Still here! Our log-in was lost, but hold...it's been rediscovered. More posts soon! :)

Random Tip: Freshen the room with citrus

This is a nice way of freshening up the kitchen naturally with the sweet scents of fragrance and spice.

1. Fill a small pot 1/4 to 1/2 full with water. Set to simmer on low.

2. Take a medium to large orange (do not peel), and simply cut into several round slices.

3. Add the orange slices to the simmering water, add a couple of cinnamon sticks, and sprinkle in some cloves until you reach the desired level of fragrance. This will permeate the room as long as there is water simmering in the pan. Refresh with water as needed.

Add other ingredients if you wish, such as freshly sliced lemons, limes, or their juice, or add dried lavender or chamomile. Ground cinnamon could be used in place of sticks.

Random Tip: How to dry herbs quickly

No time to hang dry your herbs? You can dry your herbs in just a few hours in the oven.

 

1.      Pre-heat the oven to between 135 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure the herbs dry slowly and do not scorch.

2.      Lay the herbs flat on a piece of aluminum foil, cookie sheet, or casserole pan.

3.      Bake for 2-4 hours depending on the number of herbs being dried. While baking, leave the oven door slightly ajar in order for moisture to escape the oven. Some leafy herbs such as basil may take longer than others to dry. Keep a close eye on the herbs as they bake, and turn them as needed.

 

Note: Please be careful of children near the open oven.

 

That’s it! Your herbs are now ready to be ground for seasoning, roasted with meat to give added flavor, or bottled with olive oil—See our craft here!

 

 

 

 

Read Central...

One of our favorite places to read is Read Central. For free, and without membership or log-in of any kind, you can read fantastic literary works in their entirety such as those written by Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens. A must on your reading list! Enjoy!

Want the ebook, but don't want to buy the device?

Most of us have heard about e-readers, but we can't all afford them, or want them for that matter. If you would like to read ebooks, without buying a new device, don't worry - Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are also available as downloadable apps for use on your pc and many other devices, and they're FREE. SWEET.

Greetings!

My four children have been 100% homeschooled. They’ve never been in public school. My youngest is 7 years old, and my oldest just entered college. It has been a truly wonderful and rewarding experience; I’ve learned an incalculable amount myself. It’s been a lot of fun, and if I could go back I wouldn’t change a solitary thing. I also work, and even went back to school and earned a college degree while homeschooling my kids. So truly, anything is possible!

My motivation starting out with my first child is the same as it is today. I want my children’s childhoods to be filled with love and laughter. I want them to grow up in a relaxed learning-conducive environment. Each day and every event gives opportunity for a learning experience, whether we’re studying, gardening, singing, sporting, vacationing, or just taking it easy. The homeschool year is quite simply 12 months long, July 1-June 30. This means we never stop learning, and we never feel rushed. My goal is to nurture in them respect for themselves and the diversity of others, an appreciation of our vast universe, and a genuine thirst for learning. I hope that they never stop asking questions, never stop searching, wondering, or dreaming.

It’s been important to me that our curriculum not be limited to a few predetermined books, but afford them an opportunity to explore many different thoughts and ideas. I want them to study various accounts of the world’s history, and the ever evolving world of science. And all of this can be relaxed and fun!

I have quite a busy schedule, but I plan to add to this page as often as I can. I hope some of what I post can benefit some of you. Thanks for stopping by!

Bright Blessings,

Maria