Today in history...

On this day Matthew Poole from the 1,600s died. He was an eminently godly man who left us a rich heritage with his many writings. To see more about the project to put more of his rich writings into print, click HERE.

On this day also, our beloved Robert E Lee died. Here are a couple tributes to him and our Dixie land.

Timo and the Olympics

For our school we are going to have times where the children learn about public speaking and presentations. So, I have been having the children each write a story of a child or young person that is in or around the ancient greek olympic games. It has been so fun to see how each child has created their story. They are finalizing their stories and then will practice presenting it with expression. Then, sometime soon we will have a presentation night where they will share their stories. Here is W's story...

Once there was a city in Greece and it was called Sparta, in which the Spartans lived. It was the first day of the Olympics! But there was a house that was not very rich and in that house was a boy that had wanted to be an olympic boxer all his life. So finally, his dream came true.

When he went to the market place each day he would jump over wells and would punch solid steel, just so that he could feel what it would be like to be a boxer. Little did he know that the people were watching him. Some of the people were watching him, so some of them went to the King and said “Great King, we have seen this boy and he is not any ordinary boy. He can punch solid steel and jump over the long wells.” The King said, “Bring him to me.”

SoTimo was brought to the king, and the king granted him his freedom. He was going to the Olympics!

Finally, the first day of the Olympics arrived. Behind the stage, Timo and his opponents awaited the fight. While they waited, they wound soft leather around their hands (they did not have boxing gloves). At last, the announcer said, “Fighters please present yourselves!” Timo and the other boxers came out single file and stood straight. The trainers had instructed them how you are to box and what the rules are.

As Timo stood straight, he tried to look calm, but he really felt like his heart was beating a thousand miles an hour. Finally, the instructor yelled, “Start boxing!” So there was no turning back.

Timo chose to box a person named Alexander. He drew back his fist and punched him so hard that it knocked Alex’s head off. The crown cheered! The first guy was down and there was still four more to go. Next, he chose a guy named Odysseus. Odysseus was a lot more tough then Alex. Before Timo could punch him, Odysseus punched Timo. Itwas so hard that everything that Timo saw was blurry for a moment. Then when he recovered he saw all the other boxers on the ground, knocked out cold, including Odysseus. He looked up to see another boxer that Timo had made friends with. That friend had immobilized all the other boxers. Achilles, for that was his name, winked at Timo. So, Timo knew what that meant. Achilles wanted Timo to win. Timo pretended to punch him really hard, butit would not have been enough to win. Achilles fell over and chose to not get up. The crowd went wild! Timo had won the Olympics!

Fifty Years from Now...

What in the world?

Having a globe is essential to every homeschool home. We used to have one, but it bit the dust awhile ago and we have done without since then. With our current history program we are covering quite a bit of geography with leaning simultaneously about different areas of civilization. Thus, I thought it was time to try and find a globe. But, much to my chagrin they are very, very expensive. It seems globes are of great value these days. Now mind you, I just want an inexpensive globe to show my children where these different events in history take place. Therefore words like, cheap, wholesale, inexpensive, on sale, discount…come to my mind. I did draw the line though at an inflatable globe. No, that would not do. Imagine my delight when I found on amazon.com a globe that was on sale for only ten dollars. TEN DOLLARS! Now, we are talking. So I eagerly hit my buy-with-one-click button and it was done. Now, I was being the frugal homemaker, the thrifty jane, the scrupulous sally. Contented in my purchase I went on with life.

Until this morning, when this tiny box appeared on my porch. I couldn’t think what it was! When I saw that it was from where I had ordered the globe I tried to put the puzzle pieces together. Hmmm, was it a blow up one after all? I thought not. It must have to be put together. Until I pulled it out of the box. The globe itself is the size of a softball. Ok, if I were on the late night show, there would be someone right now hitting some drums..you know what they call a rimshot after a joke..something like ba dum chh! I got my laugh of the day though. Why am I humming, "It’s a small world after all"?

Harvest Gleanings

Some of you may remember last year my post about when we were so blessed to be able to pick muscadine grapes at a nearby beautiful vineyard. We had our friends the Huddles with us then. S made the most delicious wine you have ever tasted from it! I mean the BEST! We pass the vineyard many times as we drive into town and watch the progress of the grapes throughout the year. Well, harvest has come again this year. We were able to go and pick 15 gallons of grapes! My parents and Esther and her girls came along with us and it was a fun time. I managed to pop into my mouth a grape that had a bee or yellowjacket on it. It's sting on my tongue alerted me quickly to spit it out. Thankfully I do not have an allergy so my tongue did not swell.

S has already processed some of the grapes and is going to do the rest today..then to bury all the jars for 5 months. My dad put together a slideshow of our gleanings...