Monthly Archives: January 2014

The Simple Life: Variety Isn’t Mandatory

The Norwegian Artist is the simplest man on the planet to feed: As long as the food tastes good, he eats it, and it doesn’t matter if it’s the same menu of yesterday, the day before, and the day before … Continue reading

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We Never Could Afford Piano Lessons

Some things in life we consider inviolable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness immediately come to mind, but this is because I have a rudimentary familiarity with the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Just because the words are written … Continue reading

Posted in Art, art education, blogging, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Education, Encouragement, Family, finances, frugal living, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, saving money, school, self-improvement, success, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do Christians Have a Message Worth Hearing?

In my Norwegian Artist’s younger years, he bicycled around a bit — from Alaska to Argentina, through Central America (for the geographically challenged, there is no ocean separating North and South America), then after a flight across the Caribbean to … Continue reading

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Recipe: Shockingly Simple Spaghetti Sauce

When I was a child, my dad was in charge of spaghetti. He began the process mid-morning Saturday and stayed in the kitchen, stirring and tasting and finessing, for hours, until the coup de grace at precisely 5 p.m., because … Continue reading

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Tea for Two

From Start Your Week with Steve: The Story of this Painting: It is Christmas Eve night, late. All of the household is asleep. But the youngest child awakens; hearing a sound downstairs, she investigates – because she is young, because she … Continue reading

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The Simple Life: Follow the Old Saying

What’s the old saying? Use it up; Wear it out; Make it do; Do without. I always have to look this up because I can never remember the order of 11 simple words, although I know they rhyme somehow. I … Continue reading

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The Problem with U.S. History

In 20 years of homeschooling, we never did find the ultimate resource for teaching U.S. History. We knew we didn’t want textbooks similar to what we had endured in our own public school childhoods: the end result of carrying around … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, books, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Politics, school, self-improvement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Are We Truly Free?

We were enjoying a crackling, merry driftwood fire on the beach when a woman, with a purposeful mien and a set to her jaw, strode up and announced, “I’m sure that you don’t mean to break the law, but it’s … Continue reading

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Recipe: Easy Chai Tea

Chai Tea is not an unfathomable concoction that requires some mystery mix out of a can to create. Basically, it’s tea with spices in it, and as I pointed out in my article, The Simple Life: Use What You Have, you … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, Christmas, cooking, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, dinner idea, diy, Encouragement, Family, Food, frugal living, home, inspirational, instruction, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, recipe, santa, saving money, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Simple Life: Use What You Have

It’s amazing how many people hate onions, and a good portion of the populace could go the rest of their lives without seeing one on their kitchen counter: “Ooooooh! They’re so HOT. Yucky Yucky Ooooh.” Oh, please, people;  let’s move … Continue reading

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