SL Core 100 Week 3 Dec 31-Jan 6, 2017

SL Core 100 Week 3 

Dec 31-Jan 6, 2017 

Dd has been enjoying her new camera and taking lots of pictures!

Hello, Friends!

What a cold week; even colder than last week!  At least we don't have as much snow as the towns 30-45 minutes to the west of us, who live on Lake Michigan; those people have been getting hit so hard!  We have been in the negative temperatures repeatedly this week.  Friday was -6 in the morning. 

Honeysuckle in a box!

Returning from Indiana on Sunday, Dh and Dd brought back my Christmas gifts from Giz and Grampy.  I had asked for the next book in our BiblioPlan Commentary series, Modern History, and the adjacent Advanced Maps that goes along with that text.  And, just like last year, I got it!  The textbook is about $86 and the Mapping is $22, so you can see why I'd ask for it as a gift!  I got the textbook and Dd received the mapping book in her gifts.  G & G spend about $100 on us and I always get a few of our homeschooling books that way.  I know Giz doesn't think it is very 'fun' for me to get hs'ing books, but it sure helps my budget!  I really like the BiblioPlan series, as they incorporate church history and geography into the chapters, but they are one of the most expensive series out there, plus they are fairly new so they are extremely hard (for me, at least) to find used.  I guess I try to think of it also as supporting a good company financially to lessen the financial price tag.

Agnes being cute...or sleepy, or possibly both at once!

Of Mice and Men:

Our Read Aloud, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, has been a bit tricky--- I had forgotten just how many cuss words and language was in this book!  I've had to edit on the fly practically every page.  It is a good book, but definitely not a "Reader," as I wouldn't want Dd reading it without editing.  I'm thinking about following up with The Grapes of Wrath next; sticking to John Steinbeck and getting this author down a bit.  

Dunkirk:

After MONTHS of being on the waiting list, at our library, we finally got in the movie we've been waiting for; Dunkirk.  It was a good movie, though these 'high anticipation' type movies always make me stir crazy!  Dh and Dd watched every moment, while I had to busy myself during some of the most tense scenes.  They both are so interested in war stories.  I'm glad we finally got to see what all the hubbub was about!!!  Yay, for our library!  They always come through in the end, even if we have to wait our turn!

Dickens and Honeysuckle---

Back to Grind Stone:

Except for violin lessons; which are scheduled for Monday's and this week fell on New Year's Day, all of Dd's other classes and lessons restarted.  This week Intermediate Orchestra, Intermediate Band, Piano Lessons, Grace's Saxon Geometry, Grace's Painting Studio, and Grace's Botany Art Class all resumed as well as her home studies too.

Dd received this waffle maker for Christmas, it sure is fun!

Violin Wall Mount:

Dd has been wanting a wall mount, to play her violin on the wall beside her piano, for months.  I didn't see it as a necessary thing so I wasn't in any hurry to get it.  Recently, she was back to asking about it and it occurred to me that she could EARN it!  So during Christmas break I offered her the option of practicing her violin for 7 days in a row (including Christmas) and she could earn the wall mount.  She was so excited and has been really enjoying her violin so much!  Good for her!  



Chickens:
I'm trying my best to entertain and sustain by cooped up chickens.  Ms. Lemon is still brooding and I am hand feeding her and a few other chickens that seem to be declining.  The brood definitely seems worse for wear at this point of the season.  I'm doing all I can to help them, but they are ready for a day outside!  One funny thing that keeps happening while I am holding Ms. Lemon in my left hand while holding her a bowl of hard-boiled eggs and veg, is that while I'm feeding her another chicken will fly onto my shoulders!  So, while I'm hand feeding Ms. Lemon I have another chicken standing on my shoulder wanting her turn!!!!  It really is funny!

Dd's snowman is slowing sinking into the snow piles!  The snow turtle is all the way gone now!

Felt Birds:
I'm still working on my Christmas felt birds.  I haven't had a lot of time to finish them up, but have made progress on two birds this week.  I'll take pictures of them again soon to share.

Gastroenterologist Appt:

My first appointment of the year was back to see my GI doctor--Dr. Moeller.  I still find it very embarrassing to discuss my problems out loud!  My face was so hot and beet red!  He recommended that I start taking Citrucel 2x per day for at least a month and see how that goes.  He also recommended the probiotic, Align.  He recommends trying the Align for 4-6 weeks to see how that does.  I've started the Citrucel and will give that 4-6 weeks and if that doesn't help, then I'll try the Align.  He said he doesn't normally encourage people to take probiotics, but thinks that they would help my specific problems.  Next Tuesday I go to see the surgeon to discuss the pro's and con's of getting my gallbladder removed since my HIDA scan showed 'sludge' and stones that are impairing my digestion.  I'm curious what he is going to say---I really don't have a clue what I should do!  The FODMAP diet has made such an improvement on my GERD problems, but the diet is very restrictive (no gluten, no dairy, no artificial sweeteners, no veg or fruit that ferment in the intestines....)

Girl's Night/Sleep Over:

After Grace classes, Dd spent Friday and Saturday night with her two buddies.  She had wanted to spend the night with them a few weeks ago, but we had such a snowstorm that I said 'no' to drive.  She really enjoys spending time with her friends!  They snowmobiled, played Wii, and went to a "Teen's Night Out" at the Homeschool Building, where they went from station to station playing games.

Corn for the Deer/Reason to get outside and in woods!:

Last week I continued putting corn out in the woods for the deer; that Dh had started the week before.  This week, Dd went out with me and she sprinkled corn all over that place; especially in deer paths.  I am always wanting to spend more time outside with Dd, and these Arctic cold temperatures don't help!  But, with the corn, it does give a specific reason to head out into the woods, which is good!



Sunday School:
Our ladies SS class started Entrusted by Beth Moore this week.  Unfortunately, Dd was still in Indiana so she wasn't there.  But, they have combined the teen girls with our woman's class so we could do this program together.  The book is based on mentorship and portrayed through the relationship of Paul and Timothy.  I'm really looking so forward to this study and Dd will also!

Core 100 Week 3:



Bible:
Bible Study Sampler: pg's 19-23
Why Pray: pg's 11-15



Add-In Bible:
We are picking up where we left off with our chronological, harmony of the New Testament with the Integrated Bible that I bought for this specific reason.  This week we focused on Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand:
Matt. 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44,
Luke 9:10-17, John 6: 1-3

I found three potatoes in the shape of hearts this week; so fun!  I'm feeling loved!

History:
A History of US, Book 1: Ch's 26-39



Literature:
Peace Child by Don Richardson: Completed
Stink Alley by Jamie Gilson: In Process



Add-In Literature, Read Aloud:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: In Process
*I forgot just how many cuss words and hoops are in this book!

Dd'd Gingerbread house for the year.

Fun Reader:
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green: Completed
Dd asked to get this book for Christmas.  The setting is Indianapolis, Indiana, so Dd was super excited about reading about many places she knows so well.

Fun Reader:
Cress by Marissa Meyer




Science:
Apologia Biology: Module 1
I splurged and bought the
Exploring Creation with Biology Instructional DVD 2nd Edition
which was $150 at Rainbow Resource.  We watched the whole section of Module 1 this week.  I really like how it gives an overview of the chapter that Dd had read.  It also showed the microscope experiments perfectly.  Now I know what we are looking to do with this experiment.  Next week we will do the microscope work.
Text: 37-47
Student Notebook: 2.1-2.7



Math:
Saxon Geometry through Grace HS Academy:
Lessons 48-50



Physical Education:
Workout DVD: 4x this week
I've given Dd a little spiral notebook to keep track of her workouts so we can be sure to get her PE credits completed.  She said she needed an incentive and asked if I would pay her .25cents per workout; if that encourages her to work, so be it!



Hike in woods: corn for deer



Drawing, Painting, Photography:
She did a lot of all three, but did an awesome watercolor of Groot!  I'll have to take a photo of it to share!



Music Classes:
Intermediate Orchestra: 1:30 hours
Intermediate Band: 1:30 hours
Piano Lessons: 30 minutes
(No violin this week-New Year's Day, and no Strings Group.)

Agnes, even though she could have slept anywhere on the bed, had to squeeze herself inbetween two books!  She's cute.

Music Practice:
Dd has slacked on her Alto Sax and Piano this week.   I don't think she made her 2: 30 hour goal this week.  She did better with her violin.  Also, her friend Lexi is letting her borrow her clarinet!  She enjoyed playing that!!  

I played with the lighting on this picture in Photo Shop so you could see the high deer traffic in the woods.  It's like mini highways back there; I wish we had one of those deer cam's that are so popular, it would be neat to see just how many critters we have back there!

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Merry Christmas!!! 
Dec.24-30, 2017 
Dh&Dd to Indiana (Wed-Sun)
Beyond Cold!  Breaking records cold!

Hello, Friends!

Merry Christmas, Friends!  I hope you all had a very blessed celebration of Jesus' birthday.  This wasn't a very academic week, so I'm just keeping track of our days for my own sake.  Our week broke cold temperature records; negative degree temperatures and snow.  This was our second week in a row of extremely cold temperatures with our low's going down to -9 and our high being 18 degrees.  I know many other states in America were much colder than what we dealt with, but it made for some chilly snow shoveling.  

You guys give your children tea too, right?!!  This tea (Mint Egyptian Licorice) was from Dh to Dd.  Dh likes to put his gifts in large boxes so she can't guess!!!  She is a great guesser!

Two Performances at Church:

On Sunday our church Strings Group performed two songs; then our new Chime Bells Group did our one song that we had practiced and practiced; which concluded our holiday performances.  Happily, we finally performed it to perfection; most of us had never played the chimes before so it took a bit to get the hang of it!  It went over so well we all discussed doing the bells again soon--not waiting until next Christmas to bring them out again.  There were quite a few people in our church that got up and shared something; from poetry, clarinet, singing, or piano.  For a small church, they really do a great job of being musical.

Dh wanted to bring Ranger Cookies to share with his work friends, so I made a batch on Sunday and he received a lot of 'thanks' in appreciation.  Then on Tuesday, I made two more batches as presents for Dh's family.  Then on Sunday morning, I made a batch of peanut butter cookies for Judy as her birthday was this week.  I've been getting lots of baking in!

The forecast for this week was supposed to be full of snow and negative temperatures.  After careful consideration, I decided I had better stay home while Dh and Dd went to the family Christmas party in Indiana.  We were going to have Hailee come and feed my chickens, but the forecast sounded like we might get so much snow that she might not be able to get up our hill to reach them.  We had previously planned for Dh and Dd to leave on Wednesday, and then I would follow on Friday for the party on Saturday, but after all the weather warnings we thought it would be safer for me to stay so I could feed the chickens and we were concerned our power would go out and that would leave all the animals in risk of freezing.  Luckily, our generator is fairly easy for me to pull to our house and start; if need be.  Fortunately, I didn't have to!  

Playing it Safe:

What I didn't know was that we didn't get as much snow as they predicted and everything went just fine.  I could have gone after all, but I don't regret playing it safe.  I enjoyed all the time alone, going to FROM thrift store that was having a 50% off sale, doing my work-outs, walking in the snow, working on my felt birds (that I still haven't finished!), taking care of the chickens & cats, and totally cleaning up the house.  I really scrubbed the bathrooms, refrigerator, lazy susan, etc.  I also got all our year-end receipts, banking statements, filing, and billing organized and closed out for the year which took almost two days to complete.

The snowman's snow gage's temperature reading seems to be only for looks; it hasn't moved off 30 degrees since we put it outside.  It still is cute, even if it doesn't actually work.

Chickens:

With the arctic temperatures, the chickens are delegated to the inside coop, all stuffed and confined.  Lovingly, I've tried to come up with some special food treats to keep them interested.  This week I brought in a few scoops of black sunflower seeds, dried corn, and table scraps.  I'm still hand feeding Ms. Lemon, who is still stuck inside the nest box.  I don't know if she continues to brood because it is warm on the eggs and straw or if it is because she gets pushed around being the smallest hen in the coop.  Regardless of the why's, I've been bringing her boiled eggs or other food, and hand feeding her once or twice a day to keep her feed; which has turned into my favorite part of my day!  She is just too sweet and cute.

Hunting:

While I was at home Dh was hunting at the farm and Dd was helping Giz and Grampy get ready for the family Christmas party.  After sitting out four times, without seeing any deer, Dh's last hunt for the year was at his friend's property.  Ironically, as I was shoveling snow on our driveway two big doe's ran across our driveway!  I had two deer 40 yards away from me!  There were plenty of deer tracks all over our woods too!  Dh plans on hunting here next year as well as continuing his farm visits too.  

Pies and Party Planning:

Thursday and Friday Dd helped prepare for the party, making name tags, putting out gifts in each spot, expanding the table then set it, all the little things they still had left to do.  Thursday Dd made shortbread cookies and on Friday she made her Lemon Meringue pie.  Giz was so thankful for all her help!!!

Star Wars:

At the party, like at home, Dd received Star Wars gifts, some quite humorous!  One gift was a snow hat that had Yoda ears on the sides!  But, she also got practical gifts too--a BB8 Waffle maker!  We've already used it and it was great!  G&G went in with Uncle G and Aunt A to get her the waffle maker; it was a bit expensive. She wanted more SW t-shirts and she got a few of those too!  

Oil Paintings:

Dd made an oil painting of the red barn on our farm for Grampy, and she painted the walnut tree, with the wooden swing, that Dh and I married under, for Giz.  They LOVED their paintings!  Unfortunately, I didn't get the bird drawing that I asked for, but I'm still hoping it might come before spring!

Tools and Cookbooks!

Dh received more tools and cookbooks, from our house and G&G's!  He is easy to buy for.  At our house, he bought his tools and handed them over to me to wrap!  Most of the tools were things to help him fix our cars that keep breaking down!!

Dish Washing Machine:

My big gift was a dishwashing machine.  Except for the time in the apartment in Grand Rapids, I've not had a properly working dishwashing machine our whole marriage; I've had to wash in our sink, the old-fashioned way, getting very clean dishes but taking at least one hour or more hours each day on that chore.  The one in Indianapolis did such a poor job it seemed like it made the dishes dirtier than what I put in so I used it as a drying rack.  I'm curious to see if the new one, due sometime in January, will really clean up our dishes.  I also got a few goodies too---tea, special coffee, and a plethora of thrift store clothes!  I have to say, I really was so blessed to find practically new and very nice clothes this fall that I stowed away as my Christmas gifts.  I can honestly say I've never been so blessed before.  Thankful, Thankful, Thankful!

Pilates:

Our library has quite a collection of exercise DVD's and I ordered three Pilate workouts to test out and compare to the Denise Austin one I've been doing for over 15 years now.  Denise's version had prepared me for most of the exercises, but I enjoyed the variety tremendously!  What fun!  I don't normally have enough time in each day to fit in a workout, but with my free week, I was able to do so!  Perhaps Dd will be tempted to join me next week and we can work on her Physical Education credits?!

Memories:

Dh and Dd had a good time at the party on Saturday and I got a few texts sharing little bits as it progressed.  I'm so glad Dd got to spend so much time with G&G while Dh was hunting alone and also with his best friend.  So glad for each of them getting to make some new memories with the people they care for.  



Audio:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling: In Process

Driving:
Dd drove between six and seven hours last week, and her first real driving in the snow coming down and covering the roads.  She handled it all very well, Dh reported!  She has been doing a lot of driving, but I haven't done a great job recording!  Luckily, she has an app that she updates as she drives with her minutes/hours tracked.  I think she has to get at least 50 driving hours before she can test for her final tests.

Music:
Dd has been asking for a violin wall mounting kit for months now.  I decided to challenge Dd to play seven days in a row, during Christmas break, and she could earn the wall kit.  She accomplished the task and was rewarded....and I'll have more free space on my dining room table! 

Next Week:

Dd will return to her music classes, except for violin which won't go as it is on Monday, New Year's Day, and is canceled.  She will also re-start her Grace classes---art x 2 and Geometry.  Dh will have to return to work even though he didn't get any deer this time.  I have a scheduled appointment this week with my gastroenterologist and then the week after that I go to the surgeon to hear his advice on my faulty gallbladder and digestion troubles; which have improved greatly since I started the FODMAP diet.  Michigan will get even colder than it was this week! I can hardly wait!  Finally, we will get back to our lessons, albeit with a light touch.  I plan on starting Of Mice and Men as our Read Aloud while Dd begins Week Three of Core 100 with Sonlight.

May the good Lord bless and keep each of you this week!

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Dec. 17-23, 2017 Three Performances, Lord of the Flies, Illness and Migraines

Dec. 17-23, 2017 

Three Performances, light lessons, Lord of the Flies, Illness, and Migraines

Zeus, in an ugly mood was trying to peck out the lens on my camera...he can be such a grump.

I shoveled the snow out of the coop so the chickens could get back outside.

Hello, Friends!

Things don't always work out the way we plan and this week was a prime example of that!  I had a migraine Mon-Thur., which really got in the way of the very studious week I had planned! Our week started on Sunday when our Strings Group performed five songs and the Chimes group did one song--Silent Night.  I rested through the day so I could take Dd to the Orchestra Concert on Mon., the Band Concert on Tues., and Olympians on Wednesday.  Thursday started off tough, but by the afternoon I started to rally and was able to sing at our church's Strings Group.  While I was in bed with my migraine, Dd was sick herself!  So, we were quite the pair.  It is times like this I wish I lived closer to family, we could have used an extra pair of hands.

Orchestra Concert:

So many of our friends have the flu so it was inevitable that Dd would get it too.  She rested up during the day so she could play her violin in the program on Monday night.  Dd and I sat together for the first half of the concert, watching each group perform.  It was so nice to be at a WMHFA concert and not have to be running around in the back helping out with a class.  I actually got to enjoy a whole concert for the first time in three years.  I sign up to be a "Teacher's Helper" for Dd's band class; which means I have to assist on the concerts.  I love listening to the band practice each week, but I have never seen Dd play her sax at a concert!  

Agnes, has been getting along with Honeysuckle more and more; they seem like they have come to an understanding.  Dickens and Agnes have been wrestling and fighting more, but they are getting along.  They all have been napping together more and more.

Band Concert:

Dd really was feeling worse on Tuesday and I really weighed whether Dd should go to the Band Concert on Tuesday night.  She rested through the whole day and seemed just passable to go to the band concert, but, we did leave immediately after she performed to get home and back to bed!  The Intermediate Band, which Dd plays the Alto Sax in, performed a Polar Express song---it has the "Hot Chocolate" part in it.  They did such a great job.  I watched from the back of the stage, on the side.  They really did well and sounded fantastic.

Olympians:

Dd volunteers to run the Games part of the program with her friend, Hailee.  We had a nice night of it; had a bit of a Christmas party.

Zeus and his girlfriend...I guess I should name her!

Strings Group:

On Sunday, the 17th, our group performed five Christmas songs.  The Strings Group has such age diversity--from early teens to 90 years old.  They play 1 bass guitar, 3 acoustic guitars, 1 accompany piano,  1 banjo's, harmonica, and 5 ukuleles!  Oh, and don't forget the 6 singers!  On Thursday, we practiced the two songs we are going to perform on the 24th, then we switched gears and worked on the Chime Bells.  A small group, with most of the teen girls, are performing Silent Night on the 24th too.  Dd has been in charge of it the past two weeks and did a good job leading it.

Truck:

Did I mention Dh's truck broke down AGAIN?  He got to work on it some on Sat., but couldn't find a part he needed to replace though he and Dd went to two stores looking for it.  I hope he can fix his truck soon.  He is driving our mini-van around; which is beyond hopeless on snowy roads.  We certainly have lots of snowy roads living by Lake Michigan in Michigan!!!  Ironically, the part that is broken is the same part that broke last year, so he knows how to fix it, which will make fixing it perhaps faster than it took last year.

Backwater Cafe:

Two years ago, we lost our power on Christmas Eve and had to go out for breakfast since we had to wait for Lowe's to open so we could buy a generator.  We hadn't been to this local diner before and were pleasantly surprised by it.  Dh thought it would be fun to go back there this year on Christmas Eve--for breakfast again!  

Weather:

I don't know what was going on with the weather.  We had so much snow last week, and it started to warm up this week.  

It was great news for the chickens; they got to get outside and enjoy fresh air in December, a real treat!  I worked, bit by bit, shoveling out the chicken's coop of snow so they could stretch their legs.  They had a few days of being outside and getting out of the coop; which they needed.

Chickens:

Unfortunately, since Poirot (our Bantam Rooster) was killed by a hawk, his mate, Ms. Lemon, has really been "brooding."  ("Brooding" means staying on a clutch of eggs in the nest box, typically all day and night.)I've been pulling her out of the nest a few times each day and feeding her healthy table scraps or cooked eggs.  She really gobbles up egg yokes, so she must really need the fat and protein there.  I got her outside on Tuesday, but she got into a fight with an Amber.  The Amber fought her off her perch, she got back up, fought back down x3 until finally, Ms. Lemon gave up, defeated, and went back inside the coop.  She really is having a tough go of it, her 'husband,' that always protected her from the larger hens, is no longer there to take care of her.  It is really sad, but, I am trying to help her through this transition.

Keeping the straw clean inside their coop has become quite a chore this year.  Last year we had fewer chickens and it didn't seem to get dirty so fast.  Consistently I am having to clean their coop every 5-6 days; so glad I bought extra straw this year when the truck was working!  

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

We finished LOTF on Fri.; it was one of those books I read in high school that made such an impact on me.  I plan on adding Read-Aloud selections each week, on top of her Sonlight schedule.  If she has to read those books again in another core then she will know them better and probably understand them more deeply due to our discussions this year.

Science:

Apologia Biology:Module One Test Complete

Art: Oil Painting

Dd has been working very hard all week on a Christmas gift for Grampy.  She is using a photo she took on my phone of the family farm's barn to make a painting of it.  The painting is really coming along and I know Grampy will really, really love it!  So glad she thought of that! Luckily, she could work on her painting and read in bed with her illness this week.

Saxon Math:

Dd worked on her math a lot this week, she has quite a few assignments to do while on Christmas break from her Grace Academy class.

Music and Motivation:

Ever since we attended, and Dd participated in, the violin recital on Dec. 9th, Dd has had a significant shift.  Seeing those other students of Christie perform at such a high level has really shown her how much more she needs to learn.  She had been sort of coasting along with her music so far this year and seeing how good she could be playing has really awakened her motivation.  

As a homeschool family with only one child, she doesn't have other students to motivate her to improve; she feels like she is always at the top of her class regardless of how much effort she puts into things, which is a big downfall that I can't remedy.  Fortunately, she is taking art and math with the Grace Academy and I plan on continuing that next year too until I can get her to the place where she can start taking classes at the community college.  But, I want to note that this month has really been a significant shift in her violin practicing.  

See the girls pecking at the snow?  They actually eat snow.

She has been going to the online website, "SmartMusic," and playing various songs on her violin that aren't assigned to her classes.  She is making it a goal to really practice more each day whereas before she was just getting in her 2:30 hours of practice each week to complete the minimum requirements for her teachers.

This is Aphrodite, she looks a lot like Venus but has more of a floppy comb.  

Music Vent (I am human after all!):

She wants next year to be more streamlined musically as she feels stretched too thin with all the classes she is currently enrolled in.  I think (know) that not getting advanced with her Alto Sax has really caused her to question staying in the band program. Well, she did want to drop the class when she found out and we really encouraged her to stick it out this year and evaluate it again at the end of this school year.  

All we can think is that God had closed that door for a reason.  She seems very okay with not getting advanced, but to be honest I am still tender about the complete unfairness of the program.  She had been told many times by her teacher that she was definitely being moved up, it was almost a given, and to our astonishment, she wasn't. Consequently, her practice time, at home, took a nose-dive!  I'm so glad that recital has re-lit her desire to play and improve.  She feels like perhaps the teachers on the Orchestra side of the program will treat her more fairly.  Maybe next year will just be orchestra and piano?  (And her church music--ukulele and chime bells.)

"Buckbeak" is on the right of Zeus.  She really is a stand out among the chickens.

Fun Reader:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer: Completed

Owl:

Dd collects owls, so I decided to make her a special owl for her Christmas present from me.

I always sew in the year that I made it.  For the owl, I sewed it on the back.

Next Week:

Sunday, our Strings Group and Chimes Group will perform in our very musical program.  Quite a few other people will be doing musical numbers on Sunday---piano solo's, singing, clarinet & piano duet...  Then our family in Indiana is meeting up for the Christmas party.  Dd won't have any homework next week, our last full week of 2017!  So glad to see this crazy year come to an end!

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