Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
These Past Few Days
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...
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...
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The World's Longest Post...Seriously!
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...
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...
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