Read - Every. Single. Day.

So I'm on this mission to become better edjumicated. It must have to do with the whole classical, Christian homeschool thing. For SOME reason, these people think that if you're are going to teach your kids How to Learn and also Love Learning, it's best if you Model It. SO, here's what I'm currently reading/just finished/plan to start soon.

The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had by Susan Wise Bauer
Classical Christian Education made Approachable by Leigh Bortins
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education by Leigh Bortins
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day by Micheal Gelb
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Love with Abandon by Sharon Hersh

The first few chapters of A Well-Educated Mind encourage us to just get in the habit (the daily habit) of reading. Then, when that's in place, move on to figuring out what you need to read (to fill in the holes of your own education). So, I've been reading a lot more. Which is good. But now NETFLIX misses me.

Classical Christian Education made Approachable breaks down the idea of homeschooling with a Classical mindset into easy (easier) to achieve steps. Helpful. Practical. Also great intro for those contemplating the homeschool way of life.

The Core - more practical and easy steps and ideas for teaching your kids the basics of all the subjects so that they have a great foundation as they grow and learn more.

Ten Way to Destroy the Imagination of your Child - really encouraged me to think about what I allow my kids to do and which/when opportunities I seek out for them. I enjoyed the satire in this book (I love making a point by stating the opposite) - because of course I don't WANT to destroy my childrens' imaginations! I found this book difficult to read - so sobering - but also made me realize how important it is to think about (have intention) about how my children spend their time. And kids need free time, too! And lots of it! Yes, I agree.

How to Win Friends and Influence People - friend of mine was reading it and I always think about reading her book choices. And wow, confession, do I ever feel weak in this area these days. So I humbly sit at the feet of Dale Carnegie. You read it and you think, "Yah obviously!" But as my good buddy Dale says, it's the implementation that's key.

How to Think like Leonardo - given to me by a very creative old roomate. Still working through this one and decided to go through it again with my 9 year old. I think creativity is a major thing that everyone possesses but most people don't think they have.

Bravehearts - again, it's the weak painful area of life - relationships and how to love well. Oh Lord, help me love well. I'm just way too sensitive.

So there you have it - my current reading list. I'd love to know what you think if you've read or are reading any of these books.

(affiliate links in this post)

desert southwest road trip 2013

Hiking adventure. Pretty to look at. Don't touch!

The kids and I went on a road trip to visit the Grandparents who are 'snowbirding' in Truth or Consequences, NM this winter.

Hot springs, desert hikes, visiting the Rio Grande, window shopping on the main street - pretty exciting stuff happening in the TORC.

Except for almost visiting the local hospital due to asthma, it was a pretty great trip.

Plants in sunny window sill? Yes.

An example of something to avoid on a desert hike.

Old books. Yummy.

Time to work on those Baby Hiking Muscles.

Like to visit random small town libraries? I do.

Old service station.

Old business sign mural. Love.

Window display.

No texting while driving! Pix? Totally okay.

You need to visit (all of which can be done on a detour off the freeway through town):

Riverbend Hotsprings
Relax in your own private hotspring with a view of the Rio Grande. That's just cool.

Passion Pie Cafe
Best coffee in town. Super strong, the way it's meant to be.

Black Cat Books & Coffee
Great selection of used books. Best carrot cake ever!

Here are a few pix of our trip.

A boy and his Grandpa.

how to e-publish : step 3

I said I'd tell you about step 3.

Hubby took me out on an art date, which is really the most awesome kind. Here's what our art dates entail: two artists drinking a bumload of coffee, drawing and saying things like 'wouldn't it be great if we could make a living off of this or that amazing creative idea (or type of art project)?' and 'watch me draw this!' and 'did you see that sign with the heinous kerning? Yah, I'm SO sure.' Plus it's fun because we take silly pictures of the other one drinking coffee and we sometimes try not to snarf hot coffee out our noses from laughing.

Since the book I'm working on is a picture book, the story of a little character I've had in my head since our oldest was a little, a big aspect of my book is how it will look. The illustrations. Droolings, we sometimes call them. There I was, all proud of myself for having finished step 2 when ...

Hubby says, "Prototypes. 3 of them. Now." 

Obviously the picture of him is a re-creation. But it's pretty true to the actual event so I feel good about including it here.

And so I did. 3 prototypes. BAM! I almost passed out after the first two. I had no scissors with me, people! Sharpies? Left at home! But he was 'adamant', what with his ordering me my favorite dinner (without olives) at my favorite restaurant and getting me coffee refills and everything.

It's good for me to have something tangible. It makes the whole prospect seem a little more real. And actually helped me realize some of my ideas aren't as rounded out as they may need to be. Maybe it was all a little vague... that ethereal desire to 'make a book' is now getting more specific. I'm more of an idea person. It's the doing. That's hard.

Still pushing through, though. On to step 4. Yikes.

And still I can't find that little slip of paper.

you know this, right?

I thought maybe I'd let you in on what seems to be a secret. When you are a book addict, like me, it's nice to have a more frugal way to feed the habit. Now, let me preface this next part by saying that I really prefer real books. You know, the kind made out of paper? With real covers? And pages? But...I'm out of shelf space (making #3 very helpful). So, I admit turning to eBooks (#1 & #2)

FREE (or basically free) BOOKS

Here are my favorite sources...

1 ) Gutenberg.org [Over 100,000 free ebooks...public domain - so very many classics. I downloaded the complete works of Jane Austen...for free! Yah, baby.]

2) Free Kindle eBooks for anyone with the free Kindle app
Or for those of you with Kindles: Kindle Owners' Lending Library

3) And last but not least:

(Online book swap. I've swapped books 61 times, so I feel good about referring this to you! Just pay a couple bucks for shipping (when you send from your library) and receive the books you order for free. You get a free credit when you first sign up - so you can try it out. What a great way to let someone else enjoy the books you don't want anymore. Don't let the name throw ya, you can swap hardcovers, too.)

This month The Bookclub is trying
something new. Rather than all of us reading the same book, we are all reading different books about the same person! Genius, isn't it?

I'd like to claim it as my own idea... but I'm not really sure it was.

We're reading about Louisa May Alcott. You may know her as the author of Little Women and various and sundry other fabulous books of that nature. However, did you know she was also an abolitionist and a suffragette? I'm reading Invincible Louisa by Meigs (whose first name I am too lazy to look up). Can't wait to learn more about this amazing woman.