U.S. Civil War Re-enactment: Battle of Round Mountain 2012

Two years ago our family participated in an event held annually in Yale, Oklahoma at Jim Thorpe park.

The Battle Of Round Mountain Civil War Re-enactment




The actual re-enactment of the battle takes place Saturday and Sunday afternoon while the Friday before is open for school-aged kids to come tour the encampment.





Saturday night there is a ball with authentic U.S. Civil War era-style music.





After several dances, my hoop broke.



If you'd like more information on this fun and educational event, go here.

Also, if you have the time and would like to read a little bit more about our experience, I blogged about it here at my old blog.

I hope your week has gotten off to a great start...I'm cleaning house to prepare for a geography co-op.
And it feels a bit like one step forward and two back!

Blessings, Julie

A Bird Poem in Free Verse

A small girl walks outside.
It is time to feed the birds.
It is cold and she shivers,
but she trudges on.


Icicles hang down from branches of trees nearby.


She smiles watching a bluejay land on the ice.
She shivers again and begins pouring the feed.
A chickadee watches with interest.
The bluejay also stops to gaze at the small intruder.


She smiles at the birds.
They are her friends.
More birds fly down to lower branches,
watching the girl.


The chickadee peeps impatiently.
The girl smiles again,
backing away from the feeder.


She watches as the birds enjoy their meal.
     
        ~~~  Written 1/4/12 by my oldest daughter.

What's Up Here

We're full-swing into summer now and it's definitely heating up around here.
My green beans and peas have finished producing and are now ready to be tilled in.
I had thought of planting a fall garden, but as we're a bit busy this week with Vacation Bible School it won't get done within the next few days.


Obviously, I've had time to take pictures.
We've had quite a few skippers flitting about and enjoying the zinnias out by the vegetable garden.

Last week I took a short walk to the spring that is in our back pasture and took some pictures of damselflies and dragonflies.

I found this picture to be a bit comical. This sweet little damselfly looks as if it has spectacles on.

Too cute!

Back at the vegetable garden, where I've planted Mammoth Sunflowers, I took this picture of one my large beauties. The texture here is gorgeous and I love that the moisture from a recent rain shower is still present. The bumblebees and carpenter bees congregate regularly on these and I was rather surprised that I was able to get a couple of pictures minus any bees.

Sunflowers just scream summer.

Along with ice cream, swimming pools, shorts, cicadas, butterflies, bumblebees, hotdogs, sandals, and fresh salads straight from the garden, yum!

Along with trying to get a fall garden in the ground, I'm expecting my school related order from CBD (Christian Book Distributors) to make it here soon. I'm excited...is that odd...but really I am.

We're going to start using Apologia this year for science and will also be working on a rather lengthy unit covering the twentieth century in the United States.

I can honestly say I'm looking forward to it!

I hope your summer days are comfortable and productive!

Blessings, Julie