SL Core H Week 23"A" July 24-29th, 2017 Audition Inter. Orchestra

SL Core H Week 23"A" 

July 24-29th, 2017 

Audition for: Intermediate Orchestra (she got in!)

Feeding the critters some turnip greens and odd sorts.

Hello, Friends!

The big news for this week was that Dd's audition for Intermediate Orchestra was on Wednesday.  This week Dd audition and the teacher immediately told her that she did a good job and that she was accepted into the group!  How great that she received the news immediately!  That was a big relief!  We are still waiting to hear the results from her band audition....it is hard waiting!  

To see the music organization we have here in Grand Rapids: http://www.wmhfa.org/   We, I believe, are the "largest homeschool marching band" in the United States.  Besides the public marching band that plays at various parades; they also have various music groups, choirs, bands, and orchestras during the 'school year.' 

Parade:

This week Dd had her Wednesday marching band practice; though Dd missed the first 20 minutes to do her orchestra audition.  

Saturday, the Northern Lights Homeschool marching band performed in the Byron Center parade.  It was the quickest, coolest parade this year.  They didn't have to wait around or stand in place playing but got to go straight through, of course, that could be because they were near the front of the line-up!  Only ONE more parade and the season will be over--next Saturday.  I had packed muffins and lots of water, and we didn't have a chance to need refreshment!  The band was supposed to have new uniforms this summer, but they are still in the old uniforms, though there is a tiny chance they could get them this week. 

VIOLA!

The other BIG news, we agreed to rent a viola for Dd this week.  She likes the sound of the viola better than the sound of the violin, but she will still be sticking with her violin for orchestra, but maybe if she wants she could switch later...we will see how it goes.  The sound of the viola is deeper than the violin, it is between the cello and the violin.  I wish she could have started with a viola as those first months learning the violin were a tad screechy!

Ducks & Chickens:

All is going well for the feathered friends here.  This week, for the first time, our little female Bantam laid her first egg!  Boy, it is a small egg!  I don't think our Peking duck has laid an egg yet, and we bought them at the same time.  It seems we are getting steady 18-23 eggs per day.  

The little white egg on the left is from the Bantam, she laid her first egg.  The brown egg on the right was particularly big, so I thought it would be a fun contrast in sizes.

With the ducks staying in the inside chicken coop at night the coop gets filthy so quickly.  I use to only have to clean out the coop every month, now it seems two weeks is almost not soon enough!  I'm still foraging or hitting my garden for armfuls of greens for them around three times per day.  I only let the older chickens free-range one time this week, for an hour, and absentmindedly forgot to close the garden gate and sure enough, they got into my newly planted spinach garden (again) and scratched up all the seedlings!  That is twice, in that same area, that they have destroyed my upcoming spinach.  I was so disappointed with myself for forgetting that gate!  I think they have enough space between their three pens to stay content in there, provided I continue to bring them lots and lots of weeds and greens from my garden.

Basketball Scrimmage:

Dd was invited to participate in a homeschool girls basketball scrimmage.  These girls are on the local hs team.  The coach thought Dd did great and told her (and Dh afterward) that he wants Dd for the team.  We were excited, as Dd loves bb, but then we found out they practice M, T, Th, F, S each week at the homeschool building.  That would have us driving to Grand Rapids every.single.day. but Sunday!  Oh my!  So, that isn't going to happen.  Not just b/c of the driving, but b/c poor Dd wouldn't meet herself coming or going!  But, she had a BLAST playing!  Too bad that door didn't open for her.

The camo poncho I've started for Dh

Close-up.  I'm using two chunky threads with a big crochet needle.

JoAnn Fabrics:

We stopped into JoAnn to use the gift card my mom had sent me for my birthday, and I had printed off coupons ahead of time.  The cashier commended me on all the deals I did and getting a whole bag of things for $17.00!  Dd wanted to make a special scarf for herself, and this funny loom thing to make it with, and I needed a new, big crochet hook (as I can't find my normal one) and they had t-shirts on sale - 5 for $10!!!  Dd loves to tie-dye, so that will come back around soon.  I'll use the 50% off coupon I got with our purchase this week for that purchase in a few weeks!  Thankful for my mom's thoughtful gift!  We sure do like making things!  I'm working on a new camo poncho for Dh when he is out in the freezing weather and needs to stay warm!

Migraines/Health:

I've still been having a rough go on health issues.  My biggest regret about me having sick days is that Dd always feels like she should get a day off if I am in bed.  It happens every time! As for Dd, we went to her dermatologist this week.  We only have one more appointment (next month) and then we can take a nice long break from going there!  Dd's skin is doing very nicely, such an improvement!  She is on Accutane for acne and it does an amazing job at helping her skin look so nice.

Gift from Giz:

My m-i-l sent us a package this week---two hummingbird feeders!  I was lamenting that I still haven't found my feeders and it is almost August, so she sent me some!  Isn't that super nice!  I had already told Dh that they were going to be on my Christmas list! 

I didn't get a good picture, but this was one sweet kitty!

Stray Cat: "Ton-Ton"

So Friday Dd spotted a stray cat in our yard, and not one of the neighbor kitties we know.  I went out to see it and it was clearly distressed.  It was panting and looked very lost.  I called it, and it came after a bit of my chatting to it, and it chatting back, as we came to an understanding that I was there to help and only wanted to help it.  Once he understood my intention he came to me and I brought it inside to safety, with plenty of food and water.  I drew a picture of the cat and posted it on our communal mail box area....no response Friday night.  When I posted that I'd found this sweet, heavy, well-fed, affectionate, obviously-has-a-home kitty on Facebook and within 15 minutes the owner found me!  Can you believe it?!  I did try calling all the vets in the area, but since it was afternoon on Saturday no one was still working.  We decided to meet the owner at our local library and deliver the kitty back to its proper owner.  I can't tell you how happy I was to rescue this cat and find it's owner so quickly.  We do live in the woods, with LOTS of predators and I thought he wouldn't last the night.  I'm so glad he got back to his family, though I would have loved to keep him!  I've not met a nicer, sweeter, more chatty kitty.  He made Agnes look anti-social!

On left is the viola we are renting, and on the right is her violin.

Planning our next year:

This week I had to sign up for Dd's classes and lessons.  We are still a little heavy on music, but perhaps her future career will have something to do with music?  She would like to be a music teacher, but I remind her that career might not pay her bills and to consider backup plans as well.  Our plan is one band class, one orchestra class, violin/viola lessons with Christie, piano lessons with Mrs. March.  She is also wanting to take a painting class at the homeschool building and I hesitate to agree with being away from home two days per week.

Our Lessons This Week:

Bible:

We are still working our way, chronologically, throughout the New Testament.  This week we studied Luke 2 and Matt. 2

SL Bible:

Live Like A Jesus Freak by DC Talk: COMPLETED

Science:

Apologia Physical Science: 

Module 7: Factors That Affect the Weather: COMPLETED

Math:

Math U SEE: Geometry 

last week when Dd did Lesson 14 & 15 she missed too many problems so we redid those two lessons this week, and rewatched the video segments.

Math: Khan Academy: 30 minutes

(I've been having a lot of fun doing Khan Academy's math too!)

Foreign Language:

DuoLingo: German: 3:00 hours

(Dh has got back on DuoLingo-Italian- and is challenging her time!)

Poetry:

To Celia by Ben Johnson---one of my favorites!

Drink to me only with thine eyes, 

         And I will pledge with mine; 

Or leave a kiss but in the cup, 

         And I’ll not look for wine. 

The thirst that from the soul doth rise 

         Doth ask a drink divine; 

But might I of Jove’s nectar sup, 

         I would not change for thine. 

I sent thee late a rosy wreath, 

         Not so much honouring thee 

As giving it a hope, that there 

         It could not withered be. 

But thou thereon didst only breathe, 

         And sent’st it back to me; 

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, 

         Not of itself, but thee.

Memorizing: The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

The Harp and Laurel Leaf: this week we worked on Shakespear's sonnets: 18, 19, 30, 36

Poetry Writing:

Dd wrote 3 poems this week

Dh has built up some new tubs to grow some squash in, beside it is a new bed for our sweet potatoes---it is late in the season to start, but why not give it a shot!

SL Reader: In Process

Anna and the King by Margaret Landon

Dd says this book is very descriptive, and not a fast read, but she is enjoying it.

SL Read-Aloud:

Banner In The Sky by James Ramsey: COMPLETED

This could be a book that could be dropped or skipped.  It is a good book, and Dd didn't think it could be skipped, she liked it!  But, I don't think it added a whole lot to our core.  This was an adventure book, climbing a great mountain, working as a team, putting others needs in front of your own, thinking of others, serving others...

SL History Reader:

Abraham Lincoln's World by G. Foster

pg 223-251

Dd loves reading these Foster books instead of the Kingfisher Encyclopedia's that she had already read for years.  She likes the fun details and story form of history found in Foster's history books.

Fun Reader:

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (In Process)

Art: 13:00 total hours

Drawing: 2:00

Mermaids and sketches

Painting: 7:00

Completed the 'Paint by Numbers' Owl: 2:00 

Galaxy Painting on pencil box: 2:00

Mermaid painting: 3:00

Knitting (new scarf): 4:00

Physical Education: 6:00 total hours

Marching Band practice: 1:30

Parade: 1:30 

Swimming: 2:00

Basketball Scrimmage: 1:00

Music:

This was a pretty good music week.  Dd took out her flute this week; it hasn't surfaced in a while and was nice to hear again.  Since we rented the viola she has played for hours. Our rough estimate of hours played:

Violin: 3:00 hours

Viola: 3:30 hours

Flute: 1:00 hour

Sax: 3:30

..............