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Thinking Thursday: Parmenides

4/29/2015

I am moving Thinking Tuesday to Thursdays. Makes the week less stressed. :)

Today we are going to learn about Parmenides, a Greek philosopher.

Parmenides followed Heraclitus in history.    He looked at Heraclitus's way of thinking and logically deduced that his philosophy went in the wrong direction.   He concluded that if everything was, well then everything could simply not be.   BUT things cannot "NOT BE" because you can't get something for nothing.   One cannot start with a void.

Therefore he concluded that "everything that is real must be eternal and unchanging, and must have an indivisible unity" (ergo all is one).

He showed that our understanding of the universe is faulty and full of contradictions. For instance our experience might tell us that things change, but in reality they really don't, so we cannot depend upon our senses and what they say we experience.
________

"Aristotle, who said that his idea “follows logically, but to believe it is next door to madness.” (source)

I have to admit that I agree with Aristotle. Parmenides didn't know God and that he (being God) created the world and all that was in it.    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth [2] The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.(Genesis 1:2 ESV)       It did start from God saying "let there be" and it simply was.

It also doesn't make sense to say that what we experience, what our senses give us for information isn't correct. You'd go mad trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't.     So the thinking is interesting, but it's conclusion just is maddening. :)

Enjoyment in the Journey

4/29/2015

You know what homeschooling is right?
It's the daily drudgery of books and learning and reading and writing and ...

HOLD ON.. NO it isn't. :)

It's visits to museums, where going with friends makes it even better.

It's co-op days... where group learning just makes it all better.

It's fishing in the creek... because then you can closely examine what a fish looks like.

It's doing history using Veritas Press. Because the lad LOVES Veritas Press and wants to it because "it's fun" and "I learn lots".

It's helping raise baby bunnies, taking walks in the park, and looking for new signs of spring, summer, fall or winter. :) Taking time to express what we see in art form turns into a lesson on light and shading and just so much more. :)

I asked my lad what I did to make schooling fun.
"You change things to make it different". "You let me learn things in different ways". "You do stuff that I like".

My lad frequently tells that he likes that he can do math "in his head" and that I don't make him write things down all the time.

Making things fun is easy enough to do when you know the child that you are teaching really well. :) Being family as we school works well for us.

How do YOU be family as you do school?

This post is part of a blog hop put together by the Canadian Homeschoolers. The round up post starts here.

A year of memories with Picaboo Yearbooks, a review

4/28/2015

It was my pleasure, along with some fellow Canadians, to review Picaboo Yearbooks. I've reviewed for them in the past, so jumped at the chance to do so again. It is great for the individual family as well as for groups. Come along for the memories, won't you?

Picaboo Yearbooks come in two formats, hardcover or softcover. I reviewed the 20 page softcover version. This version provides

Available sizes: 9” x 12” or 8.5” x 11”
Full-color, 10pt cover stock with gloss or silk-matte lamination
100 lb archival paper
4 free personalized student pages
Free digital eYearbook

The way Picaboo yearbooks works is that you layout your yearbook out in sections.   This is very handy if you have different people working on individual sections, such a church, youth, or homeschool group.   It can be a bit irritating if only one person is putting it together as once the sections are set, you can't change them.

One of the things that I really like about how they do things is with their pre-made page set ups.   You just pull up what you are looking for, one or two page spread, with how many pictures you want to add, and it pulls up different options for you AND if you change how you want the page set up to be, it's automatically changes where the pictures are. I found that feature to be VERY helpful. :)   Another nice feature is that even if you choose a premade layout, you can take out comment sections or photos that you don't need just be clicking delete.

You can add coloured backgrounds, unique to every page, and stickers to make theme pages.   I let my nine year old son pick the background for most of the pages. He found it easy to do.

adding colour

adding stickers

Overall working with Picaboo Yearbooks was a good experience. They have helpful videos if you get stuck trying to figure out how to do things (came in helpful for me a time or two). Not everything is intuitive about their site, but once you figure out how they generally do stuff it's pretty easy.

Price is $9.49 softcover and $18.99 for hardcover for 20 pages. You can add more pages if desired. Vendor is Picaboo Yearbooks. For more reviews you'll need to check out this link (it's not quite ready yet but will be soon). Bunch of us Canadians had fun reviewing Picaboo for you inspiration. :)

Details: 5 winners will each receive 1 Picaboo Yearbook - softcover, 20 pages, 8½x11 size. CAN only. 18+ ends May13th @11:59pm EST.

Entry -Form

Review and Canadian Giveaway: Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny

4/27/2015

I need to tell you about this little book I read recently with my son in order to review it. It's an easy reader, all about this little rabbit and her friends, who are learning bunjitsu.     It is called Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny.

This book is written for the 6-8 year old group, and is all about Isabel who is the best bunny in her class for doing bunjitsu. It's a series of 13 short stories.   All with a theme of showing off different skills.

My son is nine and sorta liked the book but he wasn't leaping up to grab it for our reading time. He thought the bunny was quite clever in the story about The Locked Door and that the rest of her class was quite silly in how they tried to solve the problem.

the story about The Rock made us laugh and then confused us.   We couldn't figure out how after making a nice rock garden with a HUGE boulder, she managed to make a bunch of smaller rocks in towers with no big boulder.   Made no sense to us.    But that story was the exception to the rule.   The rest of the stories were very clear cut and well written. Perfect for starting conversations with children, or just to have a good story time read.

The book closes with the code of a Bunjitsu Student.   To do things like practice their art, study the world, try things that are hard to do and much more.

You can visit them at the following places:
www.raincoast.com
https://twitter.com/raincoastbooks
https://www.facebook.com/raincoastbooks
https://instagram.com/raincoastbooks/
https://www.pinterest.com/raincoastbooks/
http://raincoastbooks.tumblr.com/
https://plus.google.com/+raincoastbooks/

Product details:
Received: Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny
Type: Hardcover easy reader
Age: 6-8 years
Author and Illustrator: John Himmelman
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
I reviewed this book for Raincoast books.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. Nothing more was expected of me.   I've graciously been offered the chance to give a copy away, courtesy of Raincoast Books.

See contest details below please. :) Name the bunny!   Win a Book!     I decided it was better to make them separate contests, so make sure you enter both (if Canadian) and name the bunny (if not Canadian). :)

Mr. Gentleman/Miss Stubborn has a tale to tell. Like Isabel she is a determined little warrior. I am running this contest in her honour. To read more about her tale you need to Kits, kids and Growing up Stubborn where I did a guest post for my on-line friend Carol. So go check it out and then come back here and enter the contests. :)

DO note: This is a contest for Canadian citizens only. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest is open to everyone. Canadians and more. :) My son will choose the best name of all listed here. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Homemaker's Bundle for sale today

4/27/2015

Dear Homemaker,

Are the inmates running the asylum?

I hear you. Sometimes I look around my house and wonder how things got so out of hand.

When I was a little girl, I did not dream about getting married, becoming a mommy, and having my own home.

I imagined myself on the mission field busy about doing work for my Lord.

I didn't even think about things like:

a school,
a playground,
a refuge,
a boo-boo “fix it” station,
a “you can do it” pep rally, and
a safe place for personal expression, sharing and growth.

And then something amazing happened… I fell in love with this fellow got married, had a children and then the following happened:

…laundry, diapers, stretch marks, and never-ending meal prep… money worries, gritty floors, soap scum, and the stain that won’t come out of my son’s favorite shirt… holiday stress, and teaching my boy to read (and master long division)… a husband who works long hours, a kid with the sniffles, stomach aches and a fever… and a secret dream to run my own little business from home.

And that’s why Erin and Stephanie created the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle… because as rewarding as it is, homemaking is hard work and it doesn’t always come easily.

I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

To help you nurture the beauty and productivity in your home and family relationships with proven, simple, and effective tools that really give you a boost as a homemaker – help, inspiration, tips, encouragement, resources at your fingertips…

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It is a complete library of carefully selected eBooks, eCourses, audios, online conferences, and printable packs designed to help you turn your house into a home… without all the overwhelm.

What’s in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?

The first step in putting together this collection was to find the critical homemaking skills that you need to transform your house into a home.

Here they are:

Cleaning… create a healthy, toxin-free home
DIY/Homemade… fun and frugal ways to express your personal style
Devotionals and Faith… take a break from the daily grind to renew yourself
Finances… build a budget that works
Cooking & Meal Planning… serve easier, tastier meals in less time
Holidays & Special Events… brighten up old family traditions and create new
Homeschooling… homeschool with grace and ease
Marriage… heat up your marriage
Motherhood… find peace, balance & joy in mothering
Organizing… conquer the clutter and simplify your life
Pregnancy & Babies… enjoy a healthy pregnancy and prepare to nurture your baby
Health & Wellness… soothe aches & pains with natural remedies
Working from Home… hone your talents, live your passions and earn money to help your family

… a complete library of 99 eBooks and eCourses to help you nurture the beauty and productivity in your home and family relationships.

Are there too many books in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?

Let me ask you a question.

Have you ever taken your family out for a buffet dinner… and then been disappointed when you couldn’t eat every single morsel on display?

Of course not!

Sure. There’s that first, breath-taking moment when you see and hear and smell the amazing meal spread before you… and you think, “Where will I even start?”

But that’s the thing… because you do start… with something.

Maybe it’s a tender flaky biscuit, or a piece of delicious roast beef, or maybe you’re like me and start with a piece of pie (mmm, blueberry or apple with whipped cream)?

So relax, enjoy, and start anywhere you like. Come back to the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle “buffet” as many times as you like. It’s all here for you.

Is the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle worth it?

In a word… yes!

To be absolutely certain, Erin and Stephanie asked questions, tried techniques and just about drove themselves crazy making sure that the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle was the very best homemaking resource anywhere.

They dug through hundreds of websites and connected with dozens of authors and teachers.

And then we all worked together to make these resources the most affordable possible.

And They Were Delighted to Help…

The result? This collection is a fraction of the price of what someone would pay for each resource individually!

For a short time, the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle… a complete library of:

76 eBooks
6 eCourses
1 audio download
2 online conferences, and
14 printable packs

…99 carefully selected resources designed to help you nurture the beauty and productivity in your home and family relationships… is only $29.97. (A total value of $984.74.)

That breaks down to 30 cents per book.

Your 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

If for any reason, you decide that the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle is not for you, then please send an email to customerservice@Ultimate-Bundles.com and we will refund 100% of your investment. No questions asked.

Don’t Forget the Bonuses…

Of course, no Ultimate Homemaking Bundle would be complete without the generous, inspiring gifts donated by companies that understand homemakers like you. Every gift is yours to keep and enjoy.

Choose 1 FREE Online Class from Craftsy (Select from 24 of Their Most Popular Classes – Up to $60 Value)
1 FREE Kids Discovery Box from Green Kid Crafts ($19.95 Value)
FREE $15 Credit to Hope Ink PLUS 2 FREE 8×10 Art Prints ($71 Value)
FREE 90-Day “Good Deal” Subscription to She Plans Dinner ($15 Value)
Choose 1 FREE Stylish Spring Scarf from Deborah & Co. ($20 Value)
FREE $80 Healthy Moving Class Credit ($80 Value)
FREE 90-Day Pro Membership to ListPlanIt ($30 Value)
FREE 65 Tyndale Rewards Points to Be Used for a FREE Book or Towards Any Book of Your Choice ($15 Value)

Now It’s Your Turn

I think Laura Ingalls Wilder said it best…

“Just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women’s work at home, while only the doing of little things, is just like the golden gleam of sunlight that runs through and brightens the whole fabric of civilization.”

The proven, simple, and effective skills you need to transform your house into a home are all waiting for you in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle.

This is your chance to get all the love, support, guidance and inspiration you need to nurture the beauty and productivity in your home and family relationships with proven, simple, and effective tools that really give you a boost as a homemaker.

But time is running out! The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle will only be available from 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, April 20 until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, April 27.

After that, the shopping cart closes and the deeply discounted price is gone.

Act now!

Click here for more info or to buy now.

Best wishes and happy homemaking!

Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions about the bundle.

If you purchase a bundle, ,you help to support me in my homemaking and homeschooling efforts. It doesn't affect your purchase, and just may help me out a little. Thanks so much. :)

Field Trip: Royal Ontario Museum

4/26/2015

This past Wednesday I needed to make a rabbit run up to Toronto. We took the opportunity to take in the Royal Ontario Museum. My son wanted to see stuff on Rome. We've been learning a lot about Rome lately and seeing the exhibits just added extra depth to his learning.

The lad was quite intrigued by the Roman Statues that he saw. He really paid attention to how they changed over the years, asking good questions about why some had the noses missing, others had pupils in the eyes and others did not, so we needed to research why that was. Did you know that the statues used to fully clothed? They painted the statues in the past, so they didn't need to add pupils. Over time the paint has worn off. We saw a good amount of materials from the time of the Romans, the coins, the oil lamps (one in the shape of a dove!), items for the Lord's Supper, statues, various dishes, and more. Throughout they had these handy monitors that you could use to learn more about churches like the Hagia Sophia (the lad was curious about that since he's learned about it in his studies). He stopped a fair number of the monitors and just listened to them for a while, occasionally calling me over to listen to one he particularly enjoyed.

There was no way we could cover the whole museum in one day and still get home in time to relax before bed and what not, so we picked and chose what we wanted to do. The lad wanted Rome, I wanted Egypt, we all wanted to see the mammals, and dad didn't otherwise care as his broken hand was causing him pain. He still took the time to explain a couple of things to the lad that he didn't quite understand.

We had a great time and would have no problems going back again. "I enjoyed that mom" was my son's response when we left. :) I liked hearing that. It felt a bit rushed going through, but it was neat to see many of the items that we saw. Below I've posted a bit of a slideshow of the highlights.

Chestnut Grove Academy Field Trip Friday Blog Hop

Monday Missionary: Brayton Case

4/26/2015

Known as the hunger fighter of Burma, Brayton Case, worked among the Burmese people. His approach to ministry was to offer tangible help (in the form of better farming practices or supplies) and as he did so, to talk about Jesus and encourage people to follow him. He was born in Burma, but moved to the states to pursue his education. He wanted to be a preacher, but called to Burma instead. He said "I kept remembering how poor the Burmese people were, how small and scrawny were their animals.

When going to a village where he wasn't known, he would simply start a garden there and share his produce with the people who lived there. They would generally be delighted as his produce was always bigger, therefore it would feed more people or last longer. This was how Mr. Case worked to solve the hunger issue AND help people know who God was. :)

Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast.

4/22/2015

WOOT WOOT.
I found another recipe my boy likes.

Fruit and yogurt.
Take some yogurt (we use greek)
Take some fruit (in the case strawberries - about 1/3-1/2 the amount of yogurt).
Add some granola (if you are cautious do just the fruit and yogurt)
Add some sugar (only if you need it).

We got him first started on the stirred yogurts from the store. He liked them. BUT it's cheaper to make it yourself.

So we decided it was time to try him with real fruit and yogurt.
I made him a bowl, added some sugar. It was a hit!

I had him try mine without the sugar. "I like it mom", he said, "but I like it better with sugar".
WOOT WOOT. we have another breakfast we can make.

After he had it without the granola he tried it with granola. That's good too. But it's apparently better just with fruit, yogurt and sugar. :) I'm cool with that. :)

How Nature Study Looks in our Household

4/20/2015

Nature Study. That's the theme of this weeks blog round up. So I thought I would take a moment to share how Nature Study looks in our household. Perhaps you'll take a moment to tell me what it looks like in yours?

We have since changed our pond set up, but this was a whole lot of fun for two boys to do. We worked hard to build this pond, but overtime we just found it too small. We are going to work hard this year as well to make a really inviting pond area where we made our bigger pond, but that's still a work in progress. :)

Sometimes we take walks looking for something particular and then we discover something completely different. Take for instance the day we went looking for Springtails and discovered new life.

In our studies of insects, we've learned that having a good bug net, a quick hand, containers to keep them in and sometimes that having a pooter is a very handy thing to have around.

In our raising of Mice, rabbits and guinea pigs we have learned many many things. From the study of genetics, to the hardship of birth, to the silliness of mice. We've grown to love some rabbits, and to be cautious around others. Raising all these critters also is helping my son learn how to be a good business person. Sharing his knowledge, making change, figuring out a good pricing system.

Some of our catches are very transitory. Like when we catch frogs and toads and given them a temporary home. Or when we go fishing and take the time to thoroughly study the fish that we catch. Fish caught using self-made materials or hands are always more fun to enjoy don't you think? Being able to look them over without hurting them makes it even better when you are a soft-hearted child. :)

So thank you for stopping by to see how nature study looks in our household. If you've a mind to, do stop by to see what nature studylooks like for others. :)

Review: The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea

4/16/2015

Now I have to admit, I had mixed thoughts about this book when I first read it.      That's me as an adult speaking, my son on the other hand "I like this book mom!".

Each page is an animal claiming that it is the most amazing creature in the sea.   Good facts about each animal.     The animals listed are Leatherback Sea Turtle, Barrel-eyed fish, Mimic Octopus, AnglerFish, Hagfish (this one made us laugh), and seven others.

I got a bit tired of the "I am the most amazing creature in the sea" but at the end of the book the question is asked "so which creature is the most amazing?.......YOU decide." So it made the question quite relevant.

We each had our favourites of those listed, and for different reasons. My son liked the Anglerfish so we took time to learn more about this fish.   Here's a video on the deep sea Anglerfish.   And a link to an interesting page on the frogfish.

I picked the Hagfish simply because he made us laugh. :)
Here's a youtube of them in action.

Here's a list of 10 facts you may not know about Hagfish.

I have to admit something here, I've had the opportunity to read this book more than a couple times (I did mention that my boy likes this book). :) He can read it himself but it's always more fun to read a book with someone you know? :) The more I read it, the more I appreciate the efforts of the author and illustrator. They did a good job of drawing interest in these amazing creatures, using humour, short facts, excellent illustrations... it's just a well done book. I can totally see using this book while doing a unit study on creatures of the oceans/seas. Letting a child go through and pick an animal or two that they want to learn more about and then running with it.

It was my privilege to review this book on behalf of Raincoast books. You can follow them at these links.

https://twitter.com/raincoastbooks
https://www.facebook.com/raincoastbooks
https://instagram.com/raincoastbooks/
https://www.pinterest.com/raincoastbooks/
http://raincoastbooks.tumblr.com/
https://plus.google.com/+raincoastbooks/

Product Details

Received: Softcover picture book
Title: The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea
Author: Brenda Z. Guiberson
Illustrator: Gennady Spirin
Pages: 32
Ages: 4-8 (son aged nine enjoyed this book)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Link: More info here.
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

So tell me... which do YOU think is the most amazing creature of the sea?

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Thinking Thursday: Parmenides

Enjoyment in the Journey

A year of memories with Picaboo Yearbooks, a review

Review and Canadian Giveaway: Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny