Roadside Geology of Mississippi by Stan Galicki, Darrel Schmitz

Roadside Geology of Mississippi by Stan Galicki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Informative book, I had been to a lot of the places mentioned so it was nice to learn more about them. Great for homeschoolers studying geology, lots of possible field trips throughout the State.

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Tullis-Toledano Manor of Biloxi, Mississippi 2002

Very few historic homes in the United States have borne the Tullis name. One of the few that did was the Tullis-Toledano Manor in Biloxi, Mississippi. The home was built in 1856 by Christoval Toledano as a present for his bride, Matilde Pradat. It was considered a striking example of Greek Revival architecture.

It had a breathtaking view of the beach.

The archaeological dig we were lucky enough to participate in was more interested in what lay beneath the grounds. Imaging equipment allowed the archeologist to see that the manor was built on the site of an Indian village surrounded by a moat.

We helped catalog the items found.

The caretakers of Tullis-Toledano Manor were nice enough to let us tour the house during our lunch break. The parlor was beautiful.

After the tour it was time to get back to work.

Sean and I found a job in the shade. This contraption was used to shift shovelfuls of dirt for artifacts.

More artifacts for Sean to catalog.

We had some time to just goof off.

Tullis-Toledano Manor was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005  I feel privileged not only to have gotten to tour the house but to have had the opportunity to work on an archaeological dig there before it was destroyed.

The role of slavery and the slave trade in building northern wealth

Myths About Slavery.” Here’s the PDF:

Contrary to popular belief:

• Slavery was a northern institution
  • The North held slaves for over two centuries
  • The North abolished slavery only just before the Civil War
  • The North dominated the slave trade
  • The North built its economy around slavery
  • The North industrialized with slave-picked cotton and the profits from slavery

• Slavery was a national institution
  • Slavery was practiced by all thirteen colonies
  • Slavery was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and practiced by all thirteen original states
  • The slave trade was permitted by the federal government until 1808
  • Federal laws protected slavery and assisted slave owners in retrieving runaway slaves
  • The Union was deeply divided over slavery until the end of the Civil War

• Slavery benefited middle-class families
  • Slavery dominated the northern and southern economies during the colonial era and up to the Civil War
  • Ordinary people built ships, produced trade goods, and invested in shares of slave voyages
  • Workers in all regions benefited economically from slavery and slavery-related businesses
  • Consumers bought and benefited from lower prices on goods like coffee, sugar, tobacco, and cotton

• Slavery benefited immigrant families
  • Immigrants who arrived after the Civil War still benefited from slavery and its aftermath
  • Immigrants flocked to the “land of opportunity” made possible by the unpaid labor of enslaved people
  • Immigrants found routes to prosperity which were closed to the families of former slaves
  • Federal programs in the 20^th century provided white families with aid for education, home ownership, and small businesses

 Inheriting the Trade: A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History, by Thomas Norman DeWolf.

The Scandal (Theodore Boone, #6)

The Scandal by John Grisham
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Appalled by Judge Yeck threatening to have a dog destroyed for barking.

This book revolves around standardized testing and how a group of teachers from a poorly performing school got together and changed test scores. Theo becomes involved when his friend April sends a letter to the school board anonymously after her babysitter tells her about the "conspiracy". April is already upset because she really wanted to get in the honors classes so she could take Art and she missed getting in by 1 point. If the teachers at the poorly performing school hadn't cheated she may very well have gotten in, so she feels justified in ratting the teachers out initially, but after criminal charges are brought against the teachers she feels bad about sending the letter.

Theo's Mother winds up representing the teachers

And Theo winds up representing an otter in Animal Court.

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April is Confederate History Month

My suggested reading for April

Smithsonian Magazine (March 2016 Issue) The True Story of the 'Free State of Jones' 

and
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
You can read my review of the book here.

Great Reads in the Carnival of Homeschooling

The Homeschool Post is hosting this months CoH.

New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century Manhattan

New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century Manhattan by Jill Lepore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a scholarly work not written to entertain.

It's an interesting look at slavery in Manhattan, the fear of slave uprisings that gripped the city and the conspiracy that resulted in thirteen black men being burned at the stake, seventeen being hanged and more than one hundred black men and women being thrown into a dungeon beneath City Hall.


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When all the Northerners blather on about boycotting Mississippi because we have the Confederate Battle Flag in the corner of our State Flag and slavery I wonder if they even realize that slavery flourished under the United States Flag, not just in the South but in New York and other Northern States too.  

Alasandra's Place: The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1)

Alasandra's Place: The Aeronaut's Windlass (The Cinder Spires, #1)

Carnival of Homeschooling Oct 2015 still blogging!

Notes from a Homeschooling Mom is hosting this months CoH.

Carnival of Homeschooling: Pumpkin Spice Edition

Susan Online is hosting this months CoH.

The Carnival of Homeschooling: It's the Journey Edition

  Home Spun Juggling is hosting this months CoH

The Fugitive (Theodore Boone, #5)

The Fugitive by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While on a school field trip to D.C. Theo spots Pete Duffy, after contacting his Uncle Ike the FBI is brought in and Duffy is apprehended. With the testimony of illegal immigrant Bobby Escobar Duffy is sure to be convicted. Duffy's lawyer's hired goons try to scare Bobby off, but at the last minute Bobby shows up for the trial. After the jury hears Bobby's testimony, Duffy pleads guilty to his wife's murder and is sentenced to life in prison.

Ike, Theo and Bobby share the reward for Duffy's arrest and conviction.

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Carnival of Homeschooling #472: The Retirement Edition

Dewey's Treehouse is hosting this months CoH.

Carnival of Homeschooling for May {471 Edition}

Every Bed of Roses is hosting this weeks CoH.

Book Review

The Activist by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Theo faces his most challenging role as an activist. When his friend Hardie Quinn ask Theo to help his family fight "The Bypass" that threatens his family's home, Theo doesn't think there is much he can do to help due to Eminent Domain laws. But at the family supper table Mrs Boone (divorce lawyer) reveals she is against "The Bypass" she doesn't think it is needed, she thinks it will cause environmental damage, and she thinks the money spent on the bypass could be better spent on providing jobs for the people (school teachers, janitors, police officers, firemen) they just laid off due to lack of funds. Mr. Boone (real estate lawyer) comes out in favor of "The Bypass", and has a client Joe Ford who will benefit if "The Bypass" is approved by the County Commission. When Theo has a chance to talk to his Uncle Ike he learns that Ike too is opposed to "The Bypass" and that his friends will lose their home if it is approved.

Theo isn't really sure about fighting "The Bypass" until he and his friends are fishing on the Quinn's land when they see some men trespassing on the property. When Hardie Quinn confronts them they say they can be there as they are surveying the land for the County even though they do not have the property owners permission. Theo knows this is wrong and takes his cell phone out to call the police when the men attack him. Judge (Theo's dog) attempts to defend his Master from the brutal attack and is severely beaten with a surveyors stick before Theo is able to throw himself on top of the dog. The man who is beating Judge even hits Theo a few times before Theo is able to pick Judge up and run for help. Judge is rushed to the vet where he lingers in critical condition for several days with Theo by his side. Theo is determined to stop the thugs who injured his dog.

Theo becomes active with the environmental group who is fighting the bypass and he and his friends make a video that goes viral, they also recruit the parents and children who attend the elementary school which will be close to "The Bypass" and the parents and soccer players who will lose two of their new fields to "The Bypass" to fight it.

Joe Ford fires Mr. Boone due to Theo's activism. Mr. Boone packs the Ford files up to put in storage and Theo accidentally sees some information that shows that one of the Commissioners has a conflict of interest. Theo briefly toys with sending the Commissioner an anonymous letter threatening to reveal that his daughter stands to benefit from "The Bypass" being built, but decides not to as he saw it in the "law office" and realizes it's not ethical to reveal a clients private information even for the greater good.

When the Commissioners meet a huge crowd opposed to "The Bypass" shows up. The Commissioners vote is tied when the final Commissioner who was a vocal supporter of "The Bypass" chooses to abstain and "The Bypass" is defeated.

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Homeschool Mom Pet Peeve – Carnival of Homeschooling

The Carnival of Homeschooling has changed to a monthly format. February's CoH is now up at Cosmopolitancornbread.

Carnival of Homeschooling - Change

Why Homeschool is hosting this weeks CoH.

Wishing you a Blessed Yule

This weeks CoH is being hosted at Small World.

Have I Told You Today How Much I Love You? by Cheryl Sturm

Have I Told You Today How Much I Love You? by Cheryl Sturm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely children's book in bright primary colors sure to hold their attention, with some fun measurements thrown in. Perfect gift for a pre-schooler.

In the interest of full disclosure The Cadence Group provided me with a review copy.

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Carnival of Homeschool Holiday Edition is out.

Golden Grasses is hosting this weeks CoH.