Where there is a will, there is a way

Our garden is producing extremely well this year. The corn is higher than the fence, and the tomatoes are starting to colour up nicely. The cauliflower and broccoli have produced so much this year that we have ordered a freezer. My husband has been busy blanching cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and broccoli, and our current freezer is nearly full. The beans are just starting to form on the frame.

Hopefully, next year we will become more self-sufficient, as we close in the vegetable patch and fruit trees with bird wire. We also intend free-ranging the bantam hens in with the fruit trees. This will serve a dual purpose - fertilise the fruit trees and hopefully, the bantams will keep the insect pests at bay.

The sparrows have decimated the tatsoi and bok choy this year, and the parrots have also eaten all of the nectarines and nearly all of the pears. We were unable to cover the nectarine and pear trees with nets, as they were too large. The rest of the fruit trees are covered with nets, so hopefully we will be able to taste the almonds, apricots, peaches and apples. The parrots even sat on top of the apricot tree, eating the apricots through the net. Apples also taste so much nicer when eaten straight from the tree.

This year, we have also had more success with strawberries, as we have grown them in containers and watered them with rain water. We save the water (in a bucket) that usually runs down the drain as the shower temperature is adjusted, and it's amazing just how much water is saved by this one water-saving measure. Last year we attempted to grow them in the garden using bore water, but they all curled up their toes. My son counted the strawberries on the plant below, and there were 28 on the one plant, minus the one that I have already eaten.

These strawberries are growing well, and my son has planted the runners that are growing from the parent plant. We are planning on planting them in an old feed trough when they have finished flowering and the small plantlets have well established roots.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Installing Creative Suite...Eventually

Yesterday, we started trying to install Creative Suite CS4 Design Premium Student Edition onto my son's computer. He had already tried on Wednesday evening, without success.

However, we tried again yesterday, and tried and tried, but it wouldn't install. Eventually, I reasoned that perhaps the DVD player was faulty, so my husband took the DVD player out of my computer and placed it into my son's computer. We put the Creative Suite DVD into the computer and it started to install, so we continued with the install process. Eventually, it was installed, and the smile on my son's face was a mile wide.

My son is ecstatic, and is busy learning how to use the programmes. The programmes that are included are:

• Adobe InDesign CS4
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended
• Adobe Illustrator CS4
• Adobe Flash CS4 Professional
• Adobe Dreamweaver CS4
• Adobe Fireworks CS4
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro

When buying from Student Discounts, you will need verification that you are a home schooled student, but you could use your certificate of exemption if you are a registered home schooler. They will also accept a letter from the school that you are registered with. Adobe also ask for a photo of the student and proof that you are a student before you can register the product. The product cannot be used for commercial gain.

Student Discounts have many computer-based products, and they were extremely helpful.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; Ecclesiastes 9:10

New Look Blog, Too

Well, my son has been busy re-designing my blog, too. Can you tell that my favourite colour is pink? He only started it this afternoon, so I am really pleased with the result. The programme that he used to create the banner with was PaintShop Pro X2.

He has just ordered Creative Suite 4 Design Premium today, so I can't wait to see what he can do with that. His graphic design skills are excellent, and I might just call on him to teach computer next year.

I thought that my last blog design was great, until I went onto it last night, in a different pixel size, and all of my objects in the sidebar were everywhere...not a good look, because it was a fluid design, but this one is a fixed design. It definitely works much better!

Thank you, my son from the bottom of my heart.

What Next?

Students in Victorian state primary schools will soon be taught that there is no evidence that God exists. The Humanist Society of Victoria has developed a curriculum that the state government accreditation body intends to approve.

These volunteers will be able to teach their philosophy in the time allotted for religious education. When you take the religion out of religious education, what does it then become? What will be next? I hesitate to think!

This country was built on the Word of God and on Christian morals, our heritage, ethics and standards. Heritage is passed down from generation to generation, and I ask, what is it that these people will be passing down to the next generation?

Australia is a Christian nation. The opening sentence of the preamble to our country's Constitution is, "Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established:"

Many of our famous forebears were Christian people, such as Captain James Cook, Charles Sturt, Edward John Eyre, Flynn of the Inland and Governor Lachlan Macquarie, and they passed down a Godly heritage. These are just a few of our Christian ancestors.

God's Word tells us to:
"Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations, ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders and they will tell thee. When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel ." Deuteronomy 32:7,8

Early Christmas Present

This year, for Christmas, we have bought a York exercise bike, Model number C202. The roads are very rough where we live, especially just after harvest and after seeding, so that the children can't ride their bikes on the road.

Sportscene have a lay-by system, whereby you hire the item for eight weeks, and if you then want to buy it, the hire fee is deducted from the purchase price, and you only pay what is left.

The exercise bike is a perfect solution, and a way for my husband and children to keep fit, no matter what the weather or the road conditions are. Although, we need to remember to exercise our minds in the way of Godly things, too, for we need to remember to whom we belong, and our final destination.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

Never Say Never

Last night, I was talking to a homeschooling friend, and we were talking about when we started homeschooling, and how we said that we would never do this or that, such as never test, never study with a Unit Study or any other curriculum and lots more nevers.

This started me thinking, and I have realised that I should have never said the word never, for I am using the very curriculum that I said that I would never use. I think that times change, people change, and the only thing that doesn't change is God. He is always there for us, regardless of how much we change.
For I am the LORD, I change not; Malachi 3:6a
...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

I have learned that never is a very long time, and I think that we need to use what is right for us at the time, seeking God's face and His wisdom, for His wisdom will never (there's that word again) fail us.
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: Ecclesiastes 2:26a

I have found that when I give everything to God, He guides me in the way that He wants me to go. Sometimes, it is not easy to trust in what the Lord wants for us, but after many hours of prayer and meditation on God's Word, I have realised that this is His good and perfect will for us, at this time.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7

Healthy Christmas Cake Recipe

Christmas Cake Recipe

Ingredients

1 kg mixed fruit

2 cups fruit juice

2 cups wholemeal self raising flour

Instructions

Preheat oven to 125˚C. Soak fruits in juice for at least 2 hours. Stir flour into soaked fruit and mix well. Put into a 22cm paper-lined cake tin. Bake in the bottom of your oven for 2 to 2 ½ hours. Remove and leave to cool. Place into container or wrap in foil. Keep for 2-3 days before cutting.

This Christmas Cake is absolutely delightful and I find that I can't stop at one piece. It needn't be kept just for Christmas, either.

Australian Secondhand Homeschool Curriculum and Books Release

The NEW look Australian Secondhand Homeschool Curriculum and Books is now up and running, thanks to the untiring devotion and endless hours of work of my son (Ookie1).

We have gone for a crisper, cleaner and more professional look that is unique to Australian Secondhand Homeschool Curriculum and Books.

We would also like to thank Wrighty from Proboards Support for all of the help that he has given us in fulfilling code requests/support for the new look forum.

My Inventive Cat

A different style of sandwich????? Doesn't he look soooo bored? Jeremiah actually crawled in between the pillows on his own, and it definitely wasn't cold on this day.

Population Explosion

We have had a population explosion in the goat population. All of the mums are giving lots of milk now, too. This little black and white buck was born to Deborah on the 27th November. He looks more like a jackass when he raises his ears. His name is RG (roast goat), or perhaps that should be Sunday Roast.

This little doe was born on the 28th November, and she is absolutely delightful. This photo was taken very soon after birth, when she was still wet. Her name is Esther, and my daughter's goat, Rebekah, gave birth to her.

This is my favourite goat, Bathsheba (Australian Black), and her two kids were born on the 1st December. One is a little doe, and her name is Susanna, and the little buck is RG2 (nicknamed Fritz by my son). Aren't they ever so cute?

Computer Lesson This Week

This week's computer lesson was on making stamps. My son is learning patience...lots of patience. Next year, we will be using Creative Suite, so that should be interesting.

This is the stamp that I made today. Unfortunately, it doesn't reflect the time actually spent making it.

This is the stamp that my daughter made: