Excuses not to fold the washing

The weather must be getting a little cooler if hiding in the washing pile is an option for a late morning nap

 

First paddle on our local river

After weeks of juggling colds and flus, we took advantage of the long dry summer to kayak down our local river. Where we were was very gentle, just enough current to give the boys a little bit of fun, The white water is a long ways downstream. It was an easy paddle with a little bit of current for the boys to play in and a chance for us girls to sit back when we felt like it and just go with the flow.

 

Its been good to branch out from the lake to slow lazy rivers. I'm definitely content to rest there though and leave the white water to the boys. The question is whether or not after Monday hubby will be hooked.

 

Easter Traditions

In the quiet of a Good Friday morning, our family is settled into the routine of Easter, passover dishes are being cleared, hot cross buns are cooking a slow simple day waits before us as we think on Jesus death and look forward to celebrating his resurrection.

There is a buzz and excitement that we wouldn't be without as we celebrate and enjoy the traditions we have built up, traditions with old roots, traditions that teach and yet give form to celebration.

Reflections on our sin as we search the the house for leaven  before passover, the recognition of the sacrifice as we celebrate passover, and as we use a Christianized version recognize the imagery of Christ our passover lamb, and communion, the slowness of Good Friday and expectation of Sunday morning.

 May you also be blessed in the celebration of Easter, and the redemption that Jesus has won for us!

 

Late summer daybook

Its been a while since I've posted here long enough to wonder how to resurrect the blog and what to say,  so a daybook seems to be the best place to start.
 Outside my window...

Blue skies, green leaves, and an overgrown rose garden that needs encouraging at the end of summer.We are awaiting the official calling of a drought, and after weeks without rain, the few drops we had yesterday sent us rejoicing.

I am listening to...

The rustle of papers as my youngest finished his Science, the washing machine finishing a last load, and peace

I am thankful for...

A settled school day, the start of the year with three children in Omnibus has been busy, and normally I feel the stress to keep going, after all its so easy to slip. The students however would rather be chilling and enjoying the summer...

From the learning rooms...

This year is busy, and with the heat its been slow going. Not quite the report I'm looking for, and I'm trying to see the positives, but often its just to hot to really work. Definitely looking forward to a Autumn, at least during the school week.


From the kitchen...

Omega plums on the bench waiting to be turned into jam. Hopefully this afternoon. Zucchini chocolate cake in the cupboard waiting to be iced for this morning. I keep missing the zucchinis when they are small, and so we have marrows, I really  don't like marrows of finding things to do with them.

I am reading..

Burke, "Reflections on the Revolution in France", Its a hard read, many swirls of thoughts, but a very interesting take on the relationship of Church and state, beauty and its effects on society and consideration of where we end up when we loose our heritage.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

 Last week was hectic, and busy, this week I am hoping we get to slow down and smell the roses.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Looking forward - Maths

For the last couple of years maths has been a subject on auto -pilot:

Miquon for the first years,

A mix of Keys to ... and Singapore for the middle years,

followed by Jacobs Algebra and Geometry.

While I have a mix of love maths children and bright but not so confident students this has served us well.

However since Jacobs only has the two books we are left looking for another program to see out the senior years. Veritas recommended that we move to Foresters, and we did. So far we are struggling through the first 4 Chapters, redoing, backtracking , trying to get our heads around the specifics and the proofs rather than intuitively accepting what we know, but the love of Maths is dying fast. The jump from one style to another needs a transition that we simply don't have.

 So I'm starting to look at the options. KHAN Academy is definitely one option, and my daughter likes it, but I'm not quite ready to take on a program which I can't plonk down on the desk in front of me and say yep there it is.

So we've taken a risk and purchased the Advanced Algebra book of Life of Fred. Hopefully it works, at least it should be fun, and right now having some fun back in school is what we need.

 But if anyone reading this has any thoughts, I'm still open to suggestions. I need something that will give a bright but uncertain young lady the confidence that she knows what she is going and will succeed.

 

The End of a Long year

2012 has been long year. Some really neat things have happened along with a lot of stretching and change.

It seems to have had more than its share of stuff packed into it. The year reads as a haze of...

Increased responsibility for Tony at the school he teaches at with becoming project managed for putting in the new computer system, hardware and software. 

Looking after my mum following a pesky skin graft, and them hubby misjudging the white on white of fuzzy snow while skiing and messing up his knee.

Lots of ups and downs at the ballet studio, but my girl finally got a Distinction for her exam and thoroughly deserved it.

New experiences as we were graciously offered homeschool opportunities for Bush-craft, Caving, Rock-climbing etc, through the organization that certifies the outdoor education leaders.

   
A trip to Christchurch for the long term research project that were my youngest is involved in and which compares the development of full term and prem babies.

 Its been busy, the blog has been neglected and now it is nice to see the end of the road, Christmas and summer ahead and time to regroup.

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A Patchwork Daybook

Outside my window...

Late Spring early summer, the irises have been a nd nearly gone, the roses are in bloom, the vege patch weeded and green. Outside is calling and its time to enjoy.

I am listening to... 

 "Never Once" by Matt Readman, even though I wasn't so sure about this CD when hubby brought it home last year, it has seriously spoken into the last few weeks. Right time right song. I have really really enjoyed this CD.

 I am thankful for...

A quiet weekend, a day in the garden, church this morning and just chilling this after noon while we waited for phone calls. The last few weekends have been busy, we have a wedding to attend next weekend and then ballet performances the week after. Peace now is special.

  From the learning rooms... 

We've been enjoying having company for a weekly Greek session, and its been fun since we all have different skills.

From the kitchen... 

 The first BBQ of the year. or at least the first family one, really easy, really special.

I am reading.. 

We're reading the Autobiography of Charles Finney, and The American Constitution in our studies. Finney is giving me reason to think deep, partly because my I came to faith in the charismatic movement of the early 80's and partly because the more it progressed the harder it was to see god, and the more human/hyped it seemed to be, Its nice to not be looking for the next spiritual high, nice to be on solid ground. nice to watch and see the wonder of God moving in beautiful, ordered, amazing ways that end up with the right thing happening, at the right time for, the right reasons. Other than that I'm enjoying a light week, time to catch up on sleep, time ot look ahead to Christmas.

A few plans for the rest of the week,,,

We're all hoping for a quiet settled week, and a chance to make some progress in school. At the end of the week we get to gather with family for a long overdue wedding. Looking forward to it!

 Here is picture thought I am sharing...

 Spring is Beautiful

 

Maths

Maths Lesson

The math was so hard on that day, 

When number lines came to play. 

Digits more numerous than hay, 

Yet rightly used have a simple way, 

Which we may one day understand. 

The numbers go on, never end, 

 Not left nor right do they bend. 

And no letters do they ever send 

In lines that do not ever end 

Which we may one day understand. 

Some digits, positives are tumblers 

And Zero is no fumbler, 

 Negative numbers do not slumber 

Irrational be many a number 

Which we may one day understand. 

By the Artist 28 August 2012 

I love how subjects intertwine in a classical education, even if we aren't always enjoying them, and need to handle them in a different discipline. 

 

A Week of Snow, Some Good, Some Not So Good

We finally got up the mountain, two snow days in the midst of what has been a way to busy term.

The first managed to be our worst day up there, the weather changed, first hubby got caught in whiteout and twisted his knee.

While I was down in the medical center with him the whiteout moved up the mountain to where our kids and some other homeschool families were skiing. I hear my daughter did a great job of leading them safely down to the bottom of the run to where my boys were waiting, then they took over leading the way down the rest of the mountain.

To finish the day, as we were leaving, I pulled my car in towards the shuttle/pick up area to collect hubby, was waved on by the attendant, despite everyone calling out that I was picking up someone who was injured, and pulling forward ended up in the path of a backing vehicle. Fortunately no significant damage to our car.  I think the guy backing was relieved at that.

After a week of trying to sort things out, we had another chance at my husbands insistence to go up the mountain, Blue skies, no wind, more snow on the trails..an awesome day to remember and soak in the beauty that God has made and a chance to remember why we love this place. 

A Midwinter Daybook

Outside my window...

A Clear mid-winter sunset. Grey on grey tinged with pink as the sun slowly settles. Its been a beautiful blue sky day, just a tad cold but clear and fresh.

I am listening to... 

My boys playing battleships,  they are bored enough to have to pull out board games and work their way through old pursuits. Its good. We haven't been here in a long time.

 I am thankful for... 

Slow days and being able to sleep in, take time and move slowly, we'll start doing more and going out as the school holidays progress I think there is a trip to the family farm, and hopefully a day visiting the glowworm caves, but in themeanwhile we are still slowing down and getting on top of life.

 I am praying for.. 

 Friends and winter illnesses.  It seems to be that time of the year when everyone is either getting sick, recovering, or catching a new cold or flu.

From the kitchen.. 

One of the neat things about the hoidays is being able to sit at home, and listen to other people cook. Hubby is a great ccok, so are our kids, but normally I'm setting it up and heading out to ballet...so being able to sit back and hear the sounds of others cooking while I write a blog post is cool.

From the learning rooms 

 I''m finally at peace with being able to do school or at least some school in the hoiday.. and not feel guilty.  Every holidays we have loose ends and every holidays I feel guilty...and this time nope were having fun, molding what a normal day is like, keeping good habits going and building new ones..and still sleeping in watching movies going out and about and having fun. Could be  agood plan for the rest of the year.

However I definitely have itchy feet curriculum wise and am seriously looking at what we should move into our day from a Charlotte Mason viewpoint. Its funny how one thought drives another. But I would like to bring back the things around the edges that we have lost over the years. Nature journals, picture study, composer's poetry etc. 

 I am reading.. 

Bondage of the Will by Luther, and enjoying it, discussions with the kids not quite so easy.  

A few plans for the rest of the week.. 

Ballet lessons and art classes got moved into the holidays this time around, a trip to the family farm for a day, a long day-walk in a nearby national park... the glowworm caves as a day trip, and hopefully thanks to some online vouchers dinner out with my and hubby...

 Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Some days you really wish you have a camera on you at all times...lovely red/cream kitty with black smudges getting carefully cleaned- up in the bathroom, after the boys have been playing with the toy submarine in the bath...cat seeks his escape path...into the bath...oops...wet, bedraggled, unhappy cat. Funny though, very funny...

Unfortunately I only have the clean dry version on film

 A Daybook post in the tradition of A Simple Woman's Daybook