Handbook of Nature Study - Free Copy

I found a free copy of the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock on-line today. The one I found is at archive.org  and is offered in many different formats. Enjoy!

War & Peace Pushed Me Over The Edge

OK, so not really, but ever since I finished it in December I have been doing nothing but reading junk! I was reading wonderful books last year good fiction, classics and nonfiction, but now I feel like an addict, I just can't stop myself! I have been reading apocalyptic fiction and detective novels, I am embarrassed to even post what I've been reading. So how do I break this addiction, any suggestions on books to transition me back to the light? In the meantime I have a new trashy book to read on my Kindle App...

Homeschool Skedtrack

I was looking on-line for a free homeschool scheduling tool and came across Homeschool Skedtrack. It took me a few days of playing around with it and watching the video tutorials to really understand how it works, but now that I do I quite like it!

I particularly like it because we are so relaxed that we don't follow a stringent schedule. If we do math one day great, if not that is fine as well. So if I don't check off the math lesson for that day it just moves it over to the next day. It also lets you add in field trips, science experiments, etc so everything is in one place. You can also upload Excel documents into it, which I find very helpful!

Another tool I particularly like is that you can "copy" the same coursework for different children. So with my twins I don't have to retype the entire year if they are doing the same work. I was going to be very annoyed if I had to do everything twice :-)

The only thing at this point that I don't like is that it isn't always intuitive how to use the program. The videos definitely help but it still takes some getting used to. Overall for a free program I am pleasantly surprised with how powerful this scheduler is!

Lego Separator for Arthritic Hands

I initially bought this Lego separator for Blue to help him separate those annoying flat Lego pieces. What I did not anticipate was how well it works for me! I am having a lot of dexterity problems again with my hands and this thing is fantastic. Now I can sit and play Lego's and not be completely useless :-)

First Homeschool Purchase

I just made my first homeschool curriculum purchase last night! I am so excited that I finally got up the nerve to just do it. I bought RightStart Deluxe Level A, and the Deluxe A-B Add On. Who knows how long shipping will take to get to Alaska but I won't start looking for it for another several weeks.

Blue is in 2 day a week co-op preschool but will be increasing to 3 day a week next fall. I don't know how much math we will get to but I wanted to start reading the text. This way I can discuss math with him in our everyday life using their terminology and concepts.

I am so curious if he will be a mathy kid. He loves puzzles and Lego's and seems to have an engineering type of personality. I figure if this isn't a good program for him it will work for Red or Yellow. That is one nice thing about having more than one child, if you mess up on a curriculum choice you have more shots at having someone like it.

To good health

What a year 2010 was! I finally received a diagnosis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, most likely Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis. After a year and a half of worsening hand pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility I finally have an answer. I definitely went through a phase of feeling like I was a hypochondriac or at the worst crazy. I am on several medications that have helped the hand pain but have unwanted side effects. I hope once I have this disease better controlled life will start being a little easier :-( It has been a very hard couple of years and my body is tired. So here is to a healthier 2011~

Coming out of a major flare

Sorry for not updating lately, I have been in a major flare the past two months. I hope I am coming out of it but am still recuperating. Looking forward to getting back into blogging!