An Apple a Day....

Yesterday we went to a local family-owned apple orchard where we learned about the life of an amazing and delicious fruit -- the apple. Our tour of the facilities included the following:

• We were able to walk into the "drive-in" freezer and see where the apples first go when they come in from the farms.
• Next came the cleaning area where any leaves or stems are removed and where the apple's natural protection is washed away and replaced by a waxy substance.
• Once the apples have been sorted and cleaned, they travel by conveyor belts to either the "seconds" department or move on to the packaging area. The machine that sorted the "seconds" apples was fascinating to me. If the apple was too small, it fell through the holes on the grate and went into the cider bin (apples used to make cider) or into the "peelers" bin (apples used in pie fillings, etc.)
• After leaving the cleaning/sorting section, the apples travel single file to the packaging department where the machine carrying them weighs them and delivers them to the appropriate bag (by weight).

• Then we learned about the cider making process (unfortunately it was too early for cider).

After the tour of the facilities, we went on a wagon ride out into the orchard and learned about picking, grafting, good and bad insects, birds, creatures, etc. It was all so educational.

Below is what the girls learned in their own words:

MEG - I saw them clean the apples. I also saw them pick apples. I learned the right way to pick an apple from the tree. I learned that if you keep the apples in the plastic bag in your fridge, that they will last for many months because the moisture stays in the bag. Even if they shrivel up, they still have their taste. The most interesting thing I saw was how they make the cider. I would like to learn more about how they graft the trees. I think I could learn about this by asking questions.

GVG - I saw them bag the apples. I also saw them clean the apples. I learned that you can have two kinds of apples growing on one tree. The tree we saw had both red and yellow apples on it (pictured below - golden delicious on top and rome on one branch at the bottom; tree is actually golden delicious). The most interesting thing I saw was how to make apple cider. I would like to learn more about apple trees and different apples. I think I could learn about this by reading books and asking questions.

Any guesses on what we did when we returned home? We made applesauce! I think the girls were more excited to do this than I was, but now that it's done, I'm very glad! They got all that we needed around and we were done in about two hours. Got 17 quarts (or as MEG said, "4 gallons and 1 quart" - can you tell what she just went over in Math?!)

Our question for you: How many apple pickers do you think they hire to pick from their 9,000 trees? Let us know your guess.

~Wee

Let the Games Begin

MEG dribbling the ball. Today was the first game of the soccer season. Thankfully, this year the girls are on the same team. That will be a huge improvement from last year, where I had to split my time running back and forth between fields in order to see both of them play.

This is GVG dribbling the ball up the field (the blue shirt in the front). This particular drive ended when she kicked it in for a GOAL!!! (As I was literally typing the previous sentence, the coach's wife called here to pass along her congratulations. Coach's words to her were, "It was an awesome kick!"


What can I say, I'm so proud of them and I love watching them play!!!
~Wee

The Expedition has Ended

(As you read this, you will be entering history at the point where we are studying. Welcome along and allow your imagination to drift back in history! The following is a short telling of a play the girls, along with a family friend, put on for us. Via the video camera, I tried to capture their exact words.)




Last evening we stood along the river banks cheering as Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea came to the end of their expedition. We watched their expertise as they navigated the rapids and came around that final bend in the river. Several times their canoe almost tipped over, but they were quick to right it up again. Along with rowing, Clark (played by GVG) was diligent in baling out any unwanted water that collected inside their canoe. At the end of their journey, when the canoe was removed from the water and the team members stepped once again on dry land, Lewis (played by a family friend) said, "If Sacajawea had never been on the expedition with me and Clark, we probably would have never made it." They thanked Sacajawea for the many times she came to their rescue, even when it was putting herself and her infant son in danger. Sacajawea (played by MEG) then stated, "It was an honor to help Lewis and Clark be the first people to explore the Louisiana Purchase and western America."
Tuesday of this past week, we went on a field trip around our city and learned about the four nations that occupied this area through the 1700s and into the 1800s. We traveled around to the original sites of the five forts of those four nations. It was neat to get an understanding on how the local rivers played a strategic part in history, not only as a form of transportation and a way to spread their goods, but in the broader sense, by connecting the Great Lakes regions with the Mississippi River Valley.

Standing at the site of the first American fort in this area.

Site of the second and third American forts.

~Wee

One of Those Days....

Today was one of those days. You know the kind that you either want to find a cave to hide in or an island out in the middle of who knows where just to have some time to yourself -- to think, or actually, not even to think.

My morning started off at 5:55 a.m., (early for me) when I awoke out of a dead sleep to the sound of someone whimpering (or something that sounded like that....it's hard to tell exactly what the sound was....all I know is I was forced to leave in the middle of my dream). Anyway, I jumped up and went in to check on the girls. LMG wasn't in her bed; MEG and GVG were fine. That's wierd. Where was LMG? Other than a few nightlights, the house was still dark. I went back to our room and turned on the bathroom light. I thought about waking AGG when I saw her lying in front of the chest in our room. She was sound asleep. After carrying her back to her bed, I went back to bed thinking there was still time to catch a few more zzzzzz's. AGG got up to work out shortly thereafter, and since I was still awake, I got up too and we worked out together (something we rarely get to do). After my devotions, I layed down and actually slept for about another hour.

School was a challenge today. We dealt with attitudes and lack of applying oneself. Need I say any more. Right after lunch I dropped the girls off at their piano lessons and LMG and I went to a local coffee shop where I used a gift certificate to try one of their smoothies. We chose strawberry and peach. Very tasty. The time to sit, sip and flip through a magazine refreshed me some. However, that was short-lived as LMG would not settle down for a nap today:( She's been pulling that on me lately. Usually she's fine until about dinner time, then it's pretty much....well, miserable. Why do kids not like naps? I love naps! Wish I could have one every day! I then spent the next two hours mowing. I do enjoy this time and the chance it gives me to reflect on the day and to pray about the day, my attitude, our circumstances, etc.

AGG is never home on Thursday nights. To help cut back on driving and because he opens earlier on Fridays, he stays at the office Thursday nights. So, it's always just me and the girls. With days like today, I find myself getting weary with all the traveling and time away from family that his job and its location (an hour's drive away) requires. Some days the burden seems so heavy. Today was one of those days. Thankfully, tonight we got through dinner, bath time, prayers, and bed time without any hitches. LMG, with no nap, went down extremely quick. The other two girls did great as well. Sigh.....Now, in the quietness of this night, I am thankful for the time to unwind and prepare for the day tomorrow, where we wake up and do it all over again.

Thanks for letting me vent tonight.
~Wee

Ballerinas or Monkeys?

Well, ballet and tap classes have started. After dinner tonight, the girls showed me what they did at the bar in ballet class last night. {That actually sounds a bit strange -- "at the bar"-- just think ballet:) } Of course, since I missed out on this in my childhood, I had to try what they were doing. It actually felt really good to stretch out those legs! The girls told me the correct term of the ballet move here, but since I don't speak or write French, I can't pass that info along. LMG does whatever everyone else is doing. (Notice the ice cream cone in her mouth? Is that talent, or what?)

MEG and GVG figure out all sorts of ways to get on and off the deck. Every way except the stairs. (Once again, I am reminded of my childhood....we used to run and take flying leaps off the front porch and over the big evergreen bushes that bordered the front porch steps.) Still, I had to remind them of their little sister, who just so happens to enjoy watching and copying their every move. I guess when they start taking flying leaps off the top of the railing, I'll have to put a stop to the "monkey business."

~Wee

Amphibians and Arachnids

We have budding herpetologists at our house these days. Yesterday as I was clearing out the dead parts around an iris plant, I noticed a little green frog perched nicely on one of the stems. The girls gathered around and we watched the frog for several minutes before returning to our game.

Today as we went back outside for our recreation time, our green froggy friend was sitting on the deck steps. This time GVG saw a little more action than perhaps she wanted. She screamed as the frog used her hand as a "stepping stone" when moving from the step to the railing. To get a closer look, GVG ran in to get a magnifying glass, and we all took turns examining the frog's texture, the legs, the feet, the eyes, the ear membranes, etc. The features of our green frog matched the features of the green tree frog in our book. So we believe we found a green tree frog.

Then, just a few feet over MEG found a spider. Again, the magnifying glass went from hand to hand as we examined it closely. Our spider book revealed we had discovered an orange garden spider, complete with it's web.

The door was opened up wide for an impromptu science lesson today. During our reading time, we read more about both creatures we had found. Tonight at the dinner table MEG asked Daddy, "Do you know what cold blooded is?" Then she proceeded to tell him the difference between cold and warm blooded animals.

MEG was our one this summer that found a few toads in the garden and wanted to keep them as pets. We looked into building a proper habitat for the toads to stay in the garden, but that never found it's way onto our priority list. Maybe that can be a project for MEG next summer.

In case you were wondering, we still were able to get in plenty of rec time even though the science lesson consumed a big chunk of it.

Enjoying God's creation....well, maybe not the spiders, but the frogs are okay.
~Wee

Flying Objects, God's Protection, and Fear

Right now, it's in the middle of the night. Lying there awake, I start thinking. An event that happened just last evening came to the forefront of my mind. Let me set the stage for you....

Our driveway is U-shaped. The part closest to the house is cement, the other part is gravel. My neighbor and friend came over to see if we wanted to go on a bike ride together. While the girls and I got ready to go, my friend waited and visited with AGG, who was working out by our outbuilding. Normally, when we take bike rides, we go out the cemented side of the driveway (closest to the house). This time, however, and since we were closer to that side, we went out the side with gravel.

Our neighbor caddie-corner across the road was mowing her lawn. While we waited at the end of our drive to cross over to the bike path that is across the road, she ran over something with her mower. That "something" came flying over and landed right in front of our front porch. My friend saw the object flying and said, "Man, that thing was moving!" I didn't see it; I just heard it. Didn't think much more about it as we crossed the road and proceeded on our bike ride.

Upon returning back home, the object we found laying by the front porch was a shredded baseball. MEG retrieved it from our landscape and it now rests in the garbage bin. I commented on the fact that God had been watching out for us. You see, when we usually take bike rides, we wait at the end of the cemented part of the drive, in the exact path of the flying baseball.

Still, I didn't think much more than that.

Continuing to set the stage....For those of you that don't know....When we were on vacation this year, AGG was struck by a falling tree limb at the start of a storm. He ended up spending half of our vacation in the hospital with a fractured clavicle and a collapsed lung. After that accident, I struggled with fear -- fear of falling objects, fear of "what could have happened."

Fast forward to the wee hours of this morning. I was once again struck by the fear of what could have happened had we been waiting at the end of the driveway in our normal spot. The words from a Psalm I memorized last year came back to me. Psalm 91 speaks of God's protection in the midst of danger. God doesn't promise a world free from danger, but He does promise His help whenever we face danger. Verse 4 says, "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Indeed, we were once again products of His hedge of protection over us. I am reminding myself that He NEVER stops watching out for us and that whatever does happen is not outside His knowledge and sovereign will.

When I get back up later this morning, I think I'll go out and retrieve the evidence as a reminder of God's protection over us. To me, it's worth digging through the smelly garbage for that visual reminder.

And so this morning, I am resting (literally and physically) under his feathered wings.

~Wee

Playhouse clean up time

AGG's project last summer was builing a playhouse for the girls. Now that the weather has cooled some, the girls have moved their play back out to the playhouse. Yesterday we spent 1 1/2 hours cleaning it up. We moved everything out to sweep the carpet and to clear out all the cobwebs. GVG reorganized the kitchen. LMG did her part by sweeping it's "porch" with her broom. MEG returned items that didn't belong in there to their rightful places. Now that it's clean, once again, it seems more like a one-room house (and not just a "big mess.")

After it was cleaned up yesterday, I so enjoyed just sitting in there, reminiscing about days of my childhood. I remember as a kid playing "house" in various nooks and crannies. We built houses (or schools or stores) in the hay loft, up in the house attic, and in some of the other barns around the farm. Regardless of the dust and the heat, we would spend hours playing. I want the same for our girls -- for them to have a fun and separate little space to call their own.

Most of the time they dress up in their prairie dresses and I see them out there washing their clothes in buckets then hanging them out to dry. They gather walnuts, grass and sticks from their "garden." They clean the rugs with their rug beaters. I never tire of seeing their imaginations and education come out in their play time.

Oh, to be a little girl again....

~Wee

Our "town's" fair...

....is a great "town's" fair....don't miss it....don't even delay....(remember this song?)

This was the weekend of the Grabill Country Fair. It runs from Thursday through Saturday night. After AGG arrived home from work Friday night, we went down to the fair. It's always fun to run into people you know and chat for a bit. We walked around, and walked around, and walked around some more. The girls were troopers, so we treated ourselves to some skinny fries. Ironically, while enjoying our fries and strolling through the vendor tent, I picked up a pamplet titled "Grease is Gross." I would agree, but hey, we only do it once a year. By the way, the fries sure were good.

A family favorite to watch this year was the Mime Time group put on by a local church. They were fabulous! We were all captivated for at least 45 minutes, if not longer. The girls also enjoyed Mark's Ark and holding the birds and the giant milipedes.

Saturday morning as a family (since AGG had to work, it was just me and the girls) we participated in the Rural Route Walk About -- a three mile walk. As participants, we all received a free t-shirt. Actually, instead of walking, we rode our bikes. We ended our trek in front of Daddy's office and set up to watch the parade. This was LMG's first parade experience that she was even aware of. She took in the start of the parade sitting back by Daddy. Everyone else was standing at the edge of the road. It took only a few handfuls of candy thrown at her before she realized she wanted to also stand a little closer.

After we arrived home, the first thing the girls did was dump all their parade goodies into a pile and sorted it out. Some of it will help fill Daddy's bowl for patients at the office.

Hope you are enjoying these last few days of summer, too!

~Wee

Lewis-ette & Clark-ette

We are in the midst of studying the Lewis and Clark expedition. To enjoy the last days of summer, and to seek relief from the blazing heat, we went swimming. The girls did their school work in the morning, we packed our lunch, and left for the pool. We had the pool to ourselves, and the water was so refreshing. I swam awhile then got out and read a book.

Keeping in mind what we are studying at home, can you guess what the girls starting playing? If you guessed "Lewis and Clark," you are right. They had all their belongings (pool chairs, noodles, diving sticks, a "map," fish, etc., all tied together. These are some of the comments I heard coming from their play:

"We're on our way to find the Never Ending Waters."
"Instead of climbing the Rockies, we're crossing the ocean. Only we have to watch out for sharks, instead of buffalo, bears and snakes."
"We're going to make history."
"We have to go get the map." (a spongy disc on the other side of the pool)
"Now it's time to stop and rest (set up camp)."
"It's important that we stay together. This is a dangerous journey."

I love seeing what they are learning in school come out in their play!

Thankful to be home-schooling!
~Wee