Lots of Helpers

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Activities at Home

Clay

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The boys found clay out in one of the paddocks this week.  Actually it’s been there for a year or so, ever since our landlord drilled a new well for irrigation.  Yesterday they brought some over to the house and started molding things from it, and they really got creative today.  Simon wrote his story for our homeschool writing group meeting Tuesday, tonight, about making a clay cup.  Here are just a few pictures of their creativity.  It has kept them occupied for literally hours!  They end up a mess, but it washes out.

Two planters Simon made me.

The pottery workshop, with three potters busily at work.

A pot with three feet. He made a lid for it next!

Hamburger Buns

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Yesterday was Esther’s birthday, and she requested hamburgers for supper.  We happened to find a recipe for Homemade Hamburger Buns on a blog, so decided to try it out.  They turned out to be easy and delicious–the best homemade hamburger buns I’ve ever had!  We did use some white flour in them, due to a misunderstanding about which bag of flour to use.

We had a “helper” causing all the havoc he could! (He needed a nap.)

We used a jar ring for a cutter.

We made a few into hot dog buns, to try out the woman’s technique. Good, but not perfect.Everyone agreed these were scrumptious!

Quiet Morning

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I love having all my helpers around–but it’s awfully nice to have peace and quiet at times, too!  This morning, Joe got up at 5:00 when I was packing Gayle’s lunch.  I don’t blame him; the bedrooms are totally unheated and not much warmer than the wintry out-of-doors; he probably got cold when I left the bed.  He went back to sleep on the couch, though, pretty soon, and I had an hour and a half alone.  After my quiet time, exercises, hanging laundry in the living room, and computer time while brushing my hair, I was actually able to get three items off the mending pile, and have a bit of time with Elijah, who likes to get up at 6:30-7:00.  Now it’s time to get everyone else up and get on with our busy, noisy, (hopefully) productive day!

Bottling Carrots

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The activity this afternoon was dicing and bottling carrots.  I like to have carrots in jars, ready to dump into soups or casseroles, so when I go to town I often buy a 10- or 20-kilo bag of carrot seconds, then fill jars with them and process for 25 minutes at 10 pounds pressure in the pressure cooker.  This morning, Esther and I peeled what was left in the 10-kilo bag we got a couple of weeks ago (I had already used several handfuls).  This afternoon, I got started dicing them and had Elijah find lids for the jars.  Seth wanted to help, so he filled jars, and then Simon and Elijah started cutting them up, too.  James got in on the act before we were done, as well.  Seth filled the jars with water for me and put on the lids.  I just remembered that we didn’t make sure the rims were clean.  Oh, well.  If they don’t seal, I need carrots for soup tomorrow anyway.  It was a lovely time of working together happily!  Gayle was in the kitchen, too; he was preparing some pig’s heads for cooking into brawn (like headcheese).  We decided that wasn’t too photogenic, though.