The Sparrow's Home: Life is hard. God is good. We need each other.

Homeschooling High School: Planning a Course for Both High School & College Credit

April 25, 2016 by Susan 4 Comments

Welcome to the second chapter in my series on how we are Homeschooling High School. My first post in this series introduced you to the method that we are following. I encourage you to go back and read it if you haven’t. In a nutshell, we are utilizing all available resources to accrue college credit inexpensively or free. This means that we will take advantage of our state’s dual enrollment program during Junior and Senior years. It also means that as we study various subjects, we pursue college credit through CLEP and DSST testing. If you’d like to read more about fully utilizing credit by exam check out this website. It’s a gem, and my best source!

This method has not changed what we study so much as it has changed how we study.

I’m going to walk you through a subject so you can see what it looks like as we look toward testing.

Let’s look at Economics.

Easy Gyro Recipe

April 22, 2016 by Susan Leave a Comment

One of the tips for saving money at the grocery store that I hear most often (because it’s a great tip) is to buy what is on sale.

Most of the time, that means buying what’s advertised on the front and back of the weekly sales flier. Sometimes, though, you come across an unexpected markdown. I once found Beef Roasts that had been mis-marked at $.06 per pound, and the store honored the price. I bought 8. (I wanted to buy them all, but didn’t want to look greedy).

This recipe for Gyros is easy to customize with whatever kind of meat you have in your freezer or find on sale. I’ve made them with both chicken breasts and pork chops and they have turned out equally delicious. I’ll bet they would be yummy with beef, too.

It makes for a great make ahead, also. Just mix up the marinade ingredients and pour over your meat of choice in a Ziploc bag and freeze. I love having things in the freezer ready to go, don’t you? (Check out my freezer recipe for Texas Toast, it’s buttery and delicious). A stash in the freezer can make dinner prep so quick on those busy nights!

Girls Movie Night Menu: Gone With the Wind

April 21, 2016 by Susan 11 Comments

Do you love a party with a theme as much as I do? There’s just something about it that tickles me. It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate…sometimes it’s just a nod.

Some time ago, my niece joined us on a road trip. She made a discovery about our family. She found out that, much to the chagrin of our boys – my husband and I enjoy listening to songs from musicals when we travel. Few things can keep you alert while driving better than singing (in character, of course), “I Dreamed a Dream,” or “Who’s That Guy?” Yes, we like everything from Les Miserables to Grease 2.

(Driving through Oklahoma was especially fun for Greg and I…not so much for the boys.) Oklahoma – OK!

And thus started our discussion about all of the musicals that my niece hadn’t yet seen. We decided right then and there that a Girls Movie Night must happen.

Since then, a group of young ladies, and some not as young ladies, have gathered at my house to watch movies that some of us consider classics.

It started with musicals specifically, but has branched into other genres.

Healthy (But You Wouldn’t Know It) Chocolate Pancakes

April 20, 2016 by Susan 2 Comments

These chocolate pancakes are sneaky delicious. They are rich and chocolatey & filled with nutritious veggies. Decadent AND good for you!

Picture this:

A loving aunt serves up a snack to her 8 year old nephew. The offering – a moist, rich, chocolate cake.

After gobbling up his first piece, he asks for a second. She dishes it up, and as she passes it back to him, here is their exchange,

“I’m so glad you like my Chocolate Zucchini Ca—“

“I think I’m full.”

Cake plate pushed politely back across the table.

And Scene.

The scene was real. The loving aunt was played by my sister and the nephew, my eldest child. Picky in his younger days. Less so now.

Because of said pickiness, I have been known to employ covert tactics in some of my cooking.

Click here for more help for parents of picky eaters.

These chocolate pancakes are sneaky delicious. They are rich and chocolatey, and filled with veggies. They are sure to satisfy a sweet tooth and a health nut.

And because much of the work is done in your blender, they are super easy.

Semi-Homemade Laundry Detergent

April 19, 2016 by Susan 10 Comments

Did you ever watch, “Semi-Homemade Cooking” with Sandra Lee? It used to be on the Food network. She would make recipes which included one or more convenience foods, but were mostly all homemade. Maybe she would use a seasoning packet instead of just herbs and spices, or a cake mix would be doctored to ‘taste homemade’.

I made my own laundry detergent for a while using various recipes I found online. There are a lot out there, but I determined that I was not interested in moving this show to my kitchen, so recipes that required the use of my food processor or large pots on the stove were out.

I landed on one that called for me to grate bars of soap, mixing the resulting shreds with Borax, Washing Soda, and Oxy Clean. Heck, I even made my own soap to use for a while (it’s not as difficult as you’d think!)

So I am not dissing DIY detergent, but I have moved on to my “Semi-Homemade” version and don’t see myself going back.

Herbal Healing Salve

April 18, 2016 by Susan 10 Comments

Hands down the biggest thing I get asked about regarding herbal remedies is my Healing Salve. I always have some in my purse and on our bathroom counter. I give it as gifts and have taught others how to make their own.

It works fantastically for cuts, scrapes, hangnails, chapped lips, burns, diaper rash, general rashes, eczema, chafing, and just about anything skin-wise that you’re not sure what to do with.

To make the salve, you need three things: Herbs, Oil, and Beeswax.

This is not difficult to make! I even included a printable recipe for you at the bottom of this post.

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