Author Archives: Adriana Zoder

Sep 13 2023

Book 30 of 50 – 10 lb Penalty

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Just another thrilling novel by the master of crime mystery, 10 lb. Penalty by Dick Francis (Amazon Affiliate link) kept me turning pages. Ben Juliard, the protagonist, would love nothing more than to work as a jockey after high school. Instead, his father offers him a job on his staff, in the political world. Ben must accept this job because, well, it’s complicated. And I would not want to give away too much of the plot.

10 lb Penalty by Dick Francis

When a horse wins a race, they weigh it down by 10 lbs for the next race as a penalty.

People try to murder his father, so Ben has to grow up quickly. Ben uses everything he knows about life, weapons, and the horseracing world in order to unmask the culprit. Continue reading »

Sep 12 2023

Book 29 of 50 – The Danger

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The Danger by Dick Francis covers a series of kidnappings in England, Italy, and the US, in the horseracing world. Andrew Douglas, a private detective who specializes in finding victims and negotiating with kidnappers, helps solve all these crimes.

The Danger by Dick Francis

I highly recommend any thriller by Dick Francis

Douglas and the firm he works for know a lot about kidnappings. Usually, the criminals target the wealthy. This private force of detectives and kidnap specialists collaborate with the police to save the victims. Sometimes the police cooperates with Douglas’ firm. On other occasions, the police hate taking orders from an organization which flies under the radar. And things do not end up so well. Continue reading »

Sep 9 2023

Week 4 – Done

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And… the trend continues. We had to cut our studies short this week as well, because on Monday we returned from camping around lunch time, and on Friday we left for Nashville in the early afternoon, for our son’s cubing competition. Never a dull moment.

RTT over a trailer

Our five-person roof top tent sits over a trailer my husband designed.

We really enjoyed camping over the Labor Day weekend. Nature is good for the soul, but several things happened during this trip also, which bonded us even more as a family. I would not say everything that happened was easy to take, but that is exactly the point. Challenges bring us closer together. Continue reading »

Sep 7 2023

Book 28 of 50 – Bolt

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Bolt by Dick Francis is a thriller set in the horseracing world of England. Kit Fielding, the main character, works as a jockey who races for a wealthy couple. Without wanting to, he turned into a detective, to help them escape a business partner. On the other hand, somebody is killing their horses “humanely,” with a bolt-gun.

Bolt by Dick Francis

Another horseracing thriller

Over these two plot lines, we also read about a love story. Kit and the niece of the wealthy couple, in fact, are engaged. Continue reading »

Sep 5 2023

Week 3 – Done

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“Have you gotten into a rhythm yet with the new school year?” a dear friend asked me. “Yes and no,” I replied. Every week, we have had some kind of project or reason to not go full blast every single day. However, I feel like we are definitely into a school rhythm.

F-250 pulls trailer

Leaving our home to go camping; the roof top tent opens atop the trailer

Week 3 – no exception. We had to prepare for a camping trip, so Friday’s lessons got cut short. Also this week, my daughter and I got to spend some time with the middle schoolers from our co-op, in the National Park, while enjoying a back-to-school picnic and multiple games. Continue reading »

Aug 30 2023

Homeschooling Today Magazine

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In all honesty, the week before we started our new school year, I felt anxious, fearful, already defeated, behind, and on the verge of burnout. Ten years of homeschooling have taught me to fear the rhythm and the workload. I am no longer “young and dumb,” as they say about newbies in every area. Burnout has reached me one too many times and I have developed a healthy fear of it.

Homeschooling Today Magazine

My first issue of Homeschooling Today

Besides, summer has gone by way too fast. We had a lot of fun together as a family and I just did not want to interrup that fun with a “school schedule.” My children worked at my husband’s business and I had the entire morning to myself to catch up on my own projects. Continue reading »

Aug 28 2023

Second Week – Done

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If the first week flew by, the second one zoomed by at the speed of sound. We started attending co-op, so that took one of the days. Then, after book learning, we traveled to Knoxville for our violin and harp lessons – that took care of another day. Our hiking group met up on the usual day because the weather cooperated, so that was yet another day.

Big Creek trailhead

Getting ready to hike in the Big Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

On yet another day, our son decided he was ready to take the test for the learner’s permit. In Tennessee, one can do that online. I had to download an app to become his proctor and he took the test. He passed, so his dad took him to the DMV to get his actual permit.

 

Never a Dull Moment

Well, I was supposed to be there, apparently. As the proctor, I am the person who needs to sign all the paperwork and – get this – I am responsible for his driving until he turns 18. Nice job, mom! Continue reading »

Aug 28 2023

8th Grade Curriculum

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Our daughter has reached 8th grade (2023-2024 school year). She is “the baby” in the family, so this reality hits hard. How can this be? Anyway, here are her courses this year: English, Math, US History, Bible, ASL I, Performing Arts, Personal Finance, Sewing, PE.

Sewing lesson

Our daughter wanted to learn sewing so we found a friend who was willing to teach her.

For English, Bible, and US History she is taking Notgrass US History, a wonderful curriculum which offers enough content to grant three credits. That’s not just a good deal. We are very impressed with Notgrass in general and proud that they are from Tennessee. Continue reading »

Aug 23 2023

First Week – Done

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One week down, 35 more to go, but who is counting? The kids learned about their new schedule and curricula on Monday. We made new binders together for their different subjects.

Walking in Knoxville

We walked in Knoxville, on the Greenway, between violin and harp lessons

They are so much older and more mature, I could say to them, “This is how I would like to tackle our subjects. Let’s give it a try for a few weeks and see if it works. We can always switch things up.” Continue reading »

Aug 17 2023

Our Weekly Bread: 21 of 36

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An ancient grain, einkorn contains gluten, but it does not bother me. They have not messed with this kind of wheat, which goes back 12,000 years.

Einkorn banana bread

My einkorn banana bread came out very nicely from the first try

Whole Foods sells einkorn flour and I made the banana bread recipe on the box. Some people say einkorn flour is expensive and, well, maybe it is, compared to other flours. However, you can make the recipe three times out of one bag of flour, which means the cost is not as high as you might think per loaf of bread. Continue reading »