Coffee Break Reading List - August 3, 2021

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It's been a long time since I did one of these reading list round-ups, and I feel like I've neglected my little corner of the blog world a bit recently. There has been a lot going on! From the wedding way back in spring, we moved on through graduation season and year-end reviews, to summer schedule adjustments with appointments and vacations and who knows what else. And now, just like that, it's August and a new school year starts before I get to turn the page of my calendar again! 

Some of the things around the web that I've been reading or exploring during recent coffee breaks: 

• I've found so much that's good and encouraging when it comes to Scripture and faith. Here's one of those: Do You Want A Fresh Word From the Lord? from Barbara Lee Harper at Stray Thoughts.
• Here's another - Take Time to Recuperate from Restoring Voice
• Have you been frustrated with the direction the country is going? Schools, families, sports and entertainment, the medical community, government institutions and the justice system . . . all are under attack or viewed with suspicion, and conservative viewpoints or even questions are squelched or silenced. What can we do? According to Dennis Prager on The Daily Wire: The Single Best Thing Americans Can Do to Retake America is to take our children out of the schools. For those of us that have been homeschooling, that might not be a surprise. For those that have thought their kids' school is a good one, or that they simply couldn't homeschool for some reason, this is a more challenging option to consider. Read the article and see what you think. I think it's a bold claim, but I agree.
• A local news outlet just published an article that seems to indicate that many families are doing just that - keeping their kids at home to be educated. 'There's no turning back for us now': Homeschooling surges across US as schools reopen classrooms. 
• Okay let's lighten up a little bit! Here's a feelgood story from way back in April that I thought was sweet: Good guy Shaq saw a young man buying an engagement ring and randomly decided to pay for it. Isn't that heartwarming? Listen, folks, most of us can't afford to pay for diamond jewelry for people we don't even know, but we can all do what Shaq likes to do - just try to make people smile. Start off by just being kind to the people you interact with. Be patient and generous with your server or cashier, be friendly to fellow shoppers, help out a co-worker, compliment a passer-by, buy coffee for the guy next in line at Starbucks. Make the world a happier place.
• Here's some art on a gigantic scale - Farmer Spends Decades Growing Guitar-shaped Forest in Memory of His Late Wife at My Modern Met . . . 
• And amazing art on a miniature scale by a remarkable young man named Anthony Schmidt. If you're not familiar with Anthony and his work, he is teen with autism who has a boundless love of model cars and creates photographs with them. 

The Guitar Forest, seen on Google Earth

Not nearly as big as a whole forest, but my mom created a guitar-themed grad quilt for my daughter a couple years ago.

The homeschool reading corner: 

• The new school year will be here before we know it! Have you chosen your homeschool curriculum yet? If you're still figuring it out, Yvie at Homeschool on the Range has a great summary of the different styles of curriculum and a guide to help you make some decisions that will work for you: Choosing the Right Curriculum for Your Family
• I'd love to help you out with those choices as well, so please leave your questions in the comment section, or browse my blog. I've written plenty of product reviews, and articles on homeschool how-to topics and back to school encouragement. Recently my Online Book Club articles focused on homeschool geography resources, you'll find a wrap-up of those articles here: Online Book Club - Wrapping Up July: Dream Destinations

• One of the great resources I featured in that article is SchoolhouseTeachers.com. Right now, use the code: EXPLORE at checkout to pay only $179 for a two-year Ultimate Membership. A free Explore the World Tote is included with this offer. SchoolhouseTeachers.com is one-stop hub for all things homeschool curriculum and resources. You'll find curriculum and supplemental resources for all ages and grade levels, and in all subject areas. 

Looking for my articles on how to get started homeschooling? Check the sidebar, or start here:

Suddenly Homeschooling - Pro Tips - Carrying On At Home

Some fun things I've found during coffee breaks: 

I've shared so many links above that instead of sharing more links in this section, I'll just show a couple of photos of coffee break fun. 

A tiny toy jeep mysteriously appeared on our fence post a few weeks ago, and it's so cute we've just left it there.

I was in the turn lane to go to Starbucks for an on-the-road coffee break when I noticed this car next to me. A tiny little sports car sporting Texas longhorn size horns. 

At the gatepost of a farm driveway I pass occasionally:

What I've been reading during longer coffee breaks: 

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict (just finished - it's really good!)

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber 

Britfield & The Rise of the Lion, Book II by C.R. Stewart

The Curse of Morton Abbey by Clarissa Harwood

Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds by Michael Knowles

Find out more at my book blog Just A Second.

Found anything interesting on the web lately? Read any good books? Leave a comment and let me know!

This post will be linked at Let's Have Coffee hosted by Joanne Viola: Days and Thoughts

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