Reciting Poetry

To set the scene: The kids were speaking in hushed tones just outside my bedroom door.  I didn’t even attempt to print out school syllabi this morning and I did not request that the kids do any work.  I was lying down in an attempt to quell a headache.  They believed I was alseep, but I was NOT!

The following exchange occurred between my two oldest students this morning…

Child A: Just say “I recited my poetry to Angelina.”

Child B: Here… here’s my poetry sheet.

Child A: No, just say ‘I recited my poetry to Angelina.’

Child B: I recited my poetry to Angelina.

Then, the exchange was reversed, but in briefer fashion, obviously.  Clever, I thought to myself.  Very clever play on words, children.  I may have just had a once in a lifetime chance to be the proverbial ‘fly on the wall.’  The literal meaning of words.  Of course, I was provided a similarly clever way to address this later in the day.

Lahlum Farm Field Trip Recap

Sorry, there are no pics.   I remembered to bring out mv camera and put it in the kitchen … there it stayed!

The planning started in early April, between myself and FMCHE field trip coordinator & good friend, Sarah G.  May is so busy with sacraments, graduations, farm work, etc, but we finally settled on Wednesday, May 12.  We had no idea the weather would be so very wet in May!  But, thanks to many prayers, our day was dry … the yard was muddy and full of puddles, but it didn’t rain during the field trip. 

Families started arriving at 10:30am & everyone had arrived by 11am.  We started out with two large group visits to the chick pens.  Every child who wanted to hold a chick – did – and those who wanted to pet – did.  Back into the house and it was time to get the food organized.  I am so thankful that each family brought a dish to round out our potluck and the moms chipped in to get the meal ready by 12:15pm.  The kids and moms gathered for a meal prayer, then women & small children went through the line.  Young ladies were next and the young men went last, as is the custom in our group. 

After lunch, the kids could participate in the mini-stepping stone craft or just play.  I sure wish I’d have remembered to at least take a picture of the stepping stones … each was unique.  At about 2pm, the kids separated into two groups and headed outside for a tour of the farmyard and animals.  The group of boys hiked around in the trees and even got in a game of hide ‘n’ seek tag.  Meanwhile, the moms were invited to view our home.

Much visiting occurred throughout the day, which passed way too quickly, IMHO.   At 3pm families started preparing to leave.  The kids were given a snack and belongings were gathered (well, most were gathered!  I have a few items to bring to town on my next visit). 

Things to remember about the day:

1. 9 families, including ours = 39 kids and 10 adults (my husband stayed home yesterday)

2. 1 football casualty = 1 very muddy pair of pants and shoes.  He’s thankful his thoughtful and resourceful mother brought a change for the trip home.

3. Only 1 van semi-stuck = at least three boys very happy to help push it out!  Ya know that probably made their day, my friend (who will remain nameless)!

4. The speed limit on Broadway in Fargo is only 25mph!

5. Gackle is about 40 miles WEST of Marion.  I didn’t know that before yesterday.

6. If the stones/rocks in your mini-stepping stones get a little covered with cement/water on the drive back home, a damp sponge (or toothbrush) will clean them up and make them look pretty again.

7. It’s okay to take off school – completely – the next day to rest!  But, bless my kids, they knew there were some subjects they could do without their syllabus, so they worked a little anyway.

Craft Basket Wednesday

Today, we hosted a farm field trip four our homeschool group, FMCHE.  To give each child a momento to remember the trip to the farm, each made a simple garden stepping stone. Our kids have made the bigger stones … Mother’s Day gifts for the grandmas and I have one for each child in my gardens … except for Graham  & Louis. 

I found the idea for the mini stepping stones in a craft magazine a while ago, but hadn’t had a chance to try it out.  So, on Monday, I decided to check the mix and measurements to make sure I had enough supplies on hand.  I THOUGHT the mix would stay liquid enough in a sealed container.  Good thing I checked it when I arrived home from dance Monday night because it DID NOT stay liquid enough!  So, after adding a lot of water and wrestling with the mix in my bucket, it would eventually pour again and I was able to make two 9 inch stones.

This stone is for Louis (Leo).  It’s flowery, but it was late and my creativity was limited!  I’ll make one with Graham later this week.

 

The second stone is flowery, too.  I like it.

 

The little mini stone is my sample/test.  It’s my first initial.  I just wanted to make sure the stone would come out easily (it does, thank goodness!).

To make the mini, it takes a cup of the stepping stone mix in a styrofoam bowl – I would have used foil pans, but I couldn’t find them as readily on my trip to Fargo and ran out of time to stop at different stores.  I purchased all the stones/glass beads and shapes at the dollar store.  It was a great ‘find.’  I did purchase the stepping stone mix at the craft store, but I believe each 10lb. box will yield at least 12 mini-stepping stones.

The mini-stepping stone was poured and decorated at about 2pm; it was quite set when I returned home from dance at 8pm.  However, the stones should be left untouched for at least 48 hours.  I’d recommend longer just to be sure.  The first time we made the stones, I left them sitting for about a week.  It would be horrible to have one crack after all the creativity used to create the patterns. 

After the stones have cured, an old brush can be used to ‘scrub’ the cement off the stones and clean up the surface.  For variation, colored powders (blue, green, terra cotta) are sold at the craft stores.  I kept the craft simple and easy for the large group; however, I may try that with my kids later.  I’ve also seen wire added to the stone – twisted round so that it holds a seed envelope.  The mini-stones could also be used to mark herbs or flowers in your garden bed.  Letter and number stamps can be used to write names and dates, too. 

 

For more Craft Basket Wednesday posts, check out Amy Caroline’s blog today!

Wordless Wednesday ... just kidding!

Hopefully this will be enough BBQ to feed around 50 women and children --- field trip at the farm today!

 
Pics of the filling for the black bean quesadilla’s I made last week.  The colors were so appetizing to me, wish the kids thought as much.

Snow last Friday!  I was shocked.

Monday DayLook: May 10, 2010

For Today:  May 10, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... cloudy, windy, cool.

I am thinking about… what I need to get ready for the trip to dance.

I am thankful for... a loving husband and great kids!

I am reading… I haven’t had time to read anything but directions for stepping stone cement mix & a recipe, today.

I am hoping... for warm and dry weather tomorrow and on Wednesday.

I am hearing... the kids playing Wii. 

I am wearing…jeans, grey socks, and an NDSU Bison t-shirt.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… sorry, only laundry today.

From the school room... Angelina & Zeke are really close to finishing up.  Dash, being older, has a bit more to do, but the end is in sight.

From the kitchen... I made Maple Pecan Scones & Mini-chocolate chip scones this past week.

State of the house… clean and ready for company.

A successful moment… I haven’t lost any of the plant starts that have been sitting in the kitchen waiting for the weather to warm up so they can be planted outside; in fact, they’ve been doing quite well.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday:  Angelina’s dance class, library trip, visit the greenhouse (it’s open until 7pm on Monday night … yippee!), the sheep arrive tonight.

Tuesday: Visitors from Fargo coming for a day trip.

Wednesday: Our family is hosting a Farm Field Trip for our homeschool group.

Thursday:   REST.  Nephew turns 1 year old today … Happy Birthday!

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   Possible 4-H meeting, Spring Church Festival and Camria Ballet Spring Recital

Mother’s Day 2010

Hope all my mom friends had a Happy Mother’s Day!  The kids were very excited to give me their gifts on Sunday morning … even though I’d said the only thing I really want is obedience!  The gifts were cute.  Both Zeke & Graham drew pictures for me.  Angelina went shopping with Grandma Green Acres and purchased a very nice and practical gift, which included a lined notepad with pictures of chicken at the top for my grocery lists, a pretty flower pot, and a small box of Jr. Mints (she is soooo very related to me!).  Eric & the kids gave me THE cookbook ~ The Pioneer Woman Cook’s ~ and a Jog Stroller (to replace the Jog Stroller shredded by the farm shed’s resident rodent’s over the long winter – it truly was not a pretty sight).

After Mass, Eric made scrambled eggs & toast for all of us.  One of our favorite Sunday Brunch meals.  We’d invited Graham’s Godparents and their children out to the farm for the day, so all the kids waited anxiously for them to arrive around 1:30pm.  The kids were all so excited to see their friends and show them around the farm.  We adults sat and visited … it was perfect! 

For supper, I prepared Party Potatoes, Sweet & Sour Baked Beans, Carrot sticks, Pork Chops (grilled by Eric for the adults) and hot dogs (kids).  For desert, I made Creme de Menthe & Fudge cake.  It was a fun day and went way too fast for all.