Refurbishing old screens

 We moved into a new house this past spring and have been working hard on sevaral different projects. One that was SO much easier that I had anticipated was repairing the window screens. This house was built in 1969 and I'm pretty sure these screens were original to the house. There were several with holes and tears and they were just dirty and oxidized and though we tried to clean them, they were still not very nice. I looked online (thank you This Old House!) and found it is pretty easy to do!

Here's a pic of the before and after on one set--a definite difference!

Basically I just measured the screens and ordered the screen and spline online (from Amazon) and it came with a cool little tool to use too.

Step 1 was to remove the old screen--very easy, as the old spline just peeled out and the aluminum screen popped out/was pulled out. 

Next, I put the new screen material on top of the frame (the new material was lighter weight and a fiberglass material) and cut it so that there was one inch overhang on all sides.

I put the spline in place and pushed it in with the special tool.

Moving around the frame, I basically pulled it taut on every side as I pushed the spline into the groove...it might have been easier if I had used a clamp or something, but it worked just fine. :) 

I again used the tool to push it even further into the groove (I used a screwdriver at the corners to make sure it was securely inserted there). I forgot to say that I cut the spline to size, but you probably figured that out already :) 

Once the spline was all in place and I was happy with the tautness and alignment of the screening, I used a utility knife to cut off the excess.

The final step was to pop them back into the windows and ooh and aah about the difference it made! (in this picture the upper window is where the screens are--what a difference, right?!)

And there you have it! An easy project with a large impact! If your screens are a little less-than-desirable, give it a try! :) 

Who is it for?

My thoughts for today are self-talk, self-reminding. Here are two verses that I need to really focus on more, 

1 Cor. 10:31, "Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God."

Psalm 100:2a "Serve the Lord with gladness." 

What do you think of these verses? Are they things that seem easy to obey? It sounds great in practice, but what if the face of "serving the Lord with gladness" is someone who has hurt you, or someone who is rude and unthankful? 

It may be hard...but we are told to do this...and if the attitude switches from serving that person or people to serving the LORD, that may be easier (?) That's the point, right? Serving Him? 

Lord forgive me for my bad attitudes and help me to serve YOU in everything that I do.

Music for Memorization

Do you use music to assist with memorization? I am looking for some ideas to help memorize some longer passages of Scripture--any ideas? 

When my kids were younger they used to memorize AWANA verses by setting them to music, and who doesn't remember the books of the Bible by a little tune? 

The US Presidents, the 12 disciples, what else do you remember by a little musical ditty? 

SO---Any ideas of good tunes to set longer Bible passages to? Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Institute for Excellence in Writing Structure and Style, year 1 level C -- my REVIEW

 

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Being able to express yourself in writing so that others can read it and understand is a very important skill, one that students can develop through various methods such as reading good writing, having direct instruction in writing techniques, practicing enhancing others' writing, and more. Pretty much every college student begins with a course in composition, and this can be easy or difficult depending upon the background in writing that they have already completed. The Institute for Excellence in Writing is a company that produces writing curricula which are loved by so many homeschool families.When we were given the opportunity to review this most recent product, Structure and Style® for Students Year 1 Level C  (High School), I pretty much figured we would love it--and I was right! 

I have one child still in high school (11th grade) and she agreed to use this curriculum to "try it out" for the review. Even just a week into the program she was saying how much she enjoyed this teacher and program and would choose to do it almost for fun!

When a famimly purchases this program, Structure and Style for Students, Year 1, Level C, they receive several items: A Teacher's Manual, a Student packet and binder, and an activation code to access the streaming lessons by Andrew Pudewa. It is very easy to set up the online access for the video lessons, if you are unsure at all there is a video to help you do it :) plus the directions are very clear on the card they send you with your packet. 

 

The way the course is set up is that the student views the video lesson, which is a class session by Andrew Pudewa, with a class of in-person students. He teaches the class, there are some interactions by the students in his classroom, and the assignments given to those students are given to the "at-home" students as well. He goes over topics such as using strong words, being descriptive, grabbing the reader's attention, and more. Some of the assignments the student has are things like going through the chosen reading passage and making a type of outline, using key words from the paragraphs, and then

turning around and writing a title and summary of the passage from the Key Word Outline. Students are encouraged to add "dress-ups" which are words that improve the writing, things such as -ly adverbs, strong verbs, and more. There is also a list of "banned" words, which in this context means words that are kind of bland, overused, trite words.

The student is given a checklist to follow to ensure that they include the required items. The student is encouraged to use an "editor" (someone other than mom!) to check their rough draft, they write the final draft, incorporating ideas from their editor before turning in the completed final draft. 

This pattern is followed through other writing passages as the course continues, and additional things are introduced (quality adjectives, "decorations", and more. The passages are things that are definitely interesting to high school students...beginning with a piece that includes pickling heads (!!) and ending with The Princess Bride (!!!) :) These definitely get my teen's interest!

From the parent's side, it is an easy-to-use curriculum. The Teacher's Edition contains everything you need. There are even lists of the notes that Mr. Pudewa had written on the blackboard during the video lessons in case your student missed some. The online access includes many helpful things as well, such as a page that gives you the timestamps for the video, which makes it easier to refer to a section, return and review, or just pick up where you left off.

If you would like to check out one of the sample videos, here you go! This and more information are included on their website: https://iew.com/SSS.

Here are a couple of reflections from my daughter:

            I really liked the IEW lessons. Writing isn't generally something I love, but these video lessons were very enjoyable. The lessons were in a classroom setting, and it was easy to follow along with the videos. The video would say, pause and do such and such, or, "Take out paper" or something from the notebook. I didn't even realize that I was learning (haha). The teacher is funny, and easy to listen to. I love these lessons!

And that is a good place to end this review! A happy parent and a happy student...with good writing outcomes to boot! My daughter is now taking a composition course from our local community college and she is using the concepts that she is learning in this course as well and it is definitely helping her with that class as well. If you would like to read more reviews from others who have had the opportunity to use this program, as well as some who have used different levels, please click on the link below! I definitely and wholeheartedly recommend this curriculum!

Grab-and-go breakfast/snack for husband!

 My husband usually has oatmeal or something like that very quickly in the morning before he goes to work. He leaves for work around 6:15, so by about 8:30 he is usually starving! I have started making these super-easy breakfast sandwiches for him on the weekend -- making 2 weeks worth and freezing them. He heats them up in a microwave, wrapping them in a paper towel first.

Here's what it is: just a waffle, an egg, and a sausage patty! 

Basically I just make waffles (5, so that 1/2 can make each sandwich), 10 sausage patties (which I get from Aldi's in a super inexpensive already-made frozen package), and ten eggs! For the eggs, I spray cooking spray inside of a wide lid canning jar ring and pop the egg inside of that ring. I add a little salt and pepper and break the yolk. This cooks up so nicely and in a nice round shape :) . I take the ring off and flip it for a quick cook on the second side and then assemble them!

                                        

So easy and convenient! (probably not super-healthy, but frankly, if he's going to want to go buy something at the convenience store or dunkin donuts or something--it's probalby just as healthy and definitely a LOT less expensive!

Give them a try!!