taking the backroad

Malware problem

2010-03-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

It seems that this blog has been infected with some sort of Malware. I do not know when or if it will be solved. If you receive posts through email or a blog reader then you should receive posts, as I have had no trouble reading them via those routes. Something on the actual website will be picked up by your malware blocker, or, worse, infect you computer if you have no malware blocker...I think this is ONLY FROM THE SITE ITSELF, not the emails & readers.

I have begun another blog with a similar name. If you wish to continue reading our posts, please subscribe to the new site in a blog reader or by foloowing the site directly. I hope to have the site fully up and running by the end if the week.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

New site: taking the backroad: a family's adventure
URL: backroadfamilyadventure.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!
Jeannie

The Artistic Mother Art Group: Post 1: Beginning

2010-03-07T17:06:00.000-05:00

This is the first week of the

The Artistic Mother Art Group.

The book, The Artistic Mother, by Shona Cole, is written in a twelve week format. Because my daughter is very creative and artistic herself, and because my sons enjoy making a mess, I've decided to work my daily art time into our homeschool time. Why make them wait until they are adults to relearn how to carve out a little personal creative time? My plan is to invite them to join in the same projects I'm doing or to think of their own and perhaps create a habit in their younger years. We may not get all of the assigned parts done on a daily basis, nor may we stay on a strict twelve week schedule, but we will do something toward our goal each day.

I certainly won't be able to post my work each day, but will aim for a weekly post summarizing our progress. I thought I'd blog today, just to mark the beginning.

Week 1/Day 1 Assignment

Art: Background papers step 1 - check!

Baby Boy and I were up all night with his tummy bug, and I could have easily put off the beginning another day, but...I had an art teacher once who said that the hardest part of any piece is the first mark on the paper. So, I decided to make that mark...to get the pages gesso'd so that the project was begun. I used pages from the kids school recycling bin. Some have words showing through the gesso...thought that might add to the project since we are all about homeschooling around here!

Other things due on Day 1

Poetry: Read a poem - check!

The Rainbow

by Walter de la Mare

I saw the lovely arch
Of Rainbow span the sky,
The gold sun burning
As the rain swept by

The bright-ringed solitude
The showery foliage shone
One lovely moment,
And the Bow was gone.

Photography: Make a list of the kids'

activities - Check!

reading, writing, building fairy gardens, hunting sticks, timing each other's tooth brushing, xbox, sign language class, co-op classes, filed trips, sleeping, visiting the rabbits at Tractor

Supply, washing the dog...endless possibilities.

OK...day 1 - Check!

It's a beginning!

Check out my fellow artistic moms and their beginnings!

100 photos: signs of spring 6: dinos in the sun

2010-03-07T16:36:00.000-05:00

100 photos: signs of spring 5: testing the waters

2010-03-07T16:34:00.000-05:00

100 photos: signs of spring 4: maple red

2010-03-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

100 photos: signs of spring 3: lilac buds

2010-03-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

Our Week...the first of March

2010-03-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

We started the week off on Monday by spending a couple of hours at the library on a scavenger hunt to help the big kids learn to find their own resources. This hunt resulted in a very full library bag, including just about every dinosaur book available. That night they all piled into Reeves' bed to read their books together. After awhile things grew unusually quiet. Dad & I found this precious scene. Nothing like a sibling sleepover!

On Tuesday we spent most of the day in family dental appointments. These visits resulted in clean teeth...and...appointments for fillings, a crown, and some beginning orthodontia! Lovely!

On Wednesday, we actually completed all of our regular studies, plus some we'd missed on Tuesday. I went out with some friends for dinner and Dad and the kids played a little Xbox.

Thursday is Science & the Arts day here. We listened to Dvorak most of the day. It's amazing how many pieces the kids recognize from TV or NPR. We began our study of the human body and FINALLY got back outside in the sunshine for our weekly nature study for the first time on a month or more (though we did do some nature study at the beach). This week's assignment was to mark one small square of ground and record all living & nonliving items inside. We all enjoyed being outside so much that our study turned into stick hunting and fairy garden construction in no time!

ONE SMALL SQUARE

On Friday we had a great day at co-op...handmade mancala games, handmade paper, Jackson Pollock-style marble painting, Medieval African & India History, KY History Bingo, Snakes as visitors! Wow! A busy day. After co-op we made an impromptu stop at the park with our friends to enjoy the sun.

Saturday, I had auditions for the spring Stage Left production of Excalibur! The Story of Young King Arthur. Turn out was great and I' am looking forward to diving into rehearsals. Reeves will play a shepherd or beggar and Embree will, again, work as props mistress on the stage crew.

Saturday night and Sunday morning Brice fought a nasty stomach/intestinal thing and he and I have just been taking it easy on the couch today!! He's much better this afternoon. I'm always amazed at the resilience of kids after a tummy bug!

The most fun of the week was definitely had by Brice!

As I posted earlier in the week, he has discovered that he loves cracking eggs and that he came upon a treasure trove of eggs to his liking...

Yesterday, while I was at auditions, he decided that he needed a dirt track for his train set (notice he enjoys the spot right in front of the fridge for all of his creative work!). I guess it's true that blogger dads get the camera too! :-) The kitchen still smells of chocolate!

See you for next week's update.

Have a great week!

A quick Tour of Our Beach Trip

2010-03-07T15:53:00.000-05:00

For those of you just logging in to taking the backroad...my grandparents rented a house at Emerald Isle, NC for the month of February and invited the entire family to visit. Though it was a fourteen hour drive, the kids and I had so much fun the four days we were there. It was beautiful, sunny weather mixed with the laughter of cousins and hugs from those we really love so much. Thanks Granddaddy & Mama Jean! (And Mom, Aunt Evelyn, & Aunt Martha!)

I have already posted about the first day's knitting lesson.

On the second day, we piled into five cars and drove the half hour to Fort Macon, near Morehead, NC. The visitor's center there is fantastic and the fort well preserved. It was utilized during the Civil War, Spanish American War, and World War II. My Grandfather is 94 and a WWII vet. It was a pleasure being there with him and my grandmother to hear their stories and see their reactions to the exhibits.

INSIDE FORT MACON

OUTSIDE FORT MACON

LOOKING FOR SHELLS ON THE POINT AT FORT MACON

Day Three: More relatives arrive.

THE NC AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES

THE NC MARITIME MUSEUM IN BEAUFORT

ROLL YOUR OWN SUSHI NIGHT!

Everyone made and ate their own under the tutelage of my sister and her son. Thanks Jules!

and my favorite photo of the week...I call it

WORDS OF WISDOM

Heads up! Lots of posts coming to an inbox near you!

2010-03-07T12:33:00.000-05:00

I have a sick little guy who wants me by his side today, so I'm taking the to opportunity to slow down and catch up on a little reading and a great deal of posts that have fallen by the wayside. Stay tuned for our beach trip, our week, some signs of spring photos ('cause I think it's finally peeping around the corner), and my first post for the Artistic Mom's workshop!

In the meantime...I LOVE this photo. Looks like an album cover!

Blogger moms don't get mad...they get the camera!

2010-03-02T17:02:00.001-05:00

Brice has begun to really exert his independence. Insisting on using chopsticks when the rest of us do...getting himself a snack and water from the dispenser in the fridge. Yesterday, he walked in from the kitchen soaking wet and I thought he'd just been having a little fun with the water....then I noticed his face was yellow...and remembered his current quest...squeezing eggs until they burst! While I'm cooking I have to guard them as the crown jewels in the Tower of London. So, while I was busy in another part of the house he decided to continue his search for his grail and, boy, was he successful!

All twelve eggs...obliterated!

Where will I hide them now that he can get into the fridge? Guess that's my cue to complete my conversion to veganism!

Artistic Moms (and Grandmothers) Group

2010-02-26T15:14:00.000-05:00

I ran across this new group starting up soon to encourage moms with artistic tendencies to take a little time each day to pursue their own creativity. The group will work on two-week-long projects from Shona Cole's new book The Artistic Mother.

We'll each link our own blogs to Artistic Creations with Trudy (http://artisticcreationswithtrudy.blogspot.com/) and post our progress each week. No pressure to finish...no one gets kicked out of the group for not completing a project...just a supportive community of like-minded moms who need encouragement to take a few minutes each day for themselves.

Interested in joining us? Go to the blog above and sign up. Order your book and we'll get started March 6!

For more info on the book...Shona Cole of An Artful Life,

List of participants so far. Is your name on this list?

1. Trudy Callan of Artistic Creations With Trudy, group organizer
2. Linn of Peace Living
3. Jenny of All Roads Lead Home
4. Nicole Austin of Life is Beautiful
5. Shannon of Blu-Bambu
6. Cindy of Yapping Cat Studio. She is featured in the book on Page 22. Good going, Cindy.
7. Deb Robertson of Works in Progress
8. Lindsay of Banter
9. Debra of Florentine Lily
10. Joyce of Nanas Little Hobby
11. Stampelot Sue of Stamp Art-o-Rama
12. Marissa Bowers of Art * Design * Photo. Marisa is the book's designer! Didn't she do a beautiful job?
13. Dani of And a Sprinkle of Fairy Dust
14. Kathryn of Flexie Smit
15. Crafter of Creatively Chaotic Days
16. Kathy Smith of Laughable Life
17. Mandy of Eight Is Enough
18. Jennifer of Coplings Hobbit Hole
19. Angelique of Grace and Space.
20. Lynn Toomey of Let's Gogh Art.
21. Kathryn of KV Creative Designs.
22. bitowhimsey of The Road to Whimsey.blogspot.com
23. Beth of Acorn Pies
24. Diva Kreszl of Diva's Musings
25. Nicks of Nicks Arty Stuff
26. Jeannie of Taking the Backroad

Now we just need you!

Our trip to Emerald Isle, NC - THE KNITTING LESSON

2010-02-21T19:48:00.001-05:00

My grandparents, my mother, and her sisters have been together at Emerald Isle, NC for the entire month of February. Early in the their stay, my mom and Aunt Evelyn found a sweet little place called the Salty Sheep Yarn Shop where they began learning to knit. When my Aunt Martha joined them, she, too, took up the habit. They've all been crafty and creative as long as I've known them, often spending hours teaching one of us kids to bake, embroider, paint, decorate cakes...you name it. The three of them have named themselves THE KNIT WITS!

On the first day of our visit here, they took the youngest girls for their own knitting lesson at the yarn shop. Reeves and I accompanied them but didn't knit. I thought I might be inspired to learn once we got there...I've always loved the hand-knit things offered by my grandmother and at art fairs...but knitting is beyond me at the moment. I just don't have the focus and patience to spare at this point in my life...at least not for counting stitches and casting chores. Maybe someday. I was, however, inspired by all the gorgeous yarns and colors...inspired to encourage my mother to keep knitting her beautiful gifts! Embree and her cousins were happy to sit at the knee of the lovely Knit Wits and enjoy a nice afternoon.

The owner of the shop, actually in Swansboro, NC, began the lesson with each of the girls.

Embree enjoyed casting on. She did a great job listening, asking questions, giving the whole affair a great deal of effort.

After the teacher wandered away to help other customers, the Knit Wits took over the lesson.

Aunt Martha helped her granddaughter, Charley, who learned very quickly and raced through her first few rows.

Aunt Evelyn (know as Effie) helped Embree with her casting on.

Mom (Also known as Nana) helped my niece Emma.

Reeves enjoying the lesson...

A day well spent!

Headed to the beach...

2010-02-15T18:59:00.000-05:00

My grandparents, mom, and aunts are spending the month of February at the beach...Emerald Isle, NC. The kids and I have been looking forward to getting away from the snow; to slogging through the sand hunting shells; to sitting in the sun on the front porch looking out to sea. We are headed down this week.

My cousins went this past weekend and sent pictures...WHAT????

No words necessary

2010-02-15T18:26:00.000-05:00

Why, oh why, do they grow up so fast?

2010-02-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Brice got his first real haircut yesterday...and went from baby to big boy in a few quick snips. Time to move on and enjoy this stage of his childhood.

Who do you love?

2010-02-14T11:40:00.000-05:00

A comment on the word of the year...

2010-02-13T11:05:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the year, along with many other bloggers, I chose a word to represent my goal for living this year. The word? ENOUGH. I have been trying to look at my life, my family, my commitments, and my stuff and find the parts that are satisfying and enjoy them. I've been looking at the parts that are stressful or unproductive and planning ways to finish the commitment I have to that thing, that organization, that person and move on. In other words...trying to find enough in what I have and what is enjoyable.

In doing so, I have been trying to break free of this need that I have that my house appear perfect before I allow anyone from outside our little family circle to visit. I'm not obsessed with cleaning. I keep too much stuff. On a day when it's just us, I am perfectly content to leave dishes in the sink all day, walk past dust bunnies, and step over a pile of dirty clothes because I'd rather be playing a game with the kids, blogging, cooking, or creating...anything but housekeeping! BUT...if there's the slightest chance someone might be coming over, I race through the house tidying up...putting on a good face! Remember, I am a theatre geek...I'm great at a fantastic outward appearance while backstage is a shambles...in so many ways!

So my goal has been to try to take the middle ground. Keep toys picked up unless they are actively being played with...keep our school materials in some sort of order, even if they are covering the dining room table...picking up the dust bunny the FIRST time I see it. I'm trying to just relax and invite friends in when I've had no notice that they'll visit, invite the kids' friends even when the upstairs isn't picked up...trying not to stress about my mother-in-law visiting the day we return from a week at the beach. I'm just trying to remember that these people don't come here to see my house...they come because they love us...and our dust bunnies!

So...in looking around, trying to take stock of the beauty that is enough in my home I have rediscovered some of the lovely details of living in a 100 year old house! No matter what we throw on the floor, these beauties are here to enjoy... and they are more than enough. Hope you enjoy them too!

What to do with the gift?

2010-02-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

What did we do with today's gift of a couple of extra hours?
After our regular lessons we...

Began reading Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliott and listening to the soundtrack of Cats
Read ahead in our history book
Made some pictures with rubber stamps
Taught Brice how to make mac-n-cheese (granted it was not homemade...it was psychedelic orange easy mac...but he was proud!)

Wash...

Pour...

Stir...

Enjoy!

Started a new embroidery project
Finished our Valentines

Played dinosaurs
Made chocolate-covered, cheesecake-filled, strawberries

They were messy and lumpy, but how can one really go wrong with strawberries, cream cheese, and chocolate...no matter how they look?

It's amazing how much we can get done in a few unexpected moments.
Hope you receive the gift of time soon too! How would you use it?

100 photos: signs of spring 2: asparagus risotto

2010-02-10T16:12:00.000-05:00

100 photos: signs of spring 1: waiting for 50 degrees

2010-02-10T16:11:00.000-05:00

the gift of time...

2010-02-10T10:12:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh...twice in the past 24 hours things on our schedule have gotten cancelled. These things both took time to prepare and will have to be rescheduled...but it has been a gift as well. Twice in the past 24 hours, I've been given the gift of time...the gift of slowing down...the gift of finding something more fun and more creative to do with the kids. Perhaps I'll have time to catch up on my blog posts later today. Thanks for the snow day!

Moving on...

2010-02-07T16:17:00.001-05:00

So, I've grown bored of my photo project - 100 Photos: Books. It's not because it's a bad idea. It's because my topic is way too narrow to evoke much creativity these days. I am always telling my children's theatre students that they will get more creative work from their kids if they place some boundaries on an idea...but I think I've placed too many boundaries on myself and I've stalled. So, I'll begin working on a new topic this week that excites me...for a number of reasons. My new topic for 100 photos is Signs of Spring. I am ready to move out of the doldrums of February and listen to my internal clock that yearns for spring. And there are so many signs, both natural and man made, of spring. This ought to be more interesting, satisfying, and motivating. Hope you, dear readers, enjoy. Thanks for indulging me. Happy Search for Spring!!

Busy bees

2010-02-06T22:55:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted anything about the kids in awhile...we've been busy bees getting back into the routine of things after the holidays. Seems it took all of January for us to get ourselves back into "normal." Now that we finally have our hive hummin' along nicely...co-op started again Friday...we go to the beach in another week...and the spring children's play auditions are the first of March. By the time the play is over, we'll be headed to the Farm for the summer...then maybe we'll feel normal...at least we won't be busy bees then!

Oh well...life passes too quickly so here's a few pictures of what we've been up to this past week or two...trying to slow down enough to remember to enjoy the moment!

We've been making lots of stops to visit the wild kitties behind the shopping center...raiding Clementine's food to take them a treat now and then.

Library visits & lots of reading! We've begun taking Brice to the Terrific Twos program on Thursday mornings. Embree's been requesting trips to the library almost daily for new books on rabbits. She's determined to have one and is reading every word she can find about the little critters.

Making Music & Magic

Peace out Ringo...

Making mashed potatoes...

...from Embree's original recipe

Playing keep away with Clementine

Vegas had dental surgery to clean her teeth and had 5 removed.

We now affectionately refer to her as

"The Bumble."

Spring session of co-op started yesterday.

Embree & Reeves are taking

Passport to Art (art & geography of six countries in Africa),

Green Science (Ecology),

Introduction to Japan,

History of the Middle Ages,

and KY History.

Reeves can hardly believe how much fun it is!!

Brice is taking

Storytime Literature,

Hooked on Art,

and Animal Science

Plus he gets a little one-on-one time with "Miss Nina."

Because he's a lot younger than the others in his classes, our friend Juanita brings special things

for the two of them to do when he needs a diversion.

Over the break, all the kids in the first session of History of the Middle Ages were assigned a topic to research. On this first day back, they all gave presentations that covered life in that time/place, food, music & art, literature, and favorite past times or entertainment. Embree & Reeves both worked very hard on their projects; gathering information and props for their exhibits. I think they were proud of their work. I was proud!

Embree's project was the

Medieval Yamato Dynasty of Japan

She gathered items common to an medieval Japanese feast...

learned origami...

learned about the undyed silks of Yamato kimono...

and made a carp kite after learning about Japanese use of kites in warfare and celebration.

Reeves' project was on the Knights of Medieval England

Of course, he was all about the food!

He found a listing of a typical feast of the knights or nobles and put together a tray of everything we could find from that list. He thought the beef stew was disgusting, but enjoyed the cider, cake, bread, butter, carrots & eggs very much. Embree shared all of her food with her classmates...Reeves dove right in and had his own feast after his presentation! That's my hungry boy!

Reeves' learned about stained glass, brushed up on his chess game, and compared peasant and noble clothing. I think his favorite part of the whole project was reading Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (the very, very, very sanitized version!). I had hoped he'd really like the Reeve's Tale and tell it for his project, but of course he fell for The Miller's Tale...lots more "cheeky" humor! Can't wait for him to read the original version some day!

And of course we are trying to take a moment now and then to remember just how lucky we are to have each other...and you, our loved ones! Happy Day Honey Bee!!

One of the reasons we have chosen to learn at home...

2010-01-31T18:19:00.000-05:00

"Research indicates that imagination starts with a child's play-instinct. This is the ability for children to recreate something with themselves as a centerpiece...Perhaps the sorriest part of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is the fact that the total emphasis is on standardized testing results and offers no incentives for the creative. Not that these are two mutually exclusive goals, but given a limited amount of time in a school year, it is easier to just stress the cognitive data rather than salute both inductive and deductive solutions to problems from a variety of perceptions."

from...

Ten Steps for Tapping Into Your Child's Imagination

By Alan Haskvitz

http://www.brainy-child.com/article/child-imagination.shtml

100 photos: books: eleven--sometimes my dreams come true

2010-01-31T18:05:00.000-05:00

100 photos: books: ten--chooses to read

2010-01-31T18:01:00.000-05:00

Six impossible things

2010-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Queen of Hearts said, "Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Lewis Carroll (Happy Birthday L.C.)

The six impossible things that sustain me...
1. That the time I spend teaching my children each day will make a difference in how future generations will see the world.
2. That we could just pick up and move to the Farm at any moment.
3. That the calories in the special cheesecake we receive from a friend every Christmas don't count.
4. That I will someday complete all the half-finished art projects in the attic.
5. That I have found the one person in the world who was meant to be my lifelong partner and friend.
6. That all living things are connected by the same Light...namaste.

Impossible, I know, but some things in life are better taken on faith than proof.

What are your impossible things?

100 photos: books: nine--thomas reads

2010-01-26T16:00:00.002-05:00

Packing

2010-01-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

Arrange whatever pieces come your way. --Virginia Woolf

My Dad and I both have this knack for packing. What my father-in-law calls packing ten pounds of potatoes into a five pound bag. We are both the official packers in the family because we've been know to squeeze in and extra two pounds after everyone else says, "No way!" When there are three kids, two adults, pets, toys, diapers, strollers, cameras, and school books, one has to learn to pack it well; arrange the pieces.

I've noticed that, as in packing, there's always some extra pieces that have to be arranged to fit. Like that extra pair of shoes someone forgot to put in the suitcase, there's always one more thing that has to go in, that needs to stay together, that must be arranged before the trunk can be closed...and to continue on the trip, the trunk has to be closed.

As in packing, I work hard to find a place for all the pieces that come my way. Some of those pieces are not what I envisioned for myself when I was younger. Marriage isn't all romance...but something deeper and more satisfying. My career isn't about promotion and nice shoes (though I do love nice shoes!). Motherhood has turned into so much more than giving birth...and I am so thankful for those unexpected pieces. I have been lucky enough to have a loving partner, a nice home, a beautiful family, and the luxury to follow my own path in life...to choose many of the pieces I've arranged.

But, as in packing, no matter how talented the packer, there comes a time that some pieces just can't be slipped into the small space between the portable crib and dog kennel. It's nice, and necessary to accept as many mismatched pieces as possible, but sometimes those extra shoes mean leaving the diaper bag behind. At some point, though they'd probably fit, some pieces are better off left on the curb.

So, while I am exceptionally good at accepting whatever comes my way in life. I am exceptionally untalented in my ability to let things come into my life briefly and then slip away. This includes stuff, this includes responsibility, this includes worries. So (word of the year) ENOUGH! I am going to try to arrange the human pieces first...friends, family, kids, husband...find a place in that five pound bag for them. In doing so, I am going to try to stick to seven or eight pounds instead of twelve. That means the stuff...the unnecessary responsibilty...the worry...the things that make me wonder if the trunk will close...on the curb!

Wish me luck! And why not look in your own five pound bag...I bet there's something in there that can be left behind!

JG

Granny...Nana...your grandkids in their natural state! CRAZY!

2010-01-25T09:26:00.001-05:00

Update: response to this post...from my Aunt Martha..."Embree you know you don't eat meat!"

Crazy little things...

2010-01-23T21:04:00.001-05:00

So, Brice got this toy guitar that plays popular rock songs by Sting, the B52s, Queen. The big kids are fascinated with it and want to hear the real versions of the songs. Tonight they asked to hear Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen. I googled it and came up with a video of it, Freddie Mercury at his best and topless to boot!

Reeves: Hey!

Embree: Uh! But! He’s not wearing a shirt! In public!

Reeves: If I become a famous rock star can I not wear a shirt?

Embree: Uh! Uh! Uh! Daddy would never allow that!

(Reeves rips off his shirt.)

Reeves: Wahoo!Yeah! I feel like a rock star already!

A brief self-indulgence...

2010-01-23T19:34:00.001-05:00

We are home again after an unplanned trip to Tennessee to join my family in a hospital vigil for my mom. Luckily, we got what can be considered really good news, if not ideal. What we all feared did not come to pass and for that we are all thankful. The kids and I spent a couple of extra days there, along with my aunt, to make sure there were no complications and to keep Mom company in her 24hrs of bed rest. With three kids, it’s difficult to be of significant help, but the kids played games and watched movies on the bed with her and we were able to take her to a doctor’s appointment, so I guess just being there may have helped the time pass if nothing else. Once we were able to exhale with the good news, it was nice to see all of my family and just sit and talk in the waiting room. No meals to prepare, no place to be, just a chance to talk and laugh and catch up.

Driving to see Mom last week, I thought a lot about my life and if I am living it in such a way that I would be at peace if the last time I saw or spoke to a loved one was the last time. I mean to live in this manner. I don’t always succeed and I know it is cliché to think of it in response to the possibility of losing a loved one, but so be it. It’s time.

So I am going back to my word of the year, ENOUGH. We never get enough time with the people we love, but can we spend that time so that if something unexpected happens then that time is enough to sustain us and keep that person alive in our hearts?

I long to make everyday special with my children I don’t mean by giving them more things or by making each of our schools days super exciting, but by making sure that if that was the last day I got to spend with them that they’d know that I loved them and knew them and was happy being their mom. The same goes for my husband (who probably gets the least of my attention), my parents, my sisters, my in-laws, my extended family, and my friends. Would they know?

I am lucky enough to know and for me, for today, that’s enough.

How she sees the world

2010-01-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Yesterday, Embree and Todd were watching the Cowboys' football game on t.v. As the commentators went to commercial Embree said that she liked the guy in the pink tie. After questioning her in several ways, Todd still couldn't figure out who she meant and asked if he was black or white. Embree responded, "I don't know...the one in the pink tie."

How do you see it?

100 photos: books: eight: it's in his nature

2010-01-18T10:48:00.000-05:00

100 photos: books: seven--a reader you are

2010-01-18T10:42:00.000-05:00

100 photos: books: six---sit stay read

2010-01-18T10:37:00.000-05:00

...the living

2010-01-18T08:33:00.000-05:00

Anais Nin said, "We write to taste life twice." This is certainly true for me. I write to share with you, dear reader, but I write in order to savor the happenings of my life. I know that this precious day will pass in the blink of an eye and the moment I take to remember it and write it is my second taste. When I am old and my children are grown and I am sitting on the the front porch of the farm with Todd, I can look again at this writing and sample this day once again.

I am trying to live in the moment and hope beyond hope that I will continue to do so when my life goes from caregiver to friend with my children. I look forward to spending time with my children as adults and in making memories with them then that are just as precious as the ones we are making now. So I quickly write the things that I want to remember and get one with the living. I'll go back one day when they are busy, when I'm still and quiet or cross and discouraged. I will have my next taste then and be thankful for my life...and then, once again, get on with the living.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

100 photos: books: five--reading on the run

2010-01-16T13:42:00.002-05:00

100 photos: books: four - waiting for a reader

2010-01-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

Sketching Assignment

2010-01-15T10:17:00.000-05:00

Each week we take the Sketch Tuesday challenge at http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/. This week's challenge was to sketch something made of leather. Of course, this concept was uncomfortable for Embree, so she went directly to the source for inspiration...

100 photos: books: three--Martin's Big Words

2010-01-14T20:11:00.000-05:00

100 photos: books: two--salads p.43

2010-01-14T20:08:00.000-05:00

100 photos: books: one--classroom favorites

2010-01-14T13:05:00.001-05:00

Story jar:: First of many

2010-01-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

Today at lunch I dropped the first passage into my new story jar. I think these comments were inspired out of the guilt my meat-loving son experiences living with vegetarians...
WRG:: I wish you didn't have to kill the animals to make meat. We could have a beef stick farm. I'd always be out in the garden.

Help for those in Haiti

2010-01-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

If you want to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti, you will find a list of relief foundations at Take Part -- http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/01/13/what-you-can-do-to-help-in-haiti

If can help only in a small way, there are foundations where you can text a code and $10 will be charged to your next wireless phone bill.

If nothing else...please send your thoughts, prayers, meditations, love their way today. It all counts!

Peace, Jeannie

Ice Sculptures Finale

2010-01-13T22:08:00.001-05:00

It's been a really warm day - 32 degrees! - and Reeves was the only one interested in a final look at the ice sculptures. Things were pretty as they emerged from the ice.

100 photos

2010-01-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

In search of a creative outlet that doesn't require a sewing table, easel, or stock in the art supply store, I have been inspired by this website http://onehundredphotos.blogspot.com/ to pick a topic and take 100 photos. I want to start tomorrow. Now I have to decide on the topic of the first 100. It's like starting a drawing or painting...I just have to make the first mark on the paper. The blank paper...the beginning...is the scariest part of any creative endeavor. So, my first thought, for better or worse, was BOOKS. I love to read and have lots of books going at once on any given day. So, to make that first mark on the paper, that will be the theme.

Now, I need some ideas for the next project. All responses from you, dear readers, are welcome.

See you soon...

A good dream

2010-01-13T09:23:00.001-05:00

I walked into the living room this morning and Reeves was sitting quietly on the sofa gazing into space with a faint smile on his face. Usually, he’s either playing his DS or trying to convince me to let him play Xbox before school. I asked him if he was ok. He said he was. I asked if he was meditating. He said he’d had a great dream and he just couldn’t get it out of his head. We should all be so lucky.

Enough fun for a cold winter day...

2010-01-11T22:35:00.001-05:00

Today, after our lessons, we gathered our stale bread and rode over to the park to feed the geese. Embree misplaced the edge of the pond and walked out on the ice...I almost had a heart attack...but she came running back when she heard me screaming! :)

Afterward, we went to Peddler's Mall (an antique, flea market, junk store). We haven't been in months and it's one of the girls' favorite places to while away an hour or two. Brice loved spotting all the trains...

Reeves rode in the buggy and played DS!

I had a little birthday money left over and thought I'd find some treasures to brighten a few corners of the house...here are our finds:

A funky candelabra...green (my favorite color) with lovely green crystals.

Embree and I both agreed that it was just inexpensive enough to be a must-have

to top our new lazy-susan.

A miniature hand-cut silhouette just 3"x3"...and an antique ball jar

where I plan to jot down funny things the kids say and

drop them for safe keeping. Happy birthday to me.

After dinner we all went to the library for family storytime. Tonight was dinosaur night! Todd & Embree took Brice in while Reeves and I read and played on the computers. Embree said Brice acted like the "King" of storytime...running around demanding that the librarian read the books HE wanted...never mind the ten or so other kids in the room! Also, he apparently corrected the librarian and kids on several dinosaur names when they got them wrong...ROAR!!!!

Monday...check!

a new way to get there...

2010-01-11T08:26:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!

I've been thinking about the name of our blog - Discovery School Days. It's become about so much more than just school. It's about our life and the choices we are making for our children and ourselves. So, I've changed the name & address. If you are a follower or receive email alerts, this shouldn't matter. If you plan to share our link with others, please use the new one you'll find above.

As of January 11, 2010...we are officially on a new path...

Welcome to... taking the backroad

Sunday...

2010-01-10T18:33:00.002-05:00

No real change in the ice sculptures today...it's supposed to be warmer this week, so we might see some treasures appear.

Until then, here are a couple more pages from the 2009 photobook...

Ice Sculptures Day 2

2010-01-09T11:02:00.003-05:00

One more post for today...that's it!

It's a balmy 18 degrees here this morning.

No melting of the ice...just some added snow.

Maybe tomorrow we'll start seeing some surprises.

Embree has discovered that the red ice (made with a peppermint stick)

tastes yummy...but she found out what happens when

you lick something in the freezing cold!

(Don't know? Watch A CHRISTMAS STORY!)

Bionicles are still frozen...awaiting a warm breeze to free

them from their icy prison...

Just in case you needed a warning...

Stay warm!

Photo Book 2009

2010-01-09T10:49:00.003-05:00

I have been working on a photo book for our 2009 year.

Thought I'd post a page or two each day for those of you who are interested!

Notice our MLK, Jr. mural in the dining room and Reeves

in his normal pose for playing DS (in the left corner of the

pic of the living room!

One Little Word 2010

2010-01-09T10:45:00.001-05:00

A friend posted this site on Facebook. (Thanks Aja!)http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2009/12/one-little-word-2010.html

Choose one word for the year and let it guide you.

My word this year – ENOUGH

...as in enough stuff, enough love, enough joy vs. never enough, more stuff, more responsibility, etc. I want to be able to say no and to be bolstered in the knowledge that my life is good...that it's enough.

What’s your word?

Ice Sculptures Day 1

2010-01-08T13:12:00.003-05:00

We unwrapped and placed the ice sculptures outside this morning.

It was like Christmas morning!

We'll post the changes as they happen!

It's so cold, I don't anticipate much change for a couple of days.

Until then...stay warm!

Embree's Unschooling Day

2010-01-07T17:57:00.005-05:00

Embree has been asking for a day when she would get to decide what we did in school. For those of you not involved in homeschooling...child-led schooling is often referred to as unschooling. We had planned a trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum and to see sweet Theresa today, but the weather caused us to postpone that trip. That left us with a nice snowy day at home and me with no plans. So, I decided to let Embree have her wish. We had a totally unschooled day (except for the reading I insisted upon). It was a pretty interesting day...though I think she ran out of ideas at about 3pm and then there was a great deal of pining away for the XBOX! But that had to wait until 7pm, as usual!

First, we made pancakes for breakfast using our new pancake writer (thanks Granny & Pop!).

A flower

A bee

Brice enjoyed the pancakes!!

Then we made molasses candy in the snow (like Laura Ingalls in Little House in the Big Woods)

The candy didn't solidify as expected, but Embree made us all molasses snow cream for lunch.

We all took a little time to play trains with Brice.

Then we made molds from recyclables, filled them with water and various treasures and glitter glue and set them outside to freeze. Tomorrow we'll free them from the molds and build an outdoor ice sculpture (pic will follow when complete.).

Ice mold with orange peels.

Ice mold with two fighting Bionicles.

Ice Molds with Christmas balls, sea shells, candy, cinnamon sticks...

Then we headed up to the classroom for an hour of reading and drawing,

followed by a few hours of work on our incredible mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. to start our study of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. We all helped (even Reeves!!) and we are all pretty proud of it!

After lunch we finished hanging the mural, played more trains, and painted with Brice. A neighbor dropped by with a gift basket filled with the fixings for pear gingerbread upside down cake, so we made that too. We put on a pot of black-eyed peas and some brown rice for hoppin-john for dinner and went outside to play in the snow and wait for Daddy to get home.

Embree...never without joy!

Reeves...never without apples!

A little snowball fight.

Snowy boots...

...and cold fingers.

I am happy with this day. It was a perfect wintry day to just follow our noses. I need to make sure we have the opportunity do this more often. It's good for our souls and good for the kids to have some say in our day. Guess it's Reeves' turn next. We'll be eating apples and playing DS all day, I'm sure!!

Hope you have the opportunity to follow wherever the path leads...sometime very soon!

Julie & Julia

2010-01-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

We interrupt our regular posts for a movie review…We finally watched Julie & Julia last night. The movie is based on two books, Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child. I enjoyed reading both books; the latter being one of my all time favorites! While I was a little bored with the modern day scenes about the blog project, I eagerly anticipated each scene with Meryl Streep as Julia Child. She was so entertaining and the depiction of the Childs’ love affair was envy-inducing. While I was a bit disappointed with the lack of screen time devoted to Julia’s first meal in France (it was such a momentous moment in her life, after all) the treatment of her humanness and determination matched her memoirs well. If you are a fan of Julia Child, it’s worth a watch!

What do you do to make the most of winter?

2010-01-05T16:51:00.003-05:00

I have always loved January. I love beginnings. With the beginning of a new year, there always seems an endless array of possibilities in January. For the most part, I don't make difficult resolutions, but I do try to use the creative energy I feel at this time of year to propel myself toward a better me. Last year I decided to go completely vegetarian. It was not difficult. As a matter of fact, as the year has progressed, I've become even more committed to it.

I enjoy being hunkered down in a warm kitchen or in our classroom, wearing my slippers, sipping tea, snuggling with the baby, reading or playing games with the older kids. I always find that the two weeks in January before classes resume at the college, before I begin working on the spring children's theatre production, make me really wish I could carry this contentment throughout the year.

So, I guess I use winter to recharge, to prepare for the rest of the year, when it seems that life is in overdrive. Even in the summer, when we frolic in the mountains for a couple of months, we are always on a schedule. I am so happy to look up over my morning coffee cup and see huge white spaces on the calendar!

So what does winter do for you? Share your thoughts if you like! We'd love to read them!

Happy Snow Day! Here's to the silence of a snowy world at midnight and the excuse you need to stay home and bake a batch of brownies!

Let the Wonders Begin...

2010-01-01T10:13:00.004-05:00

This year, may all your days be filled with the sound of joyful laughter and the warmth of fuzzy slippers. May you awaken to the surprise of a sparkling icicle and retire to the sweet "Goodnight" from someone you love.

May you remember what brings you happiness and make room for it in your life everyday.

"There is no way I can anticipate all the good things that are going to happen today." --Brian Narelle

May you find wonder in every moment, be ready for anything, and dread nothing.

Happy New Year,

Jeannie

Christmas Favorites

2009-12-28T21:24:00.004-05:00

The love of brothers & sisters...

Peace and Joy from our family to yours.

May the rest of your 2009 be filled with love.

Starbucks Bounce

2009-12-21T17:53:00.001-05:00

A little birdie gave me an early Christmas/birthday gift of a card from Starbucks, so the kids and I took a break today and went for a treat. Thanks little birdie. I got my usual, Reeves got an Izzy Soda, and Brice got “chocwat” milk. Embree wanted to try the Peppermint Mocha. It did look yummy!

Now think about that…Embree+coffee+chocolate+sugar=WOW!!!!

I told her she would be bouncing off the walls. Reeves said, “You know you can’t really bounce off the walls.” I said, “It’s a figure of speech, but I’ve see her try before.” His response, “Well it’s difficult…I’ve tried it before. I just smacked the wall and fell to the floor!”

BOYS!!!

A poem for Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T08:15:00.001-05:00

Today is Winter Solstice (12:47 pm, Dec. 21, 2009). I got up early this morning and sat in the dark, quiet house, trying to free myself from all the stress of this coming week…trying to feel a soft darkness and quietness inside as well. I have found myself struggling for inner peace in the past few days. Actually I’ve probably been searching longer…as I recall that the mantel in the dining room is decorated with the word, as are our family Christmas cards. When the kids sometimes ask what I would wish for if I could wish for anything I often say world peace, and I do wish for that with all my heart, but I think I need to follow the old song. “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” And peace on Earth can’t begin with me until I feel peace in my heart. My prayer today, is the peace within myself to guide my actions to create peace around me. If you are reading this, I wish it for you as well. Happy Winter Solstice. Peace.

Winter Wishes

By Ray Cruz

December 12, 2001

Let the first snow of winter
Cleanse the wounds in your heart
From conflicts and hardships of the year.

Let the heavenly showers
Clear the air and freshen your view
Of the world around you.

Let the brisk sounds and scenes
Of the holiday season
Pace the rhythm of your step.

Let your soul be uplifted
With the sparkle of children
Enjoying the surprises of winter’s antics.

Let your heart be filled
With the peace of an infant's succor
From her mother's breast.

Let peace in your heart
Free you from doubts and fears
And spread your warm feelings to those near to you.

Let peace in your heart
Open the door to love
And reveal the true delights of the human experience.

Let there be peace on earth,
The purest peace of innocence,
And let it be born in your heart.

Santa’s Helpers

2009-12-10T09:36:00.001-05:00

I’m not usually the sappy type…maybe I’m overly tired with everything that’s going on right now…but someone sent this to me this morning and it brought a tear to my eye. Wish we could all bring ourselves to feel this way all year.

Happy Dec. 10!

*Adventure With Grandma*

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's.... for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote on the package, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" --Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.

He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.

Changes in blog access

2009-12-08T13:03:00.002-05:00

Due to some privacy issues that have arisen, I am closing this blog to the public. If you were on my regular list I have sent an invitation to you to become an approved reader. If you received posts via email, I have retained that list but I am unsure if the changes will affect delivery. If you receive today's post via email, please let me know so that I know it's working. If you wish to become a reader and need assistance or want to recommend someone who would like to be come an approved reader, please email me at jfgambill@gmail.com.

Thanks! Have a nice Tuesday!

December Giving posts

2009-12-07T08:41:00.001-05:00

Our December giving project is well underway and the kids are enjoying it. This week is dress rehearsal week for THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER. I am directing, Embree is on the stage crew, and Brice and Reeves are both in it (so Dad is a kid wrangler!!). Needless to say, I have had no time to post blog entries. I’ll be posting updates on our giving project, and pictures from this week’s adventures next week…when I can breathe again! What ever happened to stringing popcorn and making gingerbread cookies?????

Have a great week!

December Giving - Day 3

2009-12-03T12:13:00.003-05:00

Today's gifts (December 3)

My clever cousin, Heather, is putting together a book for my grandparents with submissions by all the great-grandkids.

The kids worked on their pages today as their gift of the day.

Reeves chose his favorite poem and drew a little picture to go with it.

Brice shared a bear collage he made recently...

Embree created her own photo picture...

December Giving – Day 2

2009-12-03T09:01:00.001-05:00

Our second day of giving. I suggested that they give each other permission to borrow something of the other’s that they seldom share. Both said that they didn’t care to borrow anything of the other’s. So much for that idea…so they were on their own to think of a gift.

Reeves decided to sing Happy Birthday to his great grandfather (93).

Embree and Reeves attend a combo science and sign language class on Wednesday evenings. They made colloids – gum drops – out of Jell-O gelatin and water. They were cool. Of course, because they were made of gelatin, Embree wouldn’t eat hers. She gave one to a friend and one to Reeves. This, she counted as her gift. Ok, it was 8pm and she was desperate to check off the assignment. Got anything laying around you would rather die than eat…give it as a gift!!! I admit, before now, she would have thrown it in the garbage rather than share it with her brother…so there was generosity in her gift.

This is going to be a learning experience for all of us! I know they will both benefit from this experiment if we stick to it.

Until tomorrow…

December Gifts – Day 1

2009-12-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

The kids and I started our 25 days of giving yesterday (Dec. 1). I think it was more difficult for them than they thought it would be. They are still focused on buying and giving material things as gifts. But, by the end of the day they both were able to do something nice…though it seemed like a checklist. I have faith that it will get easier and more sincere over the month.

Embree: Helped Reeves find his new bird ornament after we got home late last night and the cat had ripped all the feathers out and mutilated the beak. She helped so willingly, then asked if she could count it as her gift. Ok, so she actually was nice to him about it…so yes, it counted.

Reeves: Put off his gift until bedtime because he couldn’t think of anything except giving away a toy. He gave everyone in the family a big hug before bed. It’s a start.

It’s hard for kids to think of giving at this time of year when they are inundated with so much that encourages them to ask for things. So, today we’ll start with things. I’m going to ask them to allow the other to borrow something for the day that they don’t normally share. We’ll see how it goes!

Sticks and Rocks

2009-11-27T09:59:00.001-05:00

Ever since I was old enough to need to shop for Christmas gifts, I have shopped Black Friday with my Dad and sisters. Some years it’s just me and one other person. Other years all four of us get up early, grab coffee, and hit a couple of stores. Sometimes we don’t buy very much. When the kids were very small, and into actual toys, it made Christmas a bit cheaper.

So last night I decided to hit the Toys R Us sale at midnight. Then I was going to go to Kohl’s at 4am and Walmart at 5am. Before the sale papers came to my door yesterday morning, the kids’ lists were short and almost complete. Then I started looking through the ads and feeling that frenzy to make sure my kids had the best holiday possible by buying them lots and lots of stuff.

I admit it, I let the feeling get to me this time of year. Christmas is one of the special times I remember growing up. We had such a great time that I get depressed when I can’t be with my family at Christmas. I want my kids to have that same thought when they are grown. So, I hesitate not to buy something they want or I wonder if we have enough for them each year…even when the space under the tree is piled high and stockings are so heavy they can’t be hung. THEY NEED MORE STUFF so they’ll love Christmas as much as I do!!!

Then I look back at my childhood Christmas memories. We got stuff, don’t get me wrong, but we got a few things and a stocking. I remember a few of my favorite things, but not the bulk of the list over the years. What I remember is that we always got a family game as a gift and my parents would let us open it on Christmas Eve after church. We’d play a round while we sipped eggnog that my mom made and nibbled cookies that we had helped decorate. Then we’d set out something for Santa and head to one of my sisters’ bedrooms to camp out on the floor together and wait for morning. (This was such an important tradition for my youngest sister that she made Todd do it the first year he was with us!).

The next morning, after gifts, we’d eat a huge breakfast with my mom’s cream cheese bread hot out of the oven, get dressed and visit both sets of grandparents before the day was over. December 25th is my birthday, so I’d have at least two cakes and two or three rounds of “Happy Birthday to You” before I went to sleep. Revelation…MY MEMORIES DON’T REALLY INVOLVE GETTING STUFF!!! (I know, they involve food…that’s another blog post entirely!)

So, back to last night…I actually did drive to Toys R Us. (1 hr to get there and get into the parking lot). I walked up to the line (which only had about 200 people when I got there, but was stretched around the building within 15 minutes). I stood in line for 20 minutes or so and all those memories from my younger days started running through my mind. I realized that the ONE toy I was in line for was for my youngest…who didn’t even ask for it…who doesn’t care whether he gets a new train set, but would rather I just sit down and play trains with him and the old set. I realized that the reason I wanted to be there was to be with my family…but I was alone.

Then I started thinking about my recent blog posts about the “gimmes” and my kids’ consumer mentality. I looked around and found myself in the midst of the very thing I want to eradicate in their lives. I was suddenly embarrassed to be there…so I left. I just left and drove home. The further I got away, the better I felt. I climbed into bed and slept soundly and there wasn’t a package hidden away anywhere in house! There were no impulse, guilty purchases or toys and junk grabbed because there was a limited number available.

This morning, I ordered a slightly less fancy, slightly more expensive train set for Brice online. He’ll be thrilled. The kids will have plenty of Christmas. After all, they are lucky enough to have generous grandparents and aunts and uncles. But I’ll make sure that our December is about giving and sharing and playing. So, I’m back to my theory of giving sticks and rocks this year. If Santa brought sticks and rocks I bet they’d play with them…and I bet they’d always remember that Christmas!

2009-11-26T20:31:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Holiday Greetings

2009-11-22T20:40:00.002-05:00

Giving Thanks, Part 2

2009-11-22T19:49:00.001-05:00

So, my family members are all aware of all the things and loved ones we HAVE in our lives. Gratitude is good. Gratitude for the little things that don’t cost money is even better. We all seem to have that covered at different levels and we are working on getting better at recognizing how blessed we really are at this moment.

Moving on…how can we help others who need it? How can we put aside our own desires, even our own needs, to help friends, family, even strangers who need us?

That was our challenge today and it was a hard challenge. First responses by both of the big kids was to donate money to charity. When pushed on where that money would come from both thought it would come from Mom & Dad. Neither was really willing to give up their own allowance for this. So the challenge then became something they could do for others that didn’t require money. That was a hard one too. Here are some of their ideas:

Have a lemonade stand and give the money to charity. (Mom: “Where do you get money to buy supplies?” Kid: “You?”)

Give away my socks. (Mom:“What would you wear?” Kid:”You could buy me more socks.”)

We finally got around to volunteering. Embree offered to rake a neighbor’s leaves and Reeves offered to clean her cat boxes.

I don’t know if I need to work on my kids or on myself. I am shocked at how little they could think of that actually required a sacrifice on their part. Have I been that poor a model? I thought I was generous and compassionate. Maybe I’m not enough of those things. Maybe I need to make a concerted effort to exhibit those qualities in a more overt way to the kids.

I think we will spend December concentrating on giving. Each day we will give a gift; tangible or intangible. I will not walk by a Salvation Army kettle without dropping something in, even if I’ve denied the kids their favorite treat because it’s too close to Christmas or too far from pay day. I will look for ways to help and ask them to join in. Some days may be difficult. Some days WILL be difficult, but something as small as helping a sibling clean up or waiting for the mail carrier just to say thanks will do.

I’ll report our progress. It should be interesting!

‘til then…

Giving Thanks

2009-11-21T20:43:00.002-05:00

This week we are trying to focus on the parts of our lives for which we are thankful instead of the myth of happy Pilgrims and Native Americans embracing in a big group hug. Don't get me wrong. I love Thanksgiving. As a matter of fact, when we take out the misconceptions and stereotypes and focus on actually giving thanks for what we have, then it's the happiest, most relaxed, most meaningful holiday for me.

For example, we had a huge Thanksgiving potluck at our homeschool co-op on Friday. It was the biggest, yummiest spread of brown food one could ever hope for on Thanksgiving. Most importantly we all (20+) sat around one large table and just enjoyed each other's company. There was no anticipation of presents to open as on Chirstmas, no trick or treating, no Easter baskets...no gimme, gimme feelings. Then each kid got up and gave a brief presentation for Kentucky History. That's it! It was relaxed and fun and lovely. I found myself looking around thinking how lucky my family is to be a part of this extended family group. So many friends and so much love there.

Tomorrow and Monday I get to spend time with all the kids and adults in THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER. That's another group that makes me recall just how lucky we are to have so many friends and so many opportunities in our lives. Watching kids (and adults) blossom on stage, listening to excited actors explain their creative ideas, being able to step back and allow a cast to take the reigns of their show that last week...that's special and makes the time it takes worthwhile.

Of course, there are our moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunt, uncles, grandparents, cousins, in-laws, birth parents, friends, pets, and complete strangers who smile as they walk by who fill our lives with love. We don't get to spend enough time with them, but they are always in our hearts.

We have a home, food, shelter...even decent health care...and the occasional splurge on eating out or new toys. We have so much and want for nothing.

Today we are thankful for all we have...tomorrow we move on to what we have that we can give to make others' live better.

Jeannie: I am thankful for my three beautiful children, even when they are loud and dirty and picking on one another!

Todd: My Wife

Embree: My family because they care for me.

Reeves: I am thankful for my cousins and wish I got to see them more often.

Brice: He is thankful for "Juice"

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the farm with the Embrees

2009-11-18T15:05:00.005-05:00

We visited our friends, Josh, Lovell, Peyton, and Jared Embree in Schwenksville, PA the first weekend in November. We visited with a friend of their's on a working farm. We fed horses, gathered eggs, fed the cows, and went on a real hayride...real wagon pulled by a tractor with actual hay! It was a beautiful fall day and a wonderful way to spend time with people we love.

Fun in the park

2009-11-18T13:43:00.002-05:00

Theresa and Josh joined us for an afternoon in the park...a beautiful afternoon.

Pumpkin Study

2009-11-18T10:45:00.004-05:00

For our Autumn Nature Study series, we studied pumpkins. We went to the pumpkin patch and picked our own, then brought them home to study. We examined the outside, thumped them, weighed them, sketched them, then cut them open.

We examined how the seeds were attached to the flesh by the gooey, stringy matter inside...sort of like an umbilical cord! Embree was not impressed!

We examined and drew the seeds

Brice was determined to put the pumpkin back together!!

Then Reeves was in charge of roasting the seeds...one of his favorite snacks.

Embree was tasked with roasting the flesh...

Finally, we used the roasted pumpkin to make cookies. A fun day!

New Pet...yet another one!

2009-10-26T17:01:00.004-04:00

Embree wanted to introduce her new pet (and her new haircut!). Enjoy.

The Lesson

2009-10-20T17:48:00.001-04:00

Brice has begun to really enjoy playing with trains. You know, the kind they set up at bookstores in the children’s section so homeschooling mom’s like me have plenty of uninterrupted time to make unintended purchases? Anyway, Reeves had a set of trains when he was younger, but they’ve long been packed away in the attic and his train table has been used as a surface for each Lego creation of the day. Today, without asking his opinion, I loaded all of his Legos into a huge shallow plastic bin that he can slip in and out from under his bed. Then I moved the train table into Brice’s room and set up the trains. I simply told all the kids, “I think it’s time to get the trains out for Brice…he’d love that.” Reeves helped me load his Legos into their new home, helped me move the table, helped me set up the track, and has been playing with Brice now for about two hours. Never, never did he ask why, or ask what did he get for giving up something he uses on a daily basis. He just did it and he’s enjoying it, and he’s teaching his little brother how to be a beautiful human being. Today’s lesson was for me…sometimes a simple act by a child can stop you in your tracks and make you ask yourself, “Can I possibly live up to that?”

Nature Study: Golden Rod & Wooly Worm

2009-10-08T17:23:00.005-04:00

This week's nature study was the Golden Rod (Solidago altissima) , one of our favorite fall flowers and the KY state flower. We drove to the nature trail at Great Crossing park and walked a little ways until we found a stand of them ready for study. Golden Rod are composite flowers, meaning each spray of gold holds hundreds of individual flowers. We studied the taxonomy of the plant kingdom earlier in the day and put our new knowledge to good use when we discovered that while the golden rod spread seeds on the wind, they reproduce by rhizomes on the roots as well. This makes a patch of golden rod clones of one another. Cool!

We always get a little more than we bargain for...we ran across a huge lichen we've yet to identify...any ideas?

Of course we played a bit!!

And we came across a Wooly Worm!! Growing up where the annual town event is The Wooly Worm Festival, I didn't think much about it at first. However, this appears to be the first time the kids have run across a "wooly bear." They all enjoyed having him crawl up and down their arms. We brought him home to see if we could coax him into a pupa and watch the metamorphisis to moth...but after a little research, we discovered that the Wooly Worms buries itself in the ground over the winter and emerges as the Isabella Tiger Moth in the spring. The cold is a must to jumpstart the transformation, so he'll have to go back out into the garden. Maybe we'll meet him flying around the front porch light in April!

We found a cool lychen

Fall at the Farm (Oct. 5 & 6)

2009-10-07T21:42:00.005-04:00

The leaves were gone on many of the maples, and just beginning to turn on other types of trees. My guess is that this coming weekend will be gorgeous. It was still nice to be in the mountains, in the rain and fog. We built a fire and stayed close to the homestead all day. We were visited by a young Jack Russell Terrier who was obviously on the move. He'd been shot through the front right paw, but it appeared to have exited the back of his foot and was healing ok. We took him to animal control near the farm so they could post his picture and see if he'd been micro-chipped. We called back after leaving to come back to KY. He had no chip. We'll give his owners a bit longer to find him, then Todd's promised Embree we'll find him a home. He's precious...anyone need a new dog? I have a feeling home will be Georgetown if he isn't careful!! Happy fall everyone!!

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

2009-10-07T21:36:00.003-04:00

During our latest visit to the farm Embree decided that Brice should sleep with her. It was his first slumber party!! He went to sleep patting her on the shouldar. Reeves didn't seem to mind having his bed ALL TO HIMSELF!!

Sweet Boy

2009-10-07T21:26:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share this picture of our sweet boy!

Wild Kitties

2009-10-07T21:18:00.003-04:00

We've found a treasure trove of wild kittens in the privet hedge behind KMart. It's now a nightly must to see them. This is one reason Embree has so many pet items in her purse. She's prepared for anything!! There are two kittens that actually run out whenever they hear us pull up. Embree has touched them a few times, though they are skittish. One night we saw a pack of 5 big raccoons just hangin' with the cats and sharing their food (someone from the Humane Society s feeding them). I think the goal is to eventually catch a couple and take them to be spayed, then release them back. Embree's in heaven when we are there!

Nature Study: Tree Scavenger Hunt

2009-10-07T19:58:00.006-04:00

We walked to campus on a tree scavenger hunt...the kids enjoyed finding everything on thier lists, plus a few extras!

A tree with needles

Lots of large acorns

A leaf larger than Reeves' head!

A tree with smooth bark

A leaf larger than Embree's hand

Needles

A tree with fruit

Rough bark

A leaf smaller than Embree's hand

2009-10-07T19:41:00.003-04:00

As part of our ongoing nature study we visited the Arboretum in Lexington. It’s the Kentucky state garden on the UK campus. It’s a little bit of the middle of nowhere in the middle of the city. A fun hike.

Reeves was fascinated with the Straw Flowers, Embree journaled the entire time, and Brice slept...until it was time eat Ben & Jerry's for our study of Vermont!!

Catch up

2009-10-06T21:02:00.001-04:00

OK…in the next little bit I’m going to try to catch up on blog posts that have been waiting around for a few weeks. Hope you really are interested in our comings and goings because they are on the way!!

(If you receive this blog via email and you wish not to receive it any longer, please let me know!!)

Have a great week!

Embree’s purse

2009-09-28T20:31:00.001-04:00

I have neglected to post recently because I have neglected to take pictures recently and think I have to add pictures whenever I post. A vicious cycle. Today, I have something to write about that is truly amazing to me. Embree asked to borrow one of my purses. I wondered if she planned to use it as a book bag or something…no…it’s her new purse. After watching her lug it around all over town today I asked her if she would tell me what in the world she was carrying around. Here’s the list…as she gave it to me…seriously!

A kitten bottle (a real nursing bottle she bought at tractor supply Saturday)

A stuffed cat

An unopened spool of ribbon

Two jingly cat toys

A squeaky dog toy

A Ziploc back filled with more ribbon, cat food, a jingly bell on a string, a mouse on a string, a bottle of water

A book about dogs & cats

Her Epipen

A hand mirror

A Neopet dinosaur from Burger King

A hairbrush

Two pair of oobi eyes

A pinwheel

A small plastic doggie with bowl

A ring with a cat on it

A big bouncy ball

A tiny, heart-shaped journal

Chapstick

Lipgloss

An orange pencil eraser

A hair bow

A target card with $4

Her library card

3 $1 bills, 6 quarters, 10 nickles, 13 dimes, 16 pennies, and 1 Canadian penny

When asked why she carries all this stuff…”In case I need it.”

Happy Birthday Reeves

2009-09-10T18:03:00.001-04:00

Seven years ago today, we got a call from the adoption agency about this time of day (5:30pm). The call? “Your son was born earlier today and he’ll be ready to go home with you tomorrow.”

Talk about a surprise party! We were preparing to leave the next day to defend our doctoral comps! So, we piled Embree and all the baby paraphernalia into the car, drove to Martinsville, VA, picked up our precious bundle and headed to UVA to our defenses.

Drama has been following him ever since…sweetness too. Love that boy!

It’s a grand day to celebrate! 9-10-09

KY State Fair

2009-08-26T11:46:00.003-04:00

On Aug 21, we took a field trip to the KY State Fair in Louisville. Nan and Poppy came all the way from TN to join us...they really like state fairs! The kids decided to spend our nature study hour at the fair with the animals. Each made a list of observations, but mostly they just took in all the cacophony of sounds and sights and smells. Embree really wanted to bring home a rabbit...I think Reeves would have loved to ride a goat...and Brice, of course, was ga-ga about the chickens! I think we would all love to live somewhere we could raise chickens & rabbits, maybe a cow or burro...maybe a goat or two.

The fairgrounds were sparkling clean, the people were friendly, the lines were short,and the weather was mild and sunny. The kids rode all the rides they could fit into the three hours we allotted, and enjoyed viewing the competitions. We all enjoye the cakees! We had a great day and can't wait to go again next year.

Our first week of school - year 3

2009-08-19T12:19:00.005-04:00

Pictures of our classroom...

Well, we've made it through the first half of the first week of school. What I thought would be a very ambitious schedule this year has, so far, proven to be quite manageable and enjoyable.

Here's a look at our schedule...

MON-WED

Logic (Reeves' Favorite)

Math

Grammar

Reading (Embree's Favorite)

Spelling

Latin

Music

History

Literature

Handwriting

Typing

Free Reading

Preschool Activities (Brice)

THURS.

Science/Biology

US Geography

Nature Study

Art (Mom's Favorite)

Home Ec (cooking, this term)

Free Reading

Preschool Activities (Brice)

FRI.

Co-op Classes

including

Literature - Little House books (Reeves)

Literature - Three Cups of Tea (Embree)

Medieval History

Science Fair Preparation Class

Junior KY Historical Society Meetings

Preschool Activities (Brice)

Library Visits

We also may be adding...

Dog Club ( Embree)

Gymnastics (Embree)

Book Babies (Brice)

Piano or Choir (Reeves)

Junior First League (Reeves)

Summer's End

2009-07-29T15:00:00.003-04:00

What a lovely summer it has been. We spent two months at the Farm in the NC mountains. Most days were full of friends and relatives. It is always a joy to catch up with our loved ones in such a beautiful spot. These pictures are from our last evening at the farm. The kids hauled out the play fabric and "flew" all over the yard in the setting sun. Mom had come to help me pack up for the summer and she joined in the fun. It was fun and I hope the joy is evident...they are bittersweet images for me because they represent summer's end.

First day of Summer Break!

2009-05-30T20:18:00.002-04:00

We've had a fun, exhausting day with Nana & Poppy BIll. We spent all day today visiting farmers markets and the Amish bulk foods grocery in east TN. Visiting Sam's tomorrow and we're stocked for weeks at the Farm! Looking forward to getting there tomorrow. Embree bought some sunflowers that are already 6 ft tall. We'll plant them when we arrive in Crumpler. We are also looking forward to planting a tiny garden with lettuce and tomatoes. Can't wait to get settled in for the summer. We have three required days of school left since we took this past week off, but I'm looking forward to doing it at the picnic table on the front porch! We'll visit the library and get signed up for summer reading, and stop by to see Great Granny Farthing this week. Excited about going to Granny & Pop's next weekend, too!

2009-05-28T13:37:00.002-04:00

In celebration of the beginning of summer, our homeschool group got together to get Henna Tattoos (Mehndi). There were 18 of us and we left with some pretty neat designs. We've been studying ancient India & China and thought we'd incorporate the traditional Mehndi artform. Everyone had a lot of fun!Embree got a very cute SEAHORSE!

Brice enjoyed the company of friends and his Chocolate/Banana smoothie.
No tattoo for him...at least not this summer.

Reeves got a DRAGON!

Mom got a TREE...a large tree...much larger tattoo than she originally intended. But, hey, it's summer and you only live once!

This will be my last post until we get to the farm for the summer and figure out the best way to get things posted. Hopefully, we'll be busy with nature studies and science experiments and have lots of pictures to post shortly. Happy summer!

Reeves & His Buddies

2009-05-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

Jeannie Gambill

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix

Alice in Wonderland

2009-05-21T10:40:00.002-04:00

Alice in Wonderland (presented by my children's theatre program, Stage Left of Georgetown Community Theatre) opens tomorrow night. 90 kids in cast and crew! Assistant Director/Stage Manager, choreographer, crew, and all cast members are all 18 or younger. Kids designed their own costumes! Embree is the prop mistress. She's very good backstage. I'm happy she enjoys it. It's something we can enjoy together until I become too uncool to hang out with! Caterpillar Trey, and Quatro
Alice, Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum

Alice and Humpty Dumpty

The Knave of Hearts

Brice's new favorite snack

2009-05-20T15:35:00.002-04:00

Challenge #4: Japanese Garden

2009-05-20T14:50:00.004-04:00

Challenge 4: Japanese Garden

May 19, 2009
Today, we visited Yuko-En on The Elkhorn, the Japanese Friendship Garden here in Georgetown. We are still in the general noticing phases of our nature study project, so we just looked today...hoping to be surprised by some things we saw for the first time there today. The kids spotted some two-foot long koi in the murky pond and all three were fascinated by a waterfall. We found lots of treasures in this spot we’ve visited many times before...we used new eyes this time! Embree said this trip reminded her of a poem she has been working to memorize.

Afternoon on a Hill
By Edna St. Vincent Millay

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes.
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.
And when the lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
and then start down!

Though we took some nice pictres of the flora and fauna, the ones of the kids are the best...

The waterfall was fun for all!

The kids made their own Zen garden in the gravel pathway.

Extra: Embree, my backstage "Techie" for Alice in Wonderland. Brice...advertising!

Challenge #3: Journal Collecting

2009-05-13T21:56:00.005-04:00

May 13, 2009
Today our goal was to collect entries to our journals...photos are ok, but we began working on rubbings of leaves & bark, and leaves & blooms for pressing. Embree collected the most in her journal, sketching as well as pressing many bits & pieces. I prefer photography, and Reeves prefers hands-on exploration, occasionally stopping to photograph something. He hasn’t made an entry into his journal yet, but remains excited about exploring on our walks. Embree enjoys stopping and really examining a leaf or ant in fine detail. Brice runs and runs, and then usually falls asleep in the stroller, as he did today. We walked the 6-8 block stretch around the College and investigated the flora in the Scott County Native Plant Arboretum on campus, as well as our own and our neighbors yards. Our discoveries mounted again today.

Phlox that has appeared among the peonies.

Lupines in our flowerbed. We brought these back from the farmer's market in Ashe Co. last summer.

Locust Study:
The kids had never noticed that the Locust trees on campus produce bean pods. Opening them was a challenge and inside was a gooey surprise.

Fringe Tree

Wild Columbine

Sweet Shrub (Nana calls this a Bubby Bush)

EXTRA: Reeves has finally begun to lose teeth!

2009-05-13T13:47:00.004-04:00

Discovery School Nature Study
Challenge #2: Noticing
May 9, 2009 Today we went to Great Crossing Park for our nature walk. Our goal was to just look, listen, and feel...nothing more specific than that. In the hour that we were there, we covered only about 100-200 yards of the trail and then back to the car. The kids found so many things to look at, photograph, sketch, in that short space. Since we’ve begun, I find them stopping more often on daily outings to just notice something they find interesting...a flower, a rock, a small plant growing from a crack in the sidewalk. We’ve stumbled upon something that they look forward to and find exciting and motivating.

Mushroom Study

Clover Study: Though I grew up loving this flower, it was a first time find for the kids.
Sycamore Study: We love the bark of this tree andwondered why the old ones all opened at the bottom? One opened all the way to the top and the kids wished they could climb up and jump out of the top into the Elkhorn Creek!

Embree measures herself against the flood gauge.

Test post

2009-05-06T17:23:00.001-04:00

This is a test post to those of you who are signed up to receive an email each time we leave a new post. If you got this via email, pleae reply to jeanniegambill@bellsouth.net and let me know it's working. If you follow us on your own, by reading the blog, and you'd like to be added to our email list, let me know there too!! Have a great day!