The final week of Playful Pioneers and a big batch of sourdough!
Read all of theLarge Family Homeschool Lifeposts!
MONDAY
This past weekend was an emotional roller coaster and I feel drained today. I spent quite a bit of time just sitting in my chair in my bedroom until I finally felt like I could get my day started.
I had a banana and coffee for breakfast because I didn’t want to cook anything. Then, I gathered school supplies and called everyone to Morning Time in the living room.
This is our final week of The Playful Pioneers and we don’t have a lot of extra projects that require the table, so the living room just feels like the right place for today.
Interested in this curriculum? Check out my Review of The Playful Pioneers Volume 1 or watch the video review below:
We read in Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible and then read 2 chapters of By the Shores of Silver Lake. Then, I read Pond by Jim LaMarche. This book reminded me of my childhood when some neighbor kids and I tried to clean out an old abandoned swimming pool. Lots of happy memories there!
I listened to the 11 year old play his piano piece and was able to pass him. I don’t have a lot of piano expertise, but enough to help the kids when they are younger.
Then, I worked on a menu plan and a grocery list and planned a bit more for our new curriculum Hundred Acre Wood.
I had a lunch of salad with chicken and a honeycrisp apple (love those apples!). Then, we ran the Roborock vacuum. I usually run it on Sundays, but we had company, so I waited until today and it definitely needed it! There is something very satisfying about watching it suck up dust bunnies and mop up little footprints!
That afternoon, I got the church newsletter out and worked on a legal document for my husband concerning cash rent on some family land. My dad was a farmer and any of the land he didn’t own was farmed on shares. Several years ago, that all changed around here, and people went to what’s called cash rent. The farmer “rents” the ground for a set price that is not dependent on how good the crop is that year or how much the expenses are for the ground. It takes a lot of the risk out of farming for the landowner.
While the children played outside, I took a nice long walk and then came home to a cup of coffee. Sometimes that’s all you need to turn a day around.
I ran to the library for holds while the kids were taking their TV time and my 15 year old was doing his computer time. Thankfully, the 13 year old took Winston out for his evening walk so I could start dinner as soon as I got home.
I had some canned cannellini beans that needed to be used up, and I happened to have a chunk of ham that I could add to it to make ham and beans. A little broth, and it made a satisfying dinner. The kids even said they liked it better than the butter beans we often use when we make ham and beans with the Christmas ham leftovers. I will have to keep that in mind next Christmas!
That evening, I finished watching Chimes at Midnight (you might remember I started this movie last week) and redid my nails with new Dashing Diva Gloss. I love how easy these nail stickers are – no nail polish remover needed, no curing, super simple!
Then, I played Chutes and Ladders with the little girls and finished reading Heartwood Hotel to them. I also finished Kristin Lavransdatter: The Wife tonight as well. I ordered the next book in both of these series from our library.
TUESDAY
I went to Weight Watchers this morning and then had a long talk with a friend who also goes. I needed to just unload and be encouraged by someone who would point me to Christ. It was a good talk, and I’m thankful for good friends.
When I got home, I grabbed coffee and iced tea and gathered everyone for Morning Time. We read in Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible, and By the Shores of Silver Lake. I also read A Picture Book of Louis Braille.
Creed remembered some of the story from when he was assigned a book about Louis Braille for school last year. I always love to see when the kids retain information and can recall it when the topic is brought up again. This was a really good book and even had the braille alphabet in the back.
While I was teaching, I had my 19 year old daughter start the crockpot hamburgers for dinner tonight because she and I will be at our Titus 2 Bible Study. I buy the frozen pre-formed hamburger patties at Aldi, and all you have to do is peel off the papers between them and pop them in the crockpot and you have an easy dinner!
My daughter also made saltine cracker toffee for tonight’s Bible Study potluck. I always appreciate when she makes the food for Tuesdays because it is difficult for me to get around to it.
That afternoon, I reworked the Resurrection Garden post here on the blog to include instructions for an artificial version of the garden. This is what we did last year, and it was a nice way to make this project even simpler. I wanted the post to include instructions for both the live garden and the artificial garden.
That evening, we had Bible study and we were able to bring home toffee to the kids who always appreciate when there are leftovers!
WEDNESDAY
I had a rough night, so I slept in a bit. I didn’t feel like making breakfast, so I had a cup of coffee and started Morning Time – Hurlbut’s, Silver Lake, and we learned about a Folk Song from Music in Our Homeschool.
Then I worked on lesson plans and ordering books from the library for Hundred Acre Wood.
I made the kids Dirty Rice from a boxed mix Ty’s aunt bought when she was here several months ago. They really like it!
I took the little girls to Walmart and then got ready for our church’s Women’s Group. We attend a church plant that is beginning its 3rd year. The group ended up having a very good and fruitful discussion about milk versus meat in our Bible time. I am really hoping this conversation helps move our little group along into a deeper dive with Scripture. As a church plant, it can be tricky to figure out how far and how fast to go, but we have a really good group of ladies willing to work hard to minister to others.
THURSDAY
This morning, I started a sourdough artisan loaf, some sourdough rolls, and made an old muffin recipe from a church cookbook. They are called “Gem” muffins and Ty made them when he was in elementary school as a science experiment to show how various types of ingredients create chemical reactions!
I made waffles with the leftover sourdough. I used the dough whisk my 2nd son bought me this summer when we took him and his family on a trip to mountains. He knew I’d been wanting one, and when he saw one in a store in one of the mountain towns, he bought it for me! I love it!
For Morning Time, we read in Hurlbut’s and finished By the Shores of Silver Lake. We start Hundred Acre Woods next week!
I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning and then took the vehicle through the car wash. Then, I grabbed 8 books from the library that were on hold for school next week.
I didn’t get lunch until 3:30 because it was the first chance I had. Then I finished editing my latest podcast and sent it off to the 25 year old to put the final editing touches on it.
After that, I talked to my mom on the phone and did laundry. I bought new sheets and wanted to put them on the bed. I’m kind of picky about sheets. Pilling and such bug me, but it was WAY worse when I was pregnant and was dealing with restless legs.
Later in the afternoon, I finished up the sourdough artisan loaf. My favorite recipe is this sourdough loaf is from An Oregon Cottage.
For dinner, I made burritos and a salad. Then, we had Special Night! It was our 11 year old’s turn to choose the food and he wanted Popcorners and Sprite.
FRIDAY
It was a little chillier this morning, but it is still supposed to get to 60° today. Unbelievable for February!
I shaped my sourdough rolls and put plastic wrap over them to rise. I am using a sourdough starter a friend gave me and using a recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. The recipe turned out beautifully!
After our General Tidy Up for Home Blessing, I got the kids started on their chores and then worked on my plants. Some of them were looking shabby with the last cold snap.
I also did some decluttering in the boys’ room which is actually a den in our basem*nt. We packed up an old stereo and a TV from Ty’s aunt that we don’t need anymore, as well as some bags that have been sitting in the garage waiting for a trip to Goodwill. My daughter remembered there was a family in town whose house burned last month, and some of the local churches had said they were still looking for a television and a few other things. We got the address and headed over in case the TV we had would be something they might want. Sure enough, they were thrilled! It felt so good to be able to give it a good home.
After lunch, I talked to our 25 year old son for 2 hours! We had so much to talk about because it had been a while since our last talk. I sure do miss having him around. I miss all of the children who have moved out, but I’m also quite excited for their new adventures!
I finished sewing up my granny square afghan. I’m proud of my first granny square project! Aspen wanted it as a shawl, so I gave it to her as a present.
Ty and I watched our 23 year old’s college cheer competition online and then I finished up last week’s Large Family Homeschool Life. I feel incredibly behind with these, but I know people like them, so I guess it’s ok even when I get them out late.
That evening, our 18 year old son and his family showed up on our doorstep for a surprise visit! We ordered pizza and had a lovely weekend together!
