One of the classes I am teaching this semester is a history class where we learn weird and unknown facts, and learn off the wall things that are not found in all the textbooks.
So far, we have learned about ships found buried in odd places, (deserts, corn fields)due to rivers changing course or flooding, odd facts about presidents (do you know which one was so large he once got stuck in his bath tub and aides had to pull him out? or, what George Washington's teeth really were made out of?? (it was NOT wood).
Today, we learned about Alaska mushers and what the Iditarod race represents (it was actually run the first time in 1925 to save lives. Mushers were racing medicine to Nome to try and stop an outbreak of diphtheria). The kids were wanting to know more about Alaska, and wanted to see what the sleds and dogs looked like (some were comparing it to Santa and his sleigh). So, I brought up http://oldschoolak.blogspot.com/. On this blog, is video from the sleds point of view. The kids enjoyed watching it and liked the scenery. That then led into discussions on how transportation has changed, and how it varies according to climates and cultures, and another discussion on how Alaska is different than Missouri. The kids also had some questions for the author, which he has already answered. They will be excited next Monday to read his response.
If you study different states (we do, trying to hit all 50), reading blogs is a good way (especially when you can question the author for more info), and applying online for a visitors guide to arrive snail mail. The guide packages usually contain maps, magazines and info about that states history and geography. Several of the states that we have learned about we have later gone to on vacations, because of our studies.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Another upcoming Science Fair for NW Missouri homeschoolers
MARSEF at Missouri Western on March 9 is for grades 9-12. Homeschoolers are most definitely welcome to participate if they live in our region. Anyone living in Platte county should apply to the Kansas City fair. There is also the Junior High MARSEF on March 12. That is run by the St. Joseph school district. Information can be found here: http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Page/11475
Yes, we can extend the deadline. If you fill out the SRC forms found on our website(http://www.missouriwestern.edu/orgs/marsef/), we can process them ASAP. There might be some cases that we will not be able to accept, if they required Scientific Review Committee (SRC) approval before experimentation began, but did not receive it. However, if someone qualified checked out the project before it started, they can act as SRC. (I know there are a lot of rules, but we have to follow the rules of ISEF to send out students there.)
We would be very excited to see what your students have been doing! If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Dr. Jonathan Rhoad
Agenstein 332E
Department of Chemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Missouri Western State University
816-271-4389
Yes, we can extend the deadline. If you fill out the SRC forms found on our website(http://www.missouriwestern.edu/orgs/marsef/), we can process them ASAP. There might be some cases that we will not be able to accept, if they required Scientific Review Committee (SRC) approval before experimentation began, but did not receive it. However, if someone qualified checked out the project before it started, they can act as SRC. (I know there are a lot of rules, but we have to follow the rules of ISEF to send out students there.)
We would be very excited to see what your students have been doing! If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Dr. Jonathan Rhoad
Agenstein 332E
Department of Chemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Missouri Western State University
816-271-4389
Friday, February 3, 2012
Science Fair Part 2
The fair went well. It was the 13th annual homeschool science fair in St. Joseph. I would estimate there were around 40 homeschooled students there, from PreK thru high school with displays. Many more people came in to look at the displays, so it was pretty crowded.
All the judges are volunteers and are rather knowledgeable in the field of science. Various individuals and businesses donate prizes. All the participants receive a prize, ribbon and certificate.
Looking forward to next years fair!
Now, to turn our focus to the upcoming 4H contest day and optimist speech contests.
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| Rebecca's display board on fossils. She has part of her collection on the table also, but you really can't see it in this picture. |
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| At this fair, entertainment and snacks are provided while you wait your turn to talk to the judges. Judges call the kids up and discuss their project with them. This gives the kids the chance to show they know more (or less) than what is in their display, and also gives them some "interview" experience. |
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| Elizabeth brought a few of her rockets with her. There would not have been room at the table if she had brought them all. |
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| Elizabeth was able to explain to the judges what makes a rocket fly, describe the parts of a rocket and answer all the questions they asked her. |
Looking forward to next years fair!
Now, to turn our focus to the upcoming 4H contest day and optimist speech contests.
Science Fair tonight
Tonight is the area homeschoolers science fair. Even though we have known about it for 12 months, and been working on it for months, we have the last minute scramble going on.
One is taking her fossil collection and a board about fossils. Many of the fossils in her collections are ones that she, I and her sisters dug while in Utah several years ago. We stopped at a place I saw on a TV vacation channel called u dig fossils. http://u-digfossils.com/. We have sent several other homeschooling families their direction as well. Other information she researched, including info from Matt Miles at Creation Truth. http://www.creationtruth.com/. Matt came as missionary to church camp last year, brought lots of fossils and other interesting items.
Another is taking her rockets--both those she has bought in kit form, and the ones she has made from odds and ends around the house. Yes, they really do fly, and all but one came back to earth. (Really we were expecting a phone call from NASA regarding the one that didn't come back. It was her largest and fastest. It went up, up, up, no wind, should have come back down fairly close to where it went up from. It didn't). The rockets she builds are from Estes.
I notice every year when I mention the science fair on my blog, I get tons of hits. I presume people are looking for science fair ideas. Here are a few we have done, or have seen at various science fairs....
growing bacteria in petri dishes, by collecting the bacteria from family and pets and various surfaces; rockets; how airplanes fly; fossil collection; parts of a plant; plants grown in light vs plants grown in dark; objects (small clocks or LED lights that run off of home made batteries, such as lemon, oranges, potato, vinegar, pickle, juice...); growing mold on various foods and various tempatures; comparing the weight of mice that started out the same, but one was fed good food and had an exercise wheel, while the other was fed junk food with no exercise wheel; jaw bones of various animals with the teeth intact and identified, to show how meat eating animals differ from those that don't eat meat; home made engines that run off of rubbing alcohol; leaf rubbings and collections-all classified; models of the earth and planets
You can also visit lots of unline sites for ideas,
http://coolsciencefairprojects.org/
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
http://scifair.org/
http://sciencemadesimple.com/
And, visit your local library. There are numerous books out there on the subject of science fairs.
One is taking her fossil collection and a board about fossils. Many of the fossils in her collections are ones that she, I and her sisters dug while in Utah several years ago. We stopped at a place I saw on a TV vacation channel called u dig fossils. http://u-digfossils.com/. We have sent several other homeschooling families their direction as well. Other information she researched, including info from Matt Miles at Creation Truth. http://www.creationtruth.com/. Matt came as missionary to church camp last year, brought lots of fossils and other interesting items.
Another is taking her rockets--both those she has bought in kit form, and the ones she has made from odds and ends around the house. Yes, they really do fly, and all but one came back to earth. (Really we were expecting a phone call from NASA regarding the one that didn't come back. It was her largest and fastest. It went up, up, up, no wind, should have come back down fairly close to where it went up from. It didn't). The rockets she builds are from Estes.
I notice every year when I mention the science fair on my blog, I get tons of hits. I presume people are looking for science fair ideas. Here are a few we have done, or have seen at various science fairs....
growing bacteria in petri dishes, by collecting the bacteria from family and pets and various surfaces; rockets; how airplanes fly; fossil collection; parts of a plant; plants grown in light vs plants grown in dark; objects (small clocks or LED lights that run off of home made batteries, such as lemon, oranges, potato, vinegar, pickle, juice...); growing mold on various foods and various tempatures; comparing the weight of mice that started out the same, but one was fed good food and had an exercise wheel, while the other was fed junk food with no exercise wheel; jaw bones of various animals with the teeth intact and identified, to show how meat eating animals differ from those that don't eat meat; home made engines that run off of rubbing alcohol; leaf rubbings and collections-all classified; models of the earth and planets
You can also visit lots of unline sites for ideas,
http://coolsciencefairprojects.org/
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
http://scifair.org/
http://sciencemadesimple.com/
And, visit your local library. There are numerous books out there on the subject of science fairs.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
You know you are a homeschooling mom when.....
You brake for skeletons that are in the ditch (that sounds so much nicer than roadkill remains)........
Most likely this was a deer.
We also have an unidentified small animal, and a cow.
Now that we have a collection of sorts going, it will probably become a science fair project in the future. They will be neat to identify, label and mount.
What weird things do you do for your kids?
We also have an unidentified small animal, and a cow.
Now that we have a collection of sorts going, it will probably become a science fair project in the future. They will be neat to identify, label and mount.
What weird things do you do for your kids?
Plastic and food concerns
Having just lost another family member to cancer, we are becoming more and more aware of chemicals, and what we eat and expose ourselves to.
I have read book after book, listened to doctors on late night radio talk shows, (I guess I am turning into my parents, I used to hate it when they listened to talk radio shows...) read reports, studied the Internet and I keep finding common threads, regardless what clinic, doctor or country the information is coming from. One of those common threads is plastics.
We all know we have had an increase in cancer over the past few generations. We also know we live a different lifestyle than our grandparents and great grandparents did. They worked hard (physically), where many of us today have jobs that require more sitting than moving around. We use microwaves, sit in front of a TV, hold cell phones to our ears, and heat and cook our food in containers containing plastic and Teflon.
Based on what I have found, we are now cooking in cast iron, glass and stainless. No more Teflon coated pans or heating up items in plastic in the microwave. No more storing of foods that are acid (catsup) or alcohol based (such as vanilla) in plastic.
Many (most) plastics contain BPA, Bisphenol A, which has been linked to several cancers. When BPA is heated, it leaches out, into our foods. This also includes being heated in the dishwasher.
Avoid polycarbonate and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics, both of which contain BPA. At the bottom of the plastic, there should be a recylcing code. Code 7 is bad. Sadly many baby bottles, bottle liners, sippy cups and plastic baby food containers contain BPA. According to Gerber, their containers are all now BPA free (thank you Gerber!)
Instead, look for polyethylene plastic (also labeled PETE) and containers marked with recycling code 1, 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LDPE). Polypropylene (recycling code 5, or PP) are also safe.
Some producers of plastic are now leaving it out, and when they do, they advertise that their product is BPA free, making it safer.
Think you are safe because your food is canned commercially??? Maybe not. Many tin cans are plastic lined, and the lining contains BPA....
BPA is also found in many slick papers, water bottles, canned goods, and water pipes. Also in water filters, cups, plates.....check your labels.
I pitched a lot of our kitchen items.
We have switched to stainless steel water bottles (Burlington Coat Factory sells a 2 pack of them for $3.98==the best deal around). I also switched to stainless measuring spoons and cups, and glass measuring cups for the microwave.
I even got the dogs new bowls--stainless ones.
Do your own research. But, when you hear of cancer patients who have high levels of BPA in their blood and urine, its rather scary.
I have read book after book, listened to doctors on late night radio talk shows, (I guess I am turning into my parents, I used to hate it when they listened to talk radio shows...) read reports, studied the Internet and I keep finding common threads, regardless what clinic, doctor or country the information is coming from. One of those common threads is plastics.
We all know we have had an increase in cancer over the past few generations. We also know we live a different lifestyle than our grandparents and great grandparents did. They worked hard (physically), where many of us today have jobs that require more sitting than moving around. We use microwaves, sit in front of a TV, hold cell phones to our ears, and heat and cook our food in containers containing plastic and Teflon.
Based on what I have found, we are now cooking in cast iron, glass and stainless. No more Teflon coated pans or heating up items in plastic in the microwave. No more storing of foods that are acid (catsup) or alcohol based (such as vanilla) in plastic.
Many (most) plastics contain BPA, Bisphenol A, which has been linked to several cancers. When BPA is heated, it leaches out, into our foods. This also includes being heated in the dishwasher.
Avoid polycarbonate and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics, both of which contain BPA. At the bottom of the plastic, there should be a recylcing code. Code 7 is bad. Sadly many baby bottles, bottle liners, sippy cups and plastic baby food containers contain BPA. According to Gerber, their containers are all now BPA free (thank you Gerber!)
Instead, look for polyethylene plastic (also labeled PETE) and containers marked with recycling code 1, 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LDPE). Polypropylene (recycling code 5, or PP) are also safe.
Some producers of plastic are now leaving it out, and when they do, they advertise that their product is BPA free, making it safer.
Think you are safe because your food is canned commercially??? Maybe not. Many tin cans are plastic lined, and the lining contains BPA....
BPA is also found in many slick papers, water bottles, canned goods, and water pipes. Also in water filters, cups, plates.....check your labels.
I pitched a lot of our kitchen items.
We have switched to stainless steel water bottles (Burlington Coat Factory sells a 2 pack of them for $3.98==the best deal around). I also switched to stainless measuring spoons and cups, and glass measuring cups for the microwave.
I even got the dogs new bowls--stainless ones.
Do your own research. But, when you hear of cancer patients who have high levels of BPA in their blood and urine, its rather scary.
4H Cookbooks for sale
The 4H kids of Clinton County have put together a cookbook of their favorite recipes. They are selling them for $10 each. If you are out of the area, we will be happy to mail you one for an additional $4 to cover the postage, after you prepay.
Contact me and I can give you an address to send your payment to.
Its not too early to start your Christmas shopping for 2012, and cookbooks also make great wedding and shower gifts, as well as a good item to give kids going off to college this year leaving their momma's cooking behind.
Contact me and I can give you an address to send your payment to.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
If you garden or farm in Missouri, this is great!
I found a new blog to follow, full of neat information including workshop information about gardening and farming in Missouri.
http://missouribeginningfarming.blogspot.com/
Coming up soon, they have some hands on workshops on pruning fruit trees, and I am going to try and catch one of those.
Check it out!
http://missouribeginningfarming.blogspot.com/
Coming up soon, they have some hands on workshops on pruning fruit trees, and I am going to try and catch one of those.
Check it out!
Early spring???
It was in the 60's today--in January in Northern Missouri. Wow. I decided to take advantage and do some more outside gardening chores.
First, I checked on our new calf, "Eva" and she is doing well. She is quite a bit smaller than our black labs. She and Duke (lab) played tag for awhile today. Actually, Duke is a little bit scared of her, or maybe he is just scared of her momma, because she has horns, and her daddy because he is big...
At one point during their play, they actually touched noses. It was cute, but didn't last long, as Duke ran off. Maybe he realized he just kissed a girl. With the white tip on her tail she is easy to spot when playing with the dogs.
I planted some tulips, daffodils, and iris bulbs today. I hope it freezes soon as they have to have a freeze to bloom well.
JD got the bobcat out, and tipped over my compost for me. We have a black Rubbermaid stock tank, that has a large hole in it. We dump all our grass clippings, kitchen waste, fireplace ash, vacuum canister dirt, and produce scraps into it. After he tipped it over, I spread some over the strawberries and a couple other beds. Last week I had put cow manure in the empty beds, but not on the strawberries or blueberries as it would kill them.
You can tell how dark and rich it was. Some of what was added to the compost tank last wasn't ready, so I just threw it back into the tank for next time.
I didn't completely clean out the beds from last year, as what is left is organic and will break down. Of course when I start to plant in a few months, any large pieces will come out and go into the compost tank.
Then we took the bobcat up to the orchard and I had him dig up the stumps of two dead trees. He had cut them down last year, but the stumps were still in the ground.
Both of the trees that died were apple trees and in the same row. I will probably replace them with apple, and this year hope to add a couple more peach and cherry and maybe a couple pear trees as well. He also put a t post next to a leaning cherry tree. Later this week I will tie the tree to the stake with a piece of no good garden hose. It is soft, wide and won't cut into the tree to hurt it.
First, I checked on our new calf, "Eva" and she is doing well. She is quite a bit smaller than our black labs. She and Duke (lab) played tag for awhile today. Actually, Duke is a little bit scared of her, or maybe he is just scared of her momma, because she has horns, and her daddy because he is big...
I planted some tulips, daffodils, and iris bulbs today. I hope it freezes soon as they have to have a freeze to bloom well.
JD got the bobcat out, and tipped over my compost for me. We have a black Rubbermaid stock tank, that has a large hole in it. We dump all our grass clippings, kitchen waste, fireplace ash, vacuum canister dirt, and produce scraps into it. After he tipped it over, I spread some over the strawberries and a couple other beds. Last week I had put cow manure in the empty beds, but not on the strawberries or blueberries as it would kill them.
Then we took the bobcat up to the orchard and I had him dig up the stumps of two dead trees. He had cut them down last year, but the stumps were still in the ground.
Monday, January 30, 2012
a note from Powell Gardens @ Lone Jack MO
Dear Educator,
Spring will soon be here. This week's weather makes it seem like it is closer than it really is!
With spring comes spring cleaning, and I have taken the opportunity to update our Web site listing of information specifically of interest to home-centered educators.
I hope you find this information useful as you plan your season's outings and educational adventures. For a snap shot of what is coming up, follow and book-mark the link below:
http://www.powellgardens.org/default.asp?page=HomeEducators
Or go to our Web site, http://www.powellgardens.org/, follow the LEARN link and RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS.
You will note February has a special focus on birds! Come see all our feathered friends!
Complimentary birding backpacks are available at the Reception Desk to use on a birding visit to Powell on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Check back periodically for updates, special drop-in opportunities and additional classes.
If you are not already on our mailing list or would consider "Liking" us, you will find those links on our Web site, too.
Kind regards,
Eric Jackson
Director of Education
Powell Gardens,
Kansas City's Botanical Gardens
816.697.2600 ext.308
http://www.powellgardens.org/
Education at Powell Gardens awakens the senses, connects the learner to nature and promotes curiosity and good health.
Spring will soon be here. This week's weather makes it seem like it is closer than it really is!
With spring comes spring cleaning, and I have taken the opportunity to update our Web site listing of information specifically of interest to home-centered educators.
I hope you find this information useful as you plan your season's outings and educational adventures. For a snap shot of what is coming up, follow and book-mark the link below:
http://www.powellgardens.org/default.asp?page=HomeEducators
Or go to our Web site, http://www.powellgardens.org/, follow the LEARN link and RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS.
You will note February has a special focus on birds! Come see all our feathered friends!
Complimentary birding backpacks are available at the Reception Desk to use on a birding visit to Powell on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Check back periodically for updates, special drop-in opportunities and additional classes.
If you are not already on our mailing list or would consider "Liking" us, you will find those links on our Web site, too.
Kind regards,
Eric Jackson
Director of Education
Powell Gardens,
Kansas City's Botanical Gardens
816.697.2600 ext.308
http://www.powellgardens.org/
Education at Powell Gardens awakens the senses, connects the learner to nature and promotes curiosity and good health.
Unusual random facts about presidents
One of the coop classes that I am teaching this semester, for the younger kids, is Odd Facts in US History. Last week we learned about some ship wrecks. The ships we learned about were found in odd places, due to rivers changing course over time. One was found in a California desert, and of course we also learned about Kansas City's Steamboat Arabia, found buried in a corn field where the Missouri River had been over 100 years ago.
Today we are going to learn some weird, usual, or unknown facts about some of our US Presidents and the white house. Here are a few that we will cover.
U.S. Grant, while President was issued a speeding ticket for $20 for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street. He was also the first President to run against a woman candidate, Virginia Woodhull the nominee of the “Equal Rights Party” in 1872.
James Garfield could perform a very unique parlor feat that entertained many. He could write in Latin with one hand, while writing in Greek with the other hand at the same time.
Thomas Jefferson was an avid inventor who is credited with inventing the coat hanger… hideaway bed….and dumbwaiter.
Herbert Hoover’s son had 2 pet alligators. He was also the first President to have a telephone in the White House.
Jimmy Carter was the first President born in a hospital.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the USA, is said to be related to 11 other Presidents.
James Madison barely weighed 100 pounds.
Warren Harding played poker at least twice a week and once put an entire set of White House china up to stake his hand and he lost the hand and they china.
President William Howard Taft got stuck in his bathtub on his Inauguration Day and had to be pried out by his attendants. He was over 300 pounds
Three presidents have died on July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Adams and Jefferson were two signers of the Declaration of Independence and both died within hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.
Only one president has ever gotten married in the White House. It was Grover Cleveland and in 1886 he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom (28 years his junior), who he was the legal guardian of after her father, a close friend, had died.
Today we are going to learn some weird, usual, or unknown facts about some of our US Presidents and the white house. Here are a few that we will cover.
U.S. Grant, while President was issued a speeding ticket for $20 for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street. He was also the first President to run against a woman candidate, Virginia Woodhull the nominee of the “Equal Rights Party” in 1872.
James Garfield could perform a very unique parlor feat that entertained many. He could write in Latin with one hand, while writing in Greek with the other hand at the same time.
Thomas Jefferson was an avid inventor who is credited with inventing the coat hanger… hideaway bed….and dumbwaiter.
Herbert Hoover’s son had 2 pet alligators. He was also the first President to have a telephone in the White House.
Jimmy Carter was the first President born in a hospital.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the USA, is said to be related to 11 other Presidents.
James Madison barely weighed 100 pounds.
Warren Harding played poker at least twice a week and once put an entire set of White House china up to stake his hand and he lost the hand and they china.
President William Howard Taft got stuck in his bathtub on his Inauguration Day and had to be pried out by his attendants. He was over 300 pounds
Three presidents have died on July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Adams and Jefferson were two signers of the Declaration of Independence and both died within hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.
Only one president has ever gotten married in the White House. It was Grover Cleveland and in 1886 he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom (28 years his junior), who he was the legal guardian of after her father, a close friend, had died.
A word from Ron
Some of our area homeschoolers have attended classes that Ron does for cartooning. Below is an email shared with me by a parent who is familiar with his work.
Have you ever heard of the radio show "Unshackled"? It's produced by Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and is an old time radio drama that presents Christian testimonies daily since 1950 on 2600 radio stations worldwide.
Well, they are broadcasting MY TESTIMONY in a two part broadcast Monday, January 30th and Monday, February 6th at 9:00pm locally on KLJC (88.5FM). (It's a half hour after "Adventures in Odyssey" which you may be familiar.) I don't know how they got my name, but they pursued me.
Since you know me and may have heard my story before, I thought you might be interested in hearing these broadcasts which are much more dramatic and go into greater detail than what you or your kids may have heard from me. Just so you know, in answering PGM's detailed questions leading up to this, they thought the story was compelling enough to put it into two parts. So be sure to listen to both parts over these next tow weeks. Also, if you're interested, KLJC will be interviewing me Monday morning at about 7:30am about the program.
Finally, I've attached my latest Cartoon Camp flyer for this summer. My website is now updated with the current camp information also.
Blessings,
Ron Wheeler
ron@cartoonworks.com
816-941-9221
9818 Summit St., Kansas City MO 64114
http://cartoonworks.com/>
Go here for Ron's portfolio, tracts, comic strips, clip art and lots of other cool stuff.
Have you ever heard of the radio show "Unshackled"? It's produced by Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and is an old time radio drama that presents Christian testimonies daily since 1950 on 2600 radio stations worldwide.
Well, they are broadcasting MY TESTIMONY in a two part broadcast Monday, January 30th and Monday, February 6th at 9:00pm locally on KLJC (88.5FM). (It's a half hour after "Adventures in Odyssey" which you may be familiar.) I don't know how they got my name, but they pursued me.
Since you know me and may have heard my story before, I thought you might be interested in hearing these broadcasts which are much more dramatic and go into greater detail than what you or your kids may have heard from me. Just so you know, in answering PGM's detailed questions leading up to this, they thought the story was compelling enough to put it into two parts. So be sure to listen to both parts over these next tow weeks. Also, if you're interested, KLJC will be interviewing me Monday morning at about 7:30am about the program.
Finally, I've attached my latest Cartoon Camp flyer for this summer. My website is now updated with the current camp information also.
Blessings,
Ron Wheeler
ron@cartoonworks.com
816-941-9221
9818 Summit St., Kansas City MO 64114
http://cartoonworks.com/>
Go here for Ron's portfolio, tracts, comic strips, clip art and lots of other cool stuff.
For those of you in the Columbia MO area
SAVE THE DATE: We heard your suggestions and Woodcrest Chapel has made their facility available again this year. The Fifth Annual Post-Secondary Education Fair for Home-schooled Students will be on October 12, 2012, at Woodcrest Chapel, Columbia, Mo., from 1:00-3:00.
Please pass the word along to all of those Home-school groups you are involved with. We are excited about the upcoming fair and we are hoping to offer a few free conferences along with the fair that will help and encourage you.
Ron and Brenda Crowe
Please feel free to contact us at rcrowe@ktis.net or 573-642-0659
Please pass the word along to all of those Home-school groups you are involved with. We are excited about the upcoming fair and we are hoping to offer a few free conferences along with the fair that will help and encourage you.
Ron and Brenda Crowe
Please feel free to contact us at rcrowe@ktis.net or 573-642-0659
Friday, January 27, 2012
FREE PE classes for homeschoolers in NW Missouri area
Missouri Western StateUniversity and Dr.Britt Johnson will once again offer home school students participation for thePE Classes with MWSU students for the Spring 2012 semester.
Supervised by Dr. Johnson and taught by MWSU students, homeschool students serve as the ‘class’ for the day. Differentskills are taught for age appropriate skill levels. MWSU students engageand interact with the home school students in fun and innovative ways to learnnew skills.
INFO:
*Classes are free to any home education student regardlessof home address, home school group participation, or membership.
*Classes times average 75 to 90 minutes and are planned forage specific groups.
*Please respect Dr. Johnson and the MWSU studentpreparation by adhering to the age specific plans, arriving promptly, and inclothes and shoes appropriate for participation. (Tennis shoes or sneakers arebest.)
*The dates, times, and age groups are available on Dr.Johnson’s website (http://academic.missouriwestern.edu/bjohnson35/).
These classes are under the sole direction of MWSU and Dr. Britt Johnson.
Please email the number of students and what classes youwish to participate by March 1 to vaga@stjoelive.com
If you have any questions specifically regarding theclasses, please contact Dr. Britt Johnson at bjohnson35@missouriwestern.edu.
Supervised by Dr. Johnson and taught by MWSU students, homeschool students serve as the ‘class’ for the day. Differentskills are taught for age appropriate skill levels. MWSU students engageand interact with the home school students in fun and innovative ways to learnnew skills.
INFO:
*Classes are free to any home education student regardlessof home address, home school group participation, or membership.
*Classes times average 75 to 90 minutes and are planned forage specific groups.
*Please respect Dr. Johnson and the MWSU studentpreparation by adhering to the age specific plans, arriving promptly, and inclothes and shoes appropriate for participation. (Tennis shoes or sneakers arebest.)
*The dates, times, and age groups are available on Dr.Johnson’s website (http://academic.missouriwestern.edu/bjohnson35/).
These classes are under the sole direction of MWSU and Dr. Britt Johnson.
Please email the number of students and what classes youwish to participate by March 1 to vaga@stjoelive.com
If you have any questions specifically regarding theclasses, please contact Dr. Britt Johnson at bjohnson35@missouriwestern.edu.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Baby!!
This morning Elizabeth and I got up early and went to the dentist. Elizabeth has TMD (similar to TMJ, but the disc of the jaw joint is out of place). Today they took x-rays and impressions of her teeth and jaw. She will get to wear an appliance, similar to a retainer to correct it. She isn't too thrilled about any of it.
But, as we pulled into the driveway coming home, she perked up. On the other side of the fence, where the last little bit of hay from a bale was left, lay a just born, tiny calf. Very tiny. Our black labs make it look even smaller.
Since it is so tiny, and it is her first calf, we will have to keep an extra eye on things for the first few weeks. I've checked them twice since we have been back, and momma and daddy seem to be taking care of it. Normally, when there is a new calf, the other cows come up, this time, just the daddy, Star, (a black Angus with a white star on his side) came up and was licking on the baby--being the proud poppa. Later on we saw the other cows and chickens, dogs, cat and guinea come calling as well.
I've not seen the baby nurse yet, so we will keep watch and may end up having to bottle feed it for a couple days. This calf wasn't due yet, but yesterday I thought we were getting close, by the way Daisy May was acting and looking--I had JD come and look at it. But, we thought it would be a couple more days. So, this one came as a surprise.
Within the next 4 to 6 weeks we will be having another calf as well.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Family Night
With everything going on around here, tonight we decided to skip our usual Wednesday night Bible study and have a much needed night home with the family. JD goes back to work tomorrow, so it was tonight or never.
JD made his famous chex-mix, we lit a fire in the fireplace, played board games, and I made a couple of my moms famous pineapple upside down cakes. It has been a long time since I baked them--usually Rebecca does a large amount of the baking around here, including the cakes.
The secret to making these is they taste so much better when baked in cast iron (most things do). The downside to making this in cast iron, is, it is too heavy for us to flip onto the stoneware plates we put it on, so we can only bake it when JD is off work. The recipe for this is here on my blog under the recipe section. I think my mom originally got it from her Becky Crocker cookbook (a late 1940's or early 50's edition). But, the recipe that is in my newer Becky Crocker cookbook is different and not quite as good.
You can also change out this recipe and make it with mandarin oranges instead of pineapple, and substitute orange juice for the pineapple juice. That is really good for a breakfast or brunch. It is a thin cake, so not too filling.
JD made his famous chex-mix, we lit a fire in the fireplace, played board games, and I made a couple of my moms famous pineapple upside down cakes. It has been a long time since I baked them--usually Rebecca does a large amount of the baking around here, including the cakes.
The secret to making these is they taste so much better when baked in cast iron (most things do). The downside to making this in cast iron, is, it is too heavy for us to flip onto the stoneware plates we put it on, so we can only bake it when JD is off work. The recipe for this is here on my blog under the recipe section. I think my mom originally got it from her Becky Crocker cookbook (a late 1940's or early 50's edition). But, the recipe that is in my newer Becky Crocker cookbook is different and not quite as good.
You can also change out this recipe and make it with mandarin oranges instead of pineapple, and substitute orange juice for the pineapple juice. That is really good for a breakfast or brunch. It is a thin cake, so not too filling.
More winter gardening done
Today the 2 youngest girls and I fertilized the potato bed, and 4 more raised beds. We have one more existing raised bed to fertilize then all the existing beds will be finished. After the fresh fertilizer has time to sit in the beds for awhile, I will add some more topsoil to the beds then work them together.
We will also be adding some straw into the potato bed, as last years straw has broken down, and it makes for easier potato digging. The potatoes will be the first thing we put into the ground, typically on March 17, St Patty's day, according to tradition.
Then, next month we will be pruning the grapevines and adding crumbled sulfur cakes to the blueberries. My blueberries havebeen struggling, and this last summer I put more in at a different location where they will be closer to the house and I will hopefully remember to water them. I have a good friend who lives in southern Missouri who has prize winning blueberries year after year. Last weekend I picked her brain, and she suggested the sulfur cakes to me. Not sulfur powder, but cakes that you crumble. So, will be trying that this year.
While working in one of the beds today, we noticed a couple of last years cabbages are trying to come back. (We have had a very mild winter). I think the fresh cow manure we added to that bed today will probably fry and kill them, but I will keep and eye on them just in case they do survive. Both appear to have been frozen along the edges, but considering this is January....
We will also be adding some straw into the potato bed, as last years straw has broken down, and it makes for easier potato digging. The potatoes will be the first thing we put into the ground, typically on March 17, St Patty's day, according to tradition.
Then, next month we will be pruning the grapevines and adding crumbled sulfur cakes to the blueberries. My blueberries havebeen struggling, and this last summer I put more in at a different location where they will be closer to the house and I will hopefully remember to water them. I have a good friend who lives in southern Missouri who has prize winning blueberries year after year. Last weekend I picked her brain, and she suggested the sulfur cakes to me. Not sulfur powder, but cakes that you crumble. So, will be trying that this year.
While working in one of the beds today, we noticed a couple of last years cabbages are trying to come back. (We have had a very mild winter). I think the fresh cow manure we added to that bed today will probably fry and kill them, but I will keep and eye on them just in case they do survive. Both appear to have been frozen along the edges, but considering this is January....
Monday, January 23, 2012
Community Choir & Band, for those of you in Clinton Co MO
Join us for the 69th season of the Combined Community Chorus and Band. Below is a schedule of practices and performances. Bring a friend and we'll see you Monday night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
We will be singing "The Song Everlasting" this year. We have also started a Facebook page for updates if you are on Facebook.
Young people are also invited--need to probably be junior high or older as they have to be able to read music and understand the symbols and such.
2012 Practice/Performance Schedule
Monday, January 30 Plattsburg (First Baptist)
Monday, February 6 Smithville (First Christian)
Monday, February 13 Plattsburg
Monday, February 20 Lathrop (United Methodist)
Monday, February 27 Smithville
Monday, March 5 Plattsburg
Monday, March 12 Lathrop
Monday, March 19 Smithville
Monday, March 26 Plattsburg
Performances -
FRIDAY, MARCH 30 AT 7:30 P.M. @ Lathrop
SUNDAY, APRIL 1 AT 7:30 P.M. @ Plattsburg
TUESAY, APRIL 3 AT 7:30 P.M. @Smithville
We will be singing "The Song Everlasting" this year. We have also started a Facebook page for updates if you are on Facebook.
Young people are also invited--need to probably be junior high or older as they have to be able to read music and understand the symbols and such.
2012 Practice/Performance Schedule
Monday, January 30 Plattsburg (First Baptist)
Monday, February 6 Smithville (First Christian)
Monday, February 13 Plattsburg
Monday, February 20 Lathrop (United Methodist)
Monday, February 27 Smithville
Monday, March 5 Plattsburg
Monday, March 12 Lathrop
Monday, March 19 Smithville
Monday, March 26 Plattsburg
Performances -
FRIDAY, MARCH 30 AT 7:30 P.M. @ Lathrop
SUNDAY, APRIL 1 AT 7:30 P.M. @ Plattsburg
TUESAY, APRIL 3 AT 7:30 P.M. @Smithville
Need music credits? Here are some ideas how to get them.
Many homeschooling parents are musically talented and teach their own child (and often others as well) voice or instruments. And, many homeschooling parents are not talented in that area and seek (often struggle) to fill the music.
Most simply have their child take lessons in voice, piano, guitar or some other instruments. Lessons can be obtained through homeschool coops, private sources, churches, community choirs, community bands, and many colleges. Some also join children's theatre groups that put on musicals.
If such resources are not available, you can still learn, by using your library. Ours has recordings in classical music, which you can check out, listen to and supplement with books to learn about the composers. There are also several places on line that offer free online lessons via u-tube.
Bartering is also an option. Trade out a service you can offer for lessons, or tutor or teach someone else's child in exchange for them teaching yours music.
We have at one time or another, been involved in almost off of the above. Instruments played in our home include (or have included--some they have quit on to learn a new one) piano, drums, flute, violin, guitar and harmonica.
Most simply have their child take lessons in voice, piano, guitar or some other instruments. Lessons can be obtained through homeschool coops, private sources, churches, community choirs, community bands, and many colleges. Some also join children's theatre groups that put on musicals.
If such resources are not available, you can still learn, by using your library. Ours has recordings in classical music, which you can check out, listen to and supplement with books to learn about the composers. There are also several places on line that offer free online lessons via u-tube.
Bartering is also an option. Trade out a service you can offer for lessons, or tutor or teach someone else's child in exchange for them teaching yours music.
We have at one time or another, been involved in almost off of the above. Instruments played in our home include (or have included--some they have quit on to learn a new one) piano, drums, flute, violin, guitar and harmonica.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Home again
Our family just returned back to the farm from going back home for Debbie's Celebration of Life. The church was packed. There were several hundred people there, with more standing in the back.
The service was beautiful--it was not a funeral, but a celebration--very uplifting and upbeat-just as she wanted it. She touched a lot of lives and will forever be in our hearts and minds.
The service was beautiful--it was not a funeral, but a celebration--very uplifting and upbeat-just as she wanted it. She touched a lot of lives and will forever be in our hearts and minds.
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