The neighbors have been picking apples all weekend. They had some willing helpers…
Some folks are people-watchers. Me? I prefer farm animals. If there was a future in livestock photography I would be all over it. : ) Truly can sit a good long while and be totally amused.
This one worried me a bit though. Can you do a Heimlich on a cow? Guess whole apples are a bit of a challenge with no hands.
Every Tuesday morning Julie and I sit in my schoolroom while her daughter takes her piano lesson with Alannah upstairs. She knits, we talk, the littles play.
Last week she brought me a set of her newly printed and packaged multiplication game. We don't have a lot of math games. I wasn't sure how well this would go over either. But after playing daily all week, and the kids' enthusiasm continuing to grow, I think she really is onto something.
There is a video at her site which shows the game in action. Basically you have a set of cards with the multiples 2-9 of a given "Speed" illustrated like strings of beads. (Actually it struck me much like the Montessori golden beads) The cards truly would be painfully tedious to try to replicate on your own. You play the game sort of like War, laying down cards which are one step above or below the card on the table. So if a 9 is laid down you can play a 6 or a 12 for instance. The first player to play all his cards wins. Check out the video for clearer instruction.
The premise is that the child becomes very familiar with all the multiples through playing the fast paced game. This really does work. The more you play, the more familiar you are. The better you know those "steps" the better you play.
Julie worked as an engineer before becoming a homeschool mom to three children. Those same creative problem solving skills necessary in her career field have served her well at home. She came up with a really novel idea. If you want to play at home you can pick up a set at Amazon. You will be supporting a truly home-grown family business.
I am trying to organize this year's adventures and just finished working through Rome. These are mainly point and shoot and iphon-ography. Fun. : )
Outside my window:
Fog most mornings, as is common to autumn in Germany. I watch the sun rise most mornings since it is getting later and later.
From the kitchen:
Amish Friendship Bread. Friends gave Alannah some starter several weeks ago and she made her loaves up this weekend. It multiplies. Trying to think of ways to rehome starter ; )
Thinking about these words:
"In our big, active family, it seems there’s a major or minor crisis about every thirty minutes, but most… get resolved according to our most frequent advice: wait a minute; it’ll pass."
– Jim Bob Duggar, A Love That Multiplies
Stuff happens. If you have a good sized bunch of kids you are nodding right now. Sometimes it helps to know its not just you. <g> I have revisited Michelle's story of her gallbladder trials and emergency surgeries lately. Meantime, one of our son's broke his arm (not badly) at football practice. I thought that meant our schedule would open up some, but now all his school lessons will be oral or with me transcribing. 'Cause why? Cause this isn't heaven folks. We work now and rest later. And it helps me a LOT to read about strong women doing just that with a good attitude. Keep fighting the good fight. <g> On that note…
Book Basket:
The one book I read this past month was Joyce Swann's homeschooling memoir. I was so excited when it arrived. It might just be my era. I am guessing younger homeschoolers have no frame of reference here. Joyce was my homeschool hero though. She took her ten kids through master's degrees at home by their teen years. (largely because they worked 3hrs/day and went through summer so she didn't have to reteach concepts each fall) Every. One. Of. Them. And she didn't meet another real homeschooler until she had been at it for EIGHT years.
Their family life, which began rather comfortably, eventually endured longterm unemployment, premature birth, life threatening illness, and her near fatal accident. It's all found in her book and her daughter's. They have gotten their share of flack over the years for acceleration, but you have to admire determination in face of daunting odds. Bottom line, they have ten great kids, a strong marriage, and a good story to tell.
You can find more of Joyce here and here.
(more from sunrise)
Picture inspiration:
(shared from Ali Edwards)
I never shared the hat show we stumbled upon in Holland earlier this year. Good fun.
And best of show in my book…..
September has come and gone, without a lot of input on my part. Donna Marie wrote this week and encouraged me to pick up the camera. I am trying here and there. First thing was to dig out what was in there before I got sick. It was our last walk a month ago.
When last I checked around the village, they were haying…
The sheep next door were getting wooly and their pen is growing up again.
The cows had moved to the north end of the village.
The apples were ripening.
and my breath was taken away by the setting sun shining on my kids…
My husband tells me the weather is supposed to change this week. It seems this may have been the end of Indian Summer. If so I am glad I caught a bit of it.
Starry Sky Journal 