Journal Jottings of a Maine Mama - April , 2016

I haven't had much time (and truth by told ENERGY) to do much blogging lately, or even reading all the wonderful things you all blog about. My life is blessed! I simply want to enjoy every day that God has given me with my loving husband and zany kids, the new experiences, the adventures, and even the challenges.I miss writing though, and this link-up. Perhaps starting it at the beginning of the week and posting the following Monday will work...

CLOCK READS
2:48pm

WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS
Although we've had some days of steady, cool rain, the weather has warmed up. We are enjoying more and more sunny days. Some days we don't even have to wear jackets!

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW and IN THE GARDEN
All the snow is gone. The leaves have been raked off the lawn. The downed tree branches have been gathered and stacked to burn in the fire pit. The grass is green and growing. Cate's perennials have popped up as well as the Bleeding Hearts under the crabapple tree. The brook is swollen with melted snow from the mountain. Decidious trees are leaf buds. And the birds and spring peepers are back filling the woods with songs.

WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW and AROUND THE HOUSE
After a busy morning filled with learning and errands, I'm resting in the livingroom. The windows are open and I can hear the hens clucking. Another egg? Sam is making homemade peanut butter cookies and watching Netflix. The dogs are napping on the other end of the couch.

TODAY'S TO DO
Laundry
Grocery Shop
Bank
Band Practice
Homeschool
Dishes
Vacuum
Scrub Toilets

DINNER MENU
Monday: Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza
Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread and Steamed Peas
Wednesday: Leftovers - Baked Beans and Hot Dogs or Spaghetti and Meatballs and Baby Carrots and Celery Sticks
Thursday: Breakfast Pizza with White Pepper Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, and Bacon and Pineapple Chunks
Friday: Chicken Alfredo and Steamed Cauliflower/Broccoli
Saturday: Chinese Take-out
Sunday: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

WHAT'S ON TV
I usually catch up on "Survivor", "The Amazing Race", "The Voice", and "Big Bang Theory" on Hulu or CBS sometime AFTER they have aired. We haven't had cable or local TV in several years now (nor Netflix). I do miss some of the shows on cable, but it's convenient to watch shows when it works for me through Hulu or CBS.

FROM THE CRAFT BASKET

Most of you probably don't know that 3 1/2 years ago I attended the birth of my nephew Ayden. I was also there with my family when he died 50 minutes later. Ayden, the first child of my sister, arrived at 22 weeks due to an incompetent cervix. He was perfect in every way, but too early. It's been on my heart for a while to use my crochet to create special hat and blanket sets for Moms and Dads who's babies never go home through prematurity. These parents have only a few special items from their babies so they are treasured. I took a break from my 2 temperature blankets to make 2 sets for hospital donation. (If you are interested in also donating Project Robbie is a great place to start.)

The left set is for a baby about 1 pound. The hat is approximately 8" in diameter and 3 1/2" from top-to-bottom. The blanket is 17" x 17". The right set is for a baby about 2 pounds. The hat is approximately 10" in diameter and 4" top-to-bottom. The blanket is 18" x 18".

I'm sharing my crocheting creations over at Lucy Blossom Crafts (Mondays), Frontier Dreams (Tuesdays), Small Things (Wednesdays), Oombawka Design (Wednesdays), and Lunamon Design (Wednesdays).

PAGE TURNER

A BLESSING

It's truly been a blessing to spend a couple of overnights a month with my husband boondocking in our little camper. We've had wonderful times together: fishing, exploring waterfalls, seeing new areas. The simple pleasure of a homemade breakfast sitting near a rushing river or reading our bibles before it gets too dark at night with the ocean waves lapping the shore nearby and a campfire are special times together.

DEVOTIONAL and INSPIRATION

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

I'm linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook and Happy Homemaker are Mondays.

Journal Jottings of a Maine Mama: February 1, 2016

CLOCK READS
7:41am

WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS
Warm weather ushers in February. Cloudy and drizzly, but we may reach 50 degrees. Where are the shorts? flip flops? A sneak-peak of spring!

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW and IN THE GARDEN

Bare patches of ground and grass are showing through the snow to the coop as the mid-winter thaw continues. The hens have been able to explore the yard again, pecking and scratching where they can, and the ducks have been swimming in the brook, preening after a dip in the icy water.

WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW and AROUND THE HOUSE
I'm in my cozy bed with a cooling cup of green tea sweetened with honey beside me. I hear Cate stirring in her room. Wonder how she's feeling? She's had a low grade fever since Saturday.  And I think she's shared with me...

FEBRUARY TO DO LIST
☐ Fix Leaks (that Never Got Fixed in January)
☐ Declutter and Organize Utility Room
☐ Clothing, Linens and Blankets Purge
☐ Bring Donates to Salvation Army

MEAL PLAN
Monday - TBD
Tuesday - TBD
Wednesday - Fend for Yourself Night
Thursday - TBD
Friday - TBD
Saturday - TBD
Sunday - TBD

(Yeah, I don't really have a plan...)

WHAT'S ON TV
Nothing! It's been a while now since I've watched TV, but I think the new seasons of The Amazing Race, The Voice, and Survivor start something this month. I catch them the day after for free on Hulu as we don't have cable.

FROM THE CRAFT BASKET

Isn't it a cute pillow? It didn't work up as big as I thought, but it's a perfect accent pillow to go with my rippled fan afghan. (Pattern)

And here's a look at the progress on my temperature blanket for January. Color key? Purple is for under 20 degrees, navy for 20s, light blue for 30s, and green for 40s. It was a mild month for us. I didn't think I would need green yet! The random pattern based on temperatures is going to create a unique blanket.

I'm sharing my crocheting creations over at Lucy Blossom Crafts (Mondays), Frontier Dreams (Tuesdays), Small Things (Wednesdays), Oombawka Design (Wednesdays), and Lunamon Design (Wednesdays).

PAGE TURNER

A BLESSING
This month I will be doing a LOVE STUDY from Time Warp Wife. I'm excited about learning and applying the 4 types of love - storge, philia, eros, and agape - through bible scripture, on-line discussion, a study guide, and Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. I'll be jotting down prayers and reflections in the SWEET "Quiet Your Heart" journal. (For info on this study, click here. It's not too late to join in!)

DEVOTIONAL and INSPIRATION
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer all men. (Colossians 4:6)

I'm linking up to The Simple Woman's Daybook, Darling Downs Diaries, and Happy Homemaker are Mondays.

Journal of a Mom: October 12, 2015

THE CLOCKS READS...
5:43am

WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS

It's dark outside. Pitch black. But my quick dash outside earlier told me that it's not going to be a cold day. AccuWeather says it's going to be a sunny 70 degrees today. Perfect!

IN THE GARDEN

Everything is dying back for the winter. The pine needles and leaves are starting to fall from the trees and litter the ground. With winter approaching faster than we would like, we started yard clean up this past week, storing away the kayaks, putting bikes and scooters in the shed, gathering downed trees to burn in the firepit.

Conway, New Hampshire - October 11, 2015

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE
Rosie, the Golden Retriever, and our prodigal cat, Stripe, have decided to cozy up at the bottom of my bed. Cate's music from her bedroom is competing with the music for Jake's. (Perhaps they can coordinate radio stations...) 

ON MY TO DO LIST

☐ Scoop the Tree Seedlings Out of the Rain Gutters
☐ Burn Pile of Wood (and Don't Forget S'mores Supplies)
☐ Buy Straw for the Coop
☐ Harvest the Pie Pumpkins

MENU FOR TONIGHT'S DINNER
Baked Boneless Chicken Breasts with Rice Pilaf and Peas

WHAT'S ON TV 

Are you watching The Voice this season? Survivor? Amazing Race?

FROM THE CRAFT BASKET

I've almost finished Cate's Red Heart With Love scoodie, a combination hood and scarf creation with pockets. (The pattern is free from Posh Pooch Designs HERE.) Then I'll be back to working on Sam's shell stitch afghan in ocean colors. (The Red Heart pattern is HERE, but I changed up the size and color sequence on Sam's blanket and probably won't put a scallop border on it.)

I made 2 DC beanies with scalloped edges and hydrangeas for a friend's daughter a few weeks ago. She chose the yarn colors in Red Heart worsted weight acylics. They came out cute and colorful, and she loves them!

And I am loving the big whimiscal hydrangeas! Definitely a pattern keeper!

Free Beanie Pattern & Hydrangea How To Video

I'm sharing my crocheting creations over at Lucy Blossom Crafts (Mondays), Frontier Dreams (Tuesdays), The Philosopher's Wife (Tuesdays), Small Things (Wednesdays), Oombawka Design (Wednesdays), Lunamon Design (Wednesdays), and Natural Suburbia (Fridays).

I'M READING...

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY AND THANKFUL

I'm thankful for my wonderful daughter who of late has been super helpful. She's growing into a beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, creative, and humorous young woman.

I'M WONDERING...
Why did my van stall out yesterday? It suddenly stalled as I was slowing down for a traffic light. I was able to turn into a parking spot and get off the road. The van started up again after a few tries, ran rough for a half a minute and have been fine since. Not even a check engine light on. Vehicle troubles are worrisome.

NO WORDS NEEDED

DEVOTIONAL
Sometime this week my Local Church Bible Publishers KJV bible should arrive. I'm been anxiously waiting to start bible journaling, gathering supplies in the meantime. For more information, click over to the Time Warp Wife for Bible Journaling 101.

 I'm linking up to The Simple Woman at The Simple Woman's Daybook and to the Diary of a Stay At Home Mother at Happy Homemaker on Mondays.

Happy Homemaker Daybook: Journal of a SAHM

The Clock Reads...

7:18am

Weather in My Neck of the Woods 

Another rainy overcast day. The difference? It's supposed to be a steamy day too, warming up to the mid-80s. I'm thankful that the sun won't be shining. I think.

In the Garden

I harvested most of the green beans. Unfortunately the last batch went uneaten and the hens will get to enjoy them. Next time I'll freeze them. I'm excited to see that the cucumbers have taken off and are going like weeds! I just wish my peas would...

Looking Around the House

The carpets need vacuuming, but the dishes are done. The floors need a mop, but the laundry is caught up. We're getting there. (Notice I said WE'RE?)

Menu for this Week

BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Rice Pilaf and Veggies. Crockpot Beef au Jus on Homemade Crusty Bread and Veggies. Grilled Hot Dogs with Baked Beans and Veggies. Scrambled Eggs with Pancakes and Fresh Fruit.

What's on my TV Today 

I grabbed Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2 from the library. Perhaps we'll actually watch them today...

What I'm Creating from the Craft Basket

Do you have a craft basket? or bag? I found a "clam basket" at a yard sale recently for $1.00. It's perfect to carry my crafting and books along with me to the lake or doctor's offices or wherever I go to help pass the time.

I'm Reading

Things that Make Me Happy and Thankful

Lots and lots of blowing fans.

I'm Wondering

When my van will be repaired and ready for pick-up? Tomorrow? Wednesday?

Devotional

I've recently gotten into scripture journaling. Some do the journaling and drawing right in their bibles, but I've chosen to do it in a small hardcover notebook. Some have fancy-dancy supplies, but I just use a few Sharpie pens, a mechanical pencil and Crayola erasable colored pencils. It's a great way to focus on specific scripture!

 I'm linking up to The Simple Woman at The Simple Woman's Daybook and to the Diary of a Stay At Home Mother at Happy Homemaker on Mondays.

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 4 - The One with Seeds, Sunsets and Strawberries

Another week with the kids visiting Nannie and Grandpa Lobster. Another week of quiet downtime, coming and going with few obligations. Another week of puttering around the yard, planning school, fishing, reading, and crocheting. It's a hard life, but someone has to do it!

I replanted the garden. I sowed more pie pumpkins, weird yellow-skinned cucumbers, wax beans, and Snow peas. With the help of Jake, we covered the garden over with wire to keep out snacking chickens and wild birds. (Those yellow-and-black Goldfinches are pretty though...) And I fertilized with an organic mixture from the hardware store. I have to say: That stuffed SMELLED something awful! Does that mean it'll work well?



I had to be creative with watering the garden though. Who wants to stand there for-ever? I have crocheting to do and books to read and sweet tea to sip.

We fished when we could. Unfortunately the trolling motor we bought used has some, um, issues, and with time constraints we just headed out to fish from shore. We've yet to actually catch a fish, but the serene late afternoons are so worth the effort. Just look at these photos! NO editing whatsoever. (Only my name added.)

As soon as the farm opened up for strawberry picking, my step-kids and I were there. I don't think many people knew they opened U Pick early because we had the field to ourselves. We ended up getting about 9 pounds or so of juicy, fragrant strawberries. I've been making meals of strawberries and cream. Nothing better than farm fresh, just picked berries!

I helped a stunned Hermit Thrush. I'm assuming it flew into one of our windows as I found it breathing, but feet up in front of our door. When it didn't move after 10 minutes, I picked it up with an old towel placing in on my outdoor table under the trees. Thrush like to hang out in the "understory" of forests. It was another 20 minutes before it was able to fly away.

Next week? We're heading down to pick up the kids. We've missed them. The house will again be noisy and there will be never-ending dirty dishes in the sink. We'll be signing up for the summer reading program at the library, having lunch at the Rec Center, swimming at the lake, and starting summer studies.

As always, special thanks to these bloggers for their weekly homeschool blog link-ups. Click on over to see what other homeschoolers are doing!

"When one teaches, two learn." - Robert Heinlein

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 31 - 32 - Tick Tock!

We're getting closer and closer to finishing up our 11th year of homeschooling. Portfolio reviews are set-up for the end of the month, so we're pushing through our final lessons to preparation to start summer vacation June 1st. We're all ready to have a break, and enjoy our new blended family and warmer, sunnier weather.

Cati's goal is to finish up her Maine Studies research paper. She's not thrilled about this paper as we've already done Maine Studies with her older brother, but she didn't do it in the grade range required by law. Unfortunately it's one of those things she just needs to get done to move on.

Sam continues to finish up Essential Skills Advantage's Language Arts and work problem sets in Saxon 54. Unfortunately he's going to fall "short" on my goal of 100 lessons, finishing at 85. Like many kids with SPD, he needs constant review. Saxon is great for that, but sometimes even additional review beyond the curriculum is also needed for long term understanding. It's made moving ahead a slow, but steady process.

In the meantime, we're enjoying our extra time to pursue other interests.



Our garden is planted with peas, beans, carrots, cucumbers, and pie pumpkins, the tried-and-true growers for us. One of my new SIL's grows GIANT pumpkins, including an award-winning over 800-pounder, and passed along some seeds to us. Sam is hoping for one REALLY big pumpkin come fall. Me? A single vine can take up to 400-500 square feet of growing space. Looks like I'm going to have less yard to mow this season!

As always, special thanks to these bloggers for their weekly homeschool blog link-ups. Click on over to see what other homeschoolers are doing!

"When one teaches, two learn." - Robert Heinlein

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 18 - As Winter Snows On

It's time to catch you all up! Wouldn't you know it? In mid-January the hard drive in my 9-month-old laptop went completely kaput. Jake assures me it wasn't delayed damage from the night Sam's water got spilled onto the keyboard, but something magnetized...or a drop. Either way, I arrived home to find a pile of dirty dishes across the counter-tops, and a laptop with a warning! warning! warning! message on a black screen. My Computer Guy Eric couldn't even get my photos off the hard drive. :sigh: So, I am without computer, borrowing from my kids when available. Between my laptop meltdown, a broken wire in my DSLR camera's card reader, and my annoying issues with my cell phone, I think I'll put off getting anything electronic for a while.

But, on the other hand, all these VERY snowy, frigid days have been perfect for crocheting and reading  in cozy PJs, and getting homeschooling done. Even Cati and Sam have been interested in learning to crochet. What a challenge to teach them though! Being left-handed, my crocheting is a bit, um, backwards for my right-handers. Jake has had 4 snow days in the last 2 weeks, but my homeschoolers settled down to both structured and unstructured learning. I much prefer schooling NOW and take off warm, sunny days instead! How about you?

It also seemed like a great time to pull out one of the turkeys I froze around Thanksgiving - super sale savings! - and roast it up for some warm comfort food and leftovers. (I over-roasted it, but the gravy covered up the dryness...) I do believe Thanksgiving Dinner in the middle of the winter hits the spot!

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN

Cati and I made a new friend recently. On the way back from grocery shopping, we happened upon a horse strolling down the side of the road about 2 miles from our home. He was without a human companion. I followed him with my van, flashers on, praying that he would stay on the shoulder as vehicles flying by on the other side of the road wouldn't have time to stop for him. He eventually bolted up a driveway to a house with a barn. No one was home. Seeing his fence down and not wanting him to end up on the road again, I called 911 who in turn got in touch with Animal Control (who happened to live just a 1/3 mile away and knew the horse's owner). Howie, super sweet and friendly, is now safe-and-sound behind a repaired fence with his Shetland Pony companion.

A SNAIL'S PACE

Over my 11 years homeschooling, I've relaxed. A lot. I started off with every day scheduled down to the minute, covering as many as 12 different subjects in a day. (So sorry, Jake! But you certainly handled it!) These days? Our days flow in a more natural, child-led rhythm. Not to say there isn't structure, but gone are the days of a strictly adhered to schedule. Homeschool wraps around and into DAILY LIFE rather than the other way around. But that also means that some days are for taking apart rockets, baking cinnamon rolls from scratch, games, both board and video, pleasure reading, Wattpad creative writing and keeping a Diary of a Wimpy Kid journal, and building snow forts. Our core learning is moving a long at a steady snail's pace, but it's moving!

LOVIN' LEARNING

Sam has been delving into World of Science (My Father's World) for a couple of weeks now. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see him reading for pleasure AND information! (I don't even mind that we haven't gotten to our Earth Science ONCE in the last 2 weeks!) We both now know how a fridge works. Perhaps if it goes on the fritz he'll be able to repair it...He's also read about atoms and molecules, states of matter, kinetic energy and simple machines, and magnetism, (Oh. I hope he didn't test out magnetism on my laptop...)

Cati decided to read 100 books in 2015, and she's already well on her way. (I'd join her in a friendly literature competition, but I'm aiming more for 100 CROCHET projects on 2015.) And this girl with her newly found love of creative and informational writing! Last year I don't think I could have PAID her to write a story without grumbles, but this year she's off and typing!

PLANNING FOR SPRING

Unfortunately my kiddos aren't as enthusiastic as I am about planning our garden for this season. (Fortunately, my fiance, who grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm, is.) Yes, I know, the snow is piled high, but looking forward to spring sure beats "cabin fever". This season we're going simple: Sugar Pie Pumpkins, French Beans, Tom Thumb Peas, French Carrots, and Boston Pickling Cucumbers. All non-GMO, all heirloom. Now, to wait until the 4' of snow melts off the raised beds...

As always, special thanks to these weekly link-ups:

Don't forget to check out my other blog posts this week!

Memory Monday: My School Years

Tuesday Coffee Chat: Don't Let it Snow
Wednesday Hodgepodge: Tickled Pink and Tucked in Tight
Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun

Happy Homeschooling!