We still need the gutters up and that happens later this week but I didn't find it that important to wait to post photo's, that will come after the door is painted and we are 100% complete. I also want new coach lights for the garage and porch. The trim around the garage needs to be replaced also.
So here is the recap:
Roof is Owens Corning Quarry Gray
Siding is Owens Corning Vintage Cream in dutch lap version something. If you really want to know it you can leave a comment and I will get it to you.
We kept the original black shutters because they are new and I really don't want to paint them.
I really missed this color scheme from my beloved south so I had to bring it here :)
Some people may want a red door, or a blue door, or black, or what ever other regular colors are out there. But not I! I want a green and not a typical dark green. I want a deep bright green.
So here are the colors we are voting on.
Everyone who comes over has to vote on their top 2 they like. Then we will narrow it down. I am voting on the top one and the 3rd one down. Though I really like the names of the 2 bottom, Belfast and Hills of Ireland, the other 2 colors are the ones I like best. That long one to the left we already ruled out as soon as we put it on the door but I left it there just to see if anyone likes it, but its too bright. Our HOA would send us a nasty letter for it I am sure. HOA's can be good but they are a pain. I mean all the houses around me still have ugly 70's and early 80's colors that look like a mess of something, like no one has updated the outside of these houses ever, but at least I don't have to live next to a purple house. I love purple, just not on the outside of a house unless its on a front door.
I mean really, most these houses are browns and whites and not pretty shades either. They need some serious updating. There are even some ugly blues, and I love blue. OK, so off I go. I mean mostly you can see the age. Ok, so I will stop complaining, after all these houses have moved on to starter homes when in their day, they were where everyone wanted to live.
So as soon as the siding is done, which it is, the gutters have to go up in a few days and then I think we can post a picture, but the door won't be done as we want to really take our time picking it to make sure its the right color because I plan on painting the inside of the door also.
This nice little house was built in 1979 and no one has ever put a back door in., EVER!
Well, we did. I just don't think its normal not to have a back door. There is one to the back yard through the garage, but that just isn't the same.
So here it is, before and almost complete after. The kitchen is 98% finished. There are a few things like paint the ceiling, that needs to be done and maybe a few other minor things.
Tomorrow I will try to get the pics up of the open shelving that is finally complete.
So here are some of the photo's....
Hubby already took the drywall off the wall here.
Here he is double checking his measurements, the window is out.
Here the door is in and waiting for drywall and paint. The new tile really shows it beauty now with all the natural light coming in.
And here it is finished...
Ignore the table, it doesn't really go there, its just temporary. The lighting is terrible and color is not right, but you can tell that from the other photo's.
Spanish For You is: an easy to follow Spanish curriculum set up like a unit study.
The curriculum includes a Teacher's book, your choice of a physical book or download PDF e-book, and downloads of lesson guides by grade levels, worksheets, and audio mp3 of pronunciations. The curriculum includes fun activities such as many different games, drawing, and writing to reinforce what you are learning. The lessons are set up with activities for each day. We used the lesson plans for grades 5-8 and the lessons are 4 days a week for 24 weeks (grades 3-4 goes for 27 weeks). Each days lesson takes 10-30 minutes a day. You cover topics such as verbs and grammar. For Estaciones, you learn vocabulary that covers seasons, weather, months, and more.
How we used the program:
For this review, we recieved the physical teacher book and the download resources that includes the lesson guides, worksheets, flashcards, and audio mp3's. We tried to follow the lessons and not tweak it at all except for repeating lessons several days in a row if we were not grasping something (mainly me, I get discouraged and give up when learning a new language, its hard for me).
To get started, I decided to go ahead right away and do the flashcards, prepare the games, etc. for lesson 1. The lessons are planned out so no preparing those.
We made some of our own flashcards per the lesson plan and we also printed out the flashcards that came with the curriculum. I decided to wait and print out the worksheets as needed even though my initial thought was to print them out and comb bind them right away, but will do the binding later down the road.
We did one lesson a day to start with, Lesson 1 Day 1, Lesson 1 Day 2, etc. After a few days, we realized we needed to go back and repeat previous days lessons assignments several times before moving on, especially the audio. I am sure the giggling at each others pronunciations was a factor for us not getting it :) One of us, my youngest, is great at rolling her R's while others of us, um me, comes up with her own pronunciations, while the eldest does them so quietly that no one can hear her and then she says "I can't roll my R's".
We have decided for our family, we are going to split up lessons and go at our own pace with each of us doing lessons on our own. Then we will do them together every few days. I think it will reinforce what we are doing and no one will be waiting for some one else to catch up.
Here the girls, there is one girl hiding behind the cat, practicing flash cards we made. My eldest doesn't like me to take photo's of her, as she likes to take photo's her self.
What we thought of it over all:
I think its pretty simple and you could probably adapt it to teach any age, especially if you have a younger child who wants to learn Spanish but maybe you could focus just on the speaking part so that it won't confuse them with their regular language and grammar lessons.We had a little trouble getting motivated, but once we did, we were hooked. The girls even come to me everyday asking when we are going to do our lessons.
I think there is a lot to learn for each lesson. To be honest, we can't get past lesson 1. We have not mastered it all, or even close to it. Maybe that is because there are 3 of us working together. We keep going back over and over the daily lessons. I think it would help to have these lessons broken down in to more manageable chunks, which we have decided to do. We have spent several days on each daily lesson and we still go back to day 1 to reinforce what we are learning. This may not be the case for your family. It also could be that we are less interested in writing and spelling, and more on just speaking it. So for us, we are going to focus just on the speaking and pronunciations from now on. That will be some of our tweaking of this curriculum. Then we can work up to the other topics. There are 2 visual learners who are struggling more than my eldest who comprehends most of everything she does.
I think its a good supplement to other programs or as a refresher. We are using it as a warm up to starting a bigger, more in-depth program. I am not sure if we would purchase it because the lessons might be too intense for us. I could see us becoming frustrated soon if we can't get on to another lesson. I am getting weary but I don't see that in my girls yet, though there has been mention of switching what language they want to learn, but I don't think that will help.
One suggestion I would make for the vendor is to offer a CD version of the audio (and even the worksheets). I think this would help with using this in the car for practicing. We have the ability to put the files on an external USB and load things on our cars hard drive so we can go down the road and practice our pronunciations. I would pay a few dollars more for this option, but I tend to pick hard copies of curriculum over downloads.
Here is a screenshot of the sample and if you click on it, you will be taken to the sample pdf.
The curriculum is well put together, easy to understand and follow, and there is a big plus for not having to plan any lessons. For this reason, I give this curriculum 4 stars :)
I am looking forward to the Travels curriculum coming out soon, and I may be interested in doing that set next. I hope after we get a base down we will be able to move much faster on our lessons.
Nelle Wilson Reagan was a devoted believer in Jesus Christ. She was a
loving mother to her two sons and loving wife to her alcoholic husband.
Nelle served in her church and in her community. Her youngest son
watched the life of his godly mother, took her lessons to heart, and
became the President of the United States.
Read more of this article at Daily Encouragement for Homeschooling Mothers by Charlene Notgrass at the following link.
Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making
business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But
after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find
her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy
company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will
reverse their fortunes.
St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is
determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry.
Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and
falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only
one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a
competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?
My Thoughts:
When Lucy returns from her European trip with her aunt and
uncle, though her mom really wanted to be the one to take her, she
discovers her dad is ill in bed and she starts on her quest to terrorize
Royal Taffy AND find a new recipe to save her dad's company. That is when all the fun begins. There is candy swapping, advertising poster problems, and a spy.
I was really hoping to like Lucy since that is my nick name but: Lucy was all about her and what she wanted and couldn't see past her own wants. She was very immature. She stooped to doing childish things to try and get her competitor down. I found her to be conniving.
I didn't trust Lucy's mom or Charlie's dad from the get go. Apparently
Lucy's dad, who had a heart attack and was actually a very minor
character, was not a good business man. So the company is being sold unless Lucy comes up with that new recipe.
The story started out good but got boring in the middle and just never picked up for me. On the other hand, I loved Charlie's character and he was the reason I kept reading. Charlie is a good guy who grew up with out his father and now his father wants to help him by giving him a job at his candy plant. Mr. Clarke often sends Charlie out to do things to help drive in more sales for Royal Taffy. Charlie has to contend with Lucy, who he is attracted to, aah romance.
The plot was a good idea and it is the first book I have read around candy. I wasn't crazy about the ending and would have liked to have known more about how things turned out. I liked that the author had included some actual history, especially of President Roosevelt. It was well written and I did notice one editing error, words in the wrong order.
Its an ok story and its not one on my read again list, but I would try out one more book by the author.
I received this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.
We decided to go from the boring beige to a cream.
So this is the house (the quad level foreclosure), on a dreary day to really show off the dirty old siding.
Here are the inspirational photo's I found online, they are not mine. I found them through google searching. I prefer a green door, while hubby is leaning on the red.
Here is the siding and the roof colors. This is Owens Corning brand and at the last picture is what I designed on their website. When the company we hired is finished, I will post the finished job then.
Siding is Vintage Cream and the roof is Quarry Gray, the trim will be white.
House design on the Owen Corning's website. http://designeyeq.owenscorning.com/?src=rfg
Couponing
For The Rest Of Us
The Not-So-Extreme
Guide to Saving More
By: Kasey Knight Trenum From the Publiser:
Shop savvy, save money, and still have a life!
Kasey
Knight Trenum knows what it's like firsthand. When her family's finances
were in a tailspin, she gritted her teeth and gave in to the need to
save. In Couponing for the Rest of Us she shows you how she
learned to save hundreds of dollars every month and offers time-saving
tips and tricks you can easily implement in your busy life. You'll
discover
· where to find coupons for what your family eats
· how to reinvent your shopping strategy
· how to make grocery shopping less stressful-even fun!
· and much more
If you want to save money and time, this book is a gold mine. "Prepare
to be surprised by how easy it really is to slash your grocery budget
by 50 to 70 percent consistently, week after week! Kasey takes you from
start to finish using her uniquely simple strategies. You'll go
step-by-step, from collecting coupons to getting organized to
understanding store policies and secrets for how to maximize your
savings-just like a pro!"-Mary Hunt, personal finance expert and founder of Debt-Proof Living, author of 7 Money Rules for Life
My thoughts:
This is the kinda book I like a hard copy of. It is also the kind of book that I wouldn't normally buy, especially since my husband and daughters love coupons. I don't. I really can't stand them. So we have a system in our house that starts with me cutting them out, organizing them into the binder, and then handing them over. That is all I do. I can't stand to take them in the store. I get mad when I really have a hankering for something and I have a coupon and its not on sale and I am told by Mr.Penny Pincher I can't buy it, unless I throw it in the cart anyways. Seriously though, the whole process of going through the store with them just stresses me out. My hubby on the other hand thrives on the kill, I mean the savings.
So when I found the email with this topic, I thought I would grab it and hope for some inspiration to get back in to the couponing mode that I have been out of since we moved and it was a time consumer I just didn't have time for.
This book offered me some new leads. The author has her own website blog www.time2saveworkshops.com/ and its pretty neat. In the back of the book there are nice worksheets to fill out, for example making a list of your pantry and stock pile list. There is also a list of questions to ask your store, freezing tips, and a suggested binder tab list for organizing your coupons.
You really get a lot out of this book, especially if your new to coupons. The book is written in a conversational tone, not preachy or all business which would make me want to throw it away. I stayed up half the night and read almost the whole book. I couldn't put it down. I did scan some things I already knew and didn't want to relearn. There may even be some new things in here you didn't know about. I know I found a few. My daughters are really happy about starting couponing again so much, my eldest is reading through the book as I type this. My eldest is the child who hits the clearance rack and won't buy unless its on sale. She didn't get that from I can tell you. I have to shop and go in and get out as fast I can. I have learned to shop when there is a big sale. I love my Kohl's Bucks, technically a coupon and free money right? This family is all about savings, but some times it can get in the way.
If you want to learn couponing in a real world way, then this is the book for you. I really enjoyed it and I gleaned some new info. The book has also inspired me to get back on the coupon wagon and get to work, at least my part of the work. I still remember when my youngest went with her coupons for Pringles and came home with a boat load. She was the happiest child on earth that night.
Coupons are a great way to bring your family together in shopping and for teaching them how to be wise on their money, or your money.
I think I may have talked more about our experience than the book its self, but it really got me thinking and reminiscing. If you tried coupons before, maybe that is what you need to hear from me.
I will try to hit on some important parts for you that are covered.
using a coupon database (this was one of those new things I didn't know about)
coupon lingo
types of coupons
doubling
websites and printing
store coupons and loyalty cards
There is also a question and answer section at the beginning of the book. One of the questions was about eating organics, healthy, fresh veggies, etc. and how can you save money on those. Well, I can tell you, we eat a lot of whole foods around here. I have only found a pineapple coupon one time and then I couldn't find a pineapple for the coupon because it had to be a certain brand and every store I went to must not have carried that brand.
Most of our coupons are for house hold items, personal items, and some packaged food. So we don't load up on a lot of coupons since I do only look for what we will actually use at some point. And we do pretty good. We have so much body soap at one point, I was giving it away.
This book also talks about using your coupons for good, as in giving your surplus away. You never know when a friend or family member will be in need of something. If you know someone who uses coupons for diapers, save all those coupons for them.
This book was a useful tool and I guess it just got me inspired big time, so much I am sharing a lot. :)
Here is a video on the book, by the author. It should give you some more idea about the book its self.
I hope you enjoy it, the book, as much as I did.
I would suggest getting the paper version so you can take some notes in the book and highlight or underline important things you want to remember. This is just one of those books I would hate to read on a kindle because searching for what you want is hard and time consuming.
ERADICATE:
Blotting Out God in America: Understanding, Combatting, and Overcoming
the Anti-Christian Agenda, Apathy in the Church, and the Decline of
Morality in Culture
By: David Fiorazo
From the Publisher:
Eradicate identifies two major problems causing the spiritual and moral decline in our country: the secular agenda to blot out God, and the apathy of Christians. This book will expose the anti-Christian movements in America and give you a thorough understanding of the foundational battle for truth. With 78% of Americans claiming to be Christians, how did it get to the point where Christianity is having less of an influence on our culture than culture is having on Christianity? Too many believers have conformed to our culture and we’re now suffering the consequences as a nation.
My Thoughts:
and there are a lot of them. I actually took pages and pages of notes on this book. I was in total awe of what I thought I knew, but didn't really know much about it at all. I am not one of those "everything is wonderful" Olsteen kinda Christians. I live in the reality that things are not right with America AND our Christian faith. If you are one of those "watered down, sleeping" kinda Christian, then you will probably want to throw this book in the trash when in reality, your the kinda Christian that needs this book the most. Ok, so I got that off my chest.
This book is one of those you will want to keep on your bookshelf for reference because it not only covers a lot of topics, it gives many details, examples, and quotes. It might even be something you can require your high school child to read if they are up to the challenge, its a thick book @360 something pages.
I will try to sum all those notes up in short as not to bore you with a lengthy review/opinion of this book, which would deserve a along review if I were that kinda girl.
The book is well written and hard hitting. It is easy to read and keeps you captivated. The book may help you answer the question "Who are your kids role models?". I know I am in a constant battle over what music our family listens to, especially the girls. They like old 70-80's rock, the stuff I grew up listening to. I can see now that I didn't have a clue what they were singing about, but I do now. I am stricter than my husband on music but he is coming around.
One of the quotes in the book is from Marylin Manson "Raise your kids better or I'll be raising them for you."
Do you ever get the feeling that something isn't right, didn't sound right, and you just couldn't put your finger on it? This book will help with that also. You know someone said something on TV and God's Holy Spirit tells you its not right. Do you ignore it or go to God in prayer about it?
How about some of the famous preachers, evangelists, and so on. Are they teaching truth or a watered down version of the gospel that fits what they want to accomplish (like justifying their own actions, selling us garbage for a donation that only makes their pockets fatter, etc.)
Some of the subjects you will read about are Sarah Palin, Joel Olsteen, Rick Warren, Acorn, Islam, Liberals, Abortion, the Media, Environmentalism, Dr.Oz, etc. The list goes on.
I did wish to see a chapter on homeschooling, freedoms, public school education, etc. These were touch upon in other chapters so they were not ignored.
Some questions I often wonder is why do we learn things about people, musicians, hollywood, etc. but continue to watch them, listen to them, give money to them, shop at establishments that are anti-christian, anti-moral values, etc. Maybe this book will help you see the truth and change your habits.
Do you want to keep sitting on the sidelines in Lala Land? I don't. This book has renewed my passion for some things and its time I started getting proactive in my beliefs again.
I love the authors use of "Cotton Candy Christianity". That really sums up our churches today.
We know from Revelation that the "stuff" is about to hit the fan, but this book shows you its already hitting and he brings the "stuff" to prove it. He didn't make this stuff up, its well documented all over the internet, magazines, books, all kinds of places you can find this information out. He is not the only one sharing but it could be the only book you read about these topics.
Ok, so...
You should give a copy of this book to your "sleeping Christian friends" and who ever you think needs this book. Don't forget to get a copy for your own reference book shelf. Go ahead and get one for your pastor, I might just do that though I know my pastor would agree with a lot of stuff in this book because he is one of the few who preaches truth and what is going on in our churches, America, and the world.
"Only you can prevent soul pollution!"
You really have to read this book :) It is at the top of my favorites now, in the top 3.
Should Christians recognize Earth Day? If you send your kids to public school, you should really be thinking about how to deal with this at home since schools really push Earth Day and environmentalism (that is for another post).
This is more of food for thought.
I love the earth that God hath made. Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the sky and the earth. 2 The earth was empty and had no form. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit was moving over the water.
Earth Day glorifies the Earth but not its maker.
Some Christians reading this will be saying "its ok to celebrate the earth, after all God hath made it".
Some Christians will be saying "NO, Christians should not glorify the earth. Don't you know the history of this holiday?"
I say do you not know the history behind Christmas & Easter? They were once Pagan Holidays combinded with Religious holidays. The only difference between Earth Day and Christmas and Easter is, they haven't attached Earth to a Religious holiday to coerce more people into celebrating it.
I challenge you to look at the historic details of these holidays and see if they challenge your faith in God.
I would also like to challenge you to put it up against what Jesus told us, or didn't tell us, in the Bible.
He never said for us to celebrate his birth, which isn't in December, or the day that he rose from the dead, which was not on Easter Sunday. So is it ok to celebrate these? That is for you to pray about and see what God says about it.
For Christmas we decorate a tree even though it plainly says:
Jeremiah 10:1-3 (talks about Idols of the Nations, you should read it in full)
Hear you the word which the LORD speaks unto you, O house of Israel:
Thus says the LORD,Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.
For
the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the
forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Is this talking about a Christmas tree? Are we making an Idol out of the tree or Jesus?
What IF celebrating Christmas or Easter was a sin? Would it be covered under the sacrifice/debt Jesus already paid? Even Halloween?
What did he tell us?
Did he tell us to keep the festivities that he partook in?
What about his sacrifice for our sins? Do we celebrate the day? Or are we to celebrate what he has done for us everyday?
Go, seek out the truth. Dig deep in study to find what is actually said.
You seek God in what you should do.
This post is not to judge you or your traditions, I just wanted to encourage thought and study into the historical contexts of these traditions/celebrations. I just felt God telling me to write about it. Maybe it will touch someones heart. I don't know. I am not anti-Christmas or other holidays, I just decide to focus on God/Jesus in what ever we do. My eldest wants to have our guest room decorated in Christmas, and I am up for it as long as it glorifies God and not Santa and Elves.
I personally wouldn't be celebrating any of these, but I do it for "tradition for kids" and I pray that God is not displeased with us since we focus it all on Him. Well, we don't do Halloween and haven't for years, its just plain evil in disguise, or not really disguised.
I preparation for adding a new kitty, still looking for one, we went on the hunt for some new toys and we went to Lowes and got some things to help build a cat tree. Here is what we got at Petsmart.
This really is the best cat toy ever. That circle thing were they chase a ball around.
I just thought I would share. We had such fun watching this all take place.
Please ignore the messes in the background, its still messy from decorating and rehabbing this house.
It does 2 things
Entertains King Aslan
Entertains Nessie, when Aslan says she can play with it
I have never seen Aslan get so umm excited over something. He literally sat on it for over a half hour and would not get off it. He played with the ball a bit, but mostly sat and laid on it.
In this picture, Nessie is trying to get the ball and its under Aslan's tail.
Here Aslan is still telling Nessie its his toy. But eventually Aslan gets bored
and Nessie gets to chase the ball around.
We have video on it and I will post it after we figure that out.
