out_of_the_ordinary

blessedhomemaker, please let us know your thoughts on Mystery of History later in your school year.   I keep going back and forth between ordering MOH and Truthquest.   I'm leaning toward MOH.  I think I should get something that is more laid out for us, if I need it to be.  Even now, I supplement a lot with books and I like us reading a lot of living history books, but I don't know if going that route fully is the best if things would change here healthwise for me.   I keep reading reviews and then I saw one the other day that someone COMBINED Truthquest and MOH.   With the budget here, I'm not looking to do both.  

BeccaAnne,  what kinds of fiction books are you considering for Ben?

Happy Birthday, Ambergris! 

Jeepers,  schedule a consultation appointment with a lawyer.  Maybe a couple.  Usually consultation appointments have a set fee and a set amount of time.   At least you could see what your options are.   It might not be a thing where the lawyer gets a cut of your reconstruction money, but they will do x, y and hopefully it doesn't get to z, for either a set fee or hourly rate or whatever.  Sometimes someone just getting a letter from a lawyer with that lawyer's fancy letterhead on the top or making a couple phone calls is enough to get things moving.   The insurance knows they can screw you around, not so much when you have a lawyer.

PA never does those.   Clothes here aren't taxed at all, though.

blessedhomemaker, have you used Mystery of History before?  What volume are you using?  

We've been using The Mighty Works of God series.   We really like it, but after next year, we will have gone through all the levels that are available.  

We're using Apologia's Exploring Creation with Botany this year for most of our science.

Happy Birthday, Blessedhomemaker! 

It is hot, humid....and the worst of all....a slithery was on my porch!     And I didn't see it until I was out there!    

That's it.  I'm done with summer.  Bring on winter. 

Happy Birthday, LittleSister! 

Miki, I'm sorry for your loss. 

Little Sister,  have him get a piece of paper.   Make a column for each medicine name, (with how often to take next to it if he can't remember).   Simply list the time he took the medicine in that column.   So if Medication A is every four hours,  under Medication A, he lists when he took it, say 1pm, then by looking at the paper he knows at 5pm it is time for the next dose.

We're using Ray's for Today for math.  They're based off of the original Ray's.  https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/math/math-grades-k-6/rays-for-today#   I wish I was taught math this way.

We have the McGuffey set and some of the Pathway readers in the lower levels.  And a set of Ray's for math.    I slowly bought a lot for the elementary grades when DD was a toddler and DH was working a lot of overtime.   I need to focus on secondary grade materials while we can reasonably afford it and it is still available.   So much is being switched to ebooks instead of physical books and "streaming" instead of DVDs.   Start shaping me a foil hat, but all of that can be deleted/altered.   We use mostly non-consumable materials and DD asked that I save everything for her to use to homeschool her kids with, if she has kids.   I think there is a definite generation blessing aspect to homeschooling.  I see that in Mother's post.

For the overseas books,  it is not as bad now as she's mostly out of picture books and has been reading chapter books for the past several years.   One of the small homeschooling companies told me that a lot of printing, especially for books with color pictures, moved overseas after 2008.   

Some of the picture books we've left out (I haven't packed away yet) because even though they are written at a lower level, there's still good info and pictures.    We're young-earth Creationists  [we don't believe in evolution nor that the earth is millions of years old], and books that reflect our beliefs are important to me.   That's not a problem with finding history books.   But with science, outside of our actual curriculum book  (we've been using Apologia...thankfully I bought those years ago before they moved to printing overseas, too), finding pictures/illustrations+made in USA+our Biblical beliefs is frustrating.   Masterbooks and Answers in Genesis have so many good illustrated books, even for older kids and adults,  but they're out for us with being printed in China.   I guess it saves on my budget.  

Jeepers, your grandson might like Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall.   Printed in China, so it is out for us, but I always see that one on book lists and the previews look really good.   Same with Snowflake Bentley.   One of our favorites (that was printed in US) is Make Way for Ducklings.    I'll stop now so I'm not sitting here for the next hour recommending books. 

Seems like everytime I see an article about saving money homeschooling, it is all about buying used books and curriculum, sharing/trading books with other families and the library.   Those articles are starting to make me feel like the articles that tell me I'll save money grocery shopping by not shopping when I'm hungry and watching the grocery store ads for sales.       Realistically, as the budget allows..or can be stretched a bit further, I just need to buy what I know is good for us.   But then reading about economic collapse and seeing inflation and jumping prices, I feel like I need to buy a little quicker!  Decisions, decisions.

I'm looking at TruthQuest or Mystery of History for in a few years from now for world history.  Thankfully, both are printed in the US.  Has anyone used either of those?

DD is 9 (oh my, where did that time go??  It is going too fast!) and we've just started 4th grade.  We knew we would homeschool before she was even conceived.  

I appreciate that I've never read one negative word about homeschooling on this site.   IRL we've dealt with some unkind things being said by family.   I also like reading back on on the old posts about homeschooling.  

Just my ramblings...

I'm trying to buy curriculum (sp? I'm tired and having a brain foggy day) and reading, researching and praying about that lately.   We all see the economy getting worse and prices rising.  Book prices especially lately.   I'm praying the last 2 levels of the math curriculum we use will be out soon.  There have been delays.    At least that would take us up to high school level.   But I need to look into my options for high school level math soon.

  I'm also seeing that books that I've bought just a few years ago are now out of print.   I'm not panicked, but want to make sure I have things ahead/put back.  I did that when she was in the toddler years and I'm so thankful for those things now.    One thing I don't see changing in the near future is my state's regulations...unless they get more strict.   Due to allergies/sensitivites, we cannot use the public library nor buy used books.   Those 2 seem to be the popular go-to things with many homeschoolers.  Although from what I've been reading, many homeschoolers are working to build their own home libraries even better to avoid some of the garbage that is now in many public libraries.   We also cannot do books printed overseas.  That is another set of challenges.  I refuse to do ebooks and do not want to be internet-dependent for our learning.    God has always provided for us and I know He will do so. 

Jeepers, does your grandson have a kid-sized watering can yet?   That is a big hit here with gardening.

Happy Birthday, DogMom4! 

Postage stamps go from 63 cents to 66 cents on Sunday, July 9.    

Happy Birthday, Miki!!

Jeepers, sounds like it is time to lawyer up.  

Happy Birthday, Euphrasyne! 

MtRider,  continued   for you and your DH. 

Happy Birthday, Jeepers!    

Congratulations, Grandma BeccaAnne!   He's adorable!

for Miki's DH and MtRider's DH.    I hope all goes well...for them and the both of you. 

BeccaAnne,   all goes smoothly and for a healthy baby and mama.

Our school year runs from the beginning of July to until we have those required 180 days in.   This year, that was in April.     During our "off" time, she reads (avid reader), we read, puzzles, games, looking at maps and atlases,  gardening, nature study.  She's often adding something to her Nature Notebook and Bird Watching log.  We're always learning something.   The gardening books, field guides, wildlife books, ect. are on a shelf she can access (reach) and she pulls them to look things up.   I think Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock has been a gold mine of information.  It is one of those books we'll be using for years.    https://www.christianbook.com/handbook-of-nature-study/anna-comstock/9780801493843/pd/93846?event=ESRCN|M    I would really like to do some day trips, but I'm still praying and working to get my health back on track to be able to do that. 

Annarchy,    I know     

Sometimes I wonder if all the scented laundry products are to cover up that, due to govt regulations on the washer manufacturers,  washers just don't actually "clean" anymore.  And the scented stuff is to cover up the smell of clothing not actually being clean.    

My washer is finally, thankfully (Praise the Lord!) repaired.   More $ put into it than the cost of the washer  6 years ago, but Speed Queen no longer makes this model and I'm holding onto it!

If you had that nasty stuff built up in the fabric softener dispenser,  you might at some point want to look under the agitator if you can.   I clean the column of the agitator where the stuff builds up, but I was suprised how much had built up under the agitator. 

Little Sister, you probably want to look into having your locks changed.