52 Weeks in Small World - Homeschool Blogger

Project 52 Weeks 22-23: May 28-June 10

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:09:00 -0500

As usual, I've fallen behind on my Project 52. I was much more conscientious about taking photos when I was doing Project 365. But here's what's been going on these past two weeks:

Most importantly, summer started! No matter that the actual summer solstice is still weeks away. Summer starts here on the first day that the kids play in the river.

And Laurel had her final Show Choir performance this past weekend, so we've been consumed with Les Miserables around here. And now all of our "school year" activities have at last ended, and we can concentrate more fully on summer.

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."
~John Lubbock

Project 52 Weeks 20-21, May 14-27

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:01:00 -0500

May is Mother's Day month--a lovely month to have a daughter. And sons, too, of course, but I am somehow even more acutely aware of the honor of raising a daughter during a month that celebrates motherhood. For her, I pray this same joy.

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children."
~ Elaine Heffner

"A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future."
~Author Unknown

Project 52 Weeks 18-19, May 1-13

Mon, 12 May 2008 20:46:00 -0500

The first two weeks of May are always hectic around here. During that first weekend, Laurel had a Show Kids performance as part of the SKIT Performing Arts School. Her group sang a medley from "High School Musical." Here she is in the green room with her good friend Tae'lor, who was a phenomenal performer during the Broadway Musical show.

Then came the Cub Scouts end-of-the-year pack meeting, which consumed Dr. H. for the few days preceding the event. He did a fabulous job planning and running the night, from food to games to the more solemn crossing over ceremony. Here's Duncan with one of his very best buddies, Noah, running the three-legged race:

Just to make our life even more complicated, we somehow scheduled to American Heritage Girls Spring Awards and Crossing Over Ceremony for the same week as the Cub Scouts' big night! So while Dr. H. was celebrating his hard-earned relaxation on Tuesday evening, I was in high-stress mode. The ceremony was wonderful on Thursday, though, and I continue to marvel that we've just finished out our 5th year as a troop. The blessings are abundant. Here are Laurel and I as we head off to the ceremony:

We are heading off for a much-anticipated vacation to Colonial Williamsburg this week. Eight hours in the car with a book sure does sound good!

Project 52, Week 17: April 23-30

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:46:00 -0500

For some parents it's the child turning age 5 or riding a 2-wheeler; for me, it's the loss of the two front teeth that somehow marks the real passage from the world of little kid to kid. Duncan's two front teeth came out last week, and his new ones are already showing. Already his body has lengthened and he is all tall boy, baby curves gone everywhere but in his face.

Project 52, Weeks 14, 15, 16: April 2-22

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:34:00 -0500

I really do have a good reason for slacking off these past few weeks in my Project 52. We've been hosting a small group at our house for the past 4 weeks on Tuesday evenings, so Tuesdays (which were formerly Project 52 day) became cleaning and baking day temporarily. And of course that made Wednesdays catch-up day, and, well, that's what happens. But our small group is over now, and I can get back into the swing of things again. So here's what's been happening around here these past few weeks:

Spring, glorious Spring!

Girl in springy shirt that she made in sewing class...

Spring really does bring new birth: Abigail Rhapsody meets her cousins on April 9.

Laurel's science project for spring semester science class...

Pink dogwood, the princess of spring...

Spring scavenger hunt

Spring tie-dye

American Heritage Girls bring spring cleaning supplies to the Ronald McDonald House.

Spring Formal...

More backyard in spring. I can't resist taking pictures of the splendor of flowering in our yard.

"Everything is blooming most recklessly;
if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."
~Rainer Maria Rilke

Project 52, Week 13: March 27-April 1

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 11:50:00 -0500

"All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much."
~George Harrison

Project 52, Week 12: March 20-26

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:21:00 -0500

We've been on spring break most of the past week; thus photo opportunities have been in abundance.

For one, there was a beautiful spring afternoon spent at Ijams Nature Center:

And then Dr. H. and Jesse went on a backpacking weekend that they've been planning for several weeks now (and during which Jesse discovered that Converse are not really good hiking shoes):

And of course there were eggs to decorate:

And a pretty girl in her Easter dress:

And an anniversary:

There are some weeks that simply must have more than one photograph.

Project 52, Week 11: March 12-19

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:08:00 -0500

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
       will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
       the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
       nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
       he will watch over your life

the Lord will watch over your coming and going
       both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

***

Spring is coming to our part of the world. The mountains are just emerging from their short winter nap. This week our first baby of the next generation was born, and this Psalm seems just right for baby Justus and his Mama and Daddy.

Project 52, Week 10: March 5-11

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:10:00 -0500

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~Charles Dickens

We may have had snow on Saturday for the first time, but by Monday we were back to 65 degrees. I wintered a big pot of impatiens on our sunporch, and this week I started the first cuttings. By the first of April I'll have a couple dozen impatiens with good strong roots, ready for planting.

Week 9: Feb. 28-March 4

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 11:44:00 -0600

Most days, this is what life looks like around here. Heads are bent over books, projects, or the computer. Jesse does the vast majority of his work at the computer. Algebra he does in his room where it's especially quiet, and he does some reading in the living room. Laurel and Duncan alternate between the living room and dining room.

It looks quiet here, doesn't it? Some days are like that. Mostly, there is constant commotion of some sort. The dog barks at random noises. The cat scratches on the door, wanting food. The phone rings. And rings and rings and rings. Duncan tears through the house, chasing the dog. Laurel practices her flute and the sound of Jesse's electric guitar drifts downstairs. My mom comes over to chat; my dad comes over to read the paper. This is the daily buzz of a family at home. In all their magic, photographs fail in that capacity: even a photograph of thousands of fans at a football game is silent.