Homeschool Portfolios

I began assembling our portfolios today. For those who live in states with more user friendly homeschooling laws, we have to make portfolios for each child each yr. Plus, we have to have the child and the portfolio seen by an evaluator. It is a bit of work, but it is fun to look back at the portfolios later.

I am not an especially organized person. But one thing I do to keep myself from having to search for everyone's work at the end of the school yr is this. I have a file folder for each child, in the filing cabinet. It is labeled "Porfolio Possibilities". Each child then puts things into this folder throughout the school yr. Special papers, things from church or homeschool group. Pictures, artwork. Spelling tests. They all go in. As I get pics developed during the yr, I put them in there, too. Then, when it is time for evaluations, all I have to do is assemble everything in 3 ring binders, and make a few notes and captions. It is not hard, just time consuming.

I was in the attic recently and saw the boxes and bins of portfolios form yrs past. Two of my children have graduated, yet their schoolwork is still there.
I hate to throw them out, they contain so many pics and their writing. But I doubt anyone wants a stack of 3 ring binders to lug around through life, move from place to place, shelf to shelf, attic to attic.
This is my plan: Go through the binders graduate for each one that has graduated, and remove all the clear plastic sleeves full of pics, along with their stories and any other special reports, and highschool term papers. Then, put them all together in one big binder. One for each child. It will look more like a cherished scrapbook rather than a stack of papers.
After next week, when the evaluations are over, and I have a bit of time, I will start working on this project. I can hardly wait to present my graduates with these special albums.

Some pics of my recent work

From top to bottom: Cherries, Rhubarb jam, Strawberry banana jam (for recipe, see pp), and apricot jam

Walking Down Memory Lane

I made apricot jam today. As I was putting the jam into the jars, I noticed that the jars were the ones my Memom gave me.
Memom had canned in those jars for many yrs, mostly pickles and saurkraut, since they were pints. Some of the jars have the Anchor Hocking emblem on them, some Atlas, some Kerr. I even have some of the blue Mason quart jars in my basement. She gave them to me soon after I got married and she was ready to give up canning.

We use to live close to Memom. Mom and I would work side by side with Memom in the garden, planting, weeding and picking. We worked together as we peeled cucumbers, snapped green beans, peeled and sliced peaches, skinned tomatoes,etc.
I remember being hot and sweaty, and complaining about it, like I was the only one that minded it. I don't know how they put up with my whining:( Memom would just look at me over the top of her glasses and keep on working.

Funny, I think the things canned in those old jars taste better than things canned in the newer jars I bought. Those old jars certainly have held up better than the newer ones. I have never had one of them break during the canning process. Must be all that love from yrs of canning that make them more rugged.

Strawberry Banana Jam

I made a batch of strawberry banana jam today. The recipe makes about 5 pints. It is easy and delicious.

4 3/4 cups prepared fruit (about 2 quarts strawberries and 3 fully ripe bananas)
3Tblsp lemon juice
6 3/4 cups sugar
1 box sure jell (or a heaping 1/3 cup of bulk Dutch Jel_ which is what I use)
1/2 tsp butter

Stem and thoroughly crush stawberries. Measure 3 1/4cups into 6-8 quart saucepot. Mash bananas thoroughly. Measure 1 1/2 cups and add to pot. Stir in lemon juice.

Measure sugar into separate bowl. Stir sure jell into fruit in saucepot. Add butter. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Quickly stir in all the sugar. Return to a full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min. stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with a metal spoon.

Ladle quickly into hot sterilized jars, filling to within 1/2in of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids and screw tightly. Invert jars 5 min. then turn upright. (you can use the water bath method, but I don't.)

Teen Drivers and Sick Babies

Teen Drivers are a scarey thing. They are a test of faith that is beyond any other. My 2nd child passed her drivers test today and became an officially licensed driver. In some ways it is wonderful I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to drive her to beauty school every day beginning June 21.

Now she has to learn that it costs money to go to work. We never charged her for gas when we drove her. She has been learning, little by little, how to budget and manage money. Now she will be learning a little more. Gas and insurance and cell phone. (wouldn't it be nice if this were our only expenses?)

She drove herself to work all alone today. Then off to youth group, where her sister had been dropped off earlier. She will be bringing her sister home.

Then tomorrow, she is driving about 25 minutes away to apply for a job. It is about half way between home and the school she will be attending.

It is really hard to see the little bird stretching her skinny wings. Seems like just yesterday she was wearing out my livingroom carpet with the pink Barbie convertable;)

We continue to have the spread of illness in our house. The baby who is only 6 mos is now sick, as is the 3yo and 13yo. The others that had it are still sick. Total of 7 sick children.