Here are a few of the recent Greek gods entries.
Athena and her father Zeus:
Hera,her mother, the jealous wife:
Monthly Archives: September 2008
Cutting fruit
Tess and Brendan and are enthralled with the wooden fruit and veggie set. I overheard them this past week and followed them silently, watching them play. So sweet.
Brendan: Tessie, you wanna cut the fwoooot?
Tess: Yeah…. fwoooot.
Brendan: Tessie, isn’t this fun?
Tess: Yeah…. fun.
Though she gets very upset with him when he mismatches the halves on purpose, Montessori child that she is!
from the mountains, to the prairies…
Some views from the road trip this week:
Quote plates
Now there’s an inventive title. I am so going to have to try this though. The scrapbook section of any craft store has tons of these clear-backed quote stickers and rub-ons. The thrift shop has tons of plates. This is the equivalent of the Reese’s chocolate and peanut butter collision commercials from the 70’s (80s?) lol! It should happen.
The Amazing Race
Allen took his distance running to a new level this past month. He joined a relay team at work and they tried their hands at the Colorado Relay. The challenge consisted of a 174 mile course to be covered by 10 men who each run three stretches totaling 18 miles. The whole course takes them over 24 hrs to finish. One man runs while the others ride in a van to the next stop pt where they pick up the runner and send off another. (Each team has a driver and navigator as well.)
They hit all kinds of weather…..
and run through the night…..
past some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet…..
til they reach a sight for sore eyes…. (and feet!)
He said it was actually more grueling to run three separate legs over 24 hrs than to just run one long one because your muscles start to tighten up. Never mind it sorta goes against one’s nature to run 8 miles at 2am. Still, he did it!
Making fall memories – simply of course
The Inspired Home has inspired me. I have walked past some fall themed cookie cutters and molds several times in recent weeks. Enough! We are getting some. I have the garlands up but I want to get some seasonal towels and placemats. Actually we will likely make the mats. Seasonal fabric is cheap and turning the seams under with a running stitch would make excellent handwork. Yes, I am talking to myself…..
Anyway, these simple practices – switching out the linens and swapping the baking shapes seasonally- are easy customs to keep up. They also allow for lots of hands on work for little people. I far prefer to have our projects be worth doing than construction paper projects doomed for the circular file.
peace like a river
It promises to be another day of that. Allen’s family is here and he has taken most of the little ones along as he tours with them. After some busy weeks it has been blissfully quiet and slow-paced. A respite.
Yesterday Moira and I finished a long, lovely, faux suede skirt for her. We toyed with some quilted squares just for fun, noting once again the precision quilting requires. (Since the decluttering we have SO many more opportunities to craft!) Later, I gathered all the ironing I could find and spent some time smoothing out wrinkles – figuratively and literally. As the sun hovered over the mountain we kneaded some whole wheat bread for today’s lunch. The bookmobile brought Babycatcher which kept me transfixed the rest of the evening. A perfect end to a perfect day.
Though the night passed with a fair amount of gestational wakefulness, we are off to a good start. The little ones are bathed, dressed, and singing baby songs while pounding on the piano. Allen and the big kids packed out earlier for the mountains and will have dinner tonight with Colin. Alannah and I have dress pattern pieces all cut out for Tess, just waiting for the sweet printed corduroy fabric to wash and dry. I couldn’t ask for more.
Wishing you all a quiet day and happy memory making.
Fall decor link
Check out Bless Our Nest for more fall decorating splendor.
A Simple Lovely Life
I don’t know whether to list this as a school post or a lifestyle post. Probably there is a really simple way to do both but I haven’t figured it out. All I can tell you is I love this woman. LOVE love LOVE this woman. Rebecca sent me to her site and I haven’t been able to get enough of it since. She softly, gently, says many of the same words that have sustained me over the years. We have both birthed many children. We both home educate them. We both find solace and strength in simplicity. If these things resonate with you, do go visit. It will be an oasis of peace and inspiration.
In this post she addresses the importance of listening to the still small voice of God whispering His will for each of our children. In a noisy world full of advice and exhortation about the best way to raise and educate children it is often a challenge to follow His leading, especially when it is not in step with the crowd – whichever step they are dancing to at a given moment. She reminds us that we do better to silence the voices around us and know that the great big God who brought us these children will also give us the grace to raise them up. Be encouraged!
Practical life fun
Real quick wanted to share some fun ideas we have seen this week. I was looking at making some more dressing frames and pondering the buckle work. Then I saw this and thought well, duh! Why not just set out some buckle shoes? How cute! And I am sure they are the hit she says they are.
Also loved this hammering station. Folks living in rural and wooded lots should have scrap wood and stumps available. What kid could resist?
then for older kids I loved the Kids Who Think blog. Thank you Theresa for sharing the link! These challenges use household items and need little prep. Cheap. Fast. Keeps kids occupied and thinking for long periods of time.
Starry Sky Journal 