A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Homeschooling

The “G’s” of Rabbits

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I didn’t know what to do for the letter G so I asked people on the homeschool review crew forum for suggestions.

They suggested: Gestation, Giant Breeds, Grooming. They also suggested other posts like “buying your first bunny and Growing bunnies” but those are posts for another day. So today I talk about the G’s of rabbits

The "g's" of Rabbits

Gestation

Most rabbits, I’d say 90% in my experience, will kindle (have babies) 31 days after mating. Gestation is very easy on rabbits and rarely do you see any sort of strain on the momma. The earliest I’ve had them come in is 28 days the latest was 38 days.

Sometimes you will see hormonal differences, momma rabbit either become more mellow or becoming more space protective.

Breeders will sometimes, between day 11-14, palpate to see if the doe is bred. I choose not to do this, figuring 30 days is nothing to wait and I normally have bunnies on a schedule and why mess with it?

Gestation of rabbits

People have this misconception that rabbits can have two pregnancies at one time. This is WRONG. Although rabbits have two tubes, they only have one pregnancy at a time. The misconception is due to the fact that rabbits can reabsorb their kits. If they start to do that, and then deliver their babies, the size difference and seemingly different developmental stage causes people to think separate pregnancies.

Grooming

Most rabbits need very little in the way of grooming. Like many animals, rabbits groom themselves quite handily. They occasionally need help, like baby bunnies as they are learning to care for themselves, or injured rabbits needing support.

The main time they need help is during their moult. Just like with dogs, rabbits sometimes need a good brush out when moulting. This is really easy to do. Just dampen your hands and run them through your bunnies coat against the grain. Rub off the gathered hair and repeat until all the loose hair is out of the coat. Sometimes you will need to actually pluck the loose hair out, especially around the tail/rear end area.

grooming rabbits

In the picture above I have Horatio sitting on a plank over my compost big. Horatio was in a very heavy moult and was miserable. I brought him out every day for about 8 days and plucked out the loose fur on his back end as well and running my hands backwards over this body. He was so much happier when we finished everyday. Took about 5 minutes daily. The hair you see sticking out is a tuff that needs to be plucked.

Giant Breeds

The most common giant breed in North America the Flemish Giant. These are a lovely breed of rabbit. Miss Wafer pictured below is the largest rabbit I have at 16 lbs. Her dad was a Flemish Giant. She’s a big girl but not nearly the biggest rabbit I’ve ever seen. They are known as the gentle giant, but mind you… they aren’t all docile or gentle. Wafer can be bossy. I’ve known others that nippy. On average they make excellent pets or breeding animals. They aren’t great as meat animals due to their large boney frames and slow maturation..

Flemish giants

Just for Fun! Guinea Pigs!!!!

Others in this Series

Letter G Link Up

Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.

Fitting in the Basics of Life in the Midst of Busyness

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T’is the time of field trips, year end celebrations, graduations, co-op times and more. In the middle of it all is karate, art classes, homeschooling, youth clubs, volunteer work and more.  Just how do you fit in the basics when your family is always busy doing stuff? Fitting in the Basics of Life in the Midst of Busyness is not always so easy. Today I will address a vital component to making it all work. 

Fitting in the Basics of Life in the Midst of Busyness

Learning Opportunities Abound

Everywhere we look there are things we can do to keep ourselves busy with… err… Learn From! There are so many opportunities to socialize, develop our faith, our emotions, our bodies.

I have two teenagers living with me right now. One has youth group, full days in high school, and friends he wants to spend time with. In the middle of it he wants to see Canada, study for an important test in Brazil, and do well in school here. The second has karate, army cadets, church cadets, music class, a paper route, animals to care for, friends to spend time with and homeschooling to do.

And me… besides the mirade of small jobs I have… I have a household to run and youth to stay involved with. How does one manage it all.

Communication

Honestly, that’s what it comes down to.

Hubby asks daily “so what are your plans for the day?” He’ll mention what he has to get done, and I’ll bring up my plans.

Boy one: “Do I have youth tonight?” “Can I go ________?” “I must study, I stay home today!” We text mostly, and attempt talking occasionally. He’s not too keen on learning English this one. But still, communication happens.

Boy Two: “Are we on week one or two?” “Can I do this?” “Today is really busy, can I choose not to do this?” “How can I fit in this? I really really want to do this, how?”

Mom: “What day works best for me to go to the library?” “Can you make supper?” “Did you pay this or do I need to?” “Who is sweeping the floor today?” “Do we need to make cat food yet?”

Adjusting to Make it fit

By talking and adjusting our lives we make it all fit. Sometimes we choose one activity over another. For instance this coming weekend the lad had opportunity to go two different places… which to choose! Then I wanted a day away with hubby, how do to that if lad chose option two? Discussion happened. No fretting needs to happen if all the details are known.

None of it would happen without communication. Communication lets me know that we need more bread, or we’re out of deli meat. Communication lets me know that bathrooms have been done. Through discussion we decide if some schoolwork can slide so a project can be more timely completed. Conversation helps us to proactively take charge of what we to so that all those little things still get done that help make our house a home.

Your turn now…. how do you make it work? When life gets crazy busy and it seems something is always on the go, how do you maintain your home in the midst of it all? What is your key to Fitting in the Basics of Life in the Midst of Busyness?

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

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Just in time for summer, Pierdomenico Baccalario shows up with 50 Adventures to Have Before you turn 14. This easy to grab up book has 50 different adventures designed to fill a summer of fun for youth. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

What I am Reviewing

50 Adventures to Have Before you Turn 14.
Pierdomenico Baccalario
Tommaso Percivale
AntonGionata Ferrari (illustrator)
Sourcebook Jabberwocky
176 pages, 10-14 years, Trade paperback
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

CAUTION: this handbook is for serious adventurers only
Are you an experience-chaser and a thrill-seeker? Then this book is for you. Full of 50 quests and adventures that will push you to explore, create, discover, and even get a little dirty, this handbook is the perfect guide to set you on the path of true adventures.
Decode secret messages, record interesting creatures your encounter, track your points for each adventure you complete, and much more!
So go ahead, accept the challenge for once in a lifetime experiences that are too good to miss!

The Details

The excitement starts when you open the very first page. This book for a specific adventurer only, a place where they can record what they did, when and how. Everyone else either needs to get their own book or.. keep their hands off. It comes complete with rules, contracts and helpful advice to get the daring adventurer on their way.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

Each adventure takes 3 pages. Two to explain the adventure and one to record what happened when you did it.

The explanations include words of caution when needed (making a slingshot, mushrooms) and making note if parental supervision is advised. The explanation might simply be information about the night sky, animals that live in forests, or the history of kit flying. Materials needed and instructions are amply supplied.

Learn photography skills taking pictures of plants and animals, develop wood working, outdoor skills, explore nature, the arts, and history. Fill your days with adventures at the beach, in the woods, visiting friends and playing games. Create a treasure hunt and stay up sun up til sun set.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

A list of all adventures is found at the close of the book, making it easy for the adventurer to find a new way to expand their horizons.

My Recommendation

This is a neat book. It would be so fun to hand to youth who, once the freedom of being out of school waned, says “I’m bored”. You could simply hand this book to them and say “get busy then, adventures await.”.

Granted, some of them would require some assistance, such as going to a petting zoo or exploring an old ruin, but most of them require few ingredients and the willingness of adventurer to explore.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

Many are what you might expect in a book of this sort, like exploring in the woods, making a time capsule, or flying a kit. I was delighted to see a few I didn’t expect like sleep in a scary place, identify mushrooms, secretly trail a friend, and inventing a magic potion.

My son looked through this book (seeing in my stack of review books and thinking it looked interesting). “I like it mom, it has some good ideas in it.” He then mentioned an 11 year old friend saying he’d probably really like it.

The target age range is perfect I think. The adventures are nicely varied and would make for a great summer of adventure (other than the sledding adventure). Go get it for your adventurers! 🙂

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14
disclosure

How to Feed Rabbits

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There are literally as many ways to feed rabbits as there are people who own them.  It’s amazing to me the diets that rabbits can get accustomed to.  Natural feeding (no pellets), Pellets and Mixed diets tend to cover the most commonly found methods.

How to feed rabbits.

That fact there are so many ways to feed bunnies is, I think part of the reason it irks me when people insist there is only one way to feed rabbits. BUT people are who they are right?  It’s easy to think that your way is the only way, or at least the best way.  So let’s talk about the different ways to feed bunnies.

How to feed rabbits.

Pellets Only

There are many many rabbit breeders who insist the only way to feed bunnies properly is with a pelleted diet. Essentially kibble for rabbits. Most pellets are made with an alfalfa base, some are also made with timothy hay. A good pellet should contain everything that a rabbit needs to remain healthy, and many rabbits are raised to do well on a pelleted diet.

This method is most common with serious breeders. It makes it easier to feed exactly what each rabbit needs, gives them a stable diet, and is less fuss when travelling on the road. The disadvantage is if a rabbit goes off feed, it can be hard to get them going again if they refuse to eat pellets.

Pellets Plus (mixed diet)

An equal number of rabbit people will raise their rabbits on pellets plus something else. This could be a show or breeder supplement, or additional feed sources such a hay, green feed, oatmeal, or mixed grains.

In this diet you want to feed your rabbit a grass type hay, which is one that is lower in calcium to prevent bladder sludge in your bunnies. Green feed consists of rabbit appropriate fresh food like dark lettuces, safe garden weeds, dandelions, parsley, chicory, apple branches and the like.

This tends to be a favourite method of people across the board from breeders to pet companion people.

Pros: wide variety of feed available, if the rabbit rejects pellets, you can offer more grains, and you can adjust feed to seasonal variability. Cons: harder to balance the diet and some rabbits will become picky eaters.

How to feed rabbits.

Non-pelleted Diet

The hobbyist is most likely to feed a non-pelleted diet, choosing to search out needed minerals and salts for their rabbits, along with a variety of hays, branches, mixed grains and green feed. This is a more labour intensive way of feeding rabbits.

In the non-pelleted diet, the hay you want to feed is alfalfa hay as it has higher protein levels. You also want to make sure you feed a wide variety of plants and fresh greens to cover a good nutrient load. Do not wash everything first as trace nutrients are to be valued.

Pros: feeding a rabbit like they are meant to be fed. Cons: It’s a lot of hard work gathering, storing, drying needs feeds and ensuring a balanced diet.

Right and Wrong

Part of the problem people have when feeding mixed diet is people frequently forget to think about balance in the diet. A method frequently espoused is “feed bunnies all the hay they can eat, lots of veggies, and just a little bit of pellets.”

The question is… if you aren’t giving the bunny all the trace nutrients, minerals and salts they require. Items commonly found in their pellets, where are they getting them from? Are they getting them from the washed grocery greens? Are you giving them a rabbit safe salt/mineral supplement? It’s good to ask these questions, to make sure that the diet you are feeding your rabbits is good for them long-term.

A big part of me wants to espouse how I feed bunnies, but I’m not going to. I think how I manage their diet them for the most part works. Occasionally I wonder if I need to tweak it a bit, but I am not quite sure either if I should or how. I don’t want to fuss about it, and my buns are doing well.

Others in this Series

Letter F Link Up

Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.

Sea Blockades and Battles WW1

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This week Sea Battles!   We just finished The Eastern front and the Western Front.   This was a fascinating look at the battle on the surface.   We’ll be looking below the surface next week.   We learned a great deal about the blockades as well as some of the actual battles. 

Sea Blockades and Battles ww1

My son gravitating toward video as he does, asked me on Monday if we could watch videos rather than go to the library.  

Videos watched

The British were trying to stay the most powerful navy but the states and Germany were further ahead industrially.  As of world war 1 Britain had the best navy with Germany close behind.

Naval Blockade of Germany by the British. We love watching The Great War channel. It is so interesting. Blockades prevented food from getting in, which would weaken the enemy. It wasn’t a kind thing, but perhaps a necessary one?

We focused in a bit on the Battle of Jutland with the two videos below.   This was the biggest naval battle of world war 1.  We learned a few things about tactics, and how different builds of ships made a difference. 

We learned about the battle of Moon Sound.  This battle was fought October and November of 1917.  It was between the Germans and Russians with the Germans being successful. 

Strategy and tactics is important to the lad, so the title of this video intrigued him.  Mistakes in communication were a large part of how this battle played out.  The lad explained to me that radios weren’t very accurate during the war. 

Books Read

He read about sea battles in World War 1 for Kids. We wanted to read more but we have co-op this past two weeks and that means Fridays are too busy for lots of reading.

World War 1 for kids

A decision was made to map out where the blockages and major sea battles were. I wish he would do them in anything out than pencil so they would show up better on the map, but it’s his project and he’s happy with it.

Sea Blockades and Battles ww1

Along with mapping it out, he also printed off a key to go with it. So far we are in discussion over how to keep the key with the poster board.

Sea battles of Ww1

Other posts about world  war one

The man who went to the far side of the moon

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Raincoast books sent this interesting book to review called “the man who went to the far side of the moon“.   This is the story of Apollo 13 Astronaut Michael Collins.  This is a neat book that will wonderfully supplement a study on outer space, or a deeper look into Apollo 11.

The man who went to the far side of the moon

From the Cover:

Everyone knows the story of the first astronauts to step foot on the moon.  What about the astronaut who manned the spaceship orbiting the moon 14 times alone in space while the others walked? ….. This lauded book describes what Michael Collins did, saw, and thought about during his journey.  It tells the larger story of how the astronauts prepared for their historic space flight, what they brought with them and what they left behind. Reminiscent of a scrapbook and featuring drawings as well as photos taken both in space and on Earth.  This is a book for anyone who has ever looked at the moon and wondered what it would be like to see it up close.

What you Get:

Fascination!  🙂

Seriously though, this was an easy read on a quiet Friday night as I waited for my hubby to get home from work.  Filled with photographs, sketches, and diary entries to tell the story.  The focus was on Collins as he orbited the moon in solitude while his companions became the superstars. 

The man who went to the far side of the moon

The main text was in a rather small font which made it really easy to tell apart from the more explanatory text that accompanied many of the photos. 

I loved how interspersed among the stories were images of journal entries and duties he needed to attend.

1 am alone now, truly alone. and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. Michael Collins Click To Tweet
The man who went to the far side of the moon

All the photos brought the story to life, especially how they were combined with journal entries. All the trivia would be of solid interest to space minded readers.

My Thoughts:

If you have any interest in going to the moon and its heroes, get this book.  It was such an interesting book into a man that most pay no attention to.  Why worry about a man who was only the support staff?

A thoroughly enjoyable read filled with tons of information about the Apollo 11 mission and vehicle, the duties expected and Mr. Collins’ thought while isolated in Apollo 11.  

Good Book.

The man who went to the far side of the moon
The man who went to the far side of the moon. 
Bea Uusma Schyffert
Chronicle Kids
Trade Paperback, 80 pages, 
Biography, Space, Astronomy, Outer Space, Moon, Astronaut
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Another book about Michael Collins that I reviewed was called “I love you, Michael Collins”.   You can find that here.   Other books on space “mission to Pluto”. I remember a great study we did on the moon from Amanda Bennett. 

disclosure

Teaching Highschool with Outside Classes

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As my son is getting older, I start to more look at the things he is interested in and how can I meet his needs best.   I’m not talking the sports and generic art classes.  I’m speaking more to the things he wants to learn, like debate, engineering, and more.  How do I meet THOSE needs? How does a person decide if it’s a course you can teach OR if you need  to take outside classes? I need to figure out how to be teaching highschool with outside classes. This is still a process that we are working through, but I thought I’d share some of my thoughts.

Teaching Highschool with Outside Classes

Regular things

There are things we have always done, like pay for swimming and archery lessons.  He regularly takes karate classes.  There’s a homeschool mom who teaches a multi-age art class, when she has a class the lad is interested in, he goes there, has a great time and learns a lot.

He’d been expressing an interest in protective services so I put him into army cadets this year. Not so he can join the army but so that he can learn the routine and regimentation of a disciplined life, learn some important skills and perhaps make some local friends along the way. It has surprised me at how well he has taken to being part of the cadet unit.

I have to admit that his dad and I have encouraged him to consider doing a trade. We know he has the leanings toward a teaching and/or helping profession. He explains and teaches as naturally as breathing so I can see that in his future, but we push him a bit toward a trade because then he can use those skills for the rest of his life. Use them to put himself through higher education if ultimately that’s what he wants. To that end, I’ve enrolled him in the trades program at the local highschool. One class that will introduce him to four different trades with some hands on experience to help him decide if that’s a path he wants to take.

Teaching Highschool with Outside Classes

Online Options

There is the mirade of online courses for Math, foreign languages, Coding, geography, and music. You learn most anything you want on-line, just a matter of finding it. You-tube has tutorials, Khan academy is more than just math, Outschool has a number of fascinating courses, Udacity, and Alison has a course on human anatomy that looks interesting. Whatever interest you have, you are generally able to find an answer on-line. Sometimes free, sometimes paid. Look around and make some great discoveries.

Some additional options for Canadians

A local group called G.L.O. teaches highschool level classes, and I’m quite interested in them, and I suspect once I got my lad on board he would too. I hesitate due to the cost factor.. paying for the books, the teacher, the drive (a good 45 minutes there and then back). I want to sign him up but I don’t know about making it all fit.

World Wide Options

Teaching Highschool with Outside Classes

Making the Pieces Fit

I don’t quite know yet how we will make all the pieces fit, but through conversation with my lad, and the willingness to try, anything is possible, even if I can’t teach it all myself. Because honestly.. I can’t teach it all, neither can you, and sometimes we shouldn’t even try. Sometimes our students need a different teacher, one with a different perspective on life, or a different style of teaching.

The biggest thing I find it to keep talking with our students, our children. Making sure they know the options, and have this willingness to put forth the effort. Together anything can happen.

How about you? What can’t you teach? What will you look at with your students? On-line or outside the home classes? What local sources do you have available? Talk to me, perhaps you have ideas I haven’t even considered yet! 🙂