©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer by Peggy Consolver ~ a TOS review
I’ve always loved history. In fact while I was growing up I used to read encyclopedias for fun. Nerdy, maybe, but I loved reading about Ancient times. This year we are finishing up our study of American history and in the fall it means we are heading into Ancients again! I love being able to tie in literature to bring history to life. Over the last few weeks I have been doing just that as I read a new novel called Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer by Peggy Consolver - Author.
Originally, I intended to have my 16 year old read this book. But life got busy for her and she just couldn’t fit it into her schedule. So, I jumped into the story and I have really been enjoying digging into this historical fiction, let me tell you more about it.
Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer is a paperback book with 375 pages with 46 chapters and tells the Biblical account of the Hebrews’ last 40 years in the wilderness as referenced in Numbers 20 - the book of Joshua. The novel tells the story through the eyes of a young 13-year-old Canaanite shepherd boy named, Keshub, who lives in Gibeon. As the fifth oldest son of Ishtaba, Keshub, lives adventure every day as he defends his flock from predators while he attempts to prove himself among his older brothers. However, Keshub longs for his father’s affection and approval yet has an intense longing for adventure beyond his daily horizons. As the biblical story of Joshua unfolds and the Hebrews threaten to invade his homeland, Keshub becomes a spy keeping watch of the Hebrew’s movements through the Jordan River Valley.
Doesn’t that sound fascinating!? Since taking over as being the primary reader of this novel, I am loving it! I do plan to have my 16 year old read this book over the summer because I am finding it to be a great read. I am going nice and slow because some of the names are a bit confusing, but the handy reference chart at the beginning helps keep the people straight. The author has also included a helpful study guide on her website to accompany the novel reading. It provides links, maps, and videos to help things stay clear.
Overall, I would recommend this novel for high schoolers and up. A middle schooler might be able to grasp the content. I plan on finishing up this novel in the next few weeks and to start reading it aloud to my younger children as we prepared for our journey back through Ancient history. Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this book too by clicking the banner below and reading some of their reviews.
Company ~ Peggy Consolver - author
Format ~ paperback book, ISBN 978-1-942587-09-5
Price ~ $10.14
Ages ~ middle - high schoolers through adults
#hsreviews #siblingrivalry #geography #Bible #survival
©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
1st place BEAM!
Way to go McKenzie!
Today she placed 1st on the Beam at the Hurricane April Showers meet. It was a tough competition but she persevered.
Go baby girl, go!
VAULT ~ 6.500
BARS ~ 9.000 (3RD)
BEAM ~ 9.100 (1ST PLACE)
FLOOR ~ 9.275 (4TH)
ALL-AROUND ~ 33.875
©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Creating a Masterpiece ~ a TOS review
My children are artsy. In fact my oldest is an art major. She has been drawing and creating masterpieces since she was three. I am not sure where exactly she gets her ability but its pretty amazing! I on the other hand, will admit to having limited art skills. A few weeks ago we were asked to review the Monthly Plan art lessons offered by Creating a Masterpiece. I have to tell you I am pretty excited about my art abilities now.
Art is one of those subjects that is easily pushed to the way side in our house. I have great expectations every year to keep it in the forefront and revive our Masterpiece Monday's because I think it is an important subject. Yet, at times I fail. However, with the Monthly Plan the lessons are already planned out for me and even include a supply list! The instructor, Sharon Hofer, is so very encouraging and its like having your very own art tutor giving you step-by-step instructions in the comfort of your own home.
With six levels of instruction from Beginners through Advanced you are sure to find just the right starting point for your ability in the 144 lessons available. If you are looking to study a specific historical art period there are several different options too. Currently there are 18 types of media projects taught within the program, including:
Getting started with this program is super easy! Once you are signed up each time you log in to the website you are taken to your very own family dashboard. From there you can see all the projects listed and get started. Monthly or annual student plans are available and include unlimited access to all the projects for your entire family.
Overall, we have really enjoyed this program! I do encourage you to check it out for yourself and see if it would be a good fit. There is a FREE lesson avaialbe on the site for you to try before you buy, I highly recommend checking it out. The Monthly Plan makes having art lessons super affordable! The supplies may be expensive to gather for some of the more detailed, advanced projects, but worth it in the long run.
Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this art program by clicking the banner below.
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Hashtags: #hsreviews #artinstruction #homeschoolart #onlineartprogram
Art is one of those subjects that is easily pushed to the way side in our house. I have great expectations every year to keep it in the forefront and revive our Masterpiece Monday's because I think it is an important subject. Yet, at times I fail. However, with the Monthly Plan the lessons are already planned out for me and even include a supply list! The instructor, Sharon Hofer, is so very encouraging and its like having your very own art tutor giving you step-by-step instructions in the comfort of your own home.
I drew this, yay me!
- • acrylic painting • soft pastels carving Conte’ crayon • oil pastels • sculpture Batik • watercolor • block printing • ink • silk dyeing • pencil • Bombay ink • colored pencil • charcoal • glass mosaic • gouache • balsa carving
Getting started with this program is super easy! Once you are signed up each time you log in to the website you are taken to your very own family dashboard. From there you can see all the projects listed and get started. Monthly or annual student plans are available and include unlimited access to all the projects for your entire family.
Overall, we have really enjoyed this program! I do encourage you to check it out for yourself and see if it would be a good fit. There is a FREE lesson avaialbe on the site for you to try before you buy, I highly recommend checking it out. The Monthly Plan makes having art lessons super affordable! The supplies may be expensive to gather for some of the more detailed, advanced projects, but worth it in the long run.
Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this art program by clicking the banner below.
Company ~ Creating a Masterpiece
Product ~ Monthly Plan
Format ~ Digital online
Price ~ $39.99 per month
Ages ~ elementary through adult
Hashtags: #hsreviews #artinstruction #homeschoolart #onlineartprogram
©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Kregel Publications: Circle C Stepping Stones, books # 1 & 2 by Susan K Marlow ~ a TOS review
Montana has a thing for animals. She loves them, especially big cats, but really she loves all animals and tried to convince me a few weeks ago that we could get a horse in our backyard. A few weeks ago we received two new books from the Circle C Stepping Stones series, Andi Saddles Up and Andi Under the Big Top written by Susan K. Marlow from Kregel Publications. For anyone who loves horses this is the book series for you, let me tell you more about it.
Andi is a 9-year old girl who lives on the Circle “C” Ranch in Fresno, California in the 1877. Her birthday has just occurred and all she wanted was a new saddle so that she can trick ride her palomino, Taffy, like a real horse-and-rider pair. However, her older brother Chad quickly puts a stop to any and all trick riding dreams. One day while she is out in her special spot Andi discovers a new friend, Sadie. Soon her friendship with Sadie is threatened because of a nasty boundary quarrel between both of their families.
The next book we received was Andi Under the Big Top and tells the story of the summer when she turns nine. The circus is coming to town and Andi is so excited to see the elephants, acrobats, and the champion bareback rider. At the circus Andi meets a little boy named Henry who sells circus treats. She thinks he must have the coolest job in the world, but soon finds out that there is a deeper darker side to the circus. Andi decides she needs to help Henry with his situation, but helping Henry with his secret may mean losing something very precious to Andi.
I was so happy to get both of these books for Montana to read. They are wholesome books for kids aged 7-10 and retail for $7.99 each. The website includes a downloadable study guide to accompany each the books. it is filled with 56 pages of various learning activities that correspond to the books. There are also coloring pages straight out of the book for you to print and color.
Montana’s assignment after reading the first book was to make a diorama of the story. She loves hands-on learning so this was right up her alley. I love the way she was creative and searched high and low for supplies for her project. She presented her story to us one evening and did a great job retelling the story. For the second book I read it aloud. We are about to go to real circus at the end of this month and my younger girls are so excited. We may not have some deep dark secret to discover at our circus but it will be fun nonetheless.
Overall, we have truly enjoyed both of these books and look forward to reading more books in this series! The illustrations are so detailed even and draw you into the story even though they are just black and white. My younger girls especially enjoyed the coloring pages as I read-aloud. Be sure to check out what 59 of my CrewMates thought of these books by clicking the banner below!
Company ~ Kregel Publications and Susan K Marlow
Product ~ Circle C Stepping Stones, Book #1 - Andi Saddles Up, Book #2 - Andi Under the Big Top
Format ~ paperback
Price ~ $7.99 each
Ages ~ 7-10 year olds
#hsreviews #oldwest #horsegirls #fictionforgirls
©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
I'd Rather Be Your Mommy ~ a TOS review
I wear many hats in this family, from head chef to taxi driver. Sure, I had dreams as a young girl of being a pediatric trauma surgeon but God knew that was not my calling. It was made very clear to me as a teen that I was meant to be a Mommy to my future children and I have no regrets!
I’d Rather Be Your Mommy is a 32 page book that tells all the reasons that I’d rather be your mommy. With such a sweet, flowing story that is easy to read, you and your children will enjoy many different scenes of motherhood portrayed. The illustrations are fantastic and draw the reader into the full story. The book is available in digital PDF download or as a hardcover book.
Motherhood is a special gift from the Lord. The world sometimes makes this seem like a bad thing, but to me it is the greatest thing! I could be sitting in a court room or office right this very minute taking a deposition as a trained court reporter, but I choose not too because being in the daily lives of my children is important to me. I know some women have to work and I applaud them for doing that and being a Mommy. For right now, raising my children each day is more important than what any paycheck I could be bringing home is worth. Enjoy your children daily and live in the moment because one day they will be grown and out of the house.
See what my CrewMates thought of this book and the other books being reviewed from Home School Adventure Co. including Creative Freewriting Adventure, Celebrating Manhood: A Rite of Passage Guide, and Walking with the Waodani by clicking the banner below.
Company ~ Home School Adventure Co.
Product ~ I’d Rather Be Your Mommy
Format ~ Digital PDF download
Price ~ $8.95 - $16.95
Ages ~ all ages
#hsreviews #celebratingmanhood #waodani #CreativeFreewriting
©2008- 2017 A Stable Beginning. All rights reserved. All photographs, text, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author.
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