In My Life this Week
Snow! I knew the snow was coming - it IS early November in Maine after all! LOL - and the first snowstorm of the season is exciting and beautiful, but I'm JUST-NOT-READY! We rushed about Friday getting the coop and run winterized and the outdoor toys put in the shed, and then on Saturday we finished picking up the table set and garden tools, relocated the shovels from last season, unburied the roof shovel in the garage, and searched in vain for windshield scrapers. The Snow Season has begun!
Snow! I knew the snow was coming - it IS early November in Maine after all! LOL - and the first snowstorm of the season is exciting and beautiful, but I'm JUST-NOT-READY! We rushed about Friday getting the coop and run winterized and the outdoor toys put in the shed, and then on Saturday we finished picking up the table set and garden tools, relocated the shovels from last season, unburied the roof shovel in the garage, and searched in vain for windshield scrapers. The Snow Season has begun!
Did you notice? The kids have new blog names again! LOL We thought it would be neat to have nicknames that went with our blog name; something "nature". So, the kids picked out TREE names from our New England Audubon field guide. Meet White Pine (Jag), Sugar Maple (Sweet Tart) and Balsam Fir (Sprinter)! Dad is Blue Spruce and I'm - ready?! - Sweet Pepperbush. You aren't laughing at my nickname, are you?! ((wink))
Oh, and I also blogged about SPD. I kind of missed SPD Awareness Month in October for the most part, but I got it in JUST before November! LOL Click here to read my post!
Whatcha Makin' Wednesdays
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Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread from Cranberry Thanksgiving! Check out my post with the recipe and our Thanksgiving studies here!
Homeschool Happenings
Every week can't go smoothly, right? We started off rocky, but we ended OK. I did see some of this from Balsam Fir:
Sugar Maple finished her letter to the editor for her first Girl Scout Juniors badge. It was sent into the newspaper on Monday (If you click on the images I *think* they get bigger for easier reading...) Imagine our DELIGHTED surprise when the newspaper called on Wednesday and said that they had chosen her letter to be in the editorials!
And White Pine finished up his first writing assignment in Saxon Grammar and Writing. (Although I typed this essay up for an example, White Pine will be typing additional writing assignments.)
White Pine and Sugar Maple received Blue Ribbons for their 4H posters and projects! And Balsam Fir got a participant ribbon (since kids his age aren't judged the same).
We spent a REALLY neat day at Norlands Living History Center on Thursday. We packed our LUNCH PAILS 1850s style and spent the day as students and farmers, learning and experiencing 19th century Maine. (I wish I had some neat photos to share, but SOMEONE forgot her camera. Hmm...)
And since most of the snow has melted away and we're feeling winter's approach, I decided to "skip" school today and head to the Audubon center. We walked along the 2 1/2 miles of wooded trails and estuary, exploring nature and enjoying each other's company.
(Click on the sidebar button to join the linky party!)
Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread from Cranberry Thanksgiving! Check out my post with the recipe and our Thanksgiving studies here!
Every week can't go smoothly, right? We started off rocky, but we ended OK. I did see some of this from Balsam Fir:
Sugar Maple finished her letter to the editor for her first Girl Scout Juniors badge. It was sent into the newspaper on Monday (If you click on the images I *think* they get bigger for easier reading...) Imagine our DELIGHTED surprise when the newspaper called on Wednesday and said that they had chosen her letter to be in the editorials!
And White Pine finished up his first writing assignment in Saxon Grammar and Writing. (Although I typed this essay up for an example, White Pine will be typing additional writing assignments.)
White Pine and Sugar Maple received Blue Ribbons for their 4H posters and projects! And Balsam Fir got a participant ribbon (since kids his age aren't judged the same).
We spent a REALLY neat day at Norlands Living History Center on Thursday. We packed our LUNCH PAILS 1850s style and spent the day as students and farmers, learning and experiencing 19th century Maine. (I wish I had some neat photos to share, but SOMEONE forgot her camera. Hmm...)
And since most of the snow has melted away and we're feeling winter's approach, I decided to "skip" school today and head to the Audubon center. We walked along the 2 1/2 miles of wooded trails and estuary, exploring nature and enjoying each other's company.
On the Book Shelf
Places We Went and People We Saw
Hoops! Sugar Maple started basketball this week!
White Pine had a Boy Scout meeting.
C__ and C__ and the boys from next door popped over for some fun.
Halloween at the Rec Center!
Sugar Maple had a clarinet lesson.
The library - for LOTS of books, videos and puzzles!
Hoops! Sugar Maple started basketball this week!
White Pine had a Boy Scout meeting.
C__ and C__ and the boys from next door popped over for some fun.
Halloween at the Rec Center!
Sugar Maple had a clarinet lesson.
The library - for LOTS of books, videos and puzzles!
Our Favorite Thing This Week
Snow! Um, not really! LOL
Snow! Um, not really! LOL
Helpful Homeschool Hint
See something you like in a catalog? Perhaps with some creativity you can make something similar with inexpensive materials! Flashcards, word walls, informational placemats, games, and morning calendar activities can all be made at home.
See something you like in a catalog? Perhaps with some creativity you can make something similar with inexpensive materials! Flashcards, word walls, informational placemats, games, and morning calendar activities can all be made at home.
What's Working/Not Working For Us
It was hard, but we gave our 3 roosters to someone else. Roosters tend to be aggressive as they "come of age" so we knew from the beginning they would be better off elsewhere. We found a home that will try to integrate them into their flock. We will miss Feathers, Ewok and Ugly!
It was hard, but we gave our 3 roosters to someone else. Roosters tend to be aggressive as they "come of age" so we knew from the beginning they would be better off elsewhere. We found a home that will try to integrate them into their flock. We will miss Feathers, Ewok and Ugly!
Photo, Video, Link, or Quote to Share
Balsam Fir figured out a way to add figures over 10 with his fingers. Check him out on this video doing his Saxon addition drill sheet.
Balsam Fir figured out a way to add figures over 10 with his fingers. Check him out on this video doing his Saxon addition drill sheet.
Linking up to:
It's Nice to meet you and your family :)
ReplyDeleteI'm stopping by via the Sit and Relax Weekend Hop, and am your newest Follower :)
Have a Great Weekend!
~ Jill
http://www.frugalplus.com/
Congratulations on the 4H Blue ribbons!! I've heard that about roosters too....bummer =-( Thanks for linking up to TGIF Linky Party!
ReplyDeleteBeth =-)
I felt sooo bad for the East Coasters last weekend for getting slammed with winter soo early! I can't even imagine! I am trying to brace for another bad winter here in Chicago, but I know I have at least another month or 6 weeks to prep!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great week! LOVE your pics of nature and your family!
I very much enjoyed reading your children's writing samples--they are quite impressive! While I enjoy writing myself, I find it difficult to teach it. We're trying to make some progress this year!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear your thoughts on the Saxon Grammar and Writing sometime.
The bread looks AMAZING!! The snow, not so much. lol
ReplyDeleteAnd all the names are confusing me. I'm so behind on my blog reading I didn't even know you'd stopped using initials. I'll just use the names that are in my head so I won't be confused. lol
BTW, C's new picture in the sidebar is just GORGEOUS! Look at that beautiful hair.
I just love your photos! They are absolutely breathtaking and look like postcards. :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your children, not only on their ribbons on their 4-H projects, but on their wonderful writing samples. How awesome that your daughter's letter was selected to be published!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Many blessings,
Lisa
Congratulations bout the kids ribbons..that is fantastic!! Wanted to say, thank you for dropping by, Coffee & Cookies Homeschool for THMJ. It was my first time participating and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to see how the Oreo phrases work out for you!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to more info (and fun photos): https://www.leosciencelab.com/educators/lesson-plans/oreo_moon_phases.php
There's also lab questions and diagrams so its pretty detailed and would work great with Apologia Astronomy.
Adding my congrats on the 4H projects! How did you like Norlands? I've wanted to visit. The girls were just talking yesterday about our visit to Leonards Mills a few summers ago on one of their Living History weekends. Hope more snowfall holds off for you a little bit longer!
ReplyDeleteApplause all around for all of the accomplishments (ribbons, great writing, etc.) Celebrations should be in order, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI tried to post on your Wrap Up last week, but for some reason my comment would not post. About your Colonial study, a great book that we found at our library was a book called Squanto, Young Indian Hunter By Augusta Stevenson. It's a great book that my children would not want us to stop reading it each day. Not so hard that even your children could read it by themselves even though it's a chapter book.
Love the pictures. And cute new nicknames! lol
ReplyDeleteGreat looking week! Love the nature pictures. Snow is so pretty. My son misses snow, but the one or two times a year we get it is enough for me. We're planning to read Cranberry Thanksgiving soon and make cranberry bread too. The 4H posters look awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place you live in. I have a feeling snow will be falling in my neck of the woods any day now (I have mixed feelings about it :/). I love your tree name, LOL. I got a kick out of your rooster's name too, Ugly, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing a trend in the posts this week of others who had a rocky start to last week. It sure is making me feel better!
ReplyDeleteLove your post---what a way to get to know you and your family.
Look at all that snow!!! The Bread looks so good :-) Thank you for linking up to Whatcha Making Wednesdays!
ReplyDelete