tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169769822012-02-16T17:08:54.675-05:00We are a homeschooling family! Come on in and sit a while as we proceed with our day!Kathynoreply@blogger.comBlogger3321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-75514151183633431852012-02-09T10:12:00.003-05:002012-02-09T10:12:49.977-05:00

If you are interested in a program that teaches you how to take care of your largest Sense Organ, check this out!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-18757922634823321692011-11-27T08:11:00.001-05:002011-11-27T08:11:11.297-05:00

  I took the leap and joined Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health.  Last week, I started out on Chapter 1: Germ vs. Terrain Theory.  This week, I will be focusing on Macronutrients. This first part of this course is called Family Herbalist Program.  It should take me about one year to complete. Then, I will begin the Clinical Masters Program.  The teacher in me has to remember to be the

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-39426235514022851302011-10-23T07:24:00.001-05:002011-10-23T07:24:49.459-05:00

Today, we begin our focus on what we are eating. We could spend countless hours talking about carbs, proteins and more but lets break it down to even simpler terms.  What is one item that you can give up! One item that you know has no value to your body. It is void of minerals and vitamins. It is high is sugars and chemicals that are not good for your body.  That is right! You guessed it!  Today

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-70272472056052470472011-10-17T11:02:00.000-05:002011-10-17T11:02:00.128-05:00

This week, we will need to take a look at ourselves.  What exactly are we dealing with?  In a notebook, list what health conditions that you have.  Write everything down including medications that you may be on.  If your physician has placed you on a specific diet, then write it down.  This will be crucial to laying your foundation.  Once you have this in your notebook, front page, I want you to

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-10777766056973450612011-10-16T20:04:00.001-05:002011-10-16T20:04:59.284-05:00

Once again, in 1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20 “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a gift] from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. “  I think that about says it all!  You

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-27288066328357430172011-10-16T19:46:00.001-05:002011-10-16T21:20:18.350-05:00

With a renewed strength to go forward instead of standing still, I have chosen to rebuild the temple that the Holy Spirit dwells in.  In 1 Corinthians 3: 9 – For we are fellow workmen with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, (you are ) God’s Building.  Together, we can rebuild what God created for His Glory! As a Gardener, I find this verse of great

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-22731165173625084642011-10-02T19:22:00.001-05:002011-10-02T19:22:10.949-05:00

  This time next week, we will be officially on vacation. Relaxing and enjoying our time together.  Time spent together with God.  Today was a unique day. I made the decision to fight with God as my Savior.  See, the word of God is alive.  I have read verses before and never heard the words as I have today. God’s word never comes back void.  His word can heal my body.  He said to seek out the

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-47641269293574518402011-09-26T21:35:00.001-05:002011-09-26T21:35:02.798-05:00

I am 42 years old. A mom to three sons and a wife to a wonderful husband.  I am overweight and out of shape for I have not taken time to take care of me.  The penalty of this action is Intercranial Hypertension. A condition that requires that I stay on a diuretic daily.  Weight loss should be my highest priority but recently it has taken a back seat.  I wish I could say that I carried myself as

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-43734243402527683822011-09-19T18:31:00.001-05:002011-09-19T18:31:53.608-05:00

My best guess is that this is a wild carrot top. 

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-77921381287088888252011-09-19T18:26:00.001-05:002011-09-19T18:26:35.418-05:00

Red clover was also found near the road side.  I am sure that we would have found more but I hope to dig this little guy up and transplant him into my herbal garden.  It has a lot of healing properties and easy to grow.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-22873146281480705092011-09-19T18:23:00.001-05:002011-09-19T21:50:13.359-05:00

I found this plant on the side of the road. It’s bright yellow color caught my eyes. Yet this is not like the common flower.  Each bulb immerged a single petal.  Anyone who has an idea of what this plant is, please leave a comment here.  Here is another look … Not a mystery anymore!  Thanks Rene G. This is a Nyssa Sylvatica also known as Black Tupelo or Black Gum Tree. Nyssa sylvatica

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-88390659168298731152011-09-19T18:19:00.001-05:002011-09-19T18:19:57.625-05:00

A very common species of plant found in most yards and fields.  Every part of this herb can be used. This one was found in my yard with 100’s of other ones. Yes, we live in the country.  Since I use a diuretic, this plant will be of great use to me. It is high in potassium and is a mild diuretic itself. 

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-44397598353625274542011-09-19T18:15:00.001-05:002011-09-19T18:15:28.279-05:00

Your help is always needed. As we begin taking inventory of the plants that we have in our area, we will need your help to label them.  As I find the answers, I will update the photos and blog about it.   This is the first step in the process of becoming an herbalist.  Knowing what herbs can be used from what God has already given to us and how those items can work to replace some of the most

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-40536811590725227702011-08-31T06:54:00.001-05:002011-08-31T07:09:15.135-05:00

My health has not been the best lately.  I hurt from head to toe.  It may be from the herbal tea that I have been drinking.  It is a cleansing tea that is suppose to help remove the buildup of heavy metals in your system along with a lot of other health benefits.  Maybe it is the road less traveled. The one that will lead to a healthier me.  I really do not know.  I have been praying for healing

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-59250978345394396352011-07-05T08:12:00.000-05:002011-07-05T08:14:59.475-05:00

Life moves at a lightening pace. It felt just like yesterday that I was holding my youngest son in my arms as I held his small little hand. Now, he can still sit on my lap at the age of 9 but his feet drag the floor and he is heavy.  But I still love the hugs and kisses in the morning. This month, I will be working on gathering snap shots of portfolios and guides for homeschoolers in our area. I

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-8023267376421847312011-05-27T11:48:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:37:11.921-05:00

This black widow spider was found near the base of a tree within a hole.  It is our attempt to photograph the insects and other creatures found on our land during the summer. Only the female spiders are poisonous.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-61320110914649218912011-05-27T11:46:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:40:17.508-05:00

This brown spider located in the middle of the pic was hard to see at first. Once it moved, we took a photo of it. It blended in so well with the leaf litter.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-17968229577531781372011-05-27T11:45:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:41:19.017-05:00

Matthew, my youngest son, took this photo. He said that it looked as if it was posing for the camera.  We wil identify it later as to type and species

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-81811500212059275172011-05-27T11:44:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:42:50.318-05:00

As you will note, there is a small black dot in the middle of the spider. This is its eyes. In front, you can see it small mouth.  I loved how it perched on the leaf and never moved as I took this photo. 

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-82524603803644555202011-05-27T11:43:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:44:28.422-05:00

This has to be the smallest tree frog I have ever seen. The tadpoles are much smaller and are found the creek on our land. My son happened to see this little one move and picked it up.  After a lot of research, I believe it is the pine tree frog.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-81476470283703830062011-05-27T11:42:00.001-05:002011-05-27T19:46:25.208-05:00

This 17 year cicada only comes up from the group once every 17 years. You will note the bright orange on the wings of this Cicada.  There is a 13 year Cicada as well. There is less of an orange color on the wings. 

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-87430367369295179252011-05-08T13:50:00.001-05:002011-05-08T13:50:07.276-05:00

  Weight loss is a hard thing to achieve. Recently, I lost close to 25 pounds. I felt great and looked so much better in my clothes. Now, I have gained 10 of the pounds back.  I part of the problem …  money. I was using Advocare and it really worked for me, but it is also very expensive.  so, when the money ran out, I gained my weight back.  So, I decided that I would do something that I would

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-33654097234348819062011-02-28T12:56:00.001-05:002011-02-28T12:56:15.976-05:00

The end of February has come. This year is already passing way to quickly.  Soon we will be celebrating Brandon’s 11th birthday.  He is not excited at all.  He has only changed his mind 400 times on what he would like to have for his birthday.  As for homeschooling, we have jumped midstream into a new curriculum.  Writing has been a struggle these kids but hopefully not any more.  We left the

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-21039025936879072582011-01-31T08:06:00.001-05:002011-01-31T08:09:56.302-05:00

This month has been a great month! So far, 2011 has been a good year.  At the beginning of the month, my laptop began shutting down!  I experienced computer rage.  I really did try to be patient but it did not work.  I finally gave into the rage and purchase a desktop computer for the business.  Now, my rage has gone and I am in love with my new desktop.  Much nicer and with less of the

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-6023176699324835062010-12-31T06:34:00.000-05:002010-12-31T06:34:44.105-05:00

It is a time of remembering special events within this year.  A time to reflect on what is important and what is not.  It is a time to make goals and hope for a fresh start.  2010!  We have had a lot of things happen in 2010.  We have had kittens that we raised from a bottle.  Dogs who LOVE the laser.  Kids making achievements in school.  Cats almost getting killed by dogs and so much more. 

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-30734126960393677942010-12-30T18:02:00.001-05:002010-12-30T18:02:51.672-05:00

COUNT DOWN TO 2011 AND BEYOND ...lol

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-34681457762882699742010-12-30T08:22:00.000-05:002010-12-30T08:22:36.575-05:00

What a year this has been!  We have been so blessed!  (Here is a Brownie House that my Mother in-law helped the kids to make. She amazes me!) Better view of another one of the houses. Boy! these were good! A better view of the above house! Here is a shot of my husband! He is preparing to play Jesus in our Puppet Show.  He was having so much fun playing with the hair.  I wish all of you

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-84325509897352822892010-12-13T07:09:00.000-05:002010-12-13T07:09:27.873-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!  I LOVE YOU JESUS!HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-88102672820396012052010-11-15T08:22:00.000-05:002010-11-15T08:22:20.659-05:00

 Here is Matthew on his 9th birthday.  I can not believe that my baby is 9 years old!  But he is... I am so proud of him too!  Don't look behind him at the mess... I did not clean the kitchen on that day... He is just so handsome.  He looks a lot like the Phillips'.  He really takes after his Papa Phillips and his Daddy! This photo was taken at the campground that we attend.  On the left is a

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-33068479367423248672010-11-01T19:58:00.002-05:002010-11-01T20:08:52.986-05:00

Today was a great milestone for me.  I hit the half way point for the Wii Active workouts 6 week challenge.  Woo Hoo! On the family side of things, Matthew is sick with a stomach virus.  I think the wants out of school work tomorrow. We shall see what tomorrow will bring. Ben is finally getting the swing of the Biology Class. He has really shown improvement in his test scores and in his

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-41257343690432786342010-10-25T08:14:00.000-05:002010-10-25T08:14:23.541-05:00

I have been amazed at the pitfalls that we must face while we are losing weight. Our goal is to become healthier. To feel better and yes to even look better.  To win the approval of of the man that you love.  I have been fortunate that my husband has never judged me when I was heavier.  He has always treated me as if I were his queen and made me feel more loved that I have ever been.  I am

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-24198685148800891172010-10-18T07:04:00.001-05:002010-10-18T07:12:12.047-05:00

Here I sit in my kitchen, just typing away. Sometimes wondering, who this blog reaches or if it is just a place to put  my random thoughts.  Either way, I have been with this blog now for over 5 years! Matthew, my baby, just turned 9 years old on Saturday.  He was so excited.  He got a new bike for his birthday!  He also got a handmade Sponge Bob blanket from his Meme and Mom, with a Sponge Bob

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-88864792063016620272010-10-10T08:28:00.000-05:002010-10-10T08:28:56.286-05:00

We have been blessed with three days of peace here in SC.  I honestly never realize just how face paced my life is until my in-laws take my children for a few days.  The house is quiet and stays clean but most of all, I have time to get a few things finished that otherwise, I could not. I am still in the process of losing weight.  I have been holding right between 173 to 170.  I stepped away

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-10313980468428051252010-09-04T17:51:00.000-05:002010-09-04T17:51:24.916-05:00

I should be cooking dinner right now but instead, I am sitting here typing on this blog!  LOL Well, school is off to a good start. I love teaching the older kids.  They are a hoot. The only thing that I have to report is that I now have to wear glasses. Not only wear glasses but they are Bifocals!.  Yes, I am getting older and I hope wiser. I am down to 172 pounds and I have started to work

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-21752352961287857452010-08-30T06:18:00.000-05:002010-08-30T06:18:57.906-05:00

I have had to make a few last minute adjustments in the homeschooling area.  I am not excited about it but I feel that it is necessary and therefore, it will happen. Homeschooling three kids is a challenge.  But it is doable just as homeschooling five or one.  It is all about what you set your mind to and what you are willing do and do without.  But sometimes, even the best intentions do not

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-41865554277554360362010-08-24T06:11:00.001-05:002010-08-24T06:11:39.957-05:00

Ok!  You have to admit.  This is cool!  We too this photo a few years ago right outside of our home.  It is a garden spider.  Some people still call them a writing spider.  But when we got back inside to look at the photo, we decided that it looked very much like a transformer.  The head looks like someone wearing a helmet!  The kids and I really enjoy this photo. Well, you may be wondering

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-32643049179701416572010-08-22T05:56:00.001-05:002010-08-22T08:08:51.910-05:00

Yes, I start back today on Slim.  I am looking forward to that.  I hope to see Major weight loss this week.  This morning, I took my Spark with my Slim, Catalyst and Omega Threes.  I have placed an order for the shakes as well so that I do not have to worry about Breakfast any more. Ok! Here are my beginning measurements before I started with Advocare.  The next measurements are my present

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-60861321260429579712010-08-19T15:42:00.001-05:002010-08-19T15:42:59.839-05:00

How do you teach a 13 year old boy how to manage his time more effectively?  I am so tired! Frustrated!  I hate to be mean and take everything away from him but what else can I do?  I am up each morning at 5:30 to 6 am.  I prepare for school.  Work with the kids all day long only to have my 10 year old and 8 year complete their assignments by 12 noon.  My oldest may have finished his first

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-17494737249018655162010-08-13T10:08:00.002-05:002010-08-13T21:14:52.319-05:00

cell diagram Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.1 This is the cell drawing that Brandon completed today. He was so proud of his work. Then the exciting part of the day came when we got our microscope.  We were able to see the cells of a leaf and grass.  The kids were so excited that they wanted to prick their fingers to get blood. Yes, they want to see if they can see blood cells.  

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-45732641610719646972010-08-12T07:01:00.000-05:002010-08-12T07:01:21.523-05:00

This is the curriculum that we have chosen for Ben. Or should I say, that Ben chose for himself.  It is actually three courses in one.  It covers American History, Bible and Composition/Literature.  The first book that Ben is scheduled to read it the, "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  We picked up the book just yesterday from the Library.  I am looking at American History for the boys as

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-6522918224571617732010-08-09T06:36:00.000-05:002010-08-09T06:36:35.320-05:00

Life can be crazy some times.  This morning, my life is crazy.  My body is yelling for more sleep but I need to get up and get it to moving.  Why?  Because we have a puppet show this morning at 11 am and I must be at the church at 9 am to set up!  After that is over, then I can focus on schooling!  I should receive Ben's history and Literature books today along with Brandon's and Matthew's

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-81442808747862837192010-08-06T06:48:00.000-05:002010-08-06T06:48:35.160-05:00

I fell in love when I saw this photo.  Even thought I am sure that it is CGI, I can only imagine waking up to something like that!. We are back to homeschooling with only a few little interruptions.  In two weeks, we will be back into full swing and life will return to the hustle and bustle of homeschool life.  I have elected to teach High School Biology this year.  We are using Moodle online

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-32099494453562153342010-07-30T05:47:00.000-05:002010-07-30T05:47:27.571-05:00

II was looking recently through my photos on the computer. I came across this one.  It is a picture of a tree in our front yard.  I am not sure why the kids took this photo but they did! LOL I find photos like this all of the time along with photos of their noses, faces, etc.  I never know what I will find when I pick up the camera and look.  Well, our family has been doing very well with their

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-86719270923309607852010-07-27T06:22:00.000-05:002010-07-27T06:22:07.455-05:00

These past two days have been challenging to say the least.  A huge oak tree fell during a storm. As a family, we have been working on removing this tree from the yard.  I am finding out that this has been the best workout ever.  TOTAL BODY!!! I was excited about a few things this morning.  I have gone from a very tight size 16 to a comfortable size 14 pant.  That made my day! Well, I hope to

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-78123105916447900062010-07-22T06:40:00.000-05:002010-07-22T06:40:47.145-05:00

There are those days when you are depressed and you do not believe that anyone can make a difference.  Then he shows up and makes your world safer and better.  That is what my husband does for me. I love my family! I am blessed by them and through them.   I am blessed to home school my children! I mean, would you now feel blessed to home school a son like this.  ROFL!  Now you can understand why

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-21344056433913702362010-07-21T07:20:00.000-05:002010-07-21T07:20:19.524-05:00

OK! It is working very well now! LOL No, I am not running to the restroom every five minutes but it is daily! My energy levels are heading back up.  But most of all, I am loving the effects of an energy drink called SPARK on my oldest son. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. We tried meds, counseling, etc. They only caused weight loss and one drug cause him to want to commit suicide. When

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-33748293375712481662010-07-18T07:54:00.000-05:002010-07-18T07:54:28.814-05:00

There are so many things that we take for granted these days. One of them is our freedom.  We have had it for so long that we forget what we have had to do to keep it.  I also take for granted the fact that I am alive and I have a choice to make about my life. I can choose to be happy or a grumpy person.  No one can make me mad unless I allow them too.  I can choose to fight or choose to give up

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-45034917488657518232010-07-13T21:01:00.000-05:002010-07-13T21:01:12.532-05:00

I feel like this crab some days.  Some times, I want to come out of my hole and just walk around while other days, I just want to be left alone, tucked deep into my little home. The past few days have been hard on me. My pressure has been up but it is slowing coming back down. It was my fault. I did not want to have to stop so many time on the way back from Florida, so I did not take my meds

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-85267106558048642612010-07-12T07:08:00.000-05:002010-07-12T07:09:05.739-05:00

We did! We are at Manatee Cove Park when the Gator appeared! It stayed on the other side of the river, but we also made sure that we did not go swimming in the water either. Several other people came to see him on that day and most anticipated that he was about 10 to 12 feet long. He was impressive!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-46851547052541312542010-07-12T06:58:00.000-05:002010-07-12T06:58:20.224-05:00

The treasures of the beach. Here are just a few of the many treasures that the boys found from Cocoa Beach, FL.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-19435136492772394542010-07-12T06:43:00.000-05:002010-07-12T06:43:22.259-05:00

This little sand crabs were everywhere on the beach. They would come out and eat the seaweed that had washed on shore. We really enjoyed watching them at work.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-82999019516989358022010-07-12T06:38:00.000-05:002010-07-12T06:38:09.185-05:00

We are back from the beach.  We are all tired from the from drive home but it was a great week.  In the photos above, the boys are holding a tarantula.  They were able to hold several different animals while attending this event at the resort.  I believe that they are just like me. Glad that we went and miss the beach but we are also glad to be at home!  

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-85359884084547530172010-07-02T13:46:00.001-05:002010-07-02T13:46:57.594-05:00

 Just having fun with the boys and my camera on the computer!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-83486529957140890682010-07-02T06:26:00.000-05:002010-07-02T06:26:58.252-05:00

I started on a product called SLIM by Advocare two days ago.  It is working wonders for me.  I am no longer hungry and I have energy to work on things all day long.  It is truly amazing.  Yesterday, I worked out with weights for the first time in years!  I did well but my body feels it this morning.  But I praise God that I do feel it... I am eating better too.  A lot of fresh fruits and veggies

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-40463167662590167552010-06-30T12:57:00.000-05:002010-06-30T12:57:46.424-05:00

Ten jars of Blackberry Jelly sit upon my table right now. Cooling down from their jelly processing.  Lids have sealed and so now I wait.  So, it is a good time to come and blog! My brother comes to visit tomorrow. He will stay until Sunday.  Then we will not see him again for another year.  It is sad to say it but sometimes I am not sure if I even know him any more. My sister is going to try

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-578217712029158532010-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:002010-06-29T09:00:29.462-05:00

The Dr. Oz Ultimate Diet | The Dr. Oz ShowThere is a lot of helpful hints on weight loss. If you are interested in learning more about what he suggests, follow the link above.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-7957601867104274132010-06-29T07:28:00.000-05:002010-06-29T07:28:26.499-05:00

Yesterday, we went blackberry picking on my fathers property.  We got enough but most of the berries are drying up due to the lack of rain that we have had.  But today, I need process them into jelly and get started back on the peaches as well.  So, most of my day will  be in the kitchen. But today is an unusual day for me.  We live in a world where most people are afraid to move without (

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-89758374596997030672010-06-26T18:07:00.001-05:002010-06-27T07:20:01.687-05:00

This is the first batch of Peach Butter that I have ever made.  It is easy to make and yes, my kids sampled it and it was wonderful!  They want to open the jars already!  LOL This is a portion of the green beans that I canned the other day. The beans in the bad are what I picked this morning.  With little to no rain, the beans are not coming in very well. This is the blackberry Jelly that we

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-593493416194851392010-06-26T14:41:00.000-05:002010-06-26T14:41:08.035-05:00

Today we made Spiced Peach Butter!  The smell in the house was wonderful.  It turned out very well too!  Hope to be able to put a picture on here of the end result soon.  I picked some green beans as well today but we really need some rain!  As for the weight loss, I am holding right now.  I try to weigh in every week and I make sure that I get my measurements in.  Total lost at this point is

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-76105194472882700822010-06-25T05:29:00.001-05:002010-06-25T05:32:08.261-05:00

Have you ever put off something just because you did not want to face it?  Well, I have.  As a home schooling mom, I am in charge of setting up the curriculum for my kids.  I look to see if there are specific needs of my children and then match the curriculum to those needs.  I have put this off this year because it makes it too much of a reality that school starts back in one month! But,

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-22370019915324238572010-06-22T20:13:00.000-05:002010-06-22T20:13:50.185-05:00

I have officially started the canning season. Tomorrow, we will go blackberry picking.  Then, we will make jelly!  Thursday, Plan on purchasing peaches and canning them!  Other than gardning and canning, nothing much is happening here in this part of the world.  At least not to my family.  My brother in-laws dad pass away recently. (On Father's Day).  I feel for them.  We are looking forward to

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-21033096965296406442010-06-19T07:44:00.001-05:002010-06-19T07:44:41.841-05:00

Today is Saturday and both Jon and I are preparing to go pick up the kids in Georgia.  They have spent a week with their Nana and Papa.  I do enjoy these times away from the kids but I also miss them a lot as well.  Well, I downloaded a weight loss chart for Excel.  This way, I can keep track of both my weight and measurements each week.  As weight loss goes, some times you do not see a

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-27048715090022545792010-06-18T07:24:00.001-05:002010-06-18T07:28:54.826-05:00

I never had a weight problem!  Until college.  Then I gained about 10 pounds of extra weight.  Not too bad for someone who was on the slim side of life.  Then came marriage and I gained again.  But when the babies began coming..... THEN THE POUNDS kept staying.  Now I weigh in at 192!  I feel  bad most days and my health is not as good as it should be. But, I kept lying to myself and saying

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-39560204419813468812010-04-16T07:06:00.000-05:002010-04-16T07:06:35.232-05:00

Hi Everyone! It has been along time since my last post.  This has been one of the busiest years that I have ever experienced and I am sure that it will only get more so in the future.  This year, we have made great strides in homeschooling.  Matthew has learned to read better.  It has taken a lot of one on one reading for him but I see progress made each month.  Brandon has become more

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-38611574606011792872009-12-03T18:41:00.000-05:002009-12-03T18:41:26.072-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-92024874964540563242009-11-18T07:46:00.003-05:002009-11-18T08:00:41.238-05:00

Well, so far, I have been amazed. As far as the reading program goes, it is a little bit too childish for my taste and for Ben's. I understand the principle of it and can see where it will help both Ben and Matthew. But the reason I have been amazed is the errors that both Ben and Matt have made. They add sounds where they should not and guess at words based on the beginning sounds. It will

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-27073912762321838302009-11-17T08:13:00.000-05:002009-11-17T08:14:02.783-05:00

This photo is from our recent trip to Cesar's Head and table Rock. The mountains in the background is Table Rock. Places like these reminds me of God Creativity. He is the only one who could mastermind such beauty. As far as homeschooling goes, we are progressing very well. We will hit over 90 days in school prior to December 5th. Yet, I still have two kids who are struggling readers. It

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-3349822974641100292009-11-15T07:22:00.002-05:002009-11-15T07:46:43.695-05:00

I am feeling down this morning. I know that it is an attack from the enemy but the feeling is still there. I saw an old friend this past week and it reminded me of what my life would have been like if I had not starting homeschooling. I began thinking of the money that we would have by now, and I would have completed my Master's Degree. In my earthly mind, I would be so much better. We

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-77188565698790351612009-11-11T07:29:00.003-05:002009-11-11T07:48:33.945-05:00

Well, at least that is how it feels on some days. You can wake up and hear the conductor announce, "ALL ABOARD ON THE TRAIN HEADED TO FRUSTRATION!" And as an obedient little girl, I climb right aboard and take my seat.We all grow up believe that we will be the best parents. We will NEVER have to correct our own children the way our parents did. We will understand our children and they will be

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-53969730394519297682009-09-27T19:46:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:46:12.177-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-87214007791118885912009-09-27T19:44:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:44:58.924-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-80417014727712735422009-09-27T19:39:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:39:19.903-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-62479956069495125782009-09-27T19:36:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:36:56.068-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-18790814616463768062009-09-27T19:32:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:33:00.519-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-47702520081654734302009-09-27T19:28:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:28:41.113-05:00

Hard to spot, but I did get a quick shot of this beauty! Do you see him?

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-2723107525010377002009-09-27T19:26:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:27:06.407-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-49463746133343168632009-09-27T19:25:00.000-05:002009-09-27T19:25:37.294-05:00

With camera in hand and a sketch book, I went out on a hunt for God's creativeness. Here is what I found!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-28412044835391930862009-09-09T17:50:00.000-05:002009-09-09T17:50:31.533-05:00

The lizard came out shortly after the rain ended. It was met by another lizard shortly after and ran away.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-52185657841853288372009-09-09T17:47:00.000-05:002009-09-09T17:47:48.569-05:00

The mean ones! They chase the humming birds away from the feeders.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-57205420421123829912009-09-09T15:56:00.000-05:002009-09-09T15:57:04.042-05:00

I just find nature so wonderful! Look at the vivid colors of this shasta daisy!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-66749811017857047252009-09-09T15:16:00.005-05:002009-09-09T15:53:12.768-05:00

There are things in this world that amaze me but also make me a little nervous. Here is one of them. I have had them crawling on my hands before but this was amazing. They did not know that I was there or did not precieve me as a threat. It was a great learning experience for my kids too.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-68604638379212864872009-09-09T15:15:00.001-05:002009-09-09T15:16:21.675-05:00

You have to admit that this is so COOL!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-35085961474715318782009-08-31T06:38:00.002-05:002009-08-31T06:45:49.224-05:00

Here at the Phillips' homeschool, we have jumped right into our new curriculum. Now, I just need to get my camera out and charged up. Our first experiment will be the salt crystals. You may ask how this ties into Christopher Columbas but it actually is. In our discussions, we began talking about spices, travels and oceans. All three we important during CC times and all involves salt!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-13433369889828107642009-08-07T06:45:00.002-05:002009-08-07T06:57:10.615-05:00

It is funny how life turns you on a dime! This summer has been full of surprises and I am sure that it still has a few left for me. But, onto homeschooling in SC. This year, we have decided to use a new curriculum! Learning Pathways by Geomatters. Tbe boys seem to really have take to it and I have major steps in all of their abilities.Here is a brief caption of each student -Ben - (6th grade)

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-28731688624514289992009-06-01T12:20:00.003-05:002009-06-01T12:22:05.754-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-10900793490572811872009-06-01T12:15:00.000-05:002009-06-01T12:17:48.072-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-39892408033605960112009-06-01T07:05:00.003-05:002009-06-01T07:16:01.744-05:00

We are officially starting back to school on July 14, 2009. With breaks in the fall and spring, we should finish school in May of 2010. We are excited about this year. We are using the new curriculum from Geography Matters called, "Trail Guides to Learning: Paths of Exploration" .We will have a lot of written work this year along with reading but these are the areas where my sons are the weakest.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-90299212498953754912009-05-30T21:43:00.000-05:002009-05-30T21:43:42.358-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-46956795152415864022009-04-14T06:50:00.000-05:002009-04-14T06:51:12.732-05:00

We began our new Curriculum yesterday and the boys really did well. The next two week is primarily being used to set up a new routine and expose my kids to new information. They seem really receptive and love having their own journals and notebooks to write in. Above is Brandon's work today. Well, not all of his work but this one was part of his handwriting exercise and Dictation. He did

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-7768394985844854222009-04-11T07:05:00.002-05:002009-04-11T07:08:03.978-05:00

I abandoned my blog for a while. Yes, there was a reason. I have been waiting for out new curriculum to go through printing and release. Well, guess what! It has arrived and I am ready to run with it. Over the next few weeks, I will change the look of this blog to match what we are doing. I will also remove the boys blogs because they no longer keep up with them and I simply do not have the

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-37846647841774850602009-03-15T07:08:00.000-05:002009-03-15T07:08:43.654-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-58986284107173835372009-03-02T18:16:00.000-05:002009-03-02T18:16:41.945-05:00

This is what we woke up to this morning. There were more than 10 to 12 inches of snow. We lost power for a short while but we were fortunate to get it back on. This is the tree in the front yard. What you can not see is that over a foot of the branches are under the snow. This tree did not weather the storm very well.I felt sorry for the horses. They were looking for food this morning.This is

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-79449080183777132542009-02-23T07:51:00.002-05:002009-02-23T08:01:13.148-05:00

Last week was difficult but we made it through it all. This week, I need to focus on getting the kids back on track with as little problems as possible. Secondly, we are attempting to plan for next year. Here is my wish list :-)Pathways to Learning by Geomatters. This is a complete curriculum that is designed for 3-5 grades but can be easily adapted to 2nd and 6th grades. Cost for the core

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-54068900653474554392009-02-16T07:56:00.002-05:002009-02-16T07:59:01.081-05:00

I just loved the amount of detail that came up on this photo. I am so happy with my camera!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-79573335237734611032009-02-13T14:49:00.001-05:002009-02-16T07:58:06.034-05:00

During our outside time, I managed to take several photos of what I call, Nature Fool!. It is only February and plants are in bloom. Even through I love to see them bloom, we will have another cold spell and most will be bitten back. This has happened so often in the South that peach farmers have all but left here.But even with this in mind, it is so beautiful to see all the bugs, animals and

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-25632914281153316262009-02-11T08:28:00.003-05:002009-02-16T07:57:51.063-05:00

It is my belief that this small bird is called a Dark Eyed Junco. It is between 5 to 6.5 inches in length. Habitat - coniferous and mixed forests; forest edges and at feeders during winter. The bird was seen on this beautiful day. We have a weather front coming in today and they are calling for severe thunderstorms. We shall see.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-59232386932395439912009-02-07T19:07:00.001-05:002009-02-07T19:10:21.191-05:00

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-89839565346736928222009-02-07T18:05:00.001-05:002009-02-07T18:15:53.163-05:00

Well. our experiment is over but the kids learned a lot. We actually purchased mill worms for our frogs to eat. When they refused to eat them, we decided to see what they would turn out to be. Here it the final photo before their release. They are over a month old and are all about to die due to age but we have had fun raising them. It was really cool to watch them morph into beetles! Yet, they

Kathynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-53777202064469850862009-02-04T12:18:00.000-05:002009-02-06T09:04:52.423-05:00

As I sat at my computer desk, I watched this Blue Jay and other ones, steal my dog's food. It was so funny to watch!

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16976982.post-88664221249580774602009-02-02T13:47:00.002-05:002009-02-06T09:04:52.423-05:00

This is the fallen pecan from our tree this year. I did not find too many of them around the tree but we still have an abundance of them from a neighbor. This is the bark of the Pecan tree. This tree is over 15 years old and still has not produced many pecans. The bark is rough to the touch.This is the Pecan Tree in Winter.

Kathynoreply@blogger.com0