• Heritage

    May Flowers in April

    The second day we were here in Arkansas, Becky presented me with a bouquet of tiny wildflowers she had gathered as she explored the farm. I was going to write a post about that, but remembered that I already have. So this one’s a re-run from May 2009: My favorite playmate when I was a little girl was my aunt,…

  • Heritage

    Nod-the-Toad

    The first evening Becky and I were here in Arkansas we went for a little walk down the driveway. The irises are blooming and I decided to cut some to take in to Mother. As I stepped across a pile of dried leaves near the basement door something jumped out. It startled me momentarily until I saw that it was…

  • Heritage

    Touching Lives

    For the past twenty years my dad has driven a school bus route to supplement his income as a pastor. His route is about 28 miles long, so he drives close to 60 miles each day. Over the years he has had some interesting, and often funny, stories to tell about some of the kids on his bus. At Christmas…

  • Literary Pursuits

    Writing

    You know how I’ve said for awhile that someday I’m going to write a book? Within the last couple of years I have set some specific goals for myself in that regard, and I am very excited with the progress I’m making. It may not seem like much, but the baby steps are better than just wondering if I ever…

  • Adventures

    Hotel Decor

    Honestly, as I’ve said before, I’m not a decorating snob. But as a detail person, I notice things. Now, I have my house decorated the way I like it, and I hope you have your house decorated the way you like it. If I come over to your house I’m going to notice your decor, but I definitely will not…

  • Adventures

    Road Trip Wrap-Up

     We traveled approximately 4,100 miles in 9 days. That averages out to 450 miles a day, but of course, the distances were different each day. Monday and Friday were the only days we didn’t travel.  Yesterday was our longest day on the road, from Casper, Wyoming to Post Falls, Idaho. It was 811 miles and took us about 13.5 hours.…

  • Adventures

    And the Season Begins

     My first homeschool convention of the season starts tomorrow in Loveland, Colorado. Today, on our road trip, we stopped at the Sonlight warehouse to pick up my convention supplies for the season.  Barb, our wonderful convention coordinator, had my supplies ready and waiting… and Lyle, driver-and-packer-extraordinaire, quickly and efficiently got everything loaded into our little trailer. What you can’t see…

  • Adventures

    Ozark Back Roads

     Tuesday afternoon’s route took us winding through the Ozarks from Arkansas into Missouri. It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and warm like we never see in Idaho in March. We opened the sun roof and enjoyed the fresh spring air and the rolling hills. (We can’t bring ourselves to actually call the Ozarks mountains.)  Wednesday morning was cooler and overcast,…

  • Adventures,  Heritage

    Springtime in the Ozarks

     It was snowing and about 24 degrees as we left Mitchell, South Dakota yesterday morning. We turned south in Sioux Falls. As we traveled the snow stopped, the sun came out, and the temperature began to warm up. Late in the day I began to notice some green in the grass along the roadside. And then I spotted a clump…

  • Adventures

    South Dakota

     It’s been a long day– 14.5 hours on the road. Needless to say, our stops have been short. We have enjoyed talking, reading, listening to audio books, working puzzles and watching the scenery as we drove.  Since it’s still technically winter, the landscape is mostly gray and brown and bare. But the sky was beautiful in western South Dakota late…