Category:

bits of lovely in summer days

7/9/2014

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...In my commonplace book, from our current read aloud
...the gentle word picture that made me love the story Robin Hood:
"Now, lad," said he, "tell us thy troubles, and speak freely. A flow of words doth ever ease the heart of sorrows; it is like opening the waste weir when the mill-dam is over full.
Come, sit thou here beside me, and speak at thine ease."

 "...'a duty which seemeth to us sometimes ugly and harsh,
when we do kiss it fairly upon the mouth, so to speak, is no such foul thing after all.'
'Methinks thou art right,' quoth Robin, 'and, contrariwise,
that when we kiss a pleasure that appeareth to be gay it turneth foul to us,
is it not so, Little John?'" 

shy beauty

first experience hand-milking a cow

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living amidst glory and rejoicing in the wealth

5/25/2014

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"In the things of science, in the things of art, in the things of practical everyday life, his God doth instruct him and doth teach him...
Let this be the mother's key to the whole of the education of each boy and each girl...
the Divine Spirit does not work with nouns of multitude, but with each single child.
Because He is infinite, the whole world is not too great a school for this indefatigable Teacher, and because He is infinite, He is able to give the whole of his infinite attention
for the whole time to each one of his multitudinous pupils.
We do not sufficiently rejoice in the wealth that the infinite nature of our God brings to each of us."
-Charlotte Mason

On Friday we finished our Year 1 lessons on our Ambleside Online list! Then we had popsicles, and I asked my son what he would like to learn and do this summer. I was delighted to hear his wishes to read more Aesop's Fables, and learn to use the lawn mower, and go fishing in the boat and plant a garden, among other things.

Because education is so intertwined with life, we are never completely 'off' for summer, but the routine does change a bit. We'll still read aloud together as a family, and play math games on pizza night, and keep learning how to read the next story in the primer we are using. When a phrase strikes him, we'll add it into his copybook and when he notices something lovely in nature we'll pull out our nature notebooks. And of course there's the swimming lessons and birthday parties and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pagent! We'll keep on top of the habits we're focusing on and visit our favorite local waterfalls. These are the things which beautify our daily living. They're not always on a schedule.

But as the mother/teacher/planner/organizer of this first official year of homeschool (first grade) I just have to say, "YAY! We made it!!" And despite the curveballs life threw us, the school year went well. My son learned amazing things and grew in ways I didn't even have to plan. It's an accomplishment, and I am thankful for the opportunity we were both given to gain experience and to live with joy.

plum blossom-scented copy work

somebody hatched!

cottonwood catkin painting

We watched a gopher pluck off bright dandelion heads and munch a happy snack one afternoon.

King Dandelion played in the sandbox another afternoon. (We make crowns similar to daisy chains.)

“May I just get to the end of my road and say,
I have done this important thing in my life, and I have done it well.”
~Tessa Kiros

the woods are in their crowning glory

“When love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy
a happiness which passes all understanding.”
~The Painted Veil

first lawn-mowing

apple buds

from tiny fruit/seed to giant elm tree

First garden harvest- Rhubarb and oregano!

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feathers in the breeze

5/12/2014

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We must be bird crazy here, because this bald eagle (one of two) was terribly exciting to us this past week!

It was pretty awesome to watch their feathers wave in the breeze up close. I was hoping to hear their voice.

We saw them while out walking with friends; the moms seemed more impressed than the littles. Though, you never can tell what they gather from experiences like this. Busy as can be, they moved on to picking fist-fulls of violets.

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves
of strength that will endure as life lasts.
-Rachel Carson

Another morning we came down for breakfast and this guy was in the backyard waiting for his friend to come.

This owl caught our eye while driving in the car one evening. We went back home, got the camera and headed out into the muddy field to see how close it would let us get.

Too close! Ready for lift off...

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This week's bird visitors

4/28/2014

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Below is the image for one of our science books for this first grade school year -that we are nearly finished with, and I can hardly believe it!
As good old Aesop reminds me, "Slow and steady wins the race."
So, now that spring finally seems to have arrived, we're enjoying the chorus outside our door and the little peeks into the beautiful feathered world out there.

We hear him often, and this day he decided to peek out of the fence line to show off for us.

This little one is not a frequenter to our feeders, but stayed for the larger part of 15 minutes for my boys to watch while they ate breakfast.

Burgess himself says that his book "was written as a labor of love--
love for little children and love for the birds.
If as a result of it [the book above] even a few children are led to a keener interest in
and better understanding of our feathered friends,
its purpose will have been accomplished. "
- T. W. BURGESS

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sugaring notes

4/13/2014

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From snow to rain and hail to wind with sunny skies...

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.
William Shakespeare

homemade evaporator- cinder block and fencing

the golden phase

finishing off the syrup indoors

5 gallons of sap later...

and we just ran out of store-bought. Homemade is no comparison!! And the smell... o wow!

Notes:

- not as daunting as it seemed! (if I can boil water, read a thermometer and light a fire, I can do this!)
- with kids it is more work, but more fun too!
- if boiling down sap alone outside with wood fire & a 2yo- request assistance :)
- save up milk jugs to use for storage and collection
- can bungee the jugs right to the taps (if no hose)
- south side of tree runs more -find healthy trees!
- a few trees is really all you need to start, even birch, walnut or boxelder too!
- store sap in refrig. in between collection days or pack in snow in a safe spot outside
- getting a fire lit w/o lighter fluid is the hardest part of the day
- look for a non windy day
- homemade evaporator is better than 4 gal. of evaporated water in the kitchen!
- heavy duty aluminum roasting pans work great = no clean up!
- large tin can (from fruit) works great as a ladle = no clean up!
- coffee filter works better than cheese cloth (lay inside a strainer with a handle)
- brush the surface with a stick of butter if sap's about to boil over
- this book is a great help! -practical, non-technical
- read aloud to the kids the story Miracles on Maple Hill during sugar season
- Definitely trying this again next year (maybe a sugarin' par-tay with friends!)

grill an open-flamed supper afterwards for a picnic

For our sugaring adventure intro post click HERE

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Spring at last

3/24/2014

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"...hope is so natural and pleasant a feeling, that when they ventured to encourage it, it flourished and grew in their hearts till it created a sort of happiness of itself."
-Parables of Nature; Waiting

On a walk this week we made it all the way through our woods without needing the sled.
That was a first!

We breathed in fresh air and watched the rock doves circle and land atop the silo- their favorite spot, and then leave again cooing loudly. The 2yo tried chat with them.

We found bits of color and growth beneath the quickly disappearing white.

Mr. Robin greeted us with his melodious contented notes saying, "Cheer-up!"
We wrote him down in our Book of Firsts.

This is what rabbits do all winter to apple branches pruned in fall.
The slender branches must be sweetest.
Apple wood does smell lovely.

The blue jays have helped themselves to just about every last seed on the sunflower patch.

Picture study and most recent handcraft project- sewing a banner.
My heart was glad to hear, "Mom! This is SO fun!" 3 x's one day.
It's not because I come up with such 'fun' activities each week,
although he did learn to run the sewing machine.
It's because of the ideas are that are sparked by living books and the methods we use each day.

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Blessings through raindrops

5/9/2013

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Like a moth to a flame, toddlers and chickens definitely go together, I do believe!

This lovely sight was a new first for our book: First Canadian Goose nest discovered- which was being sat on until Little Eagle Eyes, quiet as he was being, accidentally startled the mama off into the water where daddy was clucking his disapproval of us.
We made sure not too get too close.
All we were going to do was to walk the shoreline and admire the diamond-y waves.

These babies are as big as my palm!
Wouldn't it be awesome catch a glimpse of the goslings later on?

Words to a song that's been speaking to me:

Blessed are the ones who understand
We've got nothing to bring but empty hands
Nothing to hide and nothing to prove
Our heartbreak brings us back to You

And it all seems upside down

'Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more

Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

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Weekend Doings

1/28/2013

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Walking in a Cloud and Benefitting the Soul

11/8/2012

10 Comments

Clouds have been of great interest at our house lately. The first thing my oldest son usually does upon awakening is run to the window and give me a scout report (weather, cloud types, precipitation, and wind etc., in his own 5 year old way.)

Our kitchen table is directly in front of the double patio doors, and we have a perfect view of the sunset at supper time each evening. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Each one is unique, and lately they have been stunning. We once in a while we shut off all the lights and watch it like a large movie screen, a little magic at the end of the day. We talk about how the sun is going to bed in the west, and how the Bible says the sky shouts praises to God. Although, my son tells me it gets all the pretty colors in it because it is getting tired. :)

We notice the layers and contrails, and colors and shapes of clouds. We watch clouds blow across the sky on a windy day. He told me just yesterday somewhat suprised, "When I was walking and walking the clouds moved; when I stopped, they stopped!" We read the book The Man Who Named the Clouds. So far we can recognize Cumulus: the puffy-shaped ones, Nimbus: meaning rain, and the new favorite Stratus: fog!

on our way

Then the other day, when everyone was awake earlier than usual due to daylight savings, my son looked out the window and announced that it was fog-Y! I stood next to him and asked if he wanted to walk inside a cloud? He looked at me with big round eyes and said incredulously, "YEAH!"

It's pretty fun being the mom of a 5 year old boy. We pulled our coats and rubber boots over our pjs and headed down the road. (It's so nice to live in the country sometimes.)

Just inside a CLOUD!

Whenever we walk this direction we have to go all the way up to the top of the hill. Usually we can see quite a ways off into the pasture and towards town. But this morning, hmmmm... we couldn't! I quietly let him just wonder at it all, as I stood and wondered back at him. After I took this one, he did a little happy dance and we walked back home. We collected pretty golden-yellow rocks in our pockets on the way. When we got back inside we wrote in our Book of First Things (and memories), "first time walking inside a cloud."

This past summer (where has the time gone!?) at the Living Education Retreat our speaker, Jen, mentioned a book titled The Cloudspotter's Guide:The Science, History and Culture of Clouds by G. Pretor-Piney. I have been thoroughly enjoying bits of it lately and learning many things.

Did you know that there have been architect/artists that have designed buildings out of clouds!? (Read pg. 80-81 It's cool! )

Did you know fog was a stratus cloud? The author says, "Stratus is the only cloud that bothers to come and join us at ground level." I love the conversational yet knowledgable tone of his writing.

The author also started The Cloud Appreciation Society, and if you like them on Facebook you will get to see some photos of gorgeous clouds around the world.

I love the society's manifesto, especially these parts,

"...clouds are expressions of the atmosphere's moods, and can be read like those of a person's countenance." (He might agree with my son and his speculations on the sky feeling tired and getting colorful.)

"...clouds are nature's poetry." "..life would be immeasurably poorer without them."

"...clouds are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul."

"Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty, and live with your head in the clouds."

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A Good Night

5/25/2012

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Ahhhhh... when I awoke this morning I let out a deep sigh- A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP!
That hasn't happened in a long while. {thank you, baby!} :)
And while we were resting soundly upstairs, something exciting was going on downstairs, unbeknownst to any of us. A tiny miracle was taking place...

... this little one emerged from a 20 day sleep. Talk about well-rested!

From: March 17:
the Saint Patrick's Day finding of Fuzzy, the Wooly Bear Caterpillar

To: May 25:
the mid-night emergence of Fuzzy, the Isabella Tiger Moth

Let's just say there was an excited little boy at the breakfast table!

A little naptime sewing in honor of new fabric and new tastes.

Another tiny discovery- in Grandpa's bushes.

A handful of wildflowers he picked for me found their way to my kitchen window sill.

"Two small arms to hold you tight,
Two small feet to run,
Two small eyes full of love for you,
One small son."
-Unknown

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good..."

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Welcome!

"I am recording this so that future generations will also praise the Lord for all He has done." -Psalm 102:18

I am a mama to 2 sweet brothers who aspires to a "thinking love" toward my children.

Take a peek into our journey towards a living education inspired by the writings of Charlotte Mason.

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Previously...

Our Story

Our Year 1 Rhythm

Cloth Diapering

Century Chart

Learning to Read

Wool Felting

Nature with Little Ones

Playful Learning ABC

Living Math

Raising Tadpoles

Homemade Cleaning Recipes

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Beginning a Foreign Language

Animal Tracking with Kids

Beginning Preschool

First History Lessons

Maple Sugaring with Kids

Children in the Garden

Sloyd handwork

Monarch Miracle

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"In this field small efforts are honoured with great rewards, and we perceive that the education we are giving exceeds all that we intended or imagined.”
- Mason