Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Prayers for Oklahoma
This morning, I took my public schooler, Emily, into school at 5:30 a.m. to catch a bus for Nashville, TN. She is in her schools 367 club, which is for kids who have a GPA of 3.67 or higher. The school chartered a bus, and they are on a trip this week to celebrate the fact that their hard work studying paid off.
Hours later, we heard of the tornado in Moore, OK. We were very worried here, as we have family in Moore OK. After several tries, I finally received a very welcome text that they were safe. The damage was about 15 blocks from their home.
When Emily heard about the tornadoes (she was almost to TN by this time) and called me, I was glad to be able to tell her that I had already heard from her brother, and that he, his wife and 2 daughters were safe.
Meanwhile, in the county I grew up in, and where my parents and brother live, thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches and warnings, along with flood warnings, was going on.
Spring storms, although awsome to watch, are dangerous and often deadly. I will be glad when they pass.
Hours later, we heard of the tornado in Moore, OK. We were very worried here, as we have family in Moore OK. After several tries, I finally received a very welcome text that they were safe. The damage was about 15 blocks from their home.
When Emily heard about the tornadoes (she was almost to TN by this time) and called me, I was glad to be able to tell her that I had already heard from her brother, and that he, his wife and 2 daughters were safe.
Meanwhile, in the county I grew up in, and where my parents and brother live, thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches and warnings, along with flood warnings, was going on.
Spring storms, although awsome to watch, are dangerous and often deadly. I will be glad when they pass.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
A Lesson in Electricity
When you home school, you can always stop a lesson and jump to something else, then return to your lesson. Such was the case yesterday.
Our master bath light switch was popping, and the light would go out and we would have to wiggle the switch for it to come back on (yes, we have been putting up with this and are firefighters and safety trainers...bad, I know).
Yesterday I changed it out. I had the girls help me.
First we turned of the electric to the entire house. Many think that is over kill, but just in the event something from another circuit is crossed with what I am working on, I power it ALL off. Then, I had one of the girls hold the flash light for me, as we were in darkness, even though it was a bright sunny day.
This is what we found.
We were very close to having had a house fire.
I went through the house and changed another couple things out as well. I think we are now good to go, safety wise.
Changing out an existing outlet or switch is very simple to do, you just need screwdrivers ALWAYS turn your power off first. I know, some people brag they can do it with the power on, but, they are stupid (no other way to word it--sorry). Power goes off-rule #1 always.
So, after our wiring lesson, we resumed to our regular SOS computer lessons.
Our master bath light switch was popping, and the light would go out and we would have to wiggle the switch for it to come back on (yes, we have been putting up with this and are firefighters and safety trainers...bad, I know).
Yesterday I changed it out. I had the girls help me.
First we turned of the electric to the entire house. Many think that is over kill, but just in the event something from another circuit is crossed with what I am working on, I power it ALL off. Then, I had one of the girls hold the flash light for me, as we were in darkness, even though it was a bright sunny day.
This is what we found.
 |
| See the blackened charred areas?? That should not be there. The plastic was melted as well. |
I went through the house and changed another couple things out as well. I think we are now good to go, safety wise.
Changing out an existing outlet or switch is very simple to do, you just need screwdrivers ALWAYS turn your power off first. I know, some people brag they can do it with the power on, but, they are stupid (no other way to word it--sorry). Power goes off-rule #1 always.
So, after our wiring lesson, we resumed to our regular SOS computer lessons.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Garden Club for Familes--Homeschoolers Welcome
Attention Homeschoolers,
Beginning on Tuesday, May 14^th Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
will be having our first garden club meeting of the year. Garden club will
be meeting each Tuesday until late August. This will be a great summer
activity for families who would like to learn about the basics of
gardening or even for experienced gardeners who want to learn about newer,
experimental gardening methods. Activities will include lessons in growing
plants from seed as well as planting, mulching, watering, fertilizing,
weeding, and of course harvesting led by a naturalist in our designated
children’s garden area. In addition to standard gardening activities
we’ll also have hands-on lessons in propagating plants from cuttings,
local native plant identification, and prairie and forest ecology.
So far our plans for the garden include growing tomatoes, peppers, corn,
green beans, squash, cucumbers, okra, carrots, pumpkins and several native
plants including ground cherries. We will be experimenting with companion
planting along with growing lettuce on compost in woven sacks; "Bag
Gardening". Ideas for other methods are welcome. Program content from week
to week will be largely participant-driven.
Garden club will be meeting from 2:30-4:00 from May 14^th thru the end of
June and will change to 9:00-10:30 in July in order to avoid the afternoon
heat. The charge will be $5 per family each week. Attendance at the first
program is NOT mandatory to participate in meetings the rest of the summer.
Each meeting will be an independent program as we would like to encourage
families to invite friends to gain members throughout the summer.
Also, check out our EGADS summer day camps. These week-long camps center
around a variety of nature-related themes. Check out our brochure at:
[LINK: http://www.naturesanctuary.
http://www.naturesanctuary.
If you plan to attend a meeting or have any questions call us at
816-781-8598 or send an email to info@naturesanctuary.com. We’re looking
forward to getting garden club up and running. We hope you can join us this
summer!
Sincerely,
MLTNS staff
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is located 1.5 miles east of the
city of Liberty, MO. Our address is 407 North La Frenz Road Liberty, MO
64068. Our phone number is (816) 781-8598. Visit our website at [LINK:
http://www.naturesanctuary.
and directions of how to get here.
We are a private non-profit, educational organization supported entirely by
donations, gift shop sales, and program and membership fees. If you enjoy
and benefit from the nature sanctuary, please consider becoming a Nature
Sanctuary member and supporting nature education. Members receive benefits
such as _The Sanctuary_ our quarterly newsletter, discounts on all public
programs, 10% off of gift shop items, member-only gift shop sales, and
special member-only events.
Beginning on Tuesday, May 14^th Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
will be having our first garden club meeting of the year. Garden club will
be meeting each Tuesday until late August. This will be a great summer
activity for families who would like to learn about the basics of
gardening or even for experienced gardeners who want to learn about newer,
experimental gardening methods. Activities will include lessons in growing
plants from seed as well as planting, mulching, watering, fertilizing,
weeding, and of course harvesting led by a naturalist in our designated
children’s garden area. In addition to standard gardening activities
we’ll also have hands-on lessons in propagating plants from cuttings,
local native plant identification, and prairie and forest ecology.
So far our plans for the garden include growing tomatoes, peppers, corn,
green beans, squash, cucumbers, okra, carrots, pumpkins and several native
plants including ground cherries. We will be experimenting with companion
planting along with growing lettuce on compost in woven sacks; "Bag
Gardening". Ideas for other methods are welcome. Program content from week
to week will be largely participant-driven.
Garden club will be meeting from 2:30-4:00 from May 14^th thru the end of
June and will change to 9:00-10:30 in July in order to avoid the afternoon
heat. The charge will be $5 per family each week. Attendance at the first
program is NOT mandatory to participate in meetings the rest of the summer.
Each meeting will be an independent program as we would like to encourage
families to invite friends to gain members throughout the summer.
Also, check out our EGADS summer day camps. These week-long camps center
around a variety of nature-related themes. Check out our brochure at:
[LINK: http://www.naturesanctuary.
http://www.naturesanctuary.
If you plan to attend a meeting or have any questions call us at
816-781-8598 or send an email to info@naturesanctuary.com. We’re looking
forward to getting garden club up and running. We hope you can join us this
summer!
Sincerely,
MLTNS staff
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is located 1.5 miles east of the
city of Liberty, MO. Our address is 407 North La Frenz Road Liberty, MO
64068. Our phone number is (816) 781-8598. Visit our website at [LINK:
http://www.naturesanctuary.
and directions of how to get here.
We are a private non-profit, educational organization supported entirely by
donations, gift shop sales, and program and membership fees. If you enjoy
and benefit from the nature sanctuary, please consider becoming a Nature
Sanctuary member and supporting nature education. Members receive benefits
such as _The Sanctuary_ our quarterly newsletter, discounts on all public
programs, 10% off of gift shop items, member-only gift shop sales, and
special member-only events.
__._,_.___
Missouri Wester State University Children's Lifetime Sports Academy
Cary D. Chevalier, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology,
Professor of Biology,
Certified Wildlife Biologist
Department of Biology
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Dr.
St. Joseph, MO 64507
Ph: 816.271.4252
Email: cchev@missouriwestern.edu
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Dr.
St. Joseph, MO 64507
Ph: 816.271.4252
Email: cchev@missouriwestern.edu
The camp offers activities such as canoeing, archery, rappelling, swimming, fishing, gun safety, disc golf, rock climbing and several other activities. Faculty and students in the HPER department will coordinate the activities.
All equipment is furnished by Western. However, participants must furnish their own tennis shoes, swimming suits and towels.
To register, access a registration form and authorization form at www.missouriwestern.edu/hper
The discounted cost for MWSU employees is $65 for the first child in the family and $55 for each additional child. Enrollment is limited to the first 150 to register.
Britton T. Johnson Ph.D.
Department of Health Physical Education and Recreation
Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph, MO 64507
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The past few months have been crazy. I had a ton of training classes to go through, and finally finished those all up. I hold several different licenses, and for some stupid reason....I had them all coming due within 4 weeks of each other. Ugh, so I had a ton of them. I finished those up, then took, survived and actually enjoyed a fire training class that lasted a month.
Meanwhile, my shoulder has been hurting off and on since October. Actually, it was hurting more on, then off. So finally, I went to the doctor. Since I have no memory of injuring it, we thought we would start checking the medical end. So, I had blood work and a mammogram. (That all came back ok). But, while waiting for the results, I bumped my elbow and shoulder one evening, a Friday evening and it was rather painful. Knowing I would be very uncomfortable I went into Urgent Care. The doctor felt it, and then took an x-ray. That proved to be interesting--it was dislocated. I have no idea how, or when that happened. However, I do (as embarrassing as it is to admit) have a habit of falling out of bed every few months (since I was a kid, I periodically fall-but usually when I have one of those weird dreams that I can fly). So, all I can figure out is that I was flying and did a crash landing.
So, I have been having physical therapy on it a couple times a week now, to get the shoulder and arm muscles strengthen back up and stretched back out. Evidently, since it was dislocated I was carrying my arm different and the muscles weakened as a result.
Normally, the girls and I would have the garden in by now, but with my shoulder the way its been, I haven't gotten to much done. But, that ended up being ok, since on May 2 we got freezing temps and snow.
Along with the snow, came a new litter of kittens, with another litter due soon. Momma Cat had them under my bathroom window on the deck. Leaves had blown up on the deck and made a pile in the corner-Momma Cat made a bed there for her 4 little ones.
We also have a new calf that Daisy Mae surprised us with.
When I went out to check out the calf. Daisy Mae called it and they took off. Then, my husband went out and they came right up to them. Not sure what that was about, since I am the one that normally feeds them and usually she comes up begging for sweet feed. (She likes to eat it out of the bucket, but it is rather comical as her horns get in the way)
Meanwhile, my shoulder has been hurting off and on since October. Actually, it was hurting more on, then off. So finally, I went to the doctor. Since I have no memory of injuring it, we thought we would start checking the medical end. So, I had blood work and a mammogram. (That all came back ok). But, while waiting for the results, I bumped my elbow and shoulder one evening, a Friday evening and it was rather painful. Knowing I would be very uncomfortable I went into Urgent Care. The doctor felt it, and then took an x-ray. That proved to be interesting--it was dislocated. I have no idea how, or when that happened. However, I do (as embarrassing as it is to admit) have a habit of falling out of bed every few months (since I was a kid, I periodically fall-but usually when I have one of those weird dreams that I can fly). So, all I can figure out is that I was flying and did a crash landing.
So, I have been having physical therapy on it a couple times a week now, to get the shoulder and arm muscles strengthen back up and stretched back out. Evidently, since it was dislocated I was carrying my arm different and the muscles weakened as a result.
Normally, the girls and I would have the garden in by now, but with my shoulder the way its been, I haven't gotten to much done. But, that ended up being ok, since on May 2 we got freezing temps and snow.
Along with the snow, came a new litter of kittens, with another litter due soon. Momma Cat had them under my bathroom window on the deck. Leaves had blown up on the deck and made a pile in the corner-Momma Cat made a bed there for her 4 little ones.
We also have a new calf that Daisy Mae surprised us with.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
A sad email I received.......
"To all:
I'm very disappointed in having to inform you that the
Mid Continent Public Library headquartersn has decided to eliminate the " Homeschoolers at the Library " programs beginning in July 2013.
They have decided to have all programs open to the general public so all programs need to be after school or on weekends. Only Story Time for preschool will be during the school hours. They feel they are only reaching a small minority with the program and would like to reach more people.
If you would like to voice your feelings on this decision you may call headquarters in Independence , MO: 816-836-5200 and ask to speak to Steven Potter or Dick Wilding.
My personal feelings are that the library does in- school visits and it is not feasable for the library to do "in home" visits for homeschoolers so the homeschoolers at the library program was a very productive program. I would prefer the program to be cut back if they have to( meeting every other month) but NOT completely eliminated.
Please voice your opinon with a phone call ( 816-836-5200) if you would like to see this program continued in some way.
Jennifer"
I will be calling the library tomorrow on this one.....
"To all:
I'm very disappointed in having to inform you that the
Mid Continent Public Library headquartersn has decided to eliminate the " Homeschoolers at the Library " programs beginning in July 2013.
They have decided to have all programs open to the general public so all programs need to be after school or on weekends. Only Story Time for preschool will be during the school hours. They feel they are only reaching a small minority with the program and would like to reach more people.
If you would like to voice your feelings on this decision you may call headquarters in Independence , MO: 816-836-5200 and ask to speak to Steven Potter or Dick Wilding.
My personal feelings are that the library does in- school visits and it is not feasable for the library to do "in home" visits for homeschoolers so the homeschoolers at the library program was a very productive program. I would prefer the program to be cut back if they have to( meeting every other month) but NOT completely eliminated.
Please voice your opinon with a phone call ( 816-836-5200) if you would like to see this program continued in some way.
Jennifer"
I will be calling the library tomorrow on this one.....
Used book sale, Independence MO
REGION 3 USED BOOK SALE / EDUCATION SEMINAR / ENRICHMENT FAIR
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Noland Road Baptist Church, 4505 S Noland Road, Independence, MO 64055
EDUCATION SEMINAR 9:00am-Noon
Used Book Sale & Enrichment Fair 1:00-3:30pm
SET UP FOR THE BOOK SALE BEGINS AT 11:00am
SET UP FOR THE BOOK SALE BEGINS AT 11:00am
The official Families for Home Education Region 3 Used Book Sale / Education Seminar and Academic Enrichment Fair.
USED BOOK SALE and ENRICHENT FAIR Admittance is free to the Used Book Sale and Enrichment Fair. The cost to sell used curriculum or have a Enrichment Fair space for your group will be $10.00 per space. Used book sale participants will have a table provided. We have a limited number of 8’ table. Those that sign up first will get an 8’ table. The rest will get a 60’ round table. Enrichment Fair participants will have an 8’ spot but they will need to bring their own table. I will notify you by email and by returning your check if we are full.
Set up for the curriculum fair will begin at 11:00. We ask you not to sell anything until 12:30, when those who have set up or will clean up will get to shop early. Those volunteers will be wearing colored wristbands. Please do not sell to anyone without a wristband on.
We must receive payment for your table space to reserve it. An email address is required to send you the confirmation and instructions.
Do you want an opportunity to shop before the general public is admitted? Volunteer to help set up Friday night at 7:00 and/or clean up Saturday from 3:30-5:00! If you are interested, please contact Jacinda at gregandjacinda@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Moms and Daughters
You are invited to the Discover Nature Women’s Spring Fling!
Ladies! Join us for a girl’s weekend out at the beautiful Lake Doniphan Conference and Retreat Center in Excelsior Springs, MO. April 26-28 and learn a few new Outdoor Skills to boot! This event is geared toward women. Young ladies ages 14 and up may register with an adult mentor. Skills include canoeing/kayaking, archery, animal sign, outdoor cooking, fishing, camping/backpacking, orienteering with map and compass and GPS units, wild edible plants and so much more!
The program is free. Lodging and meals are provided for a low per person cost.
To get more information on this Spring Fling for Women check out the link below.
Missouri Department of Conservation
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center
1401 NW Park Road
Blue Springs, MO 64015
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