Happenings from the Bush homestead
Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures
12:42, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 .. Posted in Around the Homestead .. 1 comments .. Link
Some of the property over the weekend. This is the back clearing where we want to build. If we don't build here, I want to put our schoolhouse up back here anyway (just to the right of that center pine tree...that's where the trail heads back to the pond.
The next is the logging road they used a few years back to get to the neighbors property...and where they come up with the 4-wheelers. The bottom of that range there is the end of our property.
Next two are of the pond, coming in from that logging road, through the trees. It's just seasonal and lately, that has meant no real water to speak of. The first year it had maybe 2 foot of water. This year, maybe the same. The 2 years in the middle, it was just about bone dry and useless with the drought. We'd like to dig it out more and shore it up to try to keep water in it. We know there's a decent aquifer running through this part of the mountain, down about 150 here at the house end of the property. Would be nice to have some water for the animals if nothing else.
Thanksgiving weekend work on the homestead...Finally getting the holes dug out for the posts for the back porch area. Most likely, it will never make it as a porch and will be enclosed for living space...maybe that outdoor kitchen ;o) I tried to get the holes started but it's all clay...and really thick nasty stuff at that. I just can't do it. I'm a wimp. I admit it. So, as Drew was over for dinner, we put him to work with Dewey :o)
The goofy pup there is the beagles basset mutt mix we have...brains of a stuffed animal, but lovable. He chases rabbits and such all night. Pinned a coyote down in the timber last year so we could shoot it. He's a good dog...just goofy. Notice Miss Abigail's bare feet...this was the day after Thanksgiving. Sure wouldn't be out running the countryside like that back North this time of year!
Thanksgiving fixins' on the homestead...We spent all day Wednesday baking...2 pecan pies, 2 apple, 2 chocolate (that's the empty crust with the tin foil in it) and 2 9x13 pumpkin cobblers. And the yummiest yeast rolls :o) It's a mix we do up and keep in the pantry --delicious. And, yes, I'll add the recipe soon!
The full menu ended up looking like this...deep-fried turkey, a huge (h-u-g-e) smoked ham from the butcher (stupid me didn't ask about size, just got the one that looked so good...it didn't fit inside the 18qt Nesco roaster we have...had to sit cockeyed until it cooked down some and slide into the pan the right way!). Dressing, green bean casserole, baked corn, potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, then the list of desserts. We made honey nut crunch and ranch/dill crackers for snacking all weekend.
This was the first year our eldest wasn't at the table. He rode up with Dewey to pick up Hope's car and drive it back. He wanted it to be their first Thanksgiving, and he was frying his first turkey solo...
The 20 quart mixer...yes, that's a make-do kitchen sink set up there. We pulled out the cupboard a while back. I have a very nice, new countertop sitting out in the building, but until I know for sure what we are doing (building or simply remodelling) I don't want to use it yet ;o) And, yes, those are cinder blocks under the mixer -- it sits too low to the floor for comfortable use. I know it looks rather hillbilly-ish, but it works ;o)
The meat, part 1/Day 1...still partially frozen, even after 2 days of thawing in the cooler bag. Guess that cooler bag works far better than I thought it did! We cut up most of the chunks to more suitable pieces and readied them for the canning jars.
Back Online again....several updates here
10:29, Monday, December 1, 2008 .. Posted in Around the Homestead .. 1 comments .. Link
The computer went down again. Apparently, the first computer geek didn't do any sort of system diagnostics and simply wasted 3 days or so re0installing my modem driver.
Well, it went down on me again, 2 weeks ago now. Not that it didn't make for a quiet and peaceful Thanksgiving, and we did get many things accomplished, but still....
This time, I went to the original geek I had planned on using last time. They did a full system whatever and ran several diagnostics. They think the main issue I was having is that my BIOS system was rather outdated. There were 5 newer updates than I had, and they don't simply install with the regular system update stuff this thing does on it's own every so often. He updated me that way, installed another antivirus program then downloaded a new modem driver and viola...we have internet again.
And life picks up with hectic busy-ness, of course.
Just to note: If you sent me an email over the past couple of weeks and haven't heard from me...don't expect to. Just email me again. I had a million emails in my inbox and they are all being deleted as I write here. Please, email again if you need me!
I have all 300# of meat in the freezer...well, minus the 50# of stewing chunks sitting in the kitchen waiting its turn in the canner. My pressure seems a bit off today -- it's taking forever to get up to pressure for some reason. But, it's all cut up, the packing juice blend prepared and jars scalded and waiting.
I am going to get very tired of looking at meat, I can tell that already, and it's just Day 1 of a long line of days to come! We may well turn vegetarian for a couple months once it's all said and done!
We have, aside from meat meat and more meat in the works here, fencing outside we are dealing with. Seems we are being over-run with wayward hunters. We knew they had been around the property, but they have found several signs of them running 4-wheelers clear up to the back of my barn! They are using our deer stands, running their dogs all over and apparently using our private property as their own personal hunting grounds.
That will come to a stop this week. We are getting the signs up so we are more properly POSTED everywhere, and I am setting up some wire along the back access where we know for a fact they are coming and going. If they damage a 4-wheeler with a slightly hidden barb wire fence, serves them right. It will be well inside the perimeter of my property line, where they don't belong. That and some bird shot peppering their hunting expedition should do the trick.
Before anyone takes issue to our methods here, we have a very good idea as to who the culprits are, and they know we don't want hunters here. They know we have young children who enjoy our property, and as they hunt with high powered rifles, they are definitely not welcome here. My own dogs stay on our property, and they are being annoyed with the constant traffic as well. I don't need the aggravation, or the worry of my children being shot while playing on their own land.
To give you some idea of the genius we are dealing with out here, this group was shooting targets last year in their own cleared plot just down from our line. It's their property, I have no concern there whatsoever. It's a free country.
However, they use high powered, long range shot guns/rifles whatever you call them. Where they were shooting from/at, in virtually every direction on the compas, they had nothing but timber land. Literally hundreds upon hundreds of acres going out in every direction. Nothing in line for miles and then some.
Every direction, that is, but they one they chose to shoot in. They set up just the other side of the creek and were shooting directly toward my house. Literally peppering my roof with their shot. Branches and leaves were falling after every shot. Genius, pure genius. In any other direction, they would have had nothing but trees for miles and miles, yet they picked the direction that went through my property straight to my house and animals....and children.
Running a 4-wheeler across a low-lying wire fence is going to be the least of their concerns if we actually catch them on the property hunting, instead of their leftovers and signs.
We also have a lengthy sewing list, as usual. And school work to catch back up on. We are having reading issues it seems. I need to determine where my cut-off needs to be. There is a point where not reading well is a problem, and I think we might be there. I know we took more time with our first reader learning, but I've 3 in the works now and they simply aren't coming along very quicky. I know, homeschooling certainly affords my time in that respect, no hard-lined schedules to adhere to and all, but still...we have been at this enough now there should be a bit more progress I think. Time to re-evaluate The Plan here.
As to the olders, Jennifer finished a decent amount while gone with Dewey the past couple weeks. And Johanna, well, she has her own agenda. She is set on graduating when she turns 15 years old...about 2 years or so from now. She blew right through one grade level already and is just about finished with the next set of math, language and science I bought a couple weeks ago. She definitely needs some more indepth work to keep her coccupied. She easily completes 4 or more lessons a day. Like I said, a girl with her own agenda.
I have a Christmas gift...yes, I know what I said about Christmas and all, but this is different, sort of. I came across a bargain and couldn't pass it up. Dewey said birthday and Christmas gift and I jumped on it! (my birthday is Christmas Eve...I tend to get those 'combined' gifts quite often!). I have a 20 quart Welbilt Varimixer sitting in my kitchen :o) It's huge. It's sitting on the floor right now -- there's no way my counters, besides being far too tall, would accommodate this machine. I'll have to build some sort of stand for it, but for now, it's just sitting there, waiting to be used. We will start selling bread and such soon, and much easier.
The man we bought it from buys out various businesses and such and resells the equipment. He thinks he knows of a commercial oven and stove and is checking on that for me. Dewey wasn't really in the mood to drag along with me to pick it up, but he wanted to check it out first. Well, he has found his new dream shopping warehouse now. This man has virtually everything. If he doesn't have it and doesn't know where to find it, you simply don't need it. He has all sorts of building materials and so on. Dewey enjoyed his trip more than I did I think!
I will get some pictures up this week, but today, the meat is calling!
Don't miss out on the LOWEST price ever for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!!
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is having an amazing sale on subscriptions during their annual Black Friday Sale November 26 – 30. For those 5 days only, they are drastically reducing their one-year subscription price for the print magazine to $7.95! That's the price you would usually pay for just one issue at a bookstore!
This is their lowest price ever on the magazine and they want all of you to take advantage of this offer and share the info with your friends. I've never seen it priced that low before!! This is not for renewals, but only for new subscriptions. If you do have a subscription already, you can buy a gift subscription for someone else instead. It really is an amazing price, and I'm sure your homeschooling friends would like to know about it, too. Spread the word!
Please don't miss out. Your one-year subscription will pay for itself time and time again as you receive practical tips and Biblical encouragement to keep going strong in your commitment to homeschooling and to the Lord. Since it's a quarterly magazine, they even have a monthly subscriber's only E-Newsletter called Teacher's Toolbox that will give you seasonal teaching ideas and a free E-Book download! It's like joining a unit study of the month club! The free E-Books alone are valued at almost $250/year. It's really perfect for people who are homeschooling on a shoestring or just wanting to add in some little extras to your teaching.
Plus during the Black Friday Sale, they have all kind of bonus gifts when you spend $50, $75, $100, or $150. Some are electronic downloads that you can download immediately, while other are physical products mailed from various vendors directly to your home.
AND, their Win Big contest is going on so if you just happen to be customer 67,000, you will receive a prize package valued at almost $500 which includes a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store! Who couldn't use that? And you can qualify to win it no matter how much or how little you spend!
Mark your calendars for November 26 - 30th and do a little shopping from your seat, not your feet at the Schoolhouse Store's Black Friday Sale! And don't forget The Old Schoolhouse Store always has free shipping.
www.TheOldSchoolhouseStore.com
Trusting in Him,
April
Trigger Memory Systems -- Times Tales Deluxe
Trigger Memory Systems sent the TOS Homeschool Crew members Times Tales Deluxe to review. This is another product I've seen advertised for years, but haven't had a chance to try out. We were glad to receive it, since it looked like such a fun way to learn math.
When I first opened it, I was confused. That's what happens when you don't read the instructions first. A quick glance at the introduction explained the code names for the different numbers. And then it all made sense! The Times Tales stories provide a mnemonic-based memory peg to help our children remember the most difficult multiplication facts: 3x6, 3x7, 3x8, 3x9, 4x6, 4x7, 4x8, 4x9, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9, 7x7, 7x8, 7x9, 8x8, 8x9, and 9x9.
I explained it to my 9 and 11 year old girls and had them read through the first section of number stories. Both of these daughters have not fully memorized their times tables. One of them skip counts to figure out multiplication problems, and the other one is just very slow to remember the answers. I confess that I haven't pushed the matter, as long as their answers were correct. After they read the stories, the girls spontaneously returned to tell me about them.
A few days later, I had the girls read them again, and then I asked them to tell the stories back to me. My 9 year old daughter already remembered the number stories, told them to me, and then told me the multiplication fact that went with each story. My 11 year old daughter didn't recall the stories as easily, after just two reading sessions, but she did remember most of them. We reviewed the discussion questions and worked with some flash cards. We'll be enjoying using the flash cards and games as we continue with the program. Now, the girls need to keep reviewing the times tales, so they can remember the times tables more quickly.
Times Tales Deluxe ($29.95) comes with a teacher's guide, discussion questions, multiplication flash cards (both with the visual clues and just numbers), division flash cards, tests, games, and activity pages. The first half of the book is the new 3's and 4's supplement to the Original Times Tales, which comprises the second half of the book. If you bought the original Times Tales, you can now purchase the Upper 3's and 4's Supplement to complete the curriculum ($12.95). There is also a mini-flip book which has the multiplication stories on it, for your children to easily review in the car, or anywhere.
I am impressed with the Times Tales Deluxe product. It provides a fun, easy way to remember the more difficult multiplication facts. I have read so many books that talk about making learning fun, and using games to teach ... but I usually fail to follow through. I lack the creativity, or perhaps it's more a lack of determination, to create the games myself. Trigger Memory Systems has done that work for us. They also have articles, hints & tips, games, creative learning ideas, and other resources linked from their main page. And of course, it's totally non-consummable and can be used with each of your children ... key features I always look for in a product.
Right now, Trigger Memory Systems is offering a special. If you order their Times Tales Deluxe OR the Zone Cleaning for Kids chart, you get one Bedroom Cleaning for Kids chart FREE. You just need to enter FREEFLIP in the comments section during your order process. Not in the coupon code section, but the comments section.
Click the banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting in Him,
April
Baby Photo
Here is our sweet little fella. He's 3 days in this pic.
The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 12
Click on this image to visit The Simple Woman blog, and find daybook entries by others.For Today...
Outside my Window... blue skies, sunshine, clothes on the clothesline, a travel trailer parked awaiting company.
I am thinking... that online window shopping is more fun than housework.
I am thankful for... children who love their younger siblings, baby smiles and giggles.
From the schoolroom ... girls reading and finishing up lessons before we turn our attention to housecleaning for company.
I am wearing... long black knit straight skirt, grey and white striped long sleeve tshirt.
I am creating... shopping carts full of gift ideas at too many different websites ... must simplify!
I am going... to hang one more load of clothes up to dry.
I am reading... the Fall issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine, and Dr. Sears' book, The A.D.D. Book.
I am hoping... we have an enjoyable Thanksgiving with my family, and that Steve and I get some good deals on Christmas gifts this Friday.
I am hearing... pencils marking, pages turning, children playing on the computer.
Around the house... messes waiting to be picked up, laundry waiting to be folded, 2 racks of laundry drying, and happy children.
One of my favorite things... babies who look into your face and smile, as if to say you are the most important person in the world.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... clean house, cook, welcome my family, enjoy Thanksgiving with them. Oh, and move in my old dryer from the garage since my "new to me" dryer quit working.
Trusting in Him,
April
It's time to shop with the bloggers again!
Do your Christmas shopping from home, supporting small businesses ... shop with your fellow bloggers! Click on the button below to find other bloggers with home businesses.
And if you have a home business, stop by the HSB Front Porch to add your name to the Mr. Linky.
Trusting in Him,
April
Trigger Memory Systems -- Clean N' Flip Charts
I've heard about the Trigger Memory Systems Clean N' Flip Charts for several years, and I'm glad I was finally able to see them and try them with my children.
When we received the Clean N' Flip Charts, my children said, "We don't need those. We know how to clean the house." I looked at them and said, "Then why do I always have to point out things you missed or need to re-do?" Well, a few days later we were able to put it to the test. I informed the children that I wanted the entire house cleaned, and vacuumed! My 11 yo organizer quickly ran for the charts and put herself in charge.
The children raided my laundry basket stack and went to work. They cleaned the living room together, following the system. Then they moved into the dining/school room, and the kitchen. They even picked up their bedrooms! As a room was cleaned, the assigned person went in and vacuumed the room. My 7 yo son emptied the trash in each room, as well. He's been keeping an eye on the cans and emptying them ever since then ... a miracle since my children usually pile the living room trash can so high it overflows onto the floor.
And the best part was ... I didn't have to say anything. I didn't have to follow them around or point out things they had missed. There weren't toys lingering under chairs or in the corners of the room. It was clean. My children are known to respond to a direction to pick up by saying, "What? It's clean already. Why do we have to pick up?" Then I have to point out the mess to them. So, it was a blessing to have them truly clean the house, without any effort on my part.
As an added bonus, my 13 yo daughter has decided to try to do the laundry for me. She still wants me to watch her load and start the washing machine, but the Laundry for Kids chart gave her confidence that she could do it herself. Now I just need to simplify my array of laundry products for her.
I'm sure that it won't always be this easy. In the future there will likely be feet-dragging and complaining again. But the Clean N' Flip charts do work. They break the task of cleaning down into easy to follow steps for our kids.
I have friends who have made their own "how to clean a room" charts. They've printed them and laminated them, or put them in page protectors in a 3-ring binder. They've then taught them to their children, and actually used them. I know it can be done. But I am full of good intentions and not always the follow-through. It can also be difficult to discern how to break it down into steps without being too detailed, or leaving things out. Trigger Memory Systems has done a good job of dividing the jobs into easy clear steps ... and they followed through with creating the system, so I don't have to.
There are three sturdy write-on/wipe-off spiral bound flip-charts: Zone cleaning for Kids, Bedroom Cleaning for Kids, and Laundry for Kids. Zone Cleaning for Kids covers the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. A set of all 3 is available at a savings for $29.95, or you can buy them individually: Bedroom Cleaning for Kids or Laundry for Kids flip charts are $7.95 each, and Zone Cleaning for Kids is $17.95.
Right now, Trigger Memory Systems is offering a special. If you order their Times Tales Deluxe OR the Zone Cleaning for Kids chart, you get one Bedroom Cleaning for Kids chart FREE. You just need to enter FREEFLIP in the comments section during your order process. Not in the coupon code section, but the comments section.
(Psst! I did the math for you. If you buy the Zone Cleaning for Kids, and the Laundry for Kids, then get Bedroom Cleaning for Kids free ... it is even less than the cost of their 3-pack. Or if you don't think you need the Laundry one ... just buy Zone and get Bedroom free ... for $18. That's a great price! Maybe your kids need some stocking stuffers ... or better yet, maybe MOM needs some stocking stuffers. Speaking of which, these would make a great Mother's Day gift.)
Click the banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting in Him,
April
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!
Maybe no one else sings that song, except my sister and I. But we sing it around this time of year, whenever we are thinking about Christmas, and preparing for Christmas.
I've been filling shopping carts and browsing online today. I've got sisters, parents, two nieces and a nephew to shop for. It's fun to window shop from home. I just fill a huge cart and wait for Steve to get home and help me put stuff back on the shelf, figuratively speaking. He helps me set spending limits and decide what to buy, after I've done the brainstorming.
I do enjoy shopping in physical stores, but as our family has grown, and we've become more busy, I've begun to prefer shopping from home, via the internet. It saves me from dragging my kids from store to store in the cold, as they grow more tired and more cranky. I can't lose a toddler or preschooler when I'm shopping from home, either. We don't have to stop to eat out, or waste gas. The kids watch a movie, or play, and I shop. What could be better?
As I speak, my Amazon cart is full, waiting for Steve to review. I wish I had unlimited funds. Most of my kids' toys would be replaced with better quality, more basic, educational, imagination-building toys. Well, one birthday and holiday at a time, I can do that over time.
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please to put a penny in an old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a ha-penny will do. If you haven't got a ha-penny, then God bless you!
Hmm ... my guineas are getting fat, but we're not going to roast them. I hope every one else is having a wonderful time preparing for Christmas, too.
Trusting in Him,
April
Schoolside Press -- "Geography that's fun to learn and easy to remember!"
The Little Man In The Map, by E. Andrew Martonyi. Illustrated by Ed Olson. $19.95.
Schoolside Press Learning with Imagination.
FrogsJumpUSA blog for The Little Man In The Map
I was delighted to receive this book to review. I didn't know what to expect when I saw it on the list, but when it arrived I was so pleased with its quality. It is a large hardcover children's book, with engaging colorful illustrations. The illustrations draw you in immediately. Once you pick it up and start reading, the rhyming lyrics and unique description of each of the 50 states keeps your interest. My kids enjoyed learning that Kansas is MIM's backpack.
My husband sat down to read this book to our children the first night we received it. A few pages into it, he said ... "And we get to keep this book? Cool!" My 13 year old daughter keeps picking it up to read it again. My 7, 9, and 11 year olds were studying our United States wall map and pointing out the states that make up MIM (Man In the Map). My 4 year old pointed to Oklahoma and said "this state scoots over so MIM can sit on this state," as he then pointed to Texas. All that was after the first reading! We'll never see the map of the United States the same way again.
This book will help your children learn the names and locations of the 50 states, and they will enjoy the learning process. Andrew Martonyi has also written an accompanying teacher's guide with math, writing, geography, art, and music activities designed for K - 6th grade students. It can be used for a unit study in the homeschool, or for classroom activities in a co-op or school setting. The teacher's guide will be available soon at the website. Schoolside Press sells an accompanying wall map, and there are free coloring pages available for download on the Schoolside Press website.
The Little Man In The Map by E. Andrew Martonyi is delightfully well-written and illustrated. It's a beautiful book that every home library, school library, and public library would benefit from having in its collection. The Little Man In The Map would also make a wonderful gift for the elementary-aged children in your life.
Click the banner to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting in Him,
April
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