StArt: Mrs. Wishy Washy's Farm

This is our second time participating in StArt at a Mommy's Adventures. If you are begininng to wonder what StArt is.... well by Michelle's definition it is A Story + Art = A Great stART!This weekend we read "Mrs. Wishy Washy's farm" by Joy Crowley and Illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller. We played with the felt farm set I made below. My youngest played with the pieces, sorted his animals and counted

Lance Corporal Arthur William White 1904-1981

My Father Arthur William White

Back between the 1930's and 1960's people accepted their lot in life and got on with making the best of what they had. Excuses weren't made nor complaint's voiced. My father emigrated alone from England when he was twenty. He met my mother who lived at home with her parents in Leeton, and they married. The years were lean and hard yet people were resilient and pulled together. Food was carefully prepared and all was eaten, not wasted or thrown away. Clothes got handed down and reshaped or cut to fit the next wearer. I once had a dress made out of an old curtain. All was mended, cared for and cherished. The Second World War began so my father volunteered and went off to help fight for his country. Mother was left behind as were many others to keep the home and care for the children. She had my three elder brother and sisters. Pop went first to the Middle East and on his return he was sent to the Kakoda Trail in P.N.G. to prevent the Japanese from penetrating Australia. Conditons were harsh with a lack of food, wet cold weather, the enemy and malaria carrying mosquito's. None of this was spoken about on his return home. He passed away in 1981 taking his memories with him. My younger brother Ralph, now retired, set about trekking the Kakoka trail to hopefully experience and understand what our father had been through. This firsthand reality imprinted a different understanding upon my brothers mind. Through my brother, we the rest of my fathers children have come to understand much of our father's personal suffering and torment. I feel so very proud to be his child. Now I see him as an unspoken hero. I love the Ode of Rememberance spoken every day at six in the evening in every Return Soldiers Club in Australia. When the lights are dimmed. The Tapps soulfully play. Then the ODE is recited.
*They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weiry them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Lest we forget. *All present repeat... "Lest we forget." (Laurence Bunyon 1914)

Miracles

Believe in Miracles

Do you believe in miracles? I do! I also believe the Angels watch over us, Psalms: 91.
Raymond owns a Harley, Road King Classic, it's his pride and joy. Of course I have my seat on the back yet I am begining to get cautious with age. So when out church organised a road trip involving the bikes I didn't even ask if women could go. Safely I was happy to remain at home and visit a friend. Bikes and Tykes, they lined up eager to go. However, it was explained to the non church attendee's present that a prayer for safety was important prior departure. Ps Keven did the honours with all in agreement before they roared off in a flurry of blue green grey black and yellow. At 1000hrs the phone call came. "Hello," my husbands voice. "Can you come and get me?" "How come," I queried. "Well I had an accident and came off the bike." "So how's the bike," I asked, knowing I'd learn more about the accident by the condition of the Harley. "It's not good," came his low response. "Are you alright?" I asked. "Yes, I'm fine," came the typical male answer.
Later I was to discover my husbands escape from harm was a miracle. On a country road and riding in unfamilar territory at 120kph he lost control of his bike on a bend. It happened at the side of a concrete bridge near a guard rail. Missing these he sailing through the only gap possible to be air born for a couple of metre before the bike fell hitting brush then water . Ray was thrown over the handle bars. Shocked and sorry, he met me as soon as I arrived. Instantly I observed him for an elevated pulse (internal bleeding). He refused Hospital for monitoring after I considered a possible # Sternum so I kept vigil all day. My main concern of ruptured Mesenteric Artery or Spleen later ruled out with no abdo tenderness, tackycardia or hypotension. Praise God, Ray was up early on Sunday morning to take off for a 3 day golf championship. . ... MIRACLES do happen!

Week in Review for Sept. 28 - October 2 (Farm wk 1)

WEEK 6 in review
This week we had lots of fun learning about life on the farm. We are learning about the letter C this week and the boys have working together much better than the previous weeks. No fighting, no arguing, no yelling.. just sharing and waiting your turn... for now... (or until they find some reason for not wanting to share, which they can find eventually).

Turtle's week: We

Our Mrs. Wishy Washy and Farm Animals

Pictured above Mrs. Wishy Washy story characters I madefor our homeschool as we read "Mrs. Wishy Washy" this week!This week we began our farm theme. We are doing book activities from two books: "Mrs. Wishy Washy" and "Mrs. Wishy Washy's Farm." Next week we are reading the Little Red Hen. I picked up some other books which you can see on our right side bar which lists what we'll be reading for the