Lo-tech Girl

Summer came for a little while in England!

2010-05-27T09:24:00.000+02:00

First tooth for the fairy!

2010-05-25T11:49:00.000+02:00

Blissful Sunshine

2010-05-17T10:33:00.000+02:00

The spring is truly here, and the animals are loving it.

Printable teacher thank you card & tag

2010-05-13T22:03:00.004+02:00

This is a must for the end of term this year. My kids will be leaving their school to make the move to the United States. I want to do something really special for their teachers to say thank you. It is hard to think about them moving, as it is the only school they have ever been to. I remember Grace on her first day at exactly six days short of three years old. In her school uniform. Here she is:

Can you believe I will be away on their last day, so I will not be there to day goodbye. Probably for the best as I would probably be a total wreck.

Printable teacher thank you card & tag
via Executive Homemaker by Janna Wilson on 5/11/10

Print Free File: Printable teacher card/tag
School is letting out soon! Need a quick teacher thank you card to pair with a gift for the end of the year? Well, here you are! I've created a round, cut out card and two tags on this printable page…easy as "apple" pie!

Directions:
1. Download and save the pdf file to your computer.
2. Print the page onto plain or textured cardstock using your printer's BEST quality settings for a nice vibrant color. Trim inside the black lines to cut out the card. Punch the tags out with a 2″ circle punch for a super quick addition to a package or treat sack.
**Check out my Pretty Packages kit to make your own packaging (as shown above) for small treats and gifts for teachers too!

About the Executive Homemaker:

Meet Janna Wilson , country girl, graphic artist, mama to three crazy-cute kiddos, wife to Scott, stitcher, jewelry maker, dreamer, wannabe painter, Sunday school teacher, and lover of ALL THINGS crafty!

Visit Janna's online shop Whimsy Shoppe for fabulous downloads and handmade goods your family will love.

Monkey Bread

2010-05-12T10:00:00.002+02:00

This looks really delicious. Unfortunately you can’t get premade biscuit (scone) dough in the UK (or other places in the world). So I would suggest making up your own scone dough and then cutting it up into bits. Should work just as well (or even better maybe!)

Thanks to Mel at The Larson Lingo! Here is the recipe.

Its a blogfield out there

2010-05-11T14:29:00.001+02:00

There are so many blogs out there, the mind boggles (or bloggles). I spend way to much time wading through the blogosphere (yes that is actually a real word) and I find so much that inspires me. However, most of my browsing happens just by chance. I would love to take a look at the blogs my readers like to look at. So here is a Linky List – please can you add you favourite blog to the list (i.e. the first one you look at every time you log in).

I can't wait to buy something from The Wrappery

2010-05-10T15:23:00.001+02:00

In the meantime I will just go window shopping...

Clean Up Your Room Day

2010-05-10T09:44:00.001+02:00

ious
Next

May 10, 2010 is Clean Up Your Room Day: Today's the day to do some spring cleaning, it's Clean Up Your Room Day! Clean out your closet, pick up the piles of laundry off of the floor, and take out the vacuum. Won't it be nice to be able to see the floor of your room again?
The best part about today is that it is something that everyone can participate in! Parents, children, roommates, students, teachers, and co-workers, they all can get together and have a good old fashioned day of cleaning their rooms. So go ahead and turn up the music and start getting to work. Put the clothes away in the drawers and the coats back on the hangers. Get out the cleaning supplies and rent an industrial sized dumpster if you have to. After you are finished, don't forget to reward yourself for all of your hard work!

Today is also National Shrimp Day
May is National Bike Month & National Strawberry Month & National Hamburger Month

Clean Up Your Room Day

Bloggers Block

2010-05-09T19:09:00.001+02:00

I have a complete writers block when it comes to my blog itsawomanslife. I just can't bring myself to write anything intelligent. Problem with blogs is, the more you neglect them the less people read them until you have to start from scratch with your readership. Blergh.

This is the cutest weather gadget for Google homepages or Blogs

2010-05-09T14:33:00.006+02:00

Add it to your page.

Connemara Pony - Knitting Daily

2010-05-09T14:03:00.003+02:00

Connemara Pony - Knitting Daily

Nordic Striped Ball - Knitting Daily

2010-05-09T13:55:00.005+02:00

Nordic Striped Ball - Knitting Daily

Oh I am still learning

2010-05-07T19:20:00.002+02:00

When I see a beautiful, minimalist blog like this one, I realise how far I have to go in my design...and she has three children under 4 years. Oh my word, how inadequate I feel. Anyway, visit mycakies because then you can see what I aspire to.

Inspiration from A Totally Normal Woman

2010-05-07T19:05:00.001+02:00

I love it when I see a blog designed by a totally normal person just like me, trying to do things I aspire to do, like style and redesign homes with everyday items. Have a look at Pepper Design Blog for projects and style that is within everyone's reach.

I especially like her collection of organising ideas for the Ikea Expedit range of shelving. I can't wait to go buy some!! (When we move to the States that is).

Joy's Hope: It was all yellow.

2010-05-07T11:21:00.001+02:00

Wow, colour inspiration at it's best - in real life. Look at this beautiful blog.

Joy's Hope: It was all yellow.

Two friends having babies this summer.

2010-05-06T20:50:00.008+02:00

Which pattern should I choose for them?

Summertime Baby Knits: Though it is hot, babies still have a tendency to get cold in the summertime so give them something to cuddle up with.

Gansey Layette
by Veronik Avery
Classic layette worked in easy-care washable wool. The jacket combines traditional Gansey elements - with a practical crossover closure that buttons at the shoulders. The tam features a wheel-shaped crown and i-cord "stem." The blanket is worked in four triangles seamed together after the knitting is done. Learn more.

New Baby Blanket and Hat by Kristin Spurkland
Comfort a new baby with this super-soft cotton hat and matching blanket lined with plaid flannel for extra warmth, comfort, and beauty. Learn more

Introducing Dr K-J

2010-05-06T14:42:00.007+02:00

A letter to the students at Taylor from Steve, who will become Nicholas' predecessor.

Introducing Dr. Nicholas Kerton-Johnson

Dr. Nicholas Kerton-Johnson comes to Taylor after two years as a lecturer in the Department of Politics of the University of Bristol, England. There he has taught courses in world politics, international relations theory, national security and religion in foreign affairs. He recently published an article in International Affairs, which is considered the premiere international studies journal in the UK. The subject of the article, entitled “Justifying the Use of Force in a Post-9/11 World,” is part of a larger study in the form of a book just published by Routledge: Justifying America’s Wars: The Conduct and Practice of U.S. Military Intervention since 1990. Dr. Kerton-Johnson’s masters degree is in War Studies from Kings College, London (where 2008 Taylor political science alumna Amy Watkins recently received her masters). A native of South Africa, Dr. Kerton-Johnson holds an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Cape Town.

Dr. Kerton-Johnson’s church affiliation has been with the evangelical wing of the Church of England (in which his father is a priest). His understanding of how to relate faith and politics is evident in a personal statement, submitted as part application for the position at Taylor:

My faith and spiritual journey have involved a re-evaluation of the Lord’s requirements for justice, for compassion and for upholding His righteousness. While this involves complicated theological and political ideas, it most importantly manifests in a willingness to be self-critical and engaging with establishment “truths” where these conflict with the Word.

Dr. Kerton-Johnson is a clear and concise lecturer, but in the classroom he also frequently has students critically discuss writings that are likely to challenge familiar views. He has a strong interest in mentoring students intellectually as well as spiritually. One of the students who had lunch with Dr. Kerton-Johnson when he visited campus earlier this semester as a candidate had this to say:

He seems able to build rapport quickly with students, and emphasized his desire to have his classroom as a healthy place for discussion and debate - another aspect of education that would benefit Taylor students well. He seems to have a really good mix of being approachable, knowledgeable, and thoughtful about his Christian faith and academic expertise in politics.

Accompanying him to Taylor are his wife, Catherine, and their two young children, a son and a daughter. Dr. and Mrs. Kerton-Johnson are co-founders of the Ephesus Initiative, an NGO devoted to issues of religious freedom (http://www.theephesusinitiative.com/). For a wonderful example of how our incoming professor understands Christian engagement with the wider world, see his latest blog entry, “Shaving by I-Pod (http://www.ephesusinitiative.blogspot.com/).

Professor Loy (who will resume chairmanship of the Political Science Department after this semester) and I are very pleased that Dr. Kerton-Johnson is joining us. His fall semester Dr. Kerton-Johnson will teach World Politics, Comparative Politics and Global Governance. (I am currently listed as the instructor for these courses so that I can facilitate registration before I “hand off the baton” to my successor later in the summer.) With Dr. Kerton-Johnson on board, the Department of Political Science expects to develop new offerings in the area of international relations, including upper-level courses that will interest majors in Political Science as well as International Studies.

We hope you will share our eager anticipation as Dr. Kerton-Johnson transitions to Taylor University.

Steve Hoffmann

Department Chair

Question.

2010-05-06T14:31:00.009+02:00

I agree completely. Along with a strong cup of freshly brewed coffee.

via Joy's Hope by Julie @ Joy's Hope on 5/3/10

Can a cupcake make everything better?

Yes.

It certainly can.

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Joy's Hope using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

What a fabulous day

2010-05-05T21:35:00.010+02:00

Yes I am using the word fabulous a lot recently. Oh well. I expect I shall find a new favourite word soon.
In the meantime, I am very pleased with myself because today has been a good one. Which is always worth crowing over a bit. I mean, there is so much whinging going on these days that it makes a nice change. Doesn't it!

What made today a good one. Well to start with, I have been rather enjoying waking up early with my family because of jet-lag. I have always wanted to wake up at 6am, bounce out of bed fresh and perky and make beautiful things for breakfast. My body clock doesn't function that way though, and never has. Nights are my thing, not mornings (and not even nights for the last 6 months).

So, early rise, great sparkly sunny day ahead and a BIG bunch of beautiful flowers to arrange. Kids off to school, fresh old-fashioned sugar cookie dough ready in the fridge. I got dressed in a spring dress! Yes it was warm enough!! Went off for a great haircut. Isn't it the best when you get a GREAT haircut! A cup of tea in Provender, the local deli, with my lovely husband. Talk work for a while, and do a clearing-head GTD exercise (GTD stands for Getting Things Done and it is a planning technique.)

Provender Deli, South Petherton.

Yummy food, and a coffee shop tucked away in the back. And free Wifi, so we work there too!

Went home and GOT EVERYTHING DONE!!! Now that was the best part.

I must thank God for his favour today on all that we did. We got money paid back to us that has been owed for months, all on the same day. Hooray!

This evening was beautiful and we all went down to the field and played with Australian toys we brought back - a Lacrosse type thing and a dart type thing. OK you had to be there to get it. But it was so wonderful to feel the breeze on my face, and not be cold!!!

We were all happy.

Another one tomorrow please Lord!

She has to be the most beautiful woman who ever lived

2010-05-05T10:48:00.003+02:00

Housewiving

2010-05-05T09:13:00.000+02:00

Oh I love my house. I also wish I could keep it just so, like the dreamy pictures in magazines, where all the colours co-ordinate to create a perfect haven with a specific atmosphere. Well, I was encouraged to find my parents-in-law had used our house as their getaway while we were in Australia, and it became their favourite place to go to relax and unwind. They called it their country hideaway. I think I like living in a country hideaway!

This morning I attempted to arrange three bunches of flowers into a vase so that they looked elegant, sophisticated and breathtaking. But I have never managed any arrangement that looked like that. I have decided that there are certain skills I need to develop. I am good at cooking. I manage even to wow people with my cooking. But I have never wowed anyone with my flowers. Or my photography.

So I have decided I am going to train myself (using the wonderful resources on the web) to arrange flowers. Watch this space for my progress and the links I find that help.

My planned degree at Taylor

2010-05-04T16:44:00.009+02:00

Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing

Program Type: Bachelors Degree

Overview

The Professional Writing Department (PWR) offers courses designed to teach students how to write for a wide variety of media: newspapers, magazines, movies, stage plays, online publications, books, and literary quarterlies. All students take a set curriculum of courses in the Professional Writing Department, with supplemental courses taken in English and Media Communications.

PWR majors become freelance writers, staff journalists, public relations writers, screenwriters, editors with magazines or book publishing houses, poets, reviewers and critics, playwrights, novelists, and literary agents. They build portfolios of their published works all four years they are in college, and they complete a practicum involving professional work as a writer or editor. Students are prepared upon graduation with their bachelor of science degree to begin working in the world of publishing or to begin graduate-level studies in English, film, journalism, or creative writing.

The success of the PWR major is based on the diversity of writing courses, the real-world experience of becoming published writers even as students, connections with leading authors and publishers, and training by professors who, themselves, are highly successful authors.

Curriculum

The bachelor of science degree with a major in professional writing requires 51-53 hours.

Download Curriculum Guide
Download Description of Courses

PWR Courses

World Literature - ENG230

Literary London - ENG233

American Literature - ENG240

British Literature - ENG250

American Romanticism and Realism - ENG340

Drama - ENG361

Shakespeare - ENG362

Selected Topics: Themes and Genres - ENG370

The Novel - ENG371

Literatures of Cultural Diversity - ENG373

Early English Literature - ENG412

Renaissance Literature - ENG422

Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Literature - ENG426

Romantic Literature - ENG431

Victorian Literature - ENG441

Contemporary Literature - ENG444

Modern American Literature - Eng442

Introduction to Professional Writing - PWR101

Selected Topics - PWR170

Foundations of Professional Writing - PWR201

Selected Topics - PWR270

Writing for Business - PWR320

Writing Commercial Fiction - PWR321

Editing - PWR343

Selected Topics - PWR370

Practicum - PWR393

Writing Seminar - PWR460

Selected Topics - PWR470

Freelance Writing - PWR472

Senior Capstone - PWR493

Fish or Chicken Batter recipe

2010-05-04T16:19:00.003+02:00

This is my dad's recipe for cooking the fish the kids caught

Fish or Chicken Batter recipe - Best Recipes

Here are the fish the kids caught...

Blogging

2010-05-03T21:11:00.001+02:00

I have a blog going around in my head all the time. The problem with this is that I do not have a laptop on a string around my neck. So I feel frustrated at all these wonderful thoughts that I would like to share, that are stuck there in my brain. Should I do what my Granny did and hang a notebook around my neck with a little pencil, on a string? Problem is I would never stop writing things down, and life would come to a standstill.

How do I let the words go and not worry about losing them forever? How do I trust that the most important ones will come flooding back when I sit in front of my screen?

Beethoven had two notebooks with him all the time. One was for first thoughts. Those fragments that come to you as you are washing the dishes or driving the car (or the carriage in his case perhaps). Then every day he would discipline himself to go through his First Thoughts notebook and spend time developing the thoughts into a context. From this he would choose work that stood out for him and grow it into symphonies and concertos. This allowed the creative impulse to be captured, nurtured and disciplined into great works of art.

I have two notebooks, but I am struggling to have them with me when I need them. I also find it difficult to stop what I am doing and write a thought down immediately. I always think "I'll just finish this and then I'll write it down", but I never do. How am I going to build this habit into my life?

I started reading Twyla Tharp's book about the Creative Habit. I need to continue her book and perhaps it will help me with some practical ideas.

My (next) knitting project

2010-05-03T17:22:00.003+02:00

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick, As Seen on Knitting Daily Episode 207 - Knitting Daily