That elderly dogwood tree outside my window

After a long hard season, my elderly dogwood tree has lovely red berries popping out on the branches.  This is wonderful!  We were not sure this old, gnarled and knobbled tree would make it through the construction process.  There were a few, a very few, blooms on it this spring.  That was a good sign, but not a sure sign.   However, those little red berries, not being an horticulturist I must qualify this with an "I think", are a very good sign...and maybe even a sure sign that our dogwood has indeed survived.

Not unlike this blog, perhaps?

This spring there were a few blooms here on this blog, but not enough to say for sure whether I'd keep on blogging.  Not for a lack of desire!  But for lack of energy. . . lack of time . . . and honestly, for lack of anything that felt worth saying.  Or reading.

Those last two are still to be seen, but I feel a slight invigoration.  Like an old tree that has had a long, rejuvenating summer and is now filled with just enough energy . . .  just enough to pop out this first, tiny, lone berry.

Blog names?

Since the beginning of the blog I've referred to my children by their first initial only, but a letter doesn't express anything about their personalities, does it?  I think it is time for blog names.

So....

For my almost 15 year old son (Pleasant with a grouchy streak, neat and detail-oriented, loves wild music, playing bass guitar, may or may not want to be a pilot, has an interest in fencing and archery): 

Athos

For my 11 year old son (Always on the go, creative with an almost compulsive need to create, sensitive but with a temper, loves the outdoors, often balks but in the end almost always choses to do the right thing): 

Faramir

For my 9 year old daughter (Also extremely creative, draws or makes some bit of art every day, loves to snuggle, has a good bit of sass to her, still a real little girl at heart): 

Artemesia

For my 2 1/2 year old daughter (strong-willed, mama's girl still, very affectionate but at times a "touch-me-not", loves to do whatever her mom or big sis are doing, learning to use her voice, finally!): 

Kalliope

Perhaps I should add photos to the sidebar to keep them straight?  I mean for you, not for me.  I hope that I can keep them straight.  But then, you never know.  

Links for Advent - Dec 10th

I'm currently snuggled in a warm fluffy bed watching my favorite of the old 70s "clay-mation" Christmas specials: A Year Without a Santa with my daughter is who is feeling achy all over and very tired.  Most likely she is just worn out after a sleepover and a very busy errand day, but we are taking it easy (and missing a dear friend's Nutcracker show) this evening to make sure.

Tomorrow is Gaudete Sunday (wow - how'd we get here so quickly?!) and I'd hoped to get the tree up and some lights today...but it will just have to wait.  How was your Saturday?  Are you settling in for a quiet home evening, too?  How about some reading?

:-: from one of the best resources for those concerned about education, CiRCE Institute, a list of 5 great books for gifting this Christmas.  And while you are there, consider making a donation of ANY amount and you will have access to a some of the best downloadable audios available today!

:-: This was a great article: Make Better Choices by Asking Two Simple Questions.

:-: Amy, a dear bloggy friend, from Splendor in the Ordinary has a really wonderful series about the Church Year.  Even if you are an "old hand" at the liturgical year, you'll find these posts edifying.

Enjoy!

Lots of Recipes added!

As I'm thinking about this whole blogging thing, I'm trying some new things out.  Tell me what you think...

I've added a whole bunch of recipes from an "old" cooking blog.  (The only reason I've updated that blog at all as is a place to store recipes online.)  You can select the "In the Kitchen" label and see them all.  Let me know if you like this addition to the Ten O'Clock Scholar.

Is This Thing On?

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK* - is this thing on?

Yea, blogging hasn't been a real priority this summer...and frankly, I'm not sure it will be this fall either.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to publish this post, but sometimes you just have to start putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and see what comes out.

I've loved blogging the past few years, but in the past 6 months or so my desire has waned.  Honestly, it had become a bit of an obligation and chore and that is certainly not how it started, nor how I want it to continue.   So, I don't really know what is ahead for this teeny-tiny blog.   I'm praying and discerning if blogging here is in my future or not.  I am keeping up with our family blog: The Potter's Shed, so you can come on by there and see what we've been up to this summer.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you!  What have you been doing this summer?  Have you ever had blog-burn out?  Or a mid-blog crisis?  (And if so, what did you do?)

Will your students' writing win $$$ ?

From the Circe Institute website:

"Education and Liberty are themes as American as baseball and apple pie. Yet, much of American literature, and most of American pop culture see the two as antithetical. Some people seem to see school as a barrier to liberty. In the 2010 Lost Tools of Writing Essay Contest, students are asked to consider the relationship between education and liberty. Are they indeed opposites? Or can one fulfill the other? Can a person be free without being educated? Can a person be educated without being free?

You decide. Then persuade us."

Write and WIN!  Registration deadline is May 1, final submissions due May 10.  

For full contest information visit the Lost Tools of Writing Essay page.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, we went up into the NC mountains to enjoy Christmas Eve at Biltmore House. If you ever get a chance to visit Biltmore, do!

There was still quite a bit of snow from the snowstorm that dumped feet on the east coast last week which gave the day a truly "Winter Wonderland" feel. We had a wonderful time and decided it was a really good way to spend Christmas Eve. It kept kids occupied and tired them out nicely. I highly recommend it!

There are many Christmas trees at Biltmore, but this is the Biggest - easily 2 stories high!

We all hope you are enjoying a really blessed Christmas today!

Welcome to the facelifted Ten O'Clock Scholar!

If you are subscribed in a reader or by email, come on over to the blog and check out the new look!

Here's what I did:

1. Added a custom background and tweaked the whole layout (adjusted fonts, moved date to center, removed excess space between sidebar items, switched back to a two-column layout, tweaked margins between posts and between columns to give extra "white" space).


2. Created and added a new custom header


3. Reorganized sidebar items


4. Removed a few unused sidebar items


5. Created and added custom buttons in sidebar


6. Created a Google Calendar for blog events and Liturgical observances with a link in the sidebar.


7. Created and added custom title images for sidebar items


8. Reorganized post labels (added: Adoption, Unlabeled, Home Making, and Great Thoughts) - I still have a little to do here, I want to rename some of the labels, ex: "Reading" to "Good Books".


9. Changed my Archives to a drop down menu (to save sidebar space)


10. Added text with my email addy in the footer.

I did all this myself and for free (ie. I didn't buy any backgrounds, images, etc)! So, if I can do (Art History major, remember) you certainly can, too!

If you have a blog and are interested in some of the resources I used:

Microsoft Publisher (blank website document to create background, button images, and header), but you could use any package for creating/editing images you have - PhotoShop is probably better for this than Publisher, but it is all I have!

Online Image Editor (free web-based image editor - that is where I got the cool "Argos" font in the header and sidebar)

Photobucket (hosting my background image, and it helped me tweak the pixel size on some images)

And these blogs for free html/css advice:

Cutest Blog on the Block's free blog tips

Tips for New Bloggers

So, come on over and check it out. . . and let me know if you see any major mistakes! :)

Saturday Evening Blog Post

Here's a fun round-up of posts from the last month.

Swing by to read and/or submit your own!

I chose to submit the 8 Habits of a Happy Homeschool Mama post since it has gotten a number of comments, and it is really the only substantial content I've posted in September.

The Scholar's New Year Review

Welcome to 2009! Often this time of year leaves me feeing a little breathless, sort of a "How did we get here?" But this year, it really feels like a new year...it really feels like 2009 - maybe because it has been a very full year. Whatever the reason - I'm glad a new year is here!

One wonderful thing about keeping a blog is that it lets you look back to see what you've thought about, dreamed up, worried over, and maybe even accomplised over the course of a year. When I looked back today, I was surprised to see what's been on the Ten O'Clock Scholar blog this year! Take a look:

January

5 Questions about Classical Conversations Answered

February

An Anglican Family Lent Carnival and my own Lenten series: Focus, Spirit, Discipline

March

I planned and hosted a Way of the Cross for Children

and don't miss the photos from that event!

April

We decided to expand our family by international adoption

and 7 Habits of Happy Homeschoolers

May

A list of my favorite books (so far) for the Anglican (or liturgical) family.

and 5 Steps for Establishing a Summer Routine

June

A History Lesson Plan for Classical Conversations

(fyi - I'm working right now on the second semester and should have it posted this weekend)

July

Help for the Late-blooming Reader

August

Started a new blog: To Every Meal a Season

and Shunning: Homeschool version

September

A Lesson Plan for the Liturgical Year

(I'm planning on some updates to this, so watch for that upcoming post!)

October

A post for Blog Action Day (this year's focus: Poverty) on Holy Poverty.

November

The 2nd Annual Anglican Advent Traditions Carnival

and my own post on The Advent that Almost Wasn't

December

Rethinking the Christmas Craze - maybe it isn't so crazy after all.

This year is shaping up to be one of big changes for our family and I hope to hone my focus on this blog a bit more, so I hope you'll visit often!

Consider subscribing by email or RSS, won't you?

Slip and Die

Here's my favorite - I think because it is obviously a "family affair". "Dad" is a hoot! This one is family friendly. :)

Ron's Slip and Slide Extravaganza (FULL VERSION)

This is why I will NEVER leave my boys home alone. I know they could and would do this in a heart beat. And I'm a bad mom - I laugh every time I watch this. This is why I love boys.

There is one bad word in the middle (at about 3 minutes when one guys has a slight accident), so turn down your speakers if that will bug you (or your kids are watching). But, you'll miss the music and the funny banter.

The Big 10 zero, zero, zero!

Well, my 10,000th visitor slipped right on by me today! Oh, darn I'd planned to have confetti. LOL!

This blog has been such fun for me and I hope you've gotten some good information out of it, too.

Since I started this blog I:

• have a chance to make a great network of blogger friends - homeschoolers, anglicans, fun moms and more
• have learned about life in China and life in Qatar through blogger friends
• was privileged to pray alongside one blogger as she awaited the birth of her VERY high risk Twins
• got to work with some blogger friends as we had two of the first Anglican carnivals (one and two)
• followed Deb along as she discovers the Orthodox faith (and recieved from her some wonderful paper icons)
• discovered that sometimes we hurry past the most extraordinary things
• shared with you about the REAL first Thanksgiving
• won an award
• seen a most amazing military aviation video
• announced a new blog (and an awesome family event)
• collected some excellent Anglican family resources
• and just had a great time!

To mark reaching 10,000 visitors, I thought we could enjoy a little Q&A. I'll ask you a few questions and you can ask me a few questions. What do ya think? Ok, I'll start...

How did you first find my blog?

What would you like to see more of?

Are you a drop-in reader or a subscribed reader (via RSS or email)?

And just for fun...

What book (books) are you currently reading?

Leave your answers and questions in the comments...and thanks for helping me to celebrate!

Almost to 10,000 visits - Time To Celebrate!!!

Ok, friends, I'm only 195 visitors away from 10,000! (Can I tell you how surprising that is to me?) I really try not to pay too much attention to the sitemeter (other than to check to see what's interesting to visitors), but reaching 10,000 is admittedly exciting. :)

So, how to celebrate...hmmm - any ideas?

• What about a blog scavenger hunt?
• One of my blog friends, Jeanne - from At A Hen's Pace, allowed her visitors to ask any question they wanted then she answered them...ALL.
• Maybe a contest and give away?

What do you think?

Another winner...

ME!! The day before I left I received a book I'd won from Two Square Meals. She was running a "100 favorite books" contest and chose me randomly from all the commentors. I was able to choose from any of the 100 books listed! I chose Gilead: A Novelby Marilynne Robinson.

It sounds absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to start reading it! As soon as I finish The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak, I'll start Gilead.

Thank you, Two Square Meals, for introducing me to this excellent author!

And the winner is...

My friend (in real life) - Kate Mc.! She's even been to the inn (The Claddagh) where we stayed so she knew right away that it was located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. That's a good Carolina girl for you!

Kate will be receiving some delicious Scuppernong Jelly from the Mast General Store, which is a famous old General Store that started up in the NC mountains in 1883. Scuppernongs are my favorite summertime treat. In late summer/early fall, my Dad would often take us grape picking. Then we'd gorge ourselves on Scuppernongs and Muscadines until they were all gone. YUM!

Enjoy, Kate!

Just for fun...

Trying to catch up on my reading, so just for fun today I'm considering myself tagged by Palm Tree Pundit for the 4x4 Meme:

4 jobs I've had in my life
Lifeguard
Christmas season gift-wrapper
HelpDesk for college's "VAX" (intranet-system)
Analyst for TRW (helped create briefings for FAA program)

4 shows I Tivo or DVR
LOST
PBS' "Mystery!"
House
Globe Trekker

4 places I've been
California: Hubby and I have done a LOT of traveling through California (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Big Sur, Carmel, Monterrey, up through the Redwoods, too)
Sweden & Finland
China
Greece & Turkey

4 favorite foods
Homemade popcorn with Old Bay seasoning
Chicken and Dumplings (puffy, not flat)
Thai Green Curry
Chocolate Covered Cherries (liquid-filled, not creme!)
...and anything hubby makes. :)

Want to play along? You're tagged!

And one thing more!

And one thing more,
A new header that's not such a bore!

I'm having a little bloggy fun today. :) So, what do you think of the header? I did it all myself!! Well, with a little help from the Online Image Editor. My creation is not amazing, but I'm so glad to have something a little snazzier!

Thanks to Randi at "i have to say..." for her awesome links post. (Randi - I used them and look!!! Thanks, girl!) Go by and check out the links - she's got a TON and not all blogging-related.

Oh, I feel like such a big-girl blogger now! HAHAHA!

What, what's that you see?

What, what's that you see?
A Ten O'Clock Scholar has columns three?


Oh, I love it, I love it! Here's the website that helped me do it. They have a number of different blogger templates you can choose. I was happy they had my favorite "Rounders 3".

It was SO EASY!!! I recomend cutting and pasting the code - rather than trying to re-type. If you are like me you are bound to make a miniscule mistake that will be hard to find. :)

If you try it, leave me a link with your new template!!

Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera

Doesn't this amaze you?