Homeschool Wrap Up Week 4

 If there was one thing that I recommend for homeschoolers (or really any parents or grandparent) it is to read aloud to your children.  So much can be learned and enjoyed together by reading aloud!  Read books that leave them wanting more, eager to discuss what might happen next.  Read biographies on explorers, inventors, presidents, missionaries, etc.. Read poetry.  Read books they enjoy and books that they wouldn't pick for themselves but still can learn from.  Read some books just for pleasure and others to study.  Read to children when they can't read for themselves and continue reading for as long as you can. One of my favorite things about homeschooling has been reading aloud to my children.

We had a very productive week 4 in our homeschool!

Bible: We continued reading through 2nd Corinthians.

Read Aloud: We read 4 chapters of our YWAM biography on John Adams.  In the evening we continued reading from Memory Creek Ranch by Susan K. Marlow and the Hardy Boys.  There are two other books I am reading aloud right now but will include those with the subjects they go along with.

History: We completed Week 4 in The Mystery of History Vol 2 on Bar-Kokhba, The Apostles Creed,and  St. Valentine.

Geography: The girls and I started Our 50 States from Notgrass this week.  We did 3 lessons.  Each state has 2 lessons dedicated to that state.  For each lesson you read from the text (I read this aloud to them) and they complete a workbook page in their Atlas Workbook.  There are question in the lesson review book you can do if you wish.  There are musical selections for each state that you can listen to via a link ( We listened on my phone.)  You also have the option to add in recommended literature readings.  The first book is Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson.  We read one chapter a day after finishing the lesson.  There are also hands on optional activities for each lesson you can do.  

To go along with this, we are participating in a 50 states postcard swap that a homeschool friend recommended to me.  I have our postcards ordered and we will start sending cards in the order that we study the states.

Art History: We watched a HiGASFY video on Leonardo da Vinci.

Science: The boys are working independently through their Apologia Science courses.  The girls and I read about anemones in Zoology.

Nature Study: This week we talked about the different types of mini beasts: Arachnids, insects, annelids, etc... and the children sketched some that they found in the back yard.

Language Arts:  Christian and Anthony are using Excellence in Writing and completed lessons on dependent and independent clauses.  In literature they have been reading (and we have had some interesting discussions) The Wind in the Willows.

Lily is reading and working through her assignments on Dreamer.

I am reading The Boxcar Children aloud to Emmie (she loves this book!) and she is working through her language arts assignments based on the book.  This week was on contractions.

Math: Is going really well for the Teaching Textbooks group (Emmie, Lily, and Christian.)  We have had some struggles with Algebra 1 that has me trying to decide if we need to keep pushing forward for the ah ha! I got it moment, or accept temporary defeat and go backwards a bit.  We will see what this week brings....

Other Activities this Week

We had a LOT of rain this week!!! Pouring rain.  Liam was so excited on Thursday at lunchtime when the rain finally slowed down that he ran around the house telling everyone that the rain was finally stopping!  Poor baby it was raining so hard I would not let him out to help feed the animals.

Monday We had the babies.  I love the look on Willow's face when she spotted the tower.

The girls had gymnastics.

Wednesday we had Liam.  Willow was at a doctor check up.  He was so cute I gave the girls their books and got ready to start reading and he said, "Wait Mimi!  I need a book too!"  Aunt Lily to the rescue handed him a stack of papers and something to color with and that made him happy.

Friday the girls had their music lesson.  They are doing so well!

Emmie's pig has grown so much since we got that tiny pig (Nick's has too!)  We have one more show and then it will be time to sell her.  Nick's pig is scheduled to go to the butcher.  We also have to sell two of our goats after their last show.  Even though this is a part of raising livestock, it's not easy for some of us!

I hope you had a great week!

Happy Homeschooling!

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Homeschool Wrap Up Week 3

 September is a busy month for showing animals, which is why we do not start all of our subjects until our shows our over.  This week we had two days of animal shows.  We also had to take a day off of school because of dentist appointments and a health office appointment.  We did get a bit of school work done on a couple of days.

Week 3 in our Homeschool

Bible: We continued reading in the book of 2nd Corinthians.

Read Aloud: We read 2 chapters of our biography on John Adams.  In the evenings we are reading The Hardy Boys series for the boys and just started Tales From Memory Creek Ranch by Susan K Marlow for the girls.

History: We finished Week 3 in MOH Vol 2 on Masada, The Dead Sea Scrolls, and Pompeii.

Math: The children completed 2 lessons in their math assignments.  

Reading: I had planned on doing a reading lesson out of AAR with Emmie on Monday, but we were babysitting and during the afternoon when we would have been reading Emmie was sitting in the playroom with Liam.  While he was building Lego creations, she read to him out of a stack of picture books for more then 30 minutes.  It was very sweet and I decided that more then counted for reading for the day.

Other Activities this Week

Monday we were babysitting.

While I was reading aloud.

Later Liam was pretending to nap on the playroom floor.  Willow fell asleep in my lap and I put her on the couch with Lily beside her so I could help Anthony with his math.

And the girls were back at gymnastics.

Tuesday was a long day.  We dropped Alex off at school and went to the park while we waited for his class to end.  It was a beautiful morning.

We spent the rest of the day at appointments.  The good news was everyone was cavity free and there is a Walmart down the road from the dentist that does grocery pick up so I took advantage of that while we were there.  We had just enough time to drive all the way home, unload groceries and head to another appointment.  That office was running way behind and we were there for a few hours, right up until just about supper time.  Being in a crowded waiting room for a few hours was not my idea of a fun time, but at least we got it over with.

Then we had to wash all of the goats and prepare them for the show the next day.

Wednesday we were up before 5 to get the trailer loaded and head off to the Four States Fair goat show. We had never shown there before so it was a new experience. Art was at work so I was thankful that our Ag Agent was able to go with us and help me transport the animals. Competition was very stiff and every judge you go in front of is looking for something different then one before. Alex placed 7th with one and 13th with another.  Christian's goat was the most improved from the week before and placed 7th with his.  Lily placed 5th in her class of 5. 

Thursday the babies were back and it was so pretty outside that we stayed out all morning long.

Friday we were up at 4 to load pigs and head back down to Four States for the Hog Show.  There were 412 hogs entered and they said it was way down from what they usually have.  The judge only placed the top 5 in each class.  Neither Emmie or Nick placed.

Sunday Our church resumed in person worship, which I have been waiting for for months!  Of course we have mask regulations, social distancing,  temperature checks on the way in the door, and other safety measures. No Sunday School classes or group meetings but it was wonderful to be back in church!

Our next week should be a fairly normal school week and then the week after we have our last shows of 2020.

I hope you had a great week!

Happy Homeschooling!

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The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest historical fiction novel just released!  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy a couple of weeks ago and it is an amazing book that I wanted to share with you!

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow takes place in the state of Kentucky in the 1930's during the Great Depression.  Addie Cowherd is attending college and dreaming of becoming a novelist when she finds out that her father has lost his job and she cannot pay for her education.  After searching high and low for some kind of way to support herself she finds out about a full time position in a small coal mining town as a packhorse librarian.  Addie is very eager to make friends but the townspeople are very superstitious and distrusting of newcomers.

Emmet Tharp won a scholarship to college, worked very hard, and earned his degree.  But jobs are hard to find for everyone and there are not many opportunities in the town of Boone's Hollow.  Emmet's education makes him feel out of place among those he used to be good friends with.

Addie and Emmet are trying to figure out their places in the world when someone sets out to destroy the library program.  Will the culprit succeed in chasing Addie away?

 Kim Vogel Sawyer is my favorite author.  There is something about her books that just speaks to my heart.  Ms. Sawyer does an amazing job of transporting the reader to the time and place that her books take place.  The characters are real, believable, and easy for the reader to relate to.  Her books are uplifting with elements of faith and hope throughout.

In The Librarian of Boone's Hollow, the reader is taken back to the 1930's in Kentucky during the Depression.  Your heart is touched by the struggle that Addie faces when she is unable to finish college because of her father's lost job. At the same time you feel for Emmet who, even though he was able to finish his education, cannot find a job because businesses aren't hiring and he is considered over qualified for labor positions.  You feel the loneliness and faith of Nanny Fay, worry over Bettina, and marvel at the strength and tenacity of the packhorse librarians and the challenges they face.  

I love books and loved that Ms. Sawyer wrote this story about packhorse librarians, which was something I had little knowledge of.  This quote really spoke to me," I see the delivery of these books as something deeper, more important then a mere job.  A book takes one into another person's thoughts and emotions.  Books open up worlds beyond the view from one's own window.  Stories can stir compassion, can inspire integrity, can show different lifestyles and problem solving skills.  Books, Addie, have the power to change people for the better."

I love how the story reminds us to look for the blessings in life and that the Bible tells us that all things work for good for the believer.  I loved how Addie worked so hard on her ministry and found ways to help the people of the community. The romantic element made the story that much more special and the resolution was wonderful.  Reading it one time wasn't enough, I had to go back and read it again!

I highly recommend The Librarian of Boone's Hollow and other books by Kim Vogel Sawyer!

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book for review purposes.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.

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County Fair Week 2020

 This year when it was time to buy animals we weren't sure if we would be able to show them or not.  Covid 19 closed or cancelled just about everything including many county fairs.  As spring turned into summer we waited to see what would happen in our area.  And sure enough we started seeing cancellations of local, district, and state fairs.  But, even though the "fairs" were cancelled decisions were made (thankfully) to find ways to allow the livestock shows to go on.  Our local county fair board members along with our County Agents worked very hard to be able to hold these events in our area. It was different, but it went very well!

Usually we start our fair week on Labor Day, setting up fair booths and bringing in animals.  The next day we enter household items and hold the lamb and pig show.  On Wednesday evenings we show goats.  Thursday evening is for cows. One day during the day we have a chicken and rabbit show.  We also hold educational tours for school groups during the day.  They have some contests like hay bale decorating, cupcake decorating, pie judging, etc...We end the week with our Premium Auction (in the past held on Saturday morning but moved to Friday last year.) That evening animals are released, cleanup is done and Sunday afternoons exhibits and booths come down.  We are at the fair all day every day.  It is a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

This year everything but the livestock shows and Premium Sale was cancelled.  They set it up so that one species at a time would be on the fair grounds and then leave so there wouldn't be a large number of people on the grounds at a time. Sheep were scheduled to arrive between 6-8 Tuesday morning with the show starting at 9 and ending before lunch.  Goats came in between 1-3 on Tuesday afternoon with the show starting at 4.  Wednesday morning pigs came in between 6-8 and show starting at 9.  Cows came in from 1-3 and show started at 4.  Thursday morning chickens and rabbits came in between 7-8 and show started at 9.  The Premium Auction started at 9 on Friday without the animals present.  Photos were taken of all of the children with their animals and they showed it on a screen while the child stood beside it and donors bid on them. 

We took the whole week off of school.  

Monday Art and Nick were home for Labor Day so we took the day off.

Tuesday morning we had the babies.

Liam said, "Mimi this goat is wearing a shirt!"

And then got everything loaded and ready to go!

By the way, the cold front they said we were going to get this week never came.  It was HOT!!! Not as bad as last year but in the 90's all week long.

Alex helped someone brand new to showing goats wash and clip their goat.

We washed up, weighed in, and waited. The show went really well.  Lily, Christian, and Alex showed goats.  Alex won: Senior Showmanship, 1st in his Market class with Starbucks, 1st in his Market Class, 1st Commercial Doe class, and Reserve Champion Commercial Doe with Toffee. Lily won 3rd in her Market Class, and 1st in her Commercial Class with Ruby, and Christian won 3rd in his Market Class with Jang.

Nick and I  had to get up at 4 am on Wednesday to get ready to load pigs.  Our Ag agent hauled them to the fairgrounds for us.  Nick went ahead and I woke the others up to head out.  They washed, weighed in, and got ready for the show to start at 9.  There was a lot of stiff competition in the pig show.  Emmie was worn out when it was all over!  Nick and Emmie showed pigs.  Nick won: Senior Showmanship, 1st in his Market Class, and Grand Champion Market Hog!! Emmie won 1st in her Market Class, 1s in her Commercial Class, and Reserve Champion Commercial Gilt.

Nick headed back to school after the show.  The rest of us stayed to watch the cow show. Alex was helping in the ring.

We had 4 rabbits showing this year, all Netherland Dwarves.  Lily had a senior buck named Taco who won 1st, Best of Breed, and 4th overall in the show.  Emmie had a junior doe named Rosie who won 1st and Best Opposite. Christian had a senior doe who won 1st and Anthony had a senior doe named Scrapper who won 2nd place.  I was helping with the rabbit/chicken show and completely forgot to take any pictures expect for these two of the Grand Champion judging.

Many exhibitors give gift baskets to their "buyers."  Our buyers don't really buy the animals.  They just donate money to the children.  A friend sent me a picture of a gift with a towel and potholder that I thought was cute.  I made something similar for ours.  I did 3 rabbit sets, 2 pigs, and one rabbit and added a cookie sheet, measuring cups, and spatula to it.

The Premium Sale went very well.  All of the children that show livestock and are ages 5-18 are eligible to enter. We are always very thankful for any amount of money we get! It is not cheap to raise livestock and every bit helps!!

Next week will be a short school week for us because we have dentist appointment, a goat show, and a pig show.

I hope you had a great week!  Happy Homeschooling!

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