The End of Our Homeschooling Journey

I've been absolutely horrible at blogging since the summer. No excuses other than finding other things to fill my time.

So catching up a bit....

Summer in Dublin was a wonderful experience. We walked all over the city and saw sights we never would have thought to see on a short vacation trip. We spent many days hiking the cliffs of Howth or from Bray to Greystones and took two trips up to Belfast and Giant's Causeway. Haley was fabulous in Riverdance and she loved performing the show and the people she worked with. She loved playing the music and the spaces where she was able to improvise a bit. She enjoyed meeting and making friends with her co-workers. She had her first taste of a real social life with nights out, a few dates, and hanging with friends. I was glad to be there and meet the people she will be touring with for six months beginning in January. Our last week in Killarney was my favorite time. The beginning of the week was sunny and a bit warmer than Dublin. I am not a city-person so preferred the green and the mountains.

While in Dublin, Haley began her final semester of high school and, about halfway through the run, her dual enrollment courses started so she was working hard to meet school deadlines, go to work each evening, and have some time to enjoy the experiences Dublin had to offer. Once we got home from Ireland, eighteen hours later we were on a plane headed to California for a festival with accordion player John Whelan. When we got home from that a day later, we drove to Baltimore, MD for a weekend of music creativity with a new ensemble she is looking forward to working with. A week later, we spent three weeks on the road, driving from NC to Vermont for a tour with Quinn Bachand then south to Philadelphia to visit family, then New York and back to Philadelphia for two gigs with Mick Moloney and friends then home for the month of November.

All the while, she kept up with school on the road. She finished up her final two weeks of dual enrollment courses while putting together and touring A Christmas Celtic S*journ in Boston, MA. My hard-working girl graduated high school in December with a 4.0 GPA and 42 college credits.

She had planned to complete her Associates degree by the time she graduated high school (originally planned for May 2020) by taking the rest of the college courses in Spring 2020 but with the opportunity to tour for six months as fiddler for the 25th Anniversary North American Tour of Riverd*nce, we decided she would graduate early and enjoy tour without the additional pressure of college courses. This provided her the opportunity to determine how much free time she will have for coursework while touring as she transfers to University of North Carolina-Wilmington to earn a Bachelor's degree in International Studies with a concentration in Arts and Literature in the fall. The online degree program will allow her to continue doing what she loves--touring with her music--while completing a degree. All her community college credits will transfer so she is 1/3 through college.

Haley began the 25th Anniversary North American tour in Montreal in January right after New Years and everything was going amazingly well. The company flew her to Dublin, Ireland for a week in February to do their 25th Anniversary shows at the 3Arena, one of which they filmed for movie theaters. Mid-March had her performing at Radio City Music Hall when the coronavirus turned the world sideways. Her daddy and I had flown up for a week to be with her in NYC but by the 3rd day of shows, the company decided to cancel the rest of the tour and we brought her home to North Carolina where we've been quarantined since. (We did go out that first weekend to see Haley on the big screen for the Riverd*nce movie premier then returned to our solitary lives.)

Haley has been keeping herself busy learning Irish, coming up with music projects for herself, practicing, exercising, cooking/baking, blogging, reading, and drawing. Just waiting to see what is going to happen...

Homeschooling When You're Hardly Ever Home...

One might wonder how Haley possibly finds any time for school with all her musical travels. One key is online schooling. For the past year and a half, Haley has been doing dual enrollment courses online through the local community college. She started when we were in New Jersey and has continued this past semester by transferring to the local community college here in North Carolina. (One benefit of moving to NC was free dual enrollment for high school students.)

After a busy summer of travel, including another year of Studio2Stage this time as a member of the staff, Haley spent two weeks at the end of September touring down the west coast from Seattle, WA to Tucson, AZ with accordion master, John Whelan.  The key for Haley in getting schoolwork completed on time is working hard and getting ahead in her subjects prior to leaving home. This is easier to do in subjects where the professor keeps all weeks open rather than opening the course week by week. She was helped a bit by Hurricane Florence. The hurricane came through our area the weekend before we were due to fly out to Seattle and caused us to be evacuated and shut the college down for three weeks. Haley had planned to get ahead on schoolwork before the tour but with everything pushed back three weeks, she was even more ahead than she originally planned. During the tour, days were spent on the road traveling from one town to another and nights were spent performing. Haley did school in the car using her phone as a hot spot and any time off was for  school work.

We spent a few days at home following the tour then traveled to Midlothian, TX for O'Flaherty's Irish Music Retreat. Haley was invited to attend. She performed in a couple concerts and played music for the dancers at the ceili. Again, school was fit in whenever she had a free moment though there weren't many free moments between classes, workshops, rehearsals, meals, and performances.

We flew from Texas to Boston, MA then from there to Ireland. Between flights and on planes, she worked on her subjects. She downloaded chapters of textbooks prior to boarding planes so she could read and take notes then did any online quizzes or writing whenever she could fit it in. She had a bit more down time in Ireland because she didn't have any gigs.

We never really adjusted to the time difference...just slept until late morning then stayed up until the wee hours at sessions most nights. We visited friends, ate some delicious vegan food, Haley played lots of music, and we did some touring of Belfast, including the Titanic Museum.

Haley took 1st at the Fiddler of Dooney Competition competing in the senior age group, the first American to do so in 50 years! The local news did a nice story on her (link here) and had her come in to play a bit for the morning show.

After Ireland, Haley spent two days recording with her Shared Madness trio for a CD project they have in the works then we had a quick trip to New York City where she was invited to perform at the Irish Arts Center by Bill Whelan. She had a long day of rehearsals/creating the program then two nights of  shows. After the rehearsal day, we were supposed to drive to White Plains to spend the night with her fiddle mentor but an unexpected snow storm caused huge travel delays, accidents, and fallen trees all over the city. We got stuck in the city for the night but the Irish Arts Center staff were fabulous finding us a place to stay. Haley had a blast working with the other talented musicians and even went out on their one morning off to play more tunes with Alan and his friend. I think she never gets enough of Irish music.

After NYC, we've had time at home for the holidays. We spent Thanksgiving with the Richardson clan then took a quick trip to NJ to see the boys. Haley spent her weeks writing term papers, taking exams, and finished up the last of her fall semester courses today.

She's registered for next semester but looking forward to a few weeks to have time to work on her writing, learn her new classical assignments, do some drawing, and get ahead on her vegan blog (www.theversatilevegans.com)

September 2017

My baby is growing up.

She's an incredible young lady and she amazes me everyday with her intelligence, determination, perseverance, hard work, and strong sense of who she is.  Haley started school a couple weeks ago. This year she is taking two classes online through the community college as a dual enrolled student. Online courses because we have some travel planned and cannot guarantee she would be able to attend classes in person at the college.

Haley decided she'd like to try some different courses this year and see if anything appeals to her (as much as music). This semester she chose Psychology and Art Appreciation and is enjoying both, though they are a lot of work. The first week was on the light side then, she received lists of work for week two. Like any perfectionist (ask me how I know), she felt like she needed to get everything done on Monday and was a bit overwhelmed. I sat with her and showed her how to go through the list and parse out the work in her planner so she was doing a bit every day, keeping track of deadlines, and not being overwhelmed every Monday when the lists arrive.

She's a quick learner and the next week set up her schedule on her own. She quickly got into a routine.

I am so proud of this girl. She is handling her college classes plus her regular schoolwork, practicing violin and fiddle, continuing to work on her novel, and doing most of the meal preparation in the home. Haley decided a couple months ago to try out the vegan lifestyle and is very dedicated to making it work plus loves to try new recipes so we are eating very well.

Here's a little video of her this summer strutting her stuff on stage this past July in the Studio2Stage production That's Dancing 2017...

The End of Summer

Our summer ended with two weeks in Ireland.

We spent time in Donegal with our friends Mairead and Nia...lots of music, a couple concerts to see, some horseback riding with views of Mt. Errigal, and a ferry ride to Gola (Gabhla) Island complete with a walk around the island and a tea break.

Haley and Mia on Gola Island.

From Donegal we drove to Galway for a session with Haley's friend, Michael, who she met at the Folk Alliance Convention last year. Michael plays in a fun band called Baila An Salsa. In Ennis, we stayed with a lovely father and daughter outside of town. The Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis was very busy and the streets were crowded from the time we arrived on Wednesday until after we left on Sunday.

Haley with our hosts pup who was initially very afraid of us but as you can see  got over it.

Haley hosted two release events in Ennis for her Music for Mercy charity CD and many of the young musicians who donated tracks to the CD were able to be present as well as many wonderful musician friends who came out to support their efforts. (Haley's charity compilation CD can be purchased from her website www.haleyrichardsonmusic.com on the contact page.)

Photo by Bob Singer

Music for Mercy CD release event. Photo courtesy of Bob Singer.

Haley enjoyed a number of excellent sessions in Ennis. She spent an afternoon playing tunes with the wonderful musicians from Socks in the Frying Pan, late night hours in a crowded pub with musician friends from NY and Ireland, and another afternoon with Colman and Damien Connolly and fiddler, Senan Moran.

Haley also competed and won another championship in the Under 15 Fiddle Slow Airs category.

Photo taken by Martin Connolly.

We left Ennis on Sunday morning and drove to Malahide to visit the family of Haley's Studio2Stage partner in crime, Shauna. We had a fabulous couple days being shown the sites around Malahide, going on a viking tour, attending private concerts (by Picture This and The Script), and eating some delicious food. Funny how you can meet some people and feel like you've known them your entire life. 

Haley and I flew home from Ireland on a Wednesday. I worked Thursday and then we drove to Allentown to spend the weekend doing gigs with Dylan and Corey. A show at the Cooperage in Honesdale, PA where Haley learned to make "Jesus" toast afterward with our hosts for the night.

Then a private performance at a wedding anniversary for Haley's friend, Johan De Meij and his wife Dian. Finishing off the weekend with Dylan and Corey's regular Sunday morning gig in Bethlehem, PA.

The end of summer and the beginning of another year of school for Haley. 

10th grade is going to be a busy one. Haley is taking two dual enrollment courses through the community college this semester (Psychology and Art Appreciation- a visit to the National Gallery in London awoke an interest in art for Haley), continuing to learn Irish and French, and working with Miss Kathy on language arts. That takes us through December.

Life Lately...

We have been so busy I have neglected to blog. 

After Christmas, we had about six weeks off. We organized the house, Haley studied a lot for school, and we enjoyed some relaxing weekends. We eased back into our crazy life with six days in Kansas City, MO where Haley and Dylan had an official showcase at The Folk Alliance International Conference.

Haley and Dylan doing a private showcase in the wee hours of the morning.

The conference was definitely an experience. I got sick on Day 1, so it wasn't as fun for me as it might have been but the kids had a blast! They performed a great official showcase and four private showcases, saw old friends and met new friends, watched/listened to lots of music, played lots of music session-style, and barely slept...some private showcases were at 2am. The entire hotel was taken up by music. There were three floors with private showcases in each room and walls covered in poster advertisements of where people were performing. There were so many conference rooms for official showcases of every type of folk music available to listen to. 

March Madness began with the yearly gig at Cumberland County College where Haley, Dylan, and Corey performed. The following weekend Haley and I headed to NYC for a show on Broadway at Symphony Space with Mick Moloney and friends for A Celtic Appalachian Celebration. Haley spent the entire day working with the other musicians to put the show together then they performed that evening, receiving two standing ovations! The show received wonderful reviews and was fabulous! The next day we were back at Sacred Heart Church in Camden with Mick, Athena, Liz, and Billy for a fundraising concert.

Haley with 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellow, Billy McComisky

Here's what putting a show together looks like...

The view from backstage at Symphony Space.

 Last weekend, Haley had two shows...one at the Philadelphia Art Museum on St. Patrick's Day and the other at Cathedral Basilica in Newark, NJ. 

St. Patrick's Day at the Philadelphia Art Museum (*photo credit to Ray Banas)

This weekend we are slowing down a bit for a performance at a nursing home on Saturday and a packing event for Feed My Starving Children on Sunday.

Besides the many gigs of March, we have been busy...

-We are firming up plans for a three week "tour" in South Carolina and Florida next month. 

-The charity CD for the Mercy Centre Music for Mercy was released two weeks ago and Haley finished getting it up on CDBaby this week... check it out here. The CD is wonderful and I am so proud of all the work Haley and her friend, Patrick Finley, did on the project.

-Haley and I (as her chaperone) were invited by Mick and Father Joe to visit the Mercy Centre in June. Mick has performances planned with Haley at the Irish Embassy and university in Bangkok and she and I will be able to get to know the children who live at the Mercy Centre. We are very excited!!

-We have our summer camp schedule set and registrations are all finished.

-Haley has been working hard on her school courses and learning new classical pieces, happily practicing hours each day.

-I have been fighting a cough since the conference in February.

Homeschooling Plan 2015-2016

This is technically Haley's 8th grade year. I have been going back and forth with a number of things when planning for this year. I am trying to keep everything doable with our busy music/travel schedule while still covering everything I want her to learn and that she wants to learn. I went back and forth with science this year. She did High School level Biology this year and my original plan was Chemistry but then with all her other subjects especially a rather heavy history plan (and lack of a burning desire to actually do chemistry), I decided Chemistry can wait until next year. This being her last non-high school year, I'd have her do more of an overview of science course and fit in some science subjects she is interested in like zoology which she has not gotten to delve into in depth.

Here's the plan for this year:

          Algebra 2: PLATO Algebra 2 
          English: Windows to the World

                        The Power in Your Hands

         World Literature

                         Work with writing tutor weekly

           Latin: Second Form Latin (one lesson per week)

           History: The History of the Ancient World/ workbook

  with various Teaching Company video lectures

           Science: Joy of Science videos with experiments in Chemistry and Zoology

           French: Bon Voyage (1 chapter every 2-3 weeks)

           Music Theory: Well Trained Mind Academy Intermediate Music Theory 

           Art: The Annotated Mona Lisa by Carol Strickland 

This plan is not set in stone and may change depending on how the year progresses and leaving room for some bunny trails as needed.

More recording...

In the past couple weeks, Haley and I have learned a lot about music and recording.

We've researched the tunes she recorded to find out composers and dates composed. Haley has sent some emails to tune composers to find out how to go about licensing them for her CD if they have a copyright.

She has written her liner notes for her CD, taken them to her writing tutor for corrections, and written her final draft which I sent off to the graphic designer along with her tune list for the CD.

Today, Haley and Dylan did some different studio recording work.

Haley's writing tutor, Kathryn Ross, began her own publishing company this year. She wrote and published her first book called, Mother Chicken's Eggs, a Christian parable. Another homeschooler, Noah Berg illustrated the book and her illustrations are amazing! Miss Kathy and Haley have been working for the last few months on the audiobook version. Haley created the sound effects and music to go along with the book's text, using traditional tunes and original compositions.

Miss Kathy and Haley spent half of each Tuesday writing workshop creating together and practicing the audiobook. On Friday, they performed the book live for Miss Kathy's family visiting from New England. They will be performing the book live for area Christian schools and book openings/signings as well.

Today, Dylan, who has been studying sound engineering as part of his homeschooling curriculum, recorded and produced the audiobook for them. It took them the better part of six hours to complete three tracks for the audiobook; an introduction, the actual audiobook, and a resource guide for discussion after the story. The recording went well. Dylan still has to mix and compress the files before it is ready for release.

Here are some pictures…

Dylan putting his sound engineering skills to use!

Miss Kathy recording.

Haley enjoying the process.

Haley recording music for the track.

The Calm...

Our summer was busy….lots of travel, camps, friends, visits, and music. Due to all the travel, I worked long hours every day I was not traveling and unpacked/re-packed when home. Right before we left for Ireland, I had one full day at home…my first since the middle of June.

The past three days, however, we spent all our time at home. I cleaned, organized, weeded in the garden, went school shopping for Dylan, prepared for Haley's upcoming school year, and yesterday we jumped back into school. Haley and I started a new exercise program (while we were gone, Dylan found a great weight machine for really cheap). She spent a lot of time practicing by herself and with her brother for their many upcoming gigs and had a Skype fiddle lesson with Brian to get the "new year" going. (Today she has a special violin lesson with her teacher's daughter.) The weather was perfect so we opened the windows and enjoyed the "almost" fall weather.

Fall has always been my favorite time of year! This year is a little different for us and we are getting used to the changes.

Newt went off to college while we were in Ireland. He was working, going to wrestling practice, and hanging out with friends a lot before he went. Things are quiet without him here and I miss him but at the same time I am excited for him in this new chapter of his life. Either Ritch or I talk or text him every day. He sounds like he is having a good time, working hard at his classes, and happy to be there. Can't wait to visit him!

Dylan started working this summer. He wanted a job at the local grocery store so he filled out a resume then called and called the manager until he was hired. He went to Swannanoa with us and took his first solo flight to Florida to spend a week with a friend but otherwise has been working all summer. He starts 11th grade in a week and will have his driver's license in two months.

I post Haley's "proposed" school program each year so here it goes…

Math
Haley began Geometry in February and will continue. Not quite sure whether she will do Algebra 2 after or Counting and Probability. I'll figure that out when we get there.

Language Arts
Windows to the World
One Year Adventure Novel
Lightning Literature 8 (I have this so figured we might as well use it.)


Languages
Almost finished First Form Latin then will begin Second Form Latin.
Rosetta Stone French along with French in Action (learner.org)
Maybe a little Sign Language??

History
Haley asked to do American History this year. I have a middle school level syllabus to go with History of US (Joy Hakim) that includes ideas for research reports and projects. Also, Thinking Through the Past by John Hollitz and a large number of supplemental readings/projects (I have an entire bin of books on different periods of American History). The problem with having so many books is we've never made it past the Civil War due to many bunny trails. I hope to keep it a bit more concise this year and get through the whole series.

Science
We are going to continue with Biology…there are so many topics to cover. Last year we spent a lot of time doing things on a "micro" level studying cells and chemistry of life (cellular respiration, etc…), and studying genetics and evolution theories. This year we will hit different topics.

Music
She will continue studying music theory and taking lessons.

Art
Leaving this subject to Daddy since he's the artist in the family.

I think that should get us going for the year. I am trying to use less "teacher intensive" material with her so she can be more independent especially when she is home with her daddy on the days I work and provide her with the many projects she likes to do.

Looking forward to a fun fall!

Academics...

Back in September I posted our plans for Haley's homeschooling for the year...more like a wish list for what we could possibly get done. (I always over-plan, heh.) We've followed through with many of those plans, adjusted some, and decided to go a completely different direction with others. Since we are about halfway through our "school year," I thought I'd post what we are actually doing.

This year has been a little different than previous school years because Haley is fairly independent and has more specific ideas on what she'd like to learn. She's a conscientious student so I can leave her a list of things to accomplish on the days I work and expect they will be done.

Here's what she is working on and a little about how things have changed since September...

Math
-She finished Saxon Algebra so we've moved on to Geometry. We started with a couple different options I had around the house, Jacobs and Holt. Haley liked the Holt text better so we are going with that and adding in Khan Academy videos.

Language Arts
-Haley is very interested in writing so she is visiting a mentor once week. With her mentor, she has started a blog and will also work on other writing assignments. Her mentor gives her ideas for books to read...right now she and I are reading Pride and Prejudice and Haley is working through The Young Visitors or Mr. Salteenas' Plan by Daisy Ashford (the book was written when Ms. Ashford was 9 years old and not edited when printed so Haley is working on editing the book as she reads).
-Wordly Wise Vocabulary
-Editor in Chief
-Magic Lens I by Michael Clay Thompson

Science
-We've finished up weekly dissections and Cells by Ellen McHenry. She is working through Biology Coloring Book.
-PLATO High School Biology

History
-Human PreHistory by The Teaching Company...listen to lectures and take notes

Languages
-First Form Latin
-Rosetta Stone French
-Duolingo French
-French in Action

Confessions Time: We have not done well with following any art curriculum. We run out of time during the day and art is the first thing to go. I don't feel too bad about it since Haley spends a lot of her free time doing crafts of some kind. She is learning to sew with Grammy and makes her own projects in her free time including fancy violin mutes.

Biology 101....

Monday morning was another dissection day.

The critter on the tray was crawfish. Because the science supply company sent 3 crawfish, the boys each had their own critters and the girls worked together on a bigger one. The kids had much more fun doing the crawfish. The parts were bigger than on the worm, clam, and starfish so easier to see.

Even Katherine is warming up to dissection and did more than observe today.


The kids did some drawings of the outside and inside parts. They identified all the parts discussed in the book.

When they finished their dissection, they took some samples of different parts and made slides to observe under the microscope. They looked at a gill which was the coolest slide, a sample of the digestive gland, and a sample of muscle tissue. They attempted to make a slide of the eye but it was too dark and thick to allow the light of the microscope to come through.

They are looking forward to their next critter!

Cells

Haley has been studying cells for the first part of Biology this year. To finish off the unit, she created an edible cell model. She likes to cook and she likes to create so it was a perfect project for her. She decided on a plant cell. (It kinda looks like a monster face if you picture it just right.) Her licorice endoplasmic reticulum was not cooperating (neither the rough or the smooth) but otherwise, she was able to figure it all out.

We had one of our rare "stay at home" days today. Daddy finished up a project on the floors. Haley and I cleaned the basement and put away Halloween decorations in between practice chunks. Dylan had a football game and Newt did homework then went to see some college wrestle-offs.

Homeschooling 2013-2014....

Well, summer has been exhausting!

We kept up with Algebra and reading through the summer until the last month then last week we started schooling-lite. Now it is time to get back into the swing of schooling even with the music stuff not slowing down much on the weekends. Orchestra starts back up next Friday and the Irish music festivals for fall are filling up most weekend days for the next six weeks.

But back to school we go....here's the plan for the next year for Haley.


Math:
Finish up Saxon Algebra 1 and Life of Fred Algebra

Language Arts: (I am piecing this together for my girl who likes to write and some review work on poetry now that she's older. Will work our way through all these through the year.)
Seize the Story by Victoria Hanley
Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine
Wordsmith by Pamela Arlov
Best Poems
Building Poems by Michael Clay Thompson
Editor in Chief
Vocabulary from Classical Roots

History: (My history plans got interrupted last year when Haley started a Civil War unit study in December so we are back to Ancients...will review what we started last year and then keep going.)
World History the Human Odyssey by Jackson Spielvogel
The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
World Literature text
History Portfolio: Ancients

Science: Biology (A homeschooling mother on the WTM boards has a syllabus for biology we will be following somewhat but we are using Thinkwell as our spine.)
Thinkwell Biology
Exploring the Way Life Work: The Science of Biology
Biology Inquiries by Martin Shields
Biology Coloring Workbook
The Nature of Life: Readings in Biology
Sciencewise: Critical Thinking Books

Music:
Besides violin lessons, fiddle lessons, practice, gigs, and orchestra (which is probably enough music for anyone)....
The Great Courses: Understanding the Fundamentals of Music
The Language and Materials of Music
Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys by David Barber

Art:
Artistic Pursuits (We've tried this before but never finished the whole book.)
Discovering Great Artists by Kohl and Solga
Cave Paintings to Picasso by Sayre
Masterpieces Coloring Book

Languages:
Rosetta Stone Spanish (possibly some Gaelic) and Haley has shown some interest in French as well after our weekend in Quebec.
First Form Latin

Other:
Critical Thinking books like similar to Cranium Crackers and Case of Red Herring.

Late Spring 2013

We've had some wonderful weather here in our little area of the country. Our garden looks amazing. We were going to plow under our strawberries this year because they were about 4 years old and didn't produce well last year but I think they heard us because they gave us so many huge strawberries this year that we've had our fill of strawberry shortcake and my husband canned 16 jars of jelly and we have over 16 bags of berries frozen in the freezer for winter. (They make great syrup for pancakes....yum!)

Our raised beds are filled with herbs, different salad mixtures, arugula, spinach, and radishes. The garden is planted with lots of 3 different kinds of potatoes (purple Peruvian, red Kennebec, and Yukon gold), turnips, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, carrots, kale, and kohlrabi. Plus there are raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry bushes growing. In the yard we have apple trees and fig trees all growing beautifully.

Our "girls" are laying between seven and twelve eggs a day.

Had to add this cool picture of Haley taken by the photographer from The Daily Journal.

Our home school year has wound down a bit....

Haley's writing and Civil War class have ended. She is going to continue working through Life of Fred Beginning Algebra this summer and do weekly problems from the first half of Saxon Algebra to keep her brain working. She is doing some Critical Thinking workbooks and we need to finish up Chemistry...have about 4 chapters to go.  She is also enjoying Uncle Tom's Cabin right now and will probably read The Borrower's series this summer because the group with whom she took the classes this spring will be doing a special craft night based on the series in the fall.

Weekend...

I think we are inadvertently starting a dog-sitting service. We often watch our neighbor's dog when they go away. Hershey stays in his outside kennel and one of us, usually the boys, walks over a couple times a day to let him run or take him for a walk and feed him. He'd a good dog and listens really well.

This week, an Irish music friend who often has house sessions, asked us to take care of his dog while his family went away to his daughter's wedding. He brought Loki over on Wednesday night and Loki made himself right at home. He fit himself right into our family. He and Tinks get along great with just a little butt sniffing now and then. He sleeps with one of the kids on a rotating schedule. I got him a chew rope which he rolls around on the floor with or retrieves for us. He is a great dog! (If it weren't for the shedding hair, we'd probably try to keep him.)



Today Haley's Civil War Diaries class had a table set up at Vineland Founders' Day. The table had Civil War items the kids made like lanterns and hardtack, their Civil War lap books, and other period items.

Lapbooks

We couldn't stay long because Haley's orchestra concert was also today but she had fun. She met President Abraham Lincoln and his bodyguard.

 She met some Confederate soldiers. Her character for her Civil War diary is Caroline, a violin playing Confederate spy.

 Well, I should have trimmed the photo to take out the cars but I thought this looked so "Little House on the Prairie."

Haley did a quick change in the car as we drove through traffic to PRYSM's orchestra concert. I am always impressed with what those kids accomplish in a few months. They sounded great!

History Project...

Haley has been enjoying her Civil War history class. This week she put her new sewing machine to good use. She learned how women would often make their soldiers a "housewife." This was a small material bag with pockets to hold buttons, bits of thread, pins, needles, and sometimes a thimble so the soldier could make clothing repairs if he needed.

Haley used the pattern supplied by her teacher and used some material and ribbon she had collected. She did all her own sewing then filled her housewife with some buttons, a thimble, thread, and a couple needles.

She is very proud of her craft project.