Mean Ol' Mama

Happenings

2012-01-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, the fellows were up before dawn to butcher the two hogs. It was a pleasant, cool morning.

Anders hauled off the skin, tail included for free.

We also cooked sweet potatoes in the coals, french fries, baked beans, corn bread with cracklins, fried tenderloin, and our annual giant peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

The boys took a little siesta before the clean-up began.

Josiah's red cockaded woodpeckers are happily perched on the shelf, waiting for their competition.

We've been doing school the best we can, but the big boys are memorizing, finishing up posters, and working on props.

Isn't this a pitiful, dirty, abused speech? All three pages look rough. Hopefully, it will get into Stennes' head as quickly as possible...

We're Still Here!

2012-01-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

Will be posting more photos within the next few days. Busy busy busy...

Our Grand Experiment: Singing Together 1

2012-01-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

We decided to make a short DVD before preaching on Sunday. Stay tuned for more uploads...

Short post

2011-12-24T07:25:00.000-08:00

Mean Ol' Mama thought this picture was funny. The Girl used a Greek "a" on one of her Latin words. Maybe not so funny to anyone else but Mo'M...

ChubChub was excited to finish one of his Spanish school books. Now he has only 11 years to go...

The 4-H group sang Christmas carols at "Christms on the Square".

The Girl and ChubChub helped make doggy biscuits for our local animal shelter.

Stennes caught a bird in a jar! Not something you'll see every day, for sure..

We attended Josiah and Branch's concert with Port City Strings and had a very pleasant evening seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Getting ready for Christmas get-togethers and other activities...

In the News!

2011-12-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

See second video
http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/121511cmaspark.shtml

Quick Post

2011-12-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

Stennes and Josiah worked on 4H exhibit boards for a forum in north Georgia. They weren't able to attend due to prior commitments, but they sent plenty of information on the displays.

Guess who have matching Christmas pajamas? Hit the snooze button...

Catching up on some schoolwork; the three older boys went up to the local radio station to record individualized public service announcements; we'll be singing at the Christmas on the Square performance this Thursday; lots of plans going through our minds...

These Busy Weeks

2011-12-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

Anders has been helping Pop with the poultry business.

The older three boys presented essays to Mean Ol' Mama's college class about their project areas.

The kids were asked to perform at one of our family reunions.

We enjoyed the afternoon at Swine Time, an annual festival in a near-by town.

Peter and Paul participated in the chitlin' eating contest.

Branch participated in the hog calling contest.

ChubChub tried his hand at calling hogs, too.

Paul and Peter also gave the corn shucking contest their best shot.

So did Branch

Anders actually won the corn shucking contest for his age group!

The three younger boys had fun in the greased pig chase.

They all painted Christmas mugs for our local hospice.

Josiah shot two quail and dressed them out to eat later.

We had six performances last week, and we're relieved to have all of those finished.

Stennes and Levi donated these small window gardens (and supplies) to our local Senior Center.

The older five children also played their Christmas concert down in Tallahassee.

And we especially enjoyed giving their band director a funny shirt. Thanks for being such a good sport, Charlie!

We're wrapping up 4H projects for this month; two performances coming up; many different activities still to finish; Christmas dreams to dream...

In the News!

2011-11-29T12:12:00.001-08:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/112811fourh.shtml

Busy Again

2011-11-22T07:03:00.000-08:00

Anders led a group of students in making turkey cards for a local nursing home. He's working on a big 4H project.

Isn't this a sad sight? Mean Ol' Mama was on the ball getting a pumpkin cheesecake in the oven first thing in the morning when...OOPS!!! Guess what slipped out of her hands? But there was still a nice bit left in the pan, so she just kept on baking and promised to clean it up later...

Josiah (and helpers) mixed up a big batch of suet for Birdsong Nature Center. He's also working on a big 4H project.

Anders helped Pop put corn shucks in all the chicken pens. They were able to glean a field on shares, so there's plenty of dried corn for the animals.

Poppins helped Branch get started on building a model car.

His Royal Whineness had a good time playing king. Notice the bloody nose? He was defending his honor against an older brother, but ye olde sword wasn't quite as fast as brother's.

Stenne shot a small buck and brought it home to clean and package. He also built the lift that attaches to the back of the van, which is quite clever of him, eh?

Josiah led this group of students out on a nature walk. They searched for "goodies" and stuck them on their sticky wristbands for safekeeping.

Josiah then brought them back, and they all made bookmarks using their nature finds. Again, 4H project...

ChubChub was excited to find this beautiful leaf the other morning. He gave it as a gift to a special friend.

Branch has also been helping Pop get the chickens ready for cold weather. These Japanese Silkies look like they're already cold!

More chickens a'coming...

We invited out a group of Haitians to join us for lunch. There were about 35 of them and 16 of us, and we enjoyed visiting, eating, and singing together. It was a lovely day.

Been a bit chilly some mornings down here.

Mean Ol' Mama is about to have a break from college for a few nights; the older boys are going to present their projects to one college class this evening; busy with 4H; busy with baking; busy with schooling; busy with life...

In the News!

2011-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

http://georgia4h.org/main/headline/fullstory.cfm?ID=392&imagefile=2011%20decatur%20wildlife%2EJPG

Wrapping Up the Week

2011-11-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

Josiah, Anders, and Branch played their final championship game and lost. That's okay, though, because their team was happy and everyone had a good time.

They all headed out to Pizza Hut afterwards for a celebratory dinner. Yummy!

"Mr. Hustle", as the coaches call him...

These two were being silly. Imagine that!

The pond is drying up, so the boys decided to go fishing. Three little monkeys fishing in the mud...

And now there are four little monkeys...

And here comes monkey number five!

Five little monkeys fishing in the mud...

Loading up a nice haul of really large fish

These are just a sample of quite a large catch. We'll be eating well the next few months: fish and venison in the freezer!

Mean Ol' Mama would like to introduce her new grandbird. The Girl is very excited and proud of her new pet. Thanks, Dr. Peter and family!

We're having nightly services (by invitation) in one of the Haitian camps. It's cold and dark by the time we arrive, but the time together is sweet. Stennes and Josiah will take a display over to Birdsong Nature Center; Tallahassee band this afternoon; the cooler weather is nice; Poppins planted lettuces, arugula, kale, and mixed mustard in the raised beds; we need to catch up on some schoolwork; getting ready for 2 family reunions at Thanksgiving; the boys play soccer in Thomasville on Saturday; Dr. Peter and family are coming for dinner Saturday afternoon; hoping to try out some new recipes soon...

Short Post

2011-11-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Anders and Josiah took a few chickens and a quail to a local preschool class. The kids were so cute and inquisitive.

And, of course, what grandmother doesn't like showing off her new grandbabies? There are two more roly-poly blonde puppies that are snoozing on the other side of the photo. The kids are pretty excited.

Still Busy...

2011-11-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

ChubChub finished up a rousingly successful soccer season. He had a great time and is especially proud of his trophy.

Branch and The Girl enjoyed a morning at the local airport.

They were actually able to enjoy a nice flight with a local pilot. The other boy in the photo is a "flying friend".

Load 'em up and head out! The Girl was excited to "steer" the plane for a while. Such are the advantages of sitting up front...

Sunday morning we awakened to brisk weather and a warm fire over in the gathering place.

Just a bit chilly, Girl, but warm food is on its way!

ChubChub was intensely happy to discover a ladybug gadding about. Can you see it on the tip of the pine needle?

A few friends joined us for our brunch: the last of this year's potatoes, hot and crispy; sausage from our pigs; eggs from our chickens, and sugary funnel cakes that Mean Ol' Mama was cajoled into mixing up. Yummy! Hot chocolate, coffee, and hot apple cider rounded out the menu.

Eatin' and visitin'...

Stennes is now the official Funnel Cake Fryer. He sure made some beauties!

Branch kept the hot water a'comin'...

Even Poppins contributed to the menu with fried deer heart. We ARE in the south, ya know...

Whoowhee! This is just one of about 14 trays-ful that Stennes fried up.

More good meetings with the Haitians. They're signing the prayer book so we can remember all of their names.

At another camp, this sweet lady came up and sang A la gnou zanmi se Jezu (What a Friend We Have in Jesus) with us. Sweet times!

Anders helped Pop set eggs in the incubator.

And ChubChub was a bit silly with his "tag" that he created. What does it say? Just keep reading...

He just can't wait to be in with the big kids...

The kids went to Birdsong Nature Center this morning to do manual labor as volunteer service; Stennes is now participating on the 4H Archery Team; the older 3 boys have 4H Livestock tomorrow in Albany; the older 5 have 4H Wildlife competition on Saturday; Mean Ol' Mama's going crazy...

Lots to Do!

2011-10-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

ChubChub (#16) has really enjoyed his soccer games this season. He scored 6 goals Monday night, and his little team is so fun to watch.

We have really enjoyed our meetings with the Haitians this season. They are so enthusiastic in their participation and appreciation.

Waiting to sign the memory/prayer book...

Mean Ol' Mama has enjoyed baking these past few weeks. Yummy!

Cheddar/Basil/Caramelized Onion Bread

ChubChub has enjoyed being a rascal these past few weeks...

Poppins brought home these two lovely roses for the "...two lovely ladies in [his] life."

Stennes helped a friend/cousin repair his raft. The zipper was very uncooperative.

His Royal ChubChub celebrated his 6th birthday. He was quite the center of attention.

He was so happy that he finished his first Spanish reader.

Branch, Anders, and The Girl participated in the 4H Peanutrition competition. They invented some delicious (interesting...ahem...) recipes.

Stennes and Levi were the judges. They were a bit skeptical when it came to taste-testing some of the entries.

The Girl won first in "Messiest Sandwich". She made a PB Banana Split sandwich.

Branch won the "Most Unusual" prize: PB, caramel, apple, and swiss cheese.

Anders won "Easiest to Make": Cream Cheese Drizzle (cream cheese, honey, roasted peanuts served with crackers).

Busy, busy, busy...

In the News!

2011-10-21T04:18:00.001-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/102011fourh.shtml

Lots of News

2011-10-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

We've enjoyed many good meetings lately with the Haitians and Hispanics. It's always fun to have the audience participate in the songs and service.

Mean Ol' Mama was surprised to find a rose waiting in her mailbox at the college, from a secret admirer. She was very excited to find out later that it was from her wonderful Poppins.

Branch brought her this lovely collection of zinnias. We visited the Georgia National Fair in Perry this past weekend. We enjoyed seeing all of the displays.

ChubChub enjoyed talking to the folks at the koi booth. They had a nice conversation about...well, about the koi, the different types, how to catch them, why they were selling them,...and on and on. He's a curious little guy.The Girl placed 3rd in Public Speaking, and Branch placed 1st and he won Grand Champion as well! We were so excited for both of them, especially since this was The Girl's first time.

Anders won 1st place and Grand Champion as well!The Girl also competed in the Cotton Boll speech.Anders competed as "Super Cotton".The Girl won 9th (fabulous out of soooo much competition)!"Super Cotton" won 1st!!We're easing back into our normal routine of schoolwork and life. Hopefully, we'll be able to catch our breath now and then...

Random Photos from Two Really Random Weeks

2011-10-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Girl designed this container garden for the Georgia National Fair next week. "Out West is Best" is the title of her entry. Branch planted turnips in hopes of cooler weather and a good harvest.

The boys went to state competition for Forestry Judging. They placed 3rd, and Stennes placed 3rd Individual. Yay!

We drove the motorhome to hand out clothing, but the tire wouldn't cooperate. We ended up having a meeting, but we'll have to take the clothes another time.

The Girl is now playing clarinet in the Tallahassee Home School Band. How many folks can fit on one couch to play a hilarious game of Balderdash?

The Girl made delicious pasta with basil from her garden in the dough. See the little green flecks? Yummy, with cream, butter, chickpeas, and more basil.

Poppins, The Girl, and ChubChub freshened up the painting around the house.

Working on a project for the fair (keep reading)...

Our garden produced pretty peppers for us this summer. Hopefully, cooler weather will settle in soon so we can have fresh lettuce, kale, and other such salad yummies.

This is what's for dinner tonight...

The kids were excited to get a pile of good books at the thrift store the other day!

Branch bought this nice French/English book with a new CD inside.

The Girl and ChubChub enjoyed some reading time together.

ChubChub has also helped out in the kitchen lately.

His facial expression tells you just what he thinks of frying onions.

Sprinkling brown sugar on the bacon (on baked beans) for company...

Branch pulled KP quite a few times, even when it wasn't his assigned duty. Busy, busy weeks...

The Girl baked dozens of cookies.

It's hard to shoot a deer when you're reading a book, Branch!

We enjoyed a nice service at a local camp on Sunday.

Branch and The Girl have been learning how to type.

Unconscious boys? Nope, just warming up for soccer with their coach...

Anders and Josiah have been working on their mini-booths for Georgia National Fair.

Branch helped make 5 panfuls of yummy cinnamon rolls!

(photo for staging puposes only!!)

Anders recycled a chicken feed bag and made this cute tote!

ChubChub has enjoyed his soccer team this year, and his coach has enjoyed the fact that ChubChub understands Spanish so well!

Branch designed a "Red, White, and Blue" terrarium for the state fair.

The Girl was given a moon cake all the way from China, from the French professor at the college. Long story.Stennes helped put together the boys' mini- booths.

Branch also had fun making his "Pachyderm Produce" entry for the dried agricultural products competition at the fair.

A good friend dropped off a luscious Mona Lisa frappucino for Mean Ol' Mama. Yum yum!

Finished!

And our very special friend also brought this huge pizza in celebration of finishing and surviving these past few weeks!

Another busy week is heading our way, but the cooler weather is encouraging.

In The News!

2011-09-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Last photo on the bottom right!

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/091311fcphoto2011.shtml

Vacation and Back Again...

2011-09-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a whirlwind vacation up to Minnesota. We traveled through Chicago this time (yikes!) to pick up a new van that we had purchased on-line before we left. It's pretty! We were in Minnesota for just a few days, but we managed to pack in quite a lot of fun. Fishing, swimming, and visiting were the highlights of our trip.

These two fellows were kind enough to cook all the fish for us.

We thought we had left the land of 'gators behind, but no! AAARRGHH!!!

Remember the chefs? They also had some interesting sleepwear...

The Girl enjoyed climbing up a very tall wall.

And the older ones enjoyed a rousing game of paint ball! They all cooled off in the lake afterwards.

Mean Ol' Mama and The Girl think that something has come between them...

Poppins and Josiah enjoyed a game of horseshoes.

We also enjoyed our niece's beautiful wedding, and the kids had a good time sitting with the cousins.

Two pretty cousins giving it a whirl out on the dance floor...

Lots of happy memories with very special friends and family

And now that we're home again, just look what has happened to ChubChub!The kids won 1st place in 4H Forestry Judging. More photos are further down in this post.

We're trying to get back in the groove again; had company from Texas over the weekend, which was fun; figuring out schedules for everyone's activities; thinking happy thoughts about vacation; going going going....

In The News!

2011-08-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/082311fourh.shtml

Time Flies Whether You're Having Fun or Not

2011-08-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

The kids have been working on various aspects of their upcoming Forestry competition. Mean Ol' Mama baked two trays of delicious whole wheat cinnamon buns.

We enjoyed dinner with our friends, and Dr. Peter showcased his Italian heritage with a delicous cheese/fresh basil and tomatoes dish.We also enjoyed a very fun round of Balderdash with everyone. Having extra adults playing was the finishing touch for an enjoyable evening.

Poppins and his pal...

Mean Ol' Mama scored by purchasing William Bennett's book for just $.07 at a thrift store. We have his first book, so this is an exciting addition to our library.

What's in the box that just came in the mail, fellows?

Airsoft guns of assorted sizes and capabilities!!

Stennes has been volunteering at the Attapulgus Experiment Station where crops are researched, and he brought home a sample of good vs. bad corn.

Branch helped Pop butcher chickens, and he thoroughly enjoyed plucking the feathers. Yep.

We had 2 hogs butchered, so sorting the meat was a job that we all enjoyed. Yummy!

ChubChub had a bout of sickness this past week, and The Girl and Branch watched an educational DVD with him. Mo'M's college books are also on the sofa as she worked on this semester's syllabus.

Josiah invited 3 other boys over to spend the weekend and have an airsoft war. From Sunday morning to Saturday night, we fed 159 people in our little home. Lots of visitors!

The Girl got her first "stylish" cut by our good friend Don J. He's hilarious and talented at the same time!

Stennes had his Tifton Soil Profile on display at the local visitor's center.

Branch cleaned fans in preparation for our upcoming vacation. It's always nice coming home to a clean house.

Josiah made 13 keychains out of deer antlers. We're taking them for gifts on vacation.

Life has been crazy-busy as usual; we're hoping to head out soon to Minnesota; classes begin tonight for Mean Ol' Mama; lots of projects going on; busy, busy, busy...

Hot Summer Days

2011-08-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Mean Ol' Mama took Branch to a nearby field to release two of his homing pigeons. We then turned on the timer and raced back to the house to watch them return, 8 minutes later! Stennes made this unique knife that snaps onto the personalized sheath to prevent loss. He's quite a skilled fellow to make both the knife and the sheath from start to finish.

We did something rare for our family: a meal at a newly-opened restaurant! We really enjoyed the brunch buffet.

Our Very Important Cousin is at Stennes' left.

Mean Ol' Mama really enjoyed the 25-cent cup of coffee and a delicious cinnamon roll.

We also visited with some new friends on Saturday night. They're originally from India, so Mean Ol' Mama especially enjoyed plundering through the pantry and discussing recipes, spices, and interesting information about their home country. The sweet hostess made a delicious snack of potato and rice with spices and hot pepper!

This is a specialty flattened rice that was used in the snack.

And of course, chai...

Even the littles had their snack at a special table with their new friend. Good times!

We headed out to preach down in Quincy, Florida, but were rained out, so we stopped instead at a small group of trailers before the storm moved in. The sheep seemed to enjoy the music, too!

Josiah and Anders helped Pop build a special pen for pigs they were hoping to buy at an auction.

Which ones should we buy, Branch?

Two little pigs came home from the market...

Anders and Pop butchered a few chickens, and Anders thought that ChubChub might enjoy playing with the scrubbed feet. You know, pulling the tendons and watching the claws curl up. Hmmmm....

The Girl took advantage of Mean Ol' Mama's quiet office and did a few lessons in Spanish Bible.

Would you say that Mean Ol' Mama enjoys reading in the evening?

The Girl and Branch enjoyed a new math lesson: Algebraic Equations.

The older 3 boys helped put together goody bags from 4H to be given to local schoolteachers. The following photos are part of their upcoming portfolio competition.

Thursday morning all of the fellows went with Pop to pick up 7 free potbelly pigs. They got just a tad bit dirty. Some of the pigs were huge, and all of them had to be carried into the trailer.

They're outside right now building another pen for the pigs, and Anders was delighted to show his dirty arms to you. Yep, delighted! We'll post pictures of the dirty little kids...I mean PIGS in a few days.

Busy, busy with our crazy life; Mean Ol' Mama is trying to stay cool, in more ways than one; enjoying the fact that there's still room in our busy, crazy life for friends...who are also busy...and crazy...and fun...

In the News!

2011-08-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/080111fourH.shtml

Rushing Along

2011-07-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Branch got a few books from the thrift store, including this interesting book on the history of mathematics. He really enjoys reading. ChubChub enjoyed our one and only watermelon that voluntarily grew by Poppins' blueberry bushes. Do you think it's large enough?

Well, there's enough for a few slices, and ChubChub wanted to show off his two missing teeth.

And Poppins enjoyed the rind smile. Silly guy!

The fellows purchased these bows from a private seller. Now we have enough firearms and bows to last...well, quite a long time.

Josiah bought a nice little boat and trailer with trolling motor from the same seller.

Just needs a little TLC...

Stump Jumper, the mighty little boat...

Mean Ol' Mama found a brand new Schlemmer-Topf baker for just $2.99! What a deal!

She also found some interesting cookbooks because she really, really needed them. Yep.

The Girl was excited to find some braunschweiger on sale. Yummy!

ChubChub has just been hanging around. He's easing along in Spanish School, and his reading skills are improving. When we finish his current book, he'll begin English School.

Branch, The Girl, and ChubChub helped Josiah sand his "new" boat trailer.

The fellows have been organizing their fishing supplies with big plans for our upcoming vacation.

Can you believe that this long splinter was in Josiah's wrist for almost one month??!!! Ouch!

We had a really good meeting this past Sunday. There was a large group of adults, but the children wanted to come in closer. This little fellow asked Mo'M to open the pack of crackers that we hand out with the Bibles.

Working on the ol' Stump Jumper...

Stennes helped with the painting and wiring for the lights on the trailer.

Stennes also purchased a small boat from another seller. They've had a good time working on their new "rides".

He even cooked one of our favorite meals: migas. Multi-talented, ya know...

He helped Pop and the cousins bang out the frame on this old car so the back door would close.Levi purchased this nice horse, and Branch took his turn. Kind of high up, eh?

Mean Ol' Mama is now finished teaching at the College for two weeks; we hope to catch up on schoolwork and finish current grades during her break; there's a list of To Do's from here to yon; we finished our final Patriotic Performance, and costumes are now packed away; big plans for just two little weeks...

Days Fly...

2011-07-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

ChubChub received a little congratulations gift for the loss of his first tooth. Isn't he adorable? And yes, he dresses himself, just in case you didn't notice that his shirt is not only on backwards but inside-out as well...

Stennes has been working diligently on his state competition posters, props, and speech. He'll leave on Tuesday, compete on Wednesday, and will return on Friday. These days also include interviews, tours, and a really nice banquet. Meanwhile there are many signs of his practice all around the house.

The Girl has been painting money for one of his props. We figure it's better than laundering money!

We enjoyed a meeting at a Haitian camp this week. The weather has been a bit cooler, which is nice during the evening.

The kids enjoyed a 4H Watemelon Extravaganza with many fun activities!

We've had some very busy days lately. The kids have really helped out. Below, Branch is breaking up frozen corn for Mean Ol' Mama's Cornbread Salad.

Meanwhile, The Girl made strawberry cookies.

Josiah ironed the clothes for Patriotic Performance.

Anders and ChubChub dehydrated figs while all of the other action was going on.The Senior Center is one of our favorite places to perform. Now we have just one performance left.

After-singing mingling with residents is a very important and enjoyable component of our performances.

We took the kids to the beach for the day, and it was such a pleasant day for all of us.

The 4H Forestry Team spent the day at Bear Creek where they enjoyed some classes and field practice.

The boys have been fishing again and brought home a nice catch.

Yep, soil in the house. Stennes is speaking on the Tifton Soil series, and one of his props includes actual soil. Unfortunately, heavy rains have soaked the ground, so the soil had to be spread out to dry.And what mother could resist a nice son who brings home cicadas to share? Gotta love it.

We have another busy week ahead. Stennes will be gone most of the time, and Mo'M hopes to wrap up some of the schoolwork before next year's books are brought out. She also has a list (of quite a few pages) of things to be done. Or at least started. Or at least thought about. Maybe...

Quick News!

2011-07-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/0708114h.shtml

These Past Few Days

2011-07-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Anders and Branch have been fishing, and this poor catfish opened his mouth one time too many. Poppins caught these two catfish and displayed them in true redneck fashion.

She's growing so quickly these days. Must be the hot weather!

These nice folks all dropped in for a visit last Saturday. As usual, we had the best time together!

The Girl and her new friend Kiki said "Good-bye" for a while, and Kiki left her stuffed rabbit as a memory of the good times they had shared together.

Poppins and the kids enjoyed a camp-out last weekend down with the Johnson family in Florida. They really enjoyed their time at Big Blue Springs.

We were given the opportunity to glean blueberries, and the kids brought home quite a few of these large buckets. Blueberry fried pies, blueberry leather, dried blueberries...The Girl has really enjoyed her burgeoning herb garden. This is the first year that we have planted Lettuce Leaf Basil (front right), and the leaves are huge and delicious!

We had the first of four Patriotic Performances last Tuesday. ChubChub is representing independence, and his speech is quite nice: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal...[etc.]...that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." He does a nice job and even doffs his hat with a cute little bow at the end.

The Girl is Nancy Hart. Never heard of her? Look her up; you'll enjoy a good read.

Branch is Lyman Hall, one of the three men from Georgia to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Josiah is Button Gwinnett, one of the three men...

Anders is George Walton, the last of the three men. They each give a biographical speech between singing and playing patriotic songs.

Levi and Stennes joined us but didn't give a speech. They're sweating it out over their upcoming state competition demonstration/speech/interview that is coming up quickly!

Anders has been coaching Branch and The Girl in the 4H Forestry competition that is also coming up quickly.He even gives them spelling tests for the tree, insect, and diseases that they must identify.

We've enjoyed our raised bed gardens, and we've also received lots of fresh produce from the U-Pick farm.

And the best part of this week? Those fried blueberry pies that Anders and Branch made for Wednesday's supper....

A few more performances left; speeches to keep memorizing; produce to process; final month of summer classes at the College; trying to keep these kids full while maintaining a $5.00 - a - meal budget for 8 people; work for the big boys; odd jobs for Branch; busy, busy, busy still...

The World's Longest Post...Seriously!

2011-06-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed an end-of-the-year party for the Tallahassee Home School Band at Mr. Charlie's house. The yard was a boy's paradise: a long zip slide, climbing rope, horseshoe competition, ultimate frisbee, fishing, swimming, exploring...and in the house was food, food, food!

And who's wrapped up here?

What a sweet surprise!

Even ChubChub took the plunge!

Some fellows are just too cool...

Mike Todd (on the left, with guitar) flew in from Oklahoma for a few days. He is one of Mean Ol' Mama's earliest childhood memories, and we've been together around the world. He's a great friend and an incredible musician. Too bad you weren't there, too!

Josiah has hatched out some of the cutest bobwhite quail. The boy has plans...

We have enjoyed some great meetings in the migrant camps. The Haitians in the photo below were glad to receive free Bibles and canteloupes (from the U-Pick).

Mean Ol' Mama was in the translator's chair and got the full benefit of the fabulous music!We took the kids bowling one afternoon. Mo'M had essays to score, and Branch and The Girl desperately wanted to finish their 4th grade math book, so we worked between turns.

The drought has really caused the pond to dry up. Anders took ChubChub and the dogs down to see what was going on.

The Girl has been reading Chronicles of Narnia to ChubChub. That kid is all personality and imagination!

The Girl also celebrated her 9th birthday! She's a sweet mix of brains, beauty, and benevolence!She received many lovely gifts, including a pink BB gun, which is a southern belle necessity.

And a cowgirl hat to cinch the deal...

Mean Ol' Mama gave her a bowlful of peas that The Girl had been shelling earlier. We all enjoyed the trick!

Poppins, Uncle Tim, and Mr. Don took all of the kids on a 12-mile canoe trip. They had a great time!

Mo'M has a "Crush" on this little guy!

Get ready! Get set! GO!!

Wasn't it a lovely day?

The Girl found a turtle who was willing to give her a lift!

Another great meeting at a different camp...

Anders, Branch, and The Girl attended a 3-day 4H2O camp. They really enjoyed the different classes, tours, and experiences.

The Nature Conservancy photographer wanted to catch some action shots of the kids.

And now for a tug-of-war with a tractor!

And a trip to the dam...And a final day at WaterWorld!We've had a "splash" so far this summer!

The older boys should be finishing up at the U-Pick within the next few weeks; Stennes has a major competition in a few days; Patriotic Performances will begin next week and last through July; work at the College is steady for Mo'M; schoolwork is slower because of outside activities; the weather is very hot and dry; getting a few things from the raised beds; around 200 chickens to be sold; lots of recipes to try; busy, busy, busy...

Quick Announcement

2011-06-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, we're still alive! That being said, get ready for a very long post this coming Thursday. Right now our camera is on a three-day field trip, and we've had lots of good times the past few weeks that we're ready to share with you. Hang on!

Busy (HOT!!!) Days...

2011-06-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Standardized testing with a cucumber, a book, a hot pepper, and (of course) a pocket knife... Standardized Testing with...well, with just his brain...

Standardized Testing with...hot sauce???

The Girl taught Branch how to play chess, and they played a few rounds while he was a bit under the weather. ChubChub was the silent advisor... Anders brought home some delicious canteloupes from the U-Pick.

It's beginning to look like summer...

Peas on the floor??? Yep, they go through a "heat" after being picked, so Teresa and The Girl spread them out to keep cool.

And isn't this a cozy pea-shelling corner?

The boys were given the job of planting 7 acres of sweet potatoes at the U-Pick, and they came home hot and hungry!

We had unexpected guests who were excited to shell peas for the first time. They really helped a lot and ended up finishing the bowlful. Yummy!

Francisco cut the plastic to go in the prensa that flattens the tortillas.

The Girl enjoyed watching him perform his work of art.

ChubChub kept Doris company while he waited eagerly for a hot tortilla.

The boys have been putting in some hot, long days at the U-Pick.

Aren't these eggs beautiful? Lots of hens = lots of good eats!

ChubChub and The Girl soaked up the early morning rays while shelling peas. STILL??? Well, the peas keep coming, ya know...

Potatoes that Poppins and Anders gleaned from the U-Pick farm...

Sunday arrived hot and muggy, and our friends brought other friends to meet us and to share a meal together. The ladies had a great time cooking and talking together, and The Girl fit right in. The ladies were helping her flip the tortillas.

And now to eat! Yummy frijoles, carne de puerco con calabacita, tortillas, and yummy desserts.

Our guest really had a good time down at the pond, but the fish? Well, their story ended a bit on the sad side. Best to keep your mouths closed, fellas. [Kind of like life, eh?]

Back to teaching at the College tomorrow; speeches to memorize for upcoming performances; schoolwork/field work/animal work/ housework/ to juggle, and it's HOT, HOT, HOT outside!

Beginning Summer

2011-05-26T06:11:00.000-07:00

Branch found a baby Red Cardinal who flew the coop a little too soon. Mean Ol' Mama was repotting an Elephant's Ear plant when she was convinced to babysit the bird while a cage was found. Unfortunately, the little birdie didn't survive, even with a nice, cozy cage.

Spanish phonics, grammar, practicum, and spelling is more exciting outside, isn't it? Hello? Branch? Girl-girl? Hello????!!!!

A cousin stopped by to help Josiah train his bird dog. Stennes visited for a while when Josiah was looking for supplies.

And off they go to discover new worlds...

Branch and The Girl enjoyed an 8 - 0 no loss soccer season.

Anders' team enjoyed a no-loss season, as well.

The children enjoyed a wild game of croquet free-for-all.

And then a few more unsuspecting fellows showed up, and they all enjoyed a wild game of soccer. With a few rules. A few. Mean Ol' Mama and Teresa are trying frantically to plan summer stuff and one million other upcoming, gotta know now, we're-already-behind, that was due WHEN?? kind of plans. Yes, it takes two grown women to produce as much chaos as we do on a daily basis...

We enjoyed a really good meeting this past Sunday at a Hispanic/Haitian camp. The folks were very receptive to the message, and no one stepped in the fire ants!

We attended the boys' Spring Concert for their band in Tallahassee. Poppins snapped this photo of his two favorite ladies!

Stennes gave a short introductory speech for one of the songs.

A "walking away" shot of Anders...

And here's a photo you don't see every day: Mean Ol' Mama with someone's baby and a....trumpet mute? Yep. Gotta keep both the baby and the trumpet quiet somehow!

One of Josiah's bantam hens decided to set, and out popped six of these cute fellows!

In other news, Josiah and The Girl shaved Lady. She was a bit skittish but managed to stay on the table.

And oh, the disgrace of having one's tail shaved! It certainly is a dog's life!

Now we're pals again...

Our small garden blessed us with two nice zucchini and an eggplant. Combined with sweet onions, we had a very nice stirfry for supper!

The older boys have been very busy at the U-Pick, and we're trying desperately to maintain some semblance of school going on when they're home, which is not easy. In fact, the word "impossible" comes to mind. But onward we trudge. Mo'Mama is trying to re-structure the schoolwork, re-organize the house, solve the world's problems, and get every unsuspecting duck in a row before College begins again next week. Again, the word "impossible"...

In the News!

2011-05-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/051711poultry.shtml

Around and About

2011-05-16T06:25:00.001-07:00

Isn't this a discouraging sight? Just how many lentils can be spilled on the floor in one place? And Mean Ol' Mama ain't got no one else to blame but...[GULP!!!]... herself ! Waaah-waaah! These photos of the raised beds/boats on the side of the house show how nicely our little gardens are growing. We can pretty well pick a little something to eat every meal of every day. Yummy and fresh!

Yesterday we enjoyed two good meetings, first with Haitians and then with Hispanics. The weather was wonderfully cool, and we had a nice time at both places.

ChubChub and these two fellows were full of gigles and silly smiles.

ChubChub "stole" some chess pieces from the game and gave Mo'M his best scary face. Shivers!

How many monkeys can fit on one sofa? Anders and ChubChub enjoyed a game of "Trouble" (how appropriate) while Branch and Poppins checked out real estate on-line.

This week looks good for catching up on schoolwork and busy stuff around the house. We'll see...

IN THE NEWS!!!

2011-05-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/article_8399.shtml

Are we behind, or so far ahead that we can't see anyone else?

2011-05-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Stennes has been making leather belts and holsters. He does lovely work, and his hobby is a source of suprise and respect for many people who see his work.

ChubChub has finished his first official season as a soccer player. He and his teammates had a good time, and the adults thoroughly enjoyed watching their 5-year-old antics on the field. You can only imagine...

The Girl brought Mean Ol' Mama a lettuce leaf basil from her herb garden, which was promptly filled with zucchini-fried rice and happily gobbled up!

You would think that being on break from the College would give Mo'M more time for posting, but she has been going through the house, top to bottom, with a very critical eye. Many items, clothes, books, etc. have found new homes, and she's quite pleased to discover that there are surfaces that look lovely with nothing on them! Nothing but dust, that is....[sigh...]. More postings with pictures to come soon!

Slow Going...

2011-04-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

Branch and The Girl are in serious contemplation about their math. They're in the same book, doing the same lessons, so a little peer pressure is good for both of them. During a break, The Girl helped ChubChub with one of his books. Notice both tongues hanging out? They must be concentrating...

ChubChub has enjoyed our new chicks. All 225 of them. Yep, you read that right. 225. It's a long story.

ChubChub and The Girl enjoyed dyeing Easter eggs with two of their friends. A bit messy, but fun for all.

Mean Ol' Mama celebrated 41 years of life-as-we-know-it-on-Earth. She received many special gifts, including the one below. Lots of exciting surprises!

Her birthday is also her anniversary, and Poppins wanted to know what she wanted in celebration. Her request? Take everyone to the store and let everyone choose his favorite HUGE bag of cereal! Did you read the word HUGE? We're still eating cereal, and the kids are experiencing the "diminishing marginal utility" effect first hand. Yes, it's an economics term, but it also applies to food: it may be tasty at first, but the appeal wears off quickly after the 15th bowlful. HUGE bags, mind you. We had a lot of fun choosing, but the children understand even more clearly now why we eat the way we normally do!

Soccer games are steady and exciting to watch...

Doing schoolwork here and there; finishing up at the College for the semester; thinking too many thoughts about better organization within the home; enjoying the weather; trying to balance too many spinning plates...

Life in 32 photos (give or take a few!)

2011-04-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Mean Ol' Mama made a beautiful Chai Pound Cake, but her fusion-inspired dessert didn't want to come out of its pan. It was delicious nevertheless... On a sadder note, one of Mo'M's college students passed away after a long-term fight with cancer. She was in tears for a while remembering his positive attitude in the classroom. She and The Girl attended his visitation and brought his family one of his essays, which they read at his funeral.

The Girl was excited to catch up on quite a bit of her Spanish Practica/Gramatica/Ortografia/Fonetica books, and she headed to the recycle bin with a big grin.

ChubChub is coming along nicely in his reading, and he read these five "real" books so he could take a photo to show you.

However, he struggled a bit when it came to the letter "X"; both he and Mean Ol' Mama wiped off drops of drool as he over-emphasized the sound, trying to get it out correctly.

Doesn't Josiah look so sweet and peaceful as he works on his Algebra? He's tired from working in the fields over at the U-Pick. How can you tell he's been working? Just check out his legs in the photos below...

His socks didn't reach over the tops of his boots, and dirt inevitably finds its way through.

Anders is peaceful as well as he works on math review, but check out his hands.

Yes, he did wash up, but field dirt is stubborn...

The boys spent the day at the Joseph Jones Ecological Research Center.

Meanwhile, Poppins took Mo'M, The Girl and ChubChub to a local auction. He bid on a few things, and two of his purchases were for Mo'M...

Books! Surprise! These are two really nice cookbooks that she chose and hoped to win in the bidding.

The kids are enjoying their soccer games. ChubChub is quite the sport.Anders has been designated the "intimidator" for his team because of his size; he's supposed to make the opponent (who will be running his way) feel unsure about trying to get the ball past Anders!

Branch and The Girl are on the same team, which is nice. The weather has almost warmed up enough to swim outdoors. Almost!

The boys put together a bulletin board promoting 4H for the UGA Extension office in Tifton. This counts towards upcoming portfolio competitions.

The Poultry Judging team came in 9th out of 18 teams. Doesn't seem like a very good score, but they're better than last year, and they certainly learned a lot and had a great time!

The older boys went away Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to the east coast of Georgia for their annual bird identification competition. The water and weather were both chilly, but they couldn't help trying to swim. They climbed a tree in tandem...

They visited Light-Horse Harry Lee's gravesite...

They enjoyed observing the wild horses on Cumberland Island...

They had itchy "gun" fingers when they saw the wild turkeys on the island...

They visited the ruins of the Carnegie mansion...

They held down a limb...

Over on St. Simons Island, they visited the statue of John Wesley...They visited the Methodist church that the Wesley brothers founded...

They visited the lighthouse...

And after a 24-hour bird sighting trek across the state of Georgia, they won first place for the most money raised, first place in the high school division, and GRAND CHAMPIONS over all the divisions! Incredible!

Quick News Flash!

2011-04-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/041111youth4h.shtml

Lately...

2011-04-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

The boys participated in the state-level Livestock Judging competition up in Athens. This was the first year for them, and they did very well. Their 4-member team placed third in the state (out of 14 teams), and Josiah placed third in individual. Anders, Branch, The Girl, and ChubChub are playing soccer at the local YMCA. They've been practicing and will begin games on the 11th. ChubChub's team (below) is so much fun to watch! Anders (below in the purple shorts) has also enjoyed his team.

Stennes and Josiah helped their band director finish out a concrete project behind his house.

Josiah has been spending the night with his new dog, Lady. She's a high-strung English Setter who needs Josiah's good instruction to develop her hunting skills. He's been sleeping out in her pen so she will stay calm and stop howling. True love and dedication...

The Girl hosted a "ball" tea party for her friends. Aren't they all beautiful? We had such a fun time admiring their outfits.

Because the party was a "ball", we tried to have "ball" food: cake balls, a cheese ball, sausage balls, and other yummy tidbits.

Delicious!

April 1st was also Stennes' 15th birthday party, so all of The Girl's friends brought their brothers to play with the boys.

Poppins challenged Josiah to a rope-pull contest.

And a tug-of-war broke out...!

A "way-back-when" friend dropped in unexpectedly and brought an April Fool's surprise: Kitty Litter Cake! Kind of discomforting to look at, but quite delicious.

The boys sang "I Love You, Lord" in harmony that they have been learning during band practice down in Tallahassee.

These fellows brought home a surprise for Mean Ol' Mama: a venemous water moccasin! No thanks, guys!

We enjoyed an easy time with a few migrant workers Sunday afternoon. They're starting to come back to our area for the harvest, and we're looking forward to possibly seeing a few familiar faces.

MO'Mama is seeing the end of another semester on the horizon; the boys are working now and then at the U-Pick; we have three performances this Tuesday; trying to figure out a block-schedule for homeschooling to knock some of the subject areas out of the way before summer kicks in; working in the little gardens around the house; thinking ahead to competitions in a few months; preparing for Poultry Judging competition in two weeks; breathing, breathing, breathing...

The World's Longest Post...Or So It Seems

2011-03-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

We've been really busy the past few weeks. Grandpa and Grandma came down for a nice visit, and we enjoyed being with them. The three older boys have been working at the U-Pick pretty steadily, and hopefully the work will let up a bit soon. Schoolwork has been sporadic. Below, Anders tries to work on a quick essay. Branch didn't especially enjoy writing letters of apology. Quite a pained expression, eh?

On the other hand, Josiah and Stennes enjoyed dissecting a shark. "Yuck!" and "boys" seem to go well together...

These two little cuties couldn't quite make it through Bible time the other evening. Late nights and early mornings finally caught up with them.

Branch, another student, and his teacher have been working hard on some fairly complicated pieces.

The boys have been studying hard for 2 major competitions coming up within the next few weeks. They have really learned a lot of interesting information.

Josiah and Anders went with Teresa to pick up a free tree. (This is a posed shot for the portfolio they are working on for this year's 4H competition.)

Branch and Grandpa spent some time vying for the title of "Champion Checker Player". Mean Ol' Mama enjoyed seeing their two extra checkers (we lost two). Ever had to crown an orange? How about a double -jump with a Seminole Pumpkin?

Grandma was kind enough to entertain The Girl and ChubChub. She was a good sport about reading, playing games, and listening to all sorts of silly stories.

We all went together to see the Power Team and their feats of strength. They gave a good message of salvation, and we enjoyed the show.

Guess who got sprayed with a shaken soda during part of the strengh demonstration?

One of the Power Team members...

The ladies enjoyed playing Scrabble together quite a few times. By the way, don't play with Chan unless you're a glutton for punishment. You won't win!

Grandma, ChubChub, and Dr. Seuss...

We visited Carrabelle, FL, for a WWII weekend. We really had a great time! The ship below was our first stop for a tour.

Mean Ol' Mama and The Girl enjoyed the small kitchen (or galley).

We then met up with friends to enjoy a parade. Just look at that group of hoodlums down below!

ChubChub was trying to decide if he liked his new flag best, or the bag of parade candy in his other hand...

We then went to tour a Coast Guard cutter, but Mean Ol' Mama decided to hold down the dock instead.

These two fellows seem to be farmers, not sailors!

Then back to our friends' beach house to await a demonstrated landing, D-Day style. The boat is coming closer...

Will they land?

Unfortunately, the soldiers thought the landing was too risky, so the ship headed back for home. The kids still had a great time just being at the beach.

The sun was warm, but the wind and water were cold!

Can you see ChubChub and The Girl at the edge of the shore, watching the ship disappear?

Not quite enough fish for supper, buddy ...

We were asked to perform at a small church in Chattahoochee, FL, and we had a good time and met some very kind folks.

We also enjoyed a demonstration at our monthy homeschool meeting. The Sons of the American Revolution group in our area brought along many interesting objects and talked about life "way back when".

"George Washington" discussed his hat and clothing.

The children were invited to view the displays on the table and ask questions.Busy in the garden

Busy in the house

Busy in the field work

Busy as a mouse

Life is spinning faster

Life is mighty sweet

Life would be much cheaper

If the big boys wouldn't eat

(What do you think? Should MO'M apply for the Poet Laureate position?)

Local News!

2011-03-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/article_8089.shtml

Hello? Hello? Is anyone out there?

2011-02-21T06:29:00.000-08:00

February has been very busy for us. The boys have been working hard, and schoolwork is "do it when/if/how you can". Can't you see how excited Stennes is about catching up on his Latin?One of our favorite families came over for a day's visit. It was a bit rainy, but we all had a good time anyway.

Josiah and Anders have a new responsibility: a puppy they are training for hunting. They have nothing else to do with their time, you know...

Anders celebrated his 12th birthday with a few friends.

Root beer floats instead of a birthday cake. Here's to you, Anders!

The girls worked on a lovely craft while the fellows followed more manly pursuits. Airsoft war, anyone?

What began as a birthday party ended as a slumber party, and Mean Ol' Mama treated to buckwheat pancakes the next morning.

We had Dr. Peter and his family over for a visit, and the men played a tight game of chess.

Anders' birthday was extended for a few days as gifts continue to come his way. How nice, eh?

We went preaching in two places in Blakely.

We enjoyed a fabulous field trip down to St. Marks on Monday in pursuit of a unique bird that had been spotted there in the park. The weather was wonderful, and we enjoyed a full day of cool breeze, sunshine, good food, birding, and being outdoors together.

Did I mention that it was a gloriously wonderful day?Stennes brought back a piece of Sea Pickle for MO'M to try. Salty, but tasty!

A picture of a hardware story? Yep, we stopped by on the way home to surprise a friend of the boys' who works there. Fun!

ChubChub has been working steadily on his Spanish schoolwork. He's making pretty good progress. See Stennes in the background? Can you tell how excited he is to catch up on his Greek?

The Girl received a lovely rose from her first love: Poppins. Happy Valentine's Day, sweet girl!

Teresa shared a really interesting video with the boys. She and Levi came down to do our weekly Latin/Greek/essay/shared reading/tons of other stuff Friday class that we do on Mondays, but we moved to Thursdays. What? Us, confused?

Don't they look like they're enjoying their Latin test?

We enjoyed attending our monthly homeschool meeting. The kids had a good time racing to correctly label food groups for their 4H class.

We also enjoyed a presentation by a local geologist. He brought along an interesting project for the kids to make.

Stennes helped one of the little guys with his project.

All five of the big boys cut up and planted 3800 pounds of potatoes for the U-Pick farm. They were sure hungry on the evening of the planting!

Stennes has been trapping 'possums that are living under Aunt Linda's house. Aren't they ugly? And smelly, too!

We went preaching Sunday in Cairo, and this family gave us permission to use their yard for a hot-dog cookout for those in the community. They are sweet children.

We enjoyed teaching them some active songs, and the cool weather, hot dogs, and sweet fellowship made for a very nice afternoon.

We're preparing for a visit from our in-laws, trying to stay ahead on the gardening stuff, schooling, planning for a performance, juggling one million jobs, and running in an ever-expanding circle. Want to come run with us?

Busy Busy and Happy Happy

2011-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

Just look at these handsome young men at their 4H competition last Saturday. One, two, three, four FIRST PLACE wins! Stennes and Levi now move into the next level of competition. Josiah and Anders are done until later this year. (For this particular competition, anyway...) Waiting, waiting, waiting... Josiah did Game Birds of Georgia.

Anders did the Longleaf Pine - Wiregrass Ecosystem.

Stennes did Soil Science of Georgia.

These guys were silly after a day of high stress!

Letting off steam...

Campaigners for the 4H State Board worked hard to get the boys' votes.

They worked hard to win as well as they did.

Levi and Stennes cleaned their great-grandfather's gun together.

Branch, ChubChub and The Girl helped Mean Ol' Mama get her seeds started for spring planting.

We went on two field trips on Friday in Tallahassee, and a car flipped right in front of our van. Stennes and Levi were the first ones on the scene, ready to help in any way, but thankfully the driver was fine. What an experience!

We enjoyed our field trips at Mission San Luis and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

As we left for home, one of the (fun!) families pulled up beside us and held up a note reading, "Do you have ChubChub?" Mean Ol' Mama kept asking where he was, trying to keep track of the little rascal. It's a full-time effort to watch the little ones in the group.

Branch was able to spend a few hours with a pilot/airplane designer/engineer at one of the local assisted living facilities. These two fellows really hit it off, sharing a fascination of airplanes.

Meanwhile, Mean Ol' Mama and The Girl scooted down the hall and visited with a WWII survivor who was born in Germany. She shared a beautiful story of her childhood and showed us quite a few historical records of her home that was bombed during the war. She survived in the basement until her family came to America.

Wonderful Poppins added another two raised beds to MO'M's garden. He's such a blessing to our family.

Branch spent some time training his pigeons. They're really beautiful when they fly around the yard.Monday we took the boys to their Bluegrass class in Tallahassee.Teresa and Mean Ol' Mama took the littles (and Josiah) to a near-by park to see what was going on with the birds around the water.

We then visited Maclay Gardens and ate a picnic on the beautiful grounds. We'll definitely make a return visit.

We took the kids to an upscale market as a culminating activity to our studies on the industrial food chain, organic foods, heirlooms, etc.

They were not impressed with the high prices. It was interesting to hear their discussions of price and productivity. They especially enjoyed the different marketing techniques used to snare gullible shoppers.

Looks like another busy week ahead. Stennes and Levi will be attending a 2-day conference on agriculture; we have 2 performances tomorrow; work at the College; preparation for Livestock Judging; Marine Biology for the older two boys; regular schoolwork; and perhaps a visit from friends on Friday.

Still Working

2011-01-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Stennes has been industrious this past week; not only has he been doing schoolwork, but he's finishing up some leather projects.

"Cowboy Cuff in Progress"

Nicely finished. These are used to protect the lower arm and wrist area while the cowboy works with barbwire and other "poky" supplies.

Anders brought home this big bass. Takes two to hold him...

Mean Ol' Mama made a slew of cookies, and quite a few folks were glad to enjoy them.

Stennes helped this young man make a knife and sheath. (You'll see the fellow in just a minute...)

Here's the friend, proudly displaying his new knife. Good job, guys!

And a bunch of silly lads who came over for an afternoon of...well, of silliness...

The older three have been diligently working on posters and props for their competitions this coming Saturday. Speeches, though, are still not quite memorized. Pray! Pray! Pray!

ChubChub wanted to be like the "big boys", so he designed his own poster.

Anders trapped a raccoon who was in a very dispirited mood, indeed. They freed him on down the road a bit.

We went preaching in Enterprise, Alabama, this past Sunday. The boys played a few bluegrass songs for two men who lingered to talk.

These little ones lingered just long enough to be served and "snapped". We had a nice time, although the trip was long (about 3 hours going and coming).

Finishing up competition stuff this week. Memorizing. Staying steady with the little ones. Highway cleanup for 4H tomorrow. Marine Biology for the older 2 on Wednesday. Band on Thursday. All-day field trip on Friday. Competition on Saturday. Mental breakdown on Sunday...[at least Mean Ol' Mama can be prepared...]...

We've Got It All Together - But Where Did We Put It?

2011-01-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Branch and Josiah made lunch for us the other day when Mean Ol' Mama called a time-out for anyone over 40 years old. Ah, the advantages of age... Poppins took the four older boys on a fishing/camping trip this past Saturday. They really enjoyed being with the Johnson boys.

This past Sunday we went preaching in a poor (mostly Hispanic) trailer park in Cairo. Many of these people are without work, so we took hot dogs to grill, Bibles to give, and smiles to share. It was a beautiful day, and we really had a good time.

The boys challenged our Very Special Cousin to pick-up sticks. ChubChub is pointing out the next best strategic move...

Isn't it funny how everyone turns his head to "encourage" Josiah as he makes his move?

ChubChub is coming along nicely in his Spanish reading. He'll begin English school next year.

The Girl and Branch worked together on Spanish Bible. Mean Ol' Mama is pushing them harder this year, trying to jump them both into 5th grade by the end of the summer.

But look! These toys that a friend just dropped off sure are more interesting than all of the book work...

Stennes and Mean Ol' Mama are getting an heirloom seed order together for planting. It's so much fun to look at the catalogs, and of course, the vegetables will be just as beautiful as the pictures, right?

Josiah, Anders, and Stennes are trying to memorize their 3-page speeches by the last Saturday in January. They also have to come up with props and posters for their presentations. And just look at what Stennes and Josiah lovingly bought for Mean Ol' Mama down in Tallahassee when they went to Bluegrass Band: Orange Bergamot Mint and Chocolate Mint! Can't wait...Can't wait...Please come soon, warmer weather...

We're Not Busy This Week (Hmmm...)

2011-01-11T06:12:00.000-08:00

Why are you cutting that board, Stennes? Mean Ol' Mama wants you to make something, huh? Now why are you under the kitchen sink? Too many small appliances and not enough room?Wow! You made MO'M a shelf! You sure are a handy fellow...

Poppins took the family bowling, but first he had to demonstrate proper technique.

Stennes is up first...

Then Branch...

Josiah followed in good form...

Anders was next...

And then there was The Girl. She's so slim that the lightest bowling ball was 1/10th of her weight. She decided just to give it a little push on the floor, which was a surprisingly effective technique for scoring (but, oh so slow...)...

ChubChub tried his best, but his technique was a bit slow, too. More quality family time...

Will the ball ever reach the pins???Thankfully, Poppins had a sweeeeeeeeeeet style. He had quite a few strikes and spares.

Their final scores were not too bad considering that (1) some participants hadn't played for years, and (2) the other participants had never played. Can you see on the scoreboard that Stennes scored THREE STRIKES IN A ROW on the final set? Wow!

Stennes, Josiah, and Anders recorded 90-second radio slots promoting 4H for our local radio station. They sounded great! Branch is having to present his 4H Theme Speech (Pigeons) 10 DIFFERENT TIMES this week to hundreds of fifth graders. He's the "example" to encourage other students to participate in speech competition.

On the books for this week: Mean Ol' Mama begins teaching tonight with two classes, 60 students; Stennes, Josiah, and Anders have major work towards competition at the end of this month; we have two performances today; band in Tallahassee; regular schoolwork and music lessons; whatever else is hiding in the bushes...

Man-Time

2011-01-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

The older four boys went hunting and camping with Poppins and a few friends. They really had a good time.

Anders eliminated a fox, which is a good wildlife damage management procedure here in the south.

He also killed two deer, and we were able to share with some needy families and stock our own freezer.

Stennes also shot a buck and dressed it himself.

Poppins and Branch thinly sliced the roasts from Stennes' deer and made jerky

And to finish off this "Man-Time" post, Josiah took a photo of this woodpecker.

We're back in the saddle again, so to speak. Bluegrass Band today, performances tomorrow, Marine Biology for Josiah and Stennes tomorrow, violin for Branch, cello for Josiah, Tallahassee Band for the older four boys, and schoolwork somehow squeezed in, miraculously.

The Last Few Days

2010-12-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

Some of the boys received "new" bicycles, so we took a family tour of the local nature trail. Snacks were included, and a good time was had by all. Then it began to rain... Christmas was a whole bunch of fun.

The older boys went Coot hunting with Poppins. They bagged their limit, cleaned them, cooked some, and froze the rest.

The Girl enjoyed holding another little visitor. Aren't they both adorable?

We were invited for a meal with a family who owns a strawberry/peaches farm and a bakery. The father gave instruction to Stennes (and cousin Levi) concerning soil, composting, etc. to help them on their upcoming project competition.

Now for a lesson on pruning...

And to put it into practice...

We again visited a well-loved family, and The Girl and Branch helped groom the horse.

We also visited a park. A bit cool outside, but enjoyable...

Can you see the dock in the background? The big boys went fishing while the little ones played, but the tide was out, so they came on back for snacks. Chocolate bars are almost as much fun as fishing, ya know...

ChubChub rounded up a wild (concrete) giant turtle. It was a struggle against nature, but he managed to subdue the beast.

We also visited a marine lab for a fun hands-on experience. The Girl isn't quite sure what's going to be in this big tank... Anders the Brave is taking the plunge...

And now The Girl is definitely going out of her comort zone...

Poppins is on vacation this week. We've had good times so far. Today the four older boys are out participating in the national Christmas Bird Count; ChubChub and The Girl are playing a game in the other room; Mean Ol' Mama is about to enjoy her restaurant leftovers from our double-date last evening with Dr. Peter and his wife; we were able to hand out small bags of food in two really poor trailer parks on Sunday; the weather is a bit warmer; God is good.

More Busy Days

2010-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

Josiah interviewed a retired DNR biologist for his upcoming competition on Game Birds of Georgia. It was very interesting to hear the two of them discuss so many different topics.The kids have been on a roll with playing games. Even Poppins joined in. The older kids helped make crafts for the annual 4H Christmas Craft project. They all had a nice time. A few days later, they presented the crafts to local nursing home residents after singing carols, for which the boys played their instruments. Nice touch...

More games...more memories...

Josiah mounted his bobcat skull as part of his DPA project for competition. The hide he tanned turned out well, also. Stennes and Levi cut up pumpkins to include in their project portfolio. They helped bake and scrape the pumpkin, and then desserts were made to share at the homeschool meeting. Josiah used the seeds to make suet for his project.

ChubChub and The Girl made cards to hand out to the nursing home residents.

Stennes also made paper as a demonstration project. He sprinkled seeds in as well, so the final bookmarks can either keep a page handy or be planted in the garden. Neat!

Isn't this a cute photo?

We were invited over for supper at our Very Special Cousin's house, and we really had a fun time. The fellow in brown is a nice young man who spent the day with the boys.

The truth be told, she had invited us over so the boys could eliminate a very destructive fox from her yard, but a 'possum was the unlucky animal that evening. He was destructive, too, so now only one critter is left for the boys to deal with.

We spent Sunday afternoon with friends in Florida, and it was one of the most enjoyable days in our memory.

The boys played for a long time, made their way inside for a snack, and discovered hunting magazines. What boyhood bliss!

And then back out to play...

The older 4 boys had an interesting field trip to a family-owned saw mill. They had a good time seeing his machinery.

Taking life a bit easier this week...

News Flash

2010-12-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

http://bainbridgega.com/news/publish/article_7820.shtml

Brrr...It's Cold Down Here!

2010-12-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

The older four boys rode in the 4H wagons for the local parade. They enjoyed throwing candy to the crowd.

Just look who came to visit Mean Ol' Mama. He's soooo cute.

Then Anders went and brought in another cute pal...

Caleb, Levi and Stennes (just a bit...) made soap from last week's lard. It didn't turn out quite as planned, so they're going to try again soon.The egg on the left is what happens when the two older boys do a science experiment on osmosis. And when it finally broke, yuck!!

Mean Ol' Mama just had to take a picture of her most satisfying and enjoyable meal lately: freshly-baked wholemeal pita, smashed chickpea, fried onion and peppers, curried squash, and Dr. Peter's delicious sweet potatoes. He and his wife joined us for supper and laughed giddily with us for hours. Good memories...

Branch was incognito. And completely blend-into-the-crowd. Hmmm...

Monkey see, monkey do... Josiah and Anders were given a few new chickens.

The benefit concert at the College went well. The kids all did a great job, and some funds were raised for one of the local ministries, so everyone went home with a cozy heart. And the kids below? Are they praying? Nope. We did pray, of course, but in the photo they're playing a game before the concert begins...

And another game...

Whoa! This is a big place!

Stennes is standing in the background on the right. He and Levi (on the left) played a solo.

Josiah played cello (third from the left) with Port City Strings while the band took a break.

And afterwards, the relief was so great that the big kids decided to initiate ChubChub by throwing him off the stage, much to his extreme delight! In fact, he was a bit upset when they didn't actually throw him...

And a final sweet moment with the family. They're growing so quickly.

The rest of this week will be filled with 4H activities, interviews by the older boys, ringing the Salvation Army bell at WalMart (Stennes), Marine Biology for the older 2 boys, Homeschool Day on Friday, a MAJOR camping trip Friday and Saturday for Poppins and the boys, and whatever else manages to be accomplished! Breathe, Mean Ol' Mama, breathe...

Item of interest

2010-12-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/2010/12/13/benefit-concert-set-for-monday/

More Busy Days

2010-12-09T03:46:00.000-08:00

Mean Ol' Mama wanted to show off a new recipe: Supermoist Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting. Quite delicious! Levi and Stennes ironed craft pieces for an upcoming 4H project. They have been doing a lot of "strange" activities lately in preparation for competition in January. MO'M got her hair chopped off by a fabulous friend wearing camouflage! He's quite the guy!

And of course ChubChub had to update his "style", too.

We butchered the two hogs this past Saturday. Everyone joined in to finish this large undertaking.

Scrape, scrape, scrape...

Wood for the fires...

Many hands make light work...

Stennes climbed the tree to adjust the rope that held the hog up for scalding. Trimming fat for lard and cracklings...

A nice full pot of fat to be rendered...

ChubChub tried his hand at making sausage.

Anders had to help him out a bit. Just a bit, mind you...

Mmmm! Look at those cracklings, just begging to be baked into cornbread.

Meanwhile, another pot was frying up tenderloin for lunch, along with a big dish of baked beans and potatoes roasting down in the fire.

And a huge peach cobbler for dessert!

The men piled hot wood on top of the cobbler to finish it off a nice, golden brown.

Now for prayer...

The following photo is a bit gruesome, but it's interesting. Levi and Stennes removed the brain in order to use it for tanning animal hides. Josiah did the same process with his bobcat, and the hide is now soaking in all the brain juices. Yuck!

The four older boys had a concert down in Tallahassee Monday evening, and ChubChub wore The Girl's hair bow as a bow tie so he could match the older boys. Hmmm...

Poppins and The Girl had time for a quick photo. Isn't she lovely?

Poppins snapped this shot of Mean Ol' Mama down at the concert. It's included so you can see the final results of the "camouflage" haircut.

ChubChub was being silly (of course!). The young man in the photo is the son of the camouflage-stylist. Nice fellow.

Stennes and a few other students introduced the different selections that were played.

ChubChub took the following photo, which is pretty impressive for a five-year-old-with-an-attitude.

Stennes was standing in acknowledgement of a solo piece he played. Notice Josiah on the end with the tuba?

Now he switched to bass guitar...

Now he switched to cello... We've been busy with 4 Christmas performances this week; 1 concert; 1 band practice; 2 field trips; 1 Bluegrass class; and the boys walk in the Christmas parade tonight. Mean Ol' Mama is considering retirement as a viable option...

Quick Update

2010-12-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.thepostsearchlight.com/2010/11/30/state-4-h-wildlife-judging-contest/

Good Times

2010-11-30T04:06:00.001-08:00

Stennes converted his wheelbarrow into a very unique shelf for Mean Ol' Mama. It's quite stunning. MO'M's favorite part is the beautiful craftmanship on the wheel. Stennes sure is talented.

Branch practised his APA speech in front of the homeschoolers at our monthly meeting.

He then performed the same speech at competition the next day. It was the first time for him, so he was a bit nervous.

He won fourth place, which was great for a beginner. Next year he'll be even better.

Teresa gave the homeschoolers an interesting class on sugar content in orange drinks. The kids really enjoyed watching, and some were quite shocked as to how much sugar can be hidden in foods and drinks. Yuck!

Stennes discussed his upcoming DPA competition. This will be a MAJOR competition for him, Levi, Josiah, and Anders (individually). They have a lot of hard work to do before the end of January. Busy, busy, busy...Each boy discussed a bit of what he'll be doing in his particular field of competition.

The Girl thoroughly enjoyed her out-of-state female!!!! cousins for a few days. The sweet girl below flew in to Tallahassee on a private plane piloted by her father. Just the four family members on one sweet little plane. Isn't that fun?

She served up many "delicacies" in her restaurant while The Girl provided the ambiance with beautiful music. Branch was the lucky recipient of the yummy (albeit plastic) food.

We attended two family reunions on Thanksgiving Day, as has been our family tradition for many, many years. The kids enjoyed a rousing game of soccer. Gotta burn off all those calories, ya know!

The moms and some of the older folks opted to watch and chat instead of playing. Smart idea!

The Girl enjoyed her cousins' attention. These two lovely ladies stayed next door with Teresa with their parents and brother. They are just genuinely as sweet as can be. And The Girl's close companion again, this time without her tray of goodies. These two giggled until very early in the morning, the two nights they shared together...

ChubChub climbed posts. Literally.

After the game, the boys were quite sweaty and winded. They thoroughly enjoyed "cousin time".

They then walked home together and talked, talked, talked. What a great bunch of kids!

We got together for a bit of music after a few hours of rest.

The Girl was "plain tuckered out", so she fell asleep on Mean Ol' Mama for a little while. How she could sleep with all the noise and people is an indication of her late night giggling...

The three Tenneseans performed an excellent trio. It's amazing what talents we all have within our small family.

We ended up the evening roasting giant (yes, GIANT!) marshmallows out on the bonfire. It was quite cozy. The kids all wanted to sing some more, so it was a sweet time for all of us. Uncle Bob (on the end in the photo) and Aunt Barbara came in from Togo, Africa, and we were glad to see them, listen to his accordion playing, and enjoy the interesting talks about their life overseas.

One final family photo before everyone heads home. Boo hoo!ChubChub and his cousin (same age) didn't want to come down from the tree! She cried when they drove away, and ChubChub grieved as well.

Branch celebrated his 10th birthday. He was excited about all his gifts, especially his satchel from MO'M.

He received his personalized Bible from Pop that all the kids receive on their 10th birthday. He was glad to see his name in print on the front!

Sorry for the small photo here. It was taken on a cell phone camera by Guy Kelly, who was hunting with the fellows when Poppins shot a deer for the freezer.

We have a lot going on down here in Georgia. The gardens in the raised beds are beginning to grow a bit; College should be finished this week; competitions are coming up; Josiah plays cello for the College on Thursday; there are two band concerts the next two Mondays; at least five Christmas concerts for the family (that we know of); cooking for parties; and hopefully making sweet memories. We'll keep you posted.

Staying Busy

2010-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Stennes and Levi participated in the 4H fundraiser at the local Tractor Supply. They brought their instruments along to help pass the time and received many nice comments. Poppins had this huge pile of mulch dropped off for free in front of the garden area. The kids were excited to play "King of the Hill".

Stennes made MO'M three raised bed gardens. It sure is nice to have a handy boy around.

ChubChub helped with the painting. Don't tell him, but he's just doing a "primer" coat that we can re-paint later...

Josiah killed a bobcat this past weekend. He used a bow/arrow and certainly has bragging rights for this fellow. We suspect that the bobcat has been helping himself to Pop's chickens next door. Not anymore!

Chan and The Girl put together this 3-D puzzle. The light in the tower really works, too. These three rascals spent a while painting Christmas ornaments. They didn't even make a mess!

Mean Ol' Mama

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