Frosty Fun with the Frozen Feldmans in Florida...

Tuesday morning, about 7:00, this is what our back yard looked like.

The Spanish Brothers, by Deborah Alcock

The Spanish Brothers, A Tale of the Sixteenth Century, by Deborah Alcock

(A tale of the growth and suppression of the Gospel in Spain.)

Juan and Carlos are brothers.  They love each other very dearly, and build many castles in the air together.  Juan is bold, strong, and dominant- an excellent military man.  Carlos is thoughtful, sensitive, and extremely intelligent- perfect material for a distinguished churchman.  They are left to the wardship of their uncle, for their mother died at Carlos' birth, and their father had mysteriously disappeared some time before.  One of their favorite plans is to buy a ship and go in search of him, for it is rumored that he went to the Indies, and there was killed.  With the hopefulness of youth, though, they do not believe the story, for he left a message behind for them, inscribed on a window:

"El Dorado Yo hé trovado."

"I have found El Dorado."

 Someday, they determine, they will go together and find both their father, and El Dorado.

Family Hiking Trip!

Well, the cooler weather has come, at least, for a few days, and we took advantage of it to have a family hike in Gothe State Park.

Journeying in the Light: Part IX

Here is the next chapter of Journeying In The Light!

Chapter IX

(Photo credit.)

A Sad Day on the Feldman Farm

There are good days and bad days on the farm.  Good days are when things are going well- the animals are all healthy, kids were born, or the garden is producing lots of veggies.

Sad days are when the calf someone is waiting to pick up gets worms; the goats eat all Mama's rose bushes, plus the garden, and we run out of feed; or worst of all, when one of the animals dies.

Monday was a sad day.

Some Cute Little Cowboys

Savana took these photos for an Etsy listing last week, and I think they are just too cute not to share!  (Of course, the cute pony helps a lot!)

To order a custom-made shirt like the ones these boys are wearing, or see the other sizes/ styles Savana makes, please visit Pretty Modest Shoppe on Etsy.

Day at Blue Spring!

For Bo's birthday we took a trip to Bronson Blue Spring.  It was so much fun!  It is so much more enjoyable to swim in a spring than in a pool (though pools are fun too!)  There was a large shallow area for the younger ones to splash around in, as well as the deeper part around the boil for those who enjoy diving.  A diving platform made it even better, and we were almost the only ones there.

Here are some pictures from our day!

Journeying in the Light Part VIII

Well, I hope I haven't worn everyone out with this story yet, but since it isn't finished, I have to keep working on it.  :)  May it be an encouragement!

Journeying in the Light~ Part VIII

For previous chapters, please see the other blog posts in the category Journeying in the Light.

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe~ A Christian Adventure Tale

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Rating:  8 out of 10 stars

     Published on April 25th, 1719, Robinson Crusoe is one of the most popular and famous adventure stories of all time.  What young boy doesn't like to camp out?  And how much better it would be to live on a desert island for a while!  Most people are pretty well acquainted with the general story:  Robinson runs away from home to go to sea, sails on several voyages, is taken prisoner and enslaved by the Moors for a couple of years, escapes to  Brazil, farms for a while, then goes on another voyage that ends in his being wrecked on a desert island off the coast of South America.  But what is not always known is that this story is distinctly Christian.

Book Review: In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon

In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon

My rating:  8 out of 10

Age range:  12 and up

    In His Steps was recommended to me by a friend, who said it had impacted him greatly.  I can see why- it provokes the reader to ask the question "What would Jesus do?"  It is the story of a movement begun by a tramp who comes to town asking for work, and intrudes upon the comfortable and easy going First Church of Raymond.  The members are astonished and scandalized when he gets up and asks a number of thought provoking questions, but the pastor is deeply impressed.  The impression is deepened yet more by the death of the man shortly after they meet.  The next week he asks his church for volunteers who are willing to pledge that for at least one year, they will regulate all their actions by first asking the question:  "What would Jesus do?"

The Armourer's 'Prentices, by Charlotte M. Yonge

The Armourer's 'Prentices 

Rating:  9 out of 10 Stars

     I came across this book on Librivox, when I became proof-listener for the recording.  I really enjoyed reading it, and C. M. Yonge has now become one of my favorite authors.

The Coral Island & The Gorilla Hunters, by R. M. Ballantyne

R. M. Ballantyne

     Robert Michael Ballantyne was one of the most popular boys' authors of the Victorian era, and deservedly so.  He was a Christian writer of adventure stories, and thoroughly researched his subject before writing; often visiting the location he would be describing, in order to understand and portray it better.  It has been said that "what G. A. Henty did for a boy's understanding of history, Ballantyne did for his understanding of geography."  His books however are not mere traveling guides, but tell an interesting story, full of action and humor; always from a Christian perspective.  Occasionally there will be an issue, especially when the books involve romance, such as the main character speaking to a girl of love before talking to her father, but this is not very common.

     In most of Ballantyne's books, especially those dealing with unreached, savage tribes, he strongly addresses the need for missionaries to preach the Gospel, and presents a clear Gospel message in the story.

Journeying in the Light: Part VII

Continuing the narrative of Alice Hawthorne, with her relations in England:

(Photo credit:  Savana Feldman)

Chapter VII

(For links to previous chapters, visit this blog post:   http://alaynamaysblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/journeying-in-light-part-vi.html

An Unexpected Turn of Events...

Yesterday morning, we had no idea that some of us would be in Shands hospital until 10:45 that night.  Neither did we have any idea that a long standing record for no broken limbs was about to depart from our family.

The Chicken Butchering Brigade!

This morning, we butchered two roosters who were about to become a problem on the farm.  

LilyAnn, Justice, Emaline and Russell were my helpers.  Oh, and Kep helped too, when one of the roosters got away.  He later supervised operations from under the table.

A New Addition...

Ever since I got Fannie, we have thought it would be great to have another horse so that I wouldn't have to ride alone.  I always said that a large pony would be best- one big enough for any of us to ride, yet smaller than an average horse so he would be less intimidating for the younger ones to ride.
Well...  It seemed a little bit impossible for us to get another, but the Lord provided one.

In the Garden...

We have been working outside for about an hour every day before it gets too hot.

Cabin on the Prairie & Cabin in the North Woods

C. H. Pearson

Cabin on the Prairie

&

Cabin in the North Woods

Cabin on the Prairie is one of my favorite books, and the sequel, Cabin in the North Woods, is very good too, but somewhat slower moving.  These books are set in the days of the westward expansion.  Cabin on the Prairie follows Tom Jones; eldest son in a squatting family that moves every few years.  He is dissatisfied with the roving life, and desires a better education.  He decides to run away from home to find what he longs for, but is prevented and soon realizes the folly and sin of such an attempt.  When he comes into closer contact with a missionary pastor in the area, his life is changed for the better, and he finds a new love for his family.
These books are most suitable for boys between the ages of 8 and 15, but of course, boys and girls of any age can enjoy them too.  Because of a few graphic scenes described during and after an Indian attack, it is not advisable for younger readers or listeners to read/ hear the whole book.  Parental discretion is advised.
Cabin on the Prairie is available on Project Gutenberg.  Hopefully the sequel will become available soon.

G. A. Henty's Books for Boys (and Girls!)

As most of our friends know, our homeschool program never included many textbooks.  We got a very large percentage of our history from the books of G. A. Henty, and have not suffered from it.  While I cannot recommend him quite as highly as R. M. Ballantyne, due to his books not having a distinct and strong Christian perspective and witness, they are very good in many ways.  The Christian element is definitely present in his books, but it is not so strong and obvious as Ballantyne's.  His characters are always upright and moral, with strong character, but he does not always ascribe this to Christianity.  Also, in a few places, bad theology surfaces in comments such as this: 

"Well, well!" the woman said, "it will be as Allah chooses. You do not believe in Allah, Muley, you are a Kaffir."
"I beg your pardon," Edgar said; "we and you worship the same God. We call him God, and you call him Allah; but it is the same. Your Prophet acknowledges Moses and Christ to be prophets. The only difference between us is that you believe that Mohammed was also a prophet, and the greatest of all, while we do not acknowledge that, but in other respects there is no great difference between us."

The above quote was taken from The Dash for Khartoum, and is the worst I have ever come across.  There are only a few places where these comments surface, but they are there.  If you own an actual copy of the book, it could easily be blotted out.  The only other obvious issue I have noticed is that there will occasionally be a term or comment that is considered racist.  Children should simply be instructed regarding this issue; not taught that it doesn't exist.  In most cases, Henty speaks positively of people from other cultures.

His books are historically accurate, and interesting.  They do not fall into the "ditch" of simply amusing the reader with adventure stories without instructing him, nor do they fall into the other "ditch" of boring a child by relating long historical narratives without any interesting occurrences in the fictional story.  Overall, despite the issues mentioned above, most of these books are suitable for readers, especially boys, between the ages of 10 and 100.  (Okay, realistically, they are usually most appealing to boys between about 12 and 18.)

There is usually an element of romance in Henty's books, but it is always kept within right bounds.  The father is nearly always spoken to before the daughter, which is the proper sequence.  In every case, consent of the authorities over both the young man and lady is obtained before marriage.
 

Also, a note regarding the first Henty to be read....  It seems that everyone I've talked to who doesn't like G. A. Henty has started with The Dragon and the Raven, and not gotten past the third chapter.  This is because this book starts a bit slowly.  It is one of my favorites now, but when I first started reading it, I detested it.  Mama would threaten me with it when I was stuck on The Chronicles of Narnia (more about them in a separate blog post).  When I finally read the whole book, I really liked it.  A good Henty to start with though is With Lee in Virginia, (a tale of the American Civil War), or In Freedom's Cause (a tale of Wallace and Bruce).  (Please note that I do not recommend The Curse of Carne's Hold.  This is one of the few works of Henty which is almost purely fictional, and is not very good.  Neither is All But Lost, or A Search for a Secret.  Both of these latter were re-written and condensed in Captain Bayley's Heir, and One of the 28th.  These are both good.)

Henty's books are available on Gutenberg, Internet Archive, and Google Books.  Quite a few titles have also been recorded for Librivox.  
Henty on Librivox

Henty on Gutenberg

Why I don't recommend The Boxcar Children or The Rover Boys: The Dangers of Dime Novels

The Dime Novel

I have been wanting to write about the problem of dime novels for a long time, but have never actually begun recording my thoughts until now, though my sisters have heard several long dissertations on the subject. The reason I am writing this now, is because I see many dime novels being extolled as "fast paced adventure stories", "classic childrens' literature", and the like. Lately there seems to have been a movement to bring back some of the dime novel series of the past, repackage them, and market them to homeschoolers.

Journeying In The Light: Part VI

I don't write very quickly, so it has taken me a while to finish this section, but at long last here it is!

Journeying In The Light:  Part VI


Also:
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V

Amy Le Feuvre: A Child's Author

Amy Le Feuvre wrote many children's books.  Her stories are highly entertaining, as she portrays the play and fancies of children, skilfully weaving into her stories important lessons.  The way of salvation, and our duties to God and man are clearly laid out.  There are a few doctrinal errors, but overall, she presents excellent lessons in an easily understood and interesting format.
However, wisdom should be used in determining if and when to allow children to read or listen to these books, for she often includes mischievous escapades in her stories, and these are likely to stir up folly in younger children.  Below are reviews of three of her best-known works.

May with the Feldmans

It seems that I live in a constant state of trying to catch up on blogging.  We have been so busy for so long, and I'm beginning to realize that this is a new way of life for us now.  May is usually a busy month for us anyway though, since we have four birthdays to celebrate:  Evan's & Justice's, Anna-Frances', and Farrah's.

For Evan's and Justice's birthday, we canoed down the Waccasassa  river.  It was a lot of fun, and wonderful exercise.  It was also interesting fitting 11 people into three canoes.  Daddy and Anna-Frances took the van around to the finish point, and waited for us there.

Evan and Justice are twins- 11 years apart!

April with the Feldmans...

This April has been a whirlwind.  We have had something, or several things, every week this month, and have been on the run a lot. 

Early this month, we visited a small Paso Fino farm to look at a stallion.  I had been considering breeding Fannie, and when I got online to see if there were any good stallions around, I found:

Jesse el Rubio

Surprise, surprise! (Or, "Woohoo! We have triplets!)

I thought I was so well prepared for Nelly this time.  No way was that sneaky ol' goat going to kid without me there by her.  But...  I was so convinced I had her figured out that I missed it again.  That's right- while I thought I was waiting on her, she quietly kidded out in the barn with Mabel and Freda.  I went out to feed her a carrot, and discovered that she had three kids with her.  Talk about surprised...

Life of Late...

     Actually, this is just a late post about life.  :)  It's been a really long time since I've posted anything about us...  For some reason book reviews are just so much easier to write than a "home life" post.  I'll just give lots of pictures, and some explanatory remarks along with them.

     First I have to back up to October...

Book Review: With the Swamp Fox, by James Otis

With the Swamp Fox, by James Otis

My rating: 6 out of 10 stars

So-so

Age range: 12-16

The Young Marooners, or Robert and Harold, by F. R. Goulding

 By Francis Robert Goulding

My rating:  8 out of 10 stars

Recommended age range: 7-14 years old

The Giant Killer & The Roby Family, by A.L.O.E.

The Giant Killer, or The Battle All Must Fight

by A.L.O.E. (Charlotte Maria Tucker)

My Rating:  10 out of 10 stars = Excellent

Recommended age range:  5 ­- 110

And I finally get around to posting Part 5 of Journeying in the Light...

This chapter has been sitting for a while, as I wasn't quite happy with it.  After tweaking it a bit, I've decided to post it, even though I know it's far from perfect.  I hope it will be a blessing, and bring glory to God!
Here is the link:  Chapter V

And for back reference:
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV