Celestial Alamanack - Homeschooling style :)

The latest Celestial Almanack by Classical Astronomy at Fourth Day Press is here!

Homeschool astronomy - Montessori, classical, unschooling - any educational method! Including for us adults who just missed out ;)

Biblically-based, written by a homeschool father, up-to-date, beautiful, multi-age and multi-ability - you can't beat it!

See a free preview by clicking here.

Marriage - Sin - Huh!?

I wish I could so easily "leave the critic to worry out for himself". But how do we sit back and let so many people be harmed????

Lenten Spring Cleaning has Begun

It's official - getting started on spring cleaning!

My goal is to have the spring cleaning regimen done AND finish Garden of Francis orders up to date within the next 2 weeks.



This year is "easy" (at least on paper! haha!):

• room by room:
  
  
  
  • remove everything
  
  
  • clean under and around everything
  
  
  • only put back what we need/want
  
  
  • have a large basket in each room with the items that need repairs
  
  
  • have a large box or bag in each room for things to be sold/gifted
  
  
  
  

Easy.

We have a small-ish apartment - this shouldn't be too bad. But I run 2 businesses, Montessori-homeschool, and have a little boy who LOVES all things Legos (and reading, and ancient Egypt, and art, and music). BIG SMILE!
Then I can take 2 weeks hiatus and just write - I have so many projects that need fine-tuning - and so many anxiously awaiting them!

Cream Cheese - Homemade

Ok, I finally hit sticker shock on grocery prices. $2.04 for one little thng of cream cheese???? I don't know what it was previously, because I always bought it when it was $1/packet on sale.

And Kroger has the nerve to label that $2.04 "Low Price".

Note: "Low Price" at Kroger = they've recently *raised* the price. Problem is, it's the same color as their sale price stickers.

SO. We're making one more thing at home. And this one is EASY-EASY-EASY!!!!! The KIDS can make it!

TOOLS:

• Pot on the stove; or crockpot; or bring everything to room temp in closed containers


• wood spoon


• colander


• bowl into which the colander fits


• muslin cloth or cheesecloth or buttercloth


• containers in which to store your yummy cream cheese (we use glass jars)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 quart fresh milk


• 2 teaspoons salt


• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Directions:

1. Bring milk and salt very slowly to a boil (or bring it all to room temp in closed container.


2. Remove from heat and stir in white vinegar (this makes the curds separate from the whey).


3. Leave to cool (if heated).


4. When cool pour mixture into a muslin bag and allow to drip. You can also wrap it up and squeeze.


5. The whey is collected in the bowl - store this separately.


6. The cream cheese is at its best if you place it all in a food processor or blender for a few seconds (add tiny amounts of whey at a time if it's too dry).


7. Store in small containers in the fridge. Use within the time your milk would have expired.

Whey: Can now be used as buttermilk or in other recipes (pancakes! or anything calling for milk where you don't need too much fat)

Cream Cheese: Can have other flavorings added for a variety. Experiment!

CurrClick Messy Room Contest!

CurrClick's

Messy Room Contest & Spring Cleaning Series

With Ms. Lindsey

---

Is your room MESSY enough to win?
Do you have what it takes to get it CLEAN and then win again?
Sign up today to join the contest

General Information

Just $2 per student for 3 sessions and entry into the contest

Sessions begin March 20th

Three half hour sessions with lessons on organizational skills!

Required: Pictures of your messy room and a willingness to get it CLEAN!

A $25 gift certificate to THE CONTAINER STORE online will be awarded for the messiest room

Another $25 gift certificate to THE CONTAINER STORE will be awarded for the cleanest room at the end of the contest!!

Contest Procedure:

• 
  

  Sign up (enroll each student participating)
  ----->  Shared room with 2 participants are accepted as one contestant.  Enroll one student only.  Prize will be shared.
  ----->  Shared room with 1 participant is accepted as one contestant.

  
  


• 
  

  Take picture of messy, untouched room and send to Ms. Lindsey on the course page

  
  


• 
  

  Voting and winner for Messiest Room announced during first class session

  
  


• 
  

  Attend Organization Series Classes

  
  


• 
  

  Clean up room and apply learned organizational skills

  
  


• 
  

  Take picture of room and pass in on the course page

  
  

Picture Details:

• 
  

  Must send a BEFORE and AFTER picture.

  
  


• 
  

  Pics can be no larger than 300 by 300 px, jpeg, and no bigger than 20 KB

  
  


• 
  

  Messy Room pic deadline March 19th -- upload picture to Contest Course Page on CurrClick LIVE

  
  


• 
  

  Clean Room pic deadline April 2nd -- upload picture to Contest Course Page on CurrClick LIVE

  
  


• 
  

  Pictures will be shared on the course page for voting purposes

  
  

Voting Procedure:

• 
  

  Voting will take place within class so you must attend to get your ballot in the box

  
  


• 
  

  Students are NOT allowed to vote for their own room

  
  

Let the Organizing Begin!