tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66662103460769545412024-11-01T06:48:03.459-04:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger268125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-15627429516959805612014-08-05T11:50:00.000-04:002014-08-05T11:50:03.674-04:00

Our goats are so lazy.....(how lazy ARE they?).....well, they're so lazy they prefer to use the lawn mower instead of trimming the grass with their teeth! I'd given up all together, when three different asked on three separate days whether I would ever post here again.     I tried.  I tried to come up with something witty and clever that included "reasons for not writing.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-77473548079011258912013-04-17T16:30:00.001-04:002013-04-17T16:31:30.069-04:00

Yes, our chickens are eating the cherry blossoms that have fallen off our ornamental tree.  I know that cherry leaves contain cyanide (did you), but hopefully the blossoms aren't tainted.  If they are, I have my next blog post!!! Speaking of a post.... I actually thought it had been eleven months since my last post; at only ten, I'm encouraged! Well, about that truck...... The

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-36169375883698341992012-06-13T08:36:00.002-04:002012-06-13T08:37:02.045-04:00

I Thessalonians 5:18:  "In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of Christ Jesus...." 1.  We're thankful that only the "Drive" gear went out 22 miles from home and we still had "1 and 2" left to drive back. 2.  Thankful that when 1 and 2 gave out, it was in walking distance to the house. 3.  Thankful for Hannah's and Andy's strong legs to carry them up the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-25681298857189908272012-05-22T09:05:00.000-04:002012-05-22T09:06:19.523-04:00

That was SOME storm that rolled through last night! The girls and I were enjoying the almost-end of The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit, a free Kindle download  (Parts of it are hilariously funny, but parts of it do drag on....), which something caught my eye outside the window in the storm. At first I thought it was a streetlight.  But, then, we don't have any streetlights.  

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-87227333057065687412012-05-17T12:06:00.001-04:002012-05-17T12:06:54.853-04:00

OK, so I had Han finishing up the (Virginia) third grade SOL test this morning....you know, the most recently-released one on the DOE website?  Even though she's only finishing second grade, I wanted to get an idea of where she is; there's a couple areas we haven't learned yet. Anyways, she got to number 42*: A girl placed eight blocks like the ones shown, in a bag: She pulled one

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-36357716706102377762012-05-14T11:27:00.000-04:002012-05-14T11:27:40.804-04:00

The end is in sight! Less than one month to go for Hannah's second grade year, and WHEW, what a pull these last couple weeks will be! We were interrupted by a major household move this year, and that, in addition to the various trips and illnesses, as drug our school year out much longer than I'd planned.  There was a point when I thought we were going to be finishing in April ~ ha! ("

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-46753254089637800412012-05-13T22:21:00.000-04:002012-05-13T22:21:50.477-04:00

THIS is the hat that won FIRST PLACE in the Awana Crazy Hat contest at church last week.   THIS is the girl to whom the idea occurred to use cicada castoffs on her hat and who spent only a very little time collecting their exoskeletons (science lesson!).   We just witnessed the Magicicaida Brood I emergence....of 17-year cicadas.  Fascinating.  If you click

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-76664836202839201892012-04-17T15:04:00.001-04:002012-04-17T15:04:52.458-04:00

This is our family's version of a popular gut Amish dish.  Its kinder-friendly comfort food and it travels and freezes well.  Great for sharing with a recovering friend or bringing to a pot-luck dinner, AND you probably have everything you need for it in your pantry and freezer. I never bring home leftovers.  In fact, I'm surprised I haven't shared it here before.  If you

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-82836803403204157472012-04-13T09:53:00.001-04:002012-04-18T22:49:56.627-04:00

The first thing I did before we were even wholly moved in down here was to research homeschool support groups in the area.  We're so fortunate that there are several in the area, so we were able to choose one that was a good fit for our family.  I can't tell you enough how important it is to me to have a group of kids and moms who are fellow travelers on the journey ~ every

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-72742446391444096932012-04-12T00:04:00.001-04:002012-04-12T00:04:52.875-04:00

Easter Egg Hunt at Four Corners Farm in Rocky Mount  

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-77888777328196438592012-04-02T22:45:00.000-04:002012-04-02T22:45:23.793-04:00

Didn't I just mention how one of my students is easily distracted?  And here I am ratcheting up the beguilement! Well, we all found it difficult to concentrate on this morning after we decided to take our school to the yard and give the chickens a field trip....but I think it was well worth it.  We just s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out our morning lesson time. At first we just

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-59726861703060737002012-04-02T14:51:00.000-04:002012-04-02T14:51:33.871-04:00

In a recent "aha!" moment, I made one simple change that has helped Han surge ahead in her learning ~ If you guessed, "Let the cat supervise her writing assignments," that would be pretty funny, but - wrong. I was having so much trouble with her leaning her school chair up on two legs, rocking it backward on the back legs, leaning sideways to 'thunk' it on the floor and generally being

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-71435514930035148422012-03-19T21:54:00.000-04:002012-03-19T21:54:11.344-04:00

With the basement beginning to develop a faint odor of a poultry pen, it was time to do something about that elephant in the room coop, which, though solidly and heavily built, was poorly placed on the property.  Pooh. There were tears, some yelling, some retching in the woods wringing of hands, and apology heaped upon apology, some rationalizations and justifications....but for

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-15393022324505731912012-03-19T21:53:00.000-04:002012-03-19T21:53:53.155-04:00

There comes a time in families when its just better for everyone if one or the other(s) moves out.  As we faced this milestone this weekend, and because we are not completely heartless, we made arrangements for the girls to have a secure and comfortable home.  Andy built it with the best discount lumber that Lowe's offered, including a rock-bottom-priced door and window ~ negotiated

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-11120119893097439552012-03-19T00:27:00.001-04:002012-03-19T00:27:56.197-04:00

You see the depths of my heart /       and you love me the same / You are amazing, God / Chris Tomlin, Indescribable

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-67135241996377911322012-03-15T21:46:00.000-04:002012-03-15T21:56:29.180-04:00

put new batteries in alarm clock check email/Facebook/blogs/Pinterest find notebook to keep near computer rearrange living room furniture feed/water chickens clean out chicken pen in basement design compost bin rearrange living room furniture with homeschool stuff all grouped together finish sewing Hannah's bedspread and curtains hang Abbo's curtains on her closet repair Hannah's curtains

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-1063058326727148782012-03-11T09:39:00.000-04:002012-03-11T09:39:07.512-04:00

Here's some more snow pictures from our big snow last month ~ I realized I'd readied them but never posted!  Enjoy! Our new home in the Blue Ridge Highlands! Snow buddies!   Yes they are on the deck, yes they are underdressed for the weather, and yes, I approved! Look at those red, cold legs! "Watch me, mama!" "Weeeeeeeeeeee!" Sledding with friends....

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-33506851799470616832012-03-10T14:25:00.001-05:002012-03-10T14:26:12.665-05:00

Eleven girls and a rooster, we hope!  They were all supposed to be pullets (females), but usually there is a rooster or two in the bunch.  We'd like one for ambiance.  Well, there they are.  A new batch of tich-tens living in our basement.  There are three Barred Rocks (the black ones with white stripes), five Rhode Island Reds and four Araucanas - the brownish black,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-52055087143703572812012-03-09T19:30:00.002-05:002012-03-09T19:31:02.193-05:00

View from the front porch looking toward the road, just before sunrise. View to the northwest, just after sunrise, off the back deck.   Bundled up and ready to go! View to the west just after sunrise off the deck, that's a hemlock tree draped with snow. View off the front porch of the 'new' truck in the snow. Sledding!  In the side yard.  Han's hands are on

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-67991169397894724322012-03-09T19:20:00.000-05:002012-03-09T19:20:50.375-05:00

As I write this post, Andy and Han are at Lowe's picking through their discards bin for chicken coop lumber.  I'm home with the little one, having cleaned up after she emptied her stomach twice - once in the car and once on me and the downstairs couch.  She's now watching an old movie musical on TBN with a trashcan beside.   The situation lends it to an opportunity to update my

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-10440299579320689582012-01-28T15:19:00.002-05:002012-02-01T09:47:32.444-05:00

Just the other day, Andy and I commented on how very thankful we are for our new neighbors.  With such a warm winter, we've been outside more than we normally would, allowing the kids to play and develop friendships, and we've walked over to chat outside in the afternoons.  After we moved in, two of the neighbors closest got together and gave us a welcome fruit basket and gave me the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-30746139964426371252012-01-26T22:57:00.000-05:002012-01-26T22:57:10.005-05:00

Now that we've pretty much finished unpacking and are settled into our new surroundings, I've taken the time and had a good look around.  We've moved to this new home in the middle of what is passing for winter this year:  I think the average temperature has only been in the 50's and there's been no snow.  The trees are mostly bare except for the evergreens and some of the oaks

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-38230915410371601092012-01-18T08:12:00.000-05:002012-01-18T08:12:25.664-05:00

I considered abandoning this blog all together, based on the randomness of my postings, but I think I'll give it another shot.  After all, I still have MUCH to say on so many things, AND I appreciate the encouragement from comments and e-mails that these posts encourage. I'm very selfish, you see.... Many changes, great and small, have taken place in the last several weeks and months

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-22395949482541977502011-10-11T14:36:00.000-04:002011-10-11T14:36:12.590-04:00

Inspired by a pin I saw on Pinterest (you HAVE lingered there, right?!), I made this wall hanging as a gift for a friend who is having her first baby: The fabric and ribbon are new, but most of the buttons are "vintage." ....and I made a card to go with it:

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6666210346076954541.post-58911142052336349942011-10-03T17:57:00.000-04:002011-10-03T17:57:11.851-04:00

We've begun a new unit on Miracles in our Sunday School class, and it motivated me to follow through on something I've been meaning to do for a couple years:  create a Thankfulness Journal. I had one years ago when I first started working - it was a confidence booster at the time, where I wrote things people said that (what to me at the time) seemed to validate my work, my competency, etc.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0