Share 4 Somethings in November

The last Saturday of the month is always time for the Share 4 Somethings link up with Jennifer. But I don't plan on blogging next week beyond Wednesday and I didn't want to miss the link up so I'm answering my prompts a bit early. 

Once again we'll be sharing some things we've loved and/or disliked, accomplished, some things we've improved upon and/or that need improvement, and noticed.


Loved/disliked: I loved our time in Maine and both college tours/visits we went on this month. I loved seeing Ian's huge smile when he won the pool on the fishing boat for catching the largest fish of the day. And I have loved our (few!) hikes this month. 




I disliked our loss of power for nearly 5 hours one windy and cold night.



Accomplished: I finished another fun puzzle, finished up my latest painting, and made a beautiful wedding card. 





Some things I've improved upon/Needs improvement: Now that Evan has narrowed down which colleges he wants to apply to next fall I've been reading those school's Homeschool requirements pages and I'm realizing I need to add a course bibliography/syllabi page to his high school transcript so that's what I'm working on improving.  

Noticed: All of a sudden my Christmas cacti are blooming like crazy!


Just look at all those buds! 

Linking up with: Spread the Kindness, 






Comments

  1. Maria RineerNovember 22, 2024 at 5:11 AM

    The wedding card is so pretty! Your Christmas cacti are beautiful! I only have one Christmas cactus and it definitely does not have buds on it. In fact, I fear I may have placed my cactus in grave harm by failing to water it (it is in a room that I don´t go into often at all!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 8:49 AM

      Oops! I've done that with plants before too. I've learned I really need to keep them in eyesight.

      Delete
  2. HollyNovember 22, 2024 at 5:37 AM

    Love your Christmas cacti- so so pretty! Your trip to Maine did sound wonderful too!

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  3. Amy ScottNovember 22, 2024 at 6:39 AM

    I always wondered how homeschoolers do that; that is interesting to me. Would you ever consider a post on your experience?

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 8:44 AM

      Sure, but I feel like it will need to wait until I've done it; I did have a transcript with Ian but the college he went to never ever required it. I just had to give them a photo of his high school diploma we had made. Alec obviously went through his high school so this is my first time navigating it for "real." Though it does seem pretty straightforward and easy so far.

      Delete
  4. Veronica LeeNovember 22, 2024 at 6:58 AM

    Sounds like a great November!
    Ian’s big fishing win is awesome!
    Congrats on finishing the puzzle.
    Love the beautiful wedding card and painting.

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  5. Dara @ Not In JerseyNovember 22, 2024 at 8:07 AM

    Nice job on the painting and the card!

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  6. Andrea NineNovember 22, 2024 at 11:03 AM

    Oh that BEAUTIFUL card! You're so talented!

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  7. Lindsay's Sweet WorldNovember 22, 2024 at 11:35 AM

    Oh boooo, losing power is never fun. I absolutely love your cards! That white one is stunning!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 1:13 PM

      Thank you so much! I was so pleased with how that card turned out.

      Delete
  8. MissyNovember 22, 2024 at 1:08 PM

    Your Christmas cacti are so beautiful! Love! I'm so scared for when I have to prep my kids for college after homeschooling lol

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 1:17 PM

      Luckily as homeschooling has grown in popularity many colleges have set pages and rules to help guide us moms! I did run into a slight problem with a few schools that want to see our state approvals and CT doesn't have that but I was told to just have a letter certified by a notary public that our state doesn't require approval. I do plan to do a post on what we found and our process with each kids just as soon as we get Evan accepted into a school next fall.

      Delete
  9. JoyceNovember 22, 2024 at 1:43 PM

    I haven't had a Christmas cactus in this house and yours makes me think I need to add one. I had one for years that was lost in a move and I love them. Yours is so pretty!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 3:24 PM

      I love them; I actually have 3. At the time I took these photos they weren't all in bloom but they are now.

      Delete
  10. MELODY JACOBNovember 22, 2024 at 3:11 PM

    It sounds like you had such a wonderful month, filled with memorable moments! It must have been so special seeing Ian's big smile after winning the pool. Maine and the college visits sound like they added some nice variety to the month. I'm glad you got to enjoy some hikes too, even if there were just a few! Wishing you a happy weekend: read my new post:

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  11. Tanya November 22, 2024 at 3:20 PM

    I love your painting! My mom always had a Christmas cactus when I was growing up, and I would love to get one for our house. Hope you have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. jodie filogomoNovember 22, 2024 at 3:23 PM

    I love working on jigsaw puzzles, but I can't have them in my house.Because I will never get anything else done.
    Xoxo
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 22, 2024 at 3:25 PM

      LOL! I am the same way so I do a few and then put them away for at least a couple of weeks before taking out another one.

      Delete
  13. Marsha BanksNovember 22, 2024 at 3:35 PM

    I love that you make college visits an event! And, your painting is amazing! I had Christmas cacti once upon a time, but they’ve all died now.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousNovember 22, 2024 at 5:48 PM

    How exciting with him narrowing down his college selections. Oh, I hate power outages and they always happen at the worst times (is there a worse time?!). Your puzzle is beautiful that you finished as are those Christmas cacti!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousNovember 23, 2024 at 12:47 AM

    Your wedding card is beautiful as is the painting! Well done. This is a new blog challenge to me and interesting. Are you the host? Bernie

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 23, 2024 at 7:20 AM

      Thank you! Bernie the link up is hosted by Jennifer at this blog: https://www.joyfuljenn.com/. She hosts this share 4 somethings on the last Saturday of every month and also hosts a Currently series on the first Wednesday of the month.

      Delete
  16. Nancy 's Fashion StyleNovember 23, 2024 at 3:01 AM

    Wow, the Christmas cacti is so beautiful! It never gets that blooming at my house!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 23, 2024 at 7:20 AM

      They love the added sunlight we've been having this past month!

      Delete
  17. Amy JohnsonNovember 23, 2024 at 7:56 AM

    That fish was an incredible catch!

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  18. csuhpat1November 23, 2024 at 11:36 AM

    That puzzle looks super nice.

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  19. KirstinNovember 23, 2024 at 11:06 PM

    What a great update! Love your painting.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kim CarberryNovember 24, 2024 at 7:02 AM

    It sounds like a great month and that you are really organised with college. The Christmas cacti is fab!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 24, 2024 at 10:36 AM

      Thank you! I kind of feel like I have to be; that year is going to just fly by.

      Delete
  21. Kari November 24, 2024 at 3:02 PM

    That wedding card is gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tamar SBNovember 25, 2024 at 3:02 AM

    Your cactus is so pretty in bloom!

    ReplyDelete
  23. LeanneNovember 26, 2024 at 7:45 PM

    Hi Jo - I always enjoy your 4 Somethings posts - I'm thinking I might do something similar on my blog next year for a change of pace. Your painting was lovely and that jigsaw gave me jigsaw envy big time!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne November 27, 2024 at 6:15 AM

      Aw, thank you! Jennifer at this blog: https://www.joyfuljenn.com hosts a share 4 somethings party on the last Saturday of every month and also hosts a Currently series on the first Wednesday of the month. If you want to join in with the link party we'd love to have you! Typically the Share 4 Somethings has the same prompts each month all year long but she changes the currently ones monthly...

      Delete
  24. Lisa notes...November 30, 2024 at 7:46 AM

    We visited Maine a few years ago and fell in love with it. It was so different than Alabama. Congrats to your son on his catch.

    What a fun and hard puzzle you finished! If I can force myself to do a little Christmas decorating and gift shopping, maybe I'll start a new puzzle as a reward. Bribing myself sometimes works. ha. Your painting is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne November 30, 2024 at 10:14 AM

      Yes, I find bribery works well even on myself!

      Delete
  25. CindyDecember 1, 2024 at 4:23 PM

    Love the puzzle! We used to do them all the time, but it's been over a year since we have done one. I did not add anything to my daughter's transcript (I homeschooled as well), and they didn't ask for any clarifications or anything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne December 2, 2024 at 5:24 AM

      One of the school's Evan is applying to requests a syllabus to go along with the transcript; though it isn't a requirement per se they do strongly recommend having some sort of course descriptions. This whole process is both made easier and trickier by the fact that our state has no homeschool requirements so applying to out of state schools that require proof we followed state guidelines is kind of weird. But technically we've met them all... I honestly think once they've seen he's already taken college level courses they aren't going to care all that much about the rest.

      Delete
  26. JenniferDecember 2, 2024 at 10:29 PM

    Oh, wow, a Christmas cacti. I would love to add one of those to my newly acquired family of plants:) It is so pretty!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne December 3, 2024 at 5:56 AM

      Thank you! I actually have 3 of them; one was gifted to me by my sister and two I inherited when my mother in law was moving and about to throw them away.

      Delete

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