Surprise!

Lauren and Lucas with Jack

Meet Jack and Shorn. Lauren's two year old Angora goats.

College is expensive. We can't pay for college for all seven kids, but we don't want them saddled with debt either. We've told the kids that we will make sure they are well prepared for college and given the skills they need to run a successful business, but they will have to either earn the scholarships or the money to pay for their own college tuition. It is our belief that given a solid education and proper motivation, they will rise to the challenge. Now only will they gain valuable experience in the process, they will also be more appreciative for the opportunity to attend college and make the most of it.

Lauren was looking for opportunities when she saw these guys and was immediately interested. She spoke to their owner and learned that there is a local mill that processes their wool. She and her Papa went to tour it and to learn how everything worked, did a lot of research on the costs and market prices for the yarn, then worked up a business plan. She thought she could make a go of it, so with her own money she purchased them. Thom and the boys generously contributed by putting up an electric fence around approximately an half acre. We're praying that her new enterprise is successful! For more insight into her new venture, check out Lauren's blog.

Tomorrow... she learns to shear!

*BTW,  in the process we made a friend as well. The owner saw a link to our blog, read it, and sent us a really nice e-mail. We have a lot in common. She is a homeschool mom as well with five children, the two youngest, about Lauren's age, still at home. We look forward to getting to know them better.

Shorn

A Clean Pool, A Clothes Line, And a Poultry Pen

We've been busy in our new home. We started school last week and it is going well. The biggest challenge is with discipline of the younger boys to be quiet when the older ones are studying. We have realized that we've been really lax in disciplining and need to do better.

This year we're studying ancient/Bible history and earth science/astronomy/physical science (except Lauren who is doing chemistry). We're also learning about raising goats and poultry, wood working, and electric fences in working on the farm.

I finally got the pool clean. Yahoo! I didn't think it would ever be clean! There is a great website called troublefreepool.com that was really helpful. We celebrated with a barbecue/pool party on Saturday night. It was really fun and a great relief to just play after all of the work moving, traveling, etc.





Thom and the boys built a clothesline for me so that I can get back to cloth diapers again (they just don't get white without the sun). It was their first woodworking project and I have to say that I think it is the most beautiful clothesline I've ever seen!




Their next project was a poultry pen. Our guineas were getting too crowded in their tank, but we couldn't set them free yet because of predators, so they built a movable pen that protects them, yet allows them to eat seeds and bugs and fertilize the land. The front comes off so that the kids can get in the pen to hold and feed them. It's worked great! (I'm sorry you can't see the guineas in the photo.)

It's hard to believe we only moved in two weeks ago. We've been so busy with minor repairs that we've felt like we'd never get to the fun stuff. Besides the pool, the mailbox was missing a flag. Do you know that we couldn't find a flag anywhere? So we had to install a new mailbox. Then the heat got up to 106 degrees and shorted out one of the AC units. Two of the thermostats quit working also. Fortunately we have a home warranty to cover the AC. On top of that one of the toilet handles broke. Thomas did a good job fixing that one. (I love having young men!) Did I mention that I learned how to repair a garage door?

Finally we were able to get started and it's just motivated us to do more. We just can't wait to start making this place productive! The next project is installing an electric fence for the goats and adopting a Great Pyranees to guard them. I can't believe I'm saying this. I have never ever wanted a dog, but when I was warned about the coyotes around here, then met a GP and saw what good dogs they are, I started looking into it and was convinced. Thom and the kids are really excited. They have wanted a dog for a while.

More later...

A Science Lesson

We were doing some research today on solutions for algae control in the pond and learned some interesting things.

The first thing we learned was that there are two plants often mistaken for pond algae. The first is water meal and the second is duckweed. The former looks like tiny green seeds; the later has tiny leaves with little root hairs. So we found a jar, took a sample and... Yes, it was duckweed after all!

The bad news about duckweed is that it is very hard to control. Koi will eat it if they are placed before it takes over, but once it takes over it is too late. Ducks love it (hence the name) but also can cause an algae problem. It can also inhibit photosynthesis.

But here's the good news! Duckweed is sometimes used in sewage treatment plants to clean the water. The plants are high in nitrogen and phosphorus. They can be skimmed off and used for fertilizer. Good news for our garden! And I'm glad I placed the compost heap near the pond!

Confessions of a Bibliophile

Today we went to a homeschool used book sale. This is like a alcoholic going to a bar. Worse yet, I had an envelope of money put aside for the purpose. I was hoping to find three specific books, but came home with a wagonload (literally) of books that I had been hoping to find and a few nice surprises. Good thing I restrained myself! Seriously though, I spent very little and got some really great books. The great thing about homeschool book sales is that homeschoolers have such great taste in literature! It's much better than the big box stores and a much better price. At the last book sale I got rid of everything I wanted to sell and so was free just to browse this time, nice!

Lauren has already started A Chance to Die by Elizabeth Elliott (about Amy Carmichael). Thomas is looking forward to a curriculum we found called Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases. Pierce is enjoying Art Fraud Detectives, and the little ones are anxiously awaiting being read to. As for me, I'm looking forward to reading TULIP, The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture or The Ballad of the White Horse by GK Chesterton; I'm not sure which I'll read first. Although we don't use much in the way of formal curriculum, we are all looking forward to jumping into a geography curriculum we found called Map the World by Heart.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~Charles W. Eliot


I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.  ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

Living History

After a good night's sleep "car-camping" and a big breakfast, we're off again. We entered the Mohave Desert just after nightfall and drove until almost 2 AM before we had to stop. it's very interesting--we just finished studying about Jedediah Smith's exploration of the West, the Colorado River and the Mojave. Now we're driving through, seeing it for ourselves. I'm surprised at how scrubby it is. For some reason I pictured it being more barren. The land is mostly flat with occasional mountains and mesas in between. The thing that strikes me the most though is the vastness of it. We've been on the road for half an hour this morning and are still in the desert.*

It's funny--the kids think we're on vacation; we've discussed the history of Route 66, are reviewing American history, and studying geography experientially. All of the kids are tracking our progress on the map. And we're still listening to J.R.R. Tolken. I think this the most productive week of "school" we've had in a while!

* The desert land continued on until just before we entered Texas.

End of School Parties

It's hard to believe that this school year is nearly over.It's gone so quickly! This week we had two End of the Year parties: Math Club and our homeschool group. The weather was cold and rainy for the earlier half of the week, but cleared up just in time and we had two beautiful sunny California days!

Yesterday was Math Club Party/Awards Picnic. As usual, the team earned tons of awards. Thomas earned a patch for ranking in the top 50% of the country. All the kids had a math scavenger hunt and then some of the kids made shapes with geometric shapes with ropes.

Today was the EOY Picnic for our homeschool group. Mr. G stepped up to do the grilling for the whole crowd (three cheers!) and we all contributed side dishes and condiments. Four lovely hours of playing and chatting in the great outdoors with good friends (who could ask for more)?!

Ladybird Beetles & Butterflies

This year Pierce and Zoe are studying flying creatures, so we've been raising ladybird beetles and Painted Lady butterflies. We got them both as larvae and have been observing them grow. Most of our beetles have matured, a couple are still pupae, and a couple died. We plan on releasing them in the next couple of evenings, as our yard is *full* of aphids! The caterpillars were amazing to watch, as they grew so fast and so much! All of them made chrysalids. This morning we woke up to one beautiful, newly emerged butterfly!


*I would love to show you pictures of all of this, but Stephen dropped my camera a few days ago and broke it :( so I'll have to use stock photography for now. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

Photo Credit
Photo Credit

Overcoming Reading Difficulties

Pierce is a great joy to us. He brings so much joy and laughter to our family. He is very intelligent, highly motivated, quite physically gifted and has a great personality. However, learning to read has been a major challenge. At 10 years old, simple Dr. Seuss books were very intimidating. We tried a variety of methods, some designed to help children with dyslexsia, with little success. Meanwhile, we kept reading quality literature to him and giving him books on CD to listen to. This has been one of his great pleasures and has helped his vocabulary and knowledge to expand without reading. Early last summer, we were told about Diane Craft, who works with kids who struggle academically. Her theory, very simplified, was that some children have trouble getting opposite sides of the brain to pass information back and forth. Through various exercises and a different method of learning, Pierce began to learn very quickly. By the time the fall semester began, he was able to read a simple chapter book, although very slowly. Last week we rejoiced (almost to tears) to see him reading a J.R.R. Tolken novel. Now it's just practice, practice, practice. Praise the Lord!

Nature Outing

Twice a month, we go on a nature outing with a group of other homeschoolers. There are so many great places to go around here! We look forward to these as the highlight of our month. We get out in the great outdoors to play, to fellowship with other homeschooling families, and to spend time with families who are considering homeschooling, of which there seems to be a surge right now. When Lauren was 3 we got involved with a homeschool group and just began listening and learning. It's good to be an encouragement and help to others now that we're the experienced ones. Usually the outings start out with an organized game, then free play. The boys' usually like to build forts, while the girls enjoy finding fish, flowers, and unusual insects. Everyone comes home filthy and thoroughly exhausted!