By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Introduction: Delia is a pediatric Occupational Therapist. Her specialty is pediatrics and play-based therapy. I met her several years ago at a homeschool event. She is a popular workshop speaker in our area for the wonderful insight on helping children get the most out of body movements and learning. Delia is a homeschool mother herself […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Recipes , Simple Living
Blueberries were not always my favorite fruit. As a little girl I refused to eat my grandmother’s blueberry pie, can you imagine? I did not like the way those berries tasted in my mouth. Although I did love going wild blueberry picking in the woods, it was the hunt I loved, not the blueberry. Each […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Florida , Great Outdoors , Nature Study
One morning this week I was exhausted from motherhood by 9 am. First, the boys had pushed my buttons and ignored their chores. Then, I began yelling too much and a myriad of other things that made me run out the back door looking for fresh air!!! I asked God, “Why does this happen? I wake up with […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , Nature Study
Become a Backyard Naturalist A naturalist is someone who studies living things in their habitat. Naturalists observes the same thing over time to see how it changes. Backyard naturalists appreciate nature, the life and behavior of plants, animals and other living things. You and your children can become naturalists by observing the changes in nature […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , homeschooling , Mama's Musings
Our school year is coming to a close for evaluations this summer. Technically we school year round because of our schedule, but it is nice to feel like you are closing the door on a subject or math book, take a break and regroup. Grayson and Grant don’t know where South Dakota is. This is […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , homeschooling , Nature Study
Morning time seems to be a buzz word lately. We have been doing a form of it for eleven years in our home I call table time. Anyway, you name it, it is a wonderful way for the family to be together at a specific time of day to read, write or learn about topics […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Florida , homeschooling , Mama's Musings
Backing a trailer is not part of my skill set. My husband, Curtis seems to think that it is time for me to learn since we travel with one each summer. Our trips to conventions are more frequent and so are the odds something will happen on the road and he will need my help. […]
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By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Florida , handicrafts , homeschooling
Have you ever wanted to build a backyard camper? I have never had the thought myself, which is why I discouraged the idea with my youngest son Grant. He has had a fascination with campers and trailers since he was very young. Always pointing them out on a car ride and dreaming of having his […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Florida , Florida Treasures , Great Outdoors
It was 4 a.m. when the dogs began barking from the kennel. They knew it was time to get up and head to Babcock Ranch for the youth quail hunt. It was not going to be an ordinary day. We wearily awoke to quite a chill in the air that made me want to stay snug […]
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By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Florida , handicrafts , homeschooling
As a little girl, the Central Florida Fair was always an exciting time of year. My grandparents lived close by the fairgrounds and every night I could see the lights and hear all the fun. We would go in the evening, when everything was lit up. My favorite was the carousel of horses, holding baby […]
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