The Walnut Acre Daily - Red Cabbage Soup and More

Words to Live By

Lord, you are my God;
    I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
    you have done wonderful things,
    things planned long ago.

You have been a refuge for the poor,
    a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
    and a shade from the heat.

Isaiah 25:1, 4

Preschool and Kindergarten Homeschool Fun

Bible

We started our lesson time with prayer,  reviewing the memory verse for this month - Mark 12:30,  and singing our new theme song - I Love Jesus.

The we watched Young Man, Get Up, the story of how Jesus raised the widows son from the dead.

Phonics and Reading

We did the Starfall Vv phonics lesson and worksheet and reviewed the  "ad" word family flash cards.

Math

We exercised along with Lets Get Fit: Count to 100. 

Snow Unit

Since we have all this snow on the ground I decided to take a little break from our transportation unit and have some fun with a sn ow theme instead. So we watched the song - Little Snowflake and then played this Snowflake Matching game. 

Storytime

These are the books I read with the kids for storytime this afternoon. 

Other Books We Enjoyed Today

The first two books are the books I read from with CJ this evening before bed. In Singing Wheels we read about how Ma dyed fabric to make something for her daughter. 

The third book is one I've just begun listening to on LibriVox. I love it that I can listen to many books for free on LibriVox. Since I enjoy learning about the lives of other people and seeing the world through their eyes I thought I would start making my way through the Biography section.

In the Kitchen

Breakfast - Cereal with Milk, Bananas and Juice

Lunch - Today was Austin's day to make lunch and he chose to fix pizza, fries and corn. We also had butter bread because with CJ home from school and Doug off work today I thought we might need to make the food stretch a little more. 

For dinner this evening I made Red Cabbage Soup and Peppery Cheese Bread. The soup was a first for us and we (Doug, CJ and I) really liked it. I chose this evening to make it because neither Austin or Amanda would enjoy vegetable soups of any kind and they were not home for dinner this evening. I never know which way Michael is going to with something like this, some days he likes it and other days he doesn't. 

Red Cabbage Soup

1 pound savory seasoned ground chicken

1 onion, chopped

1 head red cabbage, chopped

1 28 ounce can stewed tomatoes

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

5 cups chicken broth

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. thyme

salt and pepper to taste

In a large pan add chopped onion to ground chicken and brown chicken. Add all other ingredients and cook until vegetables are tender. 

Enjoy!

This is a hearty soup packed full of nutrition.

 Recipes From Around the Web

Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie

Around the House

I cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast, did some laundry and organized some of the crafts and learning activities we've been using the last few weeks.

Austin took care of the chickens and the outside dog the morning and this evening, cleaned up the kitchen after lunch and did the evening cleaning in the upstairs bathroom. 

Amanda dusted the living room, did some laundry, took care of the inside dog and the cats, and did the evening cleanup in the mudroom and downstairs bathroom. 

Outdoor Fun

Michael played outside for just a little this morning but other than that we stayed inside. There were just too many little ones today and not everyone had changes of clothes here so they could change in to dry clothes after playing in the snow.

Furry, Feathered, and Four Footed Friends

Amanda gave the inside animals their monthly Frontline dose this morning. She's getting very good at giving the animals the care they need, from keeping their cages clean to any medications they need. Our oldest cat is on medication to slow down the growth of his cancer and she takes care of making sure he has that every morning.

Out and About

Doug and CJ took a load of trash to the landfill this morning. Austin, Amanda and Michael went to their grandparents house for the evening. 

Other Notes and News

Our power went out this afternoon for about an hour while crews were working on the lines. After I put on facebook that of course now that the power is out I want to make a cup of coffee my sister, who lives just down the road and had power, brought me a hot cup of cofffee. That made my day!

Just Having Fun Together

The Little People Playset is still the big favorite!

Reading Around the Web

Humility . . . And My Thoughts on Serving Others

My Mother's Ironing Board

Mom Motivation: Tips to Keep the Day in Balance

Keeping It Clean ~ My Favorite Big Family Bible Verse

Today's Quote

The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination. ~ Terri Guillemets

Daily Deals

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

~ Linking Here ~

No Ordinary Blog Hop

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 - Prayers of a Child, Snow and More

Walking With the King

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Preschool and Kindergarten Homeschool Fun

Bible

We started our morning with prayer, our memory verse, and our theme song. Then we watched A Hole in the Roof, the story of the man who was carried to Jesus by his friends who had to lower him through a hole in the roof to get near Jesus and have Him heal their friend.

Phonics and Reading

We completed the Starfall letter Uu lesson and writing worksheet.

And we reviewed the "ad" word using our word matching mats.

Math

Our math lesson was our favorite counting video - Let's Get Fit: Count to 100. I think we're going to use this for a couple weeks to make sure all the kids are very familiar with counting to 100. Plus the exercise in the middle of hour (more or  less) of lessons is good for all of us.

Transportation Unit Study

We watched Transport for Kids and then counted with these Transportation themed Counting Cards. I loved it when Michael started putting cards side by side and using them for addition problems, especially when last week he was fighting me all the way when I tried to help him do a few simple addition problems. I guess he's learning even when it seems like he's doing his best not to, or it seems like he just can't focus that day.

Storytime

These are the books I read with Michael, Lauren and Madelynn at storytime today.

Austin and Amanda's Homeschool Notes

Bible - Proverbs 31; Science - Respiratory System - Introduction to Cellular Respiration; Math - Unit Conversions 1; Literature - Children and the Supernatural

In the Kitchen

For breakfast this morning we had cereal with milk, bananas and juice.

Amanda made lunch and fixed Empenadas, cheesy fries and butter beans.

For dinner this evening I made a big pot of homemade sausage vegetable soup and we also had turkey & cheese sandwiches and grapes. 

I've been working hard on getting a bigger variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet so a lot of mornings I fix myself a large vegetable/fruit plate to munch on while I work. This was my plate this morning.

Around the House

I cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast this morning, did some laundry and sorted through two boxes of "stuff" that CJ took out of the van when he cleaned it Saturday.

Austin cleaned up the kitchen after lunch and dinner, did the daily cleaning in the upstairs bathroom, and took care of the chickens and outside dog this morning and this evening. 

Amanda did some laundry and did the evening cleaning in the mud room and the downstairs bathroom. She also took care of our inside dog and the cats.

Outdoor Fun

We didn't go out to play today because it was cool and damp most of the day. And now it's snowing and the forecast says there should be a total accumulation of 10 to 14 inches by the time this is over tomorrow evening. This is our first really good snow this year. I'm hoping it snows hard and then turns warm and melts and we move on into Spring. 

Furry, Feathered and  Four Footed Friends

The chickens seem to settling in well. They are laying a few eggs but we really need to get some nesting boxes built because they are laying them from the roosts and the eggs are cracking when they hit the hard floor. I'm not very happy about that at all! I had put up a temporary, makeshift nesting box but they don't seem to approve of that one.

Other Notes and News

I happened on the sweetest scene this afternoon. We've been really focusing on incorporating times of prayer together into our daily routine. This afternoon I saw Michael and Lauren playing together and decided to get a photo. When I quietly slipped up to them to take the picture without interrupting their play I realized they were praying together. Part of the prayer went like this - "Dear God, thank You for You and for me and for . . . " and then went on to mention several other children. So sweet and so encouraging to see them put into practice what we've been learning.

Just Having Fun Together

Our Little People playset has been really popular lately. The kids also enjoyed playing with some of the laminated learning sets from our bird unit last month and putting together rhyming word puzzles.

Today's Quote

We have too many high sounding words and too few actions that correspond with them. ~ Abigail Adams

Daily Deals

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

~ Linking Here ~

No Ordinary Blog Hop

The Walnut Acre Daily - Planting Kitchen Herbs and Repurposing an Old TV

Walking With the King

My flesh and heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Preschool and Kindergarten Homeschool Fun

Bible

We started learning our new Memory verse for this month - Mark 12:30,  and our new theme song - I Love Jesus.

We also watched Jesus Heals Lepers.

Phonics and Reading

We did the Starfall letter Tt lesson and did the Tt worsheets. 

We also played the "ad" family memory game.

Math

We exercised and practiced our counting -  Let's Get Fit: Count to 100.

Transportation Unit Study

We started a  transportation unit study by watching PBS Kids Transportation and playing this Transportation Memory Game.

Homeschool Notes for Austin and Amanda

Bible - Proverbs 30, Math -  Literature - Children and the Super Natural

Austin decided to check out the inner workings of an old tv. After he took the insides out of the main frame he decided to use the frame as a display case for his glass bottle collection. Tomorrow I'll try to get a photo of the how he set that up. I never know what he's going to come up with next. 

Other Books We Enjoyed Today

I read from these books with CJ, Makylin and Madelynn this evening before bedtime.

Outdoor Fun

Amanda went outside with the kids for about an hour this evening. I wanted to them to get some exercise and fresh air and sunshine before the snow comes tomorrow. Christopher wanted to help Doug get the snow blower ready.

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

Growing Green Things

Michael and Lauren helped plant the little Kitchen Herb Gardens that I bought a couple weeks ago. These have Basil, Parsley and Chive seeds. Now we have them on a sunny windowsill and will be watching eagerly for the first signs of growth. 

Out and About

Doug took Austin and Michael to their Scout meetings this evening. Austin is working on his cooking merit badge and Michael did color mixing with paint.

Just Having Fun Together

Reading Around the Web

The Joy of Bouncing Back

Today's Quote

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. ~ John Locke

Daily Deals

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

The Walnut Acre Daily: Two Days of Fun - New Chickens and Chicken Coop, Kidney Ultrasound and More

Words to Live By

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~ Proverbs 16:24

Yesterday's Preschool and Kindergarten Homeschool Fun 

Bible

                                     We started the our morning as usual reviewing our memory verse ( Romans 8:38-39 ) and our theme song (  I am Special )

 We watched He's Got the Whole World In His Hands . . .

and colored an Earth Coloring Page.

Reading and Phonics

We did the Starfall  online letter Ss lesson and the printable worksheets . . . 

and watched the Word Family "ad" Book youtube video.

Outdoor Fun

The kids didn't play outside yesterday but today Michael and Mateah were out for quite a long time. Here they were enjoying running through the field next to our property. 

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

Yesterday we went to get the fourteen chickens from a friend from church. We kept them in a small temporary coop overnight and part of today while Doug and CJ finished getting their permanent coop ready. 

We actually ended up with 13 chickens because the one hen does not like to come inside to roost so was not with the rest when we got them. When that chicken is found and caught it will be given to us. Then, in the process of transferring them from the temporary coop to the permanent one, one of the hens got away and took off through the field. I've seen it outside this evening but haven't been able to get close enough to catch it. Hopefully it doesn't become a chicken dinner for a fox or dog before we can corner it.

Here they are with their new coop, checking out their new space. The five black hens that were our original "flock" look a little amazed at all these newcomers and one hen from each set are working out (rather violently) which one is going to be the dominant hen, but overall they seem to doing well. In the bottom picture I had just given them some old bread and they were having a feast.

We still have work we want to do on the coop and the outdoor space will probably be enlarged a little. There's another fence panel we can put in to add a little more space. This fencing is also portable so that we can move it around. Doug is going to put little doors on two more sides of the coop so that each week we can move the fencing to a different side to help keep any one area from turning into a muddy, scratched out area. Since the fenced area is a bit small it wouldn't take them long to wear out the space if they were there all the time. 

This coop has been a very low cost project for us. We had been using a playhouse for a coop but it was too small for this many chickens and I want to clean it out and let the kids actually use it for a play house. The new coop was originally a huge shipping crate that Doug got from work for free. He has reinforced the inside, largely with wood from pallets that he also got for free at work. The cinder blocks were a FreeCycle find - completely free of course. He did end up buying some wood, but not much, and the hinges for the doors. The fencing is actually a dog kennel that we weren't using for the dog anymore. Twelve of the seventeen chickens were given to us and the previous owner also sent along a feeder and a waterer. 

Out and About

Yesterday was Michael's kidney ultrasound. He did an awesome job - behaved well and cooperated with everyone. The results will be sent to the doctor so I won't know anything for awhile but I'm not expecting there to be any problems. This is just a routine yearly check for him.

Today, while Doug and CJ were working on the chicken coop, Austin, Aaron, Amanda, Michael, Mateah and I did our big monthly grocery shopping. I dread that big shopping trip every month, but when it's over I'm so glad I don't have to worry about grocery shopping for another month. Of course, we still have to get milk and fresh fruit and vegetables and other occasional things, but those things can be quickly picked up when I'm out to take Lauren to preschool. I love not giving up a large chunk of time every week for grocery shopping.

Just Having Fun Together

Other Notes and News

CJ cleaned out the van this morning and did a wonderful job. It's so much more fun riding in a sparkly clean van. 

Today's Quote

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~ Author Unknown

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

~ Linking Here ~

No Ordinary Blog Hop Monday - Homestead Barn Hop

The Walnut Acre Daily - Preparing For More Chickens and More

Words to Live By

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possesions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Preschool and Kindergarten Homeschool Fun

Bible 

Besides our   memory verse  and  theme song we watched I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy.

Phonics and Reading

We completed the  Starfall  online Rr lesson and did the printable worksheet.

Then they decided to flip the paper over and draw on the back. 

And  we did an "ad" word family review with word mats I printed from 3 Dinosaurs' word family printables.

Math

For math we used the  Lets Get Fit! Count to 100 video and then practiced addition with the  Ways to Add Mats.

 Bird Unit

We read The Hungry Duckling . . . 

. . . and then watched these three videos about the kinds of birds that were in this book - Common Kingfisher, Quacker and Flapper, and A Guide to Keeping Hens in Your Garden. 

Other Books We Enjoyed Today

I read from these books with CJ and Michael before bedtime this evening. 

Furry, Feathered and Four Footed Friends

A friend of ours from church is wanting to find a home for his chickens so he asked me Sunday if we would take them. I didn't realize when I said yes quite how many there were but yesterday I found out there are fourteen - eleven hens and three roosters. We're picking them up tomorrow evening. So this evening Doug and CJ went out to work on getting this huge shipping crate he got from work ready for their coop. 

Out and About

Michael had another doctor's appointment today. This one was just a routine yearly check and it went very well. Also, I was so pleased with his behavior today. He sat still in the waiting room, waited patiently in the exam room for the doctor, and cooperated wonderfully during the exam. We have one more routine yearly checkup tomorrow, a kidney ultrasound. Three appointments in one week has definitely kept me hopping. 

Just Having Fun Together

Later this month three additions to our crew will be joining us on a daily basis. Today they were here for a couple hours as a bit of  warm up, trial run. We're looking forward to having many more fun days together.

Reading Around the Web

When the Baby Steps Start to Add Up . . . 

Surviving the Domino Effect Days of Motherhood

Today's  Quote

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. ~ Author Unknown

Why I Write the Walnut Acre Daily

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No Ordinary Blog Hop