rae of sunshine

sometimes you just have to......

2008-09-15T11:11:00.003-05:00

the best laid plans

2008-09-07T16:57:00.002-05:00

Well, I planned to blog in both places for a bit. The fact is that my time is just too limited right now to make that plan a reality. So, while my new blog doesn't yet have that comfy, lived in feel that I am aiming for, please join me there.

Rae of Sunshine

somewhat nervously introducing...

2008-09-04T15:31:00.003-05:00

My New Blog!

I'm not completely moved in yet. I'm still unpacking and trying to find that cozy feel, but pop on over and join me if you'd like. I'll be posting both places for a bit, but I'm looking forward to feeling comfortable with WordPress.

not so visual/spatial mommy

2008-09-04T12:57:00.004-05:00

My dear friend, Patience, asked after me a question regarding my last post. I began typing out a reply and realized my thoughts might be better shared as a separate post.

Patience asked, "So how does your mind work then? When you read the words petroleum jelly, what happens?"

I first read her questions before my second cup of coffee, so I had to step back, drink more coffee, and let the questions swirl in my head a bit. I have now probably given it too much thought, but I think I can answer the question fairly well.

I have sort of an inner monologue that begins in my head after reading the words petroleum jelly. May I just add here that I so wish we had a "better" choice of subjects to discuss. I hope the google monsters don't find me through some strange search because of our discussions of this awful substance. Bless my husband's heart for sharing his example with me.

So my monologue goes something like this:

Petroleum jelly. That's the same as Vaseline. Of course Vaseline is just a brand name. Petroleum jelly would be the generic - the actual product. I wonder why I call petroleum jelly Vaseline when I don't do that for every product. Tissues are tissues - not Kleenex. Petroleum jelly? No. It's Vaseline.

Somewhere along the way a picture of a container might creep into my head, but for me it is all about the words and what the words mean. It's not very colorful, nor is it very entertaining. I have to will my brain to form a picture. Otherwise it's just bland words.

Oddly enough I can picture concepts from beginning to end, but I either see them as completed or a series of tasks that take me from beginning to end. Again, no pictures - more like a mental outline. I'm jealous, I think. I would like to have pictures.

visual/spatial daddy

2008-09-03T15:56:00.002-05:00

I was chatting with my husband this morning about all kinds of stuff. All of a sudden, completely out of the blue, he started in on a monologue. It went something like this.

"I've been thinking a lot about this learning style thing and the information you gave me to read. I've been paying attention to how I think about things.

For instance, yesterday I read the words petroleum jelly. I first got a picture of a Vaseline container with the blue lid. You know, the regular package that you always see. That's what petroleum jelly is to me. Then I started to break down the words. First I saw petrol and immediately thought of a gas station. Then, leum is enough like linoleum that I pictured a linoleum floor. Of course when I see jelly, I immediately picture a big jar of grape jelly. All that from seeing petroleum jelly and thinking about the pictures in my head.

What's strange is that I don't consciously think about creating the pictures, and I can't really stop them either. It's like a slide show of images."

I found this really interesting and bewildering at the same time, because my brain just doesn't work like that. It is really nice, though, to have his input as I work to prepare C's learning time.

read aloud - cry aloud

2008-09-02T13:15:00.003-05:00

I read this book with C today. And I had to stop, because I was crying. Leah's Pony is a lovely story, really, and today it touched my soul profoundly. My eight year old daughter looked at me with concern in her eyes and questioned why I couldn't go on through my tears. "Do you understand what is happening in the story?"
"Yes," she said. "The neighbors are buying all of their belongings for not very much money so that they can give them back to Leah's family." She understood. But she still did not understand why the story was rendering her mother unable to speak. I'm not sure that I completely understand why it was touching me so deeply today.
Perhaps the story of this girl living through the ugliness of the Great Depression drew a parallel for me. I fear for the future of our planet and the future of the country that I call home.
I've been reading again about Permaculture and the hope that comes from simple living in the face of peak oil and global climate change. This is a serious issue, and I know that our way of life must change in order to sustain any life in the future. I also know that currently most Americans are unwilling to make changes in their way of life in such a way that would prevent a serious decline of our quality of life. Perhaps young Leah and her $1 bid for her father's tractor showed me that even outlandish ideas can be accepted by many when they understand the wisdom and the good behind them.
Perhaps it has been far too long since I have seen the miracles that can come out of community. At times the unpleasant noise from our world fails to uplift and support those who need a hand, instead of joining together harmoniously to care for our earth, and each other.
Perhaps I worry that those unspeakably hard times will come to my children. I look at the hardships of the Great Depression. I have heard the stories of my parents' childhoods many, many times, and I know that they and their families lived through that time because of their hard work and communities. I fear that our country especially, and the world at large may be headed toward another Depression. I wonder though, and I worry too that this time around our communities aren't so strong, our survival skills aren't so tough, our good old know how is in trouble. So I read. And I research. And I simplify. I just wonder though if there will be a community like Leah's this time, that can surround and protect those who need a helping hand. I know that I hope so. Spiro. Spero. Now, if I only knew the Latin for Simplify.

choosing our labors today

2008-09-01T10:34:00.002-05:00

It's Labor Day, and my girls are busy choosing how they will spend their day. C started last evening with conversations about costume selection for Halloween. We talked about buying a costume versus designing and making our own. We decided that creativity is the most important part of making Halloween a fun holiday. With that decision made, she set to work. By bedtime she had created 11 designs and a cover page for her portfolio - "2008 Halloween Costume Designs."

Fashion design is a hobby of hers, and it is an area in which she shows some lovely, natural ability. I am sometimes amazed at the creative and thoughtful designs she puts forth. This last project has been no exception. She has created a pixie, a mermaid, a wizard (female of course), and a bunny just to name a few. She is still going strong, and has added the responsibility of designing for her little sister as well. I wonder what I will ultimately be called upon to do in the way of making her visions a reality.

E chose a different course of action for the day. She is a bit sniffly, so her plans were all about comfort. She laid a lovely tea tray filled with her favorite yellow blankie, her favorite storybook, and a bottle of water. The water was for me - in case my voice got tired before I could read ALL the stories in the book. We've already had one snuggle/reading session this morning with the promise of more to come.

My labors today will be much less creative. I am draining the pool and cleaning two bedrooms in preparation for house guests this weekend. Oh, and I have a 1:00 play date with the girls. Sometimes you just have to schedule these things, because they are that important.

icky sicky me

2008-08-29T14:01:00.003-05:00

I've got some sort of upper respiratory nastiness. Normally, I'm a natural remedy, holistic health kind of a girl, but this time I knew I had an infection. And I knew how I got it. Four days ago, I undertook the job of cleaning black mold from my parents' basement. By day two, I had an irritated throat. Day three brought some heaviness in my chest. Today I woke up feeling like I had pneumonia, so I knew it was time to call the doctor.

I haven't taken antibiotics in four and a half years. I am lucky to be a pretty healthy person, and I am conscious about taking care of myself. I'm also conscious about what I put into my body, so that is why when I called the doctor this morning, my only goal was to get some antibiotics to treat the mold spores that made their way into my bronchioles.

My doctor was not in the office today, and it is the Friday before a holiday. That being the case, I consented to see another doctor in the office. The receptionist asked if that was okay in the kind of voice that should have warned me that this might not be such a good idea. I blithely replied that I didn't need to form a relationship with this doctor, I just needed some antibiotics.

First I saw the nurse, who was a girl that used to make fun of me when I was a child at Vacation Bible School. No kidding. I kept expecting her to start yelling, "Red Rover, Red Rover," while she was taking my blood pressure. Strange.

When the doctor came in, she took copious notes, did a very short (like ten seconds) exam, and then told me I would be having a chest x-ray and an EKG. The chest x-ray, I understand. But an EKG??? I expressed my confusion, and she replied, "You said your chest felt heavy, and you're over 40, so it could be your heart." Again. What. the. hell? I needed antibiotics. I knew how I felt. Sick. Not arrhythmic.

Fine. I went to the x-ray tech. To my surprise, my x-ray tech was a young woman that I've known for the whole of her life. I was her Sunday School teacher and youth group sponsor. She told me to undress, and take off my bra. Yes, ma'am? That was really no problem. We chatted. She took x-rays.

Then onto the EKG - that I didn't need in the first place. I was instructed to lie on the table and relax my body. She wanted my arms down at my sides and relaxed. Finally, something I knew how to do - the corpse asana. I breathed deeply, or as deeply as I could with a raging upper respiratory infection. I apparently almost failed the test. The young woman running that test looked at me as if I had something seriously wrong with me, and for a moment I actually became a little nervous.

When I got back with the doctor, she explained that the EKG tech was worried about my slow heart rate. The doctor chalked it up to my regular yoga practice. I replied that the young woman had told me to relax. Apparently, I'm good at that. At least the doctor knew enough to cast worry aside on that point. Well, apparently, the incredible breathing ability I have is also something of a headscratcher. The doctor mentioned at least three times that I have amazing lung expansion abilities. (Trained singer/ Instrumental musician/ yoga practitioner - yes I know how to breathe.) Hello? Need Antibiotics.

I did finally get a prescription for antibiotics, as well as three other medications. An antihistamine, some sort of mucous inducing thing, and a STEROID filled nasal spray. Fine. Can I go now?

Here's the thing. I remember my former family practitioner. Had he been conducting this appointment, he would have listened to what I had to say, listened to my chest, actually placed his hands on my throat to examine my nodes, and written a script. $50 later, I would have been out of his office, probably with free antibiotic samples in my hand. Today's visit carried a $350 price tag that will be passed onto my insurance provider. And people wonder why the health care industry needs to be reformed. I am shaking my head. And I am not sucking steroids through my nose. I'm just not that sick.

some days.....

2008-08-28T16:27:00.005-05:00

I had an appointment about an hour away from home this morning. I said to a complete stranger in the waiting room I was in, "Do you ever have one of those days that makes you feel like your head is just disconnected?" I was in the midst of having one of those days. Obviously, or I probably wouldn't have asked a complete stranger that question.
Of course, I picked the one stranger in the waiting room who was on an evangelical crusade of some sort. "That's just the evil enemy trying to talk to you," she said. Wha? Thankfully, I dropped my keys at that very moment, so I could break eye contact and move away very carefully.
I had several errands to run today, which proved to be nearly laughable. I'm normally very efficient in the way I progress through my errands, making logical logistical stops. Today I whizzed by stores thinking I'd get back to them after the one most important of the day was made. A bridal shower gift.
I remember being a young bride. I do not however remember going to a big box store and creating a FIVE PAGE GIFT REGISTRY that begins with a $250 mixer. I walked around the store fuming at what I felt was an extreme amount of nerve on the part of this lovely young couple. My husband called while I was shopping and immediately sensed my mood. He of course wanted to know what in the world had me in such a snit. "Blah, blah, blah, commercialism, blah, blah, $250 mixer, blah, entitlement, blah, blah, the nerve, blah." Then there was laughter. Not mine. His. My tirade was effectively ended. I purchased an $8 napkin holder and some kitchen towels. Done.
Then I started the hour drive home down the beautiful winding, hilly roads of the Ozarks. I lost my grumpiness, and enjoyed the relative quiet of the childless car. I even listened to NPR.
Things were going so well that I decided to stop in at the Amish store for some milk. This wonderful little gem of a store is about 40 minutes from home, and I stop in whenever I can. Walking into this store always makes my soul smile. It's filled with local produce, area dairy, and an Amish deli counter. It's just a fun place for the senses. And oh! the baked goods.
After I made my purchases, I started to head for home. There is only a short portion of the trip where I have a cell signal, so when I reached that point in the road, I started feeling around the seat of the van for my phone. No phone.
I drove the rest of the way home hoping that it had fallen between my seats.
Just as I put the milk in the fridge, C hopped in and announced, "An Amish lady called here on YOUR cell phone. You left your phone in their parking lot."
I'm not sure who the evil enemy is, but it looks like it really was talking to me today.

17! when did that happen?

2008-08-25T10:34:00.009-05:00

My son's 17th birthday is quickly approaching. I'm unprepared as usual for the gift giving. I'm such a ponderer about such things. I need to just buy something already, but I want the somethings I purchase to be meaningful, fun, and totally cool. I'm just that kind of mom.

One gift is in the bag already, and since my son doesn't read my blog, I'll share. I read this online, but the boy is going to need a hard copy. It's the kind of book that shows off his current rebel persona so well.

HT: COD

this week's focus

2008-08-20T13:07:00.005-05:00

Regardless of space involved, the environment of the unschooler needs to be structured to encourage learning. All the time.

If the idea of classical unschooling appeals to you. Go read this series from Doc.

We have found that niche we were looking for. It feels great, and WE ARE FLYING! Now to create that environment......All the time.

back to school links

2008-08-19T18:01:00.002-05:00

I stumbled across this webpage today. Awesome FREE resources from the US government. Who knew?

Education and Training
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
Library of Congress Learning Page
Teachers' Educational Resources

I've really just scratched the surface of this resource. There is a lot of great stuff to be discovered.

me? brilliant?

2008-08-17T19:33:00.003-05:00

My buddy, Wendy, thinks so anyway.

Thanks, Wendy. This is my first award here in this newish little space. Now for the difficult task of passing this lovely little award along. It's not that I don't read a good many fantastic blogs, rather that I am such a lurker. Not many folks know me out there in blogland. I will happily pass this along to some of my favorite people and hope that they are pleased.

Patience at Knitting the Wind has supported me so kindly in my fledgling blogging efforts.

Katherine from Our Report Card. Well, she's Katherine, and she is my hero.

Mommylion at In a Tiny House has a fun and inspiring blog - And she let's me say hotel sex.

And finally, Stephanie from Throwing Marshmallows probably doesn't even know I exist, but she has been the source of incredible information for me.

And now, for the "acceptance speech," or 26 things you never knew you wanted to know about me.

A. attached or single? Attached.

B. best friend? My husband - without a doubt.

C. cake or pie? BOTH! Please, sir, may I have some more?

D. day of choice? Thursday - date day with my husband.

E. essential item? Must. Have. Coffee.

F. favorite color? Green

G. gummy bears or worms? Um. No thanks.

H. hometown? I am sure you couldn't even find it on a map.

I. favorite indulgence? Dark Chocolate paired with Cab Sav.

J. January or July? July. Unless I'm in the South.

K. kids? Three amazing children. 16, 8, and 5.

L. life isn't complete without? My husband. We complete each other.

M. marriage date? The Fourth of July - we are still making fireworks after all these years.

N. number of brothers & sisters? One older sister.

O. oranges or apples? Oranges.

P. phobias? Mice! Ewwww. What exactly is their purpose on this earth?

Q. quotes? And though all is lost, if love remains, we will pay the price but we will not count the cost.

R. reasons to smile? Children who think I am the "Queen of the best mommies."

S. season of choice? Spring.

T. tag seven peeps! I tagged 4. I'm new here.

U. unknown fact about me? I have an FBI file. College was just weird.

V. vegetable? Most anything fresh sans pesticides.

W. worst habits? Caffeine and a lot of it.

X. x-ray or ultrasound? I've had both - but strange question.

Y. your favorite food? I really like so many good foods - a lot. I'm a bit of a food snob.
Z. zodiac sign? Aries

am i a heathen?

2008-08-16T15:03:00.002-05:00

I've recently joined a social networking group called Heathen Homeschoolers. I am SO stinking awful at social networking online. I think I suffer from some deep seeded inferiority complex when I can't see the people I'm interacting with. I can't check their facial expressions or hear their voice inflections. I always fear that people are thinking, "WHO does she think SHE is?"

That's just ridiculous really, but it's the sad truth. I've shied away from such things in the past, so now I'm scrambling trying to figure our exactly how to do this thing. Do I make friend requests? Do I spruce up my page? If I do decide to spruce up my page, exactly how is that done? That's just way too much angst for me to go through for something that is "social."

Please feel free to stop over and join me as I muddle through this new little beginning. The link is in my sidebar. I'll be your friend if you'll be mine.

the friday night gang

2008-08-16T14:35:00.003-05:00

The last few days have been jam packed, action filled days. I hosted a dinner party last night for my parents and their "Friday Night Gang." They are an amazing group of four couples in their seventies. They have been going out together most every Friday night for the last thirty years, and take their Friday nights seriously. None of their children would ever ask for childcare or any other "grandparent service" on Friday night - oh no - they. must. go. out. to. dinner.

They are a gentile group of retired business owners and professionals. They are the pillars of a small community, and that community has received the benefit of their labors and their love. They have given to the community tirelessly over the years, and they are so very proud of the place they helped to grow and sustain.

They have weathered the years together. They have celebrated with one another, and they have weathered life's storms together. But mostly, they have laughed together and shared one another's lives.

Their personalities are varied like a rich tapestry, but they are woven together with a strong bond. They are now retired. I see them now, aging, and I acknowledge the example they have set for me. Some of them have failing health, but they continue to celebrate each week. They continue to respect one another and take time to play together.

My father is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, but this group of friends stays true. They have done this for him and for each of them who has gone through a health crisis. They continue to celebrate each Friday with love, laughter, and........ happy hour. Now that is friendship!

too soon for a meltdown

2008-08-06T12:35:00.004-05:00

We've started our second week of lessons, mostly because Christi was begging for them. Okay, so she was begging last week. This week, not so much. This week Mom is no fun, and after all, learning should be fun. This week has been a trial.

Here is the rub. We know learning is fun. We also know equally that in Christi's opinion, school is most definitely not fun. We discovered not long ago that both girls are gifted, visual-spatial learners. I've done my homework. I understand visual-spatial learning styles (mostly), and I understand gifted (kind of). My difficulty is in putting it all together.

Curriculum is not really a consideration, because it doesn't in most cases fit our needs. I'm okay with that. I so much want to be an incredible unschooler. But I question myself constantly. I wonder if I will ever be able to trust the process completely. I want to, but dang it I'm just so...schooled, and I don't mean that in a positive way.

I worry about following a completely child-led approach. I worry that in letting the girls lead, I will miss something - something they want, something they haven't discovered to be wonderful yet, something they "should" know, pieces of important puzzles. I know that I should trust them to communicate what they need, and I do. The question is, "Will I hear them?" And furthermore, will I have the wherewithal to respond in a way that nurtures their love of learning? Oh, those are big mama shoes to fill.

I know deep down in my gut that unschooling is the greatest gift I can give to my children. Now I just have to reconcile myself to the fact that all of the methods and rubrics of my educational background are truly a disservice to my precocious girls. They love to learn. Now I just need to move myself out of the way. I need to get the pedagogy out of my system and become their learning helper instead of their teacher. What a concept! But - We still have to do some core learning .

cool site for littles - storyline online

2008-08-03T08:34:00.002-05:00

This is a fun site for the littles. It features some great read alouds performed by actors and offers some additional enrichment activities. All in all, it looks like a great place for Eme to visit while Christi and I do "big girl stuff."

http://www.storylineonline.net/

head down, full speed ahead

2008-08-01T10:55:00.002-05:00

Our first week back to the books has been a whirlwind! We are experiencing a new kind of schooling that has us all (especially mom) going at breakneck speeds. I've composed several blog posts in my head as we have gone through this exciting week of new methods and discoveries, but I've just been WAY too busy to type any of them out. I promise to spend some time next week sharing our new methods, but at this point, I already feel some changes in our new plan.

I have made a discovery, and I'm rather ashamed to admit that it has taken this long for me to have one of those gestalt "aha" moments. BOTH of my girls are GIFTED VISUAL/SPATIAL LEARNERS. One would think with a background in education, I would have picked up on this sooner, but I have fallen into the American education pedagogy trap of thinking that if I just kept teaching in all the "normal" ways, my children would eventually buckle down and achieve at the level I know them to be capable of. Good heavens!

My husband was good enough to share his DNA with his progeny without explaining fully to me the way his brain works. I always knew he had amazing intellectual ability with some cute little "quirks." He has passed these "quirks" onto our girls, and I am scrambling to keep up. We have been homeschooling for three and a half years now, and I'm just now beginning to fully understand the best way to teach these amazing children of ours.

We have an amazing year ahead of us - one that is sure to be full of discovery and learning. Any information on visual/spatial learning and how to best teach to their intellectual capabilities is now being sought out and devoured with an unequaled passion. This is going to be quite a ride!

finding our niche

2008-07-27T18:15:00.003-05:00

I haven't written much here about our schooling methods. There are several reasons for that, but probably the biggest reason is that we have been in a state of flux for the last six months. I have been homeschooling since January of 2005. One would think I would have had it together long ago. But alas, not so much.

We began our journey wholly immersed in the Well Trained Mind method of classical education. It fit my then eighth grader beautifully, and since his younger sister was only of kindergarten age that year, she floated right along with him. Then my son went back to public school and all of the extra-curricular stuff he thrives on. That fits him - if not academically, then through the avenues of athletics, music, and social interaction.

When my daughter was of first grade age we radically unschooled or possibly gently deschooled for six months. Although that was very relaxing, I felt I became too relaxed. I'm not a good radically unschooling mom and after awhile, my gentleness begins to wane. I need more structure than that. I didn't do a good job of recognizing and making the most of learning opportunities. I knew we had to make a change. And change we did.

Now that I only had my precocious "first grader" at home as well as her pre-school aged sister, I sought out a gentler, sweeter, yet still challenging method. Charlotte Mason with all her beauty, grace, and twaddle free direction stepped into my life and made a true believer out of me. Ambleside Online made the transition inexpensive if not easy. I thought I had truly found what we needed. However after about 12 weeks, the parsed readings and use of curriculum that I found unnecessary took their toll on me.

This is where things became clearly difficult for us. I had a "gifted" non-reader. I had never heard of such a child. She refused to read, but was light years ahead of the fifteen minute lessons we had adopted with CM. We struggled through our reader and phonics program every single day. By the time we got to history and math and science and geography and anything else you can name, I was so exhausted by the trial of just making it through reading, that I didn't want to recognize the exceptional stuff my daughter was doing right before my eyes. For months, I failed her. I stuck with the program for the program's sake and because life was just plain difficult for us during that time. Sticking with our schooling choices was at least something we could count on, so on that score, I have no regrets.

So months went flying by as they have a habit of doing. I found myself lurking at some wonderful message boards and blogs, just trying to find someone somewhere who could relate to our circumstances. Then I realized, like a thunderbolt, that we are not any other family. Nobody, nowhere needs the exact same things we need. It's up to me to create what our learning life will be, and after spending years teaching privately as well as in the public schools, I should be up to the task for pity sake. But still - yikes!

My inspiration has come in many forms from varied voices - all beautiful - all singing out their own journeys. The three years that I have homeschooled my children has been the greatest education I have received to date. More than anything, I've learned to trust myself and my children to find our own path to our learning style. I'm not certain of our label, but labels are a tricky business at best. We seem to be heading toward a life mixed with classical education in a somewhat unschoolish setting. Does that make us classical unschoolers?

I'm just beginning the task of trying to put my finger on this "giftedness" (oh, but I shy from that label) of my daughter, but that is another post. For now, we are bravely going where we have not yet been, and we are pretty excited about the trip!

growing season

2008-07-25T18:20:00.002-05:00

Things are growing here at our house. The garden is about to reach its maximum output. Carrots have been frozen and beets have been pickled and canned. Now we wait a little while longer for our next round of preserving the fruits (or vegetables) of our labors. Tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, peppers, and zucchini will all have their day.

My eight year old has had a growth spurt as well - in reading. It's amazing what happens with a child's development when you look away for a minute. As we have spent more time away from books over the summer, she has continued her education. Just months ago I felt that I was continually coming up against a wall in terms of her reading capabilities. I tried not to worry, but as is my nature, I did worry.

Then one day, I discovered her reading chapter books. From there she moved onto Kipling's Just So Stories. Now she is reading Black Beauty - a book she didn't much care for as a read aloud. What in the world happened there? Something just clicked. All the phonics apparently began making sense. Reading for contextual clues helped to bridge the gaps. She. Is. Reading.

I've gone back to regular yoga practice, so I'm doing some growing of my own. I'm such a better person with regular yoga practice. The flexibility and strength that come from that are really just extras in comparison to what it does for my spirit. Ahhhhh.

So we are growing some good stuff this summer, even if I don't manage to post about it often enough.

date day

2008-06-26T19:07:00.003-05:00

Thursdays are date day for my honeybunches and me. We try to save this one day - just for us - to rejuvenate ourselves and take time to just be with one another. Some days we do bigger things, but today was simple and fun.

We breakfasted in a thunderstorm on honeybuns and lattes. I don't even want to know how much fat I ingested, but it was yummy. We played cards, which is something we have loved to do for years. We are both fiercely competitive -in a playful manner. I lost the first game, and we ended the second in a draw.

Lunchtime came as the skies cleared, so we went out for sub sammies. It was a great day, and we each came away from our time together with our batteries recharged. My husband is without a doubt my best friend in the world, and our date days are the highlight of my week.

I came across a post on one of the message boards that I frequent when I returned home today. The post was a rant in every sense of the word about this poster's husband. Although I understand her frustration (as her husband's behavior is truly abhorrent) I have to wonder why so many of us tend to settle for less than we deserve in a relationship. After reading and responding to the post, I must say that I am so thankful for the wonderful relationship I share with my husband. I am grateful beyond words, as I have been blessed beyond measure.

wonderfully, busy, summer days

2008-06-25T18:44:00.002-05:00

I've not posted in several days, probably because we have been happily busy just living life. We've done small chores, big projects, and included plenty of summer fun along the way. Since my last post on parenting, I've received some great insight from friends and had some indepth conversation with my husband. I discovered that our parenting style is not really lacking, but rather my consistency was the lacking component. When I get busy doing whatever task may be at hand, I don't always stop to give my full attention to one of the children before giving my answer. Sensing that, the children don't give my answer their full attention or their full respect. I've realized that when I stop to give them the attention their request deserves, they in turn give my answer the respect it deserves. All in all, my actions and responses usually determine the subsequent actions of the children. I've been parenting for 16 1/2 years. I just lost that piece of the pie for awhile. Now that momma is back on track, the children are happily chugging right along with me.

With more peaceful and cooperative days happening, we have been able to accomplish some tasks that had been waiting. The garden has received some TLC in the form of a good tilling. Loose black dirt with lovely green plants is a sight that makes this country girl's heart sing.

I've also learned a new life skill. My 80 year old father coached me as I put up a new clothesline. I was quite proud of my handy accomplishment. My first line dried load of laundry went out this morning, and it was a happy sight. The sight of freshly laundered clothes dancing in the breeze is another smidgen of goodness.

The children are enjoying their backyard pool. I decided this year I would help them to earn their pool time. I will match their swimming time to their schooling and or helping time. It is working splendidly. They have been more helpful than ever and they haven't missed a day of swimming yet!

All in all, these have been good days full of simple work and simple joys.

how come?

2008-06-21T08:35:00.003-05:00

There are moments that I wonder, question, and ponder our parenting style. I was raised in a passive/aggressive home where anger (or expressing any "negative" feelings whatsoever) was not allowed. My husband was raised in a military family where following orders without question was the expectation. We decided years ago that our parenting choices would be ones that encouraged our children to express themselves and allowed them to grow into their own special and unique personalities. For the most part we've done just that. And likewise, for the most part we have felt that was a good and healthy decision.

However, we have an eight year old daughter (with her father's I.Q.) that makes me wonder if perhaps we should have instilled more boundaries. I love her intellect and the way I can almost see the questions and opinions forming in her mind. I don't, however, love the fact that she constantly questions ME, my requests, and my directions. I struggle far too often with the patience required to answer not only her first question of "How come?", but the subsequent questions that are sure to follow. Sometimes I just want her to pick up her shoes from the family room floor - just because I said so - without question.

I'm finding my frustration with simple household chores and behavior issues effecting my ability to be the great unschoolish mom that I truly and deeply want to be. The questions need to fit into a neat little box and come at a time that is convenient for me. But then that's not unschooling, is it? I'm going to have to search my heart, do some yoga, breathe deeply, and answer the questions - anytime. I need to rediscover the joy of the simple, full, alternative life we have chosen, and embrace all that it means. But sometimes, just every once in a while, can I say, "because I said so!", and still be a card carrying positive disciplining, simple living, really cool homeschooling mom?

Hassenpfeffer - What's NOT for Dinner

2008-06-20T15:03:00.002-05:00

No, I'm not killing defenseless, adorable little rabbits, but I've got to tell you that at 6:00 in the morning, they are NOT adorable. They are especially not adorable when they are breakfasting on my lettuce!!! These are not your ordinary rabbits. Oh, no. These are Watership Down rabbits with an attitude! And they are fearless.

I stood two feet from one of them and yelled, "Hassenpfeffer!" It looked unimpressed and meandered away - into the damn lettuce. Since it was 6:00 a.m. coupled with the fact that I was wearing my birks (everyone knows birkenstocks should not get wet - or muddy), I didn't chase the little rascal.

Usually our little sheltie scares away all the critters, but she was otherwise engaged. We had a thunderstorm last night, so she was sleeping late - in the house. While I was staggering with coffee in hand after the rabbits from hell, Pfoetchen, the sheltie, was snuggled up in bed with the kids.

I didn't catch my rabbit, but just in case I get lucky next time, I'm saving the recipe.

Hassenpfeffer (Pickled Rabbit) Recipe #52897
German version for making rabbit. Good served with Potato Dumplings, sour cream thickens the sauce and adds a good flavor.
by Taylor in Belgium
2 days 2 days prep
SERVES 6
2 rabbits, cut for frying
vinegar, and
water, in equal amounts
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
4 bay leaves
1/2 cup butter
1 cup heavy sour cream
Place cut up rabbit in a large bowl or crock and cover with marinade of equal parts water and vinegar, the onion, salt, pepper, cloves and bay leaves.
Cover the bowl or crock and let marinade in a cool/cold place for two days.
Remove rabbit pieces and dry each piece.
Melt butter in a Dutch oven or heavy skillet and slowly brown rabbit, turning it often.
Gradually add some of the marinade sauce, about 1/2 cup each time, and simmer with a lid on it until it is tender.
Add sour cream just before serving.

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What's For Dinner

2008-06-17T17:44:00.001-05:00

Grilled Pork Steaks
Pasta with Pesto
Baby Spinach and Romaine Salad
Fresh Picked Onions with Sea Salt
Multi-Grain Bread
Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake

I do love my garden!