Enchilada Soup

 So this friend of mine makes a really spectacular enchilada soup.

  The last time I saw her was 4 years ago . boo. Luckily, there are some
foodsyou never forget.

I happened to have most of what I remembered to be the ingredient list on hand today, so I set out to duplicate it.

I may have healthified it a
bit ton, but judging from the twice-empty bowls I think it was a risk worth taking :) 

Em sent me her version, mine also had a can of pureed white beans, NO green beans, roasted and pureed squash and red peppers, homemade enchilada sauce, bone broth, nutritional yeast,  and whole wheat tortilla chips instead of homemade. A little cheese on top.  New idea: We should host crock pot wars.

small harvest

in more ways than one ;-p  My vegetable garden was very minimal this year, which perfectly corresponded to the amount of time and energy I was able to devote to it.  This is not all I have growing; there was/will also be sugar peas, kale, corn, celery, lemon balm, lemon thyme, garlic, potatoes, big(ger) pumpkins, yellow squash, grapes, and Brussels sprouts. I think I was wise this year to only plant a few of each thing I was interested in growing.  Certainly not enough to put any away for the winter (aside from the volunteer squash up there...lots more still to be picked), but definitely enough to enjoy straight from the ground while hanging laundry, watching boys on the dirt pile, or plotting for next year's (slightly) bigger garden.

how to: consumable workbook into re-usable

I have a pile of consumable workbooks that have been gifted to me over the years.  Some of them are nice enough that I have been trying to think of a quick way to stretch their usability just a bit.  Last week I came up with the solution!  I removed the staples, cut down the middle of the workbook, and put most of the pages in the front pocket of a folder.  The front and back cover, along with the title page, table of contents and a page protector sheet, were 3-hole punched and put in the middle thingy.  Yes, that is the correct terminology.  Lovely word, that "thingy." 

The page P is currently working on goes in the page protector, and the rest are clipped to the front of the folder to cut down on floppage.  Again, I use only the most accurate terminology.  This particular workbook came with stickers and a "money bag" to track progress through the "levels."  There happened to be extra space on the page the stickers were on, so I drew more coin stickers with permanent marker to be cut out and used with subsequent kids.

 I think this will work well.  It doesn't take up much space, is easily disassembled when I'm done with the unit.  Hooray for quick, free solutions to minor problems. 
 

IHEP

 This week I am beginning the process of collecting my thoughts and supplies in preparation for our first official year of homeschooling.  This is a little anticlimactic (side note: that word looks way stranger than it sounds) because in reality we've been "doing" school for years now, but at the same time it is a little daunting.  What if I'm not really "teacher material?" What if we drive each other nuts?  What if the dog eats my curricula?  Should I just go ahead and pay for a box set, or keep with the beg, borrow, or steal approach to gathering information with which to educate? Will my kids grow up to be geeky kids with glasses (please no french braids) who are...gasp...unsocialized?!

About a month ago I filed my official "letter of intent" and received in return a manila envelope of paperwork from the local school district to be completed and mailed back for approval.  Along with a copy of the rules and regulations concerning home education and a few official notices came an "Individual Home Instruction Plan." These two stapled pages are what have me researching the World Book's page on "Typical Course of Instruction for First Grade" and making stacks of some of my curriculum sources.

Just when my hand begins to cramp and my youngest is approaching with a *very* precarious stack of board books, I look up to see my older two gleefully dismantling a broken VHS player with the help of our favorite "Randy" from across the street. They plan to make a machine that has "electrical power" to vacuum.  Or maybe drive somewhere. Perhaps a decision can be made later.

You know, I think this will be a good year no matter what.  Perhaps, for now, it's time to put down the pen, step away from the computer, and enjoy the education of my children.  Plan free. 

a circle scarf for me

I have been trying to decide on the perfect use for this little bit of turquoise and orange flowered fabric for about 3 years.  It was a gift from my grandmother's fabric stash, so I knew that it had to be something special!

Inspiration struck this morning when I realized it was already sewn into a tube. I lined it with another piece from Grandma's stash (this one a brown with some lace detail) and a little bit of sparkly ribbon, and left the edges to fray a little. Perfect.

ps: you can see the colors for the house a little better here.  I hope one day to get rid of that icky faux brick, but that may have to wait until we're rich enough for hardieboard.

proof that I am not a hermit

Tomorrow is a red letter day.  Deputy Danny and I are entrusting these kiddos

 to this lovely couple

so that we can go to the big city to see this beautiful lady

and spend some time with these two (who are also perfectly splendid)

and perhaps come home with a little something special to celebrate my birthday. Only a moth late ;-p

my mother always said...

I'd be either a teacher or librarian.  Now, looking around my home, I think I might be turning into both.  Aside from a few (I use the word liberally) boxes stored at my parent's schoolhouse, most of the elementary and middle school age books I own are stored in the school room:

The little golden books, most of which were accumulated when I and my brothers were tiny, are in the living room:

along with the baby books currently in rotation (one shelf left empty so B can put his own books away before bringing another stack to me).

 We also have a basket of library books by the couch: 

The only problem with all of these books for little people is that there is no room for the high school and beyond age books. (sorry, no pic.  that particular pile is too embarrassingly out of order and, well, huge.)  Which is ok, I guess, because I don't have much time for reading things with actual chapters much anymore.  I can't imagine why... ;-p  I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed that I haven't been to any library sales this summer, eh?