Been AWOL for awhile, but I’m back
20 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in cooking/preserving, Countrylane Beads and Things, homeschool, Lord's blessings
It’s been busy. The harvest of the garden was better than I thought. Looking back at the notes I kept showed that the Lord blessed us mightily and we are so thankful. It was a bad year for tomatoes, but ours did well anyway. I can’t imagine what they would have done if it had been a great year. 
For the first time, I logged the canned veggies and fruits in the pantry:
Canned tomatoes: Puree in quarts: 6 in pints: 15 Juice in quarts: 14 Stewed in quarts: 3
Canned apple sauce: in quarts: 5 in pints: 7
Canned green beans: in quarts: 24
Canned bread and butter pickles: in pints: 17
Canned bread and butter veggies: in quarts: 1 in pints: 7
Homeschooling is doing well. The twins are progressing in reading and math. They love science and history. They really love anything about Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. And space. One of the twins still loves trains. It hasn’t turned out to be a passing fad, but he really is infatuated with them. #1 son is doing well, too, though I want to pull out my hair at times. He has learned things in grammar, but forgets to apply them. 
But he really enjoys math, science (Botany this year), and history.
Beading has been doing well. I haven’t had any more parties, but orders do come in steadily. Most of the older necklaces, the ones that I don’t wear all the time, I’ve taken apart for the beads to use in other things.
Hubby stays busy, though at times it looks as if it will be very slow, but then the Lord always provides a load.
3rd jewelry party/garden update
20 Jul 2009 Leave a Comment
in Countrylane Beads and Things, gardening, homeschool
Mom hosted a jewelry party for some of her friends the last part of June. It was a great turnout. Many ordered and some were able to take home some of the things they bought, meaning they didn’t want any changes made. I also have 2 people, outside of the party, who are wanted some things made. One wants a pink necklace made, but I need to order a pendant for it. Another wants earrings made to match a couple of her necklaces. I also need to order some beads to make these earrings.
One lady at the party wanted earrings, but not dangly ones. This will be a challenge for me. But, I’m up for it.
I heard many at the party, and elsewhere, that they were looking for only earrings. To me, earrings are very easy to make (except non-dangly ones) and therefore, I don’t make a bunch. I guess I want the ladies to tell me what part of the necklace they want their earrings to look like. Mom suggested I just make a few to go with each necklace and then the ladies can pick what they want. I also heard another woman say that she’s not into earrings or necklaces, but she loves bracelets. So, I’ll be making more of these, also.
The garden has been keeping me busy, with weed-pulling and Japanese-beetle picking. With these little boogers, I drop them into a big cup half-full of hot soapy water, in which they drown. These beetles get on everything, except the yarrow, zinnias, autumn clematis, passion flower, daisies, tomatoes, lima beans, and annuals. They tend to munch on the pole beans, lemon balm, Rose of Sharon, roses, purple clover, crabapples, and burning bushes.
The tomatoes are prolific this year. I’ve even started picking off ripe cherry tomatoes! I’ve also had a couple of yellow squash already. THe turnips did well. These seem to attract all the bugs that would pester the potatoes, so I have left a few for this purpose. The onions, carrots, spaghetti squash, lima beans, pole beans, runner beans, and pumpkins are doing well. So is the acorn squash. I’ve really enjoyed the bee balm this year. I plan on planting/moving this plant all over the yard next year. THe bees and hummingbirds have enjoyed this plant also.
I’m trying to decide what to do with the boys next year for school. There are so many things I want to do, so many I want to try, that trying to decide is turning this girl’s brain into mush! I have to remind myself, from time to time, what I want to accomplish and that I want it to be easier on me. I usually “wing it”, but with three boys needing education, I will be needing a more structured curriculum. It will still be hands on, but I will be using the instructor’s manual in most areas. I’m still debating about what approach I want to do with spelling.
Cleaning out/new curriculum
10 Jun 2009 1 Comment
in books, Countrylane Beads and Things, gardening, homeschool, small home challenges
One of the “joys” of a small house, with no room dedicated to just educating the children and house the computer desk, copier, fax machine, etc, is the lack of space one has to hold all the things this mom loves to bring home. Books! I love these things! I know, some say, “Why keep these things after you have read them?” My answer is to enwrap the boys with well-loved books that someday they or their wives, or even their children, will read and, hopefully, enjoy as much as I do. But I also have brought home lots of other books, workbooks, educational games, flashcards, etc, that I thought (at the time) that we couldn’t live without. But, in a recent conversation with another homeschooling mom and kindred spirit, I was made to realize that I really, really didn’t need all these books, etc. Many I could get rid of and just go to the library when we needed to study up that subject/person. This has been quite a revelation to me. So, I’ve been “cleaning” out the shelves and shelves of books and workbooks and the many containers holding extra flashcards, games, etc. Now, I’m looking for a used curriculum sale to set up a table. I am afraid, though, that I have waited too long for that this summer. I am hoping that toward the fall, there will be a few around town. It would be nice to take something that has been stuffing my house and make some extra money with it.
As far as new curriculum, I am very excited about a math curriculum that I have found to do with the twins. One of the twins is a visual and audio learner, the other is kinesthetic. Plus, I needed something that was easy for me and one that I didn’t have to re-learn math in order to teach it. Found it!!! It’s called Right Start Mathematics. It’s based on the use of an abacus. Most of the teaching tools, advice, etc. can be downloaded right off the computer and you first work with the children on using their left hand (first) and then their right hand to count (we read left to right!). When this is second nature to them, then you introduce them to the abacus. Oh, it is so neat and easy! I’m very excited! Even our oldest will be able to “see” how math works too. Multiplication and division is also figured on the abacus.
Heard a startling discovery that scientists have found: women who stay at home are more likely to develop cancer than those who work away from home. Why?!? Because of the household cleaners we use every day (or at least once a week). The chemicals found in these things can linger in the air and cause asthma and cancer and other diseases. Also, fabric softener sheets. They make our bodies produce a type of poison. Those who make/sell these know about it, but they smooth it over by saying that it’s such a small, insignificant amount that it won’t harm us. But if we allow a tad here, a bit there, it all adds up and packs quite a punch to our systems/bodies. The worst cleaners are window cleaners, furniture polish, everyday cleaners. There are recipes that uses baking soda, vinegar, water, and olive oil that take care of all of the cleaning that needs to be done. Plus, you can add essential oils to make it “smell clean”. The recipes are on cbn.com
Planted more carrots, some acorn squash, 26 strawberry plants, and lima beans the past few days. And today, the Lord has been watering the seeds and plants for me. He does a much better job than I ever could!
I recently bought some paper off the clearance rack at Michael’s and some beaded stickers. I have plans to make new business cards that one will be able to put up on their fridges, due to the magnetic strip that will be placed on the back. Mom’s home party is coming up soon. I would like to have them done for that and the ice-cream sundae earrings, too.
ice cream sundae earrings
03 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
in Countrylane Beads and Things
New idea for earrings for this summer! Saw it in a magazine, and I think I can make them. Will be making them and have them ready for sale at mom’s party at the end of June. Last winter, I made snowman earrings and they were a big hit. I was looking for something similar for summer. This is it! I could make different “flavors”, too! Even have a cherry on top!
Seedlings have appeared…
03 Jun 2009 Leave a Comment
in Countrylane Beads and Things, gardening, homeschool
Little seedings are started to appear all over the gardens/beds! Spaghetti squash, pole beans, lima beans, and zinnias are spreading their little sprouts and making a stand. It’s amazing how God has “engineered” these little seeds to do all they do! Truly amazing! The tomotoes, spinach, lettuce, carrots and onions are doing well. Still need to plant cucumbers and the strawberry plants, and more lima beans. Still anticipating on the pumpkins and potatoes to make their appearance in the gardens.
Mom has scheduled a jewelry party for the last part of June. This is to be with all her friends she bowls and plays cards with. Hope it’s a good turn-out. The orders keep coming in, though, so that is a blessing. I get new orders from people seeing my jewelry being worn by someone they know. (Good advertisement!)
The Lord is watering the gardens and fields today, so we will be staying in. Tomorrow, a homeschooling mom and her 4 young ones will be coming over to get aquainted with us. Looking forward to this, as this has been a few weeks in the works. Seems weather and other things have always gotten in the way. Hopefully, tomorrow we will be able to finally meet and get to know each other. She lives close by and it would be nice to have fellow homeschoolers so close.
Yesterday, mom and I and the kids went up to church and pulled weeds out of the flower beds. Lots of weeds, esp. at the sign. Hopefully it will look nicer. Has to, without all the thistle and stick weed. The sign needs some new perennials by it. Maybe I can get some starts from some of my stuff here at home and take it up there to plant. I was thinking of maybe some purple salvia or sage. The purple will look nice with the black-eyed susans (yellow). Or maybe some pink yarrow. (Oooo, sounds pretty!)
I made my first bid on e-bay Sunday evening. Hubby helped me with it and we are both hoping it flies! I am wanting to do Saxon math with my oldest. Still looking for something to do with the other two. I am cheap and always looking for a good bargain. I don’t mind paying out if it means my children get a lot of good out of it, but still, the Lord didn’t make money to grow on trees, so we need to be good stewards of the money He has given. I looked into Singapore math, but it doesn’t have review in it. They do suggest that you review on your own, but having it “built in” does help me and our children a lot. I don’t have to remember.
Mother’s Day, result of party, plants
12 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in books, Countrylane Beads and Things, family, landscaping, Lord's blessings
What a wonderful weekend, what a wonderful family, what wonderful blessings the Lord gives to me daily! It truly was a blessed weekend and the time spent with family was wonderful! After a good Sunday school lesson and a blessed morning sermon, we spent the early afternoon with hubby’s family. Then the late afternoon was spent with my family. The day before, my mom, brother, 3 boys and I went to a cousin’s 30th birthday party. The boys had a great time getting to know their cousins, a goat, 3 horses and a pond out back. Us adults had a great time talking and mostly laughing with family and new friends.
My wonderful family gave me a very nice digital camera and a book written by Dr. Laura titled, “In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms”. I’ve started reading this book and have already been blessed by it. For those of you who don’t know who Dr. Laura is, she’s the 3rd top listened-to radio talk show host. She is also a psychiatrist and marriage counselor. But she was first, a stay-at-home mom and highly recommends homeschooling. Hubby loves to listen to her show while he is on the road. He says that it reminds him how good he has it at home and reminds him to treat his family kindly and love deeply.
I haven’t told about the results of the jewelry party. Many clothes were gathered for the shelter. The sales were down, but there were many conflicts of people’s schedules and I know that the economy has a lot to do with it. But I still had orders to fill and someone brought me a necklace to redo. This encourages me, that I am gaining a reputation that one can trust me with their jewelry. I do my best and if someone is not satisfied, I will do it over until they are satisfied or just give it back to them the way they gave it to me. Two people have scheduled a home party with me, for later in the year. Another person who couldn’t be there has said she would like to host a home party with me and a cousin said the same thing. This will help get my name and work out there. A good friend has promised me a brochure as soon as I get some pictures to her. Ain’t that sweet?
It’s spring and that means that I’m planting things. The spinach and lettuce are coming up nicely and I have already enjoyed eating on the spinach. #2 son loves eating “leaves”, #3 son tolerates it, and #1 son turns his nose up at it, if eaten plain. But he will eat it and loves it, if it is cheese, or the like. I am planning on making some spinach tortillas. The turnips are sprouting and so are the carrots. Still looking for the green onions to make their appearance. I am planning on planting the pole beans as soon as I get the pole bean teepees built and put up. These “teepees” are made out of long sticks/branches that have fallen out of our trees over the winter, then tied together at the top with twine, and set in the ground to look like teepees. I also made another hog-panel trellis and will be planting something viney on that as well. I ”dug out” two large planting containers out of the shed that will be what I plant potatoes in. These can be placed anywhere in the yard. 6 tomato plants were given to us two weeks ago and have been put into the ground. They are doing well, so they must like where they are. For their beds, I have been digging a trench and burying kitchen scraps. The scraps will rot and compost the ground while the tomatoes will be drawing on those nutrients.
Yesterday, the boys and I went to the local Feed and Seed and bought mulch, Tickseed (Coreopsis Grandiflora) and 2 Shasta Daisies. These were bought using a gift certificate that was given from my brother for my birthday (in Feb.). I have planted the Tickseed close to some Coneflower, Bee Balm and a flower that I call Mexican sunflower. These are off of the south side of the patio. Earlier this spring I put in a dry river bed to conceal a tile that runs out from behind the wall. THis is still in progress, though I hope to be done by Memorial Day weekend. We are planning on having people out for that weekend. (Talking about all of this has made me want to go out right now and work in the dirt!)
Getting ready…
20 Apr 2009 Leave a Comment
in Countrylane Beads and Things, homeschool
Mom asked me this morning if I was going to have a busy week…looks like it will be. Getting ready for the jewelry party/clothes swap for this Saturday. Also have #1 son’s 4-H meeting tomorrow night. Need to go to the grocery store, make a few important phone calls, laundry, homeschool, etc.
Things to be done in order to be ready for this Saturday: put tags on all the necklaces, make some earrings to go with some of the necklaces, catalog some last minute pieces I found over the weekend, fine-tune the price list. I also need to work on the boards to hang some jewelry on or hem up the material and use as a tablecloth (I haven’t decided yet). I also need to ask mom about what kind of snacks I will bring for the party. I surely hope that there’s a good turn out. I know that the economy is tough right now and a lot of people won’t be coming due to prior engagements. The Lord’s will be done.
I did get an order from a friend of my mom’s. She has been a very loyal customer from the get-go. She wants a pair of earrings to go with a necklace she has. And another order came from a lady at church. She’s wanting a necklace with a large stone pendant and made with black/white beads. I hope I don’t disappoint. She’d like to receive it from her family for mother’s day.
I found another website of a bead seller that sells stainless steel alphabet beads for so much less than the other company I bought from. This will lower the prices on Mother’s/Name bracelets significantly! This is good news for me and those who would like me to make them a bracelet!
I was talking to a man at church yesterday who voiced his concern for our family. Hubby’s away alot due to work and I’m at home schooling our children. He remembers when he was gone a lot from home and his wife was at home, schooling the kids and trying to keep everything together. I told him that if I could just hear a homeschool motivator speaker every Monday morning, I would be good. Or at least I would be motivated some what to do better starting Mondays. I really think that a weekly or bi-monthly homeschool mother’s meeting would do me a world of good. We would encourage each other in the Lord and in our schooling of our children. It’s hard to school more than one, and esp. if you have one who seems to not get it as quickly as the other two. May the Lord give me that “special nut” daily.
new party/mowing
14 Apr 2009 2 Comments
in Countrylane Beads and Things, family
It has been a wonderful week (last week). Hubby was home most of the week. Factories, and trucking to those factories, shut down for Christmas and Easter. I think it’s ironic that they shut down for days acknowledging the birth of Christ and His Resurrection, yet to talk to them they would deny this. But they shut down days ahead of the actual celebration and then it takes about a week to get everything up and running 100% again after. Hubby was able to get a load out of Chicago going to PA. While at home, he worked on the mower at home, worked up at church cleaning up brush, etc. I was able to do my first mowing at church with the new mower. I grew up with mowers with steering wheels and the one at home is one you steer with a wheel. But, the one at church is a O-turn and is guided with two handles. Took me half the back yard to figure out steering this thing. But once I got the hang of it, it was a lot of fun.
Mowed at home last week, too, the first time this year. Found a bunny nest. I shooed away 3 bunnies to tall grass I don’t mow or into flower beds. Thought I had them all but the mower found another and, well, we have tiny bits of bunny all over the corner of our yard. The boys were raking up the really tall grass that I had mowed and had raked up all the grass from that corner, until I pointed out the itty-bitty bits of bunny, which I then promply dumped that grass into the fence and shooed the boys up the hill to other clumps of cut grass. (Yuck! Gives me the “icks” when I think about them raking and picking up that stuff!)
Friday, my brother, mom and I drove to Lewisburg, KY, to a viewing. One of my dad’s brother, Jim, died last week to leukemia. My mom and her sis-in-law drove down there the first part of the week to visit him and his wife before he died. Mom was astonished at how fast he went downhill. But he is in Heaven now and has joined my dad at Jesus’ feet! We had a nice drive down and saw all the ruin caused by the ice storm and tornado that ripped through KY last winter. Wow! Trees with their tops ripped off, some houses with blue tarps on them, some buildings completely demolished. And so widespread, too. Mom drove down and brother drove home. I was on the edge of my seat all the way home! I even dreamt about it that night. My brother drives a lot, everywhere, and he’s a very good driver. But he doesn’t brake or slow down, he just weaves out of traffic, no matter if it’s raining or dry, during the day or night. Mom admitted she was a bit nervous, so she just looked out the window. I tried hard not to show I was nervous, but towards the end of the drive, he asked my if I was old! Guess I’m old enough to have a family at home who depends on me. Hope I didn’t make him mad. He’s a good guy and I love him to death, which will happen if I keep riding with him! I will up my praying for safety for him daily!
Well, new jewelry party is coming up. And with a new twist. Talking to other women, mostly from church, I got the idea to have those who attend, bring their unwanted clothes to the party. Then all the women can sift through all the clothes and pick out some “new” outfits. Then they can pick out some jewelry to go with their outfits or order some made. They’ll get a free outfit and only pay for the jewelry! All unwanted clothes will be donated to a battered-woman’s shelter.
Hubby would like it (and I would too) if I could start scheduling home parties. Have someone host a party at their house, I come with my “wares” to sell or to take orders, and those hosting the party can invite whomever they want. It would broaden my “base” of customers and get my stuff out there.
I recently did a mom’s bracelet with her children’s names. She was thrilled with the outcome and so was I. It had their birthstones and was both silver and gold. I would like to do more, though these are more expensive to do and therefore I would have to ask for more to make them. Another woman would like for me to do hatpins/lapel pins. And I would still love to do watches with interchangeable bands.
Heritage Trails, cowboys and realizations
03 Mar 2009 4 Comments
in books, Countrylane Beads and Things, family, fieldtrips
This past weekend, I attended a Lia Sophia jewelry party that my sis-in-law was hosting. I went with the intention of getting some ideas on what’s new this season, and on how to do a party. I realized that I have nothing wonderful to offer if seen in the same light as this company. Except that each piece I make is a one-of-a-kind and it’s a way to express myself. I can’t offer same-week delivery on a show, or trips, or $100 worth of free jewelry for hosting a party. But I can offer something made just for the person who ordered and the promise that no one else will have something just like their’s. In a way, I was a bit depressed but I am glad that I went, because I have seen what seems to be all-the-rage this spring.
On to other things, my hubby lost an uncle to a heart attack this past month. Now all the brothers are getting their hearts checked out. One uncle already had his stress-test and complained of pains. Dad-in-law said that he was calling today to make an appointment for a heart check-up. Heart trouble and diabetes runs through the Miller family, both male and female. And just last week, a boy, that was a year older than hubby in school, died due to unknown causes, though some believe it was his heart. He wasn’t the picture of someone who took care of his body, being a drinker and smoker. You just never know when “the appointed time” for you will come.
A few years ago, I went to the Indianapolis Library Sale and came home with a book about “Checking your Grammar”, written for children to read (yeah, right!). Anyway, I started using it for #1 son’s English. I am planning to purchase a book on diagramming sentences. I have heard from another homeschooling family, that by diagramming, a child gets a better grasp on the parts of a sentence. This is turn helps them to curb the desire to write run-on sentences and incomplete sentences. #1 son is a concrete-random learner and needs to “see” certain things to understand them. By the way, the book is from Scholastic and I highly recommend it. It’s a reference book for anything to do with grammar. Good for adults, also.
#3 son is interested in cowboys. I have been looking for picture/reading books with cowboys being the “stars”. I have a few, like an ABC book about the terms and tack that are used by and with cowboys. I would be interested in any recommendations.
Heritage Trails is a group that my mom and I get together with on the first Monday of every month. Last night was our March meeting. We talked about “Chatauqua” meetings and it proved to be very interesting. Someone always brings in something(s) of interest, whether antique or otherwise. Last night, a lady brought in a plate that celebrated the 150 years of Shelbyville. On the center of the plate is a picture of the official Shelby County flag! I didn’t know that each county had a flag?! That was news to me. We also talked about going to the Flat Rock cave in May, if it can be arranged. Bet you didn’t know that Shelby County had a cave!!! We tried a few years ago to get into it, but it’s on private land and you must gain permission to enter it. It’s not a huge cave, but it is a cave, nonetheless. I am looking forward to that. Next month will be a “show and tell” meeting, where everyone will get to bring something in that they want. We have had things brought in that the owner didn’t know what it was. That always spurs conversations and disputes! We also are looking into putting together a flyer to pass out and post at various local businesses about our group. We used to have about 15 people, but now are down to about 9. I can’t believe it, but I realized last night that we have been meeting now for over 7 years. WOW! We need some younger blood and more people coming in. Our small group is full of neat people, but most are elderly. Sometimes, I bring #1 son as a field trip and when we do field trips, all the kids come too.
President’s Day, 4-H, library books
20 Feb 2009 3 Comments
in Countrylane Beads and Things, fieldtrips, gardening, homeschool
I’ve been doing some more reading up on gardening. I have big plans for the gardens this year. Hubby and I would really like to grow more fruits and veggies and I am praying that the Lord will bless bountifully this year, as He did last year. I would love to incorporate more herbs, too. And, of course, more flowers. I hope to add flowers that attract bees, butterflies and all those wonderful bugs that the Lord has provided.
I also picked up some books (at the library) on beading (of course). I made my first watch band. I am truly pleased with the outcome. It isn’t what I really would like to sell: watches with interchangeable bands. But it is something that I will wear myself and get use out of it. It’s cream and caramel brown and silver. I put a magnetic clasp on it and love that option.
Hubby says that he will be coming home this weekend, but I will only get my hopes up when I see the whites of his eyes. The boys and I are so ready for him to be home, soon! It has been a long two weeks, though nothing bad has happened. It’s just that it has been 3 times that he has been gone two weeks, home one weekend, gone two weeks, etc. I, at times, wish that I played the lottery and could win a million dollars. I would pay off all debts, and the truck and trailer, and that way he could be home more and not have to work so hard. Wishful thinking, I know. Anyway, the Lord knows and His timing is perfect. In that, I need to have faith and be content. (Which is truly very hard to do!)
This week, I am reading books on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, in honor of Presiden’t Day and their birthdays. One day, the twins colored and cut out a profile picture of George Washington. #2′s picture had an orange face, black hair and blue and red shirt. #3′s picture had a yellow face, black hair, a red ribbon, and a blue shirt. Their interpretation of President Washington! #1 son did the “Draw, Write, Now” page on Washington and did a superb job in drawing him. Grandma was truly impressed!
Monday night was #1 son’s first 4-H meeting this year. We had it at the Grover Museum in Shelbyville. We went through the exhibits on the first floor, because that was all the time we had for. Wow! They have an exhibit called “The Streets of Shelbyville”. This was a 15-year-long project of volunteers. They have built store fronts (and little rooms) that were replicas of stores/businesses in Shelbyville in the years 1900-1910. Special times of the year, they open up these rooms and volunteers dress up in that era’s attire and you can go in and talk to them/purchase things (like icecream). It was truly educational and very neat to see. Would make a great field trip…!
