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Monday, December 30, 2013

Ham Gravy on Toast and More:The Walnut Acre Daily - Monday December 30, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY

And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. ~ Leviticus 26:12

WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER


Today we started working through the ABC Jesus Loves Me Preschool curriculum. While I'm not using it exactly as it's layed out on their site I am using it as a guideline. We will be doing this several mornings a week, the mornings we do schoolwork at my sister's place with the children there. This morning was one of those mornings. 

In the afternoons Michael will be doing his own curriculum and then we will supplement with other activities if there is time. This helps to keep the things he has already learned firmly in his mind by reviewing them with the younger kids in the morning while introducing new concepts in the afternoons.








We started with Jesus Walks on Water coloring sheet and story as suggested in week 1 of the lesson plan. 

We reviewed the letter Tt with a coloring page and capital and small letters cut from construction paper and glued to the backs of their coloring page. We reviewed the number 1 - gluing a paper number to a sheet of construction paper and then adding one paper shape to the worksheet as well. 


We made pictures with shapes cut from construction paper and talked about the colors and shapes we were using. 




We watched Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes



and colored a coloring page to go with the story.

After all our activities we had story time. A lot of the books we read reinforced concepts we had talked about earlier in the morning. 

Michael wanted to stay and play with his cousin when we were finished with his activities, so I let him stay until after lunch. I came home and read with Austin and Amanda while the younger kids did quiet activities like puzzles, flannel playsets, or played quietly in the playroom. Austin and Amanda have been on a lighter school schedule during the holidays. Today they both did Science and English and Amanda practiced the drums. 

This afternoon, after Michael did his lessons we played games. The kids chose to play Word Memory, Uno, Dominoes and Number Matching.




Books and Games We Enjoyed Today




   


After Doug got home from work today he spent most of the evening trying to find a part for a log splitter that he's working on for a friend from church. 

Besides his schoolwork Austin cleaned the kitchen after lunch and dinner, cleaned the upstairs bathroom, took care of the outside dog and the chickens both morning and evening,walked the dog, washed the kitchen floor, swept the porches, fed and played with the baby, and a few other odd jobs. During his free time he played games on his computer and his tablet.

Amanda did her schoolwork, made lunch, made a batch of cornmeal mush for tomorrow morning,  cleaned her room, made lunch, worked on laundry, did the evening cleaning in the living room, playroom, mud room and downstairs bathroom, cleaned the guinea pig cage, and dusted the living room. In her free time she watched movies on her computer.


IN THE KITCHEN

This morning I made ham gravy on toast for breakfast. We also had bananas and apple juice. 

Ham Gravy on Toast

2 packages ham
3 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup beef broth, ham broth or water
3 1/2 cups milk
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste

Melt margarine in large pan over medium heat. Stir in chopped ham and allow to brown slightly. Add flour to margarine and ham, mix well. Slowly add water or broth, stirring constantly. Add milk one cup at a time, stirring constantly. Allow each addition to thicken before adding next cup of milk. Add seasonings.

Serve over toast or biscuits. 


Amanda made hamburger helper for lunch and we also had applesauce. I had asked her to fix some corn as well but she forgot until it was time to serve lunch so we decided not to worry about it and just eat. There was plenty of what we had. Amanda does very well with making lunch the mornings I am busy with the younger kids and I really appreciate her help. 


This evening we had baked chicken left over from lunch yesterday, baked sweet potatoes, peas and bread. 


FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

Mykalin had my camera this afternoon and I found these pictures of Amanda's cat, Sheena, when she gave it back. She's a spoiled rotten cat and we love her even though she sometimes makes us shake our heads in confusion. She regular falls asleep on the window sill and then falls off with crash that makes us all jump. Other times we find her asleep with her head in her food bowl. 


READING AROUND THE WEB


TODAY'S QUOTE


The heart never becomes wrinkled. ~ Marie de Rabutin-Chantal


~ Linking Here ~

GospelHomemaking.comsaving4six
Too Much Time On My Hands

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Parakeets, Guinea Pigs and a Quiet Sunday - The Walnut Acre Daily:Sunday December 29, 2013

WORDS TO LIVE BY


For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. ~ Isaiah 55:8


WORKING, LEARNING AND PLAYING TOGETHER


After church this morning we went to my Dad and sister's house for lunch and the afternoon. The kids watched movies and played and some took naps while the adults relaxed.



FURRY, FEATHERED AND FOUR FOOTED FRIENDS

My friend Jennifer asked me yesterday if I would want to take her parakeets. She knew I've been wanting some birds and she was ready to give hers away. So I picked them up yesterday evening. She sent the cage, food and other supplies along with them. Amanda's dog, Pepper, is amazed by them and barks at them constantly. The parakeets don't seem at all bothered by the noise, just look at her like they wonder what her problem is!


A cousin brought my sister's children three guinea pigs Friday. Two are still little and the third is an adult female. The are cute and cuddly and very loved.



READING AROUND THE WEB

TODAY'S QUOTE

All that is worth cherishing begins in the heart. ~ Suzanne Chapin




Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Walnut Acre Daily - Christmas Photos

Amanda was excited Christmas Eve and spent a long time analyzing the gifts under the tree,


Christmas morning brought all the usual excitement and chaos.






This was one of my favorite moments! michael has been really, really wanting a karaoke machine and the look on his face when he opened his was priceless. He yelled so loud that I thought at first he was upset about something but it was just excitement.




Later in the day my side of the family was together for the traditional Christmas brunch.  We had a good day together cooking, playing, laughing, talking, and opening gifts.








Charity and Amanda baked pies. This was Amanda's first pie but Charity is quite a good pie baker and teacher - all the pies were wonderful.






This was our first Christmas since my mom went to be with Jesus and there were some hard moments, but there was also the joy on knowing we could be here for each other, celebrate the birth of Jesus together and know that she is having a wonderful Christmas in Heaven.