Hey everybody,
The interviews are here! In no particular order, I assigned each of the commented questions to my siblings and had them fill them out. In birthright order, here are the answered interviews:
Annie (18):
• Saturday, May 1, 2010 - questions
Posted by Anonymous (207.200.116.133)Q. What would you say are the biggest most important reasons your family has decided to live on a homestead? A. For our spiritual well-being and the strengthening of our family as a whole, and to better live the gospel in getting back to the land and living as God intended.
Q. When I was kid only the richest most spoiled kids had horses. Do you consider yourself spoiled to have horses and do you ride them often?
A. Yes, the horse lovers in the family feel spoiled to have them, I'm sure, even though we know they're just meant to be an investment. I personally don't work with the horses, though I think they're cool and they all have neat personalities (I'm especially partial to the Icelandic crosses.. they are sooo gorgeous!!)
Q. Do you have friends who don't live on a homestead?
A. Yeah, though most are friends from our last place that we still keep in touch with.
Q. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by work on the farm. If so, how do you get through that?
A. Well, we take each day at a time and try not to overwhelm ourselves.. I like to say that things are calm and busy at the same time. We try to get as much done as we can in a day without overdoing it.. and a lot of times it's more 'fun' than 'work' because we laugh and joke with each other while we're planting or pulling weeds or putting up fences. (And of course we always save some daylight for our volleyball games in the evening ;o).)
Q. What are your favorite "only if you live on a homestead" privileges? What are your least favorite parts of living on a homestead? A. My favorite part of doing this is having Dad home, and working with my siblings and Dad really builds a bond that you can't find elsewhere. And then comes the animals and the way the kids love and interact with the animals, and watching the work of our hands (the gardens) grow up during the summer is pretty exciting, too. This way of life has also really benefitted my spiritual life in a way I really needed.. I feel very close to God when I walk the creeks, pet the animals and just sit back and survey what He's given us here. As far as the negative.. well, it's always hard to see animals culled and chickens butchered and etc.
Q. So.....like you mentioned above. Do you "guys" argue? Who wins?
A. Yeah, I'm ashamed of the fact that arguments still happen. I always win, of course (hehe, kidding!) Naw... I really don't like the way arguing disrupts my peace and that of those around me, so every day I strive to avoid it. And when it does happen, the family gets on the case of the culprits until it ceases and the two apologize, and it's forgotten an hour or so later ;o). Mom reminds us constantly that peace in the world starts with peace in the family, and I truly believe that!
Stephen (16):
• Monday, April 26, 2010 - questions
Posted by Anonymous (24.106.39.114)Q. Have you ever wanted to go to a big school just for a day to see what it would be like?
A. I've wondered what it would be like.. but have never wanted to go:)
Q. Do you have 1 teacher, or several?
A. Well I'm my own teacher for most things:).. but for school it's mainly my mom.
Q. Do you like your teacher(s)?
A. Yea, he's really nice;)
Q. Did you ever skip class and go hang out by the river without getting caught?
A. No, don't think so, I like most of my school / work.
Q. Do you have any collections? Would you like to collect something but not sure if you can?
A. Tried collecting things once, didn't care for it much.
Q. Would you like to have a penpal from a far-away country? Which one?
A. Not particularly... I never really liked pen-paling.
Q. Ever wish one of your aunts would come and live with you?
A. Well that could be really interesting... Guess it depends on how hard they work;)
Theresa (almost 15):
• Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - Questions
Posted by Bernadette (75.248.44.119)Q. When you grow up, how close or how far away from the homestead will you live?
A. I really want to live as close as I can (there are a lot of big beautiful pieces of land around here that I would love to live on) and raise my own family and homestead.
Q. What are your three favorite fiction books?
A. Those Cruel Dreams (Author Mary Lund. :)) A Gown of Spanish Lace (Janette Oke), and I love the two series that Annie wrote, Crylian and Cascadia.
Q. What is the farthest from home you've ever traveled?
A. We went to Alabama as a family in 2003... other than that I haven't really gone very far.
Q. How many hours of homeschooling instruction do you receive each day? Each week?
A. The younger half of the family have around three hours. The older kids just do their school when they have time. We don't really have hours, just our assignments that we have to get done throughout the day. A lot of hands on stuff. We're always learning. :)
Q. How often do you leave the homestead?
A. Just to go to Mass, and daily Mass (which is 15 min. away).
Q. Have you ever been in a cave? A swamp? Lake Superior?
A. There is a cave on the way up to the Porkies that we went down (pretty yucky spiders down there. :) ) I can't recall ever being in a swamp... Oh yes, we love Lake Superior!!! It's the most clean water I have ever been in! (And since we are only 4 miles away we are able to bike. :) )
Michael (13):
• Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - questions!!
Posted by Jaclyn (70.124.50.247)Q. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
A. pray morning prayer
Q. What is the last thing you do at night?
A. pray my night time prayers
Q. What's your favorite thing about homeschool?
A. being able to do school, when i feel like it and, to be able to do it at home with my brothers and sisters
Q. What's your least favorite thing about homeschool?
A. i don't have one!
Q. What do you want to do when you get older?
A. be a priest or homestead near home.
Lizzy (11):
• Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - Some questions for you!
Posted by April in RI (70.188.180.209)
Q. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
A. Normally hash-browns.
Q. Do you ever eat it at dinner time?
A.Yes always.
Q. Do you know how to make it yourself?
A.Yes even with our own potatoes.
Q. Could you show us readers how to make it?
A.You shred a potato and fry it in oil until it's crispy and then salt it.
Johnny (7):
• Sunday, May 2, 2010 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jaclyn (70.124.50.247)Q. How do you all assign chores??
A. Mom, Dad and Stephen divide it up.
Q. Is it easy to keep things clean and in order?
A. No. That was easy! No! (laughing)
Q. What are some chorses that the little kids do, and what do the big kids do?
A. The little kids do laundry, cleaning up (and it's not so easy), farm chores, close up the chickens... The big kids cut down trees, build houses, milk the cows, make shelters for the sheep and all the animals, make gardens. Actually, another thing, and make fences.
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There you have it. Thanks everyone who participated! That was really fun. We'll have to do it again sometime!
Mom assessing the back garden and where to plant the 'whatevers', Theresa shoveling in the rows, Dad hauling a wheelbarrow of something into the garden, while Michael is hauling a wheelbarrow of something out of the garden. 
Yup, just like you figured: 
