Register to Ring for the Salvation Army

It just wouldn't be Christmas without hearing that iconic jingle of the Salvation Army bell ringer outside of your neighborhood store.  Did you know that just a one day of bell ringing at one location can generate enough donations for your local Salvation Army to provide a homeless person with one night of shelter and hot meals for an entire day?  

Rachel and I volunteered last year as Salvation Army bell ringers.  It was a lot of fun and it was a blessing in so many ways.  It was wonderful to help raise donations for such a great organization but it also warmed our hearts to see the smiles on people's faces as they donated and to hear their stories of how the Salvation Army has personally touched their lives during difficult times.  

This year, I mentioned to some of the other moms in Rachel's American Heritage Girls troop that we could get a group of girls to volunteer together as bell ringers.  One of the moms seemed surprised that just anyone could volunteer for this.  She thought the bell ringers were all employees of the Salvation Army.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Bell ringers are regular people from your community, just like you and me!  And the Salvation Army NEEDS volunteers right now.  If bell ringers aren't out there then all of those potential donations are missed.  

I hope you are asking yourself now, "How can I sign up?"

Just go to the Register to Ring website!  When I go to the site, we have several store locations right around our home to choose from.  We personally always like to go to Hobby Lobby because Rachel and I just love that store.  There are shifts available throughout the day to choose from.  You can sign up for hourly shifts but the Salvation Army requests that you at least sign up for a minimum of a 2 hour shift.  Shifts are available to serve from now until Christmas Eve.

What does a Salvation Army bell ringer have to do?

You arrive at your designated location and time about 10 minutes early.  You might be relieving another volunteer who already has the red kettle and sign set up or you may have to do a little set up on your own.  I imagine each store has different policies and different Salvation Army locations might each do things a little differently.  For our location, if the kettle and sign isn't already in place we have specific instructions on where to find the sign and tripod to hold the sign inside our Hobby Lobby store.  Rachel and I simply carried that out of the store and set it up and the designated side of the store.  If the red kettle isn't already out from a previous volunteer's shift then a Salvation Army person will show up at the start of your shift to deliver the kettle to you.  They also provide a bag with two bells and two red aprons.  At the end of the shift, if another volunteer is signed up after you, they will just show up and take over your spot.  If no one else is signed up after you then a Salvation Army person will arrive to pick up the red kettle, bells, and aprons and you will return the sign and tripod to the designated place inside the store.

We usually try to wear something a little Christmas-y like red and green clothes, a Santa hat, etc.  The Salvation Army encourages bell ringers to greet the store customers with a smile or by saying, "Merry Christmas!".  You can even sing Christmas carols or play an instrument to bring some extra holiday cheer.  You don't ask for donations.  Just let the customers know that you are there and they will come.

I signed Rachel's AHG Explorer troop up for two shifts of two hours each and we had a total of six ringers.  It was so much fun watching the girls greet customers and sing Christmas carols together.  I know they attracted more donations because of their cuteness.  But it was also a great experience for them and taught them how they can do even small things to serve those in their community.

Choose Nature

Rachel had a friend over to play for a while.  I thought they would probably play outside some, play with dolls, make a mess with craft materials.  I had been feeling a little down so I was looking forward to just enjoying some time to myself while they played.  I made plans to sort through that ever-growing pile of random papers and books that have been neglected in the corner of the school room.  It would be to finally have some time to just get that pile cleared out and I thought that might help to lift my spirits.

After about 10 minutes I was getting settled into my project when the girls came bounding up to me begging for me to walk with them down the street to the playground.  I groaned quietly in my head.  I didn't really want to leave the house.  I didn't feel like being social with other moms at the park.  I was so looking forward to just getting some things done around here.  Walking the whole two blocks to the playground in the heat of the day just sounded like too much for me at that moment.  But these girls had such sweet pleading eyes and I felt guilty for not being more excited about my mantra that kids should spend more time playing and exploring outside.  Of course, I eventually gave in.  I knew they would have more fun at the playground than at the house plus they would get some exercise climbing around the play equipment.  Besides we could all benefit from some fresh air and sunshine.

So I filled a backpack with bottles of water and snacks and we headed to the playground.  I found a bench in the shade and settled down to watch the girls play and just let my mind rest, hoping that maybe just sitting and relaxing outside might cheer me up.  But alas, that wasn't meant to be either.  We didn't stay long at the playground.  Almost immediately upon arriving, Rachel told her friend about the dry creek bed in the woods next to the playground and sure enough they chose to go exploring in nature instead of playing at the playground.  Again, I really didn't want to go.  I had resigned that I would just sit on the bench and not have to do anything.

But I do love the woods and exploring a creek... In the end, the call of nature was too strong and I chose to follow its call.  I'm so glad I did.

The girls quickly got to the bridge and went down to the creek bed to explore.

Before they got too involved in exploring I stopped them to have my usual safety in nature talk.  Part of this includes reviewing how to recognize poison ivy.  The most common identifier is leaves of three.  Often the outer two leaves look like they are mittens with a thumb sticking out.  There is often red on the stem.  Poison ivy can be found as a vine, on the ground, or as a bush so you have just keep your eye out for it where ever you go.  It is abundant in the parks in our area.

I showed them Virginia Creeper and explained that many people mistake it for poison ivy but it has five leaves and it is perfectly safe to touch.

They soon found some little bugs swimming around in the creek.

We found these furry little balls hanging from a tree.  I'm not positive but I think these could be young osage oranges.  I will have to go back and look for thorns on the branches to be sure of that though.

We watched some bees scurrying around on a rock.  I wonder if someone had spilled a soft drink there and the bees were enjoying a new kind of "nectar".

Here is a picture of part of the creek bed.  Rocks, shade, beautiful trees, and birds singing overhead.  I was feeling happy just being out here.  Nature has a way of doing that and there are scientific studies to prove it.  Just being in nature can reduce stress and improve mood for many people.  It is certainly a "happy place" for me.

We found several little damselflies.  I think this one might be a familiar bluet damselfly.  It's hard to say for sure without being able to inspect his markings and wings more closely. He didn't seem interested in that and he quickly flew away when I tried to get closer.

The girls were constantly finding a new area of the creek to check out.  They found frogs here.

I found some insect galls on this cedar elm tree.  Cedar elm is interesting.  The top of the leaves are rough like a fine sandpaper and the undersides of the leaves are smooth.

This tree caught our attention. It has these bright seed pods hanging down close to the branches.  I sent a picture of it to a nature group that I'm in and learned that the tree is a green ash.  The girls looked closely at the seed pods and realized that their concave shape would help it float better in the wind which would help spread the seeds farther.

Those sneaky girls were trying to hurry up and hide from me under the bridge.  We were all giggling and being silly.

By the time I crossed the bridge they were already on the other side, feet submerged in the creek and big grins on their faces.  I was so happy that they were having fun.  And to be honest, I was having a lot of fun too!

A little more inspection of the water.

They found a damselfly larva swimming around in there!

Then they found this other one who is a little younger.  It was swimming around too but the girls put it on a leaf just to contain it while they kept searching for more.

I noticed this piece of possible fossil sticking out from a chipped piece of a rock.  Oh if only I had brought my rock hammer with us....

I found this black flying insect munching away on a cedar elm leaf.  I haven't figured out what kind of bug he is but he seems to have a long stinger on him.

The girls found this interesting thing which looks like seeds.  It looks spiky but it was actually very soft and pliable, not spiky at all.  I don't have a clue as to what type of plant it came from.  

My favorite part of the day was when Rachel cried out, "Lobster!  We found a lobster!"  I smiled and without even seeing it I told her it probably more likely a crawfish.  Yep, they found two crawfish.  They thought they wanted to try to catch them but I had to remind them that crawfish had pinchers and we probably didn't want to try to catch them with our bare hands.  They were ok with that and decided to just watch them walk around under water for a while.

We were only out in the woods for an hour or two but we had a great time!  The girls got exercise, built some confidence through exploring, and learned some new things about trees, plants, and critters.  When we got home, I was surprised to realize just how much that fog had lifted from me and I felt happy again, almost excited about what we had found.  Being out in nature is an amazing experience.  No matter what I might be worrying about or feeling down about, being out among the trees always helps me see things in a better light.  I'm so glad we didn't just stay at the house or play at the playground.  I'm so glad we chose nature to explore nature instead.  

Imagine if we all just stepped away from our cell phones and video games and spent even just an hour out in nature once a week.  Do you think we as a society might be a little less stressed, a little more focused, and a lot more happy?

This post is a part of the Homeschool Review Crew's Homeschool Link Up. Want to learn more?  Click on the image below:

Pimentel & Sons Guitar Makers - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We slept quickly and woke up ready to explore Albuquerque a little before heading home.  I had brought a few of our library books along to help pick out things to do along the way.  This one had some good options for Albuquerque.

I would have loved to have seen the Petroglyph National Monument but is was on the opposite side of town and we didn't have much time to spend here.  We decided on visiting the studio for Pimentel and Sons Guitar Makers, the Turquoise Museum, and the American Rattlesnake Museum.  

Since we knew we might not actually have time for all three of these, we started at the most exciting one, Pimentel and Sons.  Nicholas and Stuart both play guitar and it was a neat idea for them to be able to see how fine guitars are made.

Pimentel and Sons makes one-of-a-kind handcrafted guitars.  The business was started by the father of the family, Lorenzo Pimentel, who began making guitars as an apprentice.  He was poor but his wife encouraged him to to build guitars to sell.  He began his own business in 1951.  Now the Pimentel name is known around the world as one of the best guitar brands.

Lorenzo Pimentel has passed on but his four sons carry on his passion for guitar making.  They make each guitar by hand and they are uniquely tailored and custom made for the individual customer.

When we arrived at the shop, Rick Pimentel was gracious and welcoming.  He offered to give us a full tour of their studio!

Pimentel and Sons uses the finest woods available.  To ensure quality in the finished product, they buy their wood already aged and then they age it at least another 10 years before using it to make a guitar.  Some of their woods have been aged for as long as 60 years.  Once the wood is ready to use, they slice bookmatch pieces, attach them together, and sand it by hand.  They check the tones by tapping the wood to determine if more sanding is needed to create the perfect balance between treble and bass.

They design the patterns of the rosettes.  They glue together hundreds of strips of dyed wood to make a large piece from which they can slice a thin layer off each time they need to use it in a rosette.

Turquoise is the only stone that can't be cut on a CNC machine because it would shatter.  It can only be cut by hand.

  
The Pimentels show their artistry in each guitar they make. These pictures are not just drawn or painted on the guitar.  They use real turquoise, coral, ebony, and abalone to painstakingly piece the pictures together by hand.

The teeth on the skull above are made from real bone.  The fingerboard is so beautiful.  The black is ebony.  The leaves and branches are made with abalone and the tiny veins in the leaves and the black lines of the rose are made with real ebony inlays. The red rose is made from coral.

The neck of a Pimentel guitar is made with three pieces of wood so that if the guitar were to get dropped it would be less likely to break because the grain is not going in the same direction.

Bracing is an internal structure that provides support for the guitar but it also influences the vibrations and sounds of the guitar.  

For the sides of the body of the guitar, they soak the wood then they use a heated iron to help the wood hold its shape.  They have templates to use as guides but the wood is all manually shaped.

Once the guitar has been built, they apply a lacquer and hand rub the finish.  Pimentel and Sons is keeping the craft of guitar making alive while sharing a family dream.  Their guitars are works of art and some have a 1-3 year waiting list.

Here are just a few more pictures of the beautiful Pimentel and Sons guitars.

Nicholas has put this Phantom of the Opera themed guitar on his wish list.  I think even I would have to learn to play guitar if this beauty was mine.

Pimentel and Sons also give guitar lessons from beginners to advanced.  They are located at 3316 Lafayette Drive NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 505-884-1669.  For more information, please visit the Pimentel and Sons website or the Pimentel Facebook page.

Next Post for Road Trip 2018: 

• American International Rattlesnake Museum 

Previous Post for Road Trip 2018: 

• Route 66: Petrified Forest National Park {Arizona}

Free Homeschool Tickets to the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas offers homeschool students and their teachers FREE tickets to the fair.  In the past we have had to send a letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope to request our tickets.  But this year, the Fair has made it easier than ever.  Now you just have to fill out an online form before the May 15th deadline!

Here's the link: State Fair of Texas Free Homeschool Tickets

As usual, the tickets are only good for pre-k through 12th grade and you must be located within 100 miles of Fair Park, Dallas.  Historically, we have only been able to get one teacher ticket but the webform has an option for two teacher tickets so I requested two so our math teacher (Daddy) can come too.  A few days after I submitted my request I received an email confirming that my tickets had been approved.

The State Fair of Texas will be at Fair Park from September 28 - October 21, 2018.  You don't want to miss it, especially with free tickets!  It is so fun and educational!  Food is expensive so bring your own lunch but maybe splurge on one crazy food like fried Oreos or something equally intriguing.  Everything is paid for with coupons so plan ahead and grab some before you wait in line for food or a ride.  We don't ride many of the rides because that gets too expensive.  There are enough free activities that my kids don't mind too much.  We ride the DART train to get to the fair so I tell the kids that this is their ride so enjoy it!  That worked when they were little but now they just roll their eyes at me....

I found the post from our first trip to the State Fair of Texas.  It was a long time ago so my kids were really little.

Finishing His Fishing Elective

Fishing is one of the electives that Nicholas can earn in his Trail Life USA program.  He loves fishing so he was excited to work on it.  Most of the requirements were met a year or two ago but we realized that he had one more thing to do to earn it.  He had to catch, clean, cook, and eat a fish that he caught.  He has done each of these things separately but never all for the same fish.  So Stuart and the kids set out for a fishing trip to Rheudasil Park.

Rachel was the first to catch a fish!  He looks like a keeper.

Nicholas ended up catching three fish.

Even Stuart got his hook wet and pulled out a couple of fish.

They didn't keep all of the fish but they came home with quite a few to cook up.  They put some pond water in the cooler to keep the fish alive until they could clean them.  They were fun to play with in the cooler.

We went out on the deck to clean them.  They were all blue gill fish but some had different colors or patterns on them.

Nicholas removed the scales and cleaned all of the fish himself.

Meanwhile Rachel named all of the fish.  This one was her favorite.  She named it Cutie.  Actually her real name was Serafina but Cutie was her nickname.  Note: Don't let you child name a fish that you are about to cut up and eat!

Nicholas did a great job of cleaning the fish and preparing them for cooking.  It was a bit messy so I'm glad we did it outside. 

He battered them with fish fry and fried them all himself.

Delicious!