Fleur de Lis Homeschool Blog: Dec 8, 2017

Friday, December 8, 2017

Nov. 26-Dec 2nd, 2017 Unpack, Return Home, Re-start Lessons, Poirot, Bantam Rooster Killed by Hawk

Nov. 26-Dec 2nd, 2017

Unpack, Return Home, Re-start Lessons,

Poirot, Bantam Rooster Killed by Hawk

I made a new bulletin for our church this week.

Hello, Friends!

Sunday, after eating lunch with Giz, Grampy, and Uncle Bob, we drove home with all the other masses of people wrapping up their Thanksgiving visiting. The bonus of my return drive was Dd was with me and that kept the kittens much happier, therefore much quieter! They were not meowing in misery like they were on the drive to Indiana with just me, they loved having her there! We followed Dh back home and arrived at 9:30pm.

The Fall bulletin board I made for church this year.

First Day Back:

Dh returned to work on Monday morning, leaving us to start the unpacking process. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't ideal for doing six loads of laundry, so I had to transition to using our dryer; probably for the next five months. I love using our clotheslines and saving a few dollars on our electric bill but some months are just impossible living in Michigan. While I was focused on unpacking, Dd was focused on returning to her art projects, including painting the pinecones she collected. Dd also completed a watercolor of a plant, inspired by the Botany art class she is taking on Fridays.

Squirrel Skins:

By Monday night, Dh stretched and salted the two squirrel skins, after putting in his first day back at the grindstone. I know he had a hard time returning back to work after having a week off. He was so behind that he didn't have much time to do anything more than that in the unpacking process.

Poirot is the black and white rooster in the back left. Ms. Lemon is in the forefront--gold and black. They are both Bantams.

Poirot Killed by a Hawk:

After I closed in the chickens, Tuesday night, I noticed my Bantam rooster, Poirot, was missing. I rushed to the house for my flashlight and began the search for him. Poirot can fly out of the coop and I figured he must have gotten on the wrong side of the fence and couldn't figure out how to get back inside. Upon calling and searching, I found him inside our pen, but dead. A predatory bird had obviously swooped in and Poirot must have protected all the hens, to his demise.

Poirot and Ms. Lemon, were our only two Bantams; which are a smaller petite breed, though he acted like he was the biggest, baddest rooster, full of confidence and an abundance of pride. I named him Poirot due to his cocky arrogant demeanor, which is so spot-on an impression of Agatha Christie's Poirot character that we had to change his name to match his personality.

Poirot was the only chicken that had no problems with me picking him right up and wouldn't try to scurry away; which made me ever so happy!!!! I try not to have favorites, but Poirot was just so special and unique that I couldn't help but really favor him above so many undistinguished chickens in our flock. To say that I was very sad about his death is an understatement.

Dickens and Honeysuckle

Christmas Play Practice:

After Dd's music classes on Wednesday, we had to switch gears and have our first practice for the Christmas play at church. The director, Carmen, asked me to be her helper this year. We didn't have many of the players present, so we all helped out by voicing parts. After the practice, Dd, H, and I stayed for the Olympians night. Dd and H are in charge of the Games portion of the night. Our church uses the "Olympians" program, which is very similar to the more popular and well-known "Awana" program for children. Both programs are focused on teaching children bible studies and memorizing bible verses.

Strings Group/Play Practice #2:

Carmen works late and couldn't come to our Thursday play practice, but we fit in a thirty-minute practice before our Strings Group music practice. Dd had said she wanted/needed more practice than what Carmen had scheduled, so I offered to run Thursday practices before our Strings group. We still didn't have a full cast, but it was still helpful to those that could come. Our Strings Group is working on Christmas music so we can do two specials during December. Part of the Strings Group is also learning the Chime Bells so we can do a Christmas special with them. I'm NOT musically gifted, so this has been quite humbling. It doesn't help that a few jokes were made about my skills with the singing and bell ringing. All in all, it was a very humbling evening.

Migraines:

Both Tuesday and Wednesday were difficult for me due to migraines. The week before I had suffered 2 1/2 days of migraines, so I figured out that I needed to get back to my Sun Light and my workouts, which always help my brain to do better.

Christmas Lavender Birds:
I've been busy making some felt birds and stuffing them with lavender to give as Christmas gifts.

Prep For Core 100:

Excited for American history, Dd chose to move on to Core 100 after finishing up Core H (World History, Part 2 of 2) weeks ago. Dd said she was really looking forward to "American" history after three years of World History. Dh's brother is a Civil War buff, and a public school history teacher and he has been giving Dd many Civil War books for Christmas. Dd is looking forward to really delving in and focusing on a smaller area. We will start our core next week. Although Sonlight doesn't have any "Read Alouds" (RA) scheduled I plan on continuing on with doing them, but, I will pick them. Our first un-official RA started this week: Lord of the Flies! I'm looking forward to picking our books myself!!! Yay!

IEW and Apologia Biology:

We are re-starting our IEW Continuation B program that we had stopped using in April, and will start our new Apologia program, Biology. Besides writing and science, Dd will still have her art, music, and math lessons this week. For sanity's sake, we will take a slow re-start to our lessons this week!

Honeysuckle

Chickens:

Besides the loss of Poirot, our chickens are doing well. Carrie, our Black Sex-Link hen is still not thriving, but I am hoping she will rally given time. I fed her extra food this week and tried to spoil her a little. We brought home the inner organs of the deer for me to bake, puree, and feed to our chickens. I also continued to bring them greens from our front woods, mostly 'duckweed' that I found in another patch. I've been so fortunate to find more duckweed and for the ground to be snow-free so I could gather a few buckets each day; with the exception of my migraine days.

Gerd/Reflux:

Mini-update: I don't think I've updated lately, but I am still following the FODMAP diet plan that has been SO helpful to me. The plan removes certain foods that ferment and stir-up gasses while digesting---like garlic, onions, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, gluten, dairy with lactose, dried fruit, apples... After Christmas, when things slow down a bit more I will do the elimination process and see which of the foods that I have been avoiding might be re-introduced; which would open up my food choices more. I have removed my GERD medications since September 12th and have been using Tums (chewable anti-acid available over the counter) on the times that my heartburn is really bothering me. I have had some good days, which are great, and some bad days that I get heartburn from only drinking water! My heartburn is worst when I am bending over, digging up greens or working on chores. I'm very pleased with the FODMAP diet and can see such a huge improvement. I had been still having heartburn when I was taking meds each morning and night, but, at least with this diet, I am able to rid my body of medicine that only seemed to make my problems worse. If the FODMAP diet wasn't working for me I would take my meds, but, for me, I'm finding the plan is doing better than the meds were, though neither are perfect or pain-free.

Still Unpacking:

After two and a half years I am still unpacking! Our house in Indiana was quite a bit larger, so part of my problem is figuring out just where I can fit our things. But, our new home in Michigan does have an outbuilding, so things like our huge Christmas tree box don't have to be stored in a bedroom or closet. I think I managed one box last week and opened three boxes and two plastic tubs this week. It is SO great to see progress as this house becomes more and more 'home' to us. I've taken one metal rack down to the Rec Room to store our art supplies where Dd has been working on her watercolors and oil painting. I'm hoping to unpack the other metal rack that is still out in the outbuilding to get more of our supplies all in one area where we can find and use it. These past three weeks of our light lessons have given me time to unpack more boxes and get things more settled. I know most people would have been able to unpack after two years, but I'm always pulled in so many directions that I don't have the ability to focus on any one thing entirely. I'm sure many homeschool moms feel that way too! I just look forward to getting this fixer-upper fixed up! Patience takes time to learn.

Church:

Our new church is still going well. The only big difference between our last church and this one is regarding communion. This church has three Sunday morning communions and one Sunday evening communion; whereas our church in Indiana had a very special communion every Sunday. I honestly miss it so much; I teared up at our last communion, it was so dear to me. But, in every other area, our new church does so well that I am having to live with this one disappointment, though it is a big one. Yes, I have talked to the pastor about this and he was very set in his decision and didn't see my point at all, so we have had to accept and resign ourselves. Communion, like so many other areas of religion, can be felt so strongly and so differently by each of us and we should try to respect the fact that we are all trying to grow closer to God in the way we feel lead and accept our differences without judgment.

My favorite part of our church service is the Ladies Sunday School after the service. We just finished our Gideon study by Pricilla Shirer; which was great! I don't know what our next study will be, but I am looking forward to it already!

Church Bulletin Board:

I have been doing the bulletin board for the past few months. I like doing them, but I also struggle with the amount of time it takes me to get one done. I spent a good six hours on Saturday getting the Christmas one done so I could bring it in on Sunday, and I just don't have much free time.

I've been enjoying making this years Christmas/Lavender birds

Dh:

Dh worked all day Saturday and late each night. He feels so behind! Prayers appreciated.

Giz:

Thanks for all the prayers for Giz (MIL); after her latest round of antibiotics she is feeling better and hopefully making permanent improvements.

Dd's Academic's this 'start-back' week:

Math:

Saxon Geometry with Grace Academy

Test, Lesson 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43

STILL having such troubles with the teacher not fully explaining the material, she apparently is only reading the textbook aloud and not expanding the explanations.

Science:

Apologia Biology

Beginning Module One--Text pages 1-7, Student Notebook page 23

Read Aloud:

Lord of the Flies by William Golding: Just Started!

Fun Book:

Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

Art at Home:

Watercolors, Drawing,

Mantle Decorations: painting pinecones and lemon and lime peels and hanging them on a string---like the kind Heather L. makes!

Dd found a little sewing box at our favorite thrift store. She has been fixing it up, relining it, and making it her own. Of course, any excuse to use the hot glue gun is very appealing to her!

Oil painting, from Dd to me, of the bench Dh made and my wedding flowers that I made from wildflowers for my bridal bouquet. It was nice making my own bouquet.