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.
Catching up with friends and family
22 Jun 2009 1 Comment
in family, homeschool
This past weekend was a nice long one since hubby came home on Thursday evening, instead of Friday evening. He had to leave early on Sunday evening, though, to drive to NJ. He sure goes places with this job (pun intended). Friday, the boys and I went up to church to mow. I enjoy mowing, but this is for the church, so appearance is important. This is a little nerve-wracking, but I’m okay. #1 son mows the back and enjoys it. Then we ate a quick bite with the food I brought, and then off to my in-laws. #1 son got to mow there too and he was loving it. I helped weed her strawberry patch and gave her 24 new little plants. I sure hope they do something for her next year. Then we went home and did laundry, etc. Hubby had gone to a friend’s house to help get their truck and tractor going.
Saturday was the Fairland Fish Fry. #1 son was in the parade on the 4-H float. It was neat to see all the people out and in the parade. The local church was giving out free bottles of water and, when the parade was going through, we loaded up with candy. Afterwards, the boys got to ride rides and see a helicopter land. We all enjoyed a hot dog or a fish sandwich. (Prices were outragious though!) It was a nice day, though we were all tired and very hot by early evening. Later that evening, an old friend of hubby’s stopped by with his wife and kids. We hadn’t seen him for awhile and it was nice “catching up”.
Sunday, after a good sermon, we headed home and then went to hubby’s parents’ house for Father’s Day. Nice to see the family and all the cousins played in the water. We had a great time laughing and teasing each other. Missed my dad though and spending time with my side of the family. 
Had a friend from childhood days over on Monday, along with her two children. She was picking up some jewelry I made for her and her mom. Had a nice time catching up with her.
I have been trying to get my children’s homeschool curriculum, etc., for cheap prices. It’s so easy to be swayed into getting more than one really needs. I’m thinking “simpler” this year than last.
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.
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.
Interesting history and encouragement
07 May 2009 1 Comment
in homeschool, Lord's blessings
Today for school, I shared with #1 son about the history of our paper money. I learned some things, as well. Of course, it all started out with bartering or trading. Then, gold and silver was carried. This was not always safe, so the people stored their gold and silver in the banks, which were usually goldsmiths and store owners. Anyone back then could start and run a bank. Bankers made it easier for their customers to deal with everyday buying of goods, by giving them notes. THese bank notes were representations of what the customers had in their bank account. Now comes the part where fraud, theft, and cheating came into play: Bankers then thought how their could get rich quick, by printing more money, lending this unrepresented bank notes to customers (with interest, of course), and when they ran out, then print up more money. And it hasn’t stopped since, in fact, our government has legalized this lending, with interest, of money without representation of gold in the bank. We keep getting into debt and the bank ends up owning what we got a loan to buy in the first place.
I think #1 understood. It was pretty eye-opening for me as well. THis is just the beginning of us talking about economics a little.
Now for the encouragement. I was wishing for a cheerleader or motivational speaker for every Monday morning, as I prepare for the new day/week. Our fridge wasn’t working correctly, so I contacted an old friend/electrician. They had gone to our church for years some time back, but have since moved on. He just simply shared with me some things that he had learned just recently: what is the meaning of “repent”? I said to be very sorry for something. WRONG! In the greek, to “repent” means to “think differently”. WOW! What a simple way to explain. As one preacher put it, it’s doing a 180 degree turn from where you were headed.
The other was about “glory-lines”. When we see each other at a glance, we just see another person. But if you know that person, and he/she is saved, you should see glory lines emanating from that person. Glory lines come from the Holy Spirit and the lines are actually the fruits of the Spirit coming out of our lives. Thus, the Lord is glorified, not us. He said I could take this illustration and run with it during school with the boys. He encouraged me to keep educating my boys in all things, in everyday little things. Homeschooling, after all, is a way of life, not just a way of education…
I thank the Lord for His mercy and love He has shown even to me. He knew I needed encouragement, so He made the fridge to break, knowing full well, that I needed to talk to this wonderful elderly man! What glory-lines was shown that day to me!
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.
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…!
When life gives you lemons…
16 Jan 2009 3 Comments
in family, homeschool
This is what I thought when talking to hubby yesterday, and was told that he wasn’t going to make it home this weekend. I was bummed. Still am, to a point. This is obviously the Lord’s will and He has something special planned in all this, regardless how I feel about it. I was really bummed out for me, me, me, me. I was thinking only of myself. Not the kids, or of hubby. He hates it and the kids are sad that daddy doesn’t get to come home. #3 son really doesn’t get it at all.” Why doesn’t daddy get to come home this weekend?” Telling him that daddy doesn’t make any money coming home empty, that the load he has accepted has to be delivered in NY on Monday morning, that daddy is in Michigan and it’s a waste of fuel to come home for a little bit, just to turn back around and go back east. Well, he doesn’t understand. This morning, I woke up, feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep, realizing that I need to make this easier for the kids as much as I can. How? To keep them busy. Busy with school, games, movies, something yummy to eat, etc. And lots of talks with daddy on the phone. Aren’t cell phones great? They are, when you can talk to your loved ones who are states away, without waiting in lines and feeding change into a box! So, even though I hate it that hubby has to be gone this weekend, and that we probably won’t get to see him until next weekend, the Lord’s grace is sufficient and He is so willing to send that our way!
The twins’ handwriting stinks. We’re working on that. With mazes, dot-to-dots, drawing, etc. It isn’t that they aren’t developed in other fine motor skills. They love to cut things out. THey will draw, then cut their drawings out and play with them. They are great at cutting. THey play with playdough, legos, etc. But when it comes to drawing a line between dotted lines, well…
Lady is doing well in the house. We brought her in the last few days/nights due to the cold temps. Not fit for man nor beast out there, mateys! Anyway, she loves to lay on the couch. So, I’ve covered it and change the covers each day to keep it all clean. Even though she appreciates all this, she still can’t wait for #1 son or I to go out with her and play with her (she also does her “jobs” then). The twins are quite taken with her, esp. #3 son.
Better go for now. The green beans and “hot dogs” (aka smoked sausages) are about done and “Jane and the Dragon” are on. I love this cartoon!
#3 son is reading!!!
21 Oct 2008 Leave a Comment
in homeschool Tags: success
Such exciting news! Last Thursday, I sat down with #3 son with the McGuffey reader, just to see if all this sounding out stuff that he’s been doing lately is working, and it was! He read the first 3 lessons to me, before he got fidgety! Yea!!! He’s been looking at words and trying to sound them out. He’s the more articulate of the three. I think if he can see it and hear it, he has it.
#2 son is less articulate and more kinesthetic. He will spend hours drawing, writing his letters or words, cutting, building with legos, playing in the sandbox. He will sound out the first 2 letters of a word, then guess on the last letter. So, I am going to be working with him a different method. For example: The last two letters “at”, then add different beginning consonants to the ending of “at”. This is the way I taught #1 son to read. It was amazing. I could really see the lightbulb come on with him. One minute he didn’t get it and the next he did.
