This was a very humble house with many people living inside.  The space was used well and not anything out of it’s place

The room was big enough for this table, a fireplace and the cupboard for their cooking.  At the time, the oldest boys (Alvin, Hyrum and Joseph) were building a bigger house up the hill for their parents to live in.  Every night after supper they would read from the bible together as a family.

Samuel thought it was fascinating that they would cook all their meals in the fireplace.

While old this drying rack was quite neat in that it folded up compactly against the wall while not in use. I could use one like it.

I took this picture for costume purposes but interesting that they also used it decoratively.  Simple but beautiful.

This was the parent’s bedroom

Upon going upstairs I realized that I don’t use space wisely at all.  They had at least four beds in this area with a wall partition between the boys and girls.

Samuel’s favorite was the garden outback.  He came running back to tell me that the squash were ready to pick.  He was excited to tell the guide there that someone needed to pick the squash for dinner.    She grinned and assured him that the missionary couple tending the garden would probably do that very thing.

I liked how they used branches and string to hold their tomato plants upright.  Again simple and practical.

The parent’s home was absolutely beautiful.  I’m wondering if I could move in.  The most unique thing was that three fireplaces shared the same chimney.  Not sure that I was able to capture that in the photos.  This was innovative and not a common architectural feature.

Just before we went in however we were greeted by this apparatus.  I believe it is for a pump.

The kitchen was beautiful.  Here is the first of three fireplaces

The drying rack for herbs again simple but quite useful.

This table was tucked into the corner.  Enough room to walk around and sit down but not much extra.

A china cabinet was tucked into the corner.

To the left of the fireplace was this room.  (Front Parlor/bedroom)  The 2nd fire place is just to the right of the spinning wheel.

Back to the kitchen.  They had in door plumbing for the sink.  What a thoughtful son to think of his mother and sisters.

A pantry for food stuffs

From Joseph Smith Farm

These photos are linked so that you can see them closer up. For the Dialectic in Unit 4 there is an option to make a floor covering. These are not originals but done in a style that would have been kept in a home of this time period. Great inspiration for someone willing to try out this art form. Practical art.

The last two are photos of flowers at the grounds. They were too beautiful to not capture.

Every group needs a kid like this.  He cracks me up when he isn’t wearing me out.  We are driving from my parent’s house to Philadelphia a supposedly short trip.  The van we rented had side windows that rolled down part way.  Never seen that before.

You know how you turn around to check on your kids every once in awhile especially when it is quiet.  This is the face that greeted me.

Wow swim goggles.  Would you have thought of that idea.  He said it kept the wind and bugs out of his eyes.  He’s right of course but it didn’t even occur to me to try it.

Samuel highly recommends them.

From Benjamin Franklin

A replica of his printing shop and bindery were there.  The National Park Service stationed two rangers to explain the process and show how the press worked including the content of the paper.  Our family worked for a printing company for many years and the children had the opportunity to visit the press plant.  It was interesting to contrast the operation of the two.  This is a beautiful press.

From Benjamin Franklin

This is the bindery section of the shoppe.

From Benjamin Franklin

A book in the process of receiving it’s binding.

From Benjamin Franklin

Our writing assignment this quarter will be to replicate a paper similar in style to this one.  I thought perhaps this would help us out when the time came as far as layout and format.

From Benjamin Franklin

This picture is one of Benjamin Franklin’s inventions. It is a quartet music stand. Now why don’t they make these anymore? It is very practical.

From Benjamin Franklin

President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other. … So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and small but deliberate deeds!” (Ensign, December 1974, page 5).

Our service need not wait until we devise some elaborate means or project. Often the simplest, most obvious thing is what is needed most, like a thought expressed by telephone or a note in the mail.

This video and others inspire me to move out of my place of comfort.

These are things that we’ve participated in regularly….

Serving a meal to..

men who are distanced from their families,

families new to our area both in an out of our faith

those needing a lift – spiritual or physical

Helping new families to find their way around the city and provide much needed information before they arrive.

Passing along our quality used clothing, household items or books.

Making sack lunches – included bottle of water, fruit, granola bar etc.  I’ve also read where these types of non perishable items to keep in your car and give to homeless people from your car.

Helping with church beautification

Making school kits for children in disaster situations

Knitted caps

Taking cookies or other baked items to someone in the neighborhood.

This list provides 148 other ideas for serving.

http://www.theideadoor.com/LDS%20Service%20Projects.htm

Learning to serve others can teach:

• Satisfaction and joy in a job well done, A sense of accomplishment, Education in essential practical skills, open hearts and minds, and Realization of self-worth

What are some projects that you’ve participated in as a school, church or just your family that worked well?

It seems to me that those projects that work best are those that incorporate many areas of your life and fit as a natural extension of what you are presently doing.  IE  If you go to the park alot it would be easy to have the children pick up the trash quickly before they play.  Our daughter did this when she learned to knit using looms.  She started by knitting hats for premature babies which finish up quickly and are quite easy to make. She then donated the hats to our local hospital.

My heart has been moved by one family’s project to help others.  Village of Hope Our friend Janet went with her son as part of his eagle scout project.  One of the needs there were t-shirt dresses for the little girls.  Providence lent a hand in the project and t-shirts were obtained at a fantastic deal of about $2 per t-shirt.  The fabric to attach at the bottom for the skirt was available for $1.50 locally.  $3.50 for a simple vibrant dress.  They are turning out so incredibly cute.  Her goal is that 100 t-shirt dresses will be made in time to go next June when they return go on the expedition.

Here is a link of what they can look like.  http://www.sewfunpatterns.com/tshirtdresspattern.html They do not need to be this fancy.

We measured the length from the under arm to the bottom of the t-shirt to get the length of our fabric plus an inch for hems.

Measure the bottom of the t-shirt and x2 to get the width.

Cut your fabric and sew into a tube

hem the bottom using 1/2 inch.

run a gathering stitch around the top and gather to the measurement for the bottom of the shirt.

Sew it on and you are done.

Here are other free simple patterns for humanitarian projects.  LDS Philanthropies

This fall our focus is learning/improving sewing skills.  Quilts are a part of our history studies.  There is an opportunity for us to make quilts for the Village of Hope Project.  They are building housing for the workers to stay right on site.  The accommodations are simple and the quilts will add cheer.  Another idea is to make canvas bags for school kits.  Then our home school community or church group can fill them with supplies.  Our contribution will be the bags.  When I shared my idea with Janet she told me that school kits had been on her mind for weeks as well.  Whether it’s quilts, school kits or hygiene kits or some other inspiration serving others is a project that we are looking forward too.

From Trip from DC to Pittsburgh

A short overnight stay in DC at our favorite hotel (It’s 5 minutes from the airport.)

From Trip from DC to Pittsburgh

Then it was time to drive to Pittsburgh and projects galore.

From Trip from DC to Pittsburgh

Jet lag always amazes me as to when it hits but in any case extra cool ac, quite a few stops, kids chatting in the car, and a little cola helped.

Arriving in Pittsburgh has been bitter sweet.  It was the first time we visited our home that it was basically empty of furniture.  It seems like such a lonely house at this point with no one to take care of it the way it should be.  Our repairs now are mostly easy fixes of painting, repairing the knobs that have come off, dings in the paint, holes in walls that occur with old plaster houses.

We still have more paint touch up to do when we return later but our time has run out for now and the major parts of our improvement are finished.  Here are some photos.

Good:
Time doesn’t get wasted as much forming new friendships.
Friendships are worth their weight in gold
Friendships take on the value of precious family members
It truly is a small world and you never know when you will run into friends again.

Bad:
Time on the contract may run out long before you are ready to say goodbye
The friendship dance is shorter
Each year we say goodbye to good friends who are moving on

Two years ago, a homeschooling family moved into our church family (doesn’t happen very often).  I met the husband first, he was sharing when he and his family would be moving in.  I felt an instant connection with her as he told me about their family.  Her husband didn’t know where they were going from their last job so she moved to the Philipines for 6 months with her two children.  What a woman, she is someone that I wanted to know better.  She has inspired this post today.  She makes up her mind to do it and away she goes.  It is a whirlwind but wow.  I hadn’t heard from her in a week and found out they had decided to fly to Kuwait for a vacation for 2 weeks.  Yep that is Jenny.  They are now off to hopefully greener pastures – want to farm in the US.  I’ll miss her.   I didn’t realize how much until she told me yesterday that she was downsizing their food storage.  I know it won’t mean goodbye because the relationship will pick up right where we left off when we meet again.  Still it won’t be the same.

We’ve met many families through the homeschool group email list.  (this is a sad example)  Our family had an activity inviting one new family and a new/old friend as I thought we might all enjoy each other’s company.  We had a great time but then when it came time to talk about a next time they were really vague.  Each suggestion for things to do was met with nope done that don’t want to do it again.  Doha doesn’t have too many new and innovative activities to do it is getting to know people that provides the excitement.  It is either take what is available or make your own fun.  Each time we tried to get together it was the same sort of thing.  They spent at least once every other month traveling for 2 or more weeks.  Communication needs to happen on both sides for this arrangement to work well.

It has also been interesting to see that those most dissatisfied with Doha are the ones that travel so much they don’t have time to settle in any one place.  They often feel disjointed and separate.  It is really hard to know when they are or aren’t in town.  Jet lag also takes a role because it can take from 1 week up to a month depending on how long you have travelled to get back into the swing of life here.  Time travel is hard on a body and flying through so many time zones takes it’s wear and tear.

New friends are made in unusual ways.  This spring we made another precious friendship through this blog.  Their family was moving to Doha from Saudi (it is a hardship assignment in contrast).  She was so excited to meet other homeschooling families that on her first trip trying to find a house and all the other things that needed to be done she really wanted to get together.  I laughed and said I would be glad to meet her but wouldn’t count on it.   If she had time, give me a call.  She had so much to do she didn’t even have time to get a phone call in.  Meet we did after they arrived and found we had much in common.  It was like meeting a sister you never knew you had.  We don’t even care if our children don’t enjoy each other because we will get together for play dates.  hahaha.  Our children do enjoy each other’s company and we come up with easy and fun ideas.  Such a relaxing time it is a breath of fresh air.

During the summer it can get a little bare in Doha as most families travel.  It does get hot about 125 to 135 degrees.  I’ve heard of it going to 155 but haven’t experienced it.  Those are the days you stay inside and don’t go anywhere until after the sun goes down 4:30pm.  I guess what I like is that it is so hot outside that the kids are more willing to spend time on their studies with serious efforts.  We stock up on activities just like we used to for wintertime when you knew that going outside opportunities might be limited.  The traffic reduces to manageable levels, supplies are easier to find and strong friendships are made with those that are here.  It is such a different world and it is amazing to see the transformation that happens.

The last thing I would offer about friendships is that we become family to each other.  The support network develops slowly but with lasting impact.  You are there for each other in a way you might never experience anywhere else.   We help each other out with whatever is needed in times of sickness, new babies and health.  What would I do without my friends.

It is a sad day when you say goodbye but also a time to rejoice when you once again meet and greet each other with tears of joy and a kiss on the cheek.  Thank goodness that even admidst the goodbyes there are opportunities to say hello and greet new friends that we haven’t met yet.  I’ve learned so much about making and keeping friends living in Doha, friendships are the sunshine of life.

Our ideas for most crafts come from the 3 level of arts and activities books that can be found on Bookshelf central.

Hasty Pudding, Johnnycakes, and Other Good Stuff Presents colonial food preparation with a look at the influences of available ingredients, cooking methods, and equipment. Includes recipes and appendix of classroom cooking directions. Use this option if you desire for your hands-on focus during…

	Ben Franklin Book of Easy & Incredible Experiments, The Learn about science the same way Ben Franklin did–by performing incredible experiments! Some options for activities include building an optical toy shop, making a weather station with a working barometer, hygrometer, and other homemade…
	Revolutionary War Days Discover life in America during the Revolutionary War with dozens of exciting projects, games, and recipes. Brimming with authentic sights, tastes, and activities, Revolutionary War Days will bring the past to vivid life and take you on an…

Cook Outside – dutch oven
Make dried fruit
Musical instrument – drum

Telegraph kit – I purchased a kit as it was easier to get the supplies this way.
Our Noeo Physics kit also had some activity kits from the Young Scientist Club that will fit in here.  #23-25.  I stressed out a bit when we didn’t finish our Noeo program up but it looks like it will fit in nicely here to just continue.
Crewel Embroidery Pocket – Costume accessory

Diorama – Colonial or plantation
Display table about medicinal herbs and Homemade remedies
Crewel embroidery Pocket – Costume accessory

Group Projects/Activities:
Videos/Dvds:
Benjamin Franklin – Hero Classics
Daniel Boone – Netflix

Games:
Constitutional Trivia Game – See instructions in TOG SAP
Made for Trade
State and Presidents Card Bank Projects – I’ll prep this by print out the blanks on cardstock

Activities:
Papier Mache Puppets - perhaps they will be used in a play?
Unit Celebration
Portfolios – Pulling these together on a quarterly basis is a fantastic way to keep up with the paperwork of homeschooling.  It is so much less stressful at mid and end of year reporting times.
Learning to write letters – I ordered each person their own wax seal so that we can identify who the letters came from.  John and Abigail Adams wrote letters often to each other.  We may also set up some sort of delivery system like they had in Little Women for the children to get mail in addition to retrieve lost or missing articles of clothing.  Hmmm.   This might solve our entry way issues with shoes and leftover items that need to be put away.

Field Trip ideas: Optometrist’s Office – Biofocals, Horse Farm, Weather Station, Newspaper