2008-Mar-11
My shopping for the week.......
Okay ladies, here is how it went yesterday with the shopping.
Since we were on vacation last week, we knew that we could use some of our budget money for food and gas this pay period, for the trip. We did really good sticking to the budget. But as expected, we "dipped" a little into this week's money. Things are fine, but just made things a little "interesting" to cover everything.
So, for this week, Jeff had $150 for everything I needed to do. It goes as follow:
Sarah's piano lessons ( for the month) $40
Gas for the week ( not a tank full, lol ) $35
Car wash ( very needed with the salt and such) $10
Groceries ( for just this week) $66 ( $10 was for a SMithville ham for Easter dinner coming up !!! It was only $ .99 a lb !! )
Total for all ................................$ 151 !!!!!
Only $1 over what Jeff had given me !! I did it !!!! I pretty much can deal with whatever he has to give me and it makes me wonder why I need as much as I do on the pay periods where I get my "whole" budget amount. I could be saving some for this year's Christmas already.
The week's menu goes as this:
Monday: Chicken patty sandwiches, chips /dip
Tuesday: Homemade sauce with spaghetti and garlic toast
Wednesday: Sausage, eggs, and biscuits
Thursday: Pork loin chops, rice and veggies
Friday: Home made tacos, chips w/ dip
Saturday: ????
So there it is. I also bought what was needed for sandwiches, salads, and snacks for the week. Of course breakfast items were included in this trip also.
That's it and I am sticking with it, lol !!!
... Pat ...
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2008-Feb-21
Tennessee: Calls Needed to Stop Testing Bill
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
February 21, 2008
Tennessee: Calls Needed to Stop Testing Bill
Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
We need your help now! Tennessee homeschoolers are facing the most
serious threat to their freedom since the homeschool law was enacted
23 years ago.
House Bill 2795 would subject non-public school students, including
homeschool students, to additional state testing. It would require
them to take subject matter tests based upon state-approved textbooks.
It would also require them to pass the Tennessee comprehensive
assessment program tests before receiving a high school diploma. These
new testing requirements would also apply to students being taught at
home through extension or satellite programs of church-related
schools. Your calls to state representatives are needed to stop this
dangerous legislation!
If House Bill 2795 passes, it will essentially mean the end of
homeschooling in Tennessee. Parents deciding to teach their children
at home would have to conform their curriculum to the material taught
in public school in order for their children to be able to pass the
state tests. The Tennessee Department of Education, not parents, would
determine whether a student taught at home was eligible to receive a
high school diploma.
Sponsored by Representative G.A. Hardaway (92nd District), this
horrendous bill is now in the House Education Committee. It is
scheduled to be heard by the Special Initiatives Subcommittee of the
House Education Committee this coming Wednesday, February 27.
Representative Hardaway and members of the House Education Committee
need to hear from you today!
Action Requested:
(1) Please call or write (both would be better) Representative G.A.
Hardaway and at least one member of the House Education Committee with
this message:
"Please oppose House Bill 2795, which would impose public school
testing on non-public school students. This bill would effectively
destroy non-public education in Tennessee by requiring private
schools, church-related schools, and homeschools to adopt the public
school curriculum for their instruction programs."
The contact information for Representative Hardaway and members of the
House Education Committee is set forth below. Members of the Special
Initiatives Subcommittee which will hear the bill on Wednesday are
indicated by an asterisk.
If your last name begins with A-I, please call the following members:
*Chair Les Winningham,
(615) 741-6852
*Vice-Chair Tommie Brown
(615) 741-4374
*Secretary Joe Towns, Jr.
(615) 741-2189
Harry Brooks
(615) 741-6879
*Jim Coley
(615) 741-8201
Barbara Cooper
(615) 741-4295
If your last name begins with letters J-R, please call these members:
Dolores Gresham
(615) 741-6890
Beth Harwell
(615) 741-0709
John Hood
(615) 741-7849
Phillip Johnson
(615) 741-7477
Ulysses Jones, Jr.
(615) 741-4575
*Ron Lollar
(615) 741-7084
If your last name begins with letters S-Z, please call these members:
Mark Maddox
(615) 741-7847
Michael McDonald
(615) 741-1980
Gerald McCormick
(615) 741-2548
Richard Montgomery
(615) 741-5981
Larry Turner
(615) 741-6954
*John Mark Windle--Chair of the Subcommittee
(615) 741-1260
To find the name and contact information for your state
representative, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at
(2) Please forward this email to other homeschooling families who are
not members of HSLDA and ask them to contact Representative Hardaway
and a member of the House Education Committee as well.
To view a copy of the bill, go to
If you have any questions or concerns about that this bill would do,
please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.
Sincerely,
Dewitt T. Black, III
HSLDA Senior Counsel
... Pat ...
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2008-Feb-20
Wednesday Morning at our Place....
Well, it is still February and I am getting Spring Fever !! I so want to plan out a garden for this year. I am not sure how much I could handle by myself, along with the girls, but I sure would like to try something.
I only need my husband to help me get the ground ready and I think us girls could handle the rest. I do not want to add anything else to his " to-do" list then what he already has.
I am also thinking that I would like to add in some blueberry and blackberry bushes up near our barn. We have some black berry bushes there already and I got quite a few off of it last year. We have someon who lets us come and pick blueberries at their place, but I would love to be able to have my own. Stawberries would also be nice. I wonder if my FIL would want to "revive" his patch this year. We may have to start over with it.
On the veggies garden, I would like some beans, a few different kinds, some peppers, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and maybe squash. I am going to start checking into this.
I like the "raised garden" idea that I have read about. I think that would be better for us. I am even thinking about putting some things in "garden boxes" sort of like flowers to have closer to the house. Maybe the peppers and tomatoes. I know that I am going to start a herb garden like that for this year.
Well that is what is on my mind this morning. Do you have any advice to share wth me? Leave it here for me to read.
Thanks,
... Pat ...
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2008-Feb-17
My Sunday here at home....
It is very rare for me to be on the computer on Sunday's. Not that I think it is wrong or anything. I just usually don't have the time.
It is very strange for me to be home on Sunday from church and not be the one sick in the bed. Just the thought of missing services brings tears to my eyes. Every Sunday I go expecting to see God move and work in our services and to know that I might miss this, is just more then I want to think about. God has been good to our church and He blesses us each time with the words He gives our pastor for us to hear.
Today, when I was planning to be at church, I was to make a pot of soup for fellowship lunch. Today was to be soup and sandwiches. I am making "15 Bean Soup". Now with two having stomach aches, I am thinking that this pot soup is not exactly what they need to be eating. But it smells so good and I just put a pan of corn bread in the oven. I am going to eat it and I will offer them something else for their lunch.
I could send a big bowl or two over to my FIL when my husband goes today for a visit. He is doing so much better and is getting along so good. I am so thankful that the Lord worked quickly is his healing and that he is doing as well as he is so soon.
This morning, I got up and opened the blinds on my 'double doors" in the gathering room. They over look the deck and the lake. I wish you all could have been here to see the beautiful sun light just shinning across the lake and reflecting into my room !!! It is but just a reminder of hoe great our God is and how blessed we are the He allows changes in our "seasons". This morning is just a sign of His wonderful promise that "this too will come to pass" and a new "season" is coming. A time for new beginnings, a time to start anew and fresh. I just love seeing Winter, (dark, cold and dreary at times,) live out and welcome the beginning of Spring. I have already started the cleaning out and freshening up of my home. It is also a good thing to do for my soul, my being. A time to look at where I am with God and His things in my life. A time to re-do or do different, things in my life for God, my family and myself.
Yep, I just love this time that is coming. I am so blessed to be able to even live on a piece of land, that I can look out over it and see God's hand even in the landscape, the mighty things that He has created for His glory.
Days like today you have to say --" ....Praise the Lord: for His mercy endureth for ever. 2Chron 20:22
... Pat ...
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2008-Feb-13
Crazy Days....Crazy Weather......Crazy Life......
It seems that my moutain of laundry in the only thing that I can count on these days, lol !! I can count on it being there everyday, that is.
No really, I am just busy doing laundry and house cleaning of sorts. My daughters are busy with school work. Today we are working on Spelling and History the most. It seems that we tend to put these two subjects to the side and forget about them.
The weather here is just crazy, ( as noted in my title). Last week it was quite warm some days and yes, we had the tornadoes touch down right here around our place. We were blessed and not even a blade of grass was misplaced. But right down from us, the destruction begun. Over 100 trees gone and houses without roofs are all around.
Now today, it is very cold, it is trying to sleet or snow and I do not think it is going to warm up like they plan. I believe we are still down around 25 degrees here at noon. The wind chill is even colder.
Here in the home, I am already getting Spring Fever !! I know that by next month, that "season" of change will hit me and I will be wanting to change things up a bit around here. There are some rooms that I would love to paint totally different then what they are right now.
I have some material to make some cutains for my family room. I could go ahead and get started on that now, no need to wait. I also need to get started back on my quilt. Yes, that is right, I did not finish my quilt top from my class last year. I am going to finish it before I let myslef sign up for another class.
Would you believe that when I came down so sick in January, I laid my homekeeper notebook to the side, thinking that I would finish it as soon as I was better. Well, it is February 13 and I have not picked it back up yet !!! I can't believe it. I have made out my Menu for the month, but I have not completed anything else in it. *** Note to self---finish homekeeper binder*****.
Well, it is time for me to get back to things around here. I have a few things to get done before I sit down for lunch. I also forgot to mention that now the Kris has some new jobs around here, I have been moved up to "Manager of Homeschool Nations". It is pretty much the same work, but here the last few days, I have been a bit busier. We are really looking hard to fill the last few open blogs and it takes a little time to get the paperwork done. I really love the job and everyone is so great to work with. Stop by sometime and have a look at what is going one over there.
Have a good, warm day at your place.
... Pat ...
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