tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201475632024-03-13T23:54:37.984-07:00Kitchen-Table LearnersI'm a homeschool mom writing about life in general, my son, my hubby, my pets and home education.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.comBlogger646125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-29794438639360584482009-11-11T12:56:00.001-08:002009-11-11T13:03:52.245-08:00Historic Trees in Your Back Yard!Thomas and I discovered something very cool today. You can buy seedlings from famous historic trees. There is a nonprofit conservation organization called American Forests, and they produce seedlings you can buy for $39.95. You can buy a Gettysburg Address Honeylocust, Edgar Allan Poe Hackberry or an Elvis Presley Southern Magnolia. I think we'll pass on a Suicide Live Oak, though. How about a Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-56655333471405458072009-11-04T22:22:00.000-08:002009-11-04T22:26:51.214-08:00GettysburgAnyone studying the Civil War, specifically Gettysburg?We have stumbled upon a fantastic blog that we are reading daily. It's also full of videos of licensed tour guides. It's almost as if we're there! Lots of information, about individuals and battles. Check it out! The funny thing is we're not studying the Civil War this year. Well, we are now, but we studied it last year. Thomas found this Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-72925929602047655222009-09-26T19:24:00.000-07:002009-09-26T19:36:24.286-07:00The Unfaithful BloggerI have had just a heck of a time when it comes to blogging. I used to love it, post way too often, about all kinds of things. Now? My mind just turns to mush when I think of blogging.After Dad's death, I guess I just had a major shift. I haven't gone back to where I was before, I've found a new way of living. And that includes not bloging, apparently. I guess my emotions are still somewhat raw Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-20059961112800192052009-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:45:04.512-07:00Countdown to 8th GradeI am fight, kicking and screaming as I am just not ready to start school. We've had a very busy summer, got a lot of things done, yet I still have a lot of projects to complete. We start September 8th, so I still have a tiny bit of time. I am looking for volunteer opportunities for Thomas. So far I have not had any luck. In the past, we have volunteered at our local Humane Society. I'm not to Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-9744747239129816472009-08-15T15:12:00.001-07:002009-08-15T15:39:18.432-07:008th Grade School PlansI used to really enjoy planning out our year. Now? Not so much.I've got spelling, writing and punctuation mapped out. We'll do a punctuation book half the year and then our grammar book the other half. I need to get the rest put together today and tomorrow. Here's the plan for this year:Spectrum Writing Grade 8I bought Jensen's and Spectrum, and we'll cruise through the Spectrum workbook. We'll Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-42248465302478130272009-08-12T16:22:00.000-07:002009-08-12T16:29:21.740-07:00My Printer DiedHomeschoolers can't survive without a good printer. At least this homeschooling family can't.In 1995, when I was a court reporter, I spent over $1,000 on a HP LaserJet 4Plus. Lots of money. It printed fast, a whopping 12 pages per minute! lol It was solid, it was good, and it has printed hundreds of thousands of pages.Monday I sat down to plan school, and when I went to print out my home-made Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-67014165255461459482009-08-09T20:28:00.000-07:002009-08-09T20:39:17.795-07:00Tooth Fairy and BracesThomas is 13 and 10 months. He has two baby teeth left, which he has been desperately trying to pull. He is getting braces. We have the final consult next week. If the teeth are not gone, they'll have to be pulled.Tonight, one came out. Yay.I said, "Honey, I have some bad news for you. There is no such thing as the tooth fairy." He rolled his eyes and said, "Moooooooom!" in a Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-41815372351571868792009-08-04T19:51:00.000-07:002009-08-04T20:07:59.094-07:00Oh, I'm BaaaadWe had to run to Wal-mart tonight because we were out of milk and cereal. We did our shopping and went to buy the goods. One line was open, so we got in it.There was one lady in front of us and she was standing there arguing with the teller. I loaded my stuff (way more than milk and cereal, why is that?) to the belt and then tuned in, as the argument continued.PS Teacher: But these were 9 cents Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-74140774300080326662009-08-03T12:27:00.000-07:002009-08-03T12:31:51.038-07:00August Already?!?!!!Where has the summer gone?I am mostly recovered from the surgery. We've been working on a big project: our back yard. We dug up the grass and weeds in the dog run area, which is about 35x25, and laid 4 ton of river rock. It makes doggie doo-doo cleanup so easy! That was a lot of work, and Bob is now replacing the back door. All our school books have arrived and are sitting on my kitchen counter Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-85006412089272160472009-07-17T17:20:00.001-07:002009-07-17T17:32:43.024-07:00Today Was Surgery DayAnd I lived through it.At the moment I'm pain free, a little doped up, a lot tired, and snacking on Sierra Mist and crackers.It's rough having a same-day surgery when they kind of shove you out the door so quickly. I didn't feel like leaving, I was so tired and my tummy was upset. I threw up when I woke up, and an hour later they had me eating crackers and Sprite. Then she said it was time to go.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-76928051836623713402009-07-10T12:35:00.000-07:002009-07-10T12:42:22.431-07:00Happy Birthday, TeslaSince I haven't blogged for so long, many may not know that this gorgeous flower is named Tesla. Bob, the electrical engineer, named him after one of his favorite people: Nikola Tesla.It's not our dog's birthday, but it is Mr. Tesla's birthday. Has anyone hit Google today? See the top with the electricity? It's a Tesla coil. That would be one very cool homeschool project! Anyway, if you run your Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-23883789699098257382009-07-05T11:20:00.000-07:002009-07-05T11:24:56.182-07:008th Grade Reading ListOur 8th grade reading list:To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee*Robinson Crusoe, Daniel DefoeOf Mice and Men, John Steinbeck*Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte*The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom*The Good Earth, Pearl S. BuckFlowers for Algernon, Daniel KeyesAnimal Farm, George OrwellThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,Douglas AdamsThe Hobbit, J.R.R. TolkienMy Life in Dog Years, Gary Paulsen * and other Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-73203044636905733772009-07-03T19:16:00.000-07:002009-07-03T19:31:59.196-07:00Pepin, WisconsinLaura Ingalls Wilder's birthplace.Not the original cabin, this was built in the 70s. This is the site of her home, though. No longer surrounded by Big Woods, but by corn fields. There are still a lot of woods in the area, though.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-43942391896784047482009-06-24T21:56:00.001-07:002009-06-24T22:19:08.245-07:00Update: FrankieEmotionally: Lots better. I'm still not fully recovered from everything, but I am so in a better place. I still get weepy when I see old men in jeans with black tennis shoes. I cried the other night at our town parade when the WWII vets were driven by. I miss my Dad. Yet, life goes on and so have I. I trudged along like I was walking knee-deep in water, then got a little closer to the shore, andFrankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-56989608201370719692009-06-24T21:07:00.001-07:002009-06-24T21:19:30.744-07:00Update: Bob and the DogsWhy not lump a husband in with the dogs? He'd appreciate my humor!Bob: Nothing new. Same old. Still enjoying his job, although he's very, very busy at work at the moment. He's been my rock through everything. We'll be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this September. I cannot remember life without him. I know I wouldn't have fared as well without him. Our precious Apollo and Tesla--they Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-47229075140991204612009-06-24T20:33:00.001-07:002009-06-24T20:48:13.306-07:00Update: ThomasThomas has completed the seventh grade. He has grown up so fast this past year it amazes me. He is one inch shorter than I am. It is very strange standing and being able to look him in the eye. He seems so old now. Not that 13 is old, but he is maturing quickly.At this very moment, he's away at summer camp. The first day he was gone, I missed him fiercely. Now I'm fine, knowing he's having fun. Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-48401313934725253402009-06-24T20:15:00.000-07:002009-06-24T20:17:47.188-07:00They're BackSaid to the tune of the sweet little girl in the movie Poltergeist!I've done a bit of tweaking to the old blog here. Like the monkeys? We're not monkeying around, though! We've been busy.Will give a long overdue update tomorrow!Frankie =)Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-32497626450665995062009-03-18T21:06:00.000-07:002009-03-18T21:08:14.770-07:00MarchIt's March, it's spring fever time. We're in middle school, not too exciting to blog about.I think I'm going to take a blog break for awhile.I'll be back after awhile, when I feel inspiried to write something, anything.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-75326382314942383472009-02-27T20:59:00.001-08:002009-02-27T21:00:46.833-08:00FebruaryEven this poor old snowman is sick of winter.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-440623656729401532009-02-10T12:28:00.000-08:002009-02-10T12:30:30.582-08:00Heat WaveWe've had a mini heat wave in our neck of the woods. It feels lovely! We were out and about Sunday, it was the high 30s, and none of us wore coats.Our back yard is a soupy, wet mess today. This is how I found my doggie this afternoon.Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-24216137880696346552009-02-02T05:56:00.000-08:002009-02-02T06:02:45.219-08:00Don't Cry Over Spilt MilkWhoever coined that term never had to clean up a brand-new gallon of milk from their refrigerator. Yesterday Bob bought two gallons of milk to last us through the week. One leaked all over the entire fridge. We noticed milk dripping on the floor late last night.What a mess. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. I have a great fear I missed some somewhere and it's going to stink to high heaven.This Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-38494824478225175612009-01-25T08:31:00.000-08:002009-01-25T08:37:36.004-08:00TaggedSummer Fae has tagged me. RULES:1. Link to the person who tagged you.2. Post the rules.3. Write six random things about yourself.4. Tag six people.5. Inform the tagees and the person who tagged youRandom Things About Me:I love coffee and drink it all the time. I make one pot of half-caf in the morning and drink decaf the rest of the day. I use just a pinch of fat-free half and half. I must Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-11021835101646043742009-01-22T19:34:00.000-08:002009-01-22T20:00:20.821-08:00Wash Day BluesGuess what my dear, sweet son wore today? I wish I had snapped a picture of it. He wore his very old jeans that are too short. Shin short. High-waters, as I used to call them. He didn't know what that meant. These jeans were meant to be thrown out because they have holes in them. Fortunately, they were hidden in his closet. We never did get to his room in the big clean-out.Why?My washer is only Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-28034639747770775492009-01-19T21:53:00.001-08:002009-01-19T22:09:14.069-08:00HopeTonight I am almost giddy. I am so proud our country has finally seen beyond race. I am so proud to be living through this wonderful, historical event. Mostly, I am so full of hope.Tomorrow our school day will be spent watching the television. I told Thomas that he can tell his grandchildren about the day, what he was wearing, what he was doing, and the hope that his mother had. I asked my Frankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147563.post-20091558289396634182009-01-12T15:27:00.000-08:002009-01-12T15:45:11.495-08:00Snow DaySchools were closed all around us today. Our school was not. Thomas and I spent a good portion of the morning listening to Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History But Never Learned by Kenneth C. Davis. We are really enjoying this. We did not download this to the Zen, rather we're just listening through our Audible manager. What's really fun is Thomas willFrankiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443594220588498332noreply@blogger.com6