wockenflock daze

Seeing the world differently

2011-09-05T06:45:00.001-05:00

I think I need to “get out among the English” more. I am seeing the people of the world through different eyes. Typically, most of the people I know and associate with are church members, and even then, living out among the outer boundaries of the Branch doesn’t allow for much socialization with these good people, either.

When I got a flat tire on the way home from church one Sunday, out in the country, it was the people covered in tattoos who stopped to inquire, so kindly and full of concern, if I needed help (it was really hot out ). It was, also, the people in the white truck, dressed in jeans and sleeveless tank tops, who obviously weren’t coming from church, who stopped. It was the couple, driving the crummiest car, hatchback held down with bungee cords, that had the hydraulic jack I needed (which was found underneath the woman’s wheel chair). The man proceeded to change the tire himself, and instructed us that the donut tire always goes on the back, never the front, and why. The woman he loved was deformed, short arms, hands scarred from multiple surgeries to straighten them some, make them usable. Her teeth were stained brown from nicotine and coffee. But she had a bright, sincere smile. Her eyes were kind.

All of these people live a very different lifestyle than I do. They smoke, they drink, they are into tattoo art, but they know how to love and serve.

I live in this place where I have been jerked around so much when I needed help, that I just see the people of the world in a cynical manner. I think I need to “get out among the English” more and allow the Lord tutor me freely about the good people who are out there. They just haven’t been in my circle.

Misreading Dr. Seuss

2011-09-04T19:42:00.001-05:00

The Cat On the Hat

Comfy?

2011-09-04T19:40:00.001-05:00

Taking a nice nap. Do you suppose she’s comfy?

Oh, let’s change position a little…

Catching Raindrops

2011-09-02T21:08:00.001-05:00

Sure, we’ve been having a drought, but really…thirsty much?

August 28, 2011

2011-08-30T21:00:00.001-05:00

It’s that time of year, again. Yippie! The holiday season begins on September 1 in our household, if not a little sooner. Sometimes people ask me why we do this. Click here to find what I tell them.

Patrick and Katie fluff the limbs

Mary is backed into a corner

Fluffing the top

Holding the tree up because it keeps trying to fall down.

Wrapping the lights around the pole

“You missed a spot.”

Still trying to keep the tree from falling down

Flamingos and Palm trees this year….

Let the holiday season begin!! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Because the Holiday is Just Too Lovely to Enjoy For Only 1 Month

2011-08-30T20:46:00.001-05:00

I love Christmas Trees. I do. They cheer me, bring me joy, and lift my spirit.

Back when I was a normal person who even considered social norms, our family used to wait until the first weekend of December to put up the tree (Having children on the Autism spectrum taught me to throw social norms out the window).But, the year came when I just couldn't wait till December, so we put it up just before Thanksgiving. Then the next year the kids just started asking about it in October (I am easy to convince on this subject), so it went up just before Halloween for years after with just the lights (but waiting until Thanksgiving to put the ornaments on). And then it stayed up for months after Christmas, usually April, sometimes May.
The Holiday is just too lovely to enjoy for only one month.
Then we moved to Arkansas and, truly, normal became only a setting on a washing machine. My husband was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and our world was turned upside down.
Well, the person who is not going to recover from an inoperable brain tumor gets everything they want, as far as I am concerned, so on September 1, 2004, before my husband died (May 2005), he asked for the tree to go up rather than wait till the end of October. So up it went; anything to bring him peace and contentment in his adversity. And it was Christmas day, every day, until he died.
So, now, my friends, it goes up when the time feels right.
Merry Christmas!! God bless us, every one!

Summer so far

2011-08-29T05:26:00.001-05:00

We’ve been having a busy summer with gardening, working, drawing, harvesting, knitting, art projects…..

This is the garden in mid-July. We’ve got lots of volunteer okra that comes up every year. Using painted tires as planters added such fun and color to the scenery.

The yellow zinnias are a stand out sight this year.

Katie and the monster melon

The cantaloupes were monstrous!! I used compost this year in my garden. Funny thing, about compost. Most of what went into my garden were volunteers that grew from the compost.

I made fabric strip dolls with the kids and moms (and even the Branch President) at our Pioneer Day celebration at church.

Patrick ordered a Ukulele this summer and has been having nothing but fun!

Mary learned to knit two gloves at once on circular needles and has been knocking them out fast.

She is trying to get ahead with the autumn- colored fingerless gloves. They are her biggest seller every fall and winter.

We had my birthday. I made a yellow cake with home made orange frosting.

Mary knitted a pair of socks for me. Love them!!

My mom came to see me on my birthday. *;-.) Bad Granny!

I have been making lots of Peach Vanilla jam and lots of Strawberry Peach jam. Yum!!

Buddy’s Side of the Story

2011-08-15T21:07:00.001-05:00

New Guardians of the Garden

2011-08-02T15:35:00.001-05:00

My mother has been in my garden again.

Sparkly Rose!!! Luckily it did not scare off the butterfly on the yellow Zinnia to the right.

Are you very afraid? It works though, because I am still harvesting Chinese Red Noodle Beans.

Another Guardian of the Cantaloupes. Don’t be fooled by the Precious Pink color.

Don’t be fooled. She only looks sweet…..

Fabric Strip Rag Doll

2011-07-26T07:45:00.000-05:00

Doll I made using Batiks

Looking for something to make to commemorate Pioneer Day in July? We have just the thing. My 16-year old son came home from Trek with an adorable fabric strip rag doll that he had made in a workshop one day. He was so proud. (Thanks to Sarah H. for teaching him)

Patrick’s Christmas-y doll he made on Trek

Materials:

For the body: 20 strips of fabric, 1 -1/2 inch wide, in as many colors as you wish, cutting the full 44-inch width of fabric. (You may trim the length at the end as you desire. I just left mine long)
For the arms: 10 strips of fabric, coordinating with the dress, 1 1/2 inches wide, 16 inches long. I just took 5 strips, folded them over to make 10 and cut.
For the head: 4 extra strips of fabric (color doesn’t matter, as they will not show)
narrow scraps to tie at head, neck, waist and cuffs.

I have selected Batik prints for my doll.

To begin, stack your fabric strips evenly.

Lay them on a flat surface (yes, my flat surface really is a tie-dyed damask table cloth).

Find the middle and tie with a narrow strip of matching fabric.

Roll 4 strips of scrap fabrics into a ball, forming the head (I neglected to measure the size. Sorry. It fits in the palm of your hand).

Tuck the ball under the tied middle of your stack of fabrics.

Begin closing fabrics around the ball to cover.

When you are satisfied with the coverage and the look, form a neck with a narrow strip of fabric and tie off.

Choose 10 fabric strips , 1 1/2 inches wide, for the arms. (I selected 5 and folded them over to make 10.) Cut so their full length is 16 inches long.

Stack them evenly in an order that suits you, if order is what you want.

Lay your doll “face up.” Lift half the fabric strips of the doll and lay your arm stack inside, below the neck.

If you wish, as this step is optional, tie the arm strips in place using a strip of fabric from the doll body in front of the arms and a strip from the fabrics behind the arms (note the two tightened green strips).

Replace the “doll front” fabric strips over the arm strips. Tie off each “sleeve” with a narrow strip of fabric.

Tie a waist with another narrow strip of fabric.

Tug at sleeves to “poof” them, if desired.

And we are done!!

Have Fun!! Wouldn’t these be lovely made up in seasonal colors?

Gardens in July

2011-07-15T12:42:00.001-05:00

Lush!! Cantoloupe plants growing in with the yellow Zinnias, Purple zinnias in teh back ground, chinese red noodle beans growing up the poles. Pumpkin growing next to the blue tire which is housing a pot of Rose Moss and lots of tomato plants in the background.

Chinese Red Noodle Beans

These are so fun to grow!!

Sun and Moon guardians of the Garden

Knik-nak planter I found at a flea market now holding Rose Moss

The big picture. I could look at my garden all day.

I thought this was a volunteer Butternut squash but the leaves weren’t quite right! Pumpkin!!! Yahoo!!

I love this Bee Balm! It reminds me of fireworks!

Guardians of the Gardens

2011-07-15T11:45:00.001-05:00

The Ghosts of Gardens Past haunt my mother’s squash plants

These are all the birdies that guard against tomato worms.

A warning to all creept, destructive bugs who want to harm my garden…or me…. *;-.)

FHE: Building Zion

2011-07-15T08:21:00.000-05:00

The wockenflock in September, 2004, 6 months before my husband died

The word "Atonement" was introduced into the English language in 1526 by William Tyndale as he translated the Greek New Testament into English. He created the word At-one-ment to translate the Greek word for "reconciliation," or, "to come back into a relationship after a period of estrangement."

What does it mean to be "at one?" Consider these circumstances of people who sought it diligently.

We can find one example in the Intercessory prayer offered by the Savior found in John 17: 20-23: "...that they may be one, as we are one in purpose."
"And they had all things in common among them...but they were all made free, and partakers of the *heavenly gift." (4 Nephi 1:3) *( also see "God, gifts of.")
"And there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.....[no]-ites; but they were in one." ( 4 Nephi 1:15-17)
"The fear (reverence) of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord...and the Lord called His people Zion, because they were of one heart and of one mind....." (Moses 7:17)

Zion being the city that was so righteous it was taken up unto the Lord, ask your family members to consider:

what it might take to be of one heart and of one mind within the family, within society.
what they can do as individuals to be one.
what might be done as a family to be of "one heart and of one mind."

How to build a Zion Society (according to an over-30 Institute class I was in), being At-one:

Be aware of our reactions-- We will be judged according to how we react, and respond, to the actions of others, what they do to us, or what we see them do to others (for good or for bad). The great instructions can be found in the scriptures during the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:33-48) It is written that if we love only those who love us, what reward have we? The Romans had the power, by law, to compel a Jew to carry something of theirs for a mile, but no further than a mile. The Jew was required, by law, to comply. Naturally it was a sore point with the people. Jesus taught the people to go with a Roman "twain," or two miles. Ask your family members to consider, truly, the teachings of Jesus here and how abiding by them would help build a Zion society and family.
Be willing to suffer wrong-- throughout the scriptures the Savior was the example of suffering wrongs. (search out and select what scriptures would work for your family here) He was wrongly accused; He was wrongly arrested; He was wrongly punished and wrongly executed. He was mocked by those whom He was sent to teach and be a Savior for. Joseph Fielding Smith also taught, "It is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong." Forgive. Consider the people of Ammon, who preferred to bury their swords and be killed, rather than stain their own swords ever again with the blood of their brothers. (Alma 24-25) Discuss this topic, suffering wrong, within your family, how it might feel to just suffer being wronged.
Refuse to take offense --"Cease to contend one with another, cease to speak evil of one another. Let thy words tend to edifying one another" (D&C 136:23-24). Ask your family what this scripture means and how these teachings can apply to your daily family life.
Use humor to change the mood of a conflict-- ask your family to role play any conflict you can dream up and how to deal with it gracefully but it must be done without mocking.
Use unconditional love--detach yourself from negative emtions. People are responsible for their own actions. In Helamen 14:30-31 we learn, "Whoso perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself...ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or ye can do evil and have that which is evil restored unto you." We do not have to identify with, respond or act accordingly when people behave badly in our company. President Spencer W. Kimball taught to be understanding when others make mistakes. "We can show forth our love for others even w hen we are called upon to corret them. We need to be able to look deeply enough intothe lives of others to see the basic causes for their failures and shortcomings. Jesus saw sin as wrong, but also was able to see sin as springing from deep and unmet needs ont eh part of the sinner. This permitted Him to condemn the sin withouth condemning the individual." (Ensign, Aug 1979, 5) How might this knowledge change how we respond to people of the world and within our families?
Use friendly persuasion--not control or manipulation. Our great lesson on proper dominion is found in D&C 121: 35-46. I use vs. 41-42 specifically here. "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge; which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocricy, and without guile." (hypocricy meaning acting, pretending) Discuss what these passages mean and how they affect behavior, building a Zion society and family.
Obedience -- Consider the Charity verses, what each verse means, really and discuss them with your family. Read them slowly, verse by verse. How might they be applied to their lives as individuals, as a family and within society? ~ Charity suffereth long ~ and is kind.~charity enviety not~charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up~ doth not behave itself unseemly or indecently, unbecomingly~ seeketh not her own, but allows other to grow~is not easily provoked~thinketh no evil or does not assume the worst of people~ rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth~ beareth all things~ believeth all things~hopeth all things~endureth all things.
"God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them" --Brigham Young

Ask your family members what they would like to work on, personally, to build Zion. Write down each response and each week, during FHE, have a time to report on what each person did to build Zion. You may want to decorate a "Zion Box" to store the responses, or what other idea comes to your mind that would work for your family.

Close with "As I Have Loved You" and a favorite dessert--something wonderful that certainly would be served in Zion.

Thought they were Cucumbers, but…

2011-07-01T12:54:00.001-05:00

What I thought were volunteer cucumbers growing turned out to be volunteer cantaloupes . Aww..shucks… *;-.)

The Chinese Long beans will be ready to pick within days. They are about 18 inches long now.

New Guardians of the Gardens

2011-07-01T12:46:00.001-05:00

Captain Jack Sparrow now guards my tomatoes

And the Garden Witch on her broom guards my mom’s tomatoes.

A Blessing to my Garden

2011-06-27T14:47:00.000-05:00

As I was outside, admiring my garden, taking pictures, a welcome visitor landed and played in the blossoms.

Garden in mid-June

2011-06-27T14:37:00.000-05:00

The garden in mid-june

The Chinese Red Long Beans are beginning to flower!!!

These are the rescued yellow Zinnias along with some volunteers from the covering compost.
I thought they were cucumbers, but...

....they are cantaloupes. Darn..... *;-.)

Guardians of the Gardens

2011-06-27T14:17:00.000-05:00

It all began with my mother putting dresses and hats on my flowers. I have returned the favor with a flower of my own....

Another guardian of the garden protects my Black Cherry Tomato plant

Protectors of my mother's tomatoes..

Guardian of my Red Chinese long beans

Guardian of the Black Prince tomato plant

The Geppetto brothers, Pinocchio and his evil twin Pepper, guard mom's cucumbers.

You can tell them apart by Pepper's longer nose

Happy guardian of the first cucumber

Guardians of "Tomato Plant Whose Name Cannot Be Remembered"

And this guy is making himself useful by holding the limb of a cherry tomato

What I have learned about growing squash

2011-06-13T12:30:00.000-05:00

According to Jerry Baker of, well, Jerry Baker fame, in the world of natural remedies for garden pests, he claims that we should grow our squash and cucumbers in rubber tires, that something in the rubber repels the bugs.

Well, let me tell you now, Toad Suck Squash bugs LOVED my black rubber tire that I planted in. Must be the "Red Neck Roy" has been bred into them. BUT!! I noticed that squash bugs are not in any of the squash plants I have growing in the spray painted tires.......Hmmmmmm...They were the garden itself, but not on the plants in the painted tires......

I decided to experiemnent, to spray paint the tire holding the butternut squash plant that I had been battling bugs over.

I covered my big squash plant and soil with towels to protect it, and spray painted in stages~~1/3 at a time in Pistachio Green with a dusting of Caramel Latte metallic.

I have counted 19 butternut squash growing here.

I have not seen any squash bugs since. I will also spray paint bricks and place them next to my in-ground squash plants. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted.

BTW--the Terra Cotta colored tire in the back ground was spray painted with a base coat of white primer, then a coat of Pumpkin Orange and finished off with a dusting of Sparkling Canyon.

New Flower in the garden

2011-06-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

My mother told me that she put a new flower in my garden today.

Dressing the flowers

2011-06-08T08:49:00.001-05:00

My mother is getting into my garden, putting dresses and hats on the flowers.

We are looking Normal. again

2011-06-02T09:05:00.001-05:00

I’ve been working in the garden, again, bring things back to normal. The Spirit still restrains me from buying anything to put in the garden. My mom ended up giving me 2 of her yellow tomato plants she just bought ( as she also has to re-plant half of her garden), and a 4-pack of Early Girl tomatoes that she never got around to planting.

I have replaced the tomato plant in the pink tire with another salvaged tomato plant. Don’t know what it is, but we’ll see. *;-.)

The above bean bed didn’t get a full dose of the chicken manure so it is doing just fine. Now I just have to battle the bean bugs. I have Jerry Baker’s gardening book from the library and I am going to try the home made citrus spray that he says is totally stink-a-roonie to bean bugs.

Lemon cucumbers are doing great (left row) Love those pots of marigolds!

Row of Purple Zinnias with Thumbelina Zinnias growing in between

This will be a tire-full of Giant Zinnias when they grow up. These are the ones I rescued from a short life in a grass choked bed.

What has yet to go into the garden. Not sure what everything is…squash? Cucumbers? Some kind of salvaged tomato? But I DO recognize the Marigolds.

Replanting

2011-05-30T09:18:00.001-05:00

Today I am replanting what I have been able to salvage after the chicken manure incident. A few things in the garden survived, or revived, that I thought surely were not going to make it. One of which was something I actually bought—the Black Prince tomato plant that came with an extra in it’s pot. Bonus! Not sure just what I have anymore, but I know I did save the Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge tomato plant. It is doing just fine as of planting time this morning.

Funny thing. I am still restrained from buying anything. I am not to replace my yellow tomato plants with ones from the store. Should I replant from seed? Kinda late, isn’t it? BUT, we do seem to be going through a climate change. Maybe not too late……

Salvaging what I can

2011-05-24T08:45:00.001-05:00

In an effort to participate in the salvaging of a severely damaged relationship, I followed some bad advice. I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, this person would be right. He wasn’t. The result is that most of my garden is dying.

So I am digging up the tomato plants that can be salvaged and I will transplant survivors into another part of the garden.

I am sorry because the garden was doing great since I was using my compost this year.

The blessing is that the Spirit restrained me from buying anything for the garden, as by now I have usually spent at least $100 on plants and new seed. What I planted this year was seed I’d had around for a while, and volunteer tomatoes, cucumbers and squash from the compost heap. I did spend $6 on unusual tomato plants and those look like they just might make it.

But I am Grateful for

2011-05-22T14:42:00.001-05:00

Today has not been my best day ever, beginning with being the 6th anniversary of the day my husband died, the AC Circuit breaker is crackling when it is on, so I have it shut off, I ran over a rabbit on the way to church, and the list could go on, if I wish to list what stinks in my day or life. But I wish to change my train of thought.

But I am grateful for …..

….the fact that my son, Patrick spoke in church, as one of the seminary students, on what he learned in Seminary this year and how it affected his testimony. He spoke of coming to truly know of the blessings of modern day prophets. He recited the Joseph Smith History scripture mastery, verses 15-20,

15 ”After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was ^aseized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick ^bdarkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

16But, exerting all my powers to ^acall upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into ^bdespair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

17It no sooner appeared than I found myself ^adelivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I ^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My ^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!

18My object in going to ^ainquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

19I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all ^awrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those ^bprofessors were all ^ccorrupt; that: “they ^ddraw near to me with their lips, but their ^ehearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the ^fcommandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the ^gpower thereof.”

20He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself ^alying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, ^bmother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the ^cadversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the ^dopposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?”

I am grateful for the lady who came up to me after church, saying, “You have such a wonderful family. You’ve done such a great job with them.”

I am grateful for the way the Lord looks after the widow and fatherless and I know that I can find safety and comfort in the crook of His arm when I feel weak (which is every moment of my life).

I am grateful for

I am grateful for the blue footed booby

I am grateful for

I am grateful for…

my flamethrower

I am grateful for spanakopita

for

definitely the Christmas season which starts Sept. 1

and mad science cooking

Where’s the Kaboom?

2011-05-22T14:03:00.001-05:00

Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!
This makes me very angry, very angry indeed!
-- Marvin the Martian --

Rain on the Garden

2011-05-21T10:10:00.001-05:00

Today we’ve received some much needed rain, if you can believe that, after all the storms, tornados and flooding we’ve had here, but it is true, my garden needed some good, fresh water, straight from the cloud.

I grabbed my black umbrella with the red satin roses sewn on, and just stood on the edge of the garden, looking at everything..

…taking in all the deep greens and the dark brown of the wet soil.

It all just looks so pretty,

and new, soaking in the rains.

Purple zinnias are starting to bloom.

I love the tall marigolds here at the edge of a bed of green beans.

Chinese Red Noodle beans were the first to sprout.

The whole picture as of 5-20-11. Can you believe its the 20th of May already?!

painted tires

2011-05-20T17:19:00.001-05:00

I’m trying something new in the garden this year. I got the idea of painting old tires from a magazine I bought, where the tires were turned inside out hand painted with designs. Well, turning tires inside out was not going to be a happening thing here, as my tires are tougher than I am. I liked the idea of maintaining the tread design and decided to just spray paint them. Voila!

Terra Cotta spray paint with a dusting of “Sparkling Canyon” (kinda bronze)

Dark Green spray paint with a dusting of Aluminum, holding rescued tall zinnias. I love zinnias in the garden. They’re so cheerful.

Dark Pink with a dusting of “Sparkling Canyon” This foto does not do it justice. This one is holding a yellow tomato plant

Periwinkle spray paint with a dusting of Aluminum. This one got a base coat of white first. This one will probably hold Cleome flowers.

Garden 2011

2011-05-18T08:23:00.001-05:00

This year, with the odd weather, and the rains coming early, I started planting tomatoes in pots. Not sure what 4 of them are because they were just labeled, “tomato” and at 50c each, I decided I would try these mystery tomatoes and see what happened. I also have a yellow cherry tomato in a pot.

I’ve planted the usual things in the garden, but used my compost this year. When I planted the tomato plants in the pots (above foto), countless tomato plant volunteers came up out of the compost I added to the top layer.

Being one who can’t just yank a volunteer, I transplanted nearly everything and either gave them away, or planted them in my garden. Not sure what they will turn out to be, but I have 22 of them in my own garden. Then there’s the 5 yellow tomato plants, 1 Hawaiian Tomato plant (heat tolerant) and 2 Black Prince (Russian tomato from Siberia-may not do well as the climate in Arkansas is different than in Siberia), 2 Black Cherry and 2 Purple Cherokee.

Well, as of 5-17, this is what’s going on with the Mystery 50c tomatoes. Producing pretty bunches of tomatoes.

I have lost all my Lemon cucumbers and am about to lose the ones I bought even. I have more seedlings growing. Can’t have a garden without Lemon Cucumbers.

I have a Butternut squash growing in corner of the garden in an old tire. We’ll see what happens. In the first row of the garden I have tall Purple Zinnias growing and Dwarf Zinnias (3-4 inch) growing in between them.

What’s new this year is adding beds of flowers and flowers in pots to attract bees. I have planted beds of Nasturtiums, with Sunflowers, a mixture of Tall Zinnias, Lilliput Zinnias, Bachelors Buttons, Cleome, and….something, and a bed with 1 volunteer Pepper Plant planted with White Nasturtiums and Red Celosia. I added pots of Marigolds near the bean beds in hopes of warding off bugs. I have also planted a pot of Bee Balm.

What’s REALLY new this year is spray painting old tires and using them as planters. I have used a terra cotta spray paint with a light dusting of metallic bronze.

The beans are also sprouting up. My personal favorite is the Chinese Red Noodle Beans. The grow to be about 3 feet long. The green beans and yellow beans are sprouting, also.

What’s really fun is that I have volunteer cucumbers and volunteer squash coming up in the compost I used to transplant the volunteer tomatoes into the garden. What gets transplanted out of there, the Squash or the Tomato?

Katie Rocks On, Again

2011-05-10T17:24:00.001-05:00

All of Katie's fans know that she has a love for all things small

Lady Bugs and a Turtle

It’s all in the details for Katie…..

……including the underside

Darling Lady bugs

After Cleaning Up in Vilonia….

2011-05-07T21:44:00.001-05:00

The Wockenflock,Troy and Michael

After having been to Vilonia to help with the clean up, I’ve been pondering some things, what I saw, what we did.

Driving through Vilonia was devastating for me, seeing all the damage, mangled houses, pieces of houses in trees, trees in houses, massive trees uprooted, flattened trucks in yards….I just broke into tears.

Mormon Helping Hands was assigned to Church street, north and south. Well, there was nothing there that needed doing. All the damage was east. We broke out into smaller groups to search out the people that needed help.

Our group ended up on a side street where a lady gladly accepted our assistance to pick up trash in her yard. A big piece of her roof had been temporarily replaced with the blue coverings that are used until permanent repairs can be made. I was mildly disappointed, as there really wasn’t much trash to be picked up, considering the devastation we’d seen. The big stuff was already on the curb. She said she’d called three times for help and didn’t get any. So we began picking up around the yard, looking, really, digging the small pieces of insulation out of the flower beds. We were looking to do big things, get down and dirty. Did no one really need any big help from a big group anymore? Was it all done? Bits of trash.

FEMA was making their rounds, talking to residents.

The house next door needed more help, with large pieces of twisted metal needing to be loaded onto a truck for hauling, damaged appliances to be loaded also, broken glass to be raked up, shingles set on the curbside. It took me a while to realize the open area where the man in the wheelchair was sitting used to be his garage. It had exploded in the tornado. That explained the small bits of brick in the yard.

Mary doing….something

The next house really had lots to be done, but no one was around to ask. Oh, the front door was gone. That ‘splains it.

The next house was nothing left but a shell of three walls, front was completely gone, frame still there.

But were we really needed? I mean, we were just picking up small trash, doing jobs that didn’t take long to do.

We learned from the FEMA rep about areas where people desperately needed help. Nothing had been done at all. These places were a distance from the center of town.

We found port-a-potties along the road sides at intersections. Oh. (thankfully, tho, really. We needed to use them, as did the residents and maybe the FEMA reps as they went through)

I was stunned to find the people still living here.

We ended up at a trailer home on what used to be a lovely piece of property. A tree had fallen clean through one end of the house. That tree had been cut up, but there was really so much more to be done.

The owner accepted the help of our group, moving metal and wood to the curb. Moving huge pieces of twisted metal that used to be his porch roof. Move 2 huge pieces of twisted metal that used to be his carport.

In between trips of carrying things off, he told his story. I listened, when I was around, slightly impatient, wanting to ask what he needed us to take next, but when my brain kicked in, he just needed us to listen to his story. Trees were down, one on his now ruined swimming pool. The Gazebo was twisted around the root ball of the tree that was on the pool.

The man was reluctant to have us move some things because the ground was wet and didn’t want to send us out into the mud. “Well,” I said, “ We did bring our 4-wheel drive boots, so we don’t mind.”

Another part of our group showed up with chain saws, so we cut the fallen trees in the immediate yard and carried off, or stacked usable firewood. This part of our day was most rewarding. We were really sinking ourselves into this big job. Lots to do and lots of people to do it. We ranged in ages from 8-70.

We were hot, we were sunburned, we were dragging branches off. Water, need water.

Then, I began to think about the woman who complained about having called 3 times for help when it was just a little bit of trash in her yard. What a little job. Really. Hardly worth calling for help 3 times for when there were so many big jobs needing to be done. Hardly worth accepting help for when the job was really done.

But later, I saw the big picture. Everything I’d seen on her street came together. When the tornados lifted, when it was safe to come out, this woman would have noticed a strange emptiness across the street. Two houses right across the street from her were gone. Just gone. Only the foundations were left. And stuff in the yard. A piece of her roof was gone. Houses just gone across the street. Her neighbor’s garage was gone, extensive damage the next house down. Front door gone. Those two houses across the street just gone.The front of the house on the next. Everyone’s missing rooftops were in the trees and field behind them. What is this book in the yard? The tittle, “We Survived.”

Yeah, she needed help, all right. Two houses across the street were gone. After what she’d been through, she needed to know someone cared to help, even if it was just to pick up a little trash and tidy up what was left of the flower beds. People out there cared about her changed world. We did a big thing there.

our whole group

Patrick Bakes Biscuits

2011-05-02T09:27:00.001-05:00

Patrick has been learning to cook and seems to have a knack for baking. He is pleased to know it is in the blood, as his ancestors on his father’s side owned a bakery. He was not too proud to wear the flowery apron. (I offered the patriotic one that I was wearing, but he is secure in his masculinity.)

Biscuits

2 cups Self- rising flour
1/4 cup butter flavored Crisco
2/3-1/4 cups Rice milk or Almond milk

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Measure flour into bowl.
Cut in Crisco with a pastry blender until mixture resembles course cornmeal.
Blend in just enough mild with a fork until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently few turns. If dough is too sticky to handle, knead in a little more flour.

Roll out the dough to roughly 1/2 inch thickness (he goes for less). Cut with a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter or other suitable object. Patrick uses a tall glass.

Place on a baking sheet or baking stone 1 inch apart.

camo and flowers

Bake 12-15 minutes or until gooollllden bwown. Makes 12.

A Gift from a friend

2011-03-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

Look what someone gave to me last night!! Christmas Ornaments! I LOVE THESE!!

Another Step Forward

2011-03-29T19:04:00.001-05:00

Patrick and Buddy are now both working at Domino’s Pizza in Conway.

I had been praying mightily for…… …….something… for my family… guidance for the ganglings……we need to move forward. I worry them growing up without a father to show them the way. Then Fred, a family friend and owner of Domino’s in Conway, approached Patrick with a job offer, then offered Buddy a job 10 days later.

I am seeing how the good men in my sons’ lives—the mentors, the scout masters, the Young Men’s presidents, the home teachers, those who serve, give rides, church leaders, family friends-- are being used by the Lord to shape them, teach them things, guide them in ways I don’t know how.

College Entrance Essay

2011-03-27T20:22:00.001-05:00

I have always loved this.

This is supposedly an actual essay written by an extremely creative college applicant to NYU. The author was accepted and is reportedly now attending NYU.

QUESTION 3A: ARE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE HAD, OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HAVE HELPED DEFINE YOU AS A PERSON?

I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently.

Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row. I woo women with my sensuous and godlike trombone playing. I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook 30-minute brownies in 20 minutes.

I am an expert in stucco, a veteran in love, and an outlaw in Peru.

Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly defended a small village in the Amazon basin from a horde of ferocious army ants. I play bluegrass cello. I was scouted by the Mets. I am the subject of numerous documentaries. When I'm bored, I build large suspension bridges in my yard. I enjoy urban hang gliding. On Wednesdays, after school, I repair electrical appliances free of charge.

I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst, and a ruthless bookie. Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear. I don't perspire.

I am a private citizen, yet I receive fan mail. I have been caller number nine and have won the weekend passes. Last summer I toured New Jersey with a traveling centrifugal force demonstration. I bat .400. My deft floral arrangements have earned me fame in international botany circles. Children trust me.

I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket. I have performed several covert operations for the CIA. I sleep once a week; when I do sleep, I sleep in a chair. While on vacation in Canada, I successfully negotiated with a group of terrorists who had seized a small bakery. The laws of physics do not apply to me.

I balance, I weave, I dodge, I frolic, and my bills are all paid. On weekends, to let off steam, I participate in full-contact origami. Years ago I discovered the meaning of life, but forgot to write it down. I have made extraordinary four course meals using only a mouli and a toaster oven.

I breed prize-winning clams. I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet, I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.

But, I have not yet gone to college.

*********************************************

Viking Helmet with Horns

2011-03-27T17:45:00.001-05:00

Katie made her first Viking helmet with wings on the side and now she makes the one with horns, just like Ruffnut and Tuffnut’s helmets on “How to Train Your Dragon.”

She started with the basic directions (found here,) but added horns instead. She made horns with newspaper, then taped them in shape with masking tape. They were then hot glued in place.

She primed with white craft paint to cover the newspaper print.

She selected different colors for this helmet..

..and made her horns two-toned.

nearly finished

The completed project with jewels!!

Our House, Saturday, March 26

2011-03-27T16:59:00.001-05:00

The YSAs in our house invited a couple of YSA friends over for an afternoon of fun and food. Momma baked bread and made soup.

Mary is teaching Chelcy to knit.

Thomas found the “Pirates of the Caribbean” chess set and the boys started to play.

Thomas won, despite Patrick taking most of the pieces that Thomas likes to play with the most. “Don’t you hate it when your favorite toys get taken away?”, I asked.

Katie had been working on another Viking helmet and started painting today.

Buddy plays piano for us while all this is going on. He challenges the winner of the chess game.

Chelcy is so proud of herself, as she IS learning to knit.

It is getting easier!!

Katie is almost done.

Thomas says, “One wrong move and you have my queen!!”

“Really? How is that?”, asks Buddy.

After a while, Buddy and Chelcy play together the medley of “The Army of Helaman” and “As Sisters in Zion.” We filmed it on our camera, but our computer doesn’t like the file. We’ll keep trying to put it up.

Chelcy is really getting somewhere with her knitting. Mary is thrilled with her progress. Who’s got happy girls?

Katie’s finished Viking helmet!

Çlassics

2011-03-08T11:35:00.000-06:00

I found something in today's post at the Latter-Day Homeschool blog. "A 'Classic' is anything that changes, molds and influences one for righteousness."--from A Thomas Jefferson Education

I really don't care to limit myself to the "classics" to be reading a good book. I believe there are many authors out there creating great works of good influence outside of "classics." If I had to leave, taking only the best things with me what books, other than scriptures, would I take with me?
My list of classics are
Fire of the Covenant by Gerald Lund
The Kingdom and the Crown series by Gerald Lund
Before the Dawn by Dean Hughs
The Peacegiver by James Ferrell
Anything by Sheri Dew
Bad Girl Creek series
Harry Potter series
The Enoch Letters-Neal A. Maxwell
The Great and Terrible series by Chris Stewart
The Millennial Glory series by Wendi L Edwards

What would my children take? something to consider for FHE

Zebra Duck Tape

2011-03-07T09:24:00.001-06:00

Katie fashioned my Potty Mouth tool in Zebra Style this morning. (when you use potty mouth--idiot, stupid, dumb--you have to clean the toilet) I'm reaching the point when I can come out of the bathroom for a few hours.

Per week.

There is a God and He loves Duck tape. And Me.

3-3-11

2011-03-03T11:35:00.001-06:00

It is a nice day out. Today I planted some flowers and will probably plant some sugar snap peas

Purple stocks

Light purple pansies

The little old man on the corner was out in his garden, today, taking stock of how things are. When he is out and about he always graces you with a Peace Sign as you drive by. It’s been a long winter without him. Life is good.

Buddy’s Lego Transformer

2011-03-02T08:59:00.001-06:00

One of Buddy’s favorite pastimes is to build transformers out of his collection of Legos.

Here we have his creation, which always must have a face.

And now the transformation begins….

swivel the hands in

flip the arms up and snap together

swivel armor plate up to hide face

snap legs together

“push thighs down into legs”

push “hip bones down into legs” and we have our ship.

I really like the handlebars.

Great job, Buddy!

And, yes, that is a tie-dye damask tablecloth underneath it all.

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife.

2011-02-27T05:57:00.001-06:00

Just try reading this without laughing till you cry!!!

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife.

A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Tazer.

The effects of the Tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety...??

WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home... I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.

AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.

Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and Tazer in another.
The directions said that:

a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant;
a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and
a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.

Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, 'Don't do it stupid,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it.

I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and...

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD.

WEAPONS OF

MASS DESTRUCTION.

WHAT THE... !!!

I'm pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs! The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note:
If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a Tazer,
one note of caution:

There is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor!

A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.

My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace.
The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was.
My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching.
My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
I had no control over the drooling.
Apparently I had crapped in my shorts, but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of smell was gone.
I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair.

I'm still looking for my testicles and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!
PS: My wife can't stop laughing about my experience, loved the gift and now regularly threatens me with it!

Viking Helmet

2011-02-26T09:41:00.002-06:00

this post is in conjunction with my next blog post on the Latter-day Homeschooling Blog scheduled for March 21,2011
Katie is studying Vikings right now and as she likes to dress up in character, she decided she needed a helmet.

You need:

a large balloon
measuring tape
2 cups flour and some water for Paper Mache paste - use a bowl that has a lid, as you’ll need this for a couple of days.
strips of newspaper
a bowl large enough to support the balloon
scissors
lightweight cardboard, such as cereal boxes or something a little heavier
newspaper to make horns if desired
masking tape
hot glue gun
white paint for priming
choice of paint colors for helmet
“jewels” for decoration (opt.)

Measure the circumference of your head, and blow up your balloon so it is a little bigger than the head. Tie it off.
Place it in your bowl so it stands upright, tied end down. Mix the 2 cups of flour with enough water to make a paste (it was enough to make 3 coats of paper mache)

Dip a strip of newspaper into the paste, run it between your fingers to remove excess paste, and place it on the balloon. Repeat this process until you have made your first coat of paper mache in a helmet shape around the balloon. Allow to dry. It may take a few hours or overnight.

Repeat this process until you have made 3 coats. Allow to dry.
Remove the helmet from the balloon, popping the balloon if necessary, and trim the edges to be even, cutting it down to size, also, if it is too long.

Cut cardboard strips to go around the rim and across the top of the helmet. (Katie used cereal box cardboard across the top and a sturdier cardboard from another box around the rim) Hot glue in place. Allow to set.
Draw wings on cereal box cardboard and cut them out. Hot glue them to the sides of the helmet. If you prefer, shape horns out of newspaper, twisting them into shape and secure their shape with masking tape. Hot glue them in place. Click here for the helmet with horns

Paint the helmet with white paint as a base coat, to cover the newspaper print. Allow to dry. Paint another coat, if necessary.

Paint the helmet in desired colors and decorate with “jewels,” or other ornaments, if desired (see top photo for Katie’s design).
Be sure to have fun!

Singing Your Own Song, Not Someone Else's

2011-02-21T03:00:00.000-06:00

the original of this post is scheduled to appear on the Latter- day homeschooling blog on 2-21-11

(Harriet Nease, my great-great grandmother
circa midi-1860’s, Original photo property of Ruth Lehman)

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart
and sings it to you when you forget the words”
~~from a rubber stamp I own

I read once that among the Comanche Nation (when they still roamed the plains, at least), everyone had a song in their heart, one that was distinctly their own, and they could be heard singing it as they went about their daily business, be it tanning hides, washing, grooming, honoring the morning sun, or just walking along. Naturally, someone could admire another’s song, and it just might be going around and around in their head, but it was not appropriate to be found singing someone else’s song. I suppose a person’s song could have similarities to another, notes and rhythms, tempo, but their song was not to be the same as another’s.

So . here’s my question for you:

Have you ever come across someone who thought it was their responsibility to fix you or gave you unsolicited advice about what you need to do about yourself or family? They made it clear that you should be more like them, that your worth and value to the world will be less until you changed according to their personal views or were more like them?

Or have you been certain that you had to change yourself to be, and do, like someone else (other than the Savior)? I have experienced all of these and, over time, these said experiences have left me with quite a lesson learned through the gentle tutoring of the Spirit.

Consider that their need to change you says more about them than you. They are seeking validation for their own choices (good or bad), or think that your different choices are a rejection of theirs. They are insecure about themselves, or so self absorbed that they are certain that their way is the only right way. Remember the whisperings of the Spirit, that the Lord is in charge and He will direct you through your life and your Homeschool journey, not someone else's.

Being aware of my weak areas in life and homeschooling, I asked the Lord to help me be more like so and so, make me like another because of what abilities she has and He said, “ No,” that I am what my family needs me to be for them, then reminded me of Doctrine and Covenants 46, beginning at verse 11:

“11For all have not every ^agift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

12To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

13To some it is given by the ^aHoly Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

14To others it is given to ^abelieve on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

15And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the ^adifferences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his ^bmercies according to the conditions of the children of men.

16And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the ^aSpirit may be given to every man to profit withal.

17And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of ^awisdom.

18To another is given the word of ^aknowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.

19And again, to some it is given to have ^afaith to be healed;

20And to others it is given to have faith to ^aheal.

21And again, to some is given the working of ^amiracles;

22And to others it is given to ^aprophesy;

23And to others the ^adiscerning of spirits.

24And again, it is given to some to speak with ^atongues;

25And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.

26And all these ^agifts come from God, for the benefit of the ^bchildren of God.” (italics added)

Oh, duh, right. We can seek help from one another.

Heavenly Father stops me, these days, when I begin to mourn to Him in prayer about my failings due to my weak areas. He has, again, made it clear that I have what I need for my responsibilities and the ability to fill the needs my family has. The Lord will pick up the rest. I was reminded of Ether 12, beginning at verse 23:

23And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will ^amock at these things, because of our ^bweakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us ^cmighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;

24And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the ^aawkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in ^bwriting like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he ^cwrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.

25Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we ^acannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our ^bweakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall ^cmock at our words.

26And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: ^aFools ^bmock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

27And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them. (italics added)

I appreciated these verses, particularly about “grace,” which according to the Bible Dictionary, is the Lord’s “enabling power.” His grace is sufficient for all men; His enabling power.

The expectations of “after all you can do” will be different from one person to the next because of the atonement. The Lord has experienced all that we have experienced and knows how to succor His people in their weakness, be that simply the mortal factor, or where they are emotionally, mentally and physically in their journey of the second estate. My dad taught, “Don’t worry yourself about mistakes you make along the way. You’re just doing the best that you can in any given moment.”

Now, I am aware that there is always room for self improvement, that we are always changing, but it was not my place to be like so-and-so. Nor am I on anyone’s time schedule but the Lord’s for my self improvement.

May you always be confident in your homeschooling efforts, knowing the Lord is in charge, you are His hands, and His instrument in educating His children according to their needs and yours and not someone else’s.

The Princess of Toad Suck

2011-02-11T09:52:00.001-06:00

The Princess of Toad Suck finds the Ice Crystal Dagger

So Patrick asked….

2011-02-10T03:33:00.001-06:00

Patrick asked once where all this musical ability came from, specifically relating to his interests of piano, guitar and harmonica. Well, lets see…..

His father with his own electric guitar

and his paternal grandfather playing harmonica

HIs paternal grandmother plays the organ and drums. (no photos..yet)

He was thrilled to have found these pictures. Now he knows.

Christmas continues

2011-02-10T03:08:00.001-06:00

Patrick’s new harmonica arrived. He’s so happy. He got an Amazon gift certificate from his aunt and uncle and ordered the $38 harmonica with the slide that allows him to play sharps and flats.

And of course he must start playing right away. He’s learning hymns for Trek this summer.

We Found Mr. Prosthesis!! He Lives!!!

2011-02-09T10:06:00.001-06:00

(written in December but posted in Feb)

Seven years ago, when we moved to Arkansas, my mom gave us a box of old ornaments to put on our tree (all of this is a long story in itself). Among these ornaments was a one-legged man.

We took pity on him, certain we could give him new life. We replaced his missing leg with a Q-tip and gave him the name of Mr. Prosthesis. We put him on the tree with Bellerina, Ballarina, Mr. Hernia (whom you will see later), the rubber chicken (which is the representation of my extended family) and many more.

One year, we couldn’t find our box of ornaments. We were certain he had accidentally gone into the burn pile along with the box of other favorite ornaments. We were very sad. BUT!! this week we found him! in a box, buried deep in the attic!. He Lives!!!

His artificial leg had been through quite the ordeal, so it was time for a replacement.

We invited Mr. Hernia, who was also found in the long lost box, to come along for moral support.

First we needed to gently bend back the old leg…

…and then snap it right off!! By the smile on his face, Mr. Prosthesis appears to be doing very well, so we shall proceed…... ………to replace the old Q-tip…..

… WITH A HOOK!!!

We opted for a less invasive surgery,

covered the screw with beads and hot glued him back together.

Mr. Hernia visits Mr. Prosthesis in recovery. Vital signs are good, outpatient surgery went well and his new leg should hold up much better.

we considered adding beads but decided against it.

Time to go hang out on the tree with Mr. Hernia, the Rubber Chicken, Bellerina, Ballarina and all the others, Formerly Known as The Lost Ornaments.

How Katie Shares the Gospel

2011-02-07T07:15:00.001-06:00

Many of you know that Katie carefully selects which of her stuffed animals, toys and critters go into her basket to take to church on Sunday. I noticed one day that, when we sing, Katie will hold a critter or two so they can see the hymnbook, also.

An Epiphany

2011-02-07T04:07:00.001-06:00

I’ve realized something. I rely heavily upon the Lord for everything. This is called faith. And He does not let me down.

And when I talk about it with people who I think would understand, I get looked at and spoken to like I’ve confessed to some truly odd dysfunction, that relying upon the Lord the way that I do is a character weakness.

But I’ve realized something. The people who have acted this way have not ~*had to*~ rely upon Him the way I do. They don’t have a testimony of His care in the way I’ve experienced.

It is in my Patriarchal blessing that I will be guided by the Spirit in every decision I have to make. See that? Pick up on that? ~*Every*~ decision. And it is true.

After my husband died, I was on my own. Life changes when you become a widow. Drastically. The Lord was always there, guiding me through, even, very minor decisions, because I needed it. And He still is. I sometimes have to walk through fire, but He is always right there, encouraging me, patting me on the head.

I have good friends who understand and accept this truth.

I have not-so-good friends who just think I’m weak and dysfunctional. But it has been made clear to me now; it’s not me having an odd dysfunction. I choose to let Him guide me and help me through my life in all things. I have strength through Him, not of myself.

Pepeprmint Bones

2010-12-27T09:54:00.001-06:00

"The Night Before Christmas" ala Jim Davis (Garfield's Night Before Christmas) changed our lives. When my Katie read about "Visions of Peppermint Bones" dancing in Odie's head, Starlight Mints became a part of our Christmas Traditions.

Got Starlight Mints?

Peppermint Bones (and other shapes)
Big bag of Starlight Mints
Powdered Sugar or Cornstarch

For people who are easily distracted (raising my hand), preheat oven to 250 degrees. *
Sprinkle a baking sheet (or two) with a light coating of powdered sugar or cornstarch to prevent the melted candy from sticking to the pan. (I have tried wax paper and parchment paper and they stick to the candy).
Unwrap what feels like 1000 Starlight Mints and place them in desired shapes on baking sheets, sides of candies touching. You can make bone shapes, candy cane shapes, wreath shapes, use your imagination.
Gently place in oven and bake at 250 degrees for about 15 minutes. You will want to keep an eye on them after the timer goes off because once they start meling together, the melitng process just speeds up and the candy spreads out. It takes about 17-18 minutes total in my oven.

Remove pans from oven and allow shapes to cool a couple of minutes on the baking sheet. Gently loosen pepermint shapes on the pan and remove to a cooling rack.

*For people who are not as easily distracted you can set your oven and bake at a higher temperature, of course, but you will just have to keep a closer eye on them

The Christmas Pagent.

2010-12-07T11:45:00.002-06:00

I laughed so hard over this and had to pass it on.--"Gold, common sense and fur..." Gotta love the children....ROFL thanx to Michelle M for this.

"My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us with another son.

The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.

The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old.
I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs..I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him. I tried to be patient the day the children smashed
two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs. When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess..

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close...I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too. Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."   But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."   My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost
her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced
down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."   Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur." The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.   "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur." "My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. Had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us."

Prepare Yourself to Be Amazed

2010-11-30T12:17:00.001-06:00

the wockenflock was asked to speak on The Law of Tithing on November 28. I wanted to speak from a positive stand point, look at the blessings.

Prepare yourself to be amazed.

Prepare yourself to prove God herewith.

Prepare yourself to have the windows of heaven opened up to you.

Prepare yourself for such a blessing that there is not room enough to hold it.

Would you intentionally reject this? But this is what we do if we don’t pay our tithing, according to Elder Richard D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve (Tithing: a Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings, Ensign, Nov. 2002), “We say no to to the very blessings we are seeking and praying to receive…Prove Him now herewith…Pay your tithing. Unlock the windows of heaven”

The Lord promises an abundance of blessings both temporal and spiritual. “The temporal and spiritual blessings of tithing are specifically tailored to us and our families, according to the Lord’s will. But to receive them, we must obey the law upon which they are predicated. ‘ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachai 3:10……)”” (Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings)

Again, would we intentionally reject such a blessing?

Consider the blessings that come unto you and your household by being a full tithe payer. For some, paying tithing is a natural as breathing. for others, it is a struggle.

Elder Dallin H Oakes speaks fondly of his mother and what he learned from her example “My widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things…., I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without that blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing, When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.’”

As a widow, myself, I live according to the same experiences as Elder Oakes mother. I need the blessings of the Lord to get by.

Throughout my research on this topic, I found myself focusing on the blessings of paying tithing.

Paying tithing allows us the blessing of going to the temple and doing the work for our ancestors ourselves, of being there as the links of the generations are joined together. We may feel the presence of our ancestors as we do their work. We can be sealed to our families and receive the blessings of eternity. When asked whether members of the Church could be baptized for the dead if they had not paid their tithing, President John Taylor said, “A man who has not paid his tithing is unfit to be baptized for his dead….if a man has not faith enough to attend to these little things, he has not enough faith enough to save himself and his friends” (Tithing: A Test of Faith…..).
Tithing develops and tests our faith. By sacrificing to the Lord what we may think we need or want for ourselves, we learn to rely on Him. Our faith in Him makes it possible to keep temple covenants. “The obedient payment of tithing fortifies our faith, and that faith sustains us through the trials, tribulations and sorrows in our life’s journey.” (Tithing": A Test of Faith…..)
President James E. Faust taught that paying tithing strengthens marriages, is an excellent insurance against divorce, that it keeps the Spiritual battery charged (Enriching Your Marriage, Ensign, Apr. 2007, 4-8).
Paying tithing teaches us to control our desires and passions for the things of this world. A young husband and father living on a student budget said to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve, “Perhaps our most pivotal moments as Latter-day Saints come when we have to swim directly against the current of the culture in which we live. Tithing provides just such a moment. Living in a world that emphasizes material acquisition and cultivates distrust for anyone or anything that has designs on our money, we shed that self-absorption to give freely, trustingly, and generously. By this act, we say—indeed- we are different, that we are God’s peculiar people. In a society that tells us money is our most important asset, we declare emphatically it is not.” (Like a Watered Garden, Ensign, Nov 2001, 33)
Paying tithing encourages us to be honest in our dealings with our fellow man.
In Malachai 3:11, we are promised that the Lord shall rebuke the devourer for our sake.

It’s not possible to name all the blessings received, as there is not room enough to receive them, but just a small attractive list. How have you been blessed?

The Lord desires all His children to have the blessings of tithing. Not just the adults. Consider how you teach your family about the Law of Tithing. If your children are taught by you, they are more prepared and less vulnerable to the temptations of the world when clothes and expensive possessions they really cannot afford abound. Their tithing may be only a few pennies right now, but the lesson is what is important. If it is already their lifestyle, they will be less vulnerable in their teens when the things of this world become more attractive.

Elder Hales taught, “As the years go on, is it possible that a young man can be ordained an elder, serve a mission and effectively teach a law to others that he has not lived himself? When he returns home and faces the pressures of schooling, starting a family, and a career, will the law of tithing become easier to live. Likewise, will a young woman be worthy to serve the Lord and make celestial marriage covenants without having gained a testimony of tithing for herself? Will she be prepared to teach her children a law she has not learned by her own experience? Oh what faithfulness is required of fathers and mothers who would unitedly call down the protective blessings of tithing upon their family and the blessings are rightfully theirs. Said President Lorenzo Snow: ‘Teach the children to pay tithing, so that it may be perpetually observed. IF we observe this law, no matter what our enemies may do, the Lord will preserve us."’”

As I go about living my life, I receive counsel from the Lord on purchases, whether to go ahead and buy, wait, or even skip it all together. Things always just come together, amazingly enough. The money is there for daily needs and even when something unexpected comes up. We’re doing okay, thanks to the promises of the Lord.

Prepare yourselves to be amazed. The Lord wishes to bless His children.

Clay Pot Nativity

2010-11-29T03:00:00.000-06:00

One of the most precious things I’ve ever seen was this home made clay pot nativity I found at a flea market shop. I snatched it up as fast as I could and have made a few move since. I made these one December with an Activity Days group, who loved it!

I neglected to measure the pots, and the packages don’t say, either, but they are the smaller ones you find at your craft store. I have used 2 different sizes of pots at different times. They work, Just look them over and see what will work with your wood balls.

You basic needs are:

two sizes of small pots,
1 inch wood balls for Baby Jesus,
1 1/2 –1 3/4 inch wood balls with flat bottom for Mary and Joseph,
acrylic craft paint in skin tone of choice,
white paint,
black paint,
paint for clothing color of choice,
fabrics to coordinate with paint color ,
scrap of white muslin,
moss color of choice (for baby’s bed),
raffia,
craft wire-color of choice (opt),
paint brushes,
hot glue gun and glue sticks.

Protect your work area with news paper.

For Baby Jesus, you need:

1 of the smallest pots
to fit a 1-inch wood ball inside
moss
skin tone paint, white paint, black paint
white muslin, 1- 1/2” x 5 inches

Paint the wood ball skin tone color and let dry.

Fold white muslin in half lengthwise so it is 3/4 inch wide and 5 inches long. Wrap around wood ball, with folded edge toward you, and add a drop of hot glue to secure fabric “under chin”. Fold up excess fabric against ball, hot glue in place. Put desired amount of moss into smallest pot, add Baby Jesus, hot gluing in place.

For Mary and Joseph you need:

1 -1/2 inch - 1-3/4 inch wood balls for each
clay pots, 2 -1/2 inch– 3 inch sized for each (bigger than the manger pots)
paint color of choice for “robes”, coordinating fabric for head dress for each
raffia

For Mary and Joseph, you need to paint only the front half of the pot, as the back is covered. Let dry. Paint the wood balls skin tone color of choice and let dry. You may paint their faces now, but I choose to do it later. Add a Raffia bow (about 12 inches of raffia) around Mary’s middle, hot glue in place.

Hot glue the painted heads in place.

Fold over a small portion of the long side of fabric 2 times. Secure into place around faces.

Fold under excess fabric, tucking inside clay pot, hot gluing in place. Bring some of the fabric forward to overlap the front fold for a neater look, hot gluing in place, again.

Add a raffia tie around Joseph’s head and tie a knot in place. If desired, cut a strip of wire, shaping into a staff and secure with hot glue into fold of Joseph’s head dress.

Paint their faces with 2 black dots and 2 white dots. Let dry. Spray with sealer, if desired, and ENJOY. Enjoy the holiday season, my friends!

This is the original Nativity I bought a few years ago. This one has green moss in Baby Jesus’ manger and a green florist wire hook as Joseph’s staff. How cute is this!

Teresa is a widow who loves the Christmas season best. Her Christmas tree goes up on September 1 and comes down in the Spring. You can find her whistling Christmas Carols up and down the Christmas aisles and at Wockenflock Daze.

Christmas Light House

2010-11-29T02:55:00.000-06:00

This is my unfinished version. Decorate as you please

You need:

1 -12 inch clay pot
1- 8-inch clay pot
1-6-inch clay pot
green acrylic paint
trim color as you desire (I used gold)
buttons and bows for decor
solar light
hot blue
sealer, if desired

Cover your work space. Paint your pots in desired colors

starting with rims. Let dry. Stack and decorate as desired. Spray with sealer.

You can see my original in the background. This green one is smaller than the original. My craft store didn’t have the 14-inch bottom pot the day I went looking,so I went the next size down. If you want the larger pots, use 1- 14-inch pot, 1- 10-inch pot and 1-8 -inch pot.

doubled up the buttons in some places

I also made different sized trees.

The bottom is the 12-inch pot, and just stacked up. I made one using a 6 inch pot, 4-inch pot and a 2 inch pot. The star on top is a glittery Christmas Ornament hot glued to hole in the top.

I used smaller sized pots and a 1-inch wood ball on top, painted it yellow and hot glued a flat show flake.

Use your imagination! Have fun!

Teresa loves the Christmas season and can be found whistling Christmas Carols in July and at Wockenflock Daze. Her Christmas tree goes up on September 1.

Life Skills

2010-10-28T12:12:00.001-05:00

this will be the featured post at Latter-day homeschooling on 11/1/10

Pink Giraffe broom by Casabella
(I own the Cheetah print broom)

What are those three little words a woman wants to hear from her man?
”I do laundry.”
Or how about, “I can cook.”
”I wash dishes.”
Okay, yes, I’m making this a little one sided. How many young ladies have gone off on their mission with no housekeeping skills, cooking skills, or the ability to do her own laundry (yes, they have to clean their apartments, cook and wash)? How many of us left home without really having any idea what we were in for? (raising my hand, here) We moms live a life of service, but we have the responsibility in this serving, somewhere, to teach our children self sufficiency. I know it is easier to just do it ourselves, that it takes TIME to teach them and we have to SLOW DOWN and be PATIENT while THEY LEARN to do it over and over and over.

Now, this has not been easy for me to do, personally, and I’m still struggling, because I didn’t have the example of involved parents when I was growing up. They did the best they could, or knew how, I guess. I’m trying to improve on it with my family, teaching them to be responsible, but I also tell my children, that if there is something they did not like that I did, or how I taught, “Improve on it with your own children. Don’t waste your time whining about how you didn’t like what/how I did. Improve on it.” ( I have noticed am improvement through the generations)

I have discovered web site about this, imagine that, so here we go…

How to Teach Your Children to Clean Up
Teach your Children to Enjoy Chores..

As I was digging through a stack of old papers, I came across a list, or a basic guideline, of responsibilities our children should be able to learn to do at certain ages. I’m not sure where it came from, but I thought I would pass it on.

3 Year Olds can learn to

dress self
use potty by themselves
start to brush their own teeth
put toys away
say prayers (personally, I think this depends on the individual child)

4 Year Olds can learn to

brush teeth
make bed, pick up in their room
get a bowl of cereal
make sandwiches
memorize address and phone number
start learning articles of faith

5 Year Olds can learn to

straighten a room
vacuum
empty household trash cans
set the table
make own sandwich
warm up canned food (with supervision, of course)
help in the garden, plant vegetables and seeds

6 Year Olds can learn to

take shower without help
dust the furniture
load dishwasher
empty dishwasher
run microwave
water the plants
make and answer phone calls

7 Year Olds can learn to

wash dishes
clean cupboard doors
floss their own teeth
clean the bathroom (including the toilet)
pull weeds in the garden
have a saving account (if they get an allowance or do jobs for money)
read aloud

8 Year Olds can learn to

grooming (nails,notice dirty face)
get up by themselves
participate in team sports or clubs (if not sooner)
notice and develop personal talents
clean mirrors
sweep
do own hair
begin piano lessons, or other instrument
get baptized
read scriptures daily
have their own library card
choose books
care for pet
help with younger siblings
be aware of their testimony

9 Year Olds can learn to

mop the floor
clean and dust pictures on walls
bake cookies
be aware of their 72 hour emergency kit
learn basic first aid
wash car and vacuum interior
basic carpentry--hammer nails, saw wood
cook vegetables
write letters , maybe have a pen pal, thank you notes
basics of sex education
email grandparents
wrap gifts
sew on buttons when they’ve come off

10 Year Olds can learn to

Do own laundry
play musical instrument
write in journal on their own
understand the benefits of exercise
clean stove
help more in the kitchen, make salads
understand basic nutrition
iron their own clothes
use leaf blower
plan their own little garden space
place a collect call
know articles of faith
write creatively

11 Year Olds can learn t

clean refrigerator
straighten drawers
straighten closets
sew hems
start cooking---breads, pies, main dishes

12 Year Olds can learn to

have basic fashion awareness and help shop for their wardrobe
read a newspaper article and report on it
speak in public (4-H or church)
consider weight management
make and keep dentist appointment
iron own clothes,, if needed
plan family meals
mow lawn
use weed eater
start mission preparation
have good basic math skills
use a camera (if you dare)
learn to crochet or knit
learn first aid
take a babysitting class and babysit
clean windows
use internet (parental supervision, of course)
keep personal calendar
use common computer programs
read the Book of Mormon through
basic auto maintenance (check oil, fluids)
Mend clothing

13 Year Olds can learn to

sew simple items
shop for clothes and other items
find bargains
plan parties
have own recipe files
shop for groceries
care for plants –teaches responsibility of keeping something alive
keep a simple budget
household bills (gain an understanding)
Certify for CPR
Type without looking
Understand prescriptions
Learn meat-handling rules

14 Year Olds can learn to

understand basics of food storage
memorize social security number
understand about interest, debt and securities
use makeup
identify business skills to get some experience with sales
understand basic civics and politics
accompany parent to vote
perform thorough car detailing
change flat tire
use proper etiquette
clean garage
understand basics of car operation
do simple household repairs
memorize scripture mastery

16 year olds can learn to

get driver’s license
understand credit cards, debit cards
Use ATM if they have their own account
sell and by on eBay (only if you are comfortable with it)
learn about retirement plans
focus on mission prep
understand interviewing
understand advertising
start career planning
file insurance claim (if you do that in your household)
car insurance
perform household repairs
assist in purchase of car-research and compare vehicles before you buy
open checking account
file tax return
interact with auto mechanics
pay for and use a cell phone
get a job

Of course, modify as you see fit in your family, but we must remember to be there, teaching, waiting for them to get it. Perfection at first is not necessary. If the little one’s clothes are on….great. Matching clothes is secondary.

Praise.

Praise for doing something, anything, right.

Would you consider writing a post/guest post on how you accomplished teaching any life skill? We’ve had a few, but there is room for more. How did it work for you? What jobs do your children do around the house and at what ages? How do you get chores done?

Be Wild Angle Broom found here
These animal print brooms are hard to find. I am lucky to have mine.
Camo Print Broom by Alice Supply

I have wrapped Tie-Dye duct tape around the handles of my mop and um…plunger. Takes some of the pain out of cleaning.

Teresa is a widow, with 4 children at home, trying to manage this parenting thing on her own. She relies on the Lord for guidance, inspiration and everything else. You can find her family goings on and a few homeschool activities at Wockenflock Daze.

Food Storage for November

2010-10-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

WATER AND FILTER ACCESSORIES

Amount to store: minimum of 14 gallons/person

1 extra bottle sodium hypochlorite bleach solution

1 bottle tincture of iodine or iodine water tablets

Flavorings for water if desired

Okay, my friends on the baby step program,how is the food storage process going? Do you see some items in the bottom of your closet starting to build up? Is your closet running out of room? I sure hope so. What can you toss in this month that you didn’t use in October? Be patient, now, because we will take inventory in December or maybe at the start of the new year.

Now, for November:

A family can subsist for quite a while without food, but for only a short time without water, therefore it is important not to minimize the importance of storing water. The amount to store varies greatly with age and levels of need. For instance, children under three consume more water than adults and also need more bathing than adults. In moderate weather, a fairly sedentary person consuming an average low-protein diet requires a minimum of ½ gallon of water per day for drinking and food preparation. As a minimum, store 14 gallons per person for a 2-week period. A two week period will cover most natural disasters and broken water pipes

Water can be stored in purchased, boxed shaped, 5 gallon storage containers available in stores and web sites selling emergency preparation items. Water can be stored in food grade plastic bottles with plastic lids (with the exception of bottled water jugs and milk jugs. They do disintegrate and leak after a couple years, leaving you with a mess to clean up.) Some to rotate their water bottles in the summer, giving an excuse for a good water fight. I store water in empty cranberry juice jugs. (Ladies, we also need to store our cranberry juice or cranberry supplements)

Here is a site for water storage containers to give you an idea to ponder on. I have seen water filtration systems in camping departments at local stores.

There are 4 basic methods for obtaining drinkable water from polluted water: filtration, chemical treatment, freezing and distillation.(I have yet to find information on how the freezing method works.) You will find the methods in a table below. Filtration and chemical are usually used in combination. The water is filtered to remove large particles (like mud), then treated with bleach, iodine or water purification tablets. If desired, flavorings can be added. Lemonade covers bleach a little, but strong dark colors are better for iodine since they help cover the color change of the water. I happen to have iodine liquid. I am not sure where I got it..maybe on the counter at a gas station…

In an emergency, you can get water from the toilet tank (from the reservoir in the back, not the bowl!!!) or from your home’s hot water heater, if it has been regularly cleaned. Water can be stored in the bathtub.

Have you considered keeping a rain barrel or two? What do you use for a rain barrel? Would a plastic trash can do? What are all the ways you use water? What are your needs?

An interesting read about water is National Geographic, April 201o.

WATER PURIFICATION METHODS:

BOILING: the safest method for purifying water is to boil it vigorously for 2-3 minutes to destroy bacteria. To improve the taste, pour the boiled water from one clean container to another several times to aerate it. Cool, or even add clean, uncontaminated ice to improve palatability. As a last resort, mix up weak (1/2 strength) Kool-aid or lemonade with the purified water.

DISTILLATION: Most distilling equipment is bulky and expensive, but if you own a juicer it can be used to distill small quantities of water for emergencies. The impurities would remain in the bottom part of the juicer, while the distilled water could come from the juicing hose. Fill the bottom reservoir with water, add the middle section, and skip the perforated basket t hat usually holds the fruit. Place the lid on the second section and boil until you have distilled 2/3 of the water you put in the reservoir. Empty and repeat of necessary. Be careful, because the juicer will become hot like any pan on the stove, and it is easy to get burned.
BLEACH: Use any brand of 5.25%sodium hypochlorite. BE SURE HYPOCHLORITE IS THE ONLY ACTIVE INGREDIENT. SKIP THE FRAGRANT BLEACH. Using the following chart, add the chlorine solution to the water. Mix by stirring or shaking the container. Allow to stand 30 minutes. The water should have a distinct chlorine taste or smell. If this smell is not present, add a 2^nd dose of the solution to the water and let stand for at least 15 minutes more. The taste/smell of chlorine in treated water is a sign of safety.

Amount of water

Water condition

Amount of bleach

1 Quart

Clear

cloudy

2 drops

4 drops

½ gallon

Clear

cloudy

4 drops

8 drops

1 gallon

Clear

cloudy

8 drops

16 drops

5 gallons

Clear

cloudy

½ tsp

1 tsp

IODINE : 2% tincture of iodine can be used to purify small quantities of water. Stir thoroughly. The taste is not exactly delightful, but the water is safe to use. Follow the chart below:

Amount of water	Water condition	Drops of Iodine
1 Quart	Clear cloudy	3 drops 6 drops
1/2 gallon	Clear cloudy	6 drops 12 drops
1 gallon	Clear cloudy	12 drops 24 drops

Iodine tabs (found in the camping section at your sporting good store, Wal Mart..etc.) will have directions on their bottles.

What works for you? Do you have an information that needs to be added? How do you store water and filtration?

Teresa is a widow, with 4 children, who has experience with storing water in the wrong kind of plastic jugs. It wasn’t pretty. Her food storage is building, and is always on the lookout for a good deal. You can find her at Wockenflock Daze.

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

2010-10-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite FHE lessons comes from Ephesians 6:10-17

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Therefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feed shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

You can start out discussing this FHE with the conditions of the world, the subtle tools of Satan in these latter days,and that we are not left alone to fend for ourselves against these things. We have the pieces of the Armor of God to protect us, but we must be willing to wear them.

Discuss with your family the meaning of each piece of the armor:

Loins girt with truth- seeking truth of all things, being virtuous,chaste
Breastplate of righteousness-this piece covers our heart and symbolizes keeping righteousness in our heart
Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace-this piece covers feet and shins, which are on the floor as we pray. Prayer is how we prepare ourselves for our daily lives, communicate with the Lord.
Shield of Faith-when we maintain our faith or strengthen our faith the Lord, build our testimony, we can withstand anything Satan can send our way.
Helmet of Salvation-this covers our head, helping us to remember what we allow into our minds
Sword of the Spirit –which is the word of God and cuts through falsehoods, lies and untruths

If you wish, use the printouts of the dolls and armor pieces, found here for the body, and then here for the armor, for discussing each piece as a visual. One for each child works well, coloring each piece as you discuss it, then gluing them in place. We made a poster in our family that has been up for years (see the worn, well traveled poster at the top of this post)

Additionally, if you have it, you can dress a child up in pieces of costume armor, discussing each part as you go (improvise where you need to). And the best part is when the rest of the family gets to throw” fiery darts” (red paper airplanes or simply, crumpled red papers) while the child uses any piece of the armor to knock it away. The people throwing the fiery darts call out some tool Satan might use to tempt them, such as, disobedience, poor choices, lying, bad TV shows, etc. It’s great to watch our Latter-day warrior bat them away.

Another armor of God object lesson is to show what happens if we remove our armor, even piece by piece. You’ll need:

2 oranges
large clear glass bowl, or a truffle bowl or 2 clear pitcher
water

Fill your containers with enough water so that the oranges are floating well above the bottom of the container/s. They float because they are protected by the peel, which can be likened unto the armor of God.

Begin to remove the peel, one piece at a time, discussing which piece of armor might come off, what someone might do to remove it, then place the orange back in the bowl.

That first time, depending on how small a piece has been removed, it may float at the same level as the unpeeled orange, but you will find that as you continue to remove it piece by piece and place it back in the bowl each time, it sinks lower and lower…..
Until the peel is completely removed and the orange is resting on the bottom.

You’ve made your point, the impact is made and they remember this one.

Serve the oranges for FHE snack.

Teresa is a mom to 4 Latter-day Warriors, who wear their armor proudly. You can find their family goings on and a few homeschool activities at Wockenflock Daze.

Pumpkin Vase

2010-10-21T12:33:00.001-05:00

I forget where I came across this idea, but I loved it and make this eyery year now.

You scoop out the insides of a pumpkin, insert a foam semi circle, and arrange your favorite fall flowers.

A woman was asked what it was like to be baptized and she said something like, “It’s like being a pumpkin. Jesus opens you up,scoops out all the yucky stuff, puts a smile on your face and places a wonderful, glowing light inside.”

Peter Pan and his Shadow

2010-10-21T12:11:00.001-05:00

Patrick and his friend Troy had a Masquerade dance to attend, and Troy’s mom thought it would be fun for the two of them to go as Peter Pan and his Shadow. She did a great job putting their costumes together. Just look at them!!

They took a prize, of course. They went about, synchronized in all they did, asked girls to dance, speaking in unison as they asked, holding a hand out to them as they asked, they walked in unison, ate in unison, stood alike….But Patrick couldn’t scratch. Troy couldn’t scratch because his makeup would rub off.

Katie Rocks On!

2010-10-16T10:50:00.001-05:00

Katie’s latest creations…

The fish is going to be my Christmas gift……. *;-.)

Our Tin Can Pumpkins

2010-10-16T09:57:00.001-05:00

I found these in a newspaper magazine insert and loved them!!

You need: cans of varying sizes, Orange spray paint, Newspaper for work area protection, hammer, nail, wire for handle, candles and a sense of fun.

We used one of really big cans that used to hold food storage amounts of rice, a large baked beans can, and two 16-oz cans.
We washed them out, dried them,
then flattened any sharp edges.
Patrick spray painted them Pumpkin Orange, then..
poked holes in them using a hammer and a nail. He stuffed the cans with logs and sticks to hold their shape while he made the holes.
Two holes are make in the sides, near the rims, to…
fasten a wire handle, twisted for fun design. I used a lighter gauge wire, but you can use a heavier gauge.

Aren’t these great?! I put a votive candle inside a glass votive cup for the two larger cans and used tea lights for the smaller sized.

Storage Item for October~~emergency supplies

2010-10-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

the original of this article is being featured on Latter-day Homeschooling, 10-4-10

We are striving to be a wise, and prepared, virgin.

How is your food storage coming? Have you checked your pantry yet to see what can be tossed in your closet for this month, anything left over? What have you purchased? Do you see your food storage building?

This month we are talking about emergency supplies. We are touching on a few aspects about acquiring emergency supplies, what we need, what stores will run out of in a national emergency, recipes for emergency baby formula, cleaners, wipes, link for my favorite storage and emergency recipe book, and links for Pinto Bean Pie recipes. Happy browsing!

Do you have a 72 hour emergency kit (a printable file) for each member of your family? People store different things in their kits. I came across this one first. If you google “72 hour emergency kits”, several links will come up. Store what works for your family.

When I was a new member, I was counseled to rotate items in my 72-hour emergency kit every General Conference weekend. Rotate food items, i.e. crackers, oatmeal packets, etc. Check expiration dates on medicines, first aid supplies. Check what more you might need. Have you considered Dental supplies, such as Dentex for lost fillings and loose caps? Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about having an extra bottle of prescription meds in your emergency kit in case of , well, emergencies where you won’t be able to get to the pharmacy. Rotate monthly.

I found this to be an interesting site:

Top 100 Items to Disappear in a National Emergency

In the above link, you will find products stores may run out of immediately. Best to have it on hand already. One item that was not listed on the link was a Hand Crank Wheat Grinder.

I found an interesting article in “Mother Earth News” magazine, Feb/March 2010, about the Cam Mathers family that lives off the grid completely now, growing their own food, solar power, wind turbine, wood stove, etc. Cam has written a book , “Thriving During Challenging Times: The Energy, Food and Financial Independence Handbook”, detailing how they’ve achieved their lifestyle. I am interested in reading this.

I have listed recipes, below the storage item block, for Emergency Baby formula, home made baby wipes, anti-bacterial cleaning wipes, homemade laundry soap and newspaper logs.

Food Storage Item of the Month for October

Fuel and Light,

Alternate Energy, Cooking,

Candles, Flashlights,

Clothing and Warmth

72-hour emergency kit expiration date check and rotation

FUEL: What do you use to heat your home?

A wood pile is a good source of emergency energy for warmth, light and cooking, but only if you have a fireplace or a wood stove. 3-4 cord of wood will last a typical winter, if burned only during the day, and just enough to keep the house warm. More is needed for an open fireplace. Newspapers can also be turned into clean-burning logs. (Directions will follow)

Kerosene heaters are available at your hardware stores. (Sorry I do not have information on kerosene storage. Your dealer may know what you need. If I get the information, I will get it to you.)

When using dry heat, consider keeping a pan of water steaming to add moisture to the air.

COOKING: Meals can be prepared over an open fire, as our scouts have been practicing. Roasting hotdogs using the newspaper logs might be a fun FHE activity either with your woodstove, fireplace or outdoor campfire, and you can see what it takes to control the mess if done indoors.

An emergency tin can stove is simply a #10 can with a heating unit. (The #10 can is the really big one we get from the Cannery or from the institutional canned food aisle at the grocery store. Can you eat that much Fruit Cocktail?) Corrugated paper can be rolled tightly around a candle stub and put into a tuna can, then soaked with wax. Place it on a heatproof surface, light, and set the tin can stove over it. Cook on the stove “top” which was formerly the bottom of the # 10 can.

Of course, camp stoves work well also. Store butane canisters.

LIGHT: A typical ½ inch taper candle will burn for 3-4 hours and if placed in front of a mirror or pie tin, gives off twice the light. Put a small plate under the candlestick to catch the wax if the candle holder doesn’t have a cup to catch the wax. (Do you know how to make candles?) Votive candles burn less brightly, but longer. Votive holders get very hot when the candle burns continuously, and can burn wood surfaces, so it might be a good idea to protect the surface with a hot plate or pot holder.

A two battery flashlight will provide light for 3-4 hours continuously with old batteries and 5-6 hours with new. An additional 1-2 hours of use can be gained by using the flashlights only intermittently.

Consider adding light bulbs to your storage.

Coleman lanterns are readily available along with butane canisters.

Oil lamps are readily available, Store Lamp oil and wicks.

WARMTH: Do you keep a blanket in your vehicle? What about those silver thermal blankets you find in the camping section at the store? They take up very little room. What do you need that makes sense for your family? Do you need anything extra for warm clothing?

Solar Power is an alternative to electricity.

Wind Turbine Power is also becoming more popular.

NEWSPAPER LOGS

Divide the day’s paper into sections and fold them to one-half size (about 12”x15” and ½” thick or less.) Place them n a tub of water and either soak overnight or add 1 TBSP detergent to a large tub of water and soak an hour or two. Then, while wet, roll the sections individually on a 1” rod and squeeze out the excess water while smoothing the surface edges. Slide the rolls off the rod and stand them on end to dry, tipping the rolls slightly to allow air to circulate. The “logs” should be about 12” long and 2” to 4” in diameter. They are ready to use when completely dry. The average week-day newspaper will make 2-3 logs, and the Sunday edition will make up to seven logs. Newspaper logs provide, pound-for-pound, about the same heat as wood and is an efficient energy source. 4 logs last approximately one hour.

Emergency Baby Formula

(from Cookin’ with Home Storage by Peggy Layton. I love this book!!)

1/3 cup plus 2 tsp. instant powdered milk
or
1/4 cup non-instant powdered milk
1/3 cup boiled water
Mix together and stir thoroughly.
Add:
1 Tbl oil
2 tsp sugar
If baby bottles are not available, milk can be spoon-fed to an infant.

Home made Laundry Soap
5.5 oz -ish bar Ivory Soap ( I used 2-3 oz bars)
1 1/2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (or other available brand)
1 1/2 cups Borax
1 -5 gallon bucket with lid

With a vegetable peeler, shave soap into a 2-qt pot. Add 4 cups hot water and melt the soap at a medium heat, stirring frequently. When the soap flakes melt, pour soap and water mixture into the 5-gallon bucket and fill it 1/2 full with hot tap water. Add the 1 1/2 cups each of washing soda and borax. Stir until powders dissolve. Fill bucket with hot tap water, cover with the lid and let sit over night.

Next day, you will find a layer of glop at the top of the mixture. Stir until glop breaks up. This is now your laundry soap concentrate and ready to use (this mixture will continue to thicken to the consistency of hair conditioner).
Select a container with a lid for your working mixture--empty vinegar bottle, drink pitcher...whatever works for you-- and fill 1/2 full with hot water and 1/2 with concentrate, leaving enough room for shaking expansion.
Shake before each use. The original recipe calls for using 1/2 cup laundry soap for a large load of laundry. A friend of mine was able to get away with 1/4 cup per large load. (she washed very dirty nasty towels, smelly rags and they came out looking and smelling fresh and clean. ) See what works for you.

Make Your Own Cleaning Wipes
Here's what you'll need:
(

1) roll Bounty paper towels (these seem to hold up the best; I've also heard that Viva towels do pretty well)
(1) Rubbermaid #6 square container & lid, or other similar size (10-cup) container with tight-fitting lid
(2) cups water
(1) ounce Lysol all-purpose cleaner (according to the bottle, this 1:16 dilution will give you hospital-grade disinfecting)
You'll also need a long serrated knife (like a bread knife), an electric knife, or a small hacksaw. (I use a long serrated bread knife.)

2) Begin by cutting the roll of paper towels in half, so that you end up with two shorter rolls. (It may help if you cut down through the paper all the way around until you hit the cardboard tube in the middle, and then cut through the cardboard tube.) Brush any loose "fuzzies" off the cut ends, and trim any large clumps with scissors if desired. You'll only need one half of the roll right now; save the other half.
Add the water and Lysol in your container, and swirl to mix (do not shake - you'll make suds).
Next, turn your half roll with the cut side down and gently fold in the sides of the cardboard tube in the middle of the paper towel roll until you can pull it out of the center. It will pull up the inside end of the towel roll with it, and that's just what you want.
Place your roll cut side down in the container with your cleaner and water mixture, and close the lid. Allow the paper towel roll to soak up all the liquid (about 30-60 minutes). Then turn your container upside down for 1-2 hours so that the cleaning mixture can saturate all of the roll. Once it's done, turn it right-side up and you're ready to go - just grab the towels from the inside of the roll, tear off as many as needed, and replace the lid.

3) Depending on how quickly you go through these, you may need to add just a little water periodically to keep the towels moist.
You can, of course, substitute other brands of cleaners if you'd like. Just be careful that you don't mix different cleaners together. Or if you would rather stay away from the chemicals in the Lysol, you can try this recipe for the cleaning mixture:
1 tsp baking soda
2-5 drops dish soap
3 Tbsp. white vinegar
2-3 cups water
Be sure to label all containers and keep out of reach of small children.

Make Your Own Baby Wipes

You can use the same method for making your own cleaning wipes (see previous post) in order to make your own baby wipes as well (with different ingredients, of course).
Here's what you'll need:

(1) roll Bounty* paper towels (or a half roll left over from making cleaning wipes)
(1) Rubbermaid #6 square container or similar
(2) cups water (distilled or tap, depending on your preference)
(2) Tbsp. baby wash or baby shampoo
Optional: (1) Tbsp. baby oil or baby lotion
Prepare the same way as you would the cleaning wipes.
I usually just used tap water, and I left out the baby oil/lotion. But you can use distilled water or boiled tap water (which has cooled to room temp before using the wipes) if you want. Adjust the amount of water based on how relatively wet or dry you prefer your wipes.
As before, you may need to add a few drops of water periodically if your wipes start to dry out.
If you also make your own cleaning wipes, make ABSOLUTE SURE to label each container so that you (or anyone else in your household) don't accidently mix them up!
*I've found that Bounty works really well. You'll want to use a paper towel that is quite thick and is not prone to giving off a lot of lint.

Happy prepping, my friends. Do you have any ideas, recipes and favorite books to share?

Teresa watches the “Jericho” series often enough to keep considering the importance of food storage and emergency supplies. She is not ready for everything that could happen, but is working toward it. She intends to try Pinto Bean Pie and Pinto Bean Fudge someday when she is brave enough.

Seein Things, by Eugene Field

2010-10-03T19:30:00.001-05:00

he original of this post is featured at Latter-day Homeachooling blog on October 4 2010

Since I was an adult convert, I didn’t have the comforting truths of the Gospel as a child. I believed in creepy ghosts, monsters, the basement creatures, and, oh, the things that went “bump” in the night. (shudder) I remember being afraid of the dark, and the things I saw in the shadows…(shiver)….just last night, in fact. *;-.)

As a child, I found this poem and thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever read. Still do. While I don’t believe children “see things” because they’ve been bad, I think it is a result of a child’s imagination over their insecurities of reality or what they can’t see. This poem changed my life, my perspective~ the dark can be funny.

SEEIN' THINGS

by: Eugene Field (1850-1895)

AIN'T afraid uv snakes or toads, or bugs or worms or mice,
An' things 'at girls are skeered uv I think are awful nice!
I'm pretty brave I guess; an' yet I hate to go to bed,
For, when I'm tucked up warm an snug an' when my prayers are said,
Mother tells me "Happy Dreams" an' takes away the light,
An' leaves me lyin' all alone an' seein' things at night!

Sometimes they're in the corner, sometimes they're by the door,
Sometimes they're all a-standin' in the middle uv the floor;
Sometimes they are a-sittin' down, sometimes they're walkin' round
So softly and so creepy-like they never make a sound!

Sometimes they are as black as ink, an' other times they're white--
But color ain't no difference when you see things at night!
Once, when I licked a feller 'at had just moved on our street,
An' father sent me up to bed without a bite to eat,
I woke up in the dark an saw things standin' in a row,
A-lookin' at me cross-eyed an' p'intin' at me -- so!
Oh, my! I wuz so skeered 'at time I never slep' a mite--
It's almost alluz when I'm bad I see things at night!

Lucky thing I ain't a girl or I'd be skeered to death!
Bein' I'm a boy, I duck my head an' hold my breath.
An' I am, oh so sorry I'm a naughty boy, an' then
I promise to be better an' I say my prayers again!
Gran'ma tells me that's the only way to make it right
When a feller has been wicked an' sees things at night!

An' so when other naughty boys would coax me into sin,
I try to skwush the Tempter's voice 'at urges me within;
An' when they's pie for supper, or cakes 'at's big an' nice,
I want to -- but I do not pass my plate f'r them things twice
No, ruther let Starvation wipe me slowly out o' sight
Than I should keep a-livin' on an' seein' things at night!

Have you considered having your child write about what he or she thinks of the dark?

What will we find out?

Teresa is a ‘fraidy cat who learned from an old Bill Cosby monologue about the music that keeps monsters away at night. It goes like this…. “neh, neh, neh, neh, neh, neh, neeeehhh” repeated over and over. It works. She has not been eaten. These days she is afraid of the Faulk monster that travels through rural central Arkansas. You can find her singing her monster repelling music when she is walking the property at night and at Wockenflock Daze.

“Peace,” He Said

2010-09-19T18:35:00.001-05:00

Most days, this widowhood thing is really hard and I pray mightily about stuff that is going on, my kids, and what I am concerned about. I was just starting my usual anguished, “there’s this to take care of, there’s this need but I’m not equipped or knowledgeable to do that, or how am I going to.. ” when He stopped me, and said “Peace. Just have peace. I will take care of your world for you.”

I can live with that promise.

Latter-day Homeschooling Blog is Being Talked About

2010-09-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

After a recent uncomplimentary article about homeschooling in a popular LDS magazine (whose editor is receiving quite the indignant outcry from the homeschooling community), it was refreshing to read a positive online article at Mormon Times, which mainly featured the
Latter-day Homeschooling blog, for which I am one of the many authors.

The author of the article,
Bloggernacle Back Bench: Home schooling helps
specifically linked to one of my articles, an article by my friend, Dana,(who started the Latter-day homeschooling blog) and 2 other great reads on the website, all in an effort to show the diversity of what is offered.

People are talking…and homeschooling.

Cooking in the Fire Ring

2010-09-18T19:12:00.001-05:00

Patrick wanted to take his new Dutch Oven for a spin on an open fire, and so, on his night to cook…..

He chopped wood, got the fire going, made some good coals, set his Dutch Oven in the middle of the coals and did some cookin’

Made Bean Pot using Baked beans, kidney beans, red beans, pinto beans, Butter beans, Maple sausage, rotel, little barbecue sauce, spicy mustard and brown sugar.

Dinner around the fire ring. YUM!! It was great. We’ll cook on the fire ring more often now that the weather is cooling off.

And then a Marsh-smellie roast, as Patrick plays his Harmonica. He’s getting pretty good with it. The white blob above Patrick’s head is Buddy’s stick of marshmallows.

Carbon is the secret ingredient to great toasted Marshmallows

Nap Time

2010-09-08T10:13:00.001-05:00

Our cat, Heidi, settling in for a nap.

The Lessons Born of Adversity~~Homeschooling through Tragedy

2010-09-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

(the original of this is being posted on Latter-day Homeschooling on Sept 6 2010)

My Christmas Tree goes up on September 1.

“Are you crazy”, you may ask? Well, yes, I suppose, according to some. When I was asked for the story of why I do this, I explained it as thus,

“ I love Christmas Trees. I do. They cheer me, bring me joy, lift my spirit. Back when I was a normal person who worried about, or even considered social norms, our family used to wait until the first weekend of December to put up the tree (Having children on the Autism spectrum taught me to throw social norms out the window).
But, the year came when I just couldn't wait until December, so we put it up just before Thanksgiving. Then the next year the kids started asking for it in October (I am easy to convince on this subject), so up the Christmas Tree went, just before Halloween, and it remained our tradition for years after. It stayed up until, oh, February..March…April…the Holiday is just too lovely to enjoy for only one month.

When we moved to Arkansas, truly, “normal” became only a setting on a washing machine. My husband was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. As far as I’m concerned, the person who is not going to recover from an inoperable brain tumor gets everything they want, so on September 1, 2004, 8 months before my husband died , he asked for the tree to go up rather than wait till the end of October. So up it went; anything to bring him peace and contentment in his adversity. As one of my sisters said, “It was Christmas every day until he died. “
So, now, my friends, it goes up when the time feels right.
Merry Christmas!! God bless us, every one! “

My family has, indeed, evolved into something a little different.

Homeschooling also changed drastically during my husband’s illness. Some people counseled me to put my children in public school (ACK!) so they could get away from it. Well, I saw things differently. Their father was not going to recover from this and I was not going to take away what little time they had left with him, to put them in a place that could not even accommodate their needs. We pulled together more, focused on our family, on service, and love.

I don’t remember much about the academics during this time, but my gang learned about occupational therapy by helping their father through his exercises. They learned about selflessness.

They learned about the Spirit of the Law, that though their mom couldn’t go to church on Sunday because of dad’s illness, she worshipped at home and in her heart. When dad couldn’t join us at the table anymore, we had dinner in the living room, where his hospital bed was.

They learned about selflessness through service because of the people who came to pick up them for church and bring them back home~~and we live 14 miles out of town from our church building.

They learned that you plow through difficult times, you keep going, that we live on the love and care of the Lord. He holds you up if you allow Him.

They learned flexibility, that’s it’s okay to give the person with a brain tumor Yellow Cake with Cherries on top for breakfast if that’s what they want. Or Hamburgers and French Fries. You can eat it with him.

My children read to their father. They had been accustomed to being read to, but they learned to take the responsibility, the initiative, to read to someone else.

They learned that sometimes the dying have to be told, through a Priesthood blessing, that’s it’s okay to go, that the responsibility is going to be passed on to the Lord and He takes His responsibilities seriously.

Some days, school was reading aloud to their father, watching School House Rock videos, or gospel based movies, playing Math Blaster on the computer, keeping dad company by watching old black and white TV shows, or spoon feeding him when he couldn’t hold his own spoon anymore. Without fail, though, we began our day with Family Scripture and prayer. We still went to 6 am Seminary, holding tight to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our adversity.

What they learned of traditional, temporal, academics; maybe not so much. What I know they learned; priceless, eternal and worthy to be called “Treasures in Heaven.”

What Sept 1, 2010, looked like at my house.

playing with fotos

2010-08-30T09:13:00.001-05:00

My kids like to take pictures then play with them. Mary takes many of the photos and they are great. Buddy gets it into our Paint program and well…this is Buddy’s latest creation.

Michael Cockrum in the chair, Patrick with wings, Buddy with the parachute…..

Sunday Morning

2010-08-22T15:15:00.001-05:00

Patrick blessed the Sacrament for the first time today. Brothers…. Blessing the Sacrament together…..It was a beautiful thing to see. I couldn’t sing. I just watched them.

8-22-10 Buddy, 20, and Patrick, 16 on Sundays.

The 12 Days of Laundry, By Buddy and Patrick

2010-08-16T02:00:00.000-05:00

The original version of this post appears on the Latter-Day Homeschooling blog on August 16. 2010

Bubble Masters

The 12 Days of Laundry
Written by Buddy and Patrick, 2008

On the first day of laundry, the first thing that we saw: a washer that doesn’t work right.*

On the second day of laundry, the second thing we saw: two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the third day of laundry, the third thing that we saw: three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the fourth day of laundry, the fourth thing that we saw: four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the fifth day of laundry, the fifth thing that we saw: five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the sixth day of laundry, the sixth thing that we saw: six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the seventh day of laundry, the seventh thing we saw: seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the eighth day of laundry, the eighth thing that we saw: eight holey long johns, seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the ninth day of laundry, the ninth thing that we saw: nine muddy snow coats, eight holey long johns, seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the tenth day of laundry, the tenth thing that we saw: ten icy ear muffs, nine muddy snow coats, eight holey long johns, seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the eleventh day of laundry, the eleventh thing we saw: eleven dusty bathrobes, ten icy ear muffs, nine muddy snow coats, eight holey long johns, seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

On the twelfth day of laundry, the twelfth thing that we saw: twelve crusty gloves, eleven dusty bathrobes, ten icy ear muffs, nine muddy snow coats, eight holey long johns, seven moldy towels, six filthy shoes, five underpants, four smelly socks, three dirty pants, two crummy shirts and a washer that doesn’t work right.

*note~~my washer works fine; must be a user problem.

How Katie Loves

2010-08-14T15:30:00.001-05:00

I came in the house this afternoon and Katie was no where to be seen. I called out, “Katie, are you here?” and I heard a noise coming from the boys’ room. She appeared and said, “I’ve been dusting in the boys’ closet.” Who does that?
(obviously not the boys..)

Patrick has been away, staying over with a friend for several days and Buddy was away all day at YSA conference, as was Mary. The house was very quiet and she missed everyone.

Patrick’s 16th Birthday

2010-08-13T08:09:00.001-05:00

He woke us up at 6 am so he could open his presents first thing. We packed everything in big boxes because Patrick has a tendency to figure out what’s in the packages days before his birthday and it loses all the fun. We packed little things in big boxes and big things in small boxes. *;-.)

Rattle, rattle….Fra—gee—lay..wonder what that means?

Guitar Thumb Picks!!

Smoke on the Water sheet music (who remembers that one? Even my 77-year old momma likes Smoke on the Water)

Guitar Rock Classics~ I was listening to this music when I was his age…

When he expressed an interest in Iron Man sheet music, I thought he said Cast Iron…so I bought him a Cast Iron Dutch Oven…

The only 16-year old I know who can be happy about receiving cookware for his birthday.

Mary got it right..Iron Man Sheet Music

It doesn’t look like it, but he really was happy about receiving 10,000 bb’s for his birthday. He and the guys from church are having a battle today (yes, lots of goggles will be involved). The girls were invited to battle too, if they wished…

YES!! Camo Duct Tape!!!

After opening presents…. some of that stuff was heavy….He really *did* ask for the Cast Iron Dutch Oven. He’s a big scouter.

Looks like someone else was interested in Iron Man. He snatched it up before Patrick got to his guitar…
Then Katie turned on the song, “Sixteen Candles,” just for her bro… It was cute.