Prairie Scraps

I've been AWOL lately- we've been having some changes going on with family, so I'm just trying to figure things out!  I hope and pray that this Resurrection Day brings you and your family many blessings!

Recently, I made a casual comment about going back to teaching piano lessons to Mr. Right, and his immediate response was "Yes! Please do!"  I'm going to be honest here, although I have a Bachelor's of Music in Music Therapy, I'm really intimidated by teaching lessons.  Here are my excuses: I'm not the best piano player (I majored on trumpet, and minored on piano) I like the freedom of having my weeks to myself - let's face it, piano lessons have to be done every week on the same days and times. I'm definitely not as good at piano as many of my college classmates. What do I do when I get a student farther than my own skills? It's hard to attend all of my own kids afterschool activities, when I'm tied to lessons every afternoon. So there it is, most of my excuses for not wanting to teach. On the other hand, though, we need the money AND I have degree in this!  It's my talent, why not try? I started by offering lessons to local h...

After a beautiful and warmer spring (50's here in Idaho!) I was a little shocked to wake up this morning to snow!  Oh, and a strong, cold wind too!  This was one of those mornings where I wished that I was a coffee drinker, because this coffee sounds so warm and cozy and yummy, that I almost want it on hand!  In fact, I may just get it in for my 17 year old daughter to try!  Watch the video and tell me what you think!  If you'd like to get your own, go HERE to get it!   Even if I'm not a coffee drinker, I hope you enjoy and say "Hot Coffee, Please!" March 2, 2016 - In like a lion

So this made me laugh so hard!  My group of friends on Facebook has recently taken up weight loss, which is great!  I'm all for healthy weight loss! BUT, they aren't sharing their weight loss on Facebook because they are accomplishing anything, but instead, they are sharing because they are trying to sell me their weight loss goods.  One of my friends posted a video of herself, 9 months pregnant, doing heavy duty exercise with her belly sticking out below her tank and leggings on. Let me tell you, there are some things that one can not unsee in your mind!! Nothing about her belly flopping around looked healthy or appealing!  I'm not even saying that being pregnant makes you look fat, but this was not a great example of healthy looking pregnancy!   There was literally a roll of belly flab slapping around under her pregnant belly.  Gross!! Another friend recently posted a before and after picture of her supposed weight loss.  I've looked ...

I've been really praying about and contemplating this post for some time.  Every time I see a post on Facebook by one of my friends that says, I'm going through and cleaning out my friends on Facebook or "You've made the cut!", I have two knee-jerk reactions.  First, I think, "boy, am I going to make it?"  and the second reaction I have is "do I want to be friends with someone who actually would cut someone from their friends list?" Really, that's what I think. Look, don't accept a friendship on Facebook that you don't plan on keeping for your entire life - yes, the rest of your life!  Although the person doesn't get a notification that they are unfriended, it usually doesn't take them long to figure out what you've done. Either they see a comment on another friends page, or an event on another's page, or you are in a group together, or something will red flag your dirty deed. I always tell my hostesses that i...

  Years ago, my aunt had the most tasty and easiest appetizer at a Family Thanksgiving Dinner.  We have since adopted this recipe for ourselves, and I thought that I would share it with you. It is so easy, and in fact, is made ahead and put in the freezer!  I love things that you can make way ahead of time!  Just be prepared for them disappearing as soon as you take them out of the oven!    The strangest ingredient in the recipe is Old English Spread!  This is a tiny jar, usually found in the processed cheese section, way on top.  And this little jar is usually about $4, which is the part that kills me.  I actually saw some the other day on clearance for $2 and thought about stocking up, but decided that it was on clearance because it was already old, and it would be awhile before I used it.       Old English Appetizers 12 English Muffins 1 Jar Old English Che...

Last week our area homeschool group parents got into a discussion about testing.  Many parents in our area, have paid money every year for their kids to have Independent Standardized tests.  I have taken a different approach for checking where my kids are at, and making sure that they are understanding what I'm teaching.  In fact, a part of me really doesn't like the standardized tests at all!  Here are some of the reasons why I think they are NOT effective (all my opinions): Many homeschool children aren't having formal testing done regularly, so testing once a year is not going to really test their abilities as a student, as much as test their ability to test. Most public school systems are teaching towards the test. As a homeschooler, you can't compete with this, or even dream of considering the test results to be fairly representing your children, good or bad.  Weeks (and maybe even months) before the testing in the public schools, the teacher...