Dec. 19, 2009 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Title says it all.
Dec. 5, 2009 - I'm so tired of what Christmas has become
I'm finding each year more and more difficult to put up with what we call the Christmas season. Seriously, what does spending way more money than you have, stressing ourselves out over cookies, shopping, events and a huge to do list, all for one day? What does ANY of it have to do with the precious gift of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Do you not think he's in heaven sitting at the right hand of God shaking His head? He came to us in the most humble of states, put Himself in the hands of humans not to mention in the form of a helpless baby. He came as a poor man's son. Our Almighty God in Heaven did this for us. So we celebrate in this manner? Seems so inappropriate. I don't dislike decorations, singing, and small tokens of a gift. I'm referring to what the world thinks we should be doing to have the ever alluded Christmas spririt. I'd really like to have a survey done on people after Chrsitmas and find out if they felt they had accomplished the true meaning of Christmas. I doubt very many could answer that in a positive way. I listen to Christan radio and become appalled at what I hear even there. 
I feel very sad to the point I wish to just sleep the season away. Our tree is not yet decorated, it only has lights right now and I find I like it that way very much. I'm sure it will get its adornment this weekend. I have boxes of decorations just sitting in the basement and I don't care if I ever get them out. I will do a Christmas letter but it probably won't go out until after the first of the year. I will bake a few different kinds of cookies to have around for guests and to share with the neighbors. I will play Christmas music on our Cd player and I will sing loudly with it. I have purchased gifts from internet shopping, but I did not go overboard and the bonus is I didn't have to leave the house! This is my favorite part of all! 
There's some other things I haven't mentioned, but it's small scale stuff. Because I have not congested up our lives with things to see and do all of December, we can spend more time just meditating on what Jesus did for us. I can try to feel the awe of Mary as she held God in her arms that first time. Can you imagine? What would it be like to raise up a child that didn't sin? Can you imagine? How would you feel watching your son, your God , being nailed to a cross to die? Can you imagine? I can't but I sure like to try. By keeping our lives simpler and quiet, we can try to give what God wants and that is all of us. What we have turned His gift into, a horse and pony show, a circus, an excuse to be excessive. I pray that as each year goes by that we stand back and take a true look at what it's become and do our part to bring it back to a more humble existence. A God centered existence just like EVERY DAY should be. Ok, enough ranting.
The boys and I have finally moved into the science portion of Volume 3 chapter 1 using the supplement. I'm ready to take a stab at using this book. I will still grapple I'm sure and I was hoping to finish it up by the 23rd of December (gasp! remember, I don't need to get ready for Christmas) But I don't think this will happen so we'll be starting the new calendar year (another ridiculous holiday) trying to finish this off. I will enjoy learning about the weater patterns, wind, oceans, and navigation. We haven't spent much time on any of this yet so I'm looking forward to this. I was laid up with my back for a couple of weeks so I got the chance to pray over the supplement and God showed me what books we already had on hand to use and the Milliken worksheets to help with retention. I also have enlisted some help with our writing curriculum so I'm praying over that one, too. I hope and pray that a tutor besides myself will lessen the stress over this topic.
News on the farm:
We are heading into our cold season so the guys are out today winterizing the animals. Hopefully we have a better handle on it this year over last year. We are also the proud owners of two Belted Galloway girls. I'm so excited to be adding these to our herd of cattle. They will be a striking addition. Our grassfed beef is well on its way and we might have some for sale this summer. Depends on how calving goes. There's going to be so many new babies next summer I can hardly wait. Calves, kids, turkeys?, kittens. Peaches the goat is doing a pretty good job keeping us in milk. I have to buy extra if we have company, but for everyday we have what we need. God is good and provides for our needs.
I think my garden is done now. It's very cold and we've had some deep freezing. I did have some spinach and lettuce but the chickens and ducks have been munching on it. The boys pulled up one of the turnip crops and we have them stored for the animals and some for us. There is still some small cabbages I may try to resuce although I have tons left still in the fridge. You can eat only so much cabbage. We love it, but really! For next season, I'm going to start converting my garden into a lasagne garden. I want to get away from the tilling and then all the weeds after that. I think this other method will help with that. Since the garden is so big, it may take me awhile to switch it over. Plus it all depends on my physical condition next summer. The conventional way would require more bending over for weeding and the new way would require me to move mulch stuff around. We'll see how it goes. For right now, I have to be satisfied with looking at the new seed catalogs that have started trickling in. 
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Remember God's gift to the Whole World.
Oct. 29, 2009 - Changing Seasons, Changing Life, Praising God in all of it
The beginning of this month was pretty slow to start. We began our Weaver again and Satan quickly got involved in our lessons. I had to pray, pray, pray for him to leave us alone. Pray is a wonderful, underused tool we have to stay connected with our Lord and Saviour. I find that starting my day in pray helps and does praying with the boys each morning. I really believe this is key to a great day.
Our first unit involves learning about the many different early explorers of the western world. One of the difficulties lay in beginning the supplement for my older son. I still haven't used it. What we ended up doing instead of heavy duty research on all these people, is I bought from Little Homeschool in the Woods their New World Explorers CD unit study. This gave us lots of projects and lapbooking and notebooking things to do to spice this unit up. I do not hesitate to bring in other curriculum if I feel led to do so to enhance what we are doing in Weaver. I feel Weaver can get to heavy in writing, when something like this can be way more fun if you get into it more, especially if you have boys. This is a boy unit, in my opinion, and I felt we needed to DO this unit, not research and write about it. Learning about why and how and when these guys were out there is very interesting stuff. But it's also information that is not overly necessary either. Some of the projects have been making a quadrant, dehydrating meat, creating an Explorers Newspaper, making a captain's log which is to be journaled in and lots more to come.
The Bible to go along with this is Joshua, chapter one. He is entering into a new land with the tribe of Isreal. Going in to conquer the land and the people there according to God's will. So with that we've been discussing the call of God in our lives and that we are to go when called. Being a child is training for adulthood and the calling of God. Obeying your parents gives you an advantage of obeying God when you are grown. Also to supplement this we are using Precept Homeschool curriculum on Joshua. I'm also training the boys to study the Bible inductively.
Farm News:
Ben bought a tom turkey to go with the hen we hatched out in the spring. He seems very happy, but I dont' think she's too impressed yet. He basically saved her life.
We've aquired a new goat named Lita which is short for Rosalita. She came from the same place as Peaches. So far she's getting pushed around a lot and I feel I need to keep my eye on her closely to make sure she is getting food to eat in the barn since the other older ones try to keep her away. She has a wonderful personality and I love her. Can't wait for breeding season in January. Peaches is still milking away and we have fresh milk everyday. What a gift. On the down side, our chickens are not laying right now. Not happy about that at all. We've also bred our Jersery girl adn hopefully our beef cow Stella. I guess we'll see over the next few months if we were successful or not. Blossom was A.I'd and Stella was bred the old fashioned way. We also had to deal with conjunctivitis on her which was a pain. Trying to stay organic can be difficult when you have sick animals. We used anitbiotic eye stuff instead of going with an injection.
The garden is mostly done right now. I just finished digging up carrots and onions and cut off the tops of the sunflowers. I left the small carrots and onions in the garden to see how they fair over the winter. It sure is wet around here and I feel they may rot before we get a good frost. I lost lots of onions due to all the rain we've had and there's more on the way. I can't even get the garden turned over because it's so wet. I'll have to look at the mess until spring I'm afraid. I hope to be able to at least get most of it cleaned up and burned.
Today the boys have been raking our leaves before this next rain moves in. The goats love the dried leaves in the winter. We bag them up and store them in the barn. It gives them variety during the winter with their hay. I would put them in the garden during the day to help clean up some of the stuff, but it's too muddy for that.
We have a busy November coming up and I'm very excited about it all. My dear friends from Mississippi are coming for a visit in a couple of weeks and on that Saturday they are here, we're having a party with some friends from our church here at the house. My daughter will be here today until Saturday and hopefully again for a longer stay over Thanksgiving. Our neighbors from our old house will be coming for Thanksgiving also so we'll have a houseful. I think that's all the company for November.
I'm always a bit sad that summer is over and the garden is being put to rest for the long winter season, but this is actually a good thing for me right now since my hips have not been cooperating with what my ambitions have been and want to be. I've been down more than up and having to rely on the boys to help with most of the outside work this past summer and fall. I pray that over the winter I can get a handle on my situation and hopefully start the new season good as new. Keep me in your prays regarding this.
Oct. 21, 2009 - ECO-MASK
This is a pic of my eco-friendly mask:
And this is me wearing my eco-friendly mask:
The flash was REALLY bright, and it hurt my eyes. They are wide open in this picture.
Oct. 20, 2009 - HALLOWEEN
Well, I'm running out of ideas for costumes. I decided to shove a bag on my head and call it a costume. Environmentalists, don't be wary, It's a PAPER bag. I got it at ALDI. I also decided to make my own shirt design. It will just say: "Trick or Treat." I'll be very generic this year, but, ALDI is generic, and they have biodegradable bags!!!! I'm not an Environmentalist. Anyway, regardless of bio-friendly costumes, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
-Levi
Oct. 17, 2009 - I got tagged
1. Do you have hair? and if you do what color is it? yes and its dirty blond
2.What is ur fave movie? Lara Croft
3. Are u strangely tall for ur age, or short? I think I'm the right height...
4. How tall are u? 5'4" or something like that
5. When is your birthday? July 1
6. Do you like surfing the internet? not really
7. DO u ever drive w/out ur drivers license? nope I dont drive yet
8. Do you have a drivers license? no
9. Do u have dark or light skin? Light
10. Do u watch Nickelodeon? yupp
11.If you watch Nickelodeon, what is ur fave show? SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
12. Do u watch Animal Planet? No
13. Do u have a TV in ur room? No
14. Are u a music lover? YAH!!!!!
15. Do u like animals? Yes
16. Do u like scary movies after midnight? I dont watch horror movies
17. When Is Your Bedtime? anywhere from 10:00 to 12:00 or beyond
18. Favorite actor? Will Smith
19. Do u watch American Idol? well If I turn on the tv and its on then yah I do
20. Are you older than 18? No
21.Are you younger than 18? yes
22. Do u listen to rock muzic? Yup
23. Do u listen to operas? The phantom of the opera but thats the only one I've seen and I love it :)
24. Do u listen to rap? sometimes
25. Do u listen to contemperary? yes
26. Do u listen to country? yes
27. Are you a Christian? YAH!!!!!!!!!!!
28. Are you a, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or not anything? Calvinist
29. Do u like concerts? I liked the one I went to...
30. Do u know what a bridge is in a song? yup
31. Did u know, that in a basic song, there is about 32 measures in a chorus? haha yes I do I know almost everything about music.
32. Do u like our prez? No
33. Do u like math? It is my better subject
34. Do u like history? yes actually i think its interesting... the medivil and titanic parts anyway
35. Do u like Language(or English as sum prefer)?? It's ok
36. Do u have sibs?(siblings) 2 sisters and 2 brothers with another one on the way and a half brother
37. Do u have a 3 octave range? 3 1/2
38. Do u sing? OH YAH
39. Do u dance? sure
40. Do u like this tag? hehe yah it gave me something to do ^^
Oct. 17, 2009 - Hi
SO first of maybe I should answers what everybody wants to know and yes its true I was dead 
thats why I havent been blogging forever 
haha so now that I've answered that I have some things to say
1. My Aunt is having a baby any day now.
2. My mom is pregnant
3. My uncle is visiting until tomorrow afternoon
4. I'm having a sleepover next friday with one of my best friends! (I'm really looking forward to that)
5. Im going to Washington D.C over halloween ( and my older sisters birthday) for two weeks
6. I got my first Concerto for my violin by "Friedrich Seitz"
7. All my friends that live around me are gone this weekend
and a bunch of other stuff except that all the other stuff is kinda unimportant... or I just cant remember it... :) which happens alot :/
did you know that until last year I thought that Bach was still alive... my violin teacher had to explain to me that he was dead like 200 years ago hehe ^^
*!*lydia*!*
Sep. 9, 2009 - Hey
Hey Everybody!!! (!!!!!!!!) Sorry I havent written for a long time... and no Im NOT dead haha. I've just been really bussy yah... my life is kinda confusing right now! Its ok though because I know God will help me through it! Its such a blessing to know Christ! To know that whatever he brings you to he will bring you out of 
Oh and, if you People didn't know I'm 13 now!!!!!!!!! YAY! My moms at church preparing everything for Sunday :) so Im watching my mischieviouse little brother Brogan.
well I better go check on what he's doing
Bye,
*!*lydia*!*
Sep. 1, 2009 - Another Year Is Going By
I can't believe summer is almost over, by the calendar that is. I know lots of you go by when we start lessons, when September starts or if the weather takes a turn for the cooler. I like to drag it out as long as possible, so I go by the calendar or how about when we close the pool down for the season, even if we haven't been in it for weeks because the water is too cold!
We did start our lessons today. So September 1st was the official day of our new year. To flip over the new lesson planner, to change over my binder to new things, to get out the books I've been waiting to dig into........to let another year slip by and my boys are going to be another year older. I find it very sad. I've only got a few more years before they are out the door more than I see them come in. I pray I see them come in lots, maybe even stay awhile and some day, come in trailing lots of grandchildren! I pray we can raise them in the way THEY should go, not my own ideas. I pray that they have a solid love for the Lord on their terms and not my own. I pray they grow into men who fear and love the Lord and can lead their own family someday. I can tell I will be on my knees for a long time, time that will tick away quickly.
I don't know why I'm feeling this way right now. Maybe it's because I can ask for their assistance and I get the help I need and actually get a good job. I get help in the garden with the weeding, and picking of produce. They take care of all the animals, with some gentle reminders of special orders. Also they are in charge of all the lawncare. These young men are not too shabby at house keeping either. The reason all this can happen is because they are growing older and stronger. Yes, they are becoming young men. I'm thankful for the times that they still like to snuggle with me or show affection. I think we have a pretty special relationship together. Reflecting on this reminds me that my daughter is grown now. She was in their shoes what seems like yesterday. She'll be 21 in a couple of weeks. How I miss her younger days. My special girl. Gone in a blink of an eye. So to all who wonder if these young years will ever pass the answer is YES unfortunately and quickly, too. Relish every moment, even the bad ones because you will find them funny later.
Aug. 8, 2009 - Being Single is Overrated
Ok, I changed a setting on my computer and lost what I was originally writing and I feel like saying Phooey! to it all, but I will press on.
It's amazing how much time I can manage to waste when left to my own devices. I've had the opportunity to get all sorts of things done over the past few days and I really haven't done any of them except laundry and a bit of canning. I did get in an incredible nap yesterday until my son's rooster woke me up. I think I'd like to have him for dinner. 
I was wanting to get all this gardeing done but the weather decided to get hot, muggy and windy. Yesterday it rained, so I've had two indoor days that I was not counting on. All I can say is that I've had lots of time to talk with the Lord.
Since it is so hot today and again tomorrow, I thought I'd kick on the A/C since it was 85 degrees in the house. I usually dont' mind the heat in the house, but I knew that this evening it would not be good sleeping in the humidity and such so I turned it on......nothing, nada. Hmmmm.....check the automatic thermostat to see about any weird programming issues. Check. Go to basement to see the circuit breakers are in the correct position. Check. Nothing. Ok, flip the breakers to see if that helps. Nothing. Hmmm. now what? Back up stairs to check thermostat again. Seems fine. Back downstairs, look at breakers to see if I missed something. Check. Go over to furnance to see if I can fix something (if you hear a gasp, it's my hubby as he reads this!) I discover a switch in the off position. Flip switch to on position and WA-LAH!! The beautiful sounds of the machinery kicking on. Sorry guys, I know you are camping in this weather, but the house will be cool when you get home. 
I've been collecting our books for lessons for the upcoming year. We will be starting Weaver Volume 3 with the supplement added alongside. Aaron will be primarily using it with Ben on occassion. The supplement is intense, so we'll see how it goes. I really like what I'm seeing though. It's very thorough and meaty if you do all the activities. I don't think even a robot could do all the stuff that is listed. Wish I had unlimited time to do it all. It's great!
To compliment it, Aaron will be starting Apologia General Science. I found a lapbook/notebook to go along with it. I downloaded a free sample of the first module and it looks really nice. I think it may make this a bit more fun for him, but I will have him take a look to see if he wants to use it or not. I think it would be an excellent addition for him and ease him into using this textbook style of learning. Ben will be doing the science in the volume.
Both guys will continue on with Math U See Epsilon that they started at the beginning of summer. They are both doing so well with this program. Also, I will be testing both guys to see where Ben needs to be in spelling and if Aaron still needs to do it at all. He was almost finished with the program when we set it down for summer. I'm hopeful he won't really need to do any of it.
As an addition to our Bible lesson in Weaver, I purchased the Precept homeschool curriculum on Joshua. I'm eager to teach the guys how to study the Bible inductively and I love the Precept materials. We will be starting Joshua in Weaver and this will be a great supplement, not that Weaver needs any supplementing. It's great all by itself. I just want to teach them the inductive study methods. This is so important. Plus, they are going to love Joshua, it's such a guy book.
The garden is plugging away. I will be taking pictures soon. The boys have been helping some with the weeding and such. There's always a lot to do. Having trouble with squash type plants this year. Also, the tomatoes are taking FOREVER!!!! What is with that? I've heard the same complaint from everyone else. So strange. I have 25 tomato plants and have had only two tomatoes so far and you always get a couple of really early ones to tease you, then nothing for weeks on end. On the upnote, the sweet corn is coming in and it's wonderful. I think we'll be picking it this week and putting it up. It also looks like I'm going to have a lot of acorn squash, tons of potatoes, onions, for a little bit longer I'll have zucchini (one of the affected plants) and I'm hoping for lots of pie pumpkins, but I'm thinking I won't get very many (another of the plants affected), I also have Blue Hubbard squash and it can't make up it's mind whether to live or die. At least I will get one big squash and hopefully another before it makes up it's mind for the latter. My buttercup squash is doing ok, just not as prolific. I think that's because I'm trying a bush plant and not vining. We'll see how it does. Digging potatoes is a bit of work. I'm slowing digging my first patch I planted in early spring. I have two other patches still going. I planted a 50 sack of seed potatoes for kicks, well we'll see if I kick the bucket digging all those out!! I'm getting lots of beautiful potatoes though. Watermelons are coming along nicely. This happened last year when it took the plants forever to get going and when they did they took off! WE had lots of watermelons. I think the same thing is going to happen again. Only this time I have 3 varieties taking off on me instead of one. I had a nice crop of kohlrabi. This stuff is great fried up with potatoes and zucchini with butter and herbs. YUM. I also like to eat it just raw.
The goat milking is going great. I"m getting about a quart or more a day. I milk only in the morning since I separate the kids from them in the evening so I get the morning milk. Then they are all together for the whole day. We are picking up another doe at the end of the month. I'm excited about that. She's a cutie.
A few more weeks until animal swap comes again. I"m looking forward to getting rid of most of these ducks. We have too many. Aaron will be selling off one of his goats too. Hopefully the momma of the kid he had this spring. She has horns and a bad disposition. He's not too eager to sell her, but he can keep the kid which is a doe and dehorned and sweet as can be, breed her and have those kids to sell.
Aaron has been working at a dairy farm for a day about every other week. He loves it! Both boys have also done some bean walking in an organic field making $9 an hour. Pretty good cash for kids. I think they may walk beans again this week, we'll see. They've been staying pretty busy with helping in the garden, chores and all the animals to take care of. Plus we did do lessons over the summer. We'll be taking a break either starting this week or the next, depends on whether they are working or not.
Life on the farm is not dull.
Blessings,
Ann
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