Diana B.

Meet Peep

June 5, 2015 Diana B.2 Comments

Sometimes as birdwatchers, we find that the tables turn and we are actually being watched by the birds instead!

Peep is a male American goldfinch who especially likes people watching.

He shows up at our windows, sometimes knocking on the glass with his beak. Then he just stares at us, making me feel guilty about not keeping the windows cleaner.

After a minute, he moves on to a different window and stares some more. If he weren’t so cute and yellow, he might come across as creepy!

Eventually, Peep gets hungry and joins his darling little wife at the feeder. They make such a cute couple all dressed in bright yellow feathers.

Oh, and if you want to share the love of birdwatching with a small person or two in your life, check out this great list of 10 picture books about birds over at House Full of Bookworms. I found many of these are available at our library and will be perfect for summer reading.

Happy reading, happy summer and happy birdwatching!

Backyard Birdwatching

June 1, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” -Matthew 6:26

One of our family’s favorite hobbies is birdwatching. And since we have a variety of birds that visit our backyard, we hang several feeders on our deck. These feeders are easy for us to see from the windows in our dining area, and it’s delightful to watch the birds eat while we sit together as a family. We usually keep our binoculars and a bird identification book right on the windowsill.

Whether they are woodpeckers, orioles, hummingbirds, grosbeaks, red-winged blackbirds, goldfinches, or something else, they all seem to appreciate the food. As we watch them eat, it is entertaining to imagine what each bird might be saying or thinking about his meal, his feathers or that day’s weather.

This rose breasted grosbeak looked rather dapper in his red tie. He ate first while his beautiful wife perched nearby.

backyard 02377 — male rose breasted grosbeak

Isn’t she lovely?

backyard 03278 — female rose breasted grosbeak

Certainly the way to any bird’s heart is through its stomach, and nearly all of our bird friends love this particular suet feeder.

nature 10784 — suet feeder – raccoons keep out!

We usually don’t see robins eat from our feeders — they find plenty to eat chasing worms in the grass. But one day I caught a brave robin trying to eat the suet. He kept flapping his wings madly — pretending to be a hummingbird, I think — as he attempted to hover near the feeder and stick his beak into the suet to steal a bite. He’d often watched the woodpeckers and red-winged blackbirds do it and was feeling left out, I suppose. It wasn’t easy, but he did manage to get a few bites and then afterward he perched on the deck long enough for me to capture his picture.

Do you see the bit of food still on his beak? He really needed a napkin.

Coming up next is a story about people watching — and it might not be what you think!

One Plus One Equals Three

May 27, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

“There are three kinds of people in this world. Those who are good at math and those who aren’t.”

My friend once posted that quote on Facebook, and it made me laugh because I’m a journalist married to a mechanical engineer. Math certainly isn’t my favorite subject – but it sure gets discussed plenty in this homeschool family.

And while I chuckle because that quote just doesn’t add up, it reminds me of another quote that doesn’t seem to add up either.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

This story continues over at The End in Mind.

Embracing the Lilacs

May 25, 2015 Diana B.1 Comment

It’s a family tradition to visit the arboretum’s lilac exhibit every spring, just to embrace the beautiful blooms and their lovely fragrance.

This year, great-grandma comes along, too.

She and my oldest daughter compare the various lilac blooms.

My youngest loves the white lilac blooms best.

Of course, the lilacs aren’t the only blooms at the arb. The tulips look incredible.

And the magical crabapples are dripping with blossoms.

The cheerful daffodils dance on the breezy hillside.

And a few magnolia blossoms still linger for our delight.

I’ll close with a throwback of me embracing my mama’s lovely lilacs a long time ago.

Now please close your computer or set down your device and go outside! Find something alive and blooming and beautiful to smell!

More Random Favorites

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

Ticonderoga Black Pencils As a writer and homeschool mama, I have become totally snobbish about pencils. I absolutely detest pencils that fall apart as I sharpen them or — worse yet — have erasers that don’t actually erase! These black #2 pencils are durable, write smoothly, and have excellent erasers. Ticonderoga Pencils are now the only writing pencils allowed in our house, except the occasional mechanical pencil.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils My children’s favorite art teacher once encouraged us to buy these colored pencils, and I am forever thankful. Their colors are splendid and so vibrant! These will totally ruin you on ever using inexpensive colored pencils again.

Kleen Slate Dry Erase Paddles and Markers I bought these mini dry erase boards and markers last summer and they are a big hit with my 3rd grader and 6th grader. They are the perfect size for students to handle and they have a nifty spot that holds the marker, which includes an eraser on the end of the lid. Genius! We bought ones that have a graph side and a blank side. The graph side is especially useful during math lessons.

Norwex Enviro Cloth This microfiber cleaning cloth allows me to clean using no chemicals — just water. Silver fibers make the cloth antibacterial. It works great on most surfaces — including mirrors.

Norwex Window Polishing Cloth I use this cloth to polish mirrors and windows after I clean them with the Enviro Cloth. My husband steals it to use on the inside of the car windows. It works well and does not leave behind annoying streaks or lint.

Norwex Microfiber Dusting Mitt To be honest, my daughter uses this more than I do. It is a super-absorbent mitt that works wonderfully.

DaySpring sticky notes Am I the only one who loses entire pads of sticky notes amongst the clutter on desks or countertops? These are such pretty sticky notes, and because they are held together in a nifty 6 by 8-inch folio, they are much easier to find.

Bluecorn Naturals 100% Pure Beeswax Tapers These tapers were recently a gift we received from a dear friend, and our family enjoys having them lit during dinner time. They burn for one hour per inch of length, plus they are paraffin-free and lead-free and handmade in Colorado. I want to try their tea lights next.

Mpix Quality Prints As the granddaughter and niece of professional photographers, I inherited rather lofty expectations in terms of photo finishing. Both my grandpa and my uncle used Miller’s Professional Imaging, which was founded in 1968 and is this country’s largest professional photography lab. Mpix is a division of Millers, and it does an outstanding job with print quality, not to mention the speedy turnaround time. Mpix prints all my 4 x 6 photos, enlargements and canvas prints. It does take some time to upload images and wait for the box to arrive, but the exceptional quality of the end result makes all that worthwhile.

These are a few of my favorite things! What are some of yours?

Let It Shine

April 27, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

Holding small, battery-powered tea candles in their chubby little hands, my two daughters sang along to “This Little Light of Mine” as we sat in the dark. They were ages 3 and 6, and “light” was the big topic of the week in our homeschool.

After the song, I read aloud Matthew 5:16, in which Jesus says: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

With the lights back on and candles put away, our Kindergarten-level discussion quickly led to the question: “What are good works, Mommy?” I don’t recall exactly how I answered, but a few days later, God made the answer clear. Our family was driving about a mile from home when we came upon a car with a flat tire. My husband pulled over to help, and as soon as he left the van, our youngest daughter started the seemingly endless interrogation that characterizes many 3-year-olds.

“What are we doing? Why are we here? Why are we stopped? Who is that? What is Daddy doing? Do we know that lady?”

Continue reading this post over at The End in Mind.

Please Do Disturb Us

April 2, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

Having a flexible schedule is a benefit that ranks high among the reasons moms love homeschooling. It’s the joy of cancelling the day’s math lessons so that you can spend the first warm spring day at the park. It’s the freedom to postpone your first grader’s reading lessons until the quiet hour when your toddler takes her afternoon nap. It’s the empowerment to call off handwriting lessons for two whole months while your third grader’s broken right arm heals in a cast.

Continue reading Please Do Disturb Us over here at The End in Mind.

10 Favorites Made in Minnesota

March 9, 2015March 9, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

It’s spring! Or at least it feels that way because the temperature is in the 50s, birds are singing, the snow is melting and the days are getting longer. Never mind that my children are off snow skiing today and folks are still out ice fishing on the lake — with their big trucks parked on the ice. Never mind that. It’s spring!

To celebrate, I am sharing a few of my favorite things. No, I won’t break into a song about raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens. I am so not Julie Andrews. Nor I am being compensated to tell you about these things. I just like them and thought you might enjoy them, too, either for yourself or for someone you love. All items are made right here in Minnesota, but otherwise it’s a pretty random list.

1. Lume Soapworks Butter Bar: I received my first bar of this in a gift basket from a dear friend, and it really does make my skin feel like a million bucks. Physician-formulated, the bar is 20% shea butter and features essential oil scents, including a light lemon scent that is so refreshing. It feels very luxurious on your skin, and it is made in Chaska, Minn. by the sister of my dear friend. The cost is $5.49 for a 3.5 oz. bar or $19.99 for a four-pack.

2. Lume Soapworks Lip Service: This shea butter lip balm, also in that gift basket I mentioned, makes my lips super happy. My daughters love it, too. It includes cocoa butter, castor oil, sunflower oil, Vitamin E, and eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils. I especially appreciate the container’s oval shape, which fits lips much better than the usual circle shape. Available tinted or untinted, this is also made in Chaska, Minn. by the sister of my dear friend. The cost is $3.99.

3. Daisy Blue Natural Deodorant Cream: Scented with lavender and spearmint essential oils as well as rosemary extract, this natural deodorant cream is a mixture of baking soda, shea butter and other oils. It smells wonderful and, most importantly, it really works. It is made in Albert Lea, Minn. The cost is $9 for 1.5 oz.

4. RenPure Originals Brazilian Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner: I have been looking for a while to find affordable, paraben-free hair care products, and I think I’ve finally found a favorite. These products combine coconut oil, keratin protein and shea butter for smooth, frizz-free hair. Plus, they smell fabulous. These are made in Mound, Minn. The cost is $4.99 for a 16 oz. bottle.

5. The Original Carlsbad Oblaten: These delicately crisp wafers are perfect with hot cocoa, ice cream, hot tea or coffee. My family adores them because of the powdered sugar in the middle. The vanilla-almond flavor is our first choice, but they come in many flavor varieties and are made in New Germany, Minn. from a 200-year old recipe. The cost is about $15 for a 6.75 oz. gift tin.

6. TeaSource Georgia Sunshine: Oh, how I love this tea! This loose leaf tea is a fine Ceylon black tea that combines ginger and peach flavors. It’s simply fabulous. The tea is obviously imported, but TeaSource is based in Roseville, Minn. and specializes in importing, blending, warehousing, and sales of tea. They ship tea everywhere and have retail stores in St. Paul, St. Anthony and Eden Prairie, Minn. The cost is $4.64 for 2 oz. of loose leaf tea, which makes about 25 cups.

7. Truffle Hill Chocolates: These hand-made chocolates are quite delectable and make a fabulous gift for any chocolate lover. Their cute little retail store sits atop a hill near Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, Minn. and they will ship chocolates out of state. The cost depends on how much you love the chocolate-lover.

8. J.R. Watkins All-Purpose Cleaner: What a terrific lemon scent this cleaner has! I mostly use it in the kitchen, and I appreciate that it is non-toxic and ammonia free. It is made in Winona, Minn. The cost is $4.99 for 24 oz.

9. J.R. Watkins Foaming Hand Soap: Fragranced with essential oils, this mild soap is perfect for the kitchen sink. It cleanses and gently moisturizes. It is also made in Winona, Minn. The cost is $4.99 for 9 oz.

10. Broken and Beautiful Mosaic Jewelry: These lovely pendants, ornaments and belts are made by an amazingly talented friend of mine. Each piece is a work of art. Items are available at Uptown MN in the Mall of America, Art 2 Heart in Hamel, Minn., and Unearthed Arts in Waconia, Minn.

I hope you find a new favorite thing. Happy spring!

A Hard Road Paved with Grace

February 18, 2015 Diana B.1 Comment

At a crossroads. That’s where our homeschool journey began. By God’s grace, we felt peace that the public school path was not an option for our soon-to-be Kindergartner. But still two paths remained: private school and homeschool.

A Hard Road Paved with Grace - By Diana Barto

The private school option seemed like the most obvious route, especially since our oldest daughter was already attending preschool at the local private Christian school and enjoying it.

Click here to continue reading “A Hard Road Paved with Grace” over at The End in Mind.

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

February 1, 2015 Diana B.Leave a comment

Minnesota – we love it here! Or least we have a mug with that motto and try to have that attitude. Sometimes attitude is what fuels our fortitude to make it through January.

So yesterday we embraced the frozen tundra and wrapped up January with a fun trip to the local ice castle. Yes, Elsa, Anna and Olaf were all there. And yes, all the ice was real.

It was 27 degrees outside, and I joined Olaf in daydreaming about summer.

Despite the warnings I’ve read in The Snow Queen and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I let my darling children ride off in a sleigh with a complete stranger. This ended much better than it sounds, probably because no one offered them Turkish Delight.