Jul. 23, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday

This picture is of my nephew, Maddox, who had so much fun with the hose the day we babysat him. So I snapped this picture, and it looks as if he is waiting to give the death grip to the water when it comes. That kid is hilarious!

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Jul. 19, 2008 - Gardening...A Skill We Should All Know

     Gardening is a great way to learn homemaker skills, provide for a family, and have the joy of growing plants and being keepers of the earth.

     Proverbs 31: 16, "She considers a field and buys it, and out of her earning she plants a vineyard."

     Genesis 3:19, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.."

     Proverbs 6:8, "Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."

      Nowadays, people don't really keep gardens, except for those who need homegrown food to provide for their families, or hobby farmers, or even the families who want to know that their food is healthy for the family- like us. But it is not hard to keep a garden, and people who don't have room only care for two tomato plants which give enough tomatoes for a small family. Some use the tomato plants that they hand upside down in a soft little chute thing- Mom and I are not the upside down growers- we like our plants upright and in the ground- though people get great success with the newer ways for growing plants in a small area. Clay pots are great for any plant, and are also a space saver for patios and such.

           We keep a garden every year, and some years are not very good- due to weather conditions. We always plant tomatoes and green beans...and a few others that we plant some years or not. Sunflowers, cucumbers, and cabbage are some of our other plants that provide nourishment for the family. And this year, we have given some land in the garden for my aunt and uncle for their own first time hobby garden.
                            

      As women and keepers of home, gardening falls right into our path. There will be a time when as mothers- we will need to decide between store boughten vegetables when we can grow our own healthy produce. A young lady, should know the basics of gardening...for when she needs to know the proper skills she will not have to guess too much on how to handle seeds, watering time, and extra care for their garden.

     Planning a garden, what plants grow best together, when to plant in the year, when to weed or hoe, space needed for a plant, and the proper care for each plant- when a plant needs to be trimmed, supported, and so on are some things that we would need to know.

    Tomatoes need some help when they start to grow down to the ground, and when their limbs extend to the ground when they become full of healthy green tomatoes. Also one needs to be searching for tomato worms...disgusting worms with a horn on its rear. You can spot a worm by looking underneath the plant and checking for its bowel deposits, and then look upon the plants leaves and stems. Usually it is easy to find such creatures- for their destruction is everywhere.

    Green Beans will need some hoeing, and plucking of weeds, and a smart eye on the look out for those that are ripe, for one day one can be ready, and one day later it is already bad because it became overripe.

         This is our first basket of green beans this year. Mom picked them and then we came inside and snapped them while we watched Penelope. Snapping green beans is a fun exercise that makes you feel as if you should be wearing a long skirt, and a lace shirt with puff sleeves. Therefore gardening does have its advantages, and I thoroughly believe in everyone having a garden-whether small or large, for benefits come everyday, and the thrill of growing your own food lengthens your neck to hold your head high. No more market veggies for us!

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Jul. 14, 2008 - What I've Done for the Month...

This year at the fair I entered seven projects in six 'project categories'

Photography-
10 Black and White- Blue Honor
Experimental Salon- State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Weather-
poster on Cloud Seeding- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Beekeeping-
poster of 10 pressed wildflowers- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Food Preservation-
canned tomatoes- Best of Show, State, Champion, Blue, Honor

Food-
whole wheat yeast bread- Blue, Honor

Crafts-
Reed Craft- State, Reserve Grand Champion, Blue, Honor


We attended many shows- Beef, Dairy, Poultry, and Swine- my favourite is the Beef show,
and after the Poultry show, a gal we know was selling her very highly placed exhibition Leghorn (you pronounce Leg-urn), and Mom- loving Leghorn eggs- she snapped it up for $5! Our other Leghorn having been distraught for months after a horrendous encounter with a stray dog...but she is well again!
However, there was one small problem...we didn't expect to buy a bird? How were we going to transport it home? Well, Emily Rose volunteered to hold it in her lap all the way. Some people looked into our small car to see three girls, and a chicken!  We even had to stop at the grocery store on the way home, and the bird accidentally got loose in the car...but no harm done- just some fun!


Oh, and the gal who we bought the bird from-her last name is Green, and we wanted to name it after her so we christened her Olive...a form of green!


I also did other things beside 4-H, amazingly :), and I had my spring piano recital in May.
My two pieces were, Tell Me Now by Hans Zimmer from the soundtrack of King Arthur, and Edelweiss by Rodgers and Hammerstein in the musical The Sound of Music. Breezy and Emily also had their two pieces.

And all three of us with our piano teacher, the lovely Mrs. Jones

We are also having fun with those bees! They are so cute, and are helping all of our neighbors' gardens. If you look closely you can see them gathering on the outside of the hive. They truly are busy! I shall have to give a post with information on bees for everyone, for it will certainly help me.

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Jul. 10, 2008 - I am come back...into the world of blogging!

       Our computer is fixed and it was all covered in the warranty, and on Monday morning around 9 o'clock, we will have high speed internet and I can check everyone's blogs faster and more often. Yeah for me!

       So I will post on Monday on everything that has happened since I left. So I will be gone for a few more days, but will still be dropping by others' blogs.
  
    Everyone have a Great Day!

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Jul. 1, 2008 - A Thought...

I am using a relative's computer to post a thought.

Last night I was laying in bed after I had watched a movie, and then I had a thought about Hollywood. And here it is...

"What is Hollywood, but to assure us the bad guy always loses, the good guy triumphs after saving the damsel, who is never happy unless in distress, and that no matter how tangled characters may get, at the end of two hours, it was only a misunderstanding."

But there is the exception of a few movies. :) 

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Jun. 27, 2008 - Once Again An Apology

    Everyone who has read my blog, will know that we are having problems with our computer and I must again announce some very sad news.
    I am my cousins' home, using their computer for we have just came back from the computer hospital after our computer was knocked completely senseless during a very powerful electrical storm last week. So, we took it to the doctor's office, and then we heard that it was covered in the warranty so we did not panic. Yet we have heard that the starter strip thingy will take two weeks to fix, and that we will have to wait*( what a sad and powerful word) to have a computer again.
    As much as we are excited about not paying for the costs, we will be giving up everything that is on a computer for two weeks. Then the hurt of losing a friend, I am positive we will see happiness come in from another source. A great way to do all of the things that we need to do!

    I shall return and see everyone in two weeks!

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Jun. 22, 2008 - I am begging the pardon of all of my dear fellow bloggers...

      
       I am extremely sorry...my blogging schedule has been thrown to the moon and brought back in a state of confusion. 4-H began in the beginning of June, and then it started, and then it ended, and we are still in the 4-H mode. We went to almost every livestock show; Swine, Beef, Dairy, and the Poultry Show. We are avid farm wanna-be's, and we fantasize every time we go, especially me, but it is a good way to practice my contentment state.
       
        And then to make everything worse, our internet modem was knocked completely senseless by an electrical storm that blew threw a couple weeks ago, and that shut off our internet connexions. And surprisingly, we survived.
   
           In any sense, I am apologizing to all of my fellow bloggers on not returning comments, or visiting anyone's blogs. I have had quite a time with our computer, and will not be posting until the end of June, when we will have updated our internet speed, and we will have a high speed internet! I could, and am screaming with excitement. Which the speed of our internet was also messed up during the storm, and the time could've been beaten ten fold by a snail doing anything! It was lethargic.

       So I shall come back to the cyberpace party in early July. Everyone, have a great, blessed day, and when I return I shall present my 4-H awards.

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Jun. 4, 2008 - School's Over...What Now?

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May. 28, 2008 - As Cute as a Kitten

    My beloved cat Peggy had a litter of kittens a month ago, and they were all black, excepting the few white spots on their bellies and necks. They were all so cute as kittens and have grown up into lovely black kittens. We think that there are two males and two females.
This is when they were almost a week old...

Their first trip into the great unknown...grass...


Still checking the perimeter...


Their second trip into the great unknown...the porch...


We have a few names ready, Horatio and Archie (from Horatio Hornblower), and Hyacinth (from the overbearing mother in Wives and Daughters)  for one of the girls...I still have one name for the other girl. You can tell how creative I am in naming things. :)

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May. 25, 2008 - Recital Shirt...3887

For my piano recital which was a few days ago, I decided last minute that I wanted to wear the shirt that I had chose to make, when I attended. So we went to the fabric store and purchased a pattern by Simplicity. (I must admit that I stole the idea to make this shirt from a friend)


So we came home and sort-of started right away to make it..give or take a week:)
The fabric is cotton with a small floral design...and it is obviously red...for a reason I shall explain. Red colors...certain red colors look strikingly well on darker haired folk. If it is thought unbelievable...might I suggest a trip to the mirror in something red? :)


The shirt would have capped sleeves with elastic, along with a low scoop neckline. We were not expecting it to be so skin-bearing...so I am going to buy some white or red lace to go behind it...but until then I shall wear my hair down my front.
And to the left side of my shirt, a nice bright bow is situated. I personally like that touch, however sometimes it does get in the way.

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May. 24, 2008 - Three Cheers for the Graduating Eyebright!

Eyebright, a young lady of character and entirely amiable in sense and now...education!
After completing her years as a student, and growing in Christ...she is finally ready to  grow in more mature  dealings...yet she, as us all, will never stop learning.

Through her entire life, she will need to seek God's wisdom, to the smallest thing, for it is the only thing that can satisfy the soul...God's love and mercy.

Proverbs 4:5-6 "Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them."
6," Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you love her, and she will watch over you."

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May. 22, 2008 - The Double Rimmed Picnic Basket

A few weeks ago, I went with my cousins Breezy and Emily Rose, to make a basket for 4-H. We went to the 'Basket Lady', where we picked out our patterns and would learn something new.
Breezy had already decided on a Baby Moses Basket, while Emily decided to make up a pattern, which she refuses to say she likes.:)


This is mine, a Double Rimmed Picnic Basket, with a Black Walnut stain. I had never before seen a stain this color, so I went in blindly and came out happily.

I pray that this basket will do somewhat well, and become a great service to me, carrying all of my old books, drawing pencils and books- from which tips I will be receiving from
 The Drawing Blog hosted by Breezy, and everything that is dear to me.
And hopefully Breezy's will be holding her children when older, and Emily's will hold wonderful meals fit for a picnic after a summer's service in church.

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May. 21, 2008 - The Fun Blogger Award

Renee, a very good blogging friend, has awarded me the Fun Blogger Award (see above)

Now I shall award this to only one blogger....

Meg16

She is a wonderful young lady, that is striving to be pure in heart. She has been a wonderful daughter, as you can see from her retreat, and a sympathetic sister.
She is truly a fun, ladylike blogger.

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May. 18, 2008 - Prince Caspian Movie Review

contains spoilers*
Prince Caspian, the sort-of sequel to the newest version of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia came out last Friday to theaters.
Emily Rose summed up her review here, and Rachel summed up her opinions here.


I personally think the movie was very good. The movie that is. The filming was very good and full of imagination and humor...however in following the story line of the book Prince Caspian, it leaves the viewer disappointed.

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May. 15, 2008 - The Chronicles of the Big Bad Rooster

This is the rooster that never stops haunting my dreams.

He is big, white, and the very authenticity of a rooster. In fact, he won champion in the Mediterranean class at the fair.

But there is a dark side to this chipper chicken...he likes to spur us. Now if you are chicken owners you most likely know what this means, but if not, let me enlighten you.

On the back of roosters feet and about halfway into their legs lies a large projection, that is like a 5th toe, except it is for defense, and extremely thick and sharp. It would be like taking a knitting needle, finding the large thickness possible, and sharpening the end until it can easily puncture the skin.

Now, when they spur they will do some sort of karate move and jab the back of the legs into your skin. I, myself, have never been through this painful event, but my parents enjoy taking brooms and shovels into the coop and having a little test hit to his head. Unfortunately, he has not been injured enough to hurt his gumption.

So, when we let the chickens out in the yard, I am on house arrest because I am scared to leave unprotected. And I also refuse quite passionately to go into the coop, because I am sure he will come and pounce on my legs. And sometimes he will do this little Spanish-looking dance around our legs before he sinks his claws in.

Needless to say, I enjoy having birds, and having a rooster to fertilize the eggs, but I must say that I am almost ready for a good whack at his little combed head. But I shall try to get over my fear, and Do Hard Things. :)

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May. 12, 2008 - Homeschool Boutique Homeschool T-shirt Contest

Some of the funnest shirts I have ever seen are within grasp. The Backyard is giving away Homeschool T-shirts through Friday, through the Homeschool Boutique. They look really professional and everyone will know that you are a proud homeschooler! Hurry on over and see the qualifications.

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May. 10, 2008 - For the Lovely Miss Jocelyn...

      Today Miss Jocelyn is the age of seventeen years, and growing in such maturity and wisdom. Although I had not met her in person before today, I knew she was a godly young lady with a heart for the Lord that exploded with passion in her posts.

      I have noticed that she is passionate about the Lord, beautiful in her pictures, a wonderfully active blogger, helpful daughter and kind sister, and a great friend to many people.
 
    Everyone must go to her blog and enjoy her seventeenth birthday party with her!

   

   
   

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May. 8, 2008 - There's a New One in the Family!

    This new baby is my new nephew, Samuel Thomas. He was born yesterday at 8:08 in the morning. He is extremely adorable. His tiny little toes and complete body weighed 8 lbs. and maybe 5 oz, and he was 19''. He is the smallest of my brother's sons, for they have three. All three have light features and so does this little wee one. However he does have a bit bigger patch of hair than the others.
    I must scurry for there is much work to be done!

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May. 1, 2008 - My Day

For the past week I have been trying to think of something brilliant to post, but however it is not coming to my mind. So I will just plainly explain my day.

First I woke up around ten, for Mom let me sleep in because I was feeling poorly the day before. We were ready to take two large bags of see through plastic, two large bags of milk cartons, a bunch of Marsh bags full of newspaper to the recycling place. We make our seasonly trip to the enormous recycling center that takes almost anything.

Then after that, we came home, and did some stuff. I did a lesson of science and then we went outside to work in the garden before it rained, yet it never did rain. I can't stand it when that happens. Anyway, we planted a some daisies given to us by my dear aunt, along with some catnip, and then some black eyed susans, and zinnias. Then from dear Susie we received last fall a bean plant-tree thingy-a-bob. I loved gardening and I can not wait for everything to bloom.

Right now Mom has got a homemade pizza in the oven, and we are waiting for Dad to get home to enjoy it! Actually he just walked in the door.

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Apr. 22, 2008 - I'm Lovin' It!

This is Susie and I together. Susie is a wonderful godly lady who has had a great influence in my life. I love her to death!
But the story behind this picture is that Susie is not only a lovely lady with character, but she is a nature woman. Boy can she tell you so many things, plus she's a joy to be around!
Mom asked if she would give us a nature lesson on wildflowers and trees, along with shrubs and anything else that is classified as a plant. Susie agreed and we set the date for when the first flowers would be blooming.
The day came and we drove a minute down to her house and started on our journey. They live in the woods, and have more areas to roam than our small plot of land. We started with the buckeye, then we headed to the Spring Beauty, tulips and daffodils (those aren't wildflowers but she had planted some, and we could not just pass on by now could we?)
We headed through the woods, looking at all sorts of things; trees, grapevines, scat (remember Susie), and all sorts of wonderful little things! My favorite flower was the Dutchman's Breeches! They are little white flowers that hang down like pants on a laundry line...a sign of the creator's diversity.
We kept at it, until we came to their house, which is a lovely kit log cabin that has such an air of hospitality...and stories.
So that was "Susie's Grand Adventure" as we call it. There was much more that we saw, but I do not have room enough to do them justice. We also took a day off of school to hike for two and a half hours...now is that exercising the mind or what?

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