I'm so glad Christmas and all the holidays are over and done. Nothing like getting back to a normal schedule and the activities that go with it. Keeping this family on somewhat of a schedule is comforting for all and there's always plenty to do. There's always plenty to do anyway, but when we are 'on break', it seems like all falls apart and everyone forgets how to amuse themselves in a productive way, myself included. So tomorrow we get back on that proverbial horse and start riding. I'm looking forward to the new year.
We will be starting chapter 7 of Volume 3 of Weaver. This will be a fun chapter (aren't they all?). We'll be diving into a part of history I'm totally unfamiliar with (again, aren't they all, what did I do when I was in school anyway?) learning about the presidency of George Washington and the setting up of the nation according to the Constitution. How about that. We'll also be looking at the other presidents that follow him and how things will change as time marches on till we get to Abraham Lincoln and here we will change gears again. Included in this study will be the Louisiana Purchase, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, Daniel Boone and everything in between. There will be lots of books that will get read and I can't wait! I foresee a beautiful timeline being produced from this. So much happens in this time frame of our history that I'm hoping we get the most of it all.
We will also be starting the Learning to Love Literature book in a couple of weeks after we get some other work out of the way. I think this will be a great warm-up to future literature study. I will be so glad to have the Constitution class out of the way. I really disliked that whole program. Great information, poor program and how it worked. It was improving as we went, but it still was a cumbersome class to use and maneuver. One son has this week to finish it and we should be good to go. I'll just have to print off some papers for their binders and print off a grade report and call it good. I think out of all the lessons we've done since we began to homeschool, I think they learned the least with that class. It was set up like a typical classroom style way of learning, you know, just git er done and get it over with. I had no hand in presenting the information and I didn't like that either. Plus, I couldn't learn anything that way! I wish I had done this information a different way and there's nothing saying we won't go over it again. I pray it will be to every one's liking.
Farm News:
Nothing really to report much. I've made two batches of soap and I have to admit, they are pretty terrific. I used goat milk and rolled oats for these batches. The next batch will be more of an herbal creation. I enjoy making them. Why is it that all the home craft things to do require special equipment? It's so frustrating sometimes. If we want nice soap, you need to buy the nice ingredients. Then there's the molds and cutting tools needed. My hubby made me this very nice mold which is great. Now I need a miter box for cutting nice looking bars. I have a pattern for that, but no knife long enough to get across it.
I had to quit making goat cheese since I let my goat dry up for her pregnancy. In the spring we should be loaded down with kids and lots of goat milk! I love milking my goats. I have experimented with making soft cheeses with cows milk and they have been inconsistent, but I'm still trying. We have LOTS of milk to play with. The best part is that we now have fresh organic, grass-fed butter for our use. The last two batches of yogurt have turned out also. Yum. My next project is to make kefir, which I've never even tried before. We'll see how that one goes. Again, another home craft that requires additional equipment to make different kinds of cheeses. The list can be endless.
The seed catalogs are starting to roll in. One of my favorite times of the year, dreaming about next seasons garden. Of course my dreams are never reality, but I strive each year for a better garden. This year will bring for the first time a large herb garden. I've started using herbs for medicinal purposes in teas and I would also like to make salves and more tinctures. So part of the dream is to create raised long beds through the garden just for the herbs. I also want to get elderberries started. I will be transplanting raspberry bushes into the vegetable garden since where I was trying to grow them was not working out. I think my garden will be a better place. Safer anyway. Here at least the chickens and turkeys can't eat all the berries. I'm giving up on most squash and melon vines. The squash bugs and beetles are too much to deal with. I've found certain squash are ok and can tolerate those nasty little critters. I also can't wait to see how my garlic turns out. I planted a large patch for the first time this fall and I've got it all protected for the winter so I hope I have a nice crop this summer. I use LOTS of garlic and this would be such a blessing.
The orchard seems to be doing well this winter. I will have to go out and do my winter pruning soon. Those blasted rabbits have been gnawing on my grape vines again, but at least they grew enough this past season to grow up the fence, so those vines for now are safe. It was the stragglers that have been chewed off. Hmmm, I wonder what rabbit tastes like?
The cattle seem happy that all the snow has melted for now. Today I saw them out and about chewing on who knows what, but at least they seemed happy to be doing it. I feel sorry for them in the winter not having nice green grass and eating hay instead. At least we get the funny show of them kicking up their heels in the spring when the weather breaks. Our dairy cow, Blossom, has been keeping us well supplied with milk. The funny thing is that it's not enough really to sell, but too much for our family. If I had just one or two customers a week that came and bought two gallons, that would be ideal. I'll keep praying for that to happen.
We had a great 2010 year. I'm praying God is as gracious to us this coming year and to you, too.
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