Hi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Jane (PlainJane) and I am the blessed and happy wife to Jeff and doubly blessed mama of two perfectly wonderful daughters. Please join me as I share our Lifestyle of Learning through Christian homeschooling and homesteading on our little hobby farm with our prairie girls.
Bookworm is our dd14/9th grader.
Our perfectionist and over-achiever. She loves reading, playing violin, her Paint horse, Annie, being a farm girl, and History re-entacting.
Ladybug
is our dd11/6th grader.
Our "girls just want to have fun" girl. She loves to play and has a great sense of humor, but also likes reading, music, her Quarter Horse, Kitty, and History re-enactment.
We are finished reading
the Moody books
By Sarah Maxwell
and HIGHLY recommend them
Please click on images for
information
~ I am a part of... ~
he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you -- THEY ARE YOUR LIFE. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deuteronomy 32:46-47
Oct. 6, 2008~ The Simple Woman's Daybook - October 6th ~
For Today, Monday, October 6th, 2008
Outside My Window...it's still dark out, but windy & wet. The forecast is for rain today & tomorrow. About 1/3rd of the trees in our area are displaying their beautiful fall colors.
I'm thinking...I just ran out of cat food so I opened a can of tuna for our "poor" (not) fat cat, Midnight. I probably shouldn't have done that, now he's going to expect it all the time.
From the learning rooms...Ladybug said to me last night (Sunday), "I'm excited about school tomorrow". Wow, I don't know why, I don't have anything special planned. We are just having such a great year so far. Praise God!
I am thankful for...the blessing of home educating our daughters; a great church; good friends; a comfortable home; my hard-working husband; and God supplying all our needs and more.
I am creating...sweet memories with our girls - today will be the perfect day to do some baking.
I am going...to stay home most of this week, but today, first on the agenda will be going to get some cat food. :)
I am wearing...usual barnwear -- denim capris, light blue long-sleeved t-shirt, sports socks, hair is flipped up in ponytail. Thinking about putting on a fleece jacket.
I am reading...II Chronicles-Nehemiah and Philippians-Colossians
"Herbs...Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes"
I am hoping...for a really relaxed fall day - full of smiles & snuggles, with the aroma of fresh baked cookies & pumpkin pie throughout the house.
I am hearing...the clock tick, the computer engine, and Peanut's toe nails clicking on the floor - she wants outside.
Around the house & barn...Monday is laundry day, a little light housework, baking. No horse play for a couple of days with the rain.
One of my favorite things...a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top - like I am enjoying now.
A few plans for the rest of the week...a run to Target & Walmart, violin on Thursday, my nephew's birthday (3) party Saturday.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Herbs hanging over my kitchen sink to dry.
If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess,Peggyfor details. You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others.
We had another great school week -- dispite having company on Thursday and our Ruby Girls Proverbs 31 Bible Study on Friday, we got most of it done.
We haven't had our Friday Chapel time for the last 2 weeks now, hope to get back on track with that this coming week.
We are working our way through Genesis 3. The girls have been doing a fine job on their illustrative outlines.
Ladybug's Illustrative Outlines of Gen. 2 & 3
Bookworm's Illustrative Outlines of Gen. 2 & 3
Still loving Bedell Curriculum. I was a little nervous as to how much of it the girls would retain being we don't do anything with it except read and discuss the lessons. But was pleasantly surprised the other night when at bedtime Bookworm was telling Jeff some things they had learnt from the book - just out of the blue. Loving the good moral discussions that are coming from the lessons.
Both of the girls are really enjoying Teaching Textbooks math as well. What I really appreciate about this math curriculum is how it engages most of the senses for better retention. They see the problem on the computer screen (and book), they hear it read to them verbally, they then type out the answer and if its not right, they can try it again or if they don't understand how the answer was arrived, they can press a button for each problem to be explained more fully. They can also pick a character that gives them affirmation when they are correct. I also discovered another neat math curriculum this week that would be my second choice if we weren't doing TT. It's called "Life of Fred". If you have never heard of it, I highly recommend checking it out. It's for students 6th grade and up. It's quite inexpensive ($19.95) and seems to cover EVERYTHING in a very fun way.
This week in American History we learnt about the Salam witch trials via our Time Travelers curriculum and listened to the Vision Forum cd, "Landmarks & Liberty" regarding it. Boy was that interesting! We are now studying the Great Awakening. So far I have read stories from "Trial and Triumph" about Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield and the girls did lapbook activities for them. We will continue with this next week too.
Their Lapbook Projects
All else is good. Ladybug is ahead and doing very well in her spelling. Bookworm has been cooking up a storm in her Home Ec. projects. We have been continuing learning about Bach in music, but Art seems to keep getting put on the back burner. Maybe next week - we are just doing watercolors right now.
That's all for this week. Thanks for dropping by.
My Dear Friend, Mrs. Cuddles, has started this fun new meme. Homeschool Weekly gives me/us a fun opportunity to blog about how our school week went every Saturday and link our post to others too. If you would like to join in or visit the Mr. Linky to others sharing about their week, please see Mrs. Cuddles for all the details.
It's 8 am and 40 degrees. I am wearing my navy fleecy sweater and drinking hot chocolate to warm up. I even noticed the horses are starting to grow out their winter coats this morning.
My in-laws are coming over in a couple of hours to visit and grandpa (fil) is bringing his skid loader (he likes big toys) to move some muck and also push some dirt close to the outside stall doors - dispite an overhang on the barn, the hard rains of the summer & the mere weight of the horses have packed down or eroded the soil away from their stall doors so much that the horses practically have to jump into their stalls. lol (Good trailer loading practice I guess). Grandma & Grandpa also care for my nephew on Thursdays, so he will be coming with for a little play time with his "gigs", "Nana" and "Burber" (girls, Anna & Amber) - C.J. is almost 3 and loves the girls.
Later we will make a trip to Walmart for grocerys and I want to get a syrofoam thingy to put over my one rose tree and find some inexpensive fleece for a couple of blankets for our barn cat - one for her bed in the hay and one for the front porch rocker. Oh, and I want to get a water bowl for upstairs - Peanut goes downstairs every night for a drink, but the stairs are getting too much for her -- between her arthritis & her heart, it's quite a struggle (she's 11.5).
Despite the cold, yesterday the birdies were sure using our bird bath a lot - possibly washing up before their long flight south...
Not a very good picture through the window by our front door, but there were 6 bluebirds (3 pairs) all taking their turn along with some other feathered friends. I hate to see them go. It's always a real treat when I see my first bluebird in the spring.
And here are some fall colors for my southern friends... These are all views from outside my computer/classroom window. Most all the trees around here are pines & birch - no colorful sugar maples. I will try to get pictures of their beautiful oranges & reds later when we are out & about.
Dispite the fact that my favorite seasons are summer and spring, there's just something about fall too. The brilliant colors in the leaves, crunching through the leaves that have fallen, and bring out the sweaters and warmer clothes. In fact, one would think fall is my favorite season since my house is decorated in warm & woodsy colors - particularly fall colors. There is still much to do around here as we get ready for the usual long, cold winter ahead (not a favorite season with me).
On today's agenda...
Need to find a good location and plant a PeeGee Hydrangea I recently bought at the nursery. Also plant some pink-flowered bulbs my mil gave me - forget what they are. lol
It's currently 39 degrees this early morning, better get in the herbs and bundle & dry them before frost takes it's toll.
Type up an ad to post at the local feed co-op for free roosters. Yesterday the girls discovered that of our four hatchings this year, ALL FOUR are roosters. And our one and only hen is still setting on that water bowl, so no eggs for us.
Pull carrots - the last of our garden that needs to be harvested. Most I will cut and blanch for freezing, some I'll prepare for eatting raw.
Wash the girls winter jackets, mittens, etc. and hang them on the line - getting ready for colder weather.
That should be enough for today besides a little housework and school too.
Here are the fall decorations I put up the first day of fall - I don't have a lot of seasonal things, but it was really nice having the time to do this while the girls were busy in the kitchen cooking last Monday.
I hope to get a walk in today or tomorrow and show you some of the trees around here too.
Outside My Window...it's still early and pitch black out - foggy I think, can't see a thing. But when I let the cats in, I noticed it was all wet yet from last night's gentle rain. Expecting fall-like weather all week - highs of only around 59 (Accuweather is for the Twin Cities - we are north).
I'm thinking...I ate too much this weekend, need to cut back this week.
From the learning rooms...we are starting week 4 already, just keep plugging along.
I am thankful for...like-minded friends! There are a few of you out there that just make my day! I was happy to see a couple more homeschool families at our church yesterday - one family has girls around our daughter's ages. woohoo!
From the kitchen...
Monday ~ Beef stew made with veggies from our garden Tuesday ~ Egg Bake
I am creating...I need to hurry up and fill in this weeks school schedule, I didn't get that finished yesterday.
I am going...to stay home most of this week. Need to make a quick trip to the library today or tomorrow for a book Ladybug has on hold, and a few groceries, and Ruby Girls Bible Study on Friday. That's all.
I am wearing...usual barnwear -- denim capris, chartreuse t-shirt, sports socks, hair is flipped up in ponytail.
I am reading...II Chronicles and Ephesians-Philippians
I am hoping...I find a million dollars on my way out to the barn this morning (not really).
I am hearing...the clock tick & the computer engine - all is silent.
Around the house & barn...the usual Monday chores, except for one funny thing, our banty hen thinks she is setting (on eggs) right now - silly hen, there are no eggs, but she has scooted a small water bowl under her & is waiting for it to hatch. LOL
One of my favorite things...enjoying my family.
A few plans for the rest of the week...staying home, having a quiet week and getting school done. Ruby Girls got cancelled last week and will be this Friday instead.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
Indian corn drying in the rafters of our garage. DH thinks we should grind it and make corn bread from it - I'm thinking it will make gray flour and gray bread - might be better feed for the chickens.
If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess,Peggyfor details. You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others.
Hey everybody, I'm a Featured Homeschooler at Heart of the Matter. I did the interview quite a while ago so some of the stuff on there is a bit dated - like we sold our goats, but if you want to see a more recent picture of me - chubby cheeks and all - now is your chance.
In this week's episode of Homeschool Weekly, we find very little to report. :)
Our hymn of the week was "Our God Our Help in Ages Past" which we ended up singing acappella since that cd seems to be very scratched up for some reason
We are still working our way through Genesis 2, drawing & "mapping" out the Garden of Eden
Still loving Bedell Curriculum for the good discussions & teaching on moral issues
Ladybug is loving Teaching Textbooks math so much that she can hardly wait to do it. Bookworm is trying out her sister's math to see if she would like it - she says she does
In American History we are working on timelines for our notebooks: "The Progress of Faith From Europe to the Colonies" through Home School in the Woods' Time Travelers cd. We just have a little bit more labeling to go.
Very fun!
We were reading about William Penn and I found a Heroes of History on William Penn on the shelf that I forgot I had so I though it would be fun to read, but half way through chapter 2 I am deciding it's a bit too boring for us girly girls and we really don't need to know that much about William Penn afterall. lol Will ditch the book idea.
Monday night was our first oral presentation & dinner night for the girls US Geography research. The girls went above and beyond my expectations and it was a great time for us all.
Bookworm reported on PA. She did a very fine job on her report and made Chicken Paprika. Very Good! She gets an A++.
Ladybug doing her report on DE. Excellent work; another A++.
Ladybug made peach crisp - Yum Yum. We said that recipe should really be under Colorado since we used Colorado peaches. teehe
All else is going well too. We got everything we needed to get done dispite being away from home for a couple of days. I did declare Friday afternoon as a "Pleasant Day". While the government schools around here have snow days during the toughest days of winter when it's too dangerous for buses or too much snow to plow, we have no need of that, so we have pleasant days, when it's just too nice to do school and we should be outside enjoying it. :) Friday was just such a day, but Fridays are our light or catch-up days anyways and really we did get everything done that I really wanted done before 10 a.m.
I was hoping to trim down our schedule a bit to leave more time for equestrian and other things we enjoy, but I'm not finding anything I want to cut out, so it will just mean we HAVE TO stick with our morning schedule and get started no later than 9 a.m. so we can do horsey play as soon as we are done. We use to have time after supper, but with the days getting shorter, that just isn't working any more. Once the weather gets too cold or icy, when horsey play will cease and we can switch to read-alouds and scrapbooking - things like that.
That's all for this week. Thanks for dropping by.
My Dear Friend, Mrs. Cuddles, has started this fun new meme. Homeschool Weekly gives me/us a fun opportunity to blog about how our school week went every Saturday and link our post to others too. If you would like to join in or visit the Mr. Linky to others sharing about their week, please see Mrs. Cuddles for all the details.
Sep. 23, 2008~ BFS - It Keeps Going, and Going, and Going (Energizer) ~
Memory Verse:1 Timothy 4:15(NIV) Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Housekeeping: that household mess, it keeps going and going and going. It’s a perpetual chore that we diligently need to keep going on to stay on top it. We all have different ways of keeping ourselves energized.
Assignment: How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.
Well, yes I do need God's help every moment of every day! I have pretty severe asthma and so often I just don't have the breath or energy to do anything in my own strength. Our life and health are but a vapor and I rely heavily upon Him - raising up little prayers for help or in thanks throughout the day. I thank God for another day and for each moment. Thankfully outside of my health, God has enabled me to be one of those highly-organized, neat-freak, perfectionist-type people. I'm not as "bad" as I use to be, but still like a neat home and everything in it's place. I'm not concerned about other's homes so much - don't expect me to come over with a white glove inspection, I'm just self-criticial. A few things that help keep me going and going are...
Early to bed, early to rise. This one is easy for me since I have always been an early-riser, just don't expect anything out of me after 9:30 pm - I go brain dead. I think the old timer farmers had it right - even if you don't have cows to milk, getting an early start just makes for a good day. I believe Jesus was an early riser, and that's good enough for me (look up "early" KJV at www.Biblegateway.com)
If at all possible, START each day in God's Word. It just seems like the Lord multiplies my time available if I put Him first. Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Schedules and Plans: I have a lot of these...a daily routine schedule, a weekly school schedule, a chore chart for the girls, to-do lists for me, grocery lists, and a monthly menu plan. Although I don't always follow these to the letter of the law (I like to be flexible), at least I have a plan. I like to try to use my time wisely as an example to our girls. Multi-tasking is my friend. Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
This year we started a morning chore time for the 3 of us girls. Following barn chores, breakfast, and the girls finishing getting ready for the day we all do a half hour of chores (this is usually additional duties apart from their chore chart). For instance, today we will conquer the main level. I will scrub the floor while one dusts and the other vacuums. I like for the house to be semi-company-ready at all times.
Watch my nutrition. Food really affects the way I feel, so I try to watch my sugar intake. If I have too much sugar, I'll be napping instead of doing what I should be.
Limit media intake. TV is such a time gobbler and usually eats brain cells too. We can go days without the tv on and are better off for it. The same is true with the computer, telephone, and the like.
Of course, it's easier at our home too - with no little ones and two very helpful girls, life is good. :)
A picture idea I would like to share:
I don't have any "before" pictures for you, but here is a photo of my scrapbooking/craft cabinet in our basement. It's just one of those semi-cheap assembly-required wood cabinets that Jeff put together for me, stained & polyed it (isn't he sweet). Serves double purpose for craft stuff + a nice tv stand for Jeff's small tv that he watches biking videos on when he is on his cycling trainer in the winter.
Blogger Friend School is a fun meme where assignments are posted every Tuesday. If you would like more information or would like to join, please go HERE. You will also find the Mr. Linky to other BFS students that would love a visit from you.
Outside My Window...we have sunshine and hazy blue skies with a hint of rain approaching from the west. I have sheets and towels flapping in the breeze -- should be dry before the rain gets here. Sprinkles (barn cat) just came up to the window a bit ago to say "hi". It's a sad commentary on my life when all our house pets know where they can find mama - at the window by the computer. lol . Leaves are turning more - we don't have a lot of sugar maples around here for the real briliant reds, but lots of yellow and burnt orange.
I am thinking... heavy sigh - I have so many friends I need to catch up with from my last few posts - hang in there, I'll be by to visit... eventually.
From the learning rooms...another great week planned. Today part of our day will be spent in the kitchen since it's "Presentation Day" for the girls to give their state reports on PA & DE. Each will be making a dish from "Eat Your Way Through the USA" for supper followed by oral reports to their adoring parents.
I am thankful for...relative health again. Was down with a nasty chest cold/fever all day Saturday. Thankfully the fever broke Saturday night and I was able to make it to church Sunday as well as a family field trip in the afternoon.
From the kitchen...
Monday ~ Geography "Presentation Night", Bookworm is making PA Chicken Paprika and Ladybug is making DE "Peach Crisp"
Tuesday ~ Meatloaf
Wednesday ~ Bookworm is making the entire meal for her Christian Light Home Ec. course work - a tuna salad, veg. with homemade dip, and dessert.
Thursday ~ Chow Mein Hotdish
Friday ~ Papa Johns' Pizza
I am creating...lapbook ideas for our many lapbooks going on right now.
I am going...need to make a quick run to the grocery store today - I bought about 8 peaches for Ladybug's dessert on Friday, and now find out that the insides of all of them are brown/bad. Need to go to a different store and buy more (sigh).
I am wearing...a long denim skirt and long sleeved white t-shirt, barefoot, hair is flipped up.
I am reading...I Chronicles and II Corinthians.
I am hoping...we get everything done today that I would like too - a busy day.
I am hearing...the sheets flapping in the breeze and the girls playing Pollys in the parlor while eatting breakfast.
Around the house & barn...morning chores will be cleaning up the kitchen (things kinda slid while I was sick) and keeping the laundry going. Barn chores are done for the day. I don't think there will be time to play with the horses today.
One of my favorite things..."Shout Advanced Action Gel". I know it sounds silly, but the stuff really works on 99% of our set-in stains - even after they have gone through the dryer.
A few plans for the rest of the week... a busier week. Tonight I am going to our churches "Bible Institue" (a study of the whole Bible, theologically, geographically, chronologically and thematically). Our pastor is a Bible College professor so it's like the Bible College coming to us - and I love his teaching (besides, it makes me feel young again). Visit my mom maybe Wednesday, Violin Lesson for Bookworm on Thursday, Ruby Girls Proverbs 31 Bible Study on Friday.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
We "celebrated" Hay Day last Thur. & Friday. Here's the first of 2 loads of hay (180 bales in all) to keep our horseys happy for another year (l have about 30 bales left from last year too). I know some are wondering how much we paid for our hay this year... I got 90 bales of first cutting at $2.50/bale (1st cutting is usually cheaper as it's not quite as nice as subsequent cuttings) and 90 bales of second cutting at $3.50/bale. Much better price than the $6/bale that some farmers were getting early this spring after last year's dought.
If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess,Peggyfor details. You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others.
My Dear Friend, Mrs. Cuddles, has started a fun new meme I just had to join! Homeschool Weekly gives me/us a fun opportunity to actually blog about how our school week went every Saturday and link our post to others too. This is especially great for me because it often seems like I blog about everything except home schooling on Homeschool Blogger. :) So here it goes, our first 7 days of school in review (2 wks, but we were on vacation)...
Opening Time: We have been on time or early each day (woohoo), start with prayer, Monday's we do the pledges and T-TH we have Sword Drill which I think has been going swimmingly. Fridays we have chapel - listening or watching a sermon and taking notes - LOVE IT!!! So far we have listened to the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, "How to Make Your Bible Come Alive" and Dr. S.M. Davis, "How to Bless Your Children and Others. (Great Sermons) We also do our Vocabulary Cartoons then and learn an idiom a day. All's well here!
Bible Reading: This we decided to do the night before so daddy could take part. It's not a nightly thing, just whenever we are ready to start a new chapter or section of the Bible with our Bedell Curriculum, so right now we are still in Genesis 2. It's a nice time to sit as a family and read & discuss God's Word. We also use "Balancing the Sword" for Bible questions on what we have read.
Scribe Key Scripture (penmanship) & Bible Memorization: So far we have scribed Gen. 1:1-4 & 2:1-3. Going great - nothing to report here. Ladybug also uses this for part of her English lesson.
Illustrative Outline or Lapbook Today's Scripture: So far we have done a lapbook wheel for the days of creation & I am trying to think of something creative for the Sabbath. Any ideas?
Setting/Timeline/Bible Vocabulary Study: Have just put up something for creation on the timeline and a few vocab. words in a notebook.
Reading: Girls go off in their own direction and read for 20 minutes. Ladybug is reading the 6th grade Pathway Reader right now and Bookworm is reading a Christian Heros Then & Now book.
Bedell Curriculum: The girls take turns reading usually 1-2 lessons from this curriculum book each day as it applies to our current Bible reading. This is not our main "textbook", the Bible is, so I use it more like Bible notes only with History & Science mixed in. I really like it because it leads to a lot of good Bible & character related discussion. It does have a bit of twaddle in the early elementary portion, but overall it is quite good. It might not be to everyone's liking since it teaches in the order that things are mentioned in the Bible, so you don't study any one area of Science or History in big chunks at a time, but a little here and a little there. It takes a bit of getting use too from the way I normally teach, but I know we will eventaully get through most everything that I feel is important. If I was to use it as my main curriculum, I would deffinitely read ahead and supplement the material with books on whatever subject we are covering and add a hands-on project, but since we are studying American History and Geography apart from Bedell, the way we have it set up is just fine.
Ladybug reading Bedell
Math: Ladybug is doing Teaching Textbooks and is loving it! However, we found that it was too early to start Bookworm (9th gr) on Math-U-See's Stewardship (12th grade consumer-type math). Bookworm is now trying to decide whether she wants to switch back to some more of her beloved Systematic Math or do some Teaching Textbook this year.
American History & US Geography: GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! We are lovin' it! Even though Bedell eventually includes some US History in it's curriculum, we started to cover it last year and wanted to continue on in our studies with Homeschool in the Woods' Time Travelers series and putting my own stuff together using a timeline. This week we made apple head dolls, a timeline for their notebook, and each are starting a colonial sampler. Additionally, the girls are soooo into doing research for their US geography reports that I have a hard time pulling them away from it each day. I meant for them to work on it only 10-15 minutes a day, but instead have to pull them away from it after an hour each day.
Apple Head Dolls
Science: So far we are keeping it pretty simple, just reading a bit out of "Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation" book each day to tie in with our Genesis studies. A bit later we will return to our weather lapbook that we want to continue & FINISH this year. :)
Language Arts: Ladybug does English much simpler this year as it's not her favorite subject. This week I had her circle proper nouns in her Bible scribe paper and underline common nouns. I also gave her a couple of BJU English pages to do re: nouns. She also does typing, but from her blogging, she is way ahead in speed from the typing book, and she does BJU Spelling.
Other: Bookworm does Christian Light Home Ec. and is excited that next Wednesday she gets to make our entire supper. In Music we are learning about Bach; Art we are doing watercolors; plus Ladybug reads in her Abeka Health book three days a week.
We are just so enjoying our more relaxed school days this year -- partly because we don't have a lot of extra-curricular activities outside of the home this year -- just Ruby Girls twice a month and violin for Bookworm every other week.
I won't be going into such detail every week, but being this was my first Homeschool Weekly, and Mrs. Cuddles had such a wonderful post last week, I wanted to make at least a semi-respectable first entry. lol.
Won't you join us for Homeschool Weekly? Please see Mrs. Cuddles for details and the Mr. Linky for other participants.
We have been out of town a lot this month on vacation. Now, I gotta say while growing up, my family usually took a yearly big vacation for 2-3 weeks at a time, driving usually to Florida, but sometimes out West; but for us now, our "vacations" usually consist of a couple of nights away within a 4 hour drive, but it is still nice to get away just the same. It's just harder to leave when you've got animals and besides, we really start missing our babies (animals) after a couple of days.
Here are a few picutres of our trips...
First we went to our favorite Wisconsin Dells waterpark resort (we use to go once or twice a year, but have been away for 3 years, so this was a real treat).
The girls at the largest indoor wavepool in America standing under a banana tree. This is my favorite building - all glass so you can even get a tan indoors with a tropical theme. I love palm trees!
We love the wave pool - our favorite. Actually Ladybug & I aren't much for the wild rides - just give us a wave pool, a lazy river, and a indoor/outdoor hot tub and we are happy campers. Bookworm and Daddy prefer the scary & fast slides.
Our girls LOVE to climb. Here they are going up the 32' indoor wall. Bookworm went up to the top 3 times! Ladybug went up a respectable one and a half times.
The girls coming out of a tube slide. I went once and that was enough for me. Between climbing all those steps just to get up there (becoming out of breath due to my asthma) and then going down in the dark at break neck speeds - it's more than my claustrophobia can handle. lol
We really enjoy going off-season when most kids are back in school, almost all the children there are either preschoolers or homeschoolers and there are no lines, plus more modest dress too. The rates are cheaper too, but the only drawback is that all the lifeguards are exchange students, so they don't have enough staff to have all the waterparks open at the resort. We couldn't go on everything we wanted too - but it was still a lot of fun for the money. I even met another homeschool mom in the hot tub that lives an hour away from us. lol
When we returned home, we put in our first week of school and then it was back to vacation time. lol This time camping on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
On our way up, we stopped at Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior. VERY FUN & EDUCATIONAL. We watched a 22 minute film and took the 45 minute tour. It was soooo interesting! Highly recommended! (Most of our trip up was rainy, but was starting to clear by the time we got here).
Our Campsite at Temperance River State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior. You can see the Lake behind our campsite through the trees and we could hear the waves crashing 24 hours a day. It was pretty chilly, but we came prepared and warmed up quickly when hiking and climbing on rocks.
Morning sunrise on Lake Superior.
The girls hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail.
An infamous "Superior Hiking Trail" sign. Not too many of these signs left since people like to steal them.
Smore time!
Ladybug named this friendly chipmunk, "Chippy", a constant visitor at our site, it didn't look like this was the first time campers fed him. It would come right up to our feet to beg for food and I think if we had been sitting, it would have jumped in our lap.
On the way back home we stopped at Gooseberry Falls State Park - this is one of several of the falls there. We hope to stop by there sometime again. They have several beautiful stone CCC buildings there from the 1940's. A pretty park but quite trendy - not exactly wilderness anymore.
Oh, and I almost forgot, here is the Temperance River. We were walking on the stones here, trying to cross without getting wet - well, wouldn't you know, my feet slipped out from under me and I fell in. LOL. Thankfully it was a very shallow part of the river - only about 3" deep.
Thanks for visiting!
If you would like to be a part of Show & Tell Friday or would like to visit others, please hop on over to our hostess, Mary's blog, for details and Mr. Linky.
I first heard of this current best seller at a family gathering about a month ago. A relative (of DH) raved about the book from the moment she walked in the door and continued to talk about it for quite some time - giving the book to my MIL to read. Now, I must admit that I haven't read this book, but from what this relative was telling us, the word "blasphemy" immediately came to mind. She told of the The Shack portraying Jesus as a carpenter, the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman, and God the Father as a large black woman named ... Papa. It disturbed me that this dear lady was so taken in by the book, but what disturbed me more is that several others of those in attendance had also read the book -- many of them who proclaim Chirst, many of them had gone to some sort of Bible college; and even some of them are in ministry -- and yet not one of them denounced this New Age book or said anything negative about it. Now my MIL is almost finished reading the book and says that it contains some truth, but also some things that are perhaps only partly true or not true at all. Hmmm! Weren't we all taught that a half-truth is still a lie? I believe "The Shack" is a dangerous book indeed!
I am also disturbed that some "Christian" book distributors are proudly selling this New Age book, such as Christian Book Distributors (CBD) and our own local chain of "Christian" bookstores. It goes to show that just because someone or some business claims to be Christian, to be very careful - even in the Christian homeschool market.
Personally, I really don't belive that anyone who proclaims to be a Christian should even consider buying this book. Afterall, would you expect a Christian to read the Book of Satan? Why not? So what's the difference? Besides, should the $'s that God has given us to use for His glory be used to feather the pockets of such authors and the like?
I love this story...
"You must spend a lot of time handling counterfeit money to know what it looks like," said Ruth Bell Graham to a man from Scotland Yard, who was in charge of identifying counterfeit money.
"No," he replied. "We never touch the stuff. All day long we just handle the real thing: genuine currency. And when a counterfeit bill comes our way-we can quickly detect it."
As Christians, we could go nuts trying to keep up with the latest heresies and counterfeit teachings, but if we continue in the Word of God, reading it, studying it, living it, we will immediately know counterfeit teachings. We don't need to spend our time and money engaging in such nonsense!
Here are a couple of great articles on the leaven of The Shack to arm you so that when the subject comes up, you can explain why this is such a dangerous book...
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. II Timothy 4:3-4
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to distruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14
It's going to get worse. Many other heresies will continue to rise. Movies, novels, and TV will become increasingly blasphemous.
May the Lord find us faithful!
Sep. 11, 2008~ Blogger Friend School #101 Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Oh What a Relief It Is! ~
Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it. Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!
Well, I feel a bit sheepish about this assignment because truthfully I really haven't had much of any homeschooling struggles in our 10 years of homeschooling thus far -- we love our homeschooling lifestyle and wouldn't trade it for the world. Oh, I have made mistakes along the way...I tend to buy way to many books and what is now helping me with that is using the Bible as our main textbook. When it comes to the Bible, everything else seems to pale in comparison and suddenly book sales don't seem as appealing as they once did (can I say that on HSB? lol).
And there have been times in the past when one of our scholars didn't particularly like writing or math, but those were easliy remedied... with writing we moved to using paper that was half lined and half blank where the child could illustrate their writing with colored pencils (when the girls were younger); and when a math curriculum doesn't work, we change it.
I believe that our success is due solely on the Lord -- just a deep down know, that you know, that you know conviction that homeschooling is the right thing to do and we will do it no matter what. Also a big dose of patience and a double portion of fun in our learning works wonders. We don't care what "they" say you should be studying, but just focus on the Lord and very practical "needs to know" real-life things - not wasting our time on things the girls will never need to know after school. That's about it - pure & simple.
Here is picture of our current weekly schedule:
And thou shalt love the LORD they God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Deut. 6:5-9
Blogger Friend School is a fun meme where assignments are posted every Tuesday. If you would like more information or would like to join, please go HERE. You will also find the Mr. Linky to other BFS students that would love a visit from you.
Outside My Window...it's now after suppertime and we have bright sunshine/partly cloudy, the horses are quietly grazing, and the goldenrod is peeping brightly amongst the brown prairie grass. A bit chilly, it was 45 this morning and we reached only 62 today.
I am thinking... will I ever catch up on my blogging?
From the learning rooms...today was our first day of school. Since I'm getting this out so late, our first day is complete and all went well! Perhaps the girls' excitement expectations were higher than the reality of it all - somewhat anticlimactic I thought -- but they seemed to enjoy it. We certainly got a lot done.
I am thankful for...the priviledge of home educating our children and being with them 24/7.
Saturday ~ Roast Beef
Sunday ~ Camping on the North Shore (Smores) :)
I am creating...or trying to make creative inserts for the girls' lapbooks if only my printer would cooperate.
I am going...crazy! No, really we are staying home most of this week. I have an eye dr. appointment Wednesday and Bookworm has violin on Thursday. Then Sunday we head for the Superior Hiking Trail (on the North Shore of Lake Superior) for a couple of days camping right next to the Lake. The girls & I are afraid we will freeze! (teeth chattering).
I am wearing...my usual barn wear... denim capris, a short sleeve lavander t-shirt, sage fleece jacket, sport socks, hair in ponytail.
I am reading...I Kings and I Corinthians.
I am hoping...the girls will continue to love our school year; and that we will have a strange warm front pass through while we are camping. :)
I am hearing...my husband pounding on the lawn mower in the garage.
Around the house & barn...I am already liking our new school-day schedule where we do a half hour of house chores before school - the house looks pretty good if I do say so myself. We haven't been able to play with the horses the last two nights - last night we just plain couldn't get them to come when we called until it was getting dark, and now I have a bit of a sore throat and don't feel like going out with them.
One of my favorite things...is teaching God's Word to our girls.
A few plans for the rest of the week... is pretty well covered above, but the farrier is also coming on Tuesday to trim hooves.
Here are some picture thoughts I am sharing with you...
Happy to Start School Today.
Ladybug enjoying her Teaching Textbooks Math.
If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Daybook, please see our Hostess,Peggyfor details. You may also visit her for the Mr. Linky to others.
Sep. 8, 2008~ Blogger Friend School #100 - Oh What A Feeling! ~
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Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children
(Due to my own falt, I managed to lose the entire body of this post, but have re-entered it in a paraphrased version).
I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!!!
Well, that pretty much sums it up for me, but I suppose you would like to hear more...
I believe God was preparing me for home educating our daughters at the ripe ole' age of 7 when I would spend hours teaching my stuffed animals from math papers I brought home from first grade. But I really disliked government school. I was often sick or absent from school - largely because my perfectionist mindset caused me to be nervous and afraid about EVERYTHING - afraid about not doing well in school, afraid of my teachers, and afraid of not fitting in with my peers. I think God was already using this to make me more sensitive to children, especially my own, someday. Thankfully I later entered a Christian high school where I could speed along at my own pace and did much better.
Fast forward...Jeff and I married in 1993 and I became pregnant soon afterwards. We didn't think too much of our child(ren)'s schooling at first, but God quickly began to speak to us about homeschooling through Focus on the Family broadcasts where Dr. Raymond Moore was Dr. Dobson's guest and through frinding "The Teaching Home" magazine. The cover of the Aug/Sept. issue featuring the brightly scrubbed faces of a family of 7 boys and 6 girls, all in matching outfits, hooked me. I inhaled the magazine and a conviction to homeschool burned within me. I believe God called us to homeschool before our first child was even born because He knew it would take me that long just to figure out how to begin. To make a long story short(er), I finally found a couple of homeschoolers that helped us in our search for information.
Our lifestyle of learning has never waivered. We feel as stongly about it today as we did over 14 years ago -- before our first child was born. My favorite verse at the top of this blog, ...."Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you -- THEY ARE YOUR LIFE. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deut. 32:46-47. This is my life and I LOVE it!
Today, Sept., 8th is our first day of school this year. Here are a couple of photos of our classroom all ready and waiting to go.
I am a bit slow at entering my Blogger Friend School assignment since we were out of town, but it is never too late to join. BFS assignments are posted every Tuesday. If you would like more information or would like to join, please go HERE. You will also find the Mr. Linky to other BFS students that would love a visit from you.
Herbs hanging over my kitchen sink to dry.
Not a very good picture through the window by our front door, but there were 6 bluebirds (3 pairs) all taking their turn along with some other feathered friends. I hate to see them go. It's always a real treat when I see my first bluebird in the spring.
These are all views from outside my computer/classroom window. Most all the trees around here are pines & birch - no colorful sugar maples. I will try to get pictures of their beautiful oranges & reds later when we are out & about.
Indian corn drying in the rafters of our garage. DH thinks we should grind it and make corn bread from it - I'm thinking it will make gray flour and gray bread - might be better feed for the chickens.
I don't have any "before" pictures for you, but here is a photo of my scrapbooking/craft cabinet in our basement. It's just one of those semi-cheap assembly-required wood cabinets that Jeff put together for me, stained & polyed it (isn't he sweet). Serves double purpose for craft stuff + a nice tv stand for Jeff's small tv that he watches biking videos on when he is on his cycling trainer in the winter. 
We "celebrated" Hay Day last Thur. & Friday. Here's the first of 2 loads of hay (180 bales in all) to keep our horseys happy for another year (l have about 30 bales left from last year too). I know some are wondering how much we paid for our hay this year... I got 90 bales of first cutting at $2.50/bale (1st cutting is usually cheaper as it's not quite as nice as subsequent cuttings) and 90 bales of second cutting at $3.50/bale. Much better price than the $6/bale that some farmers were getting early this spring after last year's dought.
"Attention, Draw Swords, Hag. 1:5 (they repeat), GO!" 
Ladybug reading Bedell
Apple Head Dolls 
The girls at the largest indoor wavepool in America standing under a banana tree. This is my favorite building - all glass so you can even get a tan indoors with a tropical theme. I love palm trees!
We love the wave pool - our favorite. Actually Ladybug & I aren't much for the wild rides - just give us a wave pool, a lazy river, and a indoor/outdoor hot tub and we are happy campers. Bookworm and Daddy prefer the scary & fast slides. 
Our girls LOVE to climb. Here they are going up the 32' indoor wall. Bookworm went up to the top 3 times! Ladybug went up a respectable one and a half times. 
The girls coming out of a tube slide. I went once and that was enough for me. Between climbing all those steps just to get up there (becoming out of breath due to my asthma) and then going down in the dark at break neck speeds - it's more than my claustrophobia can handle. lol 
On our way up, we stopped at Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior. VERY FUN & EDUCATIONAL. We watched a 22 minute film and took the 45 minute tour. It was soooo interesting! Highly recommended! (Most of our trip up was rainy, but was starting to clear by the time we got here). 
Our Campsite at Temperance River State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior. You can see the Lake behind our campsite through the trees and we could hear the waves crashing 24 hours a day. It was pretty chilly, but we came prepared and warmed up quickly when hiking and climbing on rocks.
Morning sunrise on Lake Superior.
The girls hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail.
An infamous "Superior Hiking Trail" sign. Not too many of these signs left since people like to steal them. 
Smore time!
Ladybug named this friendly chipmunk, "Chippy", a constant visitor at our site, it didn't look like this was the first time campers fed him. It would come right up to our feet to beg for food and I think if we had been sitting, it would have jumped in our lap. 
On the way back home we stopped at Gooseberry Falls State Park - this is one of several of the falls there. We hope to stop by there sometime again. They have several beautiful stone CCC buildings there from the 1940's. A pretty park but quite trendy - not exactly wilderness anymore. 
Oh, and I almost forgot, here is the Temperance River. We were walking on the stones here, trying to cross without getting wet - well, wouldn't you know, my feet slipped out from under me and I fell in. LOL. Thankfully it was a very shallow part of the river - only about 3" deep. 
Happy to Start School Today.
Ladybug enjoying her Teaching Textbooks Math.
