tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47769151844085017022024-03-21T06:18:52.724-07:00Homeschooling The Well Prepared ChildOur family teaches homesteading, DIY, survivalist skills, life skills as part of our homeschooling curriculum. Thank you for joining us on our journey to become more self sufficient! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-10944864950265312712017-02-06T10:27:00.000-08:002017-02-06T10:27:12.447-08:00A Glimmer of HopeThis post may contain <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Affiliate Links.</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Our beautiful Avocado Tree died this year. We are devastated. 3 years we have babied this plant. Bringing it inside during winter, making sure it did not get too much afternoon sun in the summer. It grew big, healthy and strong. Until we brought it in for the cold weather this year. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">We refused to give up hope.. Until the top little limbs grew dry and snapped easily. Our little tree was lost. Refusing to be defeated, we decided to try again. Zoey began saving seeds from avocados. Our theory to the dead tree was that perhaps it had outgrown the container it was in. We were hoping the tree would only grow to the capacity of the planter, staying that size instead of growing into a large tree. Where we live is prone to very mild winters, however, it is not uncommon to have short bursts of freezing cold temps. It it got too big, we would not be able to bring it inside and protect it. The last ones that were in the ground died when we had icy weather. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We finally took our little, sad, dead tree back outside today. I figured it was gone, but did not have the heart or the time to pull it up out of the planter. While we were cleaning up some carrots from the garden, I looked over at the tree, sighing... but look! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyRa44I3s8sJq9TXHDHOUOSQqec-sNyaVHJYq-TMmlsFaE6a6jg0vcfuNdahXxPqR7WCKlM1GGmR7kbDc0Ht0Ey_HxuB0CR2ocY0CGrHFd9LyIjQouravhQQ1iVb808xHzBf0kbyy3zSi/s1600/16558720_10210556358736813_1060013349_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyRa44I3s8sJq9TXHDHOUOSQqec-sNyaVHJYq-TMmlsFaE6a6jg0vcfuNdahXxPqR7WCKlM1GGmR7kbDc0Ht0Ey_HxuB0CR2ocY0CGrHFd9LyIjQouravhQQ1iVb808xHzBf0kbyy3zSi/s640/16558720_10210556358736813_1060013349_n.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Just when we thought all was lost with our little tree ... a little glimmer of hope came up through the ground! All is not lost! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can apply this to life. </span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Things are not always as they seem.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes things do not go according to plan. Do not give up.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Try and try again!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Always have a back up plan. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Read how we got our avocado started by clicking the pic! </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/06/avocados-everywhere.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxQviDoYqDM1SqAEtevAlE-x1V9amX4DbsD0Tg1vJqfk0k-vttNWAMdWBSTea-cDY2KB3lKKfJzTcPIi6iOdIB1lMlsTtaBzLv1kzf13b0Qq6TPeZ3BYG0iTm1cwJXWb1efEqSXdpz8CO/s320/avocados+everywhere+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe we will have avocados yet! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZkKT3ZRRz4GnH3En0mT-r0u3egrlWuHJ_fiHEdteGi2ffH4H1Ads0rOft3MRosPyvg430kY62WqoC8mtpQg3EMxgvy_kdMFxhCmnlKp2Lz4m06ikMImemBDc7NON8fuvkGA3c0OKj5qj/s1600/a+glimmer+of+hope+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZkKT3ZRRz4GnH3En0mT-r0u3egrlWuHJ_fiHEdteGi2ffH4H1Ads0rOft3MRosPyvg430kY62WqoC8mtpQg3EMxgvy_kdMFxhCmnlKp2Lz4m06ikMImemBDc7NON8fuvkGA3c0OKj5qj/s320/a+glimmer+of+hope+blog.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">Disclosure: This post contains no affiliate links, However, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-61041349080956539042016-06-15T05:19:00.000-07:002016-06-15T05:19:57.625-07:00Make Your Own: Colored Craft NoodlesThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3sCnPlYBbEf32CC4SFSpFH_9mSc41YUCI8_XSDt5JnDsbCbApeJ8geh-uyFjzkqtNDreZbZYMJ9at2B3kq8HGxoBlOwJWzQLVGBBdjXRkXQCRhRqnrYKEc3PDOsaka5w5gIylmg9FgPf/s1600/colored+noodles+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3sCnPlYBbEf32CC4SFSpFH_9mSc41YUCI8_XSDt5JnDsbCbApeJ8geh-uyFjzkqtNDreZbZYMJ9at2B3kq8HGxoBlOwJWzQLVGBBdjXRkXQCRhRqnrYKEc3PDOsaka5w5gIylmg9FgPf/s640/colored+noodles+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Making colored noodles and rice for art projects is easy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">For one pound of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-dinirao-Penne-16-oz/dp/B000RUP0JE/ref=pd_bxgy_325_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=YCBXPVH8AV0APQP81W6Y" target="_blank">noodles</a> in a single color, you need a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Storage-Bags-Gallon-Pack/dp/B00HXCNPDM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465966164&sr=8-1&keywords=Ziplock+gallon+baggy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gallon sized baggy</a>, a 1 cup of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/70%25-Iso-Alcohol-Pint-Vi-Jon/dp/B0006GBEFS/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465966219&sr=8-2&keywords=rubbing+alcohol" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rubbing Alcohol</a> and a about half a bottle of liquid (NOT JELL) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MCCORMICK-FOOD-EGG-COLORING-Colors/dp/B004G7PLJI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1465966269&sr=8-1&keywords=food+coloring+liquid" target="_blank">food coloring</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Hold baggy open, add alcohol, squirt in food coloring, shake baggy to mix it up, and then add your noodles. Fold baggy over before zipping (careful not to spill the liquid). Lay baggy flat on a surface that you will not mind getting colored if the baggy leaks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Flip baggy over every 10 minutes for an hour or until you are happy with the color. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">OVER A BOWL, clip the corner of the baggy and drain out liquid, (you can reuse liquid to color rice or more noodles). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Pour wet, drained, colored noodles onto a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Garbage-Bags-33x39-case/dp/B0017T70B0/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1465966348&sr=8-14&keywords=plastic+trash+bags" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">plastic trash bag</a>. I used a fan to help speed the drying process. Move the noodles around every 15 minutes to unsure the bottom noodles get enough air to dry. You will know they are done when they are dry to the touch and sound like dry noodles again. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd16JDPvXXeJ_ZzEpJx9HaHbA376URfyR3vh_QR4VEaibfz2DCqq-geFWMm7Jw_4cloGFoELCVf07JjECtfFUJ5151chLotajm6vPeZOMt9APK7vsffgEwXoepRyzLokvjymhT8OMxmmlZ/s1600/0612160928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd16JDPvXXeJ_ZzEpJx9HaHbA376URfyR3vh_QR4VEaibfz2DCqq-geFWMm7Jw_4cloGFoELCVf07JjECtfFUJ5151chLotajm6vPeZOMt9APK7vsffgEwXoepRyzLokvjymhT8OMxmmlZ/s400/0612160928.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Mix up different types and shapes of noodles for fun art projects, or use tubed noodles to make colorful necklaces. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwBUSjnJLo6twjFk3-duzsJkZHlBqlajHEBUuRJcfVNFYc5S9fPxkK_Y4lkIHR4l7urWPxAvwYGWsa2IXImN4-_Kl1DWXKBoo7IB5j6uwpUbZo44iPWxWjBPgThTQmuRFxMFZXB-pr5-d/s1600/0612160930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwBUSjnJLo6twjFk3-duzsJkZHlBqlajHEBUuRJcfVNFYc5S9fPxkK_Y4lkIHR4l7urWPxAvwYGWsa2IXImN4-_Kl1DWXKBoo7IB5j6uwpUbZo44iPWxWjBPgThTQmuRFxMFZXB-pr5-d/s640/0612160930.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mahatma-Extra-Long-Grain-Enriched/dp/B00Q4007D0/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1465967496&sr=1-1&keywords=long+grain+rice" target="_blank">Rice</a> can be done in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Double-Zipper-Quart-Freezer/dp/B002GJO6R6/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1465967552&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=quart+baggies" target="_blank">quart baggies</a>, just use less liquid.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHs5LwkiLHtaGle81Lb1j7uWZ1wvptF7CmVaSiKRRFYOjTc7_VF6NpP1nOKso841aMqYAb6hJWlQo3VJP8uwwJ-c9nt0WMQbiUWN12-_kIdMpRhyphenhyphenrIA3LLI6ftmxAnO2i6LuoxXDJtuyF/s1600/0611162330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHs5LwkiLHtaGle81Lb1j7uWZ1wvptF7CmVaSiKRRFYOjTc7_VF6NpP1nOKso841aMqYAb6hJWlQo3VJP8uwwJ-c9nt0WMQbiUWN12-_kIdMpRhyphenhyphenrIA3LLI6ftmxAnO2i6LuoxXDJtuyF/s400/0611162330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Ready for the crazy messy pics? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">(You might want to wear gloves if you don't want rainbow hands) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko8zbx5nLD2_L26QrI0x4GShK_3t_ukRZIDgygYFx51fOUqQD4vOnr9IvRsxBmNT_VQovI17qNEgtbW9IkrfHoN3o21d8JqH-d51V3FIzEEiZxcRAExrhMsJcmuQJH0IFrxO0KBgSiL3X/s1600/0611162217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko8zbx5nLD2_L26QrI0x4GShK_3t_ukRZIDgygYFx51fOUqQD4vOnr9IvRsxBmNT_VQovI17qNEgtbW9IkrfHoN3o21d8JqH-d51V3FIzEEiZxcRAExrhMsJcmuQJH0IFrxO0KBgSiL3X/s400/0611162217.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">WORD OF CAUTION! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">DO NOT EAT THESE NOODLES AND/OR RICE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">They have been colored using Rubbing Alcohol and are NO LONGER EDIBLE! These are for craft purposes ONLY! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Best noodles for necklaces are <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-dinirao-Penne-16-oz/dp/B000RUP0JE/ref=pd_bxgy_325_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=YCBXPVH8AV0APQP81W6Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penne Pasta</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-dinirao-Rigatoni-16-oz/dp/B000RUQPTS/ref=pd_sim_325_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51o2aR-gYWL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR106%2C160_&refRID=SHCBBCYGM39TPCE1KF2M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rigatoni</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Pastas great for craft projects are <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-dinirao-Farfalle-16-oz/dp/B000RUQPPC/ref=pd_sim_325_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51-2bKnA0qL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR105%2C160_&refRID=0XT6XPT0YNGV4SX2N3C1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farfalle</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-dinirao-Rotini-16-oz/dp/B000RLPJHQ/ref=pd_sim_325_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51egQ0Y%2BM7L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=DEZPT1HAQN2WC4SK2XM3" target="_blank">Rotini</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barilla-Mini-Wheels-Pasta-Ounce/dp/B016DLRFZW/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1465967343&sr=1-4&keywords=wagon+wheel+pasta" target="_blank">Wagon Wheels,</a> and even these cute little <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moderna-Alphabets-Pasta-Alfabeto-7-05/dp/B00AFYR2WK/ref=sr_1_15_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1465967395&sr=1-15&keywords=pasta+noodles" target="_blank">Alphabet</a> pasta shapes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Colored Noodles and Rice can also be used for a variety of craft uses. How about an ISPY bottle using rainbow rice and Alphabet pasta! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Children can also use them for sorting shapes and colors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't want the mess of making your own? I sell Rainbow Rice and Colored Pasta for only $5 a pound plus shipping. Email me at bykamay@yahoo.com</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "molengo"; font-size: 15.84px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-48171019349495067992016-04-18T06:04:00.000-07:002016-04-18T06:04:11.450-07:00Trying Potatoes.. AGAIN! <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post may contain <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> After killing almost every potato bucket we have ever tried growing and having last years ground potatoes washed out from under the ground from a flood, we have decided to try again. Yes, we may be a glutton for punishment, but we eat a lot of potatoes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> We went to a local feed store, bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/lb-SEED-POTATOES-Pontiac-PLANTING/dp/B00NG098KO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1460953840&sr=8-3&keywords=seed+potatoes+red" target="_blank">Red Seed Potatoes</a>, cut them so each piece had an eye, let them dry for a couple of days. We made deep trenches in the garden and laid the potatoes about 6 inches apart along the bottom of the trench row. We only covered them with a few inches of dirt. When they started to grow and leaves started to show, we would pull a few inches of dirt over them from the side of trench. In a couple of days, when the leaves would pop through the dirt again, we would cover them a little more. Finally, all the dirt from the trench side was mounded up on top of plants. I plan to do it one more time. That way it insures my plants run deep and we hopefully will get more tators this way! Hopefully.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Sorry we didn't get any pictures of the process, I just didn't think to blog about this until I saw they were doing so well. We also have volunteer potato plants popping up all over the garden from the skins of potatoes we have eaten and put into the compost. The compost was tilled into the garden this year. Apparently, it was not all composted. Hubby surprised me for Valentine's Day with a freshly tilled garden! <3 Best present ever! I am going to let the volunteer plants stay where they are and grow through out the garden. Hopefully we will get some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Russet-Burbank-Seed-Potatoes-Certified/dp/B00ON49XSO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1460954253&sr=8-2&keywords=seed+potatoes+russet" target="_blank">Russet Potatoes</a> as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Want to read about our other Tator Adventures?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Click the Pic! </span></div>
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<a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/07/potato-bucket-reveal.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SbZGwQYsyPeeXdruSMmeVvXtSOY-dvCwFivVgOtN8enxasMSdkEbKITyrAoMSbPVI9Yi8Tot9n8_MSLtftTfsqzkGd6ivWVZcZZ9NuChgvDAE00AgwWyD21Nc8u5UEaAvrwzJJCM3yPn/s400/Potato+Bucket+Reveal+blog+%25281%2529.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Do you grow potatoes? In the ground? In a bucket? Hay bails? Let us know how it turned out for you, or perhaps how we can NOT manage to kill them again! ;) We love your comments! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "molengo"; font-size: 15.84px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-82958966082435531562016-03-20T07:00:00.000-07:002016-03-20T07:00:26.341-07:00Meal In A Jar: Split Pea SoupThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_-M7OoHWIpPzNqf5EQcr51SNYGdDS45LKce9-FEGnbGGA0EqTexPTAiS2Gy6TAv4F_uwzfqhPfsWjuK8WUO_7E79CMsx2s5dt_0rDUZ2Y9T6EDkGG-PYu8qDtq7IJauUPkuIN2jj4YYR/s1600/CAM00366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_-M7OoHWIpPzNqf5EQcr51SNYGdDS45LKce9-FEGnbGGA0EqTexPTAiS2Gy6TAv4F_uwzfqhPfsWjuK8WUO_7E79CMsx2s5dt_0rDUZ2Y9T6EDkGG-PYu8qDtq7IJauUPkuIN2jj4YYR/s320/CAM00366.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Recently, I had a <a href="https://www.thrivelife.com/debhallman" target="_blank">Thrive Life Freeze Dried Food</a> party. My friend and consultant, Deb, sent me some samples to pass out AND a Meal in a Jar! I've never done a meal in a jar and I had never tried Split Pea Soup either. EXCITING! Zoey could not wait to get started! </span></div>
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<b>Hearty Pea Soup</b></div>
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by Deb Hallman - Independent Thrive Life consultant</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">2 c Thrive split peas<br />2 Tbsp Thrive chopped onions<br />1 c Thrive potato chunks<br />1/2 c Thrive celery<br />1/4 c Thrive carrot dices<br />1 tsp Thrive parsley<br />6 tsp Thrive beef bouillon<br />1/4 tsp Thrive peppercorn<br />1 1/2 tsp Thrive oregano
1 1/2 tsp Thrive basil<br /><br />Layer all ingredients (in any order) in a quart mason jar. Cover and add O2 absorber for long term storage. <br />
<br />To make soup, add 12 cups of water to a stock pot. Pour in the contents of the mason jar. Let soup mix sit in water for about 10 minutes. Then bring to a boil, and simmer for about 2 hours, stirring to keep the bottom from over cooking and sticking to the pot. The soup is done when the peas have melted away from their form and make a thick soup. <br />Serves 5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Doesn't it look fantastic? Seems a shame to go ahead and use it! However, I am really curious as to how it tastes! It SMELLS amazing just in the jar! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OASSv6tqsbS-eJRz7FZ0dwkD08g_Jggp4mUYegSHV2KhE5ESx0zvMXYCJl3f7vR2FkTj6FnJCSiCVfEu7wcm9xVmxcs609fDnuxlg-SbzL-ZvWs_qXXOi0PEbksJHPhJFDaRkdmJ6F4t/s1600/CAM00378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OASSv6tqsbS-eJRz7FZ0dwkD08g_Jggp4mUYegSHV2KhE5ESx0zvMXYCJl3f7vR2FkTj6FnJCSiCVfEu7wcm9xVmxcs609fDnuxlg-SbzL-ZvWs_qXXOi0PEbksJHPhJFDaRkdmJ6F4t/s320/CAM00378.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Soooo.. We did not cook it long enough. It came out chunkier than regular Split Pea Soup. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Deb told me I needed to let it cook longer because it is supposed to be thicker and creamier. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Everything was soft and tender, smelled wonderful.. and we just couldn't wait! So, how was it? It tasted as good as it smelled! Zoey had two helpings! I am really glad Deb sent this to us. We might have a new favorite in our house! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">If you would like to make some meals in a jar, or find out more about Thrive Life, you can follow Deb over on Facebook, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1697812193798709/" target="_blank">HERE</a>, or email her <a href="mailto:debhallman@msn.com" target="_blank">HERE</a>, or on her Thrive page <a href="https://www.thrivelife.com/debhallman" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Please excuse me while I go finish off some left overs! ;) </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-71829288041219916242016-03-02T11:30:00.000-08:002016-03-02T11:30:50.439-08:00(Not So) Wordless Wednesday #4This post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QFio8yXPWP-oc4ymB9HZ6XWhhhfJJIWpPLXfNr1FTCsfGpPRt6mvlosvqw8SZeW67F7U_pQELEW3i7l2TzzdQqSx9zk12yG7uoYYBFyZZQ24dek3Mwr21LjNzhPeaz7sMedXHlpE92So/s1600/Not+So+WW+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QFio8yXPWP-oc4ymB9HZ6XWhhhfJJIWpPLXfNr1FTCsfGpPRt6mvlosvqw8SZeW67F7U_pQELEW3i7l2TzzdQqSx9zk12yG7uoYYBFyZZQ24dek3Mwr21LjNzhPeaz7sMedXHlpE92So/s640/Not+So+WW+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Out of 9 hens of laying age, we are getting about 4-6 eggs a day. Not so bad considering that is a couple of dozen a week. We eat a lot of eggs, but not that many! I was thinking about selling some to local friends to help off set the cost of feed and maybe make a little profit. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Today, Zoey and I are taking our old planting pots and emptying the dirt into one large bucket. Then, we are adding in some new dirt, fertilizer, sand and compost in to </span>aerate<span style="font-family: inherit;"> it and freshen up the old dirt from last season. I decided we needed some more pots to plant in. Zoey and I walked out to the back garage to get the pots from out of the loft. As I am standing on top of the back of my husband's old Chevy Truck bed, looking around for what is easiest to grab, I see this.... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Seriously Chickens? </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Seriously? Guess how many there are? 22. Nearly two dozen eggs hiding in an old pet carrier. They all appear to be from the same chicken. 22 days worth of perfectly good eggs that now might be wasted. Time to do the float test. Please... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/06/dont-be-rotten-egg.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCYf0pAtfJajEgKex4UMLTuf88AXqTk8sTfE4I0VKWQNJyU9fTNxerzHmd4WStfCuAjeqwa1i9HHw8gkfUbhFHJ6K8lPjXAfcWTIjY_TOMhmEiLxa5IjEbdAtX5MVv14D7v1paiAXMCIk/s320/don%2527t+be+a+rotten+egg+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Click the Pic to read how to test your eggs <br />and see how fresh they are! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Out of 22 eggs, only 10 were salvageable. None of them actually floated, but several where standing on end in the water. We have plenty of eggs in the fridge already, so I will feed the eggs we are not sure about to the new pig we have. We will still get use out of them so it is not too bad of a find. :) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We have set up the pet carrier where it will be a little bit easier to see into. If she lays there again.. we will find them! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you raise chickens? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the craziest place you have found eggs?</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-28395013930896691542016-02-22T09:17:00.001-08:002016-02-22T09:17:49.462-08:00Wild Foraging: Beauty Berry JellyThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kGlyHrFYDmOqTlQD2JN4S_l-rfN1mj4qG9zKg1w7HZK9iYJBQL8u4wJNKr9OmFVfdflihFflnJS9ey8wdP7GoFb_OuM4I8GmNhYt_WRG3m3sjDiQVivR3TWj1_BVaYK6tyPrGUywlWYi/s1600/beauty+berry+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kGlyHrFYDmOqTlQD2JN4S_l-rfN1mj4qG9zKg1w7HZK9iYJBQL8u4wJNKr9OmFVfdflihFflnJS9ey8wdP7GoFb_OuM4I8GmNhYt_WRG3m3sjDiQVivR3TWj1_BVaYK6tyPrGUywlWYi/s640/beauty+berry+blog.jpg" width="572" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">For years, I told my son, "Don't eat the purple berries! They will kill you!" For years, I believed, "If you could eat it, it would be in the store." Right? </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSeppIkgIO8qaCpr8CfgS9e06D30CDLtt_m73lK13967uNAhgiIEAAkEwtfSgKI37WrQN3KdVztBMohS76jjzm-IFA81wy9L1TbxcgJRxb35RSbbAAEi2xVWZHc0d_gh7mnXy2zXpmgaj/s1600/0920151340a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSeppIkgIO8qaCpr8CfgS9e06D30CDLtt_m73lK13967uNAhgiIEAAkEwtfSgKI37WrQN3KdVztBMohS76jjzm-IFA81wy9L1TbxcgJRxb35RSbbAAEi2xVWZHc0d_gh7mnXy2zXpmgaj/s320/0920151340a.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Fast foward a few years later, I was over on </span><a href="http://www.foragingtexas.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">Foraging Texas</a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> when I stumbled upon his page </span><a href="http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/09/beautyberry.html" style="font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">American Beauty Berry</a><span style="font-size: x-large;">. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Well, as it turns out, you CAN eat the purple berries! We have several bushes on our property. However, by themselves, they are not so great and they really don't have very much nutritional value. Not poisonous, but not really a great find for foraging. Boo. Then I heard about Beauty Berry Jelly. Most that have tried it say it has an </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">intriguing, yet delicious taste to it. Zoey and I decided we were going to make some. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5oO1aKh1gdRAKqJA2Q9ZA1f8NJ3TkuX7C05NQuXRg_RAwjzIjEyIQ1GJVk4bZXgpEqoomhBeKEsi1OfO0EjkunfiJiMv8muMhEy60ahagdYzZ_u1JqkjWwtCy2wFtQNCApAP8XMbP26E/s1600/0920151346a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5oO1aKh1gdRAKqJA2Q9ZA1f8NJ3TkuX7C05NQuXRg_RAwjzIjEyIQ1GJVk4bZXgpEqoomhBeKEsi1OfO0EjkunfiJiMv8muMhEy60ahagdYzZ_u1JqkjWwtCy2wFtQNCApAP8XMbP26E/s200/0920151346a.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Res-Tjowm63lPS8WWVBKK0JszAzmqz-9Mo6ViDDgkFIha29xU-Kmo0FJnBd75VjkVdYLFcrjOSYpoBltsEmb9Fz_SWOPcBYigOh4KzHDbnX8GiTjYfg1EX6R9qQlR2QOEQRdnsnDBi_Y/s1600/0920151340c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Res-Tjowm63lPS8WWVBKK0JszAzmqz-9Mo6ViDDgkFIha29xU-Kmo0FJnBd75VjkVdYLFcrjOSYpoBltsEmb9Fz_SWOPcBYigOh4KzHDbnX8GiTjYfg1EX6R9qQlR2QOEQRdnsnDBi_Y/s200/0920151340c.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Finding the brightly colored berries was easy. Picking them was pretty easy as well. You just slide your hand down a branch and pop them off right into your bowl. When they are on the branches, their looks like a whole lot of berries. However, even after we stripped nearly all of the bushes in our yard, we were not sure if there was going to be enough to make the jelly with. We were going to try anyways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Hey Zoey, let me get a picture of you and the berries before we go inside."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTTXVdB-pGasyzsuyJ454csRhtAm6u9gtW7PZB2iQ-ApfR_RYcf_uH-gWKS9QAxH_TnMlH7Qp6v2VSe555RI2hl0_pcU1XZH18Uz2KU6YW_veNszotXLXmW5DgW52vW2tVTshbTui_yGq/s1600/0920151346d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTTXVdB-pGasyzsuyJ454csRhtAm6u9gtW7PZB2iQ-ApfR_RYcf_uH-gWKS9QAxH_TnMlH7Qp6v2VSe555RI2hl0_pcU1XZH18Uz2KU6YW_veNszotXLXmW5DgW52vW2tVTshbTui_yGq/s200/0920151346d.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoeM6OLqHT33y4oDKWmh5GH5C-7f1jtUIwBIDWKZTVLveRVz0whh12eUDtknhv2ygebHiDph0gJaiIOKMirVpizcc_GpsLHJJ2JXWJCVEGaeWkdXsjWEs6Dv2EY0rm3Fjob5mkF_zznWo/s1600/0920151346e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoeM6OLqHT33y4oDKWmh5GH5C-7f1jtUIwBIDWKZTVLveRVz0whh12eUDtknhv2ygebHiDph0gJaiIOKMirVpizcc_GpsLHJJ2JXWJCVEGaeWkdXsjWEs6Dv2EY0rm3Fjob5mkF_zznWo/s200/0920151346e.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKo8-gX-YXTffbLnF6YpTo4Lr8un8vAhP2zhdB4LyDIAxmQfv0Ko3FuOEx23BYkYzrysLZ-UTcwl-_yNCkXOc4MyvMnnIAj09oa3rI2bRfn46Q4GGh2mygZO1zkfzceCaBocW7dqgRW0I/s1600/0920151346c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKo8-gX-YXTffbLnF6YpTo4Lr8un8vAhP2zhdB4LyDIAxmQfv0Ko3FuOEx23BYkYzrysLZ-UTcwl-_yNCkXOc4MyvMnnIAj09oa3rI2bRfn46Q4GGh2mygZO1zkfzceCaBocW7dqgRW0I/s200/0920151346c.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Yes, she looks like her daddy, but this kid is sooo me! :D </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> First the berries had to be picked through and washed thoroughly. We ended up getting leaves, twigs and bugs in with them. I did not get a picture, but I figure you don't want to really see all that anyways. Then we looked for recipes to make our jelly. The best one we found was at <a href="http://www.hogtownhomegrown.com/Newsletter%20Recipes/Beautyberry%20Jelly.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hogtown Home Grown</a>. I did not have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-RealFruitTM-Low-No-Sugar-Needed-Pectin/dp/B004U8R0QA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456116914&sr=8-1&keywords=low+sugar+pectin" target="_blank">Low Sugar Pectin</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Raw-Turbinado-6-Pound/dp/B002MBKF0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456116973&sr=8-1&keywords=raw+sugar+bulk" target="_blank">Raw Sugar</a> so we followed the directions on the back of the package of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sure-Jell-Premium-Fruit-Pectin-1-75-Ounce/dp/B001E50XBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456117046&sr=8-1&keywords=sure+jell" target="_blank">Sure-Jell</a> that we did have and used regular sugar. We followed her instructions except for that. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7eahLR0rFnZWJ4PlkKyc6hPv7Kf9cRIb9GfyDJ555tiYevmiNjiOq7AHIXhyphenhyphenvtOM7xkpKU6yab49242xxiKZLAq-paHHLQITdCUWYB2aRQ8mSBFR7WXz_xKoia5pN60q60dSwDZqd38T/s1600/0920151750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7eahLR0rFnZWJ4PlkKyc6hPv7Kf9cRIb9GfyDJ555tiYevmiNjiOq7AHIXhyphenhyphenvtOM7xkpKU6yab49242xxiKZLAq-paHHLQITdCUWYB2aRQ8mSBFR7WXz_xKoia5pN60q60dSwDZqd38T/s400/0920151750.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">This is what the berries look like after being boiled. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DSbg-BACuWKSl8c4aSBvUPQW-5PEpb2w0oYmrKcBKd2MzltuWq3r-54mAJ54bd7tDq0yt17-m6n2K5Trnun6iTCbAgsiX_lNYsH8FKVtptZD8UihfcW5NNRwFd8EiR0OMMepuEVrZb6d/s1600/0920151751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DSbg-BACuWKSl8c4aSBvUPQW-5PEpb2w0oYmrKcBKd2MzltuWq3r-54mAJ54bd7tDq0yt17-m6n2K5Trnun6iTCbAgsiX_lNYsH8FKVtptZD8UihfcW5NNRwFd8EiR0OMMepuEVrZb6d/s640/0920151751.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Zoey mashed them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Duox3y800qVtim95NY4hhRh8hV6WZ9XtLwLZui1F9pGcUB6xWUbGBHIbuGwgvykAMrGzx1qKLFr821qy3JV-jIbSZ4i5DdP63XcHL2qhqv4KXj-QPG3ZYzruBQkF1pQgdMBrhBt38Kf/s1600/0920151853a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Duox3y800qVtim95NY4hhRh8hV6WZ9XtLwLZui1F9pGcUB6xWUbGBHIbuGwgvykAMrGzx1qKLFr821qy3JV-jIbSZ4i5DdP63XcHL2qhqv4KXj-QPG3ZYzruBQkF1pQgdMBrhBt38Kf/s400/0920151853a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">By this point we have boiled down the mixture, added the sugar, lemon, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sure-Jell-Premium-Fruit-Pectin-1-75-Ounce/dp/B001E50XBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456117046&sr=8-1&keywords=sure+jell" target="_blank">Sure-Jell</a> and we are now ready to start loading our jars. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5nzxJAPSlLh4kECysoeyHA7v7l406rt7fXypi0y2CH8LZFUjsRsEyecduFL5zwzMll5k1YbIbXoN-LCha8DICE-QTa7pOgO7HB7rEhKsXcaNkcP7iVQohmfZGGzYGo6YuA7Z0b6-COfz/s1600/CAM00294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5nzxJAPSlLh4kECysoeyHA7v7l406rt7fXypi0y2CH8LZFUjsRsEyecduFL5zwzMll5k1YbIbXoN-LCha8DICE-QTa7pOgO7HB7rEhKsXcaNkcP7iVQohmfZGGzYGo6YuA7Z0b6-COfz/s320/CAM00294.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We filled 6 of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Canning-Regular-Mouth-12-Count/dp/B00HNPNNLS/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1456121709&sr=1-2&keywords=jelly+jars" target="_blank">8 oz. Jelly Jars</a> and 3 of the little <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Jar-Crystal-Quilted-4-Ounce/dp/B00B80TK2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1456121734&sr=1-1&keywords=jelly+jars" target="_blank">4 oz. Jelly Jars</a>. There was also a little left over that we nibbled on. So how does it taste? It is really hard to describe. Definitely not your ordinary grape jelly! It has a more... sophisticated.. taste to it? AND IT IS AMAZING! It has replaced our favorite jellies on everything from PB&J to buttered biscuits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We can't wait to make it again this August! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Get the recipe Here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Learn More About American Beauty Berry Here:</span><br />
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Please use extreme caution when foraging for wild edibles. Do your own research. We are not responsible for any misidentifying of plants you make while on your own. Never eat anything you are not sure of. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "molengo"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "molengo"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.176px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-63634869801376184342015-08-17T04:00:00.000-07:002015-08-17T04:00:09.509-07:00Blossom End RotThis Post Contains<a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank"> Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Homesteading, for us, has always been a 'Trial and Error' adventure. We have raised mini watermelons and squash, had <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/08/update-on-landscape-garden.html" target="_blank">mystery plants</a> take over the front yard, <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/03/potato-bucket-fail.html" target="_blank">potato bucket fails</a>, <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/06/strange-lays.html" target="_blank">strange eggs</a>, and have two incubators full of eggs that <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/02/dont-count-your-chickens.html" target="_blank">never hatch</a>ed. This, however, is one of the oddest things we have ever seen... </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawTrD1CHE4lW9eKouWi8WcyCuaYN7t70K4XPbNfScis0bZpq3F-i9ag8G9Xsxjlgl47k-bV0VU2aAv458CfDLQd5EQj0FzHhFGtz63c5NhTSUp4tfnMZUvLdZaq-na1WNscoyvEZDxOC_/s1600/0816151251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawTrD1CHE4lW9eKouWi8WcyCuaYN7t70K4XPbNfScis0bZpq3F-i9ag8G9Xsxjlgl47k-bV0VU2aAv458CfDLQd5EQj0FzHhFGtz63c5NhTSUp4tfnMZUvLdZaq-na1WNscoyvEZDxOC_/s400/0816151251.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What on Earth? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUF-54VozjpakYjKqRwGatAs8NNvv5mJctOgO-LDLuZQV450TrqRCVoKx6UXLT1fscweVLN8EXng8uRTdr1HKQ8AYmtr0plUWiQOM0QiL2-tY-89BqhXnNQRsyMar2iONyrfKk-phocYr/s1600/0816151253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUF-54VozjpakYjKqRwGatAs8NNvv5mJctOgO-LDLuZQV450TrqRCVoKx6UXLT1fscweVLN8EXng8uRTdr1HKQ8AYmtr0plUWiQOM0QiL2-tY-89BqhXnNQRsyMar2iONyrfKk-phocYr/s400/0816151253.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">It looks like something on an alien movie!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So I posted the photo in a gardening forum. Someone mentioned blossom end rot. I did a little searching and found a photo that looked just like our crazy alien zucchini squash on <a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/blossom-end-rot/blossom-end-rot-of-cucurbits.aspx" target="_blank">THIS</a> website. Blossom end rot it is! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">But what is blossom end rot? </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Blossom end rot is when the plants have a calcium deficiency. Like calcium helps to build our bones, calcium also helps a growing plant keep it's structure. If there is not enough calcium, the structure of the plant starts to break down at the end of the plant. The end where the blossom is, starts to get mushy and decay. We do have some that have developed the traditional blossom end rot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">However, our end did not rot, it just mutated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So How Do You Fix It? </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/blossom-end-rot/blossom-end-rot-of-cucurbits.aspx" target="_blank">The </a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/blossom-end-rot/blossom-end-rot-of-cucurbits.aspx" target="_blank">Missouri Botanical Gardens</a> s</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">uggestion is to test the soil PH, stay away from high </span>ammonia fertilizers and <span style="font-family: inherit;">get some </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OOAL6U?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000OOAL6U&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">Calcium Nitrate</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> to help prevent the ends from rotting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> <a href="http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htm" target="_blank">Another site</a> recommended using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AE23XOY?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00AE23XOY&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Gypsum </a>or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0063ZDTI6?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0063ZDTI6&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Lime</a> in your garden to help balance the soil for optimal calcium intake. Also, do not over water. If you notice blossom end rot on your plants, remove the affected fruit and spray with a calcium rich fertilizer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What Are You Going To Do?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Nothing. It is the end of the season and the garden is winding down. I think I will work on building up the nutrients in the garden for next year after the garden has died out for this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So What Did You Do With The Alien Looking Thing? </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I let Zoey dissect it of course! :D We just had to see what was under all the craziness. And guess what we found... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Nothing much. Just looked like a regular zucchini. Zoey tried a nibble of it and said it tasted normal as well. (She likes to eat raw zucchini.) We did not eat the rest of it because, I already have 4 more waiting to be eaten. Zoey thought the pig might like it, so into the slop bucket it went. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We love your comments! Do you have any crazy produce photos to share? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-10520447116075381142015-08-05T11:05:00.000-07:002015-08-05T11:09:59.324-07:00Well, That's NOT Cabbage! This Post Contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Right before <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/04/life-takes-turn.html" target="_blank">hubby's accident</a>, our amazingly awesome neighbor, Bree, gave us an assortment of plants she got from the store. There was lettuce, spinach, and cabbage. We kept them in the garage with the plan to plant them as soon as it was time. True to our luck, our plans failed, and most of the plants died while we were in the hospital. My garden plans were thwarted even more with all of the crazy storms. The garden was not put in as early as I had hoped. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyfkhH8O-OZaF1V44_UXBRrYgYJPbSP2oNP0QaQGuowKMlihB3kLXA_Td-k65YKmFuG8WPPJ-kQ2UfweXU-YkY7cTGpxZmwz1rqNV-sE6jfkx2J86FyLCDox7B7t0gdgU_iVVTwTPfYoO/s1600/0518151511a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyfkhH8O-OZaF1V44_UXBRrYgYJPbSP2oNP0QaQGuowKMlihB3kLXA_Td-k65YKmFuG8WPPJ-kQ2UfweXU-YkY7cTGpxZmwz1rqNV-sE6jfkx2J86FyLCDox7B7t0gdgU_iVVTwTPfYoO/s320/0518151511a.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> By the time we got <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/05/time-well-spent.html" target="_blank">our garden </a>in the ground, the only plants left were the cabbage... or so I thought. Only, these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L5ZST8?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004L5ZST8&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">cabbage plants</a> were not like any I had ever seen before. The leaves were coming out from the top, and a little from the sides. They were not hugging the cabbage head like I was used to seeing. I was really starting to wonder, "What kind of cabbage is this?" So I called the person who gave them to me. She once again said, "Cabbage." She didn't know any more than that. Her aunt had bought them for her. Great...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> When the awesome neighbor came over, we walked my garden. I finally got to show her why I was so confused. "It's kohlrabi." What? Could you repeat that please? "It's kohlrabi."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, That's NOT Cabbage!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Turns out, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I1M665C?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00I1M665C&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">kohlrabi</a> IS a type of cabbage. I had just never heard of it. I didn't even know how to fix it, eat it, or what to do with it. What the heck is this stuff? I asked around. Most of my friends just said to peal it, slice it up and eat it with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YPEFH6?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B004YPEFH6&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Ranch Dressing</a>. Everything tastes better with Ranch, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay, let's do this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was really hoping it tasted like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6QUFK2?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00B6QUFK2&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Jicama</a>, but it didn't. It was kind of peppery, but not. It was kinda sweet, but not. And it was not good to anyone in my family... Now what? I have all of these kohlrabi plants. I can't just waste it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So I did another shout out on Facebook to see how others prepared it. However, I have not been brave enough to try them yet. My next 'Try' will be to dice one up and fry it like a potato. Wish me luck! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Some interesting facts about Kohlrabi:</span></h2>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">The whole plant can be eaten raw or cooked</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's name means 'cabbage turnup'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kohlrabi is actually pretty nutritious</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">My animals love getting the leaves as a treat</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is how some of my blogger friends prepare theirs:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you prepare your kohlrabi?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm open to suggestions!</span></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-25017290718955509192015-07-15T04:00:00.000-07:002015-07-15T04:00:03.482-07:00(not so) Wordless Wednesday #3This post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Guess what time of the year it is? School shopping time! Well, maybe not officially, but Walmart put out their school supplies already. The kids and I took a moment to take advantage of some great deals. Alex will be attending the local college and I will be homeschooling Zoey again this year. Need to watch every dime and take full advantage of the sales while they are going on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"How much does homeschooling cost?" You ask.</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> You can check on our article <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-much-does-homeschooling-cost.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> or by clicking the photo below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: start;">Are we the only family that gets this excited? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: start;">We <3 your comments! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-1654846004227090522015-07-13T09:28:00.001-07:002015-07-13T09:28:25.320-07:00Green Beans! This post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9FY8A7Yfpaa_JjS-ss5nsf8luaMGJKA9YuMZzUIi1RZ-fiOa_la3aXi3MmDasHJwfe9M1dvppdEHkwVKREHUND4IiSq0jfu9JXEexgqq3vCrUWaOW_3ZYlAnjGljdFh3gwPHRSHeOyc_/s1600/green+beans+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9FY8A7Yfpaa_JjS-ss5nsf8luaMGJKA9YuMZzUIi1RZ-fiOa_la3aXi3MmDasHJwfe9M1dvppdEHkwVKREHUND4IiSq0jfu9JXEexgqq3vCrUWaOW_3ZYlAnjGljdFh3gwPHRSHeOyc_/s640/green+beans+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Green beans.. grown in our garden, hand picked by us, no pesticides, insecticides, or chemicals of any kind, and Pressure Canned by us! I feel like running around singing that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEFXZ1C?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00AEFXZ1C&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Flashdance</a> song, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILWSp0m9G2U" target="_blank">What a Feeling</a>. (</i>Seriously, especially after I looked it up!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Remember last week, when I found </span><a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/07/not-so-wordless-wednesday-2.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Zoey reading our canning cook book</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">? Well, that night we took the </span>plunge and finally opened the box to our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QJJ9NY?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000QJJ9NY&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Pressure Canner</a>. I had gotten it for Christmas from my mom, and never opened it. I didn't want to can store bought produce but now we had finally picked enough of our home grown green beans to be able to can our very own. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G06r6zRW02XCC5B0cZyE09JDhaOLNJ2YCSVHA_iqsT2VqPv0uGL_qythCjanzHUKoAqFt2Icm82aCj-07sIGJjFNMeyBCCk5l0wmNTxI1Jh87gdf-kEXoAPkPljh-HY9ICA-hdiQYQQd/s1600/0609150918a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G06r6zRW02XCC5B0cZyE09JDhaOLNJ2YCSVHA_iqsT2VqPv0uGL_qythCjanzHUKoAqFt2Icm82aCj-07sIGJjFNMeyBCCk5l0wmNTxI1Jh87gdf-kEXoAPkPljh-HY9ICA-hdiQYQQd/s400/0609150918a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09Coh2qlgu6o7lMEZ156hC0xyq4jZ9ZraQQBby3WR5cbiK4NEknbogthJFnNnyvq1nxNb-4HaxfxrYkwpmTiTbZ3f9Erkd0DyWxaO4nVLLAEPYejKadocnOqMtEqPNrF0bhcrtwXacn-_/s1600/0627152206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09Coh2qlgu6o7lMEZ156hC0xyq4jZ9ZraQQBby3WR5cbiK4NEknbogthJFnNnyvq1nxNb-4HaxfxrYkwpmTiTbZ3f9Erkd0DyWxaO4nVLLAEPYejKadocnOqMtEqPNrF0bhcrtwXacn-_/s400/0627152206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E2xum3B7FCr14q3Jks1bvaFNNABrXTu48Lm_f6AI2xHzo9Anec4rRzF9nH1BYg-kVz5wWV4SN48K6BX0HUi-Df82hE1ywk8u6l8bXnn-PyoaxprtsLh5_yaASuGJWN9_7t8zkQ3FrD-E/s1600/0705152148a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E2xum3B7FCr14q3Jks1bvaFNNABrXTu48Lm_f6AI2xHzo9Anec4rRzF9nH1BYg-kVz5wWV4SN48K6BX0HUi-Df82hE1ywk8u6l8bXnn-PyoaxprtsLh5_yaASuGJWN9_7t8zkQ3FrD-E/s640/0705152148a.jpg" width="422" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> First we washed, trimmed and cut our beans into the length we wanted. Then, we followed the easy steps in our pressure canning cookbook, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148959924X?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=148959924X&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">The Organic Canner by Daisy Luther. </a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Daisy's cookbook is easy to follow and follows all of the <a href="http://www.freshpreserving.com/" target="_blank">technical guidelines</a>, with out all the technical talk that </span>intimidates<span style="font-family: inherit;"> most newbies. It reads as if a seasoned canner is talking to you and sharing their recipes. (The background story for her recipe "Renegade Taco Sauce" is pretty funny too!) This book covers her favorite recipes from fruits and veggies, to sauces, meats and meals in a jar. We love this book. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay, back to canning.. Here are some photos.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhHD9IDpF_0kBYEsAiowflOM-RB78esQkerOFHT_SFWk_qO_CZG45B_mjF4kQDCZpXkJnqokNiyqlnBfRcAEkGrjAWGSxv5EdB2AyaA7v7Z5cFVjJKrwqY_rThWJRtZzRVzMLIUoCr52C/s1600/0705152147a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhHD9IDpF_0kBYEsAiowflOM-RB78esQkerOFHT_SFWk_qO_CZG45B_mjF4kQDCZpXkJnqokNiyqlnBfRcAEkGrjAWGSxv5EdB2AyaA7v7Z5cFVjJKrwqY_rThWJRtZzRVzMLIUoCr52C/s640/0705152147a.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">It took a lot longer to cut and prepare the beans than what we thought. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyvimsTHo29Y1RCAsF6Nbdocn6jl7mr3r154MmTYaZ-zxfGTbGjQVj3E3qmk-oPG7lGIyVI2wjIZ74g9xmWHpfdDFLNDxESuMhLXZOiuGhouQ7U4M0ovpm9-Yd3PbgK8YXC4mMKEgXL8b/s1600/0705152340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyvimsTHo29Y1RCAsF6Nbdocn6jl7mr3r154MmTYaZ-zxfGTbGjQVj3E3qmk-oPG7lGIyVI2wjIZ74g9xmWHpfdDFLNDxESuMhLXZOiuGhouQ7U4M0ovpm9-Yd3PbgK8YXC4mMKEgXL8b/s400/0705152340.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Forgot to get photos of us filling the jars, but here is how they looked in our canner. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi76UhwzyQBDfS-dzVIfzypsgWLvZWjS5DqtwlbA20PnodEAcGIOP2K0u_EsW1XMIDOE-ttIfCsS-ZseTxjUxJ0XN862Qjdss0AmDs4AuuskyxO_Q_sATRXx5ZVyAD0iqWknC4t8XWORH/s1600/0705152340a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi76UhwzyQBDfS-dzVIfzypsgWLvZWjS5DqtwlbA20PnodEAcGIOP2K0u_EsW1XMIDOE-ttIfCsS-ZseTxjUxJ0XN862Qjdss0AmDs4AuuskyxO_Q_sATRXx5ZVyAD0iqWknC4t8XWORH/s400/0705152340a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We </span>squealed<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a lot at this point.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cunroIRcayCWyjmi25srsu76znFWc2AFvlZZj5Lmc0wR0VSA7R7ZiomFVgZJXQdI0s5ys5j-nzq8dfccVWQCmLcFYnLp03etnSgcaxHQ9qse1PN68FfNYcFJXzEOQ-Gd-QOoRy48oQCI/s1600/0705152342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cunroIRcayCWyjmi25srsu76znFWc2AFvlZZj5Lmc0wR0VSA7R7ZiomFVgZJXQdI0s5ys5j-nzq8dfccVWQCmLcFYnLp03etnSgcaxHQ9qse1PN68FfNYcFJXzEOQ-Gd-QOoRy48oQCI/s640/0705152342.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Look how excited she is! We started this project around 7, but by the time we got everything prepped and ready, it was well after 11 p.m. She took a shower while we waited for the steam to build up in the canner. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8uLfKDf8WbBHJFsTWcTJXF7_HFNOD0yjPmBV2d7mR2znc1iqK0wJ-e1K84Hfk9h7dhpEO1Hj0mlkEX1_Yk8sPnTNUhtrdxkBE1_EB6iFm5kDvfjOfY5rLmR70cHEkUjjl6e7Ifv-hwwh/s1600/0706150144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8uLfKDf8WbBHJFsTWcTJXF7_HFNOD0yjPmBV2d7mR2znc1iqK0wJ-e1K84Hfk9h7dhpEO1Hj0mlkEX1_Yk8sPnTNUhtrdxkBE1_EB6iFm5kDvfjOfY5rLmR70cHEkUjjl6e7Ifv-hwwh/s640/0706150144.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We only had enough green beans for 5 pint size jars. We used 2 water filled jars to fill the canner the rest of the way. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCQoB5vKekZcOT316_HEq4e3NgyqIN9YOzahlTdbxzwPGCbj1SL4qTchsav_0t-Pw5vvNDr0xi-PRjNnOZsb4oje6BDbmU-bcZ-zkvaW4jdwNTwF3G9ydqk6Tmhc_qrGccVvPsfusGb8n/s1600/0708151811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCQoB5vKekZcOT316_HEq4e3NgyqIN9YOzahlTdbxzwPGCbj1SL4qTchsav_0t-Pw5vvNDr0xi-PRjNnOZsb4oje6BDbmU-bcZ-zkvaW4jdwNTwF3G9ydqk6Tmhc_qrGccVvPsfusGb8n/s640/0708151811.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">All finished! What a beautiful sight! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">ISSUES:</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The only 'issue' we had with the recipe, (and really, it was not a big issue) was how much salt to add to the jars. Daisy says to add salt if you would like, but she didn't say how much. We did some online research for recipes, and decided to add 1 tsp. It made me nervous that we might have added too much. We would just have to wait until we ate a jar to find out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So How Did They Taste? </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Oh my goodness! They were amazing. I think we will only add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to them next time though. We like to add <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HPN6A86?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00HPN6A86&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Lawry's Garlic Salt</a> to our green beans and after we did, it was a bit too salty for my taste. Kids loved them though. Zoey and I have told everyone we know. WE CANNED OUR OWN GREEN BEANS! AND they tasted and looked like regular canned green beans! I know that is odd to say, but when you are raised on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ONHBG2?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B002ONHBG2&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Green Giant green beans, </a> and rarely eat fresh.. you want your family to recognize them and want to eat what you canned! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrnL8NaAaMCrbuYyXGJr5lqqT-ra2WeLhxAurff1weKS7su1vbXIFC0gHgQm9MCs7qYgSh6CocTBmuHlB5cRHvhFuwTstwCvaD6sdd1tjV66b1C9MdhO2dUP6wIukg5553lUeQ7eqblrA/s1600/0712151443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrnL8NaAaMCrbuYyXGJr5lqqT-ra2WeLhxAurff1weKS7su1vbXIFC0gHgQm9MCs7qYgSh6CocTBmuHlB5cRHvhFuwTstwCvaD6sdd1tjV66b1C9MdhO2dUP6wIukg5553lUeQ7eqblrA/s640/0712151443.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Will We Be Pressure Canning Again? Was it worth it? </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Oh yes! AND YES! Actually, we have already pressure canned another of our garden goodies. I will show you that one later. The satisfaction and joy of taking a little seed, making it a home in your garden, watering it, watching it grow, mature and produce FOOD and then preserving that food for later use by your family, is one of the greatest feelings we have ever felt. Well worth it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So excuse me while I end this post and go on singing... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i>~Take your passion</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And make it happen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictures come alive</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I'm dancing through my life~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a feeling...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG51DB4bgMErWJY_MFOVrlNwFV22oumV8hPKJJkGrzuhekkaFVDMK5Shd2_LmeSmWURsi-LmIMuKZV6hxEsRi9Lt82SKB7IzBtOl1RQ10CAKAaVrhYa2kZhOlbbPNgdjhjJI1sE9r8uQJx/s1600/green+beans+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG51DB4bgMErWJY_MFOVrlNwFV22oumV8hPKJJkGrzuhekkaFVDMK5Shd2_LmeSmWURsi-LmIMuKZV6hxEsRi9Lt82SKB7IzBtOl1RQ10CAKAaVrhYa2kZhOlbbPNgdjhjJI1sE9r8uQJx/s320/green+beans+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Book Review Info: Daisy Luther sent me her book for a review but also, really so my daughter and I could learn to pressure can. I was not paid for this review and all of my opinions and statements are purely my own. We honestly love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148959924X?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=148959924X&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">The Organic Canner</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span></div>
</span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-46860947600528445902015-07-10T04:00:00.000-07:002015-07-10T04:00:01.672-07:00Potato Bucket RevealThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm-RkWBUQ33IbItfoITi29qftOohEGDnscOageYkKPkhwbI5IFG2f6WvjABLHDwkXpZPYPBcXtGvT18_rJ3RnVO07PxJll8BRPwbWLFRAKwbwz2OhPccEodaDZ67mj56_-mnvz3-l98gt/s1600/Potato+Bucket+Reveal+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm-RkWBUQ33IbItfoITi29qftOohEGDnscOageYkKPkhwbI5IFG2f6WvjABLHDwkXpZPYPBcXtGvT18_rJ3RnVO07PxJll8BRPwbWLFRAKwbwz2OhPccEodaDZ67mj56_-mnvz3-l98gt/s640/Potato+Bucket+Reveal+blog.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> It has been some time since I posted an update on our potato bucket. The first <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/12/growing-tators-in-buckets.html" target="_blank">Potato Bucket</a> did not go so well. Due to human error, it ended up being a big <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/03/potato-bucket-fail.html" target="_blank">FAIL</a>. We refused to give up, so we started again. This time, our bucket would be left completely outdoors. It grew rather quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOzxr4-u-_gKolPumArws_jxffjXd9EDrw1BJBJlvz0NZ793B-8iSbUl_wAHx62mWo84d9oZ-7a4RIKsR-v8B5EEjf2KK8rwDFi-LhnTXQvFYMHS-r9_2cREp35IFiA5qUk14oXKKqxQd/s1600/0401151000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOzxr4-u-_gKolPumArws_jxffjXd9EDrw1BJBJlvz0NZ793B-8iSbUl_wAHx62mWo84d9oZ-7a4RIKsR-v8B5EEjf2KK8rwDFi-LhnTXQvFYMHS-r9_2cREp35IFiA5qUk14oXKKqxQd/s400/0401151000.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwdTEQarpKkK9BZX9sB2a9kILBCBQ4lGSTH92JjAz-AxnLG9O3E0RGXJpdsUqzhG_CcE2pSzC-vSNhfVesxwlh9GhI4rXdto9ClaCxN6vF_rGw5bNqOmdEFDpOzcMtS5h8IphDMMfPunj/s1600/0401151000a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwdTEQarpKkK9BZX9sB2a9kILBCBQ4lGSTH92JjAz-AxnLG9O3E0RGXJpdsUqzhG_CcE2pSzC-vSNhfVesxwlh9GhI4rXdto9ClaCxN6vF_rGw5bNqOmdEFDpOzcMtS5h8IphDMMfPunj/s400/0401151000a.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTA3cHQD6y4-vDGyz6Dco7rrmKNoDmvdDqtmli2MG5-8eNDvXqESvKz4Y3s0iWrTmxE2YdTnbufxcaF4yAY01v0WdyLdkW3sTIATlcmicrKRXtOSGlJ39g-loSvUXD9zqZgjtgpgtUfwc/s1600/0518151513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTA3cHQD6y4-vDGyz6Dco7rrmKNoDmvdDqtmli2MG5-8eNDvXqESvKz4Y3s0iWrTmxE2YdTnbufxcaF4yAY01v0WdyLdkW3sTIATlcmicrKRXtOSGlJ39g-loSvUXD9zqZgjtgpgtUfwc/s640/0518151513.jpg" width="422" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Suddenly, it was a big, giant, beautiful plant! We were so excited to finally have a bit of success with this project. Sometime after this photo was taken, some strange red beetles we have never seen before, decided to eat most of the plant. I asked Mike to get us some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diatomaceous-Bedbugs-Parasites-Wormier-Repellent/dp/B00FXXYIP2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1436123401&sr=8-5&keywords=diatomaceous+earth+50+lb+bag" target="_blank">DE</a> to put on the plant to hopefully get rid of the pesky beetles. It did not work as well as I would have liked, however, most of the bugs did disappear for a couple of days. The damage was already done, and my beautiful plant was not so beautiful anymore. Also, it seemed to have developed some sort of fungus that looks a lot like <a href="http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/brown_leaf_spot_in_potatoes_plan_for_this_early_blight_look_alike_in_2013" target="_blank">THIS</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So by that time, we figured it was time to see what we had grown. I am not video editing savvy, Zoey is a little nervous and after 5 tries, this is the best video we got! :D I also realized I have two YouTube channels. One in my own name, and one under the blogs name.. go figure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So... Take 5 Zoey! Your line is... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So how do we like growing potatoes in buckets now? Still on the fence. This try went better than the last, but still not a great yield. I think I am going to wait and see how the potatoes in the garden grew before I make my decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz5J7oVderkgrsLTUiHYYBJhPrhavgzhVzkyWIRBjS2OQfjpMKIMFP4YtRoJ1SL3T34Kjd5wayx2R-iUtxyghzL7_VGXIailO37mkvt60J1rS6NIdM9FbBnQhTE7fNTQK27K7E8k2Gc-T/s1600/Potato+Bucket+Reveal+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz5J7oVderkgrsLTUiHYYBJhPrhavgzhVzkyWIRBjS2OQfjpMKIMFP4YtRoJ1SL3T34Kjd5wayx2R-iUtxyghzL7_VGXIailO37mkvt60J1rS6NIdM9FbBnQhTE7fNTQK27K7E8k2Gc-T/s320/Potato+Bucket+Reveal+blog.jpg" width="268" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-77311583900107701952015-07-08T04:00:00.000-07:002015-07-08T09:31:06.044-07:00(Not So) Wordless Wednesday #2This post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6QzN8jPt_TnfZOD_NNfl9782j3nehmDVNBPBtocnPL-2r8uueb3-8fjggM2LmiXdTA-8orqAVlH-JPXk_N4Oj75oLtUcB6mS9sNzaIpbT2w-aYCkZI8z748oyjGYpacW5ZVb1t5N10dp/s1600/Wordless+wednesday+2+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6QzN8jPt_TnfZOD_NNfl9782j3nehmDVNBPBtocnPL-2r8uueb3-8fjggM2LmiXdTA-8orqAVlH-JPXk_N4Oj75oLtUcB6mS9sNzaIpbT2w-aYCkZI8z748oyjGYpacW5ZVb1t5N10dp/s640/Wordless+wednesday+2+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Tonight, we opened our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9S1MIM?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00A9S1MIM&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Presto </a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9S1MIM?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00A9S1MIM&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">16 Quart </a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9S1MIM?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00A9S1MIM&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Pressure Canner</a> for the very first time. I think Zoey might be more excited to be canning with it than I am. Why do I think that? Because, when I went into her room, I found her reading her canning book from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/148959924X?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=148959924X&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">The Organic Canner</a>. :) How cool is that? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfF9EdDz5-CyPYbNPYmJKmEnrVQZxgwD3A4Fi_hlQ_ncdlaX2s1ABnB1Q68ki-OksMaNRmQzXcSLsbBDMbGzwgeyc-V1Q2owPqLbN96FYbdmOFmrrfH2uZe_b7_jjmRzuj2Grl6hyf9sp/s1600/0705151620b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfF9EdDz5-CyPYbNPYmJKmEnrVQZxgwD3A4Fi_hlQ_ncdlaX2s1ABnB1Q68ki-OksMaNRmQzXcSLsbBDMbGzwgeyc-V1Q2owPqLbN96FYbdmOFmrrfH2uZe_b7_jjmRzuj2Grl6hyf9sp/s640/0705151620b.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What's she looking for? How to can green beans!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-56113444829788606112015-07-06T04:00:00.000-07:002015-07-06T04:00:07.419-07:00Moody, Broody HensThis Post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> A while back, my cousin gave us a beautiful pair of Jersey Giant hens. They were 18 months old and were laying eggs. He said that Jersey Giants were slower to mature but made great layers. Zoey and I Ooohed and Aaaahed over them for days. They are solid black with bright red combs and piercing black eyes. They would not let us get near them though. My cousin said they were very friendly with his family and I hoped they just needed a little time to get used to us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> In the mean time, I thought this would be a good time to have Zoey do a little research project. Zoey got on our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EYTI0TG?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00EYTI0TG&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Chromebook</a> and looked up 'Jersey Giant Chickens.' We talked about what 'Pros and Cons' were. She wrote her information in her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D48ZK3W?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00D48ZK3W&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">new spiral notebook</a>. This is what she found. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoqStWztgBVpEa7EH-6jboWmwulqjaR1fO_FCHrLRgOgwbaHD8FXOOuQuGWqiTzQuQWjRGHJX0OJzcCagcu8bEmTZd7UN-OOsxgy37A6qRxc6lYpXhZajX2dVdRySDM91stvbR76lGcd/s1600/0826141720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoqStWztgBVpEa7EH-6jboWmwulqjaR1fO_FCHrLRgOgwbaHD8FXOOuQuGWqiTzQuQWjRGHJX0OJzcCagcu8bEmTZd7UN-OOsxgy37A6qRxc6lYpXhZajX2dVdRySDM91stvbR76lGcd/s400/0826141720.jpg" width="263" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Pros</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Docile, beautiful, very large, stunning beauty, very hardy, size tends to deter predators</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Cons</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Slower growth, slightly poorer egg production, they eat a lot</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">12 Facts About Jersey Giants</span></h2>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They were created in the late 1800s by John and Thomas Black by cross breeding 3 differrent kinds of chickens.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Their name came from the state they were created in, New Jersey, and their size, Giant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They are slow growers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jersey Giants eat A LOT.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They are a good breed for the cold.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They like to sit on their eggs and hatch them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jersey Giants are good mommies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They are a dual purpose bird. They lay eggs and they are big enough to make a good meal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They are very soft. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Their eggs are a light to medium brown color.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">They lay extra large eggs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jersey Giants tend to get along well with your other pets.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> How are our Jersey Giant Hens? Well... They are moody. The hens HATE our kitten and attack him every time he follows us to the coop. They still do not even like us after months of trying to be their friends. We can barely get near them. It has to be dusk or night time for us to be able to pet them, but, they are oh so soft! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Their eggs are a darker color than what our other hens lay. Can you tell which eggs are from our Jersey Giants? Hint: they are the larger and darker ones. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> A couple of months ago, one of our hens went broody. What does that mean? Well like a woman hearing her biological clock ticking, a broody hen is determined to sit on her eggs and hatch her some babies. You can learn more about broody hens <a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/08/caring-for-broody-hens-facilitating-egg.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Honestly, since we just brought home 3 chicks from our schools hatching experiment, I was really hoping they would get over it. We had enough chickens already. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's see...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3 Chicks from daycare. Unsure of breed or sex yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_Red" target="_blank">Road Island Red</a> Hen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Giant" target="_blank">Jersey Giant</a> Hens</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg_chicken" target="_blank">Silver Spangled Hamburg</a> Rooster</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantam_(poultry)" target="_blank">Bantam</a> Hen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">9 Plymouth Rock Cross hens and roosters waiting to go to freezer camp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So basically, we had 17 chickens at this time and were not wanting anymore chicks! Besides, we no longer had a mature rooster to fertilize the eggs. After three months, this hen was just not getting over her 'baby fever' and we felt so bad for her, we had to do something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> While at work one day, I was telling some of the girls about my broody chicken and not wanting more chicks. My friend has raised chickens in the past and said she would take any babies if I decided to get some fertile eggs. Okay then, why not? Let's do this! First thing I did, was call a local Ag Extension agent to see where I could get some fertile eggs. Their lady was not local, and wanted $8 a dozen. What? By the time I paid for gas, I would have spent $20 for 12 fertile eggs that may or may not hatch. (You remember our luck with hatching chicks right? If not, read the article <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/02/dont-count-your-chickens.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) I got on Facebook and asked around some local farm animal groups, but all eggs were to expensive. Kinda wish I knew this when we had a rooster! Finally, a friend of mine messaged me and said she had A TON of fertile Bantam eggs. She met me half way between her house and mine. Instead of a dozen, she gave me 36 eggs and would not let me pay her for them. Now that is an amazing friend! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Now at this point, a blogger would have thought to take pictures of 36 small eggs that fit into a quart size baggy. Nope, I forgot! And you would have thought that I would have remembered to get a photo of the eggs in the nest, but no. However, there is a good reason for that. The hen decided she would not sit in the hen box that is on a top shelf like she had been sitting in for 3 months. She suddenly wanted to lay them in the bottom stall. Great.. I transferred the eggs from the top box to the bottom one, and slowly, carefully, placed them next to the scary broody hen. (Yes, scary. She tried to bite my hand off till she figured out I was giving her eggs!) </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxzwLXsOMU8TJFlRx37ZTtQdUfUj7J1TuxUVrY-pxceTA0vcrF4bz9xrh5UbTH3gUuKkCs30yHNm_rbKXJ1jwXROn9IY7L2-IwfYXBw8D6LAY19N-k4anR4rs00QQVJTRD7_9pop_rNh/s1600/0609151951a+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxzwLXsOMU8TJFlRx37ZTtQdUfUj7J1TuxUVrY-pxceTA0vcrF4bz9xrh5UbTH3gUuKkCs30yHNm_rbKXJ1jwXROn9IY7L2-IwfYXBw8D6LAY19N-k4anR4rs00QQVJTRD7_9pop_rNh/s640/0609151951a+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy Momma! I'm trying to help you out here!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We marked the calendar for 3 weeks. Time to wait to see what happens... Strangely enough, the other Jersey Giant hen decided she wanted to sit on the eggs as well. We checked on the girls daily. Rarely did we see them come off of their nest. When they did, it was only one at a time, and only for food and drink. When we got near them, the made warning noises to tell us not to come too close. Trust me, we didn't! These ladies are moody and broody! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> About 4 days till the due date, we recounted the days to make sure our chicks would be hatching the coming weekend. Saturday came, I was in the garden, Alex was helping me with making more bamboo stakes for the tomatoes, Zoey had just gone inside to journal about our Potato Bucket Reveal, and Mike was checking the coop for eggs. I just happened to look over and see him emerge from the coop, cutest smirk on his face, and his hands cupped together, holding something very tiny. A chick! The three of us pet the tiny baby chick for a moment and then decided to surprise Zoey inside the house, rather than call her out. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVeo0KiuIABFkDOdaCjyhLfJJPsMAZZHbd4S9BN-aTyZ-drxgQTSKb_Pj8RZhmsNhHMFLE4YgYLs5NxKbDhmTe6vBUIyatOsh71TtCp92k6kP_OD9URDmrX-jzak0viUhOTk1fplsBJ04/s1600/0627151502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVeo0KiuIABFkDOdaCjyhLfJJPsMAZZHbd4S9BN-aTyZ-drxgQTSKb_Pj8RZhmsNhHMFLE4YgYLs5NxKbDhmTe6vBUIyatOsh71TtCp92k6kP_OD9URDmrX-jzak0viUhOTk1fplsBJ04/s640/0627151502.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This silly girl is extremely excited! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Our broody, moody hens hatched out 17 eggs in total. We will be keeping a few. Yes, I know I said we didn't want anymore, but it's called '<a href="http://blog.mypetchicken.com/2014/07/25/chicken-math/" target="_blank">Chicken Math</a>' and you really can't deny Chicken Math. (Seriously, it is a real thing!) The rest will be going to my friend at work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Today, Zoey and I went out to try to get some pictures of the chicks. It is hard to do, because, the mommies won't let us get near them. Not even one! They start freaking out and then the babies freak out. Suddenly, there are chicks running crazy like all over the place and it is just a crazy silly mess. We try to just watch them at a distance as not to upset them. Lately, hawks have decided to make our little farm their hunting site. We lost Little Red and Mike's Silver Spangled Hamburg rooter. (The one that refused to leave his side in the garage when we got out of the hospital. Insert sad face here for both.) AND, I swear there were 19 chicks at one point.... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We did brave getting close enough to get a few pictures for you! Look! :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So there you go! SUCCESS with a chicken hatch! Will we be doing it again? Yes, I think so. My friend said she would be happy to donate eggs at any time. We will just have to wait and see when our Jersey Giants get moody and broody again! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. Please note, I am not affiliated with, nor do I receive compensation from Wikipedia, McMurray Hatchery, or The Chicken Chick. I just like their pages and refer to them often in my own daily use. I doubt they even know I link to them on my blog from time to time. :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-55569399276351489072015-06-10T09:46:00.000-07:002015-06-10T09:46:22.319-07:00(Not So) Wordless Wednesday #1This post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> I was going to try to do one of those "Wordless Wednesdays" you see on other blogs. You know, when they post one picture and it pretty much explains it all. No words needed. Sometimes there are pictures and other stuff I would like to share with you, but they really do not equal a whole blog post. But.. Apparently, I am not a wordless type of gal! :D </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMKD1zI6BYt9YlPlscJepZThNkp8cyEbckdyd3FX9a8VOnBTNh5bp0IJxwBnxOSQj9UlSjDVgRlJq9zjzW08gXVqwYYbpXrb8SmTafOVTR-d_KIJqvemC-PtUtYX-Oq52nHK-hNjKPPgJ/s1600/0527151325a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMKD1zI6BYt9YlPlscJepZThNkp8cyEbckdyd3FX9a8VOnBTNh5bp0IJxwBnxOSQj9UlSjDVgRlJq9zjzW08gXVqwYYbpXrb8SmTafOVTR-d_KIJqvemC-PtUtYX-Oq52nHK-hNjKPPgJ/s640/0527151325a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> I do want to share my salad for lunch today with you. Although, I used a bagged salad mix, (lettuce just refuses to grow for me, and when it does, it is bitter) the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00771SGMO?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00771SGMO&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">sugar snap peas</a> and cherry tomatoes are fresh from our garden! We are not getting a whole lot of peas, (I think it is the crazy Texas heat) but we have gotten several snacks from our plant. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3hL-YUa1UXhBzpN_hQhoeomUCbxUWEUC6Z1j6aQxjxJo3zvH25ePSfdATd50C6nqGEnMEM20YmB5u_kxJqfR1jSZ0xsMMiNd7bUFD0q4Z3W_ILcNfdhtP8XHOGaOIeA-YbD_DR6PFeqe/s1600/0527151323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3hL-YUa1UXhBzpN_hQhoeomUCbxUWEUC6Z1j6aQxjxJo3zvH25ePSfdATd50C6nqGEnMEM20YmB5u_kxJqfR1jSZ0xsMMiNd7bUFD0q4Z3W_ILcNfdhtP8XHOGaOIeA-YbD_DR6PFeqe/s400/0527151323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7OopUF00exr4w80bhZG3HA8UJh2XdckpY-Xi16opQ24aNDVwGKm0SQkgSBh0SiR5FQbbG_Cfa6VpBEob0bOxzkhH80_YxFBKBGx4ajnToKKH4RdkHsiuoH8E9L95cAfEX5mKzwVMrzQu/s1600/0609150921a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7OopUF00exr4w80bhZG3HA8UJh2XdckpY-Xi16opQ24aNDVwGKm0SQkgSBh0SiR5FQbbG_Cfa6VpBEob0bOxzkhH80_YxFBKBGx4ajnToKKH4RdkHsiuoH8E9L95cAfEX5mKzwVMrzQu/s400/0609150921a.jpg" width="263" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013KGFNC?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0013KGFNC&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">cherry tomatoes</a> have produced like crazy and we have enough to munch on while walking about the property, AND we have a small bowl of them sitting on the counter. Zoey gathers them for us every other day. Do you remember my cherry tomato plant that was in the 5 gallon bucket? It got so big we had to transplant it into the ground. It is not so big and beautiful anymore, but it still produces yummy tomatoes! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So that is about it! While I go eat my salad, I am going to head on over to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.littleblogonthehomestead.com%2Fhomestead-blog-hop-34&h=VAQGMMWHC" target="_blank">Homestead Blog Hop</a> and see what's happening! Come join me! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-26075850622494214782015-06-06T07:34:00.001-07:002015-06-06T07:34:54.609-07:00Catching CrawdadsThis post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We were finishing up in the garden the other day, when Zoey decided she wanted to go walking with her dad. He always walks our property once or twice a day. I told her to go ahead while I dumped our buckets filled with garden weeds into the compost bin. I could hear them talking over by the creek, but, when I turned back around, Zoey was no where to be seen. Mike was pointing into the creek, and I could hear Zoey's excited </span>squeal<span style="font-family: inherit;">. What on Earth is she doing down in the creek? </span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlWtJN2s2cnU-OOZ5JwsqN7mvZuFoWp94EmN8RiRelY5lOiEtnUNrpbQ6XIaGzUQS75w-QqSj0hvgRI-qLTb8zmI6t5CnN7yCTGockZjcJHXHTesVLOFR3cDSdWX_5LQuUzXO9tqnpufX/s1600/0524151222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: xx-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlWtJN2s2cnU-OOZ5JwsqN7mvZuFoWp94EmN8RiRelY5lOiEtnUNrpbQ6XIaGzUQS75w-QqSj0hvgRI-qLTb8zmI6t5CnN7yCTGockZjcJHXHTesVLOFR3cDSdWX_5LQuUzXO9tqnpufX/s640/0524151222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No it does not look like this anymore. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It is back to being a trickle with sides that are 6 foot high.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Like this... </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /> This is what we are used to our creek looking like in spring. It is just a run off tributary that empties into the larger creek. Even it does not hold water all through out the summer months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So what is Zoey doing down in the creek? Crawdad fishing! My hubby had spotted a few little ones while they were walking around. Zoey jumped in to see if she could catch a few. She called for me to come down. At first I said I would not come down into the creek and play in the mud! Then I thought about it.. Play in the mud for a bit? Why not? Off came my shoes, and I climbed down the embankment. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGvJ35pEVt2E3rOMnMIgGk2hwtV6YTJMf-yGKi6xzzKIWR2JITglRibffWeCjZzWN_IYbDe09tNv1-Z1GK6tGXNUrTacxRmVrk9JxjN2q6BG2x7s4WGWIwnNl2gmXI4luUVr5QKd2YlRB/s1600/0527151257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: xx-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGvJ35pEVt2E3rOMnMIgGk2hwtV6YTJMf-yGKi6xzzKIWR2JITglRibffWeCjZzWN_IYbDe09tNv1-Z1GK6tGXNUrTacxRmVrk9JxjN2q6BG2x7s4WGWIwnNl2gmXI4luUVr5QKd2YlRB/s640/0527151257.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She caught one with a bottle and another one with her hands. I actually grabbed the second crawdad up with my hands first. I have to admit, I freaked out a little and tried to sling it into the bucket. It missed and went floating down the creek back towards Zoey. She caught it and managed to make it into the bucket even though she was freaking out the whole time as well. :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgVnFnmQYDRa4uJjd40oDebeX10q30f5KCuIQ1eL4NXqz1qaJrNIK0Wl9HmWwjybKTnDc8yC2BizpXV6nIhBuduKU9G1XZDnwrnfIedsYTLi0OjmuF8rEOBgwKprSZM4mKnK-_HJNZf5A/s1600/0527151239b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgVnFnmQYDRa4uJjd40oDebeX10q30f5KCuIQ1eL4NXqz1qaJrNIK0Wl9HmWwjybKTnDc8yC2BizpXV6nIhBuduKU9G1XZDnwrnfIedsYTLi0OjmuF8rEOBgwKprSZM4mKnK-_HJNZf5A/s640/0527151239b.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you see the crawdad?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMEHevwYXKyjF322axrxJJyB6ryOhbrFos1cJnkaWj9B5i2tcqfjyGUBuFqulqgTn5DHYphbDK2ruUtIJAULNiUXZ2kWOluI9rnReQbVCIuZBCtb0Z6YWXbe-kvFwL7QUdl7odZFhAtam/s1600/0527151240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMEHevwYXKyjF322axrxJJyB6ryOhbrFos1cJnkaWj9B5i2tcqfjyGUBuFqulqgTn5DHYphbDK2ruUtIJAULNiUXZ2kWOluI9rnReQbVCIuZBCtb0Z6YWXbe-kvFwL7QUdl7odZFhAtam/s640/0527151240.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sitting on the bridge, talking about me freaking out when I touched it. <br />She admitted she was scared as well. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB6Fgf84PDhtHY0zEShVuZyz-tGqnxgMCF5kwGIIqCOReqY6gB9Jlsz5jzL5PQviYkUqCMdaYx7y6xi3WEVOIBE1zVtt3AyIjl8b3mGR_vUUa1rlFjAzeETCrPg_X-tLn-Vt17MhEXT8P/s1600/0527151240a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB6Fgf84PDhtHY0zEShVuZyz-tGqnxgMCF5kwGIIqCOReqY6gB9Jlsz5jzL5PQviYkUqCMdaYx7y6xi3WEVOIBE1zVtt3AyIjl8b3mGR_vUUa1rlFjAzeETCrPg_X-tLn-Vt17MhEXT8P/s640/0527151240a.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No, Zoey, we can not keep them... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluEdXP5Yf__0xgzJb9e3TVc0evuY1W9a1MGhd2ynSiVBHHKsHNgDnum0b72arSmqSd3A8zXg2CHlzTUw4IRchYa5PKbK9myWgou_S29eMJR6TZRvGRjNuRhOzBQl1BN6lF5nwp_d68Hs6/s1600/0527151250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluEdXP5Yf__0xgzJb9e3TVc0evuY1W9a1MGhd2ynSiVBHHKsHNgDnum0b72arSmqSd3A8zXg2CHlzTUw4IRchYa5PKbK9myWgou_S29eMJR6TZRvGRjNuRhOzBQl1BN6lF5nwp_d68Hs6/s640/0527151250.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brother came home from work and walked down to see what all the fuss was about. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAWqN0En6kFWKkiNs7fSi6JG2ulxM1vpG2CK9ppLbgyBAYnLh9pejVu18pICu4QWatcbRoniHxdNVTTI0G_TeZc2I3ACww59C7bCTAWGZfFnLJCvWE0GcxynTO2vLCKRGbEH6NNaXXayC/s1600/0527151250a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAWqN0En6kFWKkiNs7fSi6JG2ulxM1vpG2CK9ppLbgyBAYnLh9pejVu18pICu4QWatcbRoniHxdNVTTI0G_TeZc2I3ACww59C7bCTAWGZfFnLJCvWE0GcxynTO2vLCKRGbEH6NNaXXayC/s640/0527151250a.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He showed us there was nothing to be afraid of when holding it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEQrn2TYJy3iEdIUB2mMAQkKA6sAxlQSCNc6gwsNarRBw8oS5i5i1TLvUuXMXDO6ECfx5pGFQ5siGUo8Ne0gj-009gO94pK8Bvh-mU0cYthCjSIrOnCiQFZvca4v9tBqTunRWzfSJryqS/s1600/0527151250b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEQrn2TYJy3iEdIUB2mMAQkKA6sAxlQSCNc6gwsNarRBw8oS5i5i1TLvUuXMXDO6ECfx5pGFQ5siGUo8Ne0gj-009gO94pK8Bvh-mU0cYthCjSIrOnCiQFZvca4v9tBqTunRWzfSJryqS/s640/0527151250b.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">EEEKKKK! Get it away from me! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN_nsQX7qd1EbipyyMtq_lFi9GmPvbKKRfYfSHRrKfekjzEC22VaBliDFReleAVDMChhvmxq97OKbjqVNhtRSjW0RIQEtCLL-J489aZLLz4RCrz6kuOpJWM2VcodHVvP_E3rWiP5m-Rxc/s1600/0527151307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN_nsQX7qd1EbipyyMtq_lFi9GmPvbKKRfYfSHRrKfekjzEC22VaBliDFReleAVDMChhvmxq97OKbjqVNhtRSjW0RIQEtCLL-J489aZLLz4RCrz6kuOpJWM2VcodHVvP_E3rWiP5m-Rxc/s640/0527151307.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">See, it doesn't hurt. Just freaks you out at first! </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyrbI4t65Dw8hNscsUwpweozIaYloZ8blhgWolcZvosguoIhK1yphVTN7_qdRbjeS9HvUCz1onLr0Z3v3iEcZsSkZBDWS2gSQ2ceY8M03P8tXwJrANO_oi0hm0sZ0s_wwVTW68hyuwHt6/s1600/0527151307a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyrbI4t65Dw8hNscsUwpweozIaYloZ8blhgWolcZvosguoIhK1yphVTN7_qdRbjeS9HvUCz1onLr0Z3v3iEcZsSkZBDWS2gSQ2ceY8M03P8tXwJrANO_oi0hm0sZ0s_wwVTW68hyuwHt6/s640/0527151307a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Zoey and I got back in the creek to look for more. I'm sure us running around and splashing scared all the rest off. Did we eat them? NO! Not only were they too small, they are gross! (Okay, so I have never tried them, they just seem gross to me. Several of my friends say I am crazy and they are amazing, but I just... no... no thank you!) Our favorite Chinese restaurant serves them on their buffet. Alex loves them, I think Zoey has eaten them, but I just can not bring myself to try them.<br />
I guess in a survivalist situation, we at least know where another source of food is, right on our own property. Cool fact I read about is that they can not live in polluted water. If you see crawdads, you know the water is safer than most. Although, Wikipedia says there is a hardier species that can withstand more pollution than the others. You can read more about crawdads <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish" target="_blank">HERE. </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNqlIth4y_Tu30YFmAuNeUqxcKfRD42_Or5w0gGamfUqiKgn9V6YDzjln6KR2n43nwr1_GF91ZULw5pFSXSBsLtovE4qaNvIuAHCur3gT8F2s9_cW-N5I1BGftsQZsXPHx8MdHgeHx2yB/s1600/0527151254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNqlIth4y_Tu30YFmAuNeUqxcKfRD42_Or5w0gGamfUqiKgn9V6YDzjln6KR2n43nwr1_GF91ZULw5pFSXSBsLtovE4qaNvIuAHCur3gT8F2s9_cW-N5I1BGftsQZsXPHx8MdHgeHx2yB/s640/0527151254.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Crawdads? Crayfish? Crawfish? What do you call them? We love your comments!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-11607453699919005112015-05-26T09:43:00.000-07:002015-05-26T09:43:07.775-07:00Calm After The Storm<span style="font-family: inherit;">This post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfrM1mqkSXrpMGDjDcA8O3nECj_RIPFncvqN1v1h5DFeKpvlSTV0oSyf8KS5QnYWrs4RgqXeHl40bJxHNqdAPRWoWNMBBLX5P571jH0cqSVAOMH7ndX2UIaVNfEYwH3lNHHZGYv0UBPZ/s1600/The+calm+after+the+storm+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfrM1mqkSXrpMGDjDcA8O3nECj_RIPFncvqN1v1h5DFeKpvlSTV0oSyf8KS5QnYWrs4RgqXeHl40bJxHNqdAPRWoWNMBBLX5P571jH0cqSVAOMH7ndX2UIaVNfEYwH3lNHHZGYv0UBPZ/s640/The+calm+after+the+storm+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit goes to my Amazingly Awesome Neighbor, Bree.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> I hear my town was on the news for last night's storm damage. My son happened to be in town when it hit. He is 19 and had rode to town with me earlier to go to his friends house. I had to come back a few hours later and would just pick him up then. Hey, saves gas! As soon as the worst of it was over, I went to go get him. So many downed large trees in the streets, I had to detour several times just to get to his friends house. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHY5_81XGEHZhmjgAjkRaNExs2F5Owx7JnfvF0Gd8XGRLCfuk-SbEqudBnFaePWZOr-ceGPP1_OouQKLo2zRkqpx2rA1HvOxOy_1JO0Q2_oqLfh6WMf_5M-zo4ozI2z9UjI2Y-kA2Q79B/s1600/0524151222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHY5_81XGEHZhmjgAjkRaNExs2F5Owx7JnfvF0Gd8XGRLCfuk-SbEqudBnFaePWZOr-ceGPP1_OouQKLo2zRkqpx2rA1HvOxOy_1JO0Q2_oqLfh6WMf_5M-zo4ozI2z9UjI2Y-kA2Q79B/s640/0524151222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The little seasonal creek. On the other side is land. You can see the walk bridge behind the bush on the right. The water is washing over the bridge. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzcpsYtD6OPpRCN4relhIem23X1TXQdPkvfEgRfMDgvwmVjztD_CQmo4byce9h2iqDHQatc_Ot1UIw7Bl76NwDuphq0-ouPo1G6Q1XmtQpLHHBoTebKh4sSQYsQgboEx17VyGrahpdLMK/s1600/0524151225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzcpsYtD6OPpRCN4relhIem23X1TXQdPkvfEgRfMDgvwmVjztD_CQmo4byce9h2iqDHQatc_Ot1UIw7Bl76NwDuphq0-ouPo1G6Q1XmtQpLHHBoTebKh4sSQYsQgboEx17VyGrahpdLMK/s640/0524151225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The road in front of our house. This is where the main creek starts to enter our property before converging with the little seasonal creek that runs through our property.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwXehhDhgR0cLo2BRyIwVrUXcWOm2rBxzTJLdwvfhn73-snh8wCuaNvOP7tIA8tssmR9QVnFF0o6D-8OzAZYHDvHT_Q_OFmSLoTIQ4ki8h0J8nKntErcbj_ASFq_zJGNk175myMv9g3Yv/s1600/0526150812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwXehhDhgR0cLo2BRyIwVrUXcWOm2rBxzTJLdwvfhn73-snh8wCuaNvOP7tIA8tssmR9QVnFF0o6D-8OzAZYHDvHT_Q_OFmSLoTIQ4ki8h0J8nKntErcbj_ASFq_zJGNk175myMv9g3Yv/s640/0526150812.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next day aftermath. A tree had come down, completely across the road. We could hear them cutting it up to move off the road. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J1sE0oIsGH4j3-Cqwt-2FBMeQxuz9SJBwoao2yIqd6QMWO0aIPxsXGsu5eh21gkEVqbMD_s9NjFRO07SBseNS6Y5zj-SMYvA394Xp_e4sv2X5bH8hyphenhyphenc7MF_6ppnStpuy8RpPUp8Ium_Q/s1600/0526150813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J1sE0oIsGH4j3-Cqwt-2FBMeQxuz9SJBwoao2yIqd6QMWO0aIPxsXGsu5eh21gkEVqbMD_s9NjFRO07SBseNS6Y5zj-SMYvA394Xp_e4sv2X5bH8hyphenhyphenc7MF_6ppnStpuy8RpPUp8Ium_Q/s640/0526150813.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You would not believe the actual size of this trunk. If my husband and I tried to reach around it, our fingertips would barely meet.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-ZIfkvvE3SRtBUn5-cGJfyaSCUDufQowRnrQMENgvb-c8rumDNLbDoOfZlV0FY7RoKf3BXZ-k-EikUokAhrdu-k4BJdx2TAHVXSVjo0RFadDo9sdT4xaiz7KOZMQbSCAQIeUhNfSz_Of/s1600/0526150814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-ZIfkvvE3SRtBUn5-cGJfyaSCUDufQowRnrQMENgvb-c8rumDNLbDoOfZlV0FY7RoKf3BXZ-k-EikUokAhrdu-k4BJdx2TAHVXSVjo0RFadDo9sdT4xaiz7KOZMQbSCAQIeUhNfSz_Of/s320/0526150814.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> There are also trees down all over around my property and on our neighbors. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The wind we got last night just pushed many right over. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Healthy trees, falling because the ground is so saturated the roots have nothing to hold on to. Roads are flooding over. Although the rain is a blessing to our drought ridden state, we have had more than enough in a very short period of time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> When the wind and rain came in, the electric went out nearly immediately. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">My husband had been watching the weather channel all day and had warned me of the severe storms coming in.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-we-prep-as-family.html" target="_blank">We were prepared.</a> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cEqamZ1ncJF56rgRxRbn3Wl-EiMweV9f-YlzSddyWWQTOpCM2HZp-2qBWzlMXdQjSHC7ej5vFlaShNRVIF2ZlzdteZjfsQSvfO3HvqG6rix2Z1iLl748rXXHwEaDeUXwseF_QOBSD13i/s1600/0526150845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cEqamZ1ncJF56rgRxRbn3Wl-EiMweV9f-YlzSddyWWQTOpCM2HZp-2qBWzlMXdQjSHC7ej5vFlaShNRVIF2ZlzdteZjfsQSvfO3HvqG6rix2Z1iLl748rXXHwEaDeUXwseF_QOBSD13i/s320/0526150845.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> While others in town were scrambling for dinner and candles, my family ate a pork roast that had been slow cooking since that morning. We ate in the garage with the big door open for light and watched the rest of the lightening storm go by. We played cards there until we could not see anymore, came inside and lit my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YHPVWO?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B002YHPVWO&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">oil lamps</a>. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Ao7x8koknJkTTjinT4lMC3Sn2JPILRzYPHKI3qUXXm8VkIav8-sOgxRpPxXL-5Q0DH2hFiFc0iFhEg3R9okbvzc308F0XySJysxsZonUNX9xtSXk7XaRrTyJLeFdCHj8bzJltgFmiq3/s1600/0525151946a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Ao7x8koknJkTTjinT4lMC3Sn2JPILRzYPHKI3qUXXm8VkIav8-sOgxRpPxXL-5Q0DH2hFiFc0iFhEg3R9okbvzc308F0XySJysxsZonUNX9xtSXk7XaRrTyJLeFdCHj8bzJltgFmiq3/s320/0525151946a.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> We got in a discussion about our <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-daughters-good-bag.html" target="_blank">G.O.O.D. bags</a> and my daughter got hers out. We organized it and changed out her clothes. We all talked, laughed, and told stories. I drank coffee that I had made right before the storm hit. (I have to have my nightly coffee!) It stayed warm by our <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/06/tuna-can-burner.html" target="_blank">tuna can burner</a>. When we were ready for bed, I brought in our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A52B7CS?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00A52B7CS&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">out door solar garden lights</a> so we could see just enough to not stumble around in the dark. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5kt7bAQrvc3S7lVcsJ5HfKwLQ9NJUpB97RddlvVTPeXRLl02bSe82LGlvjYNFtp4yVGaJcYbn7m7fABiIE0gxOr3-MaSOthK10SfhgdIPXOGtK-88cINky9eWhcffWyqT3HgfJJgrN3L/s1600/0526150959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5kt7bAQrvc3S7lVcsJ5HfKwLQ9NJUpB97RddlvVTPeXRLl02bSe82LGlvjYNFtp4yVGaJcYbn7m7fABiIE0gxOr3-MaSOthK10SfhgdIPXOGtK-88cINky9eWhcffWyqT3HgfJJgrN3L/s320/0526150959.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> The electric came on right before midnight. It had been off for 8 hours. I did not worry about the food in the fridge or freezer. We keep large jugs of frozen water in my big freezer just for these times. I pulled a few out and placed them in my </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">refrigerator</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> and freezer compartments. It helped to keep everything cool and frozen. I'll write more on that another time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So that was our night. While being prepared does not keep things from happening at your house, it sure does make the aftermath a bit more pleasant.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfrM1mqkSXrpMGDjDcA8O3nECj_RIPFncvqN1v1h5DFeKpvlSTV0oSyf8KS5QnYWrs4RgqXeHl40bJxHNqdAPRWoWNMBBLX5P571jH0cqSVAOMH7ndX2UIaVNfEYwH3lNHHZGYv0UBPZ/s1600/The+calm+after+the+storm+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyfrM1mqkSXrpMGDjDcA8O3nECj_RIPFncvqN1v1h5DFeKpvlSTV0oSyf8KS5QnYWrs4RgqXeHl40bJxHNqdAPRWoWNMBBLX5P571jH0cqSVAOMH7ndX2UIaVNfEYwH3lNHHZGYv0UBPZ/s320/The+calm+after+the+storm+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Praying for all those that were affected by this storm all over Texas and the U.S.. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-73065709847163128012015-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:002015-05-22T04:00:08.433-07:00A New FriendThis post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> This was actually meant to be a post about our new bunnies. The mini lop rabbits we got at Easter breed and 7 little baby bunny kits were born this month. Our rabbits live in colonies, not cages. Two died from being dragged out of their nest by mom. Because of all of the thunderstorms that weekend, we didn't realize they were out until it was too late. I imagine it is about the equivalent of being born on the wire. We were sad, but we had 5 baby bunnies to make up for it. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">She was so happy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Then the other night, thunderstorms came again. I work up at 4:30 </span>amidst the thunder, lightening<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and the downpour of rain. Did I pull the tarp back down over the rabbit shed? Did I put the lid back on the tote used as their house? I could not sleep. Finally, I put on my sweatshirt and mud boots to go outside. The tote's lid was secure, the tarp was in place, and everyone was just fine. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I posted on the blogs </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HomeschoolingTheWellPreparedChildBlogspt" style="font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">Facebook Fan Page</a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> about my early morning adventures and</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> went back to bed with a sigh of relief. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> When I awoke later that morning, my husband was just coming in from feeding the animals. I could tell something was wrong. He told me he had bad news. Four of the kits made it out of the tote and then out of the rabbit shed. Four bunnies laid on the cold wet ground, dead. My heart broke. Not only for the bunnies, but for my daughter as well. She had spent the night at my mom's house. We were meeting in just a little bit in town so Zoey and I could go paint the boys bathroom at my work. I dreaded telling her the awful news. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> I checked on them. They were all fine just 3 hours before! What could have happened? Maybe when I went out there, the mommy bunny was nursing? Maybe she drug them out of the nest on accident while she was trying to figure out what I was doing? Did they crawl out? How could baby bunnies crawl out of their nest, out of the tote and out of the shed? :( I'll never know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Zoey was devastated, as I knew she would be. She has decided maybe the rabbit business is just not for us. We had three other rabbits die previous to this. All three escaped and was 'rounded up' by our dog. We fortified the colony after that and thought we were on the right track. It is hard on us. Maybe we are just not read for rabbits yet... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> As we finished painting and started cleaning up for the night, my son texted me, "Can we have a cat?" My first reply was, "No!" </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">My husband is not a cat fan, he would not be happy!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">We have chickens and rabbits and we certainly didn't need a little predator running around that lives with us! We have enough problems on the farm as it is! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> When I picked up my son from his friends house, I saw the kitten. I saw my children's faces. In a moment of weakness, I said "yes" to the cat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> The new kitten was at our house for over an hour before I told my husband. I gave him my best pouty face and said I was weak hearted from the bunnies dying. After a little of working my sweet magic, he sighed his resignation to the fact we now have a new friend. However, the kitten can not sleep in the house at night. (We have made him a bed in a cat carrier until he gets big enough to roam on his own.) AND if he smells cat poop in the house, it will not be allowed in the house anymore, period. (My hubby is cat poop sensitive and can smell it a mile away. Even the best kitty litter around can not keep him from sniffing it out! Kids are now on constant kitty watch.) </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Today, the kitten came out to the garden with us. We spent a good deal of time weeding and planting. It ran around our feet, climbed up our legs, attacked our toes and kept us smiling and laughing all day. I think we all really needed him as much as he needed us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">By the end of the day, we were all tired. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Especially this little guy! Zoey tried everything to get him to wake up for some photos. Nope. Not happening! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Do you have a cat around your farm? We <3 your comments! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-28500671137638707862015-05-19T04:00:00.000-07:002015-05-19T04:00:00.983-07:00Time Well SpentThis post does not contain <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I don't think my garden has ever been more important to our family. With Mike out of work, we are going to need all the help we can get. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband's work would not clear him for 'light duty' like the doctor ordered. He does not go back to the doctor until the end of June. Even if he starts work the following Monday, it will still be mid July before we see a paycheck form his job.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">My paycheck usually goes to groceries, gas in my vehicle and any odds and ends I feel </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">necessary</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">. The less food I have to buy, the more of my paycheck that can go to paying the bills. So far we are doing okay. Thank goodness I prep! We have been using the food I have tucked away for a rainy day. Well, baby, right now it is pouring! ;) Only problem is, my family is more of a 'Fresh' fruit and veggie type of family. We don't eat a lot of process foods. When you prep, you buy a lot of foods that have a longer shelf life. Unfortunately, most of those are processed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Until the garden comes in, I am buying a lot of my 'fresh' items from the grocery store and some from a local produce stand. I can't wait till the garden is in full force! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Biggest problem we have had is the rain. Good grief I wish some of it would save its self for this summer! By August, I'm sure we will be begging for this weather. For now, we are gardening in between thunderstorms and wading to the garden to get covered in mud. What we have managed to get in the ground is growing well. WE CAN"T WAIT!! Thought I would share a few pictures with you of the garden thus far. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I saw mound gardening somewhere.. Thought it was a really cool idea. Just in case we can not weed fast enough, we can weed only the mounds and then use the weed eater to cut the grass around them. Crossing my fingers on this! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYifO8NwHrAJhEsY2KXXbSY3Rfl2wZ1kFfwu21mI1Bj21vp0EA7Mp27Pi58CeS_QJbBQOvCUAEBmVhfT_v15qxsxMpWOa0e8VDNbariIavK8niOYEdtV31Yw3AT_fJyEJblHB99sc2B1IM/s1600/0518151501b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYifO8NwHrAJhEsY2KXXbSY3Rfl2wZ1kFfwu21mI1Bj21vp0EA7Mp27Pi58CeS_QJbBQOvCUAEBmVhfT_v15qxsxMpWOa0e8VDNbariIavK8niOYEdtV31Yw3AT_fJyEJblHB99sc2B1IM/s640/0518151501b.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This was supposed to be full of potatoes, but a sink hole created by the way the yard is leveled and all of the rain took most of the dirt and the potatoes seed plant under ground and washed them away. I planted some tomato plants instead. Regular sized heirlooms and cherry tomatoes. We have no money for tomato cages, so I am hoping these cut saplings help to keep them under control and out of the dirt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYBeFhL3I2STf0qVjT85hXAJi8xCaQa_tOo3L0tYU8cmV3_B8sevGNtjgl5j5aXdqVAP71NdjHRHnjWkDqz_SqQcSDPH2kO9nY6EN9gvHG0gOhgBFF5aM3n4SxhB4bYdlltn6rhAGMlhw/s1600/0518151501c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYBeFhL3I2STf0qVjT85hXAJi8xCaQa_tOo3L0tYU8cmV3_B8sevGNtjgl5j5aXdqVAP71NdjHRHnjWkDqz_SqQcSDPH2kO9nY6EN9gvHG0gOhgBFF5aM3n4SxhB4bYdlltn6rhAGMlhw/s640/0518151501c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of the garden is shown here. It is only about 20x20 feet. On our land, it is mostly clay dirt and this is the best place to put it other than in the very front yard. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAHyLr4Qz7X2usBSYHhYFWy7v9lj_XUrxZ-ksNQ-IsLg410YQynkmckHI5pkH5FZNvrrHNNQTwBG9_mn2CvHvjHvC1FvnIsmpG17tIUGGY5NPrZucCgETGF84SmKYujvjlGccMQWX4PJj/s1600/0518151502a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: xx-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAHyLr4Qz7X2usBSYHhYFWy7v9lj_XUrxZ-ksNQ-IsLg410YQynkmckHI5pkH5FZNvrrHNNQTwBG9_mn2CvHvjHvC1FvnIsmpG17tIUGGY5NPrZucCgETGF84SmKYujvjlGccMQWX4PJj/s640/0518151502a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our green beans and peas. In the background, what looks like tall grass is actually our corn growing. We never have much luck but we love corn on the cob and keep on trying. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUy-POyGXJcBY0FTouo9Cmu_U6fNlCadoa_6cZR5WD2uEmw0khL6Y8DpVmXsOOZOOzjIFfMOwthI8YxaT6JO6OWYXpY7W4Ze6U8Ks5gYklFncYxkmgeiPwsQnfWo1Xb90wRE3NJi2hSLlW/s1600/0518151511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUy-POyGXJcBY0FTouo9Cmu_U6fNlCadoa_6cZR5WD2uEmw0khL6Y8DpVmXsOOZOOzjIFfMOwthI8YxaT6JO6OWYXpY7W4Ze6U8Ks5gYklFncYxkmgeiPwsQnfWo1Xb90wRE3NJi2hSLlW/s640/0518151511.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So we planted some cherry tomatoes in here.. but they didn't grow. So Zoey planted some more. Then they ALL came up. Believe it or not.. this is AFTER I have already thinned them out into other parts of the garden and containers. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJbYjYb6sGGXyvW-TdfzhpognxNa1sXmRk052v6JX30Dg6kq-ZQZrR7UhspW99QiDmkN86u6YGF4VSUgH19tIodDIUFJno_NRcTR-N4TwU9AbUiBKyDovvkeMwmFO_gjXXWjOwbt3arF/s1600/0518151511a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJbYjYb6sGGXyvW-TdfzhpognxNa1sXmRk052v6JX30Dg6kq-ZQZrR7UhspW99QiDmkN86u6YGF4VSUgH19tIodDIUFJno_NRcTR-N4TwU9AbUiBKyDovvkeMwmFO_gjXXWjOwbt3arF/s640/0518151511a.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Last year we had lettuce, spinach and onions in here. This year I have cabbage and onions. We have almost eaten ALL of the onions already, I think will go get some more onion bulbs to plant. I like home grown onions a lot better than store bought. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpmz-PB-lhCoIk3h31bbLO7ZFV2Zd28T1ej9XcRCtL5l_OEoveY8wQ2HQ6cAQNSI0JOjFzEGivjF_dzcFNSRkgz6C3fwPr419HEslfqrmFpNyvtBsM-HJNntdScpGEtuBZnZcEUzgU8Eg/s1600/0518151511b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpmz-PB-lhCoIk3h31bbLO7ZFV2Zd28T1ej9XcRCtL5l_OEoveY8wQ2HQ6cAQNSI0JOjFzEGivjF_dzcFNSRkgz6C3fwPr419HEslfqrmFpNyvtBsM-HJNntdScpGEtuBZnZcEUzgU8Eg/s640/0518151511b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Not sure about tire planting, but we had one and needed another container to plant in. I have heard good and bad things about using old tires.. We will see. More Cherry Tomatoes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97M9nJyIzE7UV97wMKT5JOzCJj4JtTSci_g0MuD1cTQ7UMifaG6B51Ze-6HKbaUEFjqqzjqeq9nMQ8qhNFWzVlrWiJ8fprvniCduCUmFm-3d_1ofXR5tgcrjhZhwJ_TdJyarRdAe-KHmp/s1600/0518151511c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97M9nJyIzE7UV97wMKT5JOzCJj4JtTSci_g0MuD1cTQ7UMifaG6B51Ze-6HKbaUEFjqqzjqeq9nMQ8qhNFWzVlrWiJ8fprvniCduCUmFm-3d_1ofXR5tgcrjhZhwJ_TdJyarRdAe-KHmp/s640/0518151511c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have not grown cabbage in YEARS. My amazingly awesome neighbor gave me some plants a while back, so I thought, "Why not?" We do not eat a whole lot of cabbage but it looks like I will be selling the extras and looking for a whole lot of new cabbage recipes. For some reason, they remind me of Harry Potter...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9biBZKrMIkocQiB3Y4vBggZfufQoeOvIJjOtDHGex4uRRtqf-ybjk_6AvgogZ_V69gPfnMQtPJwJgNkkxyg9eckCUrckg_nBv8xdalfywvyjN5IHT7mIuniGUUlvdqxe0U5UJ-Hae25p/s1600/0518151512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9biBZKrMIkocQiB3Y4vBggZfufQoeOvIJjOtDHGex4uRRtqf-ybjk_6AvgogZ_V69gPfnMQtPJwJgNkkxyg9eckCUrckg_nBv8xdalfywvyjN5IHT7mIuniGUUlvdqxe0U5UJ-Hae25p/s640/0518151512.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hard to tell here, but there are four tomato plants and a pumpkin plant here. If you look to the upper right, those are dandelions and other 'weeds' that my rabbits like to munch on. We let the weeds grow up on that side. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFfQ3VL_y2tHc_sVWOhyfzKXbB4CI4a6Y0uBHR00BXU9deLm-BScAgj98a7_4luRWbQMEenfoYDGxZkhSzzsWLVRYXg_oz4WLrSLugnrPjahEqNdXejQTeoQNJkcf3ligQPqPniIxnIgR/s1600/0518151512a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFfQ3VL_y2tHc_sVWOhyfzKXbB4CI4a6Y0uBHR00BXU9deLm-BScAgj98a7_4luRWbQMEenfoYDGxZkhSzzsWLVRYXg_oz4WLrSLugnrPjahEqNdXejQTeoQNJkcf3ligQPqPniIxnIgR/s640/0518151512a.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had to put the bucket Cherry Tomato plant into the ground. It just did not look healthy. We have been getting lots of rain, but the soil always looked dry. Maybe too many drainage holes? I hope we did not kill it, beacause, it is LOADED with cherry tomatoes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCQAMYZ77FgY5ywbRMUnrYsOH0b_c46fG7tcOg6dt6FxgVuedCf8O1AVI7bm1pgjUw_nvhqUTJB6Z22CuemaWekfdrykNmDAckDUBB1eUgsEfkTK65qezeUsfO-R5f5P2WWKo4i_E5U2k/s1600/0518151513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCQAMYZ77FgY5ywbRMUnrYsOH0b_c46fG7tcOg6dt6FxgVuedCf8O1AVI7bm1pgjUw_nvhqUTJB6Z22CuemaWekfdrykNmDAckDUBB1eUgsEfkTK65qezeUsfO-R5f5P2WWKo4i_E5U2k/s640/0518151513.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The new potato bucket is growing strong! At least I hope.. Sure looks pretty though. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYOXrjwNZCN_77X_hfto9DKfhv-zZje3b2_NQgZI9dqK0bg6K12ehrk1hsO0wMgZk9X1JQRa2vnqDXOO__sG6wXp_VrNZWJZCsRDPnj8cyKuJVnDDaYz3rJrt7UhhO0VMBu7H6i9pD308/s1600/0518151513a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYOXrjwNZCN_77X_hfto9DKfhv-zZje3b2_NQgZI9dqK0bg6K12ehrk1hsO0wMgZk9X1JQRa2vnqDXOO__sG6wXp_VrNZWJZCsRDPnj8cyKuJVnDDaYz3rJrt7UhhO0VMBu7H6i9pD308/s640/0518151513a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remember last year? This spot was covered with the 'Mystery Pumpkin' plant. This year we have two tomato plants. We still have 4 more that need to get in the ground. Not sure where I am putting them though. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So there you go. A little tour of our garden. I am really loving all the time spent as a family to help grow us food. Even my 'I hate gardening' teenager and my injured husband are pitching in! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Does your family garden together? We <3 your comments!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15b9ookyEo_j7X3oy-bB281ZlthisI31r5Er-jX9o62-JAHBPGr_hqeP1WU4DBslQwolOrq4hbsLQV1tkoRX2WvK1zKEH0rVvbWi46IKrQYpxqhhTQad9M1RMa4Kb0f9GZUC6K0x7NA_w/s1600/Time+well+spent+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15b9ookyEo_j7X3oy-bB281ZlthisI31r5Er-jX9o62-JAHBPGr_hqeP1WU4DBslQwolOrq4hbsLQV1tkoRX2WvK1zKEH0rVvbWi46IKrQYpxqhhTQad9M1RMa4Kb0f9GZUC6K0x7NA_w/s320/Time+well+spent+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-89396285631861462732015-05-11T16:42:00.001-07:002015-05-11T16:42:13.122-07:00Vehicle Preparedness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> As you know, we have our <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-daughters-good-bag.html" target="_blank">G.O.O.D. bags</a>. They are packed and ready just in case we need to get out of our home quickly and </span>efficiently<span style="font-family: inherit;">. But what if we are not at home? </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">If I am not at home, I am at my work or I at least am near my Tahoe. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Disasters strike when you least expect them. I always try to be prepared for those unexpected times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> What if my car breaks down when we are far from home? It has happened before... Late one night my husband and I were traveling home from out of town. My truck started to overheat. We ended up stranded on the side of the road. It was so late and we were still so far out, we did not want to call anyone. AND we are way to frugal to call a tow truck. We used the extra <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DP4XBGI?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00DP4XBGI&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">blankets</a> in the back to snuggle up with and called someone in the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Since I live in Texas, there have been a few times we have been at the school, hunkered down in the hall ways, on our knees, praying a tornado does not come. But what if one did? Although the school has <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XIEXZK?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B002XIEXZK&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">preparations</a> in place, I will still have to travel home at some point. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Ever been at the ball field or park and suddenly find yourself in need of a medical kit for a scrape or cut? A couple of weeks ago, Zoey was playing with her little cousin and stepped onto a metal spike (OUCH!) and it went through her shoe. Quick trip to the truck for some </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BFL0RQ?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005BFL0RQ&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">disinfecting</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YP28G2?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B003YP28G2&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">bandage</a>.. and she was off and running again! (Okay, so she was hobbling, but she did not let it stop her.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> When I got the call about my husband being in the hospital <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/04/life-takes-turn.html" target="_blank">after the accident</a>, I went to my truck and grabbed out what I knew I would need at the hospital. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00802ZGGI?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00802ZGGI&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Ibuprofen</a> and my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014CX4YW?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0014CX4YW&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">allergy medicine</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R1BX6W?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005R1BX6W&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Chap stick</a>, lotion, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J2AV5MG?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00J2AV5MG&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">snack bars</a>, and my 'rainy day' money. But, those are a just a few items I keep in my truck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">So what else do I keep in my truck? </span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTKUaGeEwZvipJxJln-PElD4QKjp6gHKqxA7YYI9SA__FPW01-wIN9dmvegM4Ja62-ajVOMrtf0XOM1ust-XXKh_2DP35CvaXV8ykyLTvR045XlcDYX8eAZvbKFIAN0tR_ROSyUPcE5WJ/s1600/0502150932a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTKUaGeEwZvipJxJln-PElD4QKjp6gHKqxA7YYI9SA__FPW01-wIN9dmvegM4Ja62-ajVOMrtf0XOM1ust-XXKh_2DP35CvaXV8ykyLTvR045XlcDYX8eAZvbKFIAN0tR_ROSyUPcE5WJ/s640/0502150932a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> This is the back of my truck. Is it always this clean? Not </span>necessarily<span style="font-family: inherit;">.. I haul feed and hay in this thing. I did spend some time last week getting all the nasty out and vacuuming it. I also went though my prep bags and made sure everything was put back in order. We actually use all of these things quite often. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IP8AEXC?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00IP8AEXC&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">booster seats</a> are for when I get my nephews. (Got to be prepared for that!) Zoey's soft ball backpack and bat are in the back as well. If we have to try to get home on foot, her bag can be easily emptied and items from the back of the truck put into it. The bat can be used for self defense. I have a little black tool kit and jumper cables. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVezAingOYNCaL_zHHoLZz9cQlj5Ywar7FGCU94XUp_bD5anZQxVJARiOFydKZ7r2DJqkf87k8zx_NvbTF3KtAP-zEhH9YZ7V2vqVrsSYgstpuol4_TSmScXEprXw7SEtdpQZR-iXvh526/s1600/0502150932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVezAingOYNCaL_zHHoLZz9cQlj5Ywar7FGCU94XUp_bD5anZQxVJARiOFydKZ7r2DJqkf87k8zx_NvbTF3KtAP-zEhH9YZ7V2vqVrsSYgstpuol4_TSmScXEprXw7SEtdpQZR-iXvh526/s640/0502150932.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YDUIc710auOcZpa-L4dcPb_Hb5dd2yFdR1BiDPOnXMr-Yo9C_t4p2vINe9MXHSNcNZEX_Yah63CJjZiDpIaEeZlEmFAnJRlDvL2WJsBoQWTu5-iuWy87euaf273G4zvGOFdCicJt488I/s1600/0502150930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YDUIc710auOcZpa-L4dcPb_Hb5dd2yFdR1BiDPOnXMr-Yo9C_t4p2vINe9MXHSNcNZEX_Yah63CJjZiDpIaEeZlEmFAnJRlDvL2WJsBoQWTu5-iuWy87euaf273G4zvGOFdCicJt488I/s320/0502150930.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Did you notice the red and white bags? They are insulated bags I got a while back for FREE! One has blankets and a tarp in it. The other is my emergency food bag. There is a gallon baggie with plates, napkins, and a few of those take out fork, spoon, and knife sets. I keep a jar of peanut butter, a couple packages of crackers, some snack bars, dried cranberries and pretzels. I added a plastic jar of instant rice with a left over packet of chicken seasoning stored at the top. The seasoning was left over from a ramen noodles packet. I also put some take out condiments in it. Soy sauce, honey, and ketchup! Cause you never know when you will catch a squirrel when you are stranded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> My tool box is not a tool box. It is my medical kit. It's okay, still working on it. But it has most of the essentials. Today I reorganized it and even added some feminine pads. Along with the normal stuff, there is also <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C1WELM8?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00C1WELM8&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">juice boxes</a>, snack bars, a book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GBG0NL8?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00GBG0NL8&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">CPR mask</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WIP5YTC?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00WIP5YTC&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">2 sunburn relief gels (one with lidocaine)</a>, and toilet paper. I like my tool box, but I think if I get another one, it will be like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ZQNTWU?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005ZQNTWU&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">THIS</a>. How much cooler would that be? Do you have a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPQUWPG?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00LPQUWPG&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">mini med kit </a>in your vehicle? What is it stored in? What's in it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> That is pretty much a mini run down on what I keep in my truck. I use all of my kits often for a variety of reasons and they are there when ever I need them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What are some reasons you need to pack a few "Get Home" items? We <3 your comments! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-6542544121529823932015-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-08T07:00:06.706-07:00We Saved A Baby BirdThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE9COg8kvkiFqeC_H0PJnRWBR7G4R0dm9SWpc8v-dsMXTwMh0u3mKErJjsWr6HdKdvdPeFCa0AndG3w9cBtTT0db_FZUNx4M8PMVwocLJLJLWYDulxMBVxGp__-uXj-Upd5fOw5XFAy9j/s1600/Saving+baby+bird+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE9COg8kvkiFqeC_H0PJnRWBR7G4R0dm9SWpc8v-dsMXTwMh0u3mKErJjsWr6HdKdvdPeFCa0AndG3w9cBtTT0db_FZUNx4M8PMVwocLJLJLWYDulxMBVxGp__-uXj-Upd5fOw5XFAy9j/s640/Saving+baby+bird+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Thought I would share this interesting story with you. A few weeks ago, my husband came in and said, "A bird laid eggs in the fence post again." Zoey was excited, but I thought, "Oh, great. More dead baby birds!" (Yes, that is sarcasm..) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Every year, a momma bird lays eggs in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00374PZZ6?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00374PZZ6&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">fence post </a>of our yard. And every year, we end up with dead baby birds in our fence post. I can't understand why they do this every year! Does the momma bird not get that the babies never make it out of there? Sheesh! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Zoey runs out to look, and sure enough, there are cute baby birds looking up at her through the hole. Every day, she goes out to check on the baby birds. They are living and thriving. Cutest little fluffy baby birds ever. The whole time I'm thinking, "She will be heart broken AGAIN!" Yesterday, we are out walking the yard with her dad and she ran around the house to check on the baby birds. Suddenly, she is running back telling me "We HAVE to save it!" One of the baby birds died, and the other was sitting on top of it, crying out. The dead baby bird is already starting to smell very foul. Poor little guy! We must save him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Now how on earth am I supposed to rescue a baby bird that is over a foot down this narrow pipe? Light bulb! I send Zoey into the house for a cup of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006K0FX38?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B006K0FX38&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">wood chip bedding</a> and a pair of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PFT30I?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005PFT30I&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">tongs</a>. (I know the tongs sound scary, but bear with me.) The tongs do not reach the baby bird at all. Slowly, I start to drop a small amount of wood chips into the side of the opening. The bird flutters about and is raised ever so slightly. (Pretty ingenious, right?) Drop a little more. Flutter a little more. Bird gets a little bit higher. Now, mind you, this is a very slow process. I don't want to bury the little thing in wood chips! Slowly but surely, it is working. I know it is strange to think the little birdie understood what was going on, but it sure seemed to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> When the bird was about 8 inches from the top, I lowered the tongs down into the pole. Guess what happened? The little bird perched on the end of the tongs and allowed me to raise him out of his little hole. Zoey cupped him lightly and put him into the cup we had the wood chips in! SAVED! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzilQ7VH11WbO2GS9srx7Pk6DQhL8DIz-am6SAjXURfqaAAHQAv6bo2-dMj8uFxSx0c1aMLRuwxnPaesLD_h2W4CRF2WlPHnjzg6ZKIx0dZMmLW4zK7UGIysutT6S5grylXGl7Zme4oO4/s1600/0503151357a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzilQ7VH11WbO2GS9srx7Pk6DQhL8DIz-am6SAjXURfqaAAHQAv6bo2-dMj8uFxSx0c1aMLRuwxnPaesLD_h2W4CRF2WlPHnjzg6ZKIx0dZMmLW4zK7UGIysutT6S5grylXGl7Zme4oO4/s320/0503151357a.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Poor thing was a bit funky from sitting a top of his dead room mate. Zoey decided he needed a little bath. She put a small amount of water into the bottom of the bathroom sink and let him splash around in it. Then, she lightly wrapped him in a towel. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3nw2HxbPNjz5aE3b3jEdgdHCklm9SNCOm9A0UeJTPY6u3b28kLgOHYKsrn1tFq693o6T5W9c47dMLXD-Z9yN4ouxSI1O1Cll1ivQZvTE2hzG7NEl3Q3l979E1BkBOtet812KYMAUq2FB/s1600/0503151354a+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3nw2HxbPNjz5aE3b3jEdgdHCklm9SNCOm9A0UeJTPY6u3b28kLgOHYKsrn1tFq693o6T5W9c47dMLXD-Z9yN4ouxSI1O1Cll1ivQZvTE2hzG7NEl3Q3l979E1BkBOtet812KYMAUq2FB/s320/0503151354a+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> As he dried, we wondered what kind of bird it was. We got on Google and searched for 'Black baby birds with a white ring around it's head.' Nothing really looked like the baby bird we had. Most of the babies that came up had grey under bellies and more white around them. Zoey remembered she had a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VFZ5O0?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000VFZ5O0&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">bird book</a> in her room. We looked at all the birds, the only one that looked remotely like it was a Chickadee. Alex had come out of his room to see what all the fuss was about. He read to us what the book said about a Chickadee bird. Zoey and I searched more info on the computer. Here is the book Zoey had. It is actually a pretty cool series. Not sure where she got it from but it was published in 1960 and it is called the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VFZ5O0?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000VFZ5O0&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Standard Treasury Of Learning</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGAMfZb77ERIYkfk0sjjR_i2s-zBKA2sieHHHboPAAmpyhLKQKYroyCbGJX_spkCaIc6ieFG3kqm4s6R7tvb6TtkCR7139EAJI1i6zI3E_lSKD1OifX9sRrlA_OGs4RWwh3Hef3EKD2ne/s1600/0505151030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGAMfZb77ERIYkfk0sjjR_i2s-zBKA2sieHHHboPAAmpyhLKQKYroyCbGJX_spkCaIc6ieFG3kqm4s6R7tvb6TtkCR7139EAJI1i6zI3E_lSKD1OifX9sRrlA_OGs4RWwh3Hef3EKD2ne/s320/0505151030.jpg" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELFYqQBp31TxeZwLdlGltKRsv1wmZ9FIodSRoHUgDcJAqnUWdojfj0rwS9ni41EYscHkVJvmn9vylrnF3xwkHHpSPy3nnp-NmBWI6FqWCAxYDOyJNKNKDKmY26a97jS9CMopjHLe2Xfw4/s1600/0505151030a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELFYqQBp31TxeZwLdlGltKRsv1wmZ9FIodSRoHUgDcJAqnUWdojfj0rwS9ni41EYscHkVJvmn9vylrnF3xwkHHpSPy3nnp-NmBWI6FqWCAxYDOyJNKNKDKmY26a97jS9CMopjHLe2Xfw4/s320/0505151030a.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaPnTaPiNxzHj2ZNu3l0mC_ds4ldQDPpLPBRuLyN_TpVHi9Z0p8J0HDuWpp4LCZbNlcxZjnjOLI6vspuXTzHgLPXukADGpcf5yjSpAI4ApVwxhyphenhyphen-GFQS1DGNrqaXit5zxqF_V8rx59lvp/s1600/0503151455b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaPnTaPiNxzHj2ZNu3l0mC_ds4ldQDPpLPBRuLyN_TpVHi9Z0p8J0HDuWpp4LCZbNlcxZjnjOLI6vspuXTzHgLPXukADGpcf5yjSpAI4ApVwxhyphenhyphen-GFQS1DGNrqaXit5zxqF_V8rx59lvp/s320/0503151455b.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> While it did have a similar shape, our chick just did not have the same coloring. Or, it didn't until he fully dried. Look at the whitish feathers coming up on its chest and under belly. Our little rescued birdie WAS a Chickadee! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And this Chickadee was not happy unless he was being held. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> For about an hour, we wondered what the heck we were going to do with a baby bird. Zoey found a worm in the garden for it. He was not interested in it until she chopped the worm up. Gross. He ate a few bites though and we were grateful he was trying to eat! Still, what on Earth are we going to do now that we saved and cleaned him up? Mike suggested we put it out in the chicks cage. I was afraid they would attack the little guy though. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> While I was sitting there, little birdie in my lap, talking to my husband about what we were going to do, IT FLEW! Not like a soaring eagle kind of flew, but an, "Oh, no! I don't know what I am doing but I am just going to go with it." kind of flew. That is when we realized, little birdie didn't need us anymore. We had rescued it from the fence post, bathed and fed him. He was already ready to go about the world and do his thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Zoey, her dad and I walked out to the corner bushes to let it go. The little bird chirped and cheepped frantically. When we got to the corner bushes, I noticed the sound of another bird chirping and cheeping. Sure enough, what could possibly be the little birds mommy was darting with in the bushes. What luck! :D</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We placed him in the bushes and backed away. The mature bird came and flitted around the trees and bushes where our baby bird was at. It was time for us to say goodbye. Zoey was a little sad. She had hoped we could keep it a little longer. We walked away arm in arm. I told her how proud I am of her. She encouraged us to save a baby bird. She loves all animals and has a huge heart. I am so proud of the little woman she is becoming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Bye little birdie! Good luck, and try not to lay your babies in the fence post.. PLEASE! Ah heck, maybe we just need to get a cap for the post... </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-51599585298450687662015-05-05T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-05T07:00:02.012-07:00Starting The GardenThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">It is that time of year again! Spring is my favorite time of year. All of the new plants and flowers coming up. The birds are returning. Days become longer and warmer. Everything is just green and sunny and perfect! Time to start our garden seeds! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdfcRbl0pUw3U5M8mZeTdTi93os1t5bgLPai6jJZbdl1XYKSxkby84iGWHZgihaFIgN5Qst5znQgy-Pc9Go-Z5dbb8_DyYxI4MY2Fj1_kV1I15fYb-sVbPiJbMt1O9BAYKJHn9IeJueNW/s1600/seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdfcRbl0pUw3U5M8mZeTdTi93os1t5bgLPai6jJZbdl1XYKSxkby84iGWHZgihaFIgN5Qst5znQgy-Pc9Go-Z5dbb8_DyYxI4MY2Fj1_kV1I15fYb-sVbPiJbMt1O9BAYKJHn9IeJueNW/s320/seeds.jpg" width="241" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> We started by going though our mess of a seed bag. All of our seeds we have been buying have been randomly thrown into a gallon size baggy and stored in the freezer. It was stuffed full of individual packets, (some new, some opened) and all of the random packs we created last fall when <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/09/save-seeds.html" target="_blank">we harvested our own seeds</a>. I did not realize how horrible this picture was until I tried to load it on here, but as you can see, we have many seeds. This is after we started to sort them. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBpI2ThHBf1h8IwtWK6WKfuFDXeYhxx6W7rEugT-KHE2X8-qvcaRxMVO_88mkdsCZU1U3d7gETMOixSRoPBMaL6lmS9Vaq-bxNFFstb16DPLtkdnirEpOo4HR3KT1OkVlL3hix84H013h/s1600/0503151158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBpI2ThHBf1h8IwtWK6WKfuFDXeYhxx6W7rEugT-KHE2X8-qvcaRxMVO_88mkdsCZU1U3d7gETMOixSRoPBMaL6lmS9Vaq-bxNFFstb16DPLtkdnirEpOo4HR3KT1OkVlL3hix84H013h/s400/0503151158.jpg" width="263" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Then we made a list of all the plants we wanted to grow this year. The whole family got involved and created the list. When planning a garden, I have found it is better to grow what your family will eat. AND in </span>quantities that will be easily eaten or preserved.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> One year I had 10 </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PP1BGLG?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00PP1BGLG&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">zucchini</a> plants. My husband will not eat it and the kids only in moderation. After a few weeks, kids were tired of it and I had no way to preserve it. Most of it was wasted, (thinking I could do <i>something</i> with it, but never getting around to figuring out what) or given away. Then, last year I only got a few tomato plants to grow. When we ran out of tomatoes, which was often, my amazingly awesome neighbor Bree kept us supplied with her juicy mators as much as she could. There was never enough. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Better to sit down as a family and decide what and how much needs to be grown. Okay, back on topic! Now that we had our list, Zoey and I selected the seeds we wanted from our sorted pile on our table. Then they sat there... till we got out of the hospital after <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/04/life-takes-turn.html" target="_blank">my husband's accident</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Wouldn't you know it.. I forgot to get pictures of us starting our seeds! We mixed in some of our composted wood dirt with some of our garden dirt, potting soil we had left from last year, and the oven baked egg shells I make to feed back to our chickens. We placed the mixture into the 9 pack containers (kinda like </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRQM432?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00BRQM432&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">THESE</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">) some plants came in and I saved from a few years ago. Pickling cucumbers, regular cucumbers, watermelon, </span>cantaloupe<span style="font-family: inherit;">, jalapenos, and bell peppers were started in these trays. We already had started tomato plants, a new bucket of potatoes (white bucket), sugar snap peas, and onions. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Do you see the orange bucket with the big tomato plant in the back? That is my tomato plant I have been babying all winter! It grew but never produced any flowers until I got it out into the sun. I feel like I am WAY ahead of the curve on tomatoes! :D Only, guess what? It is not a regular tomato plant. It was a volunteer plant I got from my Amazingly Awesome Neighbor, Bree. It came up on the side of her grandma's house. She gave it to me, I grew it all winter.. and it is a CHERRY tomato plant. Kind of bummed about that. Thought we would be making salsa soon. On the bright side of things, at least my salads will be yummier soon. Just look at my cherry tomatoes already growing! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> In the mean time, my son, Alex, tilled the garden. My husband did it last year, but since the accident, there was no way he could do it this year. My tiller is old and is a beast of a machine. I suppose if I had to run the machine myself, I could. But, with a big strong teenager around, why would I. ;) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you started your garden this year?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-84138341195013525572015-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-15T07:00:08.814-07:00Life Gets In The WayThis post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So now you know about my husband's accident, however, you would not believe how much it has altered our lives. Not only has <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/04/life-takes-turn.html" target="_blank">life taken a turn</a> for us, but, it is also getting in the way. (Mostly, it is my blogging that is suffering.) This is why. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The first week we were home from the hospital, my husband needed constant supervision. He was barely walking with a cane. I had to help him to the restroom, taking a shower, and putting on his clothes. The kids and I were his hands and feet for everything. If he was hungry, we got him food. If he was </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">thirsty</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">, we got him a drink. We set up the garage with a bed borrowed from my mother's spare bedroom. I was the only one sleeping in it, because, laying flat was not an option for him. He slept in his comfy recliner. He would fall asleep at 8 p.m. but of course I would be up till nearly midnight. Bathroom breaks were sporadic through out the night; he was awake by 4 a.m. and I would be up to make coffee. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Chores needed to be done every day. My own plus his was getting to be a job within itself. Every day, I would make a list of what he needed done around the house plus what I did. And every day, the kids and I would tackle the list together. I have always known how much my husband does around our house and mini farm, but until then, I never realized how much. I'm not sure that makes much sense to you, but it sure makes sense to me. Adding in his chores, even with the help of the kids, was exhausting. Small naps and tons of coffee kept me going. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Before the accident, we signed Zoey up for softball. My mom took her to the first few practices for me. Alex had gone with my brother to help him remodel a house his family bought recently. I couldn't leave Mike alone. He is a strong willed and stubborn man that does not like the fact he can not do much on his own. One early morning, I was awoke by a crashing sound. He had woke up and decided to get his own coffee and let me sleep. He was getting around just fine, until he decided to move the recliner closer to the T.V. and became off balance. He fell into the wood burning stove. My sleepy brain did not register that he had fallen. Sitting straight up in bed, the garage </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">dimly lit, and still asleep, I thought he was just stoking the fire. It was not until my son come running in asking what happened, that I realized he had fallen. Luckily, nothing was hurt but his pride. We moved the reclining love seat into the garage instead of the recliner so we could sleep side by side. No need to move any furniture around anymore. ;) </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The next week, Mike was getting around a little better, but the kids and I were still doing everything around the house. Alex was back home. Zoey and I did not make it to co-op because she </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">came down with the stomach flu. I only got a few work hours in the first few weeks. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqmO50RnaRI46gt1oR6wu7P8ESnwHytfzWpXzoIWVrT0rQgndickspgp8AHYS64PZeiM2mAKuFoQImtUALtkKLEUXyLwBsPMcCQuqoxpP-J8cN1Xsn1Dhyphenhyphen54Not-nBOy907fz6G2EfLRZ/s1600/0401151000a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqmO50RnaRI46gt1oR6wu7P8ESnwHytfzWpXzoIWVrT0rQgndickspgp8AHYS64PZeiM2mAKuFoQImtUALtkKLEUXyLwBsPMcCQuqoxpP-J8cN1Xsn1Dhyphenhyphen54Not-nBOy907fz6G2EfLRZ/s1600/0401151000a.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> We started getting our garden ready for planting. Growing our own food has never been more important or as needed. Alex tilled the garden for me. His first time was pretty dang good! Zoey and I started our seedlings. My new <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2015/03/potato-bucket-fail.html" target="_blank">potato bucket</a> is growing beautifully. I am excited it is working this time. The sun has made all the difference. (Okay, so maybe winter gardening in the garage didn't work so well. But, do you blame a girl for trying?) My tomato plant I have babied all winter is HUGE and has little tomatoes already forming. We also ended up with a few new chicks. Two of them were not claimed from the daycare's annual chick hatch. The other was bought at our local feed store. I keep saying no more chickens.. but they keep finding their way into our hearts and home. The chick we got before the accident turned out to be a rooster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i0gVYBcNb_nALMWHsDFXPC2FdP0lnrZmcv4X5kP1HJdX_NHLYie807j3QhDfXcgfeb5slpk0jiWFQnHCTP1e0RzDkvl8hW_mh1AEWFwxM0lUrqWB43YSUK3TzTnL20RI5mL0sxpJJ7CT/s1600/0414152302a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i0gVYBcNb_nALMWHsDFXPC2FdP0lnrZmcv4X5kP1HJdX_NHLYie807j3QhDfXcgfeb5slpk0jiWFQnHCTP1e0RzDkvl8hW_mh1AEWFwxM0lUrqWB43YSUK3TzTnL20RI5mL0sxpJJ7CT/s1600/0414152302a.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-YdDGXypKrlxjbhSdfUY6fIEPVDsHL3IUm84lHCIVSm9Robg9P3sjrwYHW-ItgiNtT8PgS-IDgypU_CiWP9ccNyN3ZA8RuPCMEMDPf8PmIxYxe9lt2nxvXTB-K1KK7zY4oPN8_2Z-dT/s1600/0404152304a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr-YdDGXypKrlxjbhSdfUY6fIEPVDsHL3IUm84lHCIVSm9Robg9P3sjrwYHW-ItgiNtT8PgS-IDgypU_CiWP9ccNyN3ZA8RuPCMEMDPf8PmIxYxe9lt2nxvXTB-K1KK7zY4oPN8_2Z-dT/s1600/0404152304a.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">The day before Easter, my cousin called me with 3 free rabbits. We hosted Easter dinner at my house since getting out of the house takes a lot out of Mike. It was a great day. Both sides of our families attended. At one point my sister laughed and said, "Only my sister would have LIVE bunnies hopping around her garage for Easter!" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We went back to the hospital in Dallas for Mike's follow up appointments. Even though he is recovering far better than what the doctor's thought he would, he still has a long way to go. The doctors predict he will be out of work still for another 3-6 months. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Although we have had support from some family and friends, we are still struggling with the loss of his paycheck every week. I only work a few days a week at my job normally. Luckily, my boss has allowed me to take up as many hours as I can. This helps to pay the bills, but it seemed like every time I tried to work, something happened that kept me from working long. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank goodness I prepare for emergency situations. My preps, plus d</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">onations from friends and family, and a visit to a local food bank, help to keep food on the table. Every little bit helps. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> So now it has a little over a month since the accident. My husband is no longer using a cane. We are sleeping upstairs in our own bed. (Thank goodness! I'm not sure how much longer my hips could take sleeping on the love seat.) He still can not lift much, bend well, stoop over, or do much like he did before his accident. What he can do, takes much longer and wears him out. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Alex has started a new job, but until we can get the old truck on the road and insurance on him, I will be taking him back and forth to work. W</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">hen our homeschool co-op classes end, I will be returning to work full time myself. I will have to balance work, the garden, sewing, farm and house chores, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">homeschool,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">softball. I just hope I can balance blogging in somewhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Life is still getting in the way and will continue to do so.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">But, honestly, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I truly feel blessed to be just 'getting by.' </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-14007591950308335012015-04-06T13:27:00.001-07:002015-04-06T13:38:01.364-07:00Life Takes A TurnThis post contains no <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">affiliate links</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have been MIA for the last month. It has been very hard to get back in the swing of blogging. Not only have I been at a loss for how to write this post, but also, there has been so much going on I can barely sit down to write. Life has definitely taken a turn for us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So where do I begin?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> March 6th, I got a text from a friend asking if we still had that old S10 Blazer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Yes, we do." I reply back. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"My husband said he was driving down HWY 19 and thought he saw it being loaded onto the back of a wrecker. It was in an accident. Maybe it was not Mike's." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> 1993 S10 Blazers are still quite common in this area, but I called the house immediately. No answer. I had 15 minutes before it was my lunch time. I called my neighbor asking if she had seen Mike drive in from work. She had not noticed, but she would get up and get dressed to walk down there. I asked the girls down in the nursery area to pray that if it was my husband, he was going to be alright. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Lunch came, and I called the house again with no answer. The neighbor said she was walking out the door to go look. As I clocked out, I told a co-worker I was not sure what I was going to do. Should I just wait and see if he calls me back and go run my errands? Do I run home and see if he is just out in the yard? Or do I start calling the hospital? I am the type NOT to worry about the tornado until it is hitting the house. However, in my head, I am hearing the emergency sirens going off in my head... As I look down at Zoey, I see the same fear in her eyes as she tries to smile back at me. I put my arm around her as we walk out of the building. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We had not gotten half way to my truck when I got the phone call from the police department. I know the number well. I froze and pulled Zoey to me. Instead of saying hello, I asked, "Where is he and is he alright?" Confused, the officer introduced himself. "Is this Mike Flemens Wife?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Yes, it is. I have heard, is he alright?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"No, ma'am, he is not. He is being care flighted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Scariest moment of my life was going back into that building with my daughter in tow to write down the number to the hospital. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I thanked the officer and immediately called my mother. My boss and a couple of the girls I work with looked on as I called my mother to ask her to drive me. I was shaking so bad I could barely stand. I just held my daughter tightly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> As I waited for my mother to get there, my boss and her husband (my preacher) held our hands in a prayer circle. When he finished the prayer, I said, "Thy will be done." Instantly I was calmed. My mother came and we began the 90 minute journey to the hospital. Friends and family pitched in to let everyone know what had happened; prayer chains were started. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> The whole ride, I was calling the hospital. Mike and his ID did not make it there at the same time. The had no idea who my husband was. Back in our town, my brother in law was talking to the emergency workers that were on the scene of the accident. They assured him he was at Parkland and last heard, Mike was in X-ray. We had reached the hospital by the time one of the workers called me to let me know they had located my husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Mom and Zoey parked the car as I went straight to the Trauma floor to see him. He was being sedated for becoming combative while they were trying to work on him. He had tubes and wires connected to him, barely any scrapes or bleeding. The doctor explained he had some bleeding on the brain, and several areas of his left side received broken bones. His scapula (shoulder blade) was broken into 3 pieces, his pelvis was fractured in 2 different places and he had several broken ribs. The bleeding on his brain was mild and was from broken blood vessels rather than from several blunt force trauma. I praised God with a smile on my face. I am sure the nurses and doctors thought I was suffering from some sort of shock, but My husband was alive! The man I loved and who loved me back with his whole heart, the father of my children, my best friend, the man that always pushed me to be better and believed in me was ALIVE by the grace of God. I knew all else would work out in the end. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I brought Zoey in to the trauma unit so she could see her daddy. We smiled to each other, held his hand, kissed him and whispered prayers of thanks to the Lord. I took her back to my mother after talk of waking him up. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> They began talking him off of sedation. I held his hand and talked to him along with the doctors until he was finally awake. He was disoriented and confused. When he was finally (somewhat) fully awake, the doctors were pleased and sent him to a private room. We were blessed with being able to stay with him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> My sister and brother in law were there and brought Zoey and I clothing and personal items from our house. We prepared to stay in the hospital for as long as it took for him to recover enough to come home. My mom wanted to take Zoey with her, but my side kick was where she needed to be. She, nor I, would have it any other way. My brother came and gave me money to help with what ever we needed. I didn't have to worry about how I was going to feed us. The nursing staff said we were welcome to sleep in the extra bed in the room. My brother stayed at a friends house that was local to him. This all happened on Friday, Day 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 2: </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">While in a good bit of pain, Mike tolerated the pain well but slept through most of it. We had several calls and texts sending prayers and well wishes. Our families kept Facebook updated on his progress. My son was finally located, but not having a vehicle kept him from coming right away. I had never heard fear in his voice like I did when he called me. I assured him his father was going to be okay. While Mike slept, I took Zoey to get a late breakfast. She witnessed her first homeless man when we ventured outside of the hospital. (Small town children live sheltered lives.) </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">His dad, aunt and cousin came.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">My brother came back to pick Zoey and I up to go to Walmart for some supplies. By that night, Mike was becoming more coherent. The pain med fog started to lift. So many different Doctors in the last few days, it is even hard for me to keep them straight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 3: Mike's mom, brother and our son, Alex, came up to see him, along with several others. Mike is barely taking any pain meds. As long as he is still, there is minimal pain. Not being able to turn onto his side is the worst part. That is the way he sleeps. His arm and pelvis are a little more mobile. Doctors and nurses agree he is still recovering miraculously! Mike's anxiety is very high. He is ready to go home. He has hospital issues to begin with, coupled with being an 'outdoor' kind of guy and being immobile is starting to get to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 4: The physical therapist came to see if Mike could get around in a wheel chair. He handles it like a champ. A friend of mine came and brought us bags of lunch and visited us for a while. When I was walking her out of the hospital, Mike decided he needed a private moment in the bathroom. He used Zoey as a crutch to get there. Managed his business and was planning on using Zoey again to get to the bed, however, he fell on the way back. X-ray's showed no additional damage. He is released by Doctors to have assistance from the nurse and either me or our son. I talk with his Trauma doctor on getting him released soon. She says, "Other than the broken bones, we have no other reason to keep him. We would like him to have 6 weeks of physical therapy though." I talk to her about doing physical therapy at home vs. the hospital. My husband is a home body and I am afraid he will push himself to hard at the hospital to prove he can go home. We have a strong family support system which includes nurses and pt specialists. My mother also works at a rehab center just in case we need it. Our house is set up to where it can be easily cleared out so he has room to move and maneuver with out risk of falling. My son will be moving back home to help out as well. The doctor says she will talk to his physical therapist. If she okays him to go home, she will release him tomorrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Day 5: The Physical Therapist came to talk with us. She knows he has been walking to the bathroom with assistance, and brings a crutch, cane and an A-frame walking device. He chooses the crutch to begin with. He walks with it so well, they decide to switch him over to a cane before Mike can reach the door. He moves fairly well, walks a good distance, and even tackles a small flight of stairs. His PT lady is quite impressed and releases him from any more PT. The Occupational Therapist says not so happy about the whole thing. Thought his brain damage needed some more work. I tried to explain to her that the doctors had not mentioned anything about brain damage and my husband was acting perfectly normal now he was not taking many pain meds. She is not convinced, but are released by the Trauma doctor anyways and are on our way home by 6:30 that night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> It has now been a month since my husbands accident. He is walking around with minimal assistance from the cane. By no means is he 100% or even close, however, he is still my walking miracle. Now at this point, you might be wondering what happened, how did the accident happen? All I can tell you is, he was T-Boned turning onto the highway that takes him home. The other driver was just shaken up a bit. The teenager that hit him, also happens to be a friend of my son. He said he saw my husband stop at the red light so he proceeded through, then, suddenly Mike pulled out. Mike's truck was T-boned at 60 miles an hour. My husband remembers he had gone to the store after work, he bought a few things for the house, loaded up his truck and started home. Walmart is 2 minutes from where the accident occurred. There has been speculation on why my husband would pull out into on coming traffic. Either way, it has been deemed his fault for pulling into an intersection that had not been cleared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> All I know is, my husband is alive and is recovering at an amazing rate. In all honestly, when I got the call, I thought he was dead, or close. You do not get care flighted by helicopter for a minor bump on your head and a few broken bones. I really believe God hears prayers and reversed this for us. We are fully blessed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So that is the beginning of where I have been. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Life decided to take a turn on us.. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-82534723456104346422015-03-24T05:18:00.002-07:002015-03-24T05:18:38.928-07:00Pledging To Help The Monarch Butterflies This post does not contain <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> A fellow blogger friend over at the <a href="http://104homestead.com/monarch-butterfly-garden/" target="_blank">104 Homestead</a> recently posted about her family taking the pledge to help Monarch Butterflies. I knew immediately, it was something Zoey and I would be interested in doing as well. As it was, Zoey spent most of winter on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kamay/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, pinning ideas for a <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kamay/butterfly-fairy-garden/" target="_blank">Fairy/Butterfly Garden</a>. Zoey is super excited to be getting the <a href="http://www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes/Getting-Started.aspx" target="_blank">Monarch Butterfly Starter Kit</a> provided by <a href="http://www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes.aspx" target="_blank">The National Wildlife Federation</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So how do you help <a href="http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/" target="_blank">Monarch Butterflies</a>? By growing a butterfly habitat! </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">We are going to use the area in our yard that is my wild flower garden. (Okay, so I had TRIED to get a wild flower garden going. Every year I would sow seeds, and every year, the grass would choke out the plants.) And another spot over on the side of our property that I know will remain undisturbed. Butterflies love milkweed and it is their main source of food in the larva stage. We will also be planting some of the flowers from <a href="http://monarchbutterflygarden.net/butterfly-plants/" target="_blank">this list</a> I found. Some of the plants will serve dual purposes as they are medicinal and butterflies and bees love them as well. Win, Win for all! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We can't wait to get started on our Butterfly Garden! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">You too can take the pledge and build your own Monarch Butterfly Habitat at <a href="http://www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes/Pledge.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes/Pledge.aspx</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">Disclosure: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.1760005950928px;">I am Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small compensation for including links on my blog. Buying through my links is not necessary, just appreciated. Amazon does not charge extra for linked items recommended by their affiliates. I only recommend products that I use and trust OR plan on using in the future. Please buy responsibly and do your own product research before buying anything online. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10550191410510104672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776915184408501702.post-23321362847849680902015-03-18T12:16:00.000-07:002015-03-18T12:16:08.047-07:00Potato Bucket FAILThis post contains <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/p/affiliate-linksdisclosures.html" target="_blank">Affiliate Links.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Yes, I said, "FAIL." But I am not sure of the reason why. One day my potato plant is growing like a weed. The next it is dying off rapidly. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaR9jPGLm13qJIUdcqUBWyISjqcjW86hhbUXkK1j9v5O018aKggjRGObqUd80wAXHfmBZNPqNqB33OG2kDO11zSiHM5a-N8RMHR96vamLrdteGxyAdtGSB3ILDAgtS9Egd3FhAG1TjcgC/s1600/0201152146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaR9jPGLm13qJIUdcqUBWyISjqcjW86hhbUXkK1j9v5O018aKggjRGObqUd80wAXHfmBZNPqNqB33OG2kDO11zSiHM5a-N8RMHR96vamLrdteGxyAdtGSB3ILDAgtS9Egd3FhAG1TjcgC/s1600/0201152146.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From this... To this... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxx3Yv-mnB-sgxO8WSpX9ZMjEdgpA7m9TYXsRXU-GHkCjVASkMzZi1wP55fft72zfwxwIXNMoMJuKluBwysBuM8W6PwM9oJpkdBdl9_JZuaeaZ3LCRDAe0q-kbpjyia9VedBzxL_sC4Qu/s1600/0314152031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxx3Yv-mnB-sgxO8WSpX9ZMjEdgpA7m9TYXsRXU-GHkCjVASkMzZi1wP55fft72zfwxwIXNMoMJuKluBwysBuM8W6PwM9oJpkdBdl9_JZuaeaZ3LCRDAe0q-kbpjyia9VedBzxL_sC4Qu/s1600/0314152031.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In just a matter of days.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> So what happened? Like I said, I am not sure. However, I have some suspicions.. The day after I took the first picture, we had some very lovely overcast 70 degree weather. Of course I put my bucket outside so make sure it got some sun, and not just the light from the garage. It was only out for a few hours, but I might have shocked it. THEN, after I brought it inside, I used some left of fertilized water that I was using for my other plants. Maybe the combo of the outside time, and the shock of fertilized water? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> After it started dying, we continued to keep it indoors in it's usual home and water it. We were hoping it would get over it's shock and continue to grow. After a month, there was still nothing... Time to dump the bucket and look to see what happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Nothing but some potato shells, unidentified seedlings, and a new wormie friend. FAIL! I don't think it is a 'Bucket In The Garage' fail, but a simple Human Error Fail. Another Ooops! We refuse to be discouraged. We still have a box of red potatoes trying to grow under the kitchen counter. We started over on our <a href="http://homeschoolingthewellpreparedchild.blogspot.com/2014/12/growing-tators-in-buckets.html" target="_blank">Potato Bucket Experiment</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This time, it will be left outside as much as possible. We are scheduled for some beautiful 70 degree weather by this weekend and the nice weather should stay until the end of this month. Then another cold spell is expected. We can't wait to start our outdoor garden. I guess prepping the garden area and starting some seeds indoors will have to curb our Spring Fever for now! I have also been looking into buying a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EDMKL0A?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00EDMKL0A&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">Survival Seed Vault like this one</a>, instead of or in addition to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FEL0JOW?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00FEL0JOW&linkCode=xm2&tag=homeschoothew-20" target="_blank">this smaller one</a> I have been eyeing! I really like them both. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Will you be growing a garden this year? </span></div>
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