A glimpse into our home-centered life.....

Done blogging for a while......

2010-10-06T08:20:00.000-05:00

It feels like a good time to take a break. Life is busy and my posting has become sparse. My Allie may still post occasionally about farm life and such on her blog if you want to follow her :O)

http://allie-polkadotdreams.blogspot.com/

An Unwelcome Guest

2010-09-27T15:49:00.000-05:00

I can hardly stand to look at this picture (FYI - I did not take it - Allie did).

I'm sure our slithery friend eats lots of mice, but even so, I am now looking in all directions before I enter the barn. He is actually up in the rafters in this picture.........so creepy!

Allie's Braces Are On!

2010-09-07T13:18:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken against her will.

I Made Ricotta!

2010-09-07T07:47:00.001-05:00

It was very easy to do and the flavor was wonderful! I made stuffed shells with it, but next time I am going try something sweet :O)

MILK!

2010-09-01T20:48:00.002-05:00

After 3 days of "practice" milking and giving it to the pigs, chickens, and cats; we are finally ready to bring the milk to the table! We have decided to keep the calf on Beatrice and milk her once per day (in the evening).

Tonight she gave us 1.5 gallons of milk - probably closer to 2 if you count the rations for the cats and dog. I'm sure she could produce a lot more milk than this, but it is already more than we would normally use in one day. Tomorrow we will attempt to make butter :O)

It's a boy!

2010-08-29T09:41:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the World Colin

So sweet!

2010-08-25T08:13:00.001-05:00

Ashlyn taking the leadrope out to walk Beatrice to some new grass.

The BIG Cook!

2010-08-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

It's like freezer cooking....only better! And, it's easier too :O)

If you ever cook for large groups, this book comes in very handy. Check out the website for recipe. samples. It is also available at Amazon.

Beatrice Arrives

2010-08-20T14:19:00.001-05:00

Isn't she lovely! She is due to calve around the 5th of September, so fresh milk is just around the corner :O)

And that's the way the money goes.......

2010-08-19T09:20:00.000-05:00

New truck for Allan.........check!

Braces for Allie..........in process!

Milk cow for me........picking her up tomorrow!

(will post her actual picture soon)

Just a quick thumbs up

2010-08-12T18:19:00.001-05:00

After trying a few different "learn to read" programs with no real winners, I finally found one that works for us! Ashlyn LOVES it, it is easy on me, and it is fairly affordable. Another plus is that it works well with the Happy Phonics games we already enjoy. What is this great program you may ask?

READING MADE EASY
By: Valerie Bendt

If you are in the market for a reading instruction program, this one is worth a look.

Some days are like that

2010-08-11T16:30:00.002-05:00

Some days the kids (one or all) can drive me nuts. Today, it was Ashlyn's turn at the wheel and boy can she drive. We have been working on first time obedience, and I'm feeling like we are getting nowhere! At the library the Alice in Wonderland DVD had to stay behind because of bad behavior. And later, at the bookstore, several sunglasses from the turntable rack had to be picked up off of the floor because *someone* couldn't resist giving it a big spin. ARGH! No ice cream at Jason's Deli for that one. What's a mom to do? Well, first I checked out a book recommended by a friend called Creative Correction.

I clearly need some fresh ideas!

Then, I started wondering if God ever looks at me as I fumble through life, make bad choices, and lose my temper with the kids and thinks, "There she goes spinning the sunglasses rack again!".

GRACE

Isn't it wonderful!

I need to remember to give it as often as I receive it.

God is so patient.

Back to School

2010-08-10T13:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we officially started our 2010-2011 school year. Ashlyn is joining us now full-time as a kindergartner for family work time. This adds some new, but welcome, distractions.

I have kept most things as they are posted on the "Our Curriculum" page, but I did make a switch for Allie's science. She will be using Apologia Physical Science this year. I think it will be enjoyable.

Getting back into the swing

2010-07-21T08:48:00.001-05:00

July has been a whirlwind. It began with a 10 day vacation to see family in Minnesota and Wisconsin. While there, we attended a baptism, a funeral, and a family reunion; needless to say, we saw nearly *everyone* on this trip.

We also had the opportunity to get to know an amazing family of six. The Cowperthwaite's have a traveling evangelism mission and they spent about a month living on the property just north of us. We were able to share meals, play games, and encourage and inspire one another. A lifelong friendship was formed this summer! We were very sad to see them leave on Tuesday, but we know that God has great things for them and we wish them much success in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My garden has been producing abundantly as have the squash bugs. Yesterday, I admitted defeat and pulled out the infested plants. All other vegetables are doing well. We will have fresh green beans for dinner today.

It rained 4 inches last night and it is just plain swampy out; today promises to be another sticky 90 something. Fall can't come too soon for this girl :O)

Moments in the garden

2010-06-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

Zinnias

Henry Hiding in the Pole Bean Tepee

Morning Dew on the Strawberries

I am loving God's creation!

Picklers are ready

2010-06-28T11:12:00.002-05:00

This morning I canned 4 pints of dill chips. Hopefully I will be able to do at least that many more later this week. Soon the greenbeans will be ready too......YUM!

We have also been blessed with *a lot* of squash lately. Hopefully some of that will make it into the freezer for leaner times.

Next year's garden plan is growing by the day :O)

Reshaping my views on nutrition

2010-06-25T08:57:00.004-05:00

I have been a perpetual yo-yo dieter since I was 14.........sad I know. As I get older however, it is becoming less about how I look and more about how I feel.  Enter Nina Planck.

Her book has totally changed the way I view food.   I feel liberated to enjoy butter, eggs, and whole milk again without guilt.

We are a family who subscribes to the slower rural lifestyle and this way of eating just fits!

If you need help getting off the industrial food conveyor belt, READ THIS BOOK!

Other great resources that have inspired change are:

*Just a note:  The majority of the resources above do speak of evolution as truth. Even so, much wisdom regarding our food choices can be gleaned. Read with a discerning eye. Blessings.

Making Hay

2010-06-22T08:38:00.000-05:00

We are having the hottest days of the year here thus far, so one might think we'd be sitting on the front porch with cool glasses of lemonade in hand, but alas, we are making hay. I snapped this shot of Allie and Henry when the hay wagon rolled in around 9:00 p.m.

One AWESOME Week!

2010-06-15T12:26:00.000-05:00

Last week was VBS at our church and I am part of the coordination team. After several months of planning and painting, it was time to open our doors to the the 11 and under crowd. What an awesome and crazy week! We had about 100 kids having fun learning about Jesus everyday. Here are a few pictures. Sorry family, there are none of Caleb.....they all turned out blurry.....he just never stops moving :O)

Happy Birthday Dear Allie

2010-06-09T06:39:00.000-05:00

Thirteen years ago today I gave birth to my first child. A beautiful 7 lb. 15 oz. baby girl we named Allie. Where does the time go? Am I the only mom who cries on their children's birthdays? I was looking through pictures of when we moved to the farm seven years ago. Allie was six. Now, my eyes are filling with tears because I realize that in seven short years she will be twenty. What's a mom to do?
I just want to pause and thank the Lord for the gift of my precious Allie.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me with an amazing daughter. Help me to savor every moment that I have with her. Give me the wisdom to raise her as a young woman who hungers for you. Remind me daily that while the days are sometimes long, the years are ever shorter and being a mom is the most important mission I have. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen"

Allie- I love you more than words can express. You are my right arm most days and a treasure to our family. You grow more beautiful every year. May God bless you richly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Mom

Allie age 6

Allie now

Tree Project

2010-06-05T12:08:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a big day at our house. We had a tree moving company relocate 20 trees, that we planted about six years ago, to our immediate yard. WOW - What a difference! Check out the "Before & After" shots.

Tree Project June 2010

In the Garden

2010-05-29T10:01:00.001-05:00

We have lived on our 10 acres for 7 years now, and I am embarrassed to say that in all that time, I have never had a successful garden. Oh, I could grow weeds better than anyone, but nothing else ever seemed to do well.

I was determined that this year would be different. I needed a new plan. Enter my sweet husband :O) with the solution to all my problems....RAISED BEDS! I have the best garden I have ever had!

This morning it was just beautiful, so I went out early to get the weeding done. It feels so productive to grow our own food. I can't wait to enjoy the bounty.

The Glider Project

2010-05-27T15:32:00.001-05:00

Today I got to sew for my son, but this was not your ordinary sewing project. No clothing or quilts were made. No, we made a replica of Orville and Wilbur Wright's 1900 Glider.

Caleb has been fascinated with planes ever since he read Russell Freedman's book about the Wright Brothers, so today he asked if we could try making a model. We brain stormed about ways to make it work and we finally settled on muslin and toothpicks. I sewed small channels for the toothpicks to give the top and bottom wings body, then we used hot glue to hold it all together. It may be too heavy to fly, but it was so fun making something with my son.

Happy Birthday Dear Caleb

2010-05-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that my little boy is 9 today. Time has gone so quickly. He is such a sweet spirit, loves the Lord, and is always looking out for his sisters.

For his birthday breakfast.....doughnuts. What better way to celebrate life than with food that will kill ya! LOL :O)

Later today we will have pizza, chocolate cake, and more pizza. Good thing birthdays only come once a year!

Playing with the School Supplies

2010-05-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

I'll fess up right away. When I ordered a set of Prismacolor watercolor pencils with our Rainbow Resource homeschool order, I was only halfway thinking of the children. I have always wanted to buy a set, but could never seem to justify it for myself. Well, I worked my way around that one, and today had a chance to try them out. I had never used watercolor pencils before, but they were so fun and easy to use. I am NOT an artist in the "drawing" sort of way, so I think what I like most about watercolor is the forgiving nature of it. Anyway, I scanned in my picture hoping any moms out there who don't *do* art will feel like giving it a go. And really, "Buy the good pencils!" :O)

Caleb's Mushroom Hunt

2010-05-18T14:03:00.000-05:00

Days of rain and little sun have left the ground squishy soft and the air humid. What better time for a boy to go on a mushroom hunt! Caleb had fantastic luck in the woods this afternoon. He is still looking through his field guide to try identify them (which is harder than it sounds) but I'm satisfied that he had a great time exploring God's creation.

Gettin' Green

2010-05-17T15:29:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time there was a mom who wanted to do the right thing and recycle. But alas, she got lazy and always forgot to take her recycling to the sorting center because it was 15 miles away and her bins were in the basement (bad-bad-location).

Well, now she has no more excuses because her small town has recycling bins for all major categories: glass, cardboard, metals, and plastics. (YIPPEE!) And our bins have been spiffed up and moved to the mudroom, which happens to be right on the way out the door. (Much Smarter)

So, that is the story of how one mom with good intentions got herself back on the green track.

Homemade Baking Mix

2010-05-13T07:14:00.001-05:00

I thought it was high time I shared my favorite homemade baking mix. It will work anywhere you would use Bisquick and it even works for Mary Jane Butters' famous bakeover recipes. One of my favorite things about this mix is that it doesn't have any shortening in it, so it keeps very well. I keep a small container of it in my cabinet and store the remainder in a Ziploc bag in the freezer.

In a Large Bowl mix the following:
10 cups of flour (I use a whole grain white flour, but you could use all white or 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat)
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
4 Tbsp. Baking Powder (I like aluninum free)
3 tsp. salt

It bakes up nice and fluffy. Here is a picture of the cheeseburger pie I made last night. YUM!

Books and Things Seminar

2010-05-12T15:50:00.001-05:00

For Mother's Day, my sweet husband blessed me with The Books and Things Seminar from Simply Charlotte Mason. Today I had time to watch the first session and I can tell you that one can never stop learning about the amazing methods of Charlotte Mason. Something new jumps out at me every time. Sonya Shafer does a terrific job of making CM so very doable. I cannot wait to watch the other three sessions. I love teacher training :O)

A New Dress for Ashlyn

2010-05-12T11:32:00.000-05:00

I made this dress in 40 minutes flat from one of Ashlyn's t-shirts from last year and a scrap of fabric from our stash. I got the idea from another mom (thanks Anna) and definitely see more of these in our future. It was super easy! I simply stitched a seam down the back of the skirt fabric and gathered the top edge. Then I eased the gathered edge around the hem of the t-shirt, pinned, stitched, and finally hemmed the skirt. VIOLA! A new dress :O) Just the kind of project that makes everyone happy.

So touching

2010-05-10T13:23:00.000-05:00

Today I read Ashlyn a book called, The Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills, and I almost didn't make it through! This little story is both heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time. If you have never read it, I recommend moving it to the top of your list (even if you don't have kids under 6). Then let me know if I'm the only overly sentimental mom, because I choked up three times, and needed a tissue by the end!

Mom's Day

2010-05-09T08:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing Godly moms that visit here and that I know only via the internet. The inspiration, encouragement , and wisdom that I find on various sites and blogs is priceless to me. The Lord has truly blessed the connections we have.

Have a wonderful day filled with love, rest, and the peace that you are doing His precious will.

Sharing

2010-05-05T08:18:00.001-05:00

It has been too beautiful to blog for the past several days. We have spent many hours in the out-of-doors playing and gardening.

However, I do have a goodie to share with you. I made this Book of Centuries template for my oldest daughter and thought some of you might like it as well. I had mine printed and spiral bound at the local office supply store. It cost around $30, but it is for all 4 high school years (and I used really high quality paper and color ink). You could always print it at home and put it in a three-ring binder. I found this layout to be more easily organized than a general year A to year B page. Enjoy!

Book of Centuries Generic

How Sweet!

2010-04-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

Shannon at Homeschooling Their Hearts just gave me a Sunshine Blog Award. The Sunshine Award is gifted from one blogger to another that she feels "inspires others and shows positivity and creativity." Isn't that sweet?!

Now, one of the guidelines for the award states I must pass the award on to 10 fellow bloggers. So, here are 10 of my FAVORITES!

~Dove's Rest
~Feminine Farmgirl
~Haigh Happenings
~Joyful in Hope
~Regan Family Farm
~Gracefilled Oaks
~Generation Cedar
~Joyfully at Home
~I am but a vessel
~Home Living

Here are the rules to the award:

1. Put the Sunshine Award logo on your blog and/or in a new post;
2. Pass the award onto 10 fellow bloggers;
3. Link the nominees within your post;
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs;
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Free Homemaking Lessons

2010-04-29T17:00:00.002-05:00

This wonderful (and very useful) handbook used to be available only in hard copy, but the lessons are now also online FREE of charge. What a blessing. Thank you Laurie Latour of Future Christian Homemakers.

Field Trip!

2010-04-27T16:25:00.000-05:00

Today we spent a beautiful day with a few other homeschooling families at Deanna Rose Farmstead. We enjoyed looking at flowers, walking on nature trails, feeding animals, and fishin' for perch.

Get ready to laugh...

2010-04-25T19:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Allan and I purchased a new lawnmower at our local Sears store. When we got it home, I was reading through the manual outloud and noted to Allan that we would need to change the oil after every 25 hours. At this time Allie got a very strange look on her face and said, "Wow! Do you really think it is necessary to change the oil everyday?". After we stopped rolling on the floor with laughter, we kindly explained that it meant after 25 mowing hours. I'm not much for "blonde jokes", but this could be a classic. YEP, we're homeschooled :O)

Cookin' for Allyson's Hope

2010-04-22T16:18:00.003-05:00

Today Allie and I cooked and seasoned 30 pounds of ground beef to help make burritos for our friend (and piano teacher) Allyson's fundraiser.

She has a rare condition called Neurofibromatosis Type II or NF 2 for short.

We will get together with several others from our church to make over 4800!!! burritos on Saturday. The money raised will help pay for an innovative treatment that is not covered by insurance.

Thrifty Tip

2010-04-20T08:37:00.000-05:00

One thing that I have longed to be more intentional about is sending cards to the special people in my life. Not just for birthdays, but for encouragement, getting well, and just because. I truly struggle with this. I never seem to be thinking about greeting cards when I am at the store and when I do think about them, the cost is a BIG deterrent. Well, I think I found the solution to my problem. I'll admit I am a late bloomer to the idea of thriftiness, but WOW!!! boxed cards are a lifesaver! Now I have cards on hand for all kinds of occasions and they are way more economical than buying one at a time. To make it even better, I ordered mine from CBD at a huge discount. I ordered eight boxes of cards with twelve cards in each box for only $30.96 INCLUDING SHIPPING! That makes each card only $.31. Now I have no excuses.....better check my calendar :O)

Caleb learns to drive a tractor

2010-04-17T19:49:00.000-05:00

He may be only 8, but Caleb was moving some dirt today. Too bad the tractor is borrowed....I know what's on his wishlist now.

A new quilt for Ashlyn

2010-04-17T09:43:00.000-05:00

A four year old girl's room sometimes needs a little boost. I made this fun floral quilt from a bag of scraps I bought from the nice girls over at Marie-Madeline Studio. I backed the quilt with an old sheet, so the total cost on this project was about $25 and it only took one rainy Friday to complete. Not bad!

Fun FREE Phonics Website

2010-04-13T15:27:00.000-05:00

Did I mention FREE? You can check it out for yourself here.

The pigs have names!

2010-04-12T12:37:00.003-05:00

Just in case you have been wondering, our pigs are now officially Churchill and Knightley. If any of you know about my oldest daughter's obsession with Jane Austen, this won't surprise you :O)

School on the farm

2010-04-12T11:01:00.001-05:00

Some days are just too nice to be indoors. We did all of our family work outdoors this morning. Allie and Caleb did their personal readings among the animals. Allie seems to have found the new piglets more interesting than her books :O)

Our farm family grows

2010-04-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

Two little boy piglets join the mix. No names yet, but I'll post soon. We are waiting to see their personalities.

Washin' Day

2010-04-10T10:36:00.002-05:00

Allie has been enjoying a few Tasha Tudor books.

However, I think she may be taking the ideas she is gleaning a little too far. :O)
Hand washing her skirts in a washtub outside is not required by me.....but it's cute anyway.

Praise for my Allie

2010-04-07T15:22:00.004-05:00

Today I enjoyed a nice lunch out with friends. I left the kids at home, with Allie in charge. When I came home, the kitchen sparkled, the dishwasher was humming, and fresh baked bread was *in process*.

What a delight it is to leave for a few hours of refreshment and return to a home in better condition than I left it. It is such an amazing blessing to watch my daughter grow into a young lady that is so responsible and downright likable. It almost makes the idea of her growing up okay - almost.

Here is the bread.....wish you could smell it. MMMMMM!

A sewing lesson

2010-04-05T18:59:00.004-05:00

Allie has been wanting more skirts, but when we have gone shopping, we are more than a little disturbed by the length (or lack there of) on the ones we find. So today, Allie and I spent several hours sewing. She is a beginner, and I'm not far above that ;O) so we chose a very simple pattern. She was a wonderful student and completed three adorable, modest skirts to add to her wardrobe. I'm sure she will post more at her blog.

A Saturday on the Farm

2010-04-03T21:39:00.002-05:00

It was a lovely, sunny day on the farm today. The animals around our place are so happy that it's spring and the kids are pleased too.

We enjoyed grilling out for lunch and dinner, because we just got back our very own tasty beef from the meat market...delicious!

Henry on the hay.

Chickens foraging for goodies.

Allie taking scraps to the chickens.

Willie, our young steer.

Ashlyn going with Daddy in Old Red.

Easter Eggs

2010-03-31T17:02:00.004-05:00

Today was the big day. The kids really look forward to dying Easter eggs. This year we made our own dye with food coloring instead of buying "the kit". It worked pretty well, except for the purple, which turned out more of a muddy brown.

The pictures look so peaceful...like everyone was getting along in a cooperative fashion. Yep, pictures are nice like that :O)

When God Paints a Picture

2010-03-30T14:45:00.005-05:00

This was the beautiful display of our Creator's handiwork that I enjoyed today as I sipped my morning coffee.

AHHH ~ life is good; but eternal life is better!

What a blessing to be His. I hope and pray that you are all having a wonderful and meaningful Holy week.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
Ephesians 1:7-10

Defending His Sister's Honor

2010-03-26T11:57:00.003-05:00

As Ashlyn fled up the castle steps, Caleb prepared his crossbow for battle.

Just an average lunch break on the farm :O)

Homemaker Edification

2010-03-26T08:48:00.003-05:00

This wonderful little download is sure to put a spring in your domestic step! Be happy and content at home, for it is God's plan.

A List of Attainments

2010-03-25T16:40:00.002-05:00

This is the list of homemaking skills I decided upon for Allie's high school "Domestic Science" course. We will cover these topics over four years. They are not necessarily in order, although the last two will be reserved for her senior year :O)

Most skills will be taught in the realm of real life. There will of course be special projects to show mastery. I'm sure we will blog these as they come along.

Just in case you are assuming that I have mastered all of these skills (HAH!), I assure you I have not and will be learning more than a thing or two.

A List of Homemaking Skills

Homemade Frozen Yogurt

2010-03-25T12:08:00.005-05:00

Making yogurt into a semi-healthy dessert seemed to be the next logical step after learning to make this oh-so-good-for-me dairy product. So after Christie tried it with success, I thought I'd give it a go. It worked beautifully and was very yummy to boot! Now, will the kids ever eat it the regular way again?

The experiment begins.

20 minutes later...WOO HOO!

Ashlyn's new friend

2010-03-24T16:00:00.002-05:00

She had a very hard time letting him go. It didn't help that her brother fed the other worm to the chickens. ~SIGH~ I guess fishing is out of the question.

A Great Family Read

2010-03-22T11:42:00.005-05:00

I cannot recommend the book Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends highly enough. We have been using it as our Sunday book, but it is so funny the kids ask me to read it more often. Fair warning: I was laughing so hard last night that the kids couldn't understand a word I was saying. Yes! It's THAT good!

The humor and lessons are best for kids 8 and up.

Worth its Weight in Gold

2010-03-21T08:29:00.009-05:00

This tool is literaly saving me HOURS of work. My favorite feature is that it adjusts based on what we actually do. For example, if I schedule Allie to read chapter 7 in Oliver Twist on Monday, and she doesn't get to it, the scheduler automatically moves that assignment to the next day. No more scribbling out my plans and recopying everything over and over..... and over. GENIUS!

CM moms...this is worth it!

If you have never tried it, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. You can also watch some videos to give you an idea of how it works.

The first day of Spring?

2010-03-20T12:07:00.002-05:00

And more snow is on the way.....

What is that bright light?

2010-03-17T18:08:00.007-05:00

It's the sun!!! It's been so long, I had nearly forgotten.

The kids spent over 2 hours outside this afternoon gathering rocks, jumping in puddles, and getting their bikes ready to roll. Also known as "making more laundry for mom". It was GREAT!

Milo the cat enjoyed following them all around the yard.

Caleb's Pirate Story

2010-03-17T10:42:00.008-05:00

For language arts this week, Caleb has been using Karen Andreola's book, Story Starters, to do some creative writing. He had so much fun and really wowed me with his abilities. All of the writing is his. I merely typed it, fixed spelling and punctuation errors, and corrected some "tense" issues.

Caleb age 8
A Continuation of The Prince and the Pirates
March 17, 2010

It had been ten days since Prince Roy had been captured by the pirates and taken aboard their ship. Prince Roy worked in the burning sun along with the other men. One man glanced across at him and then stopped and began to stare. At first the prince ignored him, but then recognized him as one of his father’s servants. Later that day, Piers, who was struggling to free himself, heard wood crackling. “Wildfire!”, he shouted. As Piers got untangled , wood and fire fell through the roof. He ran outside and grabbed his sword and ran towards the palace.

Prince Roy heard a cannon go off and saw another pirate ship in the distance. From his side, a pirate came with an ax, and cut all of the captives free of the oars, chained them together, and led them down below the deck to shoot the cannons. Three pirates showed them how to fire the cannons and gave them swords, but they watched keenly with eagle eyes to make sure the captives wouldn’t try to escape. Through a crack in the side of the ship, Prince Roy saw that it wasn’t a pirate ship that they were firing upon, but one of his father’s ships. The prince told all of the other captives his findings and said, “We will all soon be free!“. They grabbed their swords and began to fight the pirates. They made their way to deck and began to signal the other ship with the enemy flag. The king’s ship ceased fire. When the king saw that his son was safe, he scolded him and begged him to never go out of the palace without at least two guards.

Reason number 152...

2010-03-16T09:00:00.006-05:00

...for choosing to homeschool God's precious children.

"Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school's meeting for an hour a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching?" ~Charles F. Potter, in "Humanism: A New Religion"

YIKES! Disturbing stuff. This, and several other humanist quotes on education, are posted over at Jasmine's blog

No Knead Bread

2010-03-12T12:23:00.007-06:00

OK, I know that this recipe has been floating around the internet for some time, but I just got around to trying it. Of course I couldn't follow the recipe exactly, so this is my variation. I just had to use some whole wheat flour to redeem the nutritional value.

2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 T vital wheat gluten
1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon table salt
1 1/2 cups warm water

You will also need a covered pot, 5 qt. or larger, that can go onto a 450 degree oven. I used a Le Creuset(enamel over cast iron) knock-off.

Directions from Steamy Kitchen

1. Mix dough: The night before, combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on countertop.

2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you’ve got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.

3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven. Holding towel, dump wobbly dough into pot. Doesn’t matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover, bake another 15-20 minutes or until the crust is beautifully golden and middle of loaf is 210F. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes. Best way to eat it? Smear a warm slice with some good butter.

MMMMM!!! Panera Bread has nothing on me!

Happy Morning

2010-03-12T07:48:00.004-06:00

For 20 months I have been washing dishes the old fashioned way, but no more! My sweet husband installed my new best friend last night. JOY!

Bittersweet

2010-03-10T07:31:00.002-06:00

It doesn't seem so long ago that he was just a baby, but today, our steer Noah is going to market. He is the first beef we have raised for this purpose.

While we are really looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labor, I can't help but feel a little tug on my heart. He had a great life.....and we praise God for the ability to raise our own food and live this rural dream.

Monday Night Baking

2010-03-08T20:27:00.003-06:00

Rustic Apple Tart

Laundry Soap for 2 Pennies a Load

2010-03-08T09:26:00.004-06:00

I have made powdered laundry soap before, but this liquid gel is even more cost effective. The recipe I followed is here. Another idea is at Christie's blog. I added the teaspoon of lavender ~ heavenly. The gelling was a HUGE hit with the kids.....fascinating!

LOVE THIS!

2010-03-06T18:08:00.004-06:00

It is Saturday evening. Dinner is finished. Chores are done. What are the "big" kids doing?

Yes! They are reading unassigned books. Ms. Mason would be proud.

I think I can, I think I can

2010-03-06T18:04:00.001-06:00

Fabric Softener on the Cheap!

2010-03-05T10:26:00.005-06:00

To say I *adore* liquid fabric softener would be an understatement. I love the smell and the way it makes my laundry fluffy soft, but I don't love the price. I found a way to make it myself and have had GREAT results. Here is the recipe.

3 cups of water
1 1/2 cups of white vinegar
1 cup of hair condition (I use Suave to make it extra thrifty)

Combine everything and stir gently. If you shake it up too much it gets foamy. I like to store mine in a pretty blue antique Ball canning jar.

I use about 1/3 cup per large load of laundry. My washer has a fabric softener dispenser, but you could also add it at the rinse cycle or put it in one of those balls. Cost: $.04/load compared with $.15/load for the name brand stuff.

Yogurt Perfection

2010-03-05T08:37:00.004-06:00

I have been playing with three yogurt recipes/methods for the last 10 days and have finally perfected it for our family. I needed the yogurt to be a bit thicker for my son who has "texture issues" and it had to be easy for me :O)

Well, the crock pot method is definitely the easiest way I found to accomplish yogurt making. Here is what worked best for us.

Ingredients:
8 cups of milk (I used skim)
1/3 cup of dry milk
1 envelope of unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup of plain organic Greek style yogurt (I used Stoneyfield Farm)

Directions:
Pour 8 cups of milk into your crock pot. Add the dry milk powder and the gelatin and mix with a whisk until combined. Put the lid on your crock pot and turn it on low for 2 1/2 hours. When 2 1/2 hours have passed, unplug your crock pot, leave the lid on, and let it cool slightly for 2 hours. After 2 hours, remove 2 cups of the warmish milk mixture and place it in a bowl. Add the 1/2 cup of yogurt starter and whisk gently until combined. Put this mixture back into the crock pot, stir gently to combine, and replace the lid. Now, wrap your crock pot with a big bath towel and leave it alone for 8-10 hours. Voila! You now have yogurt that is ready to be put into containers in your fridge. It will keep about 10 days. Make sure you save 1/2 cup of yogurt to be your starter for next time.

I start my yogurt-making process at about 4:00 in the afternoon, because then it sits wrapped in the towel while I sleep.

Here is the finished product.

I get 5 pints (10 cups) of yogurt from this recipe. We simply flavor it individually with honey, fruit, and/or granola. It is very cost effective. I calculated that it cost $3.00 total to make the first batch, and subsequent batches will only be $2.12 because I will have my own yogurt starter.

Ashlyn Loves Her New Math

2010-02-27T09:55:00.004-06:00

We are going to slowly move into Miquon. Right now we are just familiarizing ourselves with the Cuisenaire rods. Ashlyn thinks they are SUPER!

She built the stairs.

This is Daddy's work building :O)

New Yogurt Experiment

2010-02-26T08:13:00.004-06:00

I've been talking yogurt with the folks over at my favorite homeschooling forum, Simply Charlotte Mason, and Doug gave me a new method to try. He thinks it may address the runny factor. Here is the way his family makes yogurt.

"We've been making yogurt a lot lately too and I've worked out a procedure that has been consistently producing nice thick and flavorful yogurt.

I make it in a large roaster oven so I can load it full of pint jars. Ours roaster easily holds eight to twelve jars.

The key is to get the temperature just right. I use a digital thermometer with a probe and an alarm. Heather, you mentioned yours being a bit runny and that may be a temperature issue. A crock pot on low actually gets too hot for the yogurt bacteria and can kill them. The ideal is between 110 and 120 degrees F.

We started with a good quality Greek yogurt that didn't have a bunch of extras in the ingredients. Greek yogurt usually contains five cultures instead of just L. Acidophilus. It has a creamier texture and less tartness. Of course, we just use our own yogurt as a starter now.

Each jar gets filled with skim milk and maybe a quarter cup of yogurt as a starter. I put lids on them, load them into the roaster, and fill the pan with water to help keep the temperature steady. I crank up the heat and set my alarm for 110 degrees. When it reaches that temperature I turn off the heat because it will continue to climb a bit. I then set my alarm for 118 just in case it climbs too high. If it does, I just dip out some of the warm water and replace it with cool.

It usually takes about four hours but I let it go longer if the yogurt isn't as thick as I'd like. I do check now and then to see if the temperature drops below
110. If it does I just apply a little more heat as before." -Doug

Well, I have a super neat digital thermometer from Pampered Chef, and my sweet husband stopped for a roaster oven and greek style yogurt last night at the local Wal-Mart. The roaster oven was only $30, and it is HUGE! Even if it doesn't work for yogurt, I am set for making ham, turkey, or soup for a crowd!!! Money well spent.

I'll let you all know how it turns out.

A New Favorite Poetry Anthology

2010-02-25T11:25:00.007-06:00

Maybe it's because it has so many beloved classics, or maybe it's the logical topical organization, or perhaps it is simply the lovely cover. Whatever it is, we fell in love with this book at our library, and now have one on the way. Allie is very excited!

Furry decorations are my favorite

2010-02-25T10:27:00.002-06:00

Yogurt in a Crockpot?

2010-02-24T08:54:00.004-06:00

YES! Another homeschooling mom posted about yogurt making on her blog and I was inspired. Yesterday, I gave it a try. It was so easy, and best of all.....it worked! I tried using an envelope of unflavored geletin instead of milk powder for a thickener. It is still pretty runny, maybe next time I'll try two envelopes. OR, maybe I'll just "get over" the thinner texture and get excited about REAL food for my family!

I enjoyed mine this morning with a drizzle of honey, blueberries, and homemade granola. YUM!

Have you heard of this?

2010-02-23T15:08:00.004-06:00

I ordered The Big Cook Cookbook a few weeks ago and today I did my first mini-session. What Fun! I now have 10 fresh -ready to go dinners in my freezer.

I know, I know, I am home everyday, and making dinner shouldn't be a *huge* deal, but some days I'm just plain tired. I look forward to being able to put together a "Sunday" quality meal on Tuesday. Click here for a sample recipe.

My favorite part is that the meals are fresh, unlike other freezer cooking methods where you pre-cook everything. You just put you ingredients in a baggie, label, and freeze.
Easy!

One of my favorite things is.....

2010-02-22T15:29:00.002-06:00

...homemade soap from my dear friend Sandra.
It smells fantastic!

The "Freshman" Year Plan is Done

2010-02-16T15:33:00.010-06:00

Grade 9 Overview

I had a birthday

2010-02-16T13:32:00.003-06:00

I turned 35 on Saturday and my mom brought me this beautiful bouquet. It was a wonderful reminder that spring will come...it will...REALLY...and not a moment too soon.

In which Ashlyn learns to be a proper lady.....

2010-02-16T13:27:00.001-06:00

It sounds so simple.....

2010-02-12T11:17:00.007-06:00

.....but, putting together a highschool curriculum is a bit daunting, and dare I say, emotionally draining. I want to keep as many subjects Charlotte Mason style as we possibly can. I also struggle with guiding my daughter in a Godly direction while still keeping college on the radar.

Currently, I am reading College Without Comprimise, and it is providing much insight into alternatives to traditional post-secondary education, but I'm not sure I am against her attending college. *heavy sigh*

I keep telling myself to "let go and let God". I can already see that *Trusting Him*is going to be on my list of lessons to learn.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Well, it's official......

2010-02-01T09:16:00.003-06:00

Allie will be starting highschool level work in the fall. This means she will be skipping 8th grade. It is a bit scarry, but she is clearly ready for upper level work. Now, the fun of laying out the plan begins.

Copywork with a sense of humor

2010-01-22T11:14:00.003-06:00

Allie *LOVES* Jane Austen's Pride and Predjudice. I think she's closer to obsessed! She even uses passages for copywork.

Allie's CW

just sharing......

2010-01-18T14:02:00.002-06:00

This was Caleb's history narration today. I thought it was well done, so I'm sharing it here. It makes him feel extra good to be "published".

Buffalo Bill Narration by Caleb

Parts of Speech in FULL color and then some.........

2010-01-14T11:37:00.004-06:00

I enjoy teaching grammar to eight year old Caleb gently using sentences from his books and from his spelling dictations. I thought it would be fun to color code the parts of speech and label sentences on a white board. I made a PDF with the eight regular parts of speech, plus labels for articles, which I know are technically adjectives, but just go with it :O) I laminated my pieces and placed small magnet squares on the backs. Grammar now feels like a game. Feel free to download the labels and make your own set!

Rainbow Parts of Speech

Here are more advanced labels that I made for my junior high age daughter. She uses the Michael Clay Thompson Grammar Town series from Royal Fireworks Press and just loves it!

Rainbow Grammar

GREAT History Resource

2010-01-13T09:34:00.004-06:00

WOW! I just downloaded The History Scribe for the bargain price of $16. What an awesome resource for notebooking pages. This is a must see!

Our Weekly Schedule

2010-01-12T12:11:00.004-06:00

I created our spring term schedule using the concept of time blocks. This prevents me from keeping my eye on the clock too closely. It is working out well; a nice balance of work and play keeps everyone happy. FYI - A=Allie, C=Caleb, and F=family work
Time Blocks Week Plan

Frosty Morning

2010-01-10T14:01:00.001-06:00

God's handiwork is stunning!

Good Reading

2010-01-09T09:06:00.006-06:00

Another great, FREE, resource from the folks at Simply Charlotte Mason.

Smooth and Easy Days

Who wouldn't love days like that?

Simple Pleasures

2010-01-05T13:06:00.005-06:00

We have eased back into school the last couple of days and I must admit, I missed it. It is good to be learning together again. Schooling at home is truly a joy.

It is only 19 degrees here today, but on the sunny south side of the house it is toasty.
This is where Allie chose to enjoy her literature selection, Little Women, with her cat Henry. She had been feeding the little sparrows and juncos as well, but Henry took care of that.

What a blessing from the Lord to be able to let our children grow in wisdom and grace in an environment that nutures their very souls. Praise be to God!

As the New Year approaches.......

2009-12-31T11:44:00.005-06:00

Our cat Milo reminds us that we are called to be different.

Yes, that is a bone. Milo has taken every opportunity to steal our dog Bailey's Christmas gift for himself. I guess we can forget the catnip next year.

A snowy end to 2009

2009-12-31T11:41:00.002-06:00

We have only been stuck in our driveway a couple of times ;O)

Allan turns 40!

2009-12-31T11:35:00.004-06:00

Comments like, "WOW! It looks like the whole cake is on fire." and "Yuck! Look at all the wax on the cake." did not make him feel any younger.

Blessing

2009-12-23T11:26:00.002-06:00

Today I am celebrating 14 years of being married to the amazing man that God chose for me.

Ashlyn turns 4!

2009-12-19T17:27:00.001-06:00

Yummy chocolate BIRTHDAY brownies courtesy of Allie.

New Beads in the Shop!

2009-12-18T17:26:00.004-06:00

It has been too long!

2009-12-17T15:02:00.005-06:00

I will be posting more in the future. Here are a few Christmas card picture out-takes. Those of you on the Christmas card list will see the "good" ones any day now.

Sometimes preschoolers don't cooperate. "Where is Ashlyn?"

"Well, at least she's in the picture."

Vacation!

2009-09-19T19:29:00.003-05:00

So far while in Branson we have been.....

Swimming

To the Butterfly Palace

And a quick jaunt through Silver Dollar City, but it poured most of the time :O(

A New Handicraft for Allie

2009-09-14T15:54:00.004-05:00

Allie went to Grandma and Grandpa's house over the weekend and she came home with a brand new skill. She had an intensive "Beginning Sewing" workshop with Grandma and created a lovely nightgown for Ashlyn. I am very impressed with her work and thrilled to have been able to pass those first few lessons off to someone else.