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Spring Time Planting in Ontario

4/30/2016

 
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What predicates this post being written?

The other day on facebook I commented on how I have my peas planted, and how my radishes and turnips are coming up.    I was surprised to get comments of "Boy you are early!"  "Wow.. .that's might early".   I often have things in the garden at this time of year.    I don't always tell people, but this year it surprised me at how many people commented on the earliness.

Hubby, in answer to my surprise said "but hun, you have raised beds.. it makes all the difference".

So know you what predicated this post.  :)    Be prepared to get some early gardening advice.
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Early in the season... probably beginning of March I put up my hoop over one of the raised beds.  I did this so the ground would have a chance to heat up.   I blocked off the ends and just waited. 

Once the weeds started growing I knew the soil was warm enough.    I planted cold weather seeds such as spinach, radish, turnip and the like and then let the boards stay up until the seeds sprouted.

Now the boards stay off and I just watch for frost warnings.   I picked up some inexpensive frost cover at the local dollarama.

At the beginning of this week, after we had a good rain I planted my sugar snap peas.   The package will tell you to soak them, but I've learned you don't need to soak them if you just wait with on the weather.  Rain comes in the spring.  :)   I put my peas in.  YEAH!!!    Soon enough I'll have pea!!!!  The lad and I can eat them all before they even come in the house. :)  (and dad will shake his head at us).
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oday as I was fussing about I noted I made an error in judgement.  I forgot to remove my seeds from a box before I watered our freshly bought mint!   ACK!!!   Wet seeds!

(guess what I got to do?)

Yes..you nailed.. I got to plant seeds that I wasn't anticipating planting today.  :)

I planted: more spinach, swiss chard, lettuce (two kinds), mustard greens, and Salad greens.   This is all for the bunnies except for what we steal for our own table.
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I also planted some bush type zucchini.   These went into my short box raised beds that I reserve for plants that need their own space.

In my raised beds I plant close together, usually about 6-8 inches, but some plants simply don't do well with that type of spacing.  Those plants have short beds that they don't need to share.  :)   I planted the whole package of zucchini which we DEFINITELY don't need but they will hopefully come up and then my son can sell them to raise some dollars.  :)    We'll market them to the various homeschool groups around.   I certainly felt stupid getting the seeds wet so hopefully that didn't ruin them.

I keep a thin piece of plywood next to my short boxes so I can cover plants as they start to come up to protect them from frost damage.
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The reason I plant closely is two fold.
1. It helps to keep the grounded shaded so they don't dry out as fast.  The nemesis of raised gardens is they dry out quickly.
2. It helps shade the ground so weeds don't grow as persistently because there is no room for them to spread their roots.
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The Joy of raised beds is
1. they are MUCH easier to work and it's easier to work up one section at a time.  This keeps the job from being overwhelming.
2. It's easier to rotate what is going where.
3. If you get a diseased patch of dirt (it happens).  It's easy enough to spread that batch of bad dirt over the lawn, which gets rid of dips and divots in your lawn.
4. Lack of persistent weeds.  Twitch grass is SO not a problem in my gardens.
5. Adding growing room is not difficult.  You can use a hoop cage, screw in support poles and hang twine down for plants to grow up, or you can even build up (as in the case of layering potatoes)...
6. It gets me started earlier growing plants for the bunnies.  They adore my parsely/cilantro patch and have eaten from it twice already.   I have some clover, plantain and dandelions mixed in the patch as well.

Here in Ontario, where the season can be shorter than one wants, having raised beds helps me to extend the time I can garden and to take advantage of the cool weather crops by planting early. 

Do you have anything special that you do when you garden?

The Value in Reading Below Level Readers

4/29/2016

 
Usually when I read book with my lad, I read above his reading level, but lately we've been reading from a reader called "Paths to Adventure".   It's part of the A Beka reading program.  I picked it up somewhere cause I like readers.  :)
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The stories were simple (expected that).
What I didn't expect was my lad's interest.

It caught me off-guard how interested he was in these simple stories and the questions...oh my! 

"MOM!   is that story true?"
"Mom, why do you think he did that?"
"Mom that was a nice story, I liked that one.  Did you like it mom?"
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As I sat down tonight I pondered this whole thing, about my boys' interest and all his questions.

I have to wonder.
1. if the lower level meant he could really focus on the basics of the story and therefore they caught his attention more.
2. if the lower level stories don't have all vocabulary and bigger words, which broke the story down into more easily understood pieces.
3. if the simplicity of the story conveyed truths in a more straight-forward fashion.

I don't know.  

I do know that was completely caught off-guard with his interest in the stories and the poems found within the pages of this reader.  It was a good thing.

So the upshot of all this is ...... Don't pass up those below level books.  
You just might be surprised how interesting they are.

Missionary: David Zeisberger

4/28/2016

 
Since my son is learning about the 13 colonies in history I thought it would be an interesting addition to learn about a missionary from that time period.  
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David Zeisberger was a missionary to the Native American's that lived within the 13 colonies. He was a Moravian clergyman. 

If like me you wonder who are the Moravians, they are a group of Protestants founded in Saxony by folks who emigranted from Moravia.  They believed the bible to the only source of faith, and held to many views of the Hussites (who were followers of John Huss). The Moravians were one of the first Protestant Groups to send out missionaries.
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click on image to go to source (fifth grade)
When he was five years old his parents left to be part of a settlement in the New World, he was considered too young to make the journey.   Leaving him with other Moravians who raised him in a rather harsh manner led him to run away from that community to seek out his parents in the New World.   Another teen joined him.    It is said that In Georgia David was reunited with his parents but they didn't recognize and had to accept his word that he was who he said he was.

David has a quick affinity with other languages and quickly learned the languages of the Native People.  This allowed him to serve as an interpreter for the government, but his true gift was travelling amongst the Native Americans, establishing mission stations as he went.
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click image for source (wiki)
David didn't marry until he was 60 years, and spent the bulk of his life among the people he served, living in and starting up mission stations.

It was rather frustrating for him as the Native Americans would be driven out of their land and the mission stations he started destroyed so he needed to keep moving and restarting.    In fact a rather sad moment occurred in his life (according to Wiki)
He was the senior missionary of the United Brethren (as the Moravians sometimes referred to themselves) among the Indians. His relations with British authorities worsened during the American Revolutionary War and in 1781 he was arrested and held at Fort Detroit. While he was imprisoned, ninety-six of his Native converts in Gnadenhutten, Ohio were brutally murdered by Pennsylvania militiamen, an event known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre.
You can learn more about that incident here.

In 1798 he established the Goshen Mission and stayed there the next 10 years, translating hymns and books into the language of the Delaware Indians.  He taught many hymns to the converts, and while he lay dying they gathered around him singing hymns.   (source)

Crayon Rocks - I guest posted

4/27/2016

 
Have you ever thought about using crayons to help your students learn about rocks?

It's a lot of fun and teaches in a fun manner.

Check out my guest post over at Tots and Me.
While you are there, if you have littles in your household, consider joining in Karen's link up.  :)  Share the knowledge you have.

Hymn Study: Come, Ye People, Rise and Sing

4/26/2016

 
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WOW!    Was it ever hard to find lyrics to this hymn!   And only two versions of it on youtube and both in a different tune!   Go figure that eh?

1 Come, ye people, Rise and sing
Praise to God, who made you,
And to heaven's eternal King
Bring the prayers He bade you;
Bring your praise for mercies past,
All His love confessing,
And on life, while life shall last,
ask your Father's blessing.

2 Praise we God the Father's name
For our world's creation,
And His saving health proclaim
Unto every nation;
Till, His name by all confessed,
Every heart enthrone Him,
And from farthest east and west
All His children own Him.

3 Praise we God the only Son,
Who in mercy sought us;
Born to save a world undone,
Out of death He brought us;
Here awhile He showed His love,
Suffered uncomplaining,
Now He pleads fro us above,
Risen, ascended, reigning!

4 Grant us, Holy Ghost, we pray,
More and more to know Him,
More and more and every day
In our lives to show Him;
That with hearts by Thee made brave,
Strong and wise and tender,
We, with all the powers we have,
Service meet may render.

5 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Help us to adore Thee,
Till, with all the angel host,
Low we fall before Thee;
Till, throughout our early days
Guided, loved, forgiven,
We can blend our songs to praise
With the song of heaven!
This lovely hymn was written Cyril Argentine Alington.

Cyril Alington(1872-1955) was born in Ipswich, the son of a clergyman.  He was ordained a priest in 1903, and eventually became the headmaster at Eton College.  He served there from 1917-1933.  

Alington was a popular speaker and preacher, with a great memory and a zest for life.  He wrote both stories, books and hymns.   Together with his wife Hester Lyttelton, he had two boys and four girls.

This particular hymn focuses on praising the three persons of the Trinity.  
Sometimes the first verse is omitted.
Sources:
Cyril Alington.  Wiki.

Review: Eddie Red Undercover

4/24/2016

 
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Book Synopsis:
Eddie Red, the NYPD's youngest crime-solving hero, smells trouble. Could he be the target of the elusive art thief Lars Heinrich, whose last robbery he ruined? If so, why won't the police let Eddie help on the case? What are they hiding from him? In the thrilling third installment of the Eddie Red Undercover series, Eddie will need some luck of the Irish as he races against the clock (and bombs and runaway subway cars) to stop what could be one of the greatest heists in history
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 My Thoughts:
My son thoroughly enjoyed this book, as did I.  I thought it was cleverly done.   A well-developed plot line that provided challenge for the reader to follow.     I appreciated that some of the clues they were given to follow were written out in the book.   Gave my lad a chance to see if he could solve it as well.

My son liked the character of Eddie Red (12 years old), and like him, disliked the original code name given to hm by the police and thought the adjustment was MUCH better.  :)    I thought Eddie's friend Jonah an interesting character... busy as beaver, quirky lad.      Both boys draw in other children to help them solve the mystery of Lars and the Doom at Grant's Tomb.

We came late to this series and my lad is wondering if we'll be able to read the first two books as well.  We are going to see if we can find them at the library. 

It's a good book with smart, talented young people.  I do wish that the parents were presented in a more positive light.   The police characters seemed pretty real to me except at the end with Bovano didn't want to listen to Eddie but was finally convinced to do so. 

I have to admit to being curious as to what book four will reveal... Who is the mysterious FOX?   Will Eddie ever figure it out?

The book closes with a chapter on cryptography.   A cryptographer is a person who studies codes.   There are so many different types of codes.   To that end I discovered this rather neat site you might want to explore.
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Product Details:
Received: softcover book
Title: Doom at Grant's Tomb
Author Marcia Wells
Pages: 192
Series: Eddie Red Undercover
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.
Social Media Links for Raincoast Books are as follows.

https://twitter.com/raincoastbooks
https://www.facebook.com/raincoastbooks
https://instagram.com/raincoastbooks/
https://www.pinterest.com/raincoastbooks/
http://raincoastbooks.tumblr.com/
https://plus.google.com/+raincoastbooks/
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Living History Books for Upper Elementary

4/23/2016

 
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Over the past couple of months my son and I have read three stellar books.
Alone Yet Not Alone.   I have to say... I wouldn't have read this with a more sensitive minded lad.  As it was.. TONS of questions were asked and lots of "WHY, Why Mom?   Why would someone do that?    And then.. Mom.. do you think she knew the Lord?   If she did, then it makes it a bit better.  But mom that wasn't NICE of them.. that was mean!"   By the end of the book he was relieved to know that it all turned out okay, but there were hard moments...but there ARE hard moments in history.  Times when people do things they really aught not do.. and it's good to be able to process this information with folks who are able to understand your heart and help you make sense of it.
Once on this Island.... the story of the war of 1812 as happened on Mackinac Island.   My sweetheart and I spent part of our honeymoon here so it was rather neat reading a story based on this island.   it was well written and caused my lad to ask questions.    The characters in the story were quite varied, but the love of family for family shone through.
Blackthorn Winter.  Pirates and treasure and a well-written adventure.   Need I say more?   My lad was hooked from the very first chapter. 

A present day story that linked back into history...would a need be met?

I liked that the heroes of the story were men/boys of character.


Review: You're Loved no Matter What

4/23/2016

 
Did  you know that you are indeed LOVED no MATTER what?  Just loved.  God loves you.  God calls us to be perfect as he is perfect, but he doesn't require us to do everything perfectly.   Do you understand the difference?    This book will help you walk through that understanding.
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From book cover: "As women, we tend to think that if we could only get our act together, life would be perfect. But you're not supposed to be perfect. You're supposed to be human. And humans are messy, flawed, glorious, and deeply loved.
It's time to lay down those unrealistic expectations that exhaust you.
It's time to embrace who you are--even the messy parts.
It's time to start living fully instead of just trying not to fail.
Let's do this. Together."

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My Thoughts:
I have never read a Holley Gerth book before this.   I would have no issues reading a book by here again.   Nicely written book that speaks to the heart of women.

It is SO easy to push ourselves you know?   To do this right, to that thing over there that needs doing, to just be busy doing and working and being what we think is expected of us.

The Chapters are:
  • Why you really don't have to be perfect
  • Embracing the freedom that's already yours
  • Trading guilt for Grace
  • What your heart really needs is perfect love
  • The God who loves you more than you know
  • Daring to be who you already are
  • Finding healing in your relationship
  • A practical plan for beating perfectism
  • A new perspective that will change your life
  • The perfect place you're heading one day
  • Freeing your heart forever.

We get so busy you know, with the stuff of life that sometimes we forget what is truly important, the heart within us, the heart that God wants seeking after him and being content with who he has made us and called us to be.

Holley calls us back to remember that, to remember the heart of who we are so we can truly live as we should.    Throughout the chapters questions are asked, and lines provided for answers, in order to help you think through the questions and thoughts presented.   It's good to ponder these things eh?  :)

Chapter questions are given at the close of the book.   I have to admit that these questions didn't resonate with me, the questions within the individual chapters did.  Causing me to ponder and seek after God more.
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Product Details:
Received: Softcover book
Title: You're Loved No Matter What
Author: Holley Gerth
Pages: 219
Publisher: Revell
Reviewed for: Nuts About Books.
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Medieval Times Preview

4/21/2016

 
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Exciting News... I'm being given an opportunity to review Medieval Times.   I am not  not sure if you remember I was able to review them last year, but we get to go again!  :)

Just so yo know they are running a promotion and I thought I would share with with you. 

Moms get in FREE* May 2nd-8th! Code FBMOM valid 5/2/16 - 5/8/16 for ALL castles. Visit http://goo.gl/AZoxsH to redeem!
To make Mom feel really special, upgrade with to our Mother's Day special package! Upgraded Mother's Day Package includes framed photo of Mom, "Royal Highness" sash, and champagne, mimosa or cider in logo souvenir glass. Over $55 value for only $20!         *Visit link for details and restrictions


Medieval Times has been in the Toronto area for over 20 years and are the destination for celebration: birthdays, anniversaries, grad trips and bachelor & bachelorette’s. When you come to Medieval Times you will experience spectacular pageantry, dramatic horsemanship, breathtaking swordplay and falconry while feasting on a four-course medieval banquet. The experience culminates in an authentic jousting tournament between six brave Knights of the Realm.

Field Trip: Stones and Bones Museum, Sarnia

4/21/2016

 
This week we had a chance to go to the Stones and Bones Museum in Sarnia.
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Wow... for a little place they sure pack in a whole whack of things.

The tour started with the owner of museum talking with the children about a variety of bugs they had up on the wall.   He mentioned how his wife wore this necklace made from bugs for a TV interview.
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One of the things that I enjoyed about visiting this museum, beyond the sheer wealth of items to look at, the proprietor stayed with us in the museum, and would stop and ask the children and parents if they wanted to know more about anything.  He would then expound upon any topic at hand.   

Things my son liked:
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non-venomous
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venomous
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Luminescent rocks.  These were rather neat I must say. 

The puffer fish caught my lad's eye so I had to take a pic.
There were many items there that caught my eye, I think I took pics of almost everything.   Some of my personal highlights though.
Being really able to see the rows of shark teeth.

I've heard/read about it, but I just found it super neat to actually see those rows and just seeing how they roll out for the shark.

Such an amazing design by God.
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listening to presentation
All these fascinating rocks from all around the world.   Sharp edges, crystals, stones that look like mould growing and what not.   Creativity abounds in rocks and minerals as well.
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Taxidermy, animal action portrayed.

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My lad was amazed at the sheer size of a polar bear.  The pic didn't come out all the best.   You would have smiled to hear the exclamations of the boys in front of us.
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It was a good trip and I would love to go again.  :)   I want to see what other small creatures I would spy hiding in the corners...Like this wee weasel hiding away with his meal.. we almost missed him and I wonder what else we may have missed.
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