The temps are in the 90's during the day, the sprinklers are hard at work this morning and our TV meteorologist tells us that there are already tropical storms out in the Atlantic .
Summer is here!
Even though our normal school routine is over for a few months, summer is still a busy time and I still love using the slow cooker. We also love to cook on the grill a lot during the summer months. Grill cooking is a favorite of mine too, since it usually means that I have a helper willing to do the grilling for me! :)
Thirteen years ago, our homeschool journey began. Two years ago, we graduated our first homeschooled student from high school, painstakingly planning, in great detail, the perfect homeschool graduation ceremony. (You can read a little about it here: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/LakeLady/56311/ ) It was a beautiful thing. Surrounded by 80 of our closest friends and family, we celebrated with a slide show featuring pictures of the graduate from birth on - complete with sentimental music (...wasn't a dry eye in the place), catered food, centerpieces, cake and a diploma presentation featuring encouraging words from the pastor.
Fast forward two years and our son is now graduating from high school. As we did with our daughter, we allowed him to choose the type of graduation ceremony he wanted. Cap & gowns with other grads, private ceremony like his sister's...? Not a chance! And what a blast we had!! Here is a pic of our grad (top right) with his sister and the "principal" enjoying part of his "graduation ceremony."
Congrats Class of '09!!!
For more "Show & Tell Friday" visit Canada Girl's Blog. The pictures and stories you'll find there are amazing - not to mention, entertaining! :-)
Last weekend, my daughter and I had the opportunity to take a somewhat impromptu road trip. It all started when my mom and her hubbie, who were wintering here in Florida, had an emergency and had to fly home to Illinois, leaving their Airstream camper, truck and two little dachsunds behind. Any pet owner can imagine how hard it was to leave those two little doggies, not knowing how or when you'd be able to get them back home to you.
(Rusty and Spike)
Since we had a free weekend and a couple of extra days, my daughter and I decided to help out. We picked up the truck, trailer and doggies, and off to Illinois we drove. Five states and about a thousand miles later, we arrived - safe and sound! Praise the Lord!
So in honor of our road trip... here are the top 10 things you should know about traveling with weiner dogs...
10 - Eight tiny weiner dog legs can move faster than two somewhat longer human legs.
9 - Extendable pet leashes extend at a very rapid rate.
8 - Choke chains may sound like a cruel device, but they really work.
7 - Two small dogs at a full run can come close to pulling a human arm out of its socket.
6 - A cool feature of extendable pet leashes is the retraction button.
5 - Two 10-15 lb. weiners can drink double their body weight in water every 100 miles or so.
4 - Two small boy dogs can each find at least 10 assorted trees, bushes and various other items to 'water' at any given rest area if given ample time to do so.
3 - Weiner dogs talk! (They sound a lot like Snoopy on the Peanuts TV specials.)
2 - Over the course of 1000 miles and 2 days, a weiner dog will ask, "Are we there yet?" at least a million times.
1 - Weiner dog tails are capable of wagging at speeds in excess of 200 mph when reunited with their Mommy!
We flew home.
(LakeLady, Sami and Grandma) For more "Show & Tell Friday" visit Canada Girl's Blog. The pictures and stories you'll find there are amazing - not to mention, entertaining! :-)
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Hope you get lots of love and attention on this special day!
Here is a pic of a stuffie I made for a swap entitled, "Valentine's Stuffie" on Swap-bot.com. We had to make an original stuffie at least 5" tall with a valentine's theme. My kitty turned out rather goofy - in a lovable sort of way, but Mona, the gal I sent him to - loved him!
It was just like any typical Sunday morning around our house...or so I thought!
I had been up, had the coffee brewed and the roast in the crock pot, when the next item on my morning agenda was to let the dogs out for their morning, pre-breakfast romp. Gracie our older doggie, was easily located in her usual place - the pillow bed where Sami tucks her snuggly each night. However, Scout was not in his usual place - the basket in the boys room. I softly called his name and whistled...searched under the beds...on the beds..in the closet...in the other bedrooms...the zone...the laundry room...
Even though our kids are older and can put themselves to bed on a Saturday night, I still usually tuck everyone in at night before I go to bed myself - just because I enjoy it. :-) But the previous evening had been different for me and I came in from my studio, worn out and just managed to get myself in bed, much less the kids and dogs!
Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone? Oh where, oh where can he be....
It is so unlike Scout to not be right there up under the feet of his beloved family. And while I wouldn't worry about our old girl Gracie if she were left outside (she's a smart dog and can handle herself in just about any situation), Scout, on the other hand, would get himself into trouble...easily! I could just imagine him trying to make friends with that wild coyote that's been living in the woods near here, or attempting to play with a skunk or a porcupine...or worse than all - taking a midnight swim with the GATORS!
It was as if he had vanished!
As the morning progressed, everyone got up, had breakfast, dressed for church....and still no Scout! By now we're all worried!
So the search party was deployed...picture search lights in the night sky, sirens wailing, pilots scrambling to their aircraft...
Ok...in reality, Sami took her bike out and rode a mile or so and we walked around the property. And that's when we heard it...at first a soft sound from the lakeside...and as we walked closer, a whimper ...then a moan.....coming from my locked studio! You guessed it! Mom had locked her little one in the studio over night without even knowing it! (Chalk up another "Senior Moment" for mom) Scouty must have fallen asleep while I worked and not heard me leave the night before. Bless his little heart...and he was a good overnight guest too, didn't even get up on the couch!
Reunited once more with his family, this is one happy little pup...
The Sandhill Cranes arrive in October and leave us sometime in early spring, but we certainly enjoy hearing their haunting cries and seeing their playful antics as they feed in the cow pastures while they're here!
For a close up of one of these pretty birds, visit here:
Where, oh where, did she go?? Was she accidentally locked away in a neighbor's shed? .....Trapped in someone's garage? ...Or...maybe even holed up and hiding out in the barn on the hill, awaiting the departure of the two little weiner dogs who were visiting us? Only Mac, herself, knows for sure...and she's not talking (...not a word, other than repeatedly telling me her name..."Maaac - mmmaaac"). All I know is that after four days, her mommy was happy to see her once more!
I knew I was in for a wonderfully marvelous treat when I opened the mailbox and there sat a beautifully decorated package with the cutest, happiest drawings...
As I turned the box over and over, examining every surface, enjoying the mini art gallery from my mailbox, I heard one of the twins - with the slightest hint of impatience (or maybe it was just anticipation) in her voice - say, "Mom, I'll bet there's something special inside that box too."
...and there was!!!!
My secret sister had sent the most beautiful hand-made gifts! There were two adorable Christmas ornaments - here's a pic of one of them...
(Isn't that pretty? It's like a quilted pinwheel with a jingle bell in the center.)
...and a GORGEOUS apron!
Apparently, my secret sister is an amazing seamstress! And I love, love, love the fabric and the colors!
I was just saying the other day, how my apron had been displaced to my studio (where it now enjoys a paint-stained life) and how I needed a new one for the kitchen! (Admit it, don't you just feel so ultra-domesticated like super-mom when you're wearing an apron? )
Finally, I enjoyed so much reading the Christmas card that was included in the package, and learning more about my sister. Wow, 3 children under the age of 5 and a business to run! My SS is not only an incredible blessing to me, but a very blessed lady!
- that our daughter, who was home alone Monday afternoon, kept a level head - calling 911 and evacuating herself and the dogs from the house by the time we were able to get home.
- that the firefighters were able to extinguish everything without anyone being hurt.
- that our house, only 30 feet from the shed that burned, had only minor damage.
- that I had just left with my van, which is usally parked between the two buildings.
- for neighbors who kept their hardware store open late and lent us tools to fix our melted pipes so we could have water that night.
- that we are insured and they are giving us replacement value on everything lost.
- for unfortunate events like this...because they open our eyes to everything that is really important to us and line our priorities back up the way that they should be.
For more "Show & Tell Friday" visit Canada Girl's Blog. The pictures and stories you'll find there are amazing - not to mention, entertaining! :-)
Although, in crew, the official regatta season isn't until spring, we enjoy several events in the fall too. The latest of these was the "Head of the Hooch" regatta in Chattanooga, TN.
We had the most beautifully perfect weather for the event and, in addition to watching the races, were able to enjoy seeing some fall color (which is a real treat for us Floridians), grilling salmon and steaks outdoors for the team and their families, getting in some hiking time, and even visiting a museum located on the waterfront.
What a great weekend!
Our son's boat - as it passes under the bridges and approaches the finish line.
For more "Show & Tell Friday" visit Canada Girl's Blog. The pictures and stories you'll find there are amazing - not to mention, entertaining! :-)
Welcome to my lazy little place on the web. A place to slow down and take an occasional break from the everyday routine.
About Us...
My sweet hubbie took the quirky little picture you see above. Contrary to what it may seem to indicate, the kids and I are not usually found sitting around together looking like sardines packed in mustard sauce. We were actually loaded up in our little space capsule at the St. Louis Arch - ready to ride to the top! Now THAT was a cool field trip!!
When we're not on field trips, you'll find us living our dream on a lovely little lake in the Lake Region of N. Central Florida - with lots of cows, horses, raccoons, opossums and gators for neighbors (...there are a few humans as neighbors too!). We're in our 14th year of homeschooling, and even though all of our homeschooling children are now high schoolers, we still enjoy the eclectic, hands-on, literature based learning style that we always have. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, and to Him, alone, we give all the praise and glory!
Soli Deo Gloria!!
Sunrise on Lake Winnott
Live...Love...Laf...
...my illustration blog
(click on little Laurie to visit)
My kitty, "Mac" (short for "McDermott")...go ahead and pet her!
Believe in God and you’ll believe in miracles; believe in His Son and you’ll experience one!
Logic ridicules love, and love smiles knowingly at the whole foolishness of logic.
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams
We Miss You Nellie
Schaunell Camrin Bryant 1992-2007
Our niece, cousin and good friend.
Verse - A - Day
The Steps of a Righteous Man...
are ordered of the Lord.
Eddie, an awesome & blessed man.
There are those who say it can't be done -
That your dreams are too big and your hopes too high.
They must not know the size of the God you serve.
Keep believing!
~ Nancy Parker Bummett
“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”
We are...
...a Christian family desiring to raise our children with the primary focus on Training their Hearts!
III John 1:4
"I have no greater joy, than to hear my children walk in truth."
Proverbs 22:6
"Train up the child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it"
Deuteronomy 5:29
"Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always,so that it might go well with them and theirchildren forever!"
Train up a child in the way he should go— but be sure you go that way yourself.
The character of our children tomorrow depends on what we put into their hearts today.
(LakeLady, Sami and Grandma)
My sweet hubbie took the quirky little picture you see above. Contrary to what it may seem to indicate, the kids and I are not usually found sitting around together looking like sardines packed in mustard sauce. We were actually loaded up in our little space capsule at the St. Louis Arch - ready to ride to the top! Now THAT was a cool field trip!!
When we're not on field trips, you'll find us living our dream on a lovely little lake in the Lake Region of N. Central Florida - with lots of cows, horses, raccoons, opossums and gators for neighbors (...there are a few humans as neighbors too!). We're in our 14th year of homeschooling, and even though all of our homeschooling children are now high schoolers, we still enjoy the eclectic, hands-on, literature based learning style that we always have. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, and to Him, alone, we give all the praise and glory!
Soli Deo Gloria!!
(click on little Laurie to visit)
Eddie, an awesome & blessed man.
