Yesterday morning . . .

This morning.

Recipe: Cucumber tomato salad

Cucumber Tomato Salad

A simple, pretty, and delicious addition to any meal, and it's very forgiving--use whatever ingredients you have on hand, in whatever proportions appeal to you.

2 medium tomatoes, sliced and quartered (takes me a few seconds to picture that)
1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
4 green onions, chopped
1 T. sugar
1 t. salt
3/4 c. cider vinegar*
1/4 c. water*

In a bowl, combine the tomato, cucumber, onions. Combine the dressing ingredients, whisking well to blend in sugar. Pour over tomato mixture and chill.

I mix this in a big ziplock bag, turning occasionally. I find that it's best served ICE cold, so I will set the bag in a bowl of ice for a while before serving.

Tonight's soccer stars

Trevor. Steals balls from little boys.



Mows down little girls.



Wins.

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(If he'd really knocked this girl down, I wouldn't have joked. She slid, probably to avoid a collision, as they both went for the ball, and he was trying to avoid her.)

Weekly menu

veal patties, spinach salad, ?
macaroni and cheese, cornbread, cucumber/tomato salad
omelet, fried potatoes (yes, again), smoothies
hot dogs, baked beans, ?
Robert's choice
crispy parmesan chicken, couscous salad

On the back burner:
pork loin
pot roast, potatoes, carrots

Book Reviews: The Not-So-Good (But Not Necessarily Bad)

The Tattooed Lady: A History by Amelia Klem Osterud

I admit it, this caught my eye as I was checking it in at work. Heavily tattooed women often performed in circus sideshows during the late 19th/early 20th century. This slightly oversized book gives a detailed account of the lives of many of them and includes plenty of pictures. Interesting reading and a lot of writing on a narrow topic. Part way through the book, I realized the same information was given over and over, and I easily skimmed the remainder of the book.

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart

This is the third book of the trilogy I've been reading, which picks up about five years after the second book. Julia continues to live with her grandmother, work, and raise her son and half-brother. Michael is still in the picture, and Julia thinks all is well--until she is contacted by Parker.

An okay ending to a good series that ran out of steam part way through.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

No, this is not Stieg Larsson who wrote The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo books. It's narrative non-fiction detailing the family life of William Dodd, the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1933-37.

I guess this book is very popular. It was interesting, but not interesting enough for me to pay attention to the names and details of the many political figures woven throughout the book. Mediocre.

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure

Oh dear. I wanted to love this book, I really did. The author struggled to be funny but was boring and whiney (and insulting toward homeschooling, but we won't go there!). Her "research" was non-existent (please, I've read more Little House-related trivia than she has). I had high hopes and ended up disappointed. But I promise I won't be writing a book about it.

Book Reviews: The Good

I've read several very good books lately and am breaking this post into the good and the bad. These are not in any order, although it seems like the better books are at the end of the post.

Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin

I ordered this book earlier this year for our library. As I've been reading a few books from the Mao era, it caught my eye. It wasn't until I'd finished reading that I realized it was a "young reader's edition." Humph. I wonder what's so different with the original book?

At the age of 11, Li was taken from his family's peasant commune to study ballet in Beijing. He had no prior experience nor desire to dance; he passed several fitness tests and was chosen by the government. After studying at the school for seven years, he became the first official exchange artist to the U.S. since Mao's 1949 takeover. Long-wary of the impoverished "capitalist American pigs" who mistreated blacks, after arriving in the country, Li was convinced that the wealth he saw was an act to impress his government.

Following a second visit in 1981, Li defected to the U.S. He is now a stockbroker in Australia. (Seriously.)

This was a very interesting read. Most of the story centers around Li's childhood and years at the ballet school. It would be totally appropriate for a middle or high schooler; I keep hoping one of my kids will pick it up, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

To Destroy You Is No Loss: The Odyssey of a Cambodian Family by Teeda Butt Mam

Teeda was the daughter of a government official in Cambodia. When the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975, Teeda and her extended family fled their city, hide their true identities, and work in rural farm camps. About one-third of the population died, mostly from execution, disease and starvation. Three years later, the Vietnamese invaded, and hundreds of thousands of people sought refuge by way of Thailand.

This book follows Teeda's family's story of incredible will and determination as they ultimately escaped Cambodia. The epilogue oh-too-briefly mentions that most of the family ended up in Silicon Valley in the 1980s.

As I grew up in the SF Bay Area in the 1960-1970s, I am ashamed to say that we usually made fun of refugees. Behind their backs, we called them names, and just generally were unwelcoming, indifferent, even hateful. As a teenager, I had no idea what others had gone through and felt that I was somehow better than they. This book was not an eye-opener to me, as I've been aware of the many struggles now for years. I wish that we'd known back then. I wish that THIS was what we'd been taught in school, current, relevant history. These people have a strength and character that I cannot possibly imagine.

This was a book that makes me think, far more than I could relate here on a keyboard.

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures of the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis

This is surely my favorite book on a favorite subject. What an enjoyable read and fresh perspective offered by an inexperienced hiker and recent college grad who decides to tackle the 2175 mile long trail. In many ways, her determination and independence reminded me a lot of Holly. When I was done reading, I made Holly read this book, and she was surprised to find that she liked it too. Literally less than two miles away, we cross the trail a dozen or more times a week (it crosses our main road). There's no excuse for not braving up and walking on it one afternoon.

The Triple Agent: The Al-Qaeda Mole Who Infiltrated the CIA by Joby Warrick

Gripping, fascinating spy thriller recounting the events leading to the tragic deaths of seven CIA agents in Afghanistan two years ago by a triple/redoubled agent/suicide bomber. The story itself was enough. Combined with tidbits of U.S. surveillance and weaponry capabilities kept me reading the book at all possible opportunities. It was a little difficult to keep some of the names straight but not enough to detract from the book.

Another unforgettable read.

A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

Jaycee Dugard was the 11 year old girl kidnapped from a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe in 1991. She was found 18 years later, still under the control of her captors.

Holly and I watched an ABC interview with Dugard earlier this year. I was struck by her poise. It continued throughout her book. It's an amazing story of a young woman with amazing courage and determination to not live in the past. Horrible subject matter, so I wouldn't recommend the book; but it was another that I couldn't put down.

Untitled

Yes, I defaced my computer, but it really doesn't have much to do with Facebook. Just a bit though.

Are you listening?

Bible study first thing in the morning.

Holly finds it a fair way to start the day.



And Lucky is all ears. Or ear, anyway.

Fake Coffeemate--or is it real?

I love my coffee, and I especially love it with lots of creamer. Two bad things about creamer:

The ever-increasing price.

All of the nasty ingredients.

I figured I could do at least as well at home.

HOMEMADE CREAMER

14-oz. can of sweetened condensed milk; I use the no fat and pay $1.50 a can at Walmart
1.5 c. skim milk
2 t. vanilla
1/3 c. vanilla flavoring syrup, optional, found in the coffee aisle (adds more not-so-great ingredients though)

Mix all together well. Cover and refrigerate. Stir before using, as the condensed milk will settle on the bottom. Keeps for a week or so.

It might not be much less expensive, but at least it doesn't kill me when my kids use it. And I'm still good with buying the Coffeemate when it goes on a good sale.

Morning

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psa. 143:8

And first soccer game of the season

FUN to have both kids on the same team!

Trevor held up quite well for his first game on the 13+ team. He gave up a camping trip to be here tonight.


Holly still going up against the big boys. And yes, that young man does have a full beard.



Holly loves her little 6-8 year old that she's assistant coaching.



I don't think we'll ever stop being thrilled by the LifeGuard helicopter.



We came home to find the power was out. GOOD THING we'd stopped and picked up Taco Bell!! I think we would have starved otherwise. Or had to go back out.



Robert pulled out so many lanterns, flashlights, and candles that one neighbor later asked how we had power when no one else did. LOL. It came back on sometime in the middle of the night.

A fun way to kick off the season. (That really was unintentional.)

First day of school

The closed door belongs to Holly.



Trevor was a bit speedier.



It was actually a great first day of the school year.

Holly

We took advantage of the Labor Day holiday. It's not as we actually celebrate, and between my vacation day from work and the opportunity to get in a full week right off the bat, I chose Labor Day as the first day.

Trevor's comment: "Today was maybe possibly almost a good day."

Holly's comment, after geometry: "Well, that was fun." (I can count on one hand the number of times she's said that about math.)

We followed up with a trip to Dairy Queen, pretty much our first day of school ritual by now.

Weekly menu

breakfast: omelet, fried potatoes, sausage, apples
dirty rice, caesar salad
giant burritos
macaroni and cheese, cornbread, cucumber/tomato salad
spaghetti, garlic or cheese bread, salad

On the back burner:
pot roast
pork loin
veal patties

Where were you 9/11?

Today marks the ten year anniversary. There's been a lot of media coverage, but I've avoided it for the most part. Much of what I have heard are heroic stories of otherwise ordinary people. I can listen a bit to that and be okay, I guess.

Ten years ago this morning, I was in our bathroom getting ready for work. As usual, I was listening to a morning radio talk show. There was a news blurb about a plane hitting one of the World Trade Center towers. Assuming it was unintentional pilot error, I shouted out to Holly and Robert to turn on the tv, because someone had hit the tower. Within minutes, they saw the second plane hit.

I left to go to work at the Wells Fargo Building in Denver. It's not literally the tallest building in the skyline, but it sits on a hill and stands taller. Its cash register shaped top also gives it a distinct profile in the skyline. By that time, I was only working one day every week or two. Our offices were on floors 41-46 of the 50 story building.

As I began driving to work, I heard the news of the Pentagon crash and the closure of numerous tall buildings around the country. I turned around and headed home.

Meanwhile, Robert had taken the kids to drop Holly off at school. She stayed there for the day. I stayed home that day, but while I remember watching some of the tv coverage, I don't remember watching non-stop all day. I was conscious of the effect it had on Robert when he was home watching the Oklahoma City bombing coverage all day long.

I worked just one more day after that. I originally had no plans to quit, but knowing I'd be up on those top floors in that building made me physically ill even before going back to work. I'd cut back my hours quite a bit already, and we'd been considering homeschooling for several months.

So I went back just that one time, and we pulled Holly out of school during Christmas break later that year.

It surely would have been worse living on the east coast. I deal best with things by denying much of it, and it would have been harder to deny living a couple thousand miles closer, near people with much closer ties to the cities.

Trevor's drawings

This kid has an amazing talent for creating what he sees.



We remember when he was four, and although he could barely write his name, he could draw an uncanny resemblance of Arthur (Marc Brown's aardvark).



Now he creates customized miniature Lego figures, using Sculpey. He does it for relaxation and can whip out something so detailed within minutes. I need to post some of his work.

Curriculum for the new school year!

I never got around to making this post last year, so I'm not going to postpone this time one bit. We have a few changes, nothing major. My goals include SAT prep work for Holly and to encourage thinking skills for Trevor.

I'm excited about a few subjects that will involve both kids at the same time:

Philosophy. We're using Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder . . . About Everything by David A. White, Ph.D. Holly will also read an extra book or two, or perhaps watch The Teaching Company's lecture series on Philosophy, and she will count it as half a high school credit.

Eschatology. We're using CDs from our former pastor's teachings through the Book of Revelation. .5 credit.

The rest of the lineup.

Holly:

Chemistry. Continuing to go with Lee's advice to "invest in your weakness," this will be an outside class that Holly will take, using Apologia. The woman who's taught this class for years has moved on and no longer teaching, but I'm optimistic. The new teachers are a husband/wife team, currently teaching in a public high school and homeschooling their son. They have all of the notes and information from the former teacher and are excited about this class. Apologia is also not that difficult to teach. 1 credit.

Geometry. Nothing special here, strictly Jacobs. I've heard enough negative comments about the new 3d edition, so we made an effort to find an older 2d ed. 1 credit.

Writing. Holly will be using a combination of different programs: IEW's High School Essay Intensive, Writing Strands: Writing Exposition, and reading The Lively Art of Writing. 1 credit.

Economics. Taking Lee's advice here too, choosing Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury, and the accompanying workbook, A Bluestocking Guide: Economics by Jane A. Williams. My notes to myself say, "Oh, for heaven's sake, if you feel you must do more, have her watch a Khan (Academy) video or two." .5 credit

Government. Not sure how this will all work out. Holly has considerable time with TeenPact. I may take some of that and make it into a Leadership course. If so, I have a few other ideas with what she'll do for government, but either way, she'll be reading The 5000 Year Leap and Making of America book and study guide. .5 credit.

Neurobiology. Holly specifically requested this course after discovering an interest in her biology class from last year. Her spine will be a video lecture series, Understanding the Brain from The Great Courses. She'll supplement with another video, Optimizing Brain Fitness, assorted reading, and labs that I'll be pulling together from online sources. (I have to add that I bought The Great Courses videos as a set during the annual 70% off sale.) 1 credit.

Foreign Language. I'm not sure how this will play out yet, but the goal is to get credit in this course either through a CLEP or SAT subject test. An alternative is to quickly go through two years of a text. Holly has an ear for languages and has dabbled in several over the past two years. We considered, and ultimately decided against, a dual enrollment community college Spanish class. Although it will be held just around the corner from us and is specifically for dual enrollment homeschoolers, the cost was over $500. Not worth the money and time to go twice a week just for this. 1 credit.

P.E. Playing two seasons; the coaching will go toward community service instead of P.E. 1 credit.

Study Skills. This will include PSAT and SAT prep work. .5 credit.

In print, it looks a little ambitious, but she shouldn't have any trouble keeping up with the work as long as she stays focused on the year ahead.

I'm very comfortable with Trevor's upcoming schedule, as I've used most of it in the past, either already with Holly or the same curriculum, just at a lower level. There's really nothing new here.

Devotional. Bob Schultz's Practical Happiness. Trevor's used the author's first two books in years past.

Math. Life of Fred pre-algebra. There are two books, one with an emphasis on biology, the other, economics. Trevor's completed Singapore through 6B and ready for algebra, but I'd prefer he be a little more grounded. I also wasn't up to the task of teaching another year of algebra right away, and I'll have my hands full enough with geometry. This seemed like a good middle ground, and he'll be able to cover two books during the course of the school year, enjoying Fred's escapades in a math program unlike any other (and that's an understatement!).

Writing. He'll continue with Writing Strands, finishing up Level 5 and moving into Level 6.

Literature. We'll again use Lightning Lit. Trevor used this last year, and Holly used it for 8th grade, requesting it again for 10th. Additionally, Trevor and I will continue our morning read alouds. Oh, I hope I have at least one more year of reading aloud to my son! I usually like the books we choose, and I treasure the time together!

Grammar. Shurley English, Level 7. This is the final level of Shurley. We began using this when Holly attended the cottage school in first and second grade. Both kids have used Shurley since then. At home, we've used it every other year, skipping every other level. It's worked beautifully that way for us.

History. Hmm. Thinking and rethinking this still. I want to focus on American history, and I am looking for something that will be the right "fit." My plan tonight is to focus on suggestions in The Well Trained Mind and see what I can tweak that would work for us.

Logic. The Fallacy Detective. Holly used this at about the same age, and I'm looking forward to using it again. (Hmm, looking at the website makes me wish we had the newer edition.)

He'll also be busy with Civil Air Patrol and two seasons of soccer. He's considering playing basketball again this winter.

That's it! We started today, another post on that later. I think we are all pretty good with settling back into the routine of school.

Trevor's Birthday

Before Trevor woke up, I ran out to buy balloons and nationally-famous Blue Collar Joe's donuts for a breakfast surprise.

He was eager to open his presents before Kurt got here.


Kurt came over, and the boys did those things they like to do, video games and Legos. Trevor had requested we go to Hibachi Grill for lunch. It's a new giant buffet in town, which he's been to before (with Kurt) but new to the rest of us.

On the way home, we were stopped at a light near a large truck stop. I asked Robert why the car was shaking so. No trucks were going by. He looked in the back, but none of the kids were bouncing the car. Three minutes later, Kurt's mom called me on my cell to say that we'd had an earthquake! Quite a memorable birthday!

It was also the first night of the soccer season. Trevor and I took Kurt to his soccer practice. Robert took Holly to her first soccer practice, where she is the assistant coach to a team of 6-8 year olds. Trevor spent some of his waiting time talking to family on the phone.


Our soccer practice was immediately after Kurt's (same location). Robert brought Holly over for her own team practice; she'd had a great time with the little kids and was impressed with their skill. And more reason to celebrate: This is Trevor's first season on the 13+ team, so now he's playing with Holly on the team coached by Robert!

After practice, Robert took the boys to Best Buy. Trevor used his birthday money to buy a laptop for himself. He's been using Robert's computer for awhile, and it died. We're not wanting to replace it right now, and Robert can use my computer, but Trevor really needs one for himself.

We came home, snacked, sang, lit candles, and ate cake. Trevor's cake request this year was for a marble cheesecake. I'm not much of a cheesecake eater or baker, but the one I made was a big hit.



So now I have two teenagers! Time flies, and I wish it would just stop. Right. Now.

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MARBLE CHEESECAKE

1-1/2 c. crushed Oreos
6 T. softened butter
2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted in microwave
3 - 8 oz. pkgs. low fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325. Combine oreo crumbs and butter. Mix well and press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 mins.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until creamy and smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of cream cheese mixture and combine with melted semi-sweet chocolate.

Drop plain batter into the crust; I did it by spoonfuls. Drop chocolate mixture randomly over the top. With the tip of a regular table knife, swirl the batter to create a marble effect.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 mins. until center is set. I had to bake mine for 50+ mins. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight before serving.

I didn't do it this time, but next time, I will frost it:

6 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted
1/2 c. sour cream

Mix well; spread over cooled and chilled cheesecake; chill briefly until frosting is set.

$1 Night Baseball

Trevor's birthday eve plans fell through on short notice, so we decided to take advantage of $1 Monday nights with the Salem Red Sox.



In the past, we've sat down close with assigned seating. When Trevor and I went earlier in the summer, we sat up high. It's a different view, for sure, and it's really nice to sit anywhere we want, have room to spread out, and talk the whole time.



$1 admission. $1 hot dogs. $1 drinks. And you can bring food in.

Roanoke Star

Best family night deal in town. I love minor league baseball SO much more than the majors!