tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84280965594719048112024-03-13T08:56:00.250-07:00Polliwogs and DoodlesWhether out exploring ponds and parks, or indoors creating with paper and crayons, we share an approach to home education that embraces the whole child and their interaction with the whole world.......Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-39585864854154241302013-04-29T06:48:00.003-07:002013-04-29T06:55:15.832-07:00Speaking Spaces Part 1: The Family Bed<i>This series of posts is opportunity to share fun and lively stories about our children and childhood featuring three centers of kid activity: the family bed, the family table and the family room. Please join the party and share your stories too! You can link in the comment section and I'll share them here.</i><br />
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What draws a child to their parents' bed? Perhaps it is an invisible string that pulls them back towards the place where their existence began. Perhaps it is the comfort of their parents' scent, or just because it is a large, soft nesting place, a place to catch them, whether they need a nap or a play surface to bounce off of. In any case, it is more than a practical piece of furniture. To a child, it plays an important role in the creation of an atmosphere of well being and safety. Which is why, even if you don't practice co-sleeping, the parents' bed is always the family bed.<br />
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Let's start with a typical day. Before the sun rises, I am usually up, and the youngest, who almost always wakes up for a feeding in the middle of the night, is usually still snoozing in it. When he wakes, he comes to find me so he can be fed and changed. The other children pop up, one by one, and the circus begins. Breakfast to be fixed (boxes and bags to open, bowls to get down, milk to pour, eggs to scramble, stuck toast to remove), and the order of computer turns to be decided, and lots of things they all thought about to tell mama in the morning. Pretend plays and arguments, and my mind is swirling while I juggle the flood of input and try to make a mental list of what needs to be done that day. Sometimes I never think about the bed again, until I crash into it at the end of the day. But a lot more goes on that I rarely take the time to notice. Yet today, a bit of reflection brings light to the dark corners of my memory, and I can look a little deeper.<br />
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If I go into the bedroom to use the attached bathroom to brush my teeth, change a diaper or whatever, one or more of the kids usually follows. Naturally, there is a narrative going on and a romp begins. The room is no longer a bedroom, but the scene of a battle. And Samurai rangers are fighting the bad guys. Ha! Ho! Ya! Ha! Miriam kicks the air, swinging her body around. Reuben and Seth tumble to the floor, rolling up the bed (or so it seems) and now the warriors have a soft landing. But now they are dinosaurs crawling into their caves under the blanket. But the T-rex fight is interrupted by the Samurai warrior princess and the scene morphs again. All this is going on behind my back while I change the baby, thinking about the next thing that needs doing. To me, it is only in the background. If they get too rough, they get rebuked, but usually everything dissolves when I walk out of the room. Only the detached spread and piled pillows are evidence of the battle that was there, the one that saved the world once again from the threat of evil.<br />
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The day wears on, and the energy begins to dwindle. An argument ensues, one does not get his way, and so he slinks off to the bedroom, thumb in mouth, for a break. There he settles himself under the blanket, curls up, and lets out long sighs. Mama's pillow smells so safe, the scent that bonded them together since his birth. It remains imprinted, though gradually fades from awareness as he grows up. Today, at 6, he is just aware that the scent means comfort. The hormones released into the breast milk each time he nursed as an infant, formed a memory trigger of comfort to be always associated with that smell. After growing up, and visiting home, Mama's neck hug will greet him, and a fleeting wave that crosses the mental barriers of adolescent tensions and the breaking away that comes with growing up, unconsciously will bring out that sigh again. It is a bond that the years cannot sever.<br />
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Later in the afternoon, her pride offended after a spat with her sister, another stomps off to the bed. Lying there, straight as a board, she stares, frowning at the ceiling. Baby brother wanders in and wants up. He is still for a moment, letting her uncurl his soft hand and touch his fingertips. But only for a moment, then with a giggle and his toothy grin that is his very own, he is up. Sister's hairy head shnuzzles his belly and soon they are laughing and shouting. Next thing you know, they come out hand in hand. Sister's new pretend has begun in which she drives her baby to the store on the chairs lined up in the living room, with an invisible steering wheel and motor sounds that baby brother helps with. Armed with shopping bags, she showers him with gifts of toys and treats from all parts of the department store that the whole house turned into. It even has a little restaurant that feeds babies cereal and raisins and cups of water and lets them color with crayons while they are waiting for their food. And the food comes with a toy prize, of course.<br />
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Papa comes home, and takes five on the bed before heading outside to his projects, surfs the net on his phone, while the eldest daughter cuddles and talks and asks incessantly about everything she has thought about and everything that pops into her head, the rate of which increases like popcorn in the popper as she gets warmed up. She takes a breath and sighs happily. It is so good to have Papa home.<br />
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Finally, it is bedtime. A circus of brushing teeth and repeated rounds of hugs, sweet dreams, kisses, goodnights, more sweet dreams and see you in the morning. One after the other goes down, then it is quiet for a moment, then one needs a drink of water he forgot, an extra hug, and the eldest thought of one more important thing. More sweet dream, goodnights, hugs, kisses and see you in the morning.<br />
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One day, it will be quiet. Very quiet. We will lie down in bed, wrinkled and frail at the end of the day, and then the echoes will rise from the mattress. Samurai battles, dinosaur roars, sighs, and endless last-minute goodnights. And we'll smile.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-3244227324666482622013-02-19T21:35:00.001-08:002013-02-20T05:01:04.933-08:00Herp Hunting with the Hardings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Virginia has quite a knack when it comes to finding natural treasures outdoors. The other day she saw two tiny spring peepers mating in the vernal pool at the edge of the field. She went back and took a picture of the eggs. I have tried several times, and failed, to even see one of these tiny frogs. I sure do hear them, but they fall silent before I quite find where they are hiding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnzJUqmp-HEJQZIEd3ZEFW3vu5hjwppg6ViKnHjA0vev5pb2QxJ8MscZcp_6GPUdfFcbY9TfOmJu-j2A4QCPy1naMHmVKp_n_0OgSpcx7ykRDdtvu7IwmzBxXyP-h2EPK9ikvh2XxSRw/s1600/SANY0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnzJUqmp-HEJQZIEd3ZEFW3vu5hjwppg6ViKnHjA0vev5pb2QxJ8MscZcp_6GPUdfFcbY9TfOmJu-j2A4QCPy1naMHmVKp_n_0OgSpcx7ykRDdtvu7IwmzBxXyP-h2EPK9ikvh2XxSRw/s320/SANY0124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then today, she begged to show me more eggs she had found in another pool further up the gully that cuts through the woods along the edge of our pasture. They certainly looked to be amphibious in nature, so we searched the web for more information. We are pretty sure they belong to the spotted salamander. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny5e44X6G9NYIGH8kAFJpE6E2PCogW9pv-FYOl70ymBr5EMNMLQveYZiB47LFwNzmihSWhcq1lXzYWDMeI0Nd3KzxQi2lupXf5hixQPUH_pjgMa5UItslgYUzv-2WnojAN_c5F3wQjhU/s1600/SANY0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny5e44X6G9NYIGH8kAFJpE6E2PCogW9pv-FYOl70ymBr5EMNMLQveYZiB47LFwNzmihSWhcq1lXzYWDMeI0Nd3KzxQi2lupXf5hixQPUH_pjgMa5UItslgYUzv-2WnojAN_c5F3wQjhU/s320/SANY0145.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here is a video we took of our little expedition.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/r4Ww813nCJc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And here are two excellent videos about spotted salamanders and vernal pools.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FRZX05J7o7o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-91675784437149877442013-01-05T11:33:00.000-08:002013-01-05T11:38:13.342-08:00Final Design Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my last post on my Permaculture Design Certification course, I had taken three soil samples from three different points on my site. I performed a simple jar test to assess the soil's physical structure, and also used a ph tester. Here are the results.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJekMHtz9zpkR_BtMXlIuIPRNqQrqVzuRy7RiphZAc1p1IXKLCInziWh7nJwvtE3TqYYYGLZQPDuW5LOdkwVwn8ZFV90VYbz7yL0TEFIZoCgdX3so6sm4g473kUhspqPyidTFJtcSyGLY/s1600/IMG_1588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJekMHtz9zpkR_BtMXlIuIPRNqQrqVzuRy7RiphZAc1p1IXKLCInziWh7nJwvtE3TqYYYGLZQPDuW5LOdkwVwn8ZFV90VYbz7yL0TEFIZoCgdX3so6sm4g473kUhspqPyidTFJtcSyGLY/s320/IMG_1588.JPG" width="180" /></a>Sample 1: Nearly equal layers of sand, loam and clay. This was taken from an area where the soil was undisturbed, and the grass mowed occasionally (okay, seldom). It is in the lower part of the garden, and I suspect from the amount of sand, that it is a flood deposit area from times past. It is, after all, along a flood path from Thicketty Mountain to Thicketty Creek. This was demonstrated about seven years ago when we had a heck of a gullly washer. The garden I had tilled and sown with mustard was completely washed out. That is why we have been focused on raised beds using the square foot method. However, just as permaculture has lots of tricks for making water stay in the landscape, these same methods can be used to make the landscape resistant to flood damage. More about this later. The ph was about 6.8, if the cheap, crappy tester was correct, that is.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPfbhQJrIrj5dmt_bgILqL3gDQ9QOOfp08W9_OYXdTWuuUe9d-zOoZBtdEx7gxwK1LBhZd3ewFdKIol4VlWNRW8mEtzNV-98QW8edTpd6XQ6YtnXP1P2BiNfBdchrljebU-eWL8nHBcU/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPfbhQJrIrj5dmt_bgILqL3gDQ9QOOfp08W9_OYXdTWuuUe9d-zOoZBtdEx7gxwK1LBhZd3ewFdKIol4VlWNRW8mEtzNV-98QW8edTpd6XQ6YtnXP1P2BiNfBdchrljebU-eWL8nHBcU/s320/IMG_1587.JPG" width="180" /></a>Soil Sample 2: This is taken from one of the raised beds. There was initially a lot of duff floating on the top, and it is no wonder because this bed gets annual applications of compost containing well rotted chicken manure. The ph was also 6.8. I do not know why algae grew on this one and not the others. It is probably more fertile. There is only a thin layer of clay and the rest is loam.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mBtEP0E3sP21bwWh-bf-1qlJ8HT0QCHd87kKo8YekFf3_eZCOUk1GHyNUr6R2gYj4H3C2MG2HFHOVzzIl6MUTqeupDBhcBVNdXL5potN4BEM_4dzGd-mo0heL4OxhEvWSRmbiK5KNCA/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mBtEP0E3sP21bwWh-bf-1qlJ8HT0QCHd87kKo8YekFf3_eZCOUk1GHyNUr6R2gYj4H3C2MG2HFHOVzzIl6MUTqeupDBhcBVNdXL5potN4BEM_4dzGd-mo0heL4OxhEvWSRmbiK5KNCA/s320/IMG_1586.JPG" width="180" /></a>Soil Sample 3: Here we have mostly clay and the ph test showed higher acidity at 6.6. This sample was taken from a more recently prepared garden bed. But after using cover crops and grazing chickens, this was my most productive bed this past summer. I grew flour corn, pole beans and pumpkins. After enjoying several batches of corn bread, eating beans till we were sick of them and after many pumpkin pies, I still have some large ones to cook. I also have plenty of seed saved for an even bigger crop next year. I grew local and Native American heirlooms so they were well adapted to the climate. I plan to continue the practice of rotating the beds with grazing pigs, then chickens, then cover crops, then food crops to help the soil build even more fertility. I am also adding small amounts of crushed charcoal, a byproduct of our wood burning stove, and compost. The charcoal will raise the ph slightly and provide surface area for fertility creating microbial life. It also prevents leaching of nitrogen and other nutrients, so the soil holds it's fertility longer (as in centuries). Oh, and a tiller never touched it. I only used a spading fork to loosen weeds. And pig schnozes. And now I have a beautiful new broadfork to work it with from <a href="http://gullandforge.com/">Gulland Forge</a>, a Christmas gift from hubby.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-89572899089205258472012-10-30T15:40:00.000-07:002012-10-31T07:54:58.662-07:00Food Corps Visit the CFSA Sustainable Ag Conference<br />
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<span lang="EN"><b>A Plate of Rain</b></span><b>bows</b></h2>
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<span lang="EN"> Imagine trying to put together a
puzzle with dozens of pieces missing. The only pieces you have are at opposite
edges and it is nearly impossible to tell what the whole picture is supposed to
look like. Some people, however, possess
the gift of vision, the ability to see how everything should fit together, and also the gift of inspiring that vision in
others. Debra
Eschmeyer, co-founder of <a href="http://foodcorps.org/">FoodCorps</a> and keynote speaker at the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture conference in Greenville, SC, is one such seer. She recognized the
need for school children to have access to healthy food, and as an organic
farmer, also saw the need to restore locally grown food markets. (And she saw me come into the conference room with my son, Jude, in the ergo and hurried to offer me a chair. The room was packed with people standing in the back!) </span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> A farmer, a
teacher, a classroom, a cafeteria, thousands struggling with childhood obesity
and hunger, both results of malnutrition and often in company with each other. And hundreds of
young adults, eager to make a difference in the world, who need training,
mentoring and sending out into the battlefield of world hunger, now a domestic reality. How could these all fit together?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoQv_kXfTd7amiLTvVffTjes9wLW_q3JMQihQQSN-pTrncT7jeqJPLiZ_rLa385-HiO7wrXUtnyp_-gvM9CLPOACigdxZxnarDQyMaFqZK4UkwdI63_61b3uy_3M8Hmx3HSHu2kdNzUY/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoQv_kXfTd7amiLTvVffTjes9wLW_q3JMQihQQSN-pTrncT7jeqJPLiZ_rLa385-HiO7wrXUtnyp_-gvM9CLPOACigdxZxnarDQyMaFqZK4UkwdI63_61b3uy_3M8Hmx3HSHu2kdNzUY/s400/IMG_1516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUE4aHisd6-IOZaDvwwwFvD5EfL4yV2FF_Qh9i1IFPQt41SyFEscoLdGYBXXJL_8knr0F1EqXE-_N-xp7CysKNONHGwbBGNgaeqq3oIDgBzAjZJyjh4vjrlOxo1ERA7vX_mEgSBHQA6c/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span lang="EN"> I saw a few of the
"pieces" Saturday at the FoodCorp's workshop at the conference. Not only did I see them,
but I got to meet, talk to and hug them. A young woman named Florita told of how she visits
classrooms in North Carolina and teaches nutrition through fun charts, a plate
of rainbow colors, songs and hands on activities. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Another demonstrated fun exercises to get the whole body moving. Yet another team plans and sets up "taste testing" tables at school events. </span> We got to experience one
successful experiment with collard greens. No, they weren't sauteed and slopped
onto our plates, making everything around it soggy (bear with me, I like them
just about any way, but I'm trying to think like a kid). We were handed a BIG
LEAF and sent along a buffet line to assemble our collard wrap. Colorful sliced
peppers, shredded carrots, hummus, just a touch of lemon juice...My taste buds
were cheering in bold capitals! And what? We just ate all the plant parts we learned in our science lesson yesterday? Leaf, fruit, root, and mashed up garbanzos-
the seed! We are eating our homework!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> But no less than the visible,
colorful, engaging activities are the behind-the-scenes negotiating, bridge
building and trust earning. The hard, long, patient process that addresses
every concern, dispels every fear and breaks down those hard to see walls that
often get in the way of something good. Like getting good, fresh food from a
local farm into school lunches and kids' bellies. The <a href="http://foodcorps.org/">FoodCorps</a> (drum roll,
please) does this, too. That day, his name was Sebastian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> Next, we heard more moving stories from Lydia,
Allison, Sarah, (I wish I could remember all the names, but I remember their
faces). These soldiers have learned to adapt to the moment. They may grab a
carrot from the school garden, see it pilfered by a bold youngster, and during
the course of the fun food talk, watch it float to every corner of the room,
handled and, yes,<i> tried on </i>in a hundred ways... and you can then imagine the
magic of countless, tiny neurons connecting those small, orange dice on the menu
with this beautiful, feathery topped, earth smelling taproot that makes a crazy wig! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My favorite story was how they arranged for a class group</span> to enter the Forbidden Portal, the Room of Mysterious Smells, where boxes are
loaded into the back and somehow transformed into Today's Menu. But this time,
they are no longer mere students. Today they are the Fantastic Five-and-a-Half's, the Veggie Heroes, the Super Chefs.
And the hot, tired, often under appreciated kitchen staff welcome them in, help them cut things, roll
things, mix things until the special School Snack is ready. And oh, the envy of
the chosen few who get to stand with the crew behind the counter to serve. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When I grow up, maybe I'll be just like you, and serve in the lunch line, helping kids make healthy choices.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> The audience, at this point, had their own stories to share. Jill is a farmer who teaches (or is she a teacher
who farms?) and had her science class plant seeds as part of her lesson. A
clamoring crew, some soil, pots, the allure of scarcity (only one seed each,
please) and her spring starts are done for her. Another had the class bring
apples, which are all different and can be sorted, grouped and charted many
different ways before they are eaten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> Thus, the pieces fall into place
and mold themselves to the shape that is most needed to connect the scattered
fragments. A picture begins to emerge. It is a picture of a village reborn, a
community that realizes itself. A taproot that grows into many branching fronds
and draws life and health, light and laughter into itself. A feast waiting for
a world to wake up and gather around it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> But there is so much to be done.
There are still hungry people. And there are still people eating alone. Let's
keep passing the Rainbow Plate, and not ever, ever let it stop. FoodCorps has
shown us the way. They have shown that it can be done, and that there is a task
for all of us.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PsVM-ypoD7g" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span lang="EN">-Sara Harding, October, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-9538750284839173602012-10-21T20:03:00.000-07:002012-10-21T20:07:57.048-07:00Final Design Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's the final stretch after months of study to complete my Permaculture Design Certification course. I have to come up with a final design that meets the standards set by the International Permaculture Institute in Australia.</div>
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To help me remember everything, I've made a sort of flow chart, breaking down each task into doable sized chunks. It really gave my brain a rest, so I didn't have to continually roll through the process every waking moment (and lots of sleeping ones, too). The orange and green outlines indicate what is done already. Details below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtDhMv-8WJ1QHDym5sJeIrrXapBU1idT3KOAANeFXB1dOc3TlInb7b48LY2E7sGAWT9nFMevXk3sMnV_hTSTOUiH0LbEzNLm64N5P0aUkMJsF619357LThm1IoucNXueV8CgwuDGA0s4/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtDhMv-8WJ1QHDym5sJeIrrXapBU1idT3KOAANeFXB1dOc3TlInb7b48LY2E7sGAWT9nFMevXk3sMnV_hTSTOUiH0LbEzNLm64N5P0aUkMJsF619357LThm1IoucNXueV8CgwuDGA0s4/s640/IMG_1511.JPG" width="360" /> </a></div>
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The design starts with lots and lots of notes, on both sides of the paper, a printout of Permaculture principles (to guide the process), and a map. The mapping process consists of making a rough sketch of the area, then taking a baseline measurement along two or more convenient points (like two corners of a building or fence line). From this line, two measurements are taken for each additional point at the site and then converted to a scale that would fit on a piece of paper. I found that for my site, if every inch was eight feet, it fit almost perfectly onto an 8 x 11 sheet. (It's just slightly off. You'll have to imagine a quarter inch wrinkle somewhere on it, which comes out to two feet in real life. Better an extra two than two short!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb8NNlK5aauiwOhcUzG8X_U4WIwu2UksZfY2p6I-JWT_KjvVsOmsT5XN0QxsRjTdxwAl7zhBn-NkqaG1Mhpn7YnlRXgVOT1IUu0TfDi-5_CDJpSFBbCavh28g0tTRE2uiH-Fbt5D5Bg0/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb8NNlK5aauiwOhcUzG8X_U4WIwu2UksZfY2p6I-JWT_KjvVsOmsT5XN0QxsRjTdxwAl7zhBn-NkqaG1Mhpn7YnlRXgVOT1IUu0TfDi-5_CDJpSFBbCavh28g0tTRE2uiH-Fbt5D5Bg0/s400/IMG_1380.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The mapping process started off with more than one frustration, but when I decided to round to the nearest foot, thing got a whole lot simpler. I used a piece of string and tiny pieces of tape to find the points from the baseline (and other points from those points). Mapping a point works quite well when measurements are taken from two known points at as close to right angles from each other as possible. The end of the string is taped to the first known point. Then a second piece is placed along the string at the scaled down measurement from the known point to the point being located. A third piece of tape is placed at the correct distance from the point being mapped to the second known point. This is then taped to that point on the map. The correctly mapped point is found when both legs of the string are pulled taut at the place where the middle piece of tape is. Most of the time, a compass is used to make arcs on the paper from both known points, and the correct point is where the arcs intersect, but I didn't have a compass so I improvised.</div>
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Here, at last, is the completed base map, including the permanent elements to remain in the design.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAYJKYg_TikilVtJvQyI9xR5Qk7RjC6CKQLPrnqHD9wzUd85SLV660KO1-D7wgsHyWWVdr29yVaTepNrvvUglqaeMVvg5Wu-KDhJTmUFeB-jOKDM0s4fxSf9c1tInbIVh-haXHYLO5Y0/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAYJKYg_TikilVtJvQyI9xR5Qk7RjC6CKQLPrnqHD9wzUd85SLV660KO1-D7wgsHyWWVdr29yVaTepNrvvUglqaeMVvg5Wu-KDhJTmUFeB-jOKDM0s4fxSf9c1tInbIVh-haXHYLO5Y0/s400/IMG_1381.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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After the base map is completed, and copies made, an overlay (using clear sheet protectors and permanent markers) is made to show the directions of seasonal sun, shade and prevailing winds. This sector map helps to analyze the site so that these energies can either be put to best use (such as planting a sun trap- a u-shaped shelter belt to create a microclimate for cold sensitive plants) or blocked (such as planting a windbreak).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4Fe4BCMgEZBaOBMJFRczEnFQJqQn_gXpydzRRR-g80phN7g4hwwVd_G77x1w5a0YXQyHgUVJVghL4QR7uYRvyxdwiBDIScnQHX4jiFcDewwlmv7JBmg8HGk4F7RnM-v29V9oBwt-OVg/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4Fe4BCMgEZBaOBMJFRczEnFQJqQn_gXpydzRRR-g80phN7g4hwwVd_G77x1w5a0YXQyHgUVJVghL4QR7uYRvyxdwiBDIScnQHX4jiFcDewwlmv7JBmg8HGk4F7RnM-v29V9oBwt-OVg/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The next energy path to map is water. Water is life, and there are lots of tricks in permaculture to make the water stay around longer, eliminating the need for irrigation, especially when it depletes deep aquifers. But first, we have to map the contours. Here is simple device, called an A-frame level, that can be made for almost nothing. Two poles of equal length are cut (mine are 6 ft.) and lashed at the top. A cross piece is lashed at the exact distance from each end. My cross piece is about 3 ft. long and lashed three feet from the bottom of each leg. A rock tied to a string hangs below the cross piece to indicate the center. To find the exact center, the level is placed on as flat a surface as possible and a mark is made where the string comes to rest. Then it is turned around, placing each leg in the exact spot that the other one rested on, and again marked. The true center is right between the two marks. Once calibrated, the level is ready to be used. It is walked across one edge of the site to another, keeping one leg in one place while the other leg is moved around until the string rests on the center mark. Flagged sticks are driven into the ground to mark the points where the legs rest, and then the first leg is swung around to the other side, keeping the second leg in place this time, to find the next spot along the contour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjfa2zVCnBjqmffXozRVROIqcftLqgTmzOTxeWqLWKc8c_YJqfvnBD_NGzhoR2rd_yUIqu-KH1P7e1YTwJsRL5iiJfdQc8q_w3q7HLHPXKb8lsrV6YmTmufsjs11HeE1aFQ_2ilUvWyo/s1600/IMG_1503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjfa2zVCnBjqmffXozRVROIqcftLqgTmzOTxeWqLWKc8c_YJqfvnBD_NGzhoR2rd_yUIqu-KH1P7e1YTwJsRL5iiJfdQc8q_w3q7HLHPXKb8lsrV6YmTmufsjs11HeE1aFQ_2ilUvWyo/s400/IMG_1503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is a marked out contour line across the site. I tried to embolden the blue flags a bit to make them easier to see.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkSHKqSzg1wtghIJMmSzoQwvNYDJbt8_5Yvq8UQZrwQ4GCafXL3qyDR2YqF9C7y4BkkDcfwJeQvTeVCrfoqH5E0gMaGuPfyCG_vi4B2Zwr1qHDiz8tnEZYkw1jWjr68ErxaWJAN0ZmaE/s1600/contourmarks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkSHKqSzg1wtghIJMmSzoQwvNYDJbt8_5Yvq8UQZrwQ4GCafXL3qyDR2YqF9C7y4BkkDcfwJeQvTeVCrfoqH5E0gMaGuPfyCG_vi4B2Zwr1qHDiz8tnEZYkw1jWjr68ErxaWJAN0ZmaE/s400/contourmarks.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
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Time to map the contour lines. This method does not give the differences in elevation between the contour lines (another homemade level, called a bunyip, works for this), but an A- frame suits my purposes here. I just need to map the direction of the water flow. I also included an estimated location for the buried water line that goes to the spigot, and the buried drainage tile we put in several years ago under the two raised beds. The area used to be quite soggy, but it has dried out a bit over the last few years as topsoil has been built up and drainage improved (one of probably several factors). After mapping these, I traced them onto another overlay.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn7bzUA8DJYpbbWVc2W8wV4lc1CzirqAwgT8zh8W1LNSXA3oIk21vnQl0sN5Z8RbkbDwDf5G77VkUHYomlEwXjCRElZxjrYXeIlnGZOJ-qK-H12aFm64y4sUksnr0n9pLl4GI3lQmsS4/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn7bzUA8DJYpbbWVc2W8wV4lc1CzirqAwgT8zh8W1LNSXA3oIk21vnQl0sN5Z8RbkbDwDf5G77VkUHYomlEwXjCRElZxjrYXeIlnGZOJ-qK-H12aFm64y4sUksnr0n9pLl4GI3lQmsS4/s400/IMG_1509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below is the base map with both overlays showing sun, wind and water sectors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrOZcBrFk3yWO1XdE9N6AWw8dUe8V9zNU7DjFpk7CK0Vz9tWWPoBRd0kIfvxzmuD-XH8izhWri04q6EfMZ7qXrO55dWoZ4WxKxZ687-KU3U9H1dG5BYjlUN-DbAvBbOsw_zJeX-vY7NE/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrOZcBrFk3yWO1XdE9N6AWw8dUe8V9zNU7DjFpk7CK0Vz9tWWPoBRd0kIfvxzmuD-XH8izhWri04q6EfMZ7qXrO55dWoZ4WxKxZ687-KU3U9H1dG5BYjlUN-DbAvBbOsw_zJeX-vY7NE/s400/IMG_1510.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Next up, soil test results. If you can see the contour map close enough, I marked three locations where soil samples were taken. They were placed in quart jars, topped with water, and shaken. Heavier particles fall to the bottom while lighter ones settle towards the top. When it finally settles out, I'll be able to get a good idea of the texture of my soil. I am also waiting for an inexpensive ph tester to arrive. Then I'll document the results. Until then, I'll keep studying what I've got and hopefully it will not be long until the new design is born.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-31912059569416498472012-08-20T08:30:00.000-07:002012-08-20T08:31:20.837-07:00The Soil SpeaksI am temporarily using this blog as a repository of notes for my permaculture journal keeping.<br />
<br />
I think the soil talks to me. In my old raised beds, the spent cornstalks still stood after harvesting, but beneath was a thick carpet of weeds. A closer look revealed that there were certain types of weeds thriving. Nature abhors a vacuum, so every spot of soil that does not have something planted or a thick mulch will grow something. And those somethings are what the soil is trying to say. I noticed a couple kinds of grasses, some horse nettles (nightshade family), a little jewelweed, wood sorrel, dandelion and this other moisture loving summer weed that is common around here.<br />
<br />
So I am thinking that what I should have done was sow a late summer maturing cereal that doesn't mind moisture and a summer nightshade, when I planted the corn. I am thinking perhaps hulless oats and ground cherries would have been good choices. If wild cereals and nightshades wanted to grow there, perhaps the soil would have accepted edible varieties. Perhaps I can sow some over wintering types. Hardy potatoes? Winter rye?<br />
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The wood sorrel- there was not much of it- indicates that the soil is slightly acid. The relatively low number of dandelions indicates that the soil is fertile. There would be more of them if it was poor. Jewelweed and that other weed tell me what I already know from all the rain we've had. The soil is wet. So what else likes wettish, slightly acid, fertile soil?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-44973546990472132202012-06-19T19:25:00.000-07:002012-06-19T19:25:36.391-07:00Farm Updates<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V4OcZuOu6sU" width="420"></iframe>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TAjrpjJAics" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-58483851127656273112012-05-02T11:39:00.002-07:002012-05-02T11:40:50.050-07:00Permaculture Design Certification Course Homework<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSie28xeHmBtX4z0lmR4Z-VLBGVTf7_lKKvxG8l4rvcXR_TzWiu8pWB51cdupZjPwvGGP44GNTf3iDCrDsx7wdfiToHimt6Td8qDPLhwxVmPUvGmkK9cqDYaQmnPCxo1r1v909my-UkI/s1600/permfarm2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSie28xeHmBtX4z0lmR4Z-VLBGVTf7_lKKvxG8l4rvcXR_TzWiu8pWB51cdupZjPwvGGP44GNTf3iDCrDsx7wdfiToHimt6Td8qDPLhwxVmPUvGmkK9cqDYaQmnPCxo1r1v909my-UkI/s400/permfarm2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Zone 0:<br />
The house<br />
to shelter humans<br />
is shaded in summer to east and west<br />
by deciduous trees<br />
that are bare in winter letting in sun.<br />
Inside, a wood burning stove<br />
to warm and cheer the winter evenings.<br />
In summer, vents draw cool air from earth wells dug beneath the floor<br />
that are insulated in winter<br />
while warm air is drawn out by chimneys in the roof<br />
pulling cool air up from the floor.<br />
One well and chimney draws air for an insulated food pantry year round.<br />
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<br />
Zone 1:<br />
The south wall warm for tender fruit trees<br />
the roof slanted to collect rain in a barrel <br />
to water the tender trees<br />
and the vegetable beds<br />
that feed the humans of the house<br />
the animals of the farm<br />
the leftovers going to worms<br />
dried leaves for bedding, scraps for food<br />
their rich waste feeding the tender fruit trees<br />
and layered vegetable beds.<br />
<br />
The greenhouse<br />
to keep tools from rust<br />
start seedlings and root cuttings<br />
shelter the ducks<br />
the roof slanted to collect rain in a barrel<br />
to water the pond or berry bush guilds<br />
acid loving blueberries, groundnut and pine mulch from the Christmas trees.<br />
<br />
On the north side, the chicken enclosure<br />
inside, a shelter for them at night<br />
the roof slanted to catch rain in a barrel<br />
to water the chickens<br />
the moist mulched shrubs<br />
fed by their droppings<br />
drop fruits and berries<br />
for humans and animals<br />
drop bedding for chickens and worms<br />
that mulch and fertilize and moisten the shrubs<br />
that give shelter from hawks<br />
also nearby hardwoods<br />
drop limbs for edible fungal innoculations<br />
in the moist mulched shrubs<br />
collecting bugs and grubs and worms beneath<br />
that are turned to eggs<br />
by greedy beaks<br />
the feathered pest control for moist mulched shrubs<br />
egg insides eaten by humans<br />
outsides eaten by worms, turned to compost, taken up by shrubs and bugs<br />
back to greedy beaks.<br />
<br />
The fence, protecting chickens<br />
hung with creeping vines<br />
honeysuckle, to be woven into baskets to collect eggs<br />
and all the fruits of the farm.<br />
<br />
Human waste<br />
collected from toilet building<br />
(with slanting roof to collect rain in a barrel <br />
to supply compost moisture or water shade shrubs)<br />
combined with tree waste<br />
composted to feed trees<br />
producing nuts and fruits and fire for warmth<br />
or composted to heat water<br />
or rotted for methane, burning just enough<br />
no more carbon than the trees breathe in<br />
and return to biomass<br />
for the dishes, washing, cooking, bathing, freezer and Sunday and market day trips to town.<br />
<br />
Zone 2:<br />
The orchard<br />
on the sunny south slope<br />
under a carpet of nitrogen fixing clover<br />
for ducks to munch on<br />
bugs to hide in <br />
for greedy beaks to eat<br />
and turn to eggs<br />
to be eaten by humans<br />
the shells by worms<br />
their compost fed to the garden plants and trees<br />
seeping slowly southward into the clover carpet<br />
where bugs hide from greedy beaks.<br />
<br />
In summer<br />
orchard grasses grow high<br />
to be cut for mulch <br />
first the seed heads fed to ducks<br />
the rest to tuck the trees in for winter<br />
and keep their beds moist in summer.<br />
<br />
In summer the duckweed greens the pond<br />
fed by duck and fish droppings<br />
eaten by ducks and fish,<br />
the solar powered cascade<br />
mixing oxygen<br />
cycling ammonia ridden water<br />
through gravel edge<br />
where nitrifying bacteria reside<br />
and filtering plant roots<br />
mini cattails, watercress, arrowhead<br />
edibles for humans and ducks,<br />
and beneath the surface<br />
fish and their fry weave through the hornwort<br />
between rocks and branches to hide in, <br />
poking up through the edgespace where surface meets sky<br />
growing nitrifying bacteria<br />
giving frogs and dragonflies a place to climb out on<br />
while fish feed on weeds and water bugs<br />
growing fat for the harvest.<br />
<br />
In fall orchard fruits harvested<br />
dried, frozen, canned, fermented<br />
leftovers fed to poultry and worms<br />
then leaves fall<br />
bedding for poultry and worms<br />
their compost fed back to the trees and plants.<br />
<br />
Gray water from the house<br />
filters through a gravel bed<br />
and feeds bamboo growing there<br />
harvested for poles, dried, sold and shared, leaves used for animal bedding<br />
water flowing through their roots to the tree nursery below<br />
where rooted cuttings from the greenhouse<br />
are tended, replanted, sold or shared<br />
fruits, nuts, woody shrubs, hardwoods,<br />
and conifers for the Christmas tree patch<br />
with pines shedding needles for acid loving plants.<br />
<br />
Zone 3:<br />
Bessie's pasture<br />
like Trantham's Twelve Aprils<br />
grazed one patch at a time<br />
eaten halfway down<br />
then she moves to the next<br />
under dotted hardwood shades<br />
that drop leaves for her bedding<br />
in the barn<br />
where she is milked <br />
and a calf born every other spring<br />
after an earlier tryst with a neighbor's bull<br />
and her babe grows up beside her, then is sold or shared<br />
when the maternal bond lets it go.<br />
<br />
The barn roof slanted to collect rain in many barrels<br />
supplying water for cow and calf.<br />
<br />
Every spring a patch of pasture is sown with wheat<br />
allowed to mature for a harvest<br />
supplying a family with bread<br />
and straw for animal bedding and mulch and compost for fertilizer, heat and methane harvest<br />
then moved the next year to another patch<br />
fertilized by Bessie and her babe.<br />
<br />
At pasture's edge a few goats feed (not shown in picture, but a necessary component)<br />
supplying dairy during Bessie's dry season of rest<br />
kids sold or shared<br />
when the maternal bond lets them go<br />
feeding to keep woodlands at bay<br />
as they are moved from patch to patch<br />
two years go by before returning to the same place<br />
enough time for wild blackberries to fruit<br />
in the fertile droppings they leave behind<br />
picked every summer by purple mouthed children<br />
for jams, frozen treats, pies, pancake toppings and wine.<br />
<br />
At night<br />
the barn is warm and alive<br />
with creature breath and dreams of green pastures beside still waters.<br />
<br />
Zone 4:<br />
A hardwood forest<br />
self mulching, keeps itself<br />
supplying nuts and winter fuel <br />
bedding and compost reserves if needed<br />
and logs for growing edible mushrooms in the cool, wet spring<br />
occasionally thinned for lumber harvest<br />
a buck or two hunted by neighbors in the fall<br />
a creek near the pasture and woodland edgeland<br />
supplying water for grazers<br />
occasional sand and clay taken<br />
for pottery, cob building, soil drainage management<br />
<br />
Zone 5:<br />
Wilderness<br />
a sacred temple to explore<br />
to enjoy just for being there<br />
a place to learn Wisdom<br />
and instruction from the Creator<br />
for managing inhabited spaces<br />
for the wellbeing of all living things<br />
to listen to the groaning, the waiting<br />
for the new world to be born<br />
for the nations to beat their swords into plowshares<br />
spears to pruning hooks<br />
to be used for one day to plant permanant and selfseeding polycultures<br />
then passed along, with wisdom gathered, produce shared, to a neighbor<br />
until, neighbor by neighbor, crop mobbing together<br />
the world becomes known<br />
as one connected, permanently cultured neighborhood.<br />
Wisdom covering lands<br />
as waters cover seas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-43689363599171959012012-01-06T21:20:00.001-08:002012-01-07T08:17:19.539-08:00Trip to Kid Senses Science Museum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFT8Ry_dWhvqc0uEp_9O6G9XeRT6CBa8B2hfKfbSXimPqdeMy0yBhY3LHbPm8jsepIg6eXO6DrRZ_iSdEvrys9JyqvEaAjCEPPETNK8lPuTDwRBnvhphKaD_IqKjF6_fluHevRaKBatY/s1600/ksfiretruck2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFT8Ry_dWhvqc0uEp_9O6G9XeRT6CBa8B2hfKfbSXimPqdeMy0yBhY3LHbPm8jsepIg6eXO6DrRZ_iSdEvrys9JyqvEaAjCEPPETNK8lPuTDwRBnvhphKaD_IqKjF6_fluHevRaKBatY/s400/ksfiretruck2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756122037893042" border="0" /></a><br />After a rough week, having lost two of our dogs within days of each other, the kids and I decided to celebrate Epiphany (or Three Kings Day) with a getaway to Kids Senses Science Museum in Rutherfordton, NC. It is about a thirty minute drive from our place, not as far as the wise men traveled to Bethlehem, of course. And we rode in the station wagon, since camels are rather rare in these parts.<br /><br /><br />The first spectacle after paying admission is the fire truck room. There are buttons to make a siren sound and a spinning light.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqkduqLkfsogM2rikbDU_GLG7C2HDXj5nFzN5ylv-dRFyV-GX9FL4DIocBf7gc1X1Ayhil1-IqxxrzxrpDkU6YTkJOD-bTvjbpp1A46vbSfh4uLYsuNqQlVTGQJBFEqTD8-uBjdsPUzw/s1600/ksfiretruck1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqkduqLkfsogM2rikbDU_GLG7C2HDXj5nFzN5ylv-dRFyV-GX9FL4DIocBf7gc1X1Ayhil1-IqxxrzxrpDkU6YTkJOD-bTvjbpp1A46vbSfh4uLYsuNqQlVTGQJBFEqTD8-uBjdsPUzw/s400/ksfiretruck1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756118767193490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Emws6I778VnDGrcclEoJSusJXIabt5zTg-Elgt8nEa-fQ9794dpz1ZtcwRP-WntT93mtIQ66jukU2Itg60x3ozAC7VjLka8VOKtckhDb8_Je-GWYB7jRiBrE1EjsQxDvQ7OOyMEJbDE/s1600/ksfiretruck3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Emws6I778VnDGrcclEoJSusJXIabt5zTg-Elgt8nEa-fQ9794dpz1ZtcwRP-WntT93mtIQ66jukU2Itg60x3ozAC7VjLka8VOKtckhDb8_Je-GWYB7jRiBrE1EjsQxDvQ7OOyMEJbDE/s400/ksfiretruck3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756132731945426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFXi-ZvjiUqb9xhoKZhds_pQcPrxSzn8yiSgBhbAke3QWjrFH3Ecvcar8OjNtkxWZPxpB_yvMq_F5KpR_K370DgncRjGDg1Wv7nw8vUCWfG345D1wwgBhViHUKBxq0Ip86tsGHfAlT7I/s1600/ksplayroom7.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFXi-ZvjiUqb9xhoKZhds_pQcPrxSzn8yiSgBhbAke3QWjrFH3Ecvcar8OjNtkxWZPxpB_yvMq_F5KpR_K370DgncRjGDg1Wv7nw8vUCWfG345D1wwgBhViHUKBxq0Ip86tsGHfAlT7I/s400/ksplayroom7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694759329617724146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jude enjoys a cloth book in the Alphabet Trail playroom.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-zUtIGXwUfNg5uUQ2M9CIwETc5USDb8HJXL7MznADv4n3yMMLRlDtquY3puiXtnrOBol_xjZ6XsTVNvhz-_AZKkk7hfL5RjFfaG5jCbJu4u7nTVa8cGrouD2n0eu_OANHp4q0HqOkdI/s1600/ksplayroom6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-zUtIGXwUfNg5uUQ2M9CIwETc5USDb8HJXL7MznADv4n3yMMLRlDtquY3puiXtnrOBol_xjZ6XsTVNvhz-_AZKkk7hfL5RjFfaG5jCbJu4u7nTVa8cGrouD2n0eu_OANHp4q0HqOkdI/s400/ksplayroom6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694759328793971970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The silo beside the kid sized barn makes a great reading hideaway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnEjs4tweI7vPoUFC55Eu4jH8dgx5lZgerY-6I_kLSQayX6jiUesmDt9NLGc1YMOPaPykCJBDCmitmRxSmAUAQjBXvLBwjY7tVjt6KB6IAankoxJ4ndnABQRxytAm-BWxKlmDfgA9piw/s1600/ksplayroom5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnEjs4tweI7vPoUFC55Eu4jH8dgx5lZgerY-6I_kLSQayX6jiUesmDt9NLGc1YMOPaPykCJBDCmitmRxSmAUAQjBXvLBwjY7tVjt6KB6IAankoxJ4ndnABQRxytAm-BWxKlmDfgA9piw/s400/ksplayroom5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694759313517096690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jude can hold himself pretty high, and can roll over now, both ways.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85VNdLFoT87dpB-luWWFgZXh3XXnJcoX2Uhu0OQM6kpzAY9ZuYyM4sd6OGKDSlkjoDlKiI8XRYNAl3CrZVOCYlve3zHMP7Au4KAzhMykIiGsOiCuK9HINOfAXSk27ecc7qahjE7jhyhU/s1600/ksplayroom4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85VNdLFoT87dpB-luWWFgZXh3XXnJcoX2Uhu0OQM6kpzAY9ZuYyM4sd6OGKDSlkjoDlKiI8XRYNAl3CrZVOCYlve3zHMP7Au4KAzhMykIiGsOiCuK9HINOfAXSk27ecc7qahjE7jhyhU/s400/ksplayroom4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694759314204055730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Seth is holding a toy onion, which can be planted or harvested from the "garden". But of course, it's not an onion, it's a sword. And not just any sword, but the "He-man-Power-of-Grayskull!" Lately, many random objects have undergone this incredible transformation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DY5DrJ6tEOXweasCpZv8kegbFALOlJu9u0bcwqyG3-4smtR-vQfPw48He9i-VT99XTwIuCfyGQtsLnFAFexwkjHW8ZkzHEbeUqYcGGQ8alMBAsafnB4i5CBr4YtI37e4WUZb_RBgags/s1600/ksplayroom8.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DY5DrJ6tEOXweasCpZv8kegbFALOlJu9u0bcwqyG3-4smtR-vQfPw48He9i-VT99XTwIuCfyGQtsLnFAFexwkjHW8ZkzHEbeUqYcGGQ8alMBAsafnB4i5CBr4YtI37e4WUZb_RBgags/s400/ksplayroom8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694759343443424226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />More of the Alphabet Trail playroom.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_tRgISi3IBzECPflRz_XUPS0MlNnGuT2tE1owHA72ewwXBTn-G12H7VFBSLcAaIRt9ArISjohm6mjtYlO7N9z8EruYAI-97k0fXO5Tc_kwDai1rjPlprMe7SV5AVk7UIXakxc63XLmY/s1600/ksplayroom2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_tRgISi3IBzECPflRz_XUPS0MlNnGuT2tE1owHA72ewwXBTn-G12H7VFBSLcAaIRt9ArISjohm6mjtYlO7N9z8EruYAI-97k0fXO5Tc_kwDai1rjPlprMe7SV5AVk7UIXakxc63XLmY/s400/ksplayroom2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758818242848306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnp__fi6hi4lV3yhDTfy7o-_n6BTqPdIYbcn7-Q-XpmTHnXWplAh5Z3fVsuzptO7b9BUj31MxF2SFFuzMCrGjIukf01MImjQi4PaccfqcvdFHi8o9549TsO4oEiFsNsuLc-I0OA2i6bU/s1600/ksplayroom1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnp__fi6hi4lV3yhDTfy7o-_n6BTqPdIYbcn7-Q-XpmTHnXWplAh5Z3fVsuzptO7b9BUj31MxF2SFFuzMCrGjIukf01MImjQi4PaccfqcvdFHi8o9549TsO4oEiFsNsuLc-I0OA2i6bU/s400/ksplayroom1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758797211484482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS4NgCW5wN2lVxhwXmNhjNfLcfvf8ugT1jvaQRPM9X5q9-Ntd-KnYsztbBSy-AGKQPpWc_DZeIwQVWh13wkOqkgYeRqB7EoM5U55aJH_6if-99YE4yi0FsY7PKX5Fanc7lqJdCKwM6o8/s1600/ksplayroom3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS4NgCW5wN2lVxhwXmNhjNfLcfvf8ugT1jvaQRPM9X5q9-Ntd-KnYsztbBSy-AGKQPpWc_DZeIwQVWh13wkOqkgYeRqB7EoM5U55aJH_6if-99YE4yi0FsY7PKX5Fanc7lqJdCKwM6o8/s400/ksplayroom3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758825813303122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDRzHac0uVRqa5DHPbX6D19nf5kjbcqgY9WV-h3eAawG2xZQCyjHE4GJogt2oWsPuVEY2ofaMcb9VRjjp4SeeaV0gYZLs0EjJSpHUO0dCw3Iy7z-fHuZVwu2HD71Sq7bRbnsbArNfGVo/s1600/ksmagnet.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDRzHac0uVRqa5DHPbX6D19nf5kjbcqgY9WV-h3eAawG2xZQCyjHE4GJogt2oWsPuVEY2ofaMcb9VRjjp4SeeaV0gYZLs0EjJSpHUO0dCw3Iy7z-fHuZVwu2HD71Sq7bRbnsbArNfGVo/s400/ksmagnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758794230388594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Metal objects defy gravity as they leap upwards from Virginia's hands while Seth turns up the magnet's power.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7OwzV3nHiSTxfqnHubku-9czKHT1WKla-C1H5iKoILBtmBHaNSgKKiK4Rcc6AZV7En3qvUTlAfBz2ibsB1Zjku5LyWU3czMYf2A8NedF0RFcwHhAxHahNpYZcl77nlKsHU6XVVMucQU/s1600/kskaleidoscope.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7OwzV3nHiSTxfqnHubku-9czKHT1WKla-C1H5iKoILBtmBHaNSgKKiK4Rcc6AZV7En3qvUTlAfBz2ibsB1Zjku5LyWU3czMYf2A8NedF0RFcwHhAxHahNpYZcl77nlKsHU6XVVMucQU/s400/kskaleidoscope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758794597948674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Three mirrors form the Kaleidoscope!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtjzjjsV9jSdXGqjxZ1WwMoQWUPrcCOh68c10bNurc8Nl-DRs4mg0AreA6E-n6L9Gzpx9phw5bqEF9qau6x9BJS_lV4q3vsw-rkhuRTvLqX2CuDd3jq4SJTHxfoc4Hxd72pH7H_tZKYQ/s1600/ksclimb1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtjzjjsV9jSdXGqjxZ1WwMoQWUPrcCOh68c10bNurc8Nl-DRs4mg0AreA6E-n6L9Gzpx9phw5bqEF9qau6x9BJS_lV4q3vsw-rkhuRTvLqX2CuDd3jq4SJTHxfoc4Hxd72pH7H_tZKYQ/s400/ksclimb1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758189428905170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS4NgCW5wN2lVxhwXmNhjNfLcfvf8ugT1jvaQRPM9X5q9-Ntd-KnYsztbBSy-AGKQPpWc_DZeIwQVWh13wkOqkgYeRqB7EoM5U55aJH_6if-99YE4yi0FsY7PKX5Fanc7lqJdCKwM6o8/s1600/ksplayroom3.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The lower level of the museum can be reached by climbing through this platform maze.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWxT4h_RiTUb02UA_KZZduVqmHUahmjzKJnErZNsG_8hqm6-pQvX2c0beECdPqHgRPna8q4LUoUdCAb0VCtK2TO_RdK3U7imQ2i_hm_9cvsMnw2cVbiuJ9uMmAmnYxnSwFEDIl8gFmAc/s1600/kscafe2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWxT4h_RiTUb02UA_KZZduVqmHUahmjzKJnErZNsG_8hqm6-pQvX2c0beECdPqHgRPna8q4LUoUdCAb0VCtK2TO_RdK3U7imQ2i_hm_9cvsMnw2cVbiuJ9uMmAmnYxnSwFEDIl8gFmAc/s400/kscafe2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758181018939938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Little Pueblito Cafe<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yP8SRltAiasWNbRprySvZNiVBbWUTFX7JMgGcW1ndbQWlpIygCsdkAoLX1pgRhMQbEOLssphe9fzReisal2MPAreD1xpV34I315g2mdUNbe1FW4hs2PCJqvrKdnZIhgXutp97iCt96c/s1600/kscafe1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yP8SRltAiasWNbRprySvZNiVBbWUTFX7JMgGcW1ndbQWlpIygCsdkAoLX1pgRhMQbEOLssphe9fzReisal2MPAreD1xpV34I315g2mdUNbe1FW4hs2PCJqvrKdnZIhgXutp97iCt96c/s400/kscafe1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758175915702082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Virginia takes orders from some fellow museum visitors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeOO82_pNOkM_rCgDMCx1NicIkt4KoK4Azsa9qJ-Pkcx2UnjuWJbop-Z_mIati6P4foBiTYaOSTzWJk-WC5shPyBiHWAwIDyo9LwK652mix__nvMtNVg_XEufFHQi2ms8Ye2dLFbYVy4/s1600/ksdentist.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeOO82_pNOkM_rCgDMCx1NicIkt4KoK4Azsa9qJ-Pkcx2UnjuWJbop-Z_mIati6P4foBiTYaOSTzWJk-WC5shPyBiHWAwIDyo9LwK652mix__nvMtNVg_XEufFHQi2ms8Ye2dLFbYVy4/s400/ksdentist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694758191920269186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out those teeth!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQVwypJneO5rGvdTcDsrvcXRL0-NDXKpxCz3ElA_cEvlO5uMD2lY9YJCmMZOrXtQ7mFQmRDi90Qhb3a_4JIItPaR6H0pQ6ciffDIMKSuugJ2hIt31_dal1R8meMkl7g5-MQ7M8Bg8kpY/s1600/ksbubble2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQVwypJneO5rGvdTcDsrvcXRL0-NDXKpxCz3ElA_cEvlO5uMD2lY9YJCmMZOrXtQ7mFQmRDi90Qhb3a_4JIItPaR6H0pQ6ciffDIMKSuugJ2hIt31_dal1R8meMkl7g5-MQ7M8Bg8kpY/s400/ksbubble2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757758893213650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Reuben lifts a soapy wall around himself in the bubble room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E6Y_u1ljr6qny8H3TPjMlTHCBmsegClyFHe9UbL6Z8kyflEoz6FFhoFbauCyAv8QAm65J2rnEcA5Vsc4KxjYnNCDrB24a1Tx8za0qhwUzxO_7eYETY69STzGhbb9XNBU9JL4QuKF_Jc/s1600/ksbubble1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E6Y_u1ljr6qny8H3TPjMlTHCBmsegClyFHe9UbL6Z8kyflEoz6FFhoFbauCyAv8QAm65J2rnEcA5Vsc4KxjYnNCDrB24a1Tx8za0qhwUzxO_7eYETY69STzGhbb9XNBU9JL4QuKF_Jc/s400/ksbubble1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757759142612418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUkWmoE5B4iE1D2UfN6WI__Y1tkqVVwqdAD0exS5z55rug_iv3R2e13awN0lnskEZDJjBKdBzHwIFmbQnnuNcXzM3BQoMA-1B_plYnobSoE-HTkBOu3EgYTeltkBmoAf0rYWEVRZ-Ef8/s1600/ksbubble3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUkWmoE5B4iE1D2UfN6WI__Y1tkqVVwqdAD0exS5z55rug_iv3R2e13awN0lnskEZDJjBKdBzHwIFmbQnnuNcXzM3BQoMA-1B_plYnobSoE-HTkBOu3EgYTeltkBmoAf0rYWEVRZ-Ef8/s400/ksbubble3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757768485671730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Miriam pulls one all the way to the top!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZqkXFyJszV3uUz4R5Aj4a0gU4G-kwobqSTU4_bfkgKlx2C56g46hyXarqLSQf2PPSNxwmJk8Ow0zvkEQKSQ_4IdoJNz1Yv9aeA1mtqe9-GCt6YqAMpwjyvpO4dFNJxm5w-izlwLWtFM/s1600/ksgrocery2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZqkXFyJszV3uUz4R5Aj4a0gU4G-kwobqSTU4_bfkgKlx2C56g46hyXarqLSQf2PPSNxwmJk8Ow0zvkEQKSQ_4IdoJNz1Yv9aeA1mtqe9-GCt6YqAMpwjyvpO4dFNJxm5w-izlwLWtFM/s400/ksgrocery2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757352716616930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The little grocery store is very popular, and the kids shopped and checked out many times during our visit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6trJ_sTz_s3JsEtl91nCH2scB0fu7Av98X33hBDUljBS880l04uRcE89gIo5WaEMbpe_7Pjftm3A0YxFPPZbpp5R-nnp3bnkv2wr3zfovlbnNTI0qjgVB1yYDnOdkGFziYOdPvecLmaM/s1600/ksgrocery3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6trJ_sTz_s3JsEtl91nCH2scB0fu7Av98X33hBDUljBS880l04uRcE89gIo5WaEMbpe_7Pjftm3A0YxFPPZbpp5R-nnp3bnkv2wr3zfovlbnNTI0qjgVB1yYDnOdkGFziYOdPvecLmaM/s400/ksgrocery3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757345924468802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZQnDHuW-vnVEf2RjRJtKAnHHo7z90WrIyeu7rDdXZrdxUuJpGG-y2sHnD7o9FARCez5EAlOjkIy6-BjAH4orjaiPoWJnSv_145mH-y-ueSsFYE6_Sf0vvYcRGPUvu6CuN_eqNXXmbuc/s1600/ksgrocery4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZQnDHuW-vnVEf2RjRJtKAnHHo7z90WrIyeu7rDdXZrdxUuJpGG-y2sHnD7o9FARCez5EAlOjkIy6-BjAH4orjaiPoWJnSv_145mH-y-ueSsFYE6_Sf0vvYcRGPUvu6CuN_eqNXXmbuc/s400/ksgrocery4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757337956319458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFVb29gSbqG4rCuxi5UzYySgjgky-6GpnPHHL81ivn0jx9q032cUowj5MH4jrtcdylrVhhSh6tu1Et8eu5_UPXPF83wrFAN0ttkrSc_wZiJbrT2Wfag_qwZtXthfYNlKQ7iQMQFl8CVk/s1600/ksgrocery1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFVb29gSbqG4rCuxi5UzYySgjgky-6GpnPHHL81ivn0jx9q032cUowj5MH4jrtcdylrVhhSh6tu1Et8eu5_UPXPF83wrFAN0ttkrSc_wZiJbrT2Wfag_qwZtXthfYNlKQ7iQMQFl8CVk/s400/ksgrocery1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694757359519613986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRiC7_SSyutuQqisrVhgGeRMWRKGWM7kLZsYl1TacEhjjt5xkXkd71UDCy8O4g8Kpz8x7sj9jI8mAhuCpTDF6eMnMtA5k0xx3zNOt-abw5jUtpyAdywj6ode7P-GSOEc2MSJMtPWHO4o/s1600/ksart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRiC7_SSyutuQqisrVhgGeRMWRKGWM7kLZsYl1TacEhjjt5xkXkd71UDCy8O4g8Kpz8x7sj9jI8mAhuCpTDF6eMnMtA5k0xx3zNOt-abw5jUtpyAdywj6ode7P-GSOEc2MSJMtPWHO4o/s400/ksart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756864597863394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The art room has lots of supplies for creative crafters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9Sex1SOnrso25tMeAQkqxik_M2TnhebfWhuj_EZWDuzzMXRWiN6Vj7eVGGXE9_RX8KtxuIvtzGnBn9BzB0QdTcVM-J1MO78-JgtwF0_RfyNz-JzWcNBhEoP0rajczj7pjMzKsczHhpw/s1600/ksballoon.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9Sex1SOnrso25tMeAQkqxik_M2TnhebfWhuj_EZWDuzzMXRWiN6Vj7eVGGXE9_RX8KtxuIvtzGnBn9BzB0QdTcVM-J1MO78-JgtwF0_RfyNz-JzWcNBhEoP0rajczj7pjMzKsczHhpw/s400/ksballoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756867147228418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A model of a hot air balloon rises to the ceiling after being heated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfSiWdCxl6lwFMgVcJtwMNHxm-bKp3uSar5RRV7YROeZGEio0cSTKLvUrWJLG8SB-ld3VhyphenhyphenyRzuct9XOnyyDkfUqRJApWZOkpQOSLYln54SXDk9wueWa3v4SmTcL2lefQVpHTXF5PzBk/s1600/ksstreet2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfSiWdCxl6lwFMgVcJtwMNHxm-bKp3uSar5RRV7YROeZGEio0cSTKLvUrWJLG8SB-ld3VhyphenhyphenyRzuct9XOnyyDkfUqRJApWZOkpQOSLYln54SXDk9wueWa3v4SmTcL2lefQVpHTXF5PzBk/s400/ksstreet2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756499591352834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />View of Rutherfordton's main street, still with Christmas decorations up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMdqvu5uMAlotpYLDH6RyaRTzDTkPSbNoKsyNC-BQ64SxcqLIlkDA_rc6pokIVGs4PDDlIbgvgjo2jjjnxfBJc2CHbKOW1iH91E6PCWDGKLp9J51gGXKHTGS8cFIW30kjWPSvNrxmRIk/s1600/ksstreet1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMdqvu5uMAlotpYLDH6RyaRTzDTkPSbNoKsyNC-BQ64SxcqLIlkDA_rc6pokIVGs4PDDlIbgvgjo2jjjnxfBJc2CHbKOW1iH91E6PCWDGKLp9J51gGXKHTGS8cFIW30kjWPSvNrxmRIk/s400/ksstreet1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756503881880914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Reuben reluctantly leaves the museum behind. Until next time!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_8HV7vI1qO8" allowfullscreen="" width="400" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-69232569236280979362012-01-06T20:50:00.000-08:002012-01-07T08:20:48.949-08:00Around the House and Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4kKwTI-lyuzBjN5QqEQx4wJ2qYhz8Qefcs7BHkvlzEV75PY5olex9Oug08Zs_H-8KsSyBFIz56ff-aWMEtIspSpUDhF8mHTObyQgNhq8qphQbbcsgVpwqFLrfR_9wej26EzitlGYmYs/s1600/Jude2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4kKwTI-lyuzBjN5QqEQx4wJ2qYhz8Qefcs7BHkvlzEV75PY5olex9Oug08Zs_H-8KsSyBFIz56ff-aWMEtIspSpUDhF8mHTObyQgNhq8qphQbbcsgVpwqFLrfR_9wej26EzitlGYmYs/s400/Jude2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694751063264239650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jude is full of new expressions<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDlJjBXys8GgLEz9kG6pWLJDfqoBWAgEC92oJHHggIrgtoDRaqXLNdiTWvicYArOYutDEMygM16u-s7rlm65ZkBatG7MhTHsagd-odp8VKK4Ffzu2L3vnJtTbhnaJs84dN3l8NesyK0g/s1600/Jude3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDlJjBXys8GgLEz9kG6pWLJDfqoBWAgEC92oJHHggIrgtoDRaqXLNdiTWvicYArOYutDEMygM16u-s7rlm65ZkBatG7MhTHsagd-odp8VKK4Ffzu2L3vnJtTbhnaJs84dN3l8NesyK0g/s400/Jude3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694751064155552930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PIJwUBllzna7D7qXvujJQte35RY_c188dCYhiHHcsgV5JCD_Y4HZRjbZIy00ENpPXu7YoW-l_PHG2bN8g2qStL_OkTd4PgD_IRxSCI5eBaR8X-HlG04fsZm8YWQABSjmt3IDwgh4T30/s1600/Jude1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PIJwUBllzna7D7qXvujJQte35RY_c188dCYhiHHcsgV5JCD_Y4HZRjbZIy00ENpPXu7YoW-l_PHG2bN8g2qStL_OkTd4PgD_IRxSCI5eBaR8X-HlG04fsZm8YWQABSjmt3IDwgh4T30/s400/Jude1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694751066565569026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN2_1_XSWDw_3NQE5FoWTBx3uHPw_rjchE8OyWHlENLQMR0QkchrBHcAh8X658HmgDulC3o05RRR-tsvuztVDFWeQnkIOyt1Rubn1mf_VveuGvukRPzJsxVaevqE-S5tDjdhfmkLOD7Q/s1600/Sethlego1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN2_1_XSWDw_3NQE5FoWTBx3uHPw_rjchE8OyWHlENLQMR0QkchrBHcAh8X658HmgDulC3o05RRR-tsvuztVDFWeQnkIOyt1Rubn1mf_VveuGvukRPzJsxVaevqE-S5tDjdhfmkLOD7Q/s400/Sethlego1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750630850731554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Seth enjoys Lego of all sizes<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyxdMt2zJIaVlodTv0Xyl1i3Qmy7tz3FHN8M02cTs8J3HTzmM1W7LTY5FcMgoqtG5b-47xj7U4DfY8rFRAoFQyAq6u8Rzu1N1jS9ZSES5RL6FsnXvhVkvCSgEodAfp5h6DpySXFRFL1M/s1600/Sethlego3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyxdMt2zJIaVlodTv0Xyl1i3Qmy7tz3FHN8M02cTs8J3HTzmM1W7LTY5FcMgoqtG5b-47xj7U4DfY8rFRAoFQyAq6u8Rzu1N1jS9ZSES5RL6FsnXvhVkvCSgEodAfp5h6DpySXFRFL1M/s400/Sethlego3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750627355445346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnCnFkrRDZtAq0k-bRi7pPvEJvrBhIjNiLS-UAKZneD73R9myLKr35z98SsjUiGVEruvLhwexj6PH0mkf227z0hVp6GV03KgG1Q9cLU_q22Kx9dAgtGMBvBkp2E7HDS8I4pyWILmAbGU/s1600/Sethlego2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnCnFkrRDZtAq0k-bRi7pPvEJvrBhIjNiLS-UAKZneD73R9myLKr35z98SsjUiGVEruvLhwexj6PH0mkf227z0hVp6GV03KgG1Q9cLU_q22Kx9dAgtGMBvBkp2E7HDS8I4pyWILmAbGU/s400/Sethlego2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750634424730258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30t-dDjKe5DvuZMDhPZS7VeJIm0Z9CRt80dugetQHnGzE-SXoDiD9JSgq-QvFLp1NXW-Dtwz6BlPRF9qv9D7d-BJLWUvCSskvou6ycvfie7NQA2AC3rASK-V5V9wHugyRzxMeu9D2DjI/s1600/Reubenhouse2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30t-dDjKe5DvuZMDhPZS7VeJIm0Z9CRt80dugetQHnGzE-SXoDiD9JSgq-QvFLp1NXW-Dtwz6BlPRF9qv9D7d-BJLWUvCSskvou6ycvfie7NQA2AC3rASK-V5V9wHugyRzxMeu9D2DjI/s400/Reubenhouse2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750103160058226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The kids like to be creative with their food. Reuben's style is to slice his carrots and then stack them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq5rt7-_8RyOHDokEtZUUcn5wx5oQJ8goXpL8YbEz-siFcFFE9u53o00qnJ9575nZRFzshppu3e-ffoL8VmIuS0v3dCCJoX6RgT1dgPBXAUl0F2fhHwqsZd_76_z5vFzsQwt-mOyal9k/s1600/Sethhouse.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq5rt7-_8RyOHDokEtZUUcn5wx5oQJ8goXpL8YbEz-siFcFFE9u53o00qnJ9575nZRFzshppu3e-ffoL8VmIuS0v3dCCJoX6RgT1dgPBXAUl0F2fhHwqsZd_76_z5vFzsQwt-mOyal9k/s400/Sethhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750094925262690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Seth prefers to dunk his in water first.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKds7d4eAlklo-lJ5WoqyQLe5b9FlWSuYOBSWxuDfjhyHsdiFzipbCsP5vF8Rc5KbVwpifFd98paDQLr0wX6pe5d3B7TnhX8f-oHhpAJcT40s44oGUR4dkiedh_8Z_mWXwB0LJSbrwrM/s1600/Reubenhouse.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKds7d4eAlklo-lJ5WoqyQLe5b9FlWSuYOBSWxuDfjhyHsdiFzipbCsP5vF8Rc5KbVwpifFd98paDQLr0wX6pe5d3B7TnhX8f-oHhpAJcT40s44oGUR4dkiedh_8Z_mWXwB0LJSbrwrM/s400/Reubenhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750106786589762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A good pose for a split second.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0UFJadGpd4o" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br />Continuing to document the progress in the garden.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-15286956413262376142012-01-03T13:04:00.000-08:002012-01-07T08:19:49.979-08:00Holidays at West End Farm<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LuqhalYMLWE" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oHdBUc-VMVw" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1GZlYAjRRu8" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-23845380724498765272011-12-11T16:46:00.000-08:002011-12-11T17:04:28.316-08:00Gymnastics<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9qwXbMfseW0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>stretching<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K7YXbCVhQUU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>cartwheels<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/irm75fc3y_I" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MrJkGEtaK-Y" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>round offs<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3mZG0-upwIQ" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sNJnSf3mp7g" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>back bends<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uDmCaYlsJAo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EWSgGtGApXQ" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>walk overs<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O_wzU6TwsYI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_1uLPdl1cYc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>back handsprings<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QtUvy9h3hn8" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>comboUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-74043869541517036112011-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:002011-12-01T15:31:30.578-08:00Empty Bowls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1i1yOefoeMMaOFII7QkBN3H4FDn1AWWaTgRbkiWJuxYDqC_u5bcKxca18rPVtHzSHyCwOSNSQvTRF1_DmW9dIZGWi6cF0QxRo2RUTdiPm3wcwRYQxSr8F8nCSqR5Sy0vHfPhxvpEM2U/s1600/bowls1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1i1yOefoeMMaOFII7QkBN3H4FDn1AWWaTgRbkiWJuxYDqC_u5bcKxca18rPVtHzSHyCwOSNSQvTRF1_DmW9dIZGWi6cF0QxRo2RUTdiPm3wcwRYQxSr8F8nCSqR5Sy0vHfPhxvpEM2U/s400/bowls1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681284731913791922" border="0" /></a><br />Last night the kids participated in a bowl making session for<a href="http://hubcityemptybowls.com/"> Empty Bowls,</a> a project that brings all ages together to create clay bowls, led by a pottery instructor, which are then sold at a banquet with the proceeds going to a local ministry that feeds the hungry. I was really thankful for the opportunity, since Virginia had pottery on her "to learn" list at the beginning of the school (i.e., doing life) year. And I had really hoped to do some volunteering in our community, especially during the holidays.<br /><br /><br />First, they were given clay to press onto a mold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFDM4BHWU52CvjbT_DUyBSQ-qWAolOReNlJyCSot0u5PxgnH3lxQK76DlwvrDcgthSjYiude98GSnTBovhL-labcLzNLLY_gGFanx_Kg0tSY4urad5orUQqJH6N5vmm6OaGkAHTwKiFc/s1600/bowls2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFDM4BHWU52CvjbT_DUyBSQ-qWAolOReNlJyCSot0u5PxgnH3lxQK76DlwvrDcgthSjYiude98GSnTBovhL-labcLzNLLY_gGFanx_Kg0tSY4urad5orUQqJH6N5vmm6OaGkAHTwKiFc/s400/bowls2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681284730069876450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmdLAjMcU_BWYgkeor8QXKbo1EOfuPBGrxkEO-ydeTuTca-7ecnOKvwoXYoYWNpL-yjmywaAewTSW8bEm8pK4R3cJmorD9c0ylXxq-tTlZbf1jDxRP41MEh-u1pykxJdKQYAbVdMrc-Q/s1600/bowls3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmdLAjMcU_BWYgkeor8QXKbo1EOfuPBGrxkEO-ydeTuTca-7ecnOKvwoXYoYWNpL-yjmywaAewTSW8bEm8pK4R3cJmorD9c0ylXxq-tTlZbf1jDxRP41MEh-u1pykxJdKQYAbVdMrc-Q/s400/bowls3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681284744420487666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVXXZsz5bEqzL832ODq3qcgelFC7gut55P4-qq0dQEnlYhlP-sAZepKrFHOTllwDoKzrK7bkl3TP-F9I5EmkIcYIsc4jmEj0iZMCWZC1RXY5oN59XC8oL4-YJSRWtJUY7h9Fb-NZoQj4/s1600/bowls4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVXXZsz5bEqzL832ODq3qcgelFC7gut55P4-qq0dQEnlYhlP-sAZepKrFHOTllwDoKzrK7bkl3TP-F9I5EmkIcYIsc4jmEj0iZMCWZC1RXY5oN59XC8oL4-YJSRWtJUY7h9Fb-NZoQj4/s400/bowls4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681285438585632098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lots of busy bowl makers<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiae-FQe9q6aeRehqWCcdKyHkTxeqgVu9sr4RfonoLTtg3U6kIjTMKZ-KUU1uEt-ZUVG9Y3ExXmP5uXtMbMtrNCyI7PgXkAkXWnZIiMy5OdVSLAmiXn-teUHMFR_W-9qO5mCdAnFDG2iHI/s1600/bowls6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiae-FQe9q6aeRehqWCcdKyHkTxeqgVu9sr4RfonoLTtg3U6kIjTMKZ-KUU1uEt-ZUVG9Y3ExXmP5uXtMbMtrNCyI7PgXkAkXWnZIiMy5OdVSLAmiXn-teUHMFR_W-9qO5mCdAnFDG2iHI/s400/bowls6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681285450544235954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Once they had a good, smooth layer of clay, they could use a variety of objects to press in different textures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm71MefU4fXhdgWVT6RJjBlSYGtBX0CIM0DIh2HsUyxRYWQsaMW7mMdAFmclhMv56A0LcE2F24CwYTDwgYARDLTGJTn6Lv7aP_tbEwAyOD2azO8Gz4eN263oQHFyKg0pLBrF1I-g8hnU/s1600/bowls7.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm71MefU4fXhdgWVT6RJjBlSYGtBX0CIM0DIh2HsUyxRYWQsaMW7mMdAFmclhMv56A0LcE2F24CwYTDwgYARDLTGJTn6Lv7aP_tbEwAyOD2azO8Gz4eN263oQHFyKg0pLBrF1I-g8hnU/s400/bowls7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681285998155466066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnjyqyIoMwhT780mARyhn9w8dDLgLU7FrxHPJLm4qvb_QnWOM7OctWsaMmBs7vfj6n8cRH3SId12v_rW-2RMf9tAqKt5nbkoHd-R9wVotRsCUrwcIRZ3jFjGD3mbc4Q4CaG-XTTCKF9w/s1600/bowls5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnjyqyIoMwhT780mARyhn9w8dDLgLU7FrxHPJLm4qvb_QnWOM7OctWsaMmBs7vfj6n8cRH3SId12v_rW-2RMf9tAqKt5nbkoHd-R9wVotRsCUrwcIRZ3jFjGD3mbc4Q4CaG-XTTCKF9w/s400/bowls5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681285444674981298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The bowl is removed from the mold and can be smoothed with water.<br />Everyone could make their own, unique design. Virginia added a flower to hers, another girl made alphabet shapes to stick to the bottom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaApFFWqb8eq5Q0yzxbzHc3BRocOvuBTw_0jYhl0_9wWSTS6aIQqVK749cYdG4jtlFh4SCnvGjcshTCHBCz9wiK7qvUb-3VRdhum596_kLQjYXcKM17VvEa6EWGEDD6sLFedegl4okrQ/s1600/bowls11.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaApFFWqb8eq5Q0yzxbzHc3BRocOvuBTw_0jYhl0_9wWSTS6aIQqVK749cYdG4jtlFh4SCnvGjcshTCHBCz9wiK7qvUb-3VRdhum596_kLQjYXcKM17VvEa6EWGEDD6sLFedegl4okrQ/s400/bowls11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681286397487280098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Luke kept Reuben and Seth occupied by having them pose for pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMgWKjCcvXmjIMi-_lMITOdqe5FgPEWglby1FdUn3EGTSZM7evPj67ogUxxn2rkOPpKC06HFfE8rngZm_pv2Z643hSv5DG_TRIag3MAsdjB5PTGG0R5prGMFbdNKzIX_efUalXCdK4s4/s1600/bowls10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMgWKjCcvXmjIMi-_lMITOdqe5FgPEWglby1FdUn3EGTSZM7evPj67ogUxxn2rkOPpKC06HFfE8rngZm_pv2Z643hSv5DG_TRIag3MAsdjB5PTGG0R5prGMFbdNKzIX_efUalXCdK4s4/s400/bowls10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681286393492214994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7q_fPlNPHCZ24tPW3hE6vPqmJAX9qGcVY3RW6FXjW-KbElE1Zonp5o-c322PlS9xewlGxgPbHAOlESHL9LVwpWitaD8wNpuGtJHA9YYtfubjwIkIqEvVSQ1lcNcWZA2gBklnPpBfa-k/s1600/bowls8.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7q_fPlNPHCZ24tPW3hE6vPqmJAX9qGcVY3RW6FXjW-KbElE1Zonp5o-c322PlS9xewlGxgPbHAOlESHL9LVwpWitaD8wNpuGtJHA9YYtfubjwIkIqEvVSQ1lcNcWZA2gBklnPpBfa-k/s400/bowls8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681285999739254466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The world is a stage.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb5hbsG4-6M8uZyoV8zxvxwjBmB7MoE2bCTVt_nmYYchThFzgCPna3K3_HVdNIgFYI_F_1BFE9pprl8D15oYDSg0da2-IWIBQ3Oz2zu5uRkPzC050Gv5wF0iUh-ZXqMIzGkGO-p5WPiM/s1600/bowls9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb5hbsG4-6M8uZyoV8zxvxwjBmB7MoE2bCTVt_nmYYchThFzgCPna3K3_HVdNIgFYI_F_1BFE9pprl8D15oYDSg0da2-IWIBQ3Oz2zu5uRkPzC050Gv5wF0iUh-ZXqMIzGkGO-p5WPiM/s400/bowls9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681286007878182130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36EtZ0iijpESVtEGkz6LyudHsdrvyozyxnlQIpBvX8eB0hIS3sSZRHZE7XgWztyvzCh8HGnI8SEibNtmgp385zqSIi3xcAVE-HkWe7sWGk2ZzSqwBNsJQp1uCtosUhuydX2EARJZkpvY/s1600/bowls12.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36EtZ0iijpESVtEGkz6LyudHsdrvyozyxnlQIpBvX8eB0hIS3sSZRHZE7XgWztyvzCh8HGnI8SEibNtmgp385zqSIi3xcAVE-HkWe7sWGk2ZzSqwBNsJQp1uCtosUhuydX2EARJZkpvY/s400/bowls12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681286409702906754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Miriam inspects the finished bowls. I think she is pointing to the one she made, and Virginia's is the one in the middle of the pan beside her with the flower sticking out. Reuben's is down at the far end.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-26958961610416697962011-11-03T19:05:00.001-07:002011-12-02T07:13:20.981-08:00Fall....and stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWnVae4XzTV4Y5oORg__mfqPOoiLYXECZFcDsJFPMyRn416cGbVOZXICI5vZlFLMxsD9QOcb82q4k1m82LfLu-ng4lzRjuiqHumZieb5sxk0yYZ8MSNTXrEoQTjvB0sildrgkpFagvMc/s1600/fire.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWnVae4XzTV4Y5oORg__mfqPOoiLYXECZFcDsJFPMyRn416cGbVOZXICI5vZlFLMxsD9QOcb82q4k1m82LfLu-ng4lzRjuiqHumZieb5sxk0yYZ8MSNTXrEoQTjvB0sildrgkpFagvMc/s400/fire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670956894398397458" border="0" /></a>We've been having lots of fun this fall. So much fun, that I haven't had any time to blog about it all!<br /><br />We kicked off the first day of the season with an equinox party and bonfire at our home. A few families came from a new "homeschool" group called LATTE, which stands for "Learning all the time, everywhere". It's really a planning center for events and activities and is particularly suited to our autodidactical approach to education. The group was recently started by a friend I met at the local farmer's market, and it's been a wonderful way to incorporate the kids' interests within the local community. Leslie heads up the children's table there at the market with activities and crafts each week. She brought materials to our party to make fall garlands and apple stars. The kids all had a great time collecting leaves, twigs and acorns to thread onto the garlands. Then we enjoyed a hot dog roast and s'mores over a cheery fire for supper. And last of all, we<a href="http://www.sparklingadventures.com/index.php?id=1396"> skyped my friend Lauren in Australia</a> to meet her family and see what their brand new spring looked like in the southern hemisphere.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwMSeeoT0fXMSsoYJ17xvSAORA3qpAbF5oYrsm9GX1ftElgkBst2SsTrOm4Y4uA0MWr1P4HFkrk-dSICrzgZ8uLtf9QWJVEstCFfI2lUAoSYCqPFyLQpkMmZrl1PLLpbn_RUt3U3WRyc/s1600/judeatgrandmas.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwMSeeoT0fXMSsoYJ17xvSAORA3qpAbF5oYrsm9GX1ftElgkBst2SsTrOm4Y4uA0MWr1P4HFkrk-dSICrzgZ8uLtf9QWJVEstCFfI2lUAoSYCqPFyLQpkMmZrl1PLLpbn_RUt3U3WRyc/s400/judeatgrandmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670956894650896290" border="0" /></a>The kids are all growing, especially Jude, who has gotten quite chubby and quite too big for his newborn sized clothes. Here he is at his first trip to Grandma's. Big sister Virginia snapped this picture, as well as the one above of the fire in the wood stove. She experimented with several settings before she found one that captured the dancing flames just right. She does a lot of experimenting these days. You might stumble on a perfect, rectangular patch of new grass on the bare patch under the old swing set, a half finished model of a lego fire truck, and many bracelets with various arrangements of beads strewn about the house. Especially since my friend, Kelly, and I coordinated a jewelry making class with Kelly's girl scout troop led by two local artisans, whom my girls had gotten to know a bit at the farmer's market. Both Virginia and Miriam made lists of the things they wanted to learn this school year, and jewelry making was at or near the top for the two of them.<br /><br />Miriam is the little mama to her brothers and loves to have them accompany her on endless pretend trips to the market and real picnics that she packs up for them to take outside. This morning she drew a calendar with illustrations in each box for the chores they had to do each day. When I asked her why she only had "feed the cat" for one day, she informed me that that was the day they would visit Virginia and help her feed her cat, but they did not have a cat to feed every day.<br /><br />Reuben is funny, and impatient. But you can't blame him too much when he is stuck in the middle and sometimes needs a little extra drama to get attention. We are all learning to be patient with each other. He loves super heroes, drawing monsters and dressing up as a fireman. We took a tour of the local fire station in his honor with the LATTE group. At four, he is proud to make himself snacks, which he learned by watching his sisters. Trail mixes are his specialty, but chocolate milk from scratch (a spoonful of sugar, a spoonful of cocoa, a spoonful of hot water, mix, then stir in milk) and a cup of tea are, well, also his cup of tea.<br /><br />Seth is quickly leaving his babyhood behind. He's grown into a stocky boy with a bright mind and lots and lots of words. He is our earliest talker and has opinions too, which he never hesitates in sharing. He is also the loudest and largest for his age, which sometimes makes the two year old mood swings a bit challenging. In a matter of seconds he is the loving big brother who makes the baby coo and smile and the charging bull/screaming banshee who didn't get his way when Mama refused to let him ...wave a sharp knife in the air, pound the baby, flood the kitchen, play with fire, you get the idea. But he's almost always in the mood for a cuddle. They all are, and I'd better get as many in as I can before they think they're too old. (You are never too old from a mama's point of view).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaA0UXgzVJuSlLkPUYqzz1btM-kO1kfs_KfeF4qMFeJfjfE3KhD_FJIbnvjnjnoST_HJuMVBebZTbqg1FMPr7sZZIxQB-k4NA2Nz7A7GryoTxMONqXEPOU8CSP5bYO0MdiDC2va7w5bQ/s1600/harvest.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaA0UXgzVJuSlLkPUYqzz1btM-kO1kfs_KfeF4qMFeJfjfE3KhD_FJIbnvjnjnoST_HJuMVBebZTbqg1FMPr7sZZIxQB-k4NA2Nz7A7GryoTxMONqXEPOU8CSP5bYO0MdiDC2va7w5bQ/s400/harvest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670993141739401570" border="0" /></a>We've also been enjoying the harvest. I let the garden go while recovering from the c-section and new baby days, but was grateful to still harvest some big sweet potatoes (which were so good, we ate them all already), a few acorn squash and some beautiful, colorful ears of Cherokee popcorn. I've been gathering acorns, too, soaking and drying them, and grinding them into flour, and making oodles of muscadine jam. It's hunting season too, and our neighbors have given us a generous portion from a buck they shot here in our neck of the woods. I made some stock with the bones and used it to make some warm, hearty stew with local veggies from the farmer's market, herbs from the garden, and some tender meat that was stuck to the bone. And I have steaks and roasts in the freezer for future recipes to try.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBOTUgrSb8eIiK49bu7GHVTDDiBS4naA6zfdCU_kW6IADv82AcKsraicKDVSoJuN41YriczWSSMy6H-Z9vWa5dgiZtlCrhQ3gN6FH0YDggGafBsbcIUzKFKaxCTDgDPR6ZrCFL6bboQA/s1600/stew.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBOTUgrSb8eIiK49bu7GHVTDDiBS4naA6zfdCU_kW6IADv82AcKsraicKDVSoJuN41YriczWSSMy6H-Z9vWa5dgiZtlCrhQ3gN6FH0YDggGafBsbcIUzKFKaxCTDgDPR6ZrCFL6bboQA/s400/stew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670956900613344018" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-51508836500486826622011-09-23T08:55:00.000-07:002011-09-23T09:47:36.464-07:00Biblical Worldview?<a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist.jpg"><img alt="KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist.jpg/240px-KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />I have a big problem with the term, The Biblical Worldview. It assumes that whatever reality or truth is out there, we somehow have to justify it or connect it to the Bible. As a Christian, I think this is a shabby use of scripture, which consists of particular books written by particular authors with particular intentions. What if I believed that the literary forms are also inspired? Then I would have to take Genesis as myth/poetry, gospels as testimonies from individual perspectives, epistles as letters to particular people and Revelation and prophets as apocalyptic metaphor and social commentary because these are the types of literature they are, and were originally received as. I think it is the product of Roman imperialism and Greek philosophy that seeks to totalize and universalize the sacred texts, then distill them into dogmatic formulae. I think that is not only a shabby way to read them, but also a lifeless, dull way, and, well, irreverent. "One ring to rule them all" type of thing.<br /><br />Part of the emphasis of the Reformation was that the Bible applies to all of life. But that does not take into account that the "all" in life, such as humanly created institutions, and theologies that support them, are not in themselves Biblical, nor did they even exist in Biblical times. In particular, the Dutch neo-reformed theologian, Abraham Kuyper, propagated the idea of a pillared society, upheld by the various institutions of family, church and state, and many smaller ones. This is the way the Christian dominionists in the USA view society, by trying to take over each of these "pillars" for God. It's just another "manifest destiny" if you ask me. Fascist to the core. I mean, what if we went and applied the Bible to the Hindu caste system. Does that make it "biblical"? Hell no. You can dress up a skeleton in different clothes, but it's still a skeleton. And it's still dead.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-82404261716127087782011-09-20T10:11:00.000-07:002011-09-20T14:12:29.490-07:00I Am Sick of Hearing About the High Calling of Motherhood!<a title="By treesftf [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenya_2010_Planting_Vetiver_Grass.jpg"><img alt="Kenya 2010 Planting Vetiver Grass" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Kenya_2010_Planting_Vetiver_Grass.jpg/640px-Kenya_2010_Planting_Vetiver_Grass.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that motherhood is a high calling. So is fatherhood. But, like so many catchy phrases, it is often used to mean something beyond it's face value. It's often a coded way of saying that motherhood (and read between the lines, cook and cleaning lady) is the only appropriate employment a woman may have. This is a relatively recent myth, perpetuated among a certain class lucky enough to live on a single income, because throughout most of the world, and throughout history, mothers and fathers have had to work beyond their houses. But the world was much friendlier towards having children accompany their parents. Mothers would wear their babies to the fields or forests to farm and gather, and they would be in the company of other women and children. When boys were old enough, they could accompany the hunting parties with the men. In these hunter gatherer societies, however, home was the village, and much time was spent together in community life: making tools, preparing food, singing and telling stories around the fire. <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201105/how-hunter-gatherers-maintained-their-egalitarian-ways-three-complementary">They were also mostly egalitarian</a>. Although, for practical reasons, men and women had some separate roles, the aged and elders of both sexes shared their wisdom and helped make important decisions for the tribe.<br /><br />I don't want to give the impression that I naively believe that hunter gatherer societies had a perfect life. But as we move forward in time, it is good to remember what we may have lost along the way in our scramble ahead. And to think about how we can get some of it back. The modern exaltation of the nuclear family has its drawbacks. It isolates women from their communities, families from their aging parents, neighbors from one another, and people from the land they walk on together. By having one or both parents work long hours away from their children, the current corporate economy also contributes to the breakdown of both family and community life.<br /><br />I think the remedy must go far deeper than keeping mom shackled to the home. Mothers, as much as fathers, have a multitude of gifts they wish to share with the wider world. And fathers, as much as mothers, need lots of time to spend with their children in order to develop strong relationships and community values. And the land! The land is so tired of being trampled on, built and cemented over, and polluted by our mindless consumption. If you don't believe me, take some time, go into the woods alone, and just listen. Quiet all defensiveness, and just listen. Look at every detail. It does not take rocket science to figure out that if you keep extracting from a limited resource, and do not return what you take, the resource will run dry. I don't need any politician to tell me that.<br /><br />So let's work together to re-imagine and recreate a new kind of economy, and a new definition of home. Let's treat the earth as God's house, which was made so that we would all dwell together as one family. Remember that the holy city with streets of gold comes down to earth, and it is a metaphor of the Bride, the people of God, who are living stones built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. We are that city. Let us open the gates wide and invite others to sit down and eat together at one table, each sharing with all the gifts we have been given. Let's practice an economy of Jubilee, where debts are forgiven, slaves are freed, and the land is returned to the laborer. Let's equip all with tools not for building ladders to reach the top, but true <a href="http://opencollector.org/history/homebrew/tools.html">tools for conviviality</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-49255574353856174712011-08-30T13:35:00.000-07:002011-08-30T13:37:01.146-07:00curriculum giveawayCool giveaway at this site! It's a homeschool curriculum, and it sounds like a really good one.
<br /><a href="http://mothering.com/all-things-mothering/education/win-a-complete-homeschool-curriculum-k-8-from-oak-meadow-3/comment-page-6#comment-28166">http://mothering.com/all-things-mothering/education/win-a-complete-homeschool-curriculum-k-8-from-oak-meadow-3/comment-page-6#comment-28166</a>
<br />Evangelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06303945410834970863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-53496943852532086102011-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:002011-08-14T10:04:28.112-07:00Jude's Birth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C3T6uFO4fe0VCcw743dEkcimGJuJ9UuXJS-3o-2L9-t-Uv8FJiDA42ALXdDnF6XJjC36IQUM7EnSXiV1mWSJGHLqLGyGjf7ZkcnbwjzDso97TUH599M6QDnPlWepsYF8DKoRfnmdZ5I/s1600/jude1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C3T6uFO4fe0VCcw743dEkcimGJuJ9UuXJS-3o-2L9-t-Uv8FJiDA42ALXdDnF6XJjC36IQUM7EnSXiV1mWSJGHLqLGyGjf7ZkcnbwjzDso97TUH599M6QDnPlWepsYF8DKoRfnmdZ5I/s400/jude1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640747066381734978" border="0" /></a> Jude Thomas Harding joined our family August 2 at 6lbs. 3oz. His birth was a lot different than the other four. After he had gone over a week past the due date, I realized he was stuck in a transverse lie, and knew I was going to need some help. I was planning to check in at the hospital, but also consulted a couple midwives to see if there was any way to get him turned. I went to a chiropractor and got the Webster technique done Monday afternoon on August 1. I thought he may have shifted position, and I also began to have a lot of contractions, so after dinner I went to a birth center an hour away to have the midwife who delivered my first child check us out and see if he could be delivered there. She found him still lying transverse and counseled us to go to the hospital. It was late at night but we were admitted. There was an experienced Dr. there who was able to turn Jude with an external version. Very painful! I was thankful to have not only Luke there with me, but my priest, Jenny, to offer prayers and support. And that my kids were in the very best of hands, since my mom had come earlier in the day. I knew we had a lot of people praying for us.
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<br />Next, we were transported to labor and delivery. My water broke soon after and it had meconium (new baby poop) in it, which was not uncommon after a version, since the baby can be somewhat traumatized from it. So I had to stay on the bed for the rest of the night hooked up to the moniter. Labor progressed very slowly, even with the pitocin they gave me. Jude was head down, but he stayed suspended several inches above the pelvis. Several times that night after very strong, painful contractions, his heart rate would drop and we would have to struggle to get it back up with uncomfortable positions and oxygen. By morning the contractions had become unbearable. I would only contract along the bottom of the uterus, as if my body was trying to keep baby up in there rather than get him out, and it hurt like hell. They finally gave me something to stop the contractions and I got a few moments rest. The shift changed during this time and the new nurse got things going again, but with less pitocin. Jude's heart rate dropped again, and it took longer to get it back up. When the new Dr. came in, we both agreed to a c-section. I was exhausted and knew we needed to get him out of there. It turned out that the cord was wrapped twice around his neck and was stuck by his head. This time, I was not at home in my birthing pool, reaching down to draw out my baby's soft head, feeling the ears, cheeks and face slowly emerge, and it was not Luke's and my hands that caught our little one when he came sliding out. This time, I could see nothing, my body was numbed from the chest down, and my arms were tied down. But I heard his first cry, and knew he was going to be alright, that everything was going to be okay. And I would shortly have my baby in my arms, which is what I had so desperately longed for since I reached full term. We are so thankful for a healthy baby boy with a very big appetite who already sleeps for a 6 hour stretch at night!<a href="http://hardingshowandtell.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-judes-birth.html"> Luke's version of Jude's birth can be read here.</a>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-84744533349772127982011-07-13T18:02:00.000-07:002011-07-13T18:05:56.653-07:00Nim's IslandBest Unschooling Movie Ever!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.letmewatchthis.ch/external.php?title=Nim%27s+Island&url=aHR0cDovL3ZpZGJveC5uZXQvZmlsZS5waHA/ZmQ9NTIzNTE1Mg==&domain=dmlkYm94Lm5ldA==&loggedin=0">Watch on this ad supported site</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-65355658531263229022011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:002011-04-21T12:41:06.152-07:00Spring At West End Farm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltq0M4VbYYu0T5ZwpbdtRnHeCU9KxP_fiMLuNAgG5KmTDPnEZM5f7hjWro38V4uunAR3Nk2sPxrsklNdL1e1LBxzVOY4i0UW7bSJGvo55xbiHXFEsfWIV0AvDRRsu3vRMXCrjHS7-j5o/s1600/spring1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltq0M4VbYYu0T5ZwpbdtRnHeCU9KxP_fiMLuNAgG5KmTDPnEZM5f7hjWro38V4uunAR3Nk2sPxrsklNdL1e1LBxzVOY4i0UW7bSJGvo55xbiHXFEsfWIV0AvDRRsu3vRMXCrjHS7-j5o/s400/spring1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123889927219794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQE7HDkImgteJnmArPVTs4EibHpHgc7rWo6k-nTnraPdwz5xNoX8ySFTvl2aUg0jdA5Eu4t7QAMN0Z0nZwSZhcYdm-uYq0v6ghnsqOKgEyxMZ5AndumRUpvND5A3Cx7Mz8PWNujCskvw/s1600/spring2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQE7HDkImgteJnmArPVTs4EibHpHgc7rWo6k-nTnraPdwz5xNoX8ySFTvl2aUg0jdA5Eu4t7QAMN0Z0nZwSZhcYdm-uYq0v6ghnsqOKgEyxMZ5AndumRUpvND5A3Cx7Mz8PWNujCskvw/s400/spring2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123890046023618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7D4HrDKo9kUpoJSgSJIsiNDGTUNe7IQGtTGEDkA9Sszqp1Bf0BXM28mDtm_qWEPJGU8zO3i3f3e0sVOhrBG10AXWvO7EMiizW1PmBGpArd0TUtsYagN8JZlUAEeWUQiWKxAa2lCDf5o/s1600/spring3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7D4HrDKo9kUpoJSgSJIsiNDGTUNe7IQGtTGEDkA9Sszqp1Bf0BXM28mDtm_qWEPJGU8zO3i3f3e0sVOhrBG10AXWvO7EMiizW1PmBGpArd0TUtsYagN8JZlUAEeWUQiWKxAa2lCDf5o/s400/spring3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123165898754818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmaMz3EHSjoZdTurrG9ECkVRUPXr7bF2hetK__WkddouQBa5C5Y1IQv1ORfuQNtFBNVOb3JFykMsU-XUpKW8s33equasPltOsGhVXl3LPVJXmBjkb_iWEVv138hP0EpOoH_y4IO9scqo/s1600/spring4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmaMz3EHSjoZdTurrG9ECkVRUPXr7bF2hetK__WkddouQBa5C5Y1IQv1ORfuQNtFBNVOb3JFykMsU-XUpKW8s33equasPltOsGhVXl3LPVJXmBjkb_iWEVv138hP0EpOoH_y4IO9scqo/s400/spring4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123165486327714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqLKNVPoQwwfdg8OK_NY84XVg8bsrh-WbnEI04fWFyKTZWKnDwm4_eLmT3ktqAGiZFXr0pdwna-1eQ5YLRckctLOwxwWEtkzw9ecaLUPqIAl2ITqx8oAK2G_szYAXrQaRoOaOwiKwMAQ/s1600/spring5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqLKNVPoQwwfdg8OK_NY84XVg8bsrh-WbnEI04fWFyKTZWKnDwm4_eLmT3ktqAGiZFXr0pdwna-1eQ5YLRckctLOwxwWEtkzw9ecaLUPqIAl2ITqx8oAK2G_szYAXrQaRoOaOwiKwMAQ/s400/spring5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123157857057618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIlTp7U6olXQWAikEHR2dKDCN4XzQm52mTqrMg1hkSWq77NJ6RF8BvIUkxIbp0zxCpFeDSqM8dUEzDb991nZSLkV_U43-F3o0a_06spflYgyPFWFBRR1Ju9gJtcTidUWsiieKgSnsIbk/s1600/spring6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIlTp7U6olXQWAikEHR2dKDCN4XzQm52mTqrMg1hkSWq77NJ6RF8BvIUkxIbp0zxCpFeDSqM8dUEzDb991nZSLkV_U43-F3o0a_06spflYgyPFWFBRR1Ju9gJtcTidUWsiieKgSnsIbk/s400/spring6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123151327488130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU-4-u2ztOh5dIHQPHD1VF9bqpKVZWpZIdIVPvodjq-utrEzqOcpNUmkQNdf7Q8UzEwyamjCH5jOhVg8V0b94u4k1_bzqDhWmsQcDu4EkPwS4O7JyNwe6RSoOTZn0z97ehTarzrriRd4/s1600/spring7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU-4-u2ztOh5dIHQPHD1VF9bqpKVZWpZIdIVPvodjq-utrEzqOcpNUmkQNdf7Q8UzEwyamjCH5jOhVg8V0b94u4k1_bzqDhWmsQcDu4EkPwS4O7JyNwe6RSoOTZn0z97ehTarzrriRd4/s400/spring7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598123144765327906" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-39059551365953158492011-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:002011-04-07T16:16:15.819-07:00When Children are Neighbors<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVATDcsycnWSv64mj0RcdoyQHThbw49-NAncbSXwUyOs9PD6KcNCuqclDEqrYx4I4IltKdAZnboK7lkhn1AdjyVmeuf9BqaKc7_otAXnKM_7LHRm1A6RuuK-p9_VKmlutlYTN0JqKKvw/s1600/Caprichos_Nr_23%252C_Dieser_Staub.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVATDcsycnWSv64mj0RcdoyQHThbw49-NAncbSXwUyOs9PD6KcNCuqclDEqrYx4I4IltKdAZnboK7lkhn1AdjyVmeuf9BqaKc7_otAXnKM_7LHRm1A6RuuK-p9_VKmlutlYTN0JqKKvw/s400/Caprichos_Nr_23%252C_Dieser_Staub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592957385981099250" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Public shaming is a disciplinary tactic common in the classroom setting. Most of us have probably experienced it at least once. The teacher finds a child guilty of some negligence or disruption and rebukes her in front of the whole class. Dunce caps may have been discarded, but the chorus of derisive "Ooooooh's" from fellow classmates, combined with the disapproval of an adult that the child tries <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> hard to please certainly carries a similar emotional weight. The pink splotched cheeks, the jaw clenched to prevent tears (which would only add to the shame), the downcast gaze- these are all outward indications of the turmoil within. With knotted stomach and a monstrous lump in her throat, the branded heretic returns to her lunch, now tasteless, and with great effort tries to put on a show of not caring. She musters a smug look and forces herself to chew and swallow as if nothing had happened. But inside her brain a firestorm is raging as she struggles to understand why whatever she did was so unacceptable when she intended no harm. And gradually she internalizes that the teacher must be right and that she is, herself, unacceptable. Is it any wonder that, given the way we treat our children, that the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any other country?<br /><br />Part of the reason for this disciplinary method is the religious background of this nation. The Calvinist doctrine of Original Sin once prevailed and it was interpreted in such a way that parents and teachers assumed that every infringement of "the rules" was due to an inborn propensity to rebel. And it was their job to beat it out of their children. When I was a child I can remember how offended I felt if my motives were thus dictated to me, knowing in my heart that I had not acted out of rebellion, but simply out of ignorance or forgetfulness of what was expected of me. I had a deep and lively faith and love of God, and was hurt when those who did not know my heart would not believe me. I wonder if parents and teachers really think about the golden rule when disciplining their children. I know I forget it far more often than I care to admit. But I believe we should always assume the best in others, <span style="font-style: italic;">especially our children</span>, if that is how we wish to be treated ourselves.<br /><br />Once children have moved on from the baby stage, during which a large part of their thinking is devoted to simply learning the mechanisms of how to live in space and to make sense of sensory information, they gradually begin to understand about relationships and how their actions cause responses among their peers and caregivers. Though even before they are born, babies are deeply perceptive of emotions in others, especially in their mothers. And their first textbook is the human face, which they try to mimic and understand as soon as their eyes can focus. As they grow to school age, the desire increases to be instrumental in shaping the world around them, as well as being involved in the lives of the people around them. They are very anxious to prove themselves to the adults closest to them.<br /><br />I think that as adults, we often take for granted the customs and manners we have adopted through the process of socialization. We sometimes seem to think that children should simply <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> which behaviors are appropriate and which are not, and when they act out of ignorance, we assume they are being intentionally rebellious. We get frustrated when children simply don't "get" what is obvious to us. For instance, if a child is making rude sounds at the table, even though this is not a sin in itself, we make it into a sin by virtue of them doing something we told them not to. We thus make the parent the arbitrary definer of sin. Why not rather ask the child to be considerate of others and explain that most people do not want to eat around people who make those noises while they eat? I suspect this appeal will, in most cases, be all that is needed. If the child still will not cooperate, then it is probably clear that he is being intentionally selfish. But the approach "obey without question because you are under our authority" treats the child more like an animal to be trained, rather than a thinking, human being with a soul capable of moral choices.<br /><br />There are, no doubt, times when children do intentional wrong. Often, though, this is in retaliation. Again, we should try to assume the best. This does not mean that wrong or socially unacceptable behavior should be ignored. But, as in the illustration above, we first need to strive to communicate with them, before we discipline.<br /><br />And we should not use the tactic of public disgrace, either in the school, the home or any institution. We so often forget that even though our children are children, they are no less our brothers and sisters. Thus, if we are Christians, we begin with "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you...." (Matthew 18:15)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him in his arms and he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9:35-37)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: The image above is by the Spanish artist, Francisco Goya, and is part of of series done in 1797, 1798 entitled "Los Caprichos". Goya described them as depicting "the innumerable foibles and follies to be found in any civilized society, and from the common prejudices and deceitful practices which custom, ignorance or self interest have made usual."</span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-90223609266795451702011-02-26T08:15:00.000-08:002011-02-26T08:25:42.411-08:00Enjoying Our New Location :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM554ycw5srcyY47lPlwKEZ1quJXtpngq6L7W80QiPEUzv9bPaireQjfiKBKx9EcuvikdPwvPisM_yWC_iB_e4h4c5-OVpdZONn9bBmy2lRORpFg-JU-irS2e7-Awj22hYw4H9I63Sbwo/s1600/2011-02-24+14.14.08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM554ycw5srcyY47lPlwKEZ1quJXtpngq6L7W80QiPEUzv9bPaireQjfiKBKx9EcuvikdPwvPisM_yWC_iB_e4h4c5-OVpdZONn9bBmy2lRORpFg-JU-irS2e7-Awj22hYw4H9I63Sbwo/s320/2011-02-24+14.14.08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578034242233914386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CZ57X2BcxYMfJMKXdChbjREu0eN72kJJeU0vCUao9L9LQCoewnnk5kE9N6EZ0XDd7PTusOzrIVkzNOD5abQbr29rDcRNCkz8m0bSdbBk0bUf_he3q3s0IRiqhzyRANFwFcAsBqigTzI/s1600/2011-02-24+13.25.02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CZ57X2BcxYMfJMKXdChbjREu0eN72kJJeU0vCUao9L9LQCoewnnk5kE9N6EZ0XDd7PTusOzrIVkzNOD5abQbr29rDcRNCkz8m0bSdbBk0bUf_he3q3s0IRiqhzyRANFwFcAsBqigTzI/s320/2011-02-24+13.25.02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578034236073936338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoGAq4AGlUmLNcuwCauZAf7A3G2WbS8ZrD3NpP6tpc-7obgOdxu6baDne-ImksUNU8VQ02yWyqMGMXrKb4raY1jsEoNQ6ENNadc4AFIvB0LiJEYhrHCXuhPy99mgcaRsMxujeDJppzK4/s1600/2011-02-24+13.40.35.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoGAq4AGlUmLNcuwCauZAf7A3G2WbS8ZrD3NpP6tpc-7obgOdxu6baDne-ImksUNU8VQ02yWyqMGMXrKb4raY1jsEoNQ6ENNadc4AFIvB0LiJEYhrHCXuhPy99mgcaRsMxujeDJppzK4/s320/2011-02-24+13.40.35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578034230177663394" border="0" /></a><br />About a month ago the four of us Nathans moved to Jacksonville, FL. We are enjoying all the sunshine so much! Everyday the kids play outside and soak up some good vitamin D. The other day we finally made it out to the beach and had a nice picnic lunch there. Simon even took his afternoon nap on a towel in the sand. Lacey never stopped playing the whole time. It's so nice for my kids to be able to be outdoors so much. We built a sandcastle, then I got to lie back and read my book for a while :)Evangelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06303945410834970863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-64116396328096440142011-01-25T11:52:00.000-08:002011-01-25T12:50:04.245-08:00Just Built!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGki55HyX9hxUU_mOawGPlFaddq15CNglN5FKtuenmQVKUSojDM7R0rtz5nVwjt7lAf_9ZYpG4eAPK0qpIdhfwjaMFRzJnVabpfQvQCCfrSbqd-5__5ZhNUW2mwJqmtdijPzjrTEE8qHc/s1600/chickenhouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGki55HyX9hxUU_mOawGPlFaddq15CNglN5FKtuenmQVKUSojDM7R0rtz5nVwjt7lAf_9ZYpG4eAPK0qpIdhfwjaMFRzJnVabpfQvQCCfrSbqd-5__5ZhNUW2mwJqmtdijPzjrTEE8qHc/s400/chickenhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566214361424101938" border="0" /></a>No, it's not a wigwam, though I had considered that as an option. My goal was to build a chicken shelter with materials we already had on hand. Thankfully, I managed to find enough scrap lumber around the property to complete the job. So this shelter is made entirely with recycled materials and hand tools. I didn't spend a red cent.<br /><br />Among my sources for salvaged wood was an old goat shelter that we found in the woods a couple years ago. It looked like it was thrown together with scraps as well. It was covered in vines and brambles and was falling apart, but some of it was still intact. I took it apart, toted it across the field and was able to use a good bit of it, though the ends and edges of the wood were rotted and had to be trimmed, and the pieces of tin roof needed a few minor patches with caulk. I was also able to straighten and reuse some of the nails, though I must admit that I used up Luke's stash of leftovers first.<br /><br />Other sources of wood were an old shed door, a pallet, and a free standing nesting box Luke had made several years ago. The nesting box was missing a back, so I put a hinged flap on it to allow for easy access (the hinges were also from the old shed door). Now all it needs is a latch for the flap and a paint job. Maybe I'll find some paint to salvage too.<br /><br />I really had a blast making this, and am so glad my dad took the time to teach me basic carpentry skills when I was a little girl. It brought back many fun memories for me as I recalled everything I learned from him whenever I would "help" him with a project. Especially when Virginia stopped playing for a little while to come and hand me nails as I needed them. She can drive a nail pretty straight herself, and once built a ramp so she could push her bike up into the shed. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she and her sister and brothers come up with.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-29954308591324678102011-01-15T13:07:00.000-08:002011-04-04T10:46:14.763-07:00The Best Fresh Bread Hack Ever!Once in awhile, amidst the meandering wanderings my many interests take me on the internet, I stumble on something really, really awesome, something so useful, easy and delightful, it's almost too good to be true. Thus it happened on a day when I was reading an article about how to make wigwams (more on that later) on the Mother Earth News web archives, I looked to the sidebar and noticed the link entitled, <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx">"Five Minutes a Day for Fresh Baked Bread."</a><br /><br />The article shows how to mix up a big-ass recipe of dough, store it in the fridge and, voila, fresh bread items on demand.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYvsrE9nT0i1ZxFwYkkoeAxLLmauIBMS4hwHLDO72Sx4dsgsxdryw2dJtv8GDAkLPuS0EQWl0dCdi2B3Eg7ItD-gJnh1F9WNS77J6bz3daZE9yns51hubFr_AQUvGsHkEauICCC_RiJQ/s1600/doughhack1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYvsrE9nT0i1ZxFwYkkoeAxLLmauIBMS4hwHLDO72Sx4dsgsxdryw2dJtv8GDAkLPuS0EQWl0dCdi2B3Eg7ItD-gJnh1F9WNS77J6bz3daZE9yns51hubFr_AQUvGsHkEauICCC_RiJQ/s400/doughhack1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563213262288262994" border="0" /></a><br />I've made a few minor adjustments to both the basic recipe and the method. So here's my version, though I would recommend reading the article first to familiarize yourself with the process. There are some great tips to make your oven work like one at a bakery.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyhaZL_KO3Y_xOypIm7WT-FFe8bKavKXRvVTXfb_ahvy-Bv4WKkNmAmUUzonbYolC1AAiChQX0klE3eT5wyvlO1uvtr-u9G8WpZYH6wdaonh7u4wHAr7abaCQueKvLTtSmH3be1QD4mI/s1600/boule.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyhaZL_KO3Y_xOypIm7WT-FFe8bKavKXRvVTXfb_ahvy-Bv4WKkNmAmUUzonbYolC1AAiChQX0klE3eT5wyvlO1uvtr-u9G8WpZYH6wdaonh7u4wHAr7abaCQueKvLTtSmH3be1QD4mI/s400/boule.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563204782411971202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />6 cups warm water (just above body temp is good)<br /><br />6 cups all-purpose organic flour<br /><br />7 cups whole wheat flour<br /><br />2 T. sea salt<br /><br />3 T. instant yeast for first recipe, then decrease to 2 or less for subsequent recipes.<br /><br />Mix all ingredients just until flour is incorporated. Let rise till double. Store in the refrigerator, and whenever you need dough for something, sprinkle the top with flour, flour your hands, and remove enough for your project. Work in a small amount of flour as needed, but do not knead. Just shape and set on a well floured surface to rest for about 40 min. Bake in preheated 450F degree oven on preheated stone, sprinkled with flour, oats, wheat germ, corn meal, or whatever you wish to keep the dough from sticking. In the rack below, place a broiler pan or cookie sheet. When the oven is hot, slide your bread onto the stone and pour 1 cup of water in the pan below to create steam. This will make a wonderful crust.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOMLQw2PKvrhKR9sOdWvHWcZetPZDaxJJX63hx4zodUa_qPmS-vkYQTijc-Y7BG0RVnK-mTIQc0N0zM6S-5qh0q9x0DQd25befKP2hLipw_osei8khQLVW7QHJ2OyHLMqOeEv_IXHy0Y/s1600/doughhack2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOMLQw2PKvrhKR9sOdWvHWcZetPZDaxJJX63hx4zodUa_qPmS-vkYQTijc-Y7BG0RVnK-mTIQc0N0zM6S-5qh0q9x0DQd25befKP2hLipw_osei8khQLVW7QHJ2OyHLMqOeEv_IXHy0Y/s400/doughhack2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563215292942696210" border="0" /></a><br />The dough can be used for artisan bread, such as the French boule pictured, buns, bread sticks, cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, dinner rolls, stromboli, etc. When there is only enough dough left for about one loaf of bread, mix up your next batch, mixing in the remaining dough to act as a starter, including scraping the dough off the sides of your container. The more you do this, the less yeast you will need, and the more flavorful your bread will become. It will soon take on sourdough properties. One batch will keep two weeks in the refrigerator (although it gets used up long before that in our house).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqQbDXdzeby3WImZVlGcmXt4yLIJSc_uj5HhZ21uTf8kc4XIxkF0JO2q5s_eIhyphenhyphenb_y7pEW6OiIm1zjckNZO4n8mbmyj8-cun-SnVuLxZJQ8iBrBe1iSDjzUnKlKY1KsjlLxCClnbWtx0/s1600/stromboli2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqQbDXdzeby3WImZVlGcmXt4yLIJSc_uj5HhZ21uTf8kc4XIxkF0JO2q5s_eIhyphenhyphenb_y7pEW6OiIm1zjckNZO4n8mbmyj8-cun-SnVuLxZJQ8iBrBe1iSDjzUnKlKY1KsjlLxCClnbWtx0/s400/stromboli2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563201756630730402" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_Th3ZlqNFPJQt-vAe9LYxy0Sd3XT__cmbht50v3eP6-jyqMqQLj1RISdt1nau5oH21n_ofcMlV5W3EYTtrkoSyro1tUqE0Nv3BChClY2ozFsWXTtcCoxMfWa4WUVJDPOsKrooDoJ5lQ/s1600/stromboli1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_Th3ZlqNFPJQt-vAe9LYxy0Sd3XT__cmbht50v3eP6-jyqMqQLj1RISdt1nau5oH21n_ofcMlV5W3EYTtrkoSyro1tUqE0Nv3BChClY2ozFsWXTtcCoxMfWa4WUVJDPOsKrooDoJ5lQ/s400/stromboli1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563201754141212834" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jdph9kj17zh0FDcQW7gpGZDV6BvmHJR8pwlz3ClMyCqxacWxGiKpK2Gqovwdi_YM3bj_kti5SD6EYl7YBRINUph25ERpRtQb0azSPbdUbZxrMViCw-57lFPTA54obJGVn52_g2p_mhA/s1600/doughhack2.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428096559471904811.post-59449826183613553292011-01-06T10:30:00.001-08:002011-01-06T15:22:33.667-08:00Three Kings Day Celebrations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7rV-t6h3AC2t1oD77qQ2By6HAN-YPjqfBBhz9uHBMOILqpuLSDjOHcD-iZDWCtnTwAqvaYsQB-EHQiQW_mr9unLDocPoVkseB61_cww57tv97M_2mg5OouJv4SZ6AzYtKoddEBGuh9E/s1600/3kings1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7rV-t6h3AC2t1oD77qQ2By6HAN-YPjqfBBhz9uHBMOILqpuLSDjOHcD-iZDWCtnTwAqvaYsQB-EHQiQW_mr9unLDocPoVkseB61_cww57tv97M_2mg5OouJv4SZ6AzYtKoddEBGuh9E/s400/3kings1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559143842022058194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmFAt1q0MJkJbpf3ctfvA20xq-8wrfA-fmy1_3FTDdbZOd7TJU_riZ1captHHNqQ-EUaQKV55ydLcyDSAuboTqVdlB7C6_1v8rlFTAHxQqv4cXhbJaZpS8JHSnuq-6WWOPMDvdvgJJT4/s1600/3kings2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmFAt1q0MJkJbpf3ctfvA20xq-8wrfA-fmy1_3FTDdbZOd7TJU_riZ1captHHNqQ-EUaQKV55ydLcyDSAuboTqVdlB7C6_1v8rlFTAHxQqv4cXhbJaZpS8JHSnuq-6WWOPMDvdvgJJT4/s400/3kings2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559143830658898050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNAbM1dhdNSUfPnilK0C0_x-7hWsWITI5DK9fmPrm0Uf8bDEfYKcU3ExtR50f1My8taF4uJotzXObypsEhfKUZKaqbANp-3L2NeWpV0Y-6USFQsT6Asll7vu-FfVZckccRwLAfOLQ2X4/s1600/3kings5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNAbM1dhdNSUfPnilK0C0_x-7hWsWITI5DK9fmPrm0Uf8bDEfYKcU3ExtR50f1My8taF4uJotzXObypsEhfKUZKaqbANp-3L2NeWpV0Y-6USFQsT6Asll7vu-FfVZckccRwLAfOLQ2X4/s400/3kings5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559143831492490002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU7pLZFSqBlM5ydbzhxSGxxPggQx8BTFays1tGjL8VNVpI9LeA8zqHbmUbXQu-SPATPu2NhTfomQ7YvNfeF1rk1xcyNl2esoBoXUgaBQc8xD7Mo-elR3PytLnM0VkklwsapJIlzEkRgc/s1600/3kings3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU7pLZFSqBlM5ydbzhxSGxxPggQx8BTFays1tGjL8VNVpI9LeA8zqHbmUbXQu-SPATPu2NhTfomQ7YvNfeF1rk1xcyNl2esoBoXUgaBQc8xD7Mo-elR3PytLnM0VkklwsapJIlzEkRgc/s400/3kings3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559142735853537890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNCG0AQpxvYfw7s9ElGGDDIWv3ERaU6MLUZxWJhvTxdEK_GCwpamclYRULD9LF6-oI1Zfd2COuVeGagdS6BhlmwlWu43dKeesgVGIWqmzRgD7PR7VWfnj9ju-QJRf3WsVNT7rUUOCoqA/s1600/3kings4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNCG0AQpxvYfw7s9ElGGDDIWv3ERaU6MLUZxWJhvTxdEK_GCwpamclYRULD9LF6-oI1Zfd2COuVeGagdS6BhlmwlWu43dKeesgVGIWqmzRgD7PR7VWfnj9ju-QJRf3WsVNT7rUUOCoqA/s400/3kings4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559142732030742850" border="0" /></a>As Episcopalians, we have always celebrated the Feast of Epiphany. Our family tradition has been to make King cake and display the three wise men worshiping the baby Jesus from the nativity set. And we take down the Christmas tree. But this year we decided to add something a little different, something to celebrate the beautiful, ever changing, ever blending, multicultural landscape of our locality. And so we adopted the Latin American tradition of leaving hay and water out the night before for the Wise Men, or rather, their camels. In the morning, the children expect to find a gift left by the venerable Magi. What could be better than homemade play dough? So this morning, each child found a bag of play dough and played to their heart's content, and Mama got to take a long soak in the tub. Then we all made King Cake together. Tonight we will see who finds the hidden treasure inside the cake.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH1xiqFv_kbYwJHzEC8U7IF7nuA9h_g7DW9b8Rt91LaeXYGYhpt2Itb9skrtvmrP936qhwuNvUhK3JyWzZVPe3jip41fI-voITFO64FsHqKXb6obiqInY_zNZIwO1c_JDn30mp8AejVg/s1600/3kings6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH1xiqFv_kbYwJHzEC8U7IF7nuA9h_g7DW9b8Rt91LaeXYGYhpt2Itb9skrtvmrP936qhwuNvUhK3JyWzZVPe3jip41fI-voITFO64FsHqKXb6obiqInY_zNZIwO1c_JDn30mp8AejVg/s400/3kings6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559142727140628594" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3