The Homeschool Mother’s Journal~ Week 7

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal meme is hosted by Sue a.k.a. The Homeschool Chick. You can click the link or the button below to see how you can participate or to read other link ups.  

In my life this week...

I’ve been busy, busy, busy! Planning field trips, meeting new friends and trying to work. Some weeks it feels like it’s just hard to keep your head above water—which is why I’ve cleared our schedule next week! I’m ready for some HOME time!      

In our homeschool this week...

My daughter began crocheting a baby blanket for her yet to be born nephew. It’s turning out beautifully. I’ll count it as Home Ec. She’s also decided that she’d like to decorate and sell her own line of clothing and spent much of one day transforming a shirt she found at the thrift store. She’s not one to like the ordinary and I enjoy her creative flair.  

My 15-year old is continuing to work out at the Y. I think he’s managed to rack up enough hours in the past two months that is required for an entire 4 years of high school Phys. Ed. credits!  Now he’s ultra focused—he found out about a homeschool football team. Conveniently, the Y directed him to the coach.

My 17-year old has been spending time tuning up his car which I count as an elective, Auto Repair. He’s hoping to enter it in a couple car shows this year. Fortunately, his car isn’t the only thing on his mind. He’s also been enjoying a new Latin program and an animation program that he pulled out of the pile of curriculum we’ve just not gotten around to using, but I’m sure no one else would know what that’s like. *grin*    

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

We’ve had lots of socialization, dare I say, too much?  

Last weekend we visited Cathedral Caverns with some new friends of ours. It was a nice trip—one we’ve been planning to make for awhile and just hadn’t gotten around to. 

We also belong to a group for homeschool teens to be able to meet and hang out with other homeschool teens. If you have younger children, you may not realize how beneficial that is, but as my kids have gotten older, we’ve watched many of their friends head off to school or in different directions. Sometimes it’s hard to find teens to hang out with. This week they were able to go to a movie with the teens and my husband and I took the opportunity to have a date. Steak- N- Shake and Home Depot and my husband thought he was in heaven. Seriously.    

My favorite thing this week was...

Do I really need to choose only one thing?

What's working/not working for us...

Our full schedule isn’t really working out that well. I’m really looking forward to a bit of time at home with nothing to do but…well…SCHOOL!  

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

I’ve just spent the past week thinking how fortunate I am to have been able to homeschool my children the past 12 years. They have grown into teenagers that I LOVE spending time with and I’m really going to miss this season of my life when it’s over. *tear*  

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

Today we drove to Atlanta for a field trip to Medieval Times that I’d arranged. One of the moms that attended was Diane, a fellow blogger.  We’ve read each other’s blogs for a while now and it was so nice to be able to meet her and her daughter Grace. I only wish we would’ve had more time to chit chat. 

Diane homeschools using a Charlotte Mason approach and blogs about her experiences and life as a new homesteader.   I hope you’ll stop by and visit her at Cabin in the Woods.

Until next week…Happy Homeschooling!

Field Trip Friday: Buffalo Soldier Monument

Well, it’s nearly the first Friday of the month which means it’s time for Field Trip Friday. My family has taken our classroom out into the world quite a bit lately.

Last week we attended a special program at Earlyworks in Alabama and traveled back in time to the days just after the Civil War.  We met many well known heroes from history. We also met a Buffalo Soldier, someone we’d not known much about  that encouraged us to spend our week digging a bit deeper. 

After the Civil War, Congress passed a bill to establish a peacetime regiment. The result was four infantry and two Calvary troops of African Americans that came to be known as the Buffalo Soldiers, many of which were freed slaves.

The nickname ‘Buffalo Soldier’ originated from the Comanche and Creek Indians who, though enemies of the Buffalo Soldiers, admired their fearlessness and courage, qualities the Indians believed the roaming buffalo possessed. The name also came because the Indians thought the soldiers’ hair resembled the tuft of hair on the bison’s head.  

After talking briefly to the presenter after his presentation, we learned that the Buffalo Soldiers had actually camped in Huntsville. In fact, there is a memorial erected in their honor. Of course I couldn’t stay away!

Located just off University Drive on the grounds of the Academy for Academics and Arts is displayed one of three Buffalo Soldier memorials in the US—the only memorial East of the Mississippi River.  Other memorials can be found in Junction City and Leavenworth- both in Kansas.

 

At the end of the Spanish American War in 1889 many troops from the 10th Calvary were assigned to Camp Albert G. Force after the city of Huntsville petitioned Congress to allow the troops to station there while recovering from malaria and battle wounds. The location of the camp became known as Calvary Hill.  

The 10 foot tall, 35,000 pound black granite base tells the story of the Buffalo Soldiers. There service was an integral part of the Westward Expansion, as they protected settlers from Indian and bandit attacks while stringing telegraph lines across the West.

The bronze statue depicts the likeness of 10th Calvary Sgt. George Berry riding his horse up Cuba’s San Juan Hill carrying the United States flag.

Though the Buffalo Soldiers often received inferior horses, supplies and living conditions, they received 23 Medals of Honor, a hint of their courage and bravery.

The Buffalo Soldiers remained segregated in service until the late 1940’s when President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order to integrate the armed forces.  

If you happen to find yourself near Huntsville, Alabama you can see the Buffalo Soldier Memorial for yourself at 2800 Poplar Avenue in Huntsville.

Have you been on a field trip lately? You can link up to Field Trip Friday so we can learn right along with you. You’ll find the guidelines here.

If  you’re already familiar to Field Trip Friday you can link up below. Until next time~ Happy Field Trippin’!

Huntsville

One Reason I Love Homeschooling

Today you’ll find me at The Homeschool Classroom sharing one reason I LOVE homeschooling. I hope you’ll stop by and take a peek at some of the fun we’ve had as  taking our classroom out into the world around us.

Before you hop away, let me remind you to stop back here later this evening for Field Trip Friday. I’ll be sharing our trip back in time to the late 1800’s.  I hope you’ll consider linking up and sharing some of your adventures too!

Cathedral Caverns Charm Bracelet

 

Earlier in the week I shared my family’s trip to Cathedral Caverns, one of the best known caverns in Alabama. What I didn’t tell you was that in addition to enjoying the cave tour, I was also pleasantly surprised to find a pressed penny machine on the property. I’m not sure why I was surprised, other than the fact that this time I was actually armed with pennies and quarters—something that doesn’t normally happen.

I pressed a set of four pennies.

One pictures the State Park sign that you see as you enter the park…

  

Brave the Cave depicts a flying bat since Cathedral Caverns was once known as The Bat Cave.

The final two pennies each represent an extraordinary feature of the cave, Goliath, which claims to hold a world record for the largest stalagmite in the world.

 

And the Frozen Waterfall which is said to be the largest flow stone wall.

 

I created a Cathedral Caverns charm bracelet by adding them all to a coppertone bracelet with some natural carnelian beads that reminded me of the colors we saw in the cave.

This bracelet and more are available to purchase at Wear the Adventure.

Who else has an Etsy shop? How long have you been in business? Do you have any tips for someone like me that is just starting out? Feel free to leave a link back to your shop. I’d love to stop by and check it out!

Field Trip Friday Reminder

The weather is spring like here in Alabama and as a result, the kids and I have been out exploring once again and taken several field trips, one of which I will be sharing this Friday for the monthly Field Trip Friday. I hope that you’ll consider joining in this fun meme so we can all add to our “Places to Visit” list.

If you’re new to Field Trip Friday, you’ll find the guidelines here.   I’ll have my post added and ready to go by 8pm CST on Thursday so you can stop back and link up.

Can’t wait to see what you’ve all been up to!