When blessed with a pile of peaches.... what does a person do?  Anything they can think of!    dd8 and I spent the morning experimenting. 

We made peach cobbler....

and then we tried making jam using my bread machine.  It was quite nifty!  Definitely would do that again.

We also made a pie.  (Yes Mom, I really did do that!)

When we were all finished dd8 used the left over pie dough and made a Bread Dough Ball?  She baked it.   She dressed all up and had a tea party with some of the peach jam on it.  She said it tasted yummy.

Our studies in Prairie Primer have been going well.  We have been reading Little House in the Big Woods.  We've made it through the first 7 chapters.  We've done some fun activities. 

Although we didn't do it on the exact day, on Week 1 Day 1 We were to make a Corn Husk Doll.  We had to wait for a couple of days until we were able to get to town to get corn.  It was rather funny when the check out clerk from WalMart was scanning in our 1 ear of corn!  lol  I asked her if she ever seen anyone come and get just one ear... lol  She never had.  DD8 really enjoyed making her doll.  She named her Mindy.  Her dress was made out of one of dd8's old dresses that got ruined. 

On Week 1 Day 2 - dd8 made butter.  (actually I think this was a day or so later too!)  We've done this several times, so this wasn't anything new.  It's still always interesting to see how the fat and buttermilk seperate. 

On Week 1 Day 3 we read about why it is important to listen to parents and authority figures.  We learned about God's umbrella of protection.  For the example we went outside and dd8 held the umbrella while I squirted the water hose over her.  God's protection and Parents authority only can protect if the person remains remains under the umbrella. 

Week 1 Day 4 - We made the Molassas Candy.  It didn't turn out... We crushed ice to make "snow".  Then once the candy was ready dd8 tried to make curlieques and designs.  It all just poured out!  The molasses is so strong, that we didn't care for the taste at all.  But it was worth the experience. 

This week has been rather crazy, so we haven't done as many fun activities to go along with our studies.  We've been doing VBS at our church which has just crammed our time.  Next week we'll get back to a routine again... hopefully. 

I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying Prairie Primer.  DD8 is too.  The older kids will sit in and listen while I read if they are able.  I do find that dd8 struggles with being able to answer the questions at the end of the story.  So, I normally go back and reread the section that the answer is in and then see if she can answer it. 

Family Fun is my favorite magazine.  I'm always anxious to get it and see what kinds of crafts etc. that they are going to feature for the month.   This month they had several crafts for the Fourth of July.  One was a tshirt.  DD8 had some ideas of her own & together we implemented and came up with our own.  (DD14 is staying with her grandparents for another week & DS12 was at allstars practice) I liked how they had splashes through theirs, but dd8 didn't want that.  Here's her shirt.  I didn't get a picture of her wearing it yet, because it is still wet.  Maybe tomorrow....

DD8 & I are looking forward to studying the Little House on the Prairie this fall.  We will be using the Prairie Primer as a guideline. 

We decided to make her an outfit.  Now, it's important to know that I'm NOT a seamstress.  As a matter of fact, I don't believe I've personally used a pattern since I was in school.  I've tinkered around a little with things, but nothing major.  So.... this was a big deal for me!  It's almost done.... I still have the hem and a few buttons to do.  It was done enough to take pictures & get it on the blog.  I do have to say that the dress is supposed to fit dd8, but it fits dd14!!!!  It's huge on dd8.  lol  She has already made it quite clear that it was okay and that her sister can NOT have it.  I didn't realize that the patterns can run big.  I had bought the next size up to make sure that it fit her & would last a little while.  lol  It should last for years!  She picked out the material that she wanted for each.  I think she did a good job. 

Here's a picture without the sleeves, so you can see the material she picked out.

I really enjoyed doing this.  I found it to be relaxing and rewarding.  My husband has always said, that he loves carpentry because when he gets done, it's a sense of accomplishment.  I now know what he means.  It's a good feeling knowing that I did that.  Mistakes and all!  lol

Here's how it fits dd14. 

We are still working on the Pioneer Unit.  It's been interesting.  The kids made covered wagons the other day.  DD14 helped DD8 and DS12 worked on his alone.  There were instructions, but they each decided they had their own ideas.

The girls made theirs Barbie sized...  As a matter a fact, they are outside playing with it now! 

DS even had diagrams drawn on the white board.  It's neat to see how they think. 

Here's DS12's covered wagon.  He likes hot glue!  lol 

Today we had a treasure hunt to go along with our lessons.  Many people in the early 1800's decided on becoming pioneers.  The Pioneers would use maps and guides that people were making and selling (didn't matter if they had tried them or not!).  This caused confusion at times and weren't always accurate.   

We made teams.  dd8 and myself vs. dd14 and ds12.  This was a lot of fun.  I gave them their first clue which was to follow a bunch of steps going N/S/E/W.  Then they had to figure out what the US flower is.  Once they figured it out (dd14 had to go and use the Encyclopedia) they found their first egg with another clue. 

The second clue was something like, "In the book by Beatrix Potter the character got into trouble for going here."  ds12 insisted he never read that book!  lol  Until he realized and dd14 went back into the house to use the internet to find out it was Peter Cottontail!  They dug and dug through the garden to find the egg with the next clue.  ahhhh.... It's one way to get the garden dug up for planting! 

The next clue was Mark 9:50.  So... back into the house they went to find a Bible to see what it said & right away it triggered where to find the next clue.  "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another."

Another clue was "One has said it is a place of death, but another claims its a place of life."  (This is my butterfly garden, that my family calls the cemetery plot!)  It took them a little while to figure this out... I think they were thinking too hard.  lol

Another was, "When things come to me they are claimed to be spoiled, but give it time and I'll become usable"  This was our compost bins.  & yes, the egg was inside! 

Another was, "Up at the North Pole some claim there is snow... but as for me, I don't believe.  Hidden below you'll find the 7th egg."  (This was our property marker at the North side.)

There were 10 eggs in all... & through time and persistence they found them all. 

They did one for dd8 and I too.  Dh helped us because he was home when we did ours.  They did a great job coming up with clues.  They didn't take any pictures because we had to hurry and eat and run off to our evening activities.  I liked the one they did, that said that it looks like a peninsula, but yet not... you're higher than ground and can see the driveway.  Where am I?  We have a bank that in a way is shaped like a peninsula... It took a little bit to find considering it was a big area to look, but we found it.  They had ones that had math problems that needed to be figured out and then we had to take that many steps.  They were creative! 

Imagine that they learned AND we had fun.  Can we really claim this as school???  lol  Got to love homeschooling!

It's getting to be the end of the year and things have been dragging.  I decided to try a different unit study to stir up a little of excitement.  I decided on doing a unit study I got from CurrClick.   It is called "Great Pioneer Projects".  We have been studying the Lousianna purchase & Lewis and Clark's expedition.  Our first project was to make a 3-D salt dough map.  We've never done this before, so I thought it would be fun.  Here's a few pictures of the process.

First they mixed the salt dough.... We now understand why it is called SALT dough!

ds12 mixed the land....

dd8 mixed the water....

dd14 mixed the mountains...

They all worked together to form the United States.

Together they worked on putting in the mountains and the bodies of water using maps.

Once the map dried they routed out Lewis and Clark's expedition,

I'm not sure what we'll do with it now, but it was fun learning! 

Along with the beautiful spring weather, we also have all the activities starting back up.  dd14 tried out for the high school play and made it.  She has practices 5 days a week, 2 and 3 hours a day.  ds12 is in baseball for his 8th year.  He has practices 3 days a week that are 2 hours long.  dd8 is in softball this year.  Her practices are 2 days a week and 2 hours long.  So, between those 3 activities... we're hopping. 

dd14 has been doing a book study while using LLATL.  She has really enjoyed this one.  It is on Eric Liddell.  One of the recommended activities was to either go out and eat Chinese or make a Chinese dish.  Eric was born in China and also moved back as an adult to do missionary work.  I am not sure if it is authentic, but she made a dish that my mom has always made.  It's called Chop Suey.  She did a good job making it & dd8 and ds12 chipped in and helped her out. 

This is what it looked like.  We cooked the mushrooms seperate and added them later.  dh doesn't like mushrooms & I didn't want to give him an excuse not to try it.  However, he's not very willing to try different things.  ds12 gets it honestly!

We even got chop sticks for the kids to try them out.  ds12 wouldn't try the Chinese.  The girls seemed to like it okay.  Here's a few pictures of the girls eating with their chopsticks.... or at least trying.  lol  (these pictures are blurry... not sure what I did)

dd8 tried eating it with both hands...

dd14 was doing a pretty good job. 

dd14 decided she knows now why the Chinese use chop sticks.  She said it's because they want to have more family time at the table!  She decided it would be much easier to start shoveling it in!

Tonight.... we're having Italian.  ds12 made the dough for the pizza.  I'm not sure what he did because the dough was bubbling up over the pan in the bread machine and it still had 26 minutes to go.  I need to go and get the pizza going.  Have a blessed evening. 

Yesterday we made home made noodles with our food preservation unit in Weaver.  They had suggested that we make nooodles (4 eggs, 1/2 tsp. salt, and enough flour to make a dough consistency).  The kids worked together to make the noodles. 

DS11 is in Royal Ranger's with our church... so, he is working on his bachelor merit.  So, he finished the meal by making a fresh loaf of bread.  Once the noodles were done, he made home made chicken noodle soup.  He also made fresh iced tea.  It all turned out yummmy!  Here's a picture of the end product.

This tasted very good on a very cold and snowy day! 

(See what you are missing Grama and Grampa!  It must be nice being in Florida!) 

We have finally hit our 100th day of school!  Here in PA, we are required to do 180 days of school or 900 hours of school.  I have chosen the days... it's easier to keep track of.  I had the kids draw pictures of themselves when they would be 100 and they had to write a 100 word (exactly) story about what it would be like to be 100.  Then I had made them a fun color sheet of themselves to color. 

We are on vol 1. chapter 15 (Joseph, Insects and Food Preservation) in our Weaver Studies.  Today we made venison jerky... to teach them about food preservation.  DH had good timing with wanting to make jerky!  We made original flavor, teriaki and hot and spicy.  The last batch is still dehydrating.... so, I'll be anxious to taste it because it's the hot and spicy.  Here's a couple of pictures of the kids making their teriaki jerky this morning. 

DD13 found out how cold it is to hand mix meat!  BONE CHILLING!!!

DD7 and DS11 used the jerky press to put it on the dehydrater. 

They all had fun... and all enjoy eating the end product!

Now I can post the snowmen that we made this year also.  I love snowmen... So, every year I try to come up with another way to make them.  One year we made them out of pillows, last year it was melted snowmen and I did a few out of wood.  I enjoyed the wooden ones so much that I tried it another way this year.  So, I had each of the kids make them for their godmothers for Christmas and I just liked making them... So, I made them and just gave them to different ones I wanted to give them to. 

This was a nice project for the kids... because they are easy to make.  We used crackle, so it gave their bodies that old country look.  So, the kids decided whatever color they wanted for their underneaths...

They then were able to choose how they wanted their hats, scarfs, buttons, etc.  A snowman face is easy to paint... This is the end product.  This is all of them we made... some I made others the kids made.   I found this to be very relaxing.

My brother and his family came for the weekend.  What a blessing!  I enjoyed so much having them here and being with them.  Our tradition for the past couple of years is to make handmade gifts for each other for Christmas.  This year I have to admit I did a bit of grumbling and complaing... I know, I know... not a good quality.  Coming up with the ideas is just a bit hard sometimes.  Each family member makes a gift for each of the other family members.  Ya know, when it's all said and done and everyone gives each other the gifts.... How rewarding!!!  You couldn't buy gifts and get the same satisfaction! 

DD13 went to town with her gifts!  She mainly did sewing.  She made a dog for her boy cousin. 

These dolls she made for her little cousins.  I am so proud of her!

She made this skirt and scrunchie for her 10 year old cousin.

She decided to make aprons for her aunt and uncle.

DS11 Went to town too.  He decided on doing weaving, sewing and made a snowman for his aunt.  He made model airplanes out of paper for his uncle, which I didn't get a picture of! 

DD6 Made things with plaster of paris.  For her aunt and uncle she made a sign and the cousins she made sidewalk chalk.  I guess, I didn't get pictures of that either!   My camera's batteries have died and I need to get them replaced.  I just haven't made it to Walmart to get new ones. 

I found that DH has a talent with welding!  I told him he was an artist and didn't know it.  I think he did a great job.  His normal thing would be to make things out of wood.  But since we don't have a garage for him to work in this year, he had to come up with other ideas.  The kids he kind of wimped out of making gifts... hehehe... He gave them each money that was folding into something different.  I think they liked that!  He also made venison sausage that he gave them some.  Here are pictures of what he made:  He made a motorcycle for on a desk and a bird/crane that is a lawn ornament. 

As for myself.  I did canning in the fall.  I gave them something like 20 jars of canned goods.  There was spaghetti sauce, peaches, pickles, peppers, and jelly.... I think that was all. 

My nephew I made a jar filled with 50 different little objects and then filled with little bead type things and rice.  This seemed to be a big hit... I laminated a sheet with the names of all the objects hidden in the jar.  The object was to find all the objects.  I wonder if they have found those coins yet! 

My older neice, I made little dolls made out of toothpicks and embroidery thread.  Then I hotglued them onto barrets... I guess, I didn't take pictures of them either.  I cheated a little... I had seen a shirt at Old Navy that had a picture of a dog on it.  The dog was identical to their dog!  I had to get it for her.  So, that was her gift from me.

The two little ones, I made hats and scarfs.  I don't have a lot of sewing knowledge... but I was pleased that they did fit them and turned out fairly well.  They look cuter on them then just laying here!

I'm going to end this post... and when I get a chance later I will let you know what wonderf gifts they made for us!   They came up with some great ideas too.  Hopefully by the time I post, I will have batteries for my digital, so I can post the pictures. 

I was visiting ams blog and remembered I forgot to post the lapbooks we finished not long ago.  This was during our unit on the solar system.  Lapbooks are a lot of fun... time consuming, but fun.  I think that the kids got a lot out of doing them.  I let them come up with their own ideas.  I tell them the content that I want in it, then they do the research or take from what we learned that day.   The top is dd13 and the bottom pics are from ds11.

I finally framed my children's portraits that they did at the end of last year!  I kind of forgot about them until my son found them today... so, I went and got frames and even hung them!  I haven't hung many pictures since we moved into our new home... the pictures that I have... I'm not sure that they are the ones I want hung.  So... this gives a new look.  I love these pictures. 

I remember when I was in kindergarten, my teacher had done the outline drawing of each of us on white paper and posted it on a black construction paper.  I always thought they were neat.  I'm not sure where I came up with the idea... but I let each of the kids decorate their own how they wanted to.  I think they turned out great! 

Sangha is growing... and Kumal too.  This is a picture of Sangha sitting in my planter shoe... I haven't got a plant in there yet.... now I know why.  (The kittens have killed several of my plants that I had on my back porch!)

The first crystalis has hatched (is that the right term?)  We had been watching it all day yesterday.  The crystalis's color changed from green to opaque... we could see the butterfly's wings inside.  I thought it would have come out yesterday, but it didn't.  I had taken it out and it was just in a bucket so that the little ones could watch it better.  When we went to bed I had gone to check on him and decided to bring it inside because of the rain.  I didn't want a gust of wind to knock it over.  I had told dh that we may wake up with a butterfly somewhere in the house.  Sure enough, when dh got up for work he discovered the monarch butterfly on the stick in the bucket.  How exciting!!!  It is a male.  I feel awful because it is raining outside and we really can't release him. 

Our second one that had went into the crystalis is at the opaque stage too.  I'm hoping that we will get to see this one come out.  We have 4 more chances to see this happen.  They all should be out by the end of the long weekend. 

I was talking with dd6 this morning about the transformation of the caterpillar to butterfly and it being God's creation.  Her comment was, "God is Awesome!"  I couldn't agree with her more. 

All our caterpillars are in the process of becoming butterflies.... the last two are hanging in the "J" position as of this morning.  So, in two weeks they should be beautiful monarch butterflies. 

I decided to use this in my children's church message this morning.  The whole process of butterflies.  It is like we are when we become christians... "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."  2 Corinthians 5:17.  I had found a good devotion for the kids at www.christiancrafters.com/sermon_butterfly.html .  I also found another great one at http://www.letusteachkids.com/curriculum/heartheocean.htm  You'll find it if you scroll down a little ways.  So, between the two it has a great message!

Then when the devotion is over we will do a craft... I thought this one was really cool.  I had my two oldest do it for me to see how it works out.  (they are too old for children's church so then they can be my helpers now that they tested it themselves!) http://www.smm.org/sln/tf/n/nowyouseeit/nowyouseeit.html  It worked out great! 

I'm just amazed at how God has created these creatures... what an awesome message a butterfly has behind it!  They are nothing less than a miracle in themselves. 

Oh... come to think of it, I don't think that I had told about our 3rd caterpillar... we were able to watch him turn into a crystalis the other night.  I just happened to go out before we watched a movie and I seen that he started.  I called for the family and we all were able to watch him transform from a caterpillar to a pupa!  Absolutely amazing.  We were all amazed how quickly it happens.  (like under 15 minutes)  I hope that we are able to watch them come out from the pupa as a butterfly. 

We were at the library the other day and they have it set up for the whole process too.  They had a butterfly in there that had come out the night before.  Unfortunately, this little caterpillar was deformed.  He had gone into crystalis too soon.  Because his body wasn't ready he was born with only 4 legs vs. 6 legs.  His wings were still wrinkled and small.  I had read an article last night that a man had watched this process and seen that the butterfly was struggling to get out of the pupa... eventually the butterfly quit for a rest.  The man feeling sorry for butterfly snipped the pupa open enough that the butterfly would be able to come out without much effort.  Unfortunately, what the man didn't know was that God had created it that the struggle the butterfly goes through helps him to move the liquid from his body into his wings and thus gives him what he needs to survive.  The butterfly came out with his body full of the fluid... and I can't remember exactly but his wings were not right.  The butterfly wasn't able to fly. 

Makes ya think about the struggles that we go through in our life... the things that we think are just awful... God does those things or should I say allows those things to help us grow in the direction that he wants us to.  No matter how hard the struggle is.. there is a purpose.  We need to stay focused on God and allow Him to do the transformation that He is trying to accomplish through us. 

Thank you, Father God, for allowing me to struggle... because I know that it is only to help strengthen me in the direction that you need me to go.  I am grateful to have you as my savior... my friend.  Amen.

Yesterday morning our first caterpillar turned into a crystalis.  Our second caterpillar was hanging in the "J" position... and last night turned into it's crystalis also.  This morning there is another caterpillar hanging in the "J" position.  I had forgotton how quickly they can change.  I had checked on the second one and had noticed some liquid on it.  (I thought...hmmmm.. must be sweating from all that hard work!lol)  A little while later one of the kids went out and had seen it had changed already!  We missed it! 

So, now we should have butterflies in 14 days... that would take us to August 31st.  We still have 2 caterpillars left... I was really surprised that they went into their crystalis so quickly... I thought it would be a few weeks or so.  I guess, it's a good thing because where the milkweed is... it's by the road and if they mow it, it'll be gone. 

Oh, I found a great book at the library on them... It's called "Monarch Magic" by Lynn M. Rosenblatt.  It's great!  It has crafts for the kids to do along with activities.  Definitely could base a unit study out of this book.  I highly recommend it. 

Can't believe it has been a week since my last entry... either I've been too busy or I just haven't had anything to say.  The latter... just doesn't happen too often so I guess it's been that I've been too busy. 

Let's see... We have started a new project.  We picked up 3 monarch caterpillars a couple of days ago.  (They are on the milkweed at the end of our road)  Last night I worked at making a netting cage for them to stay.  The kids have been busy making sure that they have fresh milkweed daily.  Today dd12 brought the milkweed up and there were 2 more caterpillars on them!  So, now we have 5.  One caterpillar is now hanging upside down in the "J" position. 

I remember loving to watch the monarch process when I was a kid.  We had a field beside our house that was filled with milkweed.  I was so excited a couple of weeks ago when I discovered the milkweed at the end of the road.  Our last house didn't have any... but the houses were too close.  I'm thrilled that my kids will get to watch this process first hand vs. reading a book on it.  What a hands on lesson! 

I think we were all surprised to see how much those little things void... I was just reading that once they become a butterfly they will void once more and then no more!  Kind of amazing.   

Last night I thought I would try this easy canning... I had got the instructions from www.pickyourown.org which might I add is a great website. 

Anywhoooo.... I had bought a bushel of peaches.  Everyone has been devouring them, but I thought I would can what was left.  So let's see... to help easily peel the peaches you first 1.)dip the peaches in hot boiling water for 30-60 seconds and then 2.)dip them in ice water.  (It probably would have worked better if I had ice!!! boy, do I miss my ice maker!)  3.)Then you have to slice the peaches.  4.)The syrup was easy enough to make just boil sugar and water.  5.) Boil the lids and rings  6.) The cold packer pan needs to have boiling water too. 

I couldn't figure out how to have all these things boiling on the stove.  My pans obviously are too big!  Once I got the pan to dip the peaches and the cold packer pan, I didn't have any room for the other two pans.  Trying to peel, slice, pack jars, pour syrup in, clean the tops of jars, put lids on, and get them cold packed was exhausting!  I guess, I needed more than two hands!

I have to admit, I was so happy when dh came home and finished helping me.  The extra set of hands was wonderful!  I finished up with 11 quarts of peaches and 29 peaches to eat.  **sigh** 

It's always rewarding opening something that you canned... and of course it always tastes better than store bought.