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Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday. 

It’s been a crazy week. 

Friday, Ausust 12, after our homeschool group’s booksale set-up, I brought home a couple extra ‘friends’!  A good friend, Laura, purchased them for small change after a local fair, but only had room to keep 4.  She asked if I’d be willing to take any males and extra pullets.  I’m just silly enough to agree…

So, looks like we are adding another Ameraucana pullet and a pair of feather-footed chicks.  I think they’re cochin bantams because although they are the same age as the Ameraucana, they are about half the size. Also, they don’t have feathered heads like silkies. 

Mystery chicks!  It’ll be fun to see them grow. 

High School

… the first year of high school … our first child to be homeschooled for high school.  I’m not nervous or worried.  Maybe I should be!   We made the decision to homeschool high school this past Spring and I started ordering materials throughout this past year (that organized part of me that likes to look through materials before using them compelled me to purchase before actually making the final decision to homeschool through high school).

Dash is following the course laid out by Mother of Divine Grace (MODG) for 9th grade – for the most part.  So, he’ll be studying the following:

Religion 9:  Chief Truths of the Faith  and Catholic Morality by Fr. Laux

Grammar and Composition 9 (includes Spelling and Vocabulary):  Warriner’s English 3^rd Course. 

  I also added Language of God – Level G from Catholic Heritage Curricula, but if it’s too much it’ll be dropped.

Spelling: Phonetic Zoo (just finish up Level C)

Math: Math-U-See: Geometry

History (United States History/Geography and American Literature):  World’s Greatest Speeches, Christ and the Americas,

and titles from the following topics…

Exploration and Colonization (choose two titles):  Madeleine Takes Command, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

American Revolution (choose four titles):  Johnny Tremain; John Treegate’s Musket; George vs. George; Peter Treegate’s War

Westward Expansion (choose two titles):  Death Comes for the Archbishop, Swiss Family Robinson

Civil War (choose four titles):  Red Badge of Courage, Killer Angels, Rifles for Watie, Iron Thunder

Recovery (choose 1 title):  Up From Slavery

The World Wars (choose two titles):  The Winged Watchman, Twenty and Ten

Earth Science (Standard Grade 9):

Geology, Oceanography, Weather, and Solar System (all from Milliken Press)

Astronomy for All Ages, Geology (Golden Guide), Weather (Golden Guide), Oceans for Every Kid

Art:  Drawing from Nature by Jim Arnosky and Landscapes in Pencil by Gene Franks

Music: Music of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh

Piano: Alan Jemison Piano Course (Dash is in the Reading at the Piano level, so he’ll work on completing the course this year).

Poetry:  The Harp & Laurel Wreath and Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum, which includes a list of Literature Selections

Latin I (IA – First Half of Henle I):  Latin I and Latin Grammar by Fr. Henle

Electives:  Computer Science Pure and Simple Book 2

Extracurriculars:  Football, Tae Kwon Do, Crop Judging, 4-H … (we are considering FFA, but need to work out the details)

Most of the history, art and music books listed above were purchased through AbeBooks, which allowed me to find everything used at a fairly good price.  It saved time and money.  I’ve used this site a number of times over the years to find out of print books or good quality used books for school and general reading. 

 

Ready or not (and I think we are!) … here we come.  A path not entered lightly, but a path entered with much prayer, thought, and trust.

In Conversation…

As mentioned in earlier posts, while Methe’s were visiting, Michelle and I talked about everything.  Basically catching up on four years of living and raising kids that had occurred since the last time we were together.  Nothing is off limits!  She knows me very well; I hold very little back and she is the same.

During one of our conversations about discipline, we were talking about our methods and difficult spots with different children.  Each child reacts in his/her own way, and we react differently to them as well.  I know I can get loud and I yell.  It would be awesome if I didn’t, and I often regret my yelling and sometimes my actions.  There is always that thought that I might break ‘the child’s spirit.’  Now, I don’t really think this will happen, but a mother worries, ya know??

Michelle was reassuring.  I can’t remember how she lead into it, but at a certain point, she mentioned that one of her friends stated during a conversation, “And, this is me with Christ!” 

Now, that statement gives one pause….

Yes, and this is ME with Christ!

I’ll be pondering that for quite some time.

Having Michelle here was like having a mini spiritual retreat brought to me in my own home.  Many thanks, dear friend.

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A somewhat challenging and exciting opportunity was presented to me at the beginning of this week.  I’ve been praying, thinking and talking about it with specific people.  Please pray that I’m shown the correct decision.  Thanks!

Monday DayLook: August 8, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... the sun is going down and the sunset over the tops of the trees is beautiful.

I am thankful for...good and faith-filled friends and family.

I am reading… the latest ‘Countryside & Small Stock Journal.’  I learn so much with each issue.  Cool ideas this time were a solar stock tank, midget white turkeys, depression, and oven canning.

I am praying for... my Godchildren and pregnant friends.

I am hearing...the TV.

I am wearing… jean capris and a t-shirt.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… it’s all about laundry, lately.

From the School Room... I certainly didn’t think about much last week – aside from discussing different programs and ideas with Michelle.

From the Kitchen... cut up the remainder of the cherries and froze them in 2 and 4 cup packs for future use.

From the Garden…  needed to start watering the beans and peas.  I did cut the ends off the vining cantaloupe and watermelon in hopes that the fruit already set will mature before a major frost.

From the FarmYard…  merging the Ameraucanas with the Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons didn’t work this time.  The Ameraucanas are about 6 weeks younger, thus much smaller in size.  They are also very flighty.  In the morning, 10 had flown over the chicken wire back into their old pen.  The remaining 5 huddled in the corner.  If they left that spot, the Barred Rock rooster would come and peck them.  Pecking order is an interesting thing.  Our next step will be to create on outside enclosure for the Ameraucanas adjacent to the older pullets/cockerels so they become more accustomed to seeing each other before attempting a second merge.  The younger chicks also need to get a little bigger.

A successful moment… the chicken butchering last week went great!  33 chickens in the freezer (less 5 for my MIL, 10 for my mom, and 5 for a friend).

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Eye appt for Suzie, TKD for all the kids.  Oh, yea!  Eric is gone ALL week.

Tuesday: Church meeting in the evening.

Wednesday: First day of football practice for Dash and equipment sizing and disbursement.  Afternoon ortho appt for Dash – second to the last one!!

Thursday:   Run up north to pick up Zeke who has been staying with my parents while they visit my sister.  The kids and I plan to help with a 4-H table/display at the local Farmer’s Market this evening.

Friday:  Eric flies into Fargo and then will drive home today.  Set up for the annual FMCHE book sale.

Saturday/Sunday:   College friends over on Saturday afternoon to see a mutual friend who lives in Germany while her husband is stationed there for the military.  We plan to MAKE Sunday a day of rest for this family.

A picture memory...

First attempt at merging the younger flocks:

Above is the Barred Rock rooster.  His tail feathers are starting to elongate, as are his neck feathers.  He’s just really pretty … and he’s definitely the dominant cockerel, now that the broilers have been harvested.  Below are a few of the Buff Orpington pullets surrounding a Barred Rock.  We let a bunch of weeds grow.  The chickens ate the lower leaves, providing a nice shady area all day for the youngsters.

Eric transferring an Ameraucana pullet to Graham.  They were let loose in the ‘big chick’ outside yard.  It was probably shocking to them.  I didn’t realize how big the Barreds and Buffs were until put next to the Ameraucanas!  The older chickens are easily twice as big.

Showing of the coloring of a few of the Ameraucana pullets.

Methe Visit

 

The Methe Family

Back row: Kevin, Michelle, Miss M2

Middle row: Miss R, Miss E, Mr. J

Front: Mr. JP, Miss E2

Not pictured: Miss M, college student who was hanging at home and working her summer job.

 

Kevin relaxing (and playing a game or two on his cell) after a day in the field.

Michelle (above) and a mix of kids hanging out in the kitchen.  With this crew, we were doing a lot of cooking and dishes, thus were hanging out in the kitchen often. 

Mr. J, Zeke and Mr. JP

 

Miss M2 holding Louis. 

Miss E2 while enjoying a Mocha Brownie.

 

Miss E2 and Angelina – they share the same ‘REAL’ name.  The girls are named after Kevin’s paternal grandmother and my paternal grandmother.

 

Angelina was in heaven with so many girls in the house!

From L to R:  Miss E, Miss R, Angelina, Miss R2, Miss E2

 

Michelle and I, above.  We are such good friends because our faith journey really took off at the beginning of our friendship.  We moved into a house next to their Red House when she was pregnant with Miss R, their third child.  Michelle is one of those friends with whom I can pick right up where we left off even if we haven’t talked in ages. 

She and Kevin are godparents to Dash, our first born, and we are godparents to their first son, Mr. J.  We are pictured below with Mr. J. 

Before they left on Thursday, we finally took the time to take pics.  My dad, who was having such a good time, was giving the kids instructions:  ‘Okay, now do a funny one’…

…’Okay, now do one with your hands and feet in the air’…

…’Okay, now do one backwards and waving!’  And, the kids all followed his instructions – laughing all along!!

MTU!

 

MTU is going to be my acronym for this ‘kind’ of post.  Since this blog is a journal for our family, I expect that someday, my kids will READ it.  Besides all the normal stuff written about … homeschooling, pets, 4-H, family, celebrations, etc…. I also dole out advice here and there.  Maybe it will help them make a decision down the road, maybe it’ll help me remember what to tell them when they ask me later in life when I have a poorer memory, maybe it’ll provide a laugh.

So, I suppose you are wondering what the dickens MTU means.  It’s from a teeny, tiny little plaque sitting in my kitchen.  I bought it a few years ago while visiting my sister at Emma Krumbee’s in Belle Plaine, MN (she no longer lives there, but I have fond memories).  At first, I didn’t think I should display it … I bought it on a whim … it’s a bit sarcastic. 

But, it’s funny and OHHHH so true on many an occasion!

As you can see, MTU stands for the last three words in bold:  MOTHER TOLD YOU!  To start this first post, it’ll be part confession and part lesson – from my mother to me.

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In college, I loved to bake and cook.  My mother, knowing this, gave me a wonderful Kitchen-Aid hand-mixer.  It was a powerful mixer and may have even had the words Ultimate on the side.  Anyway, I had my mind made up that I didn’t like the beaters, which were thin wire and didn’t seem to mix as well as the hand-mixer I used while growing up.  I added it to my garage sale a few years later.  My mom, who was helping with the sale, questioned me, but didn’t press me on my decision.  However, I could tell she didn’t think I should sell it. 

First Lesson: Sometimes it’s better to hold your tongue and thoughts – the lesson sticks better this way.

I didn’t have another hand-held mixer already purchased and I wasn’t able to find a better one.  In fact the one I bought wasn’t as powerful and I still have it today.

Second Lesson:  Don’t get rid of something good (that you use and need) if you haven’t researched its replacement.