Great Goats and More 4-H Club had six community service projects set up by its youth this year. It was decided to make it a little easier for all involved (especially for the leader who had to keep on top of them all!), and make one big night for several of them to combine their efforts. "Love Your Neighbor" event was created and a date set for March 2, 2012. The evening will begin at 7PM at the Lebanon Fire Safety Complex in Lebanon. There will be refreshments, games and door prizes!
The community service projects that are involved include:
Cards for kids: there will be an area set up with all the "fixings" for making cards. The cards will be collected and mailed to an organization that sends them to terminally ill children throughout the U.S. The goal is 100 cards made and sent.
Lebanon Food Pantry: a collection drive of the most needed items for our local food pantry. The 4-H member contacted the local pantry and received a list of what items they needed the most: jars of peanut butter, bags of rice, and cans of tuna fish. The goal is 75 items donated.
The Women's Center of Southeastern CT: a collection drive of women's pajamas to be donated to this local women's center. A new pair of pajamas can be a very comforting thing for a person dealing with a stressful situation. The goal is 50 pajamas.
Regional Animal Control: a collection drive of leashes, collars and old blankets to be donated to the Regional Animal Control. Collars and leashes are needed for dogs as they are adopted out. Old blankets give the animals comfort while they stay at the shelter. The goal is 25 collars, 10 leashes, and 20 blankets.
If you can't attend our event and live locally, consider donating items by contacting these organizations or myself to arrange a pick-up. If you are not local, consider making a donation to a similar organization in your own area.
MOVIN' LIKE A HERD OF TURTLES: Life of a homeschooling wife and mom, with five daughters on a hobby farm.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The First Baby Goat
Our first baby goat was born on Tuesday evening! Abby's Tails Paladium had a single doeling that weighed 10.5 pounds! Abby has decided to keep the kid, even though she has an disqualifying white spot, because her milk production potential is enormous. This year's theme for goats is "Heroes and Villains," and due to her large size, she is named: Abby's Tails She-Hulk.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Today's Project
Today we are waiting on this goat to kid:
Abby's Tails Paladium was due February 18th, but goats can kid anywhere from five days before to five days after their due dates.
We're also waiting on this goat:
So while we were hanging out around the barn we worked on getting things better organized. Abby had found a piece of wooden lattice and I found a neat idea on a website for it. Abby set to work with Hannah and Rachel to create a place for all of our larger tools to be outside the barn.
The tools are protected from the weather and are no longer in the barn where we were always banging our heads on them! Abby even made a way to hang our sleds (that only were used ONCE this winter).
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Whoops!
Last night Nathalie and I sat down to go over her transcripts and plan what courses she would like to take starting in June. Since we school year-round, our year goes from mid-June to mid-June. We take December off completely and have a "slow-down" time in March to allow for kidding season. In reviewing Nathalie's classes the she either has completed, or will complete, by June, we discovered that Nathalie has done a lot of work!
Because Nathalie doesn't own any goats and doesn't have the spontaneous disruptions that goats create, she didn't have a "slow-down" time. She brought her schoolwork with her to fairs and because she didn't show any animals, schooled through the weekends. She kept working at her own steady pace and since the lesson plans were already created using Homeschool Tracker, I just added the next lesson plan subject to her schedule as she completed subjects.
By June she will have completed:
3 Units of English: American Lit; British Lit; and World Lit. Plus a 1/2 Unit of Public Speaking
3 Units of Math: Pre-Algebra; Algebra 1; and Geometry
5 Units of Science: Biology with Lab 1 and 2; Chemistry with Lab 1 and 2; and CP Astronomy
4 Units of History/Soc. Studies: American- Columbus to Reconstruction; American- Late 1800's to Present;
World Geography; and CP Greek and Persian Wars
2 Units of Foreign Language: Latin 1 and Spanish 1
1 Unit Fine Arts: CP Art Appreciation
2 Units of Bible
1/2 Unit of Typing/Computer Lit
1/2 Unit of Food and Nutrition
(CP denotes a college level course)
We gave Nathalie the choice of graduating this June with Abby and a few other teens from our church or waiting until next June when she could graduate all by herself. She chose to graduate this year and plans on getting a job and attending the local community college in the fall with Abby.
Because Nathalie doesn't own any goats and doesn't have the spontaneous disruptions that goats create, she didn't have a "slow-down" time. She brought her schoolwork with her to fairs and because she didn't show any animals, schooled through the weekends. She kept working at her own steady pace and since the lesson plans were already created using Homeschool Tracker, I just added the next lesson plan subject to her schedule as she completed subjects.
By June she will have completed:
3 Units of English: American Lit; British Lit; and World Lit. Plus a 1/2 Unit of Public Speaking
3 Units of Math: Pre-Algebra; Algebra 1; and Geometry
5 Units of Science: Biology with Lab 1 and 2; Chemistry with Lab 1 and 2; and CP Astronomy
4 Units of History/Soc. Studies: American- Columbus to Reconstruction; American- Late 1800's to Present;
World Geography; and CP Greek and Persian Wars
2 Units of Foreign Language: Latin 1 and Spanish 1
1 Unit Fine Arts: CP Art Appreciation
2 Units of Bible
1/2 Unit of Typing/Computer Lit
1/2 Unit of Food and Nutrition
(CP denotes a college level course)
We gave Nathalie the choice of graduating this June with Abby and a few other teens from our church or waiting until next June when she could graduate all by herself. She chose to graduate this year and plans on getting a job and attending the local community college in the fall with Abby.
Friday, February 3, 2012
But It's Just...
It's been nearly 4 weeks since I broke my toe. I am just now able to walk without a significant limp but I am still unable to put on a shoe. It has been a frustrating time of being unable to do all the things I normally do.
I have found myself repeatedly saying, "But it's just a toe! And it's just a little one to boot!" Such a little thing and yet it has had such an impact on my life: Weight gain, less laundry washed, the girls were lax in their chores because I couldn't inspect, and dates with Sam were limited, just to name a few.
How many other "little" things do we allow which impact our lives in ways that we just can't see? How many times do we justify our behavior with, "But it's just..."?
But it's just a little white lie.
But it's just a little bit over the speed limit.
But it's just a little more than I need.
But it's just a little immodest/inappropriate.
But it's just (insert your own excuse here)...
And yet the ramifications can be huge.
Proverbs 6: 10-11 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Of course this is the negative side, there's also the positive.
It's just a little money...
It's just a little time...
It's just a little effort...
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And so I am committing myself to take note of the "But it's just's..." in my life and to be sure they're working towards the positive, rather than the negative.
I have found myself repeatedly saying, "But it's just a toe! And it's just a little one to boot!" Such a little thing and yet it has had such an impact on my life: Weight gain, less laundry washed, the girls were lax in their chores because I couldn't inspect, and dates with Sam were limited, just to name a few.
How many other "little" things do we allow which impact our lives in ways that we just can't see? How many times do we justify our behavior with, "But it's just..."?
But it's just a little white lie.
But it's just a little bit over the speed limit.
But it's just a little more than I need.
But it's just a little immodest/inappropriate.
But it's just (insert your own excuse here)...
And yet the ramifications can be huge.
Proverbs 6: 10-11 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Of course this is the negative side, there's also the positive.
It's just a little time...
It's just a little effort...
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And so I am committing myself to take note of the "But it's just's..." in my life and to be sure they're working towards the positive, rather than the negative.
Friday, January 27, 2012
If I had...
If I had a million dollars I would...
...buy thousands of pillow cases and make them into dresses to send here: Little Dresses for Africa
...buy this painting from Kitt Brook Studios and hang it over my stairs:
I would...
... have a dairy parlor that looked like this for Abby:
... have a garden that looked like this, where I could host fun tea parties:
with tea sets from Stash Tea like this:
and serve cheeses that looked like this:
I would...
... set up a bakery so Nathalie could create cakes that look like this:
and pastries like this:
I would...
...build a 4-H barn like this in our town for all the 4-H clubs, at which they could meet, hold events, and display their awards:
... send hundreds of goats through Heifer International all over the world
What would you do?
...buy thousands of pillow cases and make them into dresses to send here: Little Dresses for Africa
...buy this painting from Kitt Brook Studios and hang it over my stairs:
I would...
... have a dairy parlor that looked like this for Abby:
... have a garden that looked like this, where I could host fun tea parties:
with tea sets from Stash Tea like this:
and serve cheeses that looked like this:
I would...
... set up a bakery so Nathalie could create cakes that look like this:
and pastries like this:
I would...
...build a 4-H barn like this in our town for all the 4-H clubs, at which they could meet, hold events, and display their awards:
... send hundreds of goats through Heifer International all over the world
What would you do?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Goats!
The sun came out + the goats were enjoying the hay= a perfect opportunity for some photos of all those pregnant bellies and the bucks!
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| California Lord Kelvin |
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| Kelvin from the back |
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| Swamp Maple Barcelona (not bred) did NOT want to be set up! |
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| Venezuela from the rear. Due April 1: I'm thinking triplets again. |
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| Venezuela from the side. Not too bad for a seven year old! |
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| Cedars of Lebanon DollyMadison due March 11 |
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| Cedars of Lebanon Rodoric (our first goat with a leg!) due April 27 |
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| Cedars of Lebanon Fluorine due March 11 |
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| Abby's Tails Koca Sir is for sale! |
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| West View Octavia is due February 25 |
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| Abby's Tails Paladium due February 18 (we suspect triplets!) |
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| Paladium |
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| Paladium on the left with Cedars of Lebanon Fluorine on the right |
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| Abby's Tails Paski Sir is not bred |
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| Paski being goofy. Raclette is next to her. |
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| Abby's Tails Raclette due April 17 |
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| RR Peck's Venezuela due April 1 |
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