Friday, July 20, 2012

Weekly Wrap-up - The One With Head Spinning: July 7 - 20


Did you see? I have my 2nd giveaway running! Education.com is a great resource for printable workbooks, worksheets and activities. Be sure to check it out here and leave a comment or two! 

In OUR LIFE the Last 2 Weeks
((head spinning))

Phew! What a whirlwind couple of weeks! Although it's been fun to spend time with family, it's also wonderful to be back home and enjoy some "downtime". As much "downtime" as we can get during our crazy-busy summer! LOL


Sugar Maple, Balsam Fir and I meandered up to the island again to visit my family. Even with the Atlantic sea breeze it was HOT! We spent time swimming in the ocean AND a lake AND running under the sprinkler! And look what I had for lunch...


Yeah, a Maine lobster roll! Yum! But poor Dad's lobster boat was towed home. ((sigh)) The engine went so he's done for the season. Lobster prices have "bottomed out" anyway and the fisherman are struggling. After 40 something years, he's ready to sell out and just continue driving a local school bus. So, this was probably my LAST lobster that Dad will catch!

We also dropped White Pine off at his week long Boy Scout camping trip. He LOVES scout camping! It'll be fun to hear about his week when he returns tomorrow. 

We spent a sunny afternoon at Hadlock Field watching a Sea Dogs baseball game with my ILs and extended family, and then enjoyed a great BBQ dinner together.


And now we're relaxing at home again! Doing the usual. Enjoying the usual! Even if it means going from room-to-room cleaning! ((wink)) It's time to get the house in order before another school year rolls around. Sure, it's 6-7 weeks away, but it'll take us that long to go through each and every room.

Sugar Maple's Garden Has Bloomed


Or sweating in muggy 90+ degree temperatures while harvesting snap peas, bush beans and loose-leaf lettuce. There's something satisfying about making meals from those things you grow. Balsam Fir was especially proud of pile of peas and beans we have from his garden and asked to help prepare them for dinners! And on Thursday we pulled the dying pea and lettuce plants, loosened to soil, added a little fertilizer, and replanted. I also worked a patch of the garden that never grew and sowed some summer squash. (We're not all that fond of summer squash, but why not give it another go?)


Bowls of Green
Chicken Candy! The "Tops and Bottoms" of the Beans and Peas

Let's Eat!
Mama's Creamy Mac and Cheese from Southern Plate.  Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps from Real Mom Kitchen. Boston Baked Beans from Spark Recipes.

In OUR HOMESCHOOL This Week
School?!

((thinking)) ((hmm))

Oh, yeah, I started reading The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden to the Saplings this week. I've never read this book! Blue Spruce picked it up at a book sale and we've been enjoying it! A very delightful story!

Tips and Tricks: Back-to-school sales are starting! Don't forget to check out those sales flyers to make the most of deals!

I found a FREE, SIMPLE and FUN money game from First Grade Frogs for Balsam Fir. He's been struggling with his money recognition and adding coins, so playing Coin War looked like a GREAT way to review. If you'd like to download and print out this game, click here for my favorite resource this week!

Who Has the Most Money? Add. Higher Amount Keeps Cards.
Win by Getting All the Cards. And Don't Throw Out Plastic
Food Jars with Lids! Wash and Store. Great for Small Games
and Snacks On-the-Road! Recycle!

And I started putting together Sugar Maple and Balsam Fir's work binders with workbox cards for next year. I'll be sharing a post in early August about all this stuff with the TOS Blog Crew (and probably other Not-Back-to-School link-ups). Nothing like meshing together Charlotte Mason, Traditional schooling and Sue Patrick's Workbox philosophies, huh? LOL

MY Favorite Thing This Week
Making time for one-on-one time with each kiddo can be a challenge, but finding something SIMPLE to share with them is such a wonderful thing. On Tuesday, Sugar Maple and I grabbed lemonade and iced tea from the grocery store, checked out some books, and relaxed on the library's covered porch for some quiet reading time. Together.

Pondering
I'm in AWE of my calendar. Or is it overwhelmed?  How does a summer get SO busy? And I've deliberately NOT included things that we could be doing - library program workshops, free community activities, swim lessons - or special family outings. Do you suppose when school rolls back around in September we'll be "bored"? Nah, who am I kidding! ((wink))

Photo, Video, Link, or Quote to Share

Lotsa Link-ups
Favorite Resource This WeekScience SundayThe Things We Find InsideHip Homeschool Hop Button

18 comments:

  1. that is SO awesome! The Lobster roll looked DELISH! and Good Luck to your dad!!!! Sometimes its good to say goodbye to something even if you will miss it ... And I LOVE that quote at the end! Ben Franklin was a smart cookie! :P YAY for a busy summer! :)

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  2. What a beautiful flower! She must be a great gardener! My mouth is watering looking at that yummy lobster!!!! I'm stopping by from the Hoggatt Homeschool via HSMJ! have a great week.

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  3. That beach is gorgeous! And the Lobster Roll...YUMMY. I know what you mean, I love going on trips but am always so happy to be home. Good luck cleaning room by room. That is a big job! Your greens look so good! I love fresh green beans! So do your chickens I see. :)

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  4. OH thanks.. now I'm hungry! *lol* Seriously.. looks like a wonderful week!!!

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  5. My girls loved Cricket in Times Square!

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  6. That looks sooo yummy!!! I was wondering the same thing.. will we be bored... I'm thinking.. Nah.. ;) It's our first year eligible for Cub Scouts plus aquarium classes, homeschool group.. etc. :O) Have a great weekend!!

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  7. Wow, you've been busy! Garden veggies are awesome, but it's not pleasant to have to do a lot of picking in hot and humid weather!
    Thanks for linking with Favorite Resources...Coin War looks like a fun game for your little guy :)

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  8. You ARE busy right now! Our calendar and to do lists are pretty full too these days. That's summer for you! I'm looking forward to a return of ROUTINE but I have to get all this stuff done first! Thanks for stopping by the say hello! :)

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  9. I LOVE the "Chicken Candy" pic! My chickens got lots of sweet corn cobs with little bits of corn this week and were super excited! Their real fave is french fries though!!! :O)

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  10. Busy, busy, busy, I think that is everyone's life this time of the year. I love fresh vegies. My children did not care for squash too much until I created our own personal recipe. Try putting some butter in a skillet, a stick of cream cheese, slice your squash & put them in this creamy sauce after it has melted down a bit, add salt, pepper, & onion, cover to simar. Can add a touch of milk if you have it. Cook until squash are tender. Makes a great creamy sauce & even my children love it.

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  11. Now I see why you don't have leftover veggies: Chickens! :)

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  12. My dad drove school bus, too! He was actually one of my bus drivers. :-)
    It does seem that summers are busier than the school year, doesn't it? I always think I'll accomplish so much during the summer, but I never get my list half done.

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  13. Sounds like a great trip and that lobster looked delicious! Your veggies look great-- wow, you have a wonderful harvest! And the picture of the flower is just gorgeous! Good luck with the cleaning. I have to really start thinking about the new school year, as well. Hope you have a great weekend! Many blessings, Lisa

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  14. I'm a little jealous of your harvest ;) We didn't plant a garden this year and I'm missing it. Thanks for stopping by Mothering with Grace!

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  15. The Cricket in Times Square is one of our favorite read alouds. I think it's because my Chinese accent is so fabulous. lol

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  16. I love the book The Cricket in Times Square. It's one of my son's favorites! Love your fresh veggies and garden. My husband and I are currently mapping out our garden and building stand up planters due to our squirrel, rabbit and bird wildlife. Love the Ben Franklin quote!

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  17. Blog looks great.. My computer is fixed so I can read more of your posts!

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  18. I was hungry before I got here. Now I'm super hungry. LOL.
    Such a pretty flower!

    http://www.memoirsofmeandmine.com/

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