7 Quick Takes Friday

1) Well, it's official. My darling daughter, Laura, 16, is a Senior in High School! A diligent and self-motivated student, Laura doubled-up on lessons and finished her Junior year early. She wanted to forge straight ahead into next year's work and has plans to continue her schooling throughout the summer with the goal of graduating from high school in late Autumn of 2012. For her 12th grade year, she will be studying:
American Government and Economics in Christian Perspective, Catholic Doctrine, Health, British Literature, and a language (which we are still working on...she is trying to get the school she's enrolled in *Mother of Divine Grace in Ojai, CA* to accept "American Sign Language" as a course worthy of a credit. If they will not allow this, then she will continue with a second year of French Studies. Oh my...but the time has TRULY flown. I know that that is such a cliche...but, I can hardly believe that my little Laura-Pudding, as she's known around our house...is in her final year of high school. She is SUCH a blessing to our family and I am so thankful that she's at home, learning along-side us, each day.


2) All that needs done in our basement now is one section of drop-ceiling and coat of floor paint in the hallway! Jacob was musing today, that  he and his Dad will have finished JUST in time to begin grass-cutting season! LOL Not quite yet...but, soon! Jake is a big help to his Dad and mows about 6-7 acres by hand with a power mower. It's great exercise!

3) I love soup. I'm trying a new Creamy Vegetable Soup recipe this week that I found in my AGES-old cookbook. I just love adding this and that and stirring and tasting throughout the day...soup evokes such comfy-cozy-homey feelings, don't you think? I really love soup.

4) Did I mention that my entire family is going to the symphony at the Maryland Theater in a couple weeks?
The company received a grant that is allowing them to offer this matinee performance for families; with students getting in free! F-R-E-E...FREE! We have balcony seats (which my kids are absolutely THRILLED about) and my hubby and I will pay $15 each. Normally, floor seating ranges from $30-$80 dollars depending on  the section...so, at least, my family would have to pay $300 to attend; which tells you why we haven't gone to the symphony since we were a one-child family! I am really looking forward to sharing the beauty and wonder of these sites and sounds with my children!

5) So, you never know WHAT you'll see around these parts. We were pulling out of our driveway this morning and as we began to drive past the second house out on the road that is to the left of our property, Jacob suddenly exclaimed, "Is that a COW?!?" I took a quick glance, and , sure enough, our  neighbors had a calf tied to a tree in their front yard! Now, being as rural as we are, here, in the PA woods...we are USED to wildlife and farm animals...deer, raccoon, coyote, the occasional bear, farmland w/cattle all around...why we've even seen a cougar, once! But, I can't say that I have EVER seen a cow tied to a tree in a front yard!

6) We have discovered how to make our very own microwave potato chips! Can we just say....YUM?!?
So easy. Sooooooooo tasty...probably not very high in "good health points"...but...as far as snacks go...we've got a new favorite! My daughter called me back after I shared this simple recipe with her this morning...and said she'd spent the afternoon experimenting and had made some "Crab Chips w/Old Bay Seasoning" and some salt-n-vinegar chips, too! If you want the recipe, just email me...It's nice to know that if you have a potato or two in the house...you needn't ever run out of snack food!


7) If you have never seen the movie called "Courage to Love" on Netflix; I highly recommend it. True Story.
POWERFUL lessons about trusting God and believing that He has a plan for each of us...and also educational as it tells of some unpleasant but very factual situations and classes of people that existed in Louisiana back in the days when slaves were starting to be freed.


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