Starting off our home schooling journey, I planned to give my children a classical education, using the trivium. I wanted them to learn, among other things, logic. The problem was, all of the logic books I found were dry as sawdust. My oldest balked at logic lessons because they were simply boring. Several years ago, our adventures into the study of logic were changed forever when we bought our first copy of The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn.
Unlike other logic books we've tried to use, this one is both fun and practical. Instead of making my children study logic, I found myself having to pull this book away from them to get other lessons done! Once, my husband (who doesn't like to read for leisure) couldn't put down The Fallacy Detective, and he took it to work with him. While there, reading it on his lunch break, several of the men he worked with all wanted to read it too. I say this just to reinforce the biggest appeal of this book: The Fallacy Detective draws in the reader, hooks them, and doesn't let go.
But, does it teach logic?
No matter how entertaining a logic book is, it wouldn't be a good logic book if it didn't succeed in teaching logic. Thankfully, The Fallacy Detective does an excellent, long term job at teaching the principles of logic and fallacies.
It's been about six years since we first used The Fallacy Detective, and my daughter still remembers and talks about what we learned. We find this especially useful (and fun) during political debates or when watching commercials. This book does more than entertain and educate; The Fallacy Detective arms young people (and adults) with the tools they need to recognize and combat fallacies of logic that are thrown at us every dayy in our modern world.
Because the Bluedorns are coming out with the new 3rd Edition, I have just a dozen or so copies of the 2nd Edition of the Fallacy Detective still available for you to purchase for just $22.00. 50% off the regular price of $22 until August 7th!
This is available only while supplies last!
From the www.TriviumPursuit.com website:
Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn wrote this book to meet the needs of Christian parents who want a do-able text for introducing logic and critical thinking to their children.
Fun to use – not dry like a math textbook.
Self-teaching – not intimidating, starts students with skills they can use right away.
Each lesson has exercises for students, with an answer key at the back.
Covers logical fallacies and propaganda techniques. We divided the most common fallacies and propaganda techniques into thirty-eight lessons. We explain how you can spot fallacies, and we give exercises to stretch your abilities for detecting fallacies.
Geared for ages twelve and older – we suggest using The Fallacy Detective before advancing onto more difficult logic programs.
Includes The Fallacy Detective Game, giving you and your friends an entertaining way to spot and make up your own examples of fallacies.
Christian view of logic. Many critical thinking texts introduce political correctness. This book does not.
Can be used before or after The Thinking Toolbox
Cartoons to illustrate the logical fallacies discussed, including Peanuts, Dilbert, Calvin and Hobbes, and several original cartoons
This book is for fallacy detectives. We've designed this book to be a handy-dandy text for learning to spot the errors in thinking that you meet everyday on the street, in the newspaper, or on television – or errors you make yourself.
I'm not a fan of relish, but my family is. Canning large batches of relish and pickles is one of the things I do for love for my family, because it sure isn't because I love the smell (blech).
My own cucumbers are just starting to bear fruit, but friends from church have a surplus, and have been giving me bushels of cukes for canning. I've spent the last week or so making bread and butter pickles and sweet cucumber relish. We videoed the latter for your viewing pleasure, cleverly cropped to spare you all from seeing me in my night gown at 2 in the morning. Enjoy!
Here's the Recipe for 1 batch (In the video I am making 2.5 batches):
Sweet Pickle Relish
by Kimberly Eddy/www.joyfulmomma.org
Ingredients
1 pound of cucumbers (about 4-5 medium)
2 onions
1 green bell pepper OR 3-4 Banana Peppers
1 Hot Pepper of any variety (optional)
1 red bell pepper
2 c. cider vinegar
2 c. sugar
2 T. Pickling spices
1/4 c. pickling/canning salt
Tools:
Knife and cutting board
Food Processor
Large non-reactive (plastic, ceramic, or glass) bowl
Canning Jars and lids (about 4 pints)
Canning kettle or non-reactive pot
Water bath canner with rack
Jar lifter
Clean Towel
Sink with hot water to soak your jars
Large strainer
Instructions
Chop your vegetables coarsely and finish them in the food processor, until they are finely chopped
Put the vegetables in a large non-reactive bowl as you chop them
Put the salt on the vegetables and cover with cold water. If necessary, put a plate on top of them, in the water, to press them down. (We'll be rinsing all of this salt out later!). Let stand like this for 2 hours or overnight
Before we drain the vegetables, begin heating up water in the canner, and bring it to a boil.Pour very hot water over the canning jars and lids to get them ready for use.
Mix the vinegar, sugar, and pickling spices in the kettle, and bring that to a boil.
Drain and rinse the salted vegetables in the strainer, then press out as much of the water as possible with your clean hands. Add your vegetables to the brine once it is boiling, turn it down, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Fill jars to 1/4" headspace (that is, 1/4" from the top), wipe the rims, and wipe a soaked lid. Tighten the lid band, and place in the canner.
Lower the jars into the boiling canner, and process for 10 minutes.
Remove from the canner carefully, with the jar lifter (I place mine on a towel, as they are hot and dripping), about 1" apart, and let them cool.
The popping sounds means you have a good seal. You want to hear that!
Once cool, and before you put those in the pantry, remove the bands, and make sure the lid has a good seal. If not, store it in the refridgerator.
Tastes best if you let your canned relish sit for a week before using.
The first book I wrote was Momma's Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households. I only have a couple dozen more printed copies of this book left, and we're as of yet uncertain about having it reprinted (though you can still find it as an ebook). Quiet Times in Loud Households is near and dear to my heart because it is about a topic we moms often neglect: our personal, daily, walk with the Lord. We may know that we need to have time with the Lord, but actually making that happen while running a busy household with children is quite another thing. I wrote this book based on my own experiences trying to find a balance between my inner Mary and Martha.
True, genuine Christian growth comes from a heart that is seeking after God, and reading in His Word regularly. This is what changed me into the woman I am today.
Penny Raine from Momma's Heart reviewed it when it first came out, and had this to say about Momma's Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households, "Mothers need time with Jesus. They cannot do it with out Him. Yet all too often in the midst of mothering they can't find time to spend with Him. The answer is here in "Quiet Times In Loud Households." This book written by Kimberly Eddy has the power to change lives. Not just the lives of stay at home mothers, but anyone who struggles with finding personal time with Jesus. Everyone from the President of the United States to children of reading age and up can benefit from this book. It teaches us to commune with God in every phase of our lives."
A few days ago, I posted an inquiry as to whether or not the site is displaying properly for everyone, because my mom said the text was hanging over into the cork (even though the text it set to have a white background). I had two comments, one yes and one no, on the blog...and 12 emails all saying it looked fine even on various mobile devices. I also looked on the cell phones of everyone I know and on all of their computers too...It even displayed fine on our ancient computer that we got when we were married...18 years ago..I didn't want to get rid of the really awesome cork graphic my girls came up with because I love it so much...but I think I have a solution.
Since the weird and wacky display that two people are getting doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason to it (that I can figure out anyway), I installed a sort of round-about fix to the problem.
If you are not seeing the website clearly, and have text over cork and things like that, to the right hand side you will be able to choose an alternate template.
I've not had the chance to create a stripped down template yet (I'll be doing so), but I have one installed that is fairly plain. It doesn't display all that great for me, but at least you should be able to read the content. Just select the alternate template in the dropdown menu, and hit the select button, and you should see the site change before your very eyes to the default Joomla template, cork free.
While at my brother in law's wedding, we had the most amazing roasted potatoes. While in the ladies' room, I struck up a conversation with the cook, and she told me how easy it was to make these potatoes. I had a 50 pound bag of potatoes I had just purchased from the bulk foods place, so we made them the next day for dinner, but without all of the butter, and changing the seasonings to what we enjoy. They were awesome, and very easy.
Mixing the herbs and potatoes
Hot out of the oven!
Just cut up your potatoes, put them in a bowl, drizzel with Olive Oil (or the oil of your choice...at the wedding they used melted butter!), and top with seasonings of your choice, and bread crumbs. Toss with your hands, spread out on baking sheets, and roast at 375 for about 30 minutes. There were no leftovers!
Herb-Roasted Potatoes
by Kimberly Eddy/www.joyfulmomma.org
Ingredients (serves 7)
5 pounds of potatoes (approx.)
1/4 c. (approx.) olive oil
About 1T. of each of the following spices:
Rosemary
Marjoram
Oregano
Thyme
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Chili Powder
1/4 c. Bread Crumbs(optional)
Tools:
Cutting board and knife
1 large bowl for mixing
2-3 baking sheets
Instructions
Cut up your potatoes into even shapes...you can do wedges, slices, cubes, etc. Whatever shape you cut them into, makes sure they are fairly even in size, to ensure even cooking
Drizzle oil over the potatoes. Add your spices (all spices are optional...don't worry if you are missing one or two) and your bread crumbs.
Mix your potatoes with your hands or a large spoon, to make sure all of them are coated.
Spread potatoes onto a baking sheet (alternatively: put them in foil on the grill), and roast at 375F for about 30 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes, stirring occasionally.
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