January 22, 2011 “Swiss Memories”
January 23, 2011 “Collection”
January 24, 2011 “Hair Stylist”
January 25, 2011 “Marbles”
January 26, 2011 “Steamies”
January 27, 2011 “Organization”
January 28, 2011 “Snow-Lady”
Saturday 29 January 2011
Friday 21 January 2011
Week 3 in Photos
Oops. I’ve missed my first day this year. On January 15, which was a Saturday, I did not take one photo! My excuse is that I was sick with a nasty cold. Yep, not feeling well at all. I actually spent the day in my pajamas. So, oh well. I did post extras last week. Does that make up for my missing day?
January 15 NO PHOTO
January 16 “Silence”
January 17 “Bought in Switzerland, Made in China”
January 18 “Don’t Ask”
January 19 “Sisters”
January 20 “Calendar Time”
January 21 “Matryoshka”
Friday 14 January 2011
Week 2 in Photos
At the beginning of Week 2, I finally got to go outdoors and spent some time in the beautiful Lake District here in England. I couldn’t take enough photos! It was so hard to choose which ones to feature, so I’m cheating and adding some runners-up at the end of this post! It’s my blog, so I can do that. : ) On another note, I generally do take photos daily because I photo-document my kids’ homeschooling, so I should always have at least one photo a day. However, I sometimes forget to take a “good” photo for my 365 project. So if you see a photo of one of my kids here, and the photo isn’t as good as others…you’ll know why.
January 8 “Elterwater”
January 9 “Fisherbeck”
January 10 “Octons”
January 11 “Anticipating Spring”
January 12 “Piano Practice”
January 13 “Moriah”
January 14 “Spheres”
The following photos were taken on January 8, in the Lake District. These are my runners-up photos I mentioned earlier!
“Cumbrian Fields”
“Elter Water Swans”
“Winter Day Out”
“Golden Afternoon”
Sunday 9 January 2011
Week 1 in Photos
I’ve always loved photography, but I’m not necessarily great at it. I have a digital camera, but it’s not really high quality. I’ve never had a course of any type in photography, so I probably do a lot of things wrong. I read on another blog (Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers) about the 365 Project. The project simply involves taking a daily photo for a year. I wasn’t sure whether or not to join the official 365 Project. I don’t think I will because I’m afraid doing so will make my photos more prone to theft (not that mine are even worth stealing) since more people use that website (and no one yet follows this blog). Also, some of the photos I saw on there are so awesome and so obviously taken with a better camera, that I just don’t feel like participating alongside them. I think I’ll just do like Kris from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers and only post my photos on my blog. It’s mostly for my own enjoyment anyway. However, instead of doing a daily post, I plan to take a photo each day but post them once a week. The first several may not be that great. I’m best at taking photos of my kids or scenery. I don’t do as well with indoor photography…or at least my camera doesn’t seem to do indoor photos that well…not sure which. Because it’s cold outside (and I don’t like cold), my photos are going to be indoor ones for awhile. Hopefully I’ll learn something from it! So, having said that, here is my first week of photos. Feel free to comment…I can handle constructive criticism. : ) And here’s hoping that someday I’ll have a nicer camera and a good program to edit them on!
January 1 “Winter Window”
January 2 “On the Mend”
January 3 “Hot Wheel Math”
January 4 “Warmth”
January 5 “Untitled” (any ideas?)
January 6 “Geometric Thoughts”
January 7 “Red and White”
That’s it for this week!
Thursday 6 January 2011
2011 Book Log
I’ve decided to join a few reading challenges this year. Because I love to read. And because I’ve been spending way too much time on the internet and have very little time left for reading. So my goal is to spend less time online and more time following other pursuits including reading books! The first challenge is 100+, which means I get to read 100 Books...or more. The second challenge I’m signing up for is the Winners Challenge, which involves reading 25 award-winning books for young people (find lists HERE). I should mention that because I live in the UK, I will also be including books which won awards in the UK. While I have a fair number of Newbery Award books (American) in my possession, there aren't many in the local library! Therefore, I will also include books which won the Carnegie Medal, Costa Book Awards (formerly Whitbread), the Guardian Award, the Blue Peter Book Award, and the Nestle Smarties Book Prize.
I first read about these challenges on My Blessings From Above, but you can find all the details at Home Girl’s Book Blog. The 25 award-winning books will also count toward my 100+. I’ll be keeping a list below of the books I have finished. I could very easily read more than 100 children’s picture books since we have at least 500 of them and I read to my kids daily, so my personal goal is for the 100 books to be chapter books, whether children’s or adult.
100+ Challenge:
1. Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen)
2. Amos Fortune: Free Man (Elizabeth Yates)
3. The Wreck of the Zanzibar (Michael Morpurgo)
4. Waiting for Mama (Marietta Moskin)
5. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)
7. Fun for the Secret Seven (Enid Blyton)
8. Chúcaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa (Francis Kalnay)
9. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
10. Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
11. Tom's Midnight Garden (Philippa Pearce)
12. Swiss Family Robinson (Johann Wyss)
13. Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
14. The Chesterfield Gold (Roger Pilkington)
15. The Mystery of the Invisible Thief (Enid Blyton)
16. Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
17. Rabbit Hill (Robert Lawson)
18. Ghost Town Treasure (Clyde Robert Bulla)
19. Miracles on Maple Hill (Virginia Sorenson)
20. Lady in the Tower (Marie-Louise Jensen)
21. The Silver Sword (Ian Serraillier)
22. Hitler's Canary (Sandi Toksvig)
23. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O'Brien)
24. In My Father's House (Corrie ten Boom)
25. Swallows and Amazons (Arthur Ransome)
26. Five on Finniston Farm (Enid Blyton)
27. Five Run Away Together (Enid Blyton)
28. Five Have Plenty of Fun (Enid Blyton)
29. Five Go to Billycock Hill (Enid Blyton)
30. Five Go Down to the Sea (Enid Blyton)
31. Five Get Into Trouble (Enid Blyton)
32. The Whipping Boy (Sid Fleischman)
33. Five Go to Smuggler's Top (Enid Blyton)
34. Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone (British title) (J.K. Rowling)
35. My Story: Blitz (Vince Cross)
36. Ballet Shoes (Noel Streatfeild)
37. Five on Kirrin Island Again (Enid Blyton)
38. My Story: Australia (Goldie Alexander)
39. Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls)
40. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
41. Love and Friendship (Jane Austen)
42. Five Go Off in a Caravan (Enid Blyton)
43. The Diary of Samuel Pepys's Clerk (Philip Wooderson)
44. Nim's Island (Wendy Orr)
45. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowling)
46. Silver on the Tree (Susan Cooper)
47. Stuart Little (E.B. White)
48. The Door in the Wall (Marguerite de Angeli)
49. The Silmarillion (J.R.R. Tolkien)
50. Black Beauty (Anna Sewell)
51. The Mozart Question (Michael Morpurgo)
52. The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk (Donald J. Sobol)
53. In Their Own Words: The Wright Brothers (George Sullivan)
54. Escape to Liechtenstein (Ed Dunlop)
55. Mandie and the Fiery Rescue (Lois Gladys Leppard)
56. Knights, Kings and Conquerors: 20 Stories from British History (Geraldine McCaughrean)
58. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
59. The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips (Michael Morpurgo)
60. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone (Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black)
61. The Pet Finders Club: Come Back Buddy! (Ben M. Baglio)
62. The Butterfly Lion (Michael Morpurgo)
63. Billy the Kid (Michael Morpurgo)
64. The Invisible Friend (Lois Walfrid Johnson)
65. Waiting for Anya (Michael Morpurgo)
66. The Lady Grace Mysteries: Assassin (Grace Cavendish aka Patricia Finney)
67. Private Peaceful (Michael Morpurgo)
68. The Magic World (E. Nesbit)
69. Bartlett and the Ice Voyage (Odo Hirsch)
70. Sanditon (Jane Austen and Another Lady)
71. Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims (Clyde Robert Bulla)
72. The Door in the Dragon's Throat (Frank Peretti)
73. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
74. Out of the Ashes (Michael Morpurgo)
75. Frederica (Georgette Heyer)
76. Caddie Woodlawn (Carol Ryrie Brink)
77. Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)
78. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
79. The Trumpeter of Krakow (Eric P. Kelly)
80. Strawberry Girl (Lois Lenski)
81. Sweet Home Alabama (Dooly, Griffin, Harris, Tracy)
82. My Dear Cassandra: The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen (Penelope Hughes-Hallett)
83. The Adventures of King Midas (Lynne Reid Banks)
84. Sarah, Plain and Tall (Patricia MacLachlan)
85. Stormbreaker (Anthony Horowitz)
86. Alaska (Paul C. Johnson)
87. The Matchlock Gun (Walter D. Edmonds)
88. Finding Violet Park (Jenny Valentine)
89. The Bride's Farewell (Meg Rosoff)
90. The Magic Faraway Tree (Enid Blyton)
91. The Twenty-One Balloons (William Pène du Bois)
92. Little House on the Prairie (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
93. The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis)
94. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
95. The Horse and His Boy (C.S. Lewis)
96. Prince Caspian (C.S. Lewis)
97. Pigeon Post (Arthur Ransome)
98. The Wheel on the School (Meindert DeJong)
99. The Borrowers (Mary Norton)
100. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)
101. The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis)
102. The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis)
Winners Challenge:
1. Amos Fortune: Free Man (Elizabeth Yates)--Newbery Medal
2. The Wreck of the Zanzibar (Michael Morpurgo)--Costa Book Award
3. Tom's Midnight Garden (Philippa Pearce)--Carnegie Medal
4. Rabbit Hill (Robert Lawson)--Newbery Medal
5. Miracles on Maple Hill (Virginia Sorenson)--Newbery Medal
6. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O'Brien)--Newbery Medal
7. The Whipping Boy (Sid Fleischman)--Newbery Medal
8. Watership Down (Richard Adams)--Carnegie Medal and Guardian Award
9. The Door in the Wall (Marguerite de Angeli)--Newbery Medal
10. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (J.K. Rowling)--Smarties Prize
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowling)--Smarties Prize
12. The Butterfly Lion (Michael Morpurgo)--Smarties Prize
13. Private Peaceful--Blue Peter Book Award
14. Caddie Woodlawn (Carol Ryrie Brink)--Newbery Medal
15. Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)--Newbery Medal
16. The Trumpeter of Krakow (Eric P. Kelly)--Newbery Medal
17. Strawberry Girl (Lois Lenski)--Newbery Medal
18. Sarah, Plain and Tall (Patricia MacLachlan)--Newbery Medal
19. The Matchlock Gun (Walter D. Edmonds)--Newbery Medal
20. Finding Violet Park (Jenny Valentine)--Guardian Award
21. The Twenty-One Balloons (William Pène du Bois)--Newbery Medal
22. Pigeon Post (Arthur Ransome)--Carnegie Medal
23. The Wheel on the School (Meindert DeJong)--Newbery Medal
24. The Borrowers (Mary Norton)--Carnegie Medal
25. The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis)--Carnegie Medal
All About Me
Since this blog is going to be about things I like, I thought I should write a little about myself. Also, an introduction of the sorts of things I DO like may give some indication of what sorts of things I will be blogging about.
I’m in my late 30s, so of course I’m a 70s child. (I love stuff from the 70s!) This year I’ll celebrate 12 years of marriage to my wonderful husband, and we have 3 amazing and sweet children. They are at the top of my list…even though they’re people, not things! My parents are my heroes, and I have a very lovely and sweet sister. I’m a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian. I love Jesus with all my heart, and I strive to be like Him. I’m nowhere near perfect, so I’m very grateful for His love and mercy. I have a degree in Elementary Education. I’ve worked in public and private schools as a teacher, aide, and substitute teacher. So, there you go. That’s who I am in a nutshell…sort of...
I have a lot of hobbies and activities I like to do, but I’m not necessarily gifted or experienced in all of them! My hobbies include reading, writing, travel, collecting, and photography. I would like to improve in piano, Spanish, exercising, writing, and crafting. I used to scrapbook and collect antiques, but my change of location to England has prevented any further enjoyment of those hobbies. I’m hoping someday to take up geocaching. I enjoy homeschooling more than anything—I love spending time with my kids, and I love teaching.
I also like: blogging, facebook, games, popcorn, charity shops, yard sales, country auctions, picnics, museums, old movies, castles, European gardens, English tea with milk, sweet ice tea in the summer, old houses, beaches, mountains, National Trust, homemade cookies, Jane Austen, Willy Wonka candy, Swiss chocolate, the Andy Griffith Show, pizza, the Lake District in England, Mexican food, Nancy Drew mysteries, Chick Fil-A, oldies music, barbecues, Lord of the Rings, Snugbury’s ice cream, Narnia, antiques, IMAX, lemonade, Silver Dollar City, classical music, large front porches with porch swings, Norman Rockwell, Sooner/Husker football (I’m a confused football fan, I know), Christmas music, history, and the X Factor. I love to travel and have been all over Britain (since I live here), France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada (British Columbia), and 27 states in the US (plus 2 if you count airports).
Someday I would like to (is this what they call a bucket list?): adopt more children, visit all 7 continents, write children’s books, visit relatives in Nicaragua, learn another language or two, and meet the Duggar family. Random sorts of things, I know (hehe). Trumping all those goals, however, is the desire to follow God’s call on my life. Nothing else is as important to me!
I’m not sure which things on that list will make it to this blog, but I am planning a weekly post of my photography. I don’t have the best camera, and I’ve never had a photography class in my life. However, I love and appreciate good photography, and I’m going to take at least one photo each day this year and post them here. I don’t know if anyone else will be at all interested in seeing my photos, but I can do this for myself and be satisfied with that.
Like Buttons in a Jar
Welcome to my blog! My name is Debbie, and this blog is just a place to ramble about my favorite things, like hobbies, family, and my relationship with Jesus. I am a homeschooling mom of 3, and I currently live in the United Kingdom. My family and I are Americans, but we moved to the UK almost 6 years ago to do missionary work with a church here. You can read about our homeschooling journey on my other blog Our Cup of Tea.
Why the blog title? It’s not easy trying to come up with the perfect blog title…and one that no one else has already used. I chose the title partly because I like buttons…in a jar (especially old Mason jars). Although I am a collector, I’ve never actively collected buttons. I don’t even have a full jar of buttons here in the UK. However, both my grandmas collected buttons, and I inherited enough of theirs to put in jars, although they’re in storage in the US at the moment. My mom also has buttons, but she kept them simply because she used to sew a lot. She rarely sews now, but when I was growing up my mom made a lot of our clothes. I remember her searching through her jar of buttons trying to find just the right one. I loved going through her buttons myself, even though they weren’t nearly as interesting as the ones my grandmas had.
I had decided my blog title should have the word “buttons” in it. I’m not sure why. There are lots of other things I like, but buttons stuck in my mind! As I thought about buttons and the collection I have, I thought about how unique they are. Some are plain. Some are fancy. Some are shaped like animals. Some are quite old. I have matching buttons on button cards. Most are plastic, but I also have some metal ones and a few wooden ones. Some have 4 holes, some have 2, and some have a single hole underneath. I could make a lot of comparisons using buttons in a jar, but since this blog is about my favorite things I’ll just compare buttons to things I like. I enjoy a lot of different things. I like simple things, and I like beautiful things. I like old things and new. And I love good memories, especially of my grandmas who collected so many wonderful buttons. Maybe it sounds quirky or cheesy to make those kinds of comparisons, but I know what I mean! For me, the things I write about on this blog are like buttons in a jar!
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