I personally do not have any musical talent.  I cannot sing well.  I cannot play a musical instrument.  I comfort myself with the idea that God needs some people to sit back and appreciate the talents of others.  I am one of those people.  I love to listen to music, go to ballets, watch a play/musical, and admire the artistic talents of sculptors, painters, and other artists.  I truly appreciate the fine arts.

However through the Suzuki method, my children have developed musical talents.  My son plays the violin, my daughter plays the harp, and my other son played the fiddle until his interest went elsewhere.  My point is that they were able to develop an ability regardless of my inability to teach it.

As for art, I depended on Terry Holliday, my mother.  Terry is a professional watercolor artist.  Her paintings hang in many prestigious places, including one in the Museum of the Big Bend.  Watercolors by Terry is her online gallery if you would like to see some of her work.  In addition to being a professional, my mom has taught art for many years at the junior high and high school levels.  She single-handedly built the art program from the ground up at a local public school until she moved away.

When she moved, it was hard on my family for numerous reasons.  The biggest hardship was not seeing her on an almost daily basis like we had grown accustomed.  We missed her.  A secondary reason for missing her was that we lost our private lessons in art.

My mom tried very hard to stay connected with her grandchildren.  She especially did not want the littlest ones to not know her when she came to visit.  So she began several projects in an attempt to stay involved in my children’s lives.  She made videos of herself reading books to my little boys.  When those projects were a success, she decided to produce an art lesson on video.

When I received the first one in the mail, I was immediately impressed.  It was done so professionally.  Better yet watching the video with my children and doing the assignments in video with them, I immediately noticed an improvement in my drawing ability.  I was learning too!

She has now completed an entire series of art lessons called The Elements of Art.  The lessons cover line, value, shape, form, space, texture, and color.  Students will participate in activities such as drawing, painting, and weaving.  It is a total of eight lessons on DVDs.  She is also having them professionally produced and is now offering them to the public.  They are available for sale on Art for Homeschool.  You can purchase the DVDs and have them shipped to your home or you can download them and watch the videos online.  Here is a trailer.

Terry Holliday has big plans for Art for Homeschool.  Along with your purchase and/or download of the Elements of Art, members get access to tips, articles, and information.  In addition, any homeschool student that subscribes to the site through email can join and upload student art onto the Art for Homeschool Flickr Group.  A nationwide student art show will be held through this group complete with prizes in the future.

The series also come with a supply list and modifications for the assignments.  The target audience is junior high/high school; however, younger children can also learn from the videos and assignments with or without modification depending on their interest and ability.

If you are a parent who wants to include art education into your homeschool, then check into the Elements of Art.  If you go to a public school that has cut funding to the fine arts program, then Elements of Art would be a great resource to use at home.  If you are an adult who always wanted to learn the basics of art, then this series is a great place to start.

I am proud of my mom.  And, I am proud to help promote this great source for art education.

Simply, genetically modified foods have undergone a change in its DNA.  There are two main kinds of changes: cisgenesis and transgenesis.

Cisgenesis occurs when genes are transferred artificially with plants or animals that could procreate naturally.  An example of this would be creating a blight resistant potato.  With transgenesis, genes of different species are combined to create something all together different.

In the 1990’s genetically modified foods began being marketed to the American public.  They require no special packaging or warnings on the package.  The consumer has virtually no way to know which is which.  Although, I have learned through my research that Price Look Up (PLU) codes that begin with the number eight is a good indication that it is genetically modified.

What was the first genetically modified vegetable/fruit introduced to us?  The tomato was.  Very common products that are used in much of our processed foods are genetically modified.  Foods like corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar cane, and rapeseed are commonly modified.  This is of course not a complete list.

If you did not already know, rapeseed makes canola oil.  You might be wondering why I added cotton to the list.  Cottonseed is a popular ingredient in some foods like candy.  Cottonseed, corn, and soybeans are also in most animal feeds.  Why would that be a concern for you?  If you are a vegetarian, it probably is not.  If you consume meat like my family, then you might find it bothersome.

Should anyone find genetically modified foods bothersome?  Is there any reason to be concerned? Scientists claim that there is no reason to be alarmed.  There are no scientifically proven risks to humans and/or animals in consuming genetically modified food.

Personally as a mom, I am uncomfortable when science begins changing the genes of plants and animals.  I am uncomfortable with mankind playing around with God’s creation, trying to improve upon it.  I recently read an very interesting article on the subject called, “Science Fiction Horror Story,” by Michael Pearl.  I completely agree with him when he writes, “God designs his human creation after his own image… And what do scientists do? They say, ‘It is good, but not good enough; we can do better,’ and then proceed to re-create what God created. ”

I would prefer that food be labeled honestly so that consumers can make the decision for themselves.  I would like the right to choose genetically modified or conventional food.  In Europe, many countries do.

As homesteaders and gardeners and farmers, we have to look at the foods that we are producing.  Are we using genetically modified seeds?  Are we raising the same produce our grandparents grew or is it something different?  I can see the argument to try and make plants disease resistant.  However, our bodies are already bombarded by pesticides, fungicides, and other chemicals daily.  I think I would rather have less yield and be able to confidently eat organic produce.  It is just my personal preference.

If you agree with me and are planning your spring garden, what kind of seeds can you buy?  The brilliant blue, pink, and purple seeds sitting in the bins of your local feed store have been sprayed with fungicides.  They are not necessarily genetically modified, but are not organic.  Yesterday I spoke with a gardening expert at our local feed store.  He assured me that the only way to be confident that your garden produce is not genetically modified is to buy organic seeds.

He went on to explain that gardeners can collect the seeds later this year to plant next season.  The seeds will reproduce and the plant will be the same as last season.  Organic seeds cost much more than other seeds.  They cost almost twice as much.  Another option is to purchase heritage or heirloom seeds.  These seeds have not gone under any kind of genetic alteration.  They are not hybrids.  They are the originals, but they are not as cheap as the “normal” ones offered in bins.

If you are interested, please read this interesting article called “Heirloom and Heritage Seeds,”  by Michael Bloch.  I am not endorsing any company; it is simply a good article.   I am in the process of shopping around myself.  This week I am planting tomato seeds in my Jiffy Greenhouse in order to plant them in the ground later this month or early April.

Years ago I did not even know about genetically modified food even though I was probably buying them at the grocery store.  Is it just me or is it bothersome to you as well?  I would love to hear your opinion.  If you have any tips or information on heritage/heirloom seeds or genetically modified foods, please contact me.  We can all learn together.

Isaac is driving a huge John Deere tractor while Andrew goes along for the ride.

This weekend my family and I went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  We had a great time.  There was so much to see and do that we could have spent two whole days there.  We usually go once every year.

It struck me as I walked through the complex that each year the livestock show includes more and more exhibits to teach the youth in the area about agriculture.  They have an exhibit called “Fun on the Farm” outdoors where children pretend to do chores on the farm.  Children have to collect eggs, milk a cow, plant vegetable seeds in a garden, etc.

Indoors, they have a huge petting zoo filled with farm animals along with a few exotic animals.  There is a huge birthing center complete with expectant cows, pigs, and sheep.  It also includes newborn calves, piglets, and lambs with their mothers.  My smallest boys really enjoyed seeing the lambs and piglets.

The Houston Livestock Show also has demonstrations on milking cows, spinning wool, etc.  They also have a cotton gin at work.  There are bees in a clear plastic hive that you can observe.  Tractors are available for children to sit in and pretend to operate.  I am sure that there was much more to see, but as I said before, you cannot see it all in one day.

It is clear that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo wants to teach as much as it can in the few weeks it operates in order to preserve our heritage.  Kids have an opportunity to experience aspects of homesteading.  They also get to see where food and products come.  Agriculture plays a vital role in our society whether you live in the 4th largest city of the United States or in the middle of nowhere.

My children were not very interested in this section, but they already have a garden.  They have raised cows, horses, chickens, ducks, sheep, goats, and pigs.  They milk our dairy goats.  They help out in our family’s garden.  All five could care less about the teaching exhibits.  My kids were definitely in the minority because the lines to see and participate in these exhibits were unbelievably long.

Part of the Grand Entry of the rodeo.

What did my kids want to see?  The tractors, the horse trailers, the shops selling interesting wares, and the show animals.  The pig races was one of the family favorites.  It is very entertaining.  Of course, the whole reason we went was to enjoy the rodeo.  It did not disappoint.  The cowboys/cowgirls were on top of his/her game.  I have not seen scores like I did.  In each event, the scores were consistently high.

Whether you have a homesteading family or are inexperienced in all things related to homesteading, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the place for you.  If you are not from the Houston area, find out when your area holds similar events.  It may not be as big as Houston, but it would still be fun for your family.

I love to read and learn from books, but not everything can be learned from the pages of a book or magazine.  Trial and error is a great teacher.  Experience comes from learning from your mistakes and successes.  Being able to know what works or what does not work is invaluable in any venture.

Homesteading is no exception.  Unfortunately for modern homesteaders, the lifestyle we desire and strive for has been slowly lost through the generations.  What was once second-nature to our great-grandparents is for the most part new to us.  Do you know how to sow a field of wheat?  Card wool?  Do you know how much food to put away for an entire year?

My great-grandparents would have known how to be self-sufficient because that was their life.  They were surprised at how fast society changed during their lifetime.  From traveling on horseback and in wagons to the landing on the moon, it was just too amazing to comprehend.

I would have loved to have known them and learn from them.  I treasure the stories that I hear about them and try to glean from their wisdom years later.

I am reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to Jake.  She is one of my childhood heroes, and Jake is really enjoying hearing about Almanzo’s childhood.  Whether Almanzo is breaking calves, sledding, doing chores, or milking Jake can relate.  He has similar experiences.  Almanzo’s love for horses is another huge similarity between himself and Jake.

As I am reading the book, I am struck with such a strong sense of amazement.  Almanzo’s mother was quite a woman.  I admire her.  I would have loved to have her mentor me.  She would have been a good one.  She was a great mother and wife.

The Wilder family seems to have been pretty well off.  She did not have it easy though.  Mrs. Wilder was constantly cooking, putting away food, cleaning, and mending.  When she was not doing those things, she was carding wool, making yarn, weaving the yarn into cloth with a loom, or constructing various clothing items.  Seasonally she made sugar from syrup, made candles, and cleaned the house from top to bottom.  Almanzo says that she never sat still.  How could she?

I am a busy person, but I have nothing on Almanzo Wilder’s mother.  And, I do not know anyone today that is knowledgeable in all those areas.  I wonder if there are anymore people like Mrs. Wilder.

I think that is key.  Find someone with the expertise that you need.  If you are interested in canning, find a man/woman who cans to teach you.  Volunteer to help them can his/her food in exchange for the experience.

The family who is helping us with the market goat is very knowledgeable about goats.  I have not asked them, but I doubt they could teach me very much about carding wool.  So the trick is to learn from many different people.

If you cannot find anyone to help you, there are still other options.  There are many books that you can read about homesteading.  My favorite is Carla Emery’s, The Encyclopedia of Country Living.  I also like a Reader’s Digest book called, Back to Basics.  Both books are very informative, especially the former.

I have not watched it, but the Pearl family has produced a DVD on homesteading.  It is called Homesteading for Beginners.  They have two volumes available to purchase.

Another option that I have not tried myself is to attend a homesteading workshop.  The Heritage School of Homesteading in Elm Mott, Texas has always intrigued me.  They hold classes on a wide variety of subjects from cheese-making to blacksmithing.  I think that it would be fun to take a class from them.  Be sure to look for similar programs in your area.

In an article called, “Get Your Hands Dirty,”  I discuss how important it is to try.  As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  Modern homesteading requires getting your hands dirty.  It requires being fearless in the face of possible failure.

Years ago when I made my first batch of dewberry jam, it was not good.  I did not cook it long enough, and it was too watery.  I did learn how to do a water bath correctly.  The next batch was much better and each year I think my jam improves because I learn from my errors.

The future of homesteading looks bright.  As we learn all we can about self-sufficient living, our children and others can learn too.  Pretty soon the trades and skills of homesteading will be second-nature again.  Maybe one of our children/grandchildren will be just like Almanzo’s mother.  Who knows, it could happen.

Marley

Meet Marley.  No, not the unruly dog in the movie, “Marley and Me.”  I don’t know how well-behaved this Marley is, but he is my daughter’s show goat.  Marley is a Boer goat.  This breed is raised for its meat.

Did you know world-wide that goat is the most consumed meat?  However, I have never tried any before.  When raising market animals, it is always important to prepare the children what purpose the animal is serving.  She understands what the term “market” means.  Kyla knows not to get too attached to Marley.

Marley is a wether, which means a castrated goat.  He likes to go on walks with Kyla around the yard and neighboring pasture.  The focus on market animals is body confirmation.  It directly affects the quality of the meat.

Good confirmation on a goat consists of many things.  Its body, the trunk, should be as close to a box shape as possible.  It needs length of body.  The longer the hind end the better.  When selecting a goat, you need to watch it walk and make sure that it is sound.  Ideally the back hoof will step in the same track made by the front hoof.

While preparing to show an animal, you need to break it to lead.  You train it to walk beside you on its left side.  Kyla takes it to her grandpa’s cabin when she visits.  Marley is doing much better now compared to when we first brought him home.  She does not have to pull him around anymore.  He goes really well when she jogs with him.

This will be Kyla’s first animal project for 4-H.  In the past, she has always done other projects like photography, clothing and textiles, and food and nutrition.  After watching most of the market animal shows last year at the Grimes County Fair, she decided that she would really like to show a goat.

For most of Kyla’s life, we have raised animals on our farm.  We have chickens, rabbits, dairy goats, sheep, and ducks.  Her grandfather runs a cattle ranch equipped with many horses.  Raising animals is not new to Kyla.  However, raising farm animals and raising show animals are two completely different ventures.  Therefore, this is a new to all of us.

Being a homeschooling family puts us at a slight disadvantage from the public school kids.  The Ag teachers are highly involved in his/her student’s projects.  The teachers know where to buy the animal, when to buy it, what to feed it, etc.  They help them get it ready for the show.

We are in 4-H, but the better part of this year we have been without a county agent in charge of animal projects.  So, what to do?  I sought out an experienced and helpful family in my county.  I explained the situation to them and they understood.  Thankfully, this family volunteered to take us under their wing.  They helped us find a good goat.  They are advising Kyla what to feed Marley, how to exercise him, etc.  This family is truly teaching my daughter the market goat project.

Kyla would not have been able to bring a competitive market animal to the show ring without the knowledge and experience of this family.  Our whole family is completely grateful for their help.   Kyla shows Marley at the beginning to June at the Grimes County Fair.  She has really enjoyed raising a market goat so far.

We cannot learn everything from books.  Sometimes we have to seek out mentors.  Do not be afraid to ask questions and/or ask for help.  People usually want to help out and share their knowledge.

I hope that you enjoyed meeting Marley, a temporary addition to our modern homestead.

Hamantaschen Cookies for our Purim party. They are filled with apricot, strawberry, and raspberry jams.

One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is to experience other cultures and customs from around the world.  Last week I wrote about hosting an Olympic games.  When my family studied about Korea, we fixed kimchi and korean beef.  We enjoy learning this way.  It is fun and memorable.

One of my resolutions for the year 2010 was to celebrate the Biblical Holidays.  As a family we wanted to gain a better understanding of the Old Testament.  We wanted to learn more about Judaism.  We liked the idea that we were celebrating days that Jesus once celebrated.

I am using a great, informative resource.  It is a regular how-to for celebrating the Biblical Holidays.  The book is appropriately named, A Family Guide to Biblical Holidays, by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce.  You can read more about celebrating these holiday on the Heart of Wisdom site.

The first celebration in the year Purim.  This year it is February 28th.  Purim is not a Holy Day; it is a festival celebrating the fact that God saved the Jewish people from extermination under Haman’s plan.  The entire book of Esther tells the interesting and true story.  I am not going to go into detail because you can read about it yourself if you are not already familiar with it.

Since my oldest son was away from home on Sunday, we decided to celebrate Purim today.  First of all, we took the day off from school.  The kids I made hamantaschens, which are traditional cookies for Purim.  They are made to look like a three-sided hat.  Tradition has it that Haman wore a hat like this.  It was not that hard to find a gluten-free recipe from these cookies.  Elana’s Pantry had a good one; although, our cookies are not as nice as her picture.

We made puppets out of cardstock for the main characters like  King Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, Haman, Esther, etc.  It is traditional to recite or retell the story from Esther.  You cheer for joy when Mordecai is mentioned and use noisemakers when Haman is mentioned.  Haman is the bad guy.  Jake made noisemakers, or groggers,  out of used soda cans and small pebbles.

Instead of simply re-reading the Book of Esther, I found a fun way to tell the story using puppets and puppet show theater that I sewed together years ago that hangs in a doorway.  I stumbled upon a site with many different variations of the story called the Hava Nashira Site.  It is a musical with the songs set to popular nursery rhymes.

Kyla and Jake will work the puppets while Clayton narrates.  Lane, Andrew, Isaac, and I will be the audience and sing-along.  It should be a memorable performance.

Then we are having a feast.  Kyla planned the dinner.  I just asked her to plan a festive dinner.  She decided we would make green chicken enchiladas, red chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, and refried beans for dinner.

Celebrating Purim is not difficult.  It is truly a celebration.  My family is going to have fun together while remembering that God is in control.  When things are not going well and circumstances are bleak, God can do amazing things for His people.  What better reason to have a Purim party!