Rain, Rain

We have been having lots of rain lately. The weathermen predict many more days of rain. I know we need the rain, but I really think we might grow moldy.

The horses are making a mess of the pasture...muddy!!!! The drive way has a small stream running down it.

I took a few shots with my new camera of things that have some rain droplets on them. I love the simple pleasure of nature and what it give us to enjoy!

Yellow daisies are my favorite flowers, so sweet and simple.Morning glories are all over our yard, the previous owners must have planted them.

Watermelon plant is growing very nicely, we never planted it...go figure!

Yes, the spider is back!

Spider Obession

I have been so obsessed with spiders and their webs for the past several weeks.

On our front porch we now have two yellow garden spiders, I have to say they are getting big. They make the perfect orb webs.

Then last week we found a funnel spider web, what a great piece of design. It's the home of the field spider. The tunnel serves a 'backdoor' to his web home. Can hide there or run away if threatened...all this is very cool to me. Enjoy these shots.

See the long tunnel/funnel web.

Moonflower

I had to post my pictures of our Moonflower plant. Last year Helen gave me this moonflower plant. We never got to see it bloom, since it only blooms at night. We would go out to wait, then decide to do something else, like dinner and then night life starts and totally forget about it. Then the next morning we would say, bummers we forgot to look.

It dies back in the winter or re-seeded itself. But it came back. It has really grown, twice the size as last year. It's hidden from the sun behind a tree. It has bloomed so many times this year but once again we have missed it. Once it blooms the white, main flower dies and falls off.

(The two round things hanging off the plant are the seed pods. The plant has a soft velvet stem and leaves.)

Now last night while I was trying to take pictures of a spider at twilight (talking to my sister the camera expert) I looked over and one of the flowers was in full bloom. I was so excited and it is so lovely to look at.

I am practicing with my new camera and the flowers were taking in full darkness...very nice.There was some bug inside, too.

These were two spiders that I was trying to photograph when I saw the moonflower. Was an exciting night for the girly farmer.

Playing in the Rain

Couple of evenings ago the weather was nice and warm. Then it started to rain and that maked perfect conditions to run in the rain. Well, at least three kids were home and they had a blast. Nice to see my 14 year old still enjoys the simple pleasures of life…..jumping in mud puddles. Moments like this I wish would never end!!

I even got a cool shot of a water droplet with my new camera!

Tree Identification Class

Today was our first Plant/Tree Id class and river day at the Barker family’s home. They have such a lovely homestead and lots of acreage for the kids to run and play. The most exciting part is their river. There is so much to explore.
We started out with Bob taking us on a walk through the woods looking at trees…wow there are lots! And even more information to know!! We collected some leaf samples. Then we came back and Bob showed the kids how to ink press their leaves in a notebook. He gave the common name and the Latin name. Even Ryan got to do some leaf rubbings.
The three trees we identified today was:
1. Sweet Gum/Liquidamber styrasifluia
2. Red Bud/Cereus canadensis
3. Red Maple/Acer rubra

We changed clothes and ate lunch and then headed to the river for water fun. Daniel even brought out his two kayaks. I would post more photos but my camera battery went dead after 8 shoots.
We had so much fun, we hope to make this a bi-monthly outing.
The out doors, some education and lots of fun with friends…you can’t school any better than that!
cool spider

Planning

August tends to me my planning and re-planning month for the years activties.
For school, the kids and I plan what goals we want to accomplish for the year. We always manage to change SEVERAL times during the year. But at least I feel we have a direction. They also get new math books (which Kelly Belle thinks is the most exciting thing in the world...she is my textbook kid, yikes!).
So, I thought I would list our activities and each child's interest.

Monday:
Babysit Ryan (all)
Tae Kwon Do Class (Jack/Kyle)
2xmth-American Girl History Class taught here by me. (Kelly Belle)
1xmth-4-H (all)
1xmth-Homeschool Parents Meeting (mom)
Drama Troupe (Shannon & Jack)
Ballet (Kelly Belle)

Tuesday:
Babysit Ryan (all)
Childcare Alexa (all)
Horse Riding Lessons (Shannon)
Tap (Kelly Belle)

Wednesday:
Babysit Ryan (all)
Childcare Alexa (all)
Storytime at Library (all)
Tae Kwon Do (Jack & Kyle)
Ballet (Kelly Belle)

Thursday:
Babysit Ryan (all)
Babysit Jessie (all)
Clarinet and Flute Lessons (Shannon and Kelly Belle)
Food Coop (all)
Irish Folk Dance (Kelly Belle)
1xmth LLL Meeting (mom)

Friday:
Babysit Ryan (all)
Band Class (Shannon, Jack, Kelly Belle)
Park (all)

Saturday:
Sabbath
Movie Night

Sunday:
Make up and Chore Day
Symthony Practice (Shannon)

Caught on Camera

Well the horse cam paid off. This morning around 7:14, Star got out of the fence and she was caught on camera. Gabriella did not follow Star, she just ran around the field all freak out that Star was out.
Thanks to technology we solved the escaping horses.

Horse Cam

With the lack of rain the main horse pasture is total eaten and beaten up by the horses. Patrick made a temp rope fence in the back pasture area. The horses have gotten out twice but he thinks he got it fixed. We have been moving them back into the more secure pasture at night. Well, Patrick really wants to leave them in the make-shift pasture at night. So to make me feel better, he mounted a camera on the old shade out back....the McCoy's first horse cam. We can view the girls from our basement. A big plus to having a man work for GE Security.

Farm Life is Hard

Sunday we lost another old chicken. This time it was to the neighbors dog. The kids saw her being attacked. The time we got to her, she was too damaged to help. Patrick had to put her to sleep. All the kids ran upstairs and turned on the music very loud, not to hear. Was a scene right out of a Laura Ingall's book. She had a great life and we were thankful to have her.

Then on Monday we took our rabbit to the vets to be neutered. I was told to have him fast before surgery...this is soooo wrong!!! Rabbits and horses cannot throw up and their stomachs should never be empty!
We dropped him off at 8am. They called at 2pm and said he did well but they did not have food for him. So I drove to them and gave him his food (40minute round trip). Then after 10 minutes of being home they called and said he was not eating and would like me to pick him up asap. They thought he would eat if home. So I drove back out to pick him up. The vet's office did not give me any post surgery instructions.
Got home, he would not wake up enough to eat. He was so sleepy. After about 3-4 hours I started to worry. Still no food or water, no pee either. Then another couple of hours, I started googling about post surgery care. This is were I found out rabbits need not fast. They should not have empty stomachs. Also, if rabbits are over stressed, dehydrated, or sick, they can loss their will to live. I knew I needed to help this little guy.
I went to him and syringed the pain meds into him and then water. Every hour, all night I would forced some water and then finally some food into him. I even sat in the bathroom reading so he could see me.
By the next morning he was drinking and eating only from my hand. He had a small bm and pee....only a mom would be happy to see pee and poop.
I did not heed my own advice, always research for yourself, never rely on a doctor to know all the answers!
Buttons is eating well after 36 hours and I think he'll be ok.
We got Buttons from a friend who was watching him for someone else. They both did not want him. He is 2 years old. I thought he would be good for Kelly Belle. He is a friendly bunny! But lost of work. Have to clean cage once to twice a day. He was marking the floor, so we decided to get him fixed. And to repeat others before me, "There is no such thing as a free animal"! Total vet bill $162.00!!
Buttons is a true member of the family NOW!

Jack's a Black Belt!

We are proud of Jack, he tested for his black belt in Tae Kwon Do this month. He really enjoys his classes. I never have to ask him to practice, this is something he really enjoys and excels at. Here he is doing one of his board breaks.

Ballet Recital

I finally got a copy of Kelly Belle's ballet recital. Thanks to the Ruper family for taking this for me. I was busy helping the girls that I did not have time or thought to record it.

It was performed through Masters Academy in Athens on May 14, 2009.

Kelly Belle just loves taking ballet. She looks so tall when she dances. She really comes out when she preforms. She says, "dancing makes me feel good, even on bad days." She also LOVES her teacher. She is a great homeschooled teeanager. She has such a great passion for ballet. And her mom, made the costumes...they were sooo cute! Love the colors.

We are very proud of her!

Her moto, "when in doubt, twirl!"

Week 3--Baby Chicks Update

They are growing daily!! They enjoy their larger home, the rabbit hutch. But they tend to escape through the cage. That will stop so, when they get to big. The Araucanians are the friendliest. The barred rocks are the loudest. They all are so curious. They love to peek out the cage at us. Who's watching who?

Here are their pictures at three weeks.

Week 2-Chicks Update

The Araucanians are growing the fastest with their feathers. The light Brahmas are the largest birds.

Jack loves the brown Araucanian, it sits on his arms every time he takes him out. Kyle's fav is the yellow Araucanian, but that is Ryan's and my favorite, too. We'll all have to share her.

Tonight we moved them into a bigger home, an old rabbit hutch I got off freecycle. Lined the bottom and sides with left over dry wall sheets and topped it with savings, added their light and food/water. Much more room and they can see outside, thought the box would make them stir crazy. Plus they were trying to fly out. Now when we walk by they peek out and follow us. The cat doesn't even seem interested.