May 14, 2008 And then there were...
PIGLETS!
Chloe gave birth to seven, one of which is dead, the other six living. All black, no indications of any other splashes of color. We'll have to research a tinge to see if we should wait to handle them, so for now, we're not sure how many boys and girls. For you animal enthusiasts, the piglets' eyes are open, and they're mobile, but shivering while mom is out of the little house part of the shelter to eat. Lots of biology first hand at the Ranch!
Blessings!
P.S. I'll post a picture when I get a chance to take one! |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
Since you all know that I'm in the midst of baseball season, I know you understand my infrequent posts of late! Thought I'd catch you up a bit!
There are 2 more weeks of the official season before playoffs begin, and the younger boys will conclude their season at the end of May, while older son will begin playoffs at that time. Just a few games and practices to go between now and then. It's been lots of fun, the boys have improved bunches, but I will be glad for the break. A BIG highlight was 11 yo team's win against the previously undefeated "STORM" last Saturday. They lost their first 2 games, but this one was great, 11 to 6! Unfortunately, we've had lots of problems in the league with coaches and parents behaving badly, and one acted up at this game. I halfway thought it was intentional, to shake our kids, but regardless, it's been unfortunate to have this kind of activity.
On the range, here, we had 5 chicks hatch and live, unfortunately the mother hens are pecking some of the offspring and we've lost 3 others. The duck eggs didn't hatch, and were beginning to look dark. One broke the other day, and I heard dd making awful retching sounds. DH gave one to the pig...you know it's bad when the pig gags...he still ate the rotten egg, mind you, but it did take him aback!
Chloe, the female pig, is bigger and bigger, still no piglets. The turkeys are looking good! The puppies are playful. And the goats are adapting to their smaller area, as we cut them back a tinge to add to garden space. I now have 1/8 of an acre, approximately, to plant when we get finished re-fencing and rototilling.
The winds are fierce, and the welcome cool before the big heat of the summer is tempered by the excessive dust. The temperatures will soar soon enough, but the wind is a pain when you're trying to get garden prep done. Dusty ears attest to that. That, and the garbage spread across the lawn in the early morning hours. You should know something is up when the dogs don't make an appearance when dh leaves for work. Oh, well! Those winds did send a yucky haze packing, and we'll be prepared with jackets for the next couple of evenings' ball games.
Other than that, I'm working on winding up the year in "official" schooling, beginning to gather materials for the next, and looking forward to a season of not running 5 to 6 days out of the week!
Blessings from the Ranch! |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
This is a fun photo. At one of the boys' games
two weekends ago, I noticed a ring around the
sun. It wasn't a brilliantly colored rainbow, but
still, a rainbow. DH insisted that I wouldn't be
able to get a picture of it, but I did. Pretty neat! |
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
May 2, 2008 Independent Thinking...
7 yo's baseball level emphasizes rules and basics. Nothing fancy. Just learning to throw, bat, field. Lots of practice and coaching on where to stand, how to stand, where to throw. During yesterday's practice, ds was in left field, and the ball came his way. It rolled past him a little, he got it, and both coaches yelled for him to throw it to second. The girl playing third base yelled for him to throw it to her. He looked for a moment, and threw it to third. Both coaches responded by asking him where second base was. He got a mildly annoyed look on his face, and did a humorous point at second base. Coaches reminded him again, when you get the ball out there, throw to second.
A moment later, coach's wife, who was helping in left field, was listening. She came over during a quick break to tell me what ds had explained to her. He had looked and seen that the person going to second was already on base, but not the person running to third, so he threw it there. She let one of the coaches know about it. Later in the practice, it was kind of funny, because the same coach was now telling other kids to throw it to third at times. LOL!
Baseball is a great way to allow the kids to learn some problem solving, as they make decisions, learn when it is better to wait a moment before throwing the ball, and such. 11 yo has learned that he has to stop and think from home plate...if he doesn't take time to make a good throw, there's a cost in lost bases and maybe scored runs.
Although I hated PE as a kid, I can really see the value of sports in this respect. It's a great venue for learning many cooperative skills, as well as leadership skills, thinking skills, and of course, for getting good exercise. It's an unfortunate thing that some kids miss the opportunity to grow because of an overly competetive environment. |
•
Sage Words (0)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 28, 2008 More Blogthings
| You Are a Banana |
 You are mellow, easy going, and a total softie on the inside.
People find it really easy to get along with you. You suit most tastes.
And while you're very sweet, you're not boring or ordinary.
You have an attraction to the exotic, and you could show up anywhere... doing almost anything!
You are spirited, energetic, and a total kick to be around.
You're also quite funny. Your sense of humor is on the goofy side, and it fits you well. |
HMMMM....I think I won't comment! |
•
Sage Words (5)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 28, 2008 Fun Ball Game...
Saturday was long, started way too early, but baseball was a blast. Gametime was 8:00 AM, so needless to say, the troops had to be up and doing their chores EARLY! DH took 11 yo early, they had to be at the field by 7:30, the rest of us got there just at the start. Unloaded the vehicle and watched from the fence as the first batter got on base, and then 11 yo hit the first pitch that came his way. A nice double to get things going! The kids were really hitting well and fielding well! During a later inning, the opposing team had a beautiful hit out toward left field. Third baseman stuck his arm out and caught the ball! It was great! DS walked, and hit another ball just inside the third base line to get a single in later innings. I don't remember the exact score, but it was a 10 run lead, as the league has a rule at this level limiting scoring to 5 runs per inning, and limiting a win to a 10 run maximum.
Tee ball wasn't quite as intense, but 5 yo did great, now fielding well, and hitting well also. He is very deliberate when he throws. Stopping, taking a look, stepping and throwing, he is getting much better. 7 yo had a day off from games, but we'll have 3 games and a birthday in a two day span this week.
Around the "ranch", it's been a battle with the elements, as winds were horrid for a couple of days when we intended to get our garden wall redone. We got a good start, but that wind was something. The gray crested duck is still faithfully tending her nest, and dd noticed another set of eggs forming, and will be allowing for another nest. We have a hefty supply of eggs in the house for food, so it will take a while to work through those, anyways. The chickens are also still tending their clutch of eggs, so perhaps in another week we'll see some new chicks and ducklings! Chloe the pig looks bigger by the day, still no piglets, though. The puppies all found new homes, with the exception of the two the family picked to keep. "Caspian" and "Eowyn" are getting pretty active around the yard! They're really cute!
My favorite purple blooms are coming out...the mesquite trees are so pretty, especially those with purple blooms. There's still a chill in the morning air, but once that sun is up, it's toasty. Thankfully, a good swamp cooler keeps things comfortable! If only there were a device to keep little boys from accident prone activities.
That's the latest from the "ranch", where we're tending to wildlife and wild boys. Blessings! |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 22, 2008 Tomatoes in My Garden
|
Spring has sprung, and summer is just around the bend. With a couple of years under our belts when it comes to gardening in this little corner of the desert, we’re not planting just yet. There is still potential for frost, though morning temps haven’t been below freezing in a couple of weeks; close, but not quite that low. Still, there is that anticipation of getting things going, knowing that a few months down the road there will be delicious, fresh veggies...perhaps, too many veggies to process, but still a wonderful part of the summer.
I remember well the countertops covered with ripe tomatoes in my parents’ home. Mom had a garden, and worked it well. The tomatoes were always so flavorful. As an adult, I much prefer the homegrown variety, and am always disappointed when they’re out of season. The light complected varieties sold in the grocery stores, especially in winter months, are a disappointment. Even those with a rich red color, when found in a grocery store, rarely pack the fresh deep flavor that a garden grown tomato offers. If tomatoes are a necessary component of a meal during these out of season times, it’s frustrating to pay the price expected for such an inferior product. I’m spoiled.
With the bit of experience we have, there are some definite lessons involved thus far, and more to come, I’m sure. And some great points of comparison. For example, in a grocery store, it is unlikely that you will find blemished tomatoes. Those don’t make it to the produce market. They’re unattractive, and I’m sure they wouldn’t sell well. I don’t look for blemished tomatoes at the grocery store, I avoid them. However, my garden tomatoes often have blemishes. I still try to make the most of these, not wanting to waste them. The bad parts get cut away, and the salad or sauce or salsa still tastes wonderful.
Growing conditions impact the final product. Shade is a help, as the hot Nevada sun can take a toll on the crop. We’ll be trying to incorporate a shade cover to help with this in the coming season. Likewise, we hope at some point to adjust fencing so as to protect from regular winds. Watering, obviously, will impact. We’ll also be looking into some good “food” for the plants, as we want to get good production. Years ago, we used a product which was sprayed on the flowers to help them set. Again, something to incorporate in our newer locale. Location in the garden may need a new look. We planted tomatoes in a different area last year than the year before, and they didn’t do so well. There may be some issues with regard to what crop preceded the tomatoes in that area. We’ll also pay more attention to caging and tying up the vines. I wasn’t well-skilled at that last year, and the area was a mess. A little more control and care is also in order this year. We had many plants last year, and many produced little or no fruit. No unusual exotic varieties this year.
Some of our best production was actually from stray seeds from the previous year’s crop. The pear tomatoes did well, especially in early fall. They started from seed, so didn’t develop until much later, and they were some of the more faithful producers. They didn’t have a long time to produce fruit, but what they produced was great!
This might seem like a simple narrative about the life of our garden, but actually, I would love to share with you another fruit growing in my “garden”. Unlike those being grown and educated in a traditional public institution…school…they are growing in a homey environment. They are being given personalized attention, not mass produced, but considered in light of their unique, God-given gifts, traits, and abilities. Personal attention is devoted to the conditions which may or may not be successful, with opportunity to adjust and administer that which is best suited. There are late bloomers, who may not read as quickly as others, there are those who thrive on math, and those who thrive on learning random facts. There is opportunity to provide shelter when its absence might otherwise damage, there is opportunity to expose to elements of the world with a watchful eye. There are blemishes, by all means, as individual attitudes and irritabilities surface, as challenges likewise surface in an area of study or understanding.
A typical outsider might wonder about how they socialize, are they deprived? But an interesting concept came to light a couple of years ago as we toured the produce department of a local grocery store. Tomatoes cause other fruit to ripen, and even to go bad. Certain things could not be placed near tomatoes. And if you’ve ever had one tomato go bad in a bag or bowl, it takes little time for the decay to spread. So it is with my other crop. Over exposure to bad habits of others will more negatively impact than positively. As a former public school teacher, I’ve seen how quickly a classroom atmosphere can deteriorate because one or two students decide to “socialize” in an unacceptable way. A homegrown and home educated child has the opportunity, on the other hand, to interact in unique settings with people from a variety of age groups and backgrounds. And there is potential for them to display that vibrance and flavor that so often lacks in the child who is shuffled through a system with the goal of meeting some institutional standard. The tomato at the store meets that standard, but lacks the vibrant appeal of the garden grown. Certainly, a child may pass through a system and meet a standard. However, the imprint of the institution may well be evident in many. The institution serves a purpose, but in the name of educating the masses, must sacrifice, oftentimes, individuality.
A.D.W.
|
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 22, 2008 Water's Edge?
At water's edge
To test my faith...
Stand and fight,
Or turn and leap,
Helpless but hopeful,
Into open arms.
Father's grip,
My fears disarmed,
Strengthened in heart
At the water's edge!
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
With endurance,
The race
Set before us,
We run;
Not competing against
But competing as one...
One body, one Spirit
One strength, one Head.
One common goal
Under certain command...
Love one another
As I have loved,
He says...
Love is the need,
And love is the proof;
If you love, you'll obey,
You'll follow My word.
Love born of Me
Is the power to move
And to tell every creature you meet;
Love poured out
Is love poured in,
The strength to run the race
With your brother.
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 22, 2008 What Flower Are You?
| You Are A Lily |
 You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist.
People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you.
You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words.
Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize. |
|
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 21, 2008 Around the Ranch
Trixie and pups...we'll be giving away all but 2 this week!
Chloe, the pig...due anytime!
Check out that nifty nest...the grey crested duck has been keeping the eggs warm. She made the nest, up close you can see better, but it's nicely rounded. Dh thought maybe the kids made it. Nope...it was the duck! |
•
Sage Words (5)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 21, 2008 The Nose Knows?
The nose no's? Love puns, but this one wasn't so punny! A full Saturday ahead starting with team pictures. Try getting 8 kids out of the house with all essentials for an afternoon at the ball park...sufficient water to keep everyone hydrated, sufficient sunscreen to keep the sunburn away, sufficient snacks to keep trips to the snack bar to a minimum...and so on. Scheduling really left something to be desired, too. Pictures at 11:15 for LITTLE guys who had to trek 2 fields back for an 11:30 game, 11:30 pics for minors son, whose game wasn't until 1:00, and THEN, 12:00 pics for machine pitch son's team, scheduled to play at 12:00. And their opponents' pictures? After theirs. Uggh? Uggh!
In the midst of killing time while waiting for photos, 11 yo and a team mate were playing catch. I was sticking close to 5 yo. Next thing you know, 11 yo is bleeding from the nose. Alot! Someone asking for tissue for him, and I'm digging through my purse...found a small packet of kleenex. Pinch the nose, son! Debate ensued over tilting forward or backward. Apparently the ball hit his nose. Coach wasn't too happy, admonishing the kids to put the balls away. Poor kid managed to keep his uniform clean, good thing since this happened before the pics. And with relatives coming to watch him play! He was able to continue on with his day, catching, playing first and third, and pitching part of an inning. He even got a couple of strikeouts. And in his last at bat, a nice hit after a couple of fouls. He was thrown out attempting to steal third. A very active game for a kid who came close to a broken nose!
The little guys' games? The tee ball game was almost done by the time I could get there with 7 yo. And 7 yo had a good game in spite of horrible wind and dust. His team has a really nice approach, rotating all kiddos through the various positions.
As for all those snacks, waters, sunscreen? Some of us didn't get enough sunscreen. And the kiddos still managed to spend more than I wanted them to at the snack bar. But it was lots of fun. We arrived home nice and tired! Back at it tonight, with 2 games! |
•
Sage Words (2)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 20, 2008 More Random Ramblings...
Would love some input and perspective from my fellow homeschoolers...those who are accustomed to the funny questions and have their humorous responses tucked neatly up their sleeves. You know, when those you run into ask the all too common "socialization" questions, the "are you qualified" questions, the looks of serious doubt plastered over their faces..."Those" questions.
Now, let's change the terms, shall we. What if you ran into "home-churchers"? "Eclectic Churchers"? "Relaxed Churchers"? "Un-Churchers"? "Charlotte Mason..." Well, maybe not exactly... Get the idea of where I'm going with this?
Do the reasons we school at home carry into the world of "organized religion"? In like manner, might we find some of the same objections? While passionately standing for the right to instruct our kids according to their needs, gifts, challenges, interests, etc., might we also find ourselves needing to church according to such? Networking with those who have similar interests? "Home Church Groups"? Does meeting together REQUIRE meeting according to institutional guidelines, or is there room, Biblically, to meet together much as we are passionately doing in our homeschool circles, but in a worship based manner? Would the questions be much the same in that context?
Just tossing this out for some consideration, as I recall once upon a time thinking it very odd when I met people who did home church. Now, I'm not so sure it's all that different from the idea of homeschooling...protecting one's own from the quenching of institutional life. Any blogging buddies with experiences or stories? |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
Yesterday, youngest son turned 4! It's been windy, so I've been teasing him, that he must be practicing to blow out candles! We had a ball game, and he had to wait through that before we could go home and have those candles (along with cake and ice cream, of course)! DS (11 yo) played at catcher the whole game, made some really great plays, getting kids out right at the plate, or very close. He's having a blast!
This weekend is gonna be a baseball craze, as well. All 3 boys playing have games, each game preceded by pictures. However, we get a reprieve Friday, as practice was cancelled. That will probably be an afternoon of completing the roto-tilling in the garden area, as the people who lent their tiller will be getting back into town directly. Lots to do. Hopefully, the winds will stay away a bit, now.
Blessings from the Ranch! |
•
Sage Words (1)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 15, 2008 Spring Training
7 yo got his first hit in their game Saturday. He hasn't played baseball before, and he's coming along slowly, but surely, as he gets his timing down bit by bit. He can be aloof when he gets out among the other kids, and likes to goof off some. He's usually swinging his bat too soon or too late. Needless to say, the hit surprised both him and Coach! It wasn't a huge hit, didn't get real far from homeplate, but it was a hit, it was fair, and it was his! It took a moment to realize what had happened, then he ran to first. The grin on his face was priceless, and I didn't have my camera. Darn. He stood facing second base, ready to run, and his face was all smiles!
Tee ball is fun, and there is some maturing now as the kids no longer swarm the ball when it's hit. Batting is more sure, throws more accurate, and 5 yo is having fun!
Minors is really exciting for 11 yo, he's supposed to catch the first 2 innings in this week's game, then he'll get a chance to pitch. He's got a tire nailed up to a board out back so he can practice.
In the meantime, ranchy life is going busily along. We got the rest of the pine trees planted, and are waiting to see if the small ones go back on sale. DH got the garden roto-tilled last night, tough in the wind, but the winds got much worse after he finished. We're looking at stealing some of the goat space for more corn planting. The goats easily have as much space as some homes sit on, so they won't miss a little bit.
We picked up a female potbelly, a new wife for Arnold. Unfortunately for him, she's pregnant, so he won't have her close until after the babies are born. We also picked up a new rooster for our previously leaderless flock. The kids have noticed a broody hen, so we're going to give her a chance to hatch a clutch of eggs, and the ducks, as well, are tending to a nest. The kids are keeping track of expected hatch dates. Nice science study, as we'll see how the different fowl handle nesting, parenting, and such. Also great for comparing the time it takes for each to hatch. Genetics, as there are different breeds in each case. Will the male's characteristics prevail? The male duck is a mallard, whereas there are 4 different breeds of females. Our rooster is Rhode Island Red, while there are also Auracana and Plymouth Rock hens.
The puppies are 4 weeks, very cute. They are quite mobile, and if I get a chance later, I'll try to get a couple of pictures up. Most are named, though we certainly won't be keeping all 8 of them.
That's the way things are shaping up here on the ranch, busy with baseball, braving the dust and the winds, and hoping to get that garden going soon.
Blessings! |
•
Sage Words (2)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 14, 2008 Random Ramblings?
Some ponderings about institution vs. body when it comes to the church...it's not a final cleaned up draft, just something I've been working on.
Church: The institution
An organization managed and directed by man, church is limited by the constraints of government, quantity, capacity, finance, location, denomination, salary, manpower, or many other elements that can tilt the scales of success. Without leader or follower, it falls and fails. Without appeal, it lags. Without zeal, it lags. The succeeding church (institution) appealing to those who participate (leader and follower alike) prospers in worldly measure of attendance and finance. It must present its best, lest it fail.
Church: The body...
A living, breathing organism, not limited by human parameters, but supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit; the church prospers when it should not, where it should not, in ways it should not. Only limited and constrained by the One at the helm, Government, quantities, capacities, finances, location, manpower, divisions, they have no power.
Salary is no issue, the Lord provides as He directs, Denomination is not an issue, the banner is His agape love, and that love is the validation of His leading, His word says this is how they will know we are His disciples.
Manipulation is replaced with direction and leading of the Holy Spirit. Sensible may be set aside for the absurd, and some of the greatest examples given in history and in His word are the most absurd, for belief in a man born of a virgin is one of the most absurd considerations in a world that turns upon a dime for scientific evidences and possibilities. Failure is possible for the member of this body, many examples of such given to encourage us of His commitment when we fall short...and we all fall short. Controlled by man? Not a chance. Growing in the face of opposition, it is a body that cannot die, for it has been promised, straight from the source, that the gates of hell should not prevail. Though the head of the body was struck, and lay in a tomb, He lives, and He is the life of this body. If He lives forevermore, then His body must also live. Does it bleed? Does it struggle? Does it feel pain? Certainly. Does it endure? Most assuredly.
When the two, institution and body, combine, there is conflict. His word addresses many, the Apostle Paul addressing churches gone astray, and Jesus Himself in Revelation rebuking the error that invaded. When the two combine, humanity may attempt to prevail over divine. Will of man and will of God may well collide. Will of God should prevail. At times, it may appear that it does not. But God's hand is present and He will allow the conflict for our growth. Will we choose the institution or the body? The cold or the warm? Which will dominate, and which will we prefer? Will we prefer the security of a well-managed, stable institution which reports good numbers, stable finance, and a multitude of activities to engage the interest of the attendee or member? Or, will we defer to the unexpected, the amazing but frightening life of faith, led in uncertainty of circumstance with complete confidence in the leader. Or even in faltering confidence?
Will we prefer the boat tossed to and fro, or will we step into the water to grasp the hand of the One walking the surface? Will He leave us to drown in dismay, or will He gently extend His hand to draw us out, lovingly asking, "Why did you doubt?" Those on the boat didn't doubt in the same way, but neither did they trust in the same way. The boat would not have rescued in that storm, but Jesus surely did, and as He calmed the storm, those on the boat were conferred with the blessing of the rescue as well. Their faith, too, may have been increased, though perhaps not to the degree of their headstrong companion.
The body shall prevail. The institution? It need not. The two combined? Conflict will exist. Without the institution? Conflict still will exist, in this world you will experience troubles. The institution defined by one culture may not well suit another. When issues of finance and position are at the forefront, it is the institution, not the body. Jesus allowed the money box to be in the hands of his betrayer. Jesus girded himself, and in lowly manner washed the feet of the same. He even shared in a precious moment of fellowship, the sharing of the bread and the wine symbolic of His death, with His betrayer. He did not preclude the one who did not deserve, and truth be told, none present deserved. Their offenses not as severe, they were still offenses. The institution might punish such. The body? Knowing, still serves, loves, and forgives, for such is the example of the Head. Perhaps there are times when the body must remove itself from the institution in order to remove itself from the control of man. China's underground church, and other nations come to mind, where worshippers cannot freely worship and follow without risk of compromise. When the church sells its voice or when its voice is quieted or silenced in the name of peace, finance, or other, it is the institution that is silenced or quieted. Those who worship in spirit and in truth will continue to speak and serve, whether obviously or underground, and finance will not silence or end. We cannot cease to proclaim that which He has mandated, to every creature, to the ends of the earth if He so sends. We will be His witnesses, a promise that does not always involve our willful witness. At times, that witness is evident as He uses the lives of fallible folks to demonstrate love and faithfulness unmatched. There will be that day when the members of the body say, "When did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger naked, in prison?" There will be that day when the church, the living breathing body, will be ushered into His presence. 'Til then, may life govern, not legalism, may warmth prevail over complacency, may the fire be lit, the lukewarm brought to a boil, the instution bow to the Head, the institutionalized freed as they are led all the more by His Spirit, no longer held hostage by tradition Jesus never taught, but rather rebuked.
|
•
Sage Words (0)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 11, 2008 As Water Before Thee
I pour out my heart
As water before Thee;
I lay out concerns,
My worries and griefs.
In the day of confusion,
I seek Your peace;
In the moment of trouble,
I carry my need
To Your throne.
Ascending prayers
Of precious saints,
From golden bowls,
Before Thee arise;
Mingled prayers
Of the mighty and meek,
Rising with an aroma that's sweet...
We pour out our hearts
Before Thee.
I pour out my heart
As water before Thee;
I lift up the praise of my heart.
My joy and belief
In day of provision,
Upholding my faith,
Sustaining my vision;
In the moment of praise,
I bring adoration...
I lift up my praise
And my gaze
To Your throne.
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
Can you say, "Chaos"?! Most people had to arrive and get their uniforms, no particular designated meeting place just look for your coach and hope to find them before everything gets going. Try finding 3 scattered coaches/teams while 8 darling children drag behind you through the mass of people, some with attitudes! Finally, kids were dressed and ready, on the field with their teams, and things proceeded. The speaker system wasn't adequate, so we didn't hear much of the event. And it was panick for a few moments afterward when 5 yo couldn't be located.
Sister found him with coach, and everyone gathered for 11 yo's game. He did nicely at catching, but had to be moved after 3 innings or so, as he tired out. Up and down from a squatting position will give that boy some strong legs by the end of the season. They made a really nice play at home plate. Runner came on a wild pitch, and they got him out! Yeah! He got on base 1 of the 2 times at bat with a walk, struck out the other. Everyone but dad had to leave at the start of the 4th, as it was time for tee ball.
Tee ball was lots of fun to watch. We only had 6 players, due to the organizational difficulties I've mentioned. The night before, I verified with coach, no game tomorrow. We get to opening ceremonies, and not until after the event is he informed and making phone calls...twelve o'clock noon gametime? Yikes. The kids still had a blast.
Minor Machine pitch in the same area at 1 for one of the boys. Much more organized, with a set rotation for batting and position. Each inning, the players do a different position, and they always bat in the same order, starting batter rotates by game. Everyone gets a chance to try everything, very fair, very fun. 7 yo got to catch! He and 11 yo ended up both getting the same Jersey number, so it was very fun for them to both catch on opening day! Talk about being worn out!
Like I mentioned before, it's a very full schedule for the next couple of months. However, as during soccer season, I believe that this is where you would find Jesus spending more of His time as opposed to attending all kinds of Bible studies and churchy events. We've met some fellow Christians through different teams, and it's in these places we also get the opportunity to interact more with people who are not Christians. It's in these environments that God opens doors for us that we may not recognize immediately, but will find all too "coincidental" later. He's always faithful!
WATCH that ball, Son!
|
•
Sage Words (0)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
11 yo has a nickname...and he nearly lived up to it last night. Ben is sometimes called "Bean", not sure if dh means it as in "stringbean" or just a play on his name, but it almost took on a new meaning during an evening scrimmage as he tried his hand at pitching. He's been playing catcher a lot at practices, but very antsy to pitch, he raises his hand and volunteers everytime. He got to pitch part of an inning last night, but he sure was nervous. His first few pitches were way outside. He got closer to the strike zone as he went on, but walked a couple of runners, and hit one. I didn't keep track of it all, but the worst part was a high ball that would have hit the batter in the head if his bat hadn't gotten in the way. I actually thought it did hit the batting helmet, but as dh pointed out, the "tink" sound meant it was the bat. The helmet would have made a sound like "thunk", I guess! At any rate, he didn't finish the inning. He was moved to 2nd base while another teammate came in to finish. He had his own challenges, but it was fun to watch ds sweat a little. You could see some relief when he left the mound, and there were some obvious expressions of distress prior to that.
DH has been reminding him that he needs to practice if he wants to pitch. Now ds has a realization that it's no piece of cake, and that he's gonna have to work a little.
The rest of the scrimmage was fun, regardless of pitching moments, a taste of busy days to come. The 2 + hours of gamewatching left me with a restless lot of little ones by the end of it. Multiply that by 3, as 3 boys are playing this season, and we'll be juggling some challenges in keeping the troops content while we bounce back and forth between fields. Worse, our league is definitely on the disorganized side this year. Opening day is Saturday, and as of yet, no schedules nor uniforms. Coaches and parents alike are a little upset.
It'll be a crazy end of the week when, at a moment's notice, we may need to transport kids to unscheduled practices to pick up necessary information and equipment. I'll be moving into my "Mommy's Diner on the Road" mode, as we do burritos and sandwiches "to go" in liu of going bankrupt at the snack stands. Just a little more of the charm of organized sports! If I don't surface, send out a search party end of May! (Just kidding...I'm looking forward to being out and about, but I won't abandon my blog buddies). |
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 2, 2008 Lifeless Listless Army
A lifeless, listless army,
Or a vibrant, vital part
Of kingdom plan,
At King's command
Moving in strength of heart.
A hopeless, helpless people,
Or strengthened Spirit-moved mass...
In heavenly power,
At heavenly hour,
Taking back the heart of the land!
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (0)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
April 1, 2008 Happy "Don't Be a Fool" Day! March 27, 2008 Design and Depth
A Birthday ditty for my Dad!
Design and depth
As the palette is set;
Canvas and artist converge.
The breadth of the dream
And the span of the day,
Brushes and colors
Gleefully play!
Point and perspective...
Dreamy or sharp?
Only the artist's eye knows
If canvas and color
Aptly portray
The sum of emotion,
The scene as it lays
In his sight,
In his heart,
In his mind;
Is it art?
Is it more?
Canvas and color
Portraying the core
Of the one who captures the scene,
Of the one captured by the scene!
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
March 24, 2008 Spring Break?
When you homeschool, learning is a 24/7 experience. Our lessons this week? Things like herd/flock management, transplanting of trees, labor and economics, etc. Biology, Zoology...amazing that you can experience these subjects, rather than just skim through a textbook writer's summary in order to pass a test and never again care about some of the matter. Amazing! Life on our small ranch is an investment in real life experience that weighs far greater in the balances than that contained within the walls and confines of the institution known as public school. And we realize how truly blessed we are at this point in time to have the opportunity through the Lord's provision to be engaging in the experiences and activities of late. While not all homeschoolers want or have the opportunity to do some of these things, God can and does bless and gift each family uniquely! Some of the blogs I visit testify to the fantastic scenery and sights visited, experiences gained, and it's so much fun to travel those routes through your writings and photos...I hope those who visit here get a chuckle or two out of our experiences as well!
I thought I'd give a virtual field trip around the "ranch", giving an up to date view of the animals (more than 50 now, including goldfish...unless Crush gets a hankering for goldfish today!). Likewise, the current # of trees on the property exceeds 50. DH has been telling me we had room for well over a hundred, and I didn't stop to realize that he's right, until we took a gander!
The goat herd:
We gained a couple more last week, a doe and a wether. They're small, not sure if they're pygmy, or mixed, or what, but definitely a small variety. Dottie is the brown and white, and Matches is the black and white. This brings our grand total to 6. Oreo is our first, a doe, nubian mix. Starbuck, the biggest, seems to be the leader. He's a nubian and a wether. The mostly black pair are Hershey ( a wether) and Tootsie Roll (a doe). Not completely sure of their breed either.
The Gang!
Starbuck
Matches and Dottie
Arnold
...We haven't found a new mate for him yet since the demise of "Bac'n Bits" last fall. One feed store sells potbelly pigs for nearly 150$...not gonna do that! The main feed store we use sometimes has them, we'll see!
7 ducks, plenty of eggs! Yum!
3 Turkey Chicks, approximately 1 month old.
3 more turkey chicks, a few days old.
No chicken pics for now!
Molly Puppy Rose Bud...great personality!
The babies...
And the parents!
And just for Kristy, a shot of Crush, along with *some* of his companions!
And another view!
Out front, we have 12 little pine trees to plant, holes being dug for those and another 12, which we hope to purchase and plant later in the week, as Star Nursery has a pretty good deal on them. Of course, this means lots of work for the family, and Daddy is paying a per hole fee, so there's lots of motivation! That's our family economic stimulus package! 
Additional work cropped up, thanks to a freecycle offer! Someone offered their fruit trees, if we'd dig them up. We ended up with 11 fruit trees to transplant out front. A pluot, a pear, an apricot, a peach, a fuji apple, and several nectarine trees. Monday, needless to say, was a HUGE work day...11 extra holes had to be dug during the day, we went and got the trees that afternoon (this went pretty quickly), and dh came home and planted, with the girls' help, while the boys and I went on to baseball practice. Poor 11 yo was worn out by the end of it all, as he's playing catcher, and got little break during practice.
So far so good!
A couple of the fruit trees went in amidst a pine tree area!
And of course, the Salt Cedar, Mesquite, whatever exactly it is, is starting to get nice and green, which means that those gorgeous purple blooms are just around the corner! We definitely have our own view of the 4 seasons here, and though the color changes aren't as spectacular as some places, it is lovely and interesting! That's life as we work around the ranch, enjoy the weather, and gear up for a busy springtime!
Blessings!
|
•
Sage Words (3)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
March 24, 2008 The Boys of Summer
Boys of summer...
Bats in hand;
Dusty shoes,
And dusty pants.
Warming days
Of learning plays;
Practiced stance,
Ball smacking the mitt.
Smalltown dreams
Of bigtime fame,
For now, relegated
To children's league.
The boys of summer
Dream their dreams
In the training days
Of early spring;
Tomorrow men,
Today content
To live in the moment
And swing the bat.
The joy of the boys of summer...
Joy in the boys of summer!
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (2)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
March 24, 2008 The Sorrowing Sparrow
The sorrowing sparrow matters not
To busy passersby;
The sorrowing sparrow
Falls to the ground,
And not a one takes note.
But the child on his way,
Busy about his simple play...
The child stops to see,
Lathering concern for this frailty.
The worthless bird noted;
In childish play,
Compassion and gentleness shown.
Oh, for the dawn of a different day
When grown would see as the young;
When the worthless sparrow would become
Of value to the busy passersby!
A.D.W. |
•
Sage Words (2)
• Chime In!
• Permanent Link
|
|
