MY GARDEN;   It is doing pretty good for the lack of space it has.  We've really enjoyed the fresh salads.

My Flowers:   These are Mountain orchids that reseed and go wild!  I love them.

My chicken:  I've opened their little door to the outside and tried to coax them out, but they are afraid.  They venture out for the cracked corn and that's it.  Hopefully they will get braver, I have lots of bugs that need thinned!

The Number of vehicles we own!

Rocky finally got his new (to him) truck.  It has a plow and sander for the winter.

Our church:   Our new pastor arrived and his wife and son.  His parents and sister came out with them also.  Our pastor had an uncle that made the pulpit and alter and cross.,

Life has been very busy.  We are trying to wind down school.  I was thrilled when I discovered an online tutor for Emily's Algebra, where she can chat and get help.   Yeah, now she's cruising.  She does Math-U-See, and I'm wondering if I shoulnd't have done that with Mandy.  Mandy doesn't have that support, and we get stuck sometimes.

4-H has picked up, we do sewing here on Fridays.  Mandy was having fun making potholders using the log cabin quilt pattern.

The yearbook staff for the homeschool yearbook has been working hard.  Mandy is on the staff and Emily won the contest to do the cover of the yearbook.  I took her to a couple of art lessons to perfect it.

The theme is watch and Stand Fast!

I have been tending to plants in my window.  They are doing good, but we still have nights that freeze so I can't plant yet.

Some neat tips for starting plants: 

1. christmas tree lights work wonderful to place under your starter plants to keep warm. 

2. Old plastic pop bottles work good as covers.

3. once your seedling has 2 leaves it's ready to move out of the covered, heated tray.

4. keep plants covered and in the dark right after you plant and wait for the seeds to sprout before you expose them to light.

5. My geraniums love coffee!

6. Too much moisture will mold your seed, water at first then leave them alone till they sprout.

7.There is therapy in gardening even if it is in your window.

I also found a fun wallpaper border at a thrift store and put it in my kitchen.

We have a stampin up party this weekend, which means a good housecleaning. 

I've been doing a scrapbook also, and helping the girls sew.  Emily made a jean skirt this week.

If we don't have a rainy day at all the girls are out with the horses.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside amidst the simple beauty of nature.  ---Anne Frank

Our neighbor's mare had her filly, it is so adorable. 

Our horses got out the other day and it was took several hours of shoveling snow to be able to open the gate to get them back in.  Kayro cut his foot but not badly.

We've had typical Idaho spring weather.  Rain, sleet, snow, sunshine, hail.  Usually all in one day.

Emily was rejoicing that the snow has melted enough that she can now see out her bedroom window!

I spent one whole day with Mandy figuring out a schedual for her so she knows what she needs to do to finish off the school year.  We took a 3 ring binder and separated it out into each subject and figured out how many school days are left til June and what still needs to be done for each subject.  I included any reports due, any books, cd's or videos still to watch, messages or projects left to do.  Now she can basically finish on her own with a little supervision.

Isaac is doing pretty good since I did that with his schoolwork.  I find a lot of worksheets online if he still needs work in a certain area.  And I really like the lapbooks you can get for free at www.homeschoolshare.com.  We are doing a study on snakes right now.

The girls have been sewing to get ready for our Phoenix trip.  I got out our summer clothes. I haven't had bare legs in so long it will seem strange.

We are reading about Masada right now, the last Jewish fortress.  It is really interesting.

I have started a garden notebook, and I'm excited to plant some seeds indoors after we get back. 

Here's some tidbits I've learned while reading my gardening books:

1. pantyhose make great vine tie backs.

2. tomatoes love bananas

3. basil will keep in a pot all year in your house.  Basil freezes well.

4. always sow dry and plant wet.

5. nettles and tomatoes make good companions.

6. christmas tree lights make great heat for growing seeds.

7. vinegar will kill weeds.

8. watercress grows naturally in streams but it can grow in pots of soil placed in tubs of water.

9. Bay Larel leaves can be placed in canisters of rice, four, and cereal to serve as an insect repellent.

10. You can use an old fashioned coffee grinder to grind herbs.

A housewife coming in from the garden with an apron stuffed full of succulent variety is a pleasant sight.---from an old farmer's almanac.

below are some pictures of flowers I took in Scotlalnd!

Time to go make fajita's!