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HSV Garden Link-Up #2

HSV Garden Link-Up #2

It is time to for the second link-up for The Homeschool Village Garden Challenge link-up.  While I was hoping for more of an update, I really don’t have much of one.  The weather has been teasing us and giving us warm temps.  I was so ready to get out and get seeds planted!  However, my hubby said we needed to wait because we could still get some temps below freezing.  Sure enough, we have had some freezing temps along with snow flurries!  Thankfully, the only plants I think we lost was the pickling cucumbers that I had bought.   I had bought some strawberry roots/plants and asparagus roots (not for sure what they are called) and they never came up.  I am thinking that perhaps they were already dead in the packages that I bought them in.  I know it is too late to plant strawberries, but will check to see about getting more asparagus to plant.

The rest of the plants that we bought are slowly growing.  We still need to plant some in containers and in the planter box, but will get to that as it warms up a little more.

The oregano, thyme, spearmint, chives and onions have taken off!  The oregano is starting to grow outside of our box!

I got a little carried away with the sunflower seeds!  I am hoping to get enough to roast some this year.  Last year’s seeds went to the birds through the winter.

My strawberry plants have come back from last year.  I don’t think I will get any berries from the plants this year, but I am hoping to keep adding more plants to make a small strawberry bed.  We will be adding a couple more planter boxes, so I will be planting them in one of those.

The squash plants survived the last freeze and I really need to get them in the ground or a  container soon.  We also have brussels sprouts that need to get in the ground soon, too!

Our broccoli is growing great!  We have tried growing broccoli before and have never had success with it.  Looks like we might finally have done something right with it this year. Our rosemary bush has continued to grow since we bought it last year.  It is amazing that the cold hasn’t touched it any this year.

My bell pepper plants also survived the cold weather.  They are looking a little yellow, but are actually healthy and have grown since we bought them.

This past week, my husband started some of our tomato seeds.  We have three different types of tomatoes planted below.  We do plan on plating more, but haven’t picked up the seeds yet.  Our goal is to do some canning this year.  We would like to make some spaghetti sauce, soups and just have plan on tomatoes canned.

 

Now that I have written this all out, it looks like we do have a bit going on with the garden, but still so far to go!  I am excited, as the weather is warming up and we are spending more time outside.  The kids and I are still using the Apologia Botany book for science and have looked through the section on how the seeds grow.  It is so fun seeing the kids see the seeds sprout and grow.  Especially when the plants will start bearing fruits and veggies!

Stop by The Homeschool Village and link up for the Garden Challenge.  You will have a chance to win the Botany book from Apologia.  Also be sure to see the others who are linking up as well!

a BIG thank you to See The Light!

a BIG thank you to See The Light!

2:1 Conference Button

I am so excited right now! I am making a list and checking it twice. I am gathering my belongings and packing for the 2:1 Conference. I am blessed to be able to go because of See The Light. They graciously bought my ticket for the conference.

My reason for wanting to go to the 2:11 Conference? Simple. To learn more about blogging so that I can share more about homeschooling. You see, I feel like God has given me this opportunity. The opportunity to help and encourage others in their homeschooling journey. I feel strongly about kids being at home with their parents. I feel strongly about the parents being the ones to raise and teach their children.  God has opened so many doors for me to be able to go to the conference that I feel like I am following His direction and not my own.

Pray for me as I attend this conference.  I want to get out of the conference what God wants me to learn.  I want to do this for His glory, not my own.

Pray for my family as well.  My hubby will be coming with me, along with three of our children. He will be taking them site seeing around DC.  Also pray for my oldest, as he will be at home working and taking care of our dog.

Again, all the glory goes to God!

Blessings!

 

International Fair for homeschoolers..

International Fair for homeschoolers..

The homeschool group I am part of held an International Fair this past Saturday.  What is an International Fair?  I am so glad you asked!  An International Fair is where a student or family chooses a country to study.  They gather information to put on a backboard to share with others.  The family can make a couple of dishes from the country, can wear clothing like those who do in the country and share anything else that they would like with others.  There is so much you can share with others when learning about another culture.  Some basic information that the kids included were the capital of the country, population, flag, national anthem and how their government operates.  We had approximately 13 families take part for our first year of hosting it.  Families were so thrilled with how the fair went, that they are already thinking of what country to learn about for next year!

My daughter chose Ireland.  She had a lot of fun gathering information.  I think her favorite part was finding out about the music of the country.  Her dad also helped her make Shepherd’s pie as her dish.  It actually turned out really well!  We brought home an empty dish!

This family chose the Netherlands.  They had family that lived in the Netherlands and had sent them wooden shoes!  They looked so cute dressed up!

This family chose Jamaica.  The girls did an outstanding job on their backboard.  For food, they brought fried plantains.

France was another country that was chosen.  The dad helped the kids put an Eiffel Tower on the backboard.  It was formed with Christmas lights!  So cool!

This grandma is homeschooling her grandson.  They chose New Zealand and brought a spinning wheel.  She and her grandson showed us how they spun wool to make yarn for clothing.

Other countries represented inlcuded Japan, Brazil, Germany, China, England, Egypt, Canada and India.

As you can tell, we really had a wonderful time.  The amount of work the kids all put into their projects was truly amazing.  All the food that the families brought was really good.  You can tell the kids had fun and had learned a lot.  I also think the parents had just as much fun as the kids.  I know I had a blast!

I am so proud of our homeschool group.  It is so amazing to be a part of a group that loves to learn and share with others as you do.

Have you ever participated in an International Fair?  I would love to know what all you did and the country that you chose.  If you would like for your group to put on a fair, I would be more than happy to share with you how we did ours!

 

 

when I think of my blessings.. #817-831

When I think of my blessings a couple of songs come to mind and I just start singing them.  The first one is Count Your Many Blessings and the second one is Showers of Blessings.  These songs brings back such wonderful memories for me.  My dad used to lead the singing in the church I grew up in.  I can picture him now up front with his eyes closed singing to the Lord.  His bass voice always was calming to my heart.  I knew he loved Jesus.  Yes, he wasn’t perfect, but he did try his best to live his life for God daily.   It is my goal to be an example like him.  I want my kids to know that while I do make mistakes, that we have a merciful God so full of grace.  That we are saved by grace.  That all we have to do is admit that we are sinners, admit those sins and give our life to Him.  Live our life for Him.

1 John 3:21-23

21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

So today, I am continuing on with counting my blessings.  I hope you will join in with me.

817. my children.

818. for my two children who have admitted they are sinners and have asked forgiveness and been saved by grace.

819. for my two children who are growing, learning and asking those tough questions.  Who are asking about sinning and about forgiveness.

820. for our church family who is teaching that we are sinners and we need to ask for forgiveness and that we are saved by grace.

821. for a pastor who reads and teaches from the Bible.

822. for a church that does its best to make sure everything they do is scriptural.

821. for having that Christian influence growing up.

823. for marrying a Godly man, who does his best to lead his family from the Bible.

824. for answered prayers.

825. for confirmation from God on what we should be doing.

826. the opportunity to have a chance to tell others of God’s love and His amazing grace.

827. for my health.

828. for my husband and childrens’ health.

829. the chance to help others.

830. for the showers and showers of blessings that God sees fit to bestow upon my family and I.

831. for the chance to tell others about all that God has seen fit to give us.

 

I encourage you all to take a look at what God has done for you.  Then stop by A Holy Experience and join Ann and all the others who are doing the same.

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