Monday, August 31, 2009

Hatley Castle




I read about this castle in Victoria magazine. It is absolutely gorgeous and I would love to visit it someday. It is in British Columbia, Canada and is now a college campus. It was built in 1908 and the homeowner, James Dunsmuir, told his architect that "Money doesn't matter, just build what I want." Can you imagine! The wealth! I am so intrigued by how some people live their lives! It is a 650-acre estate with electricity even in the cow barns, a dock for his yacht, a specially stocked fishing pond, Japanese pavilion, endless acres of forest for hunting and a library within the fifty-room home. It is absolutely gorgeous with the beautiful gardens and ivy climbing up the walls! You have to check out their website! http://www.hatleycastle.com/

Let's just close our eyes for a minute and try to imagine what it would be like to live there. Of course, we would have a maid and a full crew of help~A gardener, a butler, a driver, a cook, a nanny, housekeepers, etc. I guess we would just be planning parties and strolling in the gardens! Sounds nice! I am going to pretend to be the 'mistress of 'our' castle today and see if my life changes at all. First, I need someone to weed my garden before I go 'strolling' in it!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

How Many Teachers Do We have In Our Lives?

As a homeschooling family, we often are told by a well-meaning person that it is good for children to have more than one teacher. I thought about this and wondered about the teachers that have been in our children's lives other than us, his parents. I do believe that there are teachers or mentors everywhere in a child's life (or an adult's life, for that matter) and that learning can take place anywhere at anytime. I know when people make this comment they are referring to a 'classroom' teacher or someone who is going to teach them something they need to know. Homeschoolers do not typically learn in a classroom so we find other teachers for our children in a more 'unconventional' kind of a way, though, actually, I would refer to it as a 'natural way of going about life' kind of a way. I have to think of it that way because that is a big part of how homeschooling families learn! These are a few people that have been teachers in our children's lives:
The Sunday School teacher.
The librarian at Storytime.
The leaders of all the classes, seminars and activities that our children participate in.
The coaches of all the sporting events.
The parents of our children's friends.
The employers of places of work.
The director of the places our children volunteer at.
Our children's grandparents and aunts and uncles.
The gardener and his wife down the road.
It was actually quite fun for me to think about all the teachers that have been a big part of our children's life. I think fondly of them and feel very thankful that we had the opportunity to know them. There are teachers EVERYWHERE! In fact, EVERYONE is a teacher. We can learn something from every single person on this earth!
Sometimes we just have to 'listen'.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Getting Through Flu Season

Things we can do to minimize the effects of the flu and everything else that comes with it:

1. Get the sugar out! Sugar drops our immune system by 50%. Really look into how much sugar your family is eating and find ways to minimize or cut out completely. It can be done.

Some ideas:

~Eat oatmeal instead of store-bought cereal. If you put in a mashed banana, you do not need any other sweetener. Try it, it's great!
~ Do not buy juice. Eat the fruit instead!


~ Use or make a no-sugar jam. Just mash fruit up.

~ Use yogurt, fruit or peanut butter for pancakes, waffles and toppings. Make sure to use plain yogurt with fruit or a tiny bit of honey, and natural peanut butter with no sugar added.

~ Cut the sugar in homemade bakery by 1/2. Use honey or natural sugar or sweetener.

2. Eat a well-balanced diet. Half your plate should be vegetables, 1/4 grains or starches and 1/4 lean protein. Include many different colors of veggies. Absolutely stay away from fast food and junk food! Remind teenagers to do the same. We are what we eat!

3. Get plenty of exercise.

4. Drink plenty of water.
5. Get fresh air and sunshine daily.


6. Reduce stress. Spend time with loved ones. Spend a bit of time for yourself. Ask for help when needed. Remind kids to do the same!

7. Get enough sleep.

Being conscious of these few things will help you and your family gain huge strides in fighting illness. I am not an expert and do not claim to be, but we always try to do these things especially when flu season arrives. If someone is starting to get a sniffle or something, we usually know it is because we are are not paying attention to one of these things! Also, I do make sure my family is getting extra doses of vitamin 'c' and a lot of water when illness wants to strike.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Golf, Yoga, Thrift Stores and Pride and Prejudice in Traverse City-Part 2

We awake to rain on Thursday morning. Not the best day to walk the golf course. Oh well, I guess I have to check out the thrift stores. The hotel has a special brochure just on the thrift stores in the area! We go to the course to drop off the bags and the lunches (I brought the Whole-Grain, No-Bake Granola Bars and everyone LOVED them-see earlier post!), I wish the girls good luck, remind them of their deep-breathing (which they said DID help) and head out to the first thrift store on the map. Ahh, this is THE life!!! I'm tellling you, it doesn't take much to make me happy! I spy The Salvation Army, which wasn't even on the map! My absolute favorite store! I find some fun linens for sewing, 2 cute containers for my little girls 'school box', a book and cassette course on real estate with no money down ($4-I contemplated this one for a few minutes and I decided it was worth it. I had read recently that the author was an expert in the field and the way the economy is, I realize a person cannot rely on one job as a career anymore (Lenny has been laid off for 6 weeks now) and I am interested in finding other ways to become financially free. If nothing else, I can educate myself and my family on the subject if we want to. What else did I find? Oh yes, the books! I LOVE books! Mostly non-fiction and classics. I was hoping to find Jane Eyre, the classic by Charlotte Bronte, but no luck! I did find a finance book that has been on my list for awhile! I am so excited! I always find what I need at Salvation Army! I'm happy and I know the money goes to a good cause. Win-win!

I stop at 2 other thrift stores and find some great educational games for $1-$2 a piece, a few more linens, a cheap purse with a cool handle and 2 woven belts that my oldest daughter can use for her own purse creations. I am happy!

Lenny texts me and says the girls are golfing great so I eat my lunch that I packed and head over to the golf course. It is still raining but I love to walk the course and watch our girls golf! With a big family, I realize how special it is to be able to spend this time with our teenage girls. They are growing up way too fast! It is one thing I pray for, to be able to spend individual time with each child! God provides! The girls finish up and we head home. As we are driving home, I say to Lenny, "I was thinking of you today." His eyes light up. I tell him it is not in a sexy way, but in a romantic way. He says, "Oh, you mean in a Pride and Prejudice way?" And I say, "Yes, in a Pride and Prejudice way." He smiles, I smile. We had a wonderful time in Traverse City.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Golf, Yoga, Thrift Stores and Pride and Prejudice In Traverse City

Lenny and I were lucky enough to go with our 2 older daughters to their annual varsity high school golf tournament in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. We arrived on Tuesday evening and I talked the team into doing yoga with me on the beach. We focused on breathing, relaxing, strengthening the spine and stretching. They had a big 2-day tournament starting the next morning and I wanted to help them relax. So, this is the scene: 8:25 pm-the sun is setting over Big Traverse Bay (gorgeous, of course). Seven teenage girls and I waltz over to the nearest beach access and politely get "kicked off" by the private condo-owners. We had to walk a block down to the boat rental area and found a tiny bit of sand to have our 'class'. The sand was cool and we enjoyed a short yoga class making use of our 'sunset salutation' while the real sun was sinking into the water. Ahh, the simple pleasures of life. We are so blessed!


Golfing on Wednesday: Girls at the course at 7 am. Gorgeous morning. Lenny and the coach are at the Coach's meeting and the girls are at the driving range feeling pretty nervous. I remind them to practice their deep breathing. It is amazing how well these girls can hit the ball. I am impressed! I don't say much else as I am not an expert. There are over 30 teams at this tournament and the place is full of color coordinating teams of very serious golfers. It's a wonderful experience for both the girls and the spectators (we get to walk the course with them). Eight hours later, it's over for the day. Ups and downs, smiles and tears-it's very emotional. Tomorrow is another day. Time for a quick nap back at the hotel, dinner with the team, the girls go to the range again and then play putt-putt. They are golfers, what can I say? I am back in the hotel room and I find Pride and Prejudice on the television! I am so excited! It is so Romantic! Absolutely, one of the BEST books I have ever read! Lenny comes in after bringing the girls to the range and I say, "Quiet! It's Pride and Prejudice!" He says, "Oh great! I suppose you want me to start dressing like those guys now!" I say, "It would be nice and you can start talking like them, too." He rolls his eyes and acts like he's not interested. Karissa and Brooke come into our room after putt-putt and I give them both a short session of reflexology. Their feet are sore from golfing all day and from all the emotions of a tough, mental game. I feel very lucky to be able to have this time with them. They watch a little of Pride and Prejudice with me. Lenny is making fun and trying to act like he knows what is going on. I say, "Shhhh, this is the part where Mr. Darcy comes out of the mist to find Elizabeth!" It is SO ROMANTIC! The girls go to bed and Pride and Prejudice ends, very romantically I might add! Ahhh, life is good! Tomorrow is another day!

This post will continue tomorrow! Until then.....

Monday, August 17, 2009

Who's Throwing Money At Me When I Run?

Okay, I know this isn't a big money-making tactic, but after reading "Five Lessons A Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth", I couldn't help but think that this might be a small way of 'winning in the margins' like the author mentioned. What am I talking about, you may be thinking? Well, I run down our road a few times a week and I always find money along the way. It is like someone is paying me to run. Now, I am not a professional athlete or anything, because they are not paying me much, but it never fails-I find money EVERY time! It is in the form of returnable aluminum cans. I have to bring a plastic grocery bag for all the 'money' I collect along the way. I come home from my run and tell the kids that someone is throwing money at me when I run. They are all amazed. I then put the 'money' in my 'returnable' bag in the mudroom until it is full. Free money for doing nothing but what I was going to do anyway! Amazing!

What would happen if I invested that money? Free money + investing = more free money. I do not know much about investing, but I am hoping to learn more. It is a brilliant idea!



Now, about that book! It did open my eyes to many things. It is a short book that is easy to read. The author is Richard Paul Evans, author of "The Christmas Box." I would recommend reading it. These are the 5 lessons he talks about:



1. Decide to be wealthy.

2. Take responsibility for your money.

3. Keep a portion of everything you earn.

4. Win in the margins.

5. Give back.



I hope you find some free money on your daily walks. We definitely have a lot to be thankful for!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Whole-Grain No Bake Granola Bars

My oven is out of order, so I looked for a no-bake granola bar recipe. I found this one at recipezaar.com. Everyone loved it and I love it because it has good ingredients. I send them with my loved ones to sporting events, practices and endless rounds of golf.

20 min prep
Serves 24

2 cups puffed brown rice cereal (unsweetened-Wal*Mart had them for $1.00 a bag)
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup roasted almonds, chopped (*I use raw and grind them in my coffee grinder)
1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds (raw, again, for me)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (*I didn't have any, so I used ground flaxseed)
1/2 cup dried fruit, chopped
1/2 cup peanut butter (*I used 3/4 c. because I didn't feel that the bars held as well together with just a 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup brown rice syrup or honey (*increase to 3/4 c. & I sometimes use a small amount of blackstrap molasses to make up the 3/4 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

1. Combine cereal, oats, nuts, seeds, coconut and fruit in a large mixing bowl.
2. Heat the peanut butter, syrup, and vanilla in a small sauce pan until warm. Do not boil.
3. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture. Mix well while syrup is still warm. I use my hands.
4. Pour mixture into a 9x13 pan lined with waxed paper, or lightly sprayed with oil.
5. Pack the mixture down firmly with moist fingers or the bottom of another 9x13 pan sprayed with cooking spray.
6. The chocolate lover should sprinkle on the chocolate chips at this point and press them in firmly. (for less chance of melting during sporting events, mix choc. in with dry ingredients)
7. Cover with plastic wrap
8. Cool completely
9. Cut into 24 bars
10. Wrap individually with plastic wrap and store in fridge.

I hope you like them as much as we did!

*Also, look for another granola bar recipe that our kids say taste like Clif Bars! (They do!) I will post them another time! Enjoy the happiness that comes with wholesome cooking!

Monday, August 10, 2009

I Love Rollerblading (Inline skating)

Rollerblading is so much fun! It doesn't even feel like 'working out'. I will tell you, though, that it is an extremely efficient way to burn calories (up to 900 calories per hour) and is an excellent way to burn fat and tone your stomach, butt and thighs. Kensington Metropark is a beautiful place to rollerblade. They have a trail 8 1/2 miles long and will take about an hour to get around for a beginner rollerblader, give or take 5 minutes or so. As you are gliding along, the wind is whipping through your hair (underneath your helmet, of course!) and there are swans to watch in the lake and all kinds of inspiring people along the trail.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

From Blue to Happy

Yesterday, I was feeling a little blue. Now, I am normally a happy girl, but once in awhile the bluesy cloud wants to visit. Good thing the ladies were coming over for a bootcamp style fitness class! It completely transformed the blues to happy! Exercising does wonders for the spirit. Exercising with friends is even better! We worked out hard and enjoyed eachother's company. If you are feeling blue, I challenge you to take 10 minutes to start exercising. Go outside and walk around your house or up and down the driveway. It takes only 10 minutes to clear your mind. Chances are, you will go a little longer once you get going. You will feel more optimistic about your day and you will feel the blues drifting away.
Have a Happy Day! You do have a choice, you know.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Summer by Edgar A. Guest

Good Morning, Sunshine!
Summer is still here. Let's not let the Back-to-school sales tell us otherwise! We can still enjoy the blessings of summer! After reading this sweet poem by Edgar A. Guest, we can close our eyes and savor our summer!

Bees are in the blossoms,
Birds are on the wing,
Roses climb, and summertime
Is kissing every thing.
Little pansy faces
Wink and smile at me,
And far and near there's not a tear
That human eye can see.

There's beauty in the garden,
There's beauty in the sky,
The stately phlox and hollyhocks
Have put their sorrows by.
The gentle breath of summer
Has blown the cares away;
All nature sings, for morning brings
Another lovely day.

Yet some are blind to beauty
And some are deaf to song;
The troubled brow is heard to vow
That all the world is wrong.
And some display their sorrow,
and some bewail their woe
And some men sigh that love must die
And summertime must go.

Yet some there are who blossom
Like roses in the sun,
Who dare to climb in summertime
When all their care is done.
They hide 'neath smiles of beauty
The sorrows they have borne,
They seem content that God hath sent
Another lovely morn.