The Silent Artist, Demanding Attention

The silent artist
Softly works
With one color only
O'er the sleeping earth

Children awaken
Eyes bright with cheer
Adults awaken
Lost plans, new fears

No escaping our notice
Opinions are made
Masterpiece of wonder
Or canvas of jade?

Thank You, Lord, for this food and this day!

I have really been enjoying food more than ever these days. Something is different with this pregnancy, all the other pregnancies undermined my efforts in the kitchen, but this pregnancy seems to be enhancing them. Hooray! And Jason is enjoying being part of the kitchen revival, which makes it that much more enjoyable. The kids are still happiest when macaroni and cheese is on the menu, but when it is made with real noodles and real cheese, as opposed to instant from a box, or made with "cheese products", and served with home canned stewed tomatoes and venison meatloaf it still meets my criteria for the kitchen standards these days. This week's (and a few days extra) supper menu includes:

~Corn Pone Pie and beets (and old standby actually)

~Some of Pap's delicious fish - baked and seasoned with a touch of lemon and herbs, steamed limas, and fried potatoes

~Venison steaks (not sure if they were compliments of Snyders or Showers, but thank you both!)
baked potatoes, and artichoke gratinata (recipe from Giada De Laurantiis, who has become my favorite Food Network chef)

~Cheddar Chowder and homemade WW biscuits

~BBQ chicken, baked green beans with homemade garlic white sauce, pasta salad with diced avocado (I didn't save the seed, but our avocado tree that we planted from a seed last year is still doing great!)

~WW pizza from scratch with home canned tomatoes, italian herbs, and three cheeses (real cheeses of course), applesauce

~Reuben burgers on gourmet buns (our own sauerkraut is an awesome touch), and broccoli alfredo

~Lasagna (I have a great recipe that does not require boiling the noodles first, but still has that wonderful "from scratch" appeal), Ceasar salad

~And last but not least... the aforementioned mac and cheese with stewed tomatoes and venison meatloaf


Christmas cookies make for a lovely seasonal dessert! Fruit slushies have been on the list of must haves these days also, fresh squeezed oranges and lemons added to frozen raspberries is a fabulous high vitamin C treat on these dry, virus filled days of winter....


It probably doesn't qualify as a gourmet menu, but it sure makes the kitchen smell good, and the house feel warm and cozy, and fills our bellies, and nourishes our spirits!

The Birthday of Faith

You were born in the season I love the best
Of pumpkins and hayrides and family fests
Your Daddy's image, your Mommy's girl
I'm proud to be part of your blessed world
May each passing sunset bring memories sweet
May each day becoming carry wished for treats
Happy Birthday, my Mother!
Many more, my friend!
May the blessings of loved ones know no end!!!

Ain't We Sweet?

"Sometimes you feel like a nut!"





















Love my slimming pose!!















This looks like it needs music....





















Not sure what to say....

















Ah! There's the music! Savannah has a well developed funny bone!



Avé is actually pretty hilarious...















Not so sure about me....






















They must get their sense of humor from their Papa ;-)












































maybe sometimes
me....

At any rate, we know how to crack each other up!!

Bon Voyage to Our Migratory Grandparents

The cool breezes blow. The nights grow long. The extra
blankets and woolen socks come out from their summer
slumber. Canadian geese, robins, butterflies, hummingbirds,
and Gram and Pap all make the long voyage to warmer
climates. We are saying goodbye for now to our summer visitors.
Maybe someday we will follow you to your winter getaway,
but for now, we will batten down the hatches, throw another
log on the fire, and set the teapot to simmer. Winter hasn't
really begun yet, but the first snow, the shimmery
icicles, the anticipation of sledding, and maple sugaring,
and crocuses peaking through the snow, is enough for
me to stay content and snugly in my Pennsylvania cabin,
with my sweet country man and precious children. I love
my wonderful life, but we will miss you, Gram and Pap!
Safe travels!! Bon Voyage!!

Lemon Blossoms

We have had this lemon tree for several years now. It is such a novel treat to be able to grow lemons in Pennsylvania! We usually get two or three lemons a year :-) and they are very sweet,
not nearly as tart as the ones from the store, although I don't mind tart, especially these days.
As in the days of being pregnant with twins, I crave sour foods! I figured that lemons were a healthier alternative than all those Sour Tarts I used to indulge in... I will have to wait several months before I can enjoy another one of our home grown lemons, but that's okay. For now the scent of lemon blossoms fills the air and winter in our home defies the bitter cold by producing tropical fruits for us to enjoy! Anyone have any ideas why our Christmas cactus blooms at Easter?

A Walk in the Woods

A few weeks ago we enjoyed a magical day walking in the autumn woods of Pennsylvania. The children always seem to have an optimistic view of homeschooling, but on days when school gets them into a setting such as this they count themselves among the fortunate few that get to spend the fleeting days of fall in the great outdoors.

Certain Tide

Be careful what you wish for
If wishing tends to work
Mostly it does in my case
God allows the blessed quirk
Wishing tends to cause change
Change tends to cause unrest
Unrest can lead to every type
Of grief and unhappiness
If courage and steadfastness
Can carry through the stress
To hope and bright tomorrows
Determination can sort the mess
Along with change and lessons
Learning should also come
Focus and future goals
Tempered by the scorching of the sun
Is it better to have lived with longing
Then never to have longed at all
To climb the treacherous mountain
Able to stand a million feet tall
Or camp out in the valley
Never feeling lightheaded winds
Never dangling above the precipice
Would that be such a sin
To never seek the moment
Of a surmounted obstacle
Perhaps its not a choice
But a calling after all

Have you ever watched the sun rise?
Can you really see it move?
Or do you look away and back again
Snooze a little snooze?
Have you sat to watch a flower grow?
The petals to uncurl
Never force a rose in bloom
Or the feelings of a girl
All life lives change in stages
Natures moments seem so slow
But seasons, weather, lifetimes
Quickly come and go
We could not choose to not have change
Even if we tried
Pick the course, adjust the sail
And ride the certain tide

Slowly but Surely

We make progress around here, it is tortoise speed type progress. Each step seems so slow and laborious, but when we look back over the years, particularly the years in this home, it is encouraging to see how many goals have been accomplished. We have a garden, an orchard, a goat herd and adequate housing for them, chickens and sufficient coops, guineas, a rabbit with hutches for more, new windows upstairs, nice and reliable vehicles, and we are getting more organized and more tidy. It all feels good. There is a lot more that we desire to accomplish, and small tasks filling up every day, but home is where our heart rests, and and our hands work, and our family grows. I am full of contentment and gratefulness.

(Not So) Simple Pleasures

In the process of counting my blessings there are so many things I may take for granted simply because I am so used to them that they hardly feel like blessings, and although I am not a huge history buff there are several fairly common things I am quite certain that I take for granted in light of the fact that even 100 years ago these things either did not really exist or were in very short supply, such as....

-toilet paper (where would we be without it?!!!)
-tissues (my personal ball and chain)
-paper products in general... (although paper work is not necessarily something I count among my blessings)
-clean sheets on a comfortable mattress without straw or bed bugs
-indoor plumbing
-water heater attached to indoor plumbing
-electricity
-double pane windows
-washer and dryer (again laundry isn't exactly a blessing I am counting, but it would be much, much worse if I had to wash it in the creek and dry it on the bushes!!)
-grocery stores that sell fresh fruit and vegetables year round
-automobiles
-paved roads
-telephones
-computers
-easy access to the medical community (although the medical community in general often makes me feel like we are the victims of a conspiracy theory, and I won't even get started on medical insurance companies!!!)
-freezers
-refrigerators (why is fridge spelled with a "d", but refrigerators isn't?)
-electric sewing machines
-the millions of easy access online stores and local stores that eliminate any need for at-home sewing (I do still like to sew, but I am glad that I don't have to make all the clothes for this family of 7 going on 8)
-disposable diapers (I am sorry for the negative impact on the environment, and I am delighted to see some more biodegradable choices starting to come out, I used cloth diapers for one week when I had three babies still in diapers... whew!)( I do actually love hanging clothes out on a clothesline, but glad I do not have to rely on it entirely)
-chain saws (it is an incredible amount of work heating a house with wood even with a chain saw, I can't even imagine how hard it would be on my man to stock up a winter's woodpile with nothing but hand saws and axes as tools)
-aluminum foil and plastic baggies ( when these things came out the housewives treasured their new found good fortune and would carefully wash, dry, and reuse these valuable commodities... many still do, they are part of the original recycling conscious generation, "waste not, want not")


I don't really know what life was like even just 100 years ago. I have enjoyed discussions with my 95 year old grandmother and her colorful depiction of her childhood is shared with obvious nostalgia, memories of pony rides and apple picking, dairy cows and canning, lots of close family, pleasure in work, extreme excitement at the sight of the first vehicle ever to drive by their home (driven by the mail man at a whopping 20 mph!), one room school houses and daily walks to and fro. The older generation enjoys and has become dependent on many of the conveniences we now take for granted, and I don't honestly know if I could survive the "once upon a time", or even if I would want to try. I am grateful to be living in the here and now, but I do want reflect on the past joys and historical accomplishments (Wonder who invented toilet paper and tissues?), and I want to learn from the many who have come and gone before us.

Autumn of the Soul

Sunshine through the maple is a bit too far for warmth
Golden leaves raining down must die to feed the earth
Each new little breeze catches yet another chill
Patches of ice and dust come and go on the window sill
Deep inside the mother, life is waiting for the spring
Songs of new beginnings must patiently wait to sing
Harvests brought much bounty to the kitchen and the heart
Piles of wood are waiting to heat the winter hearth
Why, oh why, Dear Journeyman, do your eyes hold a sad tale?
Has not every trial brought joy worth the travail?
Has not every autumn been followed by the spring?
Tho winter comes between and threatens life it seems
Grow weary not with coldness, find cheer in all that glows
Long not too long for futures, life has joy yet to bestow
In each gifted moment, in each waking day
The past should not dishearten it should cheer the clearer way

My Man

Beware, this might get mushy....I wouldn't have married him if I didn't love him bunches, but even still, it is no secret that marriage can be rough, and I won't fib, sometimes it can be challenging to see eye to eye, but after all these years I am still so in love. My man is wonderful, and he has awesome hobbies, and he loves me. Today he planted fruit trees in his orchard, and tended his bees together with Chester, and converted the stove to propane and worked on goat pens, and took the time to sit and visit with his mother and have sweet conversations with me. He is mine and sometimes I just feel like singing his praises. Our hearts are in the same place, and our goals are in the same direction. I love seeing how all our children resemble him so greatly and hope that they all grow up to be just like him. <3

The Twins Turn Eleven!!!!!

Go ahead and guess who is who :)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful girls!!! We are so very blessed to know you!!!

The twins were born with a lot of energy. So, it was especially fitting to enjoy the day with them in an active way... a birthday bike ride!!! The pics are mostly out of focus, a bit impressionist, but still cheerful :)


























Top to bottom:
Shiloh, Daddy, Avé,
Mommy, the kids and Daddy,
Destiny, Savannah, Chester

Like Father, Like Son

Happy Birthday, Chester!!!

A few months ago we were browsing through the Dadant catalog and saw this child's beekeeper suit. Chester expressed an enthusiastic desire to partake in his Daddy's hobby. I thought that was just the greatest idea, so for quite some time I planned on purchasing this outfit for Chester's birthday. Chester hadn't mentioned it again, and he really didn't seem to have his heart set on anything in particular in the way of birthday gifts. Yesterday I was poking around a little bit to see if he did have any expectations I wasn't aware of, and he said... so long as my birthday present has something to do with bugs I will love it!!! I sure was relieved!! This is a very buggy gift, and very bonding as well, and SWEET!!! Jason's honey extractor came the same day the child's beekeeper suit did, so hopefully they will soon be filling our home with the valuable and delicious liquid gold, which, by the way happens to be the only real food that does not spoil, or so I have read. I think we are all feeling very blessed in this household today!!! Thank YOU, Heavenly Father!!!

Birthday Blessings... Sweet Avé

Such sweet ways
From a caring heart
Teaching love
Right from the start
A harsh word
Rarely leaves your tongue
Though goals for you
Aren't always fun
The other children
Know you're kind
Help from you
They always find
My hope and prayer
For you, dear girl
Is that every trial
Becomes a pearl
And every tear
Makes a flower grow
Surely you will reap
All the love that you sow

They Said It

No honest poet can ever feel quite sure of the permanent value of what he has written: he may have wasted his time and messed up his life for nothing. T. S. Eliot

To a poet, silence is an acceptable response, even a flattering one. Sidonie Gabrielle Colette


Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does. Allen Ginsburg


As soon as war is declared it will be impossible to hold the poets back. Rhyme is still the most effective drum. Jean Giraudoux


If poets were realistic, they wouldn't be poets. Peter Davison


Poets don't draw. They unravel their handwriting and then tie it up again, but differently. Jean Cocteau


Poets should ignore most criticism and get on with making poetry. Anne Stevenson

Still Time

All I really want to do
Is sit and read a book or two
Dream away the lovely day
With coffee and and a little play
Smell the flowers, pet the dog
Watch the creek, find a frog
Imagine shapes in fluffy clouds
Hear my children laugh out loud
Spread a blanket, feel the breeze
Spend a day in blissful ease
Write a poem, draw a cat
Surely this is where its at
Someday as I am old and bent
I'll wonder where my youth has went
All my babes will be so grown
With lives and children of their own
Today I think I'll seize the hour
No matter if there's sun or showers
So long as they are here and young
With lovely little tunes they hum
Special moments, daydreams are
For some it takes them very far
Up a mountain, down a cave
The famous and the very brave
Had a mother, had a thought
Had a vision and a plot
No harm in thinking, that's just me
That is why we're here and free
Give them room to know their mind
Though it is fleeting, there's still time.

Contented Sigh

Loving the season
Loving the life
Loving the man
That calls me his wife
The air all around us
Is sensing the change
The coming of autumn
A time for sweet gain
Assessing the harvest
Chopping the wood
Securing the windows
Storing the goods
Stacking the grasses
Making time for the books
Unpacking the sweaters
From their summertime nooks
Of blankets there's plenty
The wood stove we'll fill
Potatoes we'll dig
From the gardener's hill
Hang them in baskets
In the basement, just so
Enjoying the pleasures
When the coming of snow
Forces us indoors
At least for awhile
The efforts of this time
Will then make us smile.

Through the Eyes of My Children

The children use the camera from time to time. Here is a post about some of the pics they have taken lately. Not only am I impressed with the quality of some of their photographs, but I am fascinated at the shots they choose to take. These pictures were all taken at our home. Glimpses of life through the eyes of my children...



























I am not sure which child deserves credit for which photos. Avé, Destiny, and Savannah mostly take turns using the camera lately, but Chester and Shiloh will occasionally take a turn practicing photography as well. It is a lovely form of art, and can of course turn into a career someday if they so choose and are able to develop the necessary skills. Around here that qualifies as highly educational and a form of expression that I hope to continue to be able to encourage.


























The young photographers notice and appreciate the beauty of the simple things... the pile of winter wood, the clean dishes and the bowls of ripe tomatoes fresh from our own garden, the sweet goats and flowers, the blue sky full of fluffy white clouds, the forest of summertime. They also deserve credit for the sunflower picture I posted at the top of my blog. This is our life, but I so often focus on the things that need done, the endless "to do lists". I get discouraged. I forget to stop and really see what is important. We are so blessed. What a privilege to raise such pleasant people in a home nestled snugly in nature.

Less Petit Rats... Much Less

Little ballerina
Running through the walls
Chewing at the plaster
Nibbling in the halls
Peeking so discreetly
Staying in the lurk
Warnings come so loudly
I mean to do you hurt
Brother feels so fondly
Me, I hate your guts
I wouldn't mind you nearly
If you stayed in your own hut
With all your many offspring
And all your stolen goods
Hang your little children
From the nearest wood
And watch the owls and cats
Haunt my garden grave
You'll wish you were a bat
This coming rat dooms day

In Honor of You, Dear Jason.

Thoughts of yesterday bring nostalgia.
Tomorrows bring hope and dread.
As long as you're beside me,
"Today", is the nicest thing said.
Quite a few years behind us
Only unknowns ahead
Today I'll cherish the moments
All worries we will shed
As we listen to the rhythm
Of the heart we call our own
Thanking our kind Creator
For love and you and home.

The Stuff of Dreams

You would think that if you worked on something for twenty years that then began immediately improving the world for the better and continued to do so for all of known time to such an extent that it has been named by some as the single most important invention of modern man, you would think that you would become a hero and die wealthy. Not so, at least not for Johann Gutenberg. The printing press, what did it do for the world? Well, without it the average person was at the mercy of the rich and powerful to tell them about the truths that we now hold to be self evident. Religion, politics, and commerce were all controlled by those who had books. When books became more available to everyone the world became a "brighter" place. Thanks to Johann the "lights" started to come on everywhere.... I am pretty sure Edison read some books too :)

So, what is the stuff dreams are made of? What makes a person press on in spite of extreme obstacles, like no money or time or encouragement? For some there is even the threat of death if they continue to press on. I think, for those who are only seeking personal gain their dreams will probably not extend much farther than themselves, but for those looking to make the world a better place, their dreams may likely become the reality that the rest of world takes for granted as commonplace. Once upon a time, not so long ago, and not so far away, the common thought was that the universe revolves around the earth. Nicolaus Copernicus proved otherwise, but sometimes I think there are people that still believe they are the center of it all.

By the way we started our "structured" book work type schedule today... I was obviously inspired by the book we read together... "Breaking Into Print" by Stephen Krensky

When You're Right

It is nice to be right.

Although.... it can get you into trouble. People don't like people who are right more often then they are. People don't like people who say..."I told you so". People don't like people that make them feel wrong, or less than, or stupid. So, if you happen to be right, especially if you happen to be right kind of often... it may be best to be humble about it, or at least to develop of strong sense of humor. You are going to need one.

Note to self: You have a lot to learn, don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Feeling Better

What happens some days? We are walking along, minding our own business, and WHAM! Life clobbers us for seemingly no good reason? Thus has been my experience through the years, and what I have learned is that kindness matters. A kind word from a friend, a hug from my spouse, a thoughtful note, they make all the difference, and the opposite is true. If someone is insensitive enough to kick us when we are down the damage can be so much worse at that time and the relationship repercussions can be practically irreparable. So thanks, to the ones that are thoughtful, and beware to the callous crowds. There are a lot of other people out there having a down day once in awhile, and sometimes more often then that. Watch out, you wouldn't want to tick off the wrong one. I am small potatoes compared to many.

A Bite of Life

Waiting for a letter that won't ever come.
Waiting for a job that will never be done.
Waiting for life to become what its not.
Waiting for a little to feel like a lot.
Waiting for death to sweeten its hue.
Waiting for dreams to become what is true.
Waiting for old age to turn back the time.
Waiting for a dollar to grow from a dime.

Hate not the bee.
Though honey lessens not the sting.
Hate not the see.
Though lies sweeten not the thing.
Hate not the work.
Though it means nothing.
Hate not the the day.
Though it refuse to sing.
Hate not the way.
Though it gathers no more wings.
Hate not the hurt.
Though it strengthen not anything.

Trying to tell the dog to not itch the fleas.
Trying to tell the garden to not grow the weeds.
Trying to tell the kids to not track in the dirt.
Trying to tell the heart to forget all the hurt.
Trying to tell the mind to accept what is dumb.
Trying to tell the bookworm, go out and have fun.
Trying to tell the tears, its not worth the fall.
Trying to tell the fears, don't worry, that's all.

120 or so...

120+! That is about how many critters we are caring for these days! We have 6 Nubian goats, 6 rabbits, 10 Cochin hens, 15 Cochin peeps, 5 Plymouth Rock peeps, 20 Guinea fowl peeps, 7 adult guinea fowl, 12 Ducks, 5 cats, 1 Yorkie, 1 parakeet, 1 Red-Eared Slider Turtle, 4 Goldfish, 2 frogs, 1 snail, 2 catfish, and at least 20 Fancy Guppies! I am thinking about starting to charge admission to the Pfleegor petting zoo! I really don't want this many animals, and we will be downsizing for winter here very, very soon, hopefully.

We didn't actually try very hard to have this many animals. They are just very prolific.... the bunnies were 2 before they were 6. The ducks were 2 before they were 14. The Guinea fowl were 7 before they were 27. The Guppies were 4 before they were 20+. And the Goldfish.... they were feeder Goldfish that we bought to "feed" the turtle. He decided he preferred their company :) I guess I can't complain about the lack of predators or having a turtle that has decided to be a vegetarian. I did actually buy the Cochin peeps. I wanted a rooster since we lost ours over the winter, but I didn't know where to get a Cochin rooster, so I had to mail order 15 peeps, since that is the minimum purchase. The hatchery added 5 Plymouth Rock peeps, as a bonus? Since I am not an expert at telling boy birds from girl birds we need wait awhile until it is more obvious. Then we will keep a few and share a few. God is good. And there is a livestock auction.......


postscript: That count is kinda low... I forgot to add the 10,000 or so Honey Bees!

Oh, Distracted Bean Snapper

Oh, distracted bean snapper
Where are your thoughts today?
Ends in the waste, beans in the pot
Not the other way
Come the months of winter
When wishing for a stew
All you'll have is wanting
If this job you do not do

Stages

Birth to 5.... foundation
6-12..... character
12-21...... experience
22-40....... practice and support
41-60....... investing
60- eternity.... legacy

In my humble opinion these are the stages of life.

Foundation~
Babies and toddlers absorb the world around them like no other stage of life ever. Breast fed babies are scientifically proven to have fewer allergies, fewer ear infections, less likelihood of obesity later in life, as well as the advantages of the mother's immunities and a strong bonding. A person can make it through life, and even thrive no matter what the first five years of that persons life were like, but language, health, and emotional stability hinge strongly on the first five years.

Character~
In my humble opinion the next stage develops the strongest character for better or worse. The person we are or become during this phase is the character we will continually lean on throughout the rest of our lives. We all have natural tendencies, but how we allow ourselves to give in to weaknesses or encourage strengths becomes evident and the cement hardens, so to speak, in this phase. We take that character on to the next phase and make of it what we will....

Experience~
How we treat others, how they treat us, people person or book worm, mall fly or computer nerd. The first job, the first kiss, driving, our first taste of independence, college or hard knocks......

Practice and Support~
We take those experiences and put our choices to work for us as adults with responsibilities, families, careers, dreams...... it really helps if there is a lot of support during this time, from community, family, friends, but it is possible to get by without it. Support allows more room for breathing, and laughing, and loving. Practice, practice, practice.... will it ever make perfect?

Investing~
Not likely to make perfect, but if we played our cards right, and if there was a little luck smiling in our direction, then at this phase there should be a nest egg incubating, a home mortgage somewhere in the processes, a bit of earth to call our own, or a shingle on the door. So that hopefully by the time our knees give out on us we will be able to rest... to retire.

Legacy~
Retire to what? That is the legacy. Who are we? What has the sum of our life added up to? Are we lonely or loved? Wealthy or fearful of how to pay for the next doctor bill? Are there grandchildren or pets or hobbies or vacation homes or books to write or stories to tell? Where will we end up, who will remember, who will care?

IMHO anyway......

Heeding Einstein's educational opinions... or Hitler's?

Let our pupil be taught that he does not belong to himself, but that he is public property. Let him be taught to love his family, but let him be taught at the same time that he must forsake and even forget them when the welfare of his country requires it. - Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Questioning Compulsory Education
by Michael Haislip

A brief history of compulsory education

Somewhere during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the idea arose that it was morally imperative to provide public-funded education to children. With this being America, anything that is morally imperative quickly becomes legally imperative. Thus, compulsory public education was forged in the cauldron of the progressive social movements of previous centuries.

Early on, public education was simplistic, focusing on basic language and math skills. Much of America was still agrarian, and in those rural areas, education wasn’t nearly as important as knowing how to pick cotton or how to harness a mule. Compare that to today’s prevailing opinion that public education is an unassailable right of every child, as if God himself had descended from the clouds to decree, “All children shall attend kindergarten. And quit using my name in vain, goddammit.” What were the forces behind that shift of focus? How did we end up with the current decaying education system?

Wealthy industrialists–the Fords and Rockefellers and Morgans—were the primary forces behind the current system. Along with these businessmen, progressives such as Frederick Taylor, father of the social efficiency movement, and Horace Mann, the cheerleader of compulsory education, pushed governments and industry to model their schools after the Prussian model of education. The Prussian model was a massive state-run school system that churned out obedient workers, soldiers and citizens. A small percentage of children attended realschulen (real school), where they learned to be the supervisors of the masses. The remaining attended volkschulen (people’s school), where they learned how to be obedient and how to fit into the militaristic Prussian society It succeeded, eventually morphing into the Nazi Germany school system.

The system was fascist in nature, and all people were viewed as tools of the state. According to John Taylor Gatto, New York City Teacher of the Year from 1989 to 1991, “after 1900 the new mass schooling arenas slowly became impersonal places where children were viewed as human resources." Gatto continues, "human resource children are to be molded and shaped for something called ‘The Workplace,’ even though for most of American history American children were reared to expect to create their own workplaces.” Gatto wrote again in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that “virtually every single one of the founders of American schooling had made the pilgrimage to Germany, and many of these men wrote widely circulated reports praising the Teutonic methods.”

It is foolish to think that schools are anything other than training camps for patriotic, working Americans who love the flag, pay their taxes and support their troops. Public school advocate John Dewey, a major influence during his day, gave a number of speeches outlining his and others’ hopes for education:

• “Anyone who has begun to think, places some portion of the world in jeopardy.”
• “The teacher always is the prophet of the true God and the usherer-in of the true Kingdom of God”

So, what is the purpose of compulsory education? It is a system to mold children into obedient tools of the state.

The state of American education

I recently read in the paper that my former high school will begin classes on August 5th. Doing some quick calculations, I figured that gives the students 2 months of summer vacation—8 weeks. That’s less than a semester to recuperate from a coerced 8 to 3 routine with no pay. It’s as if I locked someone in a room for seven hours a day, never compensated him, made him believe that the experience was a reward in itself, and told him it was all for his own good. That’s what public school has become.

Somewhere along the way, the original Prussian principles became so engrained into society that no one had to consciously focus on them. They had become habit, and, thus, they had become entrenched to the point of dogma. In America circa 2004, questioning the necessity of compulsory schooling is akin to making fun of cancer victims. The American student no longer works toward self-sufficiency, but instead hopes that Corporate USA will bless him with a job. Why don’t high schools teach more business classes or encourage entrepreneurship? Why are students told that they will be worthless if they don’t earn a diploma? People have developed a master/slave mentality, just as the original planners had hoped. It is learned permission seeking, and it makes students obedient citizens. Students must ask permission to perform a basic biological function--using the bathroom. Students must ask permission to check out of school early. Students must ask permission to walk in the halls. Students can’t even take an aspirin without teacher supervision, as if there is a pandemic of aspirin abuse. Remember, kids: no talking, no gum chewing, no asserting basic freedoms.

Ask a teacher about why their job is important, and you’ll receive moralistic answers about helping kids, making a difference or other save-the-world crap. They never mention the pay check, the long summer vacation or other perks. The average rookie teacher salary in 2001 America was a respectable $30,000 according to the American Federation of Teachers. The average vacation time for a teacher is 4 months per year. Sounds like one hell of a desk job to me.

The latest innovation in many school systems is “year-round schooling,” which is a cute euphemism for “we own your children while our teachers earn more money.” Back to my old high school – the local school system has been shortening summer vacation for years. They take a few days here, a few days there, and make up some bureaucratic reasons why it is necessary. Gradually, vacation time has decreased from 3 months during my younger days to the current length of 2 months. If the trend continues, kids will be attending school year round. Teachers and administrators are ecstatic about it. Although I’m sure the teachers appreciate a long summer vacation, they are not getting paid for it, either. Let’s assume a teacher makes the average beginner’s rate of $30,000 per eight month school year ($3750 per month). Add another 3 months to the work schedule, and that rookie teacher now makes $45,000 a year—and extra $15,000 each year. No wonder we have such a nationwide push for increased school years. More time in school means more money in teachers’ pockets.

The massive government-business-education complex has created ways to force student compliance. Student’s freedom of movement is now being threatened by many states in the form of No Pass/No Drive laws. In order to keep students from exiting the coercive public education system, states will withhold licenses from dropouts. In even more extreme cases, state politicians in various states have proposed that students not meeting certain GPA and attendance requirements should be denied the right to freely move about and associate. I quote from Missouri House of Representatives bill HB 1698:

“Driver's license applicants under age 18 must show high school enrollment, attendance rate greater than 85%, and minimum GPA of 1.75 or satisfactory progress in alternative education program.”

Yes, if someone wants to leave the government education monopoly, the politicians will do everything in their power to stop him. God forbid anyone try to learn on their own.

The aftermath

What have been the results of compulsory education, a concept now over 100 years old in America? What has happened to the targets of this bureaucratic weapon of mass control?

Albert Einstein wrote of his school experience:

"One had to cram all this stuff into one's mind, whether one liked it or not. This coercion had such a deterring effect that, after I had passed the final examination, I found the consideration of any scientific problems distasteful to me for an entire year... It is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty."

Einstein wrote the preceding passage early in the twentieth century. Almost 100 years later, the situation has progressively worsened. Rather than being excited about new developments in science, philosophy and technology, the products of compulsory education shun such topics. For years, students were taught that science was something read about in a textbook with no practical influence in their lives. Students were taught that philosophy was something that only ancient Greeks studied. Instead, we should be teaching children to inquire about the nature of the universe, to question the common knowledge, and to forge their own philosophies. Mindless regurgitation of facts and zombie-like adherence to rules are the paramount concerns of public education today.

Occurrences of mental disorders among children have increased. Schools are breeding grounds for depression, paranoia, social anxiety disorder and numerous other problems. Is it any wonder? Children are thrown into a pressure cooker of hormones, social expectations and government regulations with very little guidance. Those students with a genetic predisposition to mental disease will undoubtedly increase their chance of developing the disease. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “in 1996, more teenagers and young adults died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.” 1996 is the most recent year for which suicide data is available. When asked why they are considering suicide, the depressed youths often cite social isolation, bullying at school and numerous other school-related issues. For something that is supposed to benefit society, it seems to be failing miserably.

The body of the coerced student suffers as well. Due to constant social jockeying and sexual tension between the sexes, schools inflict a steady low-to-mid level stress upon students, which causes the body to secrete cortisol, a stress response hormone. Increased levels of cortisol eventually lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and a diminished immune system.

Clearly, public school is a threat to public health. I suggest we quarantine it until further notice.

What to do about it

Let me suggest the two following options for those disaffected with the current system.

1. Start home schooling

As a response to the worsening intellectual suppression in public schools, home schooling has emerged as a viable alternative for progressive parents. Rather than ship their children to concrete holding pens, home schooling parents take direct responsibility for their children’s knowledge. Home school allows children to learn in a comfortable, non-competitive environment, an environment without social ladders or stifling rules. Home schooling is a return to the pre-compulsory days, when children learned more in five years than most adults learn in twenty years of public school.

2. Drop out

If you are still in school, the simplest (yet most drastic) way to quit the system is to physically quit the system. Don’t like school? Get a spine and stop going to school. It is that simple. If you are in high school, go and get a GED. You won’t spend nearly as much time, and there is no practical difference between a GED and a regular diploma. The key in these scenarios is to spend your energy building alternative systems that benefit you. People do not need school. They can--and do—learn on their own. Walk away. Ignore them. Exercise civil disobedience. Be your own person.

“And what is a good citizen? Simply one who never says, does or thinks anything that is unusual. Schools are maintained in order to bring this uniformity up to the highest possible point. A school is a hopper into which children are heaved while they are still young and tender; therein they are pressed into certain standard shapes and covered from head to heels with official rubber-stamps.” -- H.L. Mencken

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Eye Eye - Focus

"The eyes are the windows to the soul", a quote attributed to William Shakespeare. I have often heard it used as an observation from the outside looking in. That you can tell a lot about a person from their eyes, but lately I am also thinking that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they say the world looks to them, how they seem to view the world. From the inside looking out the world does not look the same to everyone. Tests can be performed to determine near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and color blindness, as well as a host of other physical differences, but sometimes the emotional differences affect our lives just as greatly if not more and they can be much more difficult to detect. For some people the world is disorderly, everything that is "out of place" is a huge problem, they can barely function without creating complete "order" in every area of their influence. For others the mirror adds countless pounds, no matter how much they lose they see themselves as weighing too much. Still others see everything as "obviously" there to in some way please or displease them, or perhaps they are sure that they see it all just the way it is and in turn know it all and it is their calling in life to share that knowledge at all times. Then there are those that don't see the chaos, it doesn't occur to them that their lives lay practically in ruins and that they are surrounded by the potential of so much more, but it has all become invisible to them as they walk the well worn paths of their daily existence. The blindnesses we have are not always detectable to ourselves or others, but in many ways they can affect every aspect of our existence. I don't know what all my vision discrepancies may be, but I do know that I see value in most things and most people, not everything, not all, but a missing button does not usually get a shirt thrown out, rude behavior does not automatically remove a person from my circle of friends. Perhaps my life would be cleaner and less dramatic if I had less tolerance for the "fixer uppers" of the world. I have my limits, there is safety to consider, and quality of life, and growth to account for. Some days I have far too much "junk" laying around waiting to be useful or mended, some days I allow far too much unkindness to be dished out in my direction, but mostly I find great satisfaction in patience, creativity, and "trash to treasure", but not always, sometimes there needs to be seasons of purging. Are these things taking up so much space that life is being hindered? Are these relationships destroying more than they are encouraging? I don't have to keep everything. I don't have to be "best friends" with every difficult person. Most things have value to someone, somewhere, but it doesn't have to be me, it doesn't have to be here. It can be hard for me to focus on the best and let the rest go.

TGIF!!!!

Seriously! It has been a loooooong week. I am looking forward to hanging out with friends tonight at a wild and crazy party that will be oh so kid friendly. Tomorrow I will get hugs from my Dad and Grandma. Sunday I will get hugs from my Mom. And Monday life will be back to normal.... wth is normal? I don't even know anymore but I think it has something to do with coffee with Patti and FB at 9 am, chore routines, peaceful afternoons, errands, calendar engagements, cozy evenings with the love of my life in our little cabin with our sweet children and perhaps we will get started again with homeschooling. Which is actually always in progress, the children are always learning, and creating, and growing, and I am confident they will be wonderful adults, because they are wonderful people, but it is my job to gather up the proof of the pudding and guide the tide of environment and assess the learning skills and encourage the progress. That must be what is normal around here. But today is Friday!!! And there are friends! And a party! And s'mores! And my man! And life is good!

anyone lived in a pretty how town

(This is one of my favorite poems, I love its lilting grammar rebellion)
by E. E. Cummings
anyone lived in a pretty how town (with up so floating many bells down) spring summer autumn winter he sang his didn't he danced his did Women and men(both little and small) cared for anyone not at all they sowed their isn't they reaped their same sun moon stars rain children guessed(but only a few and down they forgot as up they grew autumn winter spring summer) that noone loved him more by more when by now and tree by leaf she laughed his joy she cried his grief bird by snow and stir by still anyone's any was all to her someones married their everyones laughed their cryings and did their dance (sleep wake hope and then)they said their nevers they slept their dream stars rain sun moon (and only the snow can begin to explain how children are apt to forget to remember with up so floating many bells down) one day anyone died i guess (and noone stooped to kiss his face) busy folk buried them side by side little by little and was by was all by all and deep by deep and more by more they dream their sleep noone and anyone earth by april wish by spirit and if by yes. Women and men(both dong and ding) summer autumn winter spring reaped their sowing and went their came sun moon stars rain

Uncertainty

Yes, another blog today. I tend to write as a stress reliever. The baby is down for a nap, and the older children are finishing a movie. Patti so sweetly came down this morning and helped with a few chores, and that was a tremendous relief. A few moments to drink another cup of coffee and an adult conversation were an added bonus.

And I know I am not that scary, but I am pretty offended by those that decide to coddle to the obvious monster because they seem to be worried that her next temper tantrum might be thrown in their direction. Whatever. My hypocrite radar is working.

On a lighter note.... ahhh, I don't feel like a lighter note at the moment... maybe I will blog again yet today. Oh wait, I know what the lighter note is, I actually have a few friends that are particularly looking forward to being visited by and coming to visit me while I am accompanied by all 11 children! Seriously good friends, that is all I have to say for now.

A Few Stolen Minutes in Bohemia

Babies just don't care. They don't care if you are tired, they don't care if you haven't finished your coffee yet, they don't care if you haven't had a shower today, they don't care about your needs. But they definitely do care about their own needs, if they have a whim or fancy it is the most all important matter of business and it must be tended to immediately! Or else they will scream their head off so that whatever it is you are doing becomes less consequential then whatever it is that they want to do. I must say that I do not consider this quality of babies to be one of the more charming aspects of the life phase we all journey, but it comes with the territory. I happen to be boss of this territory and quite experienced with the demands of the little narcissists, they laugh at me when I holler back, they don't know what to think of the woman that waits, the woman that knows they are just fine and will be just fine for 5 more minutes while I finish whatever important task it is that I am doing. Right now it is finishing my coffee.

Then I will dress the baby, and take the baby for a walk, and find out what is going on with the newly hatched guinea keets. We had a broody hen in the guinea coop, and the kids just came in hollering that we have baby guineas!!!! We have baby guineas!!!! I wasn't sure if the eggs were fertile because I can't tell the male guineas apart from the female guineas, but the guineas apparently know the difference :) And in spite of all the very observant folks around here we were also very surprised to find out that this newly hatched brood is not from the cooped hen!!! There was a secret broody hen that is now proudly displaying her month of confinement!!!! I have no idea what to do. I have heard that mother guineas are not the most nurturing creatures and that many people raise the keets apart from their mothers, I think that is probably the best idea considering that we already have too many guineas in my opinion and they will be nearly impossible to catch pretty soon. So....... I will finish my coffee and tackle all problems in the correct order of importance. Well, at least I will try.......

Samuel Butler

Samuel Butler was a turn of the century writer (1835-1902). He was a free thinker, meaning he did not fit neatly into any particular category of thought. What came to be known as his greatest influential work was a novel that he would not publish so as to protect his family. It was published postmortem. I have been enjoying many of his quotes, thought I would share a few of my favorites.....

"Be virtuous and you will be vicious. "

"Neither irony or sarcasm is argument. "

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing."

"A man's friendships are, like his will, invalidated by marriage - but they are also no less invalidated by the marriage of his friends."

"A skillful leech is better far, than half a hundred men of war. "

"All truth is not to be told at all times."

"Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both."

"For truth is precious and divine, too rich a pearl for carnal swine."

"Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them and require moderate use rather than total abstinence."

"If the headache would only precede the intoxication, alcoholism would be a virtue."

"Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man."

"It is not he who gains the exact point in dispute who scores most in controversy - but he who has shown the better temper."

"It is tact that is golden, not silence."

"Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only."

"Letters are like wine; if they are sound they ripen with keeping. A man should lay down letters as he does a cellar of wine."

"Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on."

"Life is one long process of getting tired."

"Lying has a kind of respect and reverence with it. We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to him."

"Morality is the custom of one's country and the current feeling of one's peers."

"One of the first businesses of a sensible man is to know when he is beaten, and to leave off fighting at once."

"Opinions have vested interests just as men have."

"Some men love truth so much that they seem to be in continual fear lest she should catch a cold on overexposure. "

"The Ancient Mariner would not have taken so well if it had been called The Old Sailor."

"The best liar is he who makes the smallest amount of lying go the longest way."

"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."

"There is such a thing as doing good that evil may come."

"To know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him."

"Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more efficacious I do not know. "

"We all like to forgive, and love best not those who offend us least, nor who have done most for us, but those who make it most easy for us to forgive them. "

"We are not won by arguments that we can analyze but by tone and temper, by the manner which is the man himself. "

Naptime

I am tired today. I always get somewhat pensive when I am tired. Everything seems a little bigger, and a little harder, but I know that, so it doesn't bother me so much now that I know myself and have a better idea of what my limitations are. Being a stay at home Mom has many, many advantages. A personal pay check is not one of them, but sleep can be. Children play hard and are constantly growing, they need rest too, especially after a great sleep over at Mimi's and a super fun day at Knoebels! I used to feel so guilty for resting in the daytime, but now I see it as a part of my paycheck, a perk, a bonus :) There are lots of perks and bonuses, spending time with my children, developing wonderful relationships with them, watching them develop wonderful relationships with each other, peace.... I suppose not all homes have the peace, but it is usually here, and it is so sweet. I have always been a homebody, my calling so to speak, and a bookworm, and have always had a great fondness for watching things grow, still do. We all stay busy, learning, observing, caring for the home, but things are never done, never tidy, we never see the bottom of the to do list. That used to bother me too, but now I see it as a sign that we are alive, we are working together, we have a great home with wonderful projects and lots of room to grow. So, perhaps a few more weeds will be pulled, a few more towels hung on the line, a few more dishes washed, a few more goats milked, a few more chickens fed, a few more dust bunnies swept, a few more items organized, a few more school days logged, the dog bathed, the supper created, the phone calls returned, the bills paid, the eggs gathered, the feeders filled, the beds made, etc., etc., etc...... just right after a nap.

Last evening, last week, last month.... moments with loved ones...

Sometimes my night owl self kicks in and I get nostalgic 'til the wee morning hours.... you can join me if you like, but be warned, things might get sentimental.

Tonight we took our children to a hibachi grill for the first time. Hibachi grills are fascinating experiences and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.


We were joined by my mother-in-law, and father-in-law, and sister-in-law and niece. We decided it would be great fun to put my niece on the spot, so to speak. As you can see here, no one minded wishing her a "Happy Birthday" a few months late!!!

We followed up supper with some mini golf. The evening was perfect for it. A balmy night with laughter and love and fun and good memories that will likely last a lifetime.






As I see how quickly my own children are growing up, I am reminded to cherish every moment at every stage that we are gifted with sharing with the children that cross our paths. Someday we will probably be vague memories to them, but the good feelings, and the love that we have for them will hopefully plant seeds that will help them to have a positive outlook on the world, and the assurance that they are loved by many.

A few weeks ago we were privileged to be able to watch my sister's older children while their Daddy had back surgery. Aren't they adorable?


And a few months ago I was honored with a visit from my Mom and her Mom, my Grandma. These are the ladies who raised me. They are strong, intelligent, and beautiful. I hope I have inherited their genes for youthful aging, can you believe that Grandma is 90?!!! While I was growing up Grandma lived next door, that was a gift that I only now realize the value of, and my Mom was always my best friend, time has tested and tried our relationship, but I am so pleased to say that it is stronger and deeper than ever, and God has been very, very good to me. The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I have been my entire life, and how God has worked everything out for good. It really helps me to trust Him with the future.



And the man that has made all my dreams come true!!!! My life is perfect because of YOU, Darling!!! Thank you for the sensitivity, thank you for the sweetness, thank you for being such a good provider, thank you for your strength, thank you for your patience. We were made to be together. Now all I wish for is safety, and health, and longevity, for all of us, and the blessed continuation of all that we are working at. God is so good!!!! And you reflect Him.