Peter Carl Faberge’s 166th Birthday & NEW Lilla Rose Hair Sticks

Today, Google’s front page honors Peter Carl Faberge’s 166th birthday.

Alexander III started the tradition in 1885. Every year, he commissioned an egg from his court jeweler, Peter Carl Fabergé, as a gift to his wife, the Empress Maria Fyodorovna. After Alexander’s death, his son, Nicholas II continued the tradition, commissioning from the firm two eggs each year.

At Easter, Fabergé himself would present one egg to the Dowager Empress Maria Fyodorovna, while his assistant would present the second to Alexandra Fyodorovna, Nicholas’s wife. In all, 56 of these masterpieces were produced between 1885 and 1917, however, only 10 of these have remained in Russia. Masters from the Fabergé firm worked on each Easter egg for nearly a year. Designers, goldsmiths and silversmiths, jewelers, stone carvers, enamelers and sculptors all took part in its preparation, from the initial sketches to the finishing touches. The final word, however, was always had by Fabergé, “a great, incomparable genius,” in the words of Maria Fyodorovna.

These astounding creations often included delicate mechanisms. They were equally remarkable for their unusual design, the extraordinary precision of their execution, their magnificent detail and the wonderful selection of the most precious materials. The subject and form of each imperial Easter egg were unique. Some celebrated intimate family themes, while others honored notable events in the life of the Russian state and the imperial family.

Karl Fabergé created his famous ceremonial eggs as symbols of life and resurrection for Imperial families in celebration of Orthodox Easter. These eggs belong to the most celebrated goldsmith works of modern times and contain surprises, which were not revealed to the Czar’s family until Easter. Even when being asked by the Czar, Fabergé did not divulge the secret and answered stereotypically: “Your Majesty will be satisfied.”

And today, Lilla Rose released a new set of Cloisonné Bead Hair Sticks that are reminiscent of Faberge eggs.So very pretty!!  I love using Hair Sticks and can’t wait to order a set of these!!

You can order on my web page here.

Blessings, Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Honorless

Posted By Guy Smith On May 28, 2012 @ 9:30 am

“Honour was honour, it clothed a man better than a fine jacket before the eyes of his neighbors.”

This passage from John Prebble’s Culloden explains why Barack Obama has lost the south and may from that lose reelection.

Prebble was writing about Scottish Highlanders in the age of Jacobite revolution. Among the tribes of Scotland, and in their modern mindset, honor is elemental. In societies that rely on mutual trust to survive, honor is essential to commerce, neighborly relations and commitments. To live in a land where one protects his honor and demands honorable actions from all others, to forsake that substance means to lose human standing.

After The 45,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobite_risings#The_Rebellion.2FRising_of_1745_.28.27The_Forty-Five.27.29) once the English had raped and hung Scots, burned their homes and salted their fields, many Highlanders fled for the New World, settling largely in the south. The Smokey Mountains and Appalachian terrain suited them. Highlanders brought their families who were in tatters and their honor which was still intact. This contributed to the widespread sense of honor that seeps into most southern men’s blood to this day (and with Dixiecrats occupying more and more terra firma, honor is rapidly solidifying). The Southern code of honor requires treating everyone with respect until they prove unworthy, and nothing makes a man more unworthy than to be dishonorable.

This explains why Obama has no traction below Washington D.C.

Honor requires many things, and in no small part is facilitated by leaving your neighbors alone while demanding the same.

It is expected to insist others behave properly in public, but it is utterly inappropriate to tell them what to do in their homes or with their money. It is honorable to give generously to charity and loathsome to demand tribute to government run charities. It is honorable to stand for office on the promise to tame government and make it your servant, and vile to use government to enslave.

As is obvious, every Obama policy is repugnant to Southern honor, which explains that large swath of red in the latest Election Projection presidential polling map.

Southerners recognize government as necessary yet prone to abuse. Obama, in his election year vow to “make government cool again” did the opposite by force feeding it to an unwilling American public. Enacting Obamacare when as much as 69% of the public opposed it, reneging on his vow to use only public financing for his election, to spend nearly a trillion dollars promising economic revival but actually buying government union votes with the lucre, to squander taxes on energy policy “investments” with unworthy and dishonorable campaign donors … well, the pattern emerges.

No action, regardless of how noble it was spun, masked Obama’s deeply dishonorable deeds.

In the age of the citizen media, such disreputable doings were instantly revealed, and people with honor abandoned Obama.

It is agonizing to write this on Memorial Day, when tribute is paid to those who proved they possessed the ultimate in honor. The contrast is too sharp, the divide too clear. Fallen warriors gave their very being to preserve a land dedicated to the most honorable notion, that people must be free. That their country is now oppressed by a man unfamiliar with honor, unacquainted with universal freedom, devoid of the character content that another Southerner (M.L. King) deemed sacred – this situation is our collective moment of dishonor.

Article printed from Cowboy Confessional: http://www.guysmith.org/blog

URL to article: http://www.guysmith.org/blog/2012/05/28/honorless/

Copyright © 2011 Guy Smith. All rights reserved.

Grammar & spelling corrected and piece posted by The Patriarch

Other posts that may be of interest to you:

Most Biblically Hostile U.S. President

Despotism: Encyclopaedia 1946 Film

Deformed Heart of Obamacare

Basic Economics Facts & Fallacies

Take A Stand Against Evil Men

UPDATED with donation info & LINK at bottom!!

Psalm 140

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

preserve me from violent men,

who plan evil things in their heart

and stir up wars continually.

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,

and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

preserve me from violent men,

who have planned to trip up my feet.

The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,

and with cords they have spread a net,

beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

I say to the Lord, You are my God;

give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!

O Lord, my Lord,the strength of my salvation,

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

As for the head of those who surround me,

let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

into miry pits, no more to rise!

Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

and will execute justice for the needy.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;

the upright shall dwell in your presence.

At one point I think I mentioned that this is not a political blog, and that is true.  Mostly.  I also blog about ‘life’ and politics does affect my life and yours.

The Patriarch and I found THAT out in the early 90’s when we were mugged by reality (as Rush Limbaugh would say).  I used to think that all those decisions being made w-a-y out in Washington DC didn’t really affect my life.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  EVERYTHING they do in DC does affect my life, my business, my family… and yours.

So what am I blogging about today?  Brett Kimberlin.

Oh, you never heard of him either?  Um… then why am I writing about some guy I never heard of?

He is attacking bloggers who dare to expose his criminal past and his connections to Soros and his liberal activist activities.  You can get a brief overview of his sordid past by watching this short YouTube:

Do not make the mistake that this is a partisan issue, for it is NOT.  Brett Kimberlin is only using the liberal left for his own personal monetary gain.  He has also attacked at least one liberal-left blogger.

Here is a post by one of Kimberlin’s victims: Never Doubt That God Answers Prayers

Another Kimberlin victim: http://patterico.com/  “Having fought this battle largely alone for so long, with the help of only a small handful of close friends, I felt like George Bailey once I realized how many friends I have out there.”

What Kimberlin does is called “lawfare”.  He uses the law as a means of attack.  It is in effect what Saul Alinsky recommended in his book “Rules for Radicals”.

RULE 1: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood.

RULE 2: “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone.

RULE 3: “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.

RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules.

RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.

RULE 6: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more.They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones.

RULE 7: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news.

RULE 8: “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new.

RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist.

RULE 10: “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.” Violence from the other side can win the public to your side because the public sympathizes with the underdog.

RULE 11: “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem.

RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions.

Friday, May 25th was blog about Kimberlin day.  You can read a bit about that and the reasoning behind it here.  Due to a problem with The Patriarch’s computer I didn’t find about about this until Saturday and started this post then.

You will find that this domestic terrorist Brett Kimberlin is being funded by us!  When the Barbara Streisand Foundation, Theresa Heinz’s Heinz Foundation or George Soros’ Tides Foundation donate to one of Brett Kimberlin’s “charitable endeavors” it is a tax deduction!  Here is another post all about Kimberlin’s funding and how YOU can help by donating.

From this moment forward I will NEVER purchase another Heinz product.  Of course the first thing you think of is… ketchup.  Lots of that being consumed today on “National BBQ Day”.  But NOT in our home and NEVER again.  I have found an EXCELLENT alternative the Heinz ketchup.  It is Kroger’s Naturally Preferred organic ketchup.  Tastes great, uses NO GMO corn sweeteners, NO high fructose corn sweeteners and is reasonably priced.

So just what is a stay-at-home wife & homeschooling mom doing blogging about this?

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797)
Irish orator, philosopher, & politician

Blessings, Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Donation Link to help anyone being harmed by Brett Kimberlin.

Other posts that may be of interest to you:

America’s Most Biblically Hostile U.S. President

If I Were The Devil

Despotism: Encyclopaedia Film 1946

This post also linked here: The Better Mom, What Joy Is Mine, Raising Arrows, Finding Heaven, Above Rubies, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, A Pause on the Path, Thankful Homemaker, Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Here Home, We Are THAT Family, Deep Roots at Home, A Mother’s Heritage, Women Living Well, Intentional Me, Raising Mighty Arrows, Our Simple Country Life, At the Picket Fence, Best Posts of the Week, Serenity Now, Homemaker by Choice, Comfy in the Kitchen, Finding Beauty, Created to be His,

Today’s Church & The Lost Doctrine

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

My Titanic Era Outfit

Woman selling Irish lace on the Titanic

April 15, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  We purchased the only accurate Titanic DVD, recommended by Vision Forum, which we watched last week.  The DVD, A Night to Remember, is was based on the novel by the same name and is put out by the Criterion Collection.

The other night the Patriarch & I watched the extras on disk two.  Very, very good!  I highly recommend this.  There were two different interviews of Titanic survivors, a behind the scenes of how it was made along with some background information and much more!  The only caution from disk two… the global warming junk-science & the 15,000 years ago mantra in the feature on icebergs.

Here is a link to some never before seen photos.

The Titanic’s musicians

In some of the early articles it said “Lead, Kindly Light” was one of the hymns played by the musicians while the ship sank.  This is not a hymn I was familiar with.  I love the words!  The tune can be found at the link through the hymn title.  I had heard that they played Nearer My God to Thee, and David Craig sang that hymn at the Titanic 100 event.

Lead, Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

steward & stewardess, surviving crew of the Titanic

As I have looked at various Titanic pictures it struck me that I made a Titanic era outfit!  It is my “Aunt Mae” persona clothing and I thought you might enjoy seeing what I made.  I used mostly what was already in my closet, making a few changes by adding  period-looking embellishments.

Here is my jacket with photos of the decorative details.  The jacket was purchased about 7 years ago and only worn a few times.  The decorative trim was originally along only one edge of the lapel and center front, has three-quarter sleeves and four buttons and button holes.  The original design was to wear this jacket buttoned up.  If you look at the surviving stewardess in the photo above, you will see her jacket collar is very similar to my jacket’s stand-up collar!

I searched for matching trim to add to the other lapel and bottom edges and attached it with my sewing machine.  The frog closure was sewn on by hand,  buttons removed and the button holes hand-sewn closed.  Black velvet ribbon was attached on top of the existing belt and a decorative button added.  The only thing left to do is to add black velvet cuffs for a bit more authentic look.

My shirt is one I have had in my closet for many years.  It is a light cream with a covered-button placket, embroidered with tiny purple violets and green leaves.

shirt front and lace cuff

Lace was attached to the cuffs so that is hangs below the jacket sleeves.  This is actually lace with a second decorative trim sewn on top of where the lace attached.  All sewn on by hand.

cuff lace detail

IN “those” days, a woman past childbearing age would wear black as a symbol of her infertility or when she was in mourning.  I used what was already in my closet, and didn’t intend to make a mourning outfit and my whole outfit cannot be considered mourning as my hat is NOT black!  This was a hat I also had in my closet for a several years.   A few alterations later and an embellishment or two added… well maybe more than two things!  😀

partial top view

The brim trim is a lace scarf out of my closet.  I cannot even remember when I acquired it and I never wore it.  I love scarves, but hadn’t worn this one.  All the flowers and feathers I purchased from the fabric store and were wired on and some are hot glued in place.

rear view

I could not find a hat pin that was A) long enough or B) in my price range.  Mostly the former.  My favorite hardware store, McLendon’s, to the rescue!  I bought a small package of piano wire and Arrow filed one end to a point… of sorts anyway!  I then bent one end of the wire to hold a decorative button to match the jacket-belt button.  It was too thin and not secure enough but worked until I could find the “hat pin of my dreams”!  🙂  The “hat pin of my dreams” I purchased through Ebay.  These things could also be used as a weapon in an extreme emergency… it is 14 inches long, has a thick, sturdy shaft and is VERY pointy.

Caledonian Railway Button Hatpin

Aunt Mae & her soaps!

The Titanic’s soap label

Over at Jennie Chancey’s blog (http://sensibility.com/blog/reproducing-1912-fashions-remember-titanic/) and at the end of the article you will find a link to download a free eBook containing all the images in this special feature, plus an array of extra goodies that will help you gain an excellent picture of the time period. You can print these for your own personal use, and feel free to pass the link around to others. The eBook is free until the end of April!

If you look at page 22 of the free e-book, you will see pictures of blouses.  My collar isn’t too far off!!  I didn’t have time for complete authenticity in my wardrobe, just a ‘sense of the times’.  In my portrait I wore a lace collar that I pinned the jabot to.  But the jabot wouldn’t be worn at home… so I am working on an apron.

Oh my skirt?  Um, … well… it isn’t even close to being right.  It only goes down to the mid calf.  I guess after the apron, a Beatrix Potter skirt is on my to-do list!

To tie the Titanic disaster to today…

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other posts you that may interest you:

Mother’s Day 2012  Soap Special!

Something I Made

A Farewell Phone Call

Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links.  I do receive compensation if you buy through them.  This is one way I am able to contribute a bit to our family resources.  All comments and opinions are my own.

This post also linked here:

Homeschool Curriculum – What I Use & Why I Use It

I am often asked what curriculum we use in our homeschool.  Since the homeschool conference season is upon us I thought it was high time to  get this post posted!  It is easiest to continue answering this question here where it can be accessed easily and whenever it is convenient for you to read, re-read and ask questions.  So go grab yourself a cup of tea, lemonade, water or beverage of choice, sit back and relax.  This is by nature a  l-o-n-g  post.  🙂

When you ask anyone what curriculum they use in their homeschool, they should first tell you what teaching method they follow!  I am first and foremost a Teaching the Trivium proponent.  I then lean towards a classical methodology with unit studies and Charlotte Mason thrown in the mix!!  So whatever teaching methodology you favor will determine in large part the curriculum you will use.  I will elaborate on the Trivium and my mix in a different blog post.

– this book will help you get started on understanding why to homeschool, I consider this essential reading for parents and required reading for our children when they are about 14 or older and preparing for marriage

– this book will help you understand what the trivium is, why it is important and biblical

Before we get started I wanted you to give you hint at what you will find in this post… I hope this helps you find what you are looking for.  There are two sections;

section #1 is curriculum resources with the following categories in this order: bible studies, history/geography/literature/government/bible history/philosophy, reading instruction, handwriting, writing instruction, grammar, math, science, spelling, occupational education, Greek/Hebrew/Latin, art appreciation and music appreciation;

and section #2 is home/school/child management skills and resources.

1. What do I use and why do I like it?

A) Bible Studies:

– Balancing the Sword – I did a thorough review here

– Quite Times for Kids – solid, biblical, meaty studies; children work on their own as soon as they can read; free samples, various studies, can be used for any reading aged child, one study uses Lego blocks to reinforce lesson!, easy to use

–Proverbs by Kevin Swanson – essential character training for all children, good with all children, easy to use

  – Plants Grown Up (boys) & Polished Cornerstones (girls) from Doorposts are full of bibles studies, and various gender specific tasks/lessons to be learned in preparation for marriage.  I love the Doorpost materials!!  These are pretty thorough, varies enough that any child would benefit, CD with all memory verses and printable sheets available, is used from childhood until marriage

B) History/Bible History/Geography/Government/Literature/Philosophy & more:

              –Tapestry of Grace – helps ME teach a Christian, classical education (we emphasize the Reformed viewpoint) using a guided unit study approach with the history of the world as the core organizational theme, students cycle through the material 3 times at different learning levels, detailed lesson plans and discussion outlines make ME the primary teacher and mentor and I shape their biblical worldview, comes in digital, print or you can get both, flexible for different learning levels and is designed for stages NOT ages, assignments for a full 36-week school year which are also broken down into 4 9-week units, every unit starts with a full introduction and end-of-unit celebration activities, each unit is broken down into week plans with the actual reading, thinking and writing assignments as well as tools and teacher helps, online collection of useful and helpful documents that are not specific to any week plan, optional supplements covering a wide range of subjects to make your experience more streamlined and enjoyable, resource book list and book update chart.  Tapestry is a plan of study, recommended books are available for sale, at the library or might already be on your own shelves!  Any books can easily be substituted for those you would prefer to use.  This does take some learning to use, but there are many resources to help you in your learning curve!  Anything worth doing isn’t always easy, but THIS is well worth doing!  There are also free units available for you to try before you buy.

C) Reading Instruction:

– Phonics Pathways – 100% phonics, uncluttered pages, large type, easy to use, NO prep time for me, a reading readiness evaluation so you are not pushing instruction too early for your child’s development

– McGuffey Readers – no ungodly elements!, endearing line drawings, character lessons in well written stories

D) Handwriting:

– A Reason for Writing – lessons built around bible verses, easy to use, potential outreach by sending out the completed border sheets at the end of the week (we have done this in the past and have had wonderful responses), simple ‘test’ to check handwriting improvement through the years.

.
– Startwrite – a computer program that allows you to use any material for handwriting and has both printing and cursive alphabets.  I love using this for bible memory verses, psalms for singing we are working on, quotes from leaders we are studying, poems Arrow is memorizing and much more!

E) Writing:

– Understanding Writing by Susan Bradrick, this is the ONLY curriculum that truly teaches HOW to write!!  The others tell you to write to learn, but that isn’t effective and doesn’t teach you how to write!  There are also examples of simple word games to improve sentence structure and descriptions.  Amongst all the excellent teaching is a mini child training curriculum!  Double bonus to be sure!!  Tapestry of Grace does have a writing component and each assignment is tied to that weeks lesson, but they are just more meaningless writing exercises.  This curriculum has your child writing notes and letters to friends and relatives all while learning the HOW to write and write well.  It is writing with a real purpose.  Most of our students will not be writers, journalists or editors.  But they will need to write notes, letters, and possibly even blog posts!

F) Grammar:

– Easy Grammar – easy to use, you memorize prepositions and it is SO much easier to find subject and verb after that!!  I struggled with grammar all through my school years, with this method I would have had a MUCH easier time!!  Even “I” do not have to use the answer key for many of the answers when correcting work!!  WOW… I have learned so much!!

G) Math:

– Math-U-See – easy to use, very thorough (build problem with manipulatives, write the problem, say the problem, practice, teach it back (really demonstrates whether they understand the concept or not!), ability to make additional worksheets for those times when a concept just does not seem to be grasped and you have used all the ones in the workbook, concepts taught to the teacher first via DVD, addition (& subtraction) taught as general concepts and then the facts are taught in groups (+2, doubles, etc), addition taught then subtraction (not both at the same time), same for multiplication & division, and I love, love, love the manipulatives!

.
– 100 Sheep – a skip counting CD to bible stories, this is wonderful!  Arrow puts this in to listen to on his own while doing dishes or cleaning his room.  🙂

H) Science:

– Christian Kids Explore … – good early level science, easy to use, specific science per categories (biology, chemistry, etc)

.
– Wonders of Creation series – biblical reference, more in-depth look at some favorite science topics, study guides available

.
– God’s Design for Science series – from Answers in Genesis, all sets reflect a Biblical worldview, including a young-earth view of creation, four-part series, experiments & activities in every lesson, great photos, easy to use with multiple children at different levels, flexible to use, comprehensive material, makes The Patriarch very happy as he decries the lack of hard sciences taught to homeschooled children

.
– rock collections for geology from Northwest Treasures – wonderfully full of rocks, books, and all in a great storage case, reasonably priced, very interesting kits (dinosaurs, fossils, Lewis & Clark, glow in the dark (VERY popular!!), and much more, all from a young earth/creation perspective

.
– Christian Liberty Nature Readers – from Christian Liberty Press

I) Spelling:

– Phonics Pathways – thorough phonics rules, no need to purchase an additional curriculum (makes DH very happy)!!

J) Occupational Education:

  – Plants Grown Up (boys) & Polished Cornerstones (girls) from Doorposts are full of bibles studies, and various gender specific tasks/lessons to be learned in preparation for marriage.  I love the Doorpost materials!!

– Managers of Their Chores – helps you teach your children how you want each chore done, when to do it and then is an accountability system as well

K) Greek, Hebrew & Latin:

  – Little Bitty Baby Learns Greek, Alphabet for Classical Latin (no longer available), Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew  – we are just at the stage for a formal Latin but not ready for Greek or Hebrew curriculum yet…, but we know the alphabets of all three!

– Latin for Children series – easy to use, reasonably priced, lots of additions like a history book, CDs, and puzzles

L) Art Appreciation:

– Adventures in Art – NO NUDES!!, larger reproductions of paintings, easy to use, easy to organize the paintings into one large ‘timeline’ of art history to trace how art changed with political ideas through history… OK so when I bought this about 18 years ago I got a portfolio with reproduction paintings this is now an internet curriculum, and will still be WONDERFUL!  Art is the expression of an idea/thought and tracing its history is eye-opening.

.
– Child Sized Masterpieces – NO NUDES, postcard sized paintings (get to touch, sort, etc), many levels with lots of beautiful paintings, easy to play matching games, guess the artist and much more

M) Music Appreciation:

– Music & Moments with the Masters – traces music history and how music changed with political ideas through history, music is the expression of an idea/thought/emotion and tracing its history is eye-opening.

.

– [Composer] Greatest Hits – we use this along with the story of that particular composer for more of his music than what is given in the previous CD

.
– The Story of… – CD series of composers life stories, informative and we use them in the van while driving somewhere… redeeming the time!

2. What home/school/child management skills have you learned to make things easier and more enjoyable?

A) Home Management:

1) Have meal plans.  This helps with KNOWING what will be for lunch and dinner, making sure you have the necessary ingredients, eliminating unnecessary trips to the store (saving money on gas and wear & tear on the vehicle).  This is NOT restrictive but freeing!

2) Have some kind of cleaning schedule.  Don’t wait for it to get dirty, clean it BEFORE it gets dirty!  I clean the shower when I am IN there.  I’m already wet!  I wipe something down every time I am in the bathroom.  This helps KEEP the bathroom clean.  Teach your children to do the same thing!  You are NOT a maid.

3) Eliminate clutter!  This is a biggie and I am still struggling with this one… but each trip to the donation center helps!  Funny thing, I can not usually even remember what was in those bags and boxes after I donated them.  So that is PROOF I didn’t need it!

B) School Management:

– Homeschool Tracker Plus – a planning and organizing software, adaptable to any homeschooling style simply and yet sophisticated, lesson planning, record keeping, flexible and customizable to my (or your) planning and organization style, lesson plans can be reused for multiple students or in different years and can be shared with other Tracker users, affordable and either online or downloadable versions, EXCELLENT customer service & support, online discussion forum with great users who are helpful and kind, oh so kind!!  One of my favorite features is the rescheduling!!  This has helped save my sanity more than once!!!

OK, I heard that snickering out there!  Who did that!!!??!!!

C) Child Training:

  – Raising Godly Children by the Bradricks (DVD series)

.
– What the Bible Says About Child Training by Fugate – with certain caveats

.
– Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp

D) Skills/Lessons/Tips I Have Learned:

1) START THE DAY WITH HE LORD!!!  Even just a few moments with really little ones afoot.  Aren’t we homeschooling for the Lord in the first place?  We cannot do this without Him!

2) Be truly submitted to your husband.  Ladies, do not deceive yourself into thinking you are in submission when you are not.  Ask you husband, he’ll tell you.

3) Patience, but this came after #2, #1 AND #5 makes it easier!  😀  Despite what the world thinks (that we must have lots of patience in order to homeschool) it is the process of teaching our children at home that develops that patience!  Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.  A lesson I am still learning… sigh.

4) To study the various educational methodologies and determine which one best fits with God’s word first and our child’s leaning second.  See resources listed at the top of this post.  This helps you eliminate some curriculum which helps in the decision-making process!

5) GO TO BED EARLY, NO LATE NIGHTS (unless you are nursing, then… TAKE NAPS)!  There really is no benefit in burning the candle at both ends… and lots of detriments.  Draining your adrenals is a big one.  You do NOT want to go there.  Trust me on this one.

6) LIMIT computer time, crafts, talking on the phone, and any other activity that takes your focus off your home and family.  There will be a season for more of that when the children are grown.  You will only have them for a short time, don’t waste it with your fave in the box!!

7) Start with obedience training when your children are very young.  You are striving for first time obedience, without excuse, without delay, without complaint.  Doorposts has great help with this area.  Your consistency is a key factor.

I hope you find this helpful.  Some of these resources I liked so well I became an affiliate for them!  I do receive a monetary compensation if you purchase through one of my links.  All these materials I have purchased on my own and I was not paid for this post.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may still have!

Blessings, ~Aunt Mae (aka ~Mrs. R)

Other Aunt Mae Musings that may interest you:

Why We Homeschool

IndoctriNation the Movie

Why We Attend the Christian Heritage Conference

This post is also linked here:

  , Visionary Womanhood,

Samual Adams Quote

“The liberties of our country,

the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards;

it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.

We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors.

They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood.

It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation

– enlightened as it is – 

if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men.”

– Samuel Adams

Well, today I must be on a tear…

And to help you identify those in the above photo – – –

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

Despotism: Encyclopaedia Brittannica Film from 1946

The Patriarch found this one for me too!  Isn’t he the greatest!??!!!  😉

Our forebears were warned, in school no less!  Yet here we are today sliding ever closer to despotism.  God help us.

Blessings, ~Mrs.R (aka Aunt Mae)

If I Were the Devil

This was recorded in 1965!  All of these things have come true, so sadly true.

This was Paul Harvey.   Good day.

Blessings, ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)

WallBuilders – Issues and Articles – America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President

WallBuilders – Issues and Articles – America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President.

We must never forget this.

Blessings,   ~Mrs. R (aka Aunt Mae)