Beating the January Blahs

January is cold, windy and dark around here as the sun sets early and rises late. The winter blahs are a  real thing around her and beating them is a yearly goal of mine.  Since we can't spend weeks at the beach, we manage by filling our time with productive pursuits.

This year, Challenge B and friends had a Science Fair to wrap up an entire unit on the Scientific Method.  Flower came away with First Place in the Jr. and Sr. High School group with her project on, "Salt Crystallization and Super Saturation."

The kids were judged on the project itself, Research, Lab Book, Project Board and verbal presentation. A lot of time, energy, heart and soul were put into each and every project. I was immensely proud of my Challenge B class. As always, they rose to a challenge and excelled, even when planned events happened to fall on days with ice storms. 

Cub missed the science fair because he spent the week at our State Capital, interning for Family Heritage Alliance.  He was thrilled to work alongside Dale and Norman and can't wait to go back. 

Meanwhile, we were putting in about 6 hours a week dancing and practicing for Tantara, Festival of One Act Plays. Cub and Hannah both walked away with "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" Awards. the play was fun and funny and I was so proud of our Cast! We had 15 kids this year, 6 of whom had never been on stage before! 

Kari and Julie were an amazing part of the team, too and helped with choreography, props, costumes, wigs and the zillion little details that went into 1/2 hour performance with 15 kids! 

In the midst of all of that, Flower has been doing TeenPact alumni homework for our upcoming State Class, doing tons of research on entitlement projects. We brought TP to SD 10 years ago and now our youngest is an alumni. A decade sure flies by when you are having fun, working hard, being slammed, busy living.

Introducing TeenPact to the state of SD, with then Governor Rounds in 2006.

Our entire family, sans Flower is in the picture above. Cub is front and center, saluting! 

And here he is below~

Having survived 5 hours of Karate testing for his next belt, including the Bull Ring with Instructor Mike just yesterday. Mike is an awesome teacher and runs a fun and rigorous program. 

And because it's the season, we are also studying for the National Latin Exam. Cub didn't realize that the old tests had all 4 exams on them and flipped out, thinking he knew nothing! What a relief to just focus on LNE 1 and realize that he is, in fact, in great shape for the exam!  Cub is doing the LNE review with Memoria Press. 

In the middle of all of this the kids are reading great literature, studying Latin and Math, writing essays and creating 1 AC's for an upcoming debate, reading great apologetics books like Defeating Darwinism and Saving Leonardo, creating art, practicing Music and even hanging out with friends every now and then. 

And, best news of all, the days are getting longer, it's actually light out after 6 p.m. (o.k., just barely, but still) and spring is just around the corner! 

What are you doing to make it till spring? 

 All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Here, There and Everywhere

*1*

What a busy, crazy fun week.

Of course, there was work, music lessons, math - the usual. 

And a trip to the Capital to hear Franklin Graham speak. Loved joining hands and faith with 3000 other Territorians to pray for our state, country and leaders. 

 *2*

Cub has made armor on his own in the past. Because, you know, Gear. This year, I brought him a "Warfare by Duct Tape" book and this was the result:

Pretty awesome! He has big plans to invest in the rest of the series. 

*3*

CC Parent Practicum- this year, History. Great stuff! And Challenge B training. 

Challenge B, baby. Classical Conversations Challenge program is the.best. Coming right up:

Mock Trial, Science Fair, Short Story Anthologies, Science Time-line, Latin and LOGIC. 

Woohoo!

If you love education or kids, get to a CC Parent Practicum. Fun times. 

*4*

After a week of everyone going to work and friends and different cities and generally in many different directions, we all met back at home to play games, eat and do laundry. 

Ticket to Ride is always fun. 

This is Feeche's, "I am strategizing to win" face,

And yes, he did win, but I gave him a serious run for his money. 

*5*

And then we watched, "Heart of the Sea" because the Practicum Speaker mentioned it. 

A great story, well depicted with amazing graphics about the tragedy of the whaleship Essex and the inspiration of Moby Dick. Thought provoking on many levels to the point that we all looked up more info on the Essex and the story today.

Last week we watched Ken Davis' "Fully Alive" - excellent and ohsofunny! Part sermon, part comedy routine, totally inspiring! 

*6*

You do expect Baby-spam, right? Just over a week old. My kids have collectively decided that the shape of Mr. Samwise's head takes after his Italian side and that he needs a Fedora and suit.

*7*

There is clover everywhere; a carpet of fragrant loveliness. Which is a vast improvement over the wormwood and thistles that were choking our property when we first moved here.
Of course, we have bouquets of it inside, too, because, you know, Flower. 

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Grandson #1 (and more!)

1*

Best Event of the week. 

KB and Mr. V welcomed little Samwise to the family! 

*2*

Lots going on in the blogsphere

Interview with a Homeschool Mom

School Year in Review

5 Common Topics 

Map Memory and 5 Common Topics

Check out more articles on Classical Ed at Trivium Tuesdays

*3*

The Garden. It's straw bale this year because Flower got obsessed passionate about a book. Then, Dr.Dh stepped in and crafted a watering system. We're calling it our Mission to Mars look. It's pretty amazing. Stay tuned for a step-by-step post about the straw bale thing. 

*4*

Beside the garden, Flower is obsessed passionate about sculpting. Here is part of her "heart" collection. Some are "gardens"- some are themes- like the water lilies at 12 o'clock and the dolphin at 6 o'clock. The picture does not capture just how lovely and detailed they are! 

*5*

The kids got their scripts for Shakespeare Camp, happening in July this year. Commence memorizing! This year it's Much Ado About Nothing. 

Between now and then we have 2 practicums, 2 more conventions and the beach. A different one this year, but for those of us landlocked deep in the heart of the Territories, practically any beach will do. We heard about Airbnb from friends of ours who are hosts and as a result we are renting a house for way cheaper than hotel rooms. Haven't heard of it? Use my link HERE and we BOTH get travel credits! Win/Win!

*6*

Feeche is "home" for the summer and working, taking classes, writing, spending time with a certain girlfriend and generally here to eat and sleep.Cub is busy with piano (Math is Motion -a recently released Classical Conversations music theory curriculum- really spoke to him!), karate, reading everything he can get his hands on, Geometry and spending hours and hours and hours outdoors. We super love summer!!

Oh, and have I mentioned Studio C? Good, clean fun!!

*7*

Cause, ya' know... 

KB says, "He has your lips." One of my best features! Can't wait to snuggle this little guy! 

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Year 25/ Week 1

*1*

This week marks the beginning of our 25th year of Homeschooling. I've blogged for 8 of them. Pretty crazy how time flies. I've been blogging less, but it's not for lack of cool things to do and share, it's for lack of time. I am always out.of.it. And I do miss blogging. I will continue to muddle along, and hopefully, you will continue to check back every now and then and see what we are up to. . 

*2*

25 years later. We are a far cry from where we started homeschooling: in L.A. with our 2 oldest daughters and 6 full time daycare kids. We did a zillion field trips, went to the beach and the many beautiful L.A. Parks as often as possible, swam in the pool, read so many  books and served so many meals and snacks they were coming out of my ears. All from the comfort of our little grad school back-house, while Dr.Dh and I earned grad degrees. 

*3*

And here we are in the Territories, so many grad degrees behind us, having graduated our 3 oldest and back to Homeschooling Two again. It's a different climate, culture, and Homeschooling World. I started out Homeschooling working full time and going to Grad School and I am mostly back at it working 30+ hours a week at my job. Not another Grad degree, but Directing Challenge is, shall we say, challenging, and I spend my fair share of time doing homework every week. 

*4*

So what's up for school this year? Challenge A and 1. Our co-op will add in Spanish, Art and Music History and a class on Entreprenurialsm. Plus Ballroom dancing, TeenPact events, Drama, and other life happenings (as in, every week-end has been booked solid for the past month). The kids have begged NOT to add in on-line classes. The only one I am still waffling on is the Test Prep. 

*5*

We did finish the last brick walk/patio area/garden bed. The boys also took down more miles of barbed wire fencing, continued to clear the grove of dead wood, continued to take down chain link and old fence posts. It's looking park like around here. 

*6*

Flower's Garden didn't work out so great, but the zinnias,sunflowers and squash that she tucked in here and there thrived. We have a bumper crop of acorn squash and eggplant about to be harvested. She has big plans to make a straw bale garden next year, which we are going to tuck behind the white shed; another re-claimed odd corner with decrepit fencing gone. 

*7* 

We started our Classical Conversations Challenge program this week; Challenge A and 1with a total of 17 kids- pretty amazing since as of the June Practicum we had 1 Challenge program and only 6 kids.  A rocking CC Practicum and several Windows into Challenge Meetings later and here we are. I'll be posting some great Challenge A helps later today, so stay tuned. 

 @Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

July Wrap-Up

July went by in a technically disastrous blur resulting in this monthly smash up versus weekly wrap-up. It was a crazy and wonderful month- full-up with friends, travel, work.

*1*

Shakespeare Camp got the month rolling. Feeche ended up there several days, coaching the younger boys, while Cub and Flower spent the week with Enak and Co.

*2*

Beach, baby! 

Week 2 found us traveling to SC, visiting family on the way to and fro. Dr Dh and the kids spent time doing touristy things like  Ft. Sumter, the Yorktown, the Laffey, Ft. Moltrey, the H.L. Hunley and the Aquarium. Oh, and the beach, which was the biggest hit of all. Our prairie loving kids L,O.V.E.D the ocean, no surprise. Because if there is the great outdoors, water or wildlife around, they are happy , happy people.

*3*

Andrew Kern, Founder and Prez of Circe Institute

Meanwhile I was at the 2015 Circe Conference, soaking up great conversations, meeting amazing people from all over the country and listening to Tracey Lee Simmons, Wes Callihan, Ken Meyers, Martin Cothran and Andrew Kern and so many other Godly, amazing thinkers. After a June that oozed with Classical Conversations, July was pretty lean on CC- other than meeting Heather Shirley, Matt Bianco and a host of other CC peeps at Circe. Love that. 
(check out the Circe Blog for more on cultivating wisdom and truth)

*4*

Wes Callihan, flanked by David and Daniel Foucachon, founders of Roman Roads Media,

Circe found me hanging out with the talented and terrific team from Roman Roads Media.  If you haven't check out RRM yet, do yourself a favor and DO IT!  Their products are GREAT, the company is founded and run by bi-lingual, smart, funny, kind and generous homeschooling grads and their Master Teacher's are names you already know and trust- Wes Callihan, Jim Nance, Matt Whitling. Still need convincing? Check out my reviews: The Greeks, The Grammar of Poetry.

*5*

In between all of the fun and inspiration I worked my day job and wrote reviews 

With Lee in Virginia
Shape Whiz
Project Passport- Homeschool in the Woods 

as well as wrote the next installation in the Homeschool High Shool Blog Hop

Frosting on the Cake- Electives, Work and College Prep
Don't Panic! -Homeschooling High School

*6*

And in between all of that the kids and I have taken down more decrepit chain and barbed wire fence, tons of fence posts (no small feet as they are usually buried posts, cemented in),reclaimed a few more "lost" areas behind sheds, built another brick sitting area, put up and painted the wooden picket fence and gardened. Dr. Dh has been incognito because of a new position at work and a major event he is planning.

*7*

Read much? Not as much as I'd like but I did make it through  "In My Father's House" by Corrie Ten Boom on the way to SC- delightful testimony of how God weaves even the most innocuous threads of our lives together. I also started "A Carless Rage for Life" - a bio about Dorothy Sayers. Love her.
Flower is still reading Pride and Prejudice. Cub is desperately waiting for the next SWB installment (History of the Ren World and Science) and the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. He'll have to fight me for it. I've read it several times but Lewis is always a good idea, right?!

How was your month?

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Drama Week Fun :Drama Week Exhaustion

*1*

This week consisted of our annual Drama Camp Practice and Performances. I directed Flowers group, The Bus Stop- a hilarious comedy about kooks on a public bus. 4 days of practice, then evening performance of 4 plays followed by an ice-cream social. The next night the Jr and Sr High Schoolers performed 3 plays on the local college stage. Throw in picnics and friends at the park every afternoon, Volleyball, costume acquisition, work and leaving the house early- we are all a good kind of tired, but super duper tired, nonetheless.

*2*

Drama Camp, Work and Reviews- two posted this week, including Piano With Willie and Memoria Press' The Book of Ancients set. Stay tuned for upcoming reviews including more vocabulary, Lee in Virginia and more- always more. Loving the richness of the curriculum world these days!

*3*

Also, be sure to check out the introductions to the current blog hop I'll be participating in for the next 7 months- Homeschooling High School. This came into being when those of us on the same Review Team realized that we were getting lots of questions about high school from homeschooling families with younger kids. This hop will cover record keeping, curriculum, extra-curriculars and much more! Spread the word !

*4*

We have a week break and then our area Classical Conversations Parent Practicum. We are all very involved and are very busy getting prepared to do our part. I really appreciate the Parent Practicums- they are encouraging, pragmatic, provide clear action steps and do-able implementation of the classical model of education. Good stuff and it's FREE.

*5*

We are still working on getting the last bit of brick walk laid. We have had an unusually wet spring and every free day has involved a lot of water. Slowly, slowly, it is coming together. Cub is working on getting the picket fence back up and we continue to take down ancient of days fencing and as a result have unloaded tons of chain link fencing and other miscellaneous stuff hanging out in sheds, the barn and side-yards. Our hay-the-fields-man has sprayed again and wow- our pastures are looking Be-ay-U-ti-ful!

*6*

A shout-out to my fellow blogger and friend, Jennifer. I needed a "Thank-you" gift for relatives with super gorgeous thick hair. Lila Rose to the rescue. Jennifer helped me long-distance, suggested gorgeous pins,barrettes and clips and made sure that we received a bonus as well! If you haven't discovered Lila Rose yet, check out Jennifer's  Lila Rose page!

*7*

Read Chuck Blacks' book; this week from the Wars of the Realm series on the recommendation of Cub- my reading buddy (he's a speed reader like me and has great tasted). A bit Frank Peretti-ish, but I loved the viewpoint of Spiritual warfare from an atheists pov. Also, watching more than our fair share of Dick-Van-Dkye- renamed Dyke, Dyke, Dyke in honor of Uncle N. Good, laugh-out-loud fun. Even the obvious jokes and gags are just darn funny- world class delivery by world class funny-people. And it's clean, too- no bathroom humor or crudity. Talent.


http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag30/Lisa_Nehring/siggywithflower_zps2ffa66ba.png @Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Knee Deep (literally)

*1*

Watched a great documentary film "Weapons of the Spirit,"  this week-end on a small Heugonaut village in France that rescued hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. The entire community came together to provide food, shelter and education to children whose lives were forfeit in the currency of the time. One of the villagers said, "It was not an extraordinary Christianity that we possessed. It was Christianity, put to the test." A beautiful testimony to an entire community willing to dare say, "2+2=4".

*2*

We are still doing some school- bits and pieces, along with math for Cub. In between the pieces, the kids are reading, spending hours playing Legos, walking in the fields and along the river, drawing, painting, planting flowers and getting lost in a computer game or two.

*3*

Feeche removed  more barbed wire, metal posts and general over-run mayhem in certain areas of the property. It looked too fun so the rest of us spent several school/work breaks in the fields with him, taking down wire, digging out posts. When I say, "digging out posts" you might think to yourself, "ah, a few shovelfuls, a  hard yank and voila, a post!" Not so, my friends. These posts, set almost 90 years ago, are 3 feet deep into prairie sod and put in to last the duration. It required digging, digging, removal of stones and rocks, more digging. levering underneath the post and then finally calling Feeche over to twist and strong arm the post into submissive compliance while mutterings of, "Come out!" were heard. Yeah, that was fun. Some of the posts we decided were just a really terrific reminder of what the place used to look like, and since our backs were killing us, we are all about the reminder. Plus, they are aligned so perfectly- the craftsmanship that went into all of it is really something to behold.

*4*

While this has nothing to do with what comes next, I thought I'd give you a real world view of living with 15 yo.

And since we were outside anyway, we decided to start on the last of the brick-work, a short walkway outside the back-door. And the huge uglified pile of bricks sitting under the west window will be in the ground. It's amazing how hardscaping civilizes a place.

*5*

Flowers garden is growing, though we had to cover it for frost this week- mid-May y'all and it was sweater weather all week long. We mostly cleared the front beds and added in flowers and hostas. As I was moving daisies around one of the trees, I took a step and sank over knee deep in dirt, one leg only. Yes, you read that right. The best we can figure is it was the place where the old tree stump had rotted away, leaving ultra porous earth. Once I was extracted (thank God Dr. Dh was home!), we filled it in with some of the hard packed dirt we had dug up for the brick walk-way. Even with that, Cub went out to investigate and the area was super squishy. While I was stuck and slightly flipping out about whatever earth dwellers might be touching my submerged leg, Dr. Dh had a good laugh at my expense. His response,  (laugh, laugh, laugh), "Get the camera!" (laugh, laugh, laugh).

*6*

Mensa's Summer 7-How to Prevent Brain Drain over the summer!
Mensa's Excellence in Reading- summer reading program by age groupings- scroll down to see the links.

*7*

Fill in the blank. What's going on in your world? 

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Work, School and Dick Van Dyke

*1*

Flower had a fun sleep-over with one of her goofy, clay making besties and came home raving about the Dick Van Dyke show. Too funny because the day before Cub and I had watched an episode: The Prank Phone Call. As a result, it's been the week of the Dick Van Dyke show. I miss the writing wit of Firefly, but it did prove too intense for a certain "G" rated girlie who resides here. Dick Van Dyke has obvious gags, but the delivery is perfect and no-one can move as fluidly, even if he was voted worst British accent in the role of Bert.

*2*

Geography lovers will want to check out THIS awesome site with great infograhics about 3 different countries- Challenge A peeps, check it out!
Looking for some good summer flicks? Check out this awesome list History Movies for Homeschool

*3*

It was re-enroll week at work. My ear is going to fall off due to the phone ringing, ringing, ringing. All good. I love the families that I work with!

*4*

Tons of chatter on social media about homeschoolers who work. The number of families who homeschool and have two parents working continues to grow. Check out my blog series:
Your Compelling Reason
Flow, Grow and Tools
Inventory
Just 4 Things
Be Extraordinary

*5*

Looking for some good summer flicks? Check out this awesome list History Movies for Homeschool

*6*

Feeche and Cub have de-fenced and blazed trails. We have rolls of chain link and loops of barbed wire and many, many metal fence posts in the barn as a result. It's so great to have green lines of sight that aren't broken up by rusty, broken down fencing. Loving it! The cats and dog love that we are outside with them. Ursa is continually being taunted by the barn swallows, who I swear have set up a rotational schedule amongst themselves to take turns dive-bombing her.

*7* 

Summer school has consisted of MUS, FFL, Adv. Bio for Cub and Spelling You See, Mental Math and PreScripts for Flower. Next week we are going to throw in Cycle 1 and 2 Grammar CD's from CC. I'm fun that way. Fall is coming together, which is relief because 2 weeks ago it didn't look so good for Cub. We actually have so many great academic opportunities for Cub that we are going to have to weed some out. A great problem to have!

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Spring Around the Homestead

*1*

Aren't these beautiful? Flower had the great idea to use some of the old stumps as flower pots. Came out just lovely.

*2*

We had rain this week, which can be a pretty big deal around here. And we went from almost 80 degree weather back down to low 60's. Flower planted her small plot with green stuff- green beans, lettuce, basil, parsley, as well as some squash and can't wait for it to come up.

*3*

Feeche had finals this week and knocked out another semester with great grades and very little debt. He also got his car back, thanks to the love and diligence of our friend Don, who not only gave him the car, but made sure he found a transmission for it, and then another transmission for it. His heart is gladdened. Don and Ricci are humble servants, always giving, blessing, showing up and praying with no thought for reward or prestige. Our lives and hope are blessed because of them in so many ways.

So, once Feeche got over finals- i.e. slept and ate and slept and ate, he and Cub have spent the day de-fencing. Which means taking up and out more of the cattle fencing, held in by 4 foot deep sunk-poles and lots of rusty barbed wire  around the property. It is looking more civilized by the minute.

*4*

Found a cool web-site, Foldables, that shows a ton of different review games for concepts, ideas, skill, very much along the lines of Dinah Zike, who happens to have her own YouTube Channel, full of cool and useful educational ideas.

*5*

Been gearing up for fall and getting excited about The Lost Tools of Learning for Writing- the focus is on how to think in order to write well. I'm in love. Caitilin, you were right, of course!
And Roman Roads Media is introducing live, on-line classes with both Wes Callihan and Jim Nance. The homeschool world gets better by the minute!

*6*

Went to see Age of Ultron with my peeps. What a convoluted mash up of a would be story line. I'd heard great things but it's definitely a C imho, redeemed only by familiar characters and great special effects.

*7*

Spending lots of time doing training for Classical Conversations Practicum and it is a class act from beginning to end. The training, resources and materials available to Tutors, Directors, Speakers and the Management Team seriously terrific. They take to heart the adage that a rising tide raises all ships.

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Convention Time

*1*

The weather this week was lovely- spring breezes, doves cooing, pheasants chirruping and bees droning, trees blooming and spring flowers planted. A friend offered free hostas and lilies so Flower and I dug up a pile of plants and brought them back to replenish our still re-covering from the drought front yard. The spirea, crab apple and flowering shrub have been gorgeous and it's just a matter of days before our 20 yard, 1920's lilac shrub flowers. Lilac bushes blooming are one of life's simple pleasures.

*2*

Went to the area homeschool convention where Chuck Black was the main speaker. Cub's been a fan of his for years, bought the only two books he doesn't own and had them autographed- from the Dominion series. He reads like me so he's done with one already. Fantastic speaker and author and his wife is completely lovely too! Highly recommended books for kids 8-88!

*3*

Saw our friends from Demme publishing at the convention- who you might recognize from my recent Spelling You See review. We're crossing over and not only using their Math You See, but just purchased their Stewardship (personal finance) program as well. 

*4*

We didn't buy much else: 2 Usborne books- one on Shakespeare Theater and another Greek Myths, an absolutely beautiful book of Astronomy by CLE, the Jim Weiss abridged CD of For the Temple. 

I have a short list all around for next year, including the History of Science and the History of the Renaissance World, both by Susan Wise Bauer. Cub knocked out the 900 page History of the Ancient World in the first two weeks of his arm break fiasco and was simultaneously repelled and enthralled. More to come, which I know he'll love. 

*5*

Anyway, we are still finishing up this year. Cub is almost done with First Form, (finally, again!), and he's stopping for the summer on Chapter 11 of Adv Biology. Math will continue, just for fun. Flower is going to keep doing Spelling, Prescripts, and mental math.. One more chapter till Notgrass American History is finished. Over 900 pages, y'all. They loved it! And maybe grammar charts, but certainly listening to Cycle 1 and 2 Grammar in prep for Challenge A. 

*6*

Flower has taken to painting rocks. We certainly have enough of them! Good, clean fun, albeit hard on one's toes under the wrong conditions.

 
*7*

By the Numbers
5 Ways Classical Conversations Rocks
5 Simple Steps to Memorize Effectively
7 Reasons You Should Blog if You Homeschool
20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Homeschooling

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Home Again

*1*

Compared to the last several weeks, this one was fairly non-dramatic. We arrived home mid- Monday and Dr. Dh immediately left for an appointment in town. Tuesday, I had all day CC Director training and the kids spent the day batting at homework and enjoying the crisp spring weather.

*2

We had our almost last co-op class and the kids dissected a frog. One of the frogs had legs and wings behind its tongue and a full blown beetle in it's stomach. The kids were grossly compelled by the sight.

Pop-quiz for poetry and we went over 25 poetry terms we've learned this year, including 10 tropes and 4 meters. The older girls are putting together a yearbook and everyone is contributing 5 poems to include. We've done a ton of poetry writing, reading, reciting and laughing. Love this class, love this curriculum (Grammar of Poetry, in case you didn't know)
Water color painting continues to inspire and Flower spends time daily water-coloring, using the various techniques she's learned. It's been a wonderful co-op. Next week, it's party and potluck! So blessed to have these friends this year!

*3*

Cub's cast came off this week and he is one happy camper- just in time for another round of ballroom dancing. He feels 20#'s lighter and a whole lot cleaner!

*4*

Scripts for Shakespeare Camp were handed out today- Love's Labor's Lost is up this year and Cub is cast as Ferdinand. He's pretty thrilled.

*5*

The kids are taking a Cartooning class next week-end at our regional homeschooling convention. Flower's been gearing up by working through the Cartooning book she got for her birthday.

*6*

Reviews aplenty coming up, including my favorite Spelling Curriculum- SpellingUSee. Until then,
Veritas Self-Paced Omnibus
Learning Palettes
Apologia What Can I Do?
Artistic Pursuits Sculpture
and a How To: Memory Master- How & Why

*7* 

As always, I think summer will be a break, when it's just a different kind of busy. We have camps and Praticums and planning and work and house stuff to do that we never get to during the school year. I've already started spring cleaning by getting rid of 8 bags of clothes, a mattress and box spring and tons of curriculum. N & L didn't help much by loading us down with more gorgeous clothes for our girlie and awesome sweaters for Dr. Dh. It's nice he has a bro with great taste (maybe that's my sil!) who wears the same size and neices with modest, lovely taste in clothing. Their generosity of spirit and heart bless us in so many ways. 

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Fast and Furious

*1*

(Cub as George Washington. I think the blue cast adds a particularly authentic flavor).

Monday the kids spent the day putting the finishing touches on their Faces of History Presentation. This consisted of participating in a "Wax Museum," handing in a research paper, and presenting, in costume, a 5 minute presentation of their History Person of Choice. Cub choose George Washington and Flower, Shirley Temple. Her super thick hair and our crazy life left much to be desired in the 50 curl department. As I mangled her hair in the women's bathroom of the church over lunch-time, she looked at me woefully and said, "Nailed it." We left it at that and she did Shirley in costume, sans curls.

*2*

Tuesday we had our End of Year Celebration for CC which included a community wide-Review, presentation of our 3 Amazing Memory Masters! (Way to go Miss, P, Miss. D and Flower!). So very proud of all of them!- the Chicken Dance ala Essentials Class, the Wax Museum, lunch and Faces of History for Essentials.

*3*

The Tutors met for Dinner that night- we had a  great time sharing successes, challenges and laughing our heads off! What a FUN and talented group of women to have hung around with all year!

*4*

Wednesday we packed and Flower, Dr. Dh and I headed east with a short evening and then a super long day of driving. D.C. here we come. Dr. Dh loved his conference and then we took a trip out to Chesapeake Bay, ate Crab and walked in sand.The next day we did  quick blast through several Memorials before heading east again where we stopped at our favorite Aunt and Uncles, ate a quick lunch with the newlyweds at the Riverfront and then kept going.

*5*

We got home about a day late, did massive bed-bug de-tox and proceeded to immediately go to work. Meanwhile, the boys had gone dancing, attended the annual Spring Dinner Dance and attended graduation parties in our absence.

*6*

Flower was thrilled that we actually touched the places she's studied so hard this year in Geography.
Missouri River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, O & E Canal (o.k., not one we studied but a canal, nevertheless), the Great Valley, the Allegheny Mnts, Chesapeake Bay, Cumberland Road, Eastern Woodlands, Plains, along with 9 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Not a bad end of Cycle 3 field trip, though she is still counting on her Zoo Day as reward for MM>

*7*

We say 3 semi-accidents, including an overturned truck on a mountain pass, late at night, in the rain (o.k., closer than saw- we almost hit the truck). Flower ended up sick as a dog (projectile vomiting) every bite of sea-food she ate and declared with resolution the next day that she hated sea-food. It rained and rained and rained and rained until we hit Iowa. Then clear, open skies all the way home. The flower trees and balmy spring weather on the east coast were lovely.


@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!