The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ #52 ~ 11/9/09

What Would You Miss?

Wooly Worm Weather

Old Farmer's Almanac ~ A Quiet Sun, a Cold Winter

A Quiet Sun, a Cold Winter

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a colder-than-normal winter. One contributing factor is sunspots—or the lack of them!

This year and next, sunspot activity will be very, very light. Whenever this phenomenon has occurred in the past, the result has been a cooling influence on Earth. Solar experts believe that the Sun will remain calm for another year.
See sunspot activity for 2009.

Robert B. Thomas, who founded this Almanac in 1792, believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots and solar radiation. Sunspots are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Click here to read “What Are Sunspots?”


To this day, the Almanac uses three disciplines to predict the weather: meteorology, climatology, and solar activity. (See How We Predict the Weather.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sun’s effect on our climate, read “The Influence of Solar Activity on the Weather.”

Or, join this forum: “Are Sunspots Disappearing?”

Seasons of the Sun

Learn about the discovery of the 11-year solar cycle and its importance in predicting the frequency of sun spots and the strength of solar storms.

Melrose Takes a Day Trip

Tuesday Miss Dog Lover and Mr Gingersnap had medical appointments in the big city. So, we decided to make a day of it and visit the plant conservatory there. This was a pretty routine field trip with lots to see and Mom talking altogether too much instead of just letting the student body look. However, Mom was greatly relieved when Mr Music quit making Darth Vader sounds in his efforts to help the plants grow by exhaling extra carbon dioxide for them.

Melrose, of course, begged to go along. Here he is, in a banana plant.

And again, in a different one. He did not eat any bananas whatsoever.

And this is called a Flamingo Plant. I include this for the owner of the world's most amazing fish and who happens to love flamingos. Hopefully seeing this will make her feel better.

Raising Sons, Part 2

One Mother of Boys Tells Her Story

When I was expecting my first child, I was sure I was having a girl. Thirteen years ago, it wasn’t as common for people to find out the gender of the baby, so we did not know what we were having before the birth.  It was truly a surprise when our firstborn child was a son.  It was an even bigger surprise when he didn’t want to sleep and he was fussy and needed almost constant stimulation to keep him contented.  As he grew into toddler age (which began at ten months old when he learned to—not walk—run), I continued to be confused about the best way to handle this very energetic little person.  Training and discipline were constant in those days.  I was exhausted all the time in those early years.  By the time he hit five or six years old, however, I began to see glimpses of hope that all the time invested in training was starting to bear a bit of fruit.  He began displaying some signs of self-control and was able to sit quietly for increasingly longer periods.  It was such a relief to my inexperienced mother’s heart to see that maybe it really was possible to get through to this little guy.  At thirteen, he is now becoming a young man who would make any mother proud.  He is intelligent, visionary, artistic, well-read and articulate.  The training, teaching, discipline and guidance have not stopped, though the fruit shows a little sooner these days and I can now see proof that it is worth the investment of time, struggles, and tears.  Most importantly, he wants to love, serve, and honor God with his life.  We’re not there yet, but we’re headed in the right direction.  This young man is going to make a difference for Christ's Kingdom.

My second son is the opposite of his brother in personality.  As a baby, he was laid back and content.  I found it easy to keep him happy and occupied.  He was an active toddler, but not to the same frenzied extent as his brother.  As he grew, I began to realize that it wasn’t me.  I wasn’t doing a horrible job and maybe I wouldn’t even ruin my children’s lives as a result of them being more than I could handle.  However, son number two was definitely all boy.  He just approached it in a different way.  My favorite picture of him from his babyhood is from the time he got into the pantry cabinet.  There he was, a silly grin on his face as he sat in the midst of an entire box of cornmeal, as well as some flour, sugar, and whatever else he had happened to come across in his quest to conquer the uncharted territory (the pantry) before him.  Years later, he is now a boy who thrives on work.  But he is not content to do just any kind of work—he wants to do real work that has a real purpose.  At nine years old, he can work as hard and as long as many men.

My newest little man is now a twenty month old ball of fire.  Nothing stands in this boy’s way.  He sees any challenge, whether it be scaling the back of the couch or building a tower of blocks, and will not stop until he reaches its successful completion.  He is a world-class climber who learned how to get up onto the kitchen counter at nine months old.  At this point, the entire family has been trained to never leave a cup of liquid or a pen anywhere on any surface in any room of the house.  I now find myself in that familiar place of exhaustion I had when my first son was little, but now I know these days will pass all too quickly.  I am also much more confident in my mothering skills and since I haven’t ruined any of my other children yet, this one will likely be okay too.  If I could only teach him not to sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” at the top of his lungs in the middle of a church service….

My boys are a source of joy and hope and I absolutely love being their mother.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my days than trying to keep up with them.

This post is part two in my series on the adventure of raising boys.

Homemade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

Sweet & simple...

Mix together & store in an air-tight container:

1 c. 20 Mule Team Borax
1 c. Baking Soda

~ Use 2 TB. each load.
~ If your plastics come out clouded, use just A DROP of liquid dish soap.

Words of Wisdom Copywork- Proverbs 3:12

This week's Words of Wisdom Copywork pages are:

Proverbs 3:12

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

I feel this passage works hand-in-hand with Proverbs 3:11 from last week (you can find those copywork pages HERE). It explains why the Lord chooses to correct us. No more than we discipline our children out of spite or vindictiveness does the Lord do so. We correct our children because we love them and wish only the best for them. Our love for our children cannot even come close to the love that our Father has for us, so why would we doubt that He would admonish us when we need it.

You can download Proverbs 3:12 Copywork HERE.

(Please leave a comment if you are finding these copywork pages useful so I know if I should continue posting them. Thank you.)

Voting and Dentist...

My children usually go alone or in twos to the dentist.  Today my older 2 had their cleaning appt.s so my sister came over to watch the 3 younger kids for me.

I am glad that my 12 year old doesn't mind if I take photos of him :)  Some kids would be embarrassed, but he thinks it's cool that I like to keep a record of their lives!

Here's my handsome son who is just a hair taller than me who is 5' 6"... it's strange that we see eye to eye!


Then it was my daughter's turn.  Her humor is SO much like her Daddy's...


The hygienist thought it was pretty funny (but had an idea when my daughter didn't respond to "Hi"!  She had seen the funny teeth a LOT this week! haha)


Oh she is SO cute!!!


Wait...did I say "CUTE"??


They both got a clean bill of health...NO CAVITIES!!  (although they both need BRACES!!  Argh!!!)


And today was the big voting day in Maine and we made sure to go and vote "Yes" on Question #1 to help to keep marriage in Maine sacred between a man and a woman... the way God intended it :)

The kids on their way inside...


They always LOVE to vote with us because their Grampa is the Constable of our ward.  Since they combined a few wards today at our Civic Center... he was the HEAD Constable!  They thought they was VERY cool!



We all got our "I VOTED TODAY!" stickers and were on our way!


Now I am tuckered out after a long day and am looking forward to relaxing with a good book (which happens to be "Twilight" tonite!)  BUT since the time change always confuses us for a while... it feels like it should be bedtime but it is only 5PM!!!!!  Oh well... guess I will go and knit for a while ;-)

To You, Oh Lord

I lift up this day to You, Oh Lord,
Let it be pleasing in Your sight,
Guide me through each and every step,
Help me to do what is right.

I lift up this hour to You, Oh Lord,
Let it bring glory to You,
Show me Your clear direction
In everything I do.

I lift up this minute to You, Oh Lord,
Let Your Name be always praised,
Lead me to those who need You most,
Take hold of all my days.

I lift up my life to You, Oh Lord,
Let me live only for You,
Make me who You want me to be,
Until my days are through.

VMD