Today after schoolwork we worked in the garden. PD#2 used the little red wagon to haul my tomato seedlings to the garden. After planting 72 tomato seeds only 26 germinated and sprouted. Not a very good germination rate, but I am sure if I had a greenhouse the rate would have been better. I transplanted the 26 seedlings to the raised bed. The rest of the egg cartons containing the ungerminated seed I dumped into a prepared bed, raked the soil lightly and am waiting to see if any more will sprout there in the sun. It was a beautiful day today, so I am hopeful they will sprout. If not, I'll plant more seeds.
We also planted 50 onion sets/plants in two prepared bed areas. I raked the entire, small pile of chicken/goat/horse manure and hay pile into the area where we will be planting corn in a few weeks. I am hoping to get six rows, but PH thinks four is more likely.
The lone peach tree we planted last year has flexible branches, so it is a possibility that the goats didn't kill it. They continuously stripped the leaves from it, no matter how hard we tried to fence them out. This year we are hopeful our new fence will keep them out. Plus, we have installed an electric fence (solar charged) to divide the acreage in half.
One of the baby goats born yesterday, the white one, we named Poppy. Poppy is not doing so well. She is very wobbly still, lies down too much and won't nurse. She keeps arching her back which is not a good sign. Tonight her mama started acting strange after eating a scoop of sweet feed. She acted like she was choking, and had continuous saliva/drool drip from her mouth. I believe she has an impacted cud, and am praying she recovers. We will check her cheeks again in the morning, if she makes it, to remove anything. I will run to get mineral oil in the morning to dose her, plus get a calf bolus (like a laxative) to help. I am praying she will be recovered in the morning though, but I think it means no more sweet feed for her. I am putting a bale of alfalfa on the shopping list for Thursday so that all the mamas will get additional nutrition while they are nursing in these early days. Plus, several goat blocks would be a good idea, along with more DE for worming.
The all black doeling we named Holly (I wanted Nightshade but was outvoted). That little girl is very active, and definitely knows where her food is, I wish she would show her sister!
For Valentine's PH and I went into the small town closest to us and had dinner, the kids stayed home, and we brought them dinner. It was really nice to be able to sit and eat without fussing, or running someone to the bathroom. Honestly, I was so happy and relieved when PH suggested going without the kids. I love them, but it was a stressful day and I needed some quiet time.
PS#2 is taking a sign language class for toddlers at our home school co-op. He really isn't into practicing the signs, but he is obviously paying attention because when I do them, he can tell me what they are, he thinks it is a game. When signing the word "Jesus" he thinks it means the entire song of "Jesus Loves Me". ;-) He is also studying Creation, and Phonics. The fourth hour he either stays with me in my Emergency Prep class, or plays in the nursery with his little friend Monkey Boy. ;-) I stay with PS#2 in his first three classes.
PD#1 is taking a Science course on energy, a guitar class, a devotional class for young ladies, and a high school writing course. PD#2 is taking a class on major U.S. Rivers and Water Conservation, an Art Class, one called Pizza Party (a unit study on Italy) and Music.
Have a good week, and I will check in later this week to share what we have done to prepare and to get your progress.
Amy, Sounds like you have a good start with planting tomatoes, onions and in a couple of weeks corn. I'm getting excited and can't wait to do some planting here. It's still to early and cold here. Sweet, you have two new baby goats, I sure hope Poppy does better. Along with Poppy's mama.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, Mom and Dad just need a little time for themselves. PH knew you needed a break and a nice dinner for Valentine's Day. That was so sweet of him.
Sign language is a great language to learn, PS#2 seems to be picking it up. Especially since he is making a game of it. PD#1 is learning guitar. Is there a specfic type of music she likes to play? I love the idea of a unit study on Italy where the class is called Pizza Party. Sounds like the school-coop is trying to make school very interesting for all the kids. My son (the one left in high school) would always come home and say he was bored in school. Then when he got involved in welding (a program offered at the technical school) he became extremely interested in school. So now he is finishing 12th grade (3 months to go) and has been going to the technical school at the same time. I think there needs to be something in the classes or school to motivate the kids beyond just reading a book in class.
Have a great evening, catch you later.
Hi Sandy! PD#1 is actually called Praise and Worship Guitar, so they are learning Worship Choruses like "Do Lord" and some more modern ones. She really likes it, which is good. I have played the violin for 30 years, and wanted my girls to do so also, but they weren't interested. PD#2 wants to play the piano, but it will have to wait until we get the house finished, no place for a piano at this time.
DeletePH went through the Vocational Metal Trade program at our high school. He was in it for four years. The last year he was allowed to work 1/2 day for a fabrication company. Today 25 years later he is a Plants Manager and teaches younger guys how to weld, fabricate, hydraulics, mechanics, etc. All because he went through the vocational track at school, this is how he has provided for our family. So tell your son good job and to stick with it. It is an honorable trade and will support him and a family some day. My dad was also a welder/mechanic, and was certified for underwater welding as well. I agree kids need a motivation, though for me books did it ;-)
Hey Amy, I think that is just the cat's meow playing the guitar and learing the Worship Choruses. Back many years ago, I used to play classical guitar (back in high school, I won't say how many years ago that was, lol). The violin is a beautiful instrument. I tried to get my son to play but he chose the viola instead. He played it for almost 2 years. The girls want to play the piano, sounds very ambitious and a good thing :-) Yes, I agree Vocational Trade is a great way to support family and make a future. We try to encourage him to continue on, were hoping he finds a job in the same field before the summer hits. When I was young, books were not for me. As I got older, I can't seem to get enough of them. Take care, chat with you soon.
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