The going ons of a family of 10 (currently) trying to live for the Lord Jesus Christ! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:44:00 -0600 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:44:00 -0600 I can't believe summer is over.  Yes, I know, it's been fall for quiet some time and though I can hardly stand the thought of it, it's almost time for the REALLY cold weather to settle in.  You see, there are things that I like about cold weather and things that I could really do with out.  I like that it gets dark earlier.  I don't like that I start feeling tired earlier.  I like the cozy feeling of sitting on the couch, reading a book aloud, and sipping on a cup of steaming tea, while my children quietly listen as they draw pictures.  I don't like when my children have a bunch of energy and it's too cold to stay out for very long.  I like looking out the window at  beautiful snow filled trees and fields.  I don't like pulling into a parking lot full of half melted dirty snow and slush.  Oh and the thing I like the least:  I don't like that I have to have socks, boots, coats, hats and gloves ready for 10 people when we want to go out of doors!   If I had it my way, I would live in an area where it was always 75 and sunny.  Where the rain showers were warm and mostly occurred at night.  Where you would never need a coat or shoes for that matter.  But I don't, so I guess I better go though all my stored winter items to see who needs what!  LOL And for your viewing pleasure, here's a picture of what's to come from the past: (Pappy, the boys and some neighbor friends made this BIG snow Goliath) (And here's little David) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/744818/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/744818/ LibriVox is one of our favorite sites.  When mom can't read aloud, the volunteers at LivriVox do the work for me.  LibriVox  provides, for FREE, via audio, books that are in the public domain.  Most of the books are "classics".  Personally, we do not listen to or read anything just because it is labeled "classic".   For us there must be a purpose  and no offense made of God's Word found in the materials we read.   Here's what we can recommend from LibriVox: Isabella (Pansy) Alden (link to her books on LivriVox) According to Keepers of the Faith (KOF): Isabella Macdonald Alden lived from 1841 to 1930. Her pen name was Pansy. She wrote or edited more than two hundred published works. Isabella Alden was known for developing characters who possessed an unwavering commitment to follow Jesus Christ. Her motivation for writing was to give a clear understanding of salvation and what it means to be a committed Christian. So often in her books, she presents the characteristics of a professing Christian in contrast to a possessing Christian. Each book has a particular biblical point she is trying to share with her readers. Available at LivriVox : Chautauqua series: 1. Four Girls at Chautauqua 2. Chautauqua Girls at Home 3. Ruth Erskine's Crosses 4. Judge Burnham's Daughters (started, but not yet complete) 5. Ruth Erskine's Son (not yet available) 6. Ester Ried Yet Speaking 7. Four Mothers at Chautauqua (not yet available) 8. Endless Chain (not yet available) Ester Ried Series: 1.Ester Ried 2. Julia Ried 3.King's Daughter 4. Three People (not yet available) 5. Wise and Otherwise 6. Ester Ried's Namesake 7. Echoing and Re-echoing (not yet available) Also Available: Swiss Family Robinson There are two versions of SFR, make sure you pick the first version read by Mark F. Smith.  It is the better version of the two. There are many other titles, feel FREE to search their catalog and if you find anything exceptionally godly and encouraging, please come back and post a comment including the title of the audio book. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/730041/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/730041/ Here's what my middle and younger children did almost everyday this past summer: Pictured here are Sissy, Son4 and Little Big Bro. They had a lot of fun and gained some beginning swimming skills in our little pool. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726429/ Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726429/ More pictures as promised! These are pictures of the middle boys harvesting spinach seeds for next year.  We have also saved seed from: Sunflowers Corn Broccoli Bok Choy Green Beans Lettuce One of our favorites in the garden this year was: De Morges Braun. 65 days. Very rare romaine type with upright, rounded leaves, applegreen in the center and pink-to-bronze outside. Tender and sweet, holds well in the garden, and is one of the last to become bitter. A good choice for early spring or fall gardens, as it tolerates cool temperatures very well. Makes a lovely salad! From Switzerland. This description was obtained from the web site of Baker Creek where the seeds were bought.  We found that the description was quite accurate.  We have A LOT of this planted in our fall garden and it seems to be doing just as well as it did for spring planting.  Here's an actual picture of this wonderful little plant:  Our corn did well, if you like corn meal. The sweet corn we planted was not very sweet. We think it may have crossed with some pop corn seeds that the children planted. Next year, if the Most High wills, we plan on planting just one variety so that hopefully we won't have that problem. We are still thankful for the corn meal we will have and the plants were fun to have in the garden at over 13 feet high!  Here's a photo of Little Big Bro standing in front of the tallest patch we had: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726428/ Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726428/ Will we ever be able to post anything other than updates?  :) What has gone on in the last couple of months... let's see, well there was the garden, and then more of the garden and then we started our lessons (book learning ;) ) and then there was more gardening... Ohhhh, now I remember why we seem only to be able to update... our dinobot (read old computer) moves SOOOO slowly that it ends up being fun frustrating to post.  It takes FOREVER to upload pictures to photobucket and then in turn upload them from there to here!  I know (in the back of my mind) that it's going to take me half a life time to add a new entry so I just keep putting it off... and off... and off. Ok, so now I've started a new entry and of course it's taking forever to get everything in order for a "proper posting".  I actually didn't plan on posting tonight.  I was coming downstairs to turn the computer off and then I started thinking about some other sisters I know that blog... of course, they REALLY blog.  They actually have regular posts!   They don't blog like me.  Updates.  They really let others get a good peek into their lives.  They post a bunch of fun photos and interesting tid bits about how their week is going.  Me, I post updates.  Oh and one sister, she always has tutorials and fun little videos on her site (yes, she actually has a whole site...  Hi Star ;) ).  Me, I post updates.  ....Great... wouldn't you know it.  Photobucket has a "new system".  I think it's actually going to take 3/4 of a life time for me to finish this post (if I intend to add pictures and come on, let's face it, it just won't be the same with out photos!) I wonder how many people will actually read all of these ramblings of mine.  LOL Ok, I finally got the pictures to START uploading (wonder how long this is going to take).  If you haven't noticed, I've decided to ramble whilest I  wait for things to upload, download and aroundload.... I can NOTbelieve this.  I just checked to see how the upload with the photos is going.... 6% .... I'm going to be here forever... FOREVER!!!  hummm, maybe I should think of something helpful to type.  Oh, I know!  Here's something that we are doing that is helpful around here.  I have gone back to the use of tapes.  I record some Scripture verses, phonics lessons, math lessons, stories and songs all on one tape for Sissy to listen to each morning.  She has a wet erase book that I made to go along with the tape as a visual, it has about 52 pages.   What I did to make the wet erase book was to make copies of the phonics lessons, picture books that I read, math lessons and verses and I simply slid them into medium grade page protectors.  It works out VERY nicely.  I make a new book and tape every two weeks.  I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like one or more of their children to get some extra practice in one or more areas education wise.  I also make English  tapes for my middle boys.  This is also VERY helpful.  Sorry I don't actually have any photos of my children using their tapes, but writing about it has made me remember to take photos soon! (Let me check to see how the photos are coming along... .... I think I might faint.  They aren't even half way through uploading.) What else can I share?  Uhm, oh I know!  I found a really great drill program.  REALLY simple, no frills and you can actually make your own drills too.  Now, let me caution you, if you like your childrens programs to have flashing lights, goofy "YOU DID IT" voice encouragements, bells and whistles ect.... read no further.  You would not want this program (at least not the version that we have).  It is called Click and Learn (you can click on the link, but I really don't know what they have at the site because we use an OLD off line version of this program... that was my disclaimer ;) )  I really REALLY like this program.  My children have  memorize Bible verses, the books of the Bible, the states and capitals, the times table, and much more all very painlessly LOL.  They all really like the program too.  I don't know where one would find the old program, I got mine in a resale package deal.  It was Click and Learn, Quarter Mile Math and some other program that we decided not to use all for the "blessing" price of 8.00ppd!  The Quarter Mile Math cd was org. over 90.00!  (They like that program too, and honestly it is helping them with math and keyboarding skill even though it's not my favorite program.)  Oh and I just found out something that's kind of neat.  If you want to test out Quarter Mile Math (you know, a try it before you buy it type deal) you can sign up for a month for 2.95 online (but your children don't actually have to connect to the internet to use the program).  You can also sign up for a year for 19.95 and up to 12 family members can use the program. Ding.  My pictures are done!  Yay! Wow, my rambling has made this post quite a read.  Congratulations if you made it this far and thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin.  :) Without further rambling, here are some update photos: This is a picture of a little harvest. I think son1 took this picture. .... Wouldn't you know it... right when it's time for the FUN part, the picture posting, little chunk wakes up. Well, I guess I have to post more pictures later (I intend on making sure that it doesn't take me two months! LOL)  Ok, so forgive all typos, misspelled words and incorrect grammar... Love to you all in the name of Jesus! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726188/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/726188/ With things so a-buzz around here I can hardly find the time to post!  I have been wanting to write up another garden moment post and so, finally, I am able.  This will be brief because at any moment Little Man might start bellowing for me!  LOL.  I think I will just post some pictures and captions (for the pics).  Enjoy! Here's "Sissy" planting a tomato plant in the "square foot garden" area. Rows of lettuce, onions (from seed), and spinach in plot #1, the "single row" area.   Plot #2, this is our "wide row" area. You can see the green beans and onions (from sets) and way in the back two rolls of peas. Pappy, the boys and a neighbor friend pick peas from Plot #2. Pappy and the boys mounding the dirt up on the potatoes. One of the boys took this picture of a beautiful looking head of romaine lettuce, one of hundreds in our garden LOL. We have so many neat pictures, I hope to share more in the weeks to come. The Most High has truly blessed our efforts thus far and we thank and praise Him! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/699474/ Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/699474/ I've been trying to find a bit of time for updates.  The garden is in full swing.  We've harvested LOTS!  I can't write up a total update today, but I just had to find the time to post these precious pictures of "Missy" eating nature's candy.  You see, we all have the good habit of wondering out in to the garden, plucking what's good to eat and chowing down LOL. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/699079/ Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/699079/ Son1 was wondering if he could still do a back tuck at over 6 feet tall.  Guess it must be like riding a bike for him. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/691594/ Fri, 22 May 2009 12:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/691594/ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Ecclesiastes 9:10 That is our intention this gardening season!  For all you avid gardeners, avid gardener wannabees (20 hands raised over here LOL) or folks that just like to look at other folks' gardens... we have some pictures of our garden from the beginning of the season.  Mind you, it doesn't look like this right now.  We have food up now!  We'll try to post more garden moments through out the spring and summer... however those who know our track record when it comes to posting to this blog will probably not be holding their breath! LOL!  Anyway, on to the pictures! You can only see about 1/3 of the area here. We have lettuce, spinach, beets (both regular and sugar), radishes, carrots, onions, and sugar snap peas planted here. Lord willing, green beans will be planted here as well in a couple of weeks. Here we have planted shell peas, spinach, onions, lima beans, carrots, and lentils.  Again, Lord willing, this area will be home to more green beans. Lettuce, onions, green beans and zucchini make it's home here. A couple of the children's square foot gardens. Not exactly sure what all they have planted in them. Guess we'll see as the season progresses! Behind our childrens' sand box is the potato and corn patch. Btw the sand box is between the first garden area that we posted and the potato and corn patch. It's very nice to have an area for the little ones to play in after they help a bit in the garden. One of our compost areas, in the background you can see another angle of the potato and corn patch.   And if you look way out past the potato / corn patch you can see the chicken's coop.  There are about 6 other areas that are not shown. We will try to get more pictures and post them as the spring and summer progresses.  So far, things are looking good, we are praying that the Lord will send the sun and rain in the amounts needed and bless our efforts.  If you are a gardener and you have pictures of your garden, big or small, please leave us a comment with a link to your blog so we can check it out! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/686073/ Tue, 5 May 2009 19:19:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/686073/ Pappy and the boys just finished our new (and improved) RecyCOOP.  We decided to take the old one down in order to expand our garden in that area.  The area looks much nicer and the coop is a much nicer coop too.  The only things new on this coop are the screws! LOL Sorry, no pictures of the construction of the coop... our camera was out of batteries.   Pappy and the boys salvaging wood from a barn close to our neck of the woods that was torn down.   This wood serves as the outer walls, while pallets serve as the frame of the building. Nice large fenced area for the chickens to range. This smaller area is fully fenced to protect our girls from hawks, a sly fox or other animals who might think them a tasty treat.  Sissy, showing everyone how the dutch doors work. The girls' boxes are built from some old book cases we no longer needed...they were just the right size! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/681950/ Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/theJfamily/681950/