes me how things just happen to fall into place when we need them!  We learned about mountains that week and Paul not knowing this suggested we go for a day trip to Hanging Rock.  It was so much fun seeing Sir N experience walking up a 'mountain' clambering over big rocks and learning what his own capabilities are.  Go N!

Hanging Rock Tree Stump Carving.

When we arrived we had a look at this Manna Gum tree stump.  This tree was over two hundred years old when it was struck by lightening and came down. Rather than remove the stump that had seen so much history the council commissioned Tim Jones in 2006 to create a sculpture with the remaining stump.   The carvings took him three months to complete.

Enjoying how far we could see from up high.

On our way down we had a look around the information center.

It was a wonderful day out in the sun and watching Sir N discover the beauty of seeing far and wide from up on a mountain.

Blessings

Kransky Potato Bake

Pin It

I love simple but tasty meals.  This is one of my favourites and is good value for money.



Kransky Potato Bake with green Salad

Ingredients:

Cheese Kransky Sausages (400 grams / 5 people), Potatoes, Butter, Parsley.

Method:

• Pre heat oven to 180 'C (356 'F)
• Peel Potato and slice
• Slice Sausages
• Layer Potato and Sausage finishing with a layer of potato
• Sprinkle with parsley and a couple of dubs of butter. (to make this dairy free simply give a lite sprinkle of olive oil)

• Bake for  1 hour with lid on.
• Remove lid and grill till golden.

Serve with your favourite garden salad.

Blessings

Friday's Art

In week 3 of Core A from Sonlight it suggested we work on cutting out skills.  I am so greatful for Sonlight's little suggestions as I find there are some things I just forget I need to let Sir N practice and this is definately a big one for us.  Sir N has not had a lot of practice using scissors so I went and got out the ABEKA Art Projects K4.(Available from Light Education Ministries in Australia.) I really like this book as most things are supplied with in.  All you need in the cupboard is some poster paint, string and glue and you can complete all the projects in the book.

Sir N finds the cutting out a little over whelming due to his lack of skill so I cut some and he cuts some and as his skill grows he cuts out more.

The bee's wings move.  We used a spit pin to attach them.

Sir N enjoyed making and wearing this pilgrim hat
The finger puppets were lots of fun too.

It was fun speaking about seeds and why they come from plants.
Sir N enjoyed mixing colours for the lion and pasting cotton wool on the mane.

Last week at Art co-op we used The Usborne ART Treasury and learned about Henri Matisse who used scissors and paper to "draw with scissors" when he was too ill to stand and paint.  Then we used scissors and glue to make our own pictures.

So don't forget to get the scissors out and build your cutting skills.

Blessings

A Garden Project

We started with a garden of weeds ..........

This is what I saw whenever I walked out my front door.  :'(  and with spring here in full swing I really wanted to do something positive about it. 

In September we attended the Sustainability Expo where we were given three native bush plants courtesy of the City Council.  Fragrant Saltbush (Rhagodia Parabolica), Blue Flax-Lily (Dianella Revoluta) and Austral Indigo (Indigofera Australis) and I had plenty of good intentions of planting them out within the week. 

One month later and D-Day arrived today when we got home after a very BUSY day.  Firstly we gathered all our things

Daddy helped us to get some compost from the compost bin out back, it was great being able to finally show Sir N what becomes of all those scraps he keeps having to ferry to the compost bin. Next we added Thrive fertilizer and dug it through the soil.

Sir N was not happy at all about having to do prep work! Have to work on ATTITUDE around here. Working with a happy attitude is not that easy and from the conversations with my friends it comes with the territory of being six years old.

Then we did the fun part planting our seedlings

Today we planted Fragrant Saltbush (Rhagodia Parabolica), Blue Flax-Lily (Dianella Revoluta) and Austral Indigo (Indigofera Australis). Along the back we planted a row of Cosmos (These are my Mom's favourite flowers. I must confess I love the blooms too they remind me of Africa where they grew wild along some roads and would have the most beautiful show in April.), Lobelia and some carrot seeds.

Mmmm this watering can is a little heavy....

Now when I come out my front door I see .....

I am looking forward to the day when they have all grown and are in full bloom.

When ever I do little projects like this with Sir N I am reminded of what my friend Mrs S used to say to me:  " You can credit card parent OR you can savings account parent! it's up to you what results you want." 
Credit card parenting is so much easier.  You do it all yourself there is no training, very little time "wasted" but boy the interest you gain in a lazy child is not worth it in the long run.
 Savings account schooling takes time as you spend a long time preparing, coaching, checking up on them and working on attitude and the positive returns are really worth all the extra time it takes to do things now.

Galatians6:8-10 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
 9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [[a]morally] to all people [not only [b]being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].

So my friends do not grow weary as you train your children at home.

Blessings