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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Civil War at Watkins Mill--Smithville MO area


We cordially invite you to attend a special upcoming program at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site:



A Musical Journey Through the Civil War

May 19, 2012

7:00 p.m.



America was torn apart and came together again during the mid-1800s. Please join us as Jamin Bray explores how our Nation endured the tragedies and triumphs of the Civil War through songs, and how American music itself changed during this time of transformation.



Program will be held on the grounds of the Watkins House. (In case of rain, the program will move inside to the A/V room in the visitor center.) For more information contact the park office at 816-580-3387.



Please forward this information on to other possible interested parties. Thank you!





Amanda G. Coonce

Interpretive Resource Technician

Watkins Woolen Mill State Park & State Historic Site

Missouri State Parks

26600 Park Road North

Lawson, MO 64062

816-580-3387

816-580-3784 (Fax)

Thursday, April 26, 2012

free interactive tour of the solar system

Check out this website,  http://nineplanets.org/  It is a free interactive tour of the planets of our solar system.  Its a fun way to learn!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Homeschool Coop Blues

We only have 2 weeks left of our spring semester of homeschool coop.  Then, we will break until fall.  In a way I am glad, as it will be a break from  gasoline prices on Mondays....but, we will miss all our friends at coop.  If we didn't have a summer break, we would not survive the summer as we are also involved in church camp for several weeks, 4H county and state fair, CIY,  family reunion, gardening and more.

But, it is still sad that we only have a couple more meetings.

This summer, I am going to try and schedule some field trips on a few Mondays.  Most of our coop families leave Mondays open, so we can publish where we will be and maybe some can meet up and join us.  Ideas we have tossed around so far, include the KC Zoo, Arabia Museum and farmers Market (pretty much side by side), Watkins Mill, Smithville Lake swim beaches, Powell Gardens, WOF, Oceans of Fun, and the Liberty Memorial.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

You know it is spring when


Your lilacs bloom.....

You get stuck behind farmers beginning to prepare their fields....We were behind this guy for 4 miles-then he turned in 2 farms before ours......

Marriage according to kids


HOW  DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
(written by kids)


You got to  find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides       it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen,       age 10


2. WHAT IS THE  RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three   is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by  then..
-- Camille,       age 10


3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might  have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick,       age 8


4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't  want any more kids.
-- Lori, age  8


5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are  for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette,       age 8

6. On  the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them  interested enough to go for a second  date.
-- Martin,       age 10


7. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When  they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7 ( Love her )

8. The  law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt,       age 7

9. The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- - Howard,       age 8


10. IS IT BETTER TO  BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's  better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean  up after them.
-- Anita,       age 9 (bless you  child )


11. HOW WOULD THE   WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET  MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin,       age 8

And       the #1 Favorite is .......


12. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky,       age  10

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Prayers for weather safety

We had some bad weather this morning, and more real nasty stuff coming later today.  Pray for a safe weather day!  The sky is rather scary looking right now, even though it is calm.
And, we can't find momma kitty, due any time anywhere.....would like to bring her in before tonights storms if we could find her.
In the meantime, we are off to Emily's soccer game, then make home to make some yogurt.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Oh no, pantry overload = buying no groceries for a month

We have 2 pantries.  One upstairs and a huge one (that resembles a store) downstairs.  Also, 2 frigs, and 4 freezers.  All are full. Over full, way over full.  Then I have another freezer that is a nonworking one that I store my large bag bags of flour, sugar, salt, oats and such in (I tend to get those in 20 to 50 lb bags)

Usually every fall and again right after winter (like a month ago) I inventory, and we use, rotate and restock.  But, I was bad and didn't do it last fall...yeah, or this March.  It must be done now before the garden starts producing and I start drying, canning, freezing even more.

So, I started with the first thing I pulled out of the big deep freeze, which was ground beef.  So, tonight we are having meatloaf, corn and a pasta salad, with Cheddar cheese biscuits.  To use up the rest of the family size package of ground beef we will also be having a crock pot of chili with corn bread one night and cheese burger casserole another.  So, the ground beef will take 3 meals.

Also, I came up with the makings for shrimp gumbo for a night, patio steaks for another, and then a sea food night of shrimp, crab legs and fish patties.  Also salmon patties, crab salad, at least 2 or more meals of spaghetti and meatballs (found 2 large gallon bags of frozen meatballs).

Also for deserts, came up with makings for several pumpkin pies, apple pie, cherry pie, pudding, tapioca and numerous cakes.

Tons of canned veggies and frozen veggies to go with.

My goal is no grocery shopping for a month except for milk, potatoes and possibly some cereal.  I make most of our bread, so bread won't be an issue.

Nine meals and I haven't really even looked yet or taken inventory.  In reality, this may take closer to 2 or 3 months to eat our way through it all!  We still have at least one hog in the big freezer and some beef as well.

So, needless to say, my grocery budget will be easy on the checking account for several months!

Homeschool skate in Liberty MO



Homeschool Skate in Liberty, MO

Friday April 20, 2012 from 1pm to 2:30 pm
Skating rink is next to the library on the backside on Kent St

 $4 per skater, and no outside food allowed



             

Rain, rain, go away

So much for planning on fixing fences this weekend.  Its not a heavy rain, but enough to make one not want to be out in it and this is the second day of it.

We have missed the last couple of freezes we were supposed to get, so the garden is still doing fairly well.  My strawberries are blooming, and my onions and chives are doing well.  The peas are just starting to come up as well.

It appears I will need to replant the carrots and lettuce, but I was sort of iffy on them anyway.  Duke (black lab the size of a small horse) dug up the carrots then rolled around in the carrot bed.  That didn't help any at all--if any come up, so much for my straight lines of planting!  But, the lettuce and carrots  were from seeds I found in the garage dated 2003.  So, really no loss there, and I think Duke learned a valuable lesson.  That is, don't do it when the Momma is watching, wait till she leaves so you can blame it on the cat or the other dog or a chicken...

In our homeschooling we have been concentrating on our spelling words as next month is the homeschool spelling bee.  The cat is also giving us somewhat of a biology lesson, as she is pregnant and due rather soon.

We also added 6 more baby chicks (in addition to the 9 we got a week before).  Eva (our calf) is growing and doing well.  She still loves to run and play with Duke, but she is now bigger than Duke.  I think Miss 54, the other expectant cow has lost her calf, so this one will be the only calf for now.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

How to eat lima beans and peaches when you are 1 year old

Eating lima beans, a banana,  and peaches is easy when you are one, providing you closely follow these steps.

First, you must REMOVE your bib as soon as the big people put you into the high chair.  This is very very important.  Look real cute  and very innocent while you do it.  Fuss if the big people try to put it back on-look sad.

Take a lima bean, bite it in half with your 4 front teeth.  Move it to the back of your mouth and gum it real good. Now, move the shell part back to the front of your mouth and remove it.  Study it real good while you swallow the insides of the bean.

Throw the shell part on the floor.

Repeat 5 to 7 times.

Take a bite of banana now.  Squish some of it between your fingers and study it real good, opening and closing your hand numerous times.  Now rub your banana coated hands on your freshly washed red curly hair.  Be sure to grin real big while you do it, and yell at the big people, so they see what a good job you are doing of putting the squished up banana in your clean hair.

Now focus on the peaches.  Try some and decide you will no longer eat the lima beans.

Hide some of the lima beans under your plate now.  Shake your head no, real big like when the big person puts them back on your plate.

Notice the cat outside sitting by the window watching you from the deck.  Focus your attention there, while pointing and yelling.  While the big people are watching you interact with the cat, drop some of those lima beans on the floor with your other hand.

Throw some lima beans at the cat, so she can eat them-even though she is outside on the otherside of the closed window.  Repeat several times.

Finish the peaches, throw the rest of the beans on the floor.  Finish the bananna or "nanananananan" and wipe your hands on your now sticky, but once clean red curly hair.

Grin, and sign "all gone".  Put your hands up for the big person to get you, and act surprised and upset when they come at you with the wet washcloth.

Repeat in a few hours at the next meal.
For added entertainment for the big people, or if they look like they need more exercise, throw your plate and cup on the floor several times.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Simmer home and Winter home???

Right now my chickens have 2 outdoor coops, surrounded by a large fenced in pen which we are slowly adding a top to.  The chicken pen butts up against the side of the barn.  Today, we decided that once we get it all done, we are going to build another coop INSIDE the barn.  It won't be as large, and I think we can install a small door, similar to a dog door that will go through the side of the barn into the pen.

That will allow my girls to have a warmer winter home (and save on electricity for heat lamps, since the barn is warmer during the winter) and also give me an easier way to separate out the older hens from new chicks.

If we design it right, it could also double as an area where we could keep a bobby calf if need be.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Kansas City curriculum sale reminder


This is a reminder that CPHE's Used Curriculum is this Friday--two days away. If you're planning on shopping the sale, the doors will open at 9:30 and close at 1:00.  I have had lots of questions the last couple of days about whether or not you need to be a member to come to the sale.  The answer is no!  The sale is open to the public.  Please tell your friends and bring them to the sale.



The sale will take place at Heartland Church of Christ, 6120 NW Prairie View Road, Kansas City, MO.  (Google Maps link:  http://g.co/maps/zupm9 )



If you know anyone new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling, this is a great opportunity for them to look at curriculum and talk to the person that used it.


Windows vs. Ford


Thought I would share this one!

Windows vs. Ford

 

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.



At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,



"If Ford had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."



In response to Bill's comments, Ford issued a press release stating :



If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):



1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash.........twice a day.



2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.



3... Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.



4.... Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.



5..... Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.



6...... The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.



7...... The airbag system would ask, "Are you sure?" before deploying.



8........ Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.



9........ Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.



10.......... You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.



Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate - their computer!

 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Typical Monday

Our Mondays are busy and full.  My Mondays usually start around 5:30.  A.M.  You know as in very, very early morning.  Today was no different.  Up at 5:30, and my Monday preschoolers arrived.  Their routine is to come in their pj's and nap another hour or so before we eat and get dressed.  Then, we head out the door to go to our homeschool coop.

Since our coop is a 40 minute drive from home, into the city, we take advantage of our trip back.  Our routine is to stop at K-Mart, Aldi and hit at least 1 of the 5 consignment or thrift stores on our path home.  Then, we go to the park (the preschoolers love this part),  get a snack and go home.  If it is to hot, cold or rains, we substitute the library for the park.

Today we added in a stop to a nursery so I could pick up some more red onion sets.

The onion bed now has yellow, white and red onions.  Also in the ground are carrots, lettuce, peas, chives, ginger, strawberries, blueberries, and potatoes.  In the greenhouse growing to transplant size are leeks, tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, garlic and more.  I'd love to put the greenhouse items out early, but we could still have another freeze or frost.

Tomorrow also has a long list, but on that list is to welcome home some baby chickens.  Hopefully I can get some pictures posted tomorrow.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Your invited!! Passover meal


Good Friday, April 6, Holt Christian Church, of Holt Missouri , is having a traditonal Passover meal at 6:30 p.m..

$10 for adults (10 and over) and $5 for those under 10. It is a ceremony type of meal, then at the end we eat. Menu includes what they would have eaten at the time of the Passover, which is lamb.
 
RSVP is requested, as lamb will have to be purchased and prepared in advance.
 
Meal explains how the Jewish traditions have come into the roles they have for Christians.
 
Church is located in Holt MO, just off of I 35 at 2nd and Franklin. If you want more info, let me know. Need to be signed up by next Sunday, April 1.
 
I know several of you attended in the past when we did it at Clay County Christian Church in Liberty and enjoyed it.
 
Any questions, let me know!

Message from Todd Akins office regarding movie


Hello - I am sending you this message about the movie "Monumental" by Kirk Cameron that is showing in the KC metro area this Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 PM.  It is a one-night showing that explores the framework of our nation by our founding fathers, the documents of our nation and how they were originally intended.  

I think you will find this movie fascinating as well as it may comply with your civics curriculum.

US Congressman Todd Akin is interviewed in it and helps explain how our country must get back to the constitution.  He and Lulli home-schooled all 6 of their children and now their children do as well.  

Please check out the link below for a trailer of the film.  If you wish to attend, the seating is limited to the Ameristar Theater (1/2 sold out), the Country Club Plaza Cinema (1/3 sold out) and the Hollywood Cinema in St. Joseph.  There are locations in Kansas, but not sure of their availability. Please share this with anyone you think might be interested.  


Thank you for your time and I hope you find this movie a worthwhile addition to your children's civics curriculum.

Have a joyful day!  Heather
--
Heather Hall
Kansas City Field Director
TODD AKIN FOR SENATEPO Box 901240
Kansas City, MO 64190-1240

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead Fieldtrip

Yesterday 2 of the girls and I went to a funeral in south Missouri.  On the way back, we stopped in Mansfield MO and toured the Laura Ingalls Homestead.  We stayed for 3 hours, but you could easily make a full day of it.

Little ones are free, children are $4 and adults are $8.  For this, you get to tour the museum, and 2 of her homes (one is just down the road from the other).  They have lots of benches and picnic tables in the parking area and at the rock house and farm house. They welcome people to picnic there before,  or after their tour.  We also got to see Pa's fiddle, some of Lauras needlework, books, writings and much, much more.

They do not allow any inside pictures, but you can take all you want outside.
This house took them years to build.  They built it all themselves, except for the last addition .  The fireplace was made of 40 wagon loads of rock taken from the farm.
Both locations had lots of wild flowers in bloom, and redbud trees.


The rock house

The twins sitting beside the front door at the rock house.

The garage at the big house.  When Rose built this house for her parents, she also bought them a car and taught them how to drive.  This is where the car was kept. 

The back porch of the Rock House.  Each of the gutters empties into a small cistern, which then goes to  a larger one.  They only used the well water for drinking and cooking.  The rain water was used for all other purposes.

Notice the insulators for the electric.  Rose paid over $3000  to have the electricity  brought to the house from Mansfield.

Floor to ceiling windows opened during the summer to bring a breeze through the house.  This is the house Laura lived in when she started writing the Little House books.



Even though they had a refrigerator, Alanzo used this spring house to  store the milk from his goats in.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Gleaning




Gleaning America's Fields ~ Feeding America's Hungry
Karin Page, Gleaning Coordinator, SoSA West
EndHunger.org/sosawest ~ GleanKC@EndHunger.org

We need volunteers for a GLEANING this Friday, March 23rd.

9:30a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Red Ridge Farm, 978 NW 1101 Road, Odessa, MO

Spinach, lettuce, and greens

DETAILS & DIRECTIONS:

Wear close-toed shoes and layers.  It could be 30 degrees warmer in the hoophouse and you’ll be comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt.




Bring gloves and scissors if your have them, and a water bottle.

Map with directions:  http://g.co/maps/sn8nw    FYI:  MO 131 South doesn’t have numbered streets until after you cross into Lafayette County, and you’ll turn left very shortly after that onto a gravel road (1000 Road).   This road will dead end and you will turn right onto 1101 Road.  The farm is the second set of buildings.  Park in the driveway to the house by my blue Toyota Yaris.

Please fill out the gleaning sign-up sheet (attached) and bring it with you.

If you can transport some of the produce to a local food pantry, please let me know.

We will need 8 people for this gleaning and have the following jobs available:  picking the greens, weighing produce, putting it in bags and labeling the bags, transporting them in wagons to our vehicles.

Please CALL Karin Page @ SoSA West, 816-921-0856 or 816-985-8155 (c ) if you can attend OR reply to this e-mail.

Thanks and I hope to see you soon!

Karin Page
Gleaning Coordinator
     

Society of St. Andrew

Gleaning America's Fields

Feeding America's Hungry

               

PO Box 300323

Kansas City, MO 64130



Off: 819-921-0856

Cell: 816-649-8166


The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit hunger-relief ministry that rescues 25-30 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, excess produce each year that would otherwise go to waste for various marketing reasons. This food is then distributed to critical feeding agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or the hungry people they serve.

               

More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger-relief programs - Gleaning Network, Potato & Produce Project, Harvest of Hope and Hunger Relief Advocate Initiative - is available online at EndHunger.org.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Monday, March 19, 2012


It’s not too late to have a Spring Break! The next home schoolday at CoCo Key Water Resort is Friday, March 30.



Water Resort tickets are only $5 each (tax notincluded) from 11apm – 4pm.



Space is limited, go online today to http://tickets.cocokeykansascity.comand login with your store name HOME to save $13 off admission perperson or simply mention ‘Home School Day’ to the front desk to get thisamazing discount.



Q: When’s your next home school day?

A: Participants for this home school day can pick-up ourcolorful new Home School calendar that highlights every Home School Day scheduled for the rest of 2012!



Don’t forget to bring your own towel!



JeffHirst

SalesManager

Holiday Inn SE Hotel - CoCo Key Water Resort

9103E. 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64133

Direct: (816)737-4727 | Fax: (816) 737-4745

www.holidayinn.com/kansascitymo | www.cocokeykansascity.com