Do read about it at www.fairhillsfarm.com/weblog!  It is so sweet to watch a mother hen raise her chicks.

In case I don't have time to explain later...I am transferring my blog to a wordpress on some hosting that we own.  You will know when it has been changed.

Well, this post has more brevity than I'm generally capabable of, but I don't think I have anything else to say.

~Amanda~

Spring is probably the busiest time of year for us.  There is always so much outside work to do.  It’s already been nearly three years since we moved here and thus there is all the more going on.

Dad, Rachel and I went to a homeschooled friend's graduating class dinner on Wednesday.  Andrew has been in town so he spent one night with us (the rest of his family is visiting tomorrow morning).  He did lots of fun film projects with Joseph (Abigail did the actual filming).  I remember doing recording projects with my siblings and Andrew, David and Angela about 8 years ago!  Brings back memories...

We enjoyed the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008!  The online conference is such a great idea.

I'm scheduled to take the ACT Writing Test along with the required portions of the test next month.  I need to practice planning and writing an essay within a 30 min. time limit (and in perfectly legible handwriting)!  On the Writing Test you can score from 1 (poor skill) to 6 (effective skill).  I'm going to take three practice tests this month anyway, so hopefully that will help me get prepared. 

I submitted the screenplay to Abbot Management on Friday.  Dad talked to a director/producer (one of the contacts his friend gave us) on the phone awhile back and mentioned The Crusading Chemist.  He said he will check out the website.

I'm nearly finished with my huge landscape painting of our pond.  Next I want to try doing a painting based on a photograph of Beth and her friend Jenny.  Recently I've kept my easel set up out of the way in the Guest House.  I bring my World Views audios and my portable CD headset player with me each painting session to make the most of my time.

I need to go read while I have the chance - I don't often get to read for fun during the week because I'm so busy with other things!

~Amanda~

Post Scriptum - I added photos/video of the Carcassonne game to my last post.  I meant to do that earlier, but the photos had not yet been downloaded.

The site is up.  Www.thecrusadingchemist.com, that is.  I stayed up late setting it up last night, and it is nearly certain to not appeal to you web design connoisseurs, but it is at least uncluttered and straightforward.  Dad's friend gave us some phone numbers to various contacts, so we decided that there needs to be a website to direct them to all the information they want.

I'm still plodding through my final studies, though I haven't spent as much time on them as I would like.  I'm also trying to figure out how to repair my laptop's CD/DVD drive (not sure what happened to it - the hardware is either "corrupted or missing").  Acer's website is informative, but not informative enough (at least for me to solve the problem).  I'm going to have to try calling them again. 

We finally have a promising broody hen working on a clutch of eggs.  I should write about that on my homesteadblog...

Monday evening we had a delicious Passover dinner at the Williams' house (excepting the bitter herbs - particularly horseradish - to which all the children present would testify).   After that we had songs and our little Exodus skit.  I recited the first eight verses of Ex. 6 and the others recited the 10 plagues.  I even liked reciting the ending verses (which I had to memorize in about 20 minutes ).  We happened to have time to begin a game of Carcassonne - which abruptly ended at midnight when we had to leave (Jay took a picture of the board, so perhaps we can reenact it next time).

(As you can see, we experimented with photo tinting effects)

Rachel and Abigail initiated a flower garden project under the arbor by our pool.  Very nice.

~Amanda~

Due to mysterious ways, The Crusading Chemist is on its way to The Library of Congress rather than the Writers Guild. That is, to Washington, D.C. rather than Los Angeles, California.  My literary friends, please read closely just in case you ever plan to publish/produce some of your work.

On Tuesday Dad brought home the 10 bound copies of the screenplay from the Minuteman Press. All is well with that, though there are a few minor typos I overlooked that are infuriating to me (it's not like I didn't proof-read it!). But those slip-of-the-pen things are common enough to not distract people too badly (I should hope).  After all, there is alot of editing in the movie making process.

On Friday Mom took an unbound copy and a bound copy to the Post Office. The unbound copy was on its way to the WGA, while the bound copy was on its way to myself (an old legal check - mail it to yourself and never open it so you will have legal, date/time stamped proof that you are the author).  Just in case you are wondering, this WGA plan was not some wild idea of mine.  According to what we had read, registering a screenplay with the Writers Guild is a legitimate step forward to finding a producer.  Supposedly it is also advisable for playwrights and book authors to register their works as well.  {However...}

As Mom was mailing the script, a man behind her over heard her explain to the bewildered woman at the desk that the package contained a screenplay.  He then questioned Mom about it as well and advised her to not send it to the Writers Guild unless the screenplay was government-copyrighted first, describing it as a "cut-throat industry".  He said he had worked as a director and screenwriter and explained that the Writers Guild is able to lift manuscripts that haven't first been registered with the Government Copyright Office. He further stated that you can't register a script with the Writers Guild unless you are a member and that you can't become a member unless you know someone in the industry (strange...their website said nothing about this!).

Mom was quite taken aback - what are the chances of running into someone like that in a rural town Post Office just as you happen to be mailing something to the Writers Guild?  The woman at the desk said they were getting ready to close, so Mom decided to take the scripts back home. She didn't get a chance to ask the guy what his name was, so that is all the information we will get from him most likely.

Later that day we researched the Government Copyright Office registration system. It is a much more in depth process, but it doesn't ask for your social security number like the WGA does. It is also a bit more expensive, costing $45 as opposed to $20, but it seems like the safer way to go now. 

For a dramatic work you have to fill out the PA (Performing Arts) form.

 They had the handy PDF form fill out system, so the only part I had to use a pen for was my signature.

Now it will be sent to the Library Of Congress - which incidentally happens to be one of the locations in a scene in the script itself.

I trust that the LORD was keeping me from making big mistake - it will be interesting to see what happens next!

~Amanda~

"Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in HIM, and HE will do it."

~ Psalm 37:5

What more can I say?  I'm still sure this project deserves to have been written better than I could offer it, but I was privileged to work on it this long, and it is now officially accomplished.  Well, in terms of screenwriting, perhaps that is tentative - a director can still improve it as necessary, and I hope to learn how to improve my writing in all areas after experience on this project.

It came out to 132 pages long (a bit long for a movie script, but tolerable enough - staying in the page boundaries is my weakness!).  Next it goes to Kinko's to have bound copies made, and then sent to the Writer's Guild to be registered (after it is registered I might post more information on the script's plot line, etc.) .  I'm working at revising the Treatment for Dad to show to his friends that have producer contacts. 

Other events of this day...Abigail turned 11.  She was born in West Point, New York over a decade ago already!

(In this picture, she is illustrating how a denim skirt can double as a poncho)

Grandmomma and Granddaddy came over to celebrate our wonderful little (well, getting big) Abby's 11th birthday.  It was lots of fun...I'm sure Abby can fill you in about it on her blog soon!

I'll post about our latest project with our Dominique chickens on my homesteadblog soon.

~Amanda~

Yesterday we had a photo shoot for The Girlhood Home Companion article on soap making.  We began making another batch of soap in the morning, and Mom got behind the camera and tripod to photograph Abigail and me performing the melting step.  During one of the photos the shutter didn't appear to go off, and we suddenly realized that Mom had accidently filmed a video instead!

That's Rachel cheering "Yay!" at the end to taunt us.  Haha...

We also took the opportunity to do another photo shoot that we have been planning for a long time - one of Bethy Linda wearing our great-grandmother's 103-year-old dress.

{Click for larger images}

You have to admit, even if you're not related to her, that she is unusually beautiful.  I can hardly believe that I'm 100% related to her myself!  She looks a lot like Dad's mother, Linda (her namesake).  She also looks a little bit like Rachel in some ways.  But she is definitely unique.  Hopefully I'll be able to pick one of the 51 photos we took of her as model for a painting... 

Click here to see recent photos of our homestead.

~Amanda~

I don't mean to be shallow, but I have decided to make a post on February 29, 2008 simply because I will not be able to post on this day for another four years.

Besides that, the weather has been alternating between freezing and balmy (I should save those details for my homesteadblog).  Believe it or not, I have completed the final draft of The Crusading Chemist.  Well, except for scanning through it for typos.  PRAISE THE LORD!  I think I'll even post a picture of the bound final draft once it's printed.  It certainly isn't perfect, but I've done the best I can.  Now I must complete the revision of the treatment (hopefully that won't take too long).

I'm also working on an article for The Girlhood Home Companion about glycerin soap.  We ordered various supplies for making the soap yesterday...it will be a great project! 

We're going to see a performance of the musical Fiddler On The Roof with some friends tomorrow evening.

~Amanda~

February is showing itself to be quite an eventful month!  It is also a leap year, remember.  Apparently every Presidential Election year happens to be a leap year (every four years).  Some friends visited yesterday.  Next weekend John Y. is returning from Denver for a visit.  The week after that the Clarks are visiting.

I began Super Tuesday filling out a ballot and ended it printing out my 2nd screenplay draft.  It is 137 pages long, so I have thus proceeded to make little cuts and corrections in pen and ink before proclaiming it "The Final Draft".  Another priority is the Treatment.  Last year I studied for the Three-Page Treatment Competition.  Though I never actually entered the contest, I learned a lot from it.  Geoff Botkin says that a good Treatment is usually about 12 pages long.  I won't deliberately try to hit a certain number of pages, but I still have to follow the basic strategy: Tell the synopsis of the story in present tense, dramatic prose style.

Today Dad went to Tuscaloosa to play in a racquetball tournament.  Joseph and David went along with him.  The rest of us did some baking (it's nice to have meals made ahead of time before the last day of the week in order to have a Sabbath rest).

Rachel has been begging to go to the bookstore forever (or so it seems), so this afternoon we were finally able to go to Books-A-Million (there is no Barnes&Noble in our area).  Rachel, as usual, found a tremendous selection of great books.  I was watching Beth some of the time and thus didn't look very thoroughly, but there wasn't much I could think of that I really wanted to read.  I did manage to find The Real ACT Prep Guide (oh joy), which I decided I needed to buy.  While Mom and I were having coffee Rachel told me she found a book I might like.  It was Jane Austen: The Complete Novels from Grammercy Books.  I love it!  I also managed to find the CD Celtic Journeys: Celtic Mysteries.  I love Celtic music, and this CD is very nice.  Mom, Rachel and I got some Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer (I chose Rhubarb, Rachel chose Watermelon and Mom chose Papaya).  Abigail and Mary got some Pomegranate Lip Balm (they can fill you in on the books they got).  So, as you can see, chapped lips occur around here sometimes.  We ate at Quizno's afterwards, which was absolutely delicious.

There are some exciting things going on homestead wise that I can't wait to write about, but I suppose I'll have to wait and put that all on my homestead blog in order to be nominally accurate...so check it from time to time and see what happens.

Take care and MAY GOD BLESS,

~Amanda~

Well, today was my 18th birthday.  I believe my littlest siblings were more excited about it than I was (cake and celebrations are so fresh and new in their young minds).

When I was but 10 I often said, "I only have 8 years left before I become officially an adult"...and thus be able to vote.  The thought came to me as I observed the arduous Election 2000.  I kept a daily journal fairly consistently since I was 8, but in 2000 I began what later became my tradition of keeping a "World Journal" in which I recorded national and international events.

Notice that GOD is clearly honored in the voter's registration.

Well the "d" on the end of my signature is sort of similar...any family resemblance? {Haha..}

Here are some pictures I took of my siblings playing with some new homeschool friends this month (Joy and Amy are the friends pictured).

What have I been doing all this time, exactly?  Experiencing our miniature festivities of the closing year and completing my debut screenplay (ha) so I can then focus on completing my course work and then write and paint 'till the end of time....or something to that effect.  Believe it or not, I think the script is more or less finished.  I have over 120 pages (the standard length for a 2 hour film) and now need to print it all out and edit, edit, edit and then perhaps never have to look at the thing again.  Well, it's not that terrible of an experience, but spending over a year on a writing project gradually drains your creative interest for it.  However, the New York Times now has their ancient archives online now so recently I found some fascinating pieces of information to incorporate into the story.

Here is a video of our other homeschooled friends, Andrew and David, giving Joseph a lesson in sword fighting tactics which they have been learning recently.  No, that's not me playing the Rondo Alla Turca, even though I can play that song.  I was filming!  This video is also on my YouTube account (SincerelyAmanda) if you would like to comment on it there.

The other night I redesigned Mom's blog.  I couldn't make a suitably sized banner for the header at the time, so I just removed the header above it.

Priceless Purity is fixing to go professional thanks to the help of Eric Novak.  I'm hoping to get my own site as well this year.  Resolutions, resolutions...

Last night we went to see the fireworks at Ft. McClellan.  They were outstanding!  Abigail filmed it with our brand new 8-mega pixel camera.  After that we met Grandmomma and Granddaddy at Roma's and had pizza.

Well, I have to go eat New Year's dinner.

Farewell and MAY GOD BLESS YOUR NEW YEAR,

~Amanda~

Perhaps that title doesn't make very much sense.  I was referring to the busyness going on as this year reaches its height of Fall.  I have had quite a few blog posts in mind, but I have delayed posting them deliberately.  I'm considering saving my more topical posts for NJAO and Priceless Purity.

As for my recent busyness, I'm spending this week studying for my final chemistry tests.  Then I'm done with chemistry...officially!  I will then have Geometry and World Views left to complete within the next few months.  Then my "school" as the grading system knows it will be over.  That's when my writing projects will excel to their full potential, LORD willing.

I went grocery shopping with Mom and my sisters on Monday.  I came across a DVDXpressDX2 device that converts your VHS or VHS-C (or whatever new-fangled technology has burdened ordinary home filmmakers with) to DVDs using your computer.  I'm still trying to get it to work.  It says it's compatible with Vista, but I think I'm going to have to download an upgrade from their site in order to coax my laptop into accepting it.  One moment it appears to be working fine, but the next moment there is a warning on blue screen that my computer is restarting in order to protect it from "damage".

The first week of November featured a football game and three birthdays in our family. Our Aunt Crystal and cousins visited this past Sunday.  We will most likely have guests around Thanksgiving.  I took some photographs of the Guest House which will appear on FairHillsFarm.com shortly.

Today one of our next door neighbors (a guy about my age) came by to see if we would be interested in giving one of our cats to his sister-in-law.  I have recounted occasionally the experiences of the Cats of Fair Hills.  Well, we are now down to five; Mirette and three of her original five kittens: Sebastian, Felix and Guinevere as well as Mirette's half-brother, Hunter.  They are all very docile cats that have never been aggressive towards us and get along with Rex, the chickens and the little children.  They live out doors, but are somewhat maniacal in regard to food.  Every time we step out the front door they clamour around our feet and put on their loudest charming meows in hopes of receiving a treat.

Just the other day Hunter killed a copper-head looking young snake, and is renowned for his snake slaying escapades.  He is the one Dad favors, so he stays regardless.  Guinevere (Abigail's cat) and Mirette will stay since they are queens and least likely to wander. Sebastian (my cat) and Felix (Joseph's cat) quarrel incessantly.  Each wants to boot the other out, yet they both love this place so much that neither of them will give in.  Mom and I both concluded that one of them would be the best give away bet.

After checking with Dad, the deal seemed okay.  This evening our neighbor and his sister-in-law came by to pick up a cat.  It was dark, and Felix was the nearest one around, so he was the chosen one.  When I picked him up he appeared unusually nervous - partly because the neighbors' little corgi/chihuahua/whatyoumaycallit mix looking dog came over as well.  We mentioned that if it didn't work out they could bring him back any time.

A little while later our neighbor drove up and dropped off the carrier, saying that as soon as they opened it Felix dashed off into the woods.  Sure enough, he was back home a few minutes later.  What a feline exhibition of loyalty {haha}.

MAY GOD BLESS,

~Amanda~

My parents's 19th wedding anniversary was on August 27th.  My sister Beth's 3rd birthday was on August 30th.  My dad's birthday was on August 10th. 

September has arrived.  Summer is coming quickly to a close.  The weather does not always give such insinuation, but the activity around our home does.  Rachel is starting her ballet classes again for this semester.  Though we do not officially follow any traditional or ordinary "schedule" by any means, there must always be a reminder of seat work focus from time to time.  Next week will most likely be the upcoming time.

I am now apparently what contemporary colloquial educational evaluation expects me to be at my age: a senior in highschool.  For some reason I am actually excited about the studies I have ahead and am not nervous about completing anything.  Based on my slow and thorough learning style, I ought to be a nervous wreck.  But I've been through it all before - nothing is new and earth shattering...

My screenplay has quickly moved quite close to the revising/editing stage.  I have completed a painting based on a photograph of Beth with two Dominique pullets taken earlier this year.  Due to its size it was more difficult to take a picture of the artwork.  I have already since touched it up even more (is a painting ever truly finished?) - especially the wall in front of Beth, which I have had to darken repeatedly.  I hope to post a nicer picture after it's framed.  

   

                                                                  < Those nest boxes are made entirely out of free scrap wood boxes and trim!

 

  
 

 
^ Dad on the tractor.

I have been tagged by Cornflower.  Tagged {enough said}.  I think 'tis quite an interesting tag, actually.

_______________________________________________

Tag Rules:

1).The player starts with eight random facts about herself or himself.

2).The person who is tagged must post on his or her own blog his or her answers and post the rules first.

3).Then the player must pick eight people and tag them.  Also leave them a comment that lets them know that you tagged them.  You can write who you tagged on your blog also!

1. I have an odd habit of talking to myself frequently. No, I'm not a wacko, I just like to think out loud, read out loud, write out loud, act out the characters I'm writing about in order to get the dialogue just right...and don't be fooled, I'm still mostly a visual learner.
2. I'm left handed.  However, since most scissors are designed for right-handed individuals, I'm quite ambidextrous with the scissors.
3. I love to go barefoot all the time...inside, outside...My feet are so tough now I walk over just about everything. I've even been in the chicken coop barefoot (haha).  Of course, I've had to maintain a reasonable amount of discipline about my shoes because snakes and scorpions reside in our area.
4. I drink coffee every morning.
5. I have a little 18-karat gold necklace that my grandparents bought for me in the United Arab Emirates for my 14th birthday, and I have worn it for 3 years straight - never taking it off to swim or shower or sleep (I ought to start a Guiness World Record).  You'll see the necklace in all fairly recent pictures of me. 
6. I take cod liver oil almost every night.
7. I have a little embroidered pillow featuring a blonde and brunette sister with the text, "God Made Us Sisters, Hearts Made Us Friends" - it was a birthday gift from Rachel many years ago and I still sleep with it every night. Every time we got over an argument we did this little poem ritual (we still use it occasionally) that went "God made us sisters, hearts made us friends; we shall say sorry so our hearts will mend." 
8. I love to write with fountain pens. 

Now for my tagging...

Super Angel (Amanda Dixon, who has probably been tagged more times than she can remember)

rjdjohn316 (Rachel Dixon - thanks for the Blogging Reflection Award on my HSB2 blog, by the way ;-D) 

Lady Jane Grey

Southern Belle (Emma)

Rach (Peachy Keen)

Old Fashion Girl (Lexi)

The One And Only (Shareen)

Nancy's Nook

______________________________________________

Now for the rational part of the entry.  I must confess that I may not be posting much this month (or at least this week or two), as I will be working to quickly complete my screenplay.  I have started contacting production companies, and I also have a lot of other projects going on at home and have visitors in and out.  I still enjoy hearing from everyone, however!  I don't mind getting comments.

MAY GOD BLESS,

~Amanda~

I spent all day giving the house its much-needed cleaning on Saturday.  John Y. came in town.  He is selling his current house and moving into an apartment, so he will be staying with us for a little while.  He had to go back this evening to check up on somethings, but will be coming back on Tuesday. 

Our bedroom (the one I share with Rachel) feels clean and refreshing at the moment.  I've discovered that I write and focus on things in general better when I'm in an organized, harmonious and clean environment (don't we all?).  It is easier to maintain an uncluttered mind in an uncluttered room.  Oddly enough, I'm so used to pleasant noise from siblings and the country atmosphere that if things get too quiet, it has the opposite effect on me.  But that's a rare occasion, isn't it?

We are still waiting on the guesthouse to be completed - they have to finish getting the rest of the insulation up and then put up the beaded board paneling.  They are really good and quick workers when they come to our place (in between their other jobs).  I have some pictures of the construction, but I don't think I've uploaded them to photobucket yet.  I keep forgetting to get all of our garden, coop and construction photos posted, and of course, I can't spend all my time on the computer.

We got a nice thunderstorm today.

I need to get some writing done...and really ought to get to work on my next chicken painting.

I'm starting a Blog Notification system (sending out a message every time I post a new entry), so if you would like to join the list, just e-mail me at amanda@fairhillsfarm.com. 

What time is it, in your opinion? 

Farewell...

~Amanda~ 

Time ticks away.  My time has been occupied with chiseling a substantially intriguing script treatment out of my wordy inventions {it is now completed.  A little Dominique coop redux here and there.  Planning paintings to grace the walls of the guest house in construction on top of that.  Deciding how to set up and manage my personal website (www.amandaread.com) adds an interesting twist {it's still not my highest priority yet}.  I plan to make another homestead blog post about our chickens soon {with pictures}...our Dominiques started laying eggs last week!

Joseph, Abigail, Mary, David, Beth, Mom and I went for a nature walk (Rachel stayed home with Ben) the other day.  We successfully identified and sketched several flowers and trees.  This morning Rachel and I were up well before 7:00 because we heard hail pelting the roof.  It wasn't too bad, but the storm was fairly rough.  The little creek through the pasture overflowed for once in a long while, indicating that our rain deficit has finally been payed off.  The Governor had asked Alabama residents to pray for rain...and despite the negative predictions made by a secularist, the LORD answered the petition.  I love it when that happens - no matter how small the issue.

Be sure to check out Priceless Purity on HSB.  You might also want to consider visiting their website and joining the upcoming Bible Study and more.

~Amanda~

In the course of experimental marketing, I attempted to use a free SitePal trial for advertising my latest passive income venture - www.TheVirtualPowerMall.com {Dad bought that domain for me and forwarded it to my power mall account, "Lady Speedwell's Shopping Center"}.

Why "Lady Speedwell"?  Good question.  After lots of deliberating (and prodding from my siblings), I concluded that the old-fashioned sounding title would suffice {Speedwell means "prosperous"}.  I wrote out a little script and recorded my own voice into the lipsynching character via telephone.  Click on her to hear her speak.

Now, as for the whole online mall deal...it really is worth looking into.  It isn't some sort of new fangled unbelievable get rich-quick scheme.  It is a practical, common sense way to save and earn money while making your everyday purchases online...and there is nothing to lose (no start-up fees or blah).  In fact, Mom made a post about it.

Once you are at the site, select the "Business Mall" option if you are interested in signing other people up under you.  This way you will generate more income as other people do their shopping.

You can sign up at any age.  Some woman started an account for her 15 month old son so that he will already have some income saved up as he gets older! 

Tata for now... ;-D

GODSPEED,

~Amanda~

Post Scriptum ~ Take a look at my homesteadblog to watch a video of our roosters...

Well now, we have had somewhat of a musical summer.  One day I managed to film 2-year-old Bethy Linda playing a ditty on the piano by ear. 

I've enjoyed researching a wide variety of musical pieces on www.musicnotes.com.  The free Music Notes Player is especially helpful (and fun!). 

One evening we attended a concert at Ft. McClellan.  We were able to enjoy a taste of Tchaikovsky music played live.  There was even a canon fire at the end of the 1812 Overture.  Of course, you are not allowed to record and redistribute such performances, but the following little clips give you an idea of the entertainment we were enjoying (plenty of chattering as well).

Afterwards we came across a despairing Rhinocerous Beetle flipped over on his back.  When we pardoned him, he posed for a photoshoot.

Mom has some farm photos on her blog and on the Fair Hills Farm homestead blog.

Though not being particularly musical, Benjamin developed a new form of amusement recently.

 COMING SOON: My Blogging Reflection Award Nominations - My most recent online-shopping-money-making-and-saving info - The Crusading Chemist Treatment - NJAO dissertation previews.

 THE LORD be glorified,

~Amanda~