Wrapping Up

Wrapping Up
Winding Down
This Semester
Peace:It was good. Next semester should be better. I tend to slack at the end. I enjoyed reading Malcolm X. It is a good story. It teaches you a lot and is entertaining. I didn't like the questions that went with Stolen Legacy but I enjoyed the book. Math was ok. I am looking forward to next semester. I didn't care for my current math book, glad it is almost over. Thankful for my parents for putting me in Quantum classes. I enjoy going, I learn a lot and it is fun. The homework is hard.
I like my interactive goal chart, it helps; BUT I don't like having to do it every Sunday.
I am looking forward to a new math book and Quantum classes starting back up.

Peace Creating Her Interactive To Do List

Working on Poster

Black Hist Club Poster in collaboration with Yahnijah

Peace and Emiliano Grooving to His Wii

Presenting to grandparents

Faith:
It was good, looking forward to starting pre-algebra.
I enjoyed reading Malcolm X. Math was challenging but I got through it and now it is easier.
Very pleased with my crocheting. My stitches look more even and professional. And I learned to embellish my hats.
I am interested to find out what books you have us reading next semester.

Faith's decorated envelop to one of her pen pals

Faith working it out

working

looking for a button to add flavor to the hat

We play games for math on Thursdays. This is her favorite right now.

One of her hobbies, making doll houses and such from recycled materials.

Exploring at the Oakland Museum

Chilling with her mom

The Boy:
I enjoyed Time4Learning, math (I liked my math a lot), and boat making class. My writing has improved a lot. I like studying the Bible. The part that stood out the most to me is when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son. I think I learned more this semester. And I found some really fun, cool, and educational websites.
I don't really know what we are doing for next semester but I am looking forward to completing my math book and memorizing all my time tables. My mom says it should be like breathing. I can almost do them.

Making a paddle

Learning how to chisel

Friends

 proving my answer

Making Flashcards

About to test out paddle

Boat is almost complete.

The Boy making his own herbal concoction.

This semester went well, God willing, the next will be even better.

COMMUNITY

We want to give a BIG thanks to our loving and supportive community for helping us achieve our goal of raising money to get passports so we can finally take a trip abroad.

We normally have an Awesome chart hanging in our house. The awesome chart is where we post personal goals that we have accomplished that are awesome to the individual posting. For instance, it is NOT a place for me to post how awesome it is that Faith finished her current math book with an A- and will start pre-algebra next semester. It is a space where she can post that she is awesome because she learned how to crochet a star to add flair to the hats she makes. This month's chart is a little different.

We worked together to create a poster to tell all the communities we belong to thank you for supporting us. Whether it was by purchasing one of our products, giving a donation, helping us to advertise, or wishing us well in our endeavor. We are grateful. In addition to the trip we hope to take we have this to remind us of all the wonderful people we are surrounded by.

The More I Strive To Live

     About 2 weeks ago the thought came to my mind that the more I strive to live my dreams the more I inspire others to do the same. I felt a little guilty by the thought because it seemed a little ... I can't think of a word to describe precisely what I am thinking. So I brushed the thought aside, especially since it was more of a feeling I was getting. I don't believe that I was told. I think I was gathering it by the energy I was getting from folks. Then a friend called less than 24 hours later and said that I was inspiring her to do something she had been wanting to do. I responded PRAISE BE TO ALLAH. Then a few days later another friend sent me a text that read, " I'm convinced that you're an angel sending me these messages because it's what my family needs too." Once again, PRAISE BE TO ALLAH! Then yesterday, I was speaking with another friend and she said, "That is so inspiring!" At that point I once again said, PRAISE BE TO ALLAH and I submitted. God, at this particular juncture in my life, is blessing me to be an inspiration to others.  Hence I decided to write about it. But not really focusing on me per se, but on all of us.

Can you envision a world where everyone was actively pursuing their dreams? Ok, 75%? 50%? Let's even take it down to 25%? The world would be a different place. Image the energy level of folks. The love that would be more freely circulating. The respect. Namaste comes to mind. (The god in me bows to the god in you).
     Today we participated in the black history club. This month's theme was mathematicians and engineers. It is inspiring to see someone making their dreams a reality. That is one of the reasons we learn about people that are successful, to inspire us. One of the presentations was on Sylvestor Gates, Jr Theoretical Physicist. The interview was brief and I have included the link if you are interested. He was asked, "What advice do you have for students looking to go into science as a career?" I love his response and it fed into a brief but meaningful dialog as well. 

     Anyway, the point I am making is that we all can and do inspire each other so PLEASE do what you can to make your dreams a reality. I am not speaking of just the BIG dreams, but rather all of them. 

Sit Down, Shut Up, & Get It Done

Sit Down, Shut Up and Get It Done
As many of you know I believe that is a skill. And it is literally what I am telling myself right now as I can and have several other ways to spend my time, but there is one project that I would like to make significant progress on that I need to focus on. With that, I'm off to sit down, shut up, and get it done.

Oh and I have written several blog post in my head this past week. Maybe after I get a good amount of this task done I can actually share them with you all.

Good Times

I was asked to find a few photos and was blessed to get sidetracked by looking at a bunch of photos of when the children were younger. Those years were beyond special. I was trying to pick a few favorites but that proved to be impossible. I wouldn't want to bore you with fifty or so pictures so I am going to randomly pick 7. This is going to be difficult.

Act like I can't count and I hope I didn't bore you. I am not sure how I selected but this is what made the cut.

You Can Have My Vote

Today as I was washing the dishes and pondering the various issues in the upcoming elections, I asked myself am I taking educating my children too far.

Backing up a bit
Peace has been very interested in politricks, I mean politics, lately so we have been discussing. During one of our discussions I blurted out that if she researches the issues and can articulate why she would vote a particular way she can have my vote. She got pretty excited.

Now, (a week later), I am wondering... REALLY Erika?

I have settled on that I vote for her. Whatever I can do to help improve her mentally, physically, and spiritually I am all for it.

So Yes, Peace can have my vote. I am excited to see what and who she picks and why.

Going Abroad!!!!!

Greetings and Peace!
To The Folks in the Bay Area or those willing to advertise for us in the Bay Area...

Our two products: Laundry Detergent and Chinook Books

 We are officially set up to distribute Chinook Books. If you have no idea what the Chinook Book is please keep reading or check out this link. Chinook Book

In case you are wondering why we are selling the book. We are attempting to raise money to help us go abroad. We have been desirous for quite sometime to travel abroad but have not made it a reality. We are attempting to make it happen and would love your support in the effort. 
We have been very picky in what we have decided to use as a fund-raiser. We want products that we use ourselves and that are also guilt-free. I have personally purchased a Chinook Book ($20) for the past 3+ years and recouped my investment every time and believe you will as well. Hence, it is a win-win for both sides. This is my first year using the mobile app ($14) as this is also my first year having a smart-phone. I think both (book or app) are great deals. Below is a list of my favorites and I must admit, I mostly stay in the Grocery and Garden sections. However there are coupons in Dining, Entertainment and Family, Fashion and Gifts, Home & Garden, Travel and Recreation, & Wellness. They also have all kind of helpful tips and recommend earth friendly apps and such. Basically, it is a good product and I hope you purchase one from us. If you plan on getting the mobile app give me a call, I can get you started today.


-Chinook Book is a one-of-a-kind resource – a coupon book, a directory and source of ideas for living well and enjoying the best of what’s green and local in the East Bay.

-We are selling it to raise money for our school and to help connect the sustainable economy. Buy the print book for $20 or the mobile version for $14 and earn your money back while enjoying fabulous businesses that are making a difference.

-Valuable neighborhood offers include:

•      Ace
• Natural Grocer
• Piedmont Grocer
• Alameda Natural Grocer
• Monterey Market
• Diablo Foods
• Farmers Markets throughout bay area
• Lakeshore Natural Foods
• Farmer Joe's
• Grocery Outlet
• Andronico's
• Diablo Foods
• Arizmendi
• Cafe Gratitude
• Thrift Town
• Grand Lake Theatre
• Stonemountain & Daughters
• East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse
• East Bay Nursery
• Wertbrae Nursery
• Flowerland
• Amtrak

Chinook Book makes a wonderful gift and it’s a great tool for exploring your community.


Learn more about what's inside and how the app works at bay.chinookbook.net

And of course, A BIG THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ALREADY!

Book Review: How White Folks Got So Rich by Aminah Muhammad

     In history, my sister and I just finished a book called How White Folks Got So Rich: The Untold Story of American White Supremacy.  I really enjoyed reading it. Some of the things I learned are:

•  A black woman named Henrietta Lacks, died of cancer in 1951. Her family later found out that her very unique cells were being used for drugs.
•   In Holmesburg Prison, skin experiments were being done on the Black prisoners by cosmetic company scientists. 
• Prisoners earn 0.23 an hour, meaning American gets cheap labor from prisoners.
• Some of the companies that benefit from cheap labor are: IBM, Texas Instruments, Dell, Kmart, JCPenny, Honeywell, Microsoft, Motorolo, Chevron, McDonalds, Victoria's Secret and more. This is important because these stores are extremely popular so most of America buys merchandise that is made thanks to cheap labor and don't know it.

These things are, like the Holocaust, but while the Holocaust is known world wide, very few know of the suffering of Black people by the hands of the American government. I recommend this book to any and everyone.

How much of our families' food can we produce ourselves?

Peace years ago finding a tomato

As I was reading sicilian sisters grow blog their subtitle title struck me. For the first time in my short gardening career I am feeling pressured by that question, how much of my family's food can I produce. In the past it was a good amount during late spring and summer. Fantabulous! No pressure! No expectations! But as more stuff began to grow people began to think I knew/know what I am doing... HAHAHAHAAAAA. No one seems to believe that I am just playing. This is an on-going science project. It helps that we homeschool, every school has a lab right?

This is an experiment we did about 2 years ago to see if we could grow starts successfully early in milk cartons. They worked. Mini-individual greenhouses. Oh and self watering. my fav.

Really folks, It really is All Praises Due To Allah. Yes, I go through reading bouts to try to enhance what I am observing or to try new techniques but ... . I don't want to say that I know nothing but it sure feels that way a lot of the time. Not to mention I am a visual learner whose memory fades at times. You know those big boards you see on crime shows that the police use to chart crimes. The one that comes to my mind is the one in The Usual Suspects (used to be my favorite movie). I know I need one of those. I think that would def up my game. Inshallah, one day. In the meantime I will continue to doodle on scratch pieces of paper, bottom of cardboard boxes and in my gardening journal in hopes to one day get better organized and not walk around asking, have you all seen that cardboard box with the writing on the bottom. Secretly hoping they didn't mistake it for trash and recycle it. 

One garden station sketched out. yes bottom of cardboard.

my gardening journal with scratch paper stuck inside and articles I found interesting.

Inside of a box with a sketch of another garden area. also holding some seeds and bulbs for me.

Anyway, back to what I was trying to say. So yes, there is pressure from the outside.  
But

A friend just gifted us this jar of honey.

then there is this internal pressure building from myself and the family. Homegrown food taste so good we have to grow our own. We can't go through green bean season with no homegrown green beans. That is the only way we really like them. (Really, I tried to sneak some green beans from a regular grocery store and I noticed the difference. I tried to slip it by the fam and they quickly were saying, "Sumthin Sumthin Just Ain't Right!"   Though I was impressed with their heightened senses IT ADDS PRESSURE! (huge smile) Not to mention all the reports and stuff you read about with food produced by the corporate food industry. Not appetizing, to say the least. We have to do for self.

I have also read Novella's book on how she went 30 days on stuff only she grew and I think foraged. I wanna do that! (Thinking of altering to things me and friends have grown :))

Then there was some documentary I watched and a lady in it said that she only ate vegetables from plants she has grown for the last 10+ years. HEY, I wanna be like that.

Basically, I/we have high expectations so although I am having big fun and learning a lot the pressure is on. And the burning question for me too is how much of my family's food can I (with God's help of course) produce ourselves?

Took a trip down memory lane. You can tell this was years ago by ages of children: