Ice Skating Class

Doodlebug started her ice skating class today. She loved it. There were several kids there but it certainly wasn't over crowded. What she lacks in grace, she makes up for with guts. Good thing we bought her knee pads.

We are under a winter weather advisory this evening. All I can say is, FINALLY! We have been wanting snow so badly. It isn't really suppose to snow much. If we get anything other than a light dusting, it will be a miracle. It just seems so odd this evening to hear it thundering out there too.

Hope you all have had a great week. Stay safe and warm. It is really turning cold here. Blessings!

The Travel Blanket…

I hope your new year is off to a good start. Our holiday was very busy but it was wonderful. I loved spending time with the family and friends. Holidays are a lot of hard work but so worth it. It is nice to be back to the regular grind though.

This morning Doodles and I started back to her home school routine. We didn’t take a lot of time off during the holidays. We had lighter days of work but, we still did some school work most days, accept the holidays. 

She has been busy learning the 50 states and to locate them on a blank map. I thought it would be fun this morning to change things up a bit with her geography lesson and make a travel blanket with her.

She pulled out her little Hello Kitty machine and did most all the sewing herself; however, I did help a bit with the pinning of the pieces and the top stitch afterwards.  We used a pre-printed fabric panel. We found the panel at Hobby Lobby. It is the perfect size for a lap blanket for a child and I love the colors and the graphics are very neat. We also just used a piece of polar fleece for the back. We didn't use any batting. I wanted to keep it a very simple project for her.

She is excited about the idea of taking it as a lap blanket on road trips and also adding the buttons on the states that she has traveled to.

Today she is up to Pennsylvania, remembering the states in alphabetical order.  She loved using her blanket to show me where all the states are.  It was a fun little project and I would have taken photos of her while she was sewing but she wouldn’t allow it, since her hair was up in curlers.

Hope you all have a very blessed 2012

Field Trip Tuesday

Yesterday we attended “Down on the Farm” day at the local fair with our co-op group.  We started our day off, having Mini Mouse pancakes at our favorite local restaurant. We got up earlier than Papaw was really ready for but we didn't want to miss a thing. Papaw did get a few minutes to nap, before meeting up with the group at the fair.

Doodles was so excited and raring to go!

It was such a wonderful program. Thanks to the University of TN and all the volunteers who helped to put on that program. Our kids had a blast but I do believe, the adults had tons of fun too. Also, thanks to Amber the gal that arranged it all for our group from our co-op. We have the most amazing folks in our co-op that really goes out of their way to coordinate our outings.  

Below are a few photos from the wonderful folks who entertained and educated our group during the "Down on the Farm" day at the fair.

The fellow who opened the show with juggling.

The bug guy was so funny. The kids loved him.

He really cracked us up when he stepped out with the hat on.

The bee keepers group was of interest to Papaw and I too.

The gal doing the "Wow, that Cow" table gave us a lot to thank the cow for.

The kids got to milk a mock version of a cow.

 

The highlight for Doodles was being able to pet all the animals but the horses were at the top of her favorites list. She loved getting to pet the pony too and talk to a gal there with the horses that was a teen. She really thought that was cool.

The kids learned so much about all the grains that the farm and farmer provide. We learned that there are grains and items from the farm, in almost every thing in our homes. 

The kids got to handle soy, wheat berries and dried corn. Doodles was excited to see soy beans. She loves to munch on roasted soy beans and adds them to her salads.

After the program was presented to our group, we were free to go and check out all the other exhibits at the fair. I do think we spent the most time in the poultry house checking out all of the different breeds of chickens, geese, ducks and foul. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to see the different breeds and study their personalities. We certainly know too now, why we really don’t want a rooster. Man those guys were so loud in there yesterday calling back and forth to one another. It was so neat to hear them.  I am just glad we don't hear them here daily on a regular basis.

I know we were never this interested in chickens and birds before we raised our own. After seeing the category of the Red Pullets, we do think we may have been able to enter one of our gals and walked away with a prize winning ribbon. Not that the gals that were entered were not beauties but, we do believe a few of our gals could have brought home a ribbon or two. Even in a couple of the egg categories, I am certain that a dozen of our daily double eggs could have walked away in the largest egg category.  We measured and weighed one of our largest eggs today and it weighed 81 grams. It was 3 inches long and exactly 6 inches around. That surpasses the Jumbo category by the US Standard. I will take a couple of photos of our Extra Jumbo sized eggs and post them in a couple of days. 

Modern Sizes (USA) Size Mass per egg Jumbo Greater than 2.5 oz. or 71g Very Large or Extra Large (XL) Greater than 2.25 oz. or 64g

I have so many photos from the fair that rather than post them all here, I am going to just toss them over on my photo stream. Click here to see more photos from the fair.

There was an abundance of produce. I was surprised to see a variety of red okra. I never knew there was a red okra. I have never tried it but, would love to.  I must give kudos to some of the local growers for growing some beautiful produce. I just hope one day, we are able to grow such a wonderful variety of veggies in our own garden.  I must get to one of the seed saver community meetings before long. I would love to grow our garden from all local seed.

After the morning and afternoon at the fair, we came home for a bit of a rest and some coffee, before heading back out to Wonder Works in Pigeon Forge.


We were so beat after the morning spent at the fair, I know we were all questioning if we could find the energy to continue on. This was also the week Wonder Works was sponsoring their homeschooler week with free and discounted admission for homeschool families. So, for our schedule, Tuesday was really the only day we could go. Doodles has wanted to go there for such a long time. It was a very neat place to go and I do want to return there sometime, when we can spend more time really enjoying each activity.  I do think that Papaw and Uncle Joe Joe really enjoyed the place too. They seem to have lots of fun just playing together there too. Those boys really play together so well. While they were playing, Doodles and I were in the “Dance, Dance, Dance” booth. They were planning late 70’s and early 80’s rock music and we both found a few new moves. The boys found us in there and they had a few moves to share too. I think when Papaw picked Doodles up to spin her in the air for a big finish, they about finished off Uncle Joe Joe with Doodle’s feet. Papaw whipped her around so fast, Uncle Joe Joe barley missed getting hit. To see more photos from Wonder Works click here.

Field trip Tuesday was a lot of fun. My feelings about getting out and enjoying the fall with a few field trips here and there, is a thing we must do. We will be home all winter long, without so many opportunities for field trips. We are just going to go for it and enjoy the fall as much as possible.

Doodlebug still had a full day of school work today. She had a math test, which she scored a 96 on and also, a math lesson that she only missed one question. She had a spelling quiz that she did very well on too. This afternoon, when she went for her piano lesson, she was very tired. Even her piano teacher noted that she seemed a bit more tired this afternoon. I wonder why?  I am sure she will rest well tonight, I know I will.

Many heartfelt blessing to you all!

Back to the Co-op

Today was our first day back to our homeschool co-op classes. Doodles was feeling a bit shy and apprehensive this morning before heading into classes. She is such an outgoing kid, most of the time but she still has a shy side to her personality. To anyone that knows her, it is so hard to believe but she has standoffish moments. 

We lightened the moment this morning before going inside, by examining all of the spiderwebs on the playground fence. I had forgotten how this time of the year, you can find spider webs covering acres of grassy fields and almost any structure, when the morning dew is heavy. Taking a few minutes to just stop and look, talk about the webs and look for the spiders that made them, seem to take the edge off her apprehensiveness.


Our co-op group is being held at a local church. This church has been so generous to open up their classrooms and buildings to a group of over 400 young people for classes. Our group is so blessed by such an amazing gift of generosity. The hosting church is amazing. There is a gym, an indoor walking track above the gym, a library and play areas for the little ones inside and out. There are quiet study rooms but, I have yet to discover where those are. The gym is open for little ones to play and folks to socialize and to get reacquainted after the summer break. Our family feels so blessed to be a part of this network of home school families. The kids that participate in this group are outstanding and so bright. They are also some of the most polite and well behaved children that I have come in contact with in such a long time. 


I do believe Doodlebug is really going to enjoy Monday Fun. This semester she is taking, Character Education, American History, Hands on Shakespeare and a science class called, “Let's Investigate”. I am looking forward to hearing about each of her classes, during our 30 minute lunch break and then, catch rest of the details on our 20 minute ride home.

 11:30 …It is lunch time. We put our name on the pizza list for a share in a pizza but, the pizza guy is running a bit late. We didn’t get our pizza until about 11:45. No big deal though, we were very hungry so, we gobbled it down and still made it to the next class with a few minutes to spare. Doodles really enjoyed getting to have pizza with her friends.


(This paragraph was started at 10:30 and finished at 12:16) I have concluded, that trying to use the 4 hours and 30 minutes here on Monday's, to write may not work out. The atmosphere is so busy and energetic, that my time may be better spent in a pair of walking shoes, listening to my mp3 player and walking on the track. God knows, I sure could use the exercise.

 It is 12:32 and I am sitting outside of the Hands on Shakespeare class. From the sounds coming from inside the classroom, these kids and the teacher are having so much fun. The teacher has these kids so engaged.  From the sounds of laughter, calling out answers, responses and lines, I would say, she must have everyone’s attention. Who knew Shakespeare could be so much fun to second graders? They are learning and reading Shakespeare's play, The Tempest. We had read it at home last week. Doodles listened to the play as I read it to her and she drew in her sketch book. She seemed to enjoy it but nothing like this. I do believe this may be her favorite class, we shall see.

It is now 1:00  I am on my door post for my service hour. I didn't know my service hour would be right outside the nursery. There are so many little ones in there today that are not happy. This is our last hour here. Doodlebug is in the “Let's Investigate” class now. She is having so much fun. I know she is not going to want to go home.

All I can say today is, Wow, what a day! It has been such a fun and blessed day. When we get home, Doodles still has to do two lessons in math, has to do a reading assignment and practice her piano for the day. I know, she and I both are going to welcome our pillows this evening.

Back at home this afternoon, we still finished up two lessons in math and Doodles wanted to continue exploring what she had learned in the "Let's Investigate" class. She collected up a number of items to see if they would float or not. She made her predictions and then tested her items to see. After she finished, she took off the the gym with Papaw. 


When she came home, she ate, practiced her piano lessons, read the play, "Henny Penny" with Papaw and I. She then, brushed her teeth and jumped into bed. I am headed that way myself, as soon as I finish up this blog and answer a couple of emails.

Tomorrow is “Field Trip Tuesday.” We are going to “Down on the Farm Day” at the fair, for half of the day. Then on “Wonder Works” for the second half of the day. It should be a fun but tiring day too.


Wednesday we will have a busy day with book work and getting ready for a couple of tests. Next week may be a bit more relaxed, we shall see.

I will try to do a weekend wrap up on Sunday and post a few more photos. We are going to attend the “Homestead Day” at Oconaluftee visitor’s center on Saturday. We have been looking forward to the homestead cay for weeks.
.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. 

              Many blessings!

Search For The Missing Book

I had thought Doodlebug may be trying to tell me something without having to come right out with it.  I have been searching all evening for our book that Doodlebug and I started reading, “Witch of Blackbird Pond.” I couldn't seem to find the book anywhere. I had looked on both night stands, hers and mine and it wasn't there. Usually, that is where it would be because, we had been reading it at night before bed. I pulled out the activities book to work something new from the story into tomorrow’s lessons and it prompted me to grab the book. That is when I discovered, it wasn't anywhere to be found.  The first clue that she maybe wasn’t enjoying the story should have been, when she asked me, “Mamaw, why do the Puritans have to talk like that? Why can’t they just talk normal so that we can understand them?” 

I am not saying that she hid the book but, the smile on her face when I told her I could not find it, well. That said a lot. I did find it. It had slid down behind the night stand. We read another chapter just a bit ago. I told her that I really thought it was important that we finish it. I told her that it was alright if she didn’t like the story but, I thought we should finish what we start. She seemed to agree with that too. We have already read 2/3's of it so far.

We will do a few more of the activities along with it but, I will not dig deeper with it. I do not want to bore her. I think it may not be as age appropriate as I had hoped.  I want our reading time to be exciting.

One of the activities from the companion book of "Witch from Blackbird Pond", was to make a “Gratitude from A to Z” list.  We also talked about Puritans’ beliefs and how strongly they believe that work and religion were the most important things in life. We read about how they were grateful for the little things in everyday life and we talked about those things.  Doodles has to think every day of something starting with the corresponding letter, that she is grateful for. Here is her list so far.

We will be starting Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn next. I do hope she will enjoy that. I always loved all of Twain’s books.  I hope she will love them too.

She also started her creative writing assignments that we are following along with from “The Small World’s Wordsmithery” blog. You can find the link on the right side of my blog. Doodlebug was ask to come up with adjectives to describe her parents and herself. We had a very good laugh. These were indeed her words.

The lesson suggests or reminds the teacher/parent, not to criticize a word choice in order to keep the child reaching for their own creative words and not words they feel would be more accepted by the teacher or parent.  It was a fun exercise and she really enjoyed the different activities today. It was a truly blessed day. 

Hope your week will be a blessed week too!

Signs of a Fading Summer

There are signs of fall quickly approaching all around. We noticed a few days ago, the ivy in the woods already turning red. Leaves on the Birch are fading quickly to yellow and some already brown. There are small but, very fresh autumn squash popping up at the produce market. Summer will be gone before we know it. I am looking forward to the cozy energy that fall brings. Also, I am looking forward to some steamy mugs of hot tea and butternut squash soup.

   "Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire."

            ~William Butler Yeats 

Today was the start of our homeschool year. Though it was a very long day, we accomplished so much and Doodlebug seemed very excited. She easily moved back into her lessons. I was so proud of her effort. I am in great hopes her enthusiasm will continue; although, I know every day will not be like this. There will be those days, I am sure we will both long for the energy and excitement of day one but, we will look forward to the days that new doors will be opened and unexplored topics arise to capture our interests. It was truly uplifting to hear her ask this evening if it would be alright if she were to do another math lesson in her Teaching Textbooks.

I am very excited and feel blessed to have this time to spend with her exploring and learning. I am learning so much myself. I am grateful each day for our time together. She is such a sweet child and getting to be a part of her education is such a gift. I know I will forever be grateful to God for this stage in my life and this time with Doodles.

I would love to take a few minutes to share with you, photos from history day in our town but, I am exhausted. Our day starts early and I do think my blogging will slow since the start of our lessons. I will try and post a new blog this weekend and share a bit about our week and also photos from history day. 

Many blessings to you all!

What Luck?

I know we have been a bit crazy lately and all caught up with our chickens so, let me apologize and say, I am sorry if we have seemed a bit obsessed the last few days. I know the eggcitement will die down soon. {grin} I did want to share this with you though. Can you believe the very first egg our chicken laid was a double yoked egg? I am sure it is a maturity thing but I did research what the odds were of getting double yokes. The stats say, only one in every 1,000 eggs produced in this country is double-yolked.

So, you maybe asking yourself the same thing we did, what about egg number two? Believe it or not, it too was a double yoked egg. They were small yokes but we were impressed with her first attempts and giving us doubles. If I played the lottery, I would be buying a ticket tomorrow.


Now we are laughing it up and wondering how many doubles in a row could this gal lay? We'll let you know.

Doodles got back this evening and we had to fry them up and make egg sandwiches. They were delicious too. She had her's over easy and I scrambled mine up. Papaw said he would try a bite but let us gals have the first two eggs. Tomorrow's egg is all his. We are looking forward to the other gals getting busy here very soon too. Who knows, maybe tomorrow there will be more than one egg in the nesting boxes.










Doodles wants to raise goats and rabbits next. She really wants to turn this place into a "real farm" as she calls it. It has been a wonderful teaching opportunity raising the chicks with her and she felt a real sense of accomplishment while eating her egg sandwich.

Now I promise, no more mention of our chickens again for a while unless...they do something eggtraordinary.

Hope you all have a great week!
Many blessings!!!

More Homeschool Adventures "Making Cheese"

You may want to pop down to the bottom of this 
page and turn off the music player before viewing.

Doodlebug and Papaw sure had a good time making cheese several weeks ago. Papaw picked up a cheese making kit when he was in Atlanta. He knew it would be a good homeschool science project for him and Doodles to do together. As you can see from the little video, they had a great time in the kitchen.

The little kit was awesome and had everything needed to make cheese except for a couple of gallons of milk. There were recipes for making all types of cheese but one of the simplest ones was the Farmhouse Cheddar. There was enough ingredients to make several batches of cheese so, next we are going to make a goat's milk cheese. We want to try making a soft type of cheese and thought goat's milk would be wonderful. I will be sure to let you know how this turns out and maybe take a few photos.


I wished I would have snapped off a few photos of the waxing process but, I was sick the day they waxed it and wasn't near the kitchen. Right now, the cheese has been aging a couple of weeks. We are thinking that it maybe ready near Easter. We will be sure to let you know how it tastes. I am so excited. I have always wanted to make my own cheeses. I have a secret dream of owning my own goats someday.

We stay so busy these days it is hard for me to find time to blog much. Doodlebug has been taking an enrichment geography class and a gymnastics class on Mondays. She has really been enjoying it so much. She should be going today but bless her heart, her allergies have really been giving her a hard time this spring and she isn't feeling real well today. She is so stuffy and I am afraid she may have a sinus infection because of the allergies. I had one myself last week but I can tolerate my home remedy to put an end to it but she can't handle it. I will be so glad when the tree pollens are down some but then, “Hello Grass Pollen!”

Will write again when I can. I am promising to try harder over the next few weeks.

Blessings!!!!