The Little Red Barn

 It's almost done!  Cedar shingles matching the house will go on the ground level walls.  The chickens are excited for their posh surroundings, maybe?

 Instructions from eight-year old chicken farmers on how to boil and peel the perfect egg:

• In saucepan, cover eggs in cool water over medium heat.
• Bring to boil and begin timer: 9 - 10 min for small

                                                     10 - 11 for medium sized eggs
                                                     11 - 12 for large sized eggs

• Plunge immediately in cold water to cool quickly.
• Crack egg all over and peel.  Be sure to get underneath the thin, transparent membrane and it will slip off.  If being subborn, use a spoon up-side-down to separate the egg from the shell.  It is false that fresh eggs are harder to peel.  Sometimes you get some 'duds' that just won't give it up, but it's not necessarily because they're too fresh.  These are about 3 hours laid.

 'Summer School' began today.  Saw this idea of a double binder at Utah/Idaho school supply.  They were rather $$, but the idea of glueing single binders together made sense.  I used E6000 glue and they are bound to-ge-thu  fo-e-va.  I really like how they lay and store straight and keep similar subjects together.  These will be for Spelin' and Gramer.  Another set will be for Reedin and Riitin'.  One more for Histery and Si-ance.  Math has its own workbook and won't need a binder.

A Lefty and a Righty.

A truism I found in my reading today:  ". . . no one, if he have a heart, can pass through this (deep sorrow) and not carry sadness in his spirit with him forever.  But he seldom shows it openly; it bides within him, enriching his cheerfulness and rendering him of better service to his fellow-men."  -Owen Wister-

Have Blackboard - Will Teach!

 I've wanted a blackboard for a long time - helps me feel so . . . intellectually progressive.  It connotes the excitement of grammar school learning, wooden yard sticks, and recess time, and dusty fingers and clothes, and tic-tac-toe, and perfect manuscript printing that all elementary teachers seem to have.

 Here's how I did it:

•  Paint a smooth surface any size you please with chalkboard paint.  I used 1/8 inch masonite board from the lumber store. I've seen it done directly on walls too. (mine weren't smooth enough)
•  Follow the instructions on the can.  This one had a 'curing' time of many, many hours, we're talking overnight!  which was the hardest part of this project.  I wanted to begin right away, spelling, doodling, leaving messages, having the twins practice their homework . . .
• We, errrr, Jay mounted it with those thingys that hold thin, inexpensive mirrors to the wall. 

 Now, you can doodle, swirl and goof off freely and without any time constraints on your very own chalkboard.  You can also be the eraser monitor every day if you want.  Or pass on this timeless, happy chore/privelege to the children.  Banging erasers still delights kids - ours anyway.  Now for the golden part of this post.  What you use to write on it will make all the difference for the enjoyment of the board.  Crayola chalk (sorry Crayola - love your crayons, despise your chalk) will not erase very well.  Their colored chalk is even worse, and their color isn't very bright or exciting to use.  BUT, a brand name called Alpha makes a great, highly erasable white chalk.  I came across it at Utah/Idaho school supply store in Orem, and it can be ordered online.  THEY don't make colored chalk that I have been able to find but . . .

. . .these are better anyway.  The colors are brilliant.  This is what we learned while on a Gardner Village trip.  Thanks to super sleuth Keli, who got to the bottom of what they were using in their store.  Chalk Ink is to be found at a Michaels or Roberts craft store. (a bit pricey - $10 for a package of 4).  Besides being clear and easy to read, they have the advantage of not wiping off and smearing as people brush past.  You wipe it off with a wet wipe.

Sometimes friends and family will participate too, like this message board of well-wishes for Kyle and Mark.

Come share a message, or doodle, or idea with us any time!  Oh, and the curtain rod with the hooks are for when we want to change out the school room look by covering it with a wall quilt.

Mark Wins Fair and Square - the 'lil Squirt!

Today we did 'splits'.  That's where one lucky twin (Kyle today) gets to spend the day with Jay and go where he goes, eat pitiful homemade sandwichs for lunch when he does,  see a rather large portion of the state from the back seat of Jay's car and have an all 'round good time with Dad.

Mark, on the other hand, gets to have me all to himself, or rather, I get to have Mark all to myself.  We made our 'plan' as we went.  It became a red letter day -  the day Mark first beat me fair and square in chess.  I've noticed him and Kyle going at it a bit lately. I should have not begun the game over anxious to 'show' him a lot of woulduvs, coulduvs.  By the time I realized I must not be so careless with my own moves, he still had both his rooks (they call them crooks and refuse to correct themselves) and queen.  Before I knew it I had one pawn and a check-mated king.  Ouch.  But I'm also proud.  Aren't peoples' prodgeny supposed to be better than they are?  But already?  In chess?  I think I'll challenge again.  This time I'll ask him for mercy.

Other red letter things for the day:

*Played 'pooh sticks' off the Pioneer Park bridge.

*Made a new friend there, instead of the planned frisbee throw.  Mark was such a little gentleman.  She is Jean, a 94 yr old resident of the Golden Skyline.  Her body is old, but her mind is brilliant and we had such a nice chat about books and her life.  Then we walked her home and she showed us her lovely room and pictures and art she had created.

*Mark passed off all his Bear requirements for cub scouts to Akela (me)

*Read a chapter of CS Lewis' The Silver Chair 

*Got a 'small' icecream cone from the Malt Shop we couldn't finish.

*Drove by the new Ephraim Elementary school where the T's will be going next year and marveled at its beauty and play ground power. (I marveled at the beauty, Mark marveled at the play ground)

*Went to the library and checked out another pile of books, mostly about Greeks and other ancient peoples the boys love to learn about.

*Made a Pioneer Woman recipe for dinner - Beef and Broccoli.

*Sat on the front porch playing I spy to see who would see Jay's car coming home first.  Twins don't like to be apart too long it seems.

Gosh, it was a great day.  I hope we do splits again soon.

The mighty Mark very pleased with his first legitimate chess victory over Mom.

My men.

Kyle loved the new library books Mark picked out for him today.

Wedding Cake for a Canook and His Jill

Jill

Many hands and hearts in this one for the beautiful Jill and dashing Garyn (my Canadian nephew). Keli, Genna, Philip, Kara, Jana, Kathi, Karli, and the rest of the Canadians, AND Garyn! How many grooms take such a part in their cake? It was so fun to see everyone and create something so delicious and beautiful together. This cake was eaten to the last petal. Gone. Beautiful British Columbia is too far away, thank goodness for missions and marriages that make us meet up.

This Aint Pretty

The agony of defeat.

You might as well see my cake agony and expensive, frustrating defeats along with my triumphs. Those are heating cores in the center of the pan - they are supposed to help the cake bake evenly in huge pans and therefore keep the cake from falling. I am a fallen cake decorator tonight. Anyone want a job? I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight - time for a movie marathon I think! ('You've Got Mail' is still a favorite - anybody have a suggestion?)

Matt and Aubrey

So what if it was cold and crowded with wedding parties all over the place? We were suprised that we had to share 'our' temple with so many. We all smiled so much our cheeks hurt - Thank you Aubrey, Matthew, and Amy. Can't wait for you to see the rest - they are - you are - amazing.

The Wizard of Oz - Vancouver style

Bizi-Bella (Isabella) the cutest lil' munchkin, and Kiara the enchanting Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz".

The Richard flew us (me, Mom andKeli) up to Vancouver to see this delightful production. We had such a great time with them. Cristina introduced us to ZUMBA and even let us in her sacred kitchen where wonderful things to eat were created. We loved joining their life for a little while. We even spent an evening with more Kenningtons in Castle Rock where we dined like royalty, had a tour of their royal garden (wow Carolyn!) and swapped stories and favorite books in their charming library. Then, all the way back to Vancouver ,we listened to selections from musicals like 'Wicked' from Bizi and Kiara. Brilliant singers, actresses and, best of all, nieces. It is so wonderful to see them growing up talented, beautiful, kind and sweet - all of the above.

Thank you Richard and Cristina!