Happy Birthday, Aunt K!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dearest Aunt K!
Happy Birthday to you!

We love you and wish we could spend this day with you!

Love, C, CC, K & J
plus Fluffy & Monster Boy

End Women's Suffrage?

As a little experiment, and a commentary on education today - some kids made a short film as they asked students at Padua Academy High School in Wilmington, DE, to sign a petition to end women's suffrage. In other words, to deny women the right to vote! Padua is a four year Catholic High School for girls. Only one of the girls shown in the video declined to sign.

What a frightening state of education in this country.



It might be fun to perform this same experiment in our town, just to see what happens. Although, we would want to include adults as well.

If we do, we'll post our results!

Some Corny Fun

We got up early this morning and went to a corn maze. We were volunteers to highlight the maze for a local TV station. We were filmed for the morning show. Then, we got to go through the maze for free.

It was chilly, but rather fun. Another opportunity we would not have if we were doing home education.

Why take the chance?!?

This video addresses a very important matter - what is in the food we buy. With the incidents of mass poisoning of pets last year and babies/children this year in China, we should be very concerned. There are foods that are made in China and are currently being sold here. Mild powder was contaminated with melamine. This is the same compound which is used to make the famous Melmac dishware. In that form, melamine is not toxic. However, when it is used as a filler for foods, it can cause very serious consequences.

Unfortunately, the FDA does not require country of origin on packaging of candy. So, we don't know if candy that contains milk powder might contain melamine. I don't want to take the chance.



Here is a more objective video from the Associated Press regarding this issue.



Check any candy not from a brand you recognize, like Hershey's, etc.

Hand Across the MIles

Mommy received two copies of this poem via email today. It made her think of those recently lost, as well as a dear friend who died a little less than a year ago. Mommy had never met her in person.


Hands Across the MIles
(Author Unknown)

My hands are always reaching,
Far across the miles.
To unseen friends so far away,
They help to bring a smile.

I may never get to see them,
But their friendship is so real.
Just as if they were beside me,
How good they make me feel.

For friendships know no distance.
The miles do not exist.
For they are in my heart forever,
Some things one can't resist.

I reach out with thoughts often,
Towards those friends unseen.
Wish things could be so different,
With no distance in between.

How I wish to simply see them,
To give a welcoming embrace.
And pledge friendship in person,
Is the dream I seem to chase.

So to all the on line friends out there,
Reach hands across the miles.
And you will be rewarded,
With everlasting smiles.

A Sad Goodbye ...

Today, we lost a dear member of our family. Lucky, Grandma & Papa's 12 y.o. male Boston Terrier died in his sleep early this evening. Grandma & Papa are on a vacation trip, so Mommy, Jules & Kitty are watching the dogs and house.

It wasn't much of a surprise. Lucky had been declining quickly in the past few days. He had had a stroke a few weeks before that affected his motor control in his back legs.

At least he died in his sleep. Mommy had prayed for such, wanting him to go, if it was his time, without any pain. He was so lost near the end, not knowing where he was and often walking, as best he could, in circles, with his eyes closed. We hope that he knew he was loved and was not alone. He did respond a bit to touch. He is going to be cremated and returned to be buried in the backyard with his mother and aunt.

He is much loved and was a wonderful companion.

Another sad note - Grandma P suffered a familial tragedy as well. It is a very sad day.

We thank God for allowing us the honor of knowing those who have gone back to him. They will be sorely missed.

Regulation?!? We don't need no regulation!

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) has published a new study based that compares the performance on college-admissions tests of home school students from highly regulated states to those from states with little or no regulation.

To see the result of this study, read the article: State Regulation of Homeschooling and Homeschoolers’ SAT Scores.

Spoiler: To advocates of home educating, the results are not a surprise.