In the Storm

summer manifesto l summer story #5

although we regularly go to the library we wanted to make sure that the library this summer was on our regular to do list, apart of our summer. i gave the boys a summer reading list full of classics like the three musketeers, and the great gatsby, the prince and the pauper and tom sawyer. this visit jarrod checked out the three musketeers and john is reading the prince and the pauper. we also grabbed the great gatsby and some movies and old television shows like Magnum P.I. We watched a couple episodes the other night and the boys loved it - and i still love it. it is still very watchable! must be tom selleck.

i added a little embellishment 'love stories' created by ali edwards for designer digitals. i might actually go back and add some sort of flag or banner to each story photo as a little something. this process putting this together is pretty simple now. i use my own templates and insert photos, journal, and it's good to go. can't wait to print and put together.

speaking of printing: i'm done with my 31 Things album and will be uploading the 12 x 12 pages to persnickity prints this week. i just may create a 12 x 12 template to upload my 6 x 6 summer manifesto album then upload those pages too and get started on binding the album mini-together.

summer manifesto l the subway art

lee made a piece of subway art for her family's upcoming summer activities. sounded like a good idea for a visual of our summer manifesto for 2012. i took our manifesto, about five different fonts, and three different colors and created my own subway art. i love the blue and various shades of grey to white. i really need to upload those subway pieces and have them printed and framed. i made this piece into an 8x10 size for ease (in case i wanted to print it here at home) + an 8x10 can sit in a table frame neatly.

i'm very keen about subway art. especially the use of different fonts. so clever. i can't hope to use fonts together like some can put together but i have fun nonetheless.

so much fun to be had. we've already put quite a dent into our summer.

homeschool 101 l summer reading...and into fall

the boys aren't taking a literature class in co-op this year, nor a writing class. we will work on english compostion and grammar in 9th grade so that means we need to read books for their literature. we'll begin this summer with a reading list that will continue into fall. our world geography class, around the world in 180 days will have us reading plenty about missionaries and books like the hiding place by corrie ten boom and escape from warsaw among many others but i want us to concentrate on some fun literature, but classic and what i think the boys will really enjoy. they will read some of these, actually most of them, on their own. they'll each read a different book at the same time then swap books. i may or may not require a short essay, probably for some of them, at least a summary.

our 2012 summer reading...and into fall

to kill a mockingbird. no kidding. i have never read this. i will probably read this aloud.

the great gatsby 

the scarlet letter

the adventures of tom sawyer

the screwtape letters

the outsiders

the three musketeers

the prince and the pauper

and finally,

and then there were none by the grand dame agatha christie

i have to be honest here and say that i picked books that i'd like to read too.

i have several of these books on our library already. we'll checkout some and i'm looking into borrowing others. i'm hoping not to have to buy any. we have alot of reading to do over the coming months...perfect for our unplugged days.

40 recipes l 22

amazing mashed potatoes! ina garten, the barefoot contessa can cook. her recipes are fantastic. i had to use milk and half and half because i didn't have enough half in half but it turned out fine. i would like to try this with fresh parmesan cheese like the recipe says for a more pronounce parmesan flavor otherwise it was still very good.

recent pinterest finds

i have an eclectric array of pinterest finds to share straight from my boards.

From designsponge.com via susanbowers94

hoosier man has a stack of old wood planks in a large round container that i saw this weekend. i asked him what he was going to do with it. he didn't know but he'd recycle it somehow. this wood head board for the guest room just might work. i'll have to see if it's a project he'd like to take on

From wendysmedley.com via susanbowers94

this is on my 'to make' list already. it is such a great way to highlight our missionary teams we support and just family pictures, scripture verses, and quotes

From tumblr via susanbowers94

hunting for a globe. if anyone finds one at a yard sale i'm there. i want to add matthew 28:19-20 on the globe.

From cdm-arewethereyet.blogspot.com via susanbowers94

i shared this idea with hoosier man: fry up a bunch of jimmy dean hot sausage, some packages of hash browns, add in whisked eggs and milk and some seasonings and cook. fill a bunch of burritos (we'd use the large burrito size tortillas) and wrap up and freeze for quick breakfasts...he thought it was a great idea.

From designspongeonline.com via susanbowers94

love the entryway colored chalkboard. so fun for welcoming guests. we could leave a word for our small group every sunday.

From studiocalico.com via susanbowers94

such a cut mini book of daily favorite photos of a week long vacation. cool way to use days of the week flags, etc.

so enjoy! just some fun finds albeit eclectic.

 

52photos l trace

my 52photos capture   l   trace

before beginning my summer manifesto album i traced out my idea on a notepad. i already had inspiration from ali so i went with it. having the sketch kept me focused; after going back to the original sketch i'm actually going to make some changes to my original photoshop documents before resaving those .jpgs. For instance, adding a twenty twelve to my title page. Adding a 'hello summer' page which i haven't done yet. Tracing my album by hand has made me see that i really need to make more sketches of work planned.

52photos l behind

besides being 'behind' on my 52photos here is my 52photos capture for behind...

my 52photos capture   l   behind

we were heading out to tybee island on father's day. the boys move on ahead often. it's their tall bodies and long legs, totin' all the beach wear for everyone: chairs, sandcastle-making tools, water and behind them i carried my beach bag and my camera. as we came to the top of the beachwalk i grabbed a picture of the boys ahead of me and jeff and i behind. it was such a great morning. the weather was amazing. cool and breezy, pretty dry for hugging the coastlline, even the sun as the morning progressed beat down without baking us. super fun time.

recipe book l revisited

no new recipes. just putting them into the kids' recipe book. many of these recipes only the boys have eaten. although ashley has adopted quite a few of our recipes as her own too. hopefully elizabeth will like her book with all 'our' recipes.

new color to the book...soups

hoosier man's recipe. best brunswick stew ever.

no restaurant can compare!!! seriously!

a cool mexican side dish

yummy!

new color...breakfasts

the best, most amazing dessert around!

the georgia boys really love this stuff!

i had a busy morning putting all these onto recipe cards. when i have another 30 or so done i'll put in another print order at walgreens for $.09 a print plus free shipping.

40 recipes l 21

not sure why but somethin' has drawn me to Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network when i'm at work and it's on. i love her presentations. i used to think she only cooked things i could never cook but lately i've wanted to try everything she makes; it all looks so good! i watched her make this baked shrimp scampi and since i adore shrimp scampi from red lobster i knew i'd like this. and it was easy. it didn't 'look' like hers but it was delicious nonetheless. i need to give more of her recipes a go. in fact with this baked shrimp scampi i made her parmesan smashed potatoes too.

summer manifesto l summer stories # 3 & #4

last friday we 'unplugged'. not television, no x-box, no computer. the boys worked on merit badges, school work, and reading, and i busied myself with stuff like bible study, reading, bills, my class for next fall (wish i'd had the computer). hoosier man and i had a date night and the boys succumbed to temptation and watched a movie while we were out.

our unplugging meant time for games too.

on our summer manifesto is go to the beach. because i found out i wasn't working on father's day and jeff and the boys no longer work traffic at church i jumped on the opportunity to head to the beach. our cost: gas and parking. we took a bunch of water and our selves off to the beach for a great morning of beautiful weather and fun morning.

it is Jeff and the boys' tradition to build a sandcastle.