tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14805144768040178412024-03-18T01:41:28.008-06:00Life & Lessons from a country roadFrom a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-6603735135092792172015-07-12T16:03:00.001-06:002016-07-07T08:57:41.885-06:00Seahawks Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I recently finished a quilt that has been on my list for quite some time. I finally bit the bullet, forked over the cash for fancy true nfl fabric & got it started.<br />
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I just did a simple middle with the Seahawks logo fabric & just put a simple border on it. Then I just put it on my quilt machine & I quilted it. I even let the boys help a little bit.,</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sFonVZxmPAE/VaLkKrTF4PI/AAAAAAAAQr0/Q_7VbZ8eAMg/s640/blogger-image-2013126886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sFonVZxmPAE/VaLkKrTF4PI/AAAAAAAAQr0/Q_7VbZ8eAMg/s640/blogger-image-2013126886.jpg" /></a></div>
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Once it was all quilted we added a dark binding on.<br />
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And finally finished it. Yay for one more project done this year.</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7PD0qphjc3Q/VaLkMTVmyCI/AAAAAAAAQr8/Jm6Ulx_-jxA/s640/blogger-image--1074951136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7PD0qphjc3Q/VaLkMTVmyCI/AAAAAAAAQr8/Jm6Ulx_-jxA/s640/blogger-image--1074951136.jpg" /></a>It was actually quite simple to make. So happy for this boys thrilled reaction. </div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-6917439368795978122015-04-15T08:42:00.001-06:002015-04-15T08:42:41.257-06:001 hour basketI am on Instagram (countryroadquilts) & has seen so many people post about the one hour basket I had to look into it. There is a great Free pattern on craftsy. Just search one hour basket once you get there. You will find it rather quickly.<div>My favorite part of the basket is she was true to her word. It really only takes an hour maybe less. </div><div> </div><div>These were my starting fabrics. The pink one is from Quilted fish Cottage Garden collection. I have some FQ bundles in my shop. The grey is some I had leftover from a quilt I made my neice.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qGUQcmD60No/VS5439gCJqI/AAAAAAAAQp0/XgH7bzEmRBE/s640/blogger-image--1084929243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qGUQcmD60No/VS5439gCJqI/AAAAAAAAQp0/XgH7bzEmRBE/s640/blogger-image--1084929243.jpg"></a></div>I think cutting it out took longer than putting it together. A short hour later: it's finished.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oGyBRQcYZCs/VS542m1c_OI/AAAAAAAAQps/iAk65VBHTsA/s640/blogger-image--1677945770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oGyBRQcYZCs/VS542m1c_OI/AAAAAAAAQps/iAk65VBHTsA/s640/blogger-image--1677945770.jpg"></a></div>I will be making more soon!!!</div></div>From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-87195853267045927802015-01-06T17:19:00.001-07:002015-01-06T18:22:20.976-07:00Preg Testing Ewes I have been in a blog sabbatical if sorts for months now. Intentional & unintentional all at the same time. But then I look at old posts & realize this is about the only stories I have from some days of ranching & school so maybe I better keep at it. <div><br></div><div>Time has flown by: all my boys are getting bigger. I took this picture this fall. These are my boys. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wN6VGgkm_Pc/VKx7l5MUCZI/AAAAAAAAOKI/7018a006oBA/s640/blogger-image-158971926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wN6VGgkm_Pc/VKx7l5MUCZI/AAAAAAAAOKI/7018a006oBA/s640/blogger-image-158971926.jpg"></a></div>How I love them. The little cowboys they are. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cOjT6Wf5PO0/VKx7jrrL_FI/AAAAAAAAOKA/wupFprdQtI4/s640/blogger-image--426123085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cOjT6Wf5PO0/VKx7jrrL_FI/AAAAAAAAOKA/wupFprdQtI4/s640/blogger-image--426123085.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am so blessed & they are growing up faster than I am ready for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had wonderful holidays & spending time with family..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are trying to get back in the swing of things with school & ranching. We will start lambing at the end of the month so we will hit our busiest season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last Saturday we started preg testing the ewes & will continue to do it over the next few weekends. Here are a few things from that day. </div><br></div><div>Since we don't currently live where are lambing sheds we got up early loaded everyone up & drove the hours to get there. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BK51OvzNNXY/VKyKSgjCNmI/AAAAAAAAOLg/p3saQOAN0O4/s640/blogger-image-1745287837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BK51OvzNNXY/VKyKSgjCNmI/AAAAAAAAOLg/p3saQOAN0O4/s640/blogger-image-1745287837.jpg"></a></div>The designated supervisor always asking for food. š We always have boys in & out of the car checking on the boys, & warming up from the cold.</div><div><br></div><div>It was cold. But it slowly warmed up to a whopping 20 degrees. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pLUDKUSWxNM/VKyKHpTac1I/AAAAAAAAOK4/yzQkuCRDhUg/s640/blogger-image--1611023415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pLUDKUSWxNM/VKyKHpTac1I/AAAAAAAAOK4/yzQkuCRDhUg/s640/blogger-image--1611023415.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Warming up the branding paint so we can mark the open (non-pregnant) ewes.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SsPvs2FUskQ/VKyKP_LZzSI/AAAAAAAAOLY/DcmFMmgN-8w/s640/blogger-image--1977022820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SsPvs2FUskQ/VKyKP_LZzSI/AAAAAAAAOLY/DcmFMmgN-8w/s640/blogger-image--1977022820.jpg"></a></div>My handsome hubby & boys watching as the vet gets situated & to oversee the bringing in of the sheep. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nYd4QEdnllU/VKyJz2H22SI/AAAAAAAAOKg/TsgmAhsLgyo/s640/blogger-image-1529935927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nYd4QEdnllU/VKyJz2H22SI/AAAAAAAAOKg/TsgmAhsLgyo/s640/blogger-image-1529935927.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>The older brother teaching my little cowboy how to keep warm. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EHE-gZeKkyo/VKyJyB-TLII/AAAAAAAAOKY/ObinFiRWYks/s640/blogger-image-1250839908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EHE-gZeKkyo/VKyJyB-TLII/AAAAAAAAOKY/ObinFiRWYks/s640/blogger-image-1250839908.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Warming up & feeling much better about things. Don't worry he didn't stay out too long. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q7pk36uMKuo/VKyKLwm9z1I/AAAAAAAAOLI/t_P_SbtbW8c/s640/blogger-image-1345240336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q7pk36uMKuo/VKyKLwm9z1I/AAAAAAAAOLI/t_P_SbtbW8c/s640/blogger-image-1345240336.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>My little dude wanted so much to learn how the ultrasound works. He had so many questions for the vet. We love our vet & he is awesome to work with. So my little dude sat by him for a learning how to tell if the were pregnant or open & anything else he could dream up to ask.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lR5A8srzEBI/VKyKOKUN4cI/AAAAAAAAOLQ/FnoXYxFnLtg/s640/blogger-image-1158288980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lR5A8srzEBI/VKyKOKUN4cI/AAAAAAAAOLQ/FnoXYxFnLtg/s640/blogger-image-1158288980.jpg"></a></div>Smiling for the camera. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gXRdtW-6hBk/VKyKD7OQuRI/AAAAAAAAOKo/q0tEGOr2V2k/s640/blogger-image--733530663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gXRdtW-6hBk/VKyKD7OQuRI/AAAAAAAAOKo/q0tEGOr2V2k/s640/blogger-image--733530663.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The three brown spots at the back of the sheep are my oldest boys getting ready to push & walk them back to the pen. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ouT1S4g6Dvo/VKyKJaAKiPI/AAAAAAAAOLA/36MoU5TYkEw/s640/blogger-image-1438210076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ouT1S4g6Dvo/VKyKJaAKiPI/AAAAAAAAOLA/36MoU5TYkEw/s640/blogger-image-1438210076.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>All donf for the day. We will be doing more in the next week or 2 so be ready for more pictures. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1xgPRq7h8LY/VKyKFjkaMtI/AAAAAAAAOKw/1P0I2a34O7Q/s640/blogger-image-1051868375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1xgPRq7h8LY/VKyKFjkaMtI/AAAAAAAAOKw/1P0I2a34O7Q/s640/blogger-image-1051868375.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Then a little celebration once he finds out that after a long day we are done. Plus I needed a picture of the baby as well. </div><div><br></div><div>It was a good day & I love it when the whole family can get out & work together. It makes for good memories. </div><div><br></div><div>So expect more pictures and posts as lambing & shearing approach & we start school heavy again. Until then. </div>From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-69602316424798460222014-09-11T10:47:00.002-06:002014-09-11T10:49:23.160-06:00Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies <div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #404040; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The boys (big & little) have been asking for cookies again, so I grabbed out my stuff & decided to make some. This recipe is a family favorite. It is one from Jeremy's mom, and I think it is Jeremy favorite cookie. At least anytime I make a different recipe he usually bites into looks a little confused & says "This isn't my moms, is it?" So I thought I might as well share it with everyone else: </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Favorite part of cookies, Cookie dough. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Golden Deliciousness </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> 2 1/2 c. White Sugar 2 1/2 c. Brown Sugar</span></div>
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2 1/2 c. Shortening 5 eggs</div>
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2 Tbs. Vanilla 1/4 c. Milk</div>
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Stir & Mix it in all together. Then add:</div>
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5 c. flour 2 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda</div>
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2 1/2 tsp. Salt 2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder</div>
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Beat until it is all mixed well. Then add:</div>
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5 c. of oatmeal &</div>
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2 c. (or More) of Chocolate & Butterscotch Chips.</div>
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Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.</div>
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This recipe makes a lot (like 7 dozen or so) So I would cut it in half unless you want to have cookies galore. Usually I make a full batch & freeze most of . For some reason when I make them they are almost softer after I freeze them & then thaw them. So I don't know what I am doing wrong, but either way they are delicious. So enjoy. </div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-58790013820281771022014-07-28T08:14:00.002-06:002014-07-28T08:14:50.371-06:00 They call the thing Rodeo "It's the bulls and the blood. It's dust & mud. . . . And they call the thing rodeo." You know that Garth Brooks song. "Rodeo". If not go listen to it. Up until now the thing they call rodeo was something that every year or so we would go watch at the local county fair. <div>
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That was until my brother-in-law talked to my husband & told him about a Jr. Rodeo Association in our area & how he thought our boys would love it & maybe we should look into it. </div>
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And so he did.</div>
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And then we looked into it.</div>
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We have been debating for a long time what we could have our boys do, that wouldn't take a ton of time away from the family & chores. You see I live in a small town & we have a great athletics program for kids around here. HOWEVER, even for the 5 year olds have games twice a week & practice twice a week & some groups practice every day. I am sorry, but for me I feel like that is a little ridiculous to be taking your 5 year old to sports practice everyday in the week. It's at least too much for this family. I know others think it is great & if that is you. Good for you, but for us. That isn't what we want. Since rodeo is primarily individual sport, my boys could practice in the front yard if they wanted. That was an appeal. </div>
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Then we asked my boys what they thought.</div>
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Then my hubby found out that only the #1 spot in each event actually got a belt buckle & 2nd & 3rd a gift certificate. There were no trophies for just participating or taking a up space in the arena. </div>
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Then we joined. </div>
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And so for the last few weekends over the last 2 months we have spent our Saturday watching our boys Rodeo. Now we know nothing about rodeo, but we have been trying to learn as much as we can as quickly as we can. And we have loved it.</div>
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My oldest son has been participating in Chute Dogging & Steer Riding. </div>
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Chute dogging is they start the boys ages 9-12 in the chute with the steer, open the gate. Once it passes a line 10 feet out there goal to to turn the steer so it down. It's quite the challenge for these boys.<br />
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Then of course there is steer riding . . .<br />
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There is definitely a technique to staying on.We have eaten a lot of dirt this season, but we are definitely getting better. They are required to stay on the full 8 seconds.<br />
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My 2nd boys "the monkey" participated in Goat Tying & Calf Riding. </div>
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The last rodeo we went to, he finally rode the calf his entire 8 seconds & received a score. He was so proud of himself & it was so fun to watch.<br />
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When we started goat tying (this is an 0-8 year old category) We didn't even know how to tie a goat.<br />
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By the last rodeo he had made a time. It has to be under 30 seconds in order to received a time.<br />
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My little dude also participated in calf riding & goat tying as well. </div>
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Once the goat it tied, you have to wait 6 second to make sure it holds. This little boy finally got his first time at our last rodeo. He has been working hard to finally get it!<br />
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Then of course the calf riding. For being the youngest in this event, he always got some of the biggest calves.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">He came so close so many times of lasting the whole 8 seconds, but he never quite made it there. </span></div>
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"Red" (my new baby) was usually quite good the whole time of the rodeos & this little mischief</div>
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Well this mischief LOVES to watch. He loves the animals & is constantly yelling & waving his arms at them trying to "herd" them back to the corrals.<br />
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He spends the whole rodeo just like this: leaning against the bleacher in front of him. watching intently & occasionally I can get him to peel his eyes away & smile for the camera.<br />
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Overall our rodeo experience this summer has been great. The 5 rodeos we participated in were so fun to watch & the boys made some good friends. They had some great mentors helping teach them, since their mom & dad are still learning as well. The boys favorite part was one of the older boys, a bull rider, who helped them & coached them every rodeo. I loved to watch how even though they were all competing against each other there were plenty of pat on the backs & coaching along the way.</div>
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This is the bull rider the boys have become friends with. </div>
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I must admit. I love watching the bulls, but I know that these boys are only 13-16 on these bulls & it honestly makes my heart stop every time one of them gets on & rides, and I am not even their mother. I can only imagine what is going to happen as my boys grow up & want to hop on & ride bulls. </div>
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Until then we will savor every moment we can with what we are doing. They are already asking about next year & what events they can do. They are counting down days until we can find some calves & practice in our own yard. So we are learning & will continue to learn & practice & watch events. And keep working at this new sport. because there is something rather addicting about this thing they call rodeo. </div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-30382502811374726702014-07-07T12:32:00.000-06:002014-07-07T12:33:39.222-06:00Our Newest Addition . . . Today I wanted to finally introduce you to our newest addition. Meet our little boy "RED". (This is not his actual name, just a nickname for the blog)<br />
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He was actually born over a month ago weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz & 21 inches long.<br />
He was healthy happy & besides our normal bout with jaundice perfect. So we spent the first 10 days on a billi-light getting it under control.<br />
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I don't have cool birth story to go with him either. It was my 5th c-section, so it's pretty normal for us. I did have a month where my incision wouldn't heal, so we spent the first month at the doctor 3 times a week getting special care for it. But we are now all cleared & healed & feeling great. Just trying to get a new normal around here, but that may never happen.<br />
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But we just wanted to share him with you. He is loved & admired by all the other boys as well & it has been wonderful.<br />
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Here is is now just over a month old & he has already joined us on 2 fishing excursions, 3 rodeo's & a multiple road trips. We are so blessed to have him join us! And I am so happy to no longer be pregnant & feeling great everyday. Hopefully, I will be showing up on here a little more often as well. I have lot I want to share with you.<br />
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<br />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-41256264128887971252014-04-03T08:33:00.000-06:002014-04-03T08:33:28.721-06:00Life I have been MIA for months. Literally months. I didn't mean for it to happen. I was trying to have <a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2014/01/less.html" target="_blank">LESS </a>time on the internet & it happened. Then things just snuck in & time slowly crept by. For those that are still checking out this little blog, I thank you. Here is a quick glance at what I have been up to.<br />
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As usual life has been kept busy with these ladies. More for my husband, than for I. Shearing came & went.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All the sheep were moved off the fields & back into the lambing sheds.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then lambing began. The first lamb dropped on the ground Jan 1st. 3 weeks earlier than we planned. We are down to our last few waiting to lamb, but it has been a long 3 months. My poor husband just keeps going & going, but I don't know after 90 plus days. He is superman. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been trying to get a few minutes in of sewing here & there as I can. And to have<a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2014/01/less.html" target="_blank"> LESS </a>unfinished projects lying around my home. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We discovered the boy number 5 will still be in blue. This has been the main reason for my absence. I only have 8 or so weeks left, but am lucky to enjoy morning sickness for the entire 10 months. So with everyday feeling awful. or at least throwing up in the morning, things don't always happen as I would like. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have tried home school experiments that haven't worked & some that have. If anyone discovered the secret to building your own hot air balloon, please let me know. We have tried multiple you tube videos & tutorials all of wish never even get off the ground. </span></td></tr>
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So I am hoping to get back on here, once or twice a week again, but no absolute promises yet. At least not for 8 more weeks. I will try, but for now we have been just spending our days trying to get by & make the most of what we have. Trying to enjoy more of the simple things: like watching a boy & his dog. From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-39504165318251226802014-01-28T04:00:00.000-07:002014-01-28T04:00:06.893-07:00Last Weeks Frugal Accomplishment's<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> If you read my last <a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2014/01/less.html">post</a>, you would know that my one goal for 2014 is <a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2014/01/less.html" target="_blank">Less</a>. Included in this goal is spending less. This is hard for me, but something I really want to become better at in 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> One blog I read to get more ideas on how to be more frugal is <a href="http://www.theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Prudent Homemaker</a>. This woman is AMAZING!! She feeds her family of 8 on just a 100 a month. A month. 8 people. I think she does have a slight advantage is she can garden almost year round, but none the less she is amazing. I love to read her blog. It inspires me to do more, try harder. If you have a few minutes, go check<a href="http://www.theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> it </a>out! Now, I have LONG way to go before I am even close to being that frugal, but she definitely gives me something to strive for. Almost every week she does a post about her latest <a href="http://www.theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/last-weeks-frugal-accomplishments_27.html" target="_blank">Frugal Accomplishments</a>. I enjoy reading them & seeing what she is doing. I also like how some things she does, I didn't even think about it being frugal & I can go "Hey, I did that too!." I have tried to write down frugal things I have done in the past week & I realized the more I write down, the more I want to do just so I can add it to my list. (I am kind of a dork like that.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So in effort to share some of the ways I am trying to spend less this year, I thought I would join in with her. Now I don't know it will be weekly or just randomly. It will depend on our crazy life. So for now you can just take it as it comes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><u><b><i> Last Weeks Frugal Accomplishments:</i></b></u></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cleaned out my freezer & saved the ice from the ice maker into a gallon ziplock added it into my freezer downstairs. I am starting to do this, so when we need massive quantities of ice for gatherings or other reasons, I don't have to buy it from the store.</span><br /></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sewed a button back on my 2nd son shirt.<br /></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I used leftover chicken from the Saturday before, to use on Sunday for chicken sandwiches & again for White Chicken Chili for dinner on Wednesday.<br /></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sewed buttons back on 2 of my little dudes shirts as well.</span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdqSYXrq_1M/Uuc5wccfEVI/AAAAAAAAFnc/v7Dt9jSeZm0/s1600/Canner+with+beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdqSYXrq_1M/Uuc5wccfEVI/AAAAAAAAFnc/v7Dt9jSeZm0/s1600/Canner+with+beans.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I canned 14 quarts of pinto beans.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Checked out books & DVD's from the library..<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was able to become an affiliate for <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=253536&u=899528&m=29190&urllink=&afftrack=" style="background-color: white; color: #ee6600; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21px;" target="_blank">Craftsy</a>. In getting accepted I also received a free class for up to a $50 dollar value. I choose the Beginning Serging class that was $50 dollars. I have been wanting to take this class for a long time, but never justified the expense. I was thrilled when I could now take it for free!<br /><br /> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because of this class, I was finally able to figure out how to thread & actually use my serger. I have had it for almost 3 years, but barely used it because I didn't know how to thread it properly.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I then used my fixed serger to fix a pair of pants. I have a long list of things I want to sew with my serger now. I am so excited.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made 10 loaves of bread & 9 hamburger buns. The bread gets cut up in slices & put in the freezer. We pull out a loaf at a time & use it. The hamburger buns were put in the freezer & I will use them later this week for a meal.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I sliced up the bread, I took the ends & sliced them in small pieces. I dried them out for bread crumbs & will use them to make croutons & homemade stuffing. None of my kids or hubby will eat the ends so they would go to waste if they just were in the bag. I finally realized that cutting them up in advance was a way of using them so they are not wasted.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made<a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2013/10/homemade-granola.html" target="_blank"> homemade Granola</a> without all the ingredients, just the ones I had on hand, instead of buying cereal. I normally don't buy cereal, but when I am pregnant I CRAVE cheerios. I buy it quite a bit when pregnant, because some days it is the only thing I can keep down. I resisted this week & made the granola instead. The granola isn't quite the same for me, but it still has been good. My kids love it & it makes a simple breakfast on the mornings I am not feeling well. </span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6AWl8i7xtM/Uuc8ytXNC4I/AAAAAAAAFno/IrgYK2zL6LU/s1600/Sheep+Camp+with+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6AWl8i7xtM/Uuc8ytXNC4I/AAAAAAAAFno/IrgYK2zL6LU/s1600/Sheep+Camp+with+blog.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We worked at the ranch this week. Our trailer we slept in last year is now the cook shack, so all 6 of us camped out in this sheep camp. It was cozy & a complete adventure.<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While working & traveling to the ranch we did eat out for a meal or two, but when we did we made it as affordable as possible. One meal was at Pizza Hut & my kids used their book-its for their personal pan pizza. So we only needed to order enough to feed my husband & I. The other time we ate at Subway & just got a couple of their $5 dollar foot longs & split them between two people.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I watched shows on CBS & Hulu.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My furnace quit working while we were home & my hubby at the ranch. So he called a friend to come check it out & they were able to get it up & running. It only cost me his gas money, instead of a couple of hundred dollars for a service call.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I did go to to the store, I put items back just so I could stay in the budget I set for myself. I tried to only buy the items that were absolute necessity</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So there you have it last weeks frugal accomplishments. I have already to begin to write down this weeks & see what I can do to spend Less. What did you do this week to be frugal?</span><br />
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<br style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-10738229073942428912014-01-17T07:21:00.001-07:002014-01-17T07:22:24.274-07:00LESS <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am sure if you have browsed around the internet for more than a minute or two you would see the trend of choosing one word as a type of New Years Resolution or statement. This year there was something about the idea that seems to appeal to me. Maybe it was the possibility of making it simpler to actually remember my new years resolutions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I remember growing up, we would almost always have a <a href="https://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening?lang=eng" target="_blank">Family Home Evening</a> about goals in January. My mom would make a cute handout for us to write our resolutions on. Most of the time they would be divided into 4 or more categories: Spiritual, Physical, Mental & Emotional. I used to love those lessons & the excitement of setting new goals, but after several months these great goals would fall by the wayside. Maybe it is my inability to focus on something very long, or that I am slightly blonde or just get easily distracted. Either way many resolutions were set, few were actually accomplished. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So for the sake of simplicity & hoping it will "stick" better I am chose One Word for my Goal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year I want LESS.</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS stuff cluttering my home, so I have More time to do what we enjoy.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS spending, MORE Saving.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS self doubt, MORE Self belief.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS discouraging words, MORE encouraging ones.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS fear of failure, MORE trying new things.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS time with technology, MORE time with my family</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS reasons why I can't, MORE . . "I will . . ."</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS poor habits, MORE good ones.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LESS time partially distracted, MORE time focused.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You get the idea. I do realize it is kind of a two worded goal, for every "less" I also have a "more" but you get the idea. I loved<a href="http://www.fromthemrs.blogspot.com/2014/01/focus-points-2014.html" target="_blank"> this </a>system that I read about last year ( I couldn't find here original post about it, so you get this one). So every month for the next year I am just focusing on one aspect of my less goal. One thing in my life for that month I want less of & at the end of the month I will share what is was & how it went. So here is a to a new year with a whole lot LESS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have a new years resolution or goal? I would love to hear what it is. </span></div>
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<br />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-74313043451302533292013-12-11T05:30:00.000-07:002013-12-11T05:30:00.543-07:00Shearing & Ranching . . . Not for the faint of heart. I love our profession. I truly do. I love ranching, though it was something I never imagined in my childhood what I would be doing. I did have those days I dreamed I was cowgirl, something I am still trying to achieve. Like I was saying, I love ranching, however, and I mean a BIG however, I have come to the conclusion: Ranching is not for the faint of heart.<div>
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Now this is something I knew, but the weekend after Thanksgiving continued to add confirmation to my belief. </div>
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I am sad to say I didn't even take any pictures of this weekend, but for future generations & those one day this will be funny stories. I feel the need to add this one.</div>
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We had just finished up a wonderful holiday visiting my husbands side of the family. Friday morning we went up to the mountains, cut down a fresh Christmas tree & had every intention of driving the 2 hours "home" before coming back on Saturday to work. Its always nice to sleep in your own bed, even if it is just for a night. My husbands parents live close to where the ranch is, so while I packed up our gear he headed over to "check on things." He wanted to make sure we were ready to go for Saturday. Now Saturday was shearing day. Well partial shearing, but I will get to that in a minute. </div>
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A short time later, I receive a text: "It's not happening." In other words, "There is too much work to do, we aren't headed home." It wasn't a big deal, to be truthful I was kind of expecting it, but it is always nice to be wrong in these sort of situations. My father-in-law, bless his heart, extended a stay at their house "for however long I need it, and to just plan on coming back here tonight." Now there is no house like your own, but this offer almost brought tears to my eyes I was so grateful & so thrilled not to be a sleeping with sleeping bag & outhouse in November.</div>
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So we headed over to the "Ranch" & worked building a new set of working corrals until dark. We had a new plan & new system that we were hoping would be smoother & easier to work the sheep in. At dark, we returned as guest to warm beds, delicious hot foods & crawled into bed early; tired & knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day.</div>
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My hubby got up & going by 5:30 a.m. The boys & I on the other hand slept a little longer & didn't make our way over to the ranch until sometime after 8. </div>
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We began shearing, each person having their own area to work. The boys helped move the sheep into the different pens, it was my job to keep the sheep running up the chute into the shearing trailer. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWVZvtCcYw8/UU088XKRXAI/AAAAAAAABQc/7-FkSRgs2YQ/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWVZvtCcYw8/UU088XKRXAI/AAAAAAAABQc/7-FkSRgs2YQ/s400/DSC_0180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(These are pictures from last year's shearing)</div>
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I held a rod in hand to help prod the ewes along, up into the chute & into the trailer for shearing. This weekend, however was a special shearing: Bellies & Tags. (Translation: Bellies & Bottoms. This is because we won't be doing our regular shearing until after lambing season has started. If we kept the ewes bellies & bottoms unsheared, when it was time for deliver & new lambs to find milk, it would make it that much harder for the lambs. It's a hard enough survival game, without adding additional risks.)</div>
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So we are shearing Bellies & tags. </div>
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Here is a glance of what the inside of a shearing trailer looks like. </div>
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(Last year's picture once again)</div>
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The morning goes a little slower than we wanted, but it goes. It is always good exercise. It was also so much fun to watch because we had 3 generations working those sheep that day. My husband, his father & my kids. 3 generations side by side. It was awesome. I am still kicking myself for not getting a picture. Besides the usual take care of the baby & few brief spouts of frustration from my hubby, it moves along.</div>
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Lunch arrives. It was delicious. A wonderful break to sit down. After lunch, life got a little more interesting. We are working, when I get the "MOM!" with panic. One of my poor boys wasn't feeling well & now needed me to run him back to the house for a fresh set of clothes. My poor boy.</div>
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The sad part of ranching & days like today. It doesn't matter how you feel. The work still has to be done. So we return, I go back to helping & my boy that doesn't feel well becomes the designated baby sitter for the youngest. Pretty soon my husband wants to know where the eldest disappeared to? I go searching & discover that he doesn't feel well either. We make another make-shift bed in the car & I return to helping. </div>
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Soon its a "MOM!" I go running back to the car. Now we have an outhouse on the place that was probably less than a 1/8 mile walk to it. Not far. TOO FAR for a sick belly & a little boy. So we load in the car I drive the short distance to the outhouse just in time. I drop him off, just in time for another boy to climb in & beg for a quick drive to the outhouse. And that was the rest of my working afternoon. I would help for 20 minutes. Hear "MOM" and then go driving like mad women to the outhouse for a little boy. Except for the brief hour when two of the boys were sleeping it off & I grabbed the baby to help me herd. </div>
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My baby love sheep & was doing a great job. He as thrilled with the chance to be in the corrals & herding ship. He was thrilled until he went head on with a ewe with a dog on her tail. The ewe took definite victory & my baby went face first into the yuck. Poor boy. Road rash & everything. Then more "MOM" a run to the bathroom, trying to soothe a baby, running back to work to help with the sheep. Then just push repeat on it, over & over again. Until it becomes dark & the wonderful words of "I guess we better call it a night." Hallelujah.</div>
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I make a plan with my hubby take the sickest boy & the baby & drive the 20 minutes to town to stock up on snacks, Gatorade & whatever else I can think of to make it through the next day. I finally arrive at my in-laws home, to which my wonderful mother in law has made us a fantastic dinner, and once again around 8 o'clock I send my kids & us to crawl into bed, because no matter what: we have to do it again tomorrow.</div>
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Sigh. That night my hands are throbbing in pain. Eventually morning comes. We fix breakfast, and a while later follow the hubby back over to the ranch. For day 2 of shearing Bellies & Tags. </div>
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I resume my post of helping prod the ewes into the chute. Except today I realize how little arm muscle I have. My hands hurt from grasping my rod for hours on end the day before. Every time I lift my arms I want to cry. I am officially a wimp. The shearer I am standing next too, looks at me, smiles & says in broken English "How it is such a good arm workout." I smile & agree. "Yes, yes it is."</div>
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The 2 youngest who aren't feeling their best hang out in the car, & come out every now and then to pet the puppies & check sheep. Around 10 they appear to be doing well, and come out to work. My little dude helps move sheep & rides on the ewes backs when he can. The baby just walks back & forth on the outside of the corrals. Yelling at sheep & petting dogs.</div>
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Lunch time comes but not before I get another major workout in for my arms & hands. However, shearing went a lot better this morning & everyone seems to be doing alright. We only had to make a couple quick emergency runs to the outhouse. We join some visiting family for lunch back at the house & linger a little longer than normal because my husbands tells me they are moving sheep around. I only partially feel bad, on the inside I am secretly rejoicing. My husband may be superman, I am not & was grateful for the extended break.</div>
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Once we visit with family & they head down the road, we make out way back out with lunch for my hubby & the herders. We had friends drop in to see us & the shearing for a bit. It was a great little visit & my boys always enjoy playing with their kids. Once they leave my husbands informs me, that my job has been given to another man & I may just help move sheep & take it a little easier the rest of the afternoon. So move sheep we do & of course a few quick runs with the car to the outhouse. The rest of the afternoon, besides the huge amounts of wind & dust goes along nicely. The beloved words of "Lets call it a night." are said & we can return back to the house to make dinner for everyone.</div>
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Then night came. Oh. what a night. In short description, the 2 middle boys & I all got hit with the flu. Not fun, not fun at all. My blessed husband is up most of the night with the boys & I get up only on occasion to throw up before returning to my bed. About 4 a.m my dearest hubby wakes me up, informs me even though I am sick he has to get at least of couple of hours before he goes again for another long day. I agree & try my best to take over my parental duties. Morning comes, I give him a kiss goodbye & beg for Mercy. "I can't do it honey. Not another day. We need to go home." He agrees that sick kids need to be home & so does their exhausted mother. " I can finish up today. No problem. Go home."</div>
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I silently cheer. "Yea." Then run into the bathroom. We must be loved from up above because for a brief period of a couple hours we were able to pack up our bags, load our car & make the drive home. Incident free. </div>
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Upon returning home. the flu continued to claim us for the rest of the week. That first night though as I cried out in pain when trying to lift my sore arms above my head, & my exhausted body crawled into my bed. I realized " I love what we do. I love the ranching & working sheep on days that are less than ideal. I may have married Superman, but I am far, far away from every being wonderwoman. Yes, I am still quite faint of heart."</div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-32706036860991795152013-11-13T08:29:00.000-07:002013-11-13T08:29:33.578-07:00Filling the Freezer: Homemade Hashbrowns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I love the look of a freezer full of food. There is something satisfying about knowing you have food to eat in the coming months. Our freezer seems to fluctuate on being full & then needing to fill it up again. I also love to fill it up with stretching my budget as much as I can. Here is one quick ways you can help fill up your freezer without killing your budget.</span><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hashbrowns.</span> </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My boys love hashbrowns, but to buy a bag of them at my local store is an average price of $2.50-3.50. That usually only makes it through one meal. Scary I know, I can only imagine how much food I am going to go through when my growing boys are actual teenagers. At the price of $3.00 average for a bag, I can't get very far. On the other hand, I can buy a 50 lbs box at my local Potato plant for $12 a box. That means I can buy 4 bags of hashbrowns or 50 lbs on potatoes. Its not rocket science.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So what? Now, whenever I bake a potato for dinner I always add an extra 10 or so in the oven too. I might as well fill the oven up. You want them to cook until they are almost done. They will grate easier if they are slightly under done than overdone. After they cook, I throw them into the fridge so they get cold. Once they cool I get out my handy Food Processor. (If you don't have one, you can either cut up the potatoes in a square (Southern style) or just use your cheese grater). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I set mine to the largest size it can grate, for our family, this is our favorite. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDo_F8cZZ8Q/UoOV4xgR2fI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/_VNCuALa-qQ/s1600/DSC_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDo_F8cZZ8Q/UoOV4xgR2fI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/_VNCuALa-qQ/s400/DSC_0233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I grate up all the potatoes & spread them out on a cookie sheet with a little wax or freezer paper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then go down & set your cookie sheet in the freezer. I usually just let them freeze over night. Or if I put them in first thing in the morning, usually before bedtime & can take them out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take your frozen cookie sheet of hash browns & begin to break them into pieces and chunks. I put them into gallon freezer bags & mark them. This allows me to get into each bag & only take out what I will need. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take out the amount you need for your breakfast, as you need them. Fry them up, or use them in casseroles.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6cmFi5saawE/UoOWo4V6dyI/AAAAAAAAFVw/AejWiCgTteM/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6cmFi5saawE/UoOWo4V6dyI/AAAAAAAAFVw/AejWiCgTteM/s400/DSC_0238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Either way they are delicious. I figured a bag of hashbrowns now only cost me .50 cents instead of $3.00 and a little of my time. I make 3 or so bags at a time & fill my freezer for pennies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you have any other ideas to help fill your freezer for pennies? If so I would love to hear about them. </span>From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-11740623697972929352013-11-10T07:50:00.001-07:002013-11-10T08:06:06.514-07:00Week in ReviewSome weeks drag by & others are over before you know it. This one went pretty fast. <div><br><div>Here is a quick glance in pictures (off my phone) what happened last week.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RPqO9I2SxOY/Un-bROLwi-I/AAAAAAAAFUA/-iE8_b8lwCE/s640/blogger-image-807124603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RPqO9I2SxOY/Un-bROLwi-I/AAAAAAAAFUA/-iE8_b8lwCE/s640/blogger-image-807124603.jpg"></a></div> </div><div> We started the week off with the 3 youngest sick. That meant trying to get them to rest, a lot of cold medicine & Vicks humidifiers. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yXG1a4neHfM/Un-bJ_QWq_I/AAAAAAAAFTw/BI-InHizN8o/s640/blogger-image--1666550103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yXG1a4neHfM/Un-bJ_QWq_I/AAAAAAAAFTw/BI-InHizN8o/s640/blogger-image--1666550103.jpg"></a></div> Which also meant 3 days worth of blanket forts. If you have to stay down, nothing makes it cooler than blanket forts. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rikLjWxAIGk/Un-dI6ehuvI/AAAAAAAAFUM/BY_5VIIf79o/s640/blogger-image--1768630868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rikLjWxAIGk/Un-dI6ehuvI/AAAAAAAAFUM/BY_5VIIf79o/s640/blogger-image--1768630868.jpg"></a></div> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> School took place as usual on the days they were feeling better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vLrRGnqQCYA/Un-bN78-rrI/AAAAAAAAFT4/DawN82Oms6U/s640/blogger-image--136245852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vLrRGnqQCYA/Un-bN78-rrI/AAAAAAAAFT4/DawN82Oms6U/s640/blogger-image--136245852.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My hubby found an awesome deal on older bananas. So we spent a week drying them & making banana chips. They are so delicious!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dhRGcUj_cMs/Un-gtHP-aHI/AAAAAAAAFUg/bRCjYCQe_rE/s640/blogger-image--43274337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dhRGcUj_cMs/Un-gtHP-aHI/AAAAAAAAFUg/bRCjYCQe_rE/s640/blogger-image--43274337.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A trip to the dentist for me. I fear the dentist. Only to find out I have to return again for more work this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zAfhXFTRjto/Un-gpgfhjhI/AAAAAAAAFUY/2Bo0DtBHYXI/s640/blogger-image--755604069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zAfhXFTRjto/Un-gpgfhjhI/AAAAAAAAFUY/2Bo0DtBHYXI/s640/blogger-image--755604069.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I decided to join in this fun quilt along from Bee in my Bonnett. If you want to check it out too you can see the website is still at the top of the picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y8tuWEySEp8/Un-gzecORrI/AAAAAAAAFUw/tT42N6jNHa4/s640/blogger-image--1650633867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y8tuWEySEp8/Un-gzecORrI/AAAAAAAAFUw/tT42N6jNHa4/s640/blogger-image--1650633867.jpg"></a></div>It took me almost all week, but I finally got my quilt along week #1 block done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aCsCN0fU40U/Un-gwd2gAFI/AAAAAAAAFUo/nytzv0_rsS8/s640/blogger-image--179165021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aCsCN0fU40U/Un-gwd2gAFI/AAAAAAAAFUo/nytzv0_rsS8/s640/blogger-image--179165021.jpg"></a></div> I opened my eyes yesterday morning & was literally nose to nose to this cute face as he was trying to wake me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dubmFVlQDZE/Un-g3BwD2YI/AAAAAAAAFU4/1p_d-jmuXDU/s640/blogger-image-1333287064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dubmFVlQDZE/Un-g3BwD2YI/AAAAAAAAFU4/1p_d-jmuXDU/s640/blogger-image-1333287064.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our week was finished off by working with dad & the sheep yesterday. I missed some adorable pictures because I didn't have a camera, but it was a nice time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now hopefully we can enjoy our day of rest & church service before we repeat it all again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div>From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-54032480295896840042013-10-31T13:54:00.000-06:002013-10-31T13:54:31.207-06:00Don't Stop . . . Keep Going. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Years ago we lived in a very rural Montana town. It was an experience unlike any other. There were good days & bad. While living there someone sent me a like to talk by one of the leaders in our church. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was an inspiring message with the words "Don't Stop" and "Keep Going." </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I remember sitting in our small, brown office in front of my computer and bawling as I was listening to these words. I listened to it many times in that small Montana town & many times since moving back closer to what I know as "home."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't Stop. Keep Going!" are words I think every mother needs to hear. We all have those moments, moments where we don't think what we are doing is actually doing any good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This month has been a long one for me. And though today is a day for celebration, and celebrate we will. I am inwardly rejoicing this month is over. I have been too many days without my hubby home. He is my rock & without him, I always feel slightly lost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am been confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I have had those days I have no idea what is tomorrows is going to bring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as mom we all have those days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The days were kids are sick or hurt. Crying or whining. Where the sound mom no longer brings happiness to our ears but a slight cringe because your not quite sure how much more can do. You don't know how much more you can give.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The days you feel as if you are trying to climb the impossible mountain, with no end in sight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Days you feel like you have been pushed down, & your just not feeling that optimistic. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xxbdPeg1eYg/UnKtH3fDmBI/AAAAAAAAFSw/GtIaQzOSv-I/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xxbdPeg1eYg/UnKtH3fDmBI/AAAAAAAAFSw/GtIaQzOSv-I/s640/DSC_0201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know those days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or maybe you don't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mostly likely you do, you just don't want anyone else to know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it in those moments, those words I heard so long ago, begin to ring in my ear:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "Don't stop, Keep going."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's those words I want to share with every mother, if I could. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Don't Stop . . . Keep Going" You are doing so many wonderful things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because in the end, You realize you can pick yourself back & take a break from the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get a push start or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And just keep your head above water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because in time things will be easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Days will get better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And soon you will find your heart swollen with gratitude at the blessings you are able to call your own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How lucky you are that you are blessed to spend your days inspiring & teaching. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />And though the days may be long, you may be tired on the never ending trail.<br /><br />Just " Don't Stop. Keep Going." <br /><br />Because the view at the top of the long trail is absolutely breathtaking.<br /> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So Don't Stop. Keep Going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> You are closer than you realize, and doing more good than you could ever know.</span><br />
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-6927553295183972642013-10-29T14:54:00.001-06:002013-11-01T08:09:51.754-06:00Homemade Granola We don't eat a lot of cold cereal at the house. I think it overly priced & there is no nutritional value in it. Besides if I do buy it on a rare occasion that is all my kids want to eat. Breakfast, lunch & dinner. So to make me life simpler, I just don't buy it. However, we love homemade granola. I make it occasionally & it is a favorite snack for everybody. It is simple to make. I usually double the recipe if I have enough nuts on hand.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Homemade Granola</span><br />
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6 cups Oatmeal<br />
1/2 c. Brown Sugar<br />
1 c. Coconut<br />
1/4 c. Sunflower seeds<br />
1 c. Chopped Nuts (we usually do almonds, but whatever nut your family enjoys).<br />
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Stir this together & place either on a cookie sheet or cake pan and Bake at 350 for 10 Minutes<br />
just to start to warm everything through.<br />
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Add:<br />
1/2 c. Oil<br />
1/2 c. honey (We like it a little sweeter & add 3/4 c.)<br />
1 tsp. Vanilla.<br />
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Mix all of these together & then once your oats are warm, drizzle over the top of the pan & mix through.<br />
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Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Stirring every 10.<br />
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At the last 5 minutes add Craisins, or dried fruit if desired.<br />
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Let sit & cool. The longer you let it sit & cool before breaking it up the bigger chunks you will have. If you don't want large chunks, mix sooner.<br />
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Enjoy.<br />
From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-41511942227602340692013-10-25T11:23:00.000-06:002013-10-25T11:25:13.248-06:00"The Kreu Quilt"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had been working on a project for quite some time & today I am excited to show you the 1st of hopefully many to come. So here it is "The Kreu Quilt." A Country Road original quilt.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The Kreu Quilt"</span></div>
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This quilt is a quick crib/toddler size quilt & goes to together fairly quickly with the help of chain piecing. The Monogram, is appliqued on & can be change to fit whatever letter you need.<br />
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The back is a solid piece of brown with continuing arrows from the front cutting in around a 1/3 of the way through. This makes it cute from not only the front, but also the back.<br />
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The pattern will be shared soon, so check back for it or e-mail me if interested. Anyways I am so excited about this one. It has been my first quilt that I took from my mind to finished project, and I hope you enjoy it! Here are a few more pictures:<br />
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-3720024151493997762013-10-03T08:20:00.000-06:002013-10-03T08:21:54.031-06:00Lessons & Learning About Airplanes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We recently returned from a 3 day field trip to visit my sister & to see some of the local attractions. This is a trip that by boys look forward to all year long. We usually try to go once a year specifically to visit her. The boys usually make a list before we go of where they want to go. The Air Force Museum is always on the list.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9POmJIhc5Js/UkjUWbIpDlI/AAAAAAAADZM/x4Vy25AKsFY/s1600/DSCN3466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9POmJIhc5Js/UkjUWbIpDlI/AAAAAAAADZM/x4Vy25AKsFY/s320/DSCN3466.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We start by getting our group shot in the beginning Then as much as I try to stop them; my kids begin span out. We walk around, with our heads looking up in awe staring at the massive planes. </span></td></tr>
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They have so many planes, from replicas of the Wright Brothers to modern inventions. There is information about each plane so you can read all you want. While we were there, we were able to see part of a retirement ceremony for one of the Air Force Officers. It was wonderful to see the men & women that sacrifice for this country.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our favorite Aunt Heather.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They have an education center, that is all hands on activities that help teach you about airplanes & aeronautics. On this particular day it was closed, but it has some fantastic things. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once you get through the inside. We tour around the outside. They have a huge area that has old parked planes. The boys think it is awesome to get close to them & then compare the size. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA9Q9_Xshfc/UkjaYG-DQ-I/AAAAAAAADcw/LIaoc_XAPpY/s1600/DSCN3497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA9Q9_Xshfc/UkjaYG-DQ-I/AAAAAAAADcw/LIaoc_XAPpY/s320/DSCN3497.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are tiny compared to these planes. It is fascinating. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other planes are a little more "their size." I do recall hearing one of my boys say they thought they could fly this one. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made it through the whole museum in a couple of hours. You could take all day there studying the planes & reading all the information. There is detailed information about every plane by it. They also have various movies playing & retired Air Force Veterans that could talk for hours telling you all thing you never knew. However, this time we went through it a little faster due that this was towards the end of the day & my boys were starting to get tired. </span><br />
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And though we didn't do this before the trip, here are some additional resources that you could use to study more about airplanes & the air force.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9gbL5Yy_48/Uk175AKR7jI/AAAAAAAADqU/mpfowAry740/s1600/Airplanes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u9gbL5Yy_48/Uk175AKR7jI/AAAAAAAADqU/mpfowAry740/s320/Airplanes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://thecraftingchicks.com/2013/07/the-one-paper-airplane-that-every-child-should-know-how-to-make.html" target="_blank">The One Paper Airplane Every Child Should Know</a> { The Crafting Chicks }</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://thismummaslife.com/2012/09/28/simple-cardboard-tube-airplane/" target="_blank">Cardboard Airplane</a> {This Mumma's Life}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/education/educators/index.asp" target="_blank">Airplanes Lessons Plans for K-12 </a> {National Museum of United States Air force}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/04/paper-airplanes.html" target="_blank">Paper Airplane Experiments</a> { Learn, Play, Imagine }</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.brainpop.com/technology/transportation/flight/" target="_blank">Lessons on Flight</a> {Brian Pop}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/20730/road-trip-game#_a5y_p=634001" target="_blank">Practicing Addition & Subtraction with Airplanes & Travelers </a> {Kids Activities Blog}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.mamaslearningcorner.com/color-by-number-worksheet-airplane-addition/" target="_blank">Color By Number Airplane Worksheet Activity </a>{ Mama's Learning Corner}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And a few Books for Reading As Well:</span><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1aOgpvu" target="_blank"><img alt="0789465213" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51G392LNnWL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://amzn.to/16Il4lm" target="_blank"><img alt="0761459839" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61JKg1pSWvL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873588312/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0873588312&linkCode=as2&tag=fracoro-20%22%3EA%20is%20for%20Airplane/A%20es%20para%20avion%20(Alphabet%20Books)%20(Multilingual%20Edition)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fracoro-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0873588312%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><img alt="0873588312" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kkXB0UBZL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076110478X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=076110478X&linkCode=as2&tag=fracoro-20%22%3EKids'%20Paper%20Airplane%20Book%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fracoro-20&l=as2&o=1&a=076110478X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><img alt="076110478X" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51HBdPNHoRL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756619025/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0756619025&linkCode=as2&tag=fracoro-20%22%3EFlight:%20The%20Complete%20History%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fracoro-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0756619025%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px" target="_blank"><img alt="0756619025" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CrdGI30oL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585363588/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1585363588&linkCode=as2&tag=fracoro-20%22%3EA%20is%20for%20Airplane:%20An%20Aviation%20Alphabet%20(Sleeping%20Bear%20Alphabets)%20(Science%20Alphabet)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fracoro-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1585363588%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><img alt="1585363588" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2B6Ug5%2BThL._SL75_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426307128/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1426307128&linkCode=as2&tag=fracoro-20%22%3ENational%20Geographic%20Readers:%20Planes%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=fracoro-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1426307128%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><img alt="1426307128" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CvoALvD7L._SL75_.jpg" /></a><br />
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-21414836119409189642013-09-27T08:27:00.000-06:002013-09-27T08:27:13.484-06:00Checking InIt has been a long time since I have posted on here. When I finally checked the date on my blog since the last post I realize that it has been close to a month. I never intended it to be that long, I really didn't, bu September just flew by. <br />
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I am sure later there will be a series of blog posts to show what we have been up to.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We have celebrated birthdays,</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs8AYyrAm0s/UjsikjQAaFI/AAAAAAAADEo/D7j4jojzoMk/s1600/IMAGE_830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs8AYyrAm0s/UjsikjQAaFI/AAAAAAAADEo/D7j4jojzoMk/s320/IMAGE_830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> taken our first group of lambs off summer range,</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3J0zX2zXd0/Ujsa0eVB2yI/AAAAAAAAC_U/jZDVbIzv7bo/s1600/IMAGE_787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3J0zX2zXd0/Ujsa0eVB2yI/AAAAAAAAC_U/jZDVbIzv7bo/s320/IMAGE_787.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We have gotten into school a little heavier. I hate to say we have had our 1st day of school, because we learn year round. I will say that we have started adding more subjects into our daily study.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs7bZ-7I4J4/Ujs7VnJO89I/AAAAAAAADHE/o55lHHTzCEU/s1600/IMAGE_847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs7bZ-7I4J4/Ujs7VnJO89I/AAAAAAAADHE/o55lHHTzCEU/s320/IMAGE_847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We have been on field trips & traveled.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqr3dFP7C2c/UkHlhucGAeI/AAAAAAAADNU/BgLaOLwwnNk/s1600/IMAGE_914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqr3dFP7C2c/UkHlhucGAeI/AAAAAAAADNU/BgLaOLwwnNk/s320/IMAGE_914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We have been canning, then cleaning, & canning more.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqNAm4jK6SI/Ujs-GSDFGSI/AAAAAAAADJ0/MNw93AXNdqs/s1600/IMAGE_869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqNAm4jK6SI/Ujs-GSDFGSI/AAAAAAAADJ0/MNw93AXNdqs/s320/IMAGE_869.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We are cleaning again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> There are mountains of laundry we are trying to attack.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnhNopd3v8M/Ujs7MBThfHI/AAAAAAAADG0/-HwcAN3wwtk/s1600/IMAGE_845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnhNopd3v8M/Ujs7MBThfHI/AAAAAAAADG0/-HwcAN3wwtk/s320/IMAGE_845.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are sewing quilts & bean bags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We are working on patterns & a tutorials.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2lWcIXoz84/UjsV1sM5KXI/AAAAAAAAC9c/qdiKdw1NQV4/s1600/IMAGE_773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2lWcIXoz84/UjsV1sM5KXI/AAAAAAAAC9c/qdiKdw1NQV4/s320/IMAGE_773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We are picking up old hobbies & discovering new ones.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vgLqEwkqCY/UkHfNhKkfKI/AAAAAAAADKY/SHdLn0q9DoE/s1600/IMAGE_892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vgLqEwkqCY/UkHfNhKkfKI/AAAAAAAADKY/SHdLn0q9DoE/s320/IMAGE_892.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I am trying to stay off electronics a little more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> There has been more trying to be present with my children & less distracted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> More snuggles & book reading.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We are like so many of you, trying to do our best each day & hope it is good enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So please excuse my absence. Life has just flown by. I will try to be on here more consistent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I will be traveling again next week as we will begin to ship our final lambs & sheep off their summer range. It will be a long week or so, & hopefully it we don't freeze to death, but I am sure it will be good memories in the making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So keep checking back here, and I will keep trying to check in. But know we are doing the best we can, just like you.</span><br />
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<br />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-40737889293457656682013-09-04T07:33:00.000-06:002013-09-04T07:33:22.769-06:00"Teaching Your Child to Read" Guest Blogger Series: Misty I am so excited to be getting things back up & rolling on the blog today. I have loved this series. I have been trying things out & adding things in that I read on the blog & they are working. Really working. Progress is still slow, but we are making progress. It makes me so happy!!! Today we have Misty with us. She blogs over at <a href="http://www.mimishouse2005.blogspot.com/">Mimi's House</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3cXtkHwzxI/UYEOXY5YKMI/AAAAAAAABdc/4ROBJnvuLo0/s1600/Teaching+Your+Child+To+Read2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3cXtkHwzxI/UYEOXY5YKMI/AAAAAAAABdc/4ROBJnvuLo0/s320/Teaching+Your+Child+To+Read2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to Read!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-719fef0e-e930-29ac-f859-07aa2323506f"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi! Iām Misty and I blog about our homeschooling journey at<a href="http://www.mimishouse2005.blogspot.com/"> </a></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.mimishouse2005.blogspot.com/">Mimiās House</a>.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I was excited about the opportunity to do this guest post for Tiffany! </span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-719fef0e-e930-9603-6cbb-cc0416bc2919"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Learning to read is a huge deal in our home! It was actually one of the stipulations in my husband allowing me to homeschool our kids. I taught my oldest child to read at 5 years old. She was in preschool at the time and I was teaching her each morning for a few minutes before she went to school. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and we ended up pulling her out of school over Christmas break. I had done what my husband deemed impossible! My middle child began reading at 4 and by her Kindergarten year she was reading chapter books. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-719fef0e-e92d-0b4b-2817-e2a526cb01f7"><img height="367px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2GAJl01CL8c1UD_9wJm1bb10lu4OPL5u5_I_NzIsI9jWFrQ8M2vt5PcWF16Ryb4_QMkOC1Z9x6T_A_wro8I_ea_GRWEZmN4u63hNcIIt9AFXQFHTdCqjtKUP5repvEUAk8I" width="367px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I made the decision to teach my oldest to read I knew right away what program I would use, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160499178X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=160499178X&linkCode=as2&tag=mimshou-20" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hooked on Phonics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! I had been a fan of the program since Junior High School. It was what the reading lab at our school used to teach the struggling readers. I worked in the lab during study hall each week and was amazed at how easy it was to use. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160499178X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=160499178X&linkCode=as2&tag=mimshou-20" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hooked on Phonics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> uses the phonics approach to learning to read, for example lesson 1 is āat words. So, the child will learn to read the words cat, hat, sat, mat. Every few lessons the child is also introduced to sight words. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="300px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8dM_tRWlYxJpxt9RxCQ2ZpX76KwuFLcB9O412IWupS7XnhYCxDjwivn4JksUz9ivguRNYXf57889aVEPa9c4a2lL2wh3oMx-F23m8XMTZUl7Heh_vo7QVnPaJXZFYoX9VTw" width="300px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a simple program, and each week has a story to for the child to read. After a few lessons the child receives a book! This was a huge hit in our home because they could take the book and show their friends, their dad, or their grandparents that they could read a ārealā book! We have used the Kindergarten and 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> grade sets. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I do love </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160499178X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=160499178X&linkCode=as2&tag=mimshou-20" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hooked on Phonics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for teaching reading, I also believe there are many other things to do to encourage your children to read! Here are a few that we have done in our home:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We take our kids to the library on a regular basis! Our kids know getting a library card is a big deal and they get one as soon as they start Hooked on Phonics. We also take them to Tail Wagging Tutors for extra reading practice and rewards. This is a therapy dog program that encourages kids to read. They give certificates, pencils, stickers, and other rewards when a child reads a book to the therapy dog.
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We use </span><a href="http://www.bookadventure.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">book adventure</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for rewards and to gauge reading comprehension. This is a program similar to accelerated reader in public schools. We make our own rewards and the girls really like being able to redeem their points.
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bookitprogram.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book it!</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is a great program that Pizza Hut offers. After a child reads 10 books in a month they get a free pizza. We donāt do this anymore due to my daughterās food allergy, but it is a great program!
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Certificates and days without chores are incentives the girls got when they finished a level of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160499178X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=160499178X&linkCode=as2&tag=mimshou-20" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hooked on Phonics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Each grade has 2 levels, so they got this 4 times while they were learning to read. They thought it was awesome to get a whole day without chores! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="393px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EIIh0Br1-t2kNtYr7i9N5zd6t40_CiiDTY51eGG9U3zk1ww5g3D7fjyt0uw5h8Vg5Rxj-Xc2wNjqjQ1ewQZCb9JMLO20TY9bfftd2X-j9a1Y2BQ97Rb2QYSvqMcmw8sbC5E" width="393px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are just a few ideas to keep in mind when you begin teaching your child to read. The best piece of advice I have to moms just starting out is to relax! Make learning to read a fun thing! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a few times with my oldest that we would have to slow down and review a lesson or two. I would get so frustrated which just discouraged her. I realized though that once I relaxed and didnāt push her, it came SO much easier. She is now an avid reader and has always read way beyond her grade level. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another piece of advice is to not discourage your child when they show an interest in learning. When my youngest daughter wanted to start learning to read at 4 I discouraged her by telling her she wasnāt ready. After arguing with her for a few months I let her start. She picked it up like it was the easiest thing in the world! She had finished level K by the end of preschool, and level 1 a month after starting her K year. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-719fef0e-e930-d894-2493-18d8175c0b09"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moms never let anyone tell you that you cannot teach your child to read, believe in yourself, and in your child! Teaching my children to read is one of the best experiences I have ever had. There is something magical about seeing their eyes light up when they realize they CAN read! It is priceless, and one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-90722309139928953392013-08-21T23:29:00.001-06:002013-08-22T07:28:24.093-06:00Adding it all up. Day 3 of The How do I teach Series. I realize that you are awaiting for my great ideas for math curriculum, as part of our five day series. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/08/21/2621.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/08/21/s_2621.jpg' border='0' width='187' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I do have some great links & ideas I wanted to share with you.<br /><br />Then life happened. <br /><br />As it does most days.<br /><br />It is hard being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a neighbor, a teacher not to mention the cook, maid, chauffeur, and everything else we add into our lives.<br /><br />So here is my advice about math:<br /><br />No matter how you try to divide yourself, you are still only one person. <br /><br />So don't try to divide yourself into too many pieces. <br /><br />It may mean that those that are closest to you will get only a fraction of what they deserve. <br /><br />So subtract things out of your schedule. It will be okay. <br /><br />Take time to add in those moments that matter and make memories that are erasable.<br /><br />Make cookies & multiply the joy by sharing with others. <br /><br />Zero in on what really matters. <br /><br />Those years and days will add up faster than you can imagine.<br /><br />We only have them for short time.<br /><br />Take a minute to hold & enjoy the kids in your home. Really enjoy them! <br /><br />So when your adding up all the things in your day. Subtract things out you really don't need.<br /><br />Do all you can to make sure that all those seconds & minutes count. <br /><br />Make them really count. <br /><br />- Tiffany<br /><br />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-3297786888628407892013-08-20T04:00:00.000-06:002013-08-20T04:00:07.089-06:00How to I Teach without Spending a lot of Money: Science & Social Studies <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I want to begin by prefacing some items that I forgot to mention yesterday in our little introduction. The first thing I need to mention is that one I don't know everything. I assume that is a given, but just in case it it not, you now know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The other thing you really need to know is that my children our still fairly young, so I may have a few ideas about older grades, but if you need ideas for High School. I have few. Most of these will be directed towards 6 grade and under.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The last you need to be aware of, is that I home school in a wonderfully relaxed state. I have a lot of freedom in what I can teach. I realize not everyone does. I feel truly blessed in what we can do in our state & hopefully can continue to do in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So lets get on with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you did your homework yesterday & wrote down a list of some of the resources you already have available to you. If you haven't done this yet, go ahead & do it now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's okay I can wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay not that we are all back, lets look at your list. One of the things that I feel is important to know what you already have is time. Time is precious. So if there is a resource that you can borrow from the lady down the road, it also means that it is one less thing you need to track down & prep yourself. That alone is glorious. So use it. For the 1st two years of homeschooling I borrowed my sisters History Curriculum that she wasn't using. It worked well for us. It made it great for me, because we learned to love that curriculum & it saved space on her shelf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So let me give you an idea of how I begin to find my curriculum. I know now what I have, the next thing I need to figure out is what do I need to teach? Let's start with Social Studies & Science. Is there certain items mandated by my current state which I need to teach? Or do I have the freedom to choose what we will learn. Then make your list. Right now for both Science & Social Studies I have free reign. On your state website you can usually find a list by grade what items in these subjects your child needs to know. You may be able to just choose them yourself. Right now for science I have a list of 12 different subjects that I want to cover for the next year. One of those is oceanography. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I have my subject I start searching for curriculum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would say there are some resources that I use constantly. You will find them on every one of my lists. Everytime. For every subject.</span><br />
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<a href="http://eofdreams.com/data_images/dreams/library/library-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://eofdreams.com/data_images/dreams/library/library-02.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So lets begin with those.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. The local Library. </span> </span>They are usually free. Unless you need to get a membership to one in a town different then where you live. Then there is a small fee. They have books that cover everything. Social studies & Science. They are there. And as long as you return your books in a timely manner, they are quite affordable. </span><br />
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" 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" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2. The Internet. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You must agree with me on that one, because you are obviously checking it out as well. A given, yes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">3. Blogs & Pinterest.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>More to come on this later. <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay but what else?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are a list of some amazing deals, that are free or cheap, that can help with homeschooling science & social studies. All you need is just your topic.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Science & Social Studies Resources: </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lessonpathways.com/Splash"><img height="200" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/c18.213.156.156/s100x100/166478_10150354451350494_1612194_a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lessonpathways.com/Splash">Lesson Pathways. Free Resource & Lesson for K-5th. All Subjects </a></td></tr>
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This has information on science & social studies. Gives an outline what to teach. (Free) </div>
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<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.homeschoolcollegeusa.com/"><img alt="Picture" border="0" height="216" src="http://www.homeschoolcollegeusa.com/uploads/8/5/0/8/8508065/50094_orig.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.homeschoolcollegeusa.com/">Homeschool College USA </a></div>
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This has both Science & Social Studies ideas on here. (Free)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/">KHAN ACADEMY</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>This is awesome website for science, & free. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://allinonehomeschool.com/">EASY PEASY -ALL IN ONE HOMESCHOOL</a></span></div>
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Both Science & Social Studies </div>
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Once again this is all free science information.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.currclick.com/">CURRCLICK</a></span></div>
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Both Science & Social Studies. </div>
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Some items are free, some have a minimal fee.</div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/">BOOKS Should be Free</a></span></div>
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A variety of books that you can download & listen to for free</div>
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(Science & Social Studies)</div>
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<a href="http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSjtEqFFI3muRjkus1HJhbc4TNHWch2La6CVRcC7i-f5AVmIb5XzF0oaAcb" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/">National Geographic & National Geographic Kids</a></div>
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This has tons of great reference & information for both </div>
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science & social studies.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.kidzone.ws/"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.kidzone.ws/">KID Zone</a></span></div>
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This has some quick & simple printouts of ideas, lessons for K-5</div>
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both for Science & Social Studies</div>
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<a href="http://education.com/" style="font-size: xx-large;">Education.Com</a></div>
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You can download a certain number of free worksheets a month</div>
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Social Studies & Science</div>
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<a href="http://www.netflix.com/"><img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.netflix.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Netflix. </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Surprisingly has a large number of educational videos & movies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Both for science & social studies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.new2homeschooling.com/2011/06/searching-for-science-on-netflix.html">New 2 Homeschooling</a> has an entire lists of different movies off netflix that relates to science. Then tells you how to find other subjects as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This also includes Amazon Prime, Hulu, & You Tube. All of those resources as well have some fantastic videos that you can use for science & social studies to help supplement as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keep in mind that there are a million different ways to gather information for curriculum We have gotten a lot of books from library that were getting rid of them. Or school teachers that are retiring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can also check out local agencies. The local Game & Fish department are more than happy to share information & handouts with you if you would like to learn about wildlife. Do you want to do a unit on plants, check out the local Master Gardeners or County Outreach Office. They will be more than happy to share with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My other 2 favorite places to gather ideas & curriculum & blogs. Those two alone can keep my going for hours. On Friday I will share how I use both of those to help gather & make lesson plans. I will also share links to some of my favorite blogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the end my favorite place to find curriculum ideas? My kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I start with whatever my kids are excited about. Dinosaurs, construction, how something works, where is Tennessee (because his friend moved there). I always start with what they are most excited now, & try to find something that relates back to it. I use the resources listed above & I connect it back with them. They are always full of ideas, its just my job to help them find the right tools to learn more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So go sit down with your kids & take a moment to discover what they really want to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then stop back in tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tomorrow we will cover resources we have found for Math.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once again don't forget to check out these other amazing ladies in our series.</span></div>
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How Do I Teach ā¦ 5 Day Blog Series is brought to you by the following blogs:</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.com/">From A Country Road ~</a> </span><a href="http://enchantedhomeschoolingmom.org/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Enchanted Homeschooling Mom</a> ~ <a href="http://homeschoolgameschool.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Homeschool Gameschool</a> ~ <a href="http://amyswandering.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Are We There Yet?</a> ~ <a href="http://www.lifewithmoorebabies.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Life with Moore Babies</a> ~ <a href="http://nodoubtlearning.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">No Doubt Learning</a> ~ <a href="http://mrsreddsclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mrs. Reddās Classroom Blog</a> ~ <a href="http://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Proverbial Homemaker</a>~ <a href="http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">My Joy Filled Life</a> ~ <a href="http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Preschool Powol Packets</a> ~ <a href="http://adventuresinmommydom.org/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Adventures in Mommydom</a> ~ <a href="http://www.vicki-arnold.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vicki Arnold</a> ~<a href="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Only Passionate Curiosity</a> ~ <a href="http://www.livinglifeandlearning.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Living Life and Learning</a> ~ <a href="http://farmfreshadventures.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Farm Fresh Adventures</a> ~ <a href="http://3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3 Dinosaurs</a> ~ <a href="http://monstersed.co.za/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Monsters Ed Homeschooling Academy</a> ~ <a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/" style="color: #75c346; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Life and Lessons from a country road</a> ~<a href="http://www.forthisseason.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">For This Season</a></div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-80396124344789339042013-08-19T17:46:00.000-06:002013-08-19T17:46:09.732-06:00How do I Teach??? Day 1 I am so excited to be joining a some amazing other ladies as we talk about various things that come up in homeschooling in our "How Do I Teach. . . ." Series. <div>
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In every situation in life there are things that come up, especially in the finance department. One of my worries in when we started our homeschooling journey 3 years ago was curriculum. We had finally decided that we were going to start homeschooling, but now I needed to get curriculum. I had researched some fantastic ideas & read books & listened to other peoples advice on what is the best curriculum. There was also a local group that does home school classes & I wanted to sign my kids up. </div>
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Then I started doing the math. </div>
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My heart sank.</div>
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I couldn't afford these right now. We were trying to get a new business of the ground, money was a tight.</div>
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I sighed. </div>
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I felt like a failure & I hadn't even started yet. Now what?</div>
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That was 3 years ago, and I will admit that this year, will be the 1st year that I will actually spend money on curriculum. So the first thing I would say to you, is remember you are not the only person who may or may not be spending money on curriculum. The size of your school year budget, will not determine the success of your home school year.</div>
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Just relax, & repeat. The size of your budget will not determine the success of your home school year. </div>
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I have since found a lot of free to minimal resources that can go a long way in your upcoming school year. In the next few days, we will discuss different subjects like Math, Science, Reading, Social Studies, Art, Writing, and some of my all around favorite resources. We will even give you a few ideas of how I have added some dollars to our homeschooling budget without taking anything out of our family budget.</div>
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So to get it started, I have some homework for you. Yes, homework. Tonight when your sitting down for a moment, grab a piece of paper, & start making of list. Don't think of all the things you don't have, but start making a list of all the resources you do have.</div>
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For an example, the library, the lady down the road who also home schools her kids, maybe some old textbooks from college ect. </div>
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Make your list & see what you have.</div>
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Then join me again tomorrow look at resources for Science & Social Studies.</div>
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I can't wait.</div>
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And check out some of these other amazing ladies who are doing it as well:.</div>
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How Do I Teach ā¦ 5 Day Blog Series is brought to you by the following blogs:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 25px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">From A Country Road ~</span></a><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><a href="http://enchantedhomeschoolingmom.org/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Enchanted Homeschooling Mom</a> ~ <a href="http://homeschoolgameschool.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Homeschool Gameschool</a> ~ <a href="http://amyswandering.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Are We There Yet?</a> ~ <a href="http://www.lifewithmoorebabies.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Life with Moore Babies</a> ~ <a href="http://nodoubtlearning.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">No Doubt Learning</a> ~ <a href="http://mrsreddsclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mrs. Reddās Classroom Blog</a> ~ <a href="http://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Proverbial Homemaker</a>~ <a href="http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">My Joy Filled Life</a> ~ <a href="http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Preschool Powol Packets</a> ~ <a href="http://adventuresinmommydom.org/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Adventures in Mommydom</a> ~ <a href="http://www.vicki-arnold.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vicki Arnold</a> ~<a href="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Only Passionate Curiosity</a> ~ <a href="http://www.livinglifeandlearning.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Living Life and Learning</a> ~ <a href="http://farmfreshadventures.blogspot.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Farm Fresh Adventures</a> ~ <a href="http://3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3 Dinosaurs</a> ~ <a href="http://monstersed.co.za/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Monsters Ed Homeschooling Academy</a> ~ <a href="http://www.forthisseason.com/" style="color: #60b130; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">For This Season</a></div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-69878465125080629902013-08-01T08:26:00.002-06:002013-08-01T08:26:54.794-06:00August - Monthly Menu I can't believe how fast August has arrived!! July went by way to fast. It was great to have a blogging break & just focus on my family & other things as well.<br />
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Nothing feels better than getting your upcoming month a little planned & scheduled out. So it is time for another Monthly Menu.<br />
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This time it is in an actual calendar form. Breakfast is the top & dinner is the bottom item. Because it is personalized to my family, you also see when we are out of town & I won't be cooking those days.<br /><br /><br /><div>
I do apologize it is a little hard to read. Click the image & it will get bigger.<br /><div>
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If you want, just click on the image & save to your computer. Now dinner is already planned for the rest of the month. </div>
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Or here is just the quick list of dinner item:</div>
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<b>August 2013 Menu</b><div>
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<li><b>Chicken enchiladas</b></li>
<li>Grilled Blue Chicken & Veggies</li>
<li>Steak & Baked Potatoes</li>
<li>Ham & Mashed Potatoes</li>
<li>Porcupine Meatballs</li>
<li>Chicken Alfredo</li>
<li>Out of Town</li>
<li>Spaghetti & Bread sticks</li>
<li>Italian Chicken</li>
<li>Carnitas</li>
<li>Roast & potatoes</li>
<li>Out of Town</li>
<li>Out of Town</li>
<li>Crock pot Orange Chicken</li>
<li>Navajo Tacos</li>
<li>Beef Noodles</li>
<li>Hawaiian Haystacks</li>
<li>Pork Roast w/ Veggies</li>
<li>Pork Chops w/ a Walnut Maple Glaze</li>
<li>Mexican Chicken Casserole</li>
<li>Shrimp Tacos & Sweet Rice</li>
<li>Potato/Ham Casserole</li>
<li>Family Reunion</li>
<li>Family Reunion</li>
<li>Family Reunion</li>
<li>Parmesan Tilipia w/ Rice</li>
<li>Beef & Broccoli Stir-fry</li>
<li>Enchilada Pie</li>
<li>Pasta Primavera</li>
<li>Grilled Pork chops w/ Corn</li>
<li>Homemade Pizza</li>
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I will start sharing some of these recipes as the month goes along as well.</div>
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I am now off to do my monthly grocery shopping. Have a great 1st day of August. (I still can't believe it is August). </div>
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-38669870028234543772013-07-24T07:47:00.000-06:002013-07-24T07:47:51.176-06:00SummerOh how I have missed this blog. But due to summer I have taken a brief sabbatical. That will last through the rest of July. We are doing things like:<br />
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Getting enlisted at Fort Cottonwood. <br />
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This also is known as grand kids camp. A time were all the grandkids 5 & older get together at the same time & spend a few days at Grandma & Grandpas. This year theme is army.<br />
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My mom does it every summer & does an amazing job. A highlight of the year for my kids <br />
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We are starting our mid-summer lambing: <br />
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And hanging out in the mountains & playing with uncles that come to town. <br />
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We are checking out the ram sales:<br />
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And chasing puppies. <br />
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We are gearing up for family reunions that start tomorrow & a million other things that summer brings. <br />
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So check back in. <br />
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I will post when I can. <br />
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Just know we are loving life & all the good things summer brings.<br />
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TiffanyFrom a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-18289023415126105612013-07-11T05:30:00.000-06:002013-07-11T05:30:03.582-06:00"Teaching Your Child To Read" Guest Blogger - Katrina & Korinda (Part 2) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So it is way past due, for another guest blogger on our amazing series of Teaching Your Child to Read. Guest Post Series. Today we are lucky to have Katrina back. If you missed Part 1 of Katrina Guest post you can check it out <a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2013/06/teaching-your-child-to-read-guest-post.html">HERE</a>. Katrina blogs over at<span style="background-color: white; color: #4f372f; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 18px;"> <a href="http://www.thechickenwire.blogspot.com/">www.thechickenwire.blogspot.com </a> .</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3cXtkHwzxI/UYEOXY5YKMI/AAAAAAAABdc/4ROBJnvuLo0/s1600/Teaching+Your+Child+To+Read2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3cXtkHwzxI/UYEOXY5YKMI/AAAAAAAABdc/4ROBJnvuLo0/s320/Teaching+Your+Child+To+Read2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Using the book <i>Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons</i></b><i> </i>- <b>Part Two</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNLeRGH1-6g/Ud4_HY-HjuI/AAAAAAAACU0/GiFGoJIKVRg/s1600/Front+Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNLeRGH1-6g/Ud4_HY-HjuI/AAAAAAAACU0/GiFGoJIKVRg/s320/Front+Cover.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>
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In part one of this article I described how I have used the book <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1b1KtGR">Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons</a>. </i>In this second part, my friend Korinda tells of her experience teaching her children with the same book. She does a great job of sharing it, so I'll let her take it from here!<br />
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My name is Korinda Luhmann, and I have had the privilege of teaching children in a public school and home setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we had kids, I was a public school teacher in the northern suburbs of Chicago with a masterās degree in education from the University of Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I taught first and second grades, I was actively involved in teaching children how to read and loved to see the light bulbs turning on in studentsā heads as the world of reading began to click for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now for the past eleven years, I have been a homeschooling mama to our seven kids (five boys sandwiched between two girls).<br />
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When our oldest daughter was three years old, I stumbled upon the book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i> by Siegfried Engelmann. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read through the teacherās instructions in the beginning of the book and started the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we completed Lesson 50, reading began to click for her, about a month before her fourth birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I can remember pulling up to a strip mall in our town and hearing the names of the stores being read aloud from the backseat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked at each other and said, āI guess she is reading!ā<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not finish the book with her and now at 13, she is a devourer of books.<br />
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After our quick success with our daughter, I couldnāt wait to begin the process again with our oldest son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because he was not ready as early as our daughter, we did not begin the book until he was five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 30 lessons went well, and then one day he looked at me and said, āCan we just homeschool in the summer and take the rest of the winter off?ā<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I replied that he would probably regret that decision once summer came around, but I realized that he needed a break from this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we stopped doing lessons for about a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my husband noticed that we werenāt doing our regular reading lessons, he asked what happened to teaching him to read in 100 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reminded him that it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i>, not days.<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After letting the book sit for awhile and doing other homeschool activities and subjects with our son, I began the book again with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We picked up right where we left off, and I was amazed that he had retained most of what he had learned previously in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, by Lesson 50 reading began to click for him, and he was on his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this time I decided to finish the book with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though my kids are beginning to read by right around Lesson 50, I have found that finishing the book introduces many more sounds and gives them the opportunity to continue to develop their reading fluency using a controlled vocabulary.<br />
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My second son was a wiggler, fidgeter, and oh so distracted five year old boy, but we set out to begin the lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though this book is designed for each lesson to take about 20 minutes, with this son it seemed like each lesson went on for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally realized that in between each ātaskā (term the book uses) this boy needed to run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he did laps around the kitchen table, ran up and down the hallway ten times, did somersaults, and then came back to do the next task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is when I knew that homeschooling suited him well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he had to sit in a desk at public school all day, both he and the teacher would go nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would often end up with his head on the couch and his feet in the air by the end of the lesson, but again, by Lesson 50, he too was beginning to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally finished the book with him, and now, years later, he is the child that we have to tell to stop reading and put his book away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never leaves the house without a book.<br />
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Currently, I have my next three sons, ages 7, 5, and 3, all doing lessons from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have often said that this book is the best $20 that I ever spent for homeschooling, but this year we had to buy a new copy as ours had fallen apart over the years (this time it was only $12). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My youngest two boys have seen what our older kids are doing, and they want to be part of it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, because they expressed such an interest in learning to read, I began lessons with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, my three year old asks each morning if he can do his lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My seven year old is around lesson 70 and yes, reading is finally beginning to click for him too.<br />
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As a former first grade school teacher, I wish I would have known about this gem of a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the public school we used a number of different methods to teach children to read, and whenever we used any one program, we had to supplement it with additional strategies to try to fill in the gaps for the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i> works more effectively than any of the other programs that I have used or come across.<br />
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With <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i>, any parent can pick it up and begin teaching their child to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is adaptable to the developmental differences between children, so know your child and get your cues from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started this book with some of our kids when they were six and others when they were three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let my child set the pace and sometimes we step away from it and then return to it a few months later with the same great results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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A few other specifics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my oldest three kids I never did the āhandwriting taskā they suggest at the end of each lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't<span style="color: #990000;"> </span> want to add more or distract them from reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for my younger three, I have been doing the āhandwriting taskā with them and it hasn't been too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I have done differently from this book is when it introduces words such as ātheā, āsaidā or āwasā, it has them sound them out and then tells them this word says _____.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I skip the sounding out part (since it does not correspond with the actual sound) and introduce it right away as a sight word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever we see the words in later lessons, I tell them remember this word is ātheā or āsaidā.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a sight word; we just have to know it.<br />
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After having three kids learn to read with this book, (currently 13, 11, and 8) three currently in the book (all on different lessons), and one more little girl awaiting her turn, I couldn't recommend this book more highly to parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my eleven years of homeschooling, this is and will always be the number one book I recommend to any parent starting out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really all you need in teaching your child to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do not need a fancy, expensive phonics or whole language program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you need is 12 bucks and a favorite place to snuggle next to your child, and you can begin the amazing journey of watching your own childās world come alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so blessed to be able to give this gift to our children.<br />
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<i>Thanks so much to Katrina & Korinda for sharing with us what they are using & teaching. I must admit after reading these two ladies posts, I finally decided to give it a try & I ordered my own<span style="color: #660000;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1b1KtGR">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</a>. It just barely arrived in the mail, & we are only on lesson 3. I am so excited for it though. I wanted to thank once again these lovely ladies for sharing their knoweldge with us! </i><br />
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From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1480514476804017841.post-23406072694557097122013-07-10T20:26:00.003-06:002013-07-10T20:26:37.318-06:00Murphy's LawSo have you ever heard of Murphy's Law.<br />
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"Anything that can happen, will." Usually what happens is bad, never good.<br />
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Well Murphy & I are good friends. Maybe I shouldn't say good friends. I don't really care when he stops by. He does stop by though, regularly.<br />
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Maybe I should say: We are well known acquaintances.<br />
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Well Murphy decided to pay a visit yesterday. Apparently, I was due for another visit.<br />
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Frankly, who knew.<br />
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I thought we have seen enough of each other, lately.<br />
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It all started Monday night with a text from my hubby. (Yes, I do realize a trend that is starting to occur, with it all beginning with a text from my hubby.)<br />
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Once again, I reminded myself I am the<a href="http://www.fromacountryroad.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grownup.html"> grownup</a>. <br />
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So the day starts out pretty good. I get up at 5:30 a.m. get the cooler packed, eventually wake up my boys, feed them breakfast, & drive out to where we will be the sheep herders for the day.<br />
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We arrive on time about 8 in the morning & I am feeling pretty good about things.<br />
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I kiss the hubby goodbye. He is headed to a different area, to load other sheep.<br />
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"The semi-truck should arrive at 10, I will load, leave & be back here to take over by 12. Maybe 1 p.m. the latest."<br />
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And away he goes.<br />
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So we check the sheep & hang out. I have loaded up the car with all sorts of books, food, movies. ect.<br />
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The first hour passes quickly. While it was cool we mostly hung out outside, played, explored the area, & just had fun.<br />
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The second hour, we worked on a little school work & played some more.<br />
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It started getting hot outside so we loaded in the car, turned on the AC, watched a movie.<br />
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The next 2 hours, were a little slower, but still passed.<br />
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I called my hubby to check on things. The truck still hadn't arrived yet, so it will be a little longer than planned, but should hopefully arrive soon. I wasn't thrilled, but no big deal.<br />
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I started making sandwiches & my little boy asked if he could turn on a CD to listen to. Sure, I said, turn on the car & put it in. And he did.<br />
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We eat, play more, its getting warmer, & try to pass the time.<br />
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We finish a book we have been reading. We play more. I notice the CD sounds funny, must be scratched I thought. Then I hear the awful sound of my car dying.<br />
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Yep. Died. We ran the battery dead. That is lovely. My darling son turned on the car, but never started it & I never noticed.<br />
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I was feeling pretty smart about now.<br />
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Great. Murphy strikes, again. Oh well. We will manage. I am sure my hubby will be here soon.<br />
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So I call him. "He quickly tells me that I am free of my sheep herding duties. So go home."<br />
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To which I break my bad news. I can't. I am now stranded. The battery died. You coming soon?<br />
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"Nope, the semi-truck is now 3 hours late & I am are still waiting for it. So it will be at least another 3 hours before it I can get it you & that is only if the semi-truck miraculously arrives soon."<br />
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Oh, Murphy, striking again, on a late semi-truck. Lovely.<br />
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So now I am going to be here a while & I am silently crying on the inside. It is hot, I am just off a dirt road, that goes for miles, there is nothing but desert & a few large farms. It could be hours before I see someone. Did I mention I have 4 kids & it's hot?<br />
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I am getting stuff out of the trunk, when my oldest suggests a prayer. Good idea. We pray. I start walking to see if I can see anyone. Nope.<br />
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I go back to the car & try my car again, maybe just maybe it will start.<br />
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No, again.<br />
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My son suggest saying a family prayer. I am silently praying as well. Time passes, & I see a cloud of dust down the road. I inform my kids I will be back, hang tight, stay in the shade, play with the youngest. I will be back in a few. I begin walking/jogging towards a cloud of dust. Praying it is a vehicle. Waving my arms like a frantic woman. A half a mile or so down the road, I am still waving & trying to get to the vehicle before he turns off.<br />
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I am too late, he has turned down a road, & stopped. I keep running as fast as I can. Waving, yelling, looking like a crazy person I am sure.<br />
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Prayers answered the driver sees me & comes to my rescue. A short time later we have my car running, A/C back on. And I am almost in tears thanking the stranger for coming to our rescue.<br />
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Murphy's Law, had come & I had triumphed.<br />
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Then Murphy cocked his head & laughed.<br />
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We are headed home, & a few miles down the road we noticed some stray sheep. With our brand on them.<br />
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Not good. Sigh. Murphy 4, me 1.<br />
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So being the sheepherders of the day, we begin to herd them back to the others.<br />
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A few miles & hours later. The lost sheep, have now joined the other sheep. How in the world we managed to lose them in the first place, who knows. But they are gathered up and in a corral.<br />
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I call my hubby. He is now within an hour of joining us. Yea!!<br />
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"So can you stick around & help me load?" He asks. Sure. My enthusiasm for our little adventure is waning.<br />
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So we do a quick drive around to make sure no more sheep are going to show up on us. Then venture to drive to the nearest little town, find a grocery store & pickup ice cream & fried chicken for a quick early dinner. Yes, fried chicken & ice cream. No wonder I need to lose some weight. :0) Oh well, when your hot, tired & hungry your thinking isn't clear.<br />
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So back to our sheep post we return. I fall asleep, my kids watch a movie & we wait for the arrival of our dear hubby.<br />
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He arrives.<br />
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We now have to load the trailer. Normally this should take us an hour or less. It around 6 by now, No problem. And once again Murphy cocks his head & laughed, over & over again.<br />
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I have never, worked with such difficult sheep in my life. Why oh why tonight? They were uncooperative, mean, ornery ladies to work with that night. If truth must be told, the rest of our temperaments were about the same.<br />
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Normally, if you get one sheep starting to load, the rest will follow. Not these ladies, we had to almost to hand load all 80 sheep that night. That still left more to load to in the morning. We have loaded bands of sheep faster than these girls. At one point in time, we are so frustrated, tired, hot, exhausted & did I mention trying to work in the dark. I made the comment that I am sure one day, this will be funny.<br />
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My little dude responded, " No it won't, this is my worst day ever."<br />
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Trying to be positive, I assured him that he has had a lot of days worse than this.<br />
<br />
"Name one." was his response. I couldn't, but I am sure there has been.<br />
<br />
(On a bright note, my eldest son saw his first falling star. He was quite excited. We decided that & a reminder of the power of prayer were the best 2 parts of our day so far.)<br />
<br />
We had been kicked, pushed into a barbed wire fence, run over & more before my husband & I could tell the boys we were done for the night. It was dark, by the time we left. So we left the sheep until morning & loaded all together in my car to drive the distance home.<br />
<br />
We were about 2 miles away from home, when we saw flashing lights in our mirrors.<br />
<br />
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
<br />
We got pulled over. Of course, why shouldn't we be pulled over tonight. At this point it felt like: Murphy 100 me 1. We thankfully left, ticket-less, as it was just a broken taillight & finished our journey home.<br />
<br />
We carried boys to bed, kissed them goodnight, & eventually were able to crawl into our own beds. I glanced at the clock. 12:30 a.m. Not quite the day I had planned.<br />
<br />
Oh Murphy's Law can be a brutal one. At least the day is over.<br />
<br />
And as I laid in my bed, the smell of a skunk came filtering through my open window.<br />
<br />
A skunk. Really?<br />
<br />
All I can do now is laugh.<br />
<br />
Well played Murphy. Well played.<br />
<br />From a country roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598663337086256623noreply@blogger.com1