Fur Lined Toilet Seats

Substitute Home-school Teacher

2011-10-18T14:35:00.001-04:00

I need a sub. Can I call in today?

The cold I tried my best to ignore by hoping it was just allergies, is hitting me hard today. I feel rotten. I have a bad cough. My nose is runny. And the worst of it, I can hardly speak.

You mommas know how hard it is to keep up with 4 kids and a puppy when you can’t speak?!

I just want a cup of tea and a warm blanket.

And maybe some chocolate.

But there is no sub to call. And though the kids are pitching in and doing all they can, they still need me. So, I’m doing what I can and letting go of much of my to-do list.

And school?

I suppose we could call it off for the day.

It wouldn’t be the end of the world.

But then my girl sat down and read the book about the Revolutionary War, the one I had planned for this week’s school work.

And my boy pitched in and read a story to his baby brother, picking through the hard words and never giving up.

My baby girl created a magnificent piece of art work, using crayons, popsicle sticks, and a foam star.

Danny volunteered to lead the prayer and do the morning meeting.

Mary said she’d teach Danny’s math lesson.

Maybe they don’t need me as much as I think they do!

But, I’d still like that sub.

Wonder if she’d do dishes and laundry…

{This Moment}

2011-10-14T07:17:00.001-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Ginger’s first moments in her new home.

Sharing today SouleMama. Hope you’ll head over there and share, too.

Thanksgiving

2011-10-12T23:06:00.001-04:00

It’s a little early, but my mind is on Thanksgiving.

Specifically, the baskets our church will put together and deliver.

I’m making the rough draft of the shopping list tonight.

And I keep getting stuck.

I want to help people, I just don’t know if a cardboard box full of potatoes is enough.

So many people are struggling. I want to help them shoulder their burden. But their burden is being shouldered for me.

The government has so many programs to help. How is the box I pack going to make a significant difference in their life?

I’m afraid it won’t.

People need more than food.

They need us to care. They need us to love.

God has blessed us richly in the ways that matter. His love… The love of His people…

So how do we put that in a Thanksgiving Basket?

I want it to be more than just food for their bellies.

So, I added this list to the bottom of our Thanksgiving Basket shopping list.

Love
~A pretty tablecloth… A nice candle or two… A pumpkin…
A football… A few fun things for the kids… A great magazine…
A pretty serving bowl… A favorite cookbook…
Homemade bread… A jar of preserves…
Copies of your favorite recipes with you favorite
Bible verse and loving words printed on the back…
Fresh fall flowers…

Still, it just doesn’t seem enough.

Is there a worthy sacrifice I can make? How can I make them feel God’s LOVE?

Any suggestions? I sure could use your help.

Authentic Learning Experiences

2011-10-11T08:56:00.001-04:00

I love when learning happens in very real ways.

A guest speaker, Gray Eagle, came to speak to at our kids’ Homeschool Academy (it’s a wonderful group that meets for classes once a week) on Monday. It was fun watching them learn about Native American culture in our state.

Later in the week, we had a field trip to a local apple orchard.

We went with great friends from the homeschool academy.

We learned how apples get picked, processed, and packaged and make their way to our fridge.

And my boy held hands with a girl… Ahem…

Later in the week, we had a special visitor in our front yard.

Eastern Box Turtles are protected around here. They are a rare sight in our yard.

The kids watched the turtle and gently patted it’s back. I did not allow them to pick it up or move it in any way. These are special slow movers, so after a brief visit we hurried the kids back inside to watch from the living room window as it went on it’s way.

A little later, I pulled out this lovely apple crate that I bought when we were on our field trip to the orchard.

Mary wanted to help me paint it, so I turned over the jar of milk paint and my foam brush. Look at that concentration!

She did a lovely job, learning to paint and watch for drips. I now have a lovely crate to store our bonfire supplies (candles, tablecloth, paper plates, etc.).

And while we did not “do” homeschool this week while my honey was on vacation, we enjoyed some of the very best kinds of lessons!

Learning from real life experiences, making amazing memories, and having fun all the way… That’s my kind of learning!

Apple Butter

2011-10-07T13:36:00.001-04:00

My kitchen is full of the smell of apples, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Heavenly.

And it’s so easy!

To see my recipe for crock-pot apple butter, click here.

You won’t regret it.

Seriously yummy.

Unbelievable easy.

This year, I did peel the apples, hoping to avoid using the food mill ‘cause I’m lazy like that today. Seriously, I plan to have a bonfire tonight and I need life to be easy. But either way, this stuff is good. Really, really good.

So grab a bag of apples at your local orchard, a gallon of cider, and a crock-pot. You won’t regret it when you are eating that rich apple butter in January. Oh, my…

Sharing today at:

A Good Day…

2011-10-01T00:37:00.001-04:00

Some days are just… Good.

My boy read “If You Give A Moose A Muffin,” giggling all the way.

My laundry got done… well, except for that load I meant to hang out. Guess that’ll go on the line in the morning.

My baby boy fell asleep in my arms. I kissed his little nose. A lot.

The sun was shining and my kiddos were playing in the yard. Meanwhile, a certain, very much used and slightly mistreated porch swing got that stain that I’ve been promising it for so long.

Then, after popping some baked beans into the oven to bake, we headed outside yet again. My kiddos played on the giant dirt pile left from the work we had done in our barn. I built a nice little fire in the fire pit.

My honey brought home chocolate bars and a bottle of Oliver Black Cherry.

Then, there were hotdogs. And there were marshmallows with chocolate and graham cracker s’more goodness.

And there were sparklers.

And it was good... A very good day…

Early Fall Bouquet

2011-09-27T20:02:00.001-04:00

Summer ends

and Fall begins…

And the wildflower bouquet

gracing my kitchen table…

Bright, vivid yellows

deep, rich purples…

And the beauty

of grasses gone to seed…

In a canning jar

Fall’s beauty boasts…

~ ~ ~

Homeschool Hiatus

2011-09-27T10:13:00.001-04:00

Thirty days down, One hundred and fifty to go… Sounds a little daunting.

Nevertheless, we are taking today off. My darlings are tired. They need a break. They are wearing their jammies. They are chilling in the family room, watching Homeward Bound. I have no agenda today.

And yet….

The egg cartons have come out of the storage room.

And my oldest two are building pyramids.

And then, our good friend Math showed up.

The egg cartons are fewer in number these days. The pyramids aren’t quite so big.

So they started with a base of 10 or so…

But they ran out of egg cartons before they reached the top of the pyramid.

So, they tried a base of 9. Not quite…

And a base of 8….

Until finally, they found the magic number and configuration of cartons to create a perfect pyramid.

Um. Yeah. Math happened here today.

A little un-intended schooling. So, does that count?

Happily enjoying a Homeschool Hiatus.

Happy homeschooling…

This Moment

2011-09-23T07:04:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I’m linking {this moment} over at Soule Momma.

September

2011-09-23T06:43:00.001-04:00

I’m back from my “fishing trip.”

Well, maybe…

I’d like to say it’s been a nice break. In truth, September has not been my favorite month of the year. Some days, it’s hard being a grown-up.

It’s hard to look past the aggravation of the mildew in the basement. I’ve been fighting it for quite a while, wondering why all my cleaning seems to be futile. Finally, I admitted defeat. We started ripping out the carpet. We found a pristine and dry floor underneath. Confusion. And then, we moved the set of cabinets that serve as my homeschool and craft storage. Eww… The mildew epicenter. Underneath the cabinet and where the cabinet touches the wall was full of mildew disgust. Needless to say, cabinets have gone to the barn to either rot or be cleaned and painted with some Kilz. Carpet is gone. Much bleach has been used. Again, and again… I can now go into my own basement without getting a terrible headache. I’m liking it.

We’re also fighting another battle. A traffic one. My poor honey. He’s been getting up early to beat the rush getting to work. We are not, and I repeat, NOT morning people. Far from it. However, leaving the house at five means a one hour commute to make the normally 45 minute trip. Leaving any later means a commute that can take two and a half hours, each way. I don’t know when this insanity will end and our roads will be open again. In the meantime, I’m finding that five o’clock does happen twice a day.

And Mr. Sam… He had another fall. Another trip to the emergency room. And I have more silver in my hair. This kid’s gonna have to get a helmet. He’s fine and healing nicely. A little trivia for you… That connecting thingy that goes between your top lip and your gums will reattach on it’s own when certain accident prone children manage to tear it… But it looks horribly scary.

I feel bogged down by all this. I’ve been eating lots of chocolate. It’s a good thing I take lots of pictures. Looking back at the September photos, I can see beyond the overwhelming stuff. Despite the crud we’ve been through, we’ve managed a lot of joy…

A certain little boy lost his first tooth. A momentous occasion which brought great joy. He had been racing with his big sister to lose his tooth before she lost her loose tooth. But in a moment of frustration, she pulled her very loose tooth and got the thing over with. He was crushed. Totally crushed. It’s not fair to pull the tooth… So I told him that it wasn’t too late to call it a tie. He tried his best to pull that wiggly tooth, but it hurt. So he asked his big sis to do the job. And, she did. Without remorse on either side. Just joy and a bit of blood. Ah, siblings.

And speaking of big sis… She’s found a confidence and joy that shows in this picture. She’s become a little lady all of a sudden and she’s growing up too fast for her momma. Can’t stop time, but September will be the month I mark when my eldest went from being a little girl to being “half-grown.”

And then there’s this cute little ball of fluff.
Ginger is adorable and the kids can hardly wait to bring her home in October.

Ah, October…. Please be nice to us.

And thanks y’all….
for the break…
for the encouragement…
and for stopping by. I missed ya’.

A Little Break

2011-09-01T16:00:00.001-04:00

I love sharing here. I love writing, sharing my photos, and hearing from folks who take time to read my silly little thoughts.

Life has been a bit crazy around here… Nothing wrong, just lots of normal chaos.

I’m going fishing for awhile. Not really, ‘cause I don’t like to bait a hook or even catch fish. Mostly, I’ll be helping my honey rip the carpet out of the basement (it has been making me really, really sick). Then, I’m going to paint my porch swing. Maybe, I’ll even have a yard sale. More likely, I’ll just haul the stuff to Good-Will.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I’ll be back… eventually.

Show and Tell

2011-08-26T22:49:00.001-04:00

This is how we learn…

I’ve wanted to take the kids on this field trip for quite some time.

The Falls of the Ohio state park is amazing. These fossil beds are exposed much of the year, allowing visitors to hike, explore, touch, and even pick up the many fossil rocks in the park (just don’t take ‘em with you, okay?).

The falls is located on the Ohio River, near a railroad bridge and just a short distance from the city. That’s Louisville, Kentucky that you see in the background.

It’s hard walking down into the river bed. I brought handsome honey along and I’m so glad I did. No way could I have managed this fieldtrip alone.

The fossils are amazing and the place is rich in history that goes back to the buffalo trace and Lewis and Clark.

I guess that’s them…. I shot this photo from the moving car on our way out!

The kids enjoyed exploring and hopping across the shallow puddles of water in search of really cool islands.

They also had fun creating a bridge using an old piece of wood that had drifted up onto the fossil beds.

It doesn’t take long to get hot when walking in the river bed, but the interpretive center is cool (as in air-conditioned) and full of interesting exhibits.

And this, is how our family learns.

Wanna share how your family is learning? Post a link to your blog or facebook page. Can’t wait to see what you share!

Everyday Moments

2011-08-25T13:09:00.001-04:00

~Why I love being a mom with a camera!

Bet you didn’t see that coming! Well, maybe you did!

Call me a dork, but I just found the setting on my camera that allows me to take many pictures all in a row. It’s such fun to play with taking a quick sequence of photos of my kids doing what they do best. Play.

And I have captured a fun little moment in time that I will treasure.

I’m sharing today at

A Little School

2011-08-23T14:01:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was the first day for my sweeties
to join a local homeschool academy.

And what a wonderful day it was!

The kids will attend classes one day per week, homeschooling for the other four days. A bit of the best of both worlds and a great break for momma!

More to come…

Texas Hash

2011-08-22T12:59:00.001-04:00

~an easy recipe for those fresh garden veggies

Got lots of yummy fresh tomatoes? Dice them up and fill the bottom two inches of your casserole dish.

Add some rice, about 3/4 of a cup. It should be enough to more or less cover the tomatoes. Remember that rice fluffs up when it cooks, so it doesn’t take much. I also added about 1 cup of water.

Yummy, yummy green peppers…

Sautéed lightly with a thinly sliced onion in a bit of olive oil...

Then, add to the tomatoes and rice.

Finally, some ground beef, browned and seasoned with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir the mixture and bake for 15 minutes more, uncovered.

Serve with cornbread and fresh corn on the cob. Yum!

Saturday Show and Tell

2011-08-19T21:08:00.001-04:00

Here’s a chance to share how your kids learn. Homeschool families, Sunday School teachers, school teachers, preschool teachers… If you help a child learn, link up and share!

The rules are simple…

Anyone who teaches children may join in. Mothers, homeschoolers, preschool teachers, classroom teachers, Sunday-School teachers…. Please don’t share photos of children without parent permission.
Link to a specific post, not just your main web address. That way, we don’t need to search for your post!
Check out a few of the other posts and leave a comment, please.
And if you have time… Share our show and tell party with some friends. You can add a link back to this page on your post. You could share a link on Facebook or Twitter. Or, you could do all of the above and that would really make my day!

So this week at the FLTS Academy…

We survived our first week back to the books.

Sometimes, and especially when the laundry pile is as tall as me, I wonder why we do this crazy thing. Are we gluttons for punishment?

Truly, my house fell apart this week. We have sticky floors in the kitchen and the bathrooms are not fit to talk about. Honestly, that stuff is pretty normal around here. I struggle to keep up on a good day. This week, the mess has grown to proportions that make me want to pull my hair out and cry.

The kids are tired, too. School only lasts during the morning hours, yet it has managed to wear my children out so much that they are ready for be an hour earlier than normal.

And oh, dear goodness… I am exhausted. I just asked my handsome honey to please, oh, please, do bedtime tonight and let me have just a little time all by myself. I just want to be alone. Just for a bit. You know, I rarely get a bathroom break alone. I Just Want To Be ALONE. Twenty minutes ought to do it. And maybe a hot bath… and a glass of blackberry wine… and chocolate.

It’s pretty overwhelming. And then, I look back and see all the good that came from the week.

School has been wonderful.

Our new curriculum has been fun, yet challenging. We went with Singapore Math this year and I like it quite well so far. We also like Explode the Code, another new workbook we are trying out. I think I started Danny (Grade 1) out too easy, but the “Getting Ready for the Code” has been perfect for Sarah (Pre-K). Mary (G-3) is loving the literature based study of American History. This week she read a book about life in the time of Pocahontas and began making a model of Fort James. The kids give the school experience a 9 out of 10 on the fun factor. I’ll take that.

We visited the academy the kids will be attending one day per week. I must say, I am very impressed and excited about getting to be a part of such a lovely group. The kids have their backpacks ready, as the first day of classes is coming up on Monday!

On Wednesday, I started a group page on facebook for area homeschoolers. I must say, we live in about as small a town as you can get and still be a town. Already, we have 9 families signed up to join our little group. I am amazed and excited and overjoyed.

Our family even had our first official field trip of the year. Today, we headed out to a state park for a class on identifying animal remains. Really cool, really fun. There were several homeschool families there and I see some cute little friendships forming between the kids in the class already.

And so, I’m glad we get to share all this good stuff. Maybe you could just avoid the bathroom if you come over for a visit. I did get the tub clean, though. Think I’ll go put it to use!

If you haven’t already shared a link to your blog, I hope you will. If you don’t have a blog, then it’s time to get one! It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s lots of fun to share! Last week, a friend of mine even shared a link to her page on Facebook. If all else fails, I hope you’ll leave a comment and tell us about the fun you are having learning with your littles. Can’t wait to see the fun ways you are learning.

Learning is fun.

Thankful Thursday

2011-08-18T19:56:00.001-04:00

Today I’m thankful for…

Library ladies, always kind to my kids, helpful and sweet…

A new homeschool group and all the families that make it!

Making spaghetti sauce in the kitchen with my momma, like old days.

A play-date with friends at the park, sharing popcorn and fun.

And cantaloupe.

As always, I’m counting my blessings and hoping you will too! Please feel free to leave a comment and share your blessings. I love reading what others are thankful for! As always, I’m thankful for you. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Home-School versus Traditional School

2011-08-16T14:04:00.001-04:00

A friend shared the following status update on facebook.

I am beginning to truly consider homeschooling Charlie next year for kindergarten. I am looking for advice, criticism, planning, support. I am very interested in what Fatima has to say as well as any other parents who have/do homeschooling and/or people who were homeschooled as kids.

Within a few short hours she was flooded with comments; warnings about homeschooling, praise for homeschooling, some public school bashing, and some teachers defending their profession. I can only imagine that she is now more confused than ever.

And I say, good. It’s good to be confused and unsure. Out of our confusion, we can finally begin to search for answers and begin to have an informed and insightful understanding of an issue. Until we have that, any decision we make will be based on nothing more than feelings and the opinions of others.

So my advice to this friend…

You are on the right track. Explore this issue. Listen to all of your friends, knowing they see clearly only one part of this complex, three-dimensional puzzle. Talk to them and find out more about their part of the puzzle and the reasons behind their opinions. After you exhaust the resources that surround you, go find more.

And when you have learned all you can, come back home and put the puzzle together. Find the spot where you and your son fit best and your family’s needs will best be served. Know that any place you choose will not be a perfect fit. If you home-school, you’ll need to fill the gaps by finding clubs, lessons, and activities to expand his world beyond your doors. If you choose a school you will need to fill the gaps by supporting him emotionally, guarding the little time left for good and active play, and enriching his studies by doing some amazing learning on your own.

In either case, you will have made a good, informed decision.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now… for my part of the school versus home-school puzzle.

I’m a school teacher. I taught fourth and fifth grades at a catholic mission school in a rather rough Louisville neighborhood. I loved it. I poured my heart into that classroom and the fun learning we did, and I loved my students so much that I cried when they were graduated from my class. Nearly ten years later, most of those kids still write me letters and keep me updated on their lives (mostly via facebook).

I quit teaching to start a family. We lost our first baby and it changed our lives. I can’t begin to tell you the heartbreak and the re-evaluating we did after that. I don’t talk about that much, mostly because it’s painful. I tell of it now, because it’s important to the story. See, we thought we had our life figured out. We had a plan and up to that point it had been working for us. It was just the beginning of my time of re-thinking things I thought I knew.

Our little girl came along… A c-section birth followed by months of baby blues where I tore myself apart for not being able to deliver her the “right” way. She was followed by a little brother 22 months later, a sister 22 months after that. I thought we were done. I was enjoying life with my littles as a SAHM. I thought that I’d send my oldest off to school and enjoy a few more years at home. Then, I got that familiar feeling… And a pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions. I was devastated. I was barely keeping up with my three littles. I felt inadequate to the task that was ahead of me. Somehow, knowing that my youngest would, again, be 22 months old when the baby arrived made me feel that it was meant to be. And four kids 22 months apart every time… That must have been meant to be. Glad to say that our final little addition has been an amazing blessing. I’m so glad my plans were changed!

My little one was due to be born in March, so I figured I better get my act together preparing for my oldest to begin school the next fall. I was worried about her. She was to go to kindy, but she was already reading. And by reading, I’m talking about chapter books. She had read most of the Little House books by then. I was quite apprehensive about sending her to kindergarten. Imagine that…

I called the principal of the school. My daughter had only missed the kindergarten cut-off date by five days. I asked that she be evaluated and possibly placed in the first grade rather than kindy. She would only be five days younger than her peers and was quite capable of the work. The principal shot me down. Now, I was a very large and hormonal pregnant lady at the time. Truth be told, I never went back to him to press any harder for further consideration. My baby was born five weeks early and our spring was a bit hectic.

We were faced with a decision I had never wanted to consider. I really wanted my children to get to experience the fun of school. I also wanted to go back to the classroom myself. Still, I needed to do what was best for my girl.

We started our search for answers. We talked to people. We read books. We started reading blogs. In the end, we knew that we had to make the decision that was best for our family.

We chose to home school our family. It isn’t perfect. It is very hard. It’s a lot of work, especially for a momma with four little ones. It’s also very rewarding, fun, exciting, and beautiful.

I’m so glad that life has taught us to make our decisions carefully and thoughtfully. We made the best decision for our family. I wouldn’t change a thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more about our home-school experience, visit this page on my silly little blog. It is an archive of our adventure in home-schooling.

Like this blog or know someone who might? Follow us on Blogger or on Facebook. Sharing is easy, too… Just look for the share buttons on the right hand side of the screen. Thanks for stopping by.

Got an opinion on the home-school versus school debate? I hope you’ll share your story by leaving a comment or a link to a blog post for my friend. Thanks so much!

Chocolate Cheater Cookies

2011-08-16T08:39:00.001-04:00

~ A recipe for chocolate chocolate chip cookies that is so easy it must be cheating…

Cookies and milk are the perfect after school treat. I was too tired to make anything elaborate, but these cookies are so easy!

The recipe was in a Gooseberry Patch Cookie cookbook. I’ve made it several times and it is so easy that I changed the name of the cookies to “Chocolate Cheaters.”

You take one devil’s food cake mix, 2 eggs, half a cup of oil, and a cup of chocolate chips and stir ‘em up in a bowl.

It’s really that easy. See what I mean about cheating?

You got a little cookie scoop? You know what I’m talking about? They are those nifty measured scoops like the lunch ladies used, except they are super small. Just right for scooping cookies. You must get one. I turned my little man loose with the cookie dough and the scoop.

Bake at 350 degrees until they are done, about 7 or 8 minutes. Yum.

Add a maraschino cherry…. Oh dear!

Just don’t make these when the kids are away. You’ll eat them all and not fit in your pants for a week. Just ask me how I know…

Enjoy!

Class Photos, 2011

2011-08-15T14:10:00.001-04:00

Our first day back to school….

I set my alarm this morning. Can I just say… I’m not a morning person.

But with the help of my ~~prodding~~ handsome husband, I managed to open my eyes and crawl from the nice warm blankets. It wasn’t easy…

Once I was up and had a cup of coffee, it didn’t seem so bad.

I blasted the Jimmy Buffett and got the kids motivated. I’d like to think it was my reminders that today was the long-awaited first day back to school that got them going, but… In all likelihood, it was the four bowls of (don’t tell anyone) Lucky Charms that graced the kitchen table. Um. About that… I know when I’m beat. Sausage and eggs, getting up early, and managing our first day back to school… all in one day… So, Lucky Charms it is. A rare treat in our house, the two little ones ate the marshmallows and left the cereal. Healthy. Yup. That is what I was going for.

Morning jobs of getting ready for the day and a few household chores done, and we headed downstairs at 9:00 for school. I took pictures like any proud momma. Just never-you-mind the fact that my kids don’t wear shoes to school. Come to think of it, I don’t wear shoes either.

We got started on the day with a prayer and the pledge, attendance, calendar time, and a story. The kids did their seatwork and stopped for a snack. Not too different from a regular school day, only it doesn’t take as long when you only have 3 students. Sarah finished her school day by 10:00, Daniel by 11:00, and Mary by 12:00. Now, they play and I relax in front of my computer screen sharing with my friends. I should be doing laundry and mopping the kitchen floor, but a girl has to have a break.

I’m the momma. I’m the teacher. I’m the lunch-lady and the janitor. I’m the principal, I’m the hall monitor. I’m also the pre-school/childcare worker. So, yes, I do deserve to sit a spell and share with my friends. The laundry pile will still be there. Heck, it might even grow.

It’s real life in a homeschooling family. It’s hard. It’s wonderful. It’s different. It’s giving our kids the best we have to offer.

It’s love.

Hope your school day is as wonderful. Hope you’ll drop by and share how learning is going with you, here on the blog, this Saturday. See you then.

Saturday School Show and Tell

2011-08-12T14:54:00.001-04:00

A learning link-up…

Learning can happen anywhere, you know. A kitchen table, an elaborate classroom, a picnic table at the park, in the grocery store, while driving in the car…

Still, it’s nice to have a space that’s dedicated to learning. As a classroom teacher, I delighted in providing a fun and comfortable place for my students to learn. As a home-school momma, I’m glad I have room in the basement that can be our dedicated homeschool “classroom.”

I guess that those old desks came from my school, several years before I was a student there. They used to sit in my grandma’s garage, waiting for me to play school when I was little.

I covered the graffiti filled tops with some fun paper and topped it with contact paper. A little worse for the wear, but this will be the third year for our desk covers.

My “desk” consists of three stackable storage bins topped with a fabric covered board. I keep the kids’ school books in the bins so they will be easy for me to access for planning and for days when we choose to work outside. On top of the bins, I keep my notes for the day, a stapler, and a few erasers.

I keep a weekly assignment sheet with the kids’ school books. I find it is much easier for them to have a checklist rather than coming to me to find out what’s next. I’m often busy working with their sibling, so the checklists make the work go smoothly and helps the kids stay on task.

This learning play area is a new addition to our classroom. I’ve filled it with learning games and plan to rotate new items as the year goes by.

A reminder to the kids before they begin to play….

The kids have a lot of games and fun to choose from…

Sewing, weaving, tumbling tower of math facts, games, bingo, puzzles…

Basement lighting is always a bit difficult, but this old, ugly floor lamp really helps next to an old Subway table we picked up when they remodeled the restaurant near Eric’s work. It’s a great place for puzzles, painting, and play-dough.

It’s hard to find an alphabet for the wall that will fit in our small space.

These flashcards mounted on some scrapbook paper work great! I just punched holes in the tops and strung them up onto the wall using twine.

Having been re-worked several times to adjust to our changing needs, this area isn’t quite perfect. Still, it works well for our morning meetings, giving the little ones a chance to count, record the weather, and practice saying the months of the year/days of the week.

Our school trash bin… It makes me smile!

Our messy book storage… Nothing more than a “gorilla rack” and some plastic storage baskets. The baskets allow the kids to look at the covers of the books easily without taking books off the shelf. It’s also easier for the kids to return the books to a basket. I’d like to organize the books by type, color code them, and assign groups to certain baskets. Um… yeah. We’ll see about doing that next year. Or the year after that.

Our learning space is ready and the kids can hardly wait! Our first day back to home-school is Monday… It will be such fun!

Now, it’s your turn. Link-up and share your learning space and ideas! Show us your public-school classroom. Show us how you make that kitchen table classroom work or that new light fixture your “honeydew” just installed. Show how your living room by night becomes a classroom by day! Can’t wait to see your special learning spaces and the creative ways you make them fun for the ones learning there.

The rules.

Anyone who teaches children may join in. Mothers, homeschoolers, preschool teachers, classroom teachers, Sunday-School teachers….
Link to a specific post, not just your main web address. That way, we don’t need to search for your post!
Check out a few of the other posts and leave a comment, please.

And if you have time… Share our linky party with some friends. You can add a link back to this page on your post. You could share a link on Facebook or Twitter. Or, you could do all of the above and that would really make my day!

Thankful Thursday

2011-08-11T18:56:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

Cooler temperatures, a drop from the high 90’s to the low 80’s

Sheer curtains blowing in the breeze

Kids playing in the front yard

Sitting on the porch swing

Root-beer floats and watermelon.

Count your blessings…. And share them with us, won’t you?

Ready, Set, Back to Home-School

2011-08-10T14:28:00.001-04:00

Ready or not… It’s time to start back to school. Summer goes by too fast for us homeschoolers, too.

The beginning of the year is the easy part. I’ve had all summer to plan and get supplies ready. The new school books are still fresh and crisp, little names printed on the front so carefully. The desks are cleaned out, the trash can is empty, the pencils are sharp.

Last year’s classroom

I’ve worked so hard to give my kids the best I have.

This amazing excitement and momentum is hard to keep going as the year goes by and the list of undone chores grows. It’s too easy to let things slide as the year goes by.

I need cheerleaders. I bet all teachers feel this way.

So what do you say we encourage each other?

Our first Saturday School Show and Tell is this coming Saturday. I hope you’ll link up a post showing your learning space, organization, or time/money saving school ideas.

And as the year goes by, I hope we can keep sharing with each other. It will be so nice visiting blogs to see great ideas and find inspiration. It will also be wonderful to have friends here to help when we get stumped or stuck in a rut.

Know a great educator, public, private, preschool, or home? Hope you’ll invite them to the linky party.

Don’t have a blog? Get one! It’s fun, easy, and free. Hope you’ll join the party this Saturday! See you there!

Wanna share this post? Just click on the handy little Facebook or Twitter button on the right side of the screen. Thanks for sharing!

Terrific Toy Story Party

2011-08-07T21:50:00.001-04:00

Now that Mary’s party is done, I get to share pictures from the party my sis-in-love threw for my niece.

She puts together parties that are lovely and amazing. I know you’re gonna enjoy this!

Seemed wrong to cut into such an amazing cake! Amazing…

She used marshmallows (cut in half) for the tops of the hats. Adorable…

These star shaped cookies turned into perfect sheriff badges when she added those sweet little candies to the points. Yum…

Gummy worm snakes…

And lunch fit for any cowboy!

What a lovely time!

Wonderful Watermelon Party

2011-08-07T00:05:00.001-04:00

My little girl just turned eight. Eight. As in, no longer required by our state to ride in a car seat, eight. As in, now being marketed to as a “pre-teen,” eight. Eight.

Thank goodness, she’s still happy to be a little girl.

For this year’s birthday party, she asked to have a watermelon theme. Can do.

So, we had a watermelon cake…

And a watermelon roll relay race…

And a watermelon eating contest…

And seed-spittin’ contests…

And, of course…

Watermelon.

It was such a good time. Thanks to all the family and friends who chose to spend their day with us. Thank you, so much!

Thankful Thursday

2011-08-04T22:34:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

Ibuprofen.

Amoxicillin.

Walgreens.

Dr. Knighten.

A girl that is already feeling much, much better.

What are you counting as blessings today? Hope you’ll take time to leave a comment and share those blessings.

A Thing of Beauty…

2011-08-03T22:24:00.001-04:00

Amazing. God created our world with such beauty and symmetry. Amazing.

Time/Money Saving Idea for Breakfast Sausage

2011-08-03T22:07:00.001-04:00

I’m not a morning person, but I do like breakfast. I just that slicing sausage is so, so messy. So, I’ve bought sausage that is pre-cut and frozen in a nice, neat little box for years. I like it like that. Easy. Simple. No mess.

But that nifty boxed sausage… It keeps going up in price. They found my line and went over it. I resorted to buying the same sausage in a roll. What a pain. That means breakfast must dirty up my cutting board, counter, and a knife. Again, I am not a morning kind of gal.

But then, I forgot to set out the frozen roll of sausage when the last ran out. It was breakfast time and the roll was frozen.

I let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes and got out my trusty “Old Hick’ry” knife. Sliced through, easy breezy. So easy, that I sliced the whole roll. And then another.

And I put them in a big ol’ freezer bag. Now, breakfast is easy breezy again.
And I can afford to feed my family.

Just thought I’d share.

Saturday School Show and Tell

2011-07-31T23:03:00.001-04:00

If learning isn’t fun, then you’re doing something wrong…

Our school year is about to begin. Pencils are purchased and sharpened. Crayons are new and smell amazing. We have paper and new folders, glue-sticks and scissors. The kids are ready to start. Pushing me to go ahead and get going on our fun. Soon enough…. Soon enough.

For now, we’ll let the anticipation build and give mom a few more weeks to catch up around home.

But you… Your assignment starts now!

Home school mommas and teachers are busy creating a great learning space. Whether elaborate or plain and simple, setting up a space for supplies and for fun, interactive learning is important.

So here’s where you come in.

Calling all homeschoolers, teachers, preschool workers, and grandmas. If you teach a child, I hope you’ll join us for our “Saturday School Show and Tell” first assignment.

Your mission, should you choose to inspire us…

Share a few photos of your learning space.
Tell a great organizational tip that has made life easier or learning more fun.
Share some of the great learning tools that grace your learning area.
Give us the scoop on some great back-to-school savings.
Or, All of the Above.

Get started on those blog posts… Tell a friend. We’ll meet back here on August 13th to share the fun of a teacher’s Show and Tell Saturday. Share those great learning ideas. Oh, and invite your friends to join us.

And if you don’t have a blog… Get one.
It’s free. It’s easy. It’s fun.
We all hope you’ll join us and share your great learning ideas.

Mrs. S.

It’s A Farm Thing….

2011-07-31T22:33:00.001-04:00

I really didn’t want to go. I was about 16 years old and the National Farm Machinery Show was in town over Valentines Day Weekend. My folks were so excited to have great tickets to the tractor pull. Ahem… On the night of the school Valentines Dance. I did NOT want to go. I’m pretty sure I let my feelings be known, too.

Of course, I went. Not that I had a choice. I’m not sure I ever told my mom and step-dad what fun I had. Well, now that my secret is out…

The big tractor pull is fun, but nothing beats the tractor pull at the county fair. I might just be that city people wouldn’t understand… It’s a farm thing, I guess. But to us, it’s a lot of fun seeing our neighbors, and my little-big brother, and my baby sister get out there and show off their tractors. We cheer for our friends, our favorite kind of tractor, and sometimes for the under-dog just trying to get the sled across the field. It’s fun.

But, I didn’t know what fun was until last Thursday. We took all four kids to the county fair for the Pedal Tractor Pull. They had about 6 different pedal tractors and two pint-sized sleds for the kids to pull. Serious cuteness.

Sam got a little help from the nice fellow that was running the show. He was not a contender for the trophy, but he sure was cute. By the way… green is not our tractor color. Just gotta say that… We prefer red tractors (That’s Case IH for you city folks).

Sarah… Well, she was adorable as usual. She was thrilled to get to pose for a picture with the fair queen. That’s all she really wanted.

Mary gave it her best and placed in the competition, allowing her to pull again in the championship. Hooray for my girl!

And this guy… He got a full-pull. He won his weight class and came back to win the championship, too. I’ve never seen such a happy boy.

It was some good farm fun with other rural people. I love the county fair and hot summer nights…

Living it up at the county fair… Loving the Demo-derby.

Hope your county fair was tons of fun, too.

Thankful Thursday

2011-07-28T15:12:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m counting my blessings and sharing them too.
Hope you’ll do the same.

I’m thankful for…

A shallow rubbermaid container and a few little buckets

A bit of dish soap for bubbles

A garden hose with nice cool water

A nice big deck and my chair in the shade

Four happy kids.

What are you thankful for today?
Hope you’ll share in the comments a few things that just made your day!

Old-Fashioned Knowledge

2011-07-26T12:16:00.001-04:00

I know many of my long time readers already know of our “Crazy Experiment.” Here’s an update on our progress.

Our heat pump gave out a few years ago. We love heating our house using the downstairs woodstove, so we didn’t worry too much. When we got around to getting an estimate on replacing our old system, $6000.00 meant we were faced with a big decision. We had the money, but we’d been saving it to build a barn. We knew we could heat our home without the central air, but could we live without air conditioning?

Most folks would just finance the barn and put in the new heat pump. Well, I guess we’re not most folks. We remembered (a bit vaguely) life without central air. We decided to try a summer without air conditioning and, if successful, build a barn in the fall. Little did I know, it would be a crash course in some good old-fashioned knowledge. Now, I doubt many people will choose to live life without air conditioning, but these common sense tips might just help you be a bit greener or save some cash.

The first thing we learned, is that it isn’t always best to have the windows open. It seems crazy shutting the windows on a 90 degree day, but in today’s super insulated houses you can catch that free, cool night air and bottle it up in the house by shutting the windows each morning and closing the blinds to shade the sun. A few well placed fans and a lot of begging a pleading with the children to keep the doors closed, and we have a pretty comfortable house where the temperature rarely creeps above 83 degrees. Wanna save money on those cooling bills? Catch cool night air, and don’t forget to close the blinds to keep the sun’s rays from heating up your house.

Now, 83 degrees may sound hot. I guess it is pretty warm, but this amazing thing happens to the body when living without air conditioning. Believe it or not, it is possible to get used to the heat. I remember going to summer camp and feeling like I might melt that first day out in the heat. Funny how by the second day, we all adjusted to the temperature and rarely found it bothersome. It’s the same way now. Our bodies adjust to the warmer temperatures. It’s so nice being able to go outside to picnics or to work in the garden without feeling miserable. It really does make a difference. We adjust to the temperatures so thoroughly that going to an air conditioned restaurant can actually be uncomfortable. We don’t need to live without air conditioning to benefit from this knowledge. Just turn the temperature up one degree each day and see just how warm you can live comfortably. It may be surprising just how enjoyable it is living above 70 degrees.

The clothing we wear has a dramatic impact on how cool we feel. Contrary to what seems to make sense, it’s not the amount of clothing we wear that makes us hot, but the kind of material that makes a difference. A summer blouse made of cotton will be cool in any weather, whereas a similar shirt made from synthetic materials will make anyone miserable in a very short time. It’s amazing how much more comfortable natural fibers are. Next time you are going to the amusement park or an outdoor wedding, check the tag in you clothes. Natural fibers will keep you looking cooler and crisper than the folks wearing polyester.

We built our little barn and decided to spend this second summer without central air.Likely, we’ll keep on without that new heat pump for a few more years and a few more home-improvement projects. We did invest in a few cheap window air conditioners for the few days when the heat index jumps way up above 100 degrees. It’s nice to have the relief when we have guests who are unaccustomed to the heat and in the kitchen when I’m canning. All in all, we’re happy living a little warmer with the windows open. The frogs sing to us at night and those cool night breezes carry the scent of honeysuckle. Doesn’t hurt quite so much getting that electric bill, either.

Here are a few more tips to beat the heat.

Plant shade trees strategically around your house. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the winter, letting the sun warm the house. During the summer they provide shade, sheltering your home from the harsh summer sun.
Save those hot jobs for late in the evening or early in the morning when it is cooler outside. Take advantage of that hammock or a downstairs room during the heat of the day. Relax and read a good book, feel free to sip some iced tea.
Hot nights are tough. Get those fans blowing and give the kids some damp bandannas to sleep with instead of those heavy blankets they love snuggling with. It makes all the difference.
Keep a mist bottle filled with water and a few drops of lavender oil to spray on faces and arms when the heat is too much.
Do your cooking on the grill. Hamburgers taste best fixed there, but so do many vegetables. Zucchini, quartered and drizzled with olive oil before grilling… Oh, yum! We even make pizza on the grill. It’s amazing. Experiment and have fun.
For cooking that must be done on the stove top, be sure to use a lid and the lowest heat necessary. When the corn on the cob is cooked, remove it from the water and dump the water on that nasty patch of weeds in the driveway. That will kill the weeds and keep your kitchen from heating up too much.
Throw away the to-do list on the hottest days. Eat ice cream for supper and go swimming at the lake. Keep a sense of humor and have fun.

Got a tip for keeping cool or saving a bit of money? Hope you’ll share it with me. :)

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One O’clock in the Morning…

2011-07-18T01:10:00.001-04:00

And here I am… Finally sitting down with a glass of strawberry wine finding the words to share with my friends. Five quarts of green beans have been picked, blanched, cooled and frozen. One 4-H project has been completed under the watchful eyes of momma. Five loads of laundry washed, hung to dry, and brought in to be folded and put away. Popcorn is still on the family room floor.

It’s been a busy week, filled with green beans, pickle making, and getting my oldest off to camp and then back, trying to keep up with the never-ending laundry. I’d like to find time to make some of those old-fashioned crystal pickles mom used to make, but I must admit that I’m a bit glad to see the cucumbers slowing down a bit. The corn is coming on fast, with silks that are already turning brown. I expect to be in the kitchen, freezing up a bunch by the weekend.

It seems that the list never ends. And I’ve been craving a bit of quiet, a keyboard under my fingers. It feels naughty, sitting here when I should be in bed sleeping. But here I am. Making the words. Letting them pour out, really.

And I feel bad that my Sunday wasn’t a day of rest. None of my days are, really.

But somewhere in the midst of things that must be done, we snuck in a trip to the beach at a local lake. We spent a bit of time at the playground. We had a family picnic at the lake. I did a bit of yard-sale shopping. We ate ice cream for supper. And honey and I went out, just us, to buy diesel fuel and grab a few sliders at the White Castle.

Our days are full of work, but we weave in fun and memories where we can.

Somehow, it’s enough. It’s rich. It’s lovely. It’s good.

Missed you all this busy week. Hope your week was wonderfully busy, filled with accomplishments and folks you love. :) Hope the upcoming week brings many memories, too. I may be a bit scarce for awhile, but that sweet corn will sure taste good in December.

Thanks for stopping by.

Fatima

Garden Planning, 101

2011-07-09T13:04:00.001-04:00

I’m sharing this post at Playopedia. Have you checked out her site yet? If you are a mom of littles, then you will love, love, love the ideas for play that are being shared there! Hope all my friends will check out her seriously terrific resource! You’ll be glad you did.

~Planning a garden with help from the little ones.

It may be hard to imagine planting a garden when there is snow on the ground and a chill in the air. As my desire for spring is nearing it’s peak, I can’t help but think this is the perfect time for curling up by the fire and dreaming up my grand garden. Truth be told, it won’t be long before those first seeds can be sown. Now is the perfect time for ordering seeds and finishing the spring cleaning (so you don’t miss a single moment outside once the weather warms).

Gardening with littles is hard, unless…

You get them involved in the planning.

Gather up those seed catalogs and a piece of brown paper.

~Oh, Seed Savers, how I adore you… Such beautiful pictures and rare varieties…

Let them make lists of their favorite varieties.

Sarah is particularly taken with the pink variety of blueberries that are so popular this year…

It just seems wrong, doesn’t it? Cutting up catalogs that are so pretty. Give ‘em the scissors. You know you are going to order online anyway!

Now, let them plant the crops in neat little rows.

Oh, what a pretty little garden! Look how it’s coming together!

Will it all fit? Looks like we’ll be tilling up a bit more ground this year.

Now, if I could just get them so excited about cleaning their rooms….

Flashback Friday

2011-07-08T09:27:00.001-04:00

Today’s flashback takes us way back… To memories of gravel roads and riding on Grandpa’s old Nova. You can click on the link to be taken to the original post or just read it here. Hope this one brings back memories for you.

Sweet Hymns on a Dusty Gravel Road

I loved riding around in that old yellow Nova with him, my grandfather by choice though not by blood. I don’t know how old I was when I met him, but he officially became my step-grandfather when I was 9. He didn’t have to accept me so totally as a granddaughter, but he did and I’ve never doubted his sincerity in this inclusion and acceptance.

Life was pretty crazy for me at the time. My world as I knew it had been pulled out from beneath me with the death of my beloved grandmother. Add to that the changes that came from meeting my real dad and his family, the addition of a step-family and new baby brother, and a move to a new school… I was so confused.

Maybe that’s why those little trips to town or church, riding in that old car down dusty gravel roads meant so much to me. Maybe it was his cheerful ways. Perhaps it was that he listened to what I had to say when others were so busy. He helped me to gradually make sense of it all. He gave me good advice based on his love of the Lord and helped see me through many difficulties. He also sang the sweetest old hymns as we would drive. When I learned the words, I’d join in.

When my step-grandmother passed away, the church members came to sing the old hymns at her funeral. As hard as it may be to understand, I wanted to sing along through the tears, in worship and thanksgiving to our Lord, but also as an honor to her. I wanted to sing in memory of all those beautiful Sundays I spent sitting next to the two of them singing those songs. I have to wonder how my grandfather felt hearing those same hymns that day.

It was their example and those beautiful words in the hymns that helped to make room in my heart for a strong foundation. Their lives taught me so much about love and joy and faith. My grandfather has moved a plane trip away, but he is still a vital rock for our family.

I guess that is why I still love it when we sing an old hymn at church. Many of the songs we sing are newer, more current. They are nice, but… Somehow, those old hymns are so sweet to my ears. They bring me to deeper worship and sometimes to tears. From time to time, I find myself singing one of “his” songs as I work around the house. Then, I see the enormous impact of their lives upon mine. Thank you, Grandma Belma and Grandpa Tuck.

~By the way… Do you “follow” FLTS yet? You can follow the blog or you can “like” it on Facebook. It makes my day and it also means that you’ll always know when there is a new post. Hope you’ll “like” my blog and share it with a friend. :)

Thankful Thursday

2011-07-07T09:39:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

An answer to the mystery of the missing bike.

A little boy, no longer searching for his lost love… aka his bike.

Good neighbor parents who discovered a bunch of bikes hidden in their woods, interrogated their young boys, and made the boys return the bikes they stole.

My husband’s bike (we didn’t know was missing) is back in the barn.

My little boys bike… well, they are still looking for it. But at least we know where to look now.

Here’s to good neighbors, doing the hard thing and teaching their little boys a lesson I’m sure they’ll never forget. Here’s to my little boy, who is working on forgiveness…

The boy and the bike, way back when it still had training wheels… two whole years ago.

Blessings sometimes come in crazy forms. Hard to recognize, they are blessings, nonetheless.

Hope you’ll look for blessings today, too. And if you like, please share a few of your blessings in the comments. :)

Seven Sisters

2011-07-06T11:21:00.001-04:00

My kids love riding over the Seven Sister hills. You know the ones… out on Beck’s Mill Road. Those hills “get your tummy” every time, kind of like a tame roller-coaster ride.

I remember the thrill of those hills from my childhood, too. Only, I wasn’t strapped into a child’s car-seat. I wasn’t strapped in at all. I remember standing up in the back of grandma’s LTD and feeling that amazing sensation while trying not to bump my head on the ceiling. It was a different time.

My seven year old finds it hard to believe that we didn’t have car-seats back then. When I tell her that we didn’t even wear seatbelts, she looks at me as if I just told her that dinosaurs were still roaming the earth back when I was a girl. I’m not completely ancient. Really, I’m not.

Those “good old days” were fun, but I sure am glad we use car-seats and seat belts these days. I witnessed an accident years ago, in which a big van and a car collided. The van was full of children, one was a baby, and not one of them was wearing a seatbelt. Thankfully, the injuries were limited to broken bones, bumps, and bruises. Had they been wearing seatbelts, those kids might have walked away from that accident rather than getting their first ambulance ride. Wearing seatbelts does matter. These days, I wouldn’t consider letting my kids ride without a seatbelt.

I want to keep my kids safe. I think all parents do. We start preparing before they are even born. We put plugs in all our outlets, research the safety of cribs, and we move all of our dangerous chemicals out of reach. Some parents even buy foam bumpers to cushion their coffee table. These are good things, but sometimes I wonder if we go too far in our pursuit of safety.

Mom and I were sitting on the porch swing watching the kids play the other day. The kids were playing nice, but some of their “dare-devil” antics were worrying me. I suppose I told them to be careful a bit too much, because my mom told me to quit fussing at them. Now, I’ll admit that I’ve been a bit on edge lately. My baby boy has made not one, but three emergency room trips this year. The boy is accident prone. All the stitches and hospital bills have gotten to me.

The more I think about that day, the more I wonder if there isn’t a happy medium between the super-safety-parenting of today and the rather laid-back-parenting of days gone by. I want to keep my kids safe. I’d do just about anything to keep them from experiencing pain. Safety is good, but it comes with a price.

In keeping them safe, will I steal the joy of learning to ride a bicycle? I cringe every time my boy slams on his brakes leaving a 20 feet long skid mark, but I do remember the joy that comes from riding fast. Should I keep my children out of the woods so they don’t get poison ivy? I could, but then they wouldn’t know the fun of building lean-to houses and hiking. Playing in the creek can be dangerous, too. But if I don’t let them play there, how will they know what the clear, cold water feels like on their feet? How will they find crawdads and watch turtles sunning themselves? I would hate to let the dangers steal the joys of these good, childhood experiences.

I guess the hardest part of parenting is knowing that I have to let them go. I’d like to keep them safe in a secure little world. I’d like to shelter them from every storm, work out every frustration, and give them all that they need. I can’t do that, no matter how hard I try.

I guess we just have to balance safety with letting our kids live their life. Little by little, we give them more freedom. When they are big enough, we take the gates down and let them walk up and down the stairs. We let them swing on the big swings at the playground. We stand back and let them work out some of their own problems. Eventually, we let them go out and play in the yard all by themselves. We get brave enough to let the make a few mistakes. Someday, we’ll even have to let them take the keys and climb behind the wheel.

There is a heated debate raging right now between the “helicopter” or hovering parents and the “free-range” parents. One side advocates close adult supervision and super-safe environments. The other side is pushing back, advocating free, unsupervised play. I find myself somewhere in the middle. I want to keep my kids safe, but I don’t want our generation to be the last to experience the freedom and joy of running through the woods without adults to interfere in our play.

It’s so hard, letting go. I don’t suppose I’ll ever feel comfortable watching my girl swing upside down from the trapeze bar on the swing set or seeing my boy pop-a-wheelie on his bike. Guess I’ll just keep hovering in the middle, teaching the kids to be safe and giving them the freedom to play and learn. Driving over the Seven Sister hills is just as much fun while wearing seatbelts, after all.

Lawn Chairs, Good Food, Great Friends

2011-07-05T11:26:00.001-04:00

The best part of a pig roast… Well, I think it’s the fun we have with friends and family.

Little Glenn is one of Danny’s best friends. Which is nice, ‘cause his momma, Amy, is one of my best friends. And Amy’s mom and dad are very good friends of my mom and step-dad. And Amy’s grandma and grandpa were friends with my great-grandparents and used to help care for my grandmother. So that’s at least five generations of friends… How amazing!

Though the adults had fun holding down some lawn chairs and playing games, it was the kids that really made the weekend fun.

The kids enjoyed wagon rides behind the four-wheeler.

They were cute little monkeys on the playground.

They found amazing bugs. In this photo, Sarah is holding a huge cricket.

And Sam made “smoked sausage and macanoni and cheeses.”

And then, they gave the kids some water balloons!

And the children ganged up on this poor unsuspecting fellow.

Much to the delight of Miss Mary, he did get even. Oh, my, did he get even.

But my girl didn’t give up…

She thought she’d get him back with this little bucket of water. But he was ready for her…

Oh, no! I’ll just throw the whole bucket!

Uh, oh! Run!

One seriously soggy girl. One totally unforgettable memory for everyone.

Poor Sam just couldn’t figure out what on earth was going on.

Somehow, we managed to get the kids dry, just in time for the fireworks.

Here’s hoping your Fourth of July was as memory filled as ours was.

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Pig Roast

2011-07-04T15:22:00.001-04:00

Some celebrations, you just don’t miss….

The annual pig roast at my best friend’s house is one of them. It’s a weekend of camping, bonfires, sitting in lawn chairs, visiting with friends, watching the children wear themselves out, and eating great food.

This year, we went early enough to see the roasting of the pig.

They are serious about roasting the pig. They built this rather perfect pit by dry-stacking some concrete blocks.

Just add charcoal….

Boy, that looks like a hot job, turning the pork on those racks. The metal grill on each side is wired together, so no worries about dropping the meat.

Does this make your mouth water?

Oh, heavenly ham. Well, ribs, actually…

And the pulling of the pork begins.

And you know… If you stand by long enough taking pictures, they will probably offer to let you do a taste test. And it will taste wonderful.

With the pork out of the way, on goes the chicken. I wish you could have smelled that chicken cooking.

Oh, my!

Goodness.

Yum!

Better get in line.

For more party fun… follow this link.

lawn-chairs-good-food-great-friends

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Flashback Friday

2011-06-30T22:54:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share this again.

Counting the Cost

It’s a beautiful place with steep hills, valleys, waterfalls and hiking trails nestled on the banks of the Ohio River. We took our first family camping trip there when Mary was barely walking, and have returned to celebrate our fifth and tenth wedding anniversaries. We love Clifty Falls State Park.

We took time for a visit just a few weeks ago to celebrate our tenth. Since we rarely get away for an evening without the kiddos, we lived it up and stayed at the very nice state park inn. It’s beautiful! The inn is set on the top of the ridge, overlooking the Ohio River and the cute little town of Madison, Indiana. Looking from the ridge to the east, the view is simply gorgeous.

Looking to the west, it’s another story altogether. This doesn’t diminish our love of the inn or the park, it’s just a reality that most of us don’t see every day. To the west of this God created beauty, sit three very large towers of a coal powered electric plant. A reality that we can pretend away, if it isn’t located near our home or a place we love.

On every previous visit to Clifty Falls, I have found the contrast between the beauty of nature and the reality of electricity production to be unsettling but easily dismissed as the power plant is not visible from most of the places we enjoy in the park. On this visit, the many signs that lined the highways protesting a planned biomass incinerator kept me pondering the placement of the power plant near my beloved state park.

My first reaction is indignation. Why! Who would be so dumb as to put that ugly thing near one of my favorite nature spots. The inn was built in the 1920’s, so I’m pretty sure it pre-dates the power plant. Surely there were folks who protested! Perhaps they had signs in their yards, begging that the monstrosity be placed elsewhere.

Further thought on the subject makes me question my first assumption. You know, life before electricity was very different. Perhaps folks were not so opposed to having the plant there if it meant they could have a radio, a few light bulbs and a refrigerator. Somehow, I am not so angry at the folks who let the plant be built when I consider the pull of rural electric and the improvements it meant for their lives. Maybe I shouldn’t judge their decision so harshly. (By the way, I have no idea when the plant was built or under what circumstances. Stay with me folks, and I’ll attempt to share my line of thinking.)

So these thoughts nagged at me until we were driving home. Again, I saw sign after sign protesting the planned biomass incinerator. Then, it struck me with force. Regardless of their reasons for not wanting the biomass incinerator in their neighborhood (who could blame them), protesting the placement will make little or no difference in the long run. The demand is high and the electricity must come from somewhere. Someone is going to have a biomass incinerator or a coal fired electric plant or a nuclear reactor or a bunch of wind turbines in their back yard. Plain and simple.

What makes me angry isn’t the fact that folks don’t want those things, but the fact that so many of us take the electricity for granted. We see our bill, but never see the true cost. Out of sight, out of mind. Turn on the switch, crank up the air conditioning. Leave that TV on all night long. Who cares!?! It won’t make that much difference on the bill.

Thing is, it does make a difference. Our usage and our wasting of electricity means that there will be more power plants. Whether they end up in your back yard or next to your favorite state park, more plants will be built to keep up with demand. All the yard signs in the world won’t change that.

How selfish I am. I was so angry that someone was so thoughtless as to put a power plant next to my favorite place to camp. Now I realize that I am as much to blame as anyone. Dang. It’s so much easier being mad at some unknown, pompous, rich old man. Turn off the LIGHTS, people!

So that leads me to even further thinking. How many other things do we take for granted? How many other things do we purchase for the sale price without ever seeing the real price that goes into producing the item? Who made that cheap shirt I bought the other day? Who produced the cotton? What were the conditions they worked under? Who took care of their kids while they made my shirt? Was my shirt made by a child? Yikes.

So, here I am, encouraging you to put a little extra thought into what you consume, be it electricity, food, clothing or anything else. I can’t go without electricity, but I can use less and help my neighbor’s cause. I need clothes, but I can make do with what I have a little longer or pick things up at yard sales out of respect for the true cost that went into making those items. I can shop for food at local farm stands and seek to purchase meat from folks who give their animals a decent life (or I can grow my own cheeseburgers ;)). I can’t change overnight, but I can take steps towards consuming with the real cost in mind.

Turn out the light, y’all!

Thankful Thursday

2011-06-30T14:07:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

A camper set up in the front yard.

Kids playing in it, oh so happily!

Popsicles.

Slip’n’slide fun.

Summer.

Count your blessings…

Adventures in Homeschooling

2011-06-29T13:02:00.001-04:00

This is the time of year when I ask myself why I chose to home school my children. It’s the middle of summer. It’s time for swimming, hiking, attending the fair, and playing in the yard. And here I am, sitting at my desk ordering our supplies for next year’s schooling. Although I love teaching and cherish being able to give this gift to my children, I must admit that I’m a bit worn out. I don’t really want to jump back in yet.

I love the freedom of summer. I love watching the kids experience the world by catching fireflies, chasing grasshoppers, and admiring butterflies. I cherish the time we spend reading, just for fun, while we sit on the porch swing eating popsicles. I’m so glad the kids get to go camping, hiking, and maybe even fishing. Nothing in the world beats watching them play on the tire swing under the great big tree in their grandma’s front yard. Summer is a time for getting dirty, staying up a bit late, eating good food, and visiting family and friends.

Is it any wonder that I wouldn’t want this to end?

When people ask why we home-school, I can’t give an easy answer. Obviously, we want to do our best for our children. For us, home-schooling provided some very compelling benefits. Though the choice was not easy, it was clear that we were ready, willing, and able to shoulder the responsibility of educating our own children. We knew that we could provide a rich and inspiring learning environment. Our children were already thriving here at home. We felt certain that we were doing what was best for our family.

And so, we jumped in.

It was strange, new territory at first. I was nervous about schooling my little girl and keeping up with her three younger siblings. I worried about what other people would think about our decision. Eventually, all the questions were answered and our family fell into a happy routine that year. We survived our first year and began to prepare for our second year and our second student.

It was in this second year that I began to love homeschooling our children. With the kids a bit older and a year of learning already accomplished, we jumped into that second year joyfully. Of course, there was the regular seat-work kind of learning, handwriting, math practice sheets, and the like. But, there was something more. We found such delight in exploring the world that year! We went to our local park, where the many of the trees have identifying signs. We spent the morning exploring those trees. We drew pictures of them, traced their leaves, looked for bugs and animals that might be using them for a home, found their seeds, and felt their bark. We even ate their fruit when we found a tree with ripe persimmons.

I knew then, that there was something more beautiful about homeschooling than I had realized. So, we took every opportunity presented to us to continue this kind of learning. We dissected the shell-less egg our chickens laid and then researched it on the computer. We went for a hike at a state park. We explored nature centers, the zoo, Old Settler’s Days, and our own garden and back yard. We decided to learn about our bones, so we felt our bones and painted a picture to show where they were, then we did a little research and labeled them. One night, we just sat around the livingroom, listening to the stories of great-grandpa Tuck. The learning has been rich, rewarding, and beautiful.

And so, with summer coming to an end, I won’t be too sad. There’s a freedom that will be gone, no doubt. But, there is another kind of freedom that comes with homeschooling. I know that we’ll be learning together, exploring the world around us, reading great books, doing math games in the car, and going on learning adventures. With the chore of ordering supplies completed, I might just be getting a bit excited about beginning a new year of learning with my little ones!

To the other homeschoolers out there… Are you getting excited, too?
I’d like to offer a way to share your experiences this year. Would you be interested in a Saturday Link-up to highlight the best part of your home-school week? We did it once last year, a Saturday School Show and Tell. It was so inspiring to see how other homeschoolers are learning. Keep your eyes open this fall… We’ll start sharing in late August/Early September. Hope to see you there!

An Egg-cellent Idea

2011-06-28T12:56:00.001-04:00

Remember those really cool building blocks in kindergarten? You know… The great big cardboard blocks that look like bricks… I loved those. I really did.

And then, while looking through my Aunt Paula’s old photo albums on a recent visit, I saw the best building block idea!

Egg cartons.

And it just happened, my mom had been saving egg cartons for me to keep our fresh eggs in when we give them away. I had a stack about 2 feet tall!

The kids were a bit skeptical about my idea for “big fun.” Um, mom… These are egg cartons…

And then, I showed them this.

And the fun began.

A great pyramid.

A doll bed.

A tower.
Also, serious motor skill development for my two year old…

Cooperative play, brothers are the best friends!

Some realistic play. A fully stocked kid-fridge!

Demolition time was fun, with this amazing wrecking ball!

Have fun…. Every day!

A Most Romantic Weekend…

2011-06-27T23:54:00.001-04:00

A beautiful weekend get-away to a scenic state park, camping, hiking, fixing steak on a charcoal grill for a candle-lit picnic… That’s what I had in mind for our anniversary weekend. Getting away is awfully nice. Finishing sentences, relaxing, and enjoying time together is something we rarely get to do. So when our sitter couldn’t make it and the forecast called for rain, I was disappointed. I really wanted that romantic weekend.

Instead, we spent our anniversary at the kids’ Vacation Bible School Closing Program. I can’t say I was excited to give up spending the evening with my honey for this, but the entertainment was pretty good (wouldn’t have missed seeing the kids on stage) and the refreshments after the program were delightful. Then on the way home, the sun set through the clouds in a way that left sunlight streaming across the sky and the fields. My handsome honey took us all on a bit of a country ramble on the back-roads so that I could enjoy the sunset a little longer. Wish I had a picture of the sunlight streaming through the clouds behind that old grain silo… But there is a picture in my mind that I hope I’ll always remember.

We spent the rest of the weekend catching up around home and enjoying summer. Eric was able to fix my washing machine, amazing the damage one little finish nail left in a pocket can do… My pocket, by the way! We went to the town square to listen to a great bluegrass band.We enjoyed an evening bonfire, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows.

Then, when I woke this morning with allergies so severe I could hardly breathe, Eric sent me on my way to the doctor instead of taking the kids hiking as we were hoping to do. I’ve struggled for months, as the severe flooding in our area has caused mold and mildew levels to be extremely high. One dark, dank room in our basement has been hit hard by the moisture and the mildew levels, too. In fact, cleaning that room is what triggered this last round of trouble.

And so, Eric spent this afternoon ripping the carpet from that musty room. For me. He gave up the things he had hoped for to do something important for me.

The weekend wasn’t what I wanted. He didn’t give me flowers or jewelry (probably a good thing since I’m not a roses or jewelry kind of gal). We didn’t get to have a romantic meal. We didn’t get away on our own for even an hour. I suppose I could be really bitter right now if I wanted.

But I look back and I see romance everywhere. He loves me. He takes me on silly sunlight chasing adventures. He loves me. He fixed my washer without a single cross word. He loves me. He braved the rain showers and the traffic to take all of us to a great local concert. He loves me. He cared for me when I was sick. He loves me. He ripped carpet from the room that has caused my severe allergies. There is no doubt, he loves me.

I’m still hoping to get some time away, just me and my handsome husband. It will be so nice when we do.

But for now, I know that romance doesn’t always include candlelight and fancy meals. Sometimes, romance is spending time roasting marshmallows with the man you love. I am thankful to be loved in such simple and amazing ways.

Thanks honey, for all that you do. Thanks for caring for me. Thanks for fixing my mistakes happily, cleaning up my messes, and hugging me when I’m down. And thanks for ripping up perfectly lovely but mildew filled carpet just to make me feel better. I love you, honey. It was a truly memorable and lovely weekend. :)

Eleven Years Ago

2011-06-24T12:55:00.001-04:00

Eleven years ago, I married the most wonderful man in the world.

And eleven years later, I love him more than words can say.

Thanks, Eric, for being the one.

And thanks to everyone else, for all the love and encouragement shared through the years.

Taking Time

2011-06-23T14:21:00.001-04:00

I sat in the porch swing the other day, relaxing while the kids played in the yard. It was nice. Until I saw that weed in the flower bed. It was just close enough to reach, so I pulled it. And then, I pulled the one next to it. Before I knew it, I was down on my hands and knees pulling every weed in sight. So much for taking time for a break.

And now, I’m disturbed by what happened. It’s like a conviction to me. It screams, “You don’t know how to relax!” And it’s true. When I do sit down, I’m usually editing pictures, typing up a new blog entry, or sewing something. I’m never still.

I think that I’ve forgotten how to relax.

Or perhaps, I’m just on the verge of learning how…

Back in college I’d think to myself, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead, so I better push on and get one more thing done.” I pushed so hard that I got sick. I couldn’t eat without feeling miserable. My fingernails stopped growing.

I was so glad to quit my full-time job to student teach. For the first time in over four years, I was able to go home and eat supper. I had weekends free to visit, relax, or clean the house. My fingernails became visibly stronger, with a ridge that marked the end of my time working a full time schedule and going to school full time. I was amazed. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to slow down or the toll my crazy-hectic lifestyle was taking on my health. I decided that I didn’t ever want to be so busy again.

And try as I might, that crazy-hectic life keeps creeping back in. It returned a bit when I was teaching my first class. It slowed briefly after Mary was born, but was quick to return. There are projects to do, church events to attend, countless birthday parties, a garden to keep, kids to teach, supper to make, and weeds to pull. And just as you get caught up, someone gets sick. It’s life.

So where do you draw the line?

What gets done and what gets left out?

I sat on a blanket under a tree today while Sam played. My older kids were attending Vacation Bible School at our church. Normally I’d be in there teaching a class or helping in some way, but I’ve sat out for a few years now. A girl can only do so much.

I’ve struggled all week with my guilt over not “doing my part.” It just feels wrong. I keep thinking that I should be able to just pull myself together and push myself to do what should be done. If I were a better woman…

And then my mom called last night. She wanted to help me get a strawberry patch set up for next year. It’s something I want to pursue. It’s a great idea. But I’m not ready to jump in to that right now.

The summer is just beginning, but it seems to be passing all too quickly. It will soon be time for the kids to start school again. And life is that way, too. Seems that the kids were born just a short time ago, and suddenly I look at my oldest and see a half grown little lady. Life is going too fast.

This is a busy season. Summer… Raising my little ones… It’s all going by too fast.

And I find myself in that old hectic schedule, missing all the good stuff. Missing the things that make life worth living. And I know I have a choice to make.

Is it more important to do one more thing, or should I sit in the porch swing and watch my babies play?

Maybe that paint in the hallway isn’t in as bad shape as I thought. Maybe they can get by without me at VBS this year. Perhaps the strawberries I put off last year will finally get planted in a year or two.

But for now, I’ll go camping with the kids. I’ll sit under a tree and listen to my two year old talk about the puppy dog that is running through the grass. I’ll take time to make cookies with my girls, and then go visit their great-grandpa. I’ll help my boy find his missing bicycle. I’ll sit on the porch with my handsome honey and a glass of wine listening to the frogs sing and looking at the stars.

And if you come over to visit, try not to see the scrapes in the hallway paint or the messes on the floor. I’m too busy taking time…

A Little Cowboy Turns Six

2011-06-22T15:30:00.001-04:00

Have you ever seen such a cute little cowboy?

He had the best birthday party ever.

It was a great cowboy cookout, In The BARN! Do you understand the excitement that comes from partying in the barn?!

His momma kind of enjoyed this year’s theme, too! I love decorating with red, white and blue, lots of bandannas, and straw bales. My kind of party…

The meandering path got some use by our little cowboys and cowgirls.

And Sarah did a little fashion design with the left over tissue paper from the gifts.

My mom contributed these cool candle holders for the tables. She used old glass jars, cut out cowboys, modge podge, and some old electric fence wire. Very cute. Ummm…. Mom…. You aren’t getting these back, you know?!

The fireflies were not cooperative during the party, but the kids did find quite a few potato bugs to put in their jars. And that made me very happy.

Who needs party games when you have big piles of gravel? I bet the bath water turned brown that night, but the kids had a great time!

The saw-horse rides were pretty popular, too.

It was simple. It was fun. And it was very good. Thanks everyone, for helping us celebrate Danny’s sixth birthday.

Flashback Friday

2011-06-17T00:37:00.001-04:00

Today’s flashback takes you to my all time favorite, never-fail (except for that one time I went into labor making them and was in the hospital on Father’s day so I couldn’t pass them out), crowd pleasing, Father’s Day Gift ever! Ever!

I give you…..

Cinnamon Rolls.

You heard me.

No dad can resist.

And yes, I truly did go into labor while making a double batch for Father’s day. And that year, Eric and the grand-dads got a bouncing baby boy named Daniel. Okay, so maybe that was the best Dad’s Day gift ever…

Sharing today at:

Thankful Thursday

2011-06-16T17:51:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

Friends at play…

Homemade scones…

Watching my honey be a great daddy…

Family…

**(picture to be added later of a skunk in a bucket)** ;)

And a skunk in a bucket, that has since been released into a wilder space!

A Stinky Day

2011-06-15T13:06:00.001-04:00

My flower bed is looking nice….

This little guy thought so, too!

Just how old do skunks need to be before they can spray?

And just how do you go about asking his age?

And what would I do if I didn’t have a fearless husband to chase him away?

And what will I do if the skunk comes back? Does it think my flower bed is a cozy home sweet home? What if my honey isn’t here to rescue me?!

Yes, little skunk… Stay in the woods. And tell all your friends to stay there, too.

Ummm…. And just so you know….
Photos were taken with a zoom lens as I squealed and hid on top of the kids’ swing set.
And wondered if skunks can climb….

Four is Enough?

2011-06-14T15:22:00.001-04:00

If you had asked me years ago about my family plans, I would have said I hoped for two and just maybe three children. I never dreamed of or desired a large family.

And then, Mary was born. It was one of those horror story/happy ending labor stories that should only be shared with those who enjoy such things and never with anyone expecting their first child. After all that, I wasn’t sure I wanted more children.

When I found that our second was on the way, my joy was somewhat overshadowed by fear. I went doctor hunting with a list of questions just like I was interviewing a job candidate. I was thorough... I was tough as nails… And I cried when I met Dr. Dunn. She was an amazing Ob/Gyn. I knew that with her on my side, I would somehow make it through the ordeal ahead.

A few weeks before due date, my amazing doc was thrown from a horse and shattered her wrist. Her office staff called me that day. I was paralyzed with fear. As soon as she was out of surgery, Dr Dunn called me to reassure me that a back-up doc was already found and that I could meet him before birth.

And then, Danny came early, unexpectedly, and with complications. They had to take him fast and by C-section. I met the new doc in head spinning fashion a few minutes before they wheeled me into the operating room. He did a beautiful job delivering my little one with the assistance of my bandaged up Dr. Dunn. She scrubbed in. Less than one week after a terrible fall, she scrubbed in. Just for me. Because she cared. It restored my hope that doctors care about patients.

When we found number three was on the way, I went back to the doctor’s office like I was going to see old friends. When Dr. Dunn said that I should plan on this third c-section being my last, I was okay with it. A family of five. I worked for me. I signed the papers. It’s was a done deal.

And then, after Sarah had cried for the first time and I had kissed her sweet little head, Dr. Dunn told us the good news that things looked good enough for a fourth c-section. We opted to leave everything in working order and make the decision later.

A few shopping trips, a few family functions, and a few birthday parties later… I was sure I was done. Plenty outnumbered and certainly done. I pushed Eric to make the decision permanent.

I bought that last pregnancy test, full of shock and disbelief, wondering how I could possibly keep up with four little ones ages five and under, I dreaded telling anyone what I already knew. I cried. I really did. How on earth could I handle four little ones spaced so closely. What were people going to say? How many corny jokes would I have to put up with? How would I answer those who asked, “How in the world are you going to keep up?"

I was terrified. I felt inadequate. I felt strange to be a mother of so many. I felt conspicuous and odd.

So I kept it all a secret for awhile. Even when a good friend asked if we planned more children, I lied outright and told her that we certainly didn’t plan any more children. I laughed and cried a bit inside as I said that.

Somehow, as pregnancy settled in, I came to peace with my new, improved, ever-enlarging family. And it was okay. We finally told our family and friends. Though there were good natured jokes, it wasn’t nearly as terrible as I feared.

But we still had only three little ones to chase.

All my children had somehow been spaced an even 22 months apart. Baby number four had the kindness to follow the pattern in some crazy act of divine wisdom or coincidence… I’ll never know which.

But what that means in practical terms is that every time I had a two year old (ahem…. terrible two), I also had a newborn to care for. That’s a hard thing. I was so frightened that I wouldn’t be able to do it with four little ones. I was terrified.

I was so afraid to be a mom of many. I didn’t know what it would look like, or feel like, or be like.

But, I found that I could do the job just fine. The job description had just changed to better suit my family’s needs.

I could never do what a mother of one or two can do. I can never be a mom of three. I am a mom of many. Slowly but surely, I found that being this kind of mom means I can’t be the kind of mom some of my friends are. I can’t do all the things for my kids that a mother of two can. I can’t take them to the same kinds of places, because there is a baby to take into account. I can’t spend as much time with just one child. I can’t buy them as many things. I can’t always read their favorite book before bed. I must admit I have felt some guilt over such things.

Slowly and surely, I have seen that success being a mom of many just looks different.

Instead of mother/daughter nights, we have girls’ nights. Instead of having lots of great toys (though they have more than plenty), they have each other to play with. Instead of going to Chicago to see the city, we go camping down the road at a state park. Instead of signing the kids up for individual lessons somewhere, we find things to do together as a family. Instead of always getting our own way, we bend to the needs/desires of the others in our family. Instead of being everything to my little ones, we are everything to each other all at the same time. And my heart grew four sizes times infinity…

And the farther down the road I get in my full of car-seats vehicle, the more that I see the wonder of the gift of being a mom of many. And I thank God for planning to give me my sweet little Sam, just at the perfect time.

And sometimes (even though my body is done having babies), I wonder what it would be like if there were more little ones to love. And I wonder how I could have ever missed the amazing life God planned for me.

Loving life with a full house.
Thankful that God knew better.
I’m happy to be a momma of many.

Let ‘em Struggle

2011-06-12T14:22:00.001-04:00

If my children don’t choose to go to college, that’s okay with me. If they aren’t sports stars, great ballerinas, or fantastic gymnasts, that’s fine too. Though I’d love to see my kids enjoy great success in life, there are other things I see as more important. I have bigger goals for them than being successful.

I want them to be good people. I want them to look at others with compassion and love, understanding and kindness. I want them to take care of their families and friends. I want them to love God.

I also want them to be able to do things. As they enter adulthood, I want them to go out into the world with great knowledge of the everyday stuff needed to live life.

We have some pretty lofty goals for raising our children. Besides the obvious goal for our children to be “good people,” I also want them to be capable.

By age 12, I hope our children will have a basic knowledge of cooking, cleaning, balancing a budget, filling out forms, home and car repair, and first aid (among others). By age 16, they should be fully prepared to be self sufficient. The years between 16 and whenever they leave our home will be years to practice caring for their own needs with us here for support and advice.

And all of this training starts now.

It’s telling the two year old, “You must try to put on your own shoe. Do your best.”

It’s watching a four year old struggle to pour her own milk, knowing a mess is likely in the process of learning.

It’s being the “mean momma” when the six year old wants to give up on finishing a job, reminding him to tough it out because the animals or the family is depending on his good work.

It’s letting the eight year old do something big, cooking a meal for the family. It’s standing aside as she struggles. Letting her make a few mistakes. Giving her time to figure it out, and offering advice only when there might be danger or she asks for it.

I have learned to step back from the initial impulse to jump in with help for them. I know that letting them struggle to do something on their own will help them more in the long run.

It’s hard to stand back when you could help. It’s tempting to do things for the kids to avoid messes. It’s not much fun being the bad guy who makes sure the job is complete. It’s not easy letting go of the reins.

But, it is very important.

And so, I let them struggle sometimes. In the struggle, they often find that they can, indeed, do the things that were so difficult. They gain skill, knowledge, and self-confidence.

Though I don’t want them to grow up and leave, I know they will. I don’t want that time to be a struggle, full of mistakes and hard-knocks. So, I let them struggle now in a world where there are hugs and folks who can catch them if they fall.

There’s a lot of love in letting them struggle….

Back in the Swing…

2011-06-10T13:08:00.001-04:00

We’re settling back in to life here at home after our short vacation.

Kids have slept late, napped, and finally are finding their old routines.

It was so nice to be away, enjoying family,
swimming, spending time just being together.

And somehow… This is nice, too.

It’s nice hanging the clothes on the line to dry.

It’s rewarding to weed the beans and corn
as the sun slips quietly behind the trees.

It feels good to clean the bathroom.

The kitchen is happy to be re-stocked with good food,
serving my family.

Our hens, the cow and our cat are all happy
to see my little ones playing in the yard.

It’s good to be home. So very good….

Road Trip, 2011

2011-06-08T11:26:00.001-04:00

Did you miss us? I must admit, I missed my computer. I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time with a cup of coffee reading my favorite blogs, too!

We spent a long weekend on the road, traveling to Des Moines, Iowa, for my sweet cousin’s beautiful wedding.

Everything went perfectly. At the wedding.

Our trip, well….. Not so much. ;)

We were scheduled to leave on Thursday. On Wednesday, I got a bad case of cold feet after my washing machine locked up and quit working, leaving me to hand wash two loads of laundry that day. I cried. Then, I went to my husband and asked to cancel the trip while I cried some more. Let’s be honest, here. I was feeling so inadequate that a trip with four littles across hundreds of miles seemed impossible. Crazy. Insane.

My husband talked logic to me. It didn’t work. Finally, he gave up and hugged me. Amazing how that works. I was all better and ready to conquer the world (or at least go shopping for that swimsuit I had been avoiding).

With the swimsuit purchased after trying on many, many suits in more stores than I care to count, I made it home Wednesday night around 10:30 with the supplies for the trip.

I’d like to say that everything was packed and ready to go on Thursday morning, but remember my little washing machine incident?! Thursday morning left me packing for myself and the kids. I rocked. I really did. We had everyone organized and ready to go, breakfast served and cleaned up, car loaded, and hit the road by 11:00 a.m. as was our goal. I was so very proud.

We stopped at a state park for a break mid-afternoon. A picnic lunch/dinner and a hike really made a great break from travel.

The kids were happily loaded back in the car, and we were on our way. Some fun travel packs a friend (she’s pretty special) prepared for the kids made the rest of the ride easier. We were cruising along, having a pretty good time.

We were amazed at this wind farm. It was amazing to see the huge windmills that filled the landscape for as far as we could see!

It was somewhere around this part of the trip, when we had been on the road for 6 hours or so, when Eric innocently asked me if I had remembered to load the garment bag with his suit and my dress for the wedding. And the tears came again! I forgot the bag. Truly. We had everything we needed to go to the wedding except clothes. I honestly felt like the biggest failure in the world. Of all things to forget! Why couldn’t it have been something easy to replace like toothbrushes?!

Too late to go back, we pressed on toward Des Moines and arrived in the middle of the night. Kids tucked into a hotel bed, I was so relieved to have made it safely with the only tears of the trip being my own!

Friday, we recovered from the trip. My brother and sis-in-love took their girls to an amusement park. We opted out, in favor of the hotel water-park and shopping for some clothes for the wedding. ;P Breakfast from McDonalds, and a trip to the pool wore the kids out enough that they all napped at the same time! I took off for the nearest mall, leaving Eric with the sleeping beauties. I shopped desperately for a dress suitable for a wedding. And found nothing. Nothing. What few dresses I found were either cut so low my belly button would’ve showed or looked like something someone’s grandmother should have worn! Again, many tears and a helpful lady suggested a trip to a nearby mall where there were some better stores.

I called Eric, who quite frankly thought I had lost my mind.

Still, he loaded up the kids and drove us to that mall, where we found not one, but two dresses for me and pants, a shirt, and a tie for him in less than an hour! I know in the grand scheme, the clothes and the worries were pretty small potatoes. I know that, at least in my head. But in my travel wearied state, they sure didn’t seem like a little thing. They felt like a great big failure.

We clean up pretty nice…. :) Love this dress!
Makes me almost glad I forgot the clothes… But don’t tell my honey. ;)

Dinner with my Dad and Step-mom, my brother, sis-in-love, and nieces made for a very special evening for my family. We followed that up with a trip together to the water park. It was lovely. Simple, beautiful, and lovely.

The wedding was beautiful, as was the bride. I love a good wedding, and this one had me crying before all the friends and family were even seated! Kate included a poem written by our grandmother in the wedding program. It was such a beautiful tribute to a lady we both adored so much. I cried when her dad walked her down the aisle, and again when I realized that the song playing during the lighting of the candles was performed and pre-recorded by the couple! It was truly one of the most elegant and beautiful weddings I have been a part of.

Daniel was not so taken by the wedding. He looked at me with silent tears streaming down his face and then whispered to me… “Mom, it’s just sooooo boooorriinnnnngggggg! Can we pleeeeaaaaassssse go home now?” Between some giggles, I whispered back, “No! We drove ten hours to this wedding and it’s very important to me to be here. You’re gonna have to deal with it and sit here quietly. Just watch for the kiss. That means it’s almost over.” And he did. You never did see such relief at a kiss in any little boy’s face!

The reception was a delight to all of us!

Mary and her cousin did some serious visiting. Wish I knew what they were saying…

Sarah watched and admired every move made by the bride, and has been playing dress-up bride ever since!

Sam was happy to eat and visit with the other little ones.

And Daniel… who hated the wedding so much it made him cry….
Well, he ruled the dance floor with his cousin! We all stood by and watched as they spun round, danced, and dipped for almost an hour. They were amazing! Truly. This boy of mine will make a catch for some girl some day… If she can get him to make it through the boring wedding. ;)

We enjoyed more time with family on Sunday, and then began the journey home on Monday, stopping along the way for an amazing meal and visit with some good friends. They took us for a walk on a retired section of Route 66. It was a beautiful, and lovely end to our trip.

So now we are home, catching up on laundry (the washer is miraculously working… for now). My garden has grown, my house is a mess, and my kids slept late this morning. Life is good.

So here, for those who care to read them, are my tips for travel with littles.

Stop along the way for active play. A lot.
Pack healthy, whole-grain snacks and juices for a break from the fast food.
Silly games really help make the car ride more tolerable. Bring along some ideas.
Be ready for the trip to take much longer than it should. Get there when you get there so that there isn’t any stress along the way, pushing you to go farther between stops than the kids can handle.
Be prepared for something to go wrong. It will. And it isn’t the end of the world, it just seems like it.
Do stay at a hotel with a pool or water park. It’s amazing the stress relief that comes from splashing in the water with your littles.
Make a stop at a local grocery for fruit to bring back to the hotel room. It’s such a lovely and welcome treat!
Plan for at least one day of recuperating when you get home. You’ll need it and so will the kids!
Be patient with each other. Don’t expect perfect behavior or perfect people.
Have fun!

I missed you all. So good to be back home!

Flashback Friday

2011-06-03T10:51:00.000-04:00

We are living without something most folks see as necessity. By choice, we have been doing without air conditioning. Seems kind of crazy to a lot of folks, especially in our hot and humid summers.

It works for us, though. Our heating/cooling costs are down, we were able to save up money to build a small barn, and we are more adjusted and able to spend time outdoors.

It’s been a pretty neat experience.

Hope on over to this link to read more about going without air conditioning and see some tips for staying cool. Oh, and if you have any tips on beating the heat, hope you’ll share!

We picked the hottest June for our little experiment. Really. Our average high temps is 83.3 and our average low is 65.1. This summer, It seemed like we hit at least 90 nearly every day and had many nights that didn’t dip below 75! It had made our little no air conditioning experiment very difficult, to say the least.

No Air Conditioning! Yeah. For you northern folks, that may not mean much, but for us high humidity, hot summer southern folks not having a/c is nearly unheard of. Some folks will even call you crazy to your face if you admit to living without a/c. And you better watch out, or you’ll end up on a church benevolence committee report! Just kidding, but we do have to make sure folks know we are doing this by choice and not by necessity….. To read more, click here.

A Dreaded Chore

2011-05-31T22:22:00.001-04:00

The beans and corn are coming up nicely in our garden. So are the weeds. And you know what weeds do. They grow. Fast. Much faster than any good plant!

So, I went out tonight and got the tiller out of the barn. I adjusted the setting so the tiller would just loosen the top layer of soil and weeds. I followed that tiller, row by row, through our garden… Choking on exhaust.

Then I got out the good old fashioned garden hoe and went to work just like my Grandpa Tuck always did, pulling soil up around the good plants, choking off the little weed starts.

I threw countless rocks to the edge of the garden for the kids to collect later. I swatted mosquitoes. I got dirty, sweaty, tired, and sore.

Soon, the plants will be established enough to compete for their own nutrients and sunlight. Soon, they plants will grow big and tall. Because I have weeded them at this early stage in life, my plants will produce good food for my family. Soon, my garden will be worth all this hard work.

The kids getting our corn ready to cook last summer.
They are very motivated to work when it means getting to eat fresh sweet corn!

I usually end up thinking about life’s little problems while I work. Tonight, I was thinking about the hard job of disciplining my little ones. Though my oldest is quickly becoming very dependable and trustworthy, my youngest three are still at the stage where they need my attention and my correction throughout the day. I spend a lot of my time breaking up arguments, cleaning up messes made by the youngest, and praying that they will all soon have the “sense God gave a goose.”

It’s a lot of hard, hard work. It’s frustrating. It’s often exhausting. I’m praying it will soon be well worth the effort.

Somewhere between the bean plants and the zucchini, it all came together in my mind.

This early part of raising my babies is a lot like growing my garden. My babies are tender, unable to fend for themselves. They need me to keep them safe, provide for them, and help them know the good from the bad.

These early years are my chance to give them a good start. Just like my garden, my little ones need a rich environment. They also need me to do the hard work of weeding the things that will hold them back.

In due time, they will grow. As the years pass, they will become more and more independent.

But right now… Right now is my chance to make a difference in their lives.

It’s hard work. Some days, I wonder if I’m making a difference. I wonder if I’m doing the right things. Some days, I don’t see much progress.

Then suddenly, they grow. Just like my garden does, they grow.

And finally, I begin to see the good my labor has brought. And I know that the hard work I have done has been well worth it.

So, I’ll go on doing the hard work of weeding my garden and raising my little ones while praying they will thrive and go on to produce much good.

Signed,

The Gardener/Momma

Flashback Friday

2011-05-27T10:35:00.001-04:00

The seeds are planted in the garden, strawberries getting ripe on the vine. The children are playing outside in the woods and on our “meandering path.” There is laundry, ready to hang on the line. Things to do, places to go, fun memories to make…

In other words, life is getting busy around here. ;)

What a great time to take a walk down memory lane. I thought I’d take a minute on Fridays to link to a post from last year. A little Flashback Friday for you!

Today’s flashback is a great recipe to shake up the lunch menu a bit. It’s a twist on the classic grilled cheese… Check it out! It’s yummy!

A kid-friendly lunch that even mom will enjoy.

Grilled Pizza Dippers

Just click on the link or the picture for the complete recipe! Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

2011-05-26T18:37:00.001-04:00

It’s been a long day, full of discipline issues. Yet, even in this frustrating moment of my crazy life…. I find that I am thankful.

Today, I’m thankful for…

Children who have unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses all created within them by a loving God who knows them and loves them.

The strength of love that allows parents to discipline bad behavior and then to forgive and love without fail.

Getting to try again when a lesson isn’t learned the first time, knowing we may need to try many more times.

The hugs and understanding that follow the acquisition of knowledge…
In other words, loving them after the punishment and learning is over.

And, of course…. Chocolate for weary mommas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline… Proverbs 13:1

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord… Ephesians 6:4

A Meandering Path

2011-05-24T12:03:00.001-04:00

We quit mowing about half of our property.
We let it go to weeds and wildflowers.

And then…

I asked Eric to mow a path. When he asked where the path should be, I told him I’d like it to be a meandering path. He grinned and went to work on yet another of my crazy schemes.

And now, the kids have a great adventure.

Deciding which way to go is such fun!

Soon, there will be berries to pick along the path.

The magic of childhood adventure!

Next time, we may take the stick-horses on a trail ride!

Sharing today at…

Thankful Thursday

2011-05-19T21:42:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

The “Lone Ranger” in his favorite torn-up jeans…

Handfuls of daisies…

Taking time to smell the flowers…

Fresh Eggs…

Flowers for the table…

And sleeping little ones…

What are you thankful for today?

A Fun Test for Reading Comprehension

2011-05-18T19:15:00.001-04:00

“Never think that you have learned
All there is to know.
That’s the surest way of all
Ignorance to show.”
~The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad,
by Thornton W. Burgess

It started as a search for a great bird book for children. I was looking for The Burgess Bird Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess. My library didn’t have that book, but they did have The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad by the same author. Having heard such wonderful reviews of his bird book, I decided to check out the book about a toad. I’m so glad I did.

For 23 very fun-filled chapters, my little ones have been held captivated by this story, spun with poetry and lots of science information about animals and nature. From singing in the smiling pool to hopping away from a very hungry black snake, the book was packed with excitement that made my littles ask for “one more chapter.” Originally copyrighted in 1916, the book remains fresh for today’s audience, filled with great lessons in science, nature, and treating others with dignity and respect. That’s a lot to pack into a book. To put it simply, we all loved this book and I’m ready to become the author’s biggest fan.

In case you can’t tell, I love to read and I want to pass that on to my children. I don’t want to make reading become a chore, tested and dissected to the point of zapping all joy. But I do want to know what they understand. I do want to test their comprehension.

So, I got a little sneaky.

I found ways to check their understanding of the book, chapter by chapter. They never knew what I was up to.

Home-school mommas… Listen up.

Here are some ideas for reading comprehension that don’t involve tedious work or frustrated kids.

Ask kids to make predictions.
As you read along in the book, stop at key points, look at your little ones with a look of wonder, and ask them what they think is going to happen. Some answers will be right and some wrong, but it will become clear just how well they are following the story.
Ask questions about the characters in the story.
Ask kids to describe what they think a character looks like or tell why they like/dislike a character. Let kids trade places with the character and tell what they would do in the situation.
Let dad read a chapter at bedtime and then let kids give you a summary before you begin to read the next chapter (so not to miss anything, of course). Ask for details as they go along and pull as much information as possible. They’ll never even know it’s a test. ;)
Don’t fear books without pictures.
Letting kids draw pictures of what they think a scene or character looks like is a great way to see what they are understanding in the story.
Take advantage of the opportunities to have kids share the story with another family member or friend.
It’s amazing what kids remember and share with grandma.
Put on a play of a favorite scene. Help kids dress-up or make stick puppets. Then, leave them to play it out while you observe the details they include in their play.

Bottom line, get creative and sneaky about testing comprehension so that reading will be a fun thing you do together and never become “school.”

Here are my little ones, creating a giant map of the place Old Mr. Toad calls home, from the smiling pool to the purple hills…

Tomorrow, I think we will make puppets to go with our giant map.

And in case you want to find out more about "Old Mr. Toad,”
Amazon offers a Kindle edition of this book (and many others) at no charge.
Check it out!

Have fun reading together.

Love,
Mrs. S.
:)

Like this? Hope you’ll leave a comment and take time to share with your mom or teacher friends. :) Thanks for visiting.

Father’s Day Photo Frame

2011-05-17T13:20:00.001-04:00

The kids and I made this for Eric last year.

A link to last year’s post about it is here.

Thought I’d share, just in case you are looking for some good gift ideas for dad…

Father’s day will be here before you know it!

Have fun!

Goodness, they have grown…

Sharing this today over at…

Sweet

2011-05-17T12:56:00.001-04:00

Piles of laundry…

Sticky apple juice on the kitchen floor…

Bathrooms need cleaning, beds are unmade.

This morning, I didn’t see the blessings…

Lost in things undone…

Sitting here now, I see.

My baby boy falling asleep in my arms…

His little arms holding a little stuffed owl…

Long dark eyelashes touching chubby little cheeks.

My big kids playing back in their rooms…

Baby dolls, house, and tractors, too…

Voices quiet to benefit little brother.

Sweet.

Easy As Pie

2011-05-15T13:35:00.001-04:00

This recipe brings back sweet memories each time I see it.

Agnes lived in the farmhouse next door and ran a small dairy. I remember watching her go about the business of milking while we visited one day. She was probably in her seventies at the time. Looking back, I wish I would have walked up the road to help her. I could have learned so much from visiting with her, had I taken a bit more time for such things.

Agnes was a great cook. She made the most delicious pies to share with us. Delivered in one of her many pie pans, the coconut cream pies disappeared fast. Her kitchen was an amazing place to visit. I’m so glad she shared this recipe and a bit of pie advice with me. I’ve kept a copy of her pie crust recipe in my cookbook since high school. It’s a treasure to me and I thought I’d share it with my friends. I think Agnes would be pleased.

Measure your dry ingredients into a big mixing bowl.

Use a pastry blender to mix the shortening into the dry ingredients.

Mix your wet ingredients together before adding them to the flour.

Pour the water, egg, and vinegar mixture into a well in the center of the flour. Reserve a small amount of the liquid and add if needed during the mixing.

The flour should be wet, not soggy.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it a few times.

Roll it nice and flat, a bit bigger that your pie pan.

Folding it in half makes it easier to move to the pie pan.

Cut the extra dough off, leaving just a bit to hang over the sides. Then, tuck the dough under to make a pretty edge.

You can easily pinch the dough to make a pretty, fluted edge.

Or use a measuring spoon to make pretty scallops.

Or use a pretty little cookie cutter and attach the pie dough using the left over egg/water/vinegar as glue.

So pretty!

And your littles will love using the extra dough to make their own “cookies.”

Have fun!

Christianity in the Real World

2011-05-14T13:08:00.001-04:00

I once heard someone say that all sin amounts to one thing… Selfishness.

It’s true, too. Think of any sin and you will see someone putting their own needs first.

Christianity is the opposite. Selflessness. Putting others first and then putting yourself in a position to serve them.

It all sounds wonderfully beautiful, getting to be the selfless one who cares for the poor, the hungry, or the sick and minister to the lost.

But in reality, this is messy. It is uncomfortable. Giving in this way can even be dangerous.

It’s so much easier to go to church and promote programs, hoping the lost will find us.

We spent last night in the emergency room of the local children’s hospital.

***Sam decided to eat a bite of a cedar tree branch and it became stuck in his throat near his tonsils. Seems that area is very close to the carotid artery. We spent a lot of time waiting for test results from a cat scan to be sure that removal wouldn’t cause dire harm. All ended well and my little one is on a soft, bland diet for a few days and laying off eating any more trees. ;)

Big city emergency rooms are filled with people in crisis. There were babies crying and toddlers running off while their mommas were attending to a sick little one. There were worried faces. We heard the quick work of the staff when the ambulances arrived carrying some little ones who had been in a car wreck.

We weren’t being nosey. It’s just that in a place like that, you see folks who are hurting. It’s impossible not to care.

We were touched deeply by the pain of one patient’s family member who had followed an ambulance, arriving to find what was, apparently, devastating news. My heart broke for her. I think many hearts did.

The emergency room is a hard place to be.

And yet…

It was also beautiful.

There was this fellow there. We got to know him, as he checked on us regularly. He wasn’t a nurse or a doctor. He was just there to make sure our needs were cared for. He brought me coffee and some graham crackers. He kept us up to date on wait times. He shared smiles and concern. He made a difference for a lot of folks who were in difficult situations, including the heartbroken lady.

I don’t know how I knew he was a Christian, but I did. There was no mistaking from where his strength came. There was no mistaking the Love he was sharing. He was ministering in the very best way possible.

As we talked, he shared that he had been a successful business man and able to retire early and live a comfortable lifestyle. He began volunteering at the hospital and has gone on to work in the ER, touching many lives.

His job is hard. It is heartbreaking. It is messy. It is also selfless and beautiful.

He is an example of what Christianity can be in the real world, but is all too seldom.

** Like what you read here? Hope you’ll take time to share my silly little blog with a friend. :)

Thankful Thursday

2011-05-14T12:07:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

Newly tilled soil, pretty and brown.

Pretty little seeds and a garden hoe.

Tomato plants, grown locally.

Forty sweet little fingers that love to help.

Bubble baths for kids and a cool shower for me…
after our gardening is done.

Last year’s green beans….
Looking forward to planting more this evening.

Count your many blessings…

Milk Paint and an Old Wooden Box

2011-05-13T13:35:00.001-04:00

Remember this?

Yeah, I know. It’s an old wooden box. My mom brought it to me to use as a step up onto my too high front porch. Turned flat, it would have served very well for a time.

But I just couldn’t do that to this old, serviceable box. It looked like it could be something more.

A good scrub got rid of the grime and the dead bugs.

And then… It sat around and waited for me to get a few free hours.

I was so glad when my handsome honey brought this lovely Milk Paint home. Those are my two favorite colors, a deep red and an old fashioned green similar to the paint on my potting bench.

The paint comes in a powder form. Just add water. It really is that simple. I mixed up a small batch to test it out.

I wiped the dust away with a damp cloth and got busy painting.

I love how the grain of the wood shows through the paint.

The paint dries a bit lighter and looks a bit dull, but we’re not finished yet.

A block of wood and a bit of sandpaper helped me to rough up the edges, true to it’s found in the barn past.

Pretty but still not done.

An old rag and some linseed oil added a bit of shine.

Now imagine this 5 inch deep box, hung on my kitchen wall (it will be soon). The dividers will serve as shelves, just deep enough for a photo frame or some pint jars of apple butter or strawberry jam.

Not too bad for an old box.

At Our House

2011-05-10T22:27:00.001-04:00

At our house, there is…

A very cool frog living under my flower planter… two actually, but they wouldn’t pose together.

A basket of pretty pink flowers waiting to be delivered to someone special.

A lone purple iris blooming among the white irises in my flower bed.

So glad I can see past the laundry pile and the dirty dishes to find such delight in my little world today.

Hope your day has been filled with much beauty, too.

** Like what you read here? Hope you’ll take time to share a link with a friend. Thanks for stopping by. :)**

The Storms of Life

2011-05-09T14:46:00.001-04:00

We weren’t prepared for the storm that blew through back in 2008. We had a picnic basket ready and plans to eat lunch in the grove after church. The wind picked up throughout the morning, until it was hitting the building with sickening strength. We watched the little ones play as we ate our lunch in the church gym, our faces showing increased concern each time the lights flickered.

As we left the building, we found walking to our vehicles difficult. Little did we know, our 20 minute drive home was going to be a long and scary one. The wind alone made for slow and careful driving, but the numerous downed trees made for one detour after another. My cell-phone battery was nearly dead and our van had only 1/4 of a tank of gas. I spent the trip praying that our van wouldn’t be hit by a falling tree and that each back country road we were driving wouldn’t be blocked like the last.

For over an hour, we were rocked by 50 mph sustained winds with 70 mph gusts. The storm ripped the shingles from countless roofs, took down trees, blew away two barns at my family’s farm, and left our region without power for nearly a week.

And then, things got really bad. Monday brought a severe asthma attack for my little girl. And there was no gas left in my van. And my cell phone was dead. And, oh yeah… I was pregnant and suffering morning sickness.

I loaded the kids in the van, made my way to the only gas station that had electricity and waited impatiently for my turn. With enough fuel to get to the hospital, I threw a twenty at the attendant and ran. Literally. When we made it to the hospital, I carried my one year old, and encouraged the other two littles toward the ER.

My darling girl was admitted and spent much of that week in the pediatric unit of the hospital on oxygen and breathing treatments. My handsome honey took the other littles home to survive the aftermath of the storm in a house without electricity, very much food, or drinkable water. I stayed in the hospital with my girl, watching the news of the economic disaster that was taking place at the same time. It all seemed very scary and it changed my outlook on life.

Up until that week, I really thought that life was pretty stable. I wasn’t too concerned about being prepared for the storms in life. Bad stuff wasn’t going to happen to us and if it did we could count on our neighbors and friends. When the storms hit, we found our world changed. That old tree that sheltered us was ripped from the ground. The things and services we counted on failed. We found the preparations made on sunny days could have sustained us. Too bad we hadn’t made those preparations for the storm.

Throughout history, people have had to deal with disasters and difficulties. Our comfortable and easy lifestyle has lulled us into a false sense of security. That false sense of security is what worries me now. As I read of the flooding on the Mississippi river, I am struck by the fact that the officials have to nearly beg people to leave their homes for higher ground. In much the same way, I am troubled when I think of the economic situation that face our country. I am troubled by a people who are determined to go on living a life with no regard for the future changes that are coming, just as sure as that flood water.

I don’t know what the economic future holds. I pray the future will not be as bleak as some like to predict. I do not believe the future will hold the prosperity to which we have grown accustomed. I pray we will find will find ourselves somewhere in the middle. I can’t predict how big or widespread this economic storm we face will be. We’ve seen damage already and I don’t think it’s over yet. I have no doubt our economic circumstances are changing. A trip to the gas station or the grocery ought to be enough evidence that our financial situation has changed, no matter what the officials say.

So I’m left wondering. With economic changes as evident to us as is the rising water of the Mississippi, will we stubbornly hang on to an unsustainable way of life that will end in crisis or will we make the changes that are needed? Will we do our best to prepare and protect our family from the “storm” or will we wait and depend on the government to send a rescue for us?

I’m not advocating stowing away a year’s supply of rice, though I do keep enough food/supplies on hand to keep my family for a few months. I’m not advocating quitting your job to homestead your way to self-sufficiency, but that does sound kind of nice to me. ;) It would be a great thing for all of us to be prepared for life’s storms, though. I pray we never need our emergency kits and bottled water. I also pray that we never need to eat our way though all that stored food. All the same, I’m glad those things are there. And frankly, I hope my neighbors have those things so we can lean on them if our house blows away in a tornado.

We can make a difference in preparing for this economic storm by supporting our local economy and community. Shop at local stores. Buy food that is locally produced. Purchase things that are made to last. Get to know your neighbors. Trade and share tools. You get the idea. We can make this new economic reality a lot more palatable by making wise choices about when and where we spend our money. We could all help shoulder the burden of the economic distress by supporting the local companies and farms that are so important to our lives and livelihoods.

As I’ve said before, I’m ready for a change. I want to see our country unite to overcome this challenge rather than continuing to dig our way deeper and deeper into debt. I want to take care of my family and I’ll do all I can to help support local businesses so that those folks can do the same.

What do you think? What does the future hold? What are you doing to create a sustainable life for your family? What do you think our government should do about the problems we face. What should we do as citizens? Am I crazy to worry about such things or to think that we could make a difference?

As always, I love hearing politely expressed opinions even if they are different from my own. Hope you’ll take time to share your thoughts.

Saturday Spotlight

2011-05-06T22:28:00.001-04:00

Can’t get enough of the royal wedding? Want a fascinating glimpse into the UK?

I’m really enjoying this blog.

Happy Homemaker UK

She’s from the states, but living in England right now. Her photography is amazing. Makes me want to jump on a plane and go for a visit. Well… If I liked flying, that is.

Hop over and check her out. You’ll be glad you did.

Derby Pie

2011-05-06T15:23:00.001-04:00

It’s Oaks Day, dear ones. That’s the day before the Kentucky Derby, when the fillies race for the lilies, the ladies dress nicely and wear fancy hats, and even the men-folk get cleaned up in their best duds. Well that’s true, but not so much at our house. We usually spend the day at home planting things in the dirt and cooking yummy stuff to eat. Somehow, that works for me. Must admit, I am a bit jealous of my friends who are lucky enough to be at Churchill Downs today.

So, with the flowers planted and the herbs tucked into their bed in front of the house, I’ve been busy baking Derby Pie.

Derby Pie. Imagine a big chocolate chip cookie, with pecans, and gooeyness, and pie crust. That’s Derby Pie. And it’s easy. Here we go!

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup pecans, chopped
6 oz chocolate chips… but let’s be honest here, I don’t measure. I just pour.
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

This is almost too easy. Combine your sugar, flour and eggs. Then, add the melted butter.

Now for the pecans, chocolate chips and vanilla. Mix it up and pour it into an unbaked pie shell.

Not unlike cookie dough, is it?

Bake at 325 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes, until brown.

These pies are going to the Mother/Daughter Banquet with me, so I can’t cut one to show you. Just trust me, these are very, very wonderful pies. The chocolate chips and pecans kind of settle to the bottom of the pie. It’s best with a big glass of milk or some strong, dark coffee.

So get busy and get the pie ready so you can eat it while watching the Derby coverage on TV tomorrow.

And girls, if you are there at the Derby or the Oaks… I’m eating my pie, all by myself. Can’t wait to see your pictures on Facebook. :)

**Do you like Fur Lined Toilet Seats? Hope you’ll "follow” here or join me on Facebook. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and visit. :)

Grilled Pizza

2011-05-05T20:58:00.001-04:00

~I posted this last May, but thought it was time to dust off the recipe now that warm weather is here again.~

Pizza is one of my favorite meals to make on the grill. It has a smell that is a cross between a great pizzeria and carnival food. Grilled pizza has a great taste, too. The best part is the crust, very crispy on the bottom, but soft everywhere else.

Ingredients for the crust...

1 1/2 cup very warm water (like bath water)

1 T yeast

1/4 cup flax seed (optional)

1 T sugar

1 1/4 t salt

1/4 cup olive oil

* herbs of your choice, I used basil

* flour, about half white and half whole wheat. I would guess that it will take about 4 cups to make the dough somewhat firm and workable.

Soften the yeast in the warm water for a few minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients and about 1/2 cup of the flour. I added basil today, but onions or oregano are also wonderful. I bet it would be great with all three as well, but I try not to overwhelm the kids' taste buds too much.

Add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time alternating between white flour and whole wheat. The whole wheat flour gives the dough a bit of a firmer texture and really lends itself well to grilling.

Switch to the dough hook and work the dough, adding flour one tablespoon at a time. You want fairly firm (but in no way stiff) dough. This is what the dough looked like right as I finished kneading it. I put the dough out on cookie sheets to rise, coated in olive oil. Let it rise for about 20 minutes and then form small personal sized pizzas. Let those rise while you are getting the topping ready.

One of my favorite toppings is tomatoes. I drain the tomatoes really well, even pressing the water out using paper towels until the tomatoes resemble tomato paste. Otherwise they are too wet for the pizza and end up kind of slimy and gross.

Then, I add olive oil, diced basil and 1/4 t salt. I use this as my sauce, but the kids and Eric like a more traditional sauce. For them, I use a little Prego.

Toppings make the pizza... Today, I used sausage, bacon, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, mozzarella and Parmesan. Sometimes I even cut up spinach and use it as a topping. Very, very yummy.

Add all the toppings, except for the cheese.

Carefully place the pizzas on a very hot (350 to 400 degrees) grill. The best way is to kind of pull up the edges to meet in the middle, forming a very fragile sack. Then, lay the pizza on the grill gently and reposition the toppings as needed. This is where the dough's consistency is so important, too soft and it falls apart.

Add the cheese.

I love slices for this job because it's easier to control.

Let the pizza cook with the grill lid down as much as possible. I try to keep the grill at least 250 degrees. My grill is totally taken up by the pizzas, but if it wasn't I would use a more indirect heat (the burner that isn't under the food). As it is, I just monitor the pizzas to avoid burning and move them to the top rack when they are nearly done. Don't try to move your pizzas around until the dough is cooked very well or you will have a mess of toppings and dough.

Enjoy with your favorite people.

Thankful Thursday

2011-05-05T16:43:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

The great mom-bloggers who have chosen to share their lives with us.

Good mom-friends who inspire me each day, make me laugh, and cry with me, too.

The friendship and support of my mom, step-mom, and mother-in-law.

The great legacies of the grandmothers in my life.

Getting to be a mom to my silly little sweeties each and every day.

What are you thankful for today? Hope you’ll take time to leave me a comment.

That Mom

2011-05-03T13:52:00.001-04:00

I see her almost everywhere I go. The other day, she was at the zoo. Sometimes, she’s out shopping. I see her all the time. She’s “that mom” everyone seems to notice. You know the one.

She’s at the end of her rope. She’s had “just about enough.” She’s saying things to her dear sweet kids that sound just terrible. She is frustrated, with anger and exhaustion written on her face. **As a disclaimer… She is the mom who is frustrated, not abusive. We all know the difference and I want to be clear. Abuse is NEVER okay.

Before you judge her, take a look and see your own face. I know I see mine.

I don’t want to be her. Fact is, I loath her. Despite all my desire to be unflappable, patient, sweet and kind, I find myself becoming “that mom” all too often.

And so, I’ve quit judging “that mom” when I see her in the grocery. Instead of looking at her crossly, I can smile at her and make a little joke about the situation, bringing a bit of humor to her day and lightening her load.

I’ve been in her shoes, with a shopping list that must get filled before a scheduled doctor’s appointment and whining children who are picking at each other and touching every breakable thing on the shelves. I’ve been the mom who had to drag her child, kicking and yelling, from a store. I’ve also been the mom who let her toddler cry in the grocery when he/she wasn’t getting his/her own way rather than give in and promote a bad behavior. I’ve been embarrassed in almost every way imaginable. I’ve been tired. I’ve been short-tempered. I’ve been ugly.

It’s a miserable feeling, isn’t it?

And so, I go back to Mom 101 from time to time. Remembering the good lessons, some hard learned. Lessons like…

1. Don’t leave home with a tired little one. He/she will make you regret every moment and then fall asleep fifteen minutes before arriving home, therefore refusing any additional sleep that would make them tolerable.

2. Be sure little ones are not hungry. Feed them some healthy food that has long lasting energy, best if it has some protein. Cheese and crackers, a handful of nuts, or a good breakfast of eggs just seems to stick with them longer. Hungry littles are grouchy littles.

3. Find ways for them to be engaged in what you are doing. Riding in a car, riding in a cart, riding in the car to the next store, and then riding in another cart can get rather boring. Rather than bringing toys along, help them learn to engage with their surroundings.

Look for objects of a certain color.
Encourage kids to say hello and be friendly to other shoppers.
Share conversations as you shop.
Let the kids help you look for things on your list.
Talk about the beginning sound/letter of each item as you put it into your cart.
Have a lesson on nutrition as you walk the supermarket aisles.
Teach kids what to look for in the fresh produce section.
Do a bit of math, totaling the purchase prices, comparing prices, finding shapes, looking for patterns.
Tell fill in the blank stories while you wait in line. Example: The elephant was going to the zoo to see the zebra. It’s great, silly fun.

4. Change it up. When shopping isn’t going well, take a break. Go to a park for fifteen minutes and let the kids blow off some steam. Go to a restaurant for a shared dessert.

5. Know when enough is enough. Go home if possible. Try again another time.

And if you see “that mom,” share a smile with her and share a bit of her burden. Open the doors for her and don’t judge too harshly. She’s doing a super-hard job and working with folks who have very little logic and are prone to temper-tantrums.

She might just be me. :)

Got a great tip for going out in public with little ones? Share, please! Leave me a comment.

Rabbit Research Project

2011-05-03T12:51:00.001-04:00

~Research projects can be a great way to learn.~

She wants a rabbit for a pet.

Bunnies are cute and fluffy and soft. Their little noses wiggle in such a cute way. They must be fun, right?

But how much work are they? Seemed like the perfect time for her first research project.

So we taped a big brown paper to the wall and started asking questions.

Then, we got busy answering them. We found helpful magazines, books, and websites. As she read an answer to one of her questions, she recorded it.

Then, she made a list of needed supplies.

She found a local farm store’s website to get prices for each item and then we worked together to add them up.

She’s convinced, now.
Right down to the breeds of rabbit she would be interested in owning.

Now, if she just had enough money to purchase a cage…

Thankful Thursday

2011-04-28T13:38:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

Blue skies, fluffy white clouds, sunshine, and a full clothesline.

The hostas that brighten the space under the deck.

Playing in puddles.

My sweet friend who shared these pretty irises with me, divided from the bounty of flowers in her dear grandmother’s garden.

Herbs to plant and herbs in my garden springing back to life, giving me sweet anticipation of homemade pasta with fresh veggie sauce.

What beauty is brightening your life today?
Hope you’ll count your blessings and leave a comment.

Little Men

2011-04-27T14:31:00.001-04:00

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of….

Boys and girls are different, have you ever noticed? I continue to be amazed at the difference.

At our last birthday party, the little girls (outnumbering the boys 2 to 1) played together so nicely that I might have forgotten they were there. They played dress-up and fixed each other’s hair. They also pulled every My Little Pony and Little People doll out into the middle of the floor and commenced to sorting them by color, pink and purple of course. They played nice, quiet games.

The boys, on the other hand… Well, let’s just say that they were a bit rowdy. It was rainy outside and they were stuck playing in a house that was filled with 30 or more people. They used tinker toys as weapons. They ran through the hallway yelling. They threw toys at each other. They wrestled. They got hurt. Then, they wrestled some more. At least one of them decided jumping off the bunk bed would be fun.

I spent the afternoon, along with my mom, step-mom, and mother-in-law, fussing at the boys to calm down. There’s a time and place for “boys to be boys,” and it wasn’t in my people filled house. I’m so glad the next party is in June. I’m already praying for outdoor play weather and limited injuries. Perhaps I’ll re-stock my first aid kit between now and then as it is probably depleted since the December of Many Stitches.

All this got me thinking about raising boys. Boys have it rough in our society. I bet many of them spend their days hearing the words “NO” and “Have you completely lost your mind” all too often. Little boys are stuck at home all day with their mommas and their sisters. If they are lucky, they may have a little brother to keep them company. With so many dads out of the picture or working in 9 to 5 jobs an hour away, our boys are without male influence most of their day. When they go to school, they find that many of their teachers are women, they are expected to sit in a desk for hours on end, and are discouraged from doing anything that might cause injury or damage. Our boys are lacking many of the good things they need in order to grow into good, strong men.

I want to be a good mother to my boys, but it’s so hard for me to be the influence they need. My oldest boy wanted to learn to ride a bicycle the summer he turned five. The bike we bought him was a bit too tall for him. So when I saw a smaller one at a yard-sale for $3.00, I happily paid the lady and put it in the van. I unloaded it when we got home and went inside to change the baby’s diaper, telling him that he was welcome to try it out in the front yard and I’d help him learn to ride at naptime. I had only been in the house for a few minutes when he came in to tell me that he could ride his new bike. I didn’t believe him. Yet, proof was easy to see as he coasted across the yard. It didn’t take long before he learned to pop wheelies and leave skid marks in the gravel driveway. He loves slamming on the brakes, sliding the bike sideways, and then measuring one foot in front of the other to see how long his latest triumphant skid mark is. All this boyish risk taking makes me wheeze and have heart palpitations. It’s hard being a momma to a boy.

I’m still finding my way in this frightening territory, but I have learned a few things.

Teach boys to have compassion for others. The mushy, gushy stuff doesn’t always come easily for them. Sometimes, they need us to explain how their little friends are feeling and help them understand and feel empathy. Besides, it’ll be good practice for when they grow up and get married.
Let boys have jobs to do around the house and brag on them when they do the job well. Boys (and girls) need jobs to do and they need to feel the the pride associated with a job well done. They also need to be needed.
Boys need an outlet for their physical energy. Whether they participate in sports, take care of the family livestock, tote firewood, pull weeds, ride their bikes, or climb a tree, they do need to do something active every day.
Boys need to see their father or some man in their life working. They need to be taken on as an apprentice by that person, learning to fix cars, hoe a garden, drive a tractor, or drive the family car. Boys need to learn how to be a man of worth. Best way for them to do that is to have a man of worth in their life who loves them enough to teach them and spend time with them.
Boys need to learn how to treat other people respectfully. They need to learn to treat girls as girls, knowing that they are often stronger and bigger and need to be protective of the ladies in their life. They need to be taught to be gentle and respectful to older folks. They need to learn to be quiet and dignified when the situation calls for that type of behavior.
Boys need to learn manners. I’m not talking about which fork is best to use, but the practice of being considerate of another’s needs and comfort.
Boys need good books and role models. Most of what I see in the main-stream that is targeted for boys is not, in my mind, appropriate encouragement for what I want my little boy to become. There are good things out there, but they are few and far between. I want my little boys to see strong, compassionate, honorable men who do what is right, say what they mean, and are tough as nails.

I’m still finding my way in raising boys. Truly, it is a challenge that I want to get right!

What have your learned along the way in the process of raising boys? What has stretched you the most? Hope you’ll leave a comment and share your observations and boy-raising knowledge. This momma needs all the help she can get.

Re-birth of the Victory Garden

2011-04-26T11:37:00.001-04:00

It was a tumultuous time, with the world at war. The boys were enlisting to fight and defend their country. Uncertainty hung thick, covering every aspect of day to day life with questions. As the boys went to fight, their family hung a star in the window to represent them. All too quickly, many stars were replaced with a gold star when they found that their loved one would not be coming home.

Every effort had to go to protect and support those dear ones so far away. They collected metal, saved every scrap that might help. They shared cars when transportation was needed. Basic necessities were rationed so that everyone would have just enough and those fighting overseas would have all they needed. Folks planted victory gardens in their city yards. It was an all out effort, uniting the citizens. They all knew that what they did could make a difference.

Though our circumstances are different, this generation has it’s own fight to win. Our economy has faltered due to some staggering blows. There is war. There are hardships. Where once we had such a bright future, we are now faced with uncertainty and unemployment.

What will the future bring? How high will gas prices climb? Which countries have nuclear weapons? How will the U.S. recover from the debt it has accrued? Will our dollars be worth anything when all is said and done? How will climate change affect our everyday lives?

With no clear answers for our future, we find ourselves worrying. We worry about our jobs and our family members who are unemployed. We feel the strain at the gas pump and the grocery store. We all know folks who are overseas fighting an enemy that is elusive and dangerous. We question the science of climate change, the effects of the chemicals we use, and the reality of energy constraints.

And we fight.

We fight to keep what we have grown so accustomed to having. We want to fix what is broken, as long as we don’t have to feel any of the pain. We just want to go on living in the dream where we have all we want or need, financing to get what we can’t afford, and everyone is provided a “good” life. We want to have our party without seeing or feeling any responsibility for the mess we create.

All of our selfishness will come to nothing.

Hanging on to this unsustainable way of living will only dig our country deeper into the mess we have made. So why do we continue?

I’m ready for a change and I have been for a while. Working and striving to accumulate cheaply made, often toxic, plastic junk that will soon break leaves me cold. Walking through the chain stores that sell these items gives me a headache and makes me want to cry. I’m sick and tired of this “good life.” I’m tired of picking up junk. I’m tired of putting bag after bag into the trash or the recycle. I want more.

I want to live a life that is rich in the things that matter. I want to eat nutritious foods that taste good. I want to find more of what I’ve been missing, like the farm fresh, free range eggs our hens produce and the fresh, sweet heirloom tomatoes that grow in my garden.

I want to shop in stores that are owned and operated by local folks who care about how my kids are growing. I want to buy things that are worth having, made of real materials that cause minimal damage to the earth and the folks who make those items. I want a wheelbarrow that is made like the old one at my mom’s house, with it’s heavy metal wheel and unbelievable strength despite it’s years.

I want to spend more of my time with friends and family and less of it being entertained. I want my kids to be outside playing or by my side learning about life. I want to watch them play and hear their crazy, imaginative stories. I want to cherish these moments that really matter.

And those things, that kind of life… That’s what I’m seeking.

As long as Americans seek out homogenized, plastic filled, full bellied, soft couch, and fully entertained lives, we will continue to go down the same road we are currently traveling.

While it may be fulfilling for some, it’s not enough for me.

If the United States wants to recover, I believe it will take a united effort from it’s citizens. Budget cuts just won’t cut it.

I’m not sure what our “victory garden” will look like. I’m not sure how deeply we will need to sacrifice. Perhaps it’s time to find out. Maybe, Americans will find that putting down the toys, letting their bellies get a little empty, and rolling up their sleeves to do a bit of hard work is a better way and a worthy sacrifice for the benefit of our homeland and our children. They may even find it to be a better way of living.

What do you think? What has living in these times taught you? What solutions do you see for our problems?
All respectful comments are appreciated, even if they differ with mine. ;) I look forward to hearing from you.

I Heart Chickens

2011-04-24T21:27:00.001-04:00

I Heart Faces is having a pet photo contest this week.

I just couldn’t resist sharing this one!

I caught this amazing picture of my hens last fall.

I can’t believe how perfectly they posed for me!

I Heart Chickens.

Rain, Rain…

2011-04-23T20:03:00.001-04:00

Climbing the Walls…

2011-04-23T20:01:00.001-04:00

And you thought your kids were climbing the walls…

Children’s Literature

2011-04-22T23:25:00.001-04:00

Something about my Children’s Literature class in college always rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it was the way the professor insisted that we sign up to take turns bringing snacks. More likely, I just didn’t enjoy the books we were sharing very much.

I love reading. I always have. I remember being excited to get sick because that meant I could stay home and read.

My first grade teacher, Mrs. Green was to blame for this love of literature. She read the most wonderful books to us in the afternoon. They didn’t have pictures or flashy, pop-up, interactive, noise making features. They had words, wonderfully crafted and strung together to tell a story that put pictures right into my mind. I loved that time after lunch when we sat in our desks and the world went quiet to everything except the sound of her voice weaving a story. I knew then, the importance of learning to read. Ramona Quimby was a girl I could like, and those kids from The Boxcar Children had such amazing adventures that I could imagine myself there with them.

I read the book, Gone with the Wind when I was in middle school. I loved it then and I still enjoy re-reading it to find the little tidbits I didn’t truly understand at that tender age. When I finally saw the movie, I was disappointed. It’s a great film, mind you… The book just held so much more for me. I also remember reading The Odyssey and imagining the scenes as they unfolded. I’m glad I haven’t seen a movie for that book as I doubt it could keep up with my imagination.

Despite my love of reading, the current favorites in the children’s literature world leave me a bit cold. We read a lot of them, mind you. My kids love the library and they enjoy the quirky little stories and the gimmicky little books as much as the next kid. I must admit, I LOVE the Llama Llama books very much! There are many children’s books I could recommend, but there are also many “duds” that make me wonder why the publishers bothered.

I suppose I am not easily impressed with lift the flaps or with bright shiny covers. I am turned off completely by what I would call “social agenda” books. I also dislike the books based on cartoon characters.

Sometimes, I feel so thankful that my eldest’s early reading ability forced me to look for age appropriate books on her skill level. It has opened up a world that has been, largely, unknown to me. I’m so glad my knowledge of children’s literature has not been limited to the trendy and often flashy examples which were shared in my education courses or the ones that pass as literature in the children’s reading textbooks.

I have found a wealth of books I never knew existed. Books that are rich in words, challenging in vocabulary, straining the imagination with their descriptions of unknown worlds. I am growing to love these books which are, quite simply, the classics.

Kipling’s “Just So Stories” started the adventure for us. We loved learning “How the Elephant Got His Trunk” and “How the Camel Got His Hump.”

We journeyed along with Laura Ingalls as she grew up in the Little House Series. A favorite from my childhood, to be sure.

We found the original version of Winnie the Pooh to be much deeper and better than the one we found on the Disney movies and books.

We are discovering the nature filled worlds of Thornton W. Burgess in his book, “The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad.”

What amazes me about these wonderful books is the timelessness and joy of the words they hold. Even my four year old listened attentively for five chapters as Unc Billy the possum and Jimmy the Skunk trailed Mr. Toad to the Smiling Pool to see what he was really up to. The children enjoyed the black and white drawings that were included in the book every ten pages or so, to be sure… But I know they were painting their own pictures in their heads along the way.

So, on your next trip to the library, skip past those flashy picture books and go hunting for timeless classics bound in plain gray or green or yellow, and read them aloud to your little ones. Let the author’s words, penned one hundred years ago, speak to your children. Let your darlings dive into the deep end of children’s literature where their imaginations will take them to great places.

I bet you’ll find yourself enjoying children’s literature again, too!

For a great list of classic books, check out the book list on http://www.amblesideonline.org/index.shtml.

Many great classics are available for free download on your Kindle.

So, what was your favorite book when you were a child? What do you love reading with your children? Have you visited/re-visited any of the old classics? Hope you’ll share with us! :)

Thankful Thursday

2011-04-21T13:46:00.001-04:00

Today, I’m thankful for…

My Momma.

We weren’t always friends, you know.
First, she was my mother.

She tickled and played with me, and she comforted me.

She also taught me to mind.

She put up with me during my teen years.

Me and my baby sister, Becca, when I was about 17 years old.

My momma around that same time.

Somehow, we made it through the rough transitions when I left home.
She helped me shop for a desk for my first apartment.

Now, she is more than my mother. She is my friend.

And I am so thankful.

One Year Ago…

2011-04-18T11:20:00.001-04:00

I posted this April 18, 2010. Just thought I’d share a re-run today, of a post that is very special to me. A memory.

Nostalgia

The hottest part of the summer was always the best. A day would come when a nine year old girl would arrive at Grandma's house and find a factory of green bean production. Sometimes the work of picking the beans in the garden was already done. Those piles of beans would fill the bushel baskets till they were nearly overflowing.
The kitchen was a hot and mysterious place with all those shiny pressure canners. It was strictly off limits to kids. I'm pretty sure the men folks didn't wander in there either. Mom and Grandma owned that territory, bustling around filling jars and emptying the finished jars onto big, spread out bath towels.
They didn't mind their exile from the kitchen. The living room would be filled with those bushel baskets, parked next to various family members who were snapping beans into big mixing bowls or dish pans. Sometimes the television was on, but usually it was a time for visiting. The men in the family enjoyed the break from farm work in the heat of the summer.
The nine year old girl loved being big enough to help. There was a TV tray for her to use, a dish towel in her lap, and a big pile of beans waiting to be snapped. For the first time in her life, they gave her a small kitchen knife and showed her how to use it to cut out small bug bites in the beans. It was the first time she got to really contribute to the work of the family. In that living room, she was able to work like an adult and be a part of the adult world. She liked it.
It was a hurried time, as they had to keep ahead of the canners in the kitchen. Still, they sat in the living room talking and listening to stories from Grandpa. For that day, three generations of the family would come together to work with a single purpose, home canned green beans that would fill the shelves all winter. They enjoyed each little pop that came from the kitchen signaling that another can had sealed tight.
It seems like another world to me now. Grandma Belma passed away a few years ago and Grandpa Tuck has moved to North Carolina. I miss having their presence in my everyday life. Now, my mom is the grandma in that house. My Mary is the young girl, exploring the world and contemplating adulthood. I'm in the middle, filling the role of mom, trying to pass on the knowledge and love of past generations to my kids.
I hope and pray that my kids and eventually my grand-kids will have the opportunity to work alongside many generations of family to accomplish a common goal. There is no better way to learn family history, a great work ethic, some very funny stories, and build family bonds. Yeah, I loved those hot days of summer.....

The Zoo

2011-04-17T22:17:00.001-04:00

I’m so glad we purchased that membership to the Zoo.

And not just because I love cheesy pictures like this one…

Well, maybe the cheesy pictures have a little to do with it!

** Many thanks to Nathan and Lisa (and family) who met up with us at the zoo, today. It was such fun!

Party’s Over

2011-04-16T22:19:00.001-04:00

But the mess is still here!

And as long as my baby boy is falling asleep in my arms, I thought I’d share these pictures with my sweet friends.

There are four candles on that cake! Four!

I started learning to decorate cakes when Mary was turning one. I’m getting better at it! I guess I should be, though. We did the math tonight and figured out that I have hosted 18 birthday parties for my littles!

I like this cake. It was strawberry cake, layered with white cake. Yum!

And the little cupcakes were a hit with the little girls.

I have a feeling the butterfly decor will be migrating to the girl’s room.

The party was a smashing success, with 14 little ones running around my house! Poor things… I don’t plan party games or even send home goodie bags. What you see is what they got! But, they were happy, my Sarah was thrilled, and I am procrastinating on the clean-up!

The dirty dishes await. ;)

Beauty

2011-04-15T21:43:00.001-04:00

That corn crib in the background….

That was a favorite play place for me when I was growing up.

Like those fancy playhouses in subdivision backyards, only without so much fancy.

But, I had an old broom to sweep away the spiders and dust,

A couple of old crates and boards to use as tables and chairs.

And one very, very big imagination.

Corn cribs and barns are quickly becoming relics of the past, much to my sadness.

They are structures whose current use and value doesn’t always justify the cost of repair,

Being quickly replaced by cold, metal buildings (like the one we recently built).

I mourn the loss of the old barns, with their huge beams…

The smell of straw, and hay, and feed.

The way the sunlight streams in thought the cracks and catches the dust floating through the air.

The momma cat, sheltering her new kittens up in the barn loft.

Family folks working together to stack the square bales in the heat of summer.

The sound of the rain hitting the metal roof.

As I drove home the other day, I paid special attention to the barns along the way.

Each with special stories. Each with an old beauty of their own.

It isn’t just the barns that are fading away,

But also a very wonderful way of life. An old way.

And I wonder what the future will bring.

Fatima