Homeschool Makeover Series and Celebrating Summer

I’ve been sharing the stages of our homeschool makeover over the last months. Summer is the best time for assessing and reworking homeschool spaces, I think. Today, my helpful homeschool tip to share…Decorating and displaying the frugal way!
Each year we contribute many entries in our state fair. Art pieces, flowers, baked goods, photographs. With five children, that makes for quite a few entries. Well, each entry automatically receives a participation ribbon. And, over the last decade, we’ve also been blessed with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons. Throw in a few occasional science fair ribbons and we have awards overflowing.

What to do with all those ribbons? I’m sharing the details at Heart of the Matter: Ribbons as Curtain Toppers. Here’s the rest of the homeschool makeover series…

• School Books on the Mantel
• Maps as Window Treatments
• Chalkboard Desk
• Bookcases and more here at Hodgepodge
• Our school room: All Things Chalkboard

In My Life This Week…I have been planning. I’ve been considering devoting a whole week to purging outgrown clothes and clearing clutter. Am I up for it? Another week for Camp Hodgepodge summer camp at home. Plus making plans to participate in the Great American Backyard Camp Out.

In Our Homeschool This Week… we have been reading our summer stack and generally working our way into a summer routine. We shared a Sandpiper Chalk Pastel lesson this week. I hope you will join us over the summer for some free art lessons! There are over 40 chalk pastels and the starts of a collection of acrylic lessons as well.

I am inspired by… Barb-Harmony Art Mom’s post on Homeschool Grades vs. Achievements. I appreciate her practical helps as I look at high school for our eldest in just a few short months as well as bringing our rising 8th grader along for a transition time.

My favorite thing this week was...We celebrated a birthday! Sparklers are always fun to end a birthday – day – with. I also enjoyed seeing how much our garden grew while we were at the beach! The sunflowers are a foot taller, the hydrangeas are just about at their peak color, the day lilies are taking turns blooming and the squash and cucumber plants are making my mouth water.

What’s working for us… Keeping our habits established through the summer sure does help with the ‘bones’ of our day. I’ve shared about our Before 8:45 list and Afternoon Quiet Time for All Ages. We are also continuing a spattering of Teaching Textbooks math through the summer. Plus the delight of nature study. The latest Handbook of Nature Study newsletter is a Beach Ocean edition and the Summer Sizzle ebook is available as well. There’s so much nature to enjoy in the summer.

Thoughts I have… already ready to put the pause button on summer! (Our summer book list here)

Things I’m working on…finalizing homeschool plans, ordering homeschool curricula, working on Curriculum Choice and Habits for a Happy Home.

I’m reading… To Dance Once More – my friend Sherri’s book! Review coming soon! My stack of June magazines – Southern Living and Better Homes. I’m also enjoying my annual re-read of I Saw the Angel in the Marble by the Elijah Co.

I’m cooking…a bunch over the next couple days. A 2-step pound cake for a cousin’s bridal shower, batches of Italian Stuffed Shells for a friend with a new baby (plus enough to tuck in our freezer), batches of homemade cookie dough balls to put in our freezer for VBS week. Plus trying a new Southern Living recipe from this month’s magazine: Strawberry-Pretzel Ice Box Pie.

I’m grateful for…a fabulous week at the beach. I’m still scrolling through and reliving that time with family. And our 17th wedding anniversary this weekend!!!

I’m praying for…the school year ahead and for the swelling in my trick knee to go down.

A photo to share…this sunset photo from the beach. It just seems to say the Heavens declare the glory of God!

Many thanks to our Friday hostesses! Just look at this great list…

• Camera Phone Friday hostess Dawn Camp @ My Home Sweet Home
  
• Weekly Wrap-Up hostess Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
• Collage Friday hostess Mary at Home Grown Learners
• and Jamerrill at Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling, plus
• Homeschool Mother’s Journal at iHomeschool Network

Whew! You are a true friend if you read all that! That was a two week wrap up. So, what’s your favorite part of summer?