Pawpaw Holler Home

Here we go again!

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Great Smoky Mountains until 10pm tonight. 1-3 inches of snow is possible plus there is another round of snow in the forecast for Sunday through Monday.

Weather Updates For The Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains Forecast –From the National Weather Service

Radar –For the East Tennessee area

Mt. LeConte Weather –3rd highest peak in the Park (26 inches of snow on the ground as of this morning)

Road Closings In The Smokies

Great Smoky Mountains Temporary Road and Facilities Closures –NPS

Great Smoky Mountains Road and Facility Improvements –NPS

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Conditions –Live updates at yoursmokies.com.

You can also get updated road and weather information for the Great Smoky Mountains by calling (865) 436-1200.

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: Great Smoky Mountains, road closures/delays, snow, travel info, weather, winter

I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.

I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.

What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809 in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He became the 16th President of the United States on March 4th, 1861 and was re-elected in 1864. On April 14th, 1865, President Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington DC. He died the next day –April 15th, 1865.

Did you know:

• Abraham Lincoln had less than a year of formal schooling.
• By the time Lincoln was 17, he knew he wanted to be a lawyer and would walk 17 miles so he could watch the lawyers work at the county courthouse.
• In addition to becoming a lawyer, he also worked on a farm, and was a shopkeeper, postmaster and surveyor.
• Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to have received a U.S. patent.

Want to learn more about President Lincoln?

Websites And Free Educational Resources About Abraham Lincoln

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Abraham Lincoln Research Site –By a former American history teacher who enjoys researching Abraham Lincoln’s life and accomplishments. Be sure and check out the Abraham Lincoln links page –includes sites for kids and lesson plans.
• A Collection of Abraham Lincoln Quotes
• Printable Short Stories About Abraham Lincoln 
• Timeline of Abraham Lincoln
• Abraham Lincoln Biography and Free Printables -Word search, crossword puzzle, word scramble, etc.
• Homeschool/Educational Freebies:Abraham Lincoln –My post from last year with links to unit studies, notebooking pages and more.

Blessings,

Denese

For even more free educational resources, please check my educational freebies tag archive and my Free Homeschooling Page.

Tags: Abraham-Lincoln, American history, education freebies, history, notebooking, U S Presidents, Unit Studies

Download a free eCookbook full of recipes to cook for the one you love:

Sweets for Your Sweet: 22 Cute Dessert Recipes for Valentine’s Day eCookbook –Whether you’re planning a romantic evening for two, or looking for a fun recipe to make with the kids, you will find it here. This free recipe ebook includes cake and pie recipes, mousses, cupcake recipes, drinks and other Valentine’s Day dessert recipes. We have everything from Chocolate Cherry Cake and Perfect Tiramisu to Flourless Chocolate Cake and Orange Scented Hot Chocolate, plus lots more.

Blessings and happy cooking,

Denese

For even more eCookbooks and recipes, please see my recipes tag archive.

Tags: eCookbooks, free e-books, recipes

Today’s freebie from Homeschool Freebie of the Day is a free ebook about the Underground Railroad:

The Underground Railroad: A RECORD OF FACTS, AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE, LETTERS, &C., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in their efforts of Freedom, as Related by Themselves and, Others, or Witnessed by the Author by William Still (PDF ebook) –Huge (800+ pages) collection of eyewitness accounts and stories of the "Underground Railroad" by which many slaves in pre-Civil War years escaped from their owners in the south and journeyed to the northern states. The compiler, William Still, was the son of escaped slaves and was connected with the Anti-Slavery Office in Philadelphia, and Chairman of the Acting Vigilant Committee of the Philadelphia Branch of the Underground Railroad. These are amazing, vivid "living history" stories told by the people who were there. Many, many outstanding stories in here!

Learn more about the Underground Railroad:

42Explore Thematic Pathfinder: The Underground Railroad –Online theme unit with tons of links to lessons, activities, maps, timelines, photos and more.

You can also do a Google search by state (example “The Underground Railroad Tennessee”) to find out what part that your state played in the Underground Railroad.

Blessings,

Denese

For even more free educational resources, please check my educational freebies tag archive and my Free Homeschooling Page.

Tags: education freebies, free e-books, slavery, Underground-Railroad

The Great Backyard Bird Count 2010

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual “citizen-science” project that the whole family can participate in. This year’s bird count begins tomorrow, February 12th and runs through Monday, February 15th.

What is The Great Backyard Bird Count?

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.”

The GBBC website contains a printable poster, tally sheet and regional bird checklists; a PowerPoint slideshow about the GBBC (or you can watch a video); a kids page with fun activities, games and coloring pages; an educators page with ideas and activities to involve children in the GBBC plus a photo contest to enter!

Have fun –I know we will!

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: birds, education freebies, Great-Backyard-Bird-Count, hands-on activities, outdoor activities

We woke up to 4 inches of snow yesterday…

Hangin’ out with the chickens.

No swingin’ today!

Look ma…no hands!

The race is on!

Time for hot chocolate!

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: birds, nature-photos, sledding, snow, trees, winter

Did you know that volcanic eruptions sometimes create lightning?

Check out today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, last month’s eruption of the Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan:

Sakurajima Volcano with Lightning

Here are some more images of volcanic lightning:

National Geographic: Volcano Lightning

University of Alaska: Volcano Lightning

LiveScience: Redoubt Volcano 

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: lightning, science, volcanoes

Lisa, at Homestead Originals, has a free ebook to help all of us “Keepers at Home”:

Homestead Simplicity: A Primer –Learn about natural cleaning, cooking from scratch, planning and stocking your pantry, and easy ways to provide loving care for your homestead and those in it.

Blessings,

Denese

Tags: Cleaning, Cooking, encouragement, for-the-ladies, free e-books, freebies, home-management

Free ebook from Homeschool Freebie of the Day on raising successful children:

Raising Children Who Succeed (PDF ebook) –Great little motivational/inspirational book on raising kids, and how we define "success". Includes chapters on what kids need and DON’T need… the legacy of books… the power of role models… teaching social skills… money issues, and more. Not written specifically for homeschoolers, but full of good ideas and advice for all families. Check it out and glean what applies to your family situation!

From Homeschool Radio Shows, a classic audio episode of Les Misérables:

The Bishop’s Candlesticks (MP3 Audio) –In this great episode from Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables, Jean Val Jean has spent 19 years in the galley for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s children. Five years for burglary and 14 years for attempting to escape. With a yellow passport that marked his criminal past, Jean has roamed from town to town looking for work, only to have doors shut in his face. We hear the rumors as the gossip grows in Digne that labels Jean a thief, then a madman and finally blossoms into a murderer. However, the Bishop of Digne has no lock on his door. Though he is warned by his friends that he should secure his door against Jean, the bishop says, "This is not my house, but the house of the Lord…" When Jean comes, the Bishop greets him and welcomes him into his home. Jean is taken aback. He distrusts everyone because of their cruel treatment of him. The Bishop offers Jean a seat at his table (upon which sits two valuable silver candlesticks), and a good night’s rest in his own room. But that night as he lays upon his bed, Jean struggles with thoughts of his own poverty, and determines to kill his host and steal the candlesticks for himself… A wonderful dramatization of one of the pivotal parts Les Misérables and a great story of grace and redemption that your family will long remember.

Free Presidents Day resources from CurrClick:

Presidents’ Day Holiday Helper –Free product of the week. Presidents Day Holiday Helper is a short collections of high-quality literature, artwork and quotations which are easy to use during busy holidays; each one is designed to provide your children with uplifting and inspiring ideas and images. Read aloud and enjoy the stories. Encourage the practice of copywork and enjoy the study of great art of both Lincoln and Washington.

Presidents Day Notebooking Pages -Holiday notebooking pages from NotebookingPages.com. Print out a decorated page and allow your child to write his own narration, copywork, or report about Presidents Day. In the blank spaces provided, he can add a map, illustration, or other graphic to accompany his written work.

From SchoolExpress, a free Valentines Day unit study and activity worksheets:

SchoolExpress Newsletter for the Week of February 7, 2010 -This week’s free unit is titled Valentine’s Day and will be available through February 13. Also, there are 3 sets of Valentine Activity worksheets in the free worksheets area of the site.

Blessings,

Denese

For even more free educational resources, please check my educational freebies tag archive and my Free Homeschooling Page.

Tags: copywork, education freebies, free audio, free e-books, notebooking, Unit Studies

Here’s a free eCookbook for you and your children:

Red Robin Kids Cook-Off Cookbook –Includes 50 inventive gourmet burger recipes from kids around the country plus back to school safety tips from the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Pdf format.

You might also be interested in:

10 Free eCookbooks: Soups And Stews, Healthy Eating, Pasta Recipes And More

Blessings and happy cooking,

Denese

For even more eCookbooks and recipes, please see my recipes tag archive.

Tags: Cooking, free e-books, recipes