Serendipity Academy

2009-11-23T06:53:00.002-06:00

I'm working some unbelievable hours right up to Thanksgiving. Chances are that anyone who is employed at a grocery store is doing the same thing. With that in mind, I thought I'd offer a word...

When you go through the check out lane with your turkey and all your STUFF for your feasting day, when you cannot take another moment of your children's behavior because they are stressed from lack of sleep or the sudden change in your public parenting persona, or when the person in front of you obviously gave up bathing for lent - last year.....BE NICE TO THE CASHIER. Be friendly and courteous. Chances are enough assholes have passed before you today.

Your kind smile and easy countenance will stand out. And that little bit of nice just may save your chips or bread or other squishable groceries.

2009-11-20T06:46:00.003-06:00

I really wanted to complete the challenge of 30 blog entries in 30 days. I planned to do it, I worried over it, and I tried really, really hard. BUT...

We are in the midst of the busiest two weeks of the year at my little part time job (where for the first time since I've started, I'm actually scheduled for over-time). Things are absolutely insane there. One of the women I work with, just had a baby - six weeks early. The new little guy is reportedly doing okay, but he only weighs 4.4 pounds. So small.

Another co-worker is on vacation - because it's deer season. Whatever. She returns on Monday when another co-worker goes on vacation. Oh yes, it's against company policy for people to go on vacation during this period of time, but sometimes people who are too comfortable in their positions push boundaries when they sense that no one will stop them.

I woke this morning to discover that my right hand was so swollen that I could barely make a fist. Something is wrong - obviously. I know that I need to take care of myself, but I'm hoping I can delay a trip to the doctor until after Thanksgiving. We'll see. I am doing what I can to doctor myself - Arnica and ibuprofen. And I've cut WAY back on my computer time.

So the blogging thing is taking a backseat to the rest of my life for a bit. I'm here in spirit though. What is that little bit? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak...yes, I think that's about right.

Puppy Update

2009-11-17T05:46:00.003-06:00

Our little visitor responded very well to being called Puppy, but that didn't suit it seems. I was informed after the little waif spent her first night here that her name was Carla.

Ummm. You know it's never a good thing when an animal that you absolutely, positively are not keeping suddenly has a Name.

We finally reached the owners, and after a long, convoluted story that strongly resemebled a hillbilly soap opera, we were told they would be by to pick up the dog that evening. Or the next day. At least before supper time. Wha? Now if this had been our dog that had suddenly gone missing, my children would have been up in arms until our dog was home and safe.

As it turns out the puppy's "grandparents" live right down the road from us. That made the eventual picking up rather easy. My fear though is that these people don't regularly show their puppy a fraction of the love and care it received from my children during its stay at our place. What do you want to bet we haven't seen the last of Carla?

2009-11-15T09:15:00.002-06:00

There seems to be a veritable parade of animals around our house of late. First the duck, then the cow. Now...we have an extra puppy.

She is the cutest little thing,and my older daughter is completely besotted. She has spent the past two hours in 40-something degree rain caring for this poor little waif. She found our guest in the barn and made it as far as the garage before I denied admittance. Actually, our Siberian Husky denied admittance, but I was cool with that since I often wonder if he has a brave bone in his body.

My girl trekked down the driveway and across the road to our neighbor's to see if the dog belonged there. No takers. She was about to head out to another neighbor's house when I insisted that she come inside to dry off and put on some warm clothes. Those clothes, by the way, are no longer dry, but she did take about 45 seconds to warm up before heading back out.

On her last trip out, she was armed with 3 x 5 index cards and her trusty black Sharpie. She came back in with the name and numbers inscribed on the dog's collar, so I called. I reached a cell phone and left a message. Then I called the second number, and I got a recording that said the number had been disconnected. Uh Oh.

I really hope we are able to find this puppy's owners, because we absolutely do not need another dog.

I wonder what kind of visitor we'll have next.

Apollo Artist

2009-11-14T22:13:00.002-06:00

It's the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 12 mission to the moon. That probably doesn't ring a lot of bells for most people, but in our house...

Each of our children has been coaxed at one time in their young lives to say, "Yes, Daddy, I'll be an astronaut and take you to the moon." My husband doesn't dream of our children becoming doctors or lawyers or teachers or firefighters. Nope. Astronauts. He's just quirky that way.

Anywho, as I was driving down the road today listening to NPR I heard the story of Alan Bean. Way cool guy.

Coffee and a Cow

2009-11-13T17:01:00.002-06:00

I'm an early riser as a rule, normally getting up and around well before the rest of the folks in the house. I cherish my "quiet time," and I have for years. Woe be unto the child who asks a question requiring an answer, let alone action before I have my coffee quota. I make no apologies for that, but I do try to make sure that my time doesn't take away from the needs of anyone else first thing in the morning.

This morning started as usual. I was up doing my thing at 5:30, and I was feeling pretty doggone productive. Shortly before 7:00 I remembered I had left some groceries in my vehicle last night, so out I went in my jammies, my fuzzy gray robe, and my oh-my-dear-god-dayglow green crocs.

Because we had inventory at the grocery where I work last night, I got home rather late. I tell you that because as I approached my vehicle, I noticed something big and black parked behind my husband's vehicle. "What the hell is attached to the back of the van, and who put it there?", came out of my mouth. Then the big, black thing moved. I thought I was muttering to myself. Turns out I was talking to a cow.

I hadn't quite ingested a half a pot of coffee yet, so I wasn't REAL sure that I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing. A quick double take confirmed it though. We had company - a heifer from next door.

Bless her heart, she was munching along the edge of my garden, minding her own business until I showed up. I slowed a bit, trying not to make any sudden moves, and I went about chatting with her and opening my trunk. Shortly after I grabbed my groceries, she decided to move along as well. To my shrubs.

I watched her out the window for a bit until my 9 year-old woke up. I mentioned that we had a cow in the yard, and asked that she please stay calm and quiet. Of course that request went in one ear and out the other. She went straight out the front door to see the cow for herself. When I got my daughter back inside, I again requested that she be very quiet and not open any doors. Bless her heart, she listened. She opened a window instead, and scared the crap right out of our visitor. Literally. Crap... In. My. Mulch. (Actually it was just fluke timing, as I've never actually seen anyone scare the crap out of a cow. They are usually too busy running like hell to stop and ....you know)

The saga continued for quite awhile until I called our elderly neighbor to let him know he had a cow out, and she was happily munching on the round bales out back. He came to fetch her a bit later with a bucket of feed, and the drama was soon over.

The best part of this whole ordeal(and believe me there is a best part) was watching my daughter take in the scene. She perched herself on the back deck, still wearing her pajamas, wrapped in an antique quilt, paper in hand, and camera at the ready. She recorded the entire event. I'm not sure why, but she decided it was the thing to do. She sat there in the stillness of the morning, writing an unsolicited report in her newly learned italic print and capturing moments with a camera. I haven't read the entire report, but looking over her shoulder I was able to see,

"When we first spotted the cow, it was..."

I dig that kid. I really do.

2009-11-12T12:36:00.002-06:00

During the course of any given day at my part-time job I have the opportunity to observe a lot of children, parents, and grandparents. I see some lovely examples of parenting, relating, and family life in general. I see more examples of less than desirable behavior though. That bothers me. It often bothers me enough that I feel compelled to make conversation with a child whose parent is an ignorant bully, or to simply say "Oh my!" in such a way as to signal to anyone who is paying attention that a particular child's behavior is shocking or noticeably plain bad.

I also take the time to comment to parents when their child or children are mannerly or well behaved. It's surprising how often a subsequent conversation leads to the knowledge that many of those kids are homeschooled. I'm not sure if there is a connection, but I do know that homeschooled kids are often different from their "peers."

A day or so ago I took the opportunity to eavesdrop on my nine year old's conversation with her grandmother. My daughter was relating respectfully to my 78 year old mother as an equal, as someone who was vital and interesting, and as someone whose opinions were valuable.

My mother was relating to my daughter respectfully as well and engaging her fully in conversation. It was interesting to hear their choice of subjects as well as their exchange of ideas. They sounded like two girlfriends with no regard to age or life experience.

In that moment I reflected just a bit on all the children I've taught either in public school or private lessons. I tried to superimpose some of my favorite students onto the conversation between my mother and my daughter, and I found I just couldn't do it. It's not that any of those students were inferior to my daughter. It is just that perhaps they had never been given the opportunity to travel through life without age barriers as they apply to relating to other humans.

There was a time when I would have considered children like mine odd. Whether they are or not isn't really the point. Or maybe it is. What I can say with certainty is that if they are odd, I welcome and embrace their differences.

2009-11-12T10:08:00.001-06:00

~Sigh~

Plan Q

2009-11-10T06:18:00.002-06:00

So....does 30 posts in 30 days mean that I must post each and every day, or does it simply mean that at the end of 30 days, I must have 30 posts? Hmmm. I'm going with the latter since I missed a day of posting yesterday. You know sometimes life is just too busy or complicated to sit down and blog for pity sake.

Yesterday was one of those days when Plan A didn't work out so well. Plan B was just a blip on the proverbial screen before something else caused us to change our course. I think we ended up with Plan Q by the time we finished the tuna casserole...By the way, tuna casserole is definitely a Plan Q kind of dinner around here. Just opening up a can of cream of anything soup is not my idea of healthy eating, but the kids devoured it and asked for seconds.

By the time we did our bedtime routine, everyone agreed that we had a successful day, but it was an exhausting one. Even on the "rough" days I must say I love this homeschooling life.

Healthcare Bill!!!

2009-11-08T20:12:00.005-06:00

From today's NY Times.

Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House

Published: November 7, 2009
WASHINGTON — Handing President Obama a hard-fought victory, the House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system on Saturday night, advancing legislation that Democrats said could stand as their defining social policy achievement.

(November 8, 2009) After a daylong clash with Republicans over what has been a Democratic goal for decades, lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Democrats said the legislation would provide overdue relief to Americans struggling to buy or hold on to health insurance.Visit the New York Times for the rest of the article.

All I can say is that I hope this bill has a chance - a real chance - of making it through the Senate.

2009-11-07T21:51:00.003-06:00

I had an interesting conversation with a woman while I was at work today. I'm still not sure what to make of it, but I know that I need to digest it a bit before sharing. Stay tuned. This may require a group effort.

2009-11-06T21:49:00.002-06:00

We've been on the go a lot the last couple of days, and we've spent a considerable amount of time driving from one event to another and back home again. I find it entertaining to listen to the children as we drive. Sometimes they sing at the tops of their lungs, sometimes they read (and curse the darkness when they can no longer see), sometimes they ask so many questions I think my head may explode from searching the years of accumulated knowledge in an attempt to give just the right answer.

And sometimes they make up their own language. My kids are funny, hilarious even. I have no idea what they are saying most of the time, but at one point in our trip my youngest translated for me. "Ummm, Mom. That means pig manure." Nice. We aren't spending much time on Latin lately, but at least they have creative words for things I'd rather not hear about.

I can't even begin to explain what this language of theirs sounds like, but for some reason Krippendorf's Tribe comes to mind.

Announcing....

2009-11-05T16:58:00.012-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen...

We have a new reader in our house!

That is worthy of celebration and gaiety 'round these parts. We get all excited and smile a lot. And we read everything we can get our hands on when that newly acquired skill is fresh and exciting. We've got three books lined up for the evening. Of course we're going to celebrate with some fried chicken with all the trimmings first, but we're not lingering over dinner. We have more important stuff to do. We absolutely must READ.

2009-11-04T12:21:00.002-06:00

One of my girls' favorite outings is a trip to Panera. We have never been a family that has gotten the hang of high tea (although I must admit that sounds lovely). We're far less formal than that. Of course the disinterest in high tea may be due to my ingrained need to function as the manners police. A trip to a coffee house/bakery is much more within our collective comfort level.

We love the atmosphere of places like Panera, and it gives us the opportunity to sit and chat about anything and everything. My girls love the grown up feeling that the atmosphere provides, and it allows them to try on their manners and social graces. That's fun when you are six and nine.

I'm often amazed by the subjects they choose to discuss and the observations they make as we sit and drink our hot chocolate and eat our fresh baked treats. It gives me a chance to have fun with the girls and watch them enjoy themselves thoroughly.

Our morning started out rough today. We had drama, and fussing, and histrionics. It was ugly for a bit here in our homeschool. On top of that, I've got a to do list that is a mile long. It just isn't a good day to get away, but a getaway is just what we need.

I decided it was time to improvise to improve the quality of our collective day. So in an hour or so, we're having a tea. Of course there won't be much formality involved, but there will be baking, and chatting, and enjoying each other's company. I think at least one of us is even putting on a fancy dress. It's times like this that remind me just how lucky I am to be homeschooling our children. We are seizing the day and making it special.

A Newish Blogger You've Just Got To Meet

2009-11-03T12:05:00.004-06:00

Back in the day when I was a new homeschooler I spent quite a bit of time searching for other homeschoolers I could relate to or who might relate to me. Oddly enough, I've never found a local homeschooling group either because of where we live or because I just cannot stomach a meeting filled with prayer requests, political goings on, or anything having to do with subjects other than homeschooling. Yes, I'm a friendly person, and I pride myself on being able to get along well with others when necessary. However, by the time I came to homeschooling I had spent enough years "dealing" with people I didn't particularly enjoy.

I looked to the internet to find a group of parents I could relate to, and I looked, and I looked. Finally I found a "smart, sassy" group of folks who labeled themselves as secular. (I'm not going to even bother to go into the definition of what a secular homeschooler is. If you don't know, then please Google it.) I found a wealth of information there as well as a group of truly inclusive parents that were open to sharing what homeschooling was like for each of them.

Unfortunately that online community went through some changes that left it less than it once was. There was one particular woman in that community that gave excellent, calming (and believe me as a new homeschooler calm was something I badly needed), smart, real advice with love and kindness. From the time I started blogging, I often wished I could link to this amazing woman so that other homeschoolers could benefit from her wisdom - and I kid you not, this woman is wise.

Recently, Val started blogging, and her blog is filled with stories and experiences told in her incredibly soothing voice. There are a handful of homeschoolers that have influenced what we do here in our homeschool, and Val is among the most valuable to me. I've often said I'd like to just sit at her feet and learn - she's that amazing. Pop over and meet her at well, yeah...and I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

Daily Report

2009-11-02T21:30:00.004-06:00

On the days that I work, my younger two have kind of established a routine. No matter what time I come home I try to spend some one on one time with each of the girls so they can tell me about their day or just talk about whatever.

My nine year old has taken to giving a report - not only of her day, but of her sister's as well. I learn the most interesting things from those reports, and mostly the reports are accurate - unless she has been quite angry with her sister.

Today I didn't even put my bag down before the barage of yelling, jumping, and shrieking began.

"Mom! There's a duck in the garage! Well, at least I think it's a duck.... Or it's not. But I think it has a purple head with a green ring around its neck or a green head with a purple ring around its neck and webbed feet.

That's a duck... Or it could be a crow. If it's a duck, can we have it for dinner?"

I think I came home from work not a moment too soon.

Ugh! NaBloWriMo

2009-11-01T20:27:00.003-06:00

So Doc posted something on her blog after a rather long hiatus. I think her break has actually been longer than mine. We'll just leave that thought there for a second.

Blogging, in the words of one of my favorite customers, gets on my nerves. I often have nothing to say, or I have too much to say, or I just don't want to say what I have to say. It's complicated. Hell, I'm complicated. Suffice it to say at this point, that I just haven't felt like blogging dammit.

I read some great blogs regularly. I even have some nice blogging buddies, but lately there has been less than a little blogging coming from me. I've got a million excuses, but my reasons just aren't very good.

So...back to Doc. She joined the effort at NaBloWriMo - the challenge to write 30 blog entries in 30 days during the month of November. I'm going to give it a shot and see if I can rekindle my love - or lukewarm like - of blogging.

Food!

2009-09-11T09:41:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking and reading quite a bit lately about food - what to eat, what to avoid, and why. There are so many layers of information to sift through about a subject that is so deceptively simple. I am committed to understanding and creating a healthy lifestyle for my family, and the very basis of that seems to be nourishing ourselves with things that are in fact nourishing. In this day and time with our markets bursting at the seams from loads upon load of food-like packages, eating real food takes work. And then some.

One of the customers that passed by me at work yesterday engaged me in a short conversation regarding food. I told her that we were working toward eliminating high fructose corn syrup from our family's diet. She got a wistful look on her face, sighed, and told me that was impossible. I don't know what came over me at that point. It certainly wasn't the premise that the customer is always right. Passion rose in my voice and I simply said that it is in fact not impossible. She asked, "How do you do it?" I told her that we simply cook everything from scratch, and she then looked at me as if I'd sprouted an extra head.

It never occurred to me that eating real food was an impossibility. I've read several books and articles that have told me how to do just that. I've learned to cook over the years. There just isn't anything impossible about it.

I know that we won't completely eliminate high fructose corn syrup from our diet (because we may need to drink a soda now and then), and I still cannot reconcile myself to giving up sugar, but we can at least be knowledgeable about the ingredients contained in the foods and beverages that we consume and make conscious choices about them.

All that is to say...there may be some posts in the near future regarding food, cooking, and the like. I haven't had the time or inclination to blog about much in the last several months, but I think I can manage to share a menu or recipe. I may even manage to link to what I consider to be some valuable information regarding the relationship between diet and metabolic syndrome.

Better Than Christmas

2009-08-21T08:19:00.002-05:00

Our boxes of curriculum have arrived. Of course my girls don't think of all of those goodies as something as dry as curriculum. Stuff To Play With....yes, that's a much better description.

I do have to admit there is a special kind of excitement in the air at the thought of starting our new plans, and the shiny new books and brightly colored new "toys" only add to the sense of fun.

When I asked my daughter to put away the drinking straws and set the table for dinner last night, she responded with, "In a minute, Mom. I'm doing my math and using these as counters." Cool! Apparently she is ready to start...with our without me. And that's exactly how it should be!

Exciting School Plans

2009-08-10T07:52:00.006-05:00

I seem to have rediscovered my roots as a homeschooler of late. When we first began our homeschool journey, I was a rather unpleasant, snobbish spouter of all things classical. Frankly, I was just ignorant of all the different methods that were available and being used with great success in the homeschooling community, and like many ignorant people, I preached the superiority of MY choices with fervor.

Once I opened myself to other possibilities and took the time and effort to get to know my children's learning styles, I learned that the best education is the one that best fits the individual child - not the teacher. During our journey we have sampled from some the best methodologies. We've taken the parts of each that are best for us and created our own method. There is one tiny thing I may have forgotten, or at least filed away as knowledge not needed at the time...... Sometimes our needs change. While I was busy being a full fledged unschooler, my children decided they needed something else. I love that about them, by the way. I love that they ask for what they need in their education. They have asked for structure - for now.

At one point in my homeschooling life there was nothing that I loved more than to research and discuss curriculum. Although I've outgrown the need to go on and on and on, my experience in that area is serving me well. I've spent the last few weeks figuring out with the girls what direction they would like to take, what goals they would like to accomplish, and what their learning days will look like. Goodness, but they have some lofty goals! We're all excited to begin a new "school year" and work through some daily planned lessons.

Our current plans may take us through the holidays, they may take us through the summer, or they may take us through the end of the month. That's the beauty of being homeschoolers, and for me it's the beauty of being a parent who takes responsibility for the education of her children.

So.....we're beginning. We're purchasing curriculum, making some of our own curriculum, and gathering some learning resources as we go. We are continuing to use what is available to create the education and lifestyle that suits us. If we followed the public school's grade system, we would be schooling a first grader and a fourth grader. Since we don't have those constraints, we have curriculum that is based on the simple concept of what comes next.

Math is a subject that we've learned works best for us in a make-your-own curriculum kind of way. I've mapped out scope and sequence for both girls, so we are following the what comes next idea through the concept of Living Math, throwing in some Cuisenaire support, and using some fantastic reference books. Voila!

Language Arts covers a vast amount of area, but we are jumping in with abandon. Both girls will be using McGuffey Readers, exploring a great deal of literature (possibly from the Ambleside Online schedule), and working on composition. My older daughter is also excited about vocabulary building, so we're going to use some online sources in that area.

I've gone back to SOTW for a history spine, and for the first time I've actually purchased an activity book. I've always been too frugal to justify that expense, but this year, I've decided we need that something extra to make world history more captivating. I'm not sure of the wisdom of my decision, but I've decided to have my younger daughter jump in and join her older sister where we left off.......we'll see how that goes. Luckily that decision isn't going to have disastrous effects on either of their educational development.

Oh, and art. I have not ever felt up to the task of teaching art. I have no experience in that area - other than snippets of elementary school memories, none of them good. I purchased Artistic Pursuits, and I'm thrilled to start that with the girls. Both of them dearly love drawing, painting, and creating. Hopefully this purchase will allow me to join them in their enthusiasm.

Science is an easy one for us. Both girls love to question, research, and learn about all kinds of different things. We will continue to unschool in that area with some basic scope and sequence goals in mind.

I also found a link to a Charlotte Mason geography book. It's a lovely, little 75-page book that touches on map skills and the like. Of course letter-boxing will fit nicely with that little gem, so our map skills should be up to snuff in no time.

We're going to spend some time working on our handwriting skills using the Getty DuBay Italics series. I like the look and feel of their lessons as well as the easy readability of the finished product. The workbooks offer nice, short lessons that work well for us.

We're adding one more element to our already busy schedule. We have recently been given the opportunity to learn Spanish through immersion from a bi-lingual friend. This is a gift beyond measure, as my girls will not only have the opportunity to learn the language, but also have the chance to take part in activities in the Hispanic community. This is one of those gifts that will enhance their lives in many ways, and we're very excited about it.

One thing is certain, creating curriculum takes much more effort than simply following someone else's outline or purchasing boxed curriculum. I remember now that I enjoy putting that puzzle together, matching the children's needs to the available resources. There are so many good ways to homeschool, and we're excited to start another part of our journey. We continue to be eclectic, somewhat classical, and sorta kinda unschoolish. Here's to another great leg of our journey!

Homeschool Voices

2009-07-29T08:51:00.003-05:00

I recently learned about a brand new homeschooling publication that promises to be full of rich and wonderful things. Many homeschooling sites have popped up over the course of our family's homeschooling adventure. Some have been helpful and interesting, but like many things on the web, they come and go. This new project is different in that it will be a good old-fashioned print magazine that homeschoolers can have at their fingertips.

The family behind this wonderful project is taking it on as a learning project that will surely enhance their lives, but what makes it even more interesting is that they are inviting other homeschooled kids and parents to contribute. This opens up the opportunity for young writers and artists to be published!

Consider visiting them and learning more about Homeschool Voices.

I've been tagged, linked, and otherwise found......

2009-07-16T10:59:00.006-05:00

Let me just start this post by saying, I love Doc. I do. And the fact that she tagged me for this Awe-Summm award is just something.

There are very few people who recognize that I should be Queen of All Things. Very few, meaning four. And those four, only because they've been trained - for years. Of course those four people happen to be my husband and children, but they count. They count most of all.

They are also mostly to blame for my lack of productivity in the blogosphere. But leave it to Doc to pull me back in with something shiny. I'm just too much of a girl to resist shiny things - even when I'm busy becoming all self-actualized and doing other incredibly weighty things, like lapping up each delicious drop of summer.

So....without further ado, let's jump into the rules - or my rendition of the rules anyway.

The steps to becoming a Queen are…

1. List Seven Things That Make You Awe-Summm!
2. Pass the award on to seven bloggers you read religiously.
3. Tag those seven bloggers.

Seven Things That Make Me Awe-Summmmm.

Just SEVEN? Fine. Seven.
1. I genuinely like my children. I love them of course, but liking them is extra.
2. I'm more in love with my husband than the day I married him - and it's been 11 years.
3. I'm fiercely loyal.
4. I'm incredibly resilient.
5. I'm a tenacious kind of a gal.
6. I'm not THAT kind of homeschooler.
7. You can tell me anything - I keep secrets like the gift that they are.

Not too long ago my computer, as well as various other household necessities were struck by lightning. It took nearly two weeks to replace the computer, which I hasten to add may have been the nearly the longest two weeks of my life. I think the only times two weeks have seemed longer, was just before giving birth to each of my children, but I digress.

My new computer is humming right along, and I do love it. I have lost a few things in the process, like a gazillion homeschool downloads, invaluable homeschooling links, and all of my blog feeds. I'm still in the process of finding everyone back, but I must admit that I haven't been working at it all that diligently. I've been hip-deep in living which was a gift I rediscovered in my time without internet access, satellite service, and a land line. All that being said, I still have the duty of passing on this wonderful award. I may not "religiously" do much of anything these days, but I read some excellent blogs. Since Doc already tagged a lot of my favorites, I'll share a few more.

Lynn - Schola

Kate - Homeschooling in the Garden State

Sarah - Knitting the Wind

Angela - Queen Bee's Homeschool Hive

So here's the thing. I know that's only four. The rules said seven, but I'm the Queen (because Doc said so), and being the Queen means that I get to MAKE the rules instead of follow them, right? And frankly, I'm culling and prioritizing the time I spend online. I just don't click all over blogdom much these days, so please know that those I've tagged have been tagged because they are valuable to me.

Hunting Season

2009-05-05T08:46:00.003-05:00

About this time every year I fancy myself a hunter. I learned long ago that guns simply weren't my cup of tea, as I literally could not hit the broad side of a barn with my daddy's 22. I don't relish the idea of going out in the cold in the wee hours of the morning and sitting quietly waiting for some beautiful wild creature to come along just so I may have the opportunity to TRY to shoot it. Nope. Not interested - for lots of reasons.

Oh, but in the Spring of the year when the ground is that lovely mix of just awakened and fetid from rains, I get the itch to hunt for these babies.

Morel Mushrooms. They grow wild in these parts and finding them is almost as great a reward as eating them. These are the same mushrooms that sell in city grocery stores for over $100 per pound. And they are here - in the wild - for free - just waiting to be found.

Mushroom hunting is a true art form. I've been told that some folks can just spot 'em and others could stand right on top of 'em and never see 'em. And that's the truth. I know that because sadly I do not fall in the category of those that can "just spot 'em." I long for that talent, that ability to see. So each year I try.

I've found a couple of mushrooms on some of my occasional trips, but I dream of being a true hunter that comes home with heavy bags filled with this hillbilly delicacy.

This time, I'm taking my girls along for the hunt. It's possible that their eyes may see truer than mine. We'll see......

photo credit

Garden Journal Post

2009-04-23T16:49:00.002-05:00

Finally! There are little seeds in the ground. We've been waiting for warm weather and dry dirt for what feels like forever.

The early rows have been planted - just in time for more rain.

2 Rows Cherry Bell Radishes
1 Row White Icicle Radishes
1 Row Long Standing Spinach
1 Row Black Seeded Leaf Lettuce
1/2 Row Snow Peas
1/2 Row Half Long Carrots
1 Row Beets
1 Row White Onion Sets
1 Row Small Sweet Peas
1 Row Blue Lake Green Beans

Now we wait until we are sure we're clear of frost. Then the tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, and squash will go in.

What a difference a day makes

2009-04-22T09:24:00.003-05:00

It is humbling, I think, to realize that the little events that make up a day can sometimes add up to a total shift in perspective. I find myself sometimes going about the business and the busyness of life without really taking the time to contemplate much of anything. Routines drive us. Obligations fill my time.

Then in the span of a day, it would seem that a major shift can take place. I wonder if it's moodiness or weak mindedness, but no, I think not when I look at it again. Simply getting a small piece of news or an odd bit of feedback can change the way I view every little thing in my life. Perhaps that is simply a change in perspective. Frankly it feels more like a complete paradigm shift.

Moments like this seem ripe with possibility. I find myself asking questions differently and asking different questions. I look at things differently and discover that I'm looking at different things. Pondering that indicts me at some level. Why in the world haven't I been looking and asking and doing in this different way all this time?

I realize though that maybe this is what Spring is all about. New life, new thoughts, new possibilities. But most importantly, new energy with which to dream new dreams.

Sometimes you just have to know that they know.

2009-04-16T11:55:00.001-05:00

"Relax and let go of your anxieties about status -- your own and your child's -- and about your child's academic and vocational future. The list of famous and successful people who did not complete a regular high-school program is long and impressive. It includes Margaret Meade, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Pearl Buck. And the list of accomplished and famous people who went to school but wish they hadn't also is long and impressive, and includes Winston Churchill, Woody Allen, and Claude Monet. It is not the end of the world if your child does not go to high school." - Grace Llewellyn

Gathered thoughts

2009-04-15T16:37:00.002-05:00

* Finally a day with sunshine and temperatures above 60.
I'm hopeful that we may actually get some planting done next week.

* I've baked two loaves of our favorite bread today. Mmmmm - Oatmeal Bread.

* Strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight. I loved using this particular recipe
from a beloved family friend. We miss you, Auntie Evelyn.

* I have a new toy - and it's the coolest thing ever. How in the world did I
ever manage to homeschool for three years without a laminator? I could easily
reach levels of addiction here.

* The girls have played outside for a large part of the day. One seasonal change
is certain. We've come to the time of year for skinned knees and bungled up
elbows.

* Phone calls are magical!

Brotherly love

2009-04-14T18:43:00.002-05:00

"Geez, kid. Stop reading already! Watch some television, will ya?"

2009-04-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

'Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

~Helen Keller

Whirlwind Learning

2009-04-08T09:16:00.003-05:00

Our educational philosophy is kind of different than the norm. I've been reminded of that a few times in as many days as the girls and I have been out and about. We've been several places as we have gone about the business of simply living our lives. We've met several people who have been kind enough, or bold enough, or possibly even rude enough, to point out that we're.....Different. (gasp!)

I'm rebel enough to relish in that, and my girls are sure enough that their lives are exceptional that we continue to bop around doing what makes us happy and whatever serves us well.

I've come to see our lifestyle as one that embraces fluidity. Our days change with the seasons, whether those seasons are internal or external. I have learned to simply pay attention to the needs of the children - and then respond to those needs. We often use daily life as our curriculum, but when the children signal that they would like more project based learning, we respond to that need.

This has been one of those weeks in which my older daughter's thirst for knowledge has been incredible. Not only that, she has a pressing need right now to demonstrate what she already knows, what she is learning, and at the same time soak in as much new knowledge as time allows.

This week she needs to write on paper: Multiplication exercises, Stories, Grammar, Handwriting practice. She NEEDS to get it all down, like a self-imposed exam period. Then she also needs to read: Ancient History, Literature, Recipes. We're doing graphing, and timelines, and watching educational programs. And then there is art. We must do art, too.

As she puts herself through these paces, her younger sister gets caught up in the frenzy to the point that she also requests "schoolwork." The need for learning "work" is nearly palpable in our home right now. And it's so much fun.

Responding to our children's needs in every facet of their lives is such a wonderful, humbling, incredible joy. To know that they trust us completely to always give them what they need is simply amazing.

I Love

2009-04-07T07:54:00.001-05:00

I heard this song yesterday for the first time in years and years. It made me smile all the way to my toes, so I thought it worth sharing.

3:15

2009-04-03T15:25:00.002-05:00

My son came in from school about five minutes ago with a, "Hey, Ma! How's it goin?" We talked for a few minutes about his plans for the evening, covered the necessary conversation regarding weekend homework, and spent a minute or two on just who might be inside my mini-van this evening.

As we were wrapping up our conversation, a childhood friend of his entered the room. He gave a quick explanation of, "The girls let me in," and the conversation continued, albeit now with the addition of another person.

As we climbed the stairs, I was met by a rather large, blond, teen-age boy. I had no idea who this kid was. He obliged my cursory, "And who are you?" with a full explanation. It turns out this huge boy was a former student of mine - when he was in second grade. Bless his heart, he was quite kind to me even though I found it necessary to tell him he should only be about three feet tall - and freckly.

The now four of us walked outside together to where my son's first job of the afternoon was waiting for him. My father had come over to enlist the boy's help in changing attachments on the tractor. Because of the kind of boys these extras are, they loped on down to help with the project.

At that moment, I looked up and noticed that the clothes that I had hung out on the line earlier today were no longer there. They were piled into a clothes basket. After questioning the two little girls on the back patio, I found that they were quite proud of the fact that they had been able to reach up and take them off the line for me.

The girls and I spent a couple of minutes discussing the fact that it is sometimes easier to fold the clothes AS you take them off the line. No problem though, as they quickly headed inside to fold what they had already piled into the basket.

During the folding, my younger daughter discovered a lady bug "just hanging around" on her brother's shirt. To say she is a lady bug enthusiast is a sizable understatement. She walked around for a bit with her new friend while her sister continued to fold the laundry. Surprisingly, instead of an argument over who was doing the most work, we launched into lady bug education.

That's the way of it here most days. We have free flowing days more often than not. We have spontaneous education as a rule. We embrace a freedom that other people's children are just drawn to. And we like that. We like that very much.

Early Spring is not for the faint of heart

2009-04-02T20:25:00.003-05:00

We're having a bit more winter here before Spring firmly takes hold. Last weekend we had snow. Today we are having a 30-something degree rain. It's enough to make an old gal grumpy.

Luckily, my girls are made of tough stuff, and they embrace the outdoors no matter the weather. Yesterday I found my younger daughter outside in her winter coat, Crocs sans socks, and a mini-skirt. When she came inside, she told me she had been having "a wonderful time exploring."

That is how our days have been spent of late. We really are having A Wonderful Time Exploring - lots of different stuff. New library books, crafts, life shooting up from the ground, and so much more.

We've been reading and creating wonderful art, baking and eating fabulous treats. Oh, and there has been learning along the way - there always seems to be learning, even or especially when we don't plan for it. Life is just so achingly full - how can we help but learn?

Skipping!

2009-03-31T09:01:00.002-05:00

"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again." ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau

We're going skipping today. Yes, that's right. Skipping! It makes me smile just to type that out. Remember skipping? It is the quintessential kid gait. Maybe since today is my (ohmygawd) 42nd birthday, I'm having some sort of crisis. I would prefer to think of it as something else, something positive. We're celebrating life together - and we're going skipping. If that doesn't make you smile, then take a quick skip around - that'll fix yer wagon.

"Why march to the beat of your own drummer when you can skip?
~Dave May, as posted on iskip.com

2009-03-30T15:20:00.001-05:00

"Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve."
~Roger Lewin

A Whole Poem

2009-03-20T05:58:00.006-05:00

BREAKING FREE

~Katherine

Why Did No One Tell Me....

2009-03-16T16:39:00.003-05:00

this was SOOOOOO much fun?

And there really are applicable homeschooling possibilities.....I'm a musician. Given enough time, I'm sure I can put together numerous "lessons." Of course that means I'll have to rock my way through several hours of this addictive activity, but as long as it's for the kids, I'm game.

Cowgirls.....

2009-03-13T13:00:00.001-05:00

Who broke the board? Hmmmmm?

2009-03-11T06:51:00.002-05:00

Spring cleaning update: Just two rooms left in my quest to get all things clean and organized before Spring calls me outdoors.

I wonder if this last blast of Winter will help me move things along. At least I had the good sense to keep hats, gloves, and coats at the ready. 18 degrees is COLD!

My view of the economy

2009-03-05T07:07:00.006-06:00

This problem is more complicated than anything you can imagine. We are coming off a 20-year credit binge. As a country, too many of us stopped making money by making “stuff” and started making money from money — consumers making money out of rising home prices and using the profits to buy flat-screen TVs from China on their credit cards, and bankers making money by creating complex securities and leverage so more and more consumers could get in on the credit game.

When this huge bubble exploded, it created a crater so deep that we can’t see the bottom — because that hole is the product of two inter-related excesses(emphasis mine). Some banks are in trouble because of the subprime mortgage securities they have on their books that are now worth only 20 cents on the dollar because of widespread defaults.
~NewYorkTimes

I don't pretend to have a firm grasp on what ails our country's economy, nor do I have any idea of what is the best antidote to fix it. This article from the NYTimes does a fair job of laying out the two very different areas that need work - and the difficulty in the interconnectedness of the two. The bottom line - in easy terms that I can fully understand, seems to be that for one area to be fixed the other must first be entirely broken and repaired. I have to wonder which one will be allowed to totally collapse...

While at my job yesterday, I witnessed yet again the brokeness of our economy - not the picture we see on the news, nor the "mainstreet" woes we hear from our government. I saw a mother unable to pay for her groceries. Her food stamps had run out. She had no money in the bank - no money in her pocket.

We worked together to take enough groceries off her bill, so that her food stamps could cover what remained in her cart. By the time she had finished, she was emabarrassed, heart broken, and the worry over how and what she would feed her children was etched on her face. We removed every can of vegetables from her cart. Every can - of vegetables.

I have to wonder about so many things. If I hear one more muckity muck carry on about how taxes can't be increased on the rich because they drive this economy or any other such line of BS, I'm going to scream. Because really, I'd just like to ask them to come and stand in the grocery line behind the mother who can't feed her children, the mother who has to take cans of vegetables out of her cart. And then I'd like to dare them to continue to spew their self-serving crap.

You know, there used to be a somewhat predictable face of food stamps. There are those who have just been poor long enough that their body language, their wardrobe announces their station in life. Not so anymore. I find myself surprised daily by folks that are just learning to use their EBT card (that's a food stamp debit type card for the uninitiated). The man or woman on the other side of the check-out lane could be me - or you. There are suddenly more of us in all of our communities, large or small, that are struggling in the most real way that I know. Food and feeding our children. Please don't insult me or them with whining about a possible increase in your tax code - and please don't bother us with the insignificance of your failing bank. We're busy trying to feed our children.

Swirling thoughts

2009-03-04T09:05:00.002-06:00

I have been thinking lately about several subjects that I'd like to blog about. I've started a few drafts, but so far, I haven't made the time to complete them. The fact is if I take the time to completely think through some of these thought processes, I will NEVER get anything posted. These are subjects that matter, to me anyway, so they can't be rushed into the "done with that" category too quickly.

Instead of postponing these thoughts, I am going to start (perhaps) posting some of the reading I'm doing on these issues. Maybe a bit of conversation or simply the act of posting will spur me on in my thought processes.

So today's offering is from Zen Habits, a wonderful blog full of thought provoking and applicable life skills.

How to Create Space When You’re Always in a Rush
Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter.

Not getting enough items on your To-Do list checked off? Do you feel guilty because you’re not doing enough?

I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t always remain calm, zen and un-phased when I don’t get everything done. Sometimes I get distracted; sometimes unforeseen events happen which get in the way of my ambitions.

Sometimes I have a hard time not caring about unimportant things. I want the dishes to be clean and the house spotless, all my errands to be finished and everything neat and tidy. The problem is, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, things don’t usually work like this. In fact, they almost never work like this.

There’s always something to be done, always that “thing” in the back of your head that you forgot about that needs to be taken care of. There’s always something else that needs to be finished, and then you can feel happy. (Or so you think.) But then you remember another task, and the cycle repeats.

Of course, there’s only one problem… Nothing is ever complete. Not for long, at least.
So if that time and place is impossible to reach, we have to stop caring about unimportant things.
The constant desire to want to be done, then be happy, creates the background feeling of anxiety. If you’ve ever found yourself doing the dishes as fast as possible, when you have no reason to be in a hurry (like I have), you know what I mean.

If we’re ever to get at that feeling of peace — being OK with taking things slowly — we need to start enjoying our lives. We need to start being instead of just doing.

Here are a few of my (humble) suggestions on how to create more space in your life:

Realize that not having everything done is a good thing. “Blasphemy!” you say. I know, I know. This sounds awfully backwards, but it’s true. Having things in your inbox means that your time is in demand. And that’s a good thing.

You don’t need a two week vacation to create space. When you pull up in your driveway after work, take a minute or two to just relax and breathe. Turn off the radio, and just sit in silence for a moment. Enjoy the space. Two minutes is all you need. Now don’t tell me you don’t have time.
Look for the gaps. Between your thoughts, there lives little gaps. They may not be huge, but they’re there. Start paying attention to those gaps. Allow them to grow by just letting go of thinking all the time. You might think that you need to think about things in order to work or to live. But the opposite is usually true. Most of the time, thinking is completely unnecessary. Most of the time, you’re just thinking about the same things over and over. That’s called a pattern. Or brooding, whatever label you prefer.

Listen, feel, engage… be there. The reason we’re usually in such a hurry is due to a mind-created obsession with finishing things. So the way out of that is to be where you are. Listen to the ambient sounds you hear, feel your feet on the ground when you walk, feel your hands running through the water while you wash the dishes.

Let go of the need to become. Sure, there will always be things you want to change about your life. There will always be goals, dreams, desires and all manner of wonderful experiences to seek out. Great, seek them. Desire them. But don’t sacrifice the present. Don’t sacrifice the place you’re in right now. There’s too much beauty.

With that, I’d like to leave you with an excerpt from one of my favorite lectures by Alan Watts:

“Lightning flashes, sparks shower. In one blink of your eyes, you’ve missed seeing. Why? Because here is the light. The light, the light, the light, every mystic in the world has ’seen the light.’ That brilliant, blazing energy, brighter than a thousand suns, it is locked up in everything. Now imagine this. Imagine you’re seeing it. Like you see aureoles around Buddhas. Like you see the beatific vision at the end of Dante’s ‘Paradiso.’
Vivid, vivid light, so bright that it is like the clear light of the void in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. It’s beyond light, it’s so bright. And you watch it receding from you. And on the edges, like a great star, there becomes a rim of red. And beyond that, a rim of orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. You see this great Mandela appearing this great sun, and beyond the violet, there’s black. Black, like obsidian, not flat black, but transparent black, like lacquer. And again, blazing out of the black, as the Yang comes from the Yin, more light. Going, going, going. And along with this light, there comes sound. There is a sound so tremendous with the white light that you can’t hear it, so piercing that it seems to annihilate the ears.
But then along with the colors, the sound goes down the scale in harmonic intervals, down, down, down, down, until it gets to a deep thundering base which is so vibrant that it turns into something solid, and you begin to get the similar spectrum of textures. Now all this time, you’ve been watching a kind of thing radiating out. ‘But,’ it says, ‘you know, this isn’t all I can do,’ and the rays start dancing like this, and the sound starts waving, too, as it comes out, and the textures start varying themselves, and they say, well, you’ve been looking at this as I’ve been describing it so far in a flat dimension. Let’s add a third dimension; it’s going to come right at you now.
And meanwhile, it says, we’re not going to just do like this, we’re going to do little curlicues. And it says, ‘well, that’s just the beginning!’ Making squares and turns, and then suddenly you see in all the little details that become so intense, that all kinds of little sub figures are contained in what you originally thought were the main figures, and the sound starts going all different, amazing complexities if sound all over the place, and this thing’s going, going, going, and you think you’re going to go out of your mind, when suddenly it turns into… Why, us, sitting around here.”

See, when we’re always in a hurry, always looking to achieve a goal, we miss out on the miracle that’s around us. Right here. Right now.

This article was written by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind. To learn more about how to reclaim your life, grab a subscription to Illuminated MInd.—If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us or StumbleUpon. I’d appreciate it. :)

Rabbit Trails

2009-03-03T12:02:00.003-06:00

One day last week my eight year old and I had a "big girls" day out. The two of us drove two hours to the closest university town and partook of culture, fashion, and a coffee shop - the latter being one of our shared favorites.

We didn't plan for this to be an educational trip. It was just a fun day - a play day. As we drove we listened to our latest audio book and some NPR, but we also did a fair amount of talking. My eldest daughter is one who lives to ask questions. The answers to those questions inevitably lead to more questions, more answers, and then....more questions. Her amazing thirst for knowledge is one of the things that contributes to the richness of her education. She sums it up pretty well when she says, "I love to ask questions. I want to know everything about everything - and then I want to know why."

So our newest subject....... Linguistics. My girl now has a burning desire to know about words and what they mean - and then how and why those meanings came to be. I'm pretty sure that curriculum has not yet been created for an eight year old, so we're making it up as we go.

We seem to be doing that more and more - the making it up as we go. I remember that there was a time I felt I needed a planned curriculum. It made me feel safer. It helped me to feel secure in the knowledge that I was giving my children a quality education. We have cast most of that aside at this point so that we have time to explore the rabbit trails. But mostly we've cast it aside because I have a deep belief that our children are experiencing a richness in their education -a richness that does not allow room for someone else's idea of what they should be learning at any given time. The arbitrary rules of this country's public school system don't even come close to honoring my children and preparing them to live whole and happy lives complete with skills and passion for life and learning.

Springing

2009-02-24T09:28:00.002-06:00

It's Springing around here. I decided that I need not be controlled by the calendar - or the thermometer for that matter.

The Spring dig out has begun. Frankly, I hate Spring cleaning with a purple polka-dotted passion. Why in the world do I want to be cleaning when the weather finally breaks? The fact is, I don't. Perhaps that's why I've always resented Spring cleaning. When I can comfortably be outside enjoying all that nature has to offer, I do not want to be up to my elbows in homemade window cleaning solution.

So....I've started the mandatory cleaning of all things dirty or not - early. The girls' clothes have been sorted and bagged for donation. I'm embarrassed to admit I've filled SEVEN garbage bags, which begs the question.......What the hell did I do LAST Spring? Purging obviously fell lower on the list than things like planting, and nature walks, and picnics. This year, though, I'm all about getting things done - and feeling great about it.

I've moved one piece of furniture (up a flight of stairs) this morning, and am now waiting for muscle bound men to return home to help move some larger pieces. They're going to be thrilled; I'm just sure of it! But they'll nod and smile (or smirk) and get right to work, knowing that life will not be peaceful until they pitch in and help with my latest project. I do love my men!

Discussion is underway regarding the fate of a once much loved but now dismally abandoned beauty salon that is taking up far too much space in an already far too small shared bedroom. We're going slowly and weighing the benefits of selling a possession and using that money for something else or giving it away to charity. This is a great learning opportunity, and a chance for us to explore our hearts and priorities. Character education, if you will.

Spring fever in February......I highly recommend it!

It's coming. It's definitely coming, right?

2009-02-23T16:41:00.008-06:00

To quote a friend, I'm feeling "Februaryish." Since it is actually February, I guess that's to be expected. But I'm so ready for Spring. We've had some warmer days thrown in this winter to help get us through the gray and the cold, and that has helped a lot. But I'm done now.

I'm ready for everything that comes with Spring. Heck, I'll even gladly take Spring cleaning at this point, if I can just open the windows and let in some of that lovely air. I'm ready to put my soup repertoire on the shelf for awhile and pull out the grilling recipes. I'm ready for green grass and shoots of all kinds of wonderful things popping their tiny heads up above the ground. And oh, I'm so ready to dig in the dirt!

I'm ready to trade in sniffly noses and scratchy throats, for a severe case of SPRING FEVER!

Fairies!

2009-02-17T12:32:00.002-06:00

Sadly, my own upbringing did not include fairy education. I am sorely lacking in that area - or at least I have been. Bedtime stories during my childhood consisted of Bible stories from a beautifully illustrated hard bound book that I was never ever allowed to touch. Ahem. Anyway, there were no fairies.

Fast forward thirty or so years. Across homeschooling circles I've seen and heard much ado about fairies and their lore. I searched the library. I occasionally looked at book stores. Nothing. Or at least very little. I just couldn't seem to find enough literature to fully wrap my girls in fairyland - but I wanted to do just that.

The very idea of going out and looking for or creating fairy houses has always appealed to me. I've always known my girls would love that fanciful type of outing that allows for their imaginations to run wild and their love of nature to feel free to find anything their hearts desire. Their mother, though, just couldn't find enough practical information to create or even find this magical world.

Then yesterday, completely on a whim, I decided to do a bit of searching at Project Gutenburg for something completely unrelated to fairies. A new McGuffy reader was in order. That small task took only a few minutes of searching. For some reason I decided to take a look at the rest of the juvenile literature offered on the site. And voila!

I came across a veritable treasure trove of fairy literature. Our first read aloud, Louisa May Alcott's Flower Fables, has been printed and bound, and it's at the ready for tonight's bedtime reading. The girls are excited to begin this fairy journey with me, and I'm thankful for that. Not that I wouldn't have the courage to begin this long awaited journey alone, but it will be much more rewarding to see fairyland through the eyes of my daughters.

blogging.....meh.....not so much

2009-02-16T09:02:00.003-06:00

This little space has been neglected in a profound way of late. I just haven't felt inspired to write or record or share much. It's not that things have been going badly - really that's not the case at all. In fact, all the essentials are happening around here: Loving, Learning, Living, and Laughing.

I find myself being drawn less and less to what is happening in the blogosphere. Instead, my energy is being devoted to more "real life" happenings. Perhaps this space will be more devoted to recording those things. I'd like to think that may happen, but if it doesn't at this point in time, that's going to be absolutely okay too.

So what have we been up to? Well, all kinds of things really. The girls continue to learn in all kinds of ways. The boy is back home where he belongs. My baby turned 6 a few days ago. We are jumping into some new handwriting and spelling work here at the 8 year old's request. We're crafting and reading and waiting less than patiently for Spring.

Oh, and for those that know me well....I am sick to death of calling my children something other than their names. It confuses even me. I just don't think there are enough people that follow my blog to make their names problematic. We'll see.

This pitiful disjointed post is really just this morning's ramblings. We'll see what follows......

Leave It To The Government....

2009-01-09T07:56:00.002-06:00

I'm all for regulations that protect us and our children from harmful products, but really, a little common sense couldn't hurt. Hopefully this will be sorted out by lawmakers, but a little weighing in might be a good idea. Because really, I don't have a lot of faith that those making the laws have bought handmade recently, or that they understand the budgetary benefits of buying used goods. I won't even go into the ecological implications, because I seriously don't have time to explain it to those who don't already understand.

Stop in and read a bit of what Rose has to say. She and her partner are exquisite examples in so many ways.

2009-01-02T11:04:00.003-06:00

DETERMINATION

Main Entry: de·ter·mi·na·tion
Pronunciation: \di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century

3 a: the act of deciding definitely and firmly ; also : the result of such an act of decision b: firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end <a woman of great courage and determination>
*merriam webster dictionary

No resolutions have been made here, except to choose wisely, live fully, love lavishly, and do so with unwavering determination. And really, that should be more than enough.

Whew! What a year!

2008-12-27T12:03:00.002-06:00

I'm not much of a year-in-review kind of girl, but a couple of noteworthy things have taken place this year in our homeschool world.

First there is no more mama stress regarding our style of learning. Something just clicked for me this year in regard to methods and curricula. I no longer look to place a label on what we do here. While it's true that we are basically classical unschoolers or possibly worldschoolers, I no longer feel the need to label or explain what we do in our learning lives.

I'm completely content (most days) that my girls are learning what they need to know at the times they need to know it. I rarely stress about the newest fad or trend in the homeschooling world, and frankly I just don't care to be cutting edge. I'm pretty sure it's only a matter of time before what we're doing is the flavor of the month in homeschooling circles - and then it won't be the following week. At that point, we'll still be doing what works for us and just simply not caring about the opinions of others. I know that may sound harsh, and I would apologize IF I hadn't worked so diligently to arrive at this point. I now have a quiet (ahem) confidence that we will give our girls the education that best suits them - one way or another - or yet another.

We are also tracking our progress, journaling our learning, and actively including two "school-aged" children in that process. That has been a change this year, as Em was telling anyone who would listen that she was in kindergarten.

I stopped looking down my nose at learning opportunities that weren't handed down through TWTM or CM or some gifted program or other. Truthfully, I began looking at life differently this year, so our learning just became part of our different worldview. What an incredible blessing that has been - and so very freeing!

That last bit there is one of the reasons my blogging has been so sporadic of late. I've been far too busy becoming to come here and write about it. Truth be told, I've been journeying privately. Sometimes I've celebrated, sometimes I've struggled, and sometimes I've just been shoveling through the stuff of life. It's been a satisfying journey so far, and it seems I've only just begun.

I am looking so forward to the New Year and all that it promises to bring.

Because I really need a laugh with all this snow....

2008-12-17T11:35:00.001-06:00

Christmas Conversation

2008-12-03T06:55:00.002-06:00

C: So Mom, I was thinking....that since you are going to be buying all the Santa gifts this year, I could just go along and help with that.

Me: ...............................?????????

C: Because I know exactly what Em would like, and I could just help you pick things out for both of us.

Me: ......................................???????!!!!!!!

C: Really! It would be so much easier on you than having to do it all by yourself.

Ummmkay. I guess her logic isn't so bad. She has figured out the tooth fairy, because Em has lost seven teeth this year, and her parents became a bit lax in there somewhere between tooth number two which was lost naturally and tooth number four which was removed by the dentist. She figured out the Easter bunny because she was foiled in her attempt to "trade" basket goodies with her sister.

However, with Santa, she just went for what we call in the sales business, the assumptive close.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T09:34:00.004-06:00

My posting has been lighter than my sporadic usual of late. The reason for that is that I started a part-time job about three weeks ago. I thought it might be a nice change of pace for all of us if I had a little something to do outside my normal duties. I knew the extra money could be well used. I had no idea though that my carefully orchestrated rhythm would be completely thrown out of whack. I'm still reeling from the extra demands that have been placed on me and trying to find a way (or make one) to accomplish all that stands before me on any given day. I have no doubt that we'll all soon be in step again, but for now I'm still working at setting things to rights.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and with it comes all the "family stuff" of the holidays. This is going to be an unusual Thanksgiving for us, but I'm sure it will be as nice as we can make it. We will be missing some much loved family and sharing the day with some tolerated family members. I have a niece (who has doting parents from hell) that I work very hard to love - still working very hard on myself - can you tell? Hopefully my children will not communicate TOO honestly with the child and say all the things that in truth dearly need to be said. My younger two take great pride in labeling and announcing bad behavior as they are in the midst of a manners "unit."

This year one of the things I will be most thankful for is that we serve lots of good Cabernet on such special days.

Simple Things

2008-11-16T19:49:00.008-06:00

Not much to say -

Just a little Joe Cocker today.

Enjoy!

Composing Life

2008-11-11T16:22:00.003-06:00

It seems that I start each post following a blogging hiatus with the sentiment that life has been busy. Guess what? That sentiment continues to hold true. We really have been busy around here. We are adjusting to some changes that require all of us to be flexible - even when we don't necessarily want to be. That in itself though, is a tremendous life lesson.

The girls are learning that sometimes the needs of others absolutely must come first. The boy is learning that living one's priorities and showing courtesy are fine qualities in a young man. My husband is learning to say the words that let me know that he is perfectly willing and capable of carrying some of the childcare load. I am learning to name my needs and defend them even in the face of full on "pitifullness" from my children. This has been a good life learning time for us.

Our days have been playing out in a rich melody (which carries an occasional dissonance) that resolves itself at the end of each day into a lovely harmony. We're composing as we go here, but we take time each day to work, to learn, to love, and to laugh. And to sing.

YES, WE CAN!

2008-11-05T10:22:00.002-06:00

"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can." President Elect Barak Obama

Swirling Thoughts

2008-10-31T09:50:00.003-05:00

I've been involved in several conversations of late that resonate with my soul on so many levels. Besides that, the fact that this election just cannot possibly over soon enough is making my heart race. I am just so tired of those who insist that spewing hate and fear is simply their duty to the poor, ignorant masses of Americans.

I have instead been investing my time and energy listening to those voices that speak of real issues that we in this country face. And I must say that it is a pleasant change to hear voices that speak with intelligence and from a place of tolerance.

I'd like to share a bit of linky love from one such voice. Hop on over and visit Kate. Then if you have on your big-girl panties, take just a moment to sit at the feet of the amazing Katherine. Because really, these are voices that vibrate with truth and honesty and soul-touching beauty.

2008-10-28T08:46:00.004-05:00

Made from scratch waffles smothered in cane-pressed molasses
Houses, butterflies, and dinosaur eggs crafted from homemade play dough
Multiplication charts filled in just for the fun of it
Little people doing real grown-up chores because it feels good to help
Playing and negotiating
Hugs and kisses and I love yous throughout the day
Opportunities for new adventures
Stories on request - just because it's fun to snuggle
Cooperation
Independence that just suddenly appears
Design wonders for Halloween
Bundling up in winter wear to head outside to "the imaginary world"

2008-10-20T13:29:00.003-05:00

I've been unsettled of late. That, I realize, has been completely self-induced. So much has been swirling around and through me. I've found that this change of seasons is having a profound effect on me - my calm is non-existent. On one hand, I'm relishing in the Autumnal colors, smells, and traditions. Yet part of me just can't quite get a firm grasp.

I begin each day wondering exactly what new and exciting thing on my mental list I should accomplish, but I just can't seem to choose one. I can't seem to begin in a meaningful way. There are so many things that I would like to do with and for our family: new crafts, new field trips, new traditions rich in learning and living. Oh, but the beginning is tricky. Perfectionism shows its ugly self and keeps me stuck.

Today, though, we began.

To get C motivated to start a bit of school work with a smile this morning, I struck a deal with her. You see, when a girl wakes up to her five-year-old sister drawing on her face with a marker, she definitely qualifies for some give and take. We spent an hour going through art and craft books and finding something we could do TODAY. Once our project was found and agreed upon, we spent the next hour or so doing some math and reading. Then....it was time to unleash some creativity.

Recently C has been doing more cooking and baking with me, and her confidence and skills are coming along quite nicely. I granted her permission to measure and mix the ingredients for some clay on her own, and she couldn't have been happier. She read the recipe, measured ingredients, and created clay completely independently.

Once her clay was completed, she moved on to making home-made Play-Doh for her sister. The girls are still at their craft table, completely consumed by good feelings. Em is thrilled that her sister made her a huge ball of ocean blue Play-Doh, and C is basking in creative self-confidence.

I'm not sure who is teaching whom here in our homeschool, but I can feel me getting unstuck and finding beauty under my children's tutelage.

Feeling chatty?

2008-10-18T05:47:00.002-05:00

Finally..... An online community/message board that allows for differences, respects individuals' abilities to communicate maturely (without rules or popularity rewards), and welcomes anyone and everyone due to its inclusive nature.

Drop in and check out Doc's Domain. Then register, log in, and join the fun.

Spread the Word

2008-10-13T11:49:00.006-05:00

I recently came across a new word. Being a bit of a vocabulary freak, my antennae went up and my brain kicked into gear. This new word though solves a bit of a problem for me.

We are secular homeschoolers, meaning that we do not educate our children at home for religious purposes. It does not mean anything other than that. Unfortunately in the homeschool world there is a huge division, nay chasm between those that homeschool for religious reasons and those that simply don't.

There are many reasons for that division, but intolerance for differences and a very narrow world view are probably the most cited reasons. There are those in the far-right fundamentalist Christian camp that have been less than ...well, Christ-like in their treatment of non-Christians and even some of Christians that just aren't of the same stripe. This has become a personal issue for me, since the faith of my youth has been attacked as not really being Christian by some. I come from a traditional, liturgical based Protestant denomination - you may know it as it dates back to the guy who nailed the 95 Thesis to a little church in Wittenburg, Germany, thereby starting the Reformation. I could wax on about ignorance, theology, inclusiveness, but unfortunately for those to whom it would apply, it would fall on completely deaf ears.

Those that would be unable or unwilling to hear are part of the movement that helped me ease myself out of simple Christianity. They are people that would not understand that no longer being a Christian automatically does not make one an atheist. I believe God is BIG - and that's all I'm going to say about that. Really.

They are the people that truly, in every fiber of their being, believe that those who do not think or "believe" exactly the same way that they do are completely without value. They are the people that feel they are called to make everyone like them (God forbid) in belief and mantra through whatever means necessary, be it evangelism or legislation. They are Christianists immersed in Christianism.

So spread the word. Christians aren't to blame for the intolerance and the ugliness that comes from the religious right - Christianists are.

HT: Doc and MargaretWV

Change of Plans

2008-10-09T16:34:00.003-05:00

One of the beauties of living a homeschool life is that when the day we have planned completely falls apart, we have options.

Today I discovered that our freezer door had been left ajar for....well long enough to thaw out 80% of what was inside it. We had planned to do a few other things today, but small emergencies take precedence on occasion.

As I emptied, defrosted, mopped minor kitchen flooding, and refilled the freezer, the girls kept busy, bless their hearts. C used her time to complete her first original fashion design. She has been at this design thing for awhile - sketching, colorizing, adding accessories. It's been fun to watch. This morning (when I finally pulled myself off the computer) I found her getting ready to sew. For those that know C's history with sewing, this is a huge step.

I was incredibly impressed. She had sized her design to her barbie, planned out her strategy, and just needed some help with threading the needle. As we talked through her plans, I was surprised to discover that she had only one step out of order in putting together a garment. That just impressed me to no end.

Em spent her day dancing with a scarecrow, painting a dollhouse, and just generally being Em. We weren't able to go on our planned leaf hunt, but we did some great learning anyway. For the next couple of days I'm going to be baking and re-freezing loads of stuff from the freezer, but I am happy to report I didn't lose a single thing.

On Becoming More

2008-10-04T13:52:00.003-05:00

Today my eight year old and I shared some "big girl" time together. We didn't do anything out of the ordinary - just ran some errands, picked up a few baking supplies. My husband and I try to take just one of the children out alone occasionally, because we have learned that they really enjoy it - and thrive on that attention being directed solely to them. Who can blame them? Sharing anything or anyone all the time can get old. It's nice to have the opportunity to be the only recipient of time and attention from someone that you love.

So today was C's day. She asked if she could bring some of her money and make a purchase. I agreed. Imagine my surprise when I learned her intentions - she planned to buy a "treat" for Em. That's all. Nothing for herself. Just a little goody for her sister.

We are being mindful - speaking mindfully, acting mindfully - about how we approach this life. Our mindfulness is seeping into the children; it's being woven into the very fabric of their beings. Gratifying? More than you can imagine. Surprising? Yep. But it is the most amazing thing to me.

I am seeing a real depth of character in these young, little people. Their gratitude for the important things in life touches my soul in the deepest of ways. Their ability and desire to communicate that gratitude through repeated sincere thank yous is heart-warming. They are becoming incredible individuals that just blow me away with their wisdom and capacity to love. I'm really humbled by what they have learned already.

The Latin will come when it comes. There are years to make up what we may not be doing this month in writing, but we are doing the really important stuff right now. There are no make up lessons for childhood or growing into an honorable and kind person. Those really important things are learned by living.

Overheard

2008-10-03T07:16:00.004-05:00

"I love being me. ............ I'm just so good at it!"

That little bit of wisdom is courtesy of five-year-old Em. When I heard her say it, I immediately smiled - all the way to my soul. The more I thought about it though, the more I realized that what we are doing here - our learning together in this unique way - is producing exactly the result that I've always hoped for.

Yes, the children will learn their basic skills, but those skills are only the beginning. There is a richness afforded through this home education that an institution can never even dream of. I am thrilled and grateful that my children's spirits are intact and healthy. I am blessed that they continue to experience the world and are confident of their place in it.

So today we will do a bit more learning and a lot more living - and we are going to be so good at it.

Preparations

2008-10-02T07:40:00.004-05:00

Cooler weather is upon us. I've seen it coming. I've relished in the onset of Autumn. I've enjoyed the pleasant autumnal sunshine and the mild cool of the mornings. I've even begun the nesting that is typical of my personality as we prepare to spend more hours indoors each day.

My handicraft project list is long, and my supply stash has grown bigger. My sewing machine has been serviced and repaired. I've been fantasizing about all the soups and breads that will be filling our senses as they simmer and bake. I've ordered a cord of wood for our lovely wood burning stove. But... I don't feel ready yet to transition to the coming cold weather season.

Yesterday I took the girls on a major clothes shopping excursion. Both girls needed new everything .....shoes, pants, skirts, tops, jackets, socks, tights, and more. We accomplished about 80% of our list before we were thoroughly worn out, and we had a wonderful time doing it. I was thrilled to see that the concepts of consumerism, budgeting, and money that we have been working on have become a working part of the girls' thinking process. They made wonderful choices and talked through them using remarkably mature language.

We also treated ourselves to a lovely lunch at a rather high end restaurant. My girls were the only children in the restaurant, which wasn't at all surprising considering the type of establishment and the fact that it was a weekday. We have been practicing our manners, so this was a lovely way for the girls to practice what they have learned. The smiles on their faces showed their sheer joy for being allowed to demonstrate their knowledge. They were still thanking me for lunch as I tucked them into their beds for the night. What fun we had!

As I turned on the furnace last night to ward off the chill of an overnight low of 40 degrees, I was still railing against the change of seasons. A few more days of preparation are needed here, but we are well on our way to settling into our nest.

Thanks for following me......

2008-09-29T13:41:00.004-05:00

I have all but given up on WordPress. I hate to admit defeat, but I just don't have the time right now to devote myself to the learning curve. I'm back to Blogger for now. Hopefully I'll be posting here regularly in the next few days.