Repost from May 29, 2012 - Louisiana's Best Kept Secret

At first we really didn't think anything about it. All children love animals, do they not?

It's been since she was very young, but I'm not exactly sure how old she was when I first realized how deeply her heart is connected to God's fifth and sixth day creatures.

 It was after the love of rocks.  There were buckets of them spilling over, weighing heavy and always on the floor.  Patience wore thin the day I put handfuls in the garbage.  She was barely four.  She'd never know.

And then she began to look for her rocks.  The rock that looked like the fish was missing.

Mommy, 'ou see me ittle wock that ooks ike . . .

and then another . . .

and then another. 

Big round innocent trusting eyes holding up chubby fingers to show me size.

I swallowed hard each time and gave her my sympathy and helped her look and

lied.

It was after her love of pink and all things pink.  After the Polly Pockets had been packed up and the stuffed animals began to stay on their shelves.

After Jay Jay the Jet Plane and Bibleman and Squinkies.

But I knew before the day the small dog wandered into our yard and she convinced me to keep him for a few days.  Signs were put up and no one claimed him.  He was healthy and well cared for and I made the mistake of convincing her to let him go. 

He'll find his way home, Izzy.  If not, he'll come back here and we'll do something else.

He ran straight out of her arms and into the street.  Right in front of a car.  I heard the scream and wiped tears for what seemed liked forever and I thought of the rocks I had thrown away and wondered if she would think I had thrown this dog away.

She doesn't.

Over the last couple of years it has become apparent that it is more than a passing phase.

Her brain reads like an encyclopedia of animal knowledge.

And her heart . . .

is like shelter.

It makes room and houses and cares and is safe refuge for all animals big and small.

We knew we were going the night before, but waited until morning to share - just the trip, not the location.

Surprises are as fun on the giving end as the receiving end -

don't you think?

It's Louisiana's best kept secret.  An hour east of Baton Rouge and an hour north of New Orleans.  Ten curving miles out in the boondocks down Highway 445 to 40 East.  Past old barns.  Past century old homes falling down around their stories of love and laughter.  He thinks they need to be torn down.  I know they just need life breathed back into them.

Then there it is, one and a half miles on the left.  Right before the sign telling you children are welcome at the Ole Post Office Pizza and Daiquiri.

It hides in the middle of nowhere.

They look like they are coming, two by two. 

 And then some.

And they are everywhere.

She didn't speak at first.  I thought maybe I was wrong and this was not such a big deal.

It's not Africa, baby.  Maybe not a real safari.  But we can pretend, can't we?

She didn't say a word.  We drove down the curving dirt path to our waiting jeep.  (The private jeep is the way to go.  Trust me.)

Then she rolled down her window and breathed deep and there it was.  That big beautiful smile.

Daddy, I didn't know there was a place like this here.

Yeah - he always gets the credit.  He doesn't throw away rocks or kill dogs.

Some surprises are better on the giving end,

don't you think?

I confessed a couple of years ago about the rocks. 

Thought she'd think it was funny.

She didn't.

My First Giveaway

We have a winner - Audrey.

Congratulations. I'll be emailing you soon.

Thanks CSN Stores for the giveaway.



Remember how I love porch swings?  I'm celebrating spring and porches, and one of my readers will win a onetime $40 gift card from CSN Stores.

I'm excited to be offering this giveaway.  You can purchase anything from corner TV stands to bedding to pencils and pens.  If you want it, one of their stores has it, and many items have free shipping.  I covet free shipping.  Don't you?

Some of you know I was an interior designer before I plunged into the homeschooling world eleven years ago.  And I'm married to a carpenter (check My First Ever Cell Phone Conversation to see how we met).  So, I know a pretty piece of furniture when I see it.  I also know the dreaded I have a corner in my room I don't know what to do with, or the I wish there was a better place for my TV woes.

Check these out . . .

and these - which all fall in the $40 range . . .

Just a small samplin', with over 200 web based stores, CSN stores has got you covered.

Now, this is why the giveaway is in celebration of spring and porches.

No matter what the season, a porch can be an outdoor haven. Springtime, though, is when I get in the mood the heaviest to spruce up my porch.

Right now what I want is an outdoor rug. I really want a whole new floor on my porch, but since that ain't happening, a new rug will do. An outdoor rug.

When CSN Stores contacted me to do a giveaway the first thing I did was check out their site.  And there they were, outdoor items - at great prices.
 
These are my two favorite rugs.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Their rugs I like. They have a huge selection, every person's style at really good prices, and from companies I recognize and have used before on the job.
 
What's left - making up my mind.
 
Because I choose to stay home means there won't be a rug for every season, so I must be picky.

I'm not compensated, but because I like their stuff and am sure you will, I said yes to the giveaway.

Cue the confetti.

You can earn three chances to win.

All you have to do is comment on your favorite out of my two rug finalists and you're entered to win. Your choice won't matter, just your comment is your entry. My blog is not all that big, so your chances are excellent.

If you post about my giveaway on your site (which doesn't have to be a blog, you can use facebook, twitter, or email all your friends about it - don't forget to leave a link to the giveaway post) you get an extra entry. In your comment send me the link to you spreading the word about it and you're entered again.

And, if you grab my button and place it on your blog you get another entry.  Leave the link in the comment so I can check it out.  They say the third time is the charm.

You must have a valid email address to enter 'cause that's how CSN will contact you if you win.

The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, May 7 and the winner will be chosen randomly.  I will post the winner on Saturday, May 8.

You can buy your own outdoor rug like mine or in a style such as this . . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 or anything in between.
 
Like I said, you can choose anything.  They ship to Canada and the U.S.  Selected items have shipping charges and international fees will apply for Canadians.
 
Go on, play now.

This Homeschooling Mama's Best Friend

I love notebooking - and better than that, Izzy loves it.  I know some people's arguments, that notebooking is busy work and a waste of time;  but, to me,  it is tangible proof that my child is learning.  Maps, definitions, drawings, and oh - reports - reports are yummy to me. 

This year, with our co-op, we are studying the Holling C. Holling books through the Beautiful Feet Geography and Literature curriculum.  We have just completed the first book, Paddle to the Sea.  Someone please tell me how I accomplished eleven years of homeschooling and never knew about these books?  I love them.   Thank you, Mr. Holling Clancy Holling.  Where did you get that name?

As a supplement to the teacher's book I used Homeschool Helper's unit study.  http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/paddle_to_the_sea.htm 

One of the assignments through Homeschool Helper was to study the tracks of the animals Paddle encountered on his journey. Since Izzy is an animal lover she looked forward to each new chapter introducing a new animal.

Somehow growing up I failed to learn that Lake Huron resembled a trapper.  Who knew?  Not me. 

If you overlook the misspelled words, that's a pretty cool page.  Notice the !!!'s - we are still working on professionalism.  Maybe it won't take as long as breaking the "doodling of hearts" habit.

One day she and her friend Emily made beaver dams in our backyard.

Reports.  Like I said, yummy.

We briefly touched on the basics of the states that Paddle passed on his journey.

Study of Lake Superior -  which resembles a wolf.

We saved some studies for her daddy to enjoy with her, copper was one of them.  When he's not talking over our her head, He's Too Good To Me is a, well, let's just say -  he remains a teacher-in-training.  Yeah, lets leave it at that.

Maps are almost as delious' as reports . . .

. . .  they run a mighty close second.

Izzy's Paddle. 

We discovered this short film, made by Bill Mason in 1966.  It doesn't follow Paddle's path exactly as told in the book, but we enjoyed it anyway. 

http://nighttrainfilms.net/NTFWEB/NTFPages/PaddleToTheSea/index.htm

Notebooking - I love it.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby

Months ago my dad-in-law forwarded an email to me about grandma's apron.  It was a poem about how grandma's apron was used.  I remember it mentioning her gathering eggs in it, shooing flies away, using it as a potholder, and wiping away tears with it.  It was a lovely little poem and I should have kept it.  It reminded me of my Ma.

Today's aprons are hip and happening. They are not just for protecting clothes any longer - they are the clothes.  It's all the rage to wear an apron in place of carrying a purse.  A bib apron with pockets instead of a purse, interesting.  Better than a fanny pack.  Anything's better than a fanny pack.  Smock type aprons with criss-cross backs over T-shirts, interesting.  You can't keep a good thing down.  I like the idea.  I have a meeting Tuesday night and I might give this fad a try.    

My daughter, Shelby, never cooks without an apron on.  Unlike me, who never wears one.  But, since they are now hip and happening, maybe I should change that.  Because, you know, I'm all about hip and happening.  Just ask my girls.  Well, maybe not, they think I live in another century.

Below are some photos of some of my favorite aprons.

This one deserves to be first, it was my Ma's.  One of my safely tucked away treasures. My mama guesses it to be at least 51 years old.  The top strap was ripped selvage from a piece of fabric - she was frugal.  Check out the safety pin, there was always a safety pin.  When Ma died I put this in a little plastic zippy and for years I could smell her when I opened it.  Sad, I know.  Let's move on.

This one was a gift to Shelby from her Aunt R.  Lovely and hip, just like its owner - and her aunt.

This was the first item Isabela ever sewed.  She made it at Children's Camp when she was 8.  Check out the stitching.


My dear mother goes through things in spurts.  She may make quilts for months - and then, never again.  Florals for months, making wreaths, candles, spray painting the furniture.  Then she never does that particular hobby again.  Lately, she's been making aprons.  Below are some of hers.  I'm not good at secrets - Merry Christmas early, my sweet sisters.  Don't worry, my mama can't keep Christmas secrets, either, so I'm really not spilling any beans.  Under each one I will share a little interesting apron tid-bit.

You can track aprons back to the 12th century.  The word originates from the French word naperon, which means napkin or small tablecloth.

Men wore them first for hygienic protective wear (that's a mouthful, why don't we just say to keep clean).

In the 16th and 17th century the color you wore determined your trade.  Barbers wore checked, butchers and porters wore green, and masons wore white. 

This is the one I might wear, if I can bear to leave my purse behind.  With jeans and a cute little shirt.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Below are a few aprons my sister, P., has made, along with a few more tid-bits.  P. always wears an apron and has passed that love down to her daughter.

Your beau is thinking of you if your apron becomes untied. Isn't that sweet? Tie those aprons loosely, ladies.

The "tied to his mama's apron strings" phrase rings true. Children really were tied to their mama's aprons so they could play closely and safely.

The 1940's saw the beginning of the frilly, little half apron.

My beautiful neice, S., in an apron she made herself.

While cruising the aisles of Hobby Lobby recently I discovered a great little book.

A is for Apron, by Nathalie Mornu.  This book has templates and patterns in the back -but they must be enlarged.  If you love aprons or sew aprons, you need this book.  Fun and interesting with aprons way too good-lookin' to hide away in the kitchen.

Aprons, they cover us and protect us.  They make life easier.  Check back later for part two on aprons, from a secret guest blogger.

To my sister P., Happy late Birthday.  This book is yours, it's making its way to you in a little bubble envelope as you read this.  I love you, adore you, and miss you - make me the one on page 81, 'k?