Sona Creidhe Homeschooling

The tomato seeds (and other seeds) we planted almost two weeks ago that is. It sounds goofy but the kids and I are ecstatic over this because we all have black thumbs. We fully expected everything to either not grow at all or die quickly.

On April 3rd, Lil Man and I planted a small pot of mixed seed flowers just for him. He talked about how big his flowers were going to grow and how pretty they would be. The Grim Plant Killer hangs over this family so heavily that while he was dreaming about his plant, I was trying to think where I could buy a small potted plant in a week or two so he wouldn't know his had died. Bad mommy, I know.

The next day we started our Tomatosphere experiment. Two days earlier I had gone to Blahmart and bought one of those Jiffy Greenhouse Kits along with a strawberry plant kit, and some organic garden soil for when we transplanted the seedlings outside. Tomatosphere suggested peat pellets and I have to say that the Jiffy kit is a lifesaver if you totally stink at gardening!

We planted the tomato seeds, spinach seeds, Blue Boy seeds, and Marigold seeds in the greenhouse kit on April 4th. The way the kit works is you add water to the bottom of the container and wait for the pellets to soak it up. Then you put the seeds in the middle and voila, just wait for them to sprout!

While we were waiting for the pellets to soak we started the strawberry kit which was alot of fun. You start with a brick of coconut fiber, add water to it, and watch it expand. When it has completely soaked you scoop the "dirt" into the pot, plant the strawberry plants, and again you are done! I'm telling you, it's like Gardening For Dummies!

By April 7th we already had germination! About 1/2 of the sprouts started to show from everything but the strawberry plant. Anyone know how long that is suppose to take? Packet "R" of the tomato seeds were the first to sprout but Packet "S" wasn't too far behind. By April 10th all of the tomato seeds that were going to germinate had done so. Out of 64 pellets for tomatoes planted (with a seed each) I think we only had one seed from each packet not germinate. We are still keeping an eye on them though just in case. Pretty good odds if you ask me! The Tomatosphere site says you get 70 seeds but we only got 67 (the cat ate three that Lil Man dropped).

Lil Man's plant sprouted on the same day as the others so we had all kinds of greenery around here! The site says that you transplant the seedlings at around six weeks but ours are already too tall and the roots are too long to be in just the peat pellets. So Today we planted all of the "R" and "S" seedlings and their pellets in seperate large containers (to keep inside).

We also began digging a shallow trench in our back yard along the house to plant the Marigolds, Blue Boys, and a variety mix that I have in a few days. Our back yard is nothing but sand, some weeds, and an indentation where we're guessing a pool use to be so we have alot of work to do on it. The little guy thought he was being a help by putting all of the pellets together that were left after we transplanted the tomatoes. Now we don't know our Blue Boys from our Marigolds from our Spinach. This should be interesting!

I think the best parts so far are hearing Lil Man tell people that we are growing Martian tomatoes (I can not wait until he sees GREEN tomatoes starting! FUNNN!!!) and the joy and relief on the older two kids' faces from knowing that WE are actually growing something.

I can't get the Flickr plugin to work so I can add pics to this post but you can see the whole set HERE.

Today has been a pretty good day, I have to admit. This morning I received an email telling me that it's my turn up at TopMomma (so be sure to go vote for me) which seems like alot of fun.

We also made progress on our "schoolwork" today, I got some of my writing done (for the free sites and the pays me money sites I write for), Big B is in a good mood because he talked to his girlfriend last night which means he isn't moping around, Sis did her journals without World War III breaking out, and I bought myself some cupcakes when I went to the store earlier. Okay so I'll admit it, the cupcakes I mean kids are what made the day so good. Yeah, I meant the kids. LOL.

Lil Man and I are currently reading the book From Seed To Plant by Gail Gibbons so he understands what is going on when we plant our tomato seeds this weekend plus he can feel more a part of things when we landscape our yard this Spring. So far he is very excited and even though today is an extremely cold day, he feels we should go do some planting now. LOL

Not a bad ending to the week and hopefully next week will be even better!

anything having to do with medicine because as much as I get sick these kids would have a degree by now! OY!! This time it's only allergies or a sinus infection though so not a big deal.

I'm still working on putting together the unit study plus I'm trying to incorporate Spring into our studies just for fun. Thanks to Theresa at Lapaz Farm we signed up at Tomatosphere for their "blind" test and today we received our seed packets! I'm hoping we will get them planted and get started this week. Yet another reason why I love having other homeschoolers to share and learn from.

Big B has been using Shakespeare's MacBeth for his Copywork lately and really seems to enjoy it. He's even considering trying to get some other teens together to do an Act or two from it. I'm not sure how successful he'll be getting others to join in but I commend him for wanting to try.

As yet we haven't been able to meet up with the homeschool group I posted about but I have emailed and talked with one of the ladies and we get along well so if the others are even half as cool as her, we'll do fine. It seems like a great group who actually enjoys doing things so I'm even more excited now!

Sis has been doing alot of worksheets lately (her choice) and I'm proud of her for continuing even though most of them are in Math and that is her hated subject. Thankfully she's not like her mother (who turned in her book at the beginning of 9th grade and just took a "D" for the semester. LOL) and I hope it all eventually clicks for her. I found out they have free tutoring at the local library so I may start taking her to that each week.

As for me, I will finally be beginning a Tai Chi class the second week of April. They're having a free weekly class at one of the community centers so I have no excuses not to go. I'm hoping this helps me cope with some of the pain better and even if it doesn't, I've always wanted to try Tai Chi so now is my chance.

Also, the kids and I went to a Fishing Derby last Saturday. It was an experience to say the least. We mostly just went so Lil Man could go fishing and I'm afraid we only lasted about an hour because it was very very C-O-L-D! I have to admit that I was the first to wimp out but I sucked it up until Lil Man announced "This stinks, I'm not catching fish and I'm cold. Let's go home and have hot cocoa"! Yep, works for me.

I think they have an egg hunt coming up in a week or two. We'll hit that since it's more our speed anyway. lol.

Just a quick rundown since I haven't been around in so long... we bought a house about 40 minutes outside of the city. Since moving here the kids and I have been pretty much housebound. A big part of that was because I was sick but it was also because there was nothing for us to do that was close by.

We knew of one homeschool association out here but it didn't seem like the right fit for us right now. I figured that would be that and we would just have to figure out things for ourselves. Thankfully though the other day I came across another homeschool group out here that does sound like the right fit for us. They have children that are the same ages as all three of my kids and they do group field trips which would be nice for us.

"School wise" this coming week we're going to try to get as much done as possible. Big B has been doing very well with the unschooling approach I took with him awhile back. He makes sure he does the things he needs in order to maybe get to start a dual program at the college this summer. Sis is still having trouble with Math so that will be our main focus again and Lil Man just likes doing tons of fun little worksheets, making crafts, and reading. So easy to please that one is. lol

I'm trying to get together a Unit Study on the Aztecs and Mayans that both the Middle Schooler and High Schooler can use. If they were a few years younger this would be easier but then it wouldn't be MY life now would it? lol

Also there are some new "Homeschool" Pictures on our Flickr if you'd like to check them out.

I guess it's about time I try to dust this blog off and catch up a little, hmmm? My absence hasn't been due to laziness though and I apologize to the people who use to regularly read this blog. I just spent the last two months sick nonstop and being able to get online or post to anything was the last thing I could do.

In mid-December we moved into our very first house (buying) and of course, instead of being sensible and taking things slowly the hubby and I rushed moving everything ourselves. He ended up with an achy back and I ended up with adrenal crisis(I have no adrenal glands/adrenal insufficiency). Spent a week feeling soso and then the kids and I attended a playgroup and Lil Man brought home stomach flu which proceeded to make its way around the whole family. Lil Man had it for a few days, then Big B for 24 hours, Sis only got it a little as did Vin, and then it came to ME. Ugh. I was sick for almost three weeks because along with that came adrenal crisis two more times. As soon as I was finished with that there were other things to deal with, then migraines for two weeks, and so on. LOL.

During those two months "schoolwork" was very light but it was nice to watch the oldest two kids work on their own and find new ways of learning. Big B worked on his Algebra and US History during that time and is trying to get into the dual program at the college this summer. Sis found out that she LOVES to learn about History... as long as it's through the Dear America books series. After she read the first one she wanted to read ALL of them so she's been working her way through the books as well as learning more about the subjects of the books. For instance, one book was about Suffragate so she read the book and then went in search of more information about what it was like women trying to win the right to vote as well as about the important women involved.

I was shocked to say the least because Sis usually doesn't like anything having to do with extra effort. I'm proud of her for not only being so interested but also going beyond just the information in the books.

Lil Man can spell his name now. He doesn't write it in a line everytime but he can form each letter and tell you what it is. He is so proud of himself and loves to sign anything he can get ahold of.

As far as the new house goes... well we all hate it and regret buying it but it's too late now. It has so many problems that we didn't know about before plus my husband is for some reason just now realizing that living 25 miles outside of Albuquerque is a pain in the butt. Gee, didn't see that one coming. Anyway- the homeschool group out here is pretty much worthless and we can't afford to drive into town very often so the kids and I have been isolated out here with not much to do. It sucks and I'm hoping that something changes soon.

So that's it. I've just been too ill to sit at a computer and type so I haven't been able to update. Due to other problems with my health right now I won't be able to post alot but hopefully the kids will start typing up and posting for me. Hey, it teaches them Language skills, Reading, and and... well it's learning darnit! lol

Take care and I will try to post again soon.