House Renovations at end of August 2015

House Renovations at end of August 2015

This past bit, we were not happy with how the living room and master bedroom floor was doing---especially compared to how nice the basement room floors are doing.  The floors in the basement were covered with polyurethane after the "stone" floor paint, and that really made the floors look and feel "finished".  So, we Spackled some of the spots that were sketchy and have now painted over the Spackle with two new coats of "stone".  We have to let that dry for three days before we can paint on the polyurethane.  We are sleeping in the basement while our bedroom is out of business.  Dd is fine going up to her loft--no work going on there.

Here is how the living room (and bedroom) floor looks now:

I have finally got 99% of our homeschooling books on the shelves in the "library" and in the spare bedroom in the basement.  I still have about 40 boxes of "fun" books that I have not unpacked yet.  We don't need to worry about those books for a while.  

The bookshelf on the left is mostly our science books..except for our Apologia and SL science books, which is in the library.

The closet is some biography, history, geography mixes.

Here is the spare bedroom--how it is coming along:

You can kind of see how nice and shiny (and super clean) our new floors are in these photo's.  So glad we thought to do the final coats of polyurethane, that really was the perfect finishing touch!

Here is how the library is coming along:

It might look random, but I spent a LOT of time getting all our books in the exact right spot.  I have some bookshelves for one particular subject, and some of the shelves are done alphabetically...but, it took me many long hours to get them all in the spot where I could find exactly what we need, without fuss.

Here is how the basement living room/ rec room is coming along, big changes this week:

The scrapper in Dh's hand is what took up all those tiles! Praise the Lord!  We thought we would have to use chemicals to get those things up...we did it by hand, thankfully!

We had to take off the oak siding since the previous people had let their pets use the basement as a potty.  

This section HAD tile down, but we got that all up and out.  There was a ballet bar across the mirror, that Dh took out.  We have no idea what we are going to do with that huge mirror!

You can see in this picture that I have already scrapped off the black glue off from the drywall.  Scrapping it off took a long time, but luckily I found the perfect tool for doing it...the same tool I used to get off wallpaper, actually.

You can see on the left, under the window, we have found mold...now we have to cut out all that dry wall, insulation, and replace it.

Here is the hallway---getting Kilz paint to seal it.

Half the floor has been painted with Kilz, the other side still needs some scrapping off of glue to happen before it can be sealed.

....

Core G "Ancients" Week 13 "C" Aug 17-, 2015

Core G "Ancients" 
Week 13 "C"  
Aug 24-28, 2015 
44th week on this core!

Dd has been having fun doing face paint on her arms lately...thought I'd share a funny pix!

Here is one of the cards Dd made

This was our second week being back at our lessons, and a slow gradual start we are doing!  We stuck to our basic subject: Bible, Math, and two readers (one history, one "classic").
I'm still very busy each day with trying to get some work done on our new home---carrying boxes to the basement and unpacking, plus the Spackle and painting projects.  This is leaving Dd with LOTS of time to do her things--piano, knitting a sweater, cooking/baking, and read *her* books.

Our update on our house in Indiana, that is for sale---well, last week we had a major bidding war with a realtor, and thankfully neither of us walked away.  They literally got us down to the exact amount that we had put as our lowest price that we would accept without us walking away!  I guess it is probably common for our generation to loose money on property they had bought before the recession hit, and I am thankful we didn't loose more, but it is a big hit that I was hoping we would not have to take!  Oh well!  It is all the Lord's money after all, and it is something I have zero control over.Update: The Inspector found various small things wrong with the house, and now there is a whole new can of worms opened up.  I won't go into all the details, as I've had enough ugliness for a while and can't take any more.  We will fix a few of the things that we can do on our own, and leave it up to the couple if they want to walk away or not.  Our realtor said they want more money reduced off the price; and they are already getting a deal.  We think this couple is just trying to get the price down, and don't forget the ugliness....I'm just trying to keep my perspective and faith in tact during this process.  There is a good chance that these people will not like the fact that we are not going to fix everything the inspector found "wrong"; but the inspector found LOTS of things wrong with our house in Michigan and we didn't ask for *anything* to be fixed from the seller.  We knew we were getting a great price, and well worth us doing the fixes ourselves.  We feel like it should be the same for them; as they are not buying a brand new house therefor there will be some issues.  I'm at peace with it either way it goes, and continually remind myself that the Lord has this...whatever happens.

Dd and I both were sick this week--something was really zapping our energy, and causing stomach issues.  If the "L" family reads this, I'm sure our bug has nothing to do with you all!  Monday was my worst day, and I think Thursday was Dd's worst day.  We got our basic's done this week, and that is good enough when you don't feel well.

Dh's job is still difficult--but, perhaps he has finally settled on a good attitude: I'll do the best I can, and if they fire me everything will be fine--the Lord will take care of us, attitude.  He is right, there really isn't much you can do when in difficult spots, but to just hand it over to the Lord!
The homeschool group that I had applied to in July finally called me and interviewed me.  Christie, my VA buddy said she got a call from them to check my references.  It was an odd call, I have to say---nothing like when I joined the Heritage Builders or Lighthouse Home Educators in Indiana--boy, I miss LHE!

Our lessons this week:

Bible: Veritas Press Chronicles Through Malachi

Card 88: completed

Esther Becomes Queen

Esther 1 & 2 (both bible and Believer's Bible Commentary) were read once on Monday, and again on Tuesday to do :The Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament:

Lesson 165 (Esther 1) Ahasuerus Puts Away His Queen

Lesson 166 (Esther 2) Esther and Mordecai Please the King

Card: 89: in Process

Haman Plots Against the Jews (Esther 3,6)

Esther 3 & 4 were read with bible and Believer's Bible Commentary

Max Lucado's Life Lesson for Esther 3

Greenleaf: Lesson 167: Mordecai Angers Haman Haman Plots Revenge: completed

Survey of the Bible by William Hendriksen

pg 304 on Esther

Journey Through the Bible by David Cook

pgs 178-179 on the Story of Esther

Current Events:

CNN STUDENT NEWS each morning

Classic Read Aloud:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: in process

History Read Aloud:

The White Stag by Kate Seredy: completed

Games:

CHESS, with Pappa and on computer..lots of chess this week

Language Arts:

Typing on her story a lot, the title is: 

Emma Jackson and the Fate of Olympus, 

Book 1, Quest for the Mist

Wrote a few letters and a birthday card (drew it herself)

Piano: 

she practiced with her old books

Cooking:

Baked a cake

Guacamole

Math: MUS Algebra I

5 B,C, D, E

Lesson 5 completed

Some of her fun books:

"If I Stay"

"The Beyonders, Bk 1, World with no Hero's

The Maze Runner

Canterbury Tales

The Kitchen Knight

etc.

Audio:

On The Banks of Plum Creek by L.I. Wilder: in process

Core G "Ancients" Week 13 "B" Aug 17-22, 2015

Core G "Ancients"

Week 13 "B" 

Aug 17-22, 2015 

This was our second week being back at our lessons, and a slow gradual start we are doing!  We stuck to our basic subject: Bible, Math, and two readers (one history, one "classic").

I'm still very busy each day with trying to get some work done on our new home---carrying boxes to the basement and unpacking, plus the Spackle and painting projects.  This is leaving Dd with LOTS of time to do her things--piano, knitting a sweater, cooking/baking, and read *her* books.

Our update on our house in Indiana, that is for sale---well, last week we had a major bidding war with a realtor, and thankfully neither of us walked away.  They literally got us down to the exact amount that we had put as our lowest price that we would accept without us walking away!  I guess it is probably common for our generation to loose money on property they had bought before the recession hit, and I am thankful we didn't loose more, but it is a big hit that I was hoping we would not have to take!  Oh well!  It is all the Lord's money after all, and it is something I have zero control over.

Update: The Inspector found various small things wrong with the house, and now there is a whole new can of worms opened up.  I won't go into all the details, as I've had enough ugliness for a while and can't take any more.  We will fix a few of the things that we can do on our own, and leave it up to the couple if they want to walk away or not.  Our realtor said they want more money reduced off the price; and they are already getting a deal.  We think this couple is just trying to get the price down, and don't forget the ugliness....I'm just trying to keep my perspective and faith in tact during this process.

Dd and I both were sick this week--something was really zapping our energy, and causing stomach issues.  If the "L" family reads this, I'm sure our bug has nothing to do with you all!  Monday was my worst day, and I think Thursday was Dd's worst day.  We got our basic's done this week, and that is good enough when you don't feel well.

Dh's job is still difficult--but, perhaps he has finally settled on a good attitude: I'll do the best I can, and if they fire me everything will be fine--the Lord will take care of us, attitude.  He is right, there really isn't much you can do when in difficult spots, but to just hand it over to the Lord!

The homeschool group that I had applied to in July finally called me and interviewed me.  Christie, my VA buddy said she got a call from them to check my references.  It was an odd call, I have to say---nothing like when I joined the Heritage Builders or Lighthouse Home Educators in Indiana.  

Lessons will be a slow adding back of subjects, to help Dd not get overwhelmed.  The way that she works best is to do a gradual return, and not to jump back where we left off.

Lessons:
Bible:
Veritas Press: Chronicles Through Malachi
Card 87: completed
Temple Work Resumes Under Haggai and Zechariah

Zechariah 11, 12, 13, & 14 
Read with our bible, and followed up with our Believer's Bible Commentary

Card 88: in process
Esther Becomes Queen (Esther 1,2)

Introduction to Esther, and Esther 1, with Bible and Believer's Bible Commentary


History Read Aloud:
White Stag by Kate Seredy


Classic Read Aloud:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien


Audio 1:
Little Town on the Prairie by L.I. Wilder: completed
(we love all these audio's narrated by Cherry Jones and listen to them over and over again!)

Halt's Peril (Ranger's Apprentice): completed

Redwall: completed
(Dd was in and out on this one, but I loved it!)


Math: Math U See: Algebra I
To do a review on Monday we did lesson 1A, Tuesday 2A, Wednesday 3A, Thursday 4A, Friday 5A..so we reviewed the first five lessons this week.


Nature/Science:
Dd went to Eagle Creek Park 2x

Language Arts:
Dd has been working all summer on her book

Gym:
swam a lot this week, twice with Pappa

Art:
Dd is making a gray sweater--knitting it--very nice

Cooking/Baking:
She made a cake at the "L" families house, we drove down to Indiana to mow and check on our house, and visit our dear friends.

Not bad for a first week back at it.

...................

Bid On Our House Aug 23, 2015

Bid On Our House  Aug 23, 2015

Well, we did get a bid on our house on Aug. 23rd; but our realtor says we are going to get a second bid from another family today.  We are waiting to see if the second one is a better offer than the one we got already.  The first bid is quite a bit lower than we just lowered the price too.  It is so sad that we will be losing money on this house, but I guess that is the case for most people that bought homes in 2005 and before the recession.  It doesn't make it any easier to be in that company!  Anyway, please pray for this process, and for the decisions to be wise ones!  This could be the week we actually sell our house?!  I won't count my chickens before they hatch; but things are looking active.

Aug 25, 2015
We never did receive that second offer/bid.  So we have started the counter offer to this family and are waiting to see how they like our counter offer.  I'll keep you posted.

They have countered our counter! and we will offer another counter tomorrow.  Tonight, (Tuesday) the other family that we thought was going to bid, but hasn't, have come back to our house for a THIRD showing!  I am hopeful they might make a bid tomorrow morning---a bid that is perhaps closer to our new (low) asking price.  The people bidding now are difficult!  But, we are thankful that there is a hope.  Keep 'ya posted...

Aug 27, 2015
We countered their counter yesterday, and their realtor really put our realtor, Gwen, through the wringer!  "What is wrong with the house, why hasn't it sold in a year!" Then when we wouldn't go down as much as they hoped, their realtor said something like-'Aren't they desperate to sell the house???' and Gwen told them we weren't keen to give it away!!!  I guess they went back and forth for a good while.  Their realtor was incredulous that only a father, mother, and one child lived in our big house.  After all the tit-for-tat, they accepted our counter bid...which is $10,000 less than we were asking for a week ago!  But, it is better than if we had to continue paying two mortgages until we were desperate!

Now they will work on finding a bank to be their lender.  I does leave a doubt in my mind---they could still fall through if they don't get a loan.  They hadn't gotten pre-approval before house shopping.

Now, for the other family that we were expecting a bid from on Sunday.  Well, Monday was their third showing of our house, and Tuesday was their fourth showing of our house; only this time they brought along all their family (parents, etc,) in SIX cars to examine the house!  The told Gwen they still had to contact the police to see what the crime rate was in our area.  So, they are still researching and haven't placed a bid...and perhaps they have missed the boat now that we have agreed with the one family with the feisty realtor.  But, if they can't get a loan then they will have an opportunity then--and perhaps they will have completed their research by then! Ha!

So, there is probably a good 75% chance that our house will be sold in the next month or two.  That is much better odds than we've had for the last 14 months!

......

Core G Week 13 "B" Aug 17-22, 2015 (Starting Back with Lessons)

Core G "Ancients"

Week 13 "B" 

Aug 17-22, 2015 

(Starting Back with Lessons)

The view from my back door in Indiana

Dd took this picture from up in her playhouse.

Dd took this picture from up in her playhouse.  It was so beautiful and peaceful to see all the Indiana fog!  This little retention pond was really pretty; the picture doesn't do it justice.  There is usually a heron in it...successfully fishing!

We are still knee-deep in things that need done in fixing up the house before winter, but we needed to start back at our lessons as Dd has been off for 8 weeks!  Yikes!  That is a long time for her, but I think she really enjoyed a real break.  She got to pick all the books *she* wanted to read, and not assigned reading.  She definitely read more hours each day than when I assign the books; which was interesting to see.

I'm working hard!

I got the stairs to the basement all Spackled, Sanded, trimmed, and Kilz'ed.  Now to Spackle a few spots that still need more filling, and then I can paint the stairs "stone" color with the oil base floor paint.

A few years back I planted Milkweed transplants in my backyard that were going to get mowed over in our neighborhood's common areas.  This year we have nibble's on our leaves!  Dd found this caterpillar on our Milkweed on Friday.  Two other Milkweed plants showed up across the yard?  I didn't plant them!  But, I'm glad to see them.  Also, this week--in Michigan we had TWO PILEATED Woodpeckers on the Spruce tree closest to our deck.  I was only 15 feet away from them!  While in Indiana, I saw two Wrens in our back Colorado Blue Spruce tree.  They were the first Wren's I've ever seen in Indiana!  We also have seen a lot of hawks lately.  

For our first week back, and because I still need hours each day on painting, we only did Bible, Math, and Read Alouds.  For the Read Alouds, I had pinned The White Stag to read during Week 13, and Dd asked if she could pick another RA for us to read together.  She gave me five options to choose from, and I picked The Hobbit.  We have listened to this book on audio at least twice, but I absorb so much more when I am reading it aloud, and was curious to see how I liked it---and like it, I very much do!  I'm very happy with our choice, and like it way better now that I am able to catch every detail.

On Thursday, we did our lessons in the morning, then packed up our van, pushed in our dog, Sophie, and headed to Indiana for a visit.  Thursday night we were invited to the "L" family's house for dinner.  We had the best rice dish!  Wow, Mrs. L can cook!  We had a **showing** of our house from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, so Sophie had to stay with us at the L house.  The people that visited our house didn't leave any feedback; so I can't share what the results were, but I'm assuming they weren't interested if they didn't leave feedback.

On Friday, Mrs. L picked Dd up to take along with her family to Eagle Creek park, and then back to her house to visit while I mowed/weeded/vacuumed/scrubbed/etc at our house.  I was invited back to their house for dinner, and hurried to get all my work done in time for dinner!  We had a wonderful Stir Fry and then the kids all worked together to make a cake and icing.  I believe this time there might have been too many irons in the fire for one cake!  We were all happily willing to eat the funny cake!

Saturday was a rush--I woke at 6:50 am to start packing our van for our return.  We had scheduled to meet at the "L" house at 9 am for a hike together at Eagle Creek before we left, so we really had to hustle on cleaning up the house and packing!  As we were about to finish up, and already 5 minutes late, our realtor called to let us know we had another family schedule to have a showing of our house from 10:30 to 12 pm!!!  Glad we were already all cleaned and packed!  So, we rushed off to the L house, and Dd, Sophie and I got in their van for the ride to the park.  We saw a really super beautiful Monarch butterfly on a perfectly blooming purple thistle flower!  So gorgeous!  Dd had left our camera in her backpack, so I couldn't take a picture, but Mrs. L did!  I just enjoyed every line and white dot on the butterfly's wings.  We also saw some great birds, the two birds of prey in cages by the ornithology center, and cormorants/herons/ducks in the water as we walked along the path beside Eagle Creek.  A beautiful day, and a beautiful walk with friends! After the lovely hike, we went back to their house and got in our van for the long ride back to Michigan.  It was so good to see familiar faces and to talk, talk, talk!  Goodness, I talked way too much---my voice was raw by the end of Thursday night!  What a great visit with friends!!!  Thank you to the L family!!  When we got back to Michigan, Dd and Dh went swimming together.

So, our house in Indiana is STILL in need of prayer; for it to finally sell.  Dh's work is still many 12 hour days; but he still says it is better than where he worked in Indiana.  The homeschool group (local group: LINK) has not responded to our application, so I emailed them this morning to find out our status - it has been a month now.  I'm re-re-reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  I was looking at my notes in the journal that goes with it, and the last time I had read this book was when I was nervous about moving to Brownsburg, Indiana!  Ha!  I guess this is the 'go-to" book when I move!

Our lessons:

Bible:

Veritas Bible Chronicles through Malachi and Job Home School Kit

Item #: VB4KIT

Veritas Press: Chronicles Through Malachi

Card 87: completed

Temple Work Resumes Under Haggai and Zechariah

Ezra 1-6; Haggai; Zechariah

This week we read Zechariah 11, 12, 13, & 14 with the Bible and the Believer's Bible Commentary by William MacDonald.

Card 88: in process

Esther Becomes Queen

Esther 1, 2

c. 516 BC

We started--we read the Introduction to Esther, and Esther 1, in our Bible and Believer's Bible Commentary.

Believer's Bible Commentary   [BELIEVERS BIBLE COMMENTARY -SS] [Hardcover]

Mar 31, 1995

by MacDonald, W.(Author) ; MacDonald, William(Author); Farstad, Arthur L.(Editor)

Math:

Math U See: Algebra 1

We left off after doing the first 4 lessons, back in July, so I decided we would review each lesson, one per day.  So we made a new copy of 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A (Monday through Thursday) and then on Friday we started 5A, which was a *new* lesson.  Next week we will do 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E and go normally forward.  Dd did really well at remembering the first 4 lessons, and didn't need to re-watch the lesson videos.

History Read Aloud (RA): in process

White Stag

The White Stag by Kate Seredy

Rainbow Resource description:

This Newbery Medal-winner tells the story of the Huns and the Magyars and their generations-long hunt for a homeland, led by a mythical white stag. The tale begins with Nimrod, the Mighty Hunter, saddened by the hunger that is affecting his people, and unsure where to lead them. After a sacrifice and a dramatic sign of four eagles, Nimrod announces that his sons, Hunor and Magyar will lead the people west to a new land of plenty. Nimrod dies that night, and his sons, now dubbed the “Twin Eagles of Hadur” bury him, then lead their people westward, on a journey that will take many years, and result in the division of the Huns and the Magyars, with the Huns pushing further to the West, eventually under the fearless leadership of Attila. A dramatic and lyrical story that would make a terrific read-aloud too. By Kate Seredy, 96 pgs, pb. - Jess

Fun RA: in process

Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

Current Events:
CNN STUDENT NEWS---it's back on!

Audio 1:
Little Town on the Prairie by L.I. Wilder: completed
(we love all these audio's narrated by Cherry Jones and listen to them over and over again!)

Halt's Peril (Ranger's Apprentice): completed

Redwall: completed
(Dd was in and out on this one, but I loved it!)




Nature/Science:
Dd went to Eagle Creek Park 2x

Language Arts:
Dd has been working all summer on her book

Gym:
swam a lot this week, twice with Pappa

Art:
Dd is making a gray sweater--knitting it--very nice

Cooking/Baking:
She made a cake at the "L" families house, we drove down to Indiana to mow and check on our house, and visit our dear friends.

Not bad for a first week back at it.

........

Dd's Summer Reading List 2015

Dd's Summer Reading List 2015 

Hit or Miss this year, we didn't write down each book...

In Process!

By John A. Flanagan:

Ranger's Apprentice: Halt's Peril, Book 9

Ranger's Apprentice: Kings of Clonmel, Book 8

Ranger's Apprentice: Erak's Ransome, Book 7

Ranger's Apprentice: The Battle for Skandia, Book 4

Ranger's Apprentice: Icebound Land, Book 3

By Rick Riordan:

Previously listened to these on audio, now reading:

Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune, Book 2

Heroes of Olympus: House of Hades, Book 4

Heroes of Olympus: Blood of Olympus, Book 5

By L.M. Montgomery:

Anne of Green Gables, Rainbow Valley, Book 7

Anne of the Island

By Brian J. Selznick:

Wonderstruck

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Star Wars, Conviction by Aaron Allston

Conviction: Star Wars (Fate of the Jedi) (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi - Legends)

Star Wars, Invincible by Troy Denning

Invincible (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 9)

By Suzanne Colllins:

Hunger Games, Book 1

Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Book 2

Hunger Games, Mockingjay, Book 3

Ignis by Gina Wilson and P.J. Lynch

Ignis

Oct 1, 2001

American Girl: Mini Mysteries 3 by Rick Walton

Mini Mysteries (Revised): 34 Tricky Tales to Untangle

Feb 28, 2015

By Bruce Hale:

Murder, My Tweet

By Bruce Hale Murder, My Tweet: A Chet Gecko Mystery (Reprint) [Paperback]

Apr 16, 2005

Chet Gecko, Gum for Hire

This Gum for Hire: A Chet Gecko Mystery

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little Town on the Prairie
(audio, narrated by Cherry Jones...for the umpteenth time!)

.......