Dissecting for Homeschool

This is my daughter, once very squeamish, dissecting a grass snake we had found dead on the side of the road during an afternoon walk.  It was our end-of-the-year science experiment for 10th grade. 

I can recall when just the thought of dissecting a toad made her yell in protest, "Ewwww, gross, I am NOT doing that."  Hmm, guess we've come a long way.

Hands-on learning is important for students, regardless of whether they are public or home-schooled.  I think it helps that she didn't have a classroom of other students watching her every move and reaction.  No pressure, no smart-aleck comments, and certainly no faint-at-hearts passing out or throwing up to interrupt the experiment!

I was very proud of her for having the courage to do the dissection.  Of course, she still thought it was gross, but this time it was an interesting gross instead of an "I'm going to throw up if you make me do that" gross.

Canada Homeschooling?

http://www.terryrachar.com/terryrachar/homeschooling.zip
Enclosed is a link from a Canadian friend of mine who so graciously did some research for me to help us understand homeschooling in Canada better.  Terry is a writer who has been online for several years now and also has connections on Twitter.  Please check out his article and feel free to add any helpful information or positive comments.
I've wondered what homeschooling is like in other countries.  It seems funny to me that it is considered a privilege to homeschool these days when it was all that was available in the distant past.  People who moved to the prairies, newly established western towns, the remote mountain areas, and so on, had no choices available but to homeschool.  Some of our most famous leaders, artists, and writers of the past were homeschooled.  Yet, now, there are places in the United States alone where it is not even a given right to homeschool.
Thanks to the pioneering families who helped it become acceptable in Texas to homeschool.  If it were not for them, my own daughter's life would not have been enriched and improved.  Just as homeschooling is not for everyone, neither is public schooling.  To be forced to school in a way that is detrimental to the mental and emotional health of my child is now unthinkable to me.  I, for one, am grateful that God led us down this path.

Glass Etching #2

I'd like to address the art of hand-etching photos into glass.  This photo is an image of a 2 year old daughter of a friend of mine.  This lady has been through a lot of heartache, so I wanted to give her something special to lift her spirits.  The picture was sent to me via email, and I turned it into a black and white, made it smaller, and taped it to the inside of the glass.  I used the Dremel diamond bit to etch the outline of the face and features.  Then I removed the photo from the inside of the glass and placed it nearby so I could use it as a reference to finish the etching.  I mailed the photo and the glass to my friend so she could compare them. 

This is the type of gift that is unique and can be used by the receiver, so it's not just a decoration gathering dust on a shelf.  It will last for ages to come, and is a great memory piece to give a loved one who might be hard to shop for.

Please contact me at Shawneepaints1@aol.com to order.

Sir Pee Pee

Meet Sir Pee Pee.  He's a stray that has blessed us with his presence at our home.  He hung out next door at the neighbor's house for the first two weeks, venturing over to ours very slowly and cautiously so as to gauge our reactions to him.
Upon fearing for his possible starvation, I began to leave out small amounts of scrap food.  Little did I know, our neighbors had also felt sorry for him and not wanted him to starve.  They had fed him as well.  If I had known this, I would not have invited him to become so friendly.
The problem is that my family owns 4 dogs, a cat, and a fish.  We don't want another animal.  I guess God knew this one needed us, at least for a short while.  I have put up posters, hoping someone would claim him.  Our neighbor called the local radio station, hoping someone would claim him.  Now, we will be forced to find him a home.
Sir Pee Pee acquired his name because he followed my daughter and me on a walk one day.  He felt it was his duty to mark his territory all the way to the end of our road and back.  My daughter thought it would be funny to call him this name, and it stuck.
Sir Pee Pee breaks my heart because I must be practical and find him another home, knowing that it is sad that he must become accustomed to yet another home.  He is a friendly little guy with a heart of gold.  He's very well-mannered and has beautiful sad eyes.  His head looks too big for his body, which makes me think he's so ugly he's cute.
He's always happy to see us when we arrive home or when we venture outside.  He doesn't jump on us.  He only wants love and attention and will stay away if we tell him so.  We just can't afford the upkeep for another pet.  We didn't ask for him.  It has been nice to know him for however long he shall grace us with his presence.  He has been a bright spot with his gentle ways.

Glass Etching, Custom Gifts post one

Welcome to the beginning of my series on glass etching.  This is a sample of my work that I have for sale.  It is only one side of a two-sided glass pitcher on which I have etched the popular kokopelli.  Most folks who know me also know I have a passion for kokopellis.

This particular piece took less than an hour to etch.  As I etched, I took the safety precaution of wearing earplugs.  I didn't have to cover my nose and mouth this time since the piece is a small 5 and 1/2 inch tall pitcher and therefore, did not produce much dust.

When I etched this piece, I began with drawing it on with a permanent marker.  I was able to wash off any corrections with a wet fingertip.  I had to place a piece of dark cloth behind the glass, partly to cushion the glass as I etched and pushed on the pitcher.  It also helps the etching show up better as I work.

Once I have the basic outline of my design, I can then wash off the permanent marker that is left on the glass and proceed to deepen the impression.  I do not use harsh chemicals in my etchings.  I use a Dremel tool and diamond tips.

Anyone interested in ordering a custom glass etching can leave a message on the comment section of this blog post with your email.  Ask questions, please, and I will answer to the best of my ability.  It never hurts to ask.  I am now taking orders for custom gifts.  Christmas is coming!

If you are interested in seeing more of my artwork, there is a button on this blog to my esnips site.