First Day Back to School

Today was our first day back to school. 

We are ready to get back to work!

This is how we are keeping track of the books that we read this year.

Hummingbirds

I have been trying to get a picture of the beautiful hummingbirds that visit the feeder hanging from my porch.  I finally got one and thought I would share.  By the way, it is really hard to take a picture of a hummingbird. :)

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

Our First Egg

Yesterday, one of our hens laid her first egg! My son in the picture to the left was the one to find it. If you look closely, he has it in his hand.

ATTITUDE

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.

I have responsibilities fo fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy...or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money...or I can be glad my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health...or Ican rejoiece that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up...or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns...or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends...or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new friendships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work...or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school...or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework...or I can feel honored because God has provided shelter for my mind, body, and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped.

And here I am the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a great day...unless you have other plans.

Author Unknown

Butterfly Fun

For yet another home school science class we captured some caterpillars and placed them in a glass jar. We made sure that the jar had holes punched in the lid. We propped the twig against the side of the jar, the chrysalis needs to hang. Next we placed some grass that was damp in the jar along with the caterpillar. Then we waited, the caterpillar created a chrysalis almost immediately. After a few days our beautiful butterflies emerged. We allowed them to adjust to flying which they did in our kitchen! Last we released them.

The Butterfly and the Caterpillar by Joseph Lauren

A butterfly, one summer morn,

Sat on a spray of blossoming thorn

And, as he sipped and drank his share

Of honey from the flowered air,

Below, upon the garden wall,

A caterpillar chanced to crawl.

Horrors! the butterfly exclaimed,

This must be stopped! I am ashamed

That such as I should have to be

In the same world with such as he.

Preserve me from such hideous things!

Disgusting shape! Where are his wings!

Fuzzy and gray! Eater of clay!

Won't someone take the worm away!

The caterpillar hunched ahead,

But, as he munched a leaf, he said,

Eight days ago, young butterfly,

You wormed about, the same as I.

Within a fortnight from today

Two wings will bear me far away

To brighter blooms and lovelier lures,

With colors that out rival yours.

So, flutter-flit, be not so proud;

Each caterpillar is endowed

With power to make him, by and by,

A blithe and brilliant butterfly.

While you, who scorn the common clay,

You, in you livery so gay

And all the gaudy moths and millers,

Are only dressed-up caterpillars.

Coloring Carnations

One of our homeschool science classes suggested coloring carnations. This helped to demonstrate how water travels upward through the stem of a plant. If you would like to try this experiment you will need the following items: glass or pint-sized jar, water, food coloring, scissors, a magnifying glass, and two or three white carnations. Fill the glass one-third full of water, and then add ten or fifteen drops of food coloring. With the scissors, trim the end of the stems before placing the flowers into the colored water. Leave the flowers in the water overnight. You will notice a change in the flowers the next day. We really enjoyed doing this experiment! It was very simple to complete!