Thursday, October 3, 2013

A Bunch of Ole Kooks

We got a book, Cooking Up US History, and there are lots of great recipes! We used the Berry Ink recipe and are looking forward to making candles and, hopefully, soap! If you are like me, you are wondering where the food recipes are? Well, there are a few for the Colonial Time Period. We tried Johnny Cakes when we went camping, so yesterday we decided to make Ole Kooks. I can’t find anything on the internet that tells what Ole Kooks are, so I need to check the authors resources =) Anyway we decided they are doughnuts! So, we rolled them in cinnamon-sugar! I am not a fryer, so some are a bit over done… BUT day old tasted just like Apple Fritters, minus the apple =) So, next time, we will add apples and eat them the next day!

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Ole Kooks

Ingredients

2 cups milk                                                                3 ½ cups flour (I used about 6)

1 cup butter                                                               ¼ cups chopped raisins

3 eggs, separated                                                     ½ tsp nutmeg

1 ¼ cups sugar                                                         ¼ cup milk

1 package dry yeast (1 ½ tsp)                                   hot fat for deep frying (I used Crisco)

¼ cup warm water

Steps

1. Put milk in a small saucepan

2. Add butter and warm over low heat until the butter gets soft. Set aside

3. Put the egg yolks into a small bowl. Beat well, adding sugar while beating. Continue beating until all sugar is mixed in.

4. In a small metal or glass bowl, beat egg whites until light peaks form

5. In a large bowl, mix together yeast and warm water

6. Stir in milk, egg yolks, and egg whites into yeast mixture

7. Add enough of the flour to make a soft dough. Add more if necessary. Knead to mix all ingredients

8. Put dough back in the large bowl. Cover with a soft cloth

9. Put dough in a warm place and let rise until double in size, several hours or over night.

10. Soak raisins and nutmeg in ¼ cup of milk for about 30 minutes

11. Pour off mils and mix raisins and nutmeg into dough that has risen

12. Prepare hot fat for frying by heating to 370 degrees

13. Pinch off pieces of the dough about the size od an egg. Fry them in the hot fat 10 to 12 minutes, until they puff up and brown ** this went a lot faster for me, but I was not deep frying. **

14. Drain on paper towels

**15. roll in cinnamon sugar**

 

Serves 10 ** I first made big ones. They really puffed up! So, I made bit sized ones and hade at least 3 dozen!**

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Those Darned Socks

today we were learning about the daily lives of colonial children and we learned that they would darn the socks. So, of course we have some holes, so we got to work =) I only got pictures of completed work since I was helping Benjamin.DSC00152DSC00151

This is a great picture for art on perspective =)

 

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So, this second picture was actually taken first. Isaac used pink thread for his black sock. When he told me he was done, I couldn’t stop laughing because he left the thread with the needle attached to the sock! Bekah had to help hold him down while I got the camera out =) The top photo is his finished job the second time around =)

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Finally… the Yankee Peddler

So, this year we have gone to bribing our bambinos to do well =) They get wampum every time they do tasks. Well, in exchange for the wampum, the Yankee Peddler has gum, candy, pencils, glow in the dark teeth, tooth paste…etc =)

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Friday, September 6, 2013

Classic Literature

When we started planning this year, I had some concerns as to what classic literature would fit our school year. Classic literature that is appropriate for upper elementary aged children. Well, God always answers prayers! During the American Revolution, families would read the bible, Gulliver’s Travels, and Robinson Crusoe! Happy Mommy =) We read the bible every day, so we decided to read Gulliver’s Travels first! I do not enjoy reading out loud for numerous reasons, so I get very happy when I find audiobooks at Librivox, which means free voice in Latin!

Which brings me to today. We just listened to the chapter where Gulliver has to convince the Ruler of the little people to let him go. So, how do the children get free from Benjamin's chain? By writing Benjamin the Ruler, a letter convincing him to let them free. I will provide their daily rations, lunch, when they are let go =)

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Pocahontas and Massasoit

Our first topic in our first component teaches about the Lost colony of Roanoke and Jamestown.  So, of course, we got to meet Pocahontas!

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We enjoyed making long houses…

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Turning cartwheels….

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and eating strange foods =) I looked up the wrong Indian Tribe, so our foods were all from the Pilgrim time period and region =) We liked the Boiled Bread!

The second topic is about the Pilgrims, so last weeks food completely fits! We took the food and headed to the great outdoors!

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We headed for a waterfall to read about the Pilgrims. The plan was to find a rock and talk about stepping on the rock. Did you know that is a myth?! There is a rock that is set aside as Plymouth Rock, but we did that. Not the pilgrims =( So, I was a little sad because I wanted to study more about rock formations =( Oh well, we can still learn =)

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Benjamin decided he wanted to study acorns. Now we need to look up New England acorns =)

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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Opening Day

School has officially begun! Last Monday, we officially started the Sky Mountain days. We did so by having a better routine, some independent work, decorating our classroom a bit more, etc. Then, on Friday, we had our school group opening day….

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Meeting at the Liberty Tree.

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Captain Moroni coming in…

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On the Freedom Trail learning about Noble Patriots and gathering goodies…

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With Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty…

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The school group with Captain Moroni…

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All dressed and ready for the learning of colonial life (i.e. where the privy is)…

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Playing colonial games…

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In battle….

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Meeting Patrick Henry.

 

Wow, what a perfect, busy day! Here’s to a wonderful school year!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Back to School Sewing

I have never enjoyed shopping. Even when I had all the money in the world to shop with. So, you can imagine the excitement each year when everyone has to go ‘Back to School’ shopping and I realize that I DON’T HAVE TO! YEA!!!! However, I do have to go sewing =)

Well, the children are old enough now that they too have to go ‘Back to School Sewing.’

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So far this year, we have sewn: Class ‘B’ uniforms (stay at home pajama pants with a neat American flag t-shirt), Class ‘A’ uniforms (colonial outfits with haversacks), and school bags for when we are car-schooling instead of home-schooling =)

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We still need to finish Bekah’s dress and accessories. It takes a lot longer when an 8 year old is doing the sewing =) Oh, and make money bags for their wampum.

FYI, we do have class ‘C’ uniforms…. jeans and our school t-shirt! I can’t wait to see those next week at opening day =)

Monday, August 12, 2013

Wampum

Today we learned about all the types of monies the colonists used and the problems that came along with it. then we decided which money system to use in our home this year. They want to be be able to buy Wii, computer time, and movie =) I thought specie would win, but I was wrong. Isaac really wanted paper money, but I told him it wasn’t ‘worth a continental,’ and if he wanted it, he had to design it and I would copy it =) The settled with wampum. Our wampum. however, will come in a variety of forms. Rocks, shells, beads, and whatever they can make with sculpey!

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American Revolution

This year we will Defending the Title of Liberty as we learn about the founding of our great country. I don’t always feel it is great. I get discouraged. But it is great. We are so blessed to live here!

But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. Leviticus 20:24

Our was founded on miracles. I have read the book Seven Miracles that Saved America. I have been inspired to love our country because of it!. Our country should not be here! Without God’s Hand in our country, the restoration of the gospel would not have been able to happen. For that reason, I love my country!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Happy Homeschool Day

Well, it is happy in our home =)DSC08368

Bows after a performance of Jesus cleansing the Temple!

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Science… making homemade laundry and dishwashing detergent.

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Our bamboo in honor of Hokusai.