Monday, July 17, 2017

I Kind of Hate July 16.........


.......which is why I'm writing this on the 17th.
I couldn't bring myself to do it yesterday.

I really shouldn't though....
Hate that day.
That blackened square on the calendar in 1993.
Because it is the day a miracle happened.
The day for which  our Savior suffered and died.:
It's the day my Dad  entered into  his Eternal Reward.

The day God invited him to come Home.
Selfishly, I so hate it -  he was taken from us.
Joyfully, I recognize, of course, that Dad's suffering was 
finally, finally,  over.
And that a lifetime of living for the Lord would grant him
his hard- earned salvation.
And once home from the cemetery , Mom said....
Well that was the longest wake I hope any of us ever attend.

We came to refer to Dad's illness as  a three year long vigil of waiting,
 watching and railing against God
Didn't he do enough? Give enough? Be enough?
That he should be stripped of his memories.
That he should need to  search for his family in his last days,
when we were all right there by him.

In time, our anger was assuaged. The ravages on our souls faded some,
what with the day to day demands of life, obligations, responsibilities.

 But the emptiness still remains.
And although I do hate the day that was his last here with us,
I'm in awe of the miracle that is our Faith.
The redemption that dad finally received for his worldly  77 year journey

<Erasmus Hall HS 1935>

This is a man who....

~grew up in Brooklyn, son of an Irish immigrant
whose mom gave him an Italian name so he '"wouldn't stand out."
Yes, he was one of a couple of dozen "Vincents"
on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn! 
But he was the only one with the dead-giveaway- Irish surname.

~ never went to college, but was the most intelligent, 
quick thinker I ever knew.

~was abandoned by his own dad at a young age and so, 
grew up to be the father he never had to his own five kids

~ enlisted in The War in December 1941, following FDR's 
" A Day hat will Live in Infamy" speech..
Because that's what able bodied American men did
in defense of their country's freedoms, despite never having held a gun.


~was a member of The Greatest Generation, but  hated that moniker. 
Each generation is great in its own way, he'd say.
 If  "all" one had to do, he'd say, is  fight evil and
take freedom back on the world stage, well, that's a golden opportunity 
to achieve greatness. How easy is it step up to the challenge?
Yes, he was humble.

~Rose from the rank of Private to Captain in the US Army Infantry
 within eighteen months,
leading his troop in the Pacific Theater to obliterate dozens of Japanese
forces and drive them out of The Philippines.


~ Took a short leave in October 1943 to come home and marry
his girl...my mom...and drive across the US
 to Camp Roberts in  Paso Robles, California,
where he'd ship out again to the islands in the 
South Pacific, under attack by enemy forces.



~arrived home from the front lines in August 1945 to meet his
daughter, his first born

~suffered PTSD, before it had a name and did not talk about 
the atrocities he witnessed, ever.
But did talk about a few scattered memories of his comrades.
 40 years later.

~worked in publishing and instilled in all
of us a lifelong love of books, reading, writing.

~ was raised Catholic and practiced his faith throughout  his
youth, due to his Mom's fervent love of The Church.....
a convert from the Episcopalian Church. 
Once returning from The War, he attended  daily mass
for the rest of his life, except when he was too ill toward the end.

~on many Sundays, challenged our young, new pastor 
on the intent of his homilies. 
When they began thrashing out theology so much so that they
 blocked the church door
for incoming parishioners to the following mass,
their conversation was brought home and, thus,
began a decades - long friendship which had Fr Kain included
in most of our family Sunday events.

~always considered his children and his grandchildren his
greatest accomplishments

~always had time for us, for anything we needed.
Despite his demanding job, which was stressful and paid 
him to afford us with the basics.
None of us ever felt we  were lacking.


The redemption and entry to Eternal Life  that Dad received..... 
well that's what is helping me heal.
Even 24 years later.
A deeper love  and reverence of our Faith and
the fundamental mystery that it simply is,
help the cavernous emptiness become not quite so daunting.

Here's to you Dad......
A cup of bravery and courage and selflessness. 






Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....




While you're here......
have you visited my HUGE bargain book sale??
I've over a hundred titles---all subject areas, all grade levels
from prek through high school.
After 13 years homechooling and 14 years as a classroom teacher, 
I have MANY many titles to offer~ 
the classics, ecology, geology, American history, 
music, art, picture books...you name it.
More titles are being added continuously...!!

There are 150+ titles in the sale !

If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!


Until next time,

~Chris



Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Why YOU Should Become an Ultimate Bundles Affiliate~


Blogger friends, this is an opportunity 
that you really should consider.....
Ultiamte Bundles are practical, affordable, user-friendly
and more, if you are an affiliate.
Here are the advantages:



Upcoming bundles sales include:
AUGUST 9-14Parenting Super Bundle 
AUGUST 23-28: Ultimate Fitness Bundle
SEPTEMBER 20-25: Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle 
OCTOBER 4-9: The Genius Blogger'sToolkit 
OCTOBER 16-17: Ultimate Homemaking Bundle Flash Sale
NOVEMBER 15-20: Company's Coming Super Bundle
NOV. 27-DEC. 4: Hand Crafts Super Bundle

There is a tremendous amount of guidance through emails and
a Facebook group full of kind, helpful affiliates.
Click over and get the scoop on how to :

and 


You will NOT be disappointed!
While you're here......
have you visited my HUGE bargain book sale??
I've over a hundred titles---all subject areas, all grade levels
from prek through high school.
After 13 years homechooling and 14 years as a classroom teacher, 
I have MANY many titles to offer~ 
the classics, ecology, geology, American history, 
music, art, picture books...you name it.
More titles are being added continuously...!!


Sneak peek:





There are 150+ titles in the sale !


Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....


If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!


Until next time,

~Chris

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

A Unique Opportunity: Learn to Take Better Photos for Your Family, Your Business, Your Everyday!

I'm a huge photography fanatic. Huge.
It's rare that I go a-n-y-w-h-e-r-e without my camera.
Nikon Coolpix A900 Digital Camera (Black)


Welllll, Walmart runs, excluded!
But seriously, whether  an everyday family  barbecue, 
 the boys' soccer game or track meet,
around the house general day to day "life,"
  "ordinary" Sunday mass, cross country travels.....the camera is always there.
In fact, because I've heard, "You took that picture?" I've decided to
launch a freelance photography venture and I'm SO excited
about the creative aspect, that I want to share something I think YOU
will enjoy and  find beneficial as well!
( even if you're not considering photography  a business! ) 
I decided I wanted to enhance my photography skills and invest in the 
I love the resources within the bundle SO much that I truly believe
anyone with a passion to capture all of life's
big and small moments will benefit!

What would you say if I told you 32 world-class 
photography educators  were joining forces and combining their
 essential teaching resources
 to help aspiring photographers like us pursue our dreams?
I’m telling you, that’s exactly what’s happening right now 
Expert photography instructors such as  
Jeremy Cowart, David Molnar, 
Zach and Jody Gray, Katelyn James, Digital Photography School,
 Click It Up a Notch,  Cole’s Classroom, Tamara Lackey 
plus 24 others are contributing their 
premium educational products to make this a can’t-miss resource.
The entire package is worth $4,100, but right now it’s only $97.
And that's  only for today and tomorrow.


If you're interested, click over and check it out!
You will not be disappointed. 



I'm an Ultimate Bundle affiliate.......and blogger friends, 
 if you would like to become  an Ultimate Bundle affiliate,
Here are the many ways you can benefit:


While you're here......
have you visited my HUGE bargain book sale??
I've over a hundred titles---all subject areas, all grade levels
from prek through high school.
After 13 years homechooling and 14 years as a classroom teacher, 
I have MANY many titles to offer~ 
the classics, ecology, geology, American history, 
music, art, picture books...you name it.
More titles are being added continuously...!!


Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....


If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!


Until next time,

~Chris

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Hundreds of Bargain Priced Books! Classics, all ages, all subjects

Looking for great deals on home school curriculum/books/supplies?
You've definitely come to the right place!
I have a wealth of resources to offer that I've  loved during  my
four years as a reading specialist,
ten years as an elementary teacher
and
twelve years homeschooling my kids. 

I'm categorizing the books by genre and within each genre, alphabetizing
for ease of perusal.
I hope you enjoy glancing through the many titles
and
I hope you find a gem or two that will bring 
you  and your kids reading happiness!

There are items here in foreign language, picture books, chapter books, 
classics, music, art, history, science and even outdoors ( a tent! )



Here are the purchasing details:

1. How to get in touch with me: Please comment below and/or email me at campfiresandcleats@gmail.com to let me know what you'd like to purchase.

2. Payment: Accepted through  paypal. 

3. Shipping: Postage is not included in the price listed and  will be added to the cost of the item(s) you are purchasing. Postage fee is established by the USPS and depends on item's weight and your zip code  I'll provide you with the exact amount the PO will charge and  this fee will be added to the cost othe items.
**Exclusions: I'm sorry, but I can only ship to the 48 contiguous United States. (I love my Hawaiian, Alaskan, Canadian, European, Asian and Australian readers though! I hope you understand! ) 

<<< I started out with 307 items for sale but  
as items are purchased I'm deleting them to avoid any confusion. >>>  
More items are being added continuously as well! 

 THANKS for shopping, sharing and buying!!
So let's get started ....


Love Sonnets
Eliz Barrett Browning
hardcover
$4





Canterbury Tales 
Chaucer
paperback 
$4


Red Badge
Crane
$4




Two by Kate Di Camillo
$6

Two by Bruce Coville
both for $5


Oliver Twist
Dickens
$4


Anne Frank
$3
( cover is a bit bent )




Autobio of Ben
$3

Double Life of Poca
Fritz
$4

Stone Fox
Gardiner
$4


Two by Jean Craighead George
Julie of the Wolves/ My Side of the Mountain
both $6


7 titles : Alex Rider series
Two are hardcover/ five are over sized paperback
$14 for all
exc cond




JFK
$4




Sarah Plain and Tall
 by P Maclachlan
$4



Death in Venice
Mann
$4


Puff 
$3



Angela's Ashes
by McCourt
$6



The Crucible
( stage script )
$3

Post its are my son's lines...I'll take those out!



Winnie
$4




Shiloh
$4



Bridge to Terabithia
$4





Yearling by Rawlings
hardcover- classic edition
$8






Harry Potter books 1-7
Books 1 and 7 are  hard covered
#2-6 are paper
all 7 books  for $20




Insurgent 
by Roth
Over sized paperback
$5




Little Prince
over sized paperback
$5




Frankenstein 
Mary Shelley
$4



Mouse Called WOlf
$4


Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain
hardcover- missing dust jacket
$6

Huck Finn
hard cover
$6




Code Name Verity
over sized paperback 
$5



Velveteen Rabbit
$3


The Bard: 

* 3 No Fear scripts 
(Julius Caesar  , Midsummer Night's Dream, Comedy of Errors)
*Everyday Shakespeare Stories ( REALLY comical!)
*Poetry of William Shakespeare -hardcover
all 5 books for $12





4 Cliff Notes of the Bard's plays
$4



General, classic lit:


Arabian Nights
hard cover - 500 pages
$12






Book of Virtues
hard cover
500 pages
$12



Art 


"How to" artists portfolio activities + life of each artist
Cezanne, Picasso, van Gogh
all three for $8




Color yourself Smart
Birds of No America
hard cover
only 1 page colored
supplies shown below
$8






Discovering Great Artists
amazing amazing resource for teaching art!!
paper back
$8


Religion, Faith, Bible History, Philosophy: 




Life of St Paul # 1 and #2 
(there are only 2 in the series) 
graphic novels - over sized paper back
both $8


Bible History  ( 200 pages) 
and
 Concise Bible History
both $8


57 Stories of Saints
$7





Never Unfriended 
Lisa Jo's new book
over sized paper  back
$5



God Moments
beautiful memoir  pub in 2011
(yours truly has a story within! )
$6




Ancient History



Greek myths
$5
over sized paperback




Pyramids
hard cover
$8

Mummy punch out book
(some are punched out but all pieces are included)
$3



Nefertiti
$4



Egypt in cross section
hard covered
$8

The American West/ Native American
 themed poetry/stories



Where Buffaloes Begin
$4



Many Winters
$4


Snow Toward Evening
$3


Dancing with Indians/ Dancing Teeppes
both $6

Music


Suzuki violin instruction cd
$6


 Reading Theory Anyone?


Theory and Practice of Early Reading
(My Master's is in Reading Disabilities so...... )
vol 1,2,3 ~ hardcover
all  3 for $10


General:
7 photo albums
Most still sealed
all for $10





History
War Between the States:


Civil War
hardcover
$5

Tubman bio
$4



The Boys' War
harcover
$6




Follow the Drinking Gourd
hard cover
$5




Lincoln
$6


Lincoln's Last Days
$6
hard cover




If you lived at the time of the civil war
paperback
$4



Maps/Timelines 



Rand McNally US map
$2


Timeline of Historic of Figures
$5


Medieval Times
Teacher Created Units


$3



History: 

US Revolution

Revolting Revolutionaries
(hilarious!)
$4


We the People
500 pages
$8
SOLD

Picture books


$4 hardcover




$6
hard covered 


$3


The Wall
$4


Great Kapok Tree
$3


$4


$4



$4


$4 


Grandfather's Journey
hardcovered -  ripped jacket
$5



Dragons are Singing - Prelutshy poetry
$4


World of Oz
hard covered
$8




More Oz
$4









Street Rhymes
hard covered
$7


Dr Seuss
hard cover
$7


Guess How Much
$5
hard cover



Calvin and Hobbes
$4



Vocabulary development




$5




Cliff Notes



11 titles
all for $10
( or make an offer on individual titles ) 

 

Science:

Insects

Where's that Insect activity book
$3




Thematic Unit activities
$5

$4

$3


all 3 for $5


$4


$4


$4

$4


$4




Seymour Simon titles


Seymour SImon
all 4 books for $10




Dinosaurs/reptiles


incredible Journey.......
$8


all 4 dino activity books for $5


both for $3


all 4 for $9


all 3 for $6


both for $6


$4


$4


$8
hard cover
Dinosaur


$8
Life Nature Library 

General Science 

How Come...
$8
hard



101 Things
hard cover
$10




Science "mysteries"
all 3 for $7


$6



$5



Biology/The Human Body


$6


Human Anatomy  Coloring  Book
$ 5

$6

$6
only 2 pp are completed



all 4 for $16
all hardcovered


$5


Teacher Created Materials: Human Body
Skeletal System match game
both for $5.50






Ecology/ Habitats

Habitats
$4


And Still the Turtle Watched
$6
hard covered



Teacher Created Materials: Our environment
$5 


Both for $7
hardcovered


World Book
Rainforest ANimals
$4


$5
hard cover


Life in the Rainforest
$4


$3




$4

all 4 books for $13



Endangered Species/wildlife 



Four endangered animal books
all for $16


TONS of wildlife information cards
Packet on right has never been opened.....
Cards on left have been opened and read. 
Total of approx 50 cards in both stacks
All pictured  for $8

Eagles and Whitetails
both for $7



3 Endangered Animals books
(Yes the ones on the right are duplicates) 
all 3 for $12

Whales and Dolphins $4
Sea Otter $4
or
both for $7 


Eagles: ZooBooks and Field Guide
both for $7

Animals at Risk and Discovering End Animals
activity books
both for $6




$4


Fossils 



All 4 fossil books for $18
(Search for a Living Fossil is hard. The others a re paperback )



Evolution/Geologic Time


Extinct Alpha and Evolution
both for $7


Time Flies
$4


Time Train
$4


Life Before Man
hard - Time-Life Book
$7

Ice Age
thin -magazine-like book
$3



General Earth Science


Breakthroughs in Sci
hard cover
$7



Wonderful Earth'
Hard cover
$7


High School Science Workshop Series Consumable Texts


Oceans and Atmosphere
$6
 or all 3 for $14


The Universe
$6 each
all 4 for $18


Biology
$6 each
or
both for $10


Biology
$6 each
or
both or $10


Geology
$6 each
or
all 4 for $18


Miscellaneous science- 

Heath Physical Science Teacher's Manual
$5



Math/web design

Web Design
$4






Innumeracy
over sized paper back
$4





Code
$5



French




Teacher's manual and stud book
both are $12





Sort of random ---but
if you're in the market for a tent~~



This is an amazing one!
Coleman 3 person tent
Here are the specs on the tent itself from the Coleman site
NEW!! Never used.
Originally paid  $79
Asking $40


More items will be added continuously!
Please revisit!

I'm so happy to link with Jessica for her 
annual curriculum sale blog hop!
Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Many more titles are being added in the next day or so...
please revisit! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....


If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!


Until next time,

~Chris