Welcome to BackYard Farming!

Well, we did it!  After months of talking, planning, discussing, reading, building and preparing......we purchased 5 Red Star chicks this afternoon!  They are happily peeping away in their cage.  They will stay in the cage for 18 weeks while their feathers grow, then we can put them outside in their brand, spanking new chicken coop that my dearest husband, Daddy and grandfather, Papa John built.  I'm excited and a bit nervous!

Hope we can handle 5 more things to take care of when I already feel so overwhelmed with life!  But I already see the benefits and know this will be a good thing.  Our children are thrilled and are learning so much!  They can't wait to name their chicken.  Lots of names have been flying around.  I liked the names from the book Make Way For Ducklings {Jack, Lack, Kack, Mack Nack, Quack, Ouack and Pack} but the boys want to name their chickens after the Cars 2 characters {yes, we are a bit obsessed!} Holly Shiftwell, Carla and Sally.  I think Pops, Hubbie and Papa John need a chicken named after each of them for all their hard work on the chicken coop!  We will see....   Even Millie is excited and hangs on to the cage, crooks her head, stares at them excitedly and then kicks her legs like she's jumping in her saucer!

 I plan to spend a lot of schooling time on chickens the rest of the school year and have Hubbie teach them how to care for them.

Next on the agenda for our backyard "farm", a large garden!  And I'd love to have a goat {channeling my inner Lillian Sandburg} and some guineas, but Hubbie is thinking the goat may be pushing our neighbors a bit far!  We'll see!  Maybe we'll do a dog next!  :o)

Used Home School Curriculum Sale

Update:  The sale was successful!  All materials have been requested.  If you are interested in something, let me know and if buyer backs out, I can let you know!  Thanks again!



I am linking up to The Happy Housewife's Used Home School Curriculum Sale today that starts at noon.  If you are looking for curriculum, check it out!  And thanks for stopping by!


For Sale:  

Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Englemann   $10 shipped  Pending payment


I never used this book with our oldest son.  I purchased it because of all the wonderful reviews other home schooling Mamas had given this.  His preschool did such a wonderful job laying the frame work for him reading, by the time we started Kindergarten, he already knew the first few chapters, so we went with another approach.  The book is in good condition.  I purchased it from a used home school book store.  If it has any writing or marks in it, it didn't affect the learning that could be done from the book.  Payment must be made within 2 days of purchasing, unless we have reached an agreement.  Payment will be taken through PayPal or cash.  If local, I will knock off $2 for the shipping costs.   Email me at hyperactivelu{at}gmail {DOT}com to purchase.

pic from here

Singapore Math  Primary Mathematics 1A U.S. Edition  Workbook and Texbook  $15 shipped
Singapore Math Primary Mathematics 1B U.S. Edition Workbook and Textbook {never used} $17 shipped
Pending
I purchased 1A and 1B of the Singapore Math curriculum for my 1st grader to use and I think we needed to go up a book and start with 2A.  It was a bit too easy for him.  We did use 4 lessons in the text book in 1A.  There are 9 lessons total.  The workbook and textbook are both consumable.  The work 1A that has been completed in the first four lessons could be erased.  A pencil was used.  The workbook{1A} was used up to lesson no. 28 that corresponded with the first four chapters.  There are 60 something exercises and review lessons.  So a lot more workbook leftover.  Payment must be made within 2 days of purchasing, unless we have reached an agreement.  Payment will be taken through Paypal or cash.  If local, I will knock off $2 for the shipping costs.  Email me at hyperactivelu{at}gmail {DOT}com to purchase.

(pic from here)

Saxon Math 1 Student Workbook Part 1 and 2 with flashcards {never used} $15  Pending payment 


I purchased Saxon math for our son when he was in Kindergarten.  I didn't realize that I needed a teacher's guide in order to  use this with him.  We already had a few workbooks from Target {Cars!} so we stuck with those during Kindergarten.  This set  has never been used.  I looked through it once and its been sitting in our home since.  Payment must be made within 2 days of purchasing, unless we have reached an agreement.  Payment will be taken through Paypal or cash.  If local, I will knock off $2 for the shipping costs.  Email me at hyperactivelu{at} gmail {DOT}com to purchase.

Abeka Discovering God's World  Grade 1  $5 shipped    Pending payment  


I was given this book and we haven't used it.  It doesn't looked used at all.  I thumbed through it and didn't see any writing either.  I haven't taught my children "science" except with nature studies, etc.  I usually sign Bubbie up for a science or experimental type class twice a  year and for me, thats plenty as a first grader.  While looking through it, it does look like it is a good resource,  something that could be used for a wide range of grades and a quick study!  Payment must be made within 2 days of purchasing unless we have reached an agreement.  Payment will be taken through Paypal or cash.  If local, I will knock off $2 for shipping costs.  Email me at hyperactivelu{at}gmail {DOT}com to purchase.




Thank you for coming to check out my curriculum for sale!  Any questions about anything I've posted, please comment or email me!  And thanks to Happy for organizing this!

Menu Plan Monday- Week of January 23rd, 2012

We're beginning week four of our new lifestyle change.  All organic and natural products.  No processed foods.  Nuts, little grains, veggies, fruit and dairy.  Its been difficult.  It can be time consuming, but we're learning.  God has been faithful to provide for our needs.  Budget wise, we've spent just about the same amount on groceries as we did before on eating out and grocery shopping.  Gradually, I hope to be able to budget a little better as this becomes more of a habit.  I will never understand why the items in the store that are touched less by people are more expensive?!  Frustrating!  

We will eat.....

Monday evening-  Leftover soup and homemade sour dough wheat bread

Tuesday evening-  Chicken in the crockpot, mashed garlic cauliflower and green beans

Wednesday-  Quiche with ham, broccoli and a salad

Thursday-  Leftover quiche and salad 

Friday-  Chicken and Black Bean Quesadilla  {on whole wheat tortillas} with 

organic black corn chips and homemade guacamole, sour cream and salsa 

Saturday-  Roast in crockpot, mashed red potatoes and veggie medley 

Sunday-  Homemade pizza with salad 

For more menu planning tips and ideas, visit here.