Homeschooling offers families the flexibility to tailor education to their children’s needs, but it can also present financial challenges. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities for homeschool parents to generate income while effectively educating their children. Let’s take a quick moment to mention a couple creative ways to make money while homeschooling, allowing you to achieve financial stability without compromising your child’s education. Throughout the week I’ll add some more blogs diving a bit deeper into each of these opportunities further and letting you know which have worked best for me so stay tuned!
Online Tutoring:
Capitalizing on your expertise in a particular subject can lead to online tutoring opportunities. Platforms like Chegg, Tutor.com, and VIPKid allow you to teach students remotely, setting your own schedule to fit around your homeschool routine.
Freelance Writing or Blogging:
If you have a flair for writing, consider freelancing or starting a blog. Share your homeschooling journey, curriculum ideas, or parenting tips. Over time, you can monetize your blog through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.
Virtual Assisting:
Offer your organizational skills as a virtual assistant. Many businesses require assistance with tasks like email management, scheduling, and social media. This flexible job can be done from home, allowing you to be present for your children’s learning.
Sell Handmade Crafts or Products:
If you’re crafty, turn your hobbies into a small business. Whether it’s handmade crafts, artwork, or personalized products, platforms like Etsy provide an excellent avenue to sell your creations.
Online Course Creation:
Share your expertise by creating and selling online courses. Whether it’s teaching a musical instrument, language, or academic subject, you can create valuable resources for learners while generating income. Creating unit studies that homeschool families can download and print out at home is an up and coming business!
Remote Work:
Many companies offer remote job opportunities that can be easily integrated into your homeschool routine. From customer service to data entry, these roles allow you to earn money without leaving your home.
eBook Authoring:
If you have knowledge in a specific area, consider writing and self-publishing eBooks. Whether it’s a guide to homeschooling, a cookbook, or a self-help book, platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make it accessible.
Photography or Videography:
If you have a passion for capturing moments, offer your photography or videography services for events, portraits, or even stock footage. This flexible job allows you to set appointments around your homeschool schedule.
Affiliate Marketing:
Promote products you believe in through affiliate marketing. As you share your experiences and recommendations, you can earn a commission on sales generated through your unique affiliate links.
Home-Based Businesses:
Explore various home-based businesses such as baking, catering, gardening, or even pet-sitting. These ventures can align with your family’s interests and allow you to generate income while managing your homeschooling responsibilities.
So there ya go, just a couple great ideas to get your creative (and financial) juices going! Balancing homeschooling and generating income might seem challenging, but with a little creativity and determination, you can find fulfilling opportunities that complement your educational journey. By exploring these ten creative ways to make money while homeschooling, you’ll not only provide for your family’s financial needs but also demonstrate valuable life skills to your children as they witness your dedication and resourcefulness. Check in throughout this week as I dive deeper into each of these opportunities!
As a homeschooling parent, you may have heard of the concept of year-round education and wondered whether it’s worth considering. You may wonder if these “year-round wackos” are gluttons for punishment and misery. “I NEED THAT LONG SUMMER BREAK”… I hear it all the time. Parents claim it protects their sanity, gives them downtime, allows for awesome family vacations, and helps to rejuvenate for the following school year. I hear ya but I think those folks might not understand what peace the year-round school year brings. Let me show you…
While the traditional school calendar might dictate long summer breaks, year-round homeschooling offers a compelling alternative that comes with a host of benefits. Let’s explore ten advantages of educating your children year-round.
Consistent Learning Progress: Year-round homeschooling provides a consistent learning routine, reducing the potential for knowledge gaps that can occur during extended breaks. We all know it’s true… kids spend a good chunk of time retraining their brains after a long summer break… not only in the academic department but also with Amy routines, schedules, and discipline.
Flexibility: With a year-round schedule, you have the freedom to plan vacations, field trips, and breaks at times that best suit your family’s needs, without being tied to a traditional academic calendar. No one is saying you can’t head to Florida with all the other summer birds but let me tell ya, those typical vacation spots can be even more beautiful, relaxing, and enjoyable off peak seasons (even if it’s just by a week or two)! We’ve gotten some of our best cruise deals in September and October for the Caribbean!
Continuous Skill Development: By maintaining a steady learning pace, children have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and skills without the need for lengthy review periods at the start of each school year.
Individualized Learning: Year-round education allows you to tailor your teaching approach to each child’s unique learning style and pace, fostering a more personalized and effective learning experience. You may find that kids want to be inside more in harsh winters so you get more traditional academic work done then while your summers are better spent with outside, less structured and more play based learning. Spring is the perfect time for those biology lessons of growth and rejuvenation!
Retained Knowledge: Shorter breaks between learning sessions help students retain information better, reducing the need to spend excessive time relearning material.
Reduced Burnout: Year-round education helps prevent burnout that can arise from intense periods of studying followed by long breaks, promoting a healthier approach to learning. This is the one most people don’t realize! Year-round education really does take away the burnout because it’s a schedule that works off of life’s seasons (literally and figuratively) which allows you to get into a natural flow and rhythm of life that every body, mind, and spirit craves.
Real-world Application: A continuous learning schedule mirrors the real world, where knowledge is acquired and applied year-round, helping children adapt to a lifelong learning mindset. We often talk about “preparing our kids for the real world”… how many of you get two to three months in a row off in your job? It’s just not normal for most and for those that do have that kind of work schedule (oil rig workers? Sailors? Public school teachers? Crab fisherman? Ooh I love the show “Deadliest Catch”… is it still on?) It lends itself to huge adjustment periods when they leave for their “break” and when they go back from their break. Talk about stressful! No thanks, give me the steadiness of regular work/learning with smaller breaks whenever needed!
Enhanced Focus: Speaking of breaks… did you know that regular, shorter breaks help maintain children’s focus and motivation, leading to improved concentration and engagement during learning sessions? True!
Opportunities for Exploration: Year-round homeschooling allows for more in-depth exploration of subjects, fostering a deeper understanding and passion for learning. You don’t have to fit everything into nine months and totally skip the learning that best happens in the warm summer months! Take your time, stress less, know that the time table of year-round is MUCH more forgiving! Growing a garden is a treasure trove of practical, hands on learning that will stick with your kid(s) for life! Adding academic things to garden growing is such a natural fit… making charts for growth, journaling hypothesis after hypothesis on plant needs, growth etc, cooking with all your yummy veggies and herbs, and drawing/painting the beauty of God’s creation just scratches the surface of what is in store for you!
Smooth Transitions: Moving from one grade level to the next becomes a smoother process as the transitions are more gradual, easing any potential anxieties associated with drastic changes.
There ya have it… year-round homeschooling offers a multitude of advantages that can contribute to a more effective and enjoyable learning experience for your children. There are a ton more but these cares one if the big o es for me. From consistent progress and personalized learning to reduced burnout and improved focus, the benefits of educating year-round are compelling. By embracing this approach, you’re not only nurturing your child’s intellectual growth but also preparing them for a lifetime of continuous learning and success.
Embrace the Journey: Do What You Can With What You Have Wherever You Are.
Welcome fellow homesteaders, aspiring adventurers, and anyone who happens to stumble across this blog! I hope you find this post inspirational… motivational… comforting… all “in the feels” as I dive into what I’ve learned living the “Do what you can with what you have wherever you are” way of life. It has become an essence of homesteading and life itself. Let’s explore the beauty of making the most of every opportunity, regardless of our circumstances.
Cultivate a Positive Mindset:
Every successful homestead, like every prosperous life, begins with the right mindset. Embrace an optimistic perspective and recognize that challenges are opportunities for growth. Even if you have limited resources or face constraints, the power of a positive mindset will guide you towards finding innovative solutions and making the most of what you have. You WILL find yourself on your knees in utter defeat at one point or another. Appreciate this moment for what it is… a moment… an opportunity for rebirth… an opportunity to learn and be/do better… an opportunity to start again knowing better than you did before. Don’t waste hardships ❤️
Start Small, Dream Big:
Homesteading may seem overwhelming at first, but remember that every journey begins with a single step. Start small, taking one project at a time. Whether it’s growing a few herbs on your windowsill or raising a few chickens in your backyard, every tiny action paves the way for greater accomplishments. Dream big and visualize the homestead of your dreams, then work tirelessly to achieve it, one step at a time.
Embrace Sustainable Practices:
As hobby homesteaders, we understand the importance of sustainability. By making conscious choices to reduce waste, conserve resources, and recycle materials, we not only nurture our homesteads but also positively impact the environment AND our pocketbook!Incorporate sustainable practices into your daily life and see how even the smallest actions can make a significant difference.
Foster a Spirit of Adaptability:
Life on the homestead is ever-changing, just like life in general. Embrace adaptability as a core value. Learn from mistakes, adjust your plans as needed, and find new solutions to overcome challenges. Think outside the box!Remember, life doesn’t always go as planned, but those who can adapt will flourish, finding beauty in unexpected places.
Seek Knowledge and Connect with Others:
One of the most rewarding aspects of the homesteading lifestyle is the continuous pursuit of knowledge. Never stop learning about new techniques, innovative technologies, and ancient wisdom passed down through generations. Engage with the homesteading community, share experiences, and seek guidance from others on this shared journey. Like minded folks are all around you, start chatting!
Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Destination:
As you progress in your homesteading journey, pause to appreciate the moments of joy, growth, and accomplishment. The satisfaction lies not only in reaching your ultimate goals but in the everyday joys of tending the land, harvesting your crops, and watching your animals thrive. Celebrate each step forward, knowing that you are building something special, and your efforts matter.
All in all remember that the essence of life lies in doing what you can with what you have, wherever you are. You may wonder if pouring all you have into this adventure will leave you depleted but I’m here to tell you there is a living well… there is a Creator who is responsible for this creation you are tending to… a Creator who wants the best for you. Your homestead journey is a reflection of your indomitable spirit, resilience, and love for creation. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the triumphs, and know that your path is unique and special. Embody this philosophy not just in your homestead but in all aspects of life, boldly knowing that God will continue to fill you as you serve Him in your endeavors… you will not be depleted. May your days be filled with abundance and purpose as you continue to create your homestead legacy. Happy homesteading!
Growing lettuce in the fall in Indiana can be a rewarding experience, as the cooler temperatures provide ideal conditions for this leafy green vegetable. To ensure a successful harvest, follow these steps:
Choose the Right Variety: Select lettuce varieties that are suitable for fall planting and can withstand cooler temperatures. Some recommended types include romaine, butterhead, and loose-leaf lettuce. Check the seed packet for specific information on the ideal planting time and temperature range.
Prepare the Soil: Before planting, ensure the soil is well-draining, rich in organic matter, and has a pH level of around 6.0 to 7.0. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its fertility and structure, promoting healthy lettuce growth. Remember, you are harvesting the LEAVES of this plant (rather than slow release nutrients that promote fruit, vegetable, or flowering) so immediate nutrients in the soil are imperative!
Planting: Start planting lettuce seeds outdoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area. Sow the seeds thinly in rows, approximately 1/4 inch deep, and cover them lightly with soil. Space the rows about 12 to 18 inches apart to provide enough room for the lettuce to grow. Things like kale and spinach like a light frost so continue to successively plant new starts/seeds up to and even slightly past light frosts.
Watering and Mulching: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, throughout the growing season. Regular watering is especially crucial during dry spells. Applying a layer of organic mulch around the lettuce plants will help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth.
Protection from Frost: As the fall progresses, be prepared to protect your lettuce from early frosts. Use row covers or cloths to shield the plants on nights when temperatures dip close to freezing. This extra layer of protection can extend your harvest and keep the lettuce leaves in good condition.
By following these steps and providing the right care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, crisp lettuce during the fall months in Indiana. The cooler weather will enhance the flavor and texture of the lettuce, making it a delicious addition to your autumn meals.
Today was just the most amazing day ever and absolutely nothing extraordinary happened. How does that even make sense? I wasn’t on vacation… I didn’t win the lottery… no newborn babies were held… it was just a day of normal everyday stuff but yet here I am all giddy and excited because I just had THE BEST DAY EVER!
Let me try to piece it all out so maybe you can help me figure out why I’m on cloud nine…
7:30am after having slept in I woke up to a glorious day with my bedroom windows open all night and that crisp fall air washing over my head peeking out from under soft sheets and an extra blanket on the bed. Echo (our husky) was snoring softly on her bed and I could smell coffee wafting up from downstairs… Kevin was already up as usual luring me down with the intoxicating aroma of deliciousness.
8:30am all dogs were thoroughly walked, fed, watered, loved upon, and Axel (our giant German Shepherd) got a thorough brushing (Mondays are his day for pampering).
8:45am swapped out some laundry and put some dishes away while I waited for my coffee to brew. That first sip of coffee… magical… and I don’t even believe in magic… but it was magical. How have I become that person… it’s so “adulty.” Next thing ya know I’ll be enjoying wine! Cup of coffee in hand, I sat to join Kevin for some morning happiness… but then I got all excited to check on my chickens in their new area (I moved all my chickens up to the secondary garden area to clear it out and fertilize it before winter)! I sat for a millisecond and then announced to my husband that I was going to “check on the chickens and gather eggs.” Echo wanted to join me so I took her as well.
9:15am chickens were checked and all was WONDERFUL! They were so happy and Echo didn’t even try to eat any of them (mainly because she was on a leash and I continued to remind her to “Leave it”! I gathered some of their favorite weeds from outside of the garden area and threw them in for them… happiness level increased tenfold… they were wizard level happy! I did happen to get about a million… maybe a billion… little seeds stuck to my jammie pants in the process but it was totally worth it!
9:30am I come back in and chug my lukewarm coffee while I chat with Kevin.
9:40am I head off for a training session/playdate with my favorite puppy of all time! Love you Doc! Cutest little (though he’s getting HUGE… 50 pounds is hardly little unless you‘re me and used to 100-160 pound dogs on the regular) Rottie ever! Training… playing… chatting… more training… SO MUCH FUN!
12:00pm I realize Gunner is working a day shift and won’t be able to make his 1:00pm haircut appointment so I swing by Tractor Supply to try to convince Jackson to take his lunch at 1pm at take Gunner’s appointment time so Gunner can take his 4:15pm appointment time. He can’t do it because they are a bit short staffed and busy… bad combo for ducking out for a haircut. So I arrange with the hairdresser for both boys to come after work at 4:00pm. While at TSC I pick up some dog food and a bag of jelly beans for Kevin.
12:45pm I swing by the salon to do my sons a favor and prepay for their haircuts (I love little surprises like that!) and end up chatting with their hairdresser for 30 minutes because she is amazing and she got into nursing school!!! I’m so excited for her! I left there on cloud nine!
1:15pm I swing over to the water station to fill several of our 5 gallon water jugs and by this point I am just thinking, “Wow, it has been the best day EVER!” Why? No idea! I get all the jugs filled while replying to some emails, messages, and texts. My aunt updated her profile picture on Facebook (a platform she tends to avoid at all costs) and it’s a beautiful picture of her so that made me all sorts of happy too!
1:25pm I happen to see a bright orange go mango Dodge Challenger across the street at the Dairy Queen drivethru (golly do I love living in a small town) so I run over there and jump in front of the car just as it’s pulling away from the window… it’s Jackson! Thank goodness… I may have been mortified if it had been someone else (probably not though). I say “Hi’ real quick then let hm be on his way to enjoy his lunch… though I did give him a bit of a hard time about “Sure, you can run and get Dairy Queen but ya can’t run and get your hairs cut” (yes I know I pluralized hair… it’s not a typo, I just think it’s funny). I walked over toward the drivethru to say hi to Gunner but he wasn’t in there… probably on his lunch as well somewhere in town.
1:45pm I return home and set about doing farm chores, house chores, catching up one some computer work, walking dogs, making supper, and just all the ordinary things.
5:30pm Gunner got home from his haircut and it looks AWESOME!! Trimmed beard too! He looks so much older and from the side and back I can’t tell him and Jackson apart! He’s happy with it too so that’s awesome!
8:00pm I ask if Gunner wants to come see my new set up for the chickens and he says “sure” so we walk through a neat trail to get to the chickens and I gather the last of the days’ eggs and he pets a chicken… so, that was awesome!
9:00pm I’ve been having computer problems for weeks… some sort of security certificate or something like that… can’t update my website as I need and just a mess with stuff online! I’ve been limping through using a different computer for some things even though this is the one I know and love… my dinosaur of a laptop missing the “o” key that I love and refuse to give up. Finally I had a light bulb moment tonight… Jackson has a Bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security… why have I not requested his help in this matter? I called out “Oh Jackson my son, could you come take a look at this issue I’m having? Don’t look at my desktop, it’s busy , I know it’s busy, don’t say anything about it. The massive amount of icons on my desktop has nothing to do with the issue I’m having. Here, take a seat, I’ll take the dogs out to potty while you work on it.” By the time I returned everything was fixed and there was no lecture about my busy desktop… I think a certain young man was happy mom paid for his haircut today! By the way his haircut was great too, looks so nice!! So now my computer is all perfect again… except that darn “o” key but I just plugged in a different keyboard that I found in one of the boys’ closets.
10:17pm so now here I am. All happy with still no idea why… other than I just feel blessed beyond measure for a life that I never want a vacation from. Anything in my day that you see that would make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and out? I’m excited to head to bed too though… those sheets are SO SOFT! I may head off and finish up night chores sooner rather than later so y all have a great night!
These are all the “Places to Go” that have been mentioned in the Homeschool Newsletters thus far! they are in alphabetical order.
Beloved Farms 6889 N 775 E, Grandview, IN 47615. Neat farm store that has wonderful lunch specials, take and bake supper meals, desserts and ice cream, fresh local produce and farm made products, and GORGEOUS scenery! Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays through Saturday is 8am-6pm and Sundays are 1-5pm. Well worth the little drive!
Dailey Bread New and Used Homeschool store in Henderson. 15238 State Route 351 E. Henderson, KY 42420 Amazing place to ask questions about curriculum and resources and look at materials before you buy them! Tons of used (but in amazing shape!) curriculum and materials.
Engelbrecht’s Countryside Orchard. 16800 Old Petersburg Rd. Evansville. U-Pick peaches, apples, and sunflowers now through September! 9;00am-1:00pm daily. The U-Pick season is here! Join us for some fun at the farm! We have LOTS of peaches ready to pick. Peaches will be available until the end of August. Apples are available now through September. New this year – SUNFLOWERS! Take some pictures (don’t forget to tag our page and share!) with our beautiful sunflower field and then cut some to take home to brighten someone’s day! All produce available while supplies last. Bring your family and bring your friends! It will be a day you always remember!
Goebel Farms 4745 West Boonville New Harmony Rd, Evansville. Corn maze, hayrides to the U-pick pumpkin patch. Petting zoo, barn slide, Apple Cider slushees!
Our farm stand will be open to sell pumpkins, squash, gourds, mums, cornstalks and decorative corn beginning next week!
The barn slide will also be available.
Here are our hours starting Friday, September 10th:
Monday through Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday, September 12th and Sunday, September 19th: 1:30pm to 5pm
All other Sundays in September and October will be 11:30am to 5pm
All other activities and hayrides will begin on Saturday, September 25th at designated times.
Hiking! It is the most gorgeous time to be hiking in Southern Indiana! The leaves are starting to turn colors, the weather is getting cooler, and the mosquitoes are FINALLY starting to die off! Ooh pack a sack lunch and make it an adventure to go walking/hiking! I recommend the following places to hike/walk…
-Scales Lake Park in Boonville… tons of hiking and biking trails!
-The walkway along the River in Newburgh… swing up to Cleo’s bakery and grab some rosemary honey biscuits while you are at it!
-Wesselman Woods
-Howell Wetlands
-USI’s Burdette Trail and Trail Loop
-Pigeon Creel Greenway
-Rotary Nature Trail at North Woods
-Martin Trail and Levee Trail at Angel Mounds
-Eagle Slough Natural Area Trails
-Evansville State Hospital Grounds Trails
-Deaconess Sports Park walking trails
Trunnell’s Farm Market & Family Fun Acre. Trunnell’s Farm Market & Family Fun Acre is located on Hwy. 431 in Utica and Trunnell’s Market & Gourmet Deli is located on Hwy. 54 in Owensboro. Trunnell’s Farm Market’s roots began in 1989 as a simple roadside farm stand, the Trunnell family now owns and operates the Utica Retail farm market, Trunnell’s Farm Experience, and Trunnell’s Hwy. 54 Market & Gourmet Deli in Owensboro. For over 30 Years, Trunnell’s has served the region as a local foods source with offerings like fresh picked Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Melons along with many other vegetables, blackberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins and Christmas trees during the growing season. Today, Trunnell’s offers an experience that extends beyond a fruit and vegetable stand to include the Gourmet Deli, Flowers, Specialty foods, meats, cheese, and Entertainment. Trunnell’s Farm Experience is located on the Utica Farm is also a family fun experience for all ages throughout the year! Trunnell’s is the place to celebrate the love and joy of food and family fun entertainment on the farm. http://www.trunnellsfarmmarket.com/ (270) 733-2222
Walther’s Golf & Fun 2301 N 1st Ave, Evansville. Local review posted last week… “SO much to do!! The mini golf courses are fantastic! Not too easy, but not too hard! Laser tag was an absolute blast! Even if I did get worn out doing it! And the prices were very reasonable in my opinion! I would definitely recommend this place to any and every one!!”
Your Brother’s Bookstore. Neat new bookstore in Evansville… Founded in 2021 by brothers Sam and Adam Morris, Your Brother’s Bookstore brings a family-friendly, cozy little shop to downtown Evansville. We sell new books, rare and signed copies, as well as works from local authors and artists. https://yourbrothersbookstore.com/sam@yourbrothersbookstore.com 504 Main St. Evansville.
Me (Fuzzy) and my fan. There are many like it but this one is mine.
Hey everyone, Fuzzy Bear here. I recently heard the nastiest of rumor concerning a certain Great Pyrenees dog’s retirement. Rest assured, twelve years old is FAR too early for this Great Pyrenees to retire. I was lured inside in the heat of summer with promises of naps in front of box fans and I’ve been held captive ever since. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I wasn’t scared of any spring storms though they most assuredly are out to kill us all. I didn’t enjoy the cooling blasts of air conditioner even though they cooled me perfectly, even on the hottest of days. I didn’t have a hotspot requiring looking after and a horrible cone of shame. I didn’t covet an always full food bowl that I didn’t have to guard from the cats. Belly rubs, daily brushings, ear rubs, booty scratches… all of it just a ploy to keep me inside against my will. It was the Stockholm Syndrome that brought me to the windows scratching to get in when I was sent out to “do my business.” It wasn’t that I WANTED to be back inside, it was just that I was conditioned to think I BELONGED inside… such craziness. I’m wild and meant to be free!
Today I officially escaped! Just a coincidence I suppose that it was a perfectly crisp 70 degree fall day. I was let out to do my business as usual and I just flat out refused to come back inside. Who knew it was that easy? I’m free again!
I looked around the farm as if seeing it for the very first time. Things had gone downhill since I had been inside through the summer. Ducks were waddling around all willy nilly in the goat enclosure, turkeys and chickens were spending way too much time on the lower farm when there was summer garden to clear in the upper farm, guinea pigs and rabbits had multiplied, the buck goat was in full rut, the pigs were feisty, guineas were scouring neighboring woods for ticks instead of our own, and there were a million new chicks!
Where to start? I spent the first couple hours figuring out how to get the ducks out of the goat enclosure… what a puzzle. Of course the ducks thought I was going to eat them so they scattered when I came up behind them. It’s easier to herd them when they stay in a group… or so I’ve been told by our resident German Shepherds. I’m a livestock guardian dog, not a herder. There was a learning curve and I must admit I had to take some rest breaks along the way. I believe Farmer Lady calls these “coffee breaks” and she insists on them. I don’t know what coffee is but I like the idea of the “break” part of it. It was then I found one of our ducks had been adopted by Mama Banty with her newest clutch of chicks. I shook my head in disbelief. We once had a guinea (not a guinea pig… two very different animals!) who thought she was a horse. She refused to range with the other guineas and instead stayed with the horses and adopted all the horse behaviors. Birds are weird! I guess horses are too because I think they thought she was a horse too.
Mama Banty and all her “babies”Fuzzy taking a coffee break… you’ll see Casper’s booty right behind her!
After I got the ducks back to their enclosure and secured I moved my attention to the turkeys and chickens. Farmer Lady was WAY behind the farm curve with getting the summer veggies cleared out and the fall garden completely planted. Some things were in here and there but there were still tomatoes and jalapenos on the plants… what had she been doing? Well, I know what she had been doing because I watched her do it. She had been cleaning her bedroom for the last bunch of days and then she had to clean the rest of the house because she had moved a bunch of stuff out of the bedroom and into other rooms… I guess that’s her definition of “getting rid of stuff.” I made her promise not to touch my coveted box fan. Well, I couldn’t get the chickens and turkeys in the main garden with produce still in there so I moved them into the secondary garden to clear some weeds out of there.
Chicks doing their chick thing and spending some much needed time out of their brooder!
I sat and watched the new chicks for a while… those little fluffs of furry fluffiness are adorable! Usually when I sit and “guard” the chicks the cats are rubbing all over me but today they were totally leaving me alone. How odd. Then the wind shifted ever so slightly and I caught a whiff of something quite vile. A musty smell yet pungent in its sourness… it filled my nostrils. I got up and moved a bit to my left but it seemed the smell was there too. I walked slowly around to the other side of the chick cage and the smell seemed to follow me. That’s when I realized the smell was ME! Suddenly it dawned on me… rounding the ducks up in the goat enclosure. Casper, the buck goat, was in full rut and he must have rubbed against me without me even knowing it because his smell had permeated my fir. Disgusting! Retirement is looking more and more alluring each day!
How in the world would I get this smell off? An honest to goodness bath was out of the question because that would require me to go inside… that’s not happening! Maybe if I found a nice deer carcass in the woods I could roll in that and get this horrible buck goat smell off? Unfortunately I knew of no deer carcasses in the woods at the moment. Ooh, the neighbor’s lake! Yes, I’ll take a dip in the lake, that has to work!
I loped off to the lake, giving the goats an evil eye as I went past their enclosure, they deserved it… well at least Casper did.. A few guinea pigs started following me just past the barn but I waved them off reminding them open spaces like the lake are no places for perfect hawk food. They readily agreed. I was able to make quick introductions with some of the new babies who, by the way, are positively adorable… for a rodent.
The lake was still deliciously warm from the long summer rays and I glided in like a like stealthy gator. I dipped down in to make sure to cover all my fur and climbed back out by the dock… not the best idea as I had to climb up over rocks and let’s just say it wasn’t as graceful as my entrance.
As I headed back to the farm I came to the unfortunate realization that instead of washing me clean the lake had simply shifted my “buck goat stench” to “wet buck goat stench” which was no improvement. One might even say it was worse. Oh well, I have no one to impress.
Tres (cat) and Beefy Jane (chick) disagreeing over who will eat the mouse
I checked in with the cats… which by the way have increased in numbers as well! We are now the proud owners of two dumpster kitties. Why does Farmer Lady do this? Actually it was Gunner, her son who did this. He brought home two little kittens that were rescued out of the local Dairy Queen dumpster and they are quite content to live inside and drive us all absolutely bonkers! Another very obvious reason why I had to get out of there! Ever had two kittens think your tail is their personal chase toy? It’s no fun and it never ends… I think those kittens needed to take more coffee breaks and just simmer down. Chicken and Midnight Fudge are their names… weird names but who am I to judge? The cats all have very weird names.
OK, back to checking in with the outside cats. I called a meeting of the minds and everyone showed up except Cinnamon, Dr. Steve Matron, OG Shadow, and Captain Lucky Jack Aubrey… probably off hunting… I had seen them earlier in the morning so I wasn’t worried. I was very surprised to see Kitty Soft Paws at the meeting because last I knew she was shunning me due to an unfortunate disagreement (yes, I may have lost my temper) about whether or not it is appropriate to eat baby bunnies (he says yes, I say no and I may or may not have made my thoughts known when I rescued a baby bunny from his jaws a few months ago.) Farmer Lady wasn’t thrilled with either of us because she had no idea where the nest was and had to bottle feed this baby bunny day and night “forever” (her word, not mine) until it was weaned and able to head up in a safe enclosure to grow a bit more before release.
Chicken peeking out from his comfy spot
Where was I? Oh yes, back to the cat meeting. With most everyone in attendance there was a lot to cover. It seemed each cat had a list of grievances a mile long and there was talk of unionizing. First and foremost, the teenager chickens were getting a bit big for their britches and attempting to challenge many of their cats to their meals of mice, moles, voles, frogs, and even snakes! The cats were livid that they couldn’t eat their kill in peace. “If the chickens want a mouse they should hunt and kill their own mouse in the fields like I do!” shouted Tres from the back row. I calmly explained what all the cats already knew, the big open field is no place for the chickens. Hawks and eagles will swoop down and get them lickity split. It was all our jobs to protect the more “vulnerable” animals of the farm… there was a roar of laughter. Apparently the cats weren’t as on board with farm protection as I had hoped. We moved on (without really finding any solution to the chickens bothering the cats at mealtime… shhh… don’t tell the cats) to the ducks using the cats’ water bucket down by the house entrance. This was a big deal because the ducks are disgusting sloppy drinkers no matter if they’ve had one drink or ten! According to the cats (and I can confirm this is true) the ducks eat then go directly to drinking and as they drink they expel half of whatever they’ve just eaten into the water they are drinking. Quite unpleasant and just plane rude if you are using someone else’s water bowl. I assured the cats that the ducks would be kept in their enclosure and I would see about moving up “lane fence” on Farmer Lady’s “to do” list so the ducks wouldn’t come down to the house even if they were free ranging. The rest of the meeting went on much the same… some problems I was able to provide a solution and others glossed over and changed the subject without the cats realizing no solution had been given. Full notes for farm therapy session number 756 can be found in the “waiting to be typed up by Farmer Lady” inbox, available upon request (after Farm Lady types them up.)
Well, I better get going as there is still so much to do! I feel like I haven’t even filled you in on a fraction of what is going on but we always have next week! Until then, watch out for those buck goats, try to keep your ducks in a row… or at least in sight… or at least in their right enclosure… ugh, just try to keep your ducks alive! See ya and all that jazz!
Heya everyone and welcome to Simple Hobby Homesteading where we navigate the ins and outs of life together encouraging one another along the way. Eight months ago my husband announced that we ought to clean our bedroom. Like not just a little pickup but a full blown purge fest where we actually GOT RID of things. I shuddered. You must understand that my husband and I think very differently about “stuff”. I love it and he… well, let’s just say he’s not a fan of a lot of stuff. We are blessed with a house with a TON of storage so I have been able to amass quite a collection of “stuff”… in fact, several collections of “stuff”. It seems my “stuff” has its own collections of “stuff.”
To be fair, our bedroom has Kevin’s adjoining office and my adjoining craft room so the purge Kevin was looking for involved both of our collections of “stuff.” As the weekends would roll around he or I would mention tackling our bedroom and adjoining rooms but lo’ and behold something always came up and we never really got around to it. Then Kevin was diagnosed with cancer and went through treatment so we couldn’t be all heavy duty cleaning out stuff when he was all battling cancer. I breathed a sigh of relief… is that wrong? Wow, I sound really insensitive.
After his treatment he slowly started to get his energy back and we went back to mentioning “The great bedroom clean out of the century” like it was a pay per view event on random weekends but never jumped on any follow-through.
Well folks, guess what happened this last weekend? IT happened. The great bedroom cleanout of the century! We got the bedroom, master bathroom, closet, and Kevin’s office completely cleaned and purged and it felt… ooh I’d love to say extraordinary or wonderful but to be honest it felt exhausting and I’m still struggling over many of the things I that let go.
Folks I found my pullovers from high school swim team, cross country, track and wrestling! I found my Air Force European World Tour jacket from my time stationed in Europe. Air Force uniforms, prom dresses, chef’s coats and aprons, birthday cards and sweet notes from my sons, journals filled with all my thoughts, worries, celebrations, and triumphs… just so many things that held great memories that I didn’t know what to do with. We found Kevin’s leather jacket that he sent with me when we parted ways after Keesler AFB… don’t worry we got married 3 months later. Just so many things that held very little, if any, meaning for anyone else but flooded me with the best emotions and memories as I held each item.
Let me just say Kevin was amazing through it all, getting rid of 6 huge garbage bags of his stuff… treasured Orioles and Redskins jerseys that he knew he’d never wear again. And yes, I parted with most of my stuff, though truth be told Jackson (my 22 year old son who is a bit of a packrat like his mama) talked me into keeping the swim team pullover promising me that he’d pass it down to his kids after I die so that eventually perhaps it will get to a great great great grandkid down the line who will look at it and say “Who’s Jhenna?” I did find a good home for my Air Force uniforms with the local Civil Air Patrol. I kept one tote worth of memorabilia and that tote is tucked in a closet within our closet… see I told ya we had a lot of storage!
Ok, so where the heck am I going with all of this? Well, now when I walk into our uncluttered space we’ve made in our bedroom I truly do enjoy it. It’s a space that I want to keep tidy and organized and I can honestly say that as I let go of the stuff it felt ok to because I jotted down some of the memories in my current journal… I literally wrote in my journal “parting ways with my Service Dress Uniform and blues today… they are heading to the Evansville Civil Air Patrol and hopefully will be put to good use. I will keep my ribbon rack, nametag, and General’s Aide braid… that feels right. Saying goodbye to a uniform that I never need to wear again helps me close that chapter of my life. I wouldn’t have even been able to fit in those uniforms anyways… I am no longer a size 2!” As I see what I was able to let go of it encourages me to let go of more unneeded stuff.
So now I have this bedroom that is spacious and inviting and I’m actually sitting here thinking, “What do I love about this space?” What things do I want to do to keep it relaxing, inviting, and cozy?”
First of all I love the made bed. There is just something about a made bed that makes a room feel put together and inviting. Also, there is nothing quite as luxurious as crawling into a made bed at night. So folks, just make your bed… BUT, don’t make it right away. Something I learned long ago from an article I read was that it is best to pull your blankets and sheets back all the way to the foot of the bed each morning when you get up and let it all air out for a bit before you make itup. If direct sunlight can hit it even better! I usually come down have a cup of coffee, take the dogs out on their walk , then head up to brush my teeth and I make the bed then. Also another tip on beds… wash your sheets every week at least! If you are a “shower right before bed every night” kind of person then you can go a little longer in between sheet washes but still wash your pillow cases weekly or twice a week. If you don’t shower before bed then it’s a really good idea to wash your sheets every week. Trust me, research shows that you want to do this. Just to give you a quick idea… dust mites feed on dead skin cells and guess where there’s a lot of dead skin cells? Yup, your bed. Guess what else exasperates allergies? Dust mites! Let’s take the buffet away from the mites! The buildup of normal bacteria in the sheets can often make eczema worse as well so if you or your spouse deal with eczema that’s another reason to wash your sheets at least weekly.
Ooh speaking of sheets, if you don’t have a cedar chest then I highly recommend getting some cedar boards and lining the closet or chest where you keep your sheets and pillow cases with the cedar boards… nothing better than fresh sheets that smell of cedar! Cedar is a natural moth and bug repellant as well!
Some other things that I love to have in my bedroom, especially on my bedside table or in the drawer, are a good lotion to put on my face and hands right before I fall asleep. Ooh and a nice pillow or sheet spray. They are so easy to make… spray bottle (I recommend a glass spray bottle) with witch hazel mixed with a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender would be great or a rosemary/peppermint or lemongrass/sage combo). I do sell those if anyone is interested just let me know. I also love to keep a Bible and my current “bedtime book” next to my bed. My bedtime book is almost always a fiction book… a great novel that I can read when my brain needs some wind down time. A bottle of water is also a must have on the nightstand!
Have a couple plants in your room… live plants improve your mood! I also love having a couple beeswax candles and a diffuser in my room with my favorite relaxing scents.
If you can set up your room so your bed gets the mornings first natural light that would be awesome… it helps your body wake up naturally.
Hmmmm what else is good… ooh a notebook! Keep a notebook and a pen or pencil on your bedside table to write down anything on your mind before bed that you’re worrying or thinking about. It also makes for a funny conversation starter when I wake up in the morning and see I’ve written “oatmeal loves dandelion fog secretions” in the middle of the night because I didn’t want to forget an amazing blog article idea! If anyone can decipher what I was thinking when I wrote that in the middle of the night please do share… to be fair the penmanship was chicken scratch at best and those might not be the exact words that I wrote but that’s what it looked like.
That’s about it… seriously, it’s that simple. Pull out the extra stuff that is cluttering your bedroom and make it a nice relaxing space that you can’t wait to go to each night… or even during the day if you need some decompression time.
Simply Good and Beautiful Math (Review is directly from Cathy Duffy website but I have seen this curriculum in person and it is actually quite unique and intriguing! I love that the digital books for Math 1-5 are free!)
The Good and the Beautiful has completely redone their math program to make it more efficient and less expensive. Simply Good and Beautiful Math K through Math 5 are available as of August 2021, and Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8 are in the works.
For each level, both instruction and student activities are included in one coursebook. Separate answer keys are available for all courses except Math K. Just as The Good and the Beautiful does with some levels of its language-arts program, they offer downloadable PDF files for the math coursebooks for grades one through five for free. Pre-printed coursebooks are also available for purchase. (Math K is not free.)
Math K through Math 3 need to be taught by parents. Simply Good and Beautiful Math has streamlined math instruction to make it easy for both parents and students to use in a reasonable amount of time. Kindergarten lessons should take 10 to 12 minutes per day, with the time required for each level gradually increasing up to 30 to 35 minutes per day for Math 3. Math 4 and above are designed for students to work independently for the most part, with instruction provided through online videos and the textbook. Students working through Math 4 and Math 5 should spend 35 to 45 minutes per day.
The videos can be watched online or downloaded. Many of them run close to ten minutes, so downloading might not be practical. The course books for Math 4 and Math 5 have mini lessons that present the same concepts covered in the videos in very abbreviated presentations that students can read for themselves. If students already know the concept or can grasp it easily with the mini lesson, they do not need to watch the video. However, the videos cover more ground than the mini lessons, so be careful that students are not missing something important. If they struggle with the problems in the Lesson Practice section of a lesson, they should go back and watch or rewatch the video. (Lesson pages include QR codes to help you quickly access the video you need.)
The coursebooks are beautifully illustrated with full color throughout the lessons. If you get the PDF coursebook, there are a number of reasons why you’ll need to print out many of the pages in color. First, students sometimes have to identify images by color in some of the lessons in the books for younger students. Second, color printing helps the reader distinguish images and details that might appear as clearly in black and white. And finally, the books are beautiful, and children will love the color. If you don’t have access to inexpensive color printing, you probably should buy the printed book.
Math K through Math 3 each requires the use of a set of manipulatives that comes in a wooden box with a sliding lid—a different set for each course. Many of the items in their Math Boxes are constructed from wood to make them durable and easy to handle. You can gather or make items to create your own set of manipulatives if you prefer. Instructions and templates for doing so are included on the publisher’s website. (Click on “How do I make my own Math Box?” to watch a video that explains how to put together your own sets of manipulatives for all four levels.) The prices for the boxes are so low, that you might save by buying the boxes ready to go. You will need your own whiteboard and markers to use along with many of the courses.
The educational approach of Simply Good and Beautiful Math is very eclectic. It helps children master basic problem-solving skills and math facts, while also teaching conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning. It uses a spiral approach, teaching a concept, then revisiting it and expanding upon it bit by bit. The spiral approach also helps build in continual review of previously taught concepts. In addition, the last section of most lessons beginning with first grade is labeled as review.
All courses have 120 lessons, and the lessons are divided into either three or four units. The lessons have lots of variety, incorporating many different methods of learning, such as work with manipulatives, visual representations of manipulatives, games, brief stories, and puzzles. No two pages in the coursebooks look alike. Game mats and instructions are within the lessons where they will be used, so there’s no flipping around or searching for what you need. Assessments are included within each coursebook at the end of each unit. For Math 1 and above, answer keys are a free download under the “FAQs and Extras” for each course on the publisher’s website.
The coursebooks are illustrated mostly with drawings of children, with a lot of attention given to diversity. The stories within the lessons stress positive character traits and virtues. There is very minimal Christian content. When Bible references or verses are included, they are from the King James Version.
Summary
The Simply Good and Beautiful Math program is unusually creative and interesting. It is an excellent option for a hands-on program. On top of that, even if you purchase the printed book and box for a course, it’s a bargain.
I’ll add some comments about each level as it becomes available. Samples of other levels are available now on the publisher’s website.
Math K
Math K is presented in three units. It covers the recognition and writing of numbers; counting to one hundred by ones, twos, fives, and tens; even and odd numbers; addition to 10; introductory subtraction; writing simple equations; word problems; greater than and less than; measurement; telling time; the calendar; patterns; shapes and symmetry; graphs; and coins. This sounds like a lot for kindergarten, but the interactive, experiential approach used at this level makes it very workable for the average student.
The Math Box for Math K includes four custom dice, two wooden game pawns, three very small wooden cars, and 15 counting sticks. You can create your own box with comparable items. For the custom dice, one has the numbers 1 to 6, another has numbers 7 to 12, and two dice have equation symbols. The other items need to be the correct sizes. Students will move the cars on tracks on their lesson pages, and the counting sticks need to be a specific length to work for the activities.
An assessment is at the end of each of the three units. Students are not expected to master all of the concepts that have been taught, since they will all be reviewed again in first grade. So the assessments test children only on concepts they are expected to master. To administer an assessment, the parent needs to read instructions aloud for the child, and many assessment items include colorful illustrations as visual aids. The child might circle items, draw hands on a clock, draw lines between items, or write a number as the answer to a problem. The assessments let parents know what they need to reteach rather than serving as tools for grading. There is no answer key since answers should be obvious to the parent.
Math 1
Math 1 reviews concepts taught in kindergarten, often in the review activity at the beginning of each lesson. The coursebook tells you to skip an activity if your child has already mastered it. From the very first lesson, it begins to introduce what are likely to be new concepts, such as left and right, place value, and the concept of subitizing. The course covers basic arithmetic skills plus many other areas such as counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s; measurement; telling time; counting coins; number bonds; and writing fractions. It teaches addition and subtraction but does not introduce carrying and borrowing. The course often suggests optional YouTube™ videos on The Good and the Beautiful Kids YouTube channel, such as “How to Spell Numbers 4, 5, 6,” and “Months of the Year Song.” (It might be worth paying for YouTube to avoid the ads.)
The Math 1 Box has a clock face with movable hands on the lid and a whiteboard on the reverse side of the lid. Items inside are plastic coins; play money bills; two custom dice; seven wooden boat figures; and six, double-sided wooden clock faces.
Math 2
Math 2 lessons are divided into four units. A Review Box at the beginning of most lessons offers students the opportunity to review concepts and skills. Students solidify their skills with addition and subtraction, including regrouping. They are introduced to multiplication, division, and fractions but in a gentle fashion. For instance, it introduces multiplication with skip counting and visual arrays (showing rows and columns of objects) rather than rows of problems to solve. The course also covers many other concepts such as telling time, counting money, rounding, estimating, writing numbers in expanded form, imperial measurements, metric measurements, weight, word problems, Venn diagrams, tally charts, graphs, geometry (polygons, lines, angles, perimeter, symmetry, congruence, and transformations), and identifying locations on coordinate grids. This course covers so many topics that it probably meets or exceeds all state standards.
The Math 2 Box has a clock face with movable hands on the lid. The items inside are plastic coins, play-money bills, a ten-sided die with numbers 1 to 10, two fraction dice, four metal figures (helicopter, jet plane, rocket, and biplane), and 10 three-quarter-inch wooden squares with numbers and colored stars. You will need to supply a magnetic board.
Math 3
Math 3 reviews regrouping and other addition and subtraction skills then spends a lot of time on multiplication up through multiplying three- and four-digit numbers by one digit with regrouping. A multiplication chart is included near the front of the book along with a page for keeping track of the child’s mastery of the multiplication facts. It introduces division along with concepts such as place value to the millions, perimeter, area, order of operations, the coordinate plane, Roman numerals, different types of measurement, fractions, congruent shapes, similar shapes, rounding, graphs, and elapsed time.
The Math 3 Box has two game pawns, one six-sided dice, two custom dice, a 60-inch measuring tape, 16 magnetic shapes, and an array mat. It also has a magnetic whiteboard on the box lid.
Math 4
Math 4 has four components: the Math 4: Course Book, the Math 4: Answer Key, Math 4: Mental Math Map Mysteries, and online videos. The first three items are available as free, downloadable PDFs or as printed items that can be purchased, and the videos are available free online (for streaming or download).
This course reviews addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Then it continues with larger numbers for all operations, long division, rounding, estimation, multiples and factors, fractions, conversion of fractions to decimals, addition and subtraction of fractions, all operations with decimals, geometry (e.g., rays, angles, perimeter, area, types of triangles), elapsed time, many types of measurement, prime numbers, composite numbers, data, graphing, probability, and word problems. The lessons frequently review the basic math facts.
Unit assessments are included in the course book at the end of each unit. Lessons 117 and 118 are set up as reviews for the first two units and the second two units, respectively. These two lessons both use a theme of traveling through Italy, with math problems and a puzzle to solve. Answers to lessons, reviews, and assessments are in the answer key.
Math 4: Mental Math Map Mysteries is used apart from the lessons, but students should complete one per lesson. Each day’s mental math is in a small box, with five boxes per page. While Math 4 is designed primarily for independent study, someone has to work with the student for about five minutes as they look at the mental math problems and respond orally. The “supervisor” can check the answer key that is on the reverse side of each page. This works most easily with the printed book since it has a comb binding on the side. The student can be looking at one side of the page while the supervisor can see the other. If you use the PDF, you can figure out how to display what you need or you can print out student pages. TGATB has added an interesting incentive. After every four or five lesson boxes (one page), “the student is directed to place a sticker from page 71 onto a designated space on the map on page 69. At the end of the course, the student will have a completed picture of the map.” This is an actual sticker in the printed book, but the PDF has all of the sticker images on page 71, and students can cut and paste the appropriate images. Pages 49 through 68 in Mental Math Map Mysteries is a “choose your adventure” story. The map created with the images shows places in the story.
Math 5
Like Math 4, Math 5 has four components: the Math 5: Course Book, Math 5: Answer Key, Math 5: Mental Math Map Mysteries, and online videos. The first three items are available as free, downloadable PDFs or as printed items that can be purchased, and the videos are available free online. Math 5: Mental Math Map Mysteries works exactly the same as for Math 4, so please read that description above. Unit assessments are included in the course book at the end of each unit. Lesson 118 helps students review the entire course in preparation for the final assessment that is identified as Lessons 119 and 120. Answers to lessons, reviews, and assessments are in the answer key.
Math 5 covers all four arithmetic functions with fractions, decimals, and percents; geometry (area, perimeter, angles, congruency, computing the measurements of a circle, and the use of a protractor and ruler); the conversion of fractions, decimals, and percents; probability; graphing on a coordinate plane; the distributive property; exponents; square roots; many types of standard and metric measurement; negative numbers; beginning algebraic equations; and more. This course should exceed the Common Core State Standards for fifth-grade math
Pricing Information
When prices appear, please keep in mind that they are subject to change. Click on links where available to verify price accuracy.
Digital books for Math 1 through Math 5 are available for free. Math K – Math 3: printed coursebook and Math Box – $49.98 per course, printed coursebook: $24.99 – $29.99 each, Math Box: $19.99 – $24.99 each Math 4 or Math 5: set of printed books (with free online access to videos) – $49.97 each
You know I’m back like I never left… another sprint, another step… another day, another breath… been chasing dreams, but I never slept…. It’s me, your friendly neighborhood farm dog Fuzzy Bear back for another installment of “Friday’s on the Farm.” Farmer lady has been outside nonstop this week blaring her music all crazy loud like none of us are trying to nap the day away. How rude. To make matters worse I can’t seem to get one of those songs out of my head now… help me out with the name of that tune (see first sentence) because it’s driving me nuts. Farmer Lady loves it… a little too much and I think I’m gonna disable her “repeat” function for songs in her iTunes account… just gotta get some opposable thumbs and her password.
Enough complaining, let me tell you about my week because it was INCREDIBLE! First off, the weather has been gorgeous and Monday found us without Farmer Lady and the husband as they took a little jaunt down to Nashville…. I assume it was to eat ‘hot chicken” or something like that. The cats and I jumped at the opportunity to hatch a plan to break into the hen house and nab some eggs. Unfortunately, the cats overslept the 11am rendezvous time and I was unable to do it on my own… stupid lazy cats.
Tuesday brought Farmer Lady and the husband home once again and she seemed to notice that I was giving the cats my coldest shoulder ever… like total shunning. She encouraged us to “talk it out” but I refused. To make matters so much worse, she allowed the cats to roll around in the massive piles of my hair that she brushed out during what had to have been one of the best brushings of my life. What the heck Farmer Lady? Don’t give those darn cats ANY enjoyment… they completely bailed on our egg heist. Wait a minute…. Is she in cahoots with those cats? Did they text her and let her know about the egg heist? Can the cats even text? Did Farmer Lady give them a phone? Did they talk the farmer Lady’s sons into texting for them? I have so many questions and even less trust in the cats now. I will be keeping a VERY close eye on them!
Wednesday brought forth the birth of a new game. It’s the best game ever and I call it “Look Cute, Hide, Pounce, and Seek” Let me explain how it is played. I act all cute and get Farmer Lady to look at me. Then I hop behind a tree and she calls out “Where is Fuzzy? Oh darn, I’ve lost Fuzzy! Fuuuuzzzzzyyyy, where are you?” I then hop out from behind the tree and pounce around like a puppy. I’m really quite extraordinary at this game and with Farmer Lady’s obvious limited IQ (I mean really, she watches me go behind the tree, how can she think she has lost me? Duh!) it seems to be a great game for us to play together… she REALLY seems to like it! I will see if the cats want to play this game with me… wait no, I’m mad at the cats.
Now you see me… Best… game… ever
Now you don’t! best…game…ever!
Thursday we had some new bunnies begin their free range experience. They are always a little nervous on their first day out of any cage so I try to come alongside them to offer support. Almost always they hop away like I’m gonna eat them. They usually hop into the pig enclosure and I just laugh because if anyone is gonna eat them it’s those pigs… those pigs eat EVERYTHING! They’ll get used to me, I never take it personally. They’ll also find out I’m quite the legend as far as snuggle bugs go… they all flock to me in winter as we nestle into the sweet soft hay…it’s really quite magical! Towards dusk I was feeling a little freaked out by some rifle shots coming from across the creek (apparently it’s “deer season”… I don’t know what that is because deer are always around… do humans think deer are only around in November? They are seriously ALWAYS in these woods… maybe they are invisible to humans the other months of the year… stranger things have been known to happen and that would explain why they hit so many of them with their cars… hard to see an invisible deer and then maybe they become visible after humans hit them with their cars. But in November deer are visible all the time so humans call it “deer season.” Yup, that must be it. Sorry, I got off subject. Anyways, I wanted to come inside so no hunter thought I was a deer and Farmer Lady seemed to have no problem with that… until she let me in and everyone started complaining of an “odor.” You’re welcome family… I found a dead fish along the creek and rubbed in it for a while. Farmer Lady seemed to be in quite a conundrum as to what to do. One on hand, I was happily snuggled behind the couch, under the boys’ desk, and on the other hand I had an “odor” and demanded to be in and amongst the family if I was gonna be in the house.
If she put me outside I would assuredly head over to the neighbor’s house, paw at the door until she let me in, and be a total nuisance with my “smell” there. If she kept me inside her house her family would apparently “barf.” Soooooo… she put me in the entryway of the house where they couldn’t smell me but yet I felt safe away from the scariness of rifle shots outside (apparently they were “very far away” and I “shouldn’t be a baby” but I don’t care what she says… her IQ is low (see above with the Look Cute, Hide, Pounce, and Seek game). Well, I got bored… there was this bag of rabbit bedding… and the rest is history. I may or may not have ripped open and spread the contents of the rabbit bedding all over the entryway. No worries it was unused bedding, I’m not a crazy monster that goes around ripping open bags of soiled rabbit bedding. On second thought, that sounds DELIGHTFUL!
“When Fuzzy gets bored”
Friday brought forth a flurry of activity from the Farmer Lady! She must have added two extra shots of espresso to her coffee because she was all about getting outside projects done. It was really quite annoying because she wouldn’t stay still. When she is outside I figure it is my sworn duty to watch over her, protect her, and in general keep her company. That is a much easier task if she would just stay in one spot. But nooooooo…. She’s gotta flit all over the homestead like it’s her personal space without a care in the world as to the night I had ripping open bags of rabbit bedding… I’m tired this morning, I would like to nap please… rabbits come nap with me because I’m still shunning the cats! Nevermind, Farmer Lady is on the move again, apparently all this stuff has to get done RIGHT NOW! UGH!
So that is that… the week at a glance in all its glory. It is dreary on the farm this morning… gonna rain. That’s perfectly fine by me though, Farmer Lady is much easier to keep an eye on when she is inside (in other words, she’s not my problem when she’s inside!) It’s also Saturday so I do apologize for not getting this out to everyone yesterday as the title “Fridays on the Farm” obviously intends… but I think you all understand that I am a dog and days of the week are pretty much lost on me anyways.
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