Painted Ladies, Ants, and a Mad Frog; OH MY!

Our painted lady catepillars have now started their pupa stage with their chrysalis forming/hardening.  Of the five catepillars we received only one seems to have died.  The rest are now safely attached to the lid of the jar.

 Day one Monday 19 April: Going to Pupa.

Day 2, April 20th: All 4 are in pupa, notice no legs or hair protrusions.

Yesterday, we got in the ants for the ant farm.  Let me tell ya, those suckers were really angry being in that tube.  Follow directions and definitely refrigerate them for 2 minutes.  Hubby was the one who put them into their farm. He did such a great job only one escapee made a run for it.  That little bugger tried to sting as soon as it was touched.  The above picture was just after one hour after farm arrival. We gave them water, a sliver of apple, a piece of bread, and a corn chip; mind you really small pieces.

This picture was taken after six hours of them being left alone in the down stairs (darkened) bathroom. Notice they now have a pantry started on the left hand side, have moved their dead, have started tunneling.

This morning, we have found them to have built several chambers, more tunnels and have cleaned up their den.  After a few days of rest, we will add a few more drops of water to see how the ants react plus maybe add a piece of mango.   

Do you see what I see? 

Zephyr is holding our first zucchini of the season.  Happy to say, he will help me chop it up for our dinner plates later.

Other garden news: we tried those battery powered mole/gopher chasers. So far, they have worked perfectly since, the little fur balls have left the area. Key to sucess with those 'chasers' is to not let your soil dry out completely since, watering helps to conduct / amplify the noise they emit.

Our newest threat are from rabbits coming into the yard.  So, we will be hanging deer netting onto our fence to keep them at bay.  Also to combat the fire & red ant problem we have; we are using orange oil mixed with water to 'kill - discourage' ants from taking up home in our garden beds.  This is not a QUICK solution; you have to keep spraying the mixture because it is not a poison, will not harm people or critters without exo-skeletons.  For those who want to know; Orange Oil dissolves the shell of the ants exoskeleton thus killing the ants.  However if you just want to ants to nest somewhere else use; corn meal or pour boiling water onto their mound.

Keep in mind, 'natural solutions' take a longer (much) period to work.  Natural solutions are not pesticides and have to be given time to work their magic.  When we have a problem with leaf eating critters, I just mix a solution of dish soap, water and cayenne pepper to spray the leaves.  Again this has to be done on the days not watering and takes time but is not harmful to humans.

For my friend John over in England.  Sorry, he did not have a box to piss in but; this is the 'Mad' frog we seen at the zoo. 

Oh and for our Jewish friends hope you have a wonderful Passover. For those who celebrate Easter; have a great service and week.  We are expecting our family this weekend: Junior and his two girls, and Sid for the weekend. YIKES maybe the Easter Bunny will make a stop at Grandpaw's and Grandmaw's this holiday.

PS: Thanks Mrs. Lily for taking us into town to buy our monthly feed and two new peach trees. Saenz and I enjoyed our lunch with you yesterday. Please stop by next week.........we love you!

Celebrating 100! With A Zoo Day

Zephyr has been working overtime to learn his sight words. Each morning, we read his primary books and practice using flash cards to reinforce sounding out words.

Well his dad told him, we will go to the Zoo once you hit a 100.

 GUESS WHAT! Last Friday Zephyr made the cut off; I love the dangling carrot to ensure he works towards a educational goal that is meaningful to all of us.

San Antonio does not advocate texting and driving. Awesome!

We got a kick out of this billboard.

It was already shaping up to be a hot day. Zephyr tested the temps first. 

Dad got a boo boo! First Aid was called to clean up this scrap by a stub that was not removed from too close to the sidewalk. 

This kind employee gave him a cold soda while we were waiting. Nice people at the zoo. Then of course we always head to the reptile house; seems our boys love reptiles. (I wonder from who they got that glitch in their personality.)

Green Mamba, we could watch this fiesty snake all day. 

 Cobra

These Geckos were as long as my hand; about 6 inches.

Felt sorry for this bullsnake in with the western diamondback rattler. But for the average lay person to see a bullsnake next to a diamondback is a good thing.  For lots of peeps will kill a snake thinking it is venomous. We don't practice the killing of snakes just because they are venomous.

 Do you see the flamingo in the middle - take note of it standing/sleeping on its knees?

Did I tell you that is was hot? Already in the 90s with high humidity by noon.  

 I was thinking of Melodie (Laughing Duck Farm's avatar here.)

We got a kick out of this jungle fowl cock, following Saenz's every move.  

 Have you ever seen one of these Vulturine Guinea Fowl?  This was our first time.

 The San Antonio Zoo has several American Bald Eagles because they were wounded and lost a wing due to somebody shooting them.  This stately and curious bird is part of a breeding program.  Very sad way for such a beautiful bird to live out its life instead of in the sky.

 The boys and I got a kick out of looking the different types of bird's eggs and nests.  Amazing the variety that birds possess.

 Zephyr in the petting zoo.

 Our boys inside the lory exhibit.  These are some noisey little critters who eat nectar and soft fruits -- and they do bite / try to remove shiny objects like hair clips.

 Just before Zephyr and I went into the Butterfly Garden.  This is where Zephyr and I could spend many hours if not for Dad and Saenz waiting for us. LOL

(Our own painted lady catepillars are just entering the pupa stage.  We will post updates for ya'll tomorrow.)

 

Now this Atlas Moth, was our special find this trip.  These moths get really large with the females having up to a 12 inch wing span.  If you look closely, each wing tip has a 'image' of a snake -- to ward off predators.  Also we learned these beautiful creatures only live a few weeks, do not eat, and have no mouth parts.  Did you know farmers consider some butterfly (catepillar stage) species a pest that cause crop damage?  Who knew but, know we understand why only certain butterfly catepillars are for sale for educational purposes.

Overall, our trip was a wonderful day! Thank you Dad for taking a day off to spend learning new things with us.  So we are off to enjoy a second day with Dad home. Whoop! Talk to ya'll tomorrow.

Everywhere You Look Change

We see evidence of things in bloom or growth.

From the apple tree we thought had died due to the ice storm on Feb 4, 2011. No apples but all is good maybe next year.

From prickley pear cactus flowers.

Would you like to harvest some of these?

To a beautiful wild flower some would call a weed.

Our turkey poults are loving their new digs.

The painted lady butterfly caterpillars are getting busy to change.  Zephyr wants to touch them because they are so fuzzy.

Banjo says relax and enjoy the ride into summer!

Onto Other News:

As far as other events: Zephyr has been super busy learning his Dolch sight words just last week he only knew 30 and this week he is working his way up to 100 from 65 yesterday.  His celebration for acheivement will be a trip to the San Antonio Zoo with his Dad.  He is already making plans to see the Prairie Dogs, Bird Aviary, and Butterfly Garden. 

To give Saenz a more structured learning environment; he is currently enrolled into Time4learning to review all his 5th/6th grade requirements.  Later today, we will be discussing how to do an outline in order to write a paper, essay, review,  or other document. 

Next week we are starting back with reading classic literature because I feel it will build their critical thinking, moral questioning, and logic.  I am toying with getting a Latin Primer (as suggested by reading The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education).  I do agree that since Latin is a dead language and is the basis for many languages -- its syntax or ruless of usage will not change; and is a natural progression -- especially with learning English and a foreign language.   Yeppers, I will be learning as I teach them with exposure to the romance language Spanish.  We have our own built-in tutor with hubby. :O)

Zephyr is really moving along now with sight words and can read a few primary books; he will need to be exposed to more language, ideas, history, and government.  It is funny, I only quiz, teach, review with Zephyr at 20 minute intervals throughout the day yet, he picks up information so quickly.  His variety of knowledge is building a questioning mind which I adore.  Saenz usually spends between 2 to 4 hours daily on studying, reading, or reviewing materials and has made two years of progress in mathematics from just last April. By the end of next year he will be at or above his given grade level.  I am so proud of both our boys for making such strides.

I also want to thank all the folks who have give advice: Grumpy Gramps, Jana, Sobrina, Tricia, Jen, and the plethora of other blogs I read to get ideas or to just vent to; so I can become a better mother and teacher.

I also want to thank my hubby for without your support; Saenz would have been a lost soul in the school system.  I would not be able to stay at home and educate our sons.  'Thank-You!' for making our family possible.

My Chaotic Peace: Here is the list of links

Jen, As I said I would here is the compliation of links for resources I use to homeschool our boys.  It is funny to think just how much you inspired me.  Over a year ago, I was wrestling with the ideal or dream of home schooling Saenz and Zephyr.  I read your blog and journey through life and knew home schooling was going to be our path.  So with many thanks I have put together this list of links or internet places we use. 

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=6725af53063e87a7ab0ba036c9bc4c1f
http://www.khanacademy.org/ (love love love this site)
http://www.hslda.org/
http://www.homeschooldiner.com/subjects/main.html
http://www.mightybookjr.com/Catalog_A_F.php
http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/
http://www.sciencelearningspace.com/getting-started/syllabus-schedule/
http://www.learningpage.com/main/home.html
http://www.asm.org/index.php/education/classroom-activities.html
http://teachers.net/
http://homeschoolercafe.blogspot.com/
http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/
http://arlenkern74.blogspot.com/
http://homeschoolingintexas.blogspot.com/ (love Jana and have met her & family)
http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/
http://www.learningthings.com/blog/index.php/homeschool-curriculum-offers-great-benefits
http://www.guesthollow.com/blog.html
http://runofthemillfamily.blogspot.com/ (story of the world)
http://www.tanglewoodeducation.com/
http://store.doverpublications.com/index.html
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/index.htm

http://www.worldbook.com/encyclopedias/world_book_-_1_year_web_subscription/flypage.tpl.html/www.homeschooltracker.com/default.aspx

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/teachingtools.html (Love Love Love this site…)
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_sp/1196247623?sp=62867&event=TNRP
http://www.queenhomeschool.com/index.html
http://www.engrade.com/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Whatsnew.shtml
http://www.rain.org/homeschool/world-history-start-up.html
http://www.nestlearning.com/
http://www.childcareland.com/free.html
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/
http://www.homeschoolmedia.com/gems/contents.phtml
http://www.lessonpathways.com/Pathways/Detail/54523/homeschool-resource-links
http://web.wm.edu/hsi/
http://www.homeschool-articles.com/
http://www.lessonpathways.com/Home
http://www.mathcats.com/index.html#contents
http://www.early-years-homeschool.com/
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/index.cfm
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/default.asp?bhcd2=1270042053
http://www.ixl.com/membership/family/pricing
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/lab_science_book_pg.htm
http://www.mathtutordvd.com/products/item7.cfm

http://onlineeducationforkids.com/
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/classroom/k-2/math/resources/
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/sci.htm
http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/science.html
http://www.texashomeeducators.com/
http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-id/
http://www.memorydynamics.com/school_products.html
http://budgethomeschool.com/
http://free.ed.gov/
http://www.tlsbooks.com/
http://www.suite101.com/


http://www.kidzone.ws/
http://www.learn2type.com/
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/
http://www.homefires.com/free.asp
http://www.timthemathman.com/Quizzes/Multiplication_Quizzes/
http://www.aaaspell.com/
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/

http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/index.htm
 (blank or actual sheets to teach printing or cursive)

http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/childrenpages/mission.html
http://www.education.com/
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm
http://wwwhttp//www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/saladin2e/student/olc/esp.mhtml.sciencemuseum.org.uk/educators.aspx

http://www.einsteinmontessori.com/ems.php?category=faqs_about_dyslexia
http://www.homeeducationresources.com/FREE1.htm
http://wwhttp//www.microsoft.com/education/teachers/guides/freetools.aspx?WT.mc_id=freetools_pbsw.colormountain.com/

http://jmathworksheets.com/index.html
http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Teacher-Opportunities.aspx
http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/planners/grade.htm
http://www.secularhomeschool.com/content/
http://www.knowledge-gallery.com/index.php

http://www.shodor.org/featured/DiseaseModel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freeK12edu+%28Free+K-12+Education%29

http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/
http://educator.com/
http://www.time4learning.com/ (we are using this monthly service to supplement)
http://www.everythinghomeschooling.com/ (have subscription for lesson plans)
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page (free books)
http://www.weeklyreader.com/ (have subscription)

Currently, I am reading the The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education plus a few other books to ensure I have left nothing out.  Home schooling is working out wonderful for us because of folks like Grumpy Gramps, Jana, Sobrina, Jen, Melodie, Tricia and others who are there when I have questions.

Thanks,
Talk to you later after our class; we are attending online a free seminar on lasers here: http://www.superchargedscience.com/
Mal

Continuing Resolution? Just Shakes Head

Okay all -- year  -- month and especially this week; I have been keeping an eye on the congressional budget fight over 'riders' -basically add ons to fund things like Planned Parenthood / NPR / EPA monitoring etc. etc. etc..... All the while, ignoring the fact the US Government was essentially not funded properly.  Though congressional leaders did pass 'Stop Gaps' measures to limp along and wage war on three fronts, government funding, and pet projects that should be privatized; up and running.

Mind you;  Gentle Readers this budget  was for Fiscal Year 2011 which actually began on 1 Oct 2010.

Seems our congressional leaders did not want to make decisions in 2010 since, the Republicans were poised to take over the House and maybe the Senate during the mid-term elections in which Republicans did take the House.  Sadly, we pay 435 representatives and 100 senators approximately 14.5K monthly (7.75 million) to do their jobs and yet; we still have no budget.

Get this ---- Fiscal Year 2012 budget should already be on the table for debate.  So while this event will again be in the news all week just remember: Men and Women who are in uniform will again see only a partial payment if this mess does not get worked out by Friday. 

If the budget is not layed in; our military will still get up and wear the uniform, possibly be killed in action while their loved ones wait for a pay check or back pay.  I know from personal experience as a young enlisted -- single / without children; I had barely two nickels to rub together even before I became a married Airman let alone a six month savings built up.  When I saw the one congressional woman on the news complaining she lived pay day to pay day and needed her congressional pay check to survive on 14.5K monthly.  I wanted to climb through the screen........

If you want to know what your military members are being paid for basic pay; remember the bulk of the military are young soliders, marines, airmen, sailors who have been in less than 1 enlistment just look at the pay scale for an E1 through E5.  Then you tell me if we need to pay a congressional member as much as we do?????

http://www.militaryfactory.com/military_pay_scale.asp

I am giving our Congress and President
a personal 'Continuing Resolution,'
 I am voting all of you out in 2012 / 2014 / 2016
We need a clean slate
Still disgusted but carrying on.....

I Wish They Would Flipping Make Up Their Minds

Okay Ladies and Gents,

This post is a rant so if you can't handle the heat time to push away from your computer screen. 

As you know Congress is considering allowing for a government shut down.  This means employees would go into a furlough (not be able to go to work) but, would still be employees with no affect to their status or benefits.

However, a two week furlough actually means 1000s of workers (millions of mouths will go without money for basic necessities of which my hubby is one) --  would go without a paycheck for over a month.  Mind you, we the American taxpayer pays for Congress to be in their seats to work out this issue in a timely manner.

REALLY???? I MEAN REALLY?

Consider, this budget arguement has been going on for well over a flea flicking year.  With just limp along amendments to keep the government moving along until our Congress decides to get off their collective Arses and get to work really building a compromise.  Now what will happen if a shut down does go into effect. 

Our military will continue to show up and aptly do their given jobs.  Until they basically run out of bullets, pens, and paper etc. etc. etc and then start charging.  Civilians employees have been hard at work determining which workers are considered emergency essential to keep basic operations up and running say like Command and Control centers, transportation, hospitals, comm, and so on.  If we run out of bandaids --- government credit card holders simply go out and charge for them. (and many other supplies until maxed out) 

Now when this furlough happened back in 95 / 96, I was in uniform.  I showed up for work and my civilian counter parts did not.  I got to not only do my job (as did other military personnel) but, I picked up the work of those who were not allowed to come in.  Then later, when the budget was passed, all went back to normal and those employees were given back pay. 

YEPPERS for the job they were not allowed to come do but, in essence I and many others did for them.

Yes I am pissed!  As I have been keeping check on what is happening on both the House and Senate floors; I see this headline today:

"Obama announces reelection bid 04/04/11 President will begin to raise money for 2012 campaign next week."

Really? 

Mr. Obama,

I have kept quiet for a long time watching the kind of job you have been doing for the last three years.  Sadly Sir, I am not impressed with your leadership.  As the leader of the free world, you have not inspired those of us in the ranks to want to rise up, exceed excellence, do their given jobs, and take over the lead.  Could you please just have our elected officials get off their arses and stop grand-standing over nit noy pieces of legislation in order, to get themselves re-elected? 

While, my family will be able to weather a two week layoff; not many in our (US) economy can not do so.  And for the love of GOD and our country please post the 'real' numbers of unemployment some where.  You know those folks who have been out of work so long; they no longer show up on the COOKED BOOKS of the government keeps releasing.  I have yet to see; the 'transparency' you promised. 

I implore each congressional member to include supreme court justices and POTUS give up their paychecks for double the amount of time civilian are furloughed but, still report to work.  See how it really affects you after awhile.

OH Wait! it will not have that big of an affect on your check books because; you earn 3 to 10 times the amount say that my husband earns and your healthcare, lodging, transportation is paid for by the American people. 

So those who are continuing to read this post.  Say a pray for the many who may be facing this impending event if our elected leaders don't sit down and work on our budget. Personally, I am going to vote each of the people out and seriously pray for a better system of checks and balances.

http://www.govexec.com/

Sorely Pissed Off,
Mal

Butchering Day: Warning Farm Animal

It is a hard fact of life on a farm for folks who raise animals to stock their own pantry or freezer. Today we butchered a sow for freezer.

First she was put down quickly.

Hung her up

Skinned her; she was over 300 lbs.

As you can see she is as long as my hubby is tall.

She had lots of Manteca (lard) as you can see.  Now I am cooling the meat before cutting it into package size bags for the deep freezer.  We have another sow that will be ready this fall just in time to replace what we use of this one.  In June/July, our older lazy hens will join the fray.  Our animals are all well fed and taken care of; we teach our children to respect our animals who in turn give us meat.