SL Core H Week 22"A" July 2-8th, 2017 (Finished Great Expectations!)

SL Core H Week 22A

July 2-8^th, 2017

Finished Great Expectations!

Hello, Friends!

Traverse City, on Lake Michigan, was such a beautiful area.  I took way too many pictures!  But, it was just so amazing.

Happy Fourth of July!  Dh had Monday and Tuesday off from work and made a new, bigger nest box and after three trials settled on a new roost so the younger chickens could start sleeping in the coop instead of in the chicken tractors in the garage.  I sure was getting my steps in each morning and evening, carrying the chickens 2x2 back and forth.  I’m still having to help settle the youngsters onto a spot on the new roost, as they are just all huddling in the little doorway, and are too afraid to come all the way into the coop and on a rung.  Once I settle the birds onto the roost they seem to settle down.

Strings Group:

Dd and I performed with our churches “Strings Group” at two nursing homes on Sunday.  It was great that we went and shared some music and smiles! 

Grandville Fourth of July Parade on July 4^th:

Two Parades this week!  Dd plays the Alto Sax in the West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts, “Northern Lights Marching Band.”  On July 4^th the band, over 200 students from 6 years old to 18 years old, performed in the Grandville parade on Tuesday.

Police, Police, Police: Mike Pence at parade

  Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, decided to attend, which put a huge wrench in the works!  The students had to stand in formation for almost two hours extra due to the intense security.  Between the Secret Service, Bomb Squad, Snipers (literally), police, FBI, sheriff’s….it was just all a bit much.  I felt so bad for the poor kids in their long sleeve, long pants, plastic hats, polyester sweat suits.  

Tuesday's parade was in Grandville, but Saturday's parade was in scenic Traverse City (above).

Dd said a few players in our band fainted, and others had to get out of formation due to the heat and extended hours.  We arrived at 9:20 and dropped her off with the band; they were supposed to start the parade at 11 am, but due to security from Mike Pence’s presence they didn’t start until almost 1pm…meanwhile all those people in various costumes were waiting! They did a great job, especially considering all they went through.

Traverse City, Cherry Festival, Parade on July 8^th:

What a beautiful, beautiful city!!!  Oh my!  I’ll have to do a post just on some of the pictures we took while in Traverse City, though seeing it in person was fantastic.  I’ve always heard all my new Grand Rapids friends talk about going up north, but I was still surprised at just how picturesque northern Michigan is.  The parade went really well, and there were a lot of bands in the parade.  I guess there is some judging done for this parade so we might get some feedback on how they did. 

Mission Shore Lighthouse:

After the parade, we went sightseeing!  It took a while, but we found the lighthouse for this area.  There is also a peninsula that goes between the bay and Lake Michigan that was especially gorgeous.  There was a state park by the lighthouse, and we walked down the beach until we found a nice quiet spot to sit and enjoy.  Dd collected shells and walked in the water while Dh and I sat there enjoying the sounds of the waves lapping at the sand.  We had a lovely time there!  

Band:

Wednesday Dh had to go back to work and Dd had band class.  After band, we met Dd for a picnic lunch in a park.  Dh’s job has been particularly rough and difficult, so these lunch picnic’s we’ve been doing on Wednesdays seem to encourage him.  We started back on some of our lessons and tried to make a little progress.

Chickens & Ducks:

Everything has been going well with our fowl, but then when I was counting the chickens on the roost, as I do each night, I came up one short on the Black Sex Link chickens.  I have no idea how this happened, but there are a few chickens that are way too smart and have figured out how to get out.  I’ve had to find their ways out and block their efforts, but apparently one found another, new way out and that was the last of her, we live out in the woods and there are lots of predators waiting for them to make a mistake.  I have to admit, every time a chicken goes missing it breaks a little of my heart!  I try SO hard to keep them safe!

Transcript work:

I've been making page after page like the above, trying to figure out how to do Dd's transcript.  Boy, I sure do struggle over the weirdest things...oi.

Our lessons this Week:

If Jesus Christ asked you to do some work for Him, would you do it?

There is a pair of Sandhill Cranes by our home, this is the male.

Bible:

We finished up our Walking With Bilbo and Walking With Frodo, Bible studies.  Now I am going to go out on a limb and try to do a Bible study of the New Testament by just using my new Chronological Bible and my Believer’s Bible Commentary (BBC).  After doing such an exhaustive study of the Old Testament I want to do just as thorough a study on the NT.  This week:

Matthew chapters 1 and 2 with Bible & BBC

Dd’s Sonlight Bible:

The BBC Manual (Bible Study in Your Bedroom): pg 112

Literature:

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: COMPLETED!!!

I think we spent 10 or 11 weeks, but we really dissected and focused on understanding as much of this book as we could.  Dd watched one version of it and requested two more versions too.

Ch. 19-20

Christian Guides to the Classics, Great Expectations

Ch. 19-20

Grammar:

Khan Academy 30 minutes

History:

Abraham Lincoln’s World by G. Foster

Pg’s 180-222

Traverse City was surrounded by grape and cherry orchards.  

Reader:

The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson: COMPLETED

Read Aloud:

Mary Jones and Her Bible: by Mary Ropes: In Process

Science:

Apologia Physical Science: Mod. 7: Factors that Affect the Earth’s Weather

Week one completed

Code:

Code.org: 1:00 hour

Khan Academy:  Code: 1:00 hour

Math:

Khan Academy: Mastery Challenge

Math U See: Geometry: lesson 11 & 12

Physical Education:

Swim x 3 (5:30 hours)

Marching two parades (5:00)

DVD:

Great Expectations

Les Miserables

(Another week focusing on Les Miserables, reading book, listening to audio, and watching movie again)

Art:

Drawing 3:00 hours

Khan Academy Drawing program: 3:00 hours

Fun Reading:

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: Completed

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Home Economics:

Dd made a chocolate cake and fantastic fish chowder!  Plus, dishes, chicken care, vacuuming

Volunteer:

Strings Group—performed at 2 nursing homes: 3:00 hours, playing her ukulele.

A few kids in band practice

Music Lessons:
Violin: 1:00 with Christie

Marching Band: 2:00 hours

Music Practice:

Violin: 3:00 hours

Alto Sax: 2:00 hours (plus 4:00 for 2 parades)

Ukulele: 2:00 hours

Piano: 10 minutes

………………