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Home Spun strip #277

Posted by Cristina
2:13 PM, Oct. 10, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 0 comments .. Link

I forget where we found this activity, I think it was a book on Colonial America. Making butter is a wonderful family activity. Just make sure you have plenty of willing shakers or you may have to spend the last five minutes wishing you had never started this.

We never mastered the straining portion. Our directions told us to squeeze the lump of butter in a cheesecloth so that the buttermilk drips out. I'm guessing they meant a finer cheesecloth than what I found at the supermarket. Mine resembled Swiss. I think someone confused the cheesecloth packaging with the gauze bandage packaging. The butter tasted good. Don't forget to remove the marbles.

Home Spun strip #276

Posted by Cristina
2:11 PM, Oct. 8, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 0 comments .. Link

Never underestimate the educational power of dressing up as a knight, building castles out of blocks, or making illuminations. Learning is multi-dimensional.

In Memoriam- Ramón

Posted by Cristina
10:34 PM, Oct. 7, 2008 .. Posted in Stream of Thought .. 5 comments .. Link

My dad has five brothers. I knew four of them as Tío Cheo, Tío Sami, Tío German, and Tío Heri. But only one was ever simply called Tío. That was Ramón. For the longest time, I thought his name was actually Tío, and I remember my surprise when I learned that Tío was also the Spanish word for uncle! Tío always greeted me with a "¿Como 'stas? Dame un besito." Give me a little kiss. Always sharply dressed, a smile spread across his face, there was no way you could refuse.

Tío was technically my father's uncle. My grandmother raised him with her own children after their parents died. She was very much his mother. And he was very much a big brother to my father. My Tío.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, I will be at Tío's funeral. I don't know if it has sunk in yet that I won't see him anymore. He's kind of like a Cheshire Cat. His smile lingers on. I can see it in the faces of my family.

picture by Lisa
Te amo, Tío. Muchos besitos para ti.

Home Spun strip #275

Posted by Cristina
9:05 AM, Oct. 6, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 1 comments .. Link

I am going to be completely honest now. If I can't get into a book I've chosen for my children's subjects, I'm less inclined to use it. Which means they are less inclined to study that particular subject. I like to find material that teach basic subjects in unique ways. Like Nitty Gritty Grammar and Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish, which both teach using comic strip examples. Or the Pop Culture and Philosophy series that uses Star Wars, Harry Potter, Narnia, etc. to explain the concepts of different philosophical teachings. My latest addition is the Life of Fred series (hat tip to Vicki) which offers a new way of looking at higher math concepts. My theory is that if it is interesting, they will learn more and search out more information on their own.

Home Spun strip #274

Posted by Cristina
12:01 AM, Oct. 3, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 2 comments .. Link

I would love to hear a sentence YOU never thought you'd use!

Home Spun strip #273

Posted by Cristina
11:47 AM, Oct. 1, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 1 comments .. Link

Yes, we really do have a (plastic) skull named Yorick. He used to only come out for Halloween, but the children like him, so I let him hang around the rest of the year. They dress him up and give him lots of hats to wear. He also models for art projects. And he doesn't mind getting squished now and then.

Events from two day ago.

Posted by NickNitro
8:18 AM, Oct. 1, 2008 .. Posted in Update .. 2 comments .. Link

Hello!
I am sorry to say I have no reson for my lapse in blogging. There's just been nothing to blog about. But now there is!
Yesterday me and my family went to the Tennesee Aquarem (forgive the misspelling

)! It was homeschool day, so my family of five (my father wasn't with us) got in at just over $30! Not bad, huh? It was COOL! Mom printed out these scavenger hunt sheets off the internet, so it was still "school". We saw sharks and pengins and giant crabs and fish... lots and lots of fish.

All that to say, I still blog, so there's no reson not to keep checking in. ;)

Later!
NickNitro

Home Spun strip #272

Posted by Cristina
9:01 AM, Sep. 29, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 1 comments .. Link

My son has a gift when it comes to sculpting with pipe cleaners. And legos. And foil. Anything that can be connected or twisted becomes a vehicle or creature. He reminds me of Alexander Calder, who made many toys in his youth. I'll bet Calder left his creations all over his mom's couch too.

Home Spun strip #271

Posted by Cristina
9:21 AM, Sep. 26, 2008 .. Posted in Home Spun comic part 14 .. 1 comments .. Link

Posted by NickNitro
9:22 PM, Sep. 25, 2008 .. Posted in Update .. 0 comments .. Link

This blog is being abondoned.
No, that doesn't mean the story's over. I'm simply transfuring it to a diferent blog. Here's the link... Where the Story lies...

Fare ye well!
NickNitro

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