The Walnut Acre Daily - Snow Day!!!!

Words to Live By

Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:4

In the Kitchen

Since today ended up being a snow day with nothing running on normal schedule we haven't really had an eating schedule either. I did fix bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Since the lights were blinking a lot I wasn't sure if the power was going to go out so I baked a pan of chicken patties while the bacon was in the oven. And after playing in the snow CJ and Michael came in for sandwiches and hot chocolate.  Later after the first batch of food was all gone I made a plate of fresh vegetables, put out another plate of crackers and juice, set out some grapes and reheated the sausage vegetable soup from yesterday. 

And since we had lots of nice clean snow we made a huge batch of snow cream and everyone ate their fill. CJ and Michael added snowcone syrup to theirs. 

Outdoor Fun

After waiting all winter for a snowstorm we finally got one in March. Around 18" of fluffy white stuff blanketed our area by thise evening. It is beautiful and CJ and Michael loved playing in it. I think Doug liked playing in it with the snow blower too. 

CJ and Michael said they were going to build a snow fort. It never got past and cleared spot and some partially built walls but they had fun. 

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

I went out this morning and opened the chickens little door so they could come out in their yard but they took one look at all that snow and decided to stay in where it was warm. Smart chickens!

Other Notes and News

After the boys were done playing in the snow they went and played in the garage instead. 

CJ finished the shelf to put under the table in his room that he made a couple months ago. These shelves have been a long process and CJ has worked very hard on them. Doug made him take all the measurements and learn through trial and error how to make everything fit together. Sometimes he had to tear apart what he had just put together and try again but now it's finally done and in his room. He's very proud of it and with good reason. 

Today's Quote

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again.

~ Bill Morgan, Jr.

Daily Deals

Watching the snow and dreaming of Spring. 

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

~ Linking Here ~
No Ordinary Blog Hop

The Walnut Acre Daily - Learning at Home, Wednesday Evening Church and Printable Juice Coupons

Words to Live By

Proverbs 21:21

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and 

honor. 

Preschool/Kindergarten Homeschool Fun

Bible

We started our work time this morning with prayer, reviewing our memory verses and singing our theme song for this month.

We watched God Loves Me - Veggie Tales and colored a Veggie Tales coloring page. 

Phonics and Reading

We did the letter C lesson from Starfall as well as the -et word family review. We read Pig Wig and we sorted the -ag and -at words into their family groups. 

And we did the C writing page. 

Math

We watched this Addition Maths Made Easy video  for math this morning. I had also planned to play Number Bingo during our math time but the kids were getting restless and I decided not to try today. Sometimes it's just better to cut the lesson short while they are still paying attention.

Unit Study

As part of our Dental Health Unit we watched How to Have a Bright Smile and colored a dental health coloring page.

Storytime

Here are the books we enjoyed at storytime.

 

Austin and Amanda's Homeschool Assignments and Independent Learning

Bible - The Truth Project - Philosophy and Ethics: Says Who? Part 2; English - 3 Expressions to Improve Your Conversation;  Math - Classifying Real Numbers;  Science -  Nervous System - Brain Anatomy and Functions

The truth project videos that Austin and Amanda are watching for Bible are such a wonderful series. The teacher presents the material in such depth and yet in a way that is very easy to understand. I've looked into buying the entire set for them to watch but it's a little more than I can spend on a video set right now. The adult Sunday School class I am in at church has been watching this series and I'm hoping to get the chance to watch it again. Actually I've missed part of it because I teach 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School every other month. I may see if I can borrow it for our whole family to go through here at home. 

In the Kitchen

Kitchen work was easy today with cereal, fruit and juice for breakfast and reheated leftovers for lunch. We had dinner at church this evening. 

Around the House

I cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast this morning and did some laundry. 

Austin cleaned up the kitchen after lunch, dusted the living room, and did the daily cleanup in the living room and playroom and upstairs bathroom.

Amanda did the daily cleanup in the mudroom and the downstairs bathroom and did some laundry.

Outdoor Fun

The kids got to play outside for about a half hour two different times today. I didn't get any pictures but they were having a lot of fun out there.

We Are Going

Church this evening was fun. The dinner was yummy - tacos with all the fixings, corn on the cob, cake and ice cream.  We've changed the children's ministry around a little, readjusting the number of kids in a class and where we hold the classes. It went really well. I help teach the four year olds through 1st graders. We had 14 kids in that class tonight. Doug rode the church bus to pick up kids and take them home again and he said the number of kids on the bus nearly doubled tonight. One of the kids who came a couple years ago has been talking to her friends and they wanted to come. It was wonderful to see new faces. 

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

When we got home from church this evening I realized I had forgotten to put the chickens in before we left. So Austin and I went out to put them in for the night. It smelled strongly of skunk out there but I didn't see one. I'm glad I remembered to put them in though.

On My Mind

This article about adoption has had me thinking today - Adoptee View: What Can a Tiny Baby Know? It made me realize how much we still have to learn about how disruption and adoption effect a child. While the need for adoption in many cases cannot be denied, it so important to recognize and address the fact that it does cause issues that need to be understood and dealt with. 

Today's Quote

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces. ~ Author Unknown

Daily Deals

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

The Walnut Acre Daily - Bits and Pieces From Our Day

Words To Live By

Matthew 6:26

 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Homeschool Fun

Here are the videos we enjoyed today - Parable of the Lost Sheep, Let's Count 1 2 3,  Ten Little Owls, and the Letter U Song. We also reviewed our memory verse - Romans 5:8 - and sang our new song - Jesus Loves You As You Are. We also reviewed our words from the -ad word family.

All of today's coloring pages came from DLTK Kids.

Books We Enjoyed Today

The first three books I read with Michael, Madelyn, Damien and Christopher at story time this morning. Books four and five I read with CJ and Michael at bedtime this evening and the last book is the one I am reading.

Outdoor Fun

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

The chickens were very happy to get out of the coop and enjoy some sunshine today. 

Just For Fun

Today's Quote

If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. ~ Lawrence J. Peter

Daily Deals

The Walnut Acre Daily - Mac & Cheese Pizza, Naming Our Hens, and More

Words to Live By

Psalm 118:5-6

When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Homeschool and Independent Learning

The younger kids watched these four short videos this morning - Jesus Loves the Little Children, I Am Pizza, Count the Cookies, and the Letter Q Song. We reviewed the memory verse and song of the week and the colored and worked on worksheets. 

In the Kitchen

This evening was Amanda's evening to cook dinner and to go along with out pizza fun this week for National Pizza Week she decided to make a Macaroni and Cheese Pizza. Since we were at CiCi's Pizza a couple months ago and she had some of that pizza there she's wanted more. I don't know exactly how she made it - I let her have the kitchen and stayed out of her way - but it was very good.

Around the House

 I cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast this morning and that was really about all the housework I got done.

Austin cleaned up the kitchen after lunch and after dinner, did the evening clean up in the living room, playroom and upstairs bathroom and swept the floor in Michael and CJ's room.

Amanda did the evening clean up in the mudroom and downstairs bathroom and did some laundry.

Outdoor Fun

Our Furry, Feathered and Four-Footed Friends

The kids were so excited (and so was I) to introduce our new chickens to their new home. We had to wait for it to stop raining this morning to take them out. These five hens now have very interesting names - Callie, Pie, Fiesty, Fruits, and Michael. 

I was surprised when I went to check on them this morning to find an egg. I thought with being moved they probably wouldn't lay any eggs until they adjusted. But by the end of today there were three eggs. 

After Doug came home from work this evening he and Austin and CJ worked on setting up a temporary coop for the chickens to use at night. 

Michael and Lauren wanted to give Ronnie her food and water this morning. She can get a bit over excited sometimes so Austin held onto her until they had put the bowls down.

Amanda got our guinea pig, Little Red, out of her cage to play this afternoon and Christopher enjoyed watching her.

We Are Going

Austin is spending the night at a friends house tonight. He and Aaron have been friends a long time and now that Aaron's family has moved closer to us I'm sure they'll be spending even more time together.

Today's Quote

You cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind. ~ Author Unknown

Daily Deals

~ Linking Here ~ 
No Ordinary Blog Hop, Saturday - Your Great Idea, Monday -  Make It Pretty Monday, Making Your Home Sing Monday,  Homestead Barn Hop, Mop It Up Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Motivating Monday Link-Up, Tuesday - Heart + Home Link Up, Titus 2sday, Creatively Tuesday, 

The Walnut Acre Daily - More Pizza Recipes and the Beginning of My Backyard Chicken Flock

Words to Live By

1 Peter 1: 15-16

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.””

Homeschool and Independent Learning

Michael and Lauren enjoyed watching these four short videos this morning - Cedarmont Kids - Jesus Loves the Little Children, I Am a Pizza, Add 'Em Up, and the Letter P Song. We also reviewed the memory verse, song of the week and word flash cards.

Books We Enjoyed Today

The first three books are the books I read with Michael, Lauren and Christopher. The last book is the book I'm reading for myself.

In the Kitchen

The following two pizzas, along with a salad, are what we had for dinner this evening. Both were a first for us but I'm pretty sure it won't be the last time they show up on our menu. 

Beef and Cheese Pizza

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

1 - 1 1/2 lbs stew meat

1 large baked pizza crust

2 tablespoons mustard

2 cups shredded cheese - your choice

salt and pepper to taste.

In nonstick skillet brown stew meat and saute onion together in one tablespoon vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Spread pizza crust with two tablespoons. Sprinkle on half of the cheese. Top with with beef and onions and then remaining cheese.

Bake according to crust package instructions.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

1 lb cooked chicken, cut into small pieces

2 cups shredded cheese, your choice

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 large baked pizza crust

Spread BBQ sauce on pizza crust. Top with chicken, peppers, onion and cheese. Bake according to crust package instructions.

Around the House  

I cleaned up the kitchen this morning after breakfast and also after dinner and did a little laundry.

Austin did the evening cleanup in the living room, playroom, and upstairs bathroom and cleaned up the kitchen after lunch.

Amanda did the evening cleanup in the mudroom and downstairs bathroom and also did some laundry.

Outdoor Fun

I've been watching Craigslist for some laying hens and today I found some. I called and arranged to pick them up this evening. When Doug came home from work this afternoon he and Austin worked on setting up a place for them.

 After dinner we went and picked them up. We bought five. They are Black Australorps. I got this very poor quality picture of them because the garage where they are staying for the night doesn't have good lighting for photos. 

Today's Quote

"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.” - Frank Lloyd Wright

Daily Deals

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

~ Linking Here ~
No Ordinary Blog Hop, Monday - Make It Pretty Monday,  Making Your Home Sing Monday, Mop It Up Monday, Motivating Monday Link-Up, I Made It, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac, Market Yourself Monday, Tuesday - Titus 2sday, Tuesday's Treasures, Creatively Tuesday,  Tweak It Tuesday, Heart + Home Link Up,   Friday - Flaunt It Friday, Home Sweet Home, Feathered Nest Friday, Saturday - Your Great Idea, 

The Walnut Acre Daily - Tuesday May 8, 2012

Walking With the King

Now we ask you brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13

MORE HERE

We Are Learning

We are continuing with the Pretty Bugs theme as we will all week and possibly next week as well. We read our stories, songs and reviewed our memory verse that goes with this theme and then played a Pretty Bugs memory game.

We also worked on our Bb worksheets from here.

We Are Reading

Two of the books the kids chose for me to read to them today are 

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss 

and Read to Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells.

Homemaking Joys

Once again not much to report here. So far this week I'm barely keeping up with the basics. In fact, this evening Doug cleaned up the playroom for me because I just couldn't seem to get to the end of the work. Thank you, Dear.

And my kitchen still needs help. I should run another load of dishes in the dishwasher. But I'm too tired and it's not going to happen. And it's okay, they'll still be there in the morning.

In the Kitchen

We had pizza bread and fruit for lunch.

For dinner I made baked chicken with cheese sauce

salad with lettuce and radishes from the garden

 boiled radishes with butter

and macaroni and cheese. 

The boiled radishes were a new dish for us and both Doug and I really liked them. I had read a suggestion that putting a little lemon juice in the water when I boil them would help them keep their color but I forgot to do it. I simply boiled them with water and a little salt until they were tender. After I drained the water I added some butter and let it melt before I served them. This simple recipe is one I will definitely be making again. 

In the Garden

I finally got to work in the garden again today. 

I cut some of the lettuce that is growing like crazy.

I also pulled a LOT of radishes and also thinned out two rows of radishes that are coming along.

Now if I can just get to some of the weeds that are growing almost as fast as the lettuce and radishes I'll be glad. 

On Our Nature Walk

We continued our bug theme today on our nature walk. Khristian picked up several rocks that had interesting ant nurseries underneath them. We watched them for awhile and then carefully placed the rock back over them so they would be safe. It was interesting to watch the ants scurry to carry the larva somewhere safe as soon as the rock was moved.

We also found a spot we hadn't explored before and had fun finding the little "secret clearing" and "secret doorways" in it.

Other Outdoor Fun

We had a lot of other fun outside today as well.

Like climbing trees . . .

. . . finding caterpillars . . .

. . . and robin's egg shells . . .

. . . and just simply running as hard and fast as possible.

Doug even had the "fun" of changing the oil in all three vehicles this evening after he got home from work. He has recently become an AMSOIL dealer and since the vehicles were due for oil changes he ordered AMSOIL.

Out and About

Since my parents are on vacation this week they asked if I would gather the eggs while they are gone. This morning Amanda and I took the little kids down there and let them watch the chickens and play while I gathered eggs.

Oh, and Amanda told me that she'd better not be in any of these pictures so, like any good mother would, I took one while she yelled at me to stop!

Here are the eggs I gathered today. The six in the top row are duck eggs. We've never had duck eggs before and I'm looking forward to trying them.

Daily Deals


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