Sisters Book Challenge

Inspired by The Quirky Bookworm's BFF Book Challenge,  my sister and I are having our own book challenge this year.  It's low-key and low-pressure.  This is how it works:

I choose 10 books for her.  She chooses 10 books for me. 

We each pick at least five from the list to read and blog about sometime in 2013. 

Here's Kati's list for me:

Crooked House by Agatha Christie, The Wind in the Willowsby Kenneth Grahame, The Scarlet Pimpernelby Baroness Orczy, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot, Calico Bush by Rachel Field,  Bride of Thistleloch Castleby Therese Stenzel, The Centurion's Wifeby Davis Bunn and Janette Oke,  Maid to Matchby Deeanne Gist,  Mr. Darcy's Diaryby Amanda Grange

Here's my list for her:

The Secret Keeperby Kate Morton, Peter Panby J. M. Barrie, Keep a Quiet Heartby Elisabeth Elliot, Wonderland Creekby Lynn Austin, Holesby Louis Sachar, Charlie and the Chocolate Factoryby Roald Dahl, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo,  The Air We Breatheby Christa Parrish,  Thr3eby Ted Dekker and How Not to Dieby Dr. Jan Garavaglia

I was slightly OCD about gathering a varied list (male and female authors, nonfiction and fiction, Christian and not, adult and children's literature), plus attempting to find books she'd not read! 

It's going to be hard to stop at only five of her choices because quite a few intrigue me.  I may need to revisit my book list  and re-evaluate my reading plan for this year. 

While we're not asking anyone to commit to joining us, we'd love to hear if any of these books are on your reading list for this year...or if you've already read any of them. 

Winter School

School was back in session, effective yesterday.  Aside from a potty training toddler who had three accidents in the space of 1 hour, it was the best "first day" I can remember in our homeschool history.  I love the benefits of that break right smack dab in the middle of the school year.  Aside from the quality family time it provides, it gives our minds a break from the rigors of a structured school day and it gives me a few weeks to ponder what is working and what needs to change.  

This has been a happy and productive school year thus far.  We've completed five months of school (approximately 20 weeks) and we have four months left (exactly 15 weeks-- I counted!).  

We loved the scripture memory box  idea that we implemented this year.  I like, especially, that is is portable and we can review our day's verses even if we are traveling in the van. As a result of the enthusiasm the kids showed for the Names of Jesus Advent Cards we used during December, we are beginning our own set of Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards now and we'll pick up our daily Bible reading plan for children again when we're done.

We picked up in  The Mystery of History  right where we left off.  We're studying the kings of Israel and Judah, as well as the early days of Athens and Sparta. I don't think we'll be done with this volume until sometime next year.  I'm amazed that the author suggests completing the entire book in a year or less! 

Gavin is absolutely loving an inexpensive workbook I ordered for the kids to share this year: Maps,  Charts, and Graphs: States and Regions.  We read the lessons out loud and the three oldest kids take turns answering the questions.  Gavin has asked that I get him his own book next year so he can answer all the questions.

For the first time in Gavin's six years of homeschooling, I am 100% happy with his math curriculum.  We are using Saxon Math 65 and it is a perfect fit.  He reads the short lessons on his own  (great for fostering comprehension skills) and then works only the odd-numbered problems.  I've found this to be enough to learn the skills without  bogging him down.  We do not use the tests, but we do a modified version of the drill sheets that the curriculum provides. 

Maddie and Owen are continuing their new skill of multiplication.  I worked through Times Tales  (book, not DVD) with them right before Christmas and was reminded of how wonderfully amazing it is.  Memorizing multiplication facts in 2 weeks?!  Yes, thank you.

Strange though it sounds, we'll be finishing science for the year by the end of the month!  We are studying astronomy.  We've read books on the moon, the sun, and stars as well as observing the night sky and sketching in our science notebooks. When we finish our list of books about planets, we'll have completed everything I planned.  The health unit that we completed during the summer also contributed to our science credit, as does the  book about machines that Gavin and Brian read in January.

I have been dragging my feet about art for this winter/spring session.  We studied Mary Cassatt in the fall and loved her work, but I was uninspired when I went to pick another artist.  I had almost decided on Georgia O'Keeffe, but a blogging friend told me her family had strongly disliked studying O'Keeffe.  I hemmed and hawed for weeks, and finally settled on... Georgia O'Keeffe.  I was swayed by a story book about O'Keeffe I saw on display at the library.  I've already told myself that when we add in all the art projects we've done since August, we probably have enough art credit for the year, even if we abandon Georgia O'Keeffe after a month! 

We'll round our our year with a gym class taught by college students at one of the local universities, our small monthly co-op, extensive reading, sewing, Legos, and penpal correspondence.

What are you learning in your homeschool?  Are you beginning anything new?

Happy February

It's February 4 and Valentine season is upon us!

I never did get around to making a homemade pie crust last year, though I listed it in my 2012 goals.  And though I still want to make a crust for a full-sized pie, I finally tackled a homemade crust recipe for a batch of Cherry Hand Pies. 

I used a basic crust recipe from How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.  The recipe was intended for a full-sized top and bottom crust.  I was able to make 12 hand pies.

After mixing the dough, I divided it into twelve balls and refrigerated them for about 20 minutes.  

My frustration with making homemade crust in the past has always been dough that sticks to the rolling pin and counter, making it impossible to transfer to a pie pan. This time I rolled out the crusts on my wooden cutting board and generously coated the surface, my hands, and my rolling pin with flour.  I rolled each chilled dough ball into a 6-8 inch(ish) circle(ish). I put a dollop of cherry pie filling in the middle, folded the dough over, crimped the edges with a fork, then trimmed and evened the edges with a sharp knife. (By recycling the trimmed edges, I had enough dough for another 1-2 hand pies, but I decided 12 was enough.)

When all twelve pies were arranged on the pans, I made an egg wash (1 egg yolk whisked with 1 tablespoon water) and brushed it over the tops of pies, finishing it with a sprinkle of white sugar. 

I baked the hand pies at 425 for 10 minutes or until the crusts were a golden brown. 

The leftover pies kept well, covered in the refrigerator.  The second night, we rewarmed them in the microwave for 15 seconds and then drizzled melted dark chocolate chips over the top.  Heavenly!

No Words Needed

{Of course, truth be told, I'll be curled up on the couch with my laptop and book, but Brian (who has been a 49ers fan since he was a kid) will be in his glory!}

Ring Around the Rosy

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