We were in a baking mood again today. While the boys finished up their Latin, The Girl began a vanilla pound cake using the whole wheat pastry flour that we bought while in Minnesota. It was very good. We topped it off with warm blueberry sauce. The Girl had enough time after mixing the cake to be silly with her older brother's shoes. I certainly hope this is not an indication of her future shoe size.

The boys were called next door to help their cousin harvest his corn crop, which was left to dry in the field. Levi is quite the farmer. He ground some of the dry corn for his lunch, which was a bowl of grits. The boys then cleared the field with machetes for another planting.

Okay, the photo below was not a good moment in our day, but definitely one that led to a really good discussion and (hopefully) a long-lasting change in heart. Poppins and I have decided that homeschooling is 1% academics and 99% character development.

Stennes was kind enough to peel some wild peaches for a yummy Peach Kuchen for supper.

After lunch, we got together with the next-door folks for our Friday class. Yes, we know it's just Thursday, but we're on Sabbatical, and we chose Fridays for the boys' projects and Boyhood plans. We did a few fun grammar exercises, read a chapter from Practical Happiness, listened to a Mexican mariachi group in anticipation of the next project Mean Ol' Mama has for the boys (hee-hee), and Teresa drilled the boys on bug and tree disease identification to prepare them for Forestry competition next month.

We went swimming this afternoon, picked up the house for a new homeschool family who will be visiting us tomorrow, and tried to do everything possible to make a very busy "tomorrow" easier on us all. One thing we try diligently to demonstrate and encourage in the kids is the practice of anticipation. "What can I do now to make ------ easier, more efficient, and time-wise?"

Wild, wild Wednesday

The newspaper inspired our discussion at breakfast. The article was written by an admired mentor: Plant a Second Summer Crop. We read through the article, then discussed a U.S. News report about how the depressed economy and resulting food shortage could be combatted by producing (in laboratories) "meat" that requires no killing. Hmmm....Then we looked through today's food sales paper and pointed out how so much of what is being sold is not even really "food", just chemicals pleasantly combined. To wrap it up, Mean Ol' Mama got out her stash of saved seeds (in the blue bag) and we discussed what we could do in our own lives and gardens.This discussion led to a re-vamping of the boys' gardens. In the photo below, some of the kids are working together to clean up, weed out, and prepare the soil for another crop.

Josiah is hauling mulch to "beef up" his garden. He could probably use the wheelbarrow, but ...you know how guys are when it comes to a set of wheels.

After lunch, we had two surprise visitors and enjoyed their company very much. Unfortunately, poor Anders was attacked by yellow jackets while the kids were outside playing. He ended up with 18 very painful bites. Ouch! He does look a little discouraged in the photo below, doesn't he? Poor guy.

We finished off the evening with Josiah trying out his "new" sax. Anders is checking out his "new" trumpet which he plans to start playing in September. Even as I write, I'm listening to the boys and their cousins in their studio. They have quite a few instruments going. They've decided to get together frequently to play and build skill. Our home is quickly being filled with fun, talented, hard-working boys. It's a nice feeling...

Tuesday Sabbatical

Josiah is giving Branch a Life Skill lesson on how to put on ChubChub's diaper. Very strategical information.

Anders is trying desperately to finish his Latin translation so he can go skating with us.

Stennes went out to the gardens, picked a nice quantity of cherry tomatoes and made a new label for the tomato package.

ChubChub and Mean Ol' Mama are having some quality piano performance time.

Branch doing the "limbo" during skate time. We met with the homeschool group for the afternoon and enjoyed being with everyone (all 75 of them...).

After skating, Branch had violin class. He had a little time to practice before going to his teacher. The big boys went to their Forestry class, and Anders surprised everyone by being very accurate in his compass work. Hopefully he'll stay pointed in the right direction for the rest of his life. [pun intended]

Sunday and Monday

Sumday was a busy day of unpacking and enjoying just being home again. Mean Ol' Mama went on a baking rampage; I sure missed cooking. I made 3 sweet breads, regular buns, granola, cookies, and other such goodies that are now...all gone...[sigh]. But everyone is happy, so that's the importance of baking, right? In the evening we went to a trailer park in a nearby town to preach. We were very well received, and about 25 people came out to a center "play area" to listen and participate. We had a good time.
Monday we finished reading one of our World War II books, and the boys worked on their history notebooks. The photo above shows a section of history (Roaring Twenties) as a title page, with maps and related worksheets placed behind. This gives the kids something to do as they listen to the reading. We're taking an easy week to finish unpacking and get our heads on straight again. The kids need to finish by Friday: Latin translation pages and readings. The little ones need to catch up on their reading with Mean Ol' Mama. Then, on to a very busy next week...

Josiah is telling ChubChub a nap time story. As part of their Life Skills training, the boys have pretty much full responsibility for Chub. They bathe, feed, change diapers, entertain, and help train him to be more self-disciplined. As I snuck in to listen, I was pleased to see Josiah taking such care with Chub. The story, however, began with these interesting words, "One day, Prince Stinkerbug was....". Oh well, there's probably a stinkerbug in everyone's life, isn't there?

Stennes made a few purchases at the hardware store and designed his own potato cannon, powered by a grill igniter. No, folks, I don't ask questions. I just pray hard. Really hard.

Last but not least, Poppins had a pleasant surprise when he stood up after having a long talk with the boys. One of them (who will remain anonymous) was busy as a beaver under daddy's chair during the discussion. I really like boys. What's not to like about potato cannons, shoelace fiends, and Prince Stinkerbug?

What a ride!

36 hours in the van. Quite a ride. Yep. Words just can't express. Let these pictures show you some of what we did in the wilds of Minnesota.

Cleaning up Grandma's yard.

The Girl has her first taste of raw rhubarb.

Football with the cousins.

Mean Ol' Mama gets a lesson on giving a military hair cut. The boys really look sharp now.

Participating in a church service on White Earth Indian Reservation, in Nay Tau Waush. Marching in God's army.

Heading back with friends for another load of logs. They are dismantling and rebuilding a log cabin.

Pinata fun at the family reunion at Mississippi Reverie, the home of Poppins' gracious aunt & uncle.

Singing around the campfire at the reunion.

What a catch! The boys fished, fished, and fished some more.

The Girl is tying up a Cozy Quilt of her own with her aunt and cousins. Thanks, ladies!

Exploration in one of Minnesota's many streams. Just think! No venemous snakes or gators!

Playing a hilarious game of Spoons as Grandpa watches.

The joy of unpacking at home. Sigh...

We brought home 8 sleeping bags, 8 pillows, 2 large tents, 2 air matresses, 1 air pump, cooking stove and supplies for camping, 8 towels, clothes for 8, personal stuff, 2 large coolers, 7 fishing poles, 7 tackle boxes, a large box of diapers, books and "stuff " from thrift store stops, food and snacks, 3 guitars, 1 violin, 1 trumpet, 1 sax., and to finish it off....a TUBA!!! Can you believe this all fit in the back of the van? It was truly the 8th Wonder of the Modern World. Not to be repeated, folks. Ever.

Just Checking In

We'll be heading home for Georgia on Thursday with lots of good memories and a few ideas to make our life down south more interesting and enjoyable. The kids have had a great time with cousins and friends.

This morning the kids went next door to help Pop sort the chickens (roosters vs. hens). The three youngest boys were small enough to fit in the pen and catch the chickens by hooking their feet with a hooked pole. The chickens were passed one by one to the next boy, their cousin.

Stennes can handle four at a time.

The Girl can only handle one, but she's happy to help.

ChubChub cried for more chickens to hold, but he was finally content with one. He's actually quite a good worker. He carried at least 10 to the other pen.

After swimming for an hour, we returned to work on Life Skills. Josiah was blessed to have the refrigerator all to himself. It sure did my heart good to see him work so willingly.

Stennes volunteered to wash dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher. He had 3 big cast iron frying pans to tackle, so he really encouraged me by having a positive outlook.

Anders and The Girl were in charge of lunch. We had a "Little Plates" meal; basically, they found bits and pieces that needed to be eaten and put things out on pretty little platters. We are clearing out food before we leave on vacation this afternoon. We loaded the van after lunch, stuffed 2 pinatas for the family reunion, made a few phone calls, cleaned up the house, read a bit of our World War II book, and are currently waiting (not-so-patiently) on Poppins to come home. We are ready to go. I'm not sure how much posting we will do these next 2 weeks, but keep checking in. You never know what interesting opporunities we'll run across on our journey.

We're Still Here

We have a new camera, so we're still figuring some things out. We've been very busy the last two days with Life Skills, packing, seeing friends, a field trip, and preparations for our vacation that begins...FRIDAY!!! I will post tomorrow morning before we leave; perhaps we can scrounge up some exciting shots of last-minute duties.

Monday and Tuesday

We began Tuesday morning at a run, just as we began Monday morning. [Sigh...] We've had a busy week already. We went to a seminar Tuesday morning (Developing Character in Your Children through Work). It was very enjoyable. The big kids practiced Service by watching the little ones, taking them to bathroom/water breaks, playing outside with them, and monitoring behavior. The photo shows just half of the group, so the big kids really had their hands full.

When we arrived home, Anders did some reading for his Poultry Scholar Project. He really enjoys chickens.

The Girl found a nice surprise in her bedroom: a Tea Party cabinet from her Pop. It was filled with her recent gifts. She was very excited to find this waiting on her!

In the evening, Branch had violin class, and Stennes practiced his newly-repaired trombone. He sure was glad to have his instrument again.

We finished up this long day with a cool splash at our cousin's pool. This week is preparation for our vacation in Minnesota, so things are a little slower in school. Mean Ol' Mama has a consultation for a project tomorrow morning, the boys are going to Shop with Pop to make gifts, The Girl is going to make jelly with her aunt next door, we have 22 people coming for dinner, and a crazy assortment of ...well, of life...

Sunday

Taping up the kitchen for painting. It sure is nice to have handy sons...

Finishing up a surprise before our vacation in Minnesota. It sure is nice to have sweet girls...

Visiting with unexpected guests. We haven't seen the man on the right for 7 years. He returned to Mexico to be with his wife and new baby girl (they named her Tania, after Mean Ol' Mama!!), and came back to the USA. It sure is nice to have friends who remember...

Preaching in a camp . This is their last week here. We handed out slices of watermelon during the service. It sure is nice to have a message as sweet and refreshing as the melons...

Wrapping up the evening having a Blues Jam with friends who stayed for dinner. It sure is nice to be in the "groove"...