The Peanut Butter Family Homeschool - Book Review

I don't get much time to read for pleasure, but I picked this one up at a used book store a while back and the title cought my eye...peanut butter? I really liked this book. It was an easy read, I read through the entire thing in about three evenings. Bill Butterworth, the author writes it from his perspective and it begins when their oldest children were in school and how his wife approaches him about homeschooling thier children. This is an older book, written in the mid 80's so that was when homeschooling wasn't mainstream. I found it funny, delightful and heartwarming. It recounts some of the basics of homeschooling from the beginning and mentions the methods of the late Raymond and Dorothy Moore. It helped me to begin thinking about the basics of homeschooling rather than the techniques. Techniques is what we have a lot of in this time and I tend to get lost in the techniques and thus lose the spirit and joy of what I am really doing from day to day. May each of you find the joy in the journey, if only for today. Have a blessed day, Suzie E.

The Santa Barbara Crab

While visiting in California, dh and I retreated for a few days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We went to Santa Barbara and left the children to spend some time with grandma and grandad.

We really enjoyed spending time at the Santa Barbara Pier. We went there both days we were in Santa Barbara. One evening we ate at a little crab shack at the farthest end of the pier. It was a rather small and informal place but the sunset was breathtaking and the atmosphere so relaxing. Did I mention that the food was exceptional? It was the hands down, the best seafood I have ever eaten! They served local caught crab. Dh and I split this 3# Rock Crab. It was plenty for both of us.

They had huge tanks of these guys, alive! I was amazed!


Here is our meal right before it was cooked, amazing!

We saved the shell and brought it back to the apartment where we were staying. I boiled this all night because I wanted to take it home smelling a bit better than it did previously. Isn't it beautiful. I really think it is a nice color.

Here is the underside. The children discovered that he has a built in happy face.

Do you see it?

I am sure you can see it now. I wonder if all crabs have this smiling face on their underside?

His cute little smile reminds me to always have a HAPPY FACE and never be a CRAB!

Blessings to you for a very happy face day. Don't let crabiness steel your happiness. Suzie

Roman Arches

Did you know that the Romans were the first to build arches in their architecture even though the Greeks and Egyptians were familiar with the architectural techniques. Today, this was part of our history discussion (TOG year 1, unit 28), how an arch is different from a post and lintel design.

Youngest son demonstrates with legos how the weight of an arch is supported mostly by the blocks at the top, where they come together. The Romans also were able to develop higher grades of concrete that made it all hold together better.

The Romans built triumphal arches, which were built to honor emperors or major military victories by generals. In a few weeks, our studies will take us to many prisoners of war that were forced to march through these arches and into the city of Rome. At one time, there was thirty-six triumphal arches scattered throughout Rome. Only three of those are still standing today.

A Tribute To My Mother

Happy New Year, Friends! We arrived home safely from our travels. Thank you for your prayers. We travelled to spend the holidays with my family in California. We had a wonderful vacation.

I would like to introduce you to my wonderful mother. For Christmas this year I made her this quilt. While I don't profess to be a great quilter, it is something that I love to do and do with love. Stitching a quilt is therepeutic for me.

My mother loves flowers. She has a flower garden just steps outside her kitchen door. Her favorite thing is to 'puts' around in her flower garden. I chose each fabric carefully. As mom ages, I want her to be surrounded by the beauty of the flowers she loves so much, as she rests in her recliner as well as in her garden.

When I was young, mom and I didn't seem to have a very good relationship. I think this was more about me being a perfectionist than there really being anything wrong with mom, except that she is an imperfect human, just like me.

As I worked on her quilt, it seems the tears cleansed my soul. I so wish I could take back those difficult years and just be friends again. The good new is that she is my friends. I am thankful that she gave me a Godly influence to look to. I am thankful that she loved my father so I could see how it is to love my husband. I am thankful that she took care of the home I grew up in. I understand so many of the things now, because I am living them myself. There are so many things she did right in my life. I am thankful for her wonderful influence on my life.

If you havn't hugged your mother recently, I would encourage you to do so. I shed many tears on the way home, wishing I could be close enough to hug mom at least once a week. If you are that close, you are blessed.

Blessings, Suzie