The Santa Fe Trail

 At group lessons (homeschool co-op) I am teaching a Josefina American Girl class. Today, we learned about the Santa Fe trail. So I split the girls into "families", and put them through different scenarios. It was hysterical to see their faces when their food got stolen by a wild animal, or their "wagon" broke down, or their child was lost. But they all did a good job helping each other out to complete the nessecary tasks, and they all learned an important lesson of just how hard it was to go on the Santa Fe Trail.

Giveaway!

A lovely, generous lady named Brenda whose blog I have recently started following is having a giveaway! What is she giving away? Fabric! Lots of it. Twenty-seven fat quarters from the Pumpkin and Spice fabric line by Whimsicals. That's almost seven yards of fabric!! Go check it out here: http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html
And maybe you could win!

I'm Free!!

It finally fell off. Fourteen months and five days later, my blue Kingdom Bound 2008 bracelet finally came off my wrist. Yes, Cati won; but fourteen months and five days is the longest we have ever gone. My babysitting charges on Thursday decided that they were going to make me their prisoner, and so were grabbing on to me and trying to pull me to the ground. One of them pull on my arm, and off came the bracelet!

Labor Day

I don't know about you, but Labor Day has never been a very exciting holiday for me. But this year, we decided to take a day trip to Lockport with my grandparents. They lived there until my dad was a boy. We saw their house, the parks he played at, the school my grandpa worked at, and lots of other fun stuff. We also went to Olcott, because they used to go there every year. It was gorgeous, and had really cool ruins from a hotel that used to be there. Here is the link to the photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid
=108449&id=627348648&l=a3b46219af

Enjoy!!!!

Sunning Quilts

Sunning Quilts

By Effie Smith Ely

Out from their scented chests I draw
And hang my bright quilts in the sun,
Fashioned by deft and patient hands
Whose work-days now are done.

This Irish Chain in vivid rose
Was Great-Aunt Phoebe's hope and pride -
Dear little girl, who died too young
To be a happy bride.

These colors, with fair stitches joined
to form a bold True-Lovers' Knot,
Were lame Aunt Miriam's - in their glow
Her dull days she forgot.

My strong grandmother, unto whom
Life brought most bitter grief and smart,
Piecing this flower basket learned
To mend a broken heart.

Dead kinsfolk, who have left to me
These quilts you made in vanished springs,
Would that I had your fortitude
Your joy in simple things!

Haying

This past Friday and Saturday, I went down to the farm to help with haying. It was spur of the moment; in fact, they asked me on Wednesday to come down. But that's the way haying is, because it all depends on the weather. So, we started Friday afternoon around 3 and finished around 7. We did two large fields.
This is what haying involves: someone had pre-baled the hay, so the bales were waiting for us in the fields. So, one person drives the tractor and wagon. Half the people are on the ground grabbing the bales and tossing them on the wagon as it drives by. The other half are on the wagon, stacking the bales that are tossed to them. Then the wagon must be unload into the barn.
It doesn't seem too hard, right? Well, it wouldn't be, except for the fact that the bales are anywhere between 40-60 pounds. It is hard, hard work. I started on the ground, then switched and stacked the bales on the wagon. Once I was too tired to do either of those jobs, I got a crash course in driving. Yup, I drove the tractor! It was fun, and not very hard at all. Although, I almost knocked their son Ben off the wagon a couple of times with my unintentionally sudden stops. My arm were trembling on Saturday morning. Also, my arms look like they have be attacked by a ferocious animal; hay is very harsh on skin.
Yesterday was Ben's graduation party, so we spent all morning and afternoon preparing food. It was quite enjoyable. Once guests started arriving, we played volleyball. Throughout the entire evening, we played 7 games of volleyball. Now my arms and hands REALLY hurt!! We had a huge bonfire when it got dark, and played hide-and-seek and sardines, and then made smores.

This is the bonfire:


Overall, it was a very fun and educational two days!

No Good Name

I know....it has been way too long since my last post. But this time I have some exciting stuff.
First, I finished mom's quilt! YAY!!!!!! She named it "When I Grow Too Old To Dream". I didn't bother to take another picture of it, because it looks pretty much the same as before. I am now working on a quilt named "Fireworks", and one that has no name.
Next, two days ago Cati and I spent the whole day together. Here are some of the highlights.







I officially LOVE meerkats; they are just so adorable!!!!
And we learned that elephants can be trained just like dogs.
Finally, goat show stuff. Two Sundays ago a helped out with a goat show at the Monroe County Fair. It was rather small compared to the last one, but still fun. And this time, two of the goats I showed got first place!





Also, for anyone curious, this is what happens at a goat show. You walk the goats around, the judge studies them, then he places them in their final order, and then talks about why the goats placed the way the did.



I have a couple of busy days coming up. Tonight is girl's Bible study; tomorrow is library and soccer game. Saturday is a cousin's graduation party; Sunday is church, babysitting, and English Country dancing. It should be exciting!!