I read from a book today that I read in my childhood. The name of it is The Boxcar Children. It was originally written in the ’40’s. I remember parts of the story from reading it the first time. It’s about 4 children who became orphans and found an old train boxcar to live in. They were scared they would be taken to an orphanage and would have to break up.
In one chapter, the children help pick cherries in an orchard at a doctor’s house. For a meal the cook brings out some cherry dumplings after they had been working for awhile.
I’ve heard of chicken dumplings and apple dumplings but I don’t remember cherry dumplings. I just had to look up a recipe. Here’s what I found:
Cherry Dumpling Soup

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Just this week I’ve been studying a new devotion each morning called Early In the Morning. It’s on the Back to the Bible website and is by the organization’s president Woodrow Kroll. He is also on the radio program Back to the Bible.
Here’s the devotion for today. I like how he sets them up. First he tells what happened in a Bible passage. He tells it in story form so the reader can better understand and link all the details together. And then he helps us understand how to apply it to life. After that he places an old hymn at the bottom of the page. If the hymn is unfamiliar it can be found on Cyberhymnal.
This is a good one to give children in your family. It can help the details of Bible stories come alive.:)

The annual National Day of Prayer will be Thursday, May 1, 2008. Here’s the official website.

Give the comparative and superlative forms for these adjectives.
1. fair
2. tender
3. difficult
4. earnest
5. responsible
6. easy
7. many
8. straight
9. muddy
10. cheerful
Answers
Copyright 2006 Word Place Inc – – All Rights Reserved.

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This informative blog entry was originally posted in February of 2007. I’m reposting it for my children. I apologise for not putting a link to the originator of the article.
Repost: Top 10 Detox Foods
I know about 5 minutes ago I put a (boring) health article on this site. Well, here’s another I found on the Yahoo search site. (I need this stuff for my personal files, so I can have facts to back up my food lectures I give to my children.)
Top 10 detox foods article:
As 2007 swings into gear, there’s no better time to give your body a healthy, fresh start than now! Plus if you’re thinking about lowering your weight – and your RealAge “eating clean” is a great first step. Add these 10 foods to your grocery cart and you’ll get three terrific benefits:
1. Lots of super-healthy liquids to flush out the body while pouring in nutrients.

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Sometimes life causes us to get an ungrateful complaining attitude. This attitude must be fought against . . .
Here’s a needed prayer by theologian F B Meyer
Forgive us if this day we have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world.
Pardon the unkind word,
the impatient gesture,
the hard and selfish deed,
the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where we had the opportunity, but missed it;
and enable us so to live that we may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness.
F. B. MEYER
~Taken from Joy and Strength by Mary Wilder Tileston @ Back to the Bible

Taken from Yahoo! Answers
~To be a poised lady you should understand the importance of etiquette. Showing respect to others through good manners is the mark of a lady.
~Use good posture.
~Speak gently and without vulgarity, smile, always offer to help others, and call as little attention to yourself as possible.
~A woman who possesses poise and grace will attract attention naturally.
~Always take extra time when getting ready to make sure that your clothes are pressed and free of lint, no undergarments are showing, hem length is appropriate, and especially that your shoes are in good condition.
~Never wear too much fragrance.
~Wear attractive makeup, nothing harsh or bright.
~Have fun! Ladies know when it is appropriate to laugh and enjoy themselves.
~Always be kind to others no matter what. There will always be people who are rude, but a poised lady knows how to handle herself in those situations without being rude herself.
~And most importantly have CONFIDENCE!!! Pride in oneself is the ultimate factor in poise. Be proud of who you are, and the rest will come naturally!
An excellent resource is Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Guide to Etiquette as well as How To Be A Lady by Candice Simpson.

10 GENTLE REMINDERS
Taken from the site Magnificent Manners.
1. Making others feel at ease is the essence of etiquette, yesterday and today.
2. There are few words more elementary or more welcomed than please and thank you.
3. Good moods are contagious. Hopefully, yours will be pleasantly catching.
4. Be aware and considerate of personal space—physical, visual, and aural.
5. Showing respect is a gift, one that costs nothing and is endlessly appreciated.
6. Think of your tone of voice as a telegraph.
To the listener, it speaks volumes.
7. A short fuse does nothing but burn. Should you find yourself with one, steer clear of others.
8. Never underestimate the message that’s sent by your poise and your posture.
9. Clothes count. Appropriate attire is not only respectful, it’s refreshing.
10. Let common sense be your guide and graciousness your goal.
-Kate Spade

The Ambleside site has old fashioned geography lessons by Charlotte Mason from 1925.
Here is a schedule to follow to break up the lessons for 3rd and 4th grade students:

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Never use double comparisons. If you use er or est, then don’t use more or most.
Correct: He is busier than me. Incorrect: He is more busier than me.
Choose the correct form in the following sentences.
1. Yesterday we played our (worse, worst) concert.
2. I am (more hungrier, hungrier) now.
3. Who is the (shorter, more shorter, most short, shortest) of the four sisters?
4. Is this the (best, better, more better, most best ) value that you have?
5. John is the (most happiest, happiest) kid I know.
Answers

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