In an oven safe pot or casserole dish that you can cover well combine:
2 1/2 c. lentils
4-5 1/2 cups of water
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
3 chopped carrots
2 onions
5 cloves of garlic
1 t. Real salt
1/2 t. black pepper
2 bay leaves
about a half cups worth of fresh sage, oregano and thyme mixed and chopped
Cover the dish and put it in the oven at 375 F for about 1 1/2 hours or until the lentils are soft and cooked through. Take out the bay leaves before serving. That's it!! Even my picky eaters ate it. It had such a good flavor, it's kind of like a stew.
I got the fresh herbs from my garden and believe me, if I can grow herbs, you can too, it's totally worth it. Herbs are so incredibly forgiving and easy to grow. I have killed everything else imaginable and grown really sad tomato plants that produce like one tomato and I have even ruined zucchini, but my herbs are wonderful, so that tells you how easy herbs must be to grow. They don't need much room or sun or even water. Of course, if you actually take care of them they'll grow better, but you don't need that much of them to make a big difference in your cooking. So I just thought I send that tip.
By the way, I'm hoping for a decent garden this year, I'm being more proactive than I've ever been with it and I am being a conscientious waterer which I think will help. The sad thing is that I love plants and nature and I even have a degree in horticulture, but I have had the worst time growing vegetables, but I will not give up. I love vegetables, and I will learn how to grow them well. My garden is looking O.K. now, and now that the sun is finally coming out, we'll see!! Any advice is appreciated!! I hope to have a good report at the end of the summer!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Utah Homeschool Education Association Convention 2009
Susan Wise Bauer was the keynote speaker and made the whole convention completely worth it. Her keynote speech was very similar to the one she gave at the conference 5 years ago, and I realized that I have incorporated a lot of her suggestions into my homeschool without really realizing where they came from. Here are some of my notes:
Things her mother did right in homeschooling her:
1-Make learning a regular part of life instead of something to be gotten over in order to do something fun. Learning is fun.
2-Make books central to your homeschool-- give them as gifts to show that they are something to be valued.
3-Get control of the screens in your house -- T.V., computer, video games, etc.
4-Set times where you are off duty-- her mother was off-duty before 8 a.m., between 1-3 p.m. (they spent it quietly, alone in their rooms, so they could all have a break from each other) and after 8-9 p.m.
5- Cover the basics-- and then allow the kids focus in on what is exciting and interesting to them. This way they learned how to learn and when they realized they had never studied goegraphy, it was O.K. because Susan knew how to find and gain that info. There is no way to learn everything, so cover the basics and then follow your interests.
6-Don't be afraid to be hard-hearted about a social life. They lived on a farm and would have to drive for social activities, so they were very limited and as a teenager, Susan felt deprived. But her mother would tell her she would make friends in college, and she did and married and has a nice family of her own even without a teenage social life.
7-When a child has an emotional meltdown -- first offer them a sandwich, if that doesn't work, then a shower and if that doesn't work, then a nap. Most of the emotions are physical changes and happenings going on. Don't take it personal, they just may be hungry.
8-Don't encourage your child to go to an expensive college and get wrapped up with debt. There are plenty of affordable colleges that will give them a comprable education without debt.
The Things she would Change:
1-Don't worry so much, try to have an outside family member or friend let you know your kids really are doing fine so that worry can be eased. Smile!
2- Be careful about joining Co-ops, your time may be better spent using that time on your own kids.
3-Praise the kids
4-If you have family difficulties, get professional help and learn what your responsibilities are and are not.
5-Don't ignore your gut instincts or rely on your child to tell you if something is wrong. If something doesn't sit right with you, trust that and find out what is going on.
6-College at age 16 is too early, cannot rush emotional maturity
7-Sing more around the house, singing seems to indicate that everything is O.K.
The things I have found to be the most helpful for me is to tell my kids they have to get their own of whatever it is before 8 a.m. or go back to bed. We have pretty good control of the screens, my kids love listening to music. Covering the basics and not worrying so much about everything else has been good too. Also, using and enjoying a wide variety of books and thinking of library fines as a contribution to the arts has been beneficial to us as well. I hope I'll never need counseling, but I guess you never know what may come!!
I taught Elementary Academics twice at the conference. I was disappointed in the number of people in the first set, but had a decent number of people in the last class. I think it was helpful and informative, and I'm glad it's over!! There were 1 or 2 other classes I would have liked to have attended, but for the most part, I had already attended many of them in past conferences. I missed Deborah Recksiek this year, her classes were always awesome and she has been an inspiration in homeschooling to me ( she has raised and homeschooled 7 successful kids of her own and is now finishing raising 8 lovely adopted children). I really like hearing from people who have done it successfully. I hope she'll present next year. There were a few others I missed who have presented at past conferences, but that's just how it goes I guess. Susan Wise Bauer really made the whole thing worthwhile this year.
Thanks to all the UHEA people for putting it together. It was a huge ordeal.
sidenote: I saw Tony Robbins in person on stage at the Salt Palace on my way to my car to get the materials for my presentation!! He was presenting for some company called zrii. It made having to walk the length of the Salt Palace not so bad!!!
Things her mother did right in homeschooling her:
1-Make learning a regular part of life instead of something to be gotten over in order to do something fun. Learning is fun.
2-Make books central to your homeschool-- give them as gifts to show that they are something to be valued.
3-Get control of the screens in your house -- T.V., computer, video games, etc.
4-Set times where you are off duty-- her mother was off-duty before 8 a.m., between 1-3 p.m. (they spent it quietly, alone in their rooms, so they could all have a break from each other) and after 8-9 p.m.
5- Cover the basics-- and then allow the kids focus in on what is exciting and interesting to them. This way they learned how to learn and when they realized they had never studied goegraphy, it was O.K. because Susan knew how to find and gain that info. There is no way to learn everything, so cover the basics and then follow your interests.
6-Don't be afraid to be hard-hearted about a social life. They lived on a farm and would have to drive for social activities, so they were very limited and as a teenager, Susan felt deprived. But her mother would tell her she would make friends in college, and she did and married and has a nice family of her own even without a teenage social life.
7-When a child has an emotional meltdown -- first offer them a sandwich, if that doesn't work, then a shower and if that doesn't work, then a nap. Most of the emotions are physical changes and happenings going on. Don't take it personal, they just may be hungry.
8-Don't encourage your child to go to an expensive college and get wrapped up with debt. There are plenty of affordable colleges that will give them a comprable education without debt.
The Things she would Change:
1-Don't worry so much, try to have an outside family member or friend let you know your kids really are doing fine so that worry can be eased. Smile!
2- Be careful about joining Co-ops, your time may be better spent using that time on your own kids.
3-Praise the kids
4-If you have family difficulties, get professional help and learn what your responsibilities are and are not.
5-Don't ignore your gut instincts or rely on your child to tell you if something is wrong. If something doesn't sit right with you, trust that and find out what is going on.
6-College at age 16 is too early, cannot rush emotional maturity
7-Sing more around the house, singing seems to indicate that everything is O.K.
The things I have found to be the most helpful for me is to tell my kids they have to get their own of whatever it is before 8 a.m. or go back to bed. We have pretty good control of the screens, my kids love listening to music. Covering the basics and not worrying so much about everything else has been good too. Also, using and enjoying a wide variety of books and thinking of library fines as a contribution to the arts has been beneficial to us as well. I hope I'll never need counseling, but I guess you never know what may come!!
I taught Elementary Academics twice at the conference. I was disappointed in the number of people in the first set, but had a decent number of people in the last class. I think it was helpful and informative, and I'm glad it's over!! There were 1 or 2 other classes I would have liked to have attended, but for the most part, I had already attended many of them in past conferences. I missed Deborah Recksiek this year, her classes were always awesome and she has been an inspiration in homeschooling to me ( she has raised and homeschooled 7 successful kids of her own and is now finishing raising 8 lovely adopted children). I really like hearing from people who have done it successfully. I hope she'll present next year. There were a few others I missed who have presented at past conferences, but that's just how it goes I guess. Susan Wise Bauer really made the whole thing worthwhile this year.
Thanks to all the UHEA people for putting it together. It was a huge ordeal.
sidenote: I saw Tony Robbins in person on stage at the Salt Palace on my way to my car to get the materials for my presentation!! He was presenting for some company called zrii. It made having to walk the length of the Salt Palace not so bad!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
A Great Speech from BYU
This is kind of long, but well worth the read. He describes the kind of home and order and refinement my family and I are working towards. It makes me want to be better and continue to work harder. It is very edifying. I may have to post some of his remarks on my fridge to remember. Thanks, Dana for the link, I haven't read my Ensign yet.
Here is the link to the whole article.
"Refinement in speech is reflected not only in our choice of words but also in the things we talk about. There are those who always speak of themselves; they are either insecure or proud. There are those who always speak of others; they are usually boring. There are those who speak of stirring ideas, compelling books, and inspiring doctrine; these are the few who make their mark in this world. The subjects discussed in heaven are not trifling or mundane; they are sublime beyond our most extended imagination. We will feel at home there if we are rehearsed on this earth in conversing about the refined and noble, clothing our expressions in well-measured words."
President McKay noted: “As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we’ve been ‘wallowing in the mire.’”5
Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We … live in a world that is too prone to the tasteless and we need to provide an opportunity to cultivate a taste for the finest music. And likewise, we’re in a world that’s so attuned to the now. We need to permit people to be more attuned to the best music of all the ages.”6
Here is the link to the whole article.
Douglas L. Callister, “Our Refined Heavenly Home,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 54–58
From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University on September 19, 2006. For the full text in English, visit
"Refinement in speech is reflected not only in our choice of words but also in the things we talk about. There are those who always speak of themselves; they are either insecure or proud. There are those who always speak of others; they are usually boring. There are those who speak of stirring ideas, compelling books, and inspiring doctrine; these are the few who make their mark in this world. The subjects discussed in heaven are not trifling or mundane; they are sublime beyond our most extended imagination. We will feel at home there if we are rehearsed on this earth in conversing about the refined and noble, clothing our expressions in well-measured words."
President McKay noted: “As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we’ve been ‘wallowing in the mire.’”5
Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We … live in a world that is too prone to the tasteless and we need to provide an opportunity to cultivate a taste for the finest music. And likewise, we’re in a world that’s so attuned to the now. We need to permit people to be more attuned to the best music of all the ages.”6
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