We Are Deep In the Heart of Texas

Nomadic seasons of farming adventures with nature thrown in to include; a pinch of family, snippets of friends, counting our blessings, paying IT forward, home school, and the spicy things I decide to rant about.















Monday, October 25, 2010

Back to School

After two weeks off to enjoy autumn.  Can you believe it -- in South Texas?  The boys went back to school today.  Much to their dismay and sighs.  This week Saenz and I are learning fractions through cooking and baking cookies.  Zephyr is learning how to read entire sentences and writing.  I hope to get back into science next week with a dash of spelling, reading, agriculture (gardening), and maybe I will add in an incubator of eggs?  Though, it would be a tough feat to accomplish since, winter may come early.  We have been seeing lots of wild geese, ducks and other birds headed South; don't know if that is an ominous sign of bad weather.  Or just cooler weather.

I am writing this here so ya'll will keep me on the straight and narrow.  I quit smoking cigarettes on the 20th -- cold turkey now for five days.  It has not been that bad with cravings; I just go mow something.  But, sleeping in the hotel was darn near impossible.  I am 44 years old and had been smoking since I was 16 (actually started younger).  I figure if I tell ya'll then maybe I will have to keep honest.  The boys have be extra encouraging, next my flubber will be coming off since I have added a koozie of fat since retiring from the Air Force.

More on that later...... ROFL

I have forgotten to post the links to My Passport to India for days 3 through 6.  Enjoy -- very enlightening and like Tali; I may pull out my Indian cookbook and teach the boys how to make Tandoori chicken and Naan.  I love all the spices Indian cuisine has and its flavors using fresh produce.  YUM YUM

Day three, shows the hospitality of the India people and their living conditions. Day four, Mr. Chris visits a little boy's home.  What a difference of living standards there; I had Saenz imagine our entire family living in his room without electricity. Day five shows the differences in clothing from village to village and really ornate temples. Day six talks about illiteracy in India. This has been an eye opening experience for our sons.  

Links here:
http://www.mypassporttoindia.org/day-3/
http://www.mypassporttoindia.org/day-4/
http://www.mypassporttoindia.org/day-5/
http://www.mypassporttoindia.org/day-6/

Just one small thing I noticed at HEB (local grocery store chain) was small planters of herbs like cilantro being sold for $4.  Can you believe it?  The herb cut inside the store costs .33 cents for a bunch as big as in the planter.  Have we really gotten so lazy, we can not figure out how to grow fresh herbs?  Our winter garden is coming nicely especially the broccoli.  Who knew? I sure had no clue it would grow so well -- it has doubled its size.  One of our weekly lessons will be starting a pineapple tree from its top cutting.  The how to's are found on this link which gives excellent directions:

http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Pineapple/pineapple.htm

Any way, I am too wordy so I will leave you now. :O)

11 comments:

Sharon said...

The geese always fly south this time of year. Lovely to watch their "V" pattern in the sky and hearing them honking.

Good for you! I was going to write a blog on quitting smoking, but figured that most people will quit in their own time or when they see God. I met him over 10 1/2 years ago. So many are under the impression, that if they don't even have a "smoker's cough" (like me), that there is plenty of time to quit. Then I got the flu and it attacked my most vulnerable spot - my lungs. Keep up the good work!

There are some people that can't grow herbs (or anything else for that matter) that buy it already grown. :)

There is a teacher on my blog from India (?). I couldn't find a translator for Tamil, but it is the prettiest lettering! I believe is working on English. Very sweet! Three beautiful children - I take it.

Nancy said...

Good for you for quitting smoking!
I imagine providing your sons with a good example and keeping yourself healthy for them is an excellent incentive to stay on track.
Fortunately, I'm not a smoker, BUT at 50, I was getting to the point where I was terribly out of shape. I could feel my waste-line jiggle when driving my truck -- YUCK! Anyway, I joined a yoga class and what a difference it has made in my overall fitness. Another huge benefit is stress relief.
After a year of going to yoga class 2-3 times a week, I SLOWLY lost weight, gained in strength, flexibility and balance and I look 10 years younger.
So, you go girl! And, give yourself a pat on the back...every day. Best wishes to you and your family.

John Going Gently said...

the way you have applied yourself to your sons education has really impressed me.... you are a credit to your family
x
just wanted you to hear that

nuranuraniku.blogspot.com said...

halo,
happy to go back to school again.
if the SA is winter, temperatures up to 25 c outside.

Kids and Canning Jars said...

Glad for the update! I love the pass port; We did a passport of sorts years ago I found it in dd14 book and it is so cute. Thanks for sharing.

Melissa

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

you go girl, nicotine free, and educating those sons.

mixednut555 said...

Dang, I commented here yesterday congratulating you on quitting smoking and my comments are not showing. Anyway CONGRATS!

Nekkid Chicken said...

Takes off chapeau bows before all the nice comments.


(slightly reddening over Big John's -- you know I loves ya more than spilled milk. LOL)

Sharon, Some days it feels way too hot to be fall. Last year, we did not see many birds going South.

Nancy, I will be adding aerobics to our daily lessons probably yoga as well. Thanks!

Nekkid Chicken said...

KATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! ~:>

Nekkid Chicken said...

Nura, I miss the translator application on your blog. Did you move it?

Melissa the passport to India has been so cool and started many discussions.

Thank you Ms. Joanna, I am trying to make learning fun and now; and a safer place to learn.

Judy's Corner said...

Mal,

I have never been a smoker, but I commend you for taking the plunge to quit. I wish you success. I understand it is not an easy task!