Fall Fun

Well, today we enjoyed an unusually sunny afternoon outside raking leaves and gathering the last of the hazelnuts from the tree in our yard. Although it was very cold, the kids enjoyed playing around in the leaves and learning to use the rakes- even Eden. This of course was rewarded with some very chocolaty hot cocoa.

The three pumpkin pies cooked just the day before yesterday are already gone! I still have a large amount of pumpkin left from the other day however. First, the kids threw the large pumpkin over the balcony to shatter it in pieces. Then we gathered the seeds to wash, and hauled the flesh pieces in a clothes basket to the tub to clean them and cut out the rest of the "guts". After baking them in the oven for a few hours we peeled the skin of the mushy chunks and blended it up. Micah made his first batch of cookies without any help from me.

He was proud and they were amazing topped with a cream cheese spiced frosting! We soaked the seeds in salt water for a few days and roasted them, (that was a very yummy snack for everyone on Sat.)During this we discussed why we dry seeds, and soak them to get the enzyme inhibitors off for digestion; and why we don't want them off the ones were saving for planting. They all enthusiastically helped with every step of the process- and we had a lot of fun.

We ate our first batch of stinging nettles the other night. You simply boil them, adding butter salt pepper onion, bacon or however you would normally fix your favorite greens. Boiling gets rid of all prickles. Man were they tasty! Nettles are a liver and blood purifier, clearing up skin problems, healthy for hair, and helps with rheumatism. Not to mention,they're packed with vitamins and minerals. James and I especially are getting into wild edible plants. He even cut some cattail stalks and roots to try while getting water from the spring. We discovered you have to harvest them in summer to be edible. We made eggshell water by soaking 5-6 cleaned organic eggshells in a couple of cups of boiling water, adding a tbl of lemon juice to break it down. Strain off the shells and refrigerate the liquid. This is helpful for building bones and getting other vitamins and minerals. I like putting some in my fruthies or just drinking my vitamins down with some. It helps to have something with magnesium at the same time to help absorb the calcium. Nathan and Eden helped me with this project and had fun crushing the shells for me.
As a family, we have also watched the "Making Herbs Simple" Vol 1 dvd and "Homesteading For Beginners"vol 1. Everyone enjoyed these immensely and are looking forward to watching vol 2. We have also started reading the 4th book of Little House series, " On the Banks of Plum Creek" together. They usually beg for one more chapter.
Other learning interests going on include the ancient civilizations Treasure Chests I acquired not too long ago, we have one on Egypt, Roman and Aztec( Jacob is building the Aztec temple activity right now). These are full of activities,crafts, booklets and maps and all kinds of cool stuff.
They are also a bit into zoology and Micah is reading through the Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day, and always citing some new interesting tidbit of info to the family. Jacob is reading more worthy literure of a scientific or historical nature. This was a welcomed respite from his usual Garfield and StarWars books( Which James and I feel led to scrap now, because they are too worldly, and not much benefit to his spiritual growth.)Micah is now reading A Tale of Two Cities which is also under prayerful scrutiny.
Speaking of zoology, our landlords payed for us to go to the zoo here in Heidelberg. It was a wonderful, beautiful perfect day! Everyone had a fabulous time. This zoo had an added bonus of a petting zoo. Baby goats are so cute! And best of all, there was a huge field beside the park full of plantain. I dug out a few plants and transplanted them in our flower bed.
Hannah has finished her blue reader, and read 40 pages in the next level in one day! It used to be such a struggle to get her to read 5 a day. Nathan loves to get books and sit looking at the pictures when no one is available. At the library , he likes to get books about animals and Magic School Bus. These are full of evolution statements, so I am glad he doesn't read yet; I can paraphrase and edit as I go.
We are actually in the process of gleaning out all academic resources that have any anti- Christian, evolution, or non- glorifying to God statements in them( brownies with a little poop in them.) There are plenty of Christian resources that give God glory and are much more reliable out there. So, we are prayerful trading in the Ok for the best. Meanwhile we all are growing and learning together through LIFE!