Hello to all. I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get a new entry on here. I could give you many excuses: mommy brain freeze, multiple holidays and birthdays, writers block and on and on; but instead I will stick with a simple apology and state my intention to get here on a regular basis.

Changes: the look of my blog, the new year, my oldest is now 11, my husband is back in school earning his MA in ed. (he wants to teach HS history), my youngest (17 mos.) is on the brink of talking.

Books I've read in the last couple of months:

Arctic Homestead: Written by the last female homesteader Norma Cobb-very interesting look into the life of a family of 7 and their move into the middle of nowhere Alaska in the early 70's.

Just about to read another alaskan homestead tale.

Another Place At The Table-by Kathryn Harrison a foster moms honest account as such. Very sad, beautiful, heroic.

These books have been a departure from what I usually read, but a welcome departure they were both page turners.

Books I have waiting to read;

The Hobbit

Villete by Bronte

The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and his family, alone in Alaska's Arctic Circle;

re-reading some favorite homeschool books by Diana Waring, Karen Andreola, Teaching the Trivium by the Bluedorns which I relly love! and The Whole-hearted Child by Sally Clarkson.

Homeschooling: The children and I finished our first unit of the Prairie Primer which we really enjoyed. Now we're going to finish the last 16 weeks of Sonlight core 3. We begin reading Carry On Mr. Bowditch today. Not sure what we're planning to do for school this coming year. So many things appeal to me- moving onto Sonlight 4 (which is the most expensive option), finishing out prairie primer, doing the Mystery of History vol.1, perhaps studying medieval history which sounds really good as I feel I need a break from Am. history. I must appear pretty ADD-lol. What are you all doing? Also want to add some language studies-latin I think.

My goals for this year:

*Continuing to incorporate Nourishing Traditions into our diet. Want to start making sauerkraut and other fermented veggies. Need to cook from scratch more and stick to a plan. There's been way to much flying by the seat of my pants this year.

*Start my childbirth instructor training w/ ALACE

*Begin writing more consistently. I have so many ideas floating around in my head that I think it contributes to my brain freeze/fog.

*Have a larger garden this year-start a small flower garden for cutting/selling

*Continue in my own studies, latin, classic literature, herbs, nutrition, history.

*Start walking/exercising 3-4 x wk. I always have such good intentions....

*Work by way through the Artist's Way again this yr. including the 3 journal pages each day.

*Consistency in my study of God's word and daily prayer

O.k. that enough... gotta know when to stop!

Trips to take this year: (God willing!)

Vashon, Wa. to my sister's wedding

Jerusalem, Israel for my husbands family reunion in August. This would def. have to be God's hand as it is a very expensive trip for a family of 6. It's part of my husbands past that he would really love to connect with though-he's Horatio Spaffords great-great grandson.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

     I've been thinking about the holes in my education lately. How can I teach my children what I don't know? Oftentimes I'm learning right along with them which is fine in some situations, i.e. history (thanks to being public schooled in CA.).

But in other areas I feel a need to fill in these holes during my own school time. Does this make sense?

     I've spent some time reading Marilyn Howshall and Susan Wise Bauer and they both seem to agree. When I look at lists of books being read at the high school level I discover that I usually haven't read many or any of them. I've also discovered holes in the area of "home economics". I don't know how to sew, can, or do many of the things that are now considered "lost arts". And I know that I am not alone in this, it seems to be generational (I'm 34 in case you're wondering).

     Anyhow this is what I've been pondering: going "back" to school. But not to college or doing online courses, but homeschooling. Here are some of the courses I'd like to take:

Literature: reading the 'classics' I never read.

Home economics: sewing, quilting, knitting.

Latin/Greek.

In depth bible studies.

Logic.

I want to bring some of this in to my childrens studies, but some of it would simply be for me. My oldest is only 10, so alot of it would be over their heads, but hopefully not mine ; ).

I really think it's important to continue our own education. I think it's important for our children to see that learning doesn't just STOP when you complete school but that it really is a lifetime endeavor. Karen Andreola calls it Mother Culture (tm).

I know some of this comes naturally to us as homeschooling moms, but not neccesarily the things we really want to study.

What do you think?

     My children and I have just begun using the Prairie Primer and we LOVE it! It has been such a breath of fresh air in what had become a stuffy homeschool room.

It's as though the Lord opened a window in this stuffy four walled room of ours and let the breeze come blowing in.

I have always loved "The Little House" series but to get to read them everyday for studies-what a treat! This is my first time doing a unit study and it just makes so much sense. Our studies feel more complete now, less fragmented. We can see how they all fit together. For example:

     Today we were reading about an encounter w/ what was at first thought of as a mad dog (turns out it was actually protecting the family from a panther) which led to us reading about rabies from the encyclopedia. At the end of the entry it listed Louis Pasteur as another topic to look up which we already had a NEST video of thanks to the suggestions in the PP. So we watched that and learned about his contribution of the rabies vaccine. And then tonight we watched Old Yeller, which took on so much more meaning. ; )

Need:
Acorn Squash(or any other squash you may have)
Brown Rice
Onion
Chicken sausage (or lv. out if vegetarian)
mushrooms
spices: salt, pepper, thyme and white wine (I know this isn't a spice lol!)
Grated cheese

Bake the squash face down on oiled cookie sheets.
Takes 1-2 hrs. @ 350* depending on size.

Meanwhile make rice-I used a brown rice/wild rice combo which worked great. (Someone gave us the wild rice, not something I can usually afford to have on hand.)

In a skillet saute onion til tender then add chicken sausage, cook until brown then add quartered mushrooms. Season with salt, pepper and thyme, and a little white wine if you choose (I did).

Stir and cook until mushrooms are cooked down. Turn off heat and add the rice. Put into the cooked squash halves top w/ grated cheddar (or cheese of choice) and pop in the oven until cheese is melted!

Enjoy!

        After a long afternoon of errands we stopped off at The Farmstore where I picked up some groceries and found the bulk tea area. When I came across a silver canister marked Earl Grey I knew I had to have a whiff..... it was heavenly.

So begins my perfect cup of tea. I thought of the tea my whole drive home, running through the motions of making it danced in my head.

       First I unloaded the groceries and mail. Then I told my children they needed to play outside for awhile. I filled the tea kettle to boil some water. Pulled out the fragrant bag of loose earl grey from the shopping bag. Smelled it again. Ahhhh.....

Rooted around my drawer looking for the tea ball that I haven't used in years (I've become a victim of the teabag industry.) Filled the ball with the exotic tea put it in my favorite mug which is essential! Mine happens to be a mug my husband bought for me as a souvenir in England; which is the cover of the penguin books edition of Jane Eyre one of my favorite novels. After I let the tea sit for 2 min. I removed the tea ball, didn't want it to become bitter and added some raw milk just picked up from a local farm (date on bottle says it's from today)! Then added just a smidgeon over a teaspoon of sugar. PERFECT!!!!

*Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn

*Wisdom's Way of Learning by Marilyn Howshall

*Proverbs

*Many blogs on the Principle Approach.

*Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes this is our history readaloud.

     My mind feels so full of new ideas and thoughts that I feel I need to download so I can create some more space. One thing I'm feeling more and more drawn to is notebooking. I want to create one for the household happenings as well as one for all of my homeschooling thoughts and ideas, i.e. books to read aloud. As well as a section to write down what I feel the children need to focus on individually-just "watching and waiting" ala M.Howshall.

     The 2 older children have begun their own notebooks, but now we need to organize them a bit. This has really been an eye opening creative endeavor for us. It really allows the children to discover themselves as they pursue those things they find of great interest; sometimes leading to a deeper passion. I feel I need to start a notebook like this myself as I still find myself discovering. This is an important point-'learning should never cease.' And the best way for me to pass this on to the children is for them to "see" me continuing my education.

     Something else I want to begin doing ala PA is to begin 4-ring which is still a new concept so stick w/ me....  I know part of it has to do with studying a key word using the 1828 Websters in particular and then using a concordance to find relevant scriptures. What a big world this homeschooling lifestyle opens up for the mommas. It's not just for the children. 

Mr.Clean Magic Erasers- I used one this morning to wipe down my grungy door frames and walls. It looks like a new coat of paint. It also got rid of permanent marker on my mark it map. Yay!!!

Marilyn Howshall-Her approach (lifestyleoflearning.org) has brought freshness to my weary homeschool soul.

4:30 AM-ahhh....I never thought I'd say this. But having 2 hours to myself in a quiet house to pray and read and write has done so much to refresh me and draw me closer to my true love-God!

Everything bagels-mmmmm....toasted w/ butter and a nice cup of english tea. 

I have found that I can do anything for 15 minutes. If I set the timer for 15 min. I can perform the most dreaded of tasks for I know that it will soon be over. And more often then not I finish before the timer goes off!

    This has been a great motivator for me lately. Emilie Barnes says you can declutter an entire house in 5-6 weeks by doing just 15 minutes a day. The program is to choose one room for the week and then clean and declutter that room for 15 min. each day for 6 days. By the end of the week you'll have cleaned it for 1.5hrs.

     Andy Warhol said that everyone would have 15min. of fame in his/her lifetime. I think The Flylady made 15 min. famous!

After much thought and hair pulling I have come to the logical conclusion that my house is in desperate need of order.

So.... I've been pulling out all the heavies: Sandra Felton, Flylady and Emilie Barnes. I've started a notebook of what needs to be done and am trying very hard not to be completely overwhelmed!

Here is a good quote for that: "Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs." Henry Ford

Another quote I wrote down in my notebook today:

"He that riseth late must trot all day." Ben Franklin

And with that little bit of inspiration I shall trot out the door and clean my porch!