Saturday, September 7, 2024

First Week of School

Our daughter and son-in-law have decided to give homeschooling a try this year.  Lauren is in 2nd grade.  I am happy they are doing this, not only because I can be involved (teehee), but her private school is such a long distance from their house.  All the driving back and forth, not to mention snowy roads....eek...(wink, wink).

Anyway, I know it wasn't an easy decision.  Weighing pros and cons, doing what is best for your child, often times never is.   As of now, this year, they are at home.  

Justine has always been a dedicated student, responsible, followed directions, considerate, creative - all the things needed to "school" your own child.  She found a fun curriculum and a nature (outdoorsey in the woods) based home school group to join.  She still has her practice and patients, but on Wednesdays for a few hours, I get to be "art/home economics/creative play (wink, wink)" teacher.  

This week, their country of study was China.  So, what I did for my few hours was:  Found a dragon puppet we made, looked up meanings of Chinese names to name our dragons, made homemade noodles, vegetable Lo Mien, fortune cookies and looked up scriptures where dragon was mentioned in the Bible.  I won't lie, I was ready for a nap by the time I got back home, but I had a FUN day!  


I had Josh take a picture of us, bouncing the strips of noodles on the counter to stretch them out.  Believe it or not, it works!  I won't share that photo tho, it's just for me.  



You would not believe the adorable fortunes she was coming up with.  We couldn't figure out how to fold them correctly.  They were too hot to handle long anyway.  So, we did them this way.  

Justine messaged me last night and said "Australia" is next week's country of study.  O.k., I'm on it!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  


Friday, September 6, 2024

Farmhouse Friday - Week 36

 Farmhouse Friday - Week 36

It's been awhile...I don't know if anyone is still reading these.

Anyway, I've had better summers.  The last half of this summer was awful!  Actually, the whole summer was!  Too much rain, too hot, standing water on fields ALL summer, garden in 2 boxes, mother-in-love passed on, 2 icky estate sales, I caught "walking pneumonia" (I think it was the new covid - no tests given at walk in), 6 plus weeks of coughing .... o.k. it's September now....that is in the past.

I have a lot of pictures to share, not sure if you're interested....

We added on a 3 season type porch in front of house



















This space has been a dream of mine for years!  Thanks to my husband for his help and to my nieces' husband and sons business:  Sons & Dads Services  

Then the same crew moved on to the back side of the house





We added another dream of mine....a sauna from:  The Sauna Guys






Now the rest of the deck 





Can't wait to use this....

We did do a little trip with the girls and grands to Laona Connor Country.  It is the only steam engine train of this year running in the world - so they said.  You take a train ride back to the logging camp.  I did this as a kid too.  My grandpa Ritchie met my grandma Ritchie while working for Connor Industries in early 1920's  


I took 2 basket weaving classes with Woven Blessings Basketry


My sister Bonnie to the left and friend Dawn to right



My sisters Lynn and Bonnie


Our Department 18 wrap up of fair judging.  


This is my mother-in-love....she passed on August 5.  We had her funeral on August 10.  She was 89 and will be so missed!  It is weird to go to her house and her not being there.  We have been getting ready for a sale.  We all had an opportunity to take whatever we wanted.  She even had our names on things.  I love that!  She even left messages and notes for us.  

I cut my hair and donated another 2 feet...yes, 2 feet...that now makes 7 feet 4 inches in my lifetime.  




Well, I guess that wraps up my summer in a small way.

Not sure how long till my next post.  I'm sure they will get back to more regular ones, now that the "ber" months are on us.  

Thanks and Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.