Friendship Friday and Collage Friday #5

Welcome to Friendship Friday! I’m glad You’re here! I love to see what you all are doing each week!

My collage this week is a recap of Mother’s Day because I didn’t really take any new photos!
mothers day collage
One funny thing that happened this week is that I walked into the kitchen and discovered a Blue Jay frantically attempting to get out the window! Apparently the cat must have brought it in through his cat door and then let go of it! I was concerned that it would peck me if I got too close. The poor bird was pretty hysterical! I did manage to get the window open without getting pecked thus allowing Mr.Blue Jay to successfully fly to freedom much to Mr. Flynnie’s dismay!

An even funnier story is the one about the wood chuck that tried to come in through the cat door! Last year the cat chased a woodchuck up onto our deck where the poor thing discovered the cat door. He must have thought it looked like a safe spot to hide! I however did not think it was a great idea and became hysterical at the idea of a mad and possibly rabid woodchuck loose in my house! I managed to barricade the door closed before it came all the way into the house! Sometime later that afternoon after all the commotion had died down and the cat had given up trying to eat him, the wood chuck must have sauntered off, never to be seen or heard from again!

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Thankful Thursday

I’m hard pressed to find something to be thankful for on this Thursday. I’m tired, I’m crabby, I’m disillusioned, and I’m depressed.

I’m not very happy about this record breaking cold spring we’re experiencing.
But I am thankful for all the beautiful songbirds that I can hear singing everyday!
The cold temperatures don’t seem to be bothering them and we have a beautiful Rose Breasted Grosbeak this year!

Photo Credit: "Chirp USA+" iPad App.

Photo Credit: “Chirp USA+” iPad App.

I am not happy that Bethany doesn’t want me to go outside.
But I am thankful that she will go outside with me to help hang up clothes to dry on the clothesline.
beth helps

I am looking forward to my son’s wedding this Saturday.
I am thankful that Bethany’s respite worker agreed to stay with her so we could go!
But I really would much rather be able to take Bethany with us to the event.
I’m feeling sad that she has to be left out even though I know she wouldn’t enjoy it anyway.
I’m also little apprehensive about leaving her with her respite worker-her beloved Mary- for a very long time.
It’s a FIVE hour drive just to get there.
We’ll stay for a couple of hours then jump back into the car for the five hour ride back home again.
We’ve never left Bethany home alone without a sibling before.
And it’s not like we’ll be able to hurry back home if there’s an emergency.

I would definitely appreciate prayers concerning this matter!!

I am linking this post to
Thumping Thursday Blog Hop #30
Thursday Favorite Things

New Glasses

We recently took the kids for their vision check ups! Rebekah’s glasses had broken so she was going to need new ones even if she didn’t need a new prescription.

We browsed around in the Opthamologist’s office at the glasses that were on display. Rebekah found some funky black plastic frames that she looked really cute in. The price even with insurance paying $125 towards them was going to cost us $165!!!

Lucky for us we knew about http://www.zennioptical.com All we had to do was get her prescription and pupillary distance measurement from the doctor and we could go home and check online for similar glasses at a much lower cost!


*Please note that many opthamologists and optometrists are reluctant to give you your pupillary distance measurement, so you may want to check with them first to make sure that they will.*

But even if they won’t give you that information you can go online at Zenni Optical. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on, Measuring PD and download a tool to measure it yourself.

Purchasing your glasses from Zenni Optical is a great money saving option.

Rebekah ordered her glasses and received them about two weeks later along with a new glasses case!  I do not see any difference in the quality between the very expensive $290 glasses and the $17 Zenni Optical glasses.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Rebekah’s new glasses cost $17 including shipping costs!!

Doesn't she look cute?

Doesn’t she look cute?

You can’t go wrong at Zenni Optical, in my opinion! Now it’s Malcolm’s and my turn!

This post does contain affiliate links. If you should decide to purchase your next pair of glasses through these links I will receive a small commission. Thank You very much!

*I was not compensated in any way for this review. All opinions are my honest own.*

234x60 Helping your kids see better

I am linking this post to:
Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop
Wow Wow Wednesday with This Girls Life

The Art Museum Part 4



Save 21% Off Of All BioColor Paints to Celebrate our 21st Birthday – Now At DiscountSchoolSupply.com! Click Here!

The Hump:  Edward Hopper

The Camel’s Hump: Edward Hopper 1931- Oil on canvas

When I think of Edward Hopper I certainly don’t think of scenery.  When I hear his name the images that come to mind are lonely and depressed people and deserted and desolate city places.  He did however paint scenes of South Turo, Massachusetts on Cape Cod where he and his wife spent some summers.  The real life Camel’s Hump is located in Vermont.  You can read more about Edward Hopper and view his Paintings here.

Pigeon Dans Son Nif et Neoufs-  Pigeon in the Nest With Eggs- Pablo Picasso 1914- Oil on canvas.

Pigeon Dans Son Nif et Neoufs- Pigeon in the Nest With Eggs- Pablo Picasso 1914- Oil on canvas.

This painting is an optimistic counterpart to his painting of two dead pigeons.  This one represent the promise and hope of the new season, as the plump pigeon prepares her nest for the spring.  The pigeon is one of Picasso’s most famous and personal motifs.  In this painting Picasso achieved realist detail-such as the shift in light and the textured feathers- through cubist fragmentation of space and with a steeply angled composition. (museum plaque) You can view more paintings by Picasso here.

Vacillating Progression, 1949 by Irene rice Periera- Oil and plastic paint on glass.

Vacillating Progression, 1949 by Irene Rice Periera- Oil and plastic paint on glass.

After visiting North Africa, Periera was inspired by the effects of light on form.  In this piece she layered geometric shapes on glass to create an eve changing composition as we move from one side to the next.  Periera preferred abstract imagery that was outside specific references because she believed it was timeless and universal. (museum plaque) You can find our more about this artist here.

Zeke Youngblood's Dance Marathon, 1932 by Reginald Marsh-Tempera on gessoed canvas mounted on wood.

Zeke Youngblood’s Dance Marathon, 1932 by Reginald Marsh-Tempera on gessoed canvas mounted on wood.

Marsh painted scenes of popular culture intrigued by what American’s did in their leisure time during the Great Depression.  This busy and animated composition showcases Marsh’s interest in representing the density and movement of the crowd, through the light that dapples dynamic shapes and washes of color applied with quick brush strokes.  Marsh successfully captured the desperate atmosphere of dance marathons of that era, depicting couples collapsing after dancing non-stop for hours with the hopes of winning a cash prize and a contract, which symbolized an escape from the depressed economy.  (museum plaque) You can learn more about Reginald Marsh here.

'67 Camaro 1968, by Robert Bechtle- Oil on Canvas.

’67 Camaro 1968, by Robert Bechtle- Oil on Canvas.

You can view more of Robert Bechtle‘s work here and here.

521626_548936371824893_807962393_nSpring Cleaning, 2012 by Pooh Kaye-video.

The Dance by Pooh Kaye It took 220 hours to make 8 minutes of video.  This artist is fascinated by how single moments of real time can be combined to create a moving image that can be seen only as a projection of light.  Animation is a non-corporeal reality that masquerades as an illusion.  From the artist’s point of view media should be reserved for that which cannot happen in the world of matter.  (museum plaque)  I found this article about Pooh Kaye.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our trip to the art museum so far!  There will be one more post in this series next week!   What piece is your favorite in this post?

For the little artists in your family! You can find art supplies by clicking my affiliate link below. If you should choose to decide to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission! Thank you very much!

Hip Homeschool Hop Button

Mother’s Day, 29th Anniversary, and Rachel’s 20th, All on the Same Day!!

 

My gift from Rebekah and Jeremiah!

My gift from Rebekah and Jeremiah!

My gift from Jim and Jas.

My gift from Jim and Jas.

The little Tea Rose bush that Micah gave me for Mother's Day in 2011 bloomed for me on this Mother's Day!

The little Tea Rose bush that Micah gave me for Mother’s Day in 2011 bloomed for me on this Mother’s Day!

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The new and improved home made volley ball net and the neighbor's dogs!

The new and improved home made volley ball net and the neighbor’s dogs!

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Oops!  the volley ball  game is over!

Oops! the volley ball game is over!

 

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Bethany is really glad to have Rachel home from college.  Sadly, it won't be for long though, because Rachel will be working at a camp this summer.

Bethany is really glad to have Rachel home from college. Sadly, it won’t be for long though, because Rachel will be working at a camp this summer.

The Birthday girl!  20 years ago on our 9th anniversary, my husband helped me give birth to our first daughter (after having 5 boys!) without any help from anyone,on our 9th anniversary!

The Birthday girl! 20 years ago on our 9th anniversary, my husband helped me give birth to our very first daughter (after having 5 boys!) without any help from anyone,on our 9th anniversary!

Us on our 29th anniversary!

Us on our 29th anniversary!

 

 

Onions and radishes coming up!

Onions and radishes coming up!

Our cute little Downy Woodpecker!

Our cute little Downy Woodpecker!

Would you like to feed your birds? Check out my recommendations below! If you should choose to purchase an item I will receive a small commission! Thank you very much!

Bestest Mom Award

Phyllis over at  All Things Beautiful  has become very dear to me! She is such a blessing and inspiration to me and many others too, I’m sure!  Although it’s just a small gesture and does not even come close to the huge blessing that she is, I wanted to do something special for her.

Introducing the one and only ever  “Bestest Mom of All time Award!!”

Phyllis is the most devoted, creative, and involved homeschooling Mom that I have ever had the privilege of meeting in all my 29 years of homeschooling!  The projects, activities, and field trips she comes up with are amazing!  I really don’t know how she does it all!

Many of you are already aware that my dear friend is also battling with serious health issues.  This setback has not slowed her down or prevented her from continuing to to be the most creative, involved, loving, and bestest mom ever!

Phyllis, you are truly an amazing inspiration to us all!   I hereby award you the Bestest Mom of All Time Award!!!  God bless you, my friend!!  Happy Mother’s Day!!

best mom of the all time award

I am linking this post up to:
My Favorite Posts Show Off Weekend Blog Hop
Mommy Monday

TheBetterMom.com

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day! Tomorrow is also our 29th anniversary and Rachel’s 20th birthday!!   We have a lot to celebrate!!

 

My gift from Rebekah and Jeremiah!

My gift from Rebekah and Jeremiah!

Please check back here tomorrow for a very special Mother’s Day announcement!

 

Friendship Friday and Collage Friday

Welcome to Friendship and Collage Friday! I’m so glad you dropped by!

Please link up what ever family friendly post or social media account that you like.

Please link back to my blog with a text link or my blog button.

I’d love a follow in one way or another too!

Thank you so much!

This week we spent a lot of time in the great outdoors: the kids playing, going for walks, and Dad working in the garden. I documented it all with pictures!!

Rebekah and Bethany both have colds which is making them both somewhat miserable as well as making Beth VERY crabby!

Malcolm took Rebekah and Jeremiah to see, Iron Man 3. Beth and I stayed home. At about 9 pm a stranger pulled up in my drive way and knocked on the door. This is highly unusual around here. We live in a very isolated area and a woman from our little town was recently found murdered nearby, (killer still at large) so needless to say I was a bit, no…a lot freaked out!

I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t home because he saw me in the window. (I’m going to pull down my shades at night from now on!) I did not open the door but did ask him what he wanted. Apparently he was lost and needed directions. In any event he did not seem evil in any way. But still….now I’m spooked and worried that he might be a murderer and come back someday!

To make matters worse, Malcolm and the kids ended up not making it in time for the 7:00 movie so they were super late getting home which made my already overactive imagination run amuk with even more visions of tragedy!! Apparently no one knows how to Face Time me to let me know!!

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collage 1

I am linking this post to:
Homeschool Review
PhotobucketHomegrown Learners
Stacy

Thankful Thursday

I recently read Ten Reasons You can Homeschool and Stop Telling Me Why You Can’t Homeschool over at Home Grown Learners.

Mary’s posts served to remind me of how grateful and thankful I am and what a privilege it has been for me to have been a stay at home mom. This has made it much easier for me to homeschool all my children non-stop for 29 years now!

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine way back in 1984 that I would still be homeschooling 29 years later or that I would give birth to seven more children!

Through the years we have seen the number of families homeschooling grow by leaps and bounds. We’ve seen the Homeschool Legal Defense Association accomplish amazing feats, set precedents, win cases, and change homeschooling laws all for the betterment of the movement!

My family has personally homeschooled through the challenges of several home births, rebellious teens, deaths of grandparents, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, catastrophic illness, bankruptcy, and marital tension!

I am truly grateful that through it all my husband has never asked me to put the kids in school or get a job. I have ALWAYS since I was a little girl just wanted to have a lot of kids and stay home with them.

I’ve never wanted to have a career outside of taking care of my family, and so today I am very thankful to my husband for supporting me in my stay at home home schooling adventures and for financially supporting all of us!

I am also truly thankful to God for the privilege of being able to realize all my homeschooling hopes and dreams!

Photo credit: Stuart Miles

Photo credit: Stuart Miles

I am linking this post up to:
Thumping Thursdays
Let’s Connect Thursday
Mommy Brain Mixer
The Fontenot FourThursday Favorite Things