Awards and Blog Rolls and the Like…

Today, Richard (a British chef with a funny little accent and a very big dream), and Yousei (an American poet/writer of my more recent acquaintance, who no doubt has her own funny accent ) have been kind enough to include me in an award.  Jillian (an Aussie homeschooler sharing snippets of her country  life with us), has also been kind enough to present an award  in the past, for which I have only responded with a thank you.

I don’t have a blog roll, and don’t do awards… but in recognition of the value of my blogging friends, here are some of the spots I visit, and I ask that  you all accept, rather than the passing of an award, my heartfelt thanks for the contribution you make to my housework being neglected making my time on line encouraging, funny, instructive, beautiful, inspiring or challenging, as fits each individual.

My “in real life” blogging friends:

Amy , with a gentle writing style and subtle humour,  shares her wisdom and experiences of homeschooling her three girls.  Not the least of her virtues is that she is the mother of the everlastingly delightful, effervescent… Meggie ♥

Fivepeasinapod, owner of a certain famous pink truck, makes me think, laugh, and be accountable.  Which is a lot of doing, for such a little girl!

Susan, the woman who needed me to stop stirring up the good folk over at the AHS forum was the one who encouraged me to start blogging, is a techie guru, as patient as the day is long, and shares many great resources for parents on her blog. She is also one of the few souls I know, who is as concise as I.  (Laughing, but sorry, dear heart! )

PearlsofTruth, I’m leaving a space for a link, for when she stops tormenting us, oops, I mean, for when she finally gets on with it, um, no, I mean, for when she gets her new blog up and running   (C’mon girl!  Get a move on! )

Other souls I just plain like: (though all apologies to those who blog on blogger, for my less than frequent comments.  It’s a greater trial to comment there, and I don’t have the comments or posts come up on my reader as I do with wordpress friends. You are no less valued… just a little neglected in that regard!)

Ruby is interesting!  Not “interesting” in the way where you can’t think of something to say when trying a friend’s new recipe, but interesting in that I am not usually a big fan of girly blogs, but Ruby has some great stories.

Jeanne, has a razor wit.  It doesn’t much matter what she’s writing about, it’s her style I like.

Fee is cute, generous, funny, and she’s kind to me.  What else do you need in a blogging buddy?

Dandelionmom was my very first blog friend, who introduced me to grits and cracker jacks, other strange, foreign goodies, including Mary, and the hilarious OW.

Photo bloggers on my reader: (all of whom have very generously helped me in my adventures with my camera)

thedailyclick , just as the name says, a daily dose of good photography.

Burstmode, has some amazing flower shots, (but the accompanying commentary is not always G rated ).

Wildblack, is loads of fun, and a great photographer who shares his knowledge freely.

Amber has images of all things beautiful.  A very pretty blog

Last, but not least…

A favourite daily haunt is Mute.  The cats whiskers of photography,  Miles’  lack of chat is made up for by his so often amazing images.

Friends, thank you.

 

Playing with: Cinquains

The traditional cinquain is based on a syllable count.

• line 1 – 2 syllables

• line 2 – 4 syllables

• line 3 – 6 syllables

• line 4 – 8 syllables

• line 5 – 2 syllables

The modern cinquain is based on a specific number of words and their functions.

• line 1 – one word (noun) a title or name of the subject

• line 2 – two words (adjectives) describing the subject

• line 3 – three words (verbs) describing an action related to the subject

• line 4 – four words (adjectives) describing a feeling about the subject, or a complete (four word) sentence

• line 5 – one word referring back to the subject of the poem

Here is an example  of a modern cinquain from a little girl of my household:

Schlossy;

Cute, pretty,

Smiling, sleeping, laughing,

Soft, warm, squishy, delightful,

Baby!

I have written a …. rebuttal… if you will,  in the traditional style of the syllable count.  Of course, I love our baby to bits, so it’s tongue in cheek…..kind of 

Baby!

long, endless nights

waking, crying, feeding

longing for that blessed relief:

sweet dreams!

If you decide to try your hand at writing a cinquain;

1. Post it on your blog

2. Leave a comment here with a link to the post

3. Check the links in the comments, and explore what creative genius is out there!

If you don’t have a blog,  you can leave your cinquain in the comments here: we’ll still get to enjoy it.

Come, friends, dazzle me with your lyrical powers! ( I know you can do it  )

 

Australia Day

January 26th, is Australia Day.

What does that mean for Australians?

A holiday! 

As far as public holidays go, it’s origins are hardly auspicious. January 26th was the day  the best of Britain, ah, the first fleet of convicts landed in the colony.

Um.. Yay?!

For those of us who are immune to political correctness, (and therefore don’t fuss over the “reconciliation” propaganda, the joy of multiculturalism, blah, blah, blah…) it’s pretty much a day to either head out of town to a lake, hit the beach, or gather some friends at home to share a BBQ.

If you are a conscientious homeschool mama, you might want to check out the Australia Day toolkit, supplied by our illustrious government to help teach the wee folk our country’s origins. You’ll find cheesy cartoons to colour, word searches, cross word puzzles and quizzes.

Here’s a little something to help you feel patriotic on the day;

Apologies for the less than inspiring clip, but all the best quality sound/image versions had the obligatory bikini (or less) clad girls. This is Australia, eh?

Now, if that’s altogether too much culture for one day, here’s an Australian whose star is rising, with a different flavour. This clip will appeal to perhaps… the more… No.  I’m not even going to try to describe it.  It’s the current favourite of a certain Mr Bluesocks of my close acquaintance.  Enjoy.

Have a great Australia Day, folks.

 

Holiday Reading II

Hello Bloggy friends!  It’s been a busy time in the Bluestocking world, and I would that I had a little more time to share the adventures with you.

In the last little while I have seen my first ever platypus in the wild, (apologies to my urbandaisy readers who have heard that story already, but I couldn’t resist ) and have gone for a ride in the coolest, biggest, fastest,  pinkest (!) 4WD ute ever; have seen a hawk take an eastern rosella (small parrot) in flight; visited a spent Molybdenum mine and a sheep station; received a most delicous present from India, in the form of a book of poems; and..oh! lots of great things.

In between all those adventures, I have been reading at a rate to slake the thirst of the wee folk, which is no mean feat.  Here’s just a sample..

Zarco the Explorer, by K. Norel, surprised me severally.  It was interesting, despite the  cover art and uninspiring title. (Eh! don’t judge a book by its’ cover.)  It was also the springboard for some additional reading on the theories about who really discovered the trade route to India and the true identity of Christopher Columbus..

You meet; Bartholomew Diaz, famous explorer who first rounded the Cape of Good Hope; Vasco da Gama, commander of the first ships to sail directly from  Europe to India; and take a retrospective look at Henry the Navigator.

The fictional aspects of the story relate the adventures of Zarco, a young country boy, as he struggles to overcome fear and superstition, hunger, illness and all sorts of peril.    It also tells of Zarco’s  struggles to reconcile the success of the exploration with the terrible loss of life, the poverty of the seamen injured during service of the king, and the morality of imposing rule on colonies.

While the girls and I enjoyed this book, I imagine it would be ideally suited for boys: lots of adventure, danger and daring, and devoid of girls!

After the Flood, by Bill Cooper, can be read on line.  What a book!  The author presents the results of over 25 years research in this offering, the idea of which was to test the Biblical Table of Nations for accuracy.

It is difficult to do justice to the book in a short review, there were so many fascinating aspects to the history presented.  We decided after reading, that it is with good reason that Diana Waring (a history hero in our house), refers to it often.

Possibly the best way to gauge the success of this book at our house is the frequency with which each person in turn, chose to read aloud parts as they discovered something too interesting not to share – even knowing the hearers had read the book already!  Highly recommended for the older history buffs!

Ben Sylvester’s Word, by Charlotte Yonge, was more in the line of her family morality tales than the historical accounts our tastes normally run to.  However, it was an enjoyable (though somewhat predictable) tale about the value of honesty, with some incidental learning possible given the historical details of the setting and descriptions of daily life.

The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom, would have to be on my “books that influence you for life” list.  I read this book originally when I was about 15 years old, and it was one of the few books that I thought about regularly, and deeply, for a long time after finishing it.

A first hand account of a Dutch family’s  underground work to save Jews during WWII, and their subsequent arrest and incarceration in concentration camps, this book would be a valuable read solely as a primary source of history.  That it is also a remarkable testament of the work of God in the author’s life is a huge bonus, and lends a hopeful flavour to an otherwise hopeless patch of history.  A truly worthwhile biography.

On a (much!) lighter note, Around the World with Pheneas Frog, by Paul Adshead, was a roaring success with the small fry. The book is a geographical puzzle.  Phineas and his daughter travel the world in a hot air balloon; father going off to visit famous landmarks, daughter shopping for souvenirs.  In the rhyming text (which is only clunky in one or two places..) are clues to the location, which the reader is to guess.

Shall I share a sample of the high-falutin text?

This, from the very beginning, explains how Phineas’ daughter unintentionally joins the expedition:

“Farewell,” calls his daughter, but as the flame flickers,

the anchor is snagged on the seat of her knickers.

The balloon starts rising, faster and faster.

“HELP!” screams Miss Frog. “What a dreadful disaster!”

“No!” laughs her father.  “I think it’s fantastic!”

Three cheers for extra-strong knicker elastic.”

He hauls up his daughter and says, “Good for you.

Adventures are twice as exciting with two.”

Miss Frog’s penchant for shopping is reason to mention the currency in each different country, and her souvenirs are all clues to industry or culture, as are the modes of transport they employ while in each place.  Lots of fun in this one, and the possibility of extension learning activities are endless.

St Austin’s Lodge, by Agnes Giberne, is one of those improving tales which, while it carries you along quite happily with its narrative, also leaves your conscience twitching in a manner that is at least mildly uncomfortable.  That is, of course, if you can relate to the main character of the story, a young lady given somewhat to acts of impetuosity, and with a need to develop more self discipline. Quite worthwhile despite the dramatic style of writing (Why do all girls from the 1800’s get brain fever after an emotional trauma?) if you can find a copy, and best suited to girls 13 and over (and their sometimes harum scarum mothers – wince!)

Hope your holiday break has been as full of interesting reading, and that your new year looks promising

 

12 Point Cure for Complaining – Bill Izard

I stumbled upon this article, reproduced with permission, while visiting the Berean Wife’s blog.

Friends: may it prick your conscience as it did mine – should the need exist   (You know I decline to suffer alone! )

❧❧❧❧❧

Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.

1. GOD COMMANDS ME NEVER TO COMPLAIN.

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14(NAS)

2. GOD COMMANDS ME TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

3. GOD COMMANDS ME TO REJOICE ALWAYS, AND ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TRIAL.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. 4:4; Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

4. I ALWAYS DESERVE MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT I AM SUFFERING NOW, IN FACT, I DESERVE HELL.

Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins? Lamentations 3:39 Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3

5. IN LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND GLORY THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN, THIS PRESENT TRIAL IS EXTREMELY BRIEF AND INSIGNIFICANT, EVEN IF IT WERE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:19

6. MY SUFFERING IS FAR LESS THAN THAT WHICH CHRIST SUFFERED, AND HE DID NOT COMPLAIN.

Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:23

7. TO COMPLAIN IS TO SAY GOD IS NOT JUST.

Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? Genesis 18:25

8. FAITH AND PRAYER EXCLUDE COMPLAINING.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

9. THIS DIFFICULTY IS BEING USED BY GOD FOR MY GOOD AND IT IS FOOLISH FOR ME TO COMPLAIN AGAINST IT.

And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

10. THOSE MORE FAITHFUL THAN I HAVE SUFFERED FAR WORSE THAN I, AND DID SO WITHOUT COMPLAINT.

…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these, having gained approval through their faith… Hebrews 11:35-39

11. COMPLAINING DENIES THAT GOD’S GRACE IS ENTIRELY SUFFICIENT.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

12. THE GREATEST SUFFERING, THE WORST TRIAL OR DIFFICULTY, CAN NEVER ROB ME OF THAT WHICH IS OF GREATEST VALUE TO ME AND MY GREATEST JOY, NAMELY THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

Copyright © 2001 Bill Izard
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