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The Aardsma Weekly
April 20, 2008
Writer: Rachel Aardsma
Since we're nearly finished with school, I thought I'd post a few of our recent school papers. This first one, a short story, is by Caleb. Any reader of J. R. Tolkien's works knows where he got the name of his main character!
A Short Story
Once upon a time there was a ruined palace. And there lived a dragon named Smog in there. He was a very angry dragon. He was angry because someone had taken over his den that he lived in a long time ago. And he found that castle and destroyed it and there was a king and a queen that lived in it. And there was lots of treasure in it, so he kept it all there.
After a hard day's work, he went to find something to eat. He eats grass. First he scorches it and then he eats it.
Caleb playing in a roll of drainage tile. Photo by me.
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When his den was destroyed, his mother and father and sister were in it, but they escaped. But he flew in the opposite direction. One day he was thinking about what had happened to his father and mother and brother and sister, he decided to go look for them. He goes to the top of a mountain to look out for the land. And he saw, far away, ('cause dragons have very good eye-sight) his old den. But he did not see his mother, father or brother, and sister.
So he flies over to his old den. An old dwarf saw him come down for a landing. The dwarf ran for cover. The dragon goes into the den and finds his sister there. Her name was Andorf. She told him all about what happened when he was gone. But they never found the rest of their family, so they went back to the old castle and started their own family. And they lived happily ever after.
This next one is Timmy's. I've kept the original spelling!
Summary of Esther
Esther was a Jew and her parents had died so her uncle Mordecai adoptid [adopted] her. The king Xerxes needed a new queen and Esther was chosen. Her uncle told her not to tell anyone she was a Jew. The king's 'second in command' was very evil. His name was Haman. Haman did not like the Jews. Mordecai told Esther to go to the king and tell him not to let Haman kill the Jews. But anyone that came to the king without his permision [permission] was killed. Unless the king would hold his golden septer [scepter]. So Queen Esther went to the king and she was not kill [killed] and neither were the Jews.
Timmy holding one of our chickens. Photo by me.
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Here is one of mine. I wrote it a few months ago for my Language.
Informal Essay
When I was young, I liked cats a lot. There was just something about them that attracted me.
Before I got a cat, there was a picture that used to play over and over in my mind. It was me, curled up on my bed with a good book and a purring, cuddly, warm cat. There were other pictures too: the cat sound asleep in my arms at night, the cat performing amazing tricks before my amazed, cat-hating family, the cat playing sweetly with a ball of yarn. Yes, cats were just a delightful dream and I had wanted one for years.
And then one day my brother Matthew brought home a shivering, terrified handful of fur called a kitten. Soon, she became the family pet. I liked her. She was everything a kitten should be: playful, sweet, fun loving. And I was thrilled that the kitten quickly grew to like me best and moved into my room as my pet. But I had yet to learn what it really meant to live with and care for a cat. I'm a fast learner. My dreams of years past quickly dispelled.
For one, my cat hates to be held. She never endures more than five seconds of petting. I am very disappointed that I never got a lap pet.
My cat also dislikes being in the same bed with me. Many nights she will curl up and sleep on my bed while I am working at my computer below. But as soon as I climb up into bed, she gets up and leaves. The only time she will stay is when she is curled up on my warm, fuzzy fleece blanket. Then she remains glued to my bed despite my protests and attempts to get my most comfortable blanket back.
I quickly learned that my dream of an amazing performer was just that: a dream. Cats are no tricksters. A few months ago, I tried to teach my cat to sit. For ten minutes a night I worked with her. She was clue-less. She hated it. She left in the middle of my third training session and hid under the dresser. I gave up.
My cat and me. Photo by Beka.
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I soon found that the only time my cat would play with yarn was when I was stupid enough to leave my knitting on my dresser. I did that once, and when I entered my room a few hours later I found my sweet, innocent kitty lying in the middle of a snarled mass of yarn. I was very upset. She hasn't played with yarn since.
So, you ask, do I still like cats? Yes, I like cats when they are sleeping, acting cute, when they come when I call them, and when they appear alive when I have given up all hope of their existence. Other than that---no, I don't like cats.
Beka wrote this report for her History.
The United Nations
The United Nations is an organization of 159 nations that works to try to preserve world peace. The UN headquarters are located in New York City.
The UN has met with both success and failure in its work. It has been able to keep some disputes from developing into major wars. It also helped people in many parts of the world gain personal rights and freedom.
Beka feeding the twin lambs she adopted this spring. Photo by me.
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But disagreements among UN members prevent the organization from doing a completely effective job.
Serious financial trouble also weakens the UN.
The United Nations was established on Oct. 24, 1945, shortly after World War II. Roosevelt was the main backer of the establishing of the UN.
Instead of a school report or essay from Matthew, here is something a little more unique. Matthew enjoys doodling on his computer in spare time, and below are two of his favorite drawings so far.
Matthew with his Sheltie, Buddy. Photo by me.
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The first one was Timmy's idea, and Matthew helped him with the art part of it. The second one is a Flying Tiger airplane Matthew drew.
The fastest growing carrot in the world! Drawing by Matthew and Timmy.
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A Flying Tiger airplane. Drawing by Matthew.
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The Weekly Bible Verse
Matthew 15:36-37: Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, and when He had given thanks, He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
The Weekly Poem
This poem was inspired by Matthew, after he caught and 'disposed of' a skunk that was causing trouble around our farm (harming chickens, eating cat-food, etc.). While discussing the incident later, he jokingly asked me to write a poem called "Ode To Skunk". That Sunday morning before church, I did so, and was pretty happy with the result. Matthew caught another skunk the next morning, and told me to write another poem called "Ode To Skunk Number Two". As of yet, that poem is unwritten, but it may appear at some later date!
Ode To Skunk
As in your tomb you lie today,
No friends come for to tribute pay.
No tombstone does commemorate
Your tragic and untimely fate.
And so for you, a lifeless chunk,
I write this poem: Ode To Skunk.
Your life was simple, sweet, and short;
Filled with meals and pleasant sport.
But your stomach sealed your fate
When one night ('twas very late),
You found out, with a squeal of rage
That you were locked inside a cage.
Your life from there was hours long
For cages sing a funeral song.
So Matthew, with a loaded gun,
Began a countdown: three, two, one!
The shot was heard in Tumbucktoo,
And that, skunk, was the end of you.
So now you're dead, and, sadly, gone,
And no one minds it, no, not one.
For skunks are not the fad today;
Their smell keeps most of us away.
But now for you, a lifeless chunk,
I end this poem: Ode To Skunk.
(Copyright © Rachel Aardsma, April 2008.)
Bits and Pieces
I certainly have enjoyed my nearly two-month vacation from writing! This is the first vacation from writing I have had since I started my Weekly about two years ago, and I have found it very refreshing. I have had a good rest and am ready to dive headfirst back into writing. This long break has given me time to collect my thoughts, come up with some great article ideas, and also change my Weekly a little. You will notice several added features, both of which I am very excited about.
Dad working in our greenhouse. Photo by Mom.
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There is no way I can fill you in on everything that has happened lately, so here are just a few of the major happenings: Beka adopted and saved two orphaned lambs a few weeks ago. They are now thriving and nearly weaned. Everyone but Matthew and Caleb are finished with school. Matthew is a few days away from finishing, and Caleb is due to finish his sometime mid-summer. Work in the garden has begun again. (Come back next week for all the details in that area!)
Of course, the biggest thing that happened was the earthquake Illinois and several surrounding states experienced in the early-morning hours of Friday, April 18. As it turns out, only Beka and I awoke during the biggest earthquake in Illinois for nearly fifty years. Fortunately, we escaped with merely a good scare and a few funny stories.
Caleb shows off a scarf he crocheted all by himself! Photo by Mom.
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I told you all that I was taking a break from writing my Weekly to work on posting videos on our websites. As it turns out, after a brief initial attempt to get started, I have actually done nothing with videos at all! Instead, I have been madly busy making my first website. Mom and Dad wanted me to make a website for our vegetable business, called Mulberry Lane Farm. I have found building this website to be a whole lot of work and frustration. My favorite part is working with the pictures. We have a nice photo-editing program which I have been having a lot of fun with. I look forward to sharing the link with you when I am finished building the website. I still have a few weeks of work to put into it before it will be ready for public viewing.
A Word About The Weather
The weather has been entirely unpredictable, and very normal for an Illinois spring! Rain, wind, sun, clouds, and heat all have had their turn. I can never decide which I like best. All the spring weather is nice in its turn.
"Dad, The Cows Are Out!"
Introduction: This new feature of my "Aardsma Weekly" is all Beka's doing. About a month ago she decided I ought to write a weekly story for my little paper. She managed to convince me (much against my will) that it was a good idea, and helped me name and plan my new story. She also watched over my shoulder as I wrote the following first part, and laughed, criticized, and suggested the whole way through.
This story---which will be posted in installments every week---is all about a family like mine. In fact, the family you will read about is just mine with a few changes! I added and deleted a few people (Matthew's character is the oldest in the family, and I have added twins on the end of the family), I changed a few ages (Mom, Dad, Timmy, and Caleb are younger), I changed a few occupations (Dad is a researcher, not a farmer), and I made the family's farm and garden much bigger than ours.
Each person got to choose the name of the character made to represent him or her. Jacob was by far the most popular name. Three people wanted that name for their character, but only the first person got it! To help you keep everybody straight in my story, here is the basic character line: Dad is Joel Barnes, Mom is Angela Barnes, Matthew is Jacob, Beka is Victoria (called Vic or Vicky), I am Jodi, Timmy is Peter, Caleb is Robert, and the fictional twins are Jeremy (Jem), and Jewel. As each character is strongly based on the original person, I hope that as you get to know the Barnes family, you will get to know the Aardsma family a little better as well. And so here we go for the first installment of:
"Dad, The Cows Are Out!"
Part One.
Written By Rachel Aardsma
“What have you girls been doing to this place?” Mrs. Angela Barnes exclaimed, surveying the open dresser that stood in her daughters’ bedroom. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a mess.”
Victoria sighed heavily in response.
“I’ve been telling Jodi, Mom, that she needs to clean that out, but she never does.” Jodi turned from the mirror where she was braiding her hair.
“I never have time.” Jodi complained, finishing her long braid and flipping it over her shoulder. “What with weeding and hoeing and watering and…”
“And reading.” Her sister inserted, digging through her closet in search of an elusive pair of tennis shoes.
“Who’s talking now?” Jodi asked, grinning at Victoria in the mirror. “You were up forever last night, reading.”
“So were you.” Victoria replied, and then gave a joyful cry as she spotted her shoes, muddy and dilapidated, exactly where she had put them the night before. “Remind me never to put something where I will be sure to find it. I’ve been searching for these shoes for fifteen minutes.”
Mrs. Barnes sighed, struggled to shut the dresser drawer she had been rooting through, and turned to her teenage daughters.
“Jodi, you can clean out the dresser tomorrow night, and Vic, you can work on the closet at the same time. This place is a disaster area.” Mrs. Barnes gave the dirty room one last glance, and then started out the door. “Breakfast is in a few minutes, girls. Come down and help me get everything on the table as soon as you are finished up here.”
Jodi nodded and collapsed onto her un-made bed.
“Jacob said something about calves to be expected soon.” She told Victoria, tightly re-tying her shoes. “And you know what that means!” Victoria nodded, groaned, and laughed in the same breath.
“Perhaps even more babies to add to ‘Vic’s Home For Ill and Orphaned Animals’.” She answered. “Oh well. We’ve got everything set up. And, for now anyway, I’m only taking care of six or seven other animals. Are you ready, Jo? I hear Mom yelling for breakfast.”
The sisters clattered down the narrow farmhouse stairs and entered the warm, coffee-scented kitchen.
Mrs. Barnes stood before the big stove, frying eggs. The table was set for breakfast, and already held several covered dishes of food.
The twins, Jeremy and Jewel, were seated outside the screen door on the large porch, playing with one of the family dogs: a big, friendly, clumsy mutt named Rags.
As Victoria and Jodi began to help with the breakfast preparations, a commotion was heard outside on the porch, and the Barnes men trooped inside.
“Oh, I’m dying!” Peter, always dramatic, clutched at a nearby chair and pretended to faint into it. “I could smell that sausage outside, and all the while I was working, the amphibious fingers of starvation were wrapping themselves around my stomach.”
Besides being dramatic, Peter was inclined to occasionally use big words without knowing what they meant.
“I thought amphibious had something to do with fish.” Little brother Robert said, making a large mess of soapsuds, mud, and warm water at the kitchen sink.
“It does.” Jodi replied. “Peter used it wrong. You shouldn’t use words without knowing what they mean, Peter.”
“I know what it means.” Peter protested, seating himself noisily at the table. “It has to do with water and fish and planes and things.”
“Planes?” Jacob asked, laughing and looking perplexed.
“Of course!” Peter assumed a superior air. “Haven’t you ever heard of an amphibious landing?” He did not understand the burst of laughter that followed, but heartily joined in, happy to be the center of attention, as usual.
Chairs were pulled up and the family gathered for breakfast. The twins remained on the porch, being still too young to be interested in sausage and eggs.
Orange juice and conversation were soon flowing freely.
“Another calf on the way, Vic.” Mr. Barnes told his young daughter, between bites of toast. “Jacob said pretty soon now.”
Victoria nodded.
“I’m looking forward to getting all that good, fresh milk again.” Mrs. Barnes said enthusiastically. “With just one cow producing I’m having trouble supplying most of the neighbors and ourselves!”
For a moment, there was silence as everybody enjoyed fresh eggs, homemade sausage, and toast: ample preparation for the long, busy March day ahead.
Forty-four-year-old Mr. Joel Barnes, with the help of his family, ran a large farm. The numerous animals, and large vegetable garden, kept everybody running from morning to night all year around. The vegetables and meat were sold to neighbors, and also marketed widely to the public three days a week all during the summer.
Mrs. Angela Barnes, with the help of nobody much, ran a large family. Still young at forty-three, she spent much of her time chasing after her one-year-old twins, Jeremy, or Jem, and Jewel, her ‘Precious Stones’. Robert, generally called Robbie, at six and Peter at nine also kept her very busy.
Jodi, thirteen, Victoria, or Vic, fifteen, and Jacob, seventeen, needed less of Mrs. Barnes’ time and energy, and were a big help around the farm and house.
“I’d like to do a final spring clean-up of the farm this morning, kids, so lets get moving.” Mr. Barnes announced as the last bites of breakfast disappeared, chairs were pushed back, and light jackets pulled on.
In a moment the country kitchen was empty but for Mrs. Barnes and her ‘Precious Stones’. The rest, bearing buckets and pushing wheelbarrows, were soon busy collecting rocks, picking up bits of plastic bags and preparing their farm for a busy summer.
To be continued...
A Word Of Wisdom
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone.
Who is powerful? He that governs his passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.
Who is that? Nobody. ~Benjamin Franklin
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