Peter Piper's Picks - Sept 9th

Mary at Evlogia has posted about her family's use of Praying the Hours.  She has compiled a Children's Book of Hours that you can download in two formats.  Read her post and then scroll down to see the link to the files.  Thank you, Mary, for sharing!

From a Study in Brown, an archive only blog, this lovely reminder for those of us introverts:  Survival Guide for the Quieter Species.  HT: The Introverted Church

I've been thinking about making my own detergent for sometime.  While I was at the beach in the summer, my good friend Beth brought hers to use.  It worked well and smelled great.  I have a full jug of store-bought detergent not, but as soon as it runs out I'm making some of this!

I don't really like "Because I said so", but sometimes I just don't know what to say.  I intend to try this the next time I'm tempted to use that phrase (or an even less kind one).

Peter Piper's Picks: April 17 - Easter Week 2

A lovely post and suggestion for the Easter Season from Ann V. at A Holy Experience:  a simple wreath.  I cannot afford the price tag (although the handiwork looks well worth it).  Wonder if there is a way to adapt this with ready-made materials.  Any ideas, readers?

Getting your priorities straight and letting go of the need for perfection:  Natalie at Imitating Steventon talks about getting real as you get farther along the homeschool path...although I think it might have as much to do with getting older: A Breakthrough.

NO - it gets old.  Freshen up your repertoire and give your kids a break from your usual refusals by learning 8 Ways Not to Say No from Minds in Bloom.

Have a blessed weekend!

Peter Piper's Picks - Easter Season: Week 1

Christ is Risen!

:-: It is Easter Season, right, so is there a reason we can't dye more eggs?  Check out the gorgeous naturally dyed eggs at Waltzing Mathilda.


:- : A great sticker/activity book by Tomie da Paola for the Easter Season: Garden of the Good Shepherd.   Check out Waltzing Mathilda's excellent ideas for playing off this book in a series of weekly "Garden Parties"- including some printables!


:-: Nothing to do with Easter, but there is a GREAT discussion of Norms and Nobility (start reading with this post) going on at Cindy's blog Dominion Family.  Even if you can't afford to buy the book to read along, the posts and conversations are worth your time to read.  And, in my opinion, a must for home educators!


:-: Finally, and sadly, a beloved blogger, Michael Spencer, who blogged at "Internet Monk: Dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness", has died from brain cancer.  His writings will really challenge your religion.  He has passed, but his blog is being continued.  Right now they are re-posting some classic articles from Mr. Spencer.  Titles like: Why I Am a Christian (10 reasons)     Our Problem with Grace      Dr. StrangeLiturgy      On Christless Preaching

I know it isn't Saturday, but I was too busy this past Saturday to blog...and I just couldn't wait to share these resources with you!

Peter Piper's Picks: Feb 27th - Lent Week 2

How is your Lenten fast going?  I've discovered all kinds of different things to eat.  I even discovered that my favorite Hazelnut Latte is even BETTER made with soymilk!  I think it is the nutty flavor of the soy that really sets off the hazelnut flavor so well.

:-: Jimmie has a really timely post for "newbie" homeschoolers (or those thinking about it for next year...or those "oldbies" who might need a refresher).  Really, even if you aren't new to homeschooling there is some worthwhile reading here: 25 Must Read Articles for Newbies

:-: On Crockpots and Microwaves: Relationships in the Church - this is a quick read, don't miss it!

:-: A quick, easy chuckle.

:-: RJ Snell on The Intellectual Life and Moral Imagination.  Here's a taste:  "But the liberally educated oughtn’t become specialists, or masters of a method, or researchers, or pedants of the arcane—the liberal arts, as Monan puts it, “educate for the enriching and constructive exercise of liberty.” That is, to shape humans capable of wisdom, and wisdom is about good acting and living."

Peter Piper's Picks: Feb 20th - Lent Week 1

How was your first week of Lent?

I attended our Ash Wednesday service and had the opportunity to meet three people I've been on the lookout for for sometime.  One is a friend of a friend and also the wife of a local Anglican priest (Hi, AMY!).  She reads my little ol' blog, too!  (It was kind of embarrassing to meet someone who knows me first through my blog.)  The other two are a couple adopting from Ghana!  We shared stories and hope to have regular get-togethers when their children come home.

Today, I only have one link to share...but it is a fantastic one:

• The grandmother of all Anglican link collections: Lent & Beyond.  The blogger, Karen, has an astounding collection of links related to the church year and Anglicanism, but especially LENT.  Grab a cuppa, find a quiet place, and go enjoy some blog reading!

Have a lovely Saturday!

Peter Piper's Picks: Jan 30th - Daughter's Birthday Edition

Today is my dear middle daughter's 8th birthday.  Last year her birthday was a bit overshadowed by our impending departure to Ghana and my own baby shower for Baby L.  This year it seems a winter storm is going to keep us from some of our celebration plans.  So, I'm doing my best to make her day as special as possible.

So, this Peter Piper's Picks is dedicated to my sweet, creative, blanket-loving daughter!


Because Little E (hubby is Big E) is lovely, I'm sharing a Living Lives of Loveliness Fair at Among Lovely Things.  You'll enjoy some ideas for infusing the blah days of winter with a bit of loveliness.

She loves to take photos (got a camera for Christmas so she would stop hogging mine!). Some amazing photos to enjoy today from National Geographic's annual contest.  (you can download some for wallpapers, too!)

Little E (and the rest of my family) loves to chide me about my addiction to "Starschmucks", as my hubby calls it.

Since she's been homeschooled since birth (my only one so far who has not been in an institutional school setting), I'm including a link to a new-to-me page of great homeschooling inspiration and information: Best Homeschool.  (It is so good, I'm adding it to my Homeschool links in my sidebar!)

Ok, and she is really hard to say "no" to.  She's got a really good "aren't I too cute to say no to?" face.  But this post titled "8 Ways to say NO" is really gonna help me!


Happy Birthday, Lady Bug!

Peter Piper's Picks - January 23rd

Reading for your morning coffee....

An amazing map, drawn by Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit priest who traveled and lived in China in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, on exhibit at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

Newbery Awards for 2010 are announced.

This story of three Swedes who have started a line of blue jeans made in North Korea fascinated me.  In Sweden some are buying and others are boycotting.   I think I'd buy them.  What would you do?

Twitter, meet Cicero.

Homeschool book reviews - a new blog.  This looks like it might be a great resource!

Peter Piper's Picks : Advent 2 edition

Welcome to Peter Piper's Picks for the week of Advent 2!

:-: Catholic Cuisine is a wealth of ideas for celebrating the church year. I think this idea for a "Jesse Tea" is just fabulous. I'm filing this in my "next year" ideas file! Wouldn't this be fun to do with a few families, each one bringing a few of the snacks to share?

:-: My friend Lynne at Sweetbriar Patch has written a lovely essay about Spiritual Disciplines and Advent. You don't want to miss it.

:-: Recently, I was involved (mostly listening, as it were) in a conversation about the spirit of Advent - is it deeply penitent, lightly penitent, why not Christmas carols, etc. I really like iMonk's post about the Mood of Advent: needfulness.

:-: Andrew at Quiddity asks A Serious Question About Christmas. It is one I've pondered myself, but haven't brave enough to really answer. Perhaps because I know what my answer would be and I just can't imagine the implications . . . .

and finally . . .




And now dear friends, I'm off to get ready to attend a lovely Brunch being hosted by my church's middle school girls' bible study group. I'm so excited - they are a sweet group of girls and I'm honored to be invited!

Have a fantastic Saturday!

Daybook - Monday, November 23rd

outside my window . . . solid gray sky reflected in charcoal puddles. My front beds looking a bit bedraggled.

in the kitchen . . . making ahead lots of food today and tomorrow and the next day for our Thanksgiving celebration. Oh, and last night I made a REALLY easy pot of soup. Literally, open, pour, stir, serve: 2 boxes of Trader Joe's Creamy Corn and Roasted Pepper soup, 2 cans of corn, 2 cans of black beans (rinsed well), and a 7oz jar of pimentos. I added a little shredded cheese when I served it. You could make it a bit heartier by adding some browned ground or shredded chicken/turkey/beef. It is really SO delicious!

around the house . . . lots of cleaning and decluttering to get ready for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. The kids have all gotten their cleaning assignments. I'm polishing silver today - among other things.


~~~~~


on my iPod . . . adding some Advent music to my iPod this week.

from our studies . . . the next few days are all about "Home Ec"!

thinking about . . . the upcoming Advent Carnival. I can't wait to see the posts!

listening to. . . my dog, who sounds like she is trying to hack up a hairball. The kids discussing a Pink Panther movie my middle daughter is making up.

thankful for. . . our cash budget. It is such a relief to go spend money I have in my hand and not worry about "going over".

creating . . . I might start on that crochet Christmas star garland this week.


~~~~~


to foster rhythm and beauty . . . some fresh flowers for our Thanksgiving table. Reviewing previous year's Advent traditions and adding a new one: a Jesse Tree.

to live the liturgy . . . gathering for our family altar-space: a purple cloth, a new candle and making upcoming feast day icons for Advent.

to educate faithfully . . . gathering resources for an Advent lesson plan based mostly on Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury and our new Jesse Tree.


~~~


one of my favorite things . . . my little secretary desk in the corner of my dining room. It is a tiny little corner, but it is MY corner.

a few plans for the upcoming week . . . meetings for me tonight and tomorrow night, my mom arrives Tuesday, Thanksgiving dinner of course on Thursday, maybe shopping on Black Friday, maybe a trip downtown to see the sights on Saturday.

a picture thought I'm sharing . . .

This is my tiny corner.

Enjoy more Daybooks at Peggy's!

Peter Piper's Picks: Nov 21st

::This is why knowing history is so important to our understanding of biblical truth (and studying the Greek). Of Belts and Breastplates from Mere Comments. This gave me a much better understand of the Belt of Truth!


::Brandy has compiled a phenomenal booklist based on a couple CiRCE conference talks. Some really great books!


::A winsomely worded reminder about our lives' priorities - blogging (and blog reading) in particular - from Mrs Anna T at Domestic Felicity.


::8 great family gift ideas from Heart of the Matter


::And a great holiday funny from Fail blog. (Do you know Fail blog? I enjoy it, but you do have to use some discretion here. At the top of the blog is a link to see only G-rate matieral.) Only this time it is a WIN: Holiday Lighting Win.

Peter Piper's Picks: Nov 14th

Liturgical Nuts and Bolts - from iMonk: a great explanation of the liturgy by an Anglican priest.

From AbeBooks.com, a commercial website, a fascinating look at what was being read during World War I, especially what was being read by soldiers.

A homeschool supply box for "those days". A great idea!

Have you ever been unfriended, literally or via Facebook? Read to the end for a link to a Garrison Keillor take on unfriending, too.

Peter Piper's Picks: Oct 17th - From my Google Reader

A great post from Jen at Conversion Diary about going against God's will and what you do when you have. Here's a snippet:

"I've stopped spending so much time asking 'Was this God's will?' and am trying to spend more time asking, 'How can I serve God in love at this moment, right now?' Maybe the situation I'm in is the result of a bad move, but as long as I keep turning to God there will be an opportunity to bring love out of it."

Cindy at Ordo Amoris has me rethinking my homeschool "toolbox":

"Systems are tools. They help us find the real things. Unfortunately, many people are happy when they have found a system. They never look up from their scavenging in the rubble to see the reality of the thing they are searching for. "

A new-to-me blogger, Parchment and Pen, is celebrating his 3rd anniversary running down Top Ten Things I Know About Blogging and Bloggers Three Years Later.:

"7. Writer's Block for Bloggers: Blog about Blogging"

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Peter Piper's Picks: Oct 3rd -

My blogging friend, Amy at Splendor in the Ordinary, has started a really lovely series of Tea Time posts for sharing the Church Year with your kiddoes. Our afternoons are such that an organized Tea Time will only cause me undue stress, but I'm thinking about incorporating her ideas into our evening "Family Time".

Another Anglican blogging friend, Jessica at Homemaking Through the Church Year, is showing off a beautiful head of hair ... a Crown Braid style that is making me long for long hair. If you scroll down on my blog you'll see how long my hair was last year...it is well above shoulder length now. I like it, but when I see Jessica's pretty do I get a little misty-eyed.

A new-to-me blog, Scholium, has linked to a discussion by Fr. Patrick Reardon on the importance of the family table. Now, I know you know this, but do you Know It? Recently, when listening to the CiRCE 2009 Conference CDs, I got to thinking about the Nature of a Meal and realized we (my family, I mean) were sometimes letting the dining slip into mere eating. Fr. Reardon has given me a bit more inspiration in the proper direction.

I stumbled onto Susan's blog: Susan's Pendulum. She's witty, interesting, and a rich thinker. She also knows a funny joke when she sees one. Check out Today's Laugh. Of course, that would be a today that is two days old, but still. . .

And two posts of a theme at iMonk this week: The Older Teaching the Younger - Part 1 and Part 2 just left me a bit slack-jawed. I see this happening in my own church a bit. There is a mooring that has been cut. How do we re-tie it before we are entirely adrift and lost at sea?


Blogging has been so spotty. Baby is doing wonderfully, but suffering through two new teeth. My eldest's study schedule is still needing LOTS of mom-guidance. And my computer has been in the hubby/tech support hospital lately. I now have a newly refreshed (read: entirely deleted and reloaded) hard drive. Currently, we have a severe lack of testosterone in the house. All the men are gone for the weekend. It is just daughters 1 and 2 and Me! Oh, and 2 female dogs and 2 female cats. Shhhhh..... don't tell my husband: We are going out for Krispy Kremes and Starbucks in the morning. I had big plans for my weekend, but I think this will have to do.

Don't forget tomorrow is St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day!

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Peter Piper's Picks - Sept 19th: Constitutional Edition

St Januarius, St. Theodore of Tarsus


One of my favorite speakers and writers and bloggers, Andrew Kern, blogs about US Consititution Day, Sept 17th. Did you learn the Preamble to the Consitution by watching Schoolhouse Rock, like I did?
ps - if you are a classical home educator, Mr Kern's organization is one you should know: CiRCE Institute. Their most recent conference is out on CD and it will rock your world. Seriously.


What's up in consitutional law these days? Spunky, as usual, has got her ear to the ground. Did you know education is not supposed to be controlled at the federal level? Hard to tell from the recent rhetoric coming from the White House. Check out these two posts (and others...and the comments section, always hopping at Spunky's place) - lots of solid info and many, many links to the issue at hand.


And who do we have in charge (dealing with our constitutional rights)? According to the witty and ascerbic Camille Paglia, "feather-preening bourgeious liberals" and the "back-biting mess" of the GOP. I don't agree with her politics, so it is surprising to find myself agreeing with her. But, I shouldn't be entirely surprised. This same phenomenon (having more in common with someone whose politics are WAY different than mine) happened to me while in Ghana a few months ago.


Finally, some good advice for Christians undertaking debate or discussion with others over political matters (or any matter, really) from Scriptorium Daily: 7 Suggestions for Christians in the Public Square.

Have a beautiful weekend, y'all!

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Peter Piper's Picks Sept 12th: Literary edition

My 17th Wedding Anniversary

I don't know. Do you really buy that biologists can do research on literary history? Evolution science explaining literature? If we turned it around the other way, would the scientists put up with English professors contributing research on scientific theories? Do we let science go too far?


Free is good, right? The internet is Free and has many benefits. But, have you noticed that often it is just plain faster, and easier, to use a BOOK than the internet? So, apparently "Free" does have a cost after all . . . T.I.M.E. and maybe something more.


Why Modern Composition Theory fails. And what to do about it. The first in a series.


Why academics must write beautifully. Have you noticed that some academics wear their "boring" writing as a badge of honor? But why? Why shouldn't all writing, no matter the topic, be artfully written?


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Peter Piper's Picks - Sept 5th - Homeschool Edition

A friend on an online homeschool email group recently posted a link to this as an encouragement, and it really is. Has the start of your homeschool got you a little daunted? Go read this: Home School Mothers - The Beatrice Brigade. Not feeling daunted right now? Surely you will someday, so print this out for future reference!


Another online friend, Desert Mom , from the blog Quotidian Life, posted a link to a wonderful essay that she and her kids read at the start of school to remind themselves that true education is a form of repentence. She also has some good thoughts of her own on true education.


Once you've gotten all "pumped up" with vision and encouragement, you'll need some tools! Jimmie (one of my favorite resource bloggers) has a wonderful post about Graphic Organizers. Her post is one you'll want to bookmark and return to often.


How has the start of your homeschool gone? Do you find yourself reevaluating plans based on "on the ground" circumstances? Or maybe some new insight or encouragement you've received?

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Peter Piper's Picks - Aug 29, Culture Edition

A peek at life in the Middle East during Ramadan.

Would you like to challenge yourself to learn more about China? How about taking a "China Challenge. "! BiblioFile has put together a China Challenge book reading and learning activity list (with different requirements, so you can choose your commitment level). A few years ago, I traveled to China with Dear Neighbor to bring her adopted daughter home, so I've done a number of these already. I think I'll try the "Silk Road" level! HT: TongguMama

Perhaps "travel as a force for peace" is stretching it, but I certainly believe that when we learn about another culture first-hand it will change us. Particularly, we learn to cherish a culture and a people.

Peter Piper's Picks - Aug 22, Place Edition

Heard this on our NPR station Friday morning, and thought it was particularly funny. Mark Washburn, a columnist with our local newspaper, comments on how we name places here in Charlotte, but I think his observations extend much further than the Queen City. So many of our modern names for places are utterly generic, or worse taken from consumerism, for example Bank of America Stadium...really, that could be anywhere in America. Well, except for the fact that it is headquartered here. But you get my point.


Memory's connection with our sense of place - an architect gives some insight to her peers about this important aspect of their craft.


An article by William R. Ferris in 1999, when he was the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, about the importance of retaining our sense of place , or as Faulkner said (and he quotes) our "little postage stamp of native soil".


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Peter Piper's Picks: Aug 15th

St. Mary the Virgin
Dormition of the Theotokos
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary


So, did you hear that John Hughes died this week? Well, of course, you did. It is old news by now. Which of his movies was your favorite? Ferris Bueller? Pretty in Pink? Sixteen Candles? I enjoyed this article from Christianity Today looking at his movies and their meaning and effect on those of us who found his movies to be almost a rite of passage.


My friend, Cindy of Dominion Family has been at a CiRCE Institute Teacher Apprenticeship Retreat all week. She's had some tantalizing posts at her blog and on Twitter. I can't wait to read more about her week as she has time to blog about it in the coming weeks. If you are interested in True Education (she has thrown out the term classical) don't miss her thoughts!


The Internet Monk has just started an interesting series (he says "brief", but has over 20 post topics planned!) on Evangelical Liturgy. As an Anglican, and a lover of high church liturgy, but appreciative of low church mentality, this should be an interesting series to me! iMonk is Quite Protestant and I don't agree with all of his thoughts (to start with he objects to calling the table the Altar and instead suggests the Table for the Lord's Supper), but his purpose is to get Evangelicals thinking about what parts of the ancient church tradition they might return to their worship. If you've got time, I highly recommend his podcasts - always thoughtful and amusing!


My "back to school" memories are probably a bit different than most. They consist of helping my mom, a 4th grade teacher, get her room all ready for her new class. (Hi, Mom - she reads my blog sometimes.) I loved going to help Mom hang bulletin boards and arrange chairs. One thing I miss in homeschooling is getting to make bulletin boards! But, besides these being fun, they can also be a great way to get kids familiar with bits of information. The Heart of the Matter has a suggestion that might be a nice compromise for homeschoolers: mini-offices made with manilla file folders. The mini-folders can be like "bulletin boards" for your kids with all sorts of tidbits: math facts, state capitals, vocabulary or spelling, etc. They'd be great for all sorts of memory work! These look like so much fun, I really think I'm going to give them a go.



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Peter Piper's Picks: August 8th

Feast of St. Dominic

The World's 10 Oldest Cities. Really fascinating and beautiful photographs!

A friend on a HS loop passed this along: Songs for Teaching. They've got songs all across the disciplines.

An 18-Minute Plan for managing your day. Ok, this is silly but this has revolutionized my day. Really. I tend to put way Too Many Things on my "to do list". Having to actually put them on my schedule (rather just on the list "to do") has made me aware of what I can and can't accomplish on a given day. It is much more satisfying to accomplish 3 planned tasks (besides baby care and homeschooling and keeping 4 kids from goofing off or grouching at each other) than have a list of 10 things with only a few of them crossed off. This guy has a few other ideas that might resonate with you day-managing weaknesses.

The Cates have managed the Carnival of Homeschooling for a Long time. They also are great about linking to other homeschool carnivals. Here's their most recent list of other homeschool carnivals. It is always fun to peruse for useful ideas and tips.

And now, possibly the most well-known Anglican couple in the blog world have gone PUBLIC as . . . Home Schoolers.

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