Did you know that Disney announced plans in 1993 to build an American-history themed park? Planned to open in 1998, the project was ultimately scrapped because of opposition to the planned portrayal of events. I decided to learn a little more about the change. This news article gave some background: According to the original plans and brochures, Disney’s America would contain nine sections: a Colonial-era Presidents Square, an Indigenous village, Ellis Island, a factory town from the Industrial Revolution, a Civil War fort, a county fair, an early 19th-century port, a World War II-era battlefield and a Depression-era family farm.

At our local ice rink, admission is proved with a disposable bracelet that contains the printed version of “rights and responsibilities” at the ice rink. While fastening the bracelet on my daughter’s wrist, she begged me to pause and allow her to read it first. “I want to read it all!” I love her enthusiasm for learning, even if the print is small and the topic is contractual. I am glad that she is willing to look around and try to understand more.

Without planning ahead, we paid our entrance fee to Canyonlands and headed to the visitor’s center. The afternoon sun was sinking lower, and we knew we wouldn’t have much time. We’d had a full day already, visiting other nearby wilderness areas. The Park Ranger at the visitor’s center grabbed her highlighter and showed me the most effective route to see the most important sites before sunset. I liked how the park ranger used her expertise to teach me.

At my recent trip to the Jelly Belly Factory, I was surprised to see all the focus on Ronald Reagan. He is featured in every part of the factory, it seems! They are so proud of how much he loved their candy. According to the official Ronald Reagan website When Ronald Reagan ran for Governor of California in 1966, he began eating “Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans” as part of his successful attempt to give up pipe smoking.

If your child is preparing to start high school, you may wonder what kind of AP Classes would help him the most. I have written extensively about AP Classes , the resources we use, and which ones we prefer. But, in this case, if you are in the Public School system, you are going to be restricted by what the school offers and also the school’s suggested timelines. Taking AP classes in high school can Cost One-Sixth of College Tuition If passed, AP tests provide at least 3 credit hours.

As a group of homeschool families, we attend Kennedy Center shows as a “school group.” Normally, we are seated as a “school” and don’t receive printed tickets. This time, though, the show was very popular and sold out. Our tickets were in several groups, the education director explained. She was sorry we weren’t all able to sit together. I stared at the tickets with the other moms in our group, wondering how to place the children.

I love seeing something simple done well. Years ago, my friend Caroline had inspired me to try biscornu, small, stuffed octagonal pincushions. I love seeing her products. When I saw these biscornu recently, they reminded me of her. The unfussy design is inspiring and allows the good work to shine. It makes me want to be on team “Nellie Needlers!”

Recently, my arhitecturally-focused child discovered these books by Lester Walker. Each step is outlined for how to design a house, including suggestions for using cardboard models. He now spends time each week building these models and considering how to create what he would like. I think that when families ask me how to homeschool, this is the kind of answer they are looking for. An overview of several methods, tips on what to focus on, and a plan for how to get it all done.

After touring Woodlawn, “Despite her privileged status and her power over enslaved domestic workers, she perceived her life as challenging.” In my opinion, rather than meeting someone’s perception of their personal challenges with judgment, we need to respond with empathy. It makes sense that she thought her life was challenging. It was challenging! She had seven children die young. She had many financial challenges. She faced heartache and loss. Were there other people around her who also had challenging lives?

I love the title of this section of a breadmaking book, Flour Power: “Patience as an Ingredient” Certainly sourdough requires patience! I also found her honesty refreshing as she reflected on her breadmaking journey. “There is a real danger to tying your worth to how the bread comes out any given day and that it’s harsh to make fun of people who like sandwich bread. I learned that having extreme values can be lonely.