Friday, September 29, 2006

Memory Meme

In one of my 3am brainstorming sessions, I sat up in bed and mentally rattled off the answers to these questions with only a bit of trouble towards the end. Funny, I wonder what that says about the relationship between age and long term versus short term memory loss. TeeHee. At any rate, I meant to post this entry over the summer, so the answers are about two months off give or take. Leave me a link to your blog, if you decide to share some memories. In other words, if you stop by, consider yourself *tagged*

What was I doing?

30 years ago?
I had just finished my first year of college and was working as a lifeguard, teaching swimming lessons, and selling china and crystal at a local department store. I was living at home with my parents in Atlanta, GA.

25 years ago?
After having been married for six months, we were preparing to move from Kalamazoo, MI to Charleston, SC where DH started medical school. I got up at 4am to watch Princess Diana's wedding before the moving van arrived!

20 years ago?
I was great with child (DD#2) and anxious about my maternal grandmother's final illness. We were living in Gadsden, AL.

15 years ago?
The daughters and I had just returned to Canton, GA from a delightful vacation with paternal grandparents in southern Ohio. I started a scrapbook.

10 years ago?
I had just started working full-time for my husband, managing his family practice.

5 years ago?
The Jago side of the family had a family reunion. Unknown was Grandpa's death in four short months :(

1 year ago?
We had a Low Country Boil party, which was so much fun we had another one this year.

1 month ago?
Summer highlight this year? Juggling three cars between six drivers with six different jobs :)

Yesterday?
DH and I took a drive to a lake about 90 miles south of home. We walked, talked, and dined together. It was romantic.

Today?
Slept later than normal; didnt get everything done at the office; left anyway for a 3-mile walk; fixed yummy meatloaf sandwiches for dinner; read til I fell asleep.

Tomorrow?
Saturday errands which I hope to start early in the day in order to avoid the heaviest crowds.

Day after Tomorrow?
Looking forward to worshipping with the saints.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Tea Heaven

Rooibos Caramel


MateVana








Equal parts of these two special teas make my new favorite warm drink for the Fall.
It was the recommendation of the store clerk and I am pleased.

Twinings English Breakfast Tea...move over!

PS I've noticed some fellow bloggers like Portsmouth Tea Company. Any comments about the different suppliers, as I am tickled with my first foray into specialty teas?

Friday, September 22, 2006

Fine Art Friday

From Tulipgirl I learned of Museum Day. On September 30, 2006, for one day only, museums across the country will join the Smithsonian Institution in its long-standing tradition of offering free admission to visitors.

Participating venues in Georgia
1) Bartow History Center
Cartersville
2) Booth Western Art Museum
Cartersville
3) Fernbank Science Center
Atlanta
4) Georgia Museum of Art
Athens
5) High Museum of Art
Atlanta
6) Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site
Atlanta
7) Michael C. Carlos Museum
Atlanta
8) Morris Museum of Art
Augusta
9) Museum of Arts and Sciences
Macon
10) National Science Center's Fort Discovery
Augusta
11) PUPPETS: The Power of Wonder, at Center for Puppetry Arts
Atlanta
12) Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
Kennesaw
13) Telfair Museum of Art
Savannah
14) Weinman Mineral Museum
White

Start planning your field trip now!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Baptismal Gown

After testing the uploading process and successfully posting a picture, I went back and tried to insert these photos in Sunday's entry. It didnt work. So, here they are today. Actually, in 1986, the third Sunday was 9/21.

And since DD#2 is way far away in Cortona, as we speak, I trust she will take comfort in these special memories.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

ABC's

A - Accent: Southern drawl
B - Breakfast Item: Black coffee
C - Chore you hate: Vacuuming/dusting
D - Dad's Name: Dan
E - Essential everyday item: TP
F - Flavor ice cream: Coffee
G - Gold or Silver?: Together: my new fashion statement
H - Happy Place: Home sweet home
I - Insomnia: only when I’m planning a wedding
J - Job – Domestic Engineer
K - Kids: aka billygoats
L - Living arrangements: w/DH of 25 yrs
M - Mom's birthplace: Atlanta GA
N - Name your pets: none at present; previously Minerva then Athena
O - Overnight hospital stays: five-my own and the births of 4 daughters
P - Phobia: claustrophobia
Q - Question: Is this too much information?
R - Religious Affiliation: Reformed Presby
S - Siblings: Bert, Noel, Amanda, Grey, Will
T - Time you wake up: today 4am
U - Unnatural hair colors you've had: natural blond w/hilites
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat: cant think of one
W - Worst habit: sharp tongue
X - X-rays you've had: teeth only
Y - Yummy: pimento cheese
Z - Zoo animal: Our Zoo’s panda just had a baby J

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Baptism

This third Sunday in September is the anniversary Sunday of DD#2's baptism.

The ceremony was a part of the worship service at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Atlanta GA where J C Morecraft III was/is the minister. Although we were living in Gadsden, AL, at the time, we had spent the previous two weeks in Atlanta visiting family, as your maternal great-grandmother had died on September 2, 1986. So, before returning home, we prepared for this special day.

You wore a beautiful white gown handmade by Peggy Schilling.
*I keep trying to upload photo here, but blogger is not cooperating*


I wore a Laura Ashley dress which I now think makes me look frumpy. A family photo was made and used in the 1986 Christmas card.

It would be neat to find a program from the service and figure out which hymns were sung and which Scripture exposited. Edit: I found a tape of the sermon delivered that day and relistened to the *Call to Constancy* based on Heb 6:9-20, part of a series.

Here's what I do know was read: three covenant promises after we had been instructed on the institution, nature, use, and ends of the sacrament of baptism.

1) For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. Acts 2:39
2) And I will establish my covenant between me and then and thy see after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. Gen 17:7
3) Believe on the Lord Jesus, and though shalt be saved, thou and thy house. Acts 16:31

Here are the questions proposed to your parents, all of which were answered affirmatively:

1) Do you acknowledge your child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
2) Do you claim God's covenant promises in her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for her salvation, as you do for your own?
3) Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before her a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God's appointment, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

After the service we had a big Sunday dinner at Cochise as was our custom. There were a few extra guests. Grandma and Grandpa Jago had driven over from Charleston, SC for the celebration.

The menu was Baked Pork Chops, Rice, Layered Salad, and Lemon-cheese Cake.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Summer Salad Suggestion

Earlier this summer I was in the habit of posting salad recipes over on my xanga site. Lately I haven't spent a lot of time of the kitchen, but I continue to enjoy salads in my diet.

Here are the ingredients to one I plan to prepare at home soon. I've only eaten it out...at Red Lobster of all places!! And even though I think it's a little silly to order chicken at a seafood restaurant, from time to time I treat myself to this one.

Green leaf lettuce, Granny Smith apple slices, grilled chicken strips, thinly sliced red pepper, roasted walnuts, feta cheese, just a few pieces of sundried tomato, croutons, and vinaigrette dressing.

Pretty colors and very tasty!

What's your favorite dinner salad?

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Summer Reading Recap

In response to a blogger's reading challenge, on June 1st, I posted a list books I thought I might read over a period of three months. Just for recording-keeping purposes I am listing the books here as well. And in the spirit of homeschooling, I am categorizing my choices as if I were signing up for classes. It has been a good exercise to classify my reading. It keeps me from feeling so scatter-brained. Furthermore, this end-of-the-season synopsis is contributing to my feelings of accomplishment, since no one will be mailing out a report card in my life-long learning program, aka *school* :) See my reviews over on my xanga site.

PhysEd

The Complete Guide to Walking by Michael Fenton
History
Rival Lovers by Williams Ferguson Smith
My Flovilla by Eugenia Talitha Linch
English
Reference: Emily Post's Wedding Planner
Fiction: Light from Heaven by Jan Karon
Fine Arts
Visual
Fine Art Fridays participation (see weekly xanga posts)
Music
Spirituals: Promised Land CD (see blog archive 6/19/06)
Science
Home Comforts: Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
Biography
Ruth Bell Graham (see xanga entry 9/13/06)
Math
Budgeting

After a couple more reviews, I plan to post my Autumn Challenge by 9/23, the official autumnal equinox for this year.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Tapestry Project

Edith Schaeffer, age 90+

Here's a link to the webpage which tracks the progress of the production of an audio CD about the life and times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer.

This is an obvious interest of mine, based on the title of my blog, even though I just discovered the researchers. I started reading the autobiography over the summer and set it aside in order to complete my Summer Reading Challenge.

The Tapestry is officially on my Autumn Reading Challenge.

Check in on my reviews of my Summer books over at my Xanga site. I'm trying to wrap that up in order to begin afresh by the first day of Fall.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Jehovah Nissi

The Lord is my banner Exodus 17:15

I was the recipient of a forwarded email, entreating me to fly the American flag on Monday, September 11, 2006, and forward it to eleven people. Instead of forwarding the email, I am blogging about Patriot Day by recapping a sermon.

I will fly the flag of these great United States. I will wear a little lapel pin, too. But more importantly, I will pray that we as a nation repent of our ways and recommit ourselves to serving the One and Only, True God, who is NOT the same as Allah.

Do you own a flag and did you fly it?

Friday, September 08, 2006

Homeschooling Meme

5) One resource you would like to buy

A car!

Just when I think I cant respond to all the questions, an answer comes to mind. And I read in the answers of someone else where the response to this question was *a swimming pool!* That qualifies as PE, a bone fide subject to study. And if a swim team is organized, all the better :) So, that's why I think my answer of *a car* works. I will need a car soon. Not today. Maybe in 2007.

From my point of view transportation is essential part of homeschooling. Olga has served us well. That's the name of our 1993 Chevrolet Surburban with an odometer reading of 383,000 miles. She has served us so faithfully on our drive to and from school. 30-35 miles one ways adds up. Yup, we drive a lot. And there's probably more driving in the future, because we're not yet finished educating our charges.

Care to share what you drive?

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Homeschooling Meme

6) One resource you wish existed

Reduced income/property taxes.

For example, if there were fewer programs which needed to be funded, then we citizens wouldnt need to pay so much in taxes. Right?!

Specifically, I am talking about abolishing both the federal and state departments of education for the express purpose of returning this God-given responsibility to parents of the children. This would mean that parents would retain more of the fruits of their labors. Hopefully this way, these parents would be able to exercise more control over the schooling of their own children.

So often I am misunderstood by others when it is discovered that I am not a proponent of public education. If asked, I reference Samuel Blumenfeld's fine volume, Is Public Education Necessary? Just the preface to the book is chock full of good information, and I quote from page "x":

Out of this labor (research for the book) came some fascinating discoveries:
1) that American intellectual history is inseparable from its religious history
2) that public education was never needed
3) that literacy in America was higher before compulsory public education
4) that socialists, who were very active in the public school movement, began operating …in America as early as 1829
5) that philosophy is more powerful than economics
6) that religion, in the long run, is more powerful than philosophy


I can always wish :)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Homeschooling Meme cont'd

4) One resource you enjoyed last year.

Participation in the production of a play, musical, or choral concert. Just last year, the musical was Camelot. There were at least three major choral concerts, but my favorite is the annual Lessons and Carols. I guess one understands that my children are the participants and DH and I are the spectators :)

As early as kindergarten, our children have been involved in productions. You know, those large group activities that require extra rehearsals, more cooperation, and intense pressures (stage gitters). I think it has been good training as well as fun. Participation continued through middle-and-high-school-aged years on into college. Currently, DD#4 is auditioning for jazz vocalist at her high school.

No doubt there are lots of stories to tell. There's certainly enough mementos (read packrat) for at least four scrapbooks. Here's a link to one online photo. DD#3and #4 are the only girls in this picture of the knighting of Sir Lancelot.

Thinking back on it, I have no trouble conjuring up memories. One occurred when I was in the fourth grade; and we worked together with the fifth graders to produce a variety show entitled *There's No Business like Show Business" I learned to dance The Charleston and wore a flapper dress. I had fun.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Homeschooling Meme

3) One resource I wish I hadnt bought

Artes Latinae, which is reviewed at this webpage.

At this point I could wax poetically about the merits of learning Latin, but I will spare you, dear reader, for the moment.

Addendum: In answer to Donna's question about whether our girls studied Latin at their Christian school? The answer is YES! The teaching of Latin was/is a very high priority on our list of criteria, when we were evaluating schools. In the case of this particular curriculum, the school used it for a couple of years and changed to something more traditional.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Labor Day

The first Monday in September signifies the end of summer for me, despite the history of the holiday. I cant say that I much affinity for the political positions of most labor unions, but I do enjoy this *holiday* *they* have afforded me.

But before you head out to your own celebration, take the time to read this op-ed from the Seattle Times. It makes for interesting reading, because the writer brings up some good points. I tend to agree with the premise that it's not jobs which Americans wont do, it's wages they wont work for. During the Y2K hype, I personally thought there would have been more bedlam, if the immigrants hadnt shown up for work than if the computers didnt roll over to the proper date. I just dont *get it* when somebody *wont* work.

Oh, and let me know what you think of the last line of the editorial :)

PS In case Rhett is looking for me, I'm off to the BBQ!

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Vital Resource

One resource I would not be without.

The preached Word of God

The Bible is the first resource, which should go without saying. But because I believe that the majority of homeschoolers in the US do not base the education of their young on these holy writings, I mention it. And so, coupled with the actual written Word, I would be deficient in my preparation for teaching, if I were not hearing each week the preached Word of God. The two resources (Bible reading/study and preaching) go hand in hand.

In our family it is a top priority to be present on Sundays in congregational worship, where we are fed a feast of nutrionally-sound manna, not milky but meaty. Furthermore, this bread is not like the common white bread made from ingredients where many of the nutrients have been stripped, but an whole wheat variety full of living ingredients.

How does that translate into the ordinary homeschooling day/week. Up front, it calls for going to bed earlier on Saturdays! But also, when I am ordering the activities of the day/week, each day we prepare a little bit for Sunday. It can be as easy as reviewing applications from the sermon at Sunday dinner or singing the hymns together around the piano in the living room. Or the task can be even more concrete, like getting our clothes washed, dried, and pressed BEFORE Saturday, in order to make Sunday mornings somewhat less stressful.

The Sabbath is the highlight of the week: the most important event around which all other events revolve. There is no other more important day. It is vital to successful homeschooling.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Homeschooling Resources



After my introduction to this questionnaire on 8/30/06, I'm now ready to answer the first question.

Name one book/resource which you enjoy/recommend.

Since I don't fall into the popularly accepted definition of homeschooler, my answers will won't either. Therefore, I take the liberty of naming five books! (tee hee) The following list contains the titles of some of my favorite authors to whom I have referred consistently and deliberately over the past twenty years.

Education in America by George Roche
One by One by George Roche
Is Public Education Necessary by Samuel Blumenfeld
Back to the Blackboard by Jay Adams
Essays on Christian Education by Cornelius Van Til
Ending the Homework Hassle by John Rosemond
Philosophy of Christian Education by Paul Kienel, editor

Stay tuned for the rest of my long, drawn-out answers to the following of the quetions:

2) One resource you would not be without.
3) One resource you wish you'd never bought.
4) One resource you enjoyed last year.
5) One resource you would like to buy.
6) One resource you wish existed.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Fifty Things

1. My roommate and I once: planned to get along, but it didn’t happen.

2. Never in my life have I: wanted to hitchhike.

3. The one person who can drive me nuts, but then can always manage to make me smile is: DD#4

4. High school was: thirty years ago.

5. When I'm nervous: I perspire.

6. The last time I cried was: Monday, when a dear, recently widowed friend telephoned.

7. If I were to get married right now, my bridesmaids would be: few

8. Would you rather run naked through a crowded place or have someone e-mail your deepest secret to all your friends? I will not be tricked into choosing the lesser of two evils.

9. My hair: was trimmed last Saturday.

10. When I was 5: I lived in Idaho.

11. Last Christmas: I was celebrating.

12. When I turn my head left: I see my diplomas.

13. I should be: editing claims or processing payroll.

14. When I look down I see: industrial gray carpet.

15. The craziest recent event was: not having air conditioning one hour before 15 guests arrived for dinner.

16. If I were a character on "Friends": I'd be lost, because I've never watched this show.

17. When I was 17: I left high school and went to college early.

18. My favorite aunt is: non-existent.

19. I have a hard time understanding: people.

20. One time at a family gathering: we all got along.

21. You know I like you if: I pay you a compliment.

22. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank: would be God.

23. Take my advice: or suffer the consequences.

24. My ideal breakfast is: Black coffee, two hard boiled eggs and V-8 juice.

25. If you visit my hometown: there is a lot to see and do.

26. Sometime soon I plan to visit: Hillsdale MI

27. If you spend the night at my house: I'll treat you with Southern hospitality.

28. I'd stop my wedding if: the groom didn’t appear.

29. The world could do without: MTV

30. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Yuk!

31. The most recent thing I've bought myself is: a Fall skirt cut on the bias with lots of colors.

32. The most recent thing someone else bought for me is: a dress

33. My favorite red head is: DD#2's boyfriend.

34. My favorite brunette is: my mother.

35. My car must have a sign on it that reads: teenaged driver aboard!

36. The last time I was drunk: not my cup of tea.

37. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds: squirrels?

38. I shouldn't have been: so frank.

39. I should have: considered the other person's feelings.

40. Last night I: ate BBQ with my husband and DD#1.

41. There's this girl I know who: has defied the odds.

42: I don't know: what to wear for the wedding.

43. A better name for me would be: sergeant

44. If I ever go back to school I'll: be a widow.

45. How many days until my birthday? 221.

46. One dead celebrity I wish I'd met is: Hattie McDaniel

47. I've lived at my current address since: May 1988

48. I've been told I look like: my mother.

49. If I could have any car, it would be: Cadillac CTS

50. If I got a new cat tomorrow, I would name her: Cordelia