It's Just Random

It's hot here in Maine. It's been in the low 90's the last few days. I know, a lot of you live where that is considered cool. This is not one of those places. Summer was very late in arriving in Maine this year - it literally rained for about 60 days straight at the start of summer. Now it's hot - just when I want to be decluttering & organizing for the start of school. Due to the late arrival of summer, I have no air conditioning units in the windows either & at this point - why bother? Well, I'd like to bother, but it really doesn't make sense to put them in for only about a month when the really hot weather won't last that long. Fans seems to be doing the trick for now.

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For the last two years I have put on a one day workshop/conference for local homeschoolers. I will be hosting my third one this Friday. I have the couple who run our state organization coming to talk this year. They will even be bringing their bookstore which will be really nice. Their big talk will be about homeschooling rights and how to protect them. I'm teaching a workshop on Creative Learning - got some ideas I should share? Please let me know! I'll be talking about using games, lapbooks, file folder games, Family Math, what else am I missing???

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Our chickens are getting big! In fact (a fact my hubby isn't happy about), they are fast outgrowing their chicken tractor - oops! We have six more who can come join our flock any time we can get them, but we have no spot for them at the moment! We busily working to convert part of the barn in to a permanent coop for them.

Some of "the girls" fighting over grapes. They love grapes!

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I've had extra kids a lot this summer. I've been helping out my neighbor and watching her two kids one day a week for a few hours. Today is my last day. I've also have Miss & Mr H one day a week most of the summer. They start back full-time next week. Miss L is here for the day as her parents are moving. Moving with young ones under foot isn't a lot of fun but then again moving period isn't a lot of fun & on a hot day like today - really not fun!

Hasn't she gotten big? And her hair is so long!! And talk? My gosh can this girl talk now! LOL

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My first attempt at gardening has been pretty much a dismal failure. I've harvested one zucchini...that's right ONE! Out of the four rows of corn I planted, three plants have grown - not rows but plants! My pumpkins & squash are doing great - if the deer will leave them alone. The deer ate all my peas & I'm really annoyed about that. So far my tomatoes are looking good - we'll see if they last. Hubby has promised me an electric fence next year. No way I'm going to work that hard to feed the deer again that's for sure!

My tomatoes seem to be holding their own against the rain & deer. I wonder if they can out last the heat?

Do you SEE that??? All those lonely stalks with no big leaves on them??? I'm so hoping some of my spaghetti squash survives the deer!

My three corn plants...so very, very sad.... Just look at all that barren ground with nothing but weeds growing. ::sigh::

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Next week is suppose to be our "official" start of school. This year there really hasn't been a stop or start to our year. We've continued with fun field trips all summer. I have oodles of new material here to try out thanks to being a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I have two more reviews due for them this month plus a book for the Blogging for Books Blog Tour. I'm trying to take it one step at a time otherwise I'd lose it.

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Hubby has a birthday tomorrow. Be sure to wish him a very happy birthday if you see him in person or see him on Facebook. His mom is making his favorite apple pie. Thank goodness. I don't like to make pies.

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I agreed to teach a homeschool co-op class on photography. Not a true co-op as that may be the only class. We'll meet once a month. There are a lot of new homeschoolers at my church so I'll be putting together some sort of monthly meeting there for support as well. I have tons of ideas for field trips & such floating through my head at the moment. Lots of notes lying around while I jot down things to remember.

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Happy Summer!