A Sunny Place

Too many months!

To many months since I've written!  I've been busy with things around here.  School, baby, children and general family life seems to fill up my moments so that writing in here isn't really high on the priority list these days.

As for updates - there aren't too many. I think of many things to blog about as I make things ( I want to try cheese next) and as the children do things.  But right now it's winter.. we don't go out much and that's ok!  We stick close to home, do school, do chores, eat supper, go to bed and then wake and do it all over again!! 

Hope you all are well and someday perhaps I'll get into posting again.  I often think of fun things to do and say- but alas only so many moments in a day!!

Wendy

Mom, Please don't make me go into the doctor's office...I'd rather leave...

I'm sure that's what any child who might have been int he waiting room at our doctor's office this morning was thinking! I took 2 of our children in for checkups and booster shots.  THe nurse happened to be one who gave slots slowly....  So, our oldest got hers first to show her brother how to be brave, and she cried.  Then our son - very bravely said he was brave and would be ok for his shots  THen the screaming began!!!  He screamed at the top of his lungs - then he screamed, "NO!!!! NOT ANOTHER ONE!!!!!"  There were a total of 3 shots and they did not go quickly -so this period lasted quite some time it seemed.  As I left I asked the receptionist who was smiling quite amusidly (is that a word?!?) at us if she could hear and she nodded.  We had been placed in the first consulation room - the closest to the reception area - so I'm sure everyone heard! 

they are doing better now - nothing that a little ice cream and short video couldn't help their minds forget (for the most part...) :0)

So what are your homeschool plans? Here's ours...

I finally made it down to alocal homeschool store and was able to browse.  Ihope to go back when I can look longer. It's always interesting to see all the other curriculum options there are available!!  I picked up a couple things but we pretty much had our curriculum in place.

We will be using:

AOP Horizons Preschool for our little 3 1/2 yr old Buddy Boy!  He is VERY excited to have his OWN school that's just for him!  He already pulled out the workbook and begin working in it- I had to put it away.  He already knows his letters and most of the sound.  He pointed at my shirt the other day and sounded out C - A - N - A - D - A - he couldn't quite put it together quickly to form the word - but he's getting there!! 

AOP Horizons Phonics & Math for the girls.  AOP Spelling for my oldest and A Reason for Spelling for my younger daughter.  We are using A Reason for Writing cursive for the oldest and AOP Horizons penmanship for the younger which will do manuscript and cursive.

For History, reading & read alouds we will be doing Sonlight, science will be Christian Liberty Press Nature Reader #3 that they can do independantly for now.  There are a few other extra's we will do - some art/etiquette and our Ohio History which is requested by the state for our homeschooling.  Some health classes and maybe some fun lapbooks too.

Our little rose is blooming... (family update)

The last 7 weeks have been interesting with the birth of our fourth daughter!!  She is a beautiful baby (truly pictures should come before too awful long...). 

She was fussy and had difficulty sleeping.  When she was only about 2 or 3 weeks old she had one 12 hour stint (most of it night) where she slept only 3-4 hours and not all at the same time.  She had continued to eat day and night every 1 to 2 hours.  This was very much taking it's toll - along with being fussy and unhappy a lot.  Finally after having a little time to do some online research I realized she had reflux so we began to treat that by elevating her bassinet and trying to keep her head elevated as much as possible, even during diaper changes.  That made a significant difference in her, so I called the dr and he prescribed Pepsid.  that helped her to begin sleeping a little better at night.  Then since she was still nursing very often I sat down to do some more research and discovered I very likely had a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance.  I will spare you all the details of what lead me to discover this - but I begin to treat this also.  The main way to treat is to allow them to nurse on only one side at a time and that gives them a good dose of hindmilk -the fatty milk -instead of just always drinking the watery foremilk which causes constant feeding, and overeating - which leads to..... reflux.  ;0)  So the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together.  This doesn't cure itself over night and takes time for your body to adjust.  The last couple days - things seem to finally clicking!  She has been sleeping 4 and 3 hours at night.  This helps me feel much better when I wake up!! She is consistently going longer and sleeping better during her day time naps.  She's much more content when she is awake - cooing and smiling MUCH more than she did before.  :0)

Her older sisters absolutely love her and want to hold her and cuddle her and shake rattles in her face and rock her and kiss her a bazillion times a day! :0)  The poor thing is very smothered and sometimes voices her protest over it. 

Well, I'm planning our school so I may write more about that later - I best be getting something done during this little nap!

Refrigerator Art, crayons, tractors, & dolls… (Molly's Digest)

This would probably appropriately describe the “décor” that currently is the theme of our home.  On my refrigerator are pictures the kids have colored, on another piece of furniture is some sand art they created at VBS, also on an end table is a  coaster our oldest made at a club meeting, on the floor toys scattered about.  On my mantle are model tractors & an oil lamp – per the request of my husband, around other furniture are some baskets that I purchased at garage sales that hold or hide things such as magazines, books or whatever toy the children decided to hide in it instead of placing where it belonged. 

So, I was looking forward to reading the latest Molly’s digest.  I do acknowledge that I am not gifted at decorating and tend to set things around so that it looks nice, but not with any knowledge of themes or color schemes!    Molly’s digest had some helpful information for me the all thumbs decorator!

I appreciated the frugal tips that were interspersed throughout the decorating articles.  All of these were reasonable and very doable on a frugal budget.  There were some step by step descriptions on how to ensemble a decorative grouping for minimal cost and how to do your own French painting – now that might be something I’d try!  The information on keeping a home décor binder is probably what will help me the most since I have trouble picturing and remembering things I’ve seen that I appreciate.

There was also a couponing article, but I will admit – this one wasn’t as valuable as it may be to some.  At our house we mainly purchase ingredients - I haven’t noticed a coupon lately for a bushel of peaches or one good towards 2 quarts of pickling cucumbers – but nevertheless I should look into their link as they promote that they are getting a large value of groceries for free, now that may be of interest!  But it is encouraging to know that it is possible to cut your grocery bill down and there are different options for every lifestyle!

There is one parenting tip on achieving a quieter home that if it works – it is WELL worth the cost of this month’s issue!  I will be trying this one out as sometimes tones seem to escalate around here and I’m at a loss for how to bring the decibel level down to something reasonable without squashing simple childhood fun! 

There are some very helpful blog links – why purchase a decorative magazine when you can get great beautiful advice for free!  This would save you a tremendous amount of time if you were searching them out on your own. 

The step by step explanations on the various decorating recommendations are helpful and interesting!  There are some samples if you want to look through previous to your purchase - see HERE.

I appreciate the list of things that you will find on sale this month;  things that tend to be discounted that you can stock up on now for bargain prices.   I also read that next month’s is lessons learned from the Great Depression – now that is something I am VERY interested in – perhaps I will be purchasing that copy!! 

Happy Frugal Decorating!

Our little Irish Rose arrived! (Baby arrival and birth story)

A little over a month ago I posted that we were waiting for our little girl.  She did arrive - thankfully safe and sound! Her name is Katie Rose and she weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz 20 1/4" long!  I was scheduled to be induced on July 17th.  On July 15th I started having some contractions and so I did some walking - for over 1 1/2 hrs that night I had them regularly with increasing intensity.  I decided to lay down and rest since we were approaching midnight and they stopped.  If I got up to go to the bathroom - I would have a contraction  but none while laying down.   I got up around 4 with DH on July 16th - he decided to call off work.  Since he only had 2 1/2 days vacation - this made me a little nervous - what if it didn't happen that day!!  He was pretty sure it would.   So I went to my dr apt at 8:40 and she wasn't there  (she was running late - it was the lady filling in for my dr - since my OB had left for Africa on Tuesday to visit her family) - we walked around the hospital while we waited for her.  At this point nothing was really happening.  Then I went in for my apt.  She was going to check and see if my body seemed ready for my inducement on Friday.  Probably 30 seconds before she walked in the door as I lay waiting for her I had a contraction and my water broke.  She sent me over to labor and delivery. I went out to the van and ate a snack that I happened to have and we grabbed my hospital bag which we'd brought with us (and a cooler of food for DH even! - we'd come prepared... just in case).  Over at OB they hooked me up because nothing was happening - no contractions really to speak of.  They put me on pitocin and had me walk the halls.  If I stopped -t he contractions would slow down.  They kept upping my pitocin and finally the contractions started to pull some pain and come a little more regularly.  We probably walked for 3 hours or so - that tiny hall - since this is a small town hospital - DH pushing my IV stand for me as we walked.  Then I got my epidural around 2:30 or 3 - which is always good for me - within an hour I was ready to deliver - at around 4 - they called the dr - I had been going very slowly - then went fast.  She was about 10 min away - and got caught in construction traffic while on the way there - so finally she arrived.  I had actually felt the need to push.  The baby's heart rate was dropping at the top of my contractions, my blood oxygen levels were dropping and setting off the alarms.  It was a little stressful for a several long minutes!  They gave me oxygen and DH said I was very pale.  The nurse midwife attending me had her gloves on just in case the dr didn't arrive - we were both ready to just deliver.   Finally the OB arrived and I did not push long and she arrived safe and sound - and we were thankful!!!

That is a quickie as it's getting late.  Someday I hope to post pictures, but for now, as my husband says - "She came, she conquered, and we're whipped!" :0) 

Will this poor blog ever get updated??

I am incredibly behind on my poor neglected blog.  Our little girl did arrive and I will try to post as I can. 

wendy

So when will our new little one arrive?

I'm not sure - I waiver between - hopefully today - to maybe later so that I can get more done here!  I'm finally starting to feel like I'm catching up with my plans - hopefully I can get them done and then feel prepared for the big day.

I saw my OB on Friday and my amniotic fluid levels are dropping- she did not check any dilitation.  She did say that if I don't deliver prior to the 17th she will have me induced.  My original due date was the 17th - then it was changed to the 24th - but yet she doesn't want to let me go that long... go figure! She leaves for Africa this coming Tuesday (where she is originally from) for a visit to her family.  I kinda hope I will go into labor before she leaves.  She is in a practice by herself - so she only has backup when she leaves.  I'm sure she has probably chosen a very competent dr - but she has delivered our other 3 children and I really like her and trust her!!  So anyway.

Yesterday the baby (Katie as she will be named - Lord willing - if she is a girl) was very quiet - I was starting to get concerned.  I was having some signs - but the kind that you can have for weeks! :0)  I was also lifting some heavy objects in my basement reorganization - not overly heavy -just about 50 lbs each - and so that may have brought on some of my symtoms.  I am not brave enough to try some of the measures that I've read about for natural inducement - but I'm trying some of the acupressure I've read about - I feel like it is probably safe and harmless. I truly don't see how pressing on my shin & my finger could make my body go into labor -but as I sit and wait for the kids to do their swimming lessons - I figure - it can't hurt! :0)  I officially hit 38 weeks this Friday - if you go by my revised due date.  I have an ultrasound - so we'll see what more comes of it. 

I'm tired today - I usually sleep after DH leaves for work and I actually sleep a solid 2 hours (by then my bladder is FINALLY empty and no one is snoring away beside me) - that's usually my best sleep.   But for some reason today -it didn't happen - so I decided just to get up and start my day.  I think I was too busy thinking about all I had to do! Hopefully I don't have to take a nap and then waste some of my afternoon! :0)  Although - I'm sure we'll survive if I do!

I do want to do a post on breadmaking. I have my pics ready to go - I just need to take the time to do it.  I am about 20 loaves ahead in the freezer - so unless something unusual happens - I should have enough to carry me through post baby without having to make any for a while. 

So we continue in our little trek... preparing and waiting!

Happy Day!

wendy

The count down begins? (and general update)

I have been quite absent here lately.  I am officially at 36 weeks of pregnancy tomorrow so the we enter the last month!

I have been trying to get our house in order and yet maintain!  With school I got a little behind - so I'm trying to wash walls, organize, purge, re-organize, and maintain what we've done while doing more!  It's slow going - and taking much longer than I thought - but going ok.  The basement has suffered greatly -among other things my son deciding to shred styrofoam down there! But I'm trying to keep moving in the direction I'm going and not run here, there and back interrupting everything I do. Since that is the norm- and then I don't get anything done.  A few times (maybe more than a few!) the kids have had to wait for me to complete  a task before I help them - but to their credit - they have been helping also! They have been doing a lot of reading - which helps fill their time, increases their fluency, and fills in for the fact that I haven't started official school yet as I'd planned in hopes of getting ahead!

We are doing swim lessons now, the girls have a day of church camp next week, and my middle daughter's birthday is next week.  We are going to do a little party for her since we've never done that. Hopefully early next week we can put the final touches on that! I hope to at least get through that -then mentally my mind will be ready to wait for the day to arrive!

Meanwhile, I have done some canning, some veggie soup from frozen veggies, some dried beans - to make for easy meals when I forget to soak them.  I did strawberry jam last week, and black raspberry jam today! we've been indulging in fresh fruits and veggies - last week strawberries, this week black raspberries.  I was able to harvest some broccoli and califlower for about the first time since I've ever kept a garden -it turned out wonderful! I was so thankful.  Our peas will soon be ripe and I'll have a picking of those, some podding and freezing.  Our chickens now have some pasture to run in and eat bugs - we will need to thin our flock, and we did end up with 1 rooster in the bunch.  We will have to do away with him - in the form of dinner sometime.  Although it is very neat to hear him crow - DH is not ready for fertilized eggs yet! :)

I've been trying to bake extra bread and freeze it, and have begun on some freezer meals to have some quick easy things to throw in the crock pot for the next few weeks after. 

Anyway - just trying to post a quick update since I've been so neglectful lately!  I have been reading here as I have time, and continue to head into our last month of waiting for our new little girl to arrive!!

Have a blessed evening!!

Great Savings on a great magazine (homeschool)

This is one of my favorite magazines and they are running  a promotion right now:

Also you can get a renewal of your subscription if you already have one - 2 years for $25!

Check thislink - for you offer!

wendy

"Vacation" grocery shopping!

So Memorial Day is soon upon us.  We are hoping to have some fun and relax this coming weekend.  I went grocery shopping for our fun weekend.  I purchased some soda pop for the kids - it was unanimous that they wanted root beer! :0)  I bought chips, and graham crackers and marshmellows for smores, butterscotch chips to make cookies, watermelon, burgers, and I was lazy and bought store hot dog and hamburg buns!!  hmmmmm  all kinds of goodies for our little "vacation" this weekend!!  I'm taking my mom and the kids to a fiber show since she enjoys knitting.  DH is having some Dental work, Sunday we go visit with some of our church family at a campground family campout, then Monday we'll probably watch the parade and.... :0)  Not sure yet! DH will start the weekend running tractor tomorrow night for a few hours for a farmer friend of ours who needs some help.    So sounds like it'll be busy - I'm trying to have the house in decent order so that I don't have to worry about that - laundry and all is caught up! :0) yeah!

How do you celebrate your Memorial Day?

It's 10 pm - I should be heading off to bed!!

wendy

Eating in Season - Delicious Rhubarb Crisp recipe (healthy too!)

We were the recipients of a large bunch of rhubarb!  My family has never eaten it - although I did growing up some when we were stateside.  So I made traditional rhubarb sauce & also a great rhubarb crisp recipe!  This comes from Simply in Season, a cookbook that encourages eating foods that are in season and is organized... by season!

Since we are in Spring here in Ohio - this recipe fell in the spring section:

Rhubarb Sorrel Crisp

4 cups rhubarb - chopped

2 cups sorrel or strawberries (I used whole strawberries - 1 lb)

1 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup honey instead)

1 Tb orange peel (I omitted this)

1 tsp vanilla

Combine and simmer and cook - 4 minutes (or until all is soft and thick)

Mix 1/4 cup water with 3 T cornstartch - then add to water.  Continue cooking until thickened - set aside. (I reversed it and used 1/4 cup cornstarch with just enough water to mix in)

Mix the following:

1 1/2 cups flour (I used 1 cup of all natural flour and 1/2 cup oat bran instead)

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup nuts - chopped (I omitted)

Mix until crumbly.  Press about 3 1/2 cups in obttom of 9x13 - then pour in rhubarb mixture - then sprinkle remaining topping.  Bake 30-40 min in 350 degree oven.  Cut into squares. 

yum!!!!

My toes are twinkling!!

We are working on potty training DS.  He's got Number #1 downpat pretty well -but #2 is an issue.  So, we've been dealing with holding, etc and sneaking off to go in undies instead of the potty.

So, I often make him sit for periods of time on his little potty  hoping to "catch" it there instead of undies.  One afternoon he kept asking to get up. He'd gone a couple days and I knew he needed to go - so I wanted him to stay until he went.  But he wouldn't go - so he kept sitting.  I kept telling him to stay put and go.  Finally he said, "But, mom!  My toes are twinkling!!!" 

I let him get up then! :)

wendy

Finally back?! (Update on us...)

So, I've been absent for a while.:0)  With the project I was working on - I had enough online time and computer time. So I've been taking a break. Just checking e-mail, and sometimes quick checks here, and the news - otherwise I'm trying to get things done!!  This will b e a quick update!

The baby is due in 10 weeks, Lord willing.  So, trying to get the house clean/purged/etc in the next week or two.  Then we will probably start up school and be into gardening a little heavier.

School Update:  We are done! woo hooo!!! Our assessments are done, and turned in, and my notification for next year is complete.  we are waiting on our last shipment of school (history - Sonlight) as the lady is finishing her week up and then mailing them out.  Trying to get last years stuff put away and next years stuff lined up. DH is picking up another "new" (to us) bookcase today that we are going tp purchase from Craig's list to help with our book organization.

children - Glad to be done with school and have some extra time.  They are doing well at helping take care of some of their things for our cleaning time. Hannah even noticed the carpets needed vacuumed upstairs and vacuumed them herself!!!  Working on finalizing potty training with 3+ yr old DS!

Pregnancy update:  The OB is going to do weekly NST (Non-Stress Test - hook up to monitor baby's heart and any contractions I'm having for 20 - 25 min period) and ultrasound to measure fluid levels.  this is for fetal viability. These are extra precautions due to our minor glitches (I'll call them) during the current pregnancy.  They did say I could take the kids - we'll see..  Feeling ok - some normal discomforts and sleeping less, more WC trips at night!

Chickens - doing well and growing!! The Broilers are in our freezer a nd mostly eaten :) and the layers are growing well!!! I'll try to post pictures sometimes!

Hope all is well!

wendy

Resource for setting up a budget - nomatter your income amount - FREE

I've been seeing several comments/posts on h-blogger about setting up a budget.  there are some great resources at crown - see HERE.

If you go to the financial tools - HERE - then you can find the calculator you need for free (and anonymous!).  Place in the amounts you make and it will calculate what your budget should be.  It at least gives you a beginning guideline to play with.  You can also use the budgetmeter - youc an put in what you spend and i'tll tell you if you are out of line and where you are out of line.

Wonderful free resource!!

wendy

If A = B & B=C Then A must = C

This is what I remember from my college logic class.   I didn't have a classical education, and so my classical background isn't very proficient.  I have often looked through classical education catalogs.  I do appreciate some aspects of what classical education promotes.  We have had the opportunity to have a small taste of some of curriculum that is classically based.  We have been using a few products from Memoria Press.  I have appreciated the opportunity to look through them. 

Memoria Press is a classical curriculum provider.    They offer a wide array of curriculum to support your classical education style.  Even if you don’t embrace a complete classical style of education, they have many products that are of interest to all.

They offer studies in Latin for various levels.   They also offer Support for Logic, Rhetoric, Latin, Liberal Arts,  Classical Studies, English, French, Christian Studies/Bible, & Copywork & Cursive. 

Much of what they have available is for grade 3 & up.  They do offer copywork and cursive course for K-2 which is the age bracket that our daughters fall in.  Our daughters have been begging to learn cursive.  It’s nearing the end of the school year so I was just going to wait until next year.  Memoria sent us  2 copies of their New American Cursive to try out and our daughters REALLY like it!  How often do children grab their penmanship/writing curriculum and do it first because they enjoy it so much.  Our daughters gladly do their cursive each day and are very excited to be learning it!  They have almost progressed through the entire alphabet and can now write their names (very legibly) in cursive after only doing this several weeks!   Children used to learn cursive/script at an early age, now we hold off until older grades.  If your child struggles in penmanship, I’ve even read that starting them on cursive can actually improve their handwriting.  The letters have been very easy for them to learn!   They have simplified some of the more difficult cursive letters.  These books cost $22.95 each. This is the teacher & student guide together in one book.  It is consumable. You can see a sample of the letters here.

We also have the opportunity to use the Christian Studies I. Although this is for older students, we have been able to use it easily with our girls.  I appreciate that it gives me something on a simpler level that is actually more than just a Bible story!  It has maps available to show them where geographically the events occurred. Also, the questions and supplemental information are very helpful for background information to be included in the lessons.  I have a Bible College education and the curriculum is an excellant reminder of what extras I can be adding int to our Bible instruction for our children, even at this young of age!  The Christian Studies sets cost $38.90 per set and that is for both the teachers book and the student book.  Additional student books are $20.95.  They do utilize the Golden Children's Bible - and it is based on KJV style, but you can use the scriptures and your own preference on translation and adapt very easily.

Also the copywork books were one other product we had the opportunity to look at. I appreciate that there is a sense of purpose with the copywork that they provide.  I appreciate al lthe products we have received from Memoria Press and we intend to continue using them.  Each copybook costs only $14.95 or you can purchase the entire set for $39.95.

As I said previously, even if you are not a complete classical educationist - I believe Memoria Press is worth your consideration. They do have a wide variety of products.  I appreciate their product, and we will continue using and complete what they have sent to us.  I even appreciate reading their catalog!  They include not only their products, but articles written in support and consideration of classical education.  I have always enjoyed their catalog. You may request one here.

Check out their web site today and see if they have something to offer your little homeschool!

ws

So what's the verdict? (Homeschool Topic)

First place is a 3 way tie here!  The three companies holding first place are:

1.                  a.  Homeschool in the Woods (these products are phenomenal!)

b.      All About Spelling (The best spelling program I have seen!)

c.       Artistic Pursuits (If the cost weren’t a factor – I would buy them all!)

Second Place here holds a 4 way tie.  All of these each had their own merits that placed them in this category.

2.

a.       ABC’s of Homeschooling (this is an excellent program with wonderful information!)

b.      Critical Thinking Company (a wide variety of great activity books and programs to enhance education  & thinking skills!)

c.   Bible Songs (truly beautiful uplifting CD’s!!)

d.   Spell Quizzer (My daughters REALLY like this little program! – they think it’s fun to do and even willingly come in and run through it.  My K level daughter thinks it’s grand that she can do the whole 5^th grade sample spelling test correctly simply from running through it again and again!)

3. Trigger Memory System (My children still pull them out to do their chores)
4. Apologia (We have 3 in the elementary series now!)
5. Aurolog Spanish (Truly a quality Spanish program!)
6. Truthquest (A Great way to learn history!)
7. Memoria Press (Classical ed can be a lot of fun! [Contrary to some myths])
8. One2Believe Toys (A wonderful selection, I hope we can get more!)
9. Core Learning –Crayola Art CD (My children really enjoy this and the sample programs they sent to us!)
10. Salem Ridge Press – (I appreciate what this company is doing for our reading opportunities.  I’m excited to see what additional titles they will be able to add to their selection in the future.)

Honorable Mention:

            Spears Art Studio (this is a great product for art, I appreciate that so many grades are included, and that it is seasonly themed.  It is very flexible for the homeschool setting!

            Schoolside Press - The Little Man in the Map (a very cute pneumonic product that we intend to pull out and read again and again!)

All of the above mentioned companies are companies worthy of your consideration in my opinion.  All of them offer a quality product for you to consider!

If you click on product reviews on the side you can read more detailed reviews about each of the companies listed here.

wendy

Making yogurt using a crock pot - step by step with pics

I have been pleasantly surprised with the results of using a crock pot to make yogurt.   The cost is much more economical and the product much healthier!

Plug in your crock pot and fill partially with water.  Take you containers and place in your crock pot.  Set your crock pot on low or warm and plug in.  This will warm up the yogurt environment for optimal temp. {Make sure all components are clean and sterile so that bad bacteria does not grow in your yogurt!}

I start out with whole milk and heat it up to 180 degrees Farenheit.  Measure one quart of milk - or the amount that you will fit into your crock pot. My amount was just slightly over one quart.  Heat over medium heat and stir constantly to avoid scalding. 

Once the milk has reached temp then remove from heat and allow to cool to 115 degrees Farenheit. while it is cooling I add 1/3 cup of raw sugar and a couple dashes of vanilla. Stir well to dissolve sugar.

Then once the milk has cooled to 115 degrees you can now add your yogurt culture.  You can purchase yogurt culture or simply use plain yogurt from the store.  I purchased 1 quart of organic plain yogurt.  I froze the amounts in an ice cube tray and pull out 2 yogurt cubes and allowed them to warm up to room temp during my process so far.  When I used fresh yogurt I added 2 T to approx 1 qt of milk.  There are a variety of recipes and amounts. Then add the yogurt when your milk has reached 115 degrees and stir until it has mixed in well with the milk.

I have also read that you can use your own yogurt as a starter later on - but after a while it looses it's "zip" to make yogurt. My yogurt cubes will last some time, and the cost is fairly minimal when factored out.

Next you will fill your containers with your milk (you can use any type of small glass jar that has a lid). {pardon the blurry photo}

Then place your lid on your container and place in your warmed crock pot.   Make sure the temperature of your water is 110 to 115 degrees (any warmer and you will kill your yogurt starter).

Place your lid on your crock pot, unplug, and wrap up well with a warm towel. My crock pot has an insulated carrier. I place it in the insulated carrier and then wrap with a towel.  You have created your own yogurt maker.  Doesn't it look quite vogue sitting on my counter?

Incubate your yogurt for a minimum of 6 to 7 hrs. You can go longer up to 10 hrs -  the longer you incubate, the tarter it is according to what I've read. I've always tried the 6 to 7 hour range.  You can peek in your cover only to insert a thermometer to check your temp to make sure it is maintaining. It must remain at 105 to 110 degrees to create yogurt. If it has cooled to less than that, plug in your crock pot until it warms again.  The first time I made yogurt I had to reheat part way through the process, this time I did not have to.  After your time as passed you can remove your yogurt cups and check to see if they have set. If they have not set - if it didn't work, if they have set then place in the fridge to cool. 

This was my finished product:

My daughters enjoy flavoring their yogurt with 1 or 2 T of home made jam that we have from last canning season.  They also enjoy it plain.

Since I have a dairy allergy - I must recruit a taste tester.

Quality control department has approved!

Happy Yogurt making!!

Growing bigger...growing bigger all the time!

The Adventures of High Fligh the Flying Zorse...

WriteShop is a company that strives to assist you in teaching your children to write well.  They offer a variety of products to assist you in this venue for ages K-12.  You can see a listing of their products here. 

Our first experience with WriteShop was the Story Builder cards.  This time around we had the opportunity to go through the WriteShop Primary – Book A.  This book is to begin teaching writing skills at the K-1^st grade level. 

 The books are set up in mini-units of sort with a variety of activities that focus on learning to properly build and write a story.  Each lesson carries a different theme.  There are activity pages that support thte theme and each lesson walks children through stages of writing.  WriteShop begins with brainstorming, then building some thoughts on the subject, then structuring the paragraphs.  All this is done with keeping a good eye on punctuation and capitalization.  WriteShop does give you recommendations on how to apply these activities to both your older and younger learning writers.  The books are very flexible and are easily tailored to each need. If your child writes well you can do a variety of sections each day and work quickly through the text. If your child is just beginning or encountering some struggles they can move more slowly through the text.  As a teacher you can use it however much or little you are able to.  I have a friend who needs everything laid out for her, even what to say in her teacher texts.   I think she would enjoy that portion of the WriteShop Teacher’s Guide! If you don’t need that – you can take the ideas and run using your own creativity and style in your writing course. 

The book we reviewed retails for $26.95 for the print copy, the e-copy retails for $24.95 and the worksheet packets can be purchased for $4.95 printed & $4.50 e-copy.

There is a lot of time that could be spent on all the activities that are included in this book. If you are a mom/teacher who enjoys hands on, learning center, creative fun, then you will have a hay day with this wonderful resource!  You will be cutting, pasting, writing, and playing to your heart's content as you learn and progress through directed writing activities and your children learn the art of writing.

The activities are repetitive, so once you get the routine down, the children will understand the process and you can progress much more quickly through the lessons.

My daughters enjoyed the worksheets,  However, after our normal schoolwork load which includes phonics workbooks (sentence writing, and other writing activities), spelling workbook (sentence writing, story writing, and other writing activities), beginner cursive workbooks, and our general penmanship workbook they were written out!  So for us, this book at this current time added too much to the workload. This is not the fault of the program, but rather how we choose to do our homeschool.  I see this as a valuable resource for our family to use during summer vacation as an enrichment program.  Because it is set up to be fun, I would have more time to build the fun centers. Our children wouldn’t already be taxed in the area of writing during summer break and would enjoy the activities much more!  Our children tend to get bored occasionally during the summer and my daughter already has asked if we could continue school during the summer.  I think this will be a fun program for us to throw in as an educational boredom buster!

If you would like to see a sample lesson layout – click here. You can try this lesson out on your children before you buy.  You can get a feel for the routine of the program and the way the lessons are structured and laid out.  This will help you sort out if this product is a fit for your homeschool environment.   The price of the program is reasonable and I would recommend buying the preprinted workbook as your savings for the e-copy isn’t enough to compensate for your cost to print it. But if you are limited on space – perhaps the e-copy is a better match for you!

Overall this is a very well structured writing program geared for the younger elementary age bracket.  It does require extra time on the part of the mother or teacher.  You certainly can pick and choose based on the amount of time you have available to you.  The time factor would be the main draw back that I see from this program. But this drawback is also a benefit of the program as it is very well structured to teach your little one writing, and WriteShop isn’t skimping on content!

You can check out Writeshop’s Primary books that they have availablehere and see if this might be something you can add to your little homeschool!!

Happy Writing!

wendy