4H Goat Workshop

Good Ole Boy and I celebrated our thirteenth anniversary the 16th. He had to work. We didn't do anything special. I jokingly tell people the goat workshop was our anniversary getaway. :) 

We are very fortunate here in our county, that they pay for these workshops. It was Friday - Sunday with meals and lodging provided. We didn't have anyone to stay overnight with the kids, so we did have to drive back and forth, but it is only a 45 minute drive so was doable. 

Friday night was registration, dinner, roundtable discussion and then goat jeopardy. We were given a 3 ring binder upon registration. It has notes for all the sessions.  This is awesome since you can't go to them all. Dinner was ok. My chicken wasn't quite done but otherwise it was good. The roundtable was LLLOOONNNGG. Sigh... Since that took so long, we decided not to stay for jeopardy.

Saturday morning was sausage biscuits and gravy. Yum. Except biscuits weren't done. sigh. 

The first session we went to was Goat Showmanship 101. This was pretty good, some information was over our heads though. Some differences between what she was sharing and our counties rules though. 

Our second session, we LOVED! We decided to go to Goat Craft Ideas for your 4H Club, thinking since we have a CloverBud and a younger member that this would be helpful. Wow. Yes, it was, but we can also do these crafts with the older kids. We each did a craft and then worked together on another. They had pillow case fabric painting & rubber stamping ideas - I can handle those. What caught our eye was the glass etching. 

We picked the same design and drinking glasses. 

However, we pictured it differently and so our designs are opposites. I was very impressed with not only HOW they turned out, but also how EASY glass etching is! While our glasses were sitting, we worked together on a tile. Using paper cut outs and modge podge we made a nice Thank you gift for our Buyers Appreciate Banquet that was Monday night. 

After lunch of baked ziti, we went to our third session of Biosecurity & Keeping your Goats Safe. Let me just say, WAY OVER MY HEAD! :S Plus very drug oriented and I would much rather learn about natural and organic methods of pest control and goat care. But even with all that, we were able to walk away with many ideas and thoughts that hadn't crossed our minds before, so it was helpful in that regard. 

Session four was Selecting a Meat Goat and Preparation for the Fair. This was a short session but lots of information. Much about Boers, which Chip is half and a breed I would like to raise. Our county is mostly dairy so it was good for us. Packed with information from clipping for show, to clothes to wear. 

Session five was Showmanship Troubleshooting. Pretty informative but probably more for kids that have been showing for awhile as compared with our new ones, but still very good. Again, the discrepancies were simply our county rules compared with others. 

After a yummy ham dinner, we attended Animal Care & Welfare for session six. This was VERY good! Not at all what I was expecting! It consisted of much discussion regarding groups such as PETA and animal liberators. Some shared experiences from their fairs; from picketers to tainted animal water to animals being released from pens. There was brainstorming on what we would do if confronted, and how we can instruct our kids in a fear free way. Most people are simply curious, how can we help our kids know when the questions cross the line? Very thought provoking session - as a wanna be farmer, I want to provide my animals with the best care that I can and I abhor animal cruelty/abuse. However, I firmly believe the Bible and God's command that we (humans) are to rule over the animals - they do not have rights greater than ours. 

We didn't stay for the auction fun but left for home. We participated in the silent auction but didn't win the few things we were after there.

Sunday morning's arrival greeted us with a delicious breakfast of french toast and *perfectly* done biscuits & gravy! :) 

Session seven was Nutritional Needs of Goats. Very interesting and mostly over my head but I did learn some! We have been feeding alfalfa hay and we learned that it isn't the best of wethers. Oops! Need to find a grass hay. Many questions now regarding salt blocks/minerals. More research needs to be done! 

Session eight was First Aid for Your Goats and was very fun. Wonderful presenter and many inexpensive items are recommended and that is great. She had freebies for all as well. Very cool.

Our weekend was wrapped up with a rib sandwich lunch and surveys. 

In all, it was a great weekend, we learned alot, have  future ideas and got to spend some quality time together which was nice. :) 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is early morning and breezy. I has been EXTREMELY windy the past few days and that is supposed to continue.

I am thinking... How sweet it is that Frisky climbs up to snuggle whilst I am on the computer. :) 

I am thankful for... Good Ole Boy.

From the learning rooms... Sigh. Not as much has been accomplished in the together area of our education. Things have been NUTS! So, I think we will have to skip the Science Fair this year and I am bummed about that. It has been a few years since we participated and I was looking forward to Hunny having that experience. Although Sis is very happy to skip it. 

From the kitchen... Nothing special, kitties are roughhousing out there.

I am wearing...P.J.'s

I am creating... A list of Christmas ideas.

I am going... To work on getting the house in order today.

I am reading... On Secret Service by John Jakes.

I am hoping... Still hoping our neighbor comes through for us....

I am hearing... Kitties. Bug just came down and is getting her DS out. She is very excited. The older two girls received their auction checks Monday night and Bug purchased two new games for herself last night but wasn't able to try them out yet. 

Around the house... The other girls are still asleep. Einstein is off to school and Good Ole Boy just left for work. 

One of my favorite things... Singing and dancing sillyness with kids and hubby. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Work, school, housework, preparing costumes for trick or treating, & pumpkin carving. 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Hunny's rendition of Veggie Tales' Big River Rescue.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Making your Home a Haven Challenge

So the candle has been burning. 

Will probably need a new one soon. 

I've been praying for peace.

Hasn't been peaceful lately though. 

I've been playing music and trying to speak quietly, calmly, and lovingly....and reminding those who haven't been.

Last week I found a laundry basket for Good Ole Boy's uniforms and that has been ok. Still doesn't seem ideal but they are off the floor. It's been a very busy week so I haven't gotten as much organized and sorted this past week as I would have liked to.

Now for this weeks challenge.

Give Your Children a Happy Childhood Filled With Tender Moments

 Courtney suggests a pillow fight, back rubs, cozy evenings of hot cider & caramel corn. During some quiet moments ask them about the challenge and how they feel. Are there changes they would like? Then LISTEN. 

So, I have my work cut out for me. :) 

Einstein does NOT like to be touched so that will prove interesting. 

I am going to *TRY* to show them extra love physically this week by hugs, back rubs & holding hands. 

I am going to try and have extra special quiet (or not so quiet) moments with them. A pillow fight? AH.... probably not! (can you say broken ceiling fan, windows & tv?!) But maybe a tickle fest? We'll have to see what I can come up with there. A cozy night of pillows, cider & popcorn does sound very nice though. 

Lots to think about and see what I can implement into our home. 

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/10/giving-your-children-happy-childhood.html

Taxidermy Field Trip

Yesterday we went on an AMAZING field trip! 

I'm still in awe of everything we saw and learned. 

God's creatures are so diverse and beautiful, and the artists that can capture that are simply marvelous. 

We learned about the history of taxidermy - did you know General Custer was a taxidermist? 

Why is it done?

And how. 

We were taken into the workshops. In one, we learned how they use the forms and put the skins over them and how they are attached. In another, we watched as they worked on making imitation water buffalo horns. We learned how there are people who do the wood working. Making the stands and working on the habitats. And the last shop was where they finish - polish and paint, etc. 

We saw items in various stages of completion.

 It was fascinating!

Momma's misery

Yep, it finally happened....

My baby has lost her first tooth!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is just starting to get light out. Very cool. 

I am thinking... About how much I love my family.

I am thankful for... Good people who are a part of our lives. 

From the learning rooms... Still the same. We are enjoying "Number the stars" our reading right now. Sis especially was not thrilled with my selection but all request another chapter. :) Struggling a tad with Latin - it's getting harder! Need to get printer ink so we can finish our lapbooks! Science Fair is rapidly approaching and there is much to complete for that. They are doing the solar system as that is the unit we are wrapping up.

 

From the kitchen... Coffee! And on my counter a beautiful bouquet of 13 roses from Good Ole Boy. Saturday was our 13th anniversary and he brought me flowers! I love him SO much! 

I am wearing... P.J.'s - hitting shower after this...

I am creating... Much for Goodwill and trying to get organized for a showing of the house.

I am going... To keep working on a peaceful home.

I am reading... Lynn Austin's Candle in the Darkness.

I am hoping... Our neighbor gets ahold of us soon and really wants to buy this house! I want to move so badly! 

I am hearing... Kung Fu Panda that the two littles are watching, and the pump is running. 

Around the house... Sit many boxes...

One of my favorite things... How Hunny tells a story.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Busy week! Karate & gym today. Field trip, bell choir & youth group tomorrow. School & work Thursday. Then this weekend Good Ole Boy and I are attending a Goat Workshop for 4H.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

 

Making your Home a Haven Challenge

So we started with a candle and praying for peace. That has continued to go well. 

Last week we added music and using peaceful words. The music was easy. 

The peaceful words....not so much! 

But we have done it. :) It definitely got easier as the week went on and I am very happy that I was able to stay calm in situations when Einstein tried to fight; even when he was screaming & swinging fists, I was able to keep my cool. Thank you so much for praying for me! We even worked on adding our second spoke to the Wheel Of Peace - kind, calm & quiet. I thought it fit in very well with the goal of using peaceful words.

This week's challenge: 

Cleaning up clutter! 

Also a two-part challenge.

1. Pick an area of your home where clutter collects and put something there to contain it.

 Courtney asks us to look around and see which spots in our home visually stress us and to put something there to collect the clutter. Ummmm.... That would be the WHOLE HOUSE!! :S 

But this is something we are working on - kinda? 

We have been purging alot. Since we are hopeful that we can sell this house and move we have been going through and getting rid of. It's amazing how much we have taken to Goodwill & Salvation Army! I am motivated to have it look decent should someone be interested in seeing the house. It has been difficult living here. So much has yet to be finished and there isn't places for everything and it does honestly STRESS me out! Good Ole Boy doesn't seem to realize how anxious some things make me feel. But I am at a loss as how to 'fix' that. This has helped in that I *know* I am doing something. As to the specifics in the challenge.... I'm not sure what I'll be doing there. The stair clutter bothers me - and it's dangerous! But we got stair baskets for the girls thinking that would help. Load your things in the basket during the day, take it up at night and bring down in the morning....but they don't do it. So there is unsightly and dangerous clutter constantly on the stairs. Coffee table clutter drives me nuts! But that is mostly Hunny's toys and books that she brings out during the day.  Furniture clutter the same. It drives me nuts to not have a place to sit! But it's loaded with blankets (it's getting cold) and again, Hunny's stuff. I have been working with her on cleaning it up. My dining room table is loaded - with more things to take to Goodwill. I guess maybe I'll work on something for Good Ole Boy's uniforms this week! That might be a good place to start. He has to take them in weekly for cleaning but they are yucky with grease and oil on them so he throws them on the floor. It does bother me that they get strewn everywhere so maybe I can locate a laundry basket for them. Hmmmm....? We'll see what I can come up with this week for this part of the challenge. 

 

2. Now on to the spiritual part -  

   what sin have I not confessed? 

Practice repentance daily - free yourself of spiritual clutter.

I John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

  

I think we ALL have something to work on here. We are sinners by nature. None of us are perfect.

I will be looking at myself daily here.

 

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/10/cleaning-up-clutter-challenge.html

Alpaca Field Trip

Last week we went on this great field trip. We had been to this farm for an event last year and the kids loved it, especially Hunny who MONTHS later was still talking about those llaaaaamas. (she insists on calling them that and drags out the 'A' - it sounds so funny and even associated them with a camel in a movie) So we were happy to go again. Honestly, alpacas are so cute - how could anyone not want an opportunity to go see them?! 

We enjoyed learning about alpacas; what other animals they are related to, where they come from, their habits, etc. The farm recently had some babies so we were able to see and pet them. 

We then were told about alpaca wool. We got to see & feel it, see cleaned alpaca yarn, some products made using it and then the kids were able to make a felted ball. 

So thankful for opportunities to learn about Gods wonderful creations!

Kitties

This was taken by Hunny! 

4 weeks old

5 weeks old

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is a beautiful sunny day.

I am thinking... Again, of ALL that needs to be done!

I am thankful for... My husband and how hard he works for our family.

From the learning rooms... Still working on the solar system in Weaver, and the creation of birds in interlock.

 We had a lovely field trip Friday which I hope to post soon.

From the kitchen... It's messy & smells of breakfast - french toast, mixed berries & milk/coffee.

I am wearing... I got out of the shower and immediately started cooking so I am still in jammies. It seems like I'm always in p.j.'s when I write this, lol!

I am creating... A haven for our home. :) 

I am going... To continue purging our house. I have gotten rid of many items and hope to find many more that we just don't need and clean it out. 

I am reading... The Duchess and the Dragon by Jamie Carie

I am hoping... That we are able to sell our house and move! 

I am hearing... A nature sounds cd that I have playing. 

Around the house... Kids are getting ready to go. We will leave here within the hour for Karate class and then they all see the Dentist today.

One of my favorite things... Raspberries. As they were part of breakfast. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow we take Einstein three hours away to see his eye specialist (he has Lens Sublexation and needs specialized care). I must work a double shift Thursday since yesterday was considered a holiday, there are parent teacher conferences for Einsteins school Thursday, try and get some schooling in and continue cleaning/purging throughout the house - preparing it in case the potential buyer wants to see it. 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 A mural by Hunny showing the creatures of the waters. 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

 

Making your Home a Haven Challenge

Last week's challenge was to light a candle and pray for peace in our home. 

I have done fairly well there. There were a few days that were crazy busy and we were in and out so that candle didn't get lit EVERY day, but most of them it did. 

And even Sis caught on to the Pray for Peace theme, although I don't believe her prayers were as serious in nature as mine.

And we had a wonderful opportunity yesterday driving home from church to talk about our Wheel of Peace. The sermon was from Matthew 5 about the salt and the light, and just how can we be Jesus to those around us. Well, that applies to our homes just as much as our community! 

Definitely an area that we - *I* - need to continue working on, but thankful for a good start! 

This week's challenge is two-fold also:  

Play soft music everyday in your home. 

Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that the family enjoys.  

Focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. 

Remind your family to avoid seething anger, tattling, criticism or back talk. Role model gentleness this week. 

Hmmm.... music. I can do that. We all like Country. But I also like Contemporary Christian, Classical, Eighties Rock & Nature sounds. I will work on having music playing part of the day - and some of that will be quiet and something other than Country here and there.

 

The next part of the challenge however.... OUCH! 

I'm going to copy Courtney's thoughts here - 

1. When you feel tempted to raise your voice, use a child's name in a snarl, furrow your brow into a scowl or speak rapidly in anger...purposely lower your voice to just above a whisper. Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger." Focus on gentle words, facial expressions, and touches.

2. Purpose to not let someone else's anger make you angry. Many times as a wife and mom I find myself responding to other's emotions. Someone in the family is grumpy and two minutes later I'm grumpy too. Someone in the family is speaking harshly and two minutes later I'm speaking harshly too. Purpose to stay in control of your emotions and not let the other members of your family dictate your mood.

3. Yelling at a bud won't make it bloom. Your home will not blossom into a haven if you are not controlling your temper.

4. Continue to pray for peace in your home. Persevere in prayer for your family. James 5:16b says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Wow! This is honestly something I struggle with. 

Einstein is SO ANGRY, and SO HATEFUL, and takes it out on ALL of us that I honestly struggle in keeping happy & peaceful with him being such a BIG downer!

I would appreciate your prayers in helping me with this as I work on this challenge, as I believe it will be one!

 

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-make-your-home-sing.html 

Kitty Update

Wow! I've been so busy lately that I haven't been blogging as much as I have wanted to. So - I haven't added updates of these precious little ones. Gasp! How awful! :/

It looks like the last post was week one, so here is a recap of the past few weeks...

This was the crew at 2 weeks old. That week they just wouldn't cooperate with the camera. Once it was out and ready they wouldn't sit still or look at me very well. Camera shy?

And at 3 weeks. They are getting very lovable! They love to snuggle with Good Ole Boy after a long day.

I need to download my camera still for the more recent photos but hopefully will get that done today! 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... Sunny, but breezy and cool.

I am thinking... Of how my day has NOT gone according to plan! 

I am thankful for... The flexibility of homeschooling! lol. Unfortunately, Einsteins schedule isn't going to bend for ours. 

From the learning rooms... Still learning about the solar system in Weaver. Just helped Bug do some research regarding the usefulness of stars to man. We will be covering atomic energy and some constellation work this afternoon. Hunny is learning about the creation of animals in Interlock. Bug is excited about finishing her lifepac - she gets to start in SOS tomorrow. 

From the kitchen... I have my candle burning on the stove - Calm Seas - need that one! lol. :) 

I am wearing... Blue fleece sweatshirt, blue jeans & tennis shoes.

I am creating... Lots of stuff for Salvation Army! Trying to purge - taking lots - unfortunately, haven't NOTICED much changed around here. 

I am going... To be herding the girls upstairs as soon as I'm done here. Need to get together stuff done before Einstein gets home! 

I am reading... Crown of Fire still. 

I am hoping... God grants me my hearts desire....

I am hearing... Country music that Sis has on the radio - currently the Zac Brown Band singing "As she's walking away".

Around the house... ummm.... honestly pretty messy right now. :(

One of my favorite things... Heat. I LOVE being warm. Seriously, I hate that I've been so cold lately and it's so early in the fall. Sigh. Not good signs of things to come. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: School, Bell Choir for Bug, Youth group for Sis, work, 4H banquet.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

  http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

 

Making your Home a Haven Challenge

It is week 1 of the Making Your Home a Haven Fall Challenge. 

Here is this week's challenge: Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. 

Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

Courtney has a great post on this. What kind of home are you making?  Are you distracted & distant or making a haven in your home? She goes on with lists. Unfortunately, I do have alot of list one going on. 

We are working on the LOVING spoke of our WHEEL OF PEACE. This is a big deal to me. I WANT my home to be a haven. I WANT it to be peaceful. 

I am catching my kids ALOT this week speaking in an unloving tone or acting in an unloving way....but I'm also catching myself too. 

I didn't have to go BUY a candle for this weeks challenge. I have lots of them around! And it's even lit. In fact, I have one in the living room & one in the kitchen right now. The challenge will be - to actually STOP and Pray each & every time I catch a glimmer of that flame.