Yesterday was a very unusual October day. As we finished breakfast and looked outside we realized we had almost 5 inches of snow in our yard. We continued to watch some of the snow fall and then I realized it was not goingt to be a very productive school day. So I made it an official snow day.
I started to shovel our drive and realized our snow shovel was not all that great. The blade bending and making it hard to really get a good scoop of snow without leaving a fair amount behind.
PW and I got packed up into the car and headed out to our local hardware store. I'm so grateful it is only 2.5 miles away.
Snow shovels are perfect for where we live. We don't typically get this much snow and our sidewalk and driveway face the south so a snow blower is not an item we'd use a lot. With the southern facing house, our driveway and sidewalks often melt off before I even get dressed to shovel. However, when we do have days like today a good snow shovel helps.
As I started to look at the array of snow shovels I was amazed at the choices. There were ergonomically shaped shovels, collapsable shovels allowing storage on shelves, flat vs. scooped shovels, double wide shovels, and more. As I compared them all I ended up getting two shovels. So the shovel decision may not be a critical, life changing decision, but I did realize after getting to use the shovels the importantance of a good shovel.
The first one is the double wide shovel which is basically a 40-42 inch blade and its handle is more like that of a lawn mower so you push the shovel more like a plow. I got my driveway cleared of 7 inches of snow in 9 1/2 minutes. I am THRILLED with this shovel.
The second shovel works hand-in-hand with the first. I realized quickly how heavy the piles off the big shovel were to move. So with the second shovel, which is the ergonomically shaped one, I moved the big pile of snow, left by double wide shovel, onto the lawn very quickly and less back breaking than any shovel I have ever used.
After the shovelling was complete I quickly threw down some snow melt. This allowed for only one inche of snow accumulating by dinnertime despite the nearly 6 inches that fell throughout the day.
It was a delight to get the shovelling done quickly and less intensive in the labor. I was even able to play in the snow with Paul awhile and enjoy a fun snowball fight.
We came back inside and enjoyed some homemade hot cocoa. I'm thinking I'll have to have some more Wilbur's cocoa brought out by a friend at Thanksgiving.
On a side note, the reason we are using Wilbur's cocoa, besides the fact that it is incredibly delicious, is that we have been boycotting Hershey's. With the decision to move operations/productiont to Mexico, we decided it was not a company we desired to continue to support. The jobs lost are not just those of their factories but the many farmers that grow crops and milk cows for Hershey's. When we found out it was all done for nearly an eight of a cent savings on each candybar we knew that was not worth supporting anymore. Another important decision that has made our family really considered where are values are and when we stop to think about the economy of our country, what are we really doing to support fellow Americans in allowing jobs to be kept here in the USA. Buying made in the USA does allow for more jobs to stay in the USA.
Okay back to the snow day. When the cocoa was complete, we snuggled up by the fireplace and enjoyed a movie. All in all a very nice snow day.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Living Well
In light of all the flu symptoms flying around in our house, I began taking a look, once again, at our meals, nutrition, vitamins and all the things that make up our daily routine.
Trying to get back into more of a life allowing us to be living well, I have made changes to our diet recently which hopefully will reap great rewards. We have switched to raw milk and I've started grinding my own wheat and making our own bread. I will be picking up durum flour this week so I will soon be grinding our flour for making pasta as well.
As I empty out my pantry, my desire is to see if filled with more nutrient rich staples in our home and no longer filled with processed foods. I have gotten a few books on making your own mixes at home so no need to by seasoning packs that are filled with high sodium or MSG.
As I implement these changes and am homeschooling PW about nutrition along with the changes, they have been accepted more easily than I thought. I was informed today as I reached for sugar to put in my coffee "Mom wouldn't that agave syrup be better? Remember we talked about the GI Joe Windex." After stopping a moment and realizing he was referring to GI (Glycemic Index), I was quick to put the sugar down and go for the better choice.
Trying to get back into more of a life allowing us to be living well, I have made changes to our diet recently which hopefully will reap great rewards. We have switched to raw milk and I've started grinding my own wheat and making our own bread. I will be picking up durum flour this week so I will soon be grinding our flour for making pasta as well.
As I empty out my pantry, my desire is to see if filled with more nutrient rich staples in our home and no longer filled with processed foods. I have gotten a few books on making your own mixes at home so no need to by seasoning packs that are filled with high sodium or MSG.
As I implement these changes and am homeschooling PW about nutrition along with the changes, they have been accepted more easily than I thought. I was informed today as I reached for sugar to put in my coffee "Mom wouldn't that agave syrup be better? Remember we talked about the GI Joe Windex." After stopping a moment and realizing he was referring to GI (Glycemic Index), I was quick to put the sugar down and go for the better choice.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Incorporating
Incorporate: verb
1. to unite or work into something already existent so as to form an indistinguishable whole; to blend or combine thoroughly.
2. to form or cause to form a united whole or mass; merge or blend
In the balance between schooling at home and teaching a child life and character skills, I have realized the need to incorporate things into our homeschool schedule that will accomplish those items. When looking at the above definintion I am reminded that by incorporating with a sense of purpose we can accomplish lots of things into our day and not be so disjoined in our process.
We have decided that as part of PW's phys. ed. we will incorporate horseback riding lessons. Incorporating these lessons also will instill the life skills of responsibility and discipline. Each week at the lesson we must arrive early so that the horse gets groomed before the lesson, PW learns to hook up all the gear onto the horse in order to ride, and after the lesson he must help unsaddle the horse and get him back to the stable.
As I begin to add things to PW's list I will begin to see the long term benefits and weigh out our activities based on they will fit into the whole.
1. to unite or work into something already existent so as to form an indistinguishable whole; to blend or combine thoroughly.
2. to form or cause to form a united whole or mass; merge or blend
In the balance between schooling at home and teaching a child life and character skills, I have realized the need to incorporate things into our homeschool schedule that will accomplish those items. When looking at the above definintion I am reminded that by incorporating with a sense of purpose we can accomplish lots of things into our day and not be so disjoined in our process.
We have decided that as part of PW's phys. ed. we will incorporate horseback riding lessons. Incorporating these lessons also will instill the life skills of responsibility and discipline. Each week at the lesson we must arrive early so that the horse gets groomed before the lesson, PW learns to hook up all the gear onto the horse in order to ride, and after the lesson he must help unsaddle the horse and get him back to the stable.
As I begin to add things to PW's list I will begin to see the long term benefits and weigh out our activities based on they will fit into the whole.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Fighting the Flu
Well we have been fighting the flu here in our home. However, our symptoms have been mixed and fortunately, our son has been hit the least. The blessing in all of this has been using Shaklee supplements that help boost the immune system instead of lots of OTC medications or antibiotics.
We are also blessed that I am the only one who has used an antibiotic. We are realizing that friends' children are on much higher doses of anitbiotics than kids should be at that age. However we are in such a antiseptic/clean society that the bodies of these children are using immune systems to fight even common germs. The constant use of anti-bacterial gel, soap, wipes etc. have not helped build their immune systems.
Something to be said of those of us who grew up eating dirt and ashed our hands usually only before dinner.
I'll share with you our own Shaklee story. When PW our son was 18 months old he got under our counter and sprayed himself with Clorox Clean up, causing a burn on his chest that was visible for over 6 weeks. At that point a friend approached me asking if I had heard of Shaklee's home care products which were non-toxic and biodegradeable. That was our first part of my conversion - cleaners that work, are easy on my breathing, safe under my sink, and extremely cost effective.
We also started using their hand soap which is NOT anti-bacterial. However the soap cleans well and smells great. It is getting harder and harder to find any liquid soap that is does not contain anti-bacterial products. We still use an anti-bacterial at the onset of a cold in our home but that's it - about 3 weeks a year.
Our son has only once had to be on an anti-biotic and that was prior to our starting him on Shaklee vitamins. When cold & flu season hit we also add in the extra Vitamin C, Nutriferon and Defend and Resist to our regiment but we do not have him on that all year long. We try to let his body do what it is supposed to do, help it where we can, and boost up only when needed.
I'm sure I have shared this before, but each year when my wallet reflects savings on cleaning products, our family is in better health, and our bodies do not need lots of prescriptions to get through things we are always wanting people to know how.
We are also blessed that I am the only one who has used an antibiotic. We are realizing that friends' children are on much higher doses of anitbiotics than kids should be at that age. However we are in such a antiseptic/clean society that the bodies of these children are using immune systems to fight even common germs. The constant use of anti-bacterial gel, soap, wipes etc. have not helped build their immune systems.
Something to be said of those of us who grew up eating dirt and ashed our hands usually only before dinner.
I'll share with you our own Shaklee story. When PW our son was 18 months old he got under our counter and sprayed himself with Clorox Clean up, causing a burn on his chest that was visible for over 6 weeks. At that point a friend approached me asking if I had heard of Shaklee's home care products which were non-toxic and biodegradeable. That was our first part of my conversion - cleaners that work, are easy on my breathing, safe under my sink, and extremely cost effective.
We also started using their hand soap which is NOT anti-bacterial. However the soap cleans well and smells great. It is getting harder and harder to find any liquid soap that is does not contain anti-bacterial products. We still use an anti-bacterial at the onset of a cold in our home but that's it - about 3 weeks a year.
Our son has only once had to be on an anti-biotic and that was prior to our starting him on Shaklee vitamins. When cold & flu season hit we also add in the extra Vitamin C, Nutriferon and Defend and Resist to our regiment but we do not have him on that all year long. We try to let his body do what it is supposed to do, help it where we can, and boost up only when needed.
I'm sure I have shared this before, but each year when my wallet reflects savings on cleaning products, our family is in better health, and our bodies do not need lots of prescriptions to get through things we are always wanting people to know how.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Our First Six Weeks
Well we finished our first 6 weeks of this school year and so far so good. At the end of each week I try to tweek scheduling where necessary and make notes of those subjects that are more challenging that week to anticipate extra time for the next week.
This weekend I decided to come up with 3 schedules for homeschooling. This will allow me to keep on track but on days where we need a change of pace I can pick any of the 3 schedules and still get to all of the items I need to school to stay on track for the week. I also was able to do a 1/2 day homeschool plan for the days we have afternoon events or field trips. This will allow us to do the subjects not easily taken on the road at home while finishing subjects like read alouds in the car.
I am excited that our school year is off to a good start.
This weekend I decided to come up with 3 schedules for homeschooling. This will allow me to keep on track but on days where we need a change of pace I can pick any of the 3 schedules and still get to all of the items I need to school to stay on track for the week. I also was able to do a 1/2 day homeschool plan for the days we have afternoon events or field trips. This will allow us to do the subjects not easily taken on the road at home while finishing subjects like read alouds in the car.
I am excited that our school year is off to a good start.
Great Expectations
PW and I enjoyed an overnight out and field trip day this past Tuesday and Wednesday. My desire to not have to drive through Denver during rush hour, and lose more than an hour in traffic, allowed us to use Sheraton Points and head to a hotel closer to Colorado Springs.
Our jump on traffic allowed us to visit a school supply store first. Then we headed to Focus on the Family where PW was thrilled to FINALLY be tall enough to go down the A Bend A Go Go slide which is 3 stories high. He enjoyed the company of other homeshcooling families at Witt's End and loved making inspection reports to the older homeschooling kids regarding the plane that sits amid the play area.
We enjoyed lunch at the Soda Shop at Witt's End and then headed out towards our marionnette theater destination.
The Simpich Theater was delightful. However, the show itself was just a tad too old for a 5 year old. The show was put on by one man, doing 9 voices/characters. PW, despite the older theme of the play, did very well watching it and was fascinated by the marionettes. At the end of the show he asked the puppeteer "So how is it that you can do all those good - girl voices as well as the boys?"
I'm thinking we will visit again but pick a show more age appropriate for PW. I'm excited to have just found a puppet theater in Denver as well.
Unfortunately we could not take any pictures in the theater. So the Simpich website will have to do for this trip.
Our jump on traffic allowed us to visit a school supply store first. Then we headed to Focus on the Family where PW was thrilled to FINALLY be tall enough to go down the A Bend A Go Go slide which is 3 stories high. He enjoyed the company of other homeshcooling families at Witt's End and loved making inspection reports to the older homeschooling kids regarding the plane that sits amid the play area.
We enjoyed lunch at the Soda Shop at Witt's End and then headed out towards our marionnette theater destination.
The Simpich Theater was delightful. However, the show itself was just a tad too old for a 5 year old. The show was put on by one man, doing 9 voices/characters. PW, despite the older theme of the play, did very well watching it and was fascinated by the marionettes. At the end of the show he asked the puppeteer "So how is it that you can do all those good - girl voices as well as the boys?"
I'm thinking we will visit again but pick a show more age appropriate for PW. I'm excited to have just found a puppet theater in Denver as well.
Unfortunately we could not take any pictures in the theater. So the Simpich website will have to do for this trip.
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