3 months ago
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
tamale dinner
It's exactly 36 hours before I leave town and I'm hosting a tamale dinner for 8 in 1 hour!
11 tamales
1 lb shrimp cooked up and served over mushroom ravioli w/ a Old Bay butter sauce
1.5 lb mixed veggies
some Shiner beer
maybe a salad
maybe some wine
11 tamales
1 lb shrimp cooked up and served over mushroom ravioli w/ a Old Bay butter sauce
1.5 lb mixed veggies
some Shiner beer
maybe a salad
maybe some wine
Monday, September 28, 2009
Are you concerned about your daughter's clothes?
Are you concerned about the lack of modest clothing available for you to pick from when buying clothes for your daughter? Then consider signing this petition to the Council of Fashion Designers of America: http://www.secretkeepergirl.com/Bod_Squad_Petition.aspx
If you aren't willing to do that, then at least consider shopping at the top 3 'modest clothing' retailers during October 23 & 24th - Old Navy/Gap Kids, Lands' End/Sears, Children's Place - and let them know why you are shopping with them on those particular days.
If you aren't willing to do that, then at least consider shopping at the top 3 'modest clothing' retailers during October 23 & 24th - Old Navy/Gap Kids, Lands' End/Sears, Children's Place - and let them know why you are shopping with them on those particular days.
Dr Laura
I'm liking Dr Laura's post for today : http://www.drlaurablog.com/2009/09/28/when-students-dont-make-the-grade/
Blueberries
I learned this today "Did you know that mixing blueberries with protein powder (or milk proteins) causes a reduction in the antioxidant potential of the blueberries? When making superfoods, avoid combining blueberries and protein (especially milk proteins)."
This means that while it's a good thing to add blueberries to your granola with milk or yogurt (or ice cream), you aren't getting as much goodness from those blueberries as you could. So later in the day go ahead and have a another handful of those blueberries but this time have them plain to better utilize all that antioxidant goodness.
This means that while it's a good thing to add blueberries to your granola with milk or yogurt (or ice cream), you aren't getting as much goodness from those blueberries as you could. So later in the day go ahead and have a another handful of those blueberries but this time have them plain to better utilize all that antioxidant goodness.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
12 reasons (of many more) to Homeschool
Passed on from another blog: found at http://highereducation-mama4x.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-12-reasons-to-homeschool.html
1.) Have control over the material your child learns. Worldview included!
2.) Decide with your child the depth and duration of topical studies. To skim the main ideas or to delve into the deepest detail of whatever topic!
3.) Never again be a slave to the school year or the school day: go to the grocery store and the amusement park when you want to, not the same week as everyone else!
4.) Be the major influence in the shaping of your child, instead of his peer group!
5.) For the ability to take advantage of all the opportunities for interesting, character-shaping talks with your child as they arise.
6.) Delight in the fact that your children will be able to interact and converse with all age groups, not just their own.
7.) For the fact that your kids will be able to investigate "community helpers" and business owners in person, instead of through a worksheet.
8.) To know your child can answer the questions of strangers and relatives with more than a few noises or a noncommittal shrug, that they know the reasons behind decisions and how to enunciate them.
9.) For the freedom to educate the way you see fit- be it stringently organized and monitored or loosely flowing from skill to skill.
10.) For the community of similarly-believing families and the support that comes from those who understand the difficulties and joys of such a lifestyle-shaping choice.
11.) For the joy of spending each day with the children you love and observing them as they journey to adulthood.
12.) For the assurance that no other teacher could ever care more or try harder than the one your children had... you.
1.) Have control over the material your child learns. Worldview included!
2.) Decide with your child the depth and duration of topical studies. To skim the main ideas or to delve into the deepest detail of whatever topic!
3.) Never again be a slave to the school year or the school day: go to the grocery store and the amusement park when you want to, not the same week as everyone else!
4.) Be the major influence in the shaping of your child, instead of his peer group!
5.) For the ability to take advantage of all the opportunities for interesting, character-shaping talks with your child as they arise.
6.) Delight in the fact that your children will be able to interact and converse with all age groups, not just their own.
7.) For the fact that your kids will be able to investigate "community helpers" and business owners in person, instead of through a worksheet.
8.) To know your child can answer the questions of strangers and relatives with more than a few noises or a noncommittal shrug, that they know the reasons behind decisions and how to enunciate them.
9.) For the freedom to educate the way you see fit- be it stringently organized and monitored or loosely flowing from skill to skill.
10.) For the community of similarly-believing families and the support that comes from those who understand the difficulties and joys of such a lifestyle-shaping choice.
11.) For the joy of spending each day with the children you love and observing them as they journey to adulthood.
12.) For the assurance that no other teacher could ever care more or try harder than the one your children had... you.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
not technically
So technically, President Obama was tutored at home each day by his mom to supplement his public school education. He was NOT homeschooled.
But it's still cool that she went to that effort to give him a superior education.
But it's still cool that she went to that effort to give him a superior education.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
empty house
The kids are off at PE for another hour, I've vacuumed, done some more laundry, the dishwasher is unloaded, Joe's off at an appointment and now I'm sitting here enjoying a guarana soda in my solitude (the old leaky dog in the laundry room doesn't count).
Dinner tonight at church - the first of the fall semester - baked potatoes.
I think I'm going to sit and knit for a bit.
Dinner tonight at church - the first of the fall semester - baked potatoes.
I think I'm going to sit and knit for a bit.
POTUS was homeschooled!
Check out this quote from President Obama's speech yesterday:
"When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
Let's look at the stated facts: she taught him herself, every day for 2 hours before he went to the local school and before she went to work. Sounds like homeschooling to me!
Read the transcript yourself if you don't believe me! I had to since I couldn't believe my ears when I heard him say it during the speech! http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
"When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."
Let's look at the stated facts: she taught him herself, every day for 2 hours before he went to the local school and before she went to work. Sounds like homeschooling to me!
Read the transcript yourself if you don't believe me! I had to since I couldn't believe my ears when I heard him say it during the speech! http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
no pictures
Sorry, forgot to take pictures for the first day of PE on Wednesday (actually I do have some but I haven't taken them off of our camera) and today on the field trip. But that's ok 'cause I took pictures with my brain! And I have pictures from another time we went to Pioneer Farms.
Today's events:
8:15 - breakfast
8:30 - spelling test
8:40 - math test
9:15 - pack for Pioneer Farms
9:30 - leave for PF
10:00 - get to PF
12:00 - leave PF
12:30 - get home and pack for Park Day
12:45 - leave for Park Day
1:00 - get to park
4:30 - 4:40 - leave Park and head to Giselle's ballet lesson
5 - 6 - ballet lesson (new day and time this year)
6:15 - 7:15 - dinner at Dynasty Buffet (that's our 'thing' every Friday night after the park) but this time we had others along to join us for dinner. That's always fun!
Today's events:
8:15 - breakfast
8:30 - spelling test
8:40 - math test
9:15 - pack for Pioneer Farms
9:30 - leave for PF
10:00 - get to PF
12:00 - leave PF
12:30 - get home and pack for Park Day
12:45 - leave for Park Day
1:00 - get to park
4:30 - 4:40 - leave Park and head to Giselle's ballet lesson
5 - 6 - ballet lesson (new day and time this year)
6:15 - 7:15 - dinner at Dynasty Buffet (that's our 'thing' every Friday night after the park) but this time we had others along to join us for dinner. That's always fun!
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Eyes
Just about anything is better than a poke in the eye with a stick, I now know this personally. I didn't disbelieve it before so it wasn't really necessary for me to learn this through experience. Oh well.
'deep' thoughts
So this came from one of those horrible "forward this or bad things will happen" emails but I liked most of the sentiments so I'm doing what I want with it.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Tal k slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you 've made a mist ake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Tal k slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you 've made a mist ake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Still Summer Here!
Monday August 24, 2009
We got out of bed at 8, ate breakfast, Giselle cleaned her room and Paul cleaned the playroom and they played outside until 9 am. Then they came inside and started school for the day. Paul finished up about 9:45 (he was goofing off for a bit while I was outside watering plants) and Giselle got everything but her spelling done by noon. Then we packed up our pool bag and our water bottles and headed for Northwest Municipal Pool for the Annual Not-Back-To-School Homeschool Pool Party (see the picture in the post from earlier today). Giselle finished her spelling on the drive there and we stayed at the pool until 5:30. We were actually a bit disappointed with this year's Party turnout - 200 kids per the lifeguard's count - almost half the size of last year's and last year was pretty scant too. Then we stopped for dinner at Kerby Lane Cafe (pancakes for the kids) to wait out the traffic. We got home in time to play outside and do some more watering before bedtime prep and reading time.
Tomorrow we're taking Joe to Krause Springs - our pictures from going earlier this summer looked like so much fun that he wanted us to take him! We'll start school a little early at 8:30, head out at 9:30, and do some more school in the car. What she doesn't get done tomorrow she can bump to Wed if she wants.
We got out of bed at 8, ate breakfast, Giselle cleaned her room and Paul cleaned the playroom and they played outside until 9 am. Then they came inside and started school for the day. Paul finished up about 9:45 (he was goofing off for a bit while I was outside watering plants) and Giselle got everything but her spelling done by noon. Then we packed up our pool bag and our water bottles and headed for Northwest Municipal Pool for the Annual Not-Back-To-School Homeschool Pool Party (see the picture in the post from earlier today). Giselle finished her spelling on the drive there and we stayed at the pool until 5:30. We were actually a bit disappointed with this year's Party turnout - 200 kids per the lifeguard's count - almost half the size of last year's and last year was pretty scant too. Then we stopped for dinner at Kerby Lane Cafe (pancakes for the kids) to wait out the traffic. We got home in time to play outside and do some more watering before bedtime prep and reading time.
Tomorrow we're taking Joe to Krause Springs - our pictures from going earlier this summer looked like so much fun that he wanted us to take him! We'll start school a little early at 8:30, head out at 9:30, and do some more school in the car. What she doesn't get done tomorrow she can bump to Wed if she wants.
The Not Back To School Pool Party 2009
Only home schoolers allowed
The Not-Back-To-School Party is an annual homeschool event (going on for over 12 years) where all the homeschoolers meet up at a city pool and throw a big huge pool party on the first day of public school. Kind of a blatent "Nya nya!" thing since it's still in the upper 90's here and those ps kids'll have homework when they get off the bus and we'll all still be at the pool where we've been since noon.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Vitamin C - the anti vitamin!
It's an antihistamine, an antibiotic, an antiviral, an anti-inflammatory, an antipyretic, and an antitoxin! Vitamin C is the anti vitamin!
DoctorYourself.com - Vitamin C Therapeutics
http://www.doctoryourself.com/allergies.html
DoctorYourself.com - Vitamin C Therapeutics
http://www.doctoryourself.com/allergies.html
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Sugar substitutes and the potential danger of Splenda
I looked into what sweetener Sonic uses in their flavored teas. It's not listed on the web site but I called corporate and was told that it's sucralose, aka Splenda.
SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, is made from a process that begins with sugar through a patented, multi-step process that selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. The result is an exceptionally stable sweetener without the calories found in sugar. After consumption, 70 to 80% of sucralose passes through the body without being broken down for energy.
I investigated further and came up with this: Sugar substitutes and the potential danger of Splenda .
I guess I'm not getting my half and half peach tea anymore, instead I'll get the plain peach tea and add my own organic agave nectar. Then again, who knows what the peach flavor is. I guess I'll go back to making my own organic peach tea with agave at home. I'll just reuse the giant styrofoam cup from Sonic - you can't go wrong with 44 oz of iced tea!
SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, is made from a process that begins with sugar through a patented, multi-step process that selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. The result is an exceptionally stable sweetener without the calories found in sugar. After consumption, 70 to 80% of sucralose passes through the body without being broken down for energy.
I investigated further and came up with this: Sugar substitutes and the potential danger of Splenda .
I guess I'm not getting my half and half peach tea anymore, instead I'll get the plain peach tea and add my own organic agave nectar. Then again, who knows what the peach flavor is. I guess I'll go back to making my own organic peach tea with agave at home. I'll just reuse the giant styrofoam cup from Sonic - you can't go wrong with 44 oz of iced tea!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Going to California
Thursday, August 20, 2009
2nd lead poisoning case hits China, 1,300 sick
2nd lead poisoning case hits China, 1,300 sick - Yahoo! News
And I'm supposed to trust the safety of organic food coming from China?!?! If this crap is in the air then it's in the rain and it's on the food that grows there, organic or not. And it's in the fish that grow in the water there. And it's in the meat from the animals that eat the food that's grown there.
People, to be assured of the safety of the food you eat it in the US you must buy locally (preferably organic) and support the family farms!
And I'm supposed to trust the safety of organic food coming from China?!?! If this crap is in the air then it's in the rain and it's on the food that grows there, organic or not. And it's in the fish that grow in the water there. And it's in the meat from the animals that eat the food that's grown there.
People, to be assured of the safety of the food you eat it in the US you must buy locally (preferably organic) and support the family farms!
coming back?
Now that my phone is maybe possibly correctly posting to Casa De Galletti, I may be posting here more often.
Maybe.
I'll have to see if the pictures come through.
Maybe.
I'll have to see if the pictures come through.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
Another funeral
We aren't going to John Hughes' funeral but I'll rent 16 Candles this weekend in his honor. WGN should run a marthon of his movies since almost all of them were filmed in Chicago. A woman who was a teen when The Breakfast Club came out became pen pals with him. The following is a link to her wonderful tribute to him http://wellknowwhenwegetthere.blogspot.com/2009/08/sincerely-john-hughes.html
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
absent
Sorry I haven't been here. When I've been online, I've been over on facebook hanging out with all of my old friends and some of my newer friends too. When I haven't been online we've been going to pools, going to VBS, going to Houston, and going to more pools, and playing with friends.
Tomorrow night is The Wiggles concert - we are SO excited!!
Tomorrow night is The Wiggles concert - we are SO excited!!
Friday, July 31, 2009
firsts
Giselle went to her first funeral yesterday with me while Paul stayed home with a sitter. We skipped the burial but the 3 of us went to the reception afterwards. It was just like the ones I went to as a kid minus the drinking that accompanied the Irish ones I attended. Although a family member of The Widow hinted that the bundt cake might have real rum in it, not just flavoring; based on the nap I took afterwards I'm inclined to believe her.
No pictures.
No pictures.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Ben's Pool
I forgot to take a picture while we were there but here's one of the kids riding from the pool to the house in the back of the pickup.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ben Franklin
Today in school we learned about Benjamin Franklin and some of the things that he is famous for.
We learned about the Franklin Stove. Previously, all houses were heated by fireplaces only but Ben saw that it could be better and safer. He invented a fireplace made out of cast iron that could be placed anywhere in a house. They are still in use today over 250 years later. Google Images has some good examples of what Franklin Stoves look like. The amazing thing about many (if not all) of Franklin's inventions is that he didn't patent any of them - he felt that it was better to share his knowledge with the world so that everyone could profit rather than keep the knowledge to himself for personal profit.
We also learned about his annual pamphlet called Poor Richard's Almanac. It was like a normal almanac with reports of the weather and some demographics but it also included numerous sayings that Ben came up with on his own and borrowed from other writers. Many popular writers in later years have made slight of Ben's sayings but I ask you this "Who can you quote from: Nathaniel Hawthorne or Ben Franklin?" I know "Early to bed and early to rise, Keeps a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." but I'm not even sure if Mr Hawthorne wrote The Crucible or The Scarlet Letter without checking. BTW, he wrote The Scarlet Letter.
Here are some quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac that I liked today:
* Many dishes - many diseases, Many medicines - few cures.
* A Lie stands on 1 leg, Truth on 2.
* Without justice, courage is weak.
* Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things.
* Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.
* To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.
* Mary’s mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense.
* Where there’s Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
* Don’t value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.
* Love, Cough, & a Smoke, can’t well be hid.
* Well done is better than well said.
* Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
Enough for now, I'm off to oversee division of 3 digits by one digit with remainders.
We learned about the Franklin Stove. Previously, all houses were heated by fireplaces only but Ben saw that it could be better and safer. He invented a fireplace made out of cast iron that could be placed anywhere in a house. They are still in use today over 250 years later. Google Images has some good examples of what Franklin Stoves look like. The amazing thing about many (if not all) of Franklin's inventions is that he didn't patent any of them - he felt that it was better to share his knowledge with the world so that everyone could profit rather than keep the knowledge to himself for personal profit.
We also learned about his annual pamphlet called Poor Richard's Almanac. It was like a normal almanac with reports of the weather and some demographics but it also included numerous sayings that Ben came up with on his own and borrowed from other writers. Many popular writers in later years have made slight of Ben's sayings but I ask you this "Who can you quote from: Nathaniel Hawthorne or Ben Franklin?" I know "Early to bed and early to rise, Keeps a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." but I'm not even sure if Mr Hawthorne wrote The Crucible or The Scarlet Letter without checking. BTW, he wrote The Scarlet Letter.
Here are some quotes from Poor Richard's Almanac that I liked today:
* Many dishes - many diseases, Many medicines - few cures.
* A Lie stands on 1 leg, Truth on 2.
* Without justice, courage is weak.
* Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things.
* Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.
* To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.
* Mary’s mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense.
* Where there’s Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
* Don’t value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.
* Love, Cough, & a Smoke, can’t well be hid.
* Well done is better than well said.
* Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
Enough for now, I'm off to oversee division of 3 digits by one digit with remainders.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Africa comes to Texas
Monday 7/20/09
If there is enough afternoon sunshine, ozone could reach moderate or possibly higher levels on the north side of the Houston metro area. Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels is covering most of South Texas and Central Texas this morning and should spread north and northwest into North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas this afternoon and evening. Rain may help to locally reduce the dust levels in parts of North Central Texas and eastern West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Tuesday 7/21/09
Saharan dust should cover most of the middle of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, Central, and North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Wednesday 7/22/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust should continue over much of the southern half of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, and Central Texas, and and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Thursday 7/23/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels may continue over much of South and Central Texas and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
If there is enough afternoon sunshine, ozone could reach moderate or possibly higher levels on the north side of the Houston metro area. Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels is covering most of South Texas and Central Texas this morning and should spread north and northwest into North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas this afternoon and evening. Rain may help to locally reduce the dust levels in parts of North Central Texas and eastern West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Tuesday 7/21/09
Saharan dust should cover most of the middle of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, Central, and North Central Texas and eastern and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Wednesday 7/22/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust should continue over much of the southern half of the state with "Moderate" or possibly higher fine particulate levels, including South, Southeast, and Central Texas, and and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
Thursday 7/23/09 - Outlook
Saharan dust with "Moderate" fine particulate levels may continue over much of South and Central Texas and southern portions of West Texas. Elsewhere in the state, moderate winds and/or shower activity should help to keep air quality in the "Good" range.
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Pool Tour
This summer, a bunch of us homeschoolers have been doing a pool tour. Actually there are 2 separate homeschool groups doing 2 separate pool tours that I know of, there may be more. We are only participating in one of them.
In the last 2 months the group has gone to West Enfield Pool, Dick Nichols Pool, Lakeway Swim Center, Round Rock N River, Deep Eddy Pool, Krause Springs, and this week was planning on going tubing on the San Marcos River. Still to come are Hamilton Pool, Reed Pool, Barton Springs Pool, Milburn Pool and Northwest District Pool.
We've done some additional pool hopping on our own and we've been taking pictures most of the time. It's been a lot of fun so far!
In the last 2 months the group has gone to West Enfield Pool, Dick Nichols Pool, Lakeway Swim Center, Round Rock N River, Deep Eddy Pool, Krause Springs, and this week was planning on going tubing on the San Marcos River. Still to come are Hamilton Pool, Reed Pool, Barton Springs Pool, Milburn Pool and Northwest District Pool.
We've done some additional pool hopping on our own and we've been taking pictures most of the time. It's been a lot of fun so far!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Real Simple Magazine Daily Quote
"I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends."
—Nancie J. Carmody
—Nancie J. Carmody
Friday, July 10, 2009
Big Government trying to eliminate our freedom of choice AGAIN!
GovTrack: H.R. 2749: Text of Legislation, Introduced in House
GovTrack: H.R. 2749: Text of Legislation, Introduced in House
Shared via AddThis
GovTrack: H.R. 2749: Text of Legislation, Introduced in House
Shared via AddThis
Friday, July 03, 2009
fireworks
Our old dog is almost fully deaf as of last summer so it will be interesting to see if she notices the fireworks this year. She hears claps and sometimes loud noises so it's possible.
Monday, June 29, 2009
meatballs
We almost ran out of meatballs so I knew it was time to make more again. This time I used 2 lbs ground pork and 2 lbs ground beef, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, lots of garlic, salt, fresh ground pepper, oregano, Italian seasoning, and a little shake of Lawry's salt. Oh and a cup of freshly made bread crumbs (the crumbs were freshly made, not the bread).
I forgot to count how many I made but they're all 1-inch balls and there are A LOT of them! I baked them in the toaster oven on convection bake since I didn't want to heat up the whole house with the full-sized oven.
I put some of the first batch into a quesadilla for Giselle's supper and she liked it so much that she ate another 5 meatballs when she was done.
I think I'll be bringing some to the pool tomorrow for snacking!
I forgot to count how many I made but they're all 1-inch balls and there are A LOT of them! I baked them in the toaster oven on convection bake since I didn't want to heat up the whole house with the full-sized oven.
I put some of the first batch into a quesadilla for Giselle's supper and she liked it so much that she ate another 5 meatballs when she was done.
I think I'll be bringing some to the pool tomorrow for snacking!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
We're cooking now!
I watched Ice Age 2: The Meltdown this afternoon with the kids inside while the global warming continued outdoors.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
VBS 2
And this is one of the favorite songs from this year's VBS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hFFS2nUDHo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hFFS2nUDHo
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
I now agree
Yep, it's hot. It's currently 104 in my neighborhood according to NOAA Weather. As long as I come inside and drink a half liter of ice water every hour it's really not so bad as some people make it out to be. Dousing your head with cool water doesn't hurt either!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Fathers Day cookies
Pampered Chef large mix & store bowl, Pampered Chef 1-inch scoop, Pampered Chef large round baking stone, Pampered Chef wire cooling rack, Crisco Brown Sugar Cookies (modified of course).
Friday, June 19, 2009
back
Marie's back! Actually, I've only talked to her on the phone and on facebook so it's really like she's still in Sweden but Roland and the kids were at The Park today and that was really nice to see them again.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The grown up choice
When we were young 20 years ago we had a bunch of JetSkis, some hot rod some stock. Then we tired of the JetSkis and moved on to boats. We had a Glastron, a Classic, then Joe rebuilt the hull on the Classic to accommodate the ZZ4 crate motor that he put in it (that was SO great for wake boarding back in the days when it was still called 'skurfing'), then Joe got a Thoroughbred that wasn't good for water sports but it sure went fast really well. Somewhere in there I got a Bayliner to fish and ski from at 40 mph since Joe's boats didn't go slower than 50. Not long after Paul was born in our late 30's the Thoroughbred was sold and for a few years we were land-bound. Last year, after careful consideration, Joe got us back into JetSkis and SeaDoos by finding 2 of each kind in good condition. They're fun, can be shared with just about anyone, don't use much gas, are portable, are much more interactive than boats, are safe for kids with parental supervision/assistance, are relatively easy for Joe to repair, and they are FUN!
Paul passed his swimming test today and to celebrate both kids now being lake-ready, the 4 of us took the 2 SeaDoos out to Lake Austin and blasted up and down the lake for 2 hours. Giselle rode with me and Paul rode with Joe. Oh what fun it was to ride and swim together as a family! The kids didn't want to leave and on the way home were asking when we could go again.
I'm so glad that we've got the personal watercraft now instead of a boat. I'm glad that we had both skis and boats when we were young enough to have a blast with them and that we learned the easy way which was the more family-friendly option.
What fun!!
Paul passed his swimming test today and to celebrate both kids now being lake-ready, the 4 of us took the 2 SeaDoos out to Lake Austin and blasted up and down the lake for 2 hours. Giselle rode with me and Paul rode with Joe. Oh what fun it was to ride and swim together as a family! The kids didn't want to leave and on the way home were asking when we could go again.
I'm so glad that we've got the personal watercraft now instead of a boat. I'm glad that we had both skis and boats when we were young enough to have a blast with them and that we learned the easy way which was the more family-friendly option.
What fun!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Are judges the only ones that understand this connection?
This from today's Austin American Statesman news wire:
Thursday, June 18, 2009
AUSTIN
Firing at cop gets man 30 years
A judge on Wednesday sentenced Jerel Lamar to 30 years in prison for firing a shotgun at an Austin police officer in 2007.
A Travis County jury in April convicted Lamar, 25, of attempted capital murder in the April 22, 2007, shootout with then-Austin police Cpl. Michael Barger, who is now a sergeant. Lamar waived sentencing by jury.
Barger was not injured, but a shotgun slug lodged in the door of his patrol car that he was using as cover.
Lamar's family members testified during the trial that Lamar was distraught before the confrontation and had told them that he wanted to die. His brother testified that Lamar also said he wanted to kill innocent people, including children, in a shooting spree that rivaled the Virginia Tech massacre.
District Judge Jon Wisser noted that Lamar's father had about 20 children with different women and his mother had been married five times when Lamar was a child, none of the marriages lasting more than three years.
"I don't see any possibility of rehabilitation," Wisser said. "The court is mostly concerned about public safety."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
AUSTIN
Firing at cop gets man 30 years
A judge on Wednesday sentenced Jerel Lamar to 30 years in prison for firing a shotgun at an Austin police officer in 2007.
A Travis County jury in April convicted Lamar, 25, of attempted capital murder in the April 22, 2007, shootout with then-Austin police Cpl. Michael Barger, who is now a sergeant. Lamar waived sentencing by jury.
Barger was not injured, but a shotgun slug lodged in the door of his patrol car that he was using as cover.
Lamar's family members testified during the trial that Lamar was distraught before the confrontation and had told them that he wanted to die. His brother testified that Lamar also said he wanted to kill innocent people, including children, in a shooting spree that rivaled the Virginia Tech massacre.
District Judge Jon Wisser noted that Lamar's father had about 20 children with different women and his mother had been married five times when Lamar was a child, none of the marriages lasting more than three years.
"I don't see any possibility of rehabilitation," Wisser said. "The court is mostly concerned about public safety."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
bread
I've made zucchini bread 4 or 5 times, banana bread about a dozen times but never 'real' bread. You know what, tonight doesn't really count either since it's from a mix. But it's close!
Tonight I made some Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread. I baked it in my Pampered Chef Mini-Loaf Pan. Too bad I didn't have a Rada Bread Knife to cut it with, otherwise it would have been a consultant's dream.
Tonight I made some Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread. I baked it in my Pampered Chef Mini-Loaf Pan. Too bad I didn't have a Rada Bread Knife to cut it with, otherwise it would have been a consultant's dream.
Monday, June 15, 2009
One Thousand
In honor of this being my 1,000th post to this blog (I think I've already doubled that in my 9 months on facebook) I'm posting a picture of myself that Giselle took with my phone 2 weeks ago at the pool.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
good day for the pool
It's SUPPOSED to be 100 for the next week. Sounds like a good day for the pool to me!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Teeth
The front four teeth are out and the front four teeth are in. Excellent spacing here; looks like no need for braces! We'll be getting those 2 six-year molars of his sealed at our July dentist appointment. I think that Giselle's are already all done; I'll have to check our records. Unfortunately, Paul doesn't have any others that are loose right now so he'll have to wait to get the cool Pokemon toys that he knows I've got waiting for him.
Friday, June 12, 2009
hot dogs at the park
We didn't cook out at Park Day if that's what you're thinking. One of our friends always brings their 2 boxers to the park and another friend occasionally brings their border collie mix. Our neighbors are out of town so we brought their dog to the park with us.
It was a 4 hour park day - 2:30 to 6:30 - and it was a rather warm day at that. It wasn't SO hot, we only drank 2 liters of water each. On the hot days we have at least a liter each before we leave home, 3 liters each at the park and 1 liter more at dinner. So from that perspective it wasn't really THAT hot today.
The dogs although, who foolishly wore their fur coats to the park on a 100 degree day, were HOT. They all drank a lot of water too but since they insisted on leaving those coats on, they just stayed hot.
But even with the heat, Fly had a really fun time and I think that she'll be happy to join us again another week.
It was a 4 hour park day - 2:30 to 6:30 - and it was a rather warm day at that. It wasn't SO hot, we only drank 2 liters of water each. On the hot days we have at least a liter each before we leave home, 3 liters each at the park and 1 liter more at dinner. So from that perspective it wasn't really THAT hot today.
The dogs although, who foolishly wore their fur coats to the park on a 100 degree day, were HOT. They all drank a lot of water too but since they insisted on leaving those coats on, they just stayed hot.
But even with the heat, Fly had a really fun time and I think that she'll be happy to join us again another week.
Build A Bear
The birthday $5 off coupon came in the mail the other week. The next week came the $12 off coupon. So we went to the mall and used both coupons. Both kids paid for the extra with their own money. On the way home we agreed to go twice a year - at birthday time. This time Giselle got Rainbow Bear and Paul got Panda Bear, now they each have 3. Paul has the Triceratops, the Longhorn Steer, and the Panda Bear. Giselle has the Pink Bear, the Curly Brown Rabbit, and the Rainbow Bear.
This picture was taken on the drive home from the mall.
This picture was taken on the drive home from the mall.
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