Heart of Wisdom, Ancient Rome
Considering God's Creation
"Cale" Sixth Grade
CQLA
Teaching Textbooks Math 6
Literature from the Library (AO)
Piano
Boy Scouts
"Joe" Third Grade
Horizons Math 2
CQLA Pre-A
Literature from Library (AO)
Wolf Scout
"Kade" Age Four
Phonics Pathways
"It is only by introducing the young
to great literature, drama, and music,
and to the excitement
of great science,
that we open to them
the possibilities
that lie within the human spirit--
enable them to see visions
and dream dreams."
Eric Anderson
Currently Reading
Family read-aloud
Rick and I are reading together
When Sinners Say I Do
by: Dave Harvey
I am reading
Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God
by:
Our Morning Devotions are:
The Day By Day Bible
Cale and Joe are reading
Good and Evil
by: Michael Pearl
Ancient Rome
by: DK
Julius Caesar
by: DK
Cale is reading:
The Young Carthaginian
by:GA Henty
Joe is reading:
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Kade is reading:
The Butter Battle Book
Horton Hatches an Egg
Magazines to which we subscribe: The Old Schoolhouse
Birds and Blooms
Consumer Reports
Answers
World
Clubhouse
Clubhouse Jr.
Favorite Music
Selah
Steven Curtis Chapman
Chris Tomlin
Gaither Gospel
Dixieland Jazz
Quote Collection
"Til sin be bitter,
Christ will not be sweet."
Thomas Watson
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark."
unknown
"We wish you PEACE
It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.
It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
unknown
"There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is."
Thomas Edison
"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness
has never danced in the rain."
unknown
"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart."
Helen Keller
"All I have seen teaches me to
trust the Creator
for all I have not seen."
Emerson
"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."
John Whitehead
"There is only one way to lead a child down the right path
that is to go that way yourself."
unknown
"A rose can say 'I love you,'
an orchid can enthrall,
But a weed bouquet in a chubby fist--
Oh my, that says it all!
unknown
"We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Oh the laugh of a child
so wild and free,
Is the merriest sound
in the world to me."
Isobel Atholwood
"Sometimes,"
said Pooh,
"the smallest things take up
the most room in your heart."
A.A. Milne
"Cleaning and scrubbing
can wait 'til tomorrow.
For babies grow up,
we learn to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs!
Dust, go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby,
and babies don't keep!"
unknown
Since Jan 1, 2008
Apr. 18, 2008 - Show and Tell Friday....Loss of a Tree
It's time for Show and Tell with CanadaGirl. Click on her name to access other S&T posts this week. You'll meet some very interesting folks.
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This week i am sharing about a very big project we have going on.......re-doing our backyard.
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We are going to be digging out quite a bit and putting in a long retaining wall, thus making two levels to the yard. Then we will add in a playground set and i will get to do some square foot gardening in raised beds.
Above you can see the current retaining wall. It will be moved back about 15 feet and extended across the yard about 200 ft. to about where the shed is in the left of the photo. Kade is already digging up there with his little shovel and dump truck.
Here is another BEFORE shot, looking West. You can get somewhat of an idea of how sloped the yard is. See that tree with the 2 swings? My kids have spent hours swinging on that red oak. The wall is going to cut right in front of where the tree is. We have been assured that the tree will die from the trauma and encouraged to remove it before we get too far into this project. Besides, i'm going to need more sun over there for my garden. Our neighbor removes trees as a side job, but he said he was booked until summer.
TIMBER!!!!!!
Then, yesterday afternoon while we were out there digging, the neighbor popped his head over the fence and asked if he could come back and cut down that tree. Yippee!!!!!! I was so excited the tree was coming down.
He had to climb up to the top and cut a piece at a time due to the confines of our yard. We can't get equipment back here. He got all of it except the very top branch of the trunk and the trunk itself before he had to quit. I don't know when he'll be back....maybe tomorrow, maybe next week or next month. Until lhen we'll be cutting up the branches and hauling them out to the curb to be picked up.
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We'll also be digging more out by hand. We are hoping this project will build character and a good work ethic into our kids and strengthen our family bonds. Another goal is that our yard will be better for playing ball and help with the local flooding when it rains hard and improve the re-sale value of our home for the future.
What a project! I can visualize it, though, and it is certainly a good idea. The double-level will be a great improvement, and think how much fun the kiddos will have jumping off the top layer of the retaining wall and onto the lower levels. LOL
Ohhhh I can't wait to see the "later" pic. You all are busy, busy , busy. We are busy but won't be changing things as much as you. We are prepping the garden and planting greens and peas. Things that can handle the late snows like today. ((sigh))
That is wonderful that your neighbor cut your tree down. It looks like you have a big project ahead of you in your backyard. I look forward to seeing your raised beds.
Toni
http://thehappyhousewife.com
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I was so excited the tree was coming down.
