Teaching

Every once in awhile in the midst of doing school, a pang of melancholy rises up in me.  One day there will be no children here to teach.  For some reason, this pang occurs most often when I'm dolling out stickers.

I loved stickers.  When I was a girl, I collected them in a sticker book like so many others.  They were so pretty- such vibrant colors, some fuzzy, some glittery, others puffy and some, if you were lucky, oily.  The people-pleaser in me saw them as a reward, a job well done, and to have a whole book of them...well, that just made me giddy.

I cried almost every day of kindergarten because I wanted to stay home with my mother and younger siblings (I was the oldest) but once I got over the fact that this was how things were going to go, I began to love school. I loved books, worksheets, freshly sharpened pencils, the smell of crayons, notebook paper, and, of course, the stickers.  I was blessed with truly wonderful public school teachers even if their names were a bit challenging to pronounce- Mrs. Hiltibital for kindergarten, Mrs. Strykowski for first, Mrs. Barrett (no too difficult) for third, and Mrs. Donarovich for fourth.  Mrs. Donarovich was my favorite.  She was tall and slender with short gray-white hair.  She was a sharp dresser, too.  And she would allow me to stay back from recess, especially toward the end of the school year, to help her clean out the classroom cabinets. She would let me take home piles of unused worksheets that I would then use to conduct my own classroom at home with siblings and cousins as students.  Fifth grade brought Mr. Book who on special afternoons would teach us the Twist, the Bunny-hop and the Stroll, all to the appropriate music. School was grand.

As I grew older, the combination of enjoying school and loving children (I babysat a lot and worked at a day care) led me to dream of becoming a teacher one day.  I was organized, creative and enjoyed learning myself.  Except for a brief stint when I seriously considered art school, I felt destined to teach.

I entered college with that goal in mind.  The liberal arts school I attended was smart enough to get education majors out into real classrooms our very first year via a class entitled Exploring Teaching.  The first classroom I assisted in opened my eyes to something I wasn't expecting.  The teacher touched on the children's home lives and how much those lives at home effect how well they do in school. She told me that she regularly brought in an extra lunch for one child who often didn't have one, how she had to call child protective services on another, etc.  My heart wrenched for these kids (and for this teacher- for all teachers, actually) and decided very soon after that I really wanted to work with families- the behind the scenes problems that can keep kids from succeeding.  I switched my major to social work that semester.

At the time, I had no idea that one day I would, indeed, be teaching full time- at home.  I remember a conversation Jamey and I had while dating- we agreed that homeschooling was neat but neither of us were hoemschooled and didn't really know anyone who was.  When Sam was a toddler, I picked the brain of a homeschool mom whose family went to our church.  That mother took me under her homeschooling wing and along to our state's homeschooling convention- homeschooling just seemed like the most natural thing to do (and I still believe that).  When Sam was only two, we decided we would homeschool and we haven't regretted it since.

I love teaching my children.  We all do it- whether we're homeschoolers or not.  We teach them to count, we teach them their ABC's, how to tie their shoes, good table manners, how to pick up their toys, how to spell their names, set the table, how to swing a bat, to shoot hoops, to pull weeds, rake leaves, mow the yard...and on and on and on.

Getting to teach them to read and write, think through tough math problems and count money, learn geography and history, how to spell difficult words- this is all a bonus.  Including God and our faith in all this is a bonus on top of a bonus.  Watching their eyes beam when they finally grasp something, when they take a book up to their room to read on their own for the first time, when they make change correctly in Monopoly, when they write a note to a friend with passable spelling...bonus, bonus, bonus.  Parents who send their kids to school experience many of these things, too.  And what a joy they are.

Teaching at home is not all wine and roses (or water and sunflowers, in our case).  Like any teaching job, it can be is exasperating, thankless, and incredibly {emotionally} tiring.  But oh- one day, when my last graduates, I will both celebrate and lament all at the same time.  I have a feeling I may just have to find someone else's child to give stickers to at that point.

In the meantime, I intend to enjoy as many moments of teaching my children as I can.  These days won't last forever.  They're not meant to.  But, what a gift it is to be able to sit beside and across from my favorite students these last seven years...with twelve more to go.

Despite what my college diploma says, a teacher I will always be.  While it wasn't the intent, I followed my dream after all. Pin It

Raisin Bran Muffins

My sister watched our kids last month while I was having a minor procedure done.  She brought a large container of muffin batter and slipped it in my fridge.  It was raisin bran muffin batter and I baked those muffins the very next day- even though I knew that batter would keep a long time.  These were the muffins my mother used to make that I had almost completely forgotten about.

Since that batch, I've baked up many more.  The "many" is easy with this recipe because it's designed so that the batter can be stored and the muffins baked up whenever you need them- for a quick breakfast, for a snack, to complement a meal, etc.  It makes me feel like I have it a bit together to have that batter waiting in there for me- even if I definitely do not have it together that particular day.

The muffins are moist, hearty, and tasty.  Throw in some chocolate chips to make them dessert-like. Cut back on the sugar for a healthier breakfast.  But, whatever you do, if you don't know these muffins, it's time you mix up a batch.

batter left over (and headed for the fridge) after already baking up a dozen muffins

Raisin Bran Muffins (recipe from Edna Yoder via a church cookbook)
This recipe make about 3 quarts of muffin batter.  One quart makes about 16 muffins.  The batter stores well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks so fresh muffins can be baked whenever you want some.  If your family doesn't like raisins, use plain bran cereal. The baked muffins freeze very well.

8 cups raisin bran cereal
5 cups flour
3 cups sugar
2 tsp. salt
5 tsp. baking soda
4 cups buttermilk
4 large eggs, beaten
1 cup canola oil or applesauce or a combination of the two

In a very large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: raisin bran cereal, flour, sugar, salt and baking soda.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, fill greased muffing tins (1/4 cup per muffin).  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Store remaining batter in glass jars in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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Bits of February

Despite all the snow, our hens are really producing- thanks to the younger group now laying in full force.

 

Somersault running down the shoveled path when I call.

Homeschooling allowed us to jump in the van one cold weekday morning to see triplets minutes after the third was born.  That day morning studies were replaced by watching newly born lambs become acquainted with the world and playing games in front of the wood stove to warm up once back home.

 

There has been a lot of sledding happening on the hill beside us this winter.  Semi-thaws during the day make for fast sledding at night.  All manner of sleds (including this homemade one) can be seen zooming down the hill while adults play human shied to potential crashes at the bottom.

 Tradition: a birthday sign. My boy turned eleven and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

 Anxious to see where I'm shoveling to next.

A (horrible) picture of an Eastern Screech Owl (in red morph) sitting in the broken out window of our barn.  We're hoping it has made the barn it's home.  To get a better idea of what they look like (and sound like), go here.

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Tattler Reusable Canning Lids SALE- This Weekend!

As you know, this past fall we tried Tattler lids for the first time (you can read our mini-series here- scroll down and read up to read the posts in order).  

During their last big sale, we purchased enough to do most of our canning this summer with them.  I promised to let you know when I heard about their next sale, so here is the latest sale information via an email I received....

Tattler Customers,

TATTLER REUSABLE CANNING LIDS IS HAVING A SALE THIS WEEKEND, FEBRUARY
15 – 17, 2014!

To celebrate President’s day, we are having a 3 day, 20% Off Sale
on our 12 dozen packs of Regular and Wide Mouth sizes! There is no
coupon code needed for this sale. Just simply click on the link below
and purchase!

To find the items for sale, please click here:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TattlerReusableCanni/315aec1c83/b45e9a885e/4c995b2039

Thank you, Tattler Fans! Have a great weekend!

I'll keep you posted as other sales come along, too!

Dreaming of steamy kitchens and bubbling canners,
Jane Pin It

Homemade Sled, On the Cheap

On his way home from work yesterday, before the snow started falling, Jamey stopped a thrift store and bought two pairs of old skis for $1 a pair.  He and the girls used scrap wood to fashion sleds after dinner, as the snow began to fall.  Their test run last night was successful but right now the snow is too deep and fluffy to make them go.  They are waiting patiently to be run again.

Today is and will be full of shoveling, making houses in the snow (it's deep enough already to dig out paths and rooms), hot chocolate, board games with neighbor children, and grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch.  I love snow.  We have drifts of three feet and a good foot and a half everywhere else.  And the fact that it's still falling, makes me one happy girl.

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Quickest {to Make} Dinner Ever

First, let me check on a couple things.  Does your family like tortilla chips?  Yes, good.  Do you have salsa, corn, bell peppers and cooked chicken or turkey in your pantry or freezer (or can you get your hands on some soon)?  Awesome.  If you answered yes to both, you will love this recipe.  First, it's lightening-fast to put together (5 minutes, tops) and, second, it's delicious.

I had some tortilla chips left over from a gathering we went to (I had taken this Spinach and Artichoke Dip, page 73).  Because I had them on hand, Mavis's blog post for Chicken Tortilla Casserole really caught my eye. It looked so simple and since I really wasn't thrilled about thinking up something for dinner, it fast became that night's supper plan.  It was a hit with four out of the five members of our family-which is considered a major win around here these days.

While we were enjoying it, I told Jamey that it was the quickest dinner I ever made.  After I explained what I did he said that even he could make that some night for dinner.  Ye. Haw.

 unbaked

Chicken Tortilla Casserole (adapted ever-so-slightly from here)

My changes: I increased the amount of broken tortilla chips, used chopped, cooked turkey in place of the chicken and left out the bell peppers because there are peppers in my salsa and I didn't want to push it with the kids.
Serves 6

3 cups broken tortilla chips
2 cups chicken (or turkey), cooked and shredded
1 (15 oz) can (or 1 quart frozen and thawed) corn
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped bell pepper (optional)
3/4 cup salsa
2 cups shredded cheese (Monterrey Jack, Cheddar or a combination)
sour cream

Grease a 9 x 9 or 10 x 10 inch baking dish and lay half the broken chips in the bottom.  Combine all other ingredients (except the cheese and sour cream!) in a bowl.  Layer half the corn mixture on top of the chips and then half of the shredded cheese on top of the corn mixture.  Repeat layers of broken chips, corn mixture and shredded cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and serve with sour cream if you have some on hand.

baked

Thank you, Mavis!! Pin It

What do Honey Bees do in Winter?

That's a very good question with a fascinating answer.

our three top bar hives, hunkered down

Here's the fascinating answer in simple terms, thanks to our copy of Beekeeping For Dummies (silly name, helpful book) with my notes in parenthesis...

"The queen is surrounded by thousands of her workers- kept warm in the midst of the winter cluster (ball of bees with an open center).  The winter cluster starts in the brood chamber (where eggs are laid, fed and grow into adult bees) when ambient temperatures reach 54-57 degrees F. When cold weather comes, the cluster forms in the center of the two hive bodies (or across several bars of comb if in a top bar hive).

Although the temperature outside may be freezing, the center of the winter cluster remains at a constant 92 degrees F (a tad cooler if there is no brood to keep warm).  The bees generate heat by "shivering" their wing muscles (cooler bees on the outside of the cluster rotate in to take a turn being warm).

No drones are in the hive during winter, but some worker brood begin appearing late in the winter. Meanwhile, the bees consume about 50 to 60 pounds of honey in the hive during winter months.  They eat while they are in the cluster, moving around as a cluster whenever the temperature gets above 40 to 45 degrees F.  They move to a new area of honey only when the weather is warm enough for them to break cluster.

Bees won't defecate in the hive.  Instead they hold off until they can leave the hive on a nice, mild day when the temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F to take cleansing flights."

We witnessed this just the other week.  It was a balmy 60 degrees F and we walked out to check on the hives.  There was activity at each hive- bees flying in and out.  There was even activity at the hive we thought was dead (because we couldn't hear any buzzing from it the week before).  It may be that the other two hives found the honey stores in the dead one on that warm day or maybe we just couldn't hear their hum and they're actually still okay in there.

The bees weren't coming out to look for nectar- they were venturing out to relieve themselves and/or look for water (although condensation created from their warmth on the inside of the hive provides them with moisture/water as well).

There were a lot of dead bees on the ground under each hive.  Bees naturally die at the end of their life cycle. While winter bees do live longer than summer bees, some still die.  We're hoping that the number of dead bees on the ground is within normal range for this time of year.  They were likely doing a bit of housekeeping that day- getting rid of dead bees from inside the hive.

Sadie had come out to check on the hives with Jamey and I.  Even though she and I were standing about 10 feet away from the hives, she told me that a bee was in her hair.  She was so calm about it that I didn't believe her at first.  She repeated herself, I checked and, sure enough, a honey bee was exploring the back of her shirt collar.  I let it crawl onto my hand and then she and I watched it explore the tips of my fingers until it took flight back to it's hive.

Bees are awesome.  I miss watching them.

photo taken this summer

We took advantage of the warm day to place some granulated sugar into the back of each hive.  Sugar syrup would either freeze or make the bees too cold, but dry sugar is a supplement they can handle during periods when it's warm enough for them to break cluster.  We're feeding them to increase the chances that they have enough food to make it until the first big nectar flow this spring.

We're so hoping that at least one of our three hives will survive the winter.  We still have a couple cold months ahead of us and spring can be just as dangerous- just because it's warmer out doesn't mean there is enough food for them to find.  We have to keep an eye on their supplies so they won't starve.

I recently read this short, insightful article titled, "Why is beekeeping so hard?" (on our favorite bee site) which made me feel better but sad all at the same time.  Beekeeping is proving to be challenging but it's also an amazing experience I can't quite imagine living without. Pin It

Cookbook Winner

It was so much fun reading which of our recipes are your favorites- thanks to all who entered!

If you didn't win, you can purchase a coil bound copy or a e-book version here.

The randomly chosen winner's comment is...

DHFebruary 5, 2014 at 1:45 PM

I actually haven't tried one yet -- mainly because life gets so hectic and I tend to use old favorites. But I would love to try one! :)

Congratulations, DH!! Please email your name and mailing address to thyhand123@gmail.com and I'll mail your copy right out.  Please also let me know if you'd like it signed (and to whom).

Next week, I'm talking bees in winter and the quickest dinner recipe I've ever put together (and it tastes fabulous and uses simple ingredients from my pantry/freezer)!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Love,
Jane Pin It

For Love

This giveaway is closed.  Go here to see who won!

To show my love for all you precious people being patient with me as my blogging has slowed (it's only temporary!), I wanted to give you a gift.  I wish I could give you each one.

all cookbooks now have a clear, protective plastic cover!

So today, I'm offering a copy of my cookbook (signed, if you like) to one reader.  To enter, please leave me a comment, letting me know which recipe of mine you've tried and enjoyed (many are posted right here).  Do you have a favorite?  If you haven't tried any, you can just be honest and tell me that and you'll still be entered. Just one entry per household and please leave me your first name or initials which will help me identify you if you win.

This will be a quick one- the winner will be randomly drawn this Friday afternoon!

Best of luck to all of you and thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness via comments and personal emails.  Each one is precious to me- you all are so dear!

Love,
Jane

all these recipes found in the cookbook

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Butterfly Garland

For Sadie's 8th birthday, I wanted to decorate for her family party without spending money.  My ever-crafty sister sent me some links via pinterest and this one looked the most simple and promising.  Here's what the finished garland looked like.

I used to make my own greeting cards so I still had plenty of scrapbooking-type paper on hand.  I made my own butterfly pattern and starting cutting away.  I used off-white quilting thread and double-sided tape to string the butterflies and hold the two sides together.  I wasn't sure how they would hold along the thread but they have very well.  Bending the wings slightly makes them three-dimensional.

You could really take this idea any direction- hearts, animals, balls, flowers, trucks and cars- you name it.  It was a bit time-consuming (the cutting out part) so I'll be careful taking them down and will save them to re-use on Easter and for future girl birthdays.

A bonus was that those butterflies reminded us of summer...and we can't wait:-). Pin It