Route 66.....Oops!

We left Hartley, TX and headed to our next destination Route 66.  The last time we took the Route 66 vacation, we started in California and headed east.  So this time, we started in the east and headed west. 

Apparently, that will mess with your sense of direction.

We stopped and had lunch at the Route 66 Diner in Albuquerque, NM.  We stopped here last time and it was such really great diner food that we wanted to stop again.  I wanted to stop just for the shakes.

This one's for you, Mom!

After lunch we again headed out on Route 66....but this portion of Route 66 wasn't quite as clearly marked.  But, no worries, we had our guide books from last time.  I reclined my seat and dozed a bit.....remember.....the shake. 

It was sunny.  My belly was full. I was just relaxing.

Then, Rainman asked me whether I thought the area looked familiar.....because he didn't.

Well, I took a look around.  Not sure how he expected me to remember countryside from 4 years ago.  Give me a house or an interesting building and yes, I can recall that.  But, rocks and desert-y stuff....nope. 

Kind of all looks the same to me. 

But, he kept saying that it didn't really look familiar to him....but we drove on anyway.  He would say things like:

"I am sure back at that railroad crossing I was supposed to head this way."

Still driving.

"Hmmm, you would think that they would have these roads better marked, wouldn't you?"

Still driving.

"I don't know.....it sort of looks familiar, doesn't it?"


Yet, we still drove onward.


We have one of those guidebooks that gives you point by point directions on how to stay on Route 66....even the old beaten up historic parts.  That is what Rainman thought we were doing.  Following the Historic Route 66 that didn't run along with the freeway.

Let me repeat myself, that is what he thought he had done.

It wasn't.

I was trying to find the right page in the guidebook.  He was throwing questions at me about what I was seeing.  But, since neither one of us knew where we were, it wasn't working.

Finally, I, kindly suggested that we pull over and he take a look at a map.  Okay, honestly, I wasn't all that kind....I was sort of snarky and sarcastic (more on that in a future post).


But, when we found a spot to park and look at our maps, we found a hidden gem.

There was a little pull out area that had a little hiking path. 

It was gorgeous.

Plus, we think some of these rock formations are in the movie, Cars.  See in the background?  Remember some of the scenery of the mountains around Radiator Springs?  They were front hoods of old cars.....I think this is what inspired them.

Aren't my big girls looking......well.....old?

We met this cute little crunchy, granola couple and their 2 kids.  Their son was about 2 years old and named Vonnegut.  Their newborn daughter who had the most hair I have ever seen on a newborn was named Francis.  I didn't get pictures of them (not sure how to get permission to do that and not be considered a psycho).....but believe me, they were cute!

The only bad part of this unschedule detour on our trip was that S-girl broke the strap on her crocs.

This truly was one of those times where we took a wrong turn and we all ended up happy about it. 

It was sort of like a little gift to us.  The scenery was spectacular.  I love the pictures we took.  We got a chance to stretch our legs.  We met cute little crunchy, granola children.

Check out A-man's pose in the back.

God really created some beautiful things, didn't he? 

The best part?

You get to enjoy them even if you are a snarky and sarcastic wife.  He is just that good!

My Own Personal Library...Sigh....

Do you love your library?  I have always loved to read.  Really, I would much rather read than do most anything. 

In Minnesota, I loved our library system.  Good old Anoka County Library! 

It had diverse books available.  There were little satellite libraries located all over, so you were never more than 5 or 10 minutes away from one.  They borrowed books from each other.....even from other counties in the state.  You could have them checked out for 3 weeks at a time.  It was easy to renew your books on-line, if needed.  But, don't get me started.....it will just make me sad.

Georgia does have a library system.  But, it isn't the same as what I was used to in Minnesota.  I was spoiled up there. 

Really, really spoiled.

I now skip the library altogether, unless there is something we absolutely need for school.  It is not a pleasant experience for me....or the kids.  They were spoiled too.  We just didn't know it at the time.

Being a homeschool family and having a few readers in our bunch.  We have a lot of books around here.  A lot of books.

For the older grades in school, we have gone to a more literature based approach to study.  Which  means we have bought a lot more books so we have them here when we need them, and without having a 2 week timeline to get them back to the library.

I love it.  It makes me happy to have all these books around.

But, there are two problems with this approach.


The first problem is storage.  I dream of a house that has built in, wall to wall bookshelves so I could actually arrange my books like a library.....altogether, in the same room - not spread out on various bookshelves throughout the house.

Sigh.

Probably won't happen.


The second problem with the approach of just buying books is that it gets mighty expensive.

I can help do something about this problem.

I was asked to review a website, rather than a product this time.

The website is called, The Homeschool Library Builder.  Their tagline is "Help Fill Your Bookshelves, Without Emptying Your Wallet."

Just what I need.  Dave Ramsey would be proud.

They have both new and used books for you to choose from.

Even if you are working with a literature based curriculum (which usually has a package of all the books you need - you don't have to search them out, but it gets really expensive), you can use the Homeschool Library Builder to get all the books you need for less money.

You can search on their website by curricula, fiction, non-fiction, age, award winners.....I think you get the idea.

They even have a Helping Hand section.  All proceeds from this section of the website go to support a Compassion International child. 

If you have some books in mind that you would like to add to  your collection, even if you don't homeschool, go take a look around and see if you can find what you need.  I am pretty sure it will be at a better price that most other places.

Right now they are offering 25% off all items for the month of May! 

Go take a look. 

You can become a member for free.  Free, I said! 

This just means that they will let you know about  upcoming sales.  (Apparently their big Super Bowl Sale (40% off) is something.)  Being a member also allows you to earn points back for future purchases.  This means that you earn one Book Point for each dollar you spend on merchandise. Fifteen Book Points equal $1 in your account to use toward future purchases.  One more thing they can do, is, if you need a hard to find book, they are happy to search for it so you don't have to.

Really, since the membership is free you have nothing to lose.

If you want to see what other TOS reviewers thought of the Homeschool Library Builder, just click here.  But, remember, we are all sort of weird homeschoolers who get excited about books!


Disclaimer:  I was asked to review this website as part of the TOS crew and I received no compensation for my opinion.

Loreto on the Plains

After our almost fire, we traveled to a little town called, Hartley, to visit with my friend Debbie's aunt and uncle.  They moved to Texas to start a personal care home.....sort of like a nursing home. 

It is called Loreto on the Plains.   We had never met Nan and Ed, but they welcomed us in like we were long lost relatives.  After a bit of confusion about our family being there at the same time as a group of prisoners that were working on painting the "guest house", we sat down and had a meal with them and just visited.  It was nice.

Loreto on the Plains is nice.  It is small.  Like a home.  They have, 3 residents staying with them.  It really is like a home.  They call it "The Home That Faith Built".

They felt that God had called them to build this home and to go into this kind of respect for life ministry.  They didn't have any training in this field. They didn't have the finances to make something like this a reality.  But, they stepped out in faith and went ahead with plans.  They got the training they needed and, through many volunteer hours and donors.....

They succeeded.



My friend, Debbie, and her siblings, donated the beautiful rose front door, in memory of her parents.

Our family spent the day helping out at the house.  Rainman and most of the kids jumped in and helped with some landscape projects outdoors, while A-girl and I helped with kitchen and inside duties.  It was hot.  A-girl and I definitely got the better end of the deal.

Thanks, Nan and Ed for making us feel welcome despite the fact that you were obviously really busy.

If you want more information about their ministry, you can go check out their website.  Loreto on the Plains.

When it was time for us to take off, Nan and Ed followed us out to the van, sang us a farewell song and said a blessing prayer over us before we hit the road.

It was a good day.