Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in MoneyMatters
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Time again for Tightwad Tuesday with Canadagirl
Again, being inspired by Sharon Lovejoy, I got the crazy idea to take this pile of sticks and turn it into A Living Fence.  Where as most people would just see a pile of garbage needed to be hauled to the dump. We made posts out of them.  Plotted out an area.  Built a fence    And then I planted it with morning glory's and Hollyhock's. This is what is called A Living Fence. Stay tuned for more pictures later this summer when it has all grown up. It should make a nice hedge as well. The best part is, is that it cost less than 10 dollars!! |
Posted in Kids Antics
    And he did it all by himself in one day!! No help from the parents!!
Well, very little help!! For more Show and Tell Fridays, visit Mary at Canadagirl |
Posted in Kids Antics
  For more Wordless Wednesday Pic's Check out Tiany's blog. |
Posted in Homeschooling Adventures
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Over a year ago I came across a book called Sunflower houses by Sharon Lovejoy. I was able to check it out at the Library and found that she had some other books that I liked better: Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots - Activities to do in the Garden
This book has many fun garden projects in it to do with children - from constructing tepees, growing giant pumpkins, moon flowers that open up in the light of the moon. Lots of craft projects and many, many other ideas. Trowel and Error Over 700 tips, remedies and shortcuts for the garden This book is basically a tightwads guide to gardening. I have found the book to be very useful and full of lots of creative ideas to make gardening cheaper. Like using an old car for a green house, not that people usally have one laying around but if you do - there's an idea! The first thing that I have done in getting ready for our gardening adventure this year has been ordering many, many, many seed catalogs. There is a wealth of knowledge you can learn just from reading a seed catalog. I am not talking Gruney's or Stark Brothers - One's like Seeds of Change, Territorial Seed Co., and there is even one that is run by a Christian family (not sure if they homeschool or not), Heirloom Seeds. I have learned that there are organic seeds, heirloom seeds, and than just seeds. There are Chocolate Tomatoes, Tomatillo's, Pineapple Tomatoes, Lemon Cucumbers, even a Kiwi that can survive done to -30 below - hence the name Hardy Kiwi. I checked out a LOT of books on gardening from our local Library - preferably with pictures. We also visited several of our local nurseries so the kids could get a visual idea of this plant thing. We are getting a late start. I have found that a lot of plants I should have started indoors back in February so I will be buying these rather than trying to grow things from seeds. I have also found that some of the plants talked about in Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots are not very popular, like the walking stick Cabbage. It would have to be ordered. Along with trying to get the pasture area leveled, seeded, sprinkler system put in and fenced (pictures later this week) there hasn't been any time to work on the yard. I did finally tackle it though with the help of some church friends, they live within walking distance and looking for something to do, their Mother was wondering if I could put them to work - boy, could I!! So with their help, we started planting this past week. The first thing we planted was corn.    4 bags full that is!! This was the 4yo idea. His 2 favorite foods right now are corn and watermelon.We planted them in one big plot. I am thinking I am going to have to transplant some of them, to make the area a little bigger. If you have seen the movie Second Hand Lions you will have an idea of what this is going to look like.  Next we created our tepees. I had saved sticks from last year when we limbed the trees.  This tepee is for the Bird house gourds and there is a wire thing in front (you can't really see it) for the Pole Beans. There will be giant pumpkins planted around it as well.  This tepee is for the Moon flowers. Moon flowers open up at night and they are part of the morning glory family.  "Must Do" list - Plant, Plant, Plant If I am going to place an azure order, today is the day to do it. Homekeeping - What's that? Menu Planning - Anything that is simple! Monday - Spaghetti Tuesday - Hamburgers Wednesday - Enchilada Casserole Thursday - Something with chicken Friday - Quesidilla Saturday - ?? Sunday - Bible Study/Devotions - We are reading The Building on the Rock series. |
Posted in Day to Day Adventures
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Wow! I haven't been here for a while. We have been extremely busy around here. We had company for 5 weeks, got many projects started and finished around the property, and the 7yo finished his math book - YEAH!! One of the major projects that got done was getting our house painted!!
  The cool thing is, is that he is he is a homeschool Father as well!! Here is the house somewhat done, still needed a second coat on the trim. The back of the house before the doors where painted. After the doors where painted. Door inside the house. All done!! We got the garage lights up as well!!Boy, I am sure glad that we didn't paint it our selves!! For more show and tell Friday visit mary at Canadagirl. (But I think she may be gone for the next couple weeks.) |
Posted in whimsical quips
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The other we were looking at Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites - The Foot Book. The 7yo asked how you can have "sick feet"? I had to think a minute than reminded him of when he stepped on a nail a little over a month ago. He had a sick foot than. "But that was just one sick foot. It says feet so it means both. How do you get two sick feet?" The 4yo piped up, "Step on two nails."
 Sounds like the solution to me!!
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Posted in Deep Thoughts
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I have said it and I have heard it said by other home school Mothers – “I don’t know if my child is learning anything but I sure am!!” Home schooling, has nothing to do with text books – math, reading, handwriting, science and other forms of so called “formal” learning but it has everything to do with sharpening dull rocks into finely sharpened arrows. The end product is strictly up to us as the parent. This is both scary and challenging as you are working with several different personality types and living in a society that no longer values righteousness. I can truly say I feel sorry for, and yet at the same time envy, Mother’s who can pat their kids on the head, kiss their sweet cheeks and send them off to some institution for 8 hours or more a day to be trained by other people.
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To read other peoples articles who participated in this memePosted in Homeschooling Adventures
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Throw out those Text books and pull out the games!! Games can be a great way to learn (maybe even better) and you can have a lot of fun in the process!!  The first game of choice has been Tally HO! We have actually worn this game out and we have only had it for three months. It is a spin off of checkers, created in Germany, it helps work on those critical thinking skills. It is actually for 8 years and up but our 7 yo has gotten the hang of it. He just didn't win very many games but this really wasn't a problem. The tables have turned though. Some of the important pieces of the game are now "marked" which only 7yo's seem to be able to figure out so now the 7yo is whooping the adults. It has complimented our math program (math-U-See) quit well since it includes skip counting by 2, 3, and 5 and "re grouping" (or carrying). Tally HO has revived an interest in learning to play checkers and learning to play chess.  Sorry - even the 4yo can play this. It is helping him learn to count and building his attention span.  They greatly enjoy getting the "sorry" cards and sending someone back to start. No proper horse people can be without the game Pony - oply. This game requires counting, adding, and subtracting. Along with a little horsing around. The kids love it but, yes, it is a very long, long, long, long, long game. Do start in the middle of the afternoon.   Scrable Junior is the latest game we have been playing. The 7yo has been catching on to this.   Stay tuned for Part 2 - will be coming to another Show and Tell Friday some time in the distant future. |
For more show and tell Friday visit Posted in Kids Antics
 For more Thankful Thursday!!We are Thankful for new shoes!!    Our little pony is Thankful for the box!!   Light up shoes at that!!  Woo - hoo!! |
Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in Husband Antics
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This is the latest house that my husband built. The house is 3200 square feet, it has a full basement - the basement is made out of arrax block. More on that later.  the garage  the shop from a distance   the entrance the back -  the area is actually the dining area the kids taking a ride  |
For more show and tell Friday visit Mary aka Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in Kids Antics
 Daaa-vv-eeyy, Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier Buffalo Bill For more Friday Show and Tell - visit Mary at Canadagirl |
Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in MoneyMatters
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Give your own hair cuts. |
Posted in Deep Thoughts
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While visiting with friends one day there was a discreptancy among our two boys. We did the "good American" thing and had the older boy say "I'm sorry" to the younger child - then there is the hug and make-up ritual and everything is all better now. End of story. Our friend watched the process and, afterward, said this: Before we come to Christ we
1. need to recognize that we are sinners in need of a saviour. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 2. Repent of your sins Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 3. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 4. Turn away from your wicked ways Eze 33:14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 5. Sin no more Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Here's the scenario - Johnny takes a toy from Katey - Teacher tells Johnny to give the toy back to Katey, Teacher now makes Johnny say "I'm sorry," hug, make-up and all is better now.
Or is it
Not more than two hours later this is repeated again- To truly be sorry about something one needs to recognize the "action" is sin, repent of this sin, than turn from this sin, and than not continuing the action - you now recognize that it is sin.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? To look further at the scene - Teacher pats Johnny on head, tells him what a good boy he is and what not - Johnny now feels good about himself and has now learned how to manipulate the system or become a good liar. The "Christian" churches of today teach the same philosophy but concerning salvation instead - Just "believe" in Jesus as Lord and now your saved - Your "IN"......Jesus Loves U - oh, did we tell you about all the amazing stuff He wants to give you......This is much different than what it says in Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. God is not mocked - Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He knows the heart...Jer. 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all, things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? One of our favorite child trainers tells the story of when his daughter became a believer - He simply said "We'll see 6 months from now and left it at that." 2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. Now when our children do something that needs to be called an "I'm sorry" we show them that what they did is SIN, we inform them that sin is what separates us from God and that if they are really sorry, they won't do it again. Bad behavior does not get rewarded - we say We'll See - after all, when it comes to our children occupying heaven or hell this is nothing to play around with. A result of this is our children recognizing what SIN is. A couple weeks ago my 7yo came up to me and apologized to me for not listening to me earlier in the day. I could see that his apology was sincere, after all he had had over 3 hours to think about his action. Over the course of the next couple days I could tell that he was really trying hard to listen. This is met with praise and encouragement. He is learning the difference between right and wrong. This is preparing him to hear the Father knocking on his hearts door and making a heart that will be moldable by God. This makes for one proud Momma!! |
Posted in Kids Antics
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Posted in Homeschooling Adventures
My tightwad tip for this week is build your own shelving. It is extremely cheaper than buying it and all you need is some screws, a screw gun, and some boards. Yes and maybe a saw.  This project went along real well with the 7yo's math lessons this past week. The 4yo put screws in the holes. The 7yo holding the boards in place. Notice their fancy aprons. The got them for free at the Home and Garden show this past weekend, they were very proud of them.  The 2yo worked on sanding a little. Here is a picture of the shelf in the office. The nice thing about building your own, you can customize them to any size you want, just be sure to put in lot of bracing as well. This book shelf is in our office. This is were all my books are stored.  This is the one we just built. It is for all the games and miscellaneous things one collects while home schooling.For more Tightwad Tuesday tips - visit Mary at Canadagirl |