A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Series

A is for Sidney Altman

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Welcome welcome one and all.. to the first letter of the alphabet.

The letter A.  You’ll join Amanda and I won’t you?
 

I am so looking forward to seeing what others have to say.   It’ll be fun eh?

For my part, I am intending to be talking about all things Canadiana as we go through the alphabet.   Some will be obvious.. Like the provinces in our fine land, and others I am hoping, will be a bit more obscure.   All in all I hope that we all can learn more about my lovely land of opportunity….. CANADA!   🙂

Today we start with Sidney Altman, a scientist who received the Nobel Prize in 1989 for his work in Chemistry.

Born in Montreal, Quebec in 1939 the son of working class immigrant parents.   His dad owned a grocery store and his mom worked in a textile mill.   Learning from his parents the value of hard work and determination, which served him well in the long run.   As a youth he read anything he could get his hands on.  Reading a book Explaining The Atom by Selig Hecht got him hooked on science.

Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in physics, he later changed his major to biophysics.  He studied chemical compounds called acridines, focuses on how they affected the replication of viruses that infect bacteria.

He had many false starts and job changes over the years, eventually finding himself working in England, which is where he started on the path leading to the Nobel Prize.    His work led him back to the United States.   Working with RNA (Ribonucleic acid)  he, over a period of 20 years, discovers catalytic RNA, thus earning the Nobel Prize.

If you want to know more about this work


 
Mr. Altman remains a Canadian Citizen, though he is dual citizen with the USA.  His work with RNA continues. 
Sidney Altman, Canadian Citizen, winner of the Nobel Prize, Holder of the Letter A for this week of Blogging through the Alphabet. 

 

Feel free to link up your family friendly posts using the letter A this week. 
A Net In Time Schooling
A Net In Time Schooling

January 11th edition of Connections and Thankfulness

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Starting a new thing, not sure how often it will run, probably bi-weekly.   Showing some posts I liked during the past week or two, along with listing moments of gratitude.

Connections with Others

1. UsSchooling.  I love the tone and the thought in this blog post.   Instead of calling your style eclectic… call it US schooling.  

2. Friday Boxes. I used to, with my lad, write down one thing we were thankful for every day.  Became part of our routine but sometimes it was hard to come up with something.  I really like this idea of writing down one good thing (or more) of each week on a slip of paper, saving them and then reading them out at the end of the year.   I think we’ll start doing this.  Will be lovely to do I think.  🙂

3. Making a Change.  I liked this post of Lori’s…I love her flexibility in how each of her children operates best.   Made a lot of sense to me it did.  🙂

4. Is reading Hereditary.  I just thought this was an interesting question to ask.

5. Loving Languages Every Day.   I just liked this post.   Just keeping reading eh?

Moments of Gratitude
1. “Mom, can I help you with anything?”   I love hearing those words from my boy.  or even better “Mom, is it okay if I vaccuum?  Mom, can I sweep the floor”?   Why do I love that more?   It means I don’t have to think of some way to honour his words, he’s come up with the idea on his own.  🙂

2. Snow and Cold.   I know it’s odd.. but snow and cold mean health.  Means germs die.  Means no funerals or extra meals.  Means nothing is fretting people wise.

3. Clothing and it’s options.   The fun of watching my boy run around in the snow… with SHORTS on!!!   Makes me smile and shake my head and be glad that everyone has been created differently.  AND it creates conversation starters with other people… like the fellow at the foodbank asking “what’s with the shorts?” and the lad talking with him about how he loves shorts and loves the cold because it means he isn’t hot.

4. A talkative husband.  Oh my… it’s so interesting seeing the stress start to roll off his back and he talking it seems all the time.  I’m having a bit of time adjusting to that.  It’s just so very odd.  I like it, but it’s a bit of an adjustment.

Want to join in?   Go ahead and link up.   Be polite and link back to THIS post.   Visiting others and commenting is always a welcome thing. 

Art Book Series: Beatrix Potter

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I talked about this gorgeous art book early in December last year.   I just LOVED reviewing this book and find it an absolutely wonderful book that tells us all about Beatrix Potter. 

This lovely book was filled with a mirade of information about Miss Potter, from childhood through to accomplished artist.   It followed her initial interest and her love of her country cottage, the progression of her “little books for little hands”, and multiple of places her art took her.  
Five main chapters:
1. Becoming Beatrix Potter
2. London and the South Coast
3. Scotland
4. The Lake District
5. Wales and Beyond
I freely admit that I was captivated by her pictures of the mushrooms, just totally loved them!

Aren’t they well done?

Equally well done is all the other art that you will find hidden within the pages of this 256 page book, each picture coming with a story of the inspiration behind it and more.   The engaging style of writing taught me so much about Miss Potter.

If you would like to know more of the story behind Beatrix Potter, her books and her wonderful art, this book will do it for you completely 

Amazon.ca
Amazon.com

Introducing Blogging the Alphabet.

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HEY

Guess what?   I was talking with the folks over on the Homeschool Review Crew forum and some how we got on the topic of Blogging through the Alphabet. 

I thought it might be fun to host it!  (I know bold of me eh?)

BUT I am not  in this alone (YAHOO!!!), a lovely co-member is going to help me out.  Isn’t that great?  
Amanda from Hopkins Homeschool is going to be my co-host.  

So just what is blogging through the alphabet?

Every week we do a letter of the alphabet.  Everyone who participates write a blog post starting with the letter of the Alphabet… for instance if we were doing the Letter A, folks could write about Apples, Alpaca, Aristotle, or Aardvarks…just something that begins with the letter A.   Then the next week we move on to the next letter of the alphabet.

Some folks chose to do a series… such as Animals of the World, Counties, Field trips, people of the bible and such like. Others just jump in with whatever word pops into their minds each week. It all works.   The most important thing:  we want you to join
us!

So what to you think?   What to join in?  It is so interesting to read what others come up with  up.   I would LOVE to see what you would write over the next 26 weeks.   Get your thinking caps on and come join us.   We’ll start next week.    

This page will be the stopping zone, if you want to look back at what others have done for inspiration… just come here and look back at each letter.  🙂   

Rules:  

1. Linking time is Tuesday through Saturday.   
2. Family friendly posts on a variety of topics.  If you aren’t sure, ask one of us.
3. If it isn’t family friendly, it will be removed. 🙂
4. Linking back to us would be great.   You can grab the blog button or link back to one of the alphabet posts.  It’s only polite you know.  🙂
5.  If you wonder on a hashtag, you might want to use #abcblogging
6. Visiting and commenting on others is always a great social thing to do.  Let’s other people know you are reading them, and encourages them to read and hopefully share your great posts.
7. HAVE FUN.   That’s the point you know?   Have fun and share what’s on your mind.

 
  

A Net In Time Schooling
A Net In Time Schooling

 
We get started next week January 17th.

A  B   C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

A: Sidney Altman, Canadian Scientist. 
B: Beavers!
C: Chant National/O Canada.
D: Dog Sledding.
E: Edgewalk.
F. Tailed Frogs.  
G: The Greats of Canada. 
H: 
I:: 
J: 
K: 
L: 
M: 
N: 
O:
P: 
Q: 
R: 
S: 
T:
U: 
V: 
W: 
X: 
Y: 
Z:  

Book Series: The Excellent Wife – Who Can Find

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I was trying to figure out which of three books I’ve been looking at lately which one I should use on my blog.   (you can see that discussion here).   I finally decided on using the book “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace.   Why?   Because I often don’t feel like a very good wife.  I don’t know if I am the only one who feels like that (probably not as the Lord tells me there is nothing new under the sun), but it’s a real thing for me in my life.   Often feeling inadequate for the task at hand.

I’ve had this book for a while now, picked up because someone said “it’s a good book to work through” and it’s lain on my shelf, occasionally picked up but not really worked on.

Thought I should work through it and then I can pass it along should I want to.  Make sense right?  Books are meant to be used not just sit on shelves.

This book comes with a chapter to read as well as a study book that lists a number of questions.

 I thought I would write out most of the questions along with my answers. I invite you to join me with your own thoughts.

Chapter one is “The Excellent Wife – Who Can Find?”

1. What should the greatest priority in the Christian wife’s life? 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matt 6:33.
—that old adage is a true one.  God first… all else second…

2. What should he her second greatest priority?

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”   Genesis 2:18
— a helper fit… That’s what we are you know?   Fit for the person we are with… as long as we can accept that.

3. To what does God compare the worth of the excellent wife?

An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
 Proverbs 31:10 
 — trying to imagine being more precious than jewels…. I know, they are only stuff.  People are more important than any kind of stuff.  PERIOD.

4. List as many traits of the “excellent wife” as you can find from a careful reading of Proverbs 31:10-31.    

 An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.
 

My question: What does it mean to dress with strength?

My thoughts: There is a whole lot more in this passage than I like to think.  Some I am very familiar with…like she works hard… finds clothing for her family etc. , but others I found surprising.  Like “she laughs”, “the heart of her husband trusts her.”

All solid traits.

5.  What is a wife’s responsibility?   What problem could keep her from becoming a godly wife?

  • To put her confidence in the faithfulness of God and his word.
  • Sin and it’s affect on the woman in question.  Sin affects our confidence in God and his faithfulness to us in his word.

7. What is God’s remedy for sin?

  • 2 Cor 5:21 –  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Rom. 6:6 – We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
  • John 8:34-36 –   Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
  •  
  • God’s remedy for sin… His Perfect Son… the sinless one, born the penalty of sin for us.  If we want freedom from sin we must be in his Son.

8. Who is the helper that God sends Christians to enable them to obey His Word and t submit to His way and His will?
 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.  John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit is that additional helper that we’ve been given.

9. Why is the Christian wife without excuse to succeed in becoming a godly wife?  
 We have a ready and willing God who is quick to forgive those who come repentantly to him.   If I truly know that God will forgive me…if I am sorrowful for not trusting his faithfulness, then I need not have any fear.

 Your thoughts are most welcome.

Hymn Study: One Day

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Just as a fun preamble…I was thinking the other day about hymns I would want sung at my funeral, and this is one of them.  I LOVE this song.

But funeral arrangements aside…. here’s more about the author and the songs history.  🙂

I am so thankful that J. Wilbur Chapman wrote it back in the day.   Mr. Chapman lived from 1850-1918, an American belonging to the Presbyterian church.  As a child he attended a Quaker Day School and a Methodist Sunday School.  Upon maturity he became a pastor within the Presbyterian Church, later becoming an evangelist working under Dwight Moody.

Overtime he became a superintendant over a number of other evangelists.  In 1909, Chapman demanded that any field evangelist who doubted the inerrancy of Scripture be removed from ministry. (source)  I read this and thought “good on him”.


Most of his work occured in the states…but get this.. he made an evangelistic trip to Canada! 


Interesting fact.  Chapman wrote two poems that he gave to his evangelistic singing partner to put to a tune Charles Marsh. Marsh then wrote the tune, but
there was disagreement over the copyright between two publishers. As a
result, this song was not published until 1911.  (source)

 
Lyrics
1 One day when Heaven Was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was As black as could be,
Jesus came forth To be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
Chorus:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He’s coming– O glorious day! 
2 One day they led Him Up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him To die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He![Chorus]
3 One day they left Him Alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He![Chorus]
4 One day the grave Could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore![Chorus]
5 One day the trumpet Will sound for His coming,
One day the skies With His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine![Chorus]

Art Series: 642 Big Things to Draw

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Do you have a child who likes to draw but sometimes or often comes and says, Mom, I want to draw something but I don’t know what!   Can you tell me what to do draw?

Now…if your child is anything like mine, 99% of the ideas you come up with will be summarily rejected.    I don’t know about you but… I FIND THAT IMMENSELY  frustrating.   Probably shouldn’t, but it is what is right?   Enter in… this wonderful book of ideas.   642 Big Things to Draw.   So many ideas… if a child can’t find something to draw in here, well… do they really want to draw?

Anyways, let me tell you about this book, and I have to tell you books like this are MEANT to be used (unless you are my son who would rather grab an idea and put it on art paper).

This is a fairly big book (9.29 x 10.67) that is filled with pages divided into sections.

Each of those sections has a word or phrase written in it.    With a good amount of space to draw in as well, or if you don’t want to be constrained by space, get a art sketch pad and draw there.  It’s all good.  Just draw and let your mind relax as you bring forth your creative talents.

Everything in this book is large… from jumbo jets, to a zoo, to a giraffe’s neck and Lake Superior.  A bit of everything inbetween.   642 different ideas condensed into 304 pages.   Slapped down into a book where the pages are divided into 1/2’s, thirds, quarters in different configurations.  Keep the mind sharp eh?  🙂

Once a week or so my son and I will grab a book and draw for 15 minutes.   Sometimes we start new projects, other times we continue to work on projects from the week before.  We use this book and others like this book as our sources of inspiration.   It is amazing how simple words can inspire art.

I LOVE IT.

642 Big Things to Draw

Chronicle Books
9.29 x 10.67
304 pages
Ages: all ages can have fun with this book

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Affiliate links provided to help you find this great idea starter for doing art.  

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

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