The Wool Gathering

 

A few weeks ago, our family took a trip to the Wool Gathering at Young's Dairy.  I was super-excited to visit and ask questions and learn from people with much more experience than myself. The festival offered many activities for the children. They got to use punch needles, drop spindles, felting boards, and more. I got to try a few drop spindles myself. There was fiber of all kinds to touch and demonstrations galore. Our family got a personal demonstration on how to use a spinning wheel, and instructions on how to use combs for wool. Eek...exciting!

 

Hannah and I have been eager to use our Angora rabbits' fur and Shetlands' wool. However, we've been busy with closing the garden and getting school underway.  I hope, once the season slows down, we'll be able to wash our wool and start combing and spinning it.

 

We brought a few treasures home with us from the festival. Besides enjoying ice cream, (one must eat ice cream while visiting Youngs), we brought home wool roving, to practice spinning on the drop spindles the children received, and a Tunisian drop spindle, made from a 3D printer.

 



Noah is using a punch needle to make the letter "E" for Eli.



Samuel and Eli are learning to use their cd drop spindles. You can find instructions for making and using these on YouTube.

 

We had a good experience, going and talking with people who raise sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits for fiber and pets. We learned much about processing our wool. I really enjoyed the vendors and talking with them. The beautiful yarn and roving was addicting to touch and look at. This was truly my grown-up version of a child in a candy store. I'm looking forward to going again next year.

 



 



Away to Play

A few weeks ago, our family took a trip to Navarre, Florida to hang out at the beach, explore and spend time with Grandparents. We had a great time relaxing and playing.

The coast offers great learning opportunities. The kids like searching for critters and inspecting new finds.

 

One of our favorite hang-outs is in Destin, Florida. We enjoy snorkeling and playing in the calm waters of Jetties East. The water is beautiful and crystal clear. The sun and tide cause the water to change from emerald blue to green-brown. It's fun to sit on the beach and watch the gradual change in the water. This quiet place is becoming popular,  but if  you go in the early evening, the beach becomes a private oasis.

 

 

Much of our time in Florida is spent at Navarre Beach/Gulf Islands National Seashore . We happened to be visiting during the off-season, so the beach was quiet and spacious, besides the day the sea slugs invaded. The link for Gulf Islands Seashore is filled with information about the area, as well as a link to homeschooling ideas and plans.

 

Hermit crabs are easy to catch at the Jetties.

 Papaw and Samuel had a good time waiting to be seated for dinner.

While on our trip, we took the opportunity to experience a history lesson. Fort Pickens was built in the 1800's to protect Pensacola Bay and the Navy Yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eli has been collecting Junior Ranger books. His aunt gathered books for him while she travelled out West. The Junior Ranger program gives children the opportunity to learn about the park they are visiting, while also learning to preserve and care for it.  

 

Fort Pickens was also used during WWII. We took time to explore the batteries around the park.

 

 

We relaxed, explored, visited and played. When we returned home, the weather was a bit cooler and the feel of Autumn was in the air. The familiar smells and sights welcomed us home. Or, shall I say, the goats and chickens welcomed us home. We are happy to be home and settled back into our routines. We've made beautiful memories and are looking forward to making more. Plus, I already miss my ma.

 

The last two pictures were from a fun competition Da and I were having. We wanted to see who took a better sunset shot. 

August Garden

Enter at your own risk. We haven't been in the garden as much as we should lately. It's quite weedy. The kids will quickly run out and fill their baskets with goodies and head back in with delicious treasures for me to freeze or can. Last weekend, it was corn, this week, more green beans. The beans have surprised me. I thought we'd have a terrible harvest, so I planted more. The second planting isn't ready yet; but the first is still yielding beautiful beans. Mostly, the garden is growing weeds. Since we haven't played in the garden much, we lost control of the weeds. The soft soil and hay/straw cover make pulling them easy though.

Our watermelons are growing bigger each day. Eli counted 24 melons.

We have lots of tomatoes; however, the cooler summer is causing them to take forever to ripen. Not to mention, our late planting. We enjoy fried green tomatoes and tomato relish. So, none will go to waste. Next year, though, the tomatoes are going in earlier. I'm feeling a little impatient.

The lettuce is overgrown and the spinach has started seeding. I think we'll go ahead and plant another salad bed before the season is over.

Okra is one of our "fun" plantings. We usually grab a few and fry them the same as tomatoes. We don't plant enough to freeze or dehydrate. Okra flowers are so pretty.

We have two pumpkin patches. One has pie pumpkins planted. We found several little pumpkins peeking out behind their flowers. Our other patch is for jack-o-lanterns. We planted them late so our pumpkins will be here in October instead of August. We usually get excited and plant them way to early. What's left of the pumpkins will be chicken treats.

Potatoes are ready. We've been grabbing some when we need them for a meal. I think this year, we will can them instead of keeping them in the pantry. Next year, we hope to plant more potatoes.

Our second green bean planting is filled with three varieties. We tried a purple bean this year. The little purple flowers give me hope that beans will be here soon.

The kids planted corn with Da this year. It turned out fantastic. They picked 151 ears from four rows. That gave us about 28 quarts of frozen corn. We still have to pick a few more rows. Oh my!

Our perennial and herb bed turned seeds into beautiful flowers. Next spring the volunteer tomatoes will be removed and a variety of colors will be added. I'm excited to attract more beneficial insects and bees to the garden.

Our second pea planting is not doing as well as the first. Nor is our second beet planting. But, there are enough peas to provide for a few suppers.

We have truly been blessed in the garden this year. The pests were not a problem, we've had great yields, and have already put up a lot of winter food. The children like pointing out everything on their dinner plates that come from home. From the meat to the vegetables, this has been a good year.

Sometimes you have to take a break from the garden and play in the rain. Or, take pictures of children playing in the rain.

4H and the Fair

Fair Week = A week full of excitement, rushing, washing animals, waking early, and getting home late, seeing lots of animals, and fun. The kids look forward to this week every year. I look forward to the quietness of the week following the fair. It is a time of great memories and learning experiences.

This year, the children were responsible for caring for their animals without much help from Ma or Da. They did a great job, and realized there were a few things they could've done better. Each year, they learn new techniques and gain knowledge about the animals they care for.

Of course the week is donned with boots and jeans. Seems, we're missing a pair in this picture.

 

Bunny ribbon



Noah helped Hannah show her rabbits, while she was in the horse show.

Hannah had the opportunity to show a couple rabbits herself.

Motor cross: Now the children want dirt bikes.

Showmanship

Goofiness is expected.

 

Auction

 

Action! Thank you Walmart for bidding on all three of our children's projects.

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I highly recommend 4H. There are many learning opportunities available; and many are not farm or animal related. You don't have to live in the country to participate. Many children live in neighborhoods. Our children have been involved in Robotics, Vet Sciences, Insect Studies, Rocks and Minerals, Rockets and more. Check out the opportunity 4H has to offer.