Time for Dickens!

Virginia and the Cowboy Way

Each of the Justus children love the singing cowboys; Virginia loves to sit and watch Roy Rogers and Dale Evans movies with Daddy on Sunday afternoons. She was very excited to have her picture taken with these singing cowboys: Woody Paul, "Too Slim", Ranger Doug and Joey, "the Cow Polka King."

After the concert we toured the Boothe Museum of Western Art. They have a fabulous collection of western art.  Before the concert, we attended the "Cowboy Days" activities outside the museum, including a reenactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. The action was described by an historian of the era as the actors displayed first, in slow motion, and then in "real time," the gunfight. James Martin loved hearing about all the people involved and the circumstances that led up to the confrontation.

All of this would tickle my parents and grandfathers for certain.  Moma and Daddy always loved Marty Robbins and his ballads about the Old West. Moma told me that when she was a little girl, she would watch the movies on Saturdays at the theater. Pawpaw would read a western every night before going to sleep, and I remember Grandaddy watching westerns on TV. They would all be pleased that the Justus children are growing up with their old friends--Marty, Roy and Dale, Marshall Dillon and the Cartwrights.

Happy Thanksgiving from Our Schoolhouse to Your's!

Some Thoughts Going into the Thanksgiving Break

We are all excited about having some time off from school. This has been the busiest semester of my teaching experience (two new preps). We have spent many an evening at school after supper. This is not a complaint. I am so grateful to have a job that I truly love, and one that allows maximum time with our family. The homeschool program in which the children are enrolled is marvelous, but very demanding, almost exhaustive. I understand why--to meet the SACS requirements in distance learning is very difficult.  The positive side of this is that the kids are learning not only thier subjects, but that all-important work-ethic. Moreover, they have to be somewhat self-disciplined to work steadily each day.  Many of my students are "hares" rather than tortoises. They procrastinate and wait to the last minute to study or complete assignments with sometimes disatrous results.  I feel like circumstances force me into that position from time to time, but the fault is really my own. My time management skills definitely need some work.

With our break this week, I hope that we can all sit down together to catch our collective breath and re-prioritize our lives.  What is important? What is MOST important? Each day is a gift from the Lord, and I want to be a better steward of these gifts.

Ivanhoe

Our trips to Church take us about 30 minutes each way.  On Sunday mornings, we listen to Bill Mack's "Sunday Social" and "Classic Cowboy Corral" with Ranger Doug.  But Sunday nights are a little different. We are currently listening to Sir Walter Scott's 1818 classic tale of Medieval chilvary, Ivanhoe. We are listening to a dramatic reading by the British actor, David Warner.  The presentation is not dramatized as such, but his reading is very dramatic.  His reading makes this story even more enthralling.

Maybe after we are finished listening (and this will take several trips to and from Church), we can watch the movie with Robert Taylor and Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor and Rebecca.

The Adams Chronicles

One of Dad's favorite mini-series was produced by PBS in 1976 (remember the "Bicentennial Minute" too?) called The Adams Chronicles. A while back, it was released on DVD in the wake of the popular  HBO mini-series about our great second President.  We started watching this tonight after Church, and everyone really loves it! I am glad the kids like history as much as Michael and I do.

Reading Together Charles M. Sheldon's Classic

This very hectic semester has been given a little bit of stability through our reading together of favorite books and stories.  We read Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" as we do every year.  We are getting ready to take out our Dickens pretty soon as the Christmas season approaches.  A couple of times, the boys and I hiave started Sheldon's In His Steps.  I have had a strong sense that we need to pull this beloved title out again, this time including Ima Virginia.  Perhaps the Lord wishes to speak to us throught this meaningful work of fiction--I am looking forward to seeing what He has for us to learn.