Monday, 23 April 2012
Published!
I was invited to write an article on Prince Edward Island's home education regulations by the Canadian Homeschool Society. It appeared on their blog last Friday. Go HERE to read it. This is the first time I have had a piece published online somewhere other than my blog. Exciting!
Monday, 16 April 2012
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Honey Substitute
My husband has many allergies. One of the most dangerous ones he has had to deal with is his allergy to honey. In 2000, he had an anaphylactic reaction to honey and nearly died. We never have any in the house and I try to avoid buying foods containing honey. Many recipes, especially "healthy" ones, call for honey as a sweetener. Molasses (fancy type) is usually my substitute for honey, but I have found sometimes molasses is too strong of a flavour. It's usually fine in something like bread.
After some online searching, I came up with a substitute for honey. If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of honey, I take a glass (liquid) 1 cup measure and put 1/2 cup of either brown or white sugar in it. Then I carefully add enough water to bring the mixture up to the half cup line on the glass measure, stir, and use in the recipe.
Originally, I thought I could just replace honey with an equal amount of sugar. This doesn't work, though. Honey not only adds sweetness to your product but it also adds moisture, since it is a liquid.
Thanks for visiting today!
After some online searching, I came up with a substitute for honey. If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of honey, I take a glass (liquid) 1 cup measure and put 1/2 cup of either brown or white sugar in it. Then I carefully add enough water to bring the mixture up to the half cup line on the glass measure, stir, and use in the recipe.
Originally, I thought I could just replace honey with an equal amount of sugar. This doesn't work, though. Honey not only adds sweetness to your product but it also adds moisture, since it is a liquid.
Thanks for visiting today!
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
95th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - 9 April 2012
"The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during World War I. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.
The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering Germanenfilade fire. Supported by a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The town of Thélus fell during the second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame asalient of considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.
Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training, as well as the failure of the German Sixth Army to properly apply the new German defensive doctrine. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. A 91 ha (220 acres) portion of the former battleground serves as a preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.[5]"
"By nightfall on 12 April 1917, the Canadian Corps was in firm control of the ridge. The corps suffered 10,602 casualties: 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded.[3] The German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties with approximately 4,000 men becoming prisoners of war.[113][Note 6] Four members of the Canadian Corps received Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration awarded to British and Commonwealth forces for valour, for their actions during the battle..."
(Both are quotes from this Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge)
9 - 12 April 1917
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Yet Another Reason to Homeschool...
... and make sure your kids actually have some practical life skills.
Yesterday, I was standing in the queue at the post office waiting to pick up a parcel. A young lady, probably about 15 or 16 years old, came dashing in with an envelope and a handful of change. She said to the postmistress, "Thirty-four cents should be enough to mail that, right?" indicating the envelope in her hand. The postmistress choked back a laugh and answered, "No, dear. It would cost AT LEAST sixty-one cents." The girl looked back at her mail in disbelief, swore, and ran out of the post office.
It was funny, but sobering. Our domestic postal rate hasn't been 34 cents since the late 1980's. This girl obviously had no clue how much it currently costs to mail a letter. Granted, in this day of email, texting, and instant messaging, mailing a letter isn't as common as it once was. Still, being able to mail a letter is a basic life skill (as is being able to write one properly, but that's a different topic). Our society is filled with young people who have all kinds of "education", but no practical knowledge. They can go on and on about the environment and have opinions about all sorts of social issues, but have no idea how to make a household budget, shop for groceries, or prepare food for themselves.
I know this is quite a rant about a tiny incident in a small-town post office, but it seems to me to point to a larger issue. There is an absence of common sense. We don't teach our children life skills (like how to cook, clean, handle money, etc) because it is just easier for us to do it for them. When the average student graduates at age 18, they may have all kinds of "book smarts" (and the piece of paper that proves it) and are considered adults, but they may have no ability to take care of themselves.
A final thought - are we raising children or future adults?
Thank you for stopping by today! Linking to the Hip Homeschool Hop.
Yesterday, I was standing in the queue at the post office waiting to pick up a parcel. A young lady, probably about 15 or 16 years old, came dashing in with an envelope and a handful of change. She said to the postmistress, "Thirty-four cents should be enough to mail that, right?" indicating the envelope in her hand. The postmistress choked back a laugh and answered, "No, dear. It would cost AT LEAST sixty-one cents." The girl looked back at her mail in disbelief, swore, and ran out of the post office.
It was funny, but sobering. Our domestic postal rate hasn't been 34 cents since the late 1980's. This girl obviously had no clue how much it currently costs to mail a letter. Granted, in this day of email, texting, and instant messaging, mailing a letter isn't as common as it once was. Still, being able to mail a letter is a basic life skill (as is being able to write one properly, but that's a different topic). Our society is filled with young people who have all kinds of "education", but no practical knowledge. They can go on and on about the environment and have opinions about all sorts of social issues, but have no idea how to make a household budget, shop for groceries, or prepare food for themselves.
I know this is quite a rant about a tiny incident in a small-town post office, but it seems to me to point to a larger issue. There is an absence of common sense. We don't teach our children life skills (like how to cook, clean, handle money, etc) because it is just easier for us to do it for them. When the average student graduates at age 18, they may have all kinds of "book smarts" (and the piece of paper that proves it) and are considered adults, but they may have no ability to take care of themselves.
A final thought - are we raising children or future adults?
Thank you for stopping by today! Linking to the Hip Homeschool Hop.
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