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Some weeks we have more food scraps than our worm composting bin can handle and our garden has no more room to compost in it so....I had a friend that built this compost from pallets.

My father-in-law helped me today get some from a nursery and now we are going to try and build this.  It looks easy enough.

This is a great website for all kinds of things.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet_Compost_Bin/

I will post pictures as soon as it is done!

I am so excited that we all have had our applications to DAR and CAR approved and we have a national number!!!!  Thanks to my husband's Aunt...we were able to trace several lineages back to the Revolutionary War.  Both these groups are excellent and we are so excited to be a part of them. 

http://www.nscar.org/

http://www.dar.org

 Check this neat site out:  It is an ABC book of the Revolutionary War

http://diana.thehunterfamily.com/abc_book

Here are some good unit study websites for the American Revolutionary War

http://www.eclectichomeschool.org/articles/article.asp?articleid=106

http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1076.html

We are looking forward to using this curriculum this summer as we continue our study of nature, botany and gardening.  Each child will have their own 2X4 foot garden to plant and tend.  We will still have the other raised beds for the family garden and we are going to incorporate these ideas presented in this book as well as ... The All New Square Foot Gardening Book by Mel Bartholomew.

 In the front of this book is a note to Home School Parents written by the author:

It states " Square Foot Gardening is a uniquely simplified system of gardening that eliminates 80% of the space, cost, and hard work of conventional row gardening, yet produces 100% of the harvest, joy, and beauty of a garden.  It is user friendly, economical, adaptable, teaches the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle - and besides that, it's alot of fun....."  ...... "  There is extensive associated subject matter included, such as math, history, geography, art, science,etc..." Mel Bartholomew

We are looking forward to fun all year round with our gardening.

www.squarefootgardening.com

In addition to our indoor worm composting system, we are planning to build this outdoor compost from pallets this summer.  Here are easy instructions:

 http://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet_Compost_Bin/

 We also use this book on an ongoing basis:

Orginally posted August 29, 2009.

I saw this on Amy Blayliss' blog www.inpursuitofproverbs31.com She helped me design my blog and did a wonderful job!  I have been wanting to come up with my list for a couple of months now! 

The following are the guidelines which I got from her site.  Please visit her at her blog.  She has a lot of interesting info and insight.

Creating your own 1001 Day Project
I started this list on August 24, 2008.  Here is what I have done so far....
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

MY LIST:

Organize and use a Home Management Notebook.

Make and use weekly menu plans.

Ask husband "What can I do to help you today?"....everyday.(getting better....work in progress W.I.P)

Help husband get his blog designed and going for his new business.

Plan date nights with husband which includes obtaining babysitters etc..(have planned and implemented several...W.I.P)

Get personal trainer certification.(enrolled in classes both at community college and online test preps)

Save money needed for daughter's dental procedure due in January 2009 - $1800.

Look into dental insurance - calculate the costs.

Learn to use folders on the computer.

Organize and back up pictures on computer(had someone do it for me on old computer now need to back up new computer and can check this off my list)

Get a "My husband rocks...t-shirt"  www.frommetees.com (wear it all the time!!!)

Put girls recitals on YouTube so family can join in the fun.

Put shelf liners in the pantry.

Catalog all books and curriculum using Google spreadsheet .

Plant garden.

Plant an herb garden.

Plant a gardenia on east side of house.

Paint Living Room.

Wallpaper guest bathroom.(or paint)

Paint girls rooms.

Get a new bedspread for master bedroom.

Frame and hang all pictures starting with master bedroom.(framed not hung yet!

Paint master bathroom.

Organize shelf in master bathroom.

Buy a new mattress and bed frame for master bedroom.(bought bed frame not mattress yet)

Take ACLS class.

Renew BLS.

Finish ECCO online class.

Take Starting Points Class at new church.

Get important papers off office bullentein boards and into files.

Schedule for Christmas card picture in October.

Get all Christmas cards mailed BEFORE Christmas.

Make a Holiday planning notebook.

Have an Elsie Dinsmore Christmas tea.

Make learning posters for pre-k.

Take all unused clothes to Salvation Army or Goodwill frequently.

Give baby items to neighbor who needs them.

Write Thank You notes.

Take girls each month out on their "birthday" date .

Have weekly schedule posted on large white board.

Re-organize and use devotional basket.

Complete at least 5 hours exercise each week.

Lose 10 pounds.

Log exercise and turn it into ECHO program at hospital for credit.

Organize bookshelves with books into categories .

Take pictures of girls projects.

Go on at least one nature walk per week with girls.

Keep prayer obligations.

Make a prayer guide using Lisa Wechel's Guide to Prayer for Busy Woman and have in Home Management.

Make a list of family reading books for this year.

Make a list of family devotional reading for this year.

Make and enforce a reading pathway list with prize at end.

Run Lemonade Stand at least 2 more times for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Place bins in van for each girls "things" and one for mom too!

Keep a record of all books listened to on tape/dvd.

Utlize the 6 basket system in laundry room (buy 2 more baskets).

Clean those two boxes out over washing machine.

Keep a list of what is in the freezer.

Get BobJones TV/VCR moved upstairs and have dvd's and papers easily accessible to girls.

Fertilze trees and plants.  Research proper care of citrus trees.

Reseed lawn for winter grass.

Take girls to an opera.

Take girls to symphony. (Handel's Messiah)

Take girls to a ballet.

Have piano tuned.

Do something with courtyard in front of house (pavers?) (patio furniture)?.

Clean off back porch - move rocking chairs downstairs and get some patio furniture so we can do some school outside.  

Hang a porch swing.

Create a t-shirt for our homeschool, purchase and wear.

Get a fish aquarium.

Tile kitchen and and living room and hall.(scored concrete flooring)

Celebrate grandparents day (September 7th).

Have a cultural dinner one night per month and invite quests.

Get all books on a bookshelf and off the floor.

Organize school room desk and files.

Learn to use IPOD more.

Have all old photos put on disc slide show.

Join DAR.

Join girls in CAR (Children of the American Revolution)

Finish baby books.

Take a meal to a family in need at least once per month.

Read the entire Bible using The New Inductive Study Bible.

Go on camping trip.

Clean and organize dresser in master bedroom.

Find a Naturpath MD that I trust.

Change primary care Doctor.

Obtain medical records and keep in a file.

 Purchase Rosetta Stone French Homeschool Program.

Clean off top shelf of master closet.

Clean out and organize storage closet under stairs.

Have school pictures done through EVCHE.

 Implement the reward system using the "poker" chips

Get all CD's together in one book.

Put all DVD's in one book type holder.

Organize all movies and have them labeled and put out of sight.

Participate in a science fair with girls.

Participate in a history fair.

Make copies and organize "important paper file".

Hang other upper case living sayings already purchased.

Keep a log of movies watched.

Schedule annual womens exam...mamagram...etc...

Utilize CE Direct and take at least 10 continuing ed online classes per year.

Go to one nursing live seminar per year.  If possible, exercise related or something husband could attend and benefit from as well.

Get a screen door for front door.(Have someone coming out for measurments)

Keep a record of unit studies and resources taught in co-op in co-op folder and blog.

Administer the Stanford Achievement to girls.

Label all cords to what they belong to with a stickey.(they are all in one box!)

Pack and keep swim bag in car for last minute swimming at gym.  This includes CLEAN swimsuits and towels, swim toys etc...(W.I.P.)....it has been there most of the time.

Always keep "picnic" basket stocked in car....forks, spoons, paper plates, bowls. cups, napkins, and wipes...for lunches on go from the grocery store.

Keep picnic blanket in car for spur of moments picnics to park.

Buy some cracked wheat and keep in car to feed ducks at park.  They don't allow to feed bread.

Plan romantic picnic just for husband.

Set up "quiet time" areas for the girls with bean bags.

Learn how to use digital camera more effeciently...download all pictures to disks and computer and put into files.

Get all Flat Stanley projects back within 4-6 weeks depending upon agreement.

Have photographer do some shots just of husband and I at a different time family Christmas pictures are done.

Have Christmas presents purchased for MS family members before leaving for trip in Nov.

Learn to use the scanner.

Send cards to nieces for all holidays.

Do something about the "important memory drawer" in dresser.  Maybe a trunk? Not one more thing can be stuffed in there.

Complete the timeline book with Mystery of History as we go through the book.

Go on a family hike.

Take in-laws at least one meal per week.

Keep the gospel granolas or something similar in the car at all times. 

Buy a new metronome ... not the digital kind.

Pre-plan Easter study by Feb and have all supplies gathered and ready.

Have a pencil sharpener mounted to wall in laundry room?

Keep well stocked pencils and school supplies in boxes in the girls desk at all times which are only allowed to play during school time.

Keep a box of pencils, colors, markers, paints, arts and crafts to be used during free time or whenever they want to create.  (In kitchen cabniet).

Participate in Christmas Around the World and have the girls prepare their speeches.

Have new "calling cards" made for the girls.

Find ballet class for M.L.

Hang quilts on walls.

Put in flower bed at front door.

Put in square foot garden spaces in back.

Make individual folder for homeschool, ideas, home mgmt, field trips, classes, etc...

paint bookself and dresser in master bedroom

paint knobs for girls pink dresser in gingham.

paint unfinished dresser in girls rooms.

go on week vacation to Floridia with hubby and girls...

Have dining room table chairs re-covered

Finish painting blackboard wall.  One more coat!

Finish painting kitchen.

Take old VHS to recycle.

Set up workboxes for girls.

Read and update list every month

oops...I think  I went over 101 ... now how could that happen....

Our spring garden is growing very nicely!!!  We have been composting some directly in our garden if we have more refuse than our worm bin can handle.  This has given us quite few pleasant surprises...such as these potatoes!!!  Awhile back I noticed something growing that looked like a potato vine...we left it alone and it continue to grow....a few days ago it wilted and died and so we knew it was time to dig for the potatoes!  I was surprised myself to find 15 - 20 potatoes.  The girls were so excited!!!   We also have had 4 tomatoes plants and we also have had some surprise gourd vines and melon vines!!!

We are about to put an additional 4 foot by 8 foot square foot garden prefab box and use a curriculum for part of summer science lessons.  I will keep you posted on our progress. http://www.squarefootgardening.com/ 

These seeds are the ones we just planted a few days ago.  The girls got seed packets in their Easter baskets.  They were so excited to see them sprout so quickly....now to get them planted.

We have been studying Native Americans in a unit with some friends.  We are going to plant one part of our garden as a "3 sister" garden which includes squash, corn, and beans.  It was common for Native Americans to grow these crops together. 

These are some of our favorite Easter resources for our family.  We really like the countdown to Easter.  We like to make either thes resurrection rolls or cookies: http://www.my.homewithgod.com/mkcathy/holiday/resurrectionrolls.html

http://www.annieshomepage.com/resurrectioncookies.html

We always dye eggs and that is so much fun.  Sometimes we use natural dyes like spinach for green, beets for red, cabbage for purple, tumeric for yellow, coffee or tea for brown, blueberries (frozen) for blue...(they look like robin's eggs) ..it is very fun...  Other years we use the shrinky dink type wraps and old fashioned food coloring with vinegar.  That is our favorite.  Each girl gets a dozen eggs to color and we usually boil a few for Mom and Dad:) 

We often make our own sets of resurrection eggs.  It is very fun to do this.  One year I had a neighborhood party and let all the kids make their own set of eggs.  http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2110.html

www.easyfunschool.com/NamesJesus.doc  This is another great unit study either at Easter or Christmas.

These jelly beans and carrots are really cute: http://www.annieshomepage.com/jellybeansandcarrots.html

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....Happy Earth Day....

Last year we made some family goals concerning Earth Day and being more aware of our environment.  We chose realistic goals that we felt could make a difference.  We have always had a compost bin of some sort.  Last year we decided to invest in the can-o-worms composting system.  It has worked very well and been an ongoing science lesson.  We even have a curriculum that goes with it....Worms Eat My Garbage...

Worms Eat Our Garbage: Classroom Activities for a Better Environment This curriculum uses over 150 worm-related classroom or home activities to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in children grades 4-8. Activities integrate science, mathematics, language arts, biology, solid waste issues, ecology, and the environment.   Author: Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton, and Barbara Loss Harris Level: Grades 4-8 Specs: Paperback, 8 1/2 x 11, 232p, 16 appendices, resource materials, teacher's guidelines, bibliography, glossary, index.

We also compost directly into our garden.  It is one of our daughters jobs to dig a hole in the garden and pour in the vegetable and fruit, eggs shells and coffee grind refuse.  The soil in our garden is extememly fertile.  Sometimes we get surprises that actually root from the compost.  We had potatoes this spring! 

We also decided that we would be very diligent in recycling.  Our town does not have recycling through our garbage system so we find an independent company that would service our house.  They have been great and every week the girls put the recycling out and they have fun deciding what can be recycled (which is alot!) We have almost a full bin every week.

We are still working on using reusable shopping bags.  We have plenty but it is hard to remember to TAKE them into the store.  We are going to work on that some more.  When we get the plastic shopping bags we at least use them for garbage sacks or take them back to the store for recycling.

http://www.amazon.com/Recycled-Crafts-Box-Laura-Martin/dp/1580175228 This is a fun book we use to make crafts.

This what want to make this year: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet_Compost_Bin/ I saw one of these built using the direction and it turned out really nice.

I really like this site www.instructables.com .  There is a lot of interesting ideas here.

While the flooring was being worked on...the girls and I spent a few nights in Phoenix in the hotel...it was fun and we went to the Botanical Gardens one day after we were done with our school work....We have been studying pollination and flowers in science so it worked out perfectly.  We have a membership to the gardens and try to go their as often as we can.  They give the children a board to help them identify the butterflies when you go into the house.  We are working on planting some vines and bushes in our garden to attract butterflies.  We also get to see the Chihuly glass again!!!! 

Everyone spent the night at grandmas and grandpas the night before Easter....because of the house remodel so things were a little different..the girls were able to make the resurection cookies at our home-school co-op this year so that was great!  After going to church on Sunday morning, the girls and Martin and I came home to a nice Easter lunch at grandma's and everyone went through their Easter baskets.  They were so cute this year!  I found these at World Market. The girls usually get a small amount of candy and some fun things in their basket.  We dyed three dozen Easter afternoon and had fun hiding them for a few days.  This year they get the Velveteen Rabbit DVD, a new set of resurection eggs, some Easter egg wraps, markers, colors, pencils, and some lip gloss....and some veggie tale seeds to plant in our garden.

I will add some of the Easter activites we do and the Easter books we read later...

Every year for Christmas, I usually plan a romantic weekend getaway for hubby and I.  This year, we did not get it done until March...but it was worth the wait!  I planned it all out and did not tell hubby where we were going until we were on the way!!!!  All he knew was the dates and times!  He did ask a couple of times....just tell me, are we going North, South, East, or West!!!!  He never would have guessed Las Vegas...but I wanted to go there and plan the trip around the Phantom of the Opera theme!  It was really great....we had so much fun...and he was really surpised.  We stayed at the Venetian which was a great hotel with a great spa and gym. My husband is a finess freak...so I had signed US up for several classes at the gym.  It was alot of fun and he likes it when I work out with him.  The spa was very nice and relaxing and the food was great.  The Venetian has the casino on the lower level so we never even went into in the casino part.  The upper level had lots of great shops and restaurants and we even enjoyed a gondola ride!  It was a great, memorable, weekend!  Investing my in marriage.

We are reading through the book .... Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends ... How to Fight the Good Fight at Home for the 2nd time.  We just read a few pages every morning during devotions and memory work time.  This book always convicts of my relationships in general.

Today we were discussing PRIDE .... ugghh... The Mally's have come up with a very thought provoking list of the symptoms of pride....

* Not wanting to ask forgiveness

* Always having to stand up for our rights

* Always defending ourselves

* Wanting everyone to think well of us

* Insisting on doing something our own way

* Thinking that we are more important than other people

* Needing to prove that we are or were right

* Not wanting to admit that someone else knew something that we didn't

* Not being able to accept criticism

* Being happy when someone else fails

* Being glad when we are better than others

What a great checklist....I find myself failing more often than not when it comes to the area of pride. 

1 Peter 5:5...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble...

God, please cultivate in me and my children the ability to show true humitlity towards all  Titus 3:2  (especially towards eachother)

www.brothersandsisters.net

I am catching up on my blog....so please scroll down...and visit with me for a while....I am back dating all my entries...Hopefully, I will get caught up to Christmas before Christmas arrives!!!!!!!!!!!!

The girls have been diligently learning the Child's Shorter Catechism this past semester.  For every 50 questions they learn they are able to go to the store and select any Webkinz they would like.  They have worked so hard and we went to Bereans today and brought home 3 new Webkinz!  ML does not know hers exactly but was told she get the reward if she sat and quietly listened during question and answer time.  I know she is picking up much of what we are saying...as evidenced by the conversation with a lady at the grocery store...after my granddaddy died recently, she was in the grocery store with my mom and a lady came up to give her condolences...ML looked at her with bright eyes...it's okay....Poppy has a soul that can never die...... That comes straight from questions 18 and 19  ... What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?  He gave them a soul that could never die ....Have you a soul as well as a body?  Yes;  I have soul that can never die.  It was so cute and the lady thought it was pretty good theology for a 4 year old.

So we are on to the next 50 questions...they are doing great and do their recitation during morning story time and devotions.  We are also memorizing the Apostles Creed this year along with their regular Bible memory work.

http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/cat_for_young_children.html

Thank You Lord…

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes;
      we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry;
      we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds;
      they were so warm and comfortable last night.
      I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom,
      complete with all the splattered mirrors,
      soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory;
      they are so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator
      that needs cleaning.
     It has served us faithfully for many years.
     It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers
      for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely
       must be cleaned today;
      It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass
      that we all enjoy the yard.
     My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says
      You have richly blessed my family.
      I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl
      when the alarm rings,
     Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
      There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light
      as long as possible,
     Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
     Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
     There are many who are bedridden.

 Even though our breakfast table never looks like
      the pictures in magazines
     and the menu is at times not balanced,
     There are many who are hungry.

Thank you, Lord, for life.

 received via email

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder