Captain John Smith

Captain John Smith is my new favorite European colonizer! Call this a geeky-homeschool-girl moment, but I am fascinated with this guy.

I've learned that he is much, much more than a 2D Disney cartoon character, or just another evil English explorer out to exploit Native Americans. He was a brilliant, adventurous, out-of-the-box kind of guy I would love to have known. He was also extremely pompous, and self-absorbed. In fact, he’d probably be thrilled with his current pop-culture status. 

To be honest, he had something to be proud of. This guy started as the son of an English farmer, who was apprenticed to a shopkeeper at age 15. He wanted none of it, and may have tried to join an expedition with Sir Francis Drake, but John’s father did not approve. Mr. Smith died soon after, however, and his 16-year-old son was away as quickly as possible. He had his indenture canceled (I really wonder how he managed that), and set off to the Netherlands to fight for the Dutch. From here his list of accomplishments grows: winning prize money as a privateer in the Mediterranean, fighting with the Austrians against the Turks and becoming a captain, beheading three Turkish offers in single combat in Rumania, enduring captivity and slavery, escaping slavery by murdering his Turkish master. He was the ripe old age of 24 when he returned to England after all of these adventures. And he was just getting warmed up! Granted, most of what we know about Smith came from his own pen, but the guy couldn't have stretched the truth that much.

The Yearboard

I've discovered from my reader survey (thanks to all who have filled it out so far!) that some of you guys and gals like personal stories and practical tips. Today I'm going to share with you something that I've been doing for several years, and every year I'm glad that I kept it up.

It's a yearboard, a fantastic way to express yourself and treasure the memories that you make throughout the year. It's unplanned, unstructured, and totally you. All you have to do is keep an eye out for little things that signify the events of your year, then pin them to your yearboard. In 2011 I collected a newspaper from England, a Choc-o-lait stick, the order of service from a friend's wedding, a green and yellow ribbon stick from our Superbowl victory celebration, and much more. Some months you might not have anything to pin up, at other times you might have dozens of items. At the end of the year you've got a wacky collage that is full of beautiful reminders of the past months.

The photo at the top is what my friend's yearboard looked like in 2010. You can see that she's the artistic type who painstakingly arranges all kinds of beautiful little snippets of her life. The picture to the right shows what my board looks like right now: completely blank except for a few cute thumb tacks. It's ready for 2012!

I have the tendency to just throw the bits and pieces onto my board, but I'm going to try to be more creative  and deliberate about it this year. Will you do this with me? All you need is a cork board or similar palette on which to pin paper, stickers, photos, pamphlets, buttons, napkins, CDs--whatever suits your fancy. Maybe you'll choose to tape them to a mirror, or sticky-tack them to cover your wall. At the end of the year I'll post what my board looks like and I'd love to see yours as well!

Crazy Life? Evernote to the Rescue!

I join the ranks of many wayward bloggers in apologizing for a long delay in posting. I was doing so well for a little while! Then life caught hold of me. So often it is not the climactic, mind-reeling events that mess up one's schedule, it’s the nit-picky little things that crowd out non-essentials. 

But now I'm back, with a review of a product that is capable of organizing even my hectic life! It's called Evernote, and it's perfect for organizing the untidy proliferation of notes I've recently accumulated (see photographic evidence above). When I clean offices in the evenings, I listen to podcasts, books, and lectures on my iPod, and very often I'm struck with a brilliant, groundbreaking thought in the middle of wiping fingerprints off of a desk. So what do I do? I steal a pink Post-It note and scribble the thought down before it escapes, then stuff it in my pocket. My memory bears an unattractive resemblance to a sieve, so it's important for me to keep these notes around—somewhere—lest I lose all those magical epiphanies, so I pitch them into the rising tide of multi-colored sticky notes I keep on my window seat.

This pile of notes grew to be quite overwhelming, before I discovered the wonder of Evernote (no, they are not paying me to write this post, I'm just giving my personal testimony). Now I can store all of those scattered thoughts in a program that's accessible from my computer or the internet! I can organize them in virtual “notebooks”, add descriptive tags, and (perhaps best of all) easily record information from websites I’ve stumbled upon in my internet travels. In the old days I’d bury a URL in my huge bookmarks folders for future reference, but now I can eliminate dozens of bookmarks by recording the URLs or articles in Evernote!

It’s a fantastic product for remembering bits of information that might otherwise get lost in the mix, and it’s a free program that can be installed on virtually any device. Watch this video and see if you don’t become a fan! Plus, if you get the free Evernote app from this link we'll both receive a complimentary month of Evernote Premium!

The Dresser Project

Before

After

I'm pretty picky about some things. It's a downfall of mine. So when it came time to purchase a dresser for my room, I wanted the perfect piece. Unfortunately (just in case you hadn't realized it yet) life isn't perfect, so I ended up with a dresser that was the perfect shape and size, but the finish was in sad shape. For years the prospect of sanding and refinishing the dresser loomed in my future, until Mom finally pushed me over the edge, I decided what I wanted, and we took the leap.

I'd always dreamed of having a piece of furniture with a shabby-chic crackle finish, but thought that was asking a little much. Mom encouraged me, however, and we purchased the supplies, hauled the thing into the garage, and set to work. I would love to take credit for this project, but my darling Mamage did 95% of the work. Thank you, Mama! I love you.

Ripe for revolution

That's right: Abby the sanding girl

Here's what a drawer looked like before sanding--dark brown stain and lots of scuff marks. Once Mom, Aaron, and I hit it, though, it was smooth and light and ready for primer.

One Dress. 100 Days. For Orphans.

This girl is doing something radical. Let's help her.

If you've ever meant to support a good cause--head up a fundraiser, start a movement, whatever--and haven't taken action on it, this is your chance to help a girl who has taken the plunge and is doing something wonderful. 

Miss Elaini has suffered terribly, a passionate love for Jesus, and a big dream. Her goal is to raise $50,000 for orphans in India by wearing the same dress for 100 consecutive days, dressing it up with different accessories to make each day unique. She's put so much time, love, and effort into this project, and has been rewarded with over $20,800 in donations so far! But she's on day 96 now, and time is running out. 

So I'm reaching out to whatever audience I might have and asking that you do something--however small--to help further Elaini's dream. You only have four days left to throw a party, or just donate $10, $15, or $500. This is a worthwhile cause, something fun, creative, and beautiful that we can get behind!  

Her website is www.misselainious.com.

10 Essential Gardening Tips from a Hopeless Amateur

Clover patch, originally uploaded by xordroyd.

1. The shrimpy little bundle of leaves that you transplant into your backyard because it's an eyesore will inevitably become the most gorgeous bit of horticultural artwork you will ever produce.

2. That perky little volunteer tomato plant is always a federally certified noxious weed. Always.

3. If you are of Irish ancestry or personally know someone of Irish ancestry, BEWARE! You will soon realize that the only thing you can grow reliably is clover. (Hint: co-gardening with an English person may help alleviate this particular symptom.)

4. The boundaries for iPod listening in the garden:

• Audiobooks: yes. Tolstoy is better appreciated while weeding the peonies.
• Music: no. Tuneless humming along to the latest Taylor Swift album has been known to kill tender seedlings.

5. Dandelions lend a touch of class to any flower bed or window box.

6. Never bother to plan your garden: just start a bunch of little plants indoors and see what happens. Inevitably you will have far too few varieties, far too little garden space, far too many seedlings, or nothing at all--no matter what you do.

7. If one of your plants injures you, or you injure it, the best policy is just to forgive and forget. Don't grind axes, throw stones, or hold grudges. Bad things happen.

8. Here's a rule of thumb about weeding: 

• If it's hale and hearty, by all means rip it up! It is probably planning to consume every square inch of dirt you possess.
• If it's pale, wrinkled, pathetic, and/or spotty, keep it. This is probably your grandmother's heirloom rose.

9. Watering and weeding simultaneously is a very good idea. Squatting down in the dirt while spraying gallons of water out of a hose at high pressure makes for a highly satisfactory mudbath.

10. If you are of Irish ancestry, have a secret fondness for crabgrass, and/or happen to live in the Badlands, you might consider growing a weed garden. A bit of purslane here, some buckwheat over there, a touch of pigweed, and a patch of saramollagrass in the corner...it's bound to be a smashing success and the envy of all your friends. 

                                                                                                               Happy Gardening!

Stalking the Wild Forest Creature...

I was out for a leisurely after-supper walk with Mom's camera, simply admiring the green on the ground and the sunset in the sky. The air was soft, almost warm, and the whole world beckoned. Tromping through the carpet of fall leaves, I scrambled over fallen logs, snapped pictures of moss and ferns, and marveled at the beauty of an old, springtime forest. I knelt down on a rock shelf to photograph the view 


...and suddenly heard a rustling.


It wasn't a random kind of rustling--like the wind through the trees--and it wasn't a small rustling--like a squirrel or bird. It was very definitely a small animal rustling (if you've ever heard of ROUSs, you'll probably never walk through the woods the same way again, either). 

I listened hard, then saw something moving. I trained my camera lens upon the spot.

THE H EFFECT

Who am I? I am 

• Introverted
• Detail-oriented
• Usually the quietest one at a party, talking only to people I know
• Easily drawn into a book, movie, or song
• A leader/dictator (depend on who you ask)
• Melodramatic/passionate
• Easily distracted when studying
• Hugely imaginative
• Earnest and conscientious to the nth degree
• The kind of person who loves doing things for people to make them happy

I started this blog as "The Different Homeschool Girl", not even sure what made me different. All I knew was that homeschooling was a part of me, it helped make me who I am. Homeschooling is still a huge part of me now; I wash it with my hair every other day, pluck it out with my eyebrows, and see the world through its eyes. For better or worse, homeschooling was not just a way to get an "education", it was (and still is, even through college) a way of life. 

If there are any parents reading this who homeschool, or are considering homeschooling, I want to be sure you know that this is a big decision. Homeschooling--with all of its advantages and hang-ups--will impact your child forever. Forever. It will be a huge part, maybe the biggest part, of their childhood (and people only have one of those). It's their history. It'll be in their hair and fingernails.  I'm not trying to scare anyone away--I would never trade my experiences for a public school, or probably even a private school, education. If you think that it's really not as big a deal as everyone thinks--that public, private, or homeschool, your child will somehow turn out the same in the end--think again.

It's the homeschooling effect. It gets everywhere. Take it seriously.

How Far? Too Far?

As most of you know, I am a rabid Britophile. Give me practically anything British and I'll jump sky high. I especially love British books and films. I especially love great British actors. And I especially love Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson.

So imagine my surprise, my thrill, my veritable ecstasy when I learned about a movie starring both of them--and only them. Yes indeed, it's The Song of Lunch: an hour-long drama drawn almost completely from a long poem, dialog and all, and starring only two characters.

The plot is very simple: two ex-lovers reunite after 15 years for lunch at a little Italian restaurant. Their conversation starts out well, but does not go quite as planned. After all is said and done they both realize that they can never erase the past or recapture what is gone. It was a brilliant movie with truly insightful, human writing and two of the greatest actors on the screen today.

But I cannot give this film my wholehearted approbation. It is uncomfortably sensual and I had to fast-forward through some rather revealing parts. But I was enjoying it so much that even after one or two "indiscreet" parts I just had to watch it to the end.

Which brings me to the subject of this post.

Beauty for Ashes

Does this picture shock you? Can you imagine looking like this? This is the face of a girl who gave more than most of us could ever dream of giving, all for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And she is still smiling. Below are portions of a blog post from jcrobertsspot.blogspot.com that express my sentiments perfectly:


I receive a monthly newsletter from The Voice of the Martyrs (if you don't receive it, I recommend you contact them to do so - it's free - www.persecution.com). This month, the cover is a picture of a woman, Yubelina, from Indonesia. She was burned in an attack by Muslims on her Christian village.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded "a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning" (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

I want to be beautiful like that. I want my face to shine like Moses, because I have been in the presence of God. I want my treasure to lie in heaven & not in the tangible, the material. I want to be joyful & content & full of peace.

Jesus, make it so.

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." 

-Isaiah 61:10

A Man's Best Friend

My dad is in love. Every time he sees the object of his affection he lights up, gets a big grin on his face, laughs. He baby-talks to it, loves on it, gives it treats, plays with it, cuddles it, makes excuses for it, and generally enjoys it. What is the object of his affection? A dog.


When they say that a dog is man's best friend, they aren't kidding. Dad adores Hank, the smelly little mutt with floppy ears and (I swear) the ability to smile. Sometimes Aaron and I are actually a little jealous. We are his children, after all, and this is an animal. Some days he talks more to Hank than he does to us!


So what is the secret? Why this mutual love affair? Perhaps the answer lies in the not-so-old saying: to find out who loves you more, your wife or your dog, lock both of them in the trunk of your car and open it five hours later. Which one is happy to see you? In short--dogs don't ask for much. Even the most high-maintenance ones are probably worlds easier to deal with than a young child or rebellious teen. What is the importance of this?

Dream-Resolution-Goal

New Year's Resolution: 36/365, originally uploaded by SashaW.

• Dream: ambition--a cherished desire
• Resolution: a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
• Goal: a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve

It all begins with a dream. I want to go to England. I want to study biology. I want to get married. I want to garden more. These cherished desires float around in our minds, go from frequent thoughts to irresistible daydreams, and stay with us for years. 

But dreams don't come true just because Disney says so.

Dreams come true because they solidify into resolutions, and we make the conscious decision to turn that unconscious thought into action. This is the stuff of the New Year. For the first week or two we complain less, eat healthier, spend more time with family, clean up the house, and keep things in perspective out of sheer willpower.

Then Life Happens.

And all of a sudden you look around and realize that your life is exactly the same as it’s been for the past five years and your resolutions lie in heaps of rubble ‘round your ears. Why? In short: resolutions simply don’t cut it. They are pie in the sky, just a little more practical than daydreams.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Celtic Cross., originally uploaded by John Pastorello.

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

Taken Prisoner By Irish Raiders

It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

Guided By Visions

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)

Bonfires and Crosses

Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. 

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock?

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

-Text from Here 

and Here

Four Leaf Clover 068, originally uploaded by cygnus921.