"God is pleased with no music below so much as with the thanksgiving songs of relieved widows and supported orphans; of rejoicing, comforted, and thankful persons."
Jeremy Taylor

Sing to the Lord today, for do we not all find ourselves described in the quote above? 

Our church had its Fall Festival this past weekend.  I must be honest and say that what they call a Fall Festival, in our home is known as Halloween, and should we still be here next year, our family will not be participating...to each his own I suppose, though I really don't think the Lord sees it that way, either. 

Anyway, one of the youth of the church showed up dressed as Satan .  Yep. 

My little Cana went up to her and asked with all seriousness, "Are you supposed to be a RED COW?" !!! 

After that, (at the very wise suggestion of one of the young men of the church) she decided to lose the horns and tail and be "Little Red Riding Hood" for the remainder of the afternoon . 

Out of the mouths of babes.....

Just thought I'd pop in here and post a little update; it's been a while. 

Yes, we're still homeschooling, though most days we're focused mostly on "living and learning" as we go.  I'm finding that works pretty well for us; though I do insist on some Math and Reading (almost) daily.  I still can't jump into total unschooling; though I wish I had the courage to give it a try!  My girls really do learn so much just by their natural curiosity and desire to know things. 

Their current interest is sign language, which has been fun.  They're still just getting started, but I'm amazed at how quickly they're learning the different signs- much, much faster than I can !

Sarah is learning cooking skills and usually prepares breakfast and lunch during the week.  She loves doing that; and if she'd just find the same zeal for laundry I'd be blissfully happy (not likely I'm afraid)!

OK, time for me to have a cup of tea and relax a bit........

since I've posted here.  I do post a bit more frequently on my Homestead Blog .  Just a quick update:

We ARE still homeschooling ; though these days it's mostly unschoolish.  My own brain needed a break, so I've put away all of the "school" books for a month or so.  We've been having fun in the garden, exploring the "wild places"  behind our house, learning how to can peaches with the neighbors,  picking plums and  making plum preserves,visiting a  dairy to buy raw milk, riding ponies, making new farm friends, and other homesteady things.   

It'll be so hot around here soon that we'll be doing more inside activities, and that inevitably leads to lots of learning without forma "lessons" anyway.  My oldest dd was blessed with FREE piano lessons with a dear lady from our church.  A wonderful Blessing for her, and for the rest of us, as I plan for her to teach  us as she learns . 

When we do begin our new year, I will have one dd in K (which I keep totally informal and easy), one dd in 1st, and one dd in 4th grade.  This will be more of a challenge for me, as up to now I've only had one really "in school".  I'm going to have to be more disciplined to make sure things don't get left out.  Sadly, the things that often get put aside for later are the really enjoyable and fun things like Poetry, Art, Music & Science.  I've got to work on that more this coming year. 

I've got my curriculum pretty much planned for the coming year: Ruth Beechick's 3 R's for the younger girls, with lots of read alouds, etc.  Maybe, Miquon math for dd #2. 

Simply Grammar, English from the Roots Up, Typing, and lots of copywork and writing for dd #1.  Zoology I, US Geography and many living books about the Civil War era, and that leaves.....math.  I'm debating between Switched on Schoolhouse and Saxon.  Opinions anyone??? 

OK, that's about it for now. 

Blessings,

Catherine

Are my children the only ones who ask countless questions while you're driving?  I think they do it because I'm a "captive" and can't get out of answering!  I try not to discourage their seemingly endless stream of Why, What, Where, Who... yet, do feel a need to somehow find a proper time and place for it.  The van is not the place for me to think! 

Today as we were driving back from an early morning trip to the doctor's office for a strep culture , my not-quite 9 year old daughter asks the following:

"Mom, who would want to buy unfinished furniture?"

If you're a "visual learner" like me, you know exactly what this child was thinking- chairs with only 3 legs, tables missing a top, dressers without their drawers!  Now that we have that issue all cleared up, she wants to know when we can go there and pick out some furniture for her room!