Scribblings from a twenty-year homeschool veteran about homeschooling, life after homeschooling, occasional peeks into the world of writing for children, and the ups and downs of life in general.
Homeschooling is a 24/7 experience. Don't worry if you didn't cover all the subjects today. Forgot science? That's OK. You can always study nature close up by going on a . . . mouse hunt.
Just when I thought it would be a quiet, relaxing evening...
NEWS FLASH!
Phone rings. It's DD. "Mom! Is Andrew (DD's younger brother) there? Can he help Sean move the piano? A mouse ran under it!" (panic-stricken voice)
Andrew and I quickly run across the street to the rescue (armed only with my digital camera. I'm not about to let this Kodak moment go by).
Upon our arrival, the first thing I see is Kristel standing on the couch, baby in arm, pointing to the piano. "It's under there! I saw it! It hasn't come out yet." She has made all the kids find a "high spot." No toes on the floor.
Sean, who has just walked in the door from a long day at work, says, "Can I eat dinner first?"
Uh...no.
So Sean and Andrew push the piano aside, while I stand armed with my camera to catch a shot of this loathsome creature. Kristel watches safely from her perch. I think she is throwing away a perfectly good opportunity for an up-close "nature" moment but she couldn't care less right now.
DGS is finally allowed to hold the broom--just in case the mouse sneaks out the front of the piano.
Armed with those new sticky traps, Sean and Andrew are ready to pounce as well.
Success! Well, sort of. I'm afraid the furry ball of trouble is too fast for my camera. It skitters across the carpet, over my foot, and slips and skids and flips into the kitchen and....under the oven.
"Hmmm...we're going to have to think on this awhile." While Sean and Andrew are thinking, the mouse is moving...up, up, up between the oven and the cabinet. Kristel sits on the bar stool and waits. The mouse must be caught tonight. I shiver to think what kind of night my poor DD will pass if Mickey Mouse is allowed to wander free in her house one more day.
Finally, I abandon my camera and help Andrew pull the oven out, while Sean waits topside with a bucket, in case the mouse decides to flee up instead of out. He goes up. Sean goes after him. Mickey Mouse goes down. Andrew jams a small broom under the oven. Mouse goes up. Sean goes after him. Mouse goes down...again. (This is good for a lesson on using group dynamics to solve a problem)
Now, thoroughly confused, Mickey Mouse darts for freedom.
WHACK! Andrew to the rescue...almost. He slaps the rectangular sticky trap at the mouse, catching it by the tail. "I need another trap!" he yells. (This boy has leadership ability!)
Sean tosses him a trap.
WHACK! Andrew to the rescue again. He's got the little fellow between 2 sticky traps.
Ick. I still think he's good for a few minutes of observation. Look at those eyes! (He's still alive at this point) We could do a quickie lesson on measuring . . .?
Sigh. Kristel's homeschool curriculum does not include mice of any kinds . . . dead or alive.
This reminded me of the time when I jumped up on the dinner table because I just saw a rat running past me (in Thailand). I can totally empathize with your daughter :).
By the way, congratulations on being chosen as the featured blogger of the week! Have a blessed Thanksgiving, too!
That last picture reminds me of the lizard that caught in the packing tape on one of our moving boxes. It looked so miserable, and I knew I couldn't pull him off without damage, so I started pouring cooking oil around and under him. He eventually came free and we all had a great laugh watching him slip slide around on our front porch. I'm sure he didn't mind :D
Of course, explaining the huge oil stain on the concrete to my husband, who wasn't there to fully appreciate the excitement of the moment was another story altogether.
Oh, my! I love the other stories in your comments, too. It made me laugh to see your signature beneath the dramatic photos: "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." You proved it! Also it sounds like you're going to bronco-bust a mouse. Ride 'em, Suzy!
Thanks for the feedback you left on my Kate Dunlap series a little while ago! I really appreciate it. I'm kind of thinking about taking the writing workshop, but if I do, do I have to write a book? Or can I just do it for the tips and practice? I might not mind having to write a book so much if I could actually come up with a plot! :o) That's hard for me. At least right now it is. I'm sure you've probably had the same trouble! :o)
Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I just might take your class.
That is such a cute story, and now proof of pictures to tell to your childrens children.lol. I also chuckled because in the hidden dark world of PETA , they actually stand for PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS.lol
Hehehehe! Ahahaha! *gasps for breath* That was hilarious, Andi! I can just see ya'll scrambling around on the floor for a mouse (except for your DD, of course). Wow, that was the funniest thing since my German instructor told us about dropping her beloved I-Pod in her coffee this morning!
I still think he's good for a few minutes of observation. Look at those eyes! (He's still alive at this point) We could do a quickie lesson on measuring . . .?
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Nov. 19, 2007 - Ha Ha
Kristy