Up to Trash.

Here is one of our most recent projects.

It's a compost bin.

We learned how to make it from the Homemade book we bought here:

I must admit, I have never really been one of those "Save the Planet" type people.  It doesn't help that most places we have lived, we actually had to pay to recycle.  Let me see- extra work and I have to pay for it? Not so much... 

But, I do like being a good steward, and I don't like wasting.  Add into that- our wayyyy too expensive, way, way too small garbage can that only gets picked up once a week, and you've got me sold on free recycling.  Seriously, we have to crush every single thing we can possible crush into the garbage can, have Boy climb into the bin and crush it some more, and then still call someone from church to see if we can throw an extra bag into their bin so we don't incur extra charges for our trash can lid not closing tightly... and we pay $94/month for this?  Anyway, Dad, Sis, and Boy built us a compost bin and we are reading all about it.  This is Science Class, 101.

The One Sunny Day...

I know you have all been wondering, how are they handling all that rain?

Why, we are having a festival, of course!

Actually, and very surprisingly I might add, we have been doing just fine.

When I'd mention moving to Whidbey, people would say "you don't want to go there, what are you going to do with all that rain, you will get so depressed" or, "you will need to buy a tanning light to keep your spirits up, you will be stuck inside every day." At first I was a little concerned. In all the other places I've lived (the midwest, the west, the southeast, and the south, just about everywhere I guess) I would have a little trouble if the skies were cloudy for too long.  Eeyore syndrome or something.  Turns out though, it really is a misconception. The concern was misplaced (much like when people say to me "are all these kids yours? I feel sorry for you, you must be poor, deprived, and a wretch..." (smirk))

We are in the "banana belt" or something like that, and it really isn't bad.  True, it rains often, but it isn't pouring. And it isn't cold.  And the sky is gorgeous.  And it is lush. I am not really sure how to describe it properly and paint a lovely picture with words, so I will hush up now but, eventually, when I am able to get a new camera lens (mine broke) I will take some Whidbey Sky pictures and you will see what I mean.

And, by the way, you only use an umbrella here if you are a tourist. So no umbrellas please. 

We will except any donation of galoshes in various sizes, however.  Just kidding.

Just know that we have no complaints about the weather and we enjoy splashing in puddles.

See, here is a Butter on the swing Boy and Dad made on a sunny day!

Joy in the Simple

In my ongoing search for true contentment, I have begun to realize the importance of finding joy in the simple and in recognizing the Creator's handiwork all around me.

My sweet daughter brought me some simple joy the other evening.

I could have said "those are just weeds, throw them in the trash" and thrown a daughter's smile in the trash along with the weeds.  I would have also thrown away my chance for a taste of joy.

By the Grace of God, I took those beautiful weeds and put them in my precious grandmother's creamer and placed it on the windowsill.  Simple, right?

At the giving of thanks for our bread that night, Sweet Butter (4) breathed pure Joy "Father God, thank You for this day, thank You for our food, and thank You for all the beautiful flowers You planted, like the Dandelions, Amen."

And my eyes swelled with simple joy.

Search for Him, He is there. And Smile. When you feel like there are just too many weeds, make a bouquet!

Cowboys Wash Dishes Too

You must wear your gun, even when washing dishes (and without pants).  You never know when a bad guy might show up. 

Chickens. All in a Row

  This is Dandy-Lion.

and Miss Muffet's Tuffet...

and all our chicks sleeping in a row.

Rhubarb!

We are so excited about our kitchen garden (more pictures later) and we have already harvested some Rhubarb.  I grew up with it, and never even knew the leaves are poisonous to eat...  

Some of us really enjoy it's unique and sour flavor straight out of the ground.

Some just want to play with it.

Don't worry, I read that you'd have to eat 11 pounds of leaves to have any toxic effect, but  I didn't let her taste any anyway.

Jams, Jellies, and Pies, here I come!  That is, if there is enough Rhubarb left to make some!

Growler

Bucket has a new nickname. She is Growler now. She has become fond of making this obnoxious adorably sweet growling noise at the most uh, unique times (think library, prayer, bible study, you get it) 

She growls. 

When she is not growling (or tasting chickens) she is learning how to crawl.  This was her first attempt.  She was so proud of herself.

She's our little Growler.

Love her!

Run For Your Tuffet!

Yikes!  Bucket (8 months) is super fast!

Thankfully, Miss Muffet only got her feathers ruffled.

When We Are Bored

We like to do things big around here, and we never like to be bored.  I guess we got bored.

Meet the newest members of our flock.

 This is Butter (4) with "Rosemary"

Sis (6) with "Dandy-Lion"

Boy (10) ((oh my goodness, he is TEN)) with "Soren"

Pops (2.5) with "Miss Muffet"

and Guys (11) with "Cinnamon"

Hopefully we can keep the other farm animals away from our new little chicks!

Don't you want about 10 of them for yourself?

Dad is in the process of building a chicken tractor for when they are old enough to move outside.

and I am still trying to convince Butter it is "just a little chicky poop"

Keepin 'Em Busy

I remember the days when I thought it couldn't be possible to homeschool more than one grade at a time.  I wondered how exactly one was to keep little guys busy so a math lesson could be taught without a toilet flooding.  I knew I didn't want to resort to using the television as a baby sitter, tempting as it may be.    I thought I must need special toys (helpful though, they are) or magic tricks or something.

It didn't take long to figure out that it doesn't take much to keep little ones occupied long enough to teach a math lesson or two.

a full 45 minutes this lil bird played in the flour, pouring it back and forth between a couple of bowls, "helping mom cook."  He loved the texture of the flour between his fingers, toes, and apparently, eyelashes.

You don't have to find a baby sitter to bake bread, teach a math lesson, or sew.

There are so many exciting things to do, and many of them are right in the kitchen.

Today Pops stayed busy long enough for me to cook dinner by "washing the dishes" standing on the stool at the sink with a pot of water and a couple of measuring spoons.  Sure, he splashed water on the floor and counter, but I just dry it with a towel and count it as mopping. I know that he is learning so much by exploring, helping mom, and not watching mindless t.v. (or flooding toilets) plus, it's darn near free, and extremely adorable, in my opinion.

Bucket much prefers measuring cups and spoons to fancy toys.  

What are your favorite activities for keeping little ones busy?