Blue Jean Dreams

Family Games

2010-12-14T19:29:00.051-06:00

We're looking forward to having all the family together for Christmas this year. Finding games that everyone enjoys can be challenging, especially since the kids range in age from four to ten. One of our all-time favorites is Pit, the classic stock-trading game. The goal is to corner the market on a commodity such as wheat or corn by trading cards while avoiding the bear and trying to determine if the bull is going to be an asset or a liability. The fun factor? Everyone plays at the same time! We can really make the windows rattle with this one!

This summer we discovered another favorite, Settlers of Catan. In this game you collect resources so you can build roads, settlements, and cities. It may sound similar to Monopoly, but it doesn't take as long to play. The fun factor? During each person's turn all the other players get a chance to participate as well. We enjoyed it so much that we're adding an expansion kit, Cities and Knights. If you have more than four players you'll need to play as teams, or purchase the extension kit to extend the number of players to six.

Now I'm checking out Forbidden Island. I'm intrigued at the description that the players join together to play against the game itself. We'll be playing it during the holiday to see if it makes the "favorites" list.

Do you have any "off the beaten path" favorite family games?

Roof trusses

2009-08-10T16:14:00.001-05:00

Roof trusses
Originally uploaded by singram50

The roof trusses went up today! They started about 7:00 am and were done setting them in place by noon. Just in time, too - it started raining about an hour later. They may not be able to start laying the roof sheathing until tomorrow. It won't be long though until the house interior won't get wet when it rains - that will be nice!

East end gable

2009-07-21T00:15:00.001-05:00

IMG_4681 east peak web_900x643
Originally uploaded by singram50

The east end gable is ready to be lifted into place. Currently working on the west end gable, which will have a ten-foot header above the opening to the (nonexistent) hallway leading to the (nonexistent) room above the (nonexistent) garage.

Trying out the Zip System on the new house

2009-07-20T23:59:00.001-05:00

IMG_4672 adj_675x900
Originally uploaded by singram50

We decided to try using Zip System panels. They require taping of the seams, but no Tyvek. The panels were as easy to install as could be expected with no scaffolding. There are a LOT of walls left to cover!

Still the One

2009-07-11T14:13:00.002-05:00

Still the One
Originally uploaded by singram50

It's been nearly thirty-nine years, and ...

You're still the one that makes me laugh
Still the one that's my better half
We're still havin' fun, and you're still the one

You're still the one that makes me strong
Still the one I want to take along
We're still having' fun, and you're still the one

We're probably the only ones old enough to remember the rest of the verses. (wink)

Lily

2009-07-09T01:54:00.004-05:00

IMG_4419 Lily web
Originally uploaded by singram50

I added a couple Photoshop filters to this picture to give it a more painterly effect. I should try painting this in Corel Painter.

Daylily

2009-07-09T01:51:00.003-05:00

IMG_4407 Lily web
Originally uploaded by singram50

The color of this lily reminds me of how hot it was when I was taking this picture!

West Wall

2009-07-09T01:30:00.003-05:00

IMG_4615 west wall_800x600
Originally uploaded by singram50

The west wall is now up. The big opening will be the hallway into the room over the garage. There will eventually be a window in each side of the west wall.

Stairwell

2009-07-09T01:28:00.003-05:00

IMG_4618 stairwell_800x600
Originally uploaded by singram50

Looking down the stairwell to the basement from the top floor. It's a long way down!

Master Dressing Area and Bath

2009-07-05T20:58:00.001-05:00

Master Dress Area-Bath July-5
Originally uploaded by singram50

The dressing area and bathroom face south. It will be interesting to plan a closet system instead of just having a closet rod!

Master Bedroom Walls

2009-07-05T20:54:00.001-05:00

Master Bedroom July-5
Originally uploaded by singram50

Here you can see the master bedroom. Two windows face east and the dormer opens to the north. I'm debating how to use the storage under the rafters on each side of the dormer.

Walls are going up!

2009-07-05T20:28:00.004-05:00

New House July-5
Originally uploaded by singram50

Dave is making great progress on the house. Here you can see the end wall is nearly done, and the little 18-inch walls that the rafters will sit on. The middle dormer is about ten feet wide and the two outer dormers are each five feet wide.

Fenceline flowers

2009-06-26T23:33:00.001-05:00

Pink hollyhock
Originally uploaded by singram50

I like the way this pink hollyhock looks against the gray fencepost.

Blooming Onion

2009-06-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

Onion blooming
Originally uploaded by singram50

It may just be a lowly onion, but when I stopped to take a closer look I was surprised to see how pretty it is.

Dormer walls

2009-06-24T22:28:00.001-05:00

Dormers adj
Originally uploaded by singram50

What a surprise to see some dormer walls when I got home from work this evening!

We'll have to take time away from working on the house this weekend to sort lambs and haul them to market. It's going to be HOT this weekend, so we'll need to get an early start.

Progress on new house

2009-06-21T22:53:00.004-05:00

Last year at this time we were waiting for the basement walls to be poured. Now we have the subfloor finished on the top level of our new two-story-plus-basement home. This floor will contain the master suite, a loft, and the entrance to the bonus room over the garage.

With only one person working on the house, and being a pay-as-you-go project, it may take a little longer to complete. But I think it will turn out as good as or maybe even better than the last house we built.

In this photo you can see the sheep in the pasture north of the house.

2008 Ewe Lambs

2008-07-05T00:48:00.005-05:00

Here are four ewe lambs that were born in February of this year. We sell our registered ewe lambs for $200 each.

#8-11
DOB: 2/6/2008; Triplet
Sire: FAH 05018; Dam: DSI 03008

#8-23
DOB: 2/11/2008; Twin
Sire: MOF 0717; Dam: DSI 05008

#8-91
DOB: 2/17/2008; Twin, raised as single
Sire: MOF 0717; Dam: DSI 06007

#8-96
DOB: 2/17/08; Triplet, raised as single
Sire: FAH 05018; Dam: DSI 03059

HELIX 2008

2008-04-04T23:31:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I returned from the Higher Education Learning and Information eXchange (HELIX) 2008 conference held at the Lake of the Ozarks Tan-Tar-A resort. I was a little disappointed because it rained the whole time so I didn't get any good photos, but the keynote speakers were excellent, as were some of the sessions I attended. Five people from my department attended, and one presented a session. On the way home we discussed topics we could present at next year's conference. This summer we’re planning to set up a four-station team collaboration area with a flat-panel on the wall, and group collaboration software for students to use when working together on projects. I think our experience in implementing this project will make a good presentation.

A New Generation of Learning
The first speaker, Dr. Mark Milliron, talked about how the learning environment is changing and the challenges that both students and teachers now face. He described blended learning, mobile devices, gaming (sometimes called serious gaming or simulations), social networking, high-impact presentation technologies (think 3-D holographic projection), and analytics (how Amazon and NetFlix know what items to offer to you) and how they all play a role in reshaping education today. He said that the military is especially good at incorporating gaming into their training.

Incidentally, Dr. Milliron is a Trustee for Western Governors University (WGU). This non-profit, accredited online university, founded by the governors of 19 western states, offers competency-based (as opposed to credit-based) online degrees. This concept is a refreshing alternative to the current model for higher education, and I'd like to see other higher education institutions follow in its footsteps. I see two drawbacks with WGU. The first is that you need plenty of time to devote to your studies to progress at an accelerated pace. WGU treats all students as full-time students when charging fees and tuition, so it's financially beneficial for you to complete as many competencies as you can in each six-month term. The second is that they offer a limited number of programs - Teachers College, Business, Information Technology, and Health Professions; however, there are several degrees available within these programs. And financial aid is available - always a plus!

WikiBooks: Textbooks of the future?
Dr. Dwight W. Allen described how he guides his students in writing the textbook for their class using a wiki. Multiple students sign up to research various topics and then write articles (approximately 1,000 words), citing their sources and including questions to be used in the quizzes and tests. The articles are reviewed and rated by the students, and the highest ranking articles are incorporated into the textbook. Dr. Allen said that in contrast to the past when a number of students never even opened their textbooks, these student-made textbooks get read and re-read during the semester. Knowing how expensive textbooks are today, it certainly sounds like a good idea. I thought it was interesting that one of his books was co-authored with Bill Cosby, a former student.

All in all, the conference reflected what I've been reading in the plethora of magazines that cross my desk: we need to do a better job of integrating technology into teaching, not just providing it in the classroom.