Let me preface by saying that the temps. here in central Ms. have finally turned cool and we have a cool front blowing in today. It may even frost tonight. So the kids (mainly the boy) wanted to build a fire out in the yard but it was just to0 windy. So what do you do when mom is way too logical?
Well, it all starts with a very overgrown muscadine vine/bush. When we moved here these very old vines had really been neglected and this is the largest one.
Then you add a very ingenious 11 year old boy.
Who recruits his sisters. Even the one who just turned 17 on Saturday. (Oh how I am crazy about these kids)
And then you turn said muscadine vine/bush into a fort of sorts.
They have their sleeping bags under there with pillows and blankets and are all huddled up. It's great. 
There are so many things that I love about homeschooling and here is one of them. My girls and boy are not concerned about boys/girls or things of the world like who's wearing or doing what and all that peer pressure stuff. They are able to be 11, 14, and 17 and still play and dream and have fun. It's truly a blessing! We make a lot of sacrifices for me being home but I would not take one minute for it!!!
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On the topic of sacrificing, here is one frugal tip. With all of the fencing, preparing animal homes, and getting hay ready for winter, my husband has just not had time to put up a clothesline. So I hung a small clothesline between two of our small oaks. It is temporary but works. I love the smell of line dried sheets. There is nothing better. I have read that every load of clothes dried in the dryer can cost $.36. Around here that will add up quick. Now don't get me wrong, I do not line dry every load of clothes but I do like to use it as much as possible.
Do you see how that wind is whipping up today? They will be dry in no time!!
I love the idea of this clotheline with a garden trellis on either end. I think it would beautify a plain old clothesline. I would grow morning glories up either side. I doubt mine will be this fancy initially but maybe one day!!
I hope you all have a great week!!!
24 comments:
I remember building quite a few forts back in my homeschooling days. :) And traps, too. Gotta catch the bad guys you know! ;)
They look like they're having so much fun!
I wish I could have a clothesline, but I'm sure I would have bird poo on my clothes if I hung one up! : )
We just turned our furnace on last night and sitting here next to the window I'm FREEZING! I feel for those people up north who deal with this in September. Not that I'm complaining about the cooler weather...not a bit. I just wish my window was a little more weather proof right now. : )
Your kids really look like they are having a great time-I grew up in the country and played with my brother and other kids that walk or rode their horses miles to see us! We always came up with such fun things to do just like your kids. Good Memories.
Love the clothes line between the trees-Oh how I miss the country!
Take Care,
Robin~♥
I SO AGREE....isn't that such a beautiful thing with our home schooling. AGE just doesn't matter. There's nothing that warms my heart more than to see the five year olds and the 15 year olds (my kids, neices, nephews) all just having fun being kids...together.
It's great to see your kids just being kids, like you said, and actually enjoying being outside and not sitting in front of the TV or computer. Good for them and for you! I have enjoyed reading about how you are trying to save money by hanging out your clothes also stocking up on food. That is not a bad idea. I should do that when things are on sale because everything is going up as I'm sure you know! For instance, our favorite Mexican restaurant that we have been going to practically every weekend for 5 years just put out new menus with, of course, higher prices. Our bill was about $5 higher than it used to be. Will all this inflation ever stop?! We have to pray and trust in the Lord because He is in control!
I LOVE your header! So homey!
I also like that fort - ingenius kids! :)
I only wish my kids got a long like that. LOL. You know it is really tough for kids nowadays trying to keep up with the Jones' with what they have and wear. Luckily my kids aren't so much into the clothes thing as they both wear jeans and t-shirts.
As for the clothesline I wish I had one. I have no trees or anything to tie it to. I just throw stuff over the proch railing to dry.
Mary
I remember building 'houses' with my mom's dining room chairs, sheets, and clothespins. Those were some REALLY fun times. :)
How wonderful!! I often think about homeschooling. Im realy not sure id b able to do it. I dont think my kids would treat me like a teacher.... I think they would try to get away with to much.
I love my line. I dry stuff on it all the time. I like your idea about the line.
What a fun fort! My siblings and I always built outdoor forts when we were little.
~Kelli
Home school kids ROCK!!
Neat factoid about the dryer...we are solar dryer fans here too(well not just fans-as all we use is the line:)
Jennifer
doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com
Trixi,
I didn't know you were blogging here!! I will miss you at HSB! You have a lovely blog here and I'll try to stop in and check on you from time to time. :)
Blessings~~
gloria
That brings back such wonderful memories of me and my sisters playing underneath our Mother's vines. I noticed that you are from MS so am I. I also noticed that your husband is in the military, my oldest son is too. He is with the National Guard here in Pontotoc. He also will be leaving for Irag in March. Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Hi Trixi :)
I remember building forts with my mom's couch cushions and Annie does it in the woods by our house in her friend's backyard. So many memories...
I love that idea of building a trellis on either side!
Have a great weekend!
rue
I love it when our kids just get to be kids...and homeschooling affords so many more opportunities for that, doesn't it? It is neat to see that it doesn't end (our kids are much younger than yours) and that their play can continue!
Nice to meet you for the fist time....
I too home school my 8 and 5 yr old.
Wendy
What a sweet story... Thats whats right with this world today.... Let kids be kids.... I want to homeschool so bad~
I just found your website through Susie Harris (I think). I am a homeschooler too! I love it!!! I have so many fun times with my son (he is 6) during the day and we get to do so many things that he wouldn't normally get to do in public school. They have totally cut out field trips. Seriously! My best memories of school are field trips. We have been to a bee apiary, the botanical gardens and to the elections this year (to name a few). I am just so glad to hear of people homeschooling their high school kiddos. What a blessing! Have a great week!
Well Mrs. Trixi,
I have just been blessed by my visit with you. That certainly is a perfect way to spend the day!
I was so tickled to see ALL of your children enjoying each other. I, too, have an 11, 14 and just turned 19 this month. And they still find their inner child and just enjoy loving each other. What a blessing!
My clothesline is strung between 3 oaks in my yard, too, and now I don't think I'd have it any other way. It just blends right into the woods and I love it!
Look so forward to visiting with you again.
Blessings,
Lea
You've reminded me of Thanksgiving last year. We visited my husbands family that lived on a farm. They had tons of trees & shrubs every where. Well, my boys were busy climbing every one of them.
I love that smell you get when you hang out your clothes to dry. Especially the sheets. :-)
Hi Trixie, I'd like to thank you for dropping by, I love meeting new people. Our daughter in NC home schools her 3 kids. They seem to be very comfortable with the arrangement too. I loved looking at the clothes hanging on a clothes line. It's been many years since I did that.
Hugs,
Chris
Ohhh your kids remind me so much of mine when they were little...they would make forts and do things together all the time...I loved that time in my life being with all them and watching them grow! Oh I do so love a clothes line...I want one just to hang my sheets on! lol Thanks for coming by...hope you try the gravy...I don't use cream of chicken I use chicken broth...but I remember my grandmothers always kep a little container filled with their bacon fat and the used it to season everything ! Ohhhh talk about good food! lol lol Take care and have a great week!
I love your blog! It is so beautiful! My best friend homeschooled and I can remember "going to school" with her on days that I was out. It was so much fun. We also built a fort in kudzo! Oh, the joys of being young! I LOVE the clothesline! I plan to hang one soon and I may steal your idea;)
That trellis is an absolutely beautiful idea! I'm going to have to show my husband. Thanks for posting the picture!
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