Movie Review

Last night I watched a documentary called Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  Here is the description on the case:

"A Must See Movie!  Riveting, Eye Opening, And Even Astonishing!
Big science has expelled smart ideas from the classroom...  What they forgot is that every generation has its Rebel!  That rebel, Ben Stein, travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth... that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired - for merely believing that there might be evidence of "design" in nature.  Perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.  In the film Ben says "Enough" - and NOBODY messes with Ben!"

This movie really explores the academic world of science and shows that science isn't really all about facts and truth - there is a lot of pressure to conform to the majority.  Scientists who have different ideas are almost shunned by the scientific community if they go public with their differing theories or findings.  "Intelligent Design" is a bad word to "real" scientists (Darwinians).

I have to admit, before I saw this video, I thought that Intelligent Design (ID) and creationism were the same thing.  However, they are not.  Creationism says that God created everything, while ID says that an intelligent being had some part in the design of the universe (not necessarily God - many who hold to ID are atheists or agnostics).

I found this documentary really well done.  It was fascinating, funny at times, and kept your attention right to the end.  It was also terribly sad at times.  That's really my only caution about this movie.  There is a section on eugenics, Hitler, and the Holocaust.  I almost turned it off at that point because I get so upset when I see and hear about that time in history.  It is heart wrenching to think how people suffered at the hands of other human beings.  The thing that made this section even more poignant is that Ben Stein... is Jewish.

The rating label is PG for "thematic material, some disturbing images and brief smoking".  There was also a "family approved" sticker.  I would say that this documentary would only be suitable for teens and up.  Parts of it would be too intense for younger children.

Thanks for visiting today!  As always, I value your comments if you care to leave them.

Waiting For Irene

Today was a gorgeous, hot (26 degrees Celsius), sunny summer day.  However, people here are gearing up for a possible hurricane/tropical storm that may decide to visit us sometime between Sunday and Monday morning.  We could get sustained winds of 100 km/h with higher gusts as well as heavy rain OR it could miss us completely.  One never knows and it is better to be prepared for the worst.

So we're going to be moving things out of the yard and into the shed so things won't be blowing around.  I have to stake up some of my plants so they aren't damaged in the (possibly) high winds.  I'm also going to try to do some baking so we can have easily prepared meals in the case of power outages.  We'll also be loading up the fridge and freezer with water and filling the bathtub with water.  We have plenty of candles, matches and batteries.  Also, we're far enough from the shore that we don't have to worry about storm surges.  Now we just have to ride out whatever weather we get!   Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Psalm 107.28&29

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Update Monday evening:  We got some rain and very brisk winds but were spared serious damage.  A few trees and electric poles came down in the wind and the western part of the Island was without power for a while.  The ferries were cancelled this morning and the bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles, motorcycles, and trailers.

What's Growing in My Garden Today

Not a very exciting post today.  My garden is at in-between stage - lots of things have finished blooming and some things are just getting ready to bloom.  A few photos for your browsing pleasure:

A couple of sad little pansies

Marjoram 

Our appleless apple tree

My Sub-Zero roses starting their 2nd bloom cycle

"Oscar" gladiolus

Behind our property today, there are potatoes being harvested.

There goes "another big loada potatoes".  If you don't know what I'm talking about (or even if you do!), take a listen to THIS.

Thanks for visiting today!

Children Grieving For a Pet

We are getting used to life without Bentley, but it has been difficult at times.  Lass and Laddie sometimes forget he's gone and ask for him and then we have a few tears.  Overall, this process hasn't been too bad.  I think it helped that we let them see the cat (he wasn't mangled at all - he just looked like he was asleep) and they helped bury him.  This is their first time of really having to deal with death.  I was unsure about letting the children see their dead pet (there would not have been any question if Bentley had been badly injured), but Robbie and I decided that it would be for the best if they did.  As we were carrying the cat to the back of the property to bury him, Laddie said, "Look, Mum, he's waking up!"  Poor little fellow - he just couldn't understand.

On a lighter note, Robbie asked me if we should play The Flowers of the Forest as we walked up the hill.  I just looked at him.

How do you help your children deal with loss?

This post is linked to the Hip Homeschool Hop today.  Thanks for visiting.

A Sad Time

Bentley 

A beloved member of our family from 23 March 2011 to 19 August 2011

We miss him so much.

I broke the law... again

Just an update to my post "Breaking the Law".  Here is a recent article from the Charlottetown paper about what has happened to the Mermuys' business since they started selling the egg cartons ;)

I am amazed by the response.  On Monday, I went into The Turning Point and was able to get their last dozen eggs.  They can hardly keep them in the store.  I had a chat with a gentleman waiting to get his order rung through (he actually let me have the last full dozen eggs and took a carton with only 11 eggs in it because one had broken).  What a nice man!

Also, I discovered that eggs at the Atlantic Superstore (where I do the bulk of my shopping) are now $2.99 a dozen for large.  The "local eggs" are about 25 cents cheaper and they are so big that the covers on the extra large cartons will just close over them.  Now I can buy local AND be frugal!

Thanks for visiting today!

Garden Updates!

We have had a lot of rain!  I feel guilty that everything is so lush and green here when there are other places that are so desperate for rain. Anyway, a few photos for you...

Stargazer lily - I've been waiting for these since March!

Another kind of lily (Asiatic).  I lost the tag for this one and can't remember what it's called.

These are the fields behind our property.  On the left is wheat and on the right is potatoes.

My zucchini and cucumber plants are getting huge!

Tiny little zucchini!

Baby cucumbers!

I'm slowly getting organised for the new school year - SLOWLY.  I had this dream of schooling through the summer but it just didn't work out.  I think it will be good for Lass and Laddie to get back on a real schedule. Our "first day of school" is still up in the air, but I'm pretty sure we won't start until after Labour Day.  That gives me a little more time to get myself organised.

I need to get ready to go to Bible Study.  Tonight we're doing Psalm 10.

I'm linking to the Hip Homeschool Hop today.  Thanks for visiting!

Blogging Break?

I'm thinking of taking a little break from blogging, even though I haven't been overly prolific lately.  I have a number of posts in the draft stage right now and I may get around to posting them fairly soon.  I'm feeling a little stressed.  There is lots of planning to be done for the new school year (including getting my paperwork done!), Vacation Bible School this week (our second VBS this summer), going to Bible camp for a week this month, and then there is also the regular household duties, activities/outings, and preparing to teach Sunday School each week.  When do I get to take MY holidays?? ;)

I'm also trying to set up a workbox system for my kids this year.  It's something I just recently found out about but I'm eager to try it!  The system was initially developed by a woman looking for ways to help her autistic son. You can read more on her site here if you're interested in learning more about it.  I will be modifying Sue Patrick's system quite a bit to meet our needs and our lack of space, but my system will be based on hers.  I'll post some photos when I get everything organised.

So if I'm not around too much, don't worry, I will be back!  I have updated my profile (About Me) a little if you'd like to take a look.  What do you think of my kids' new nicknames? :)

Thanks for visiting!  I'm linking this post to the Hip Homeschool Hop.