Goodbye old friend

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This week's news announced the death of Mary Travers, the "Mary" of Peter, Paul, and Mary.  The articles focused on her role as social activist but it wasn't 60's politics that came to mind when I heard the news. No, Mary Travers who shared the signature hairstyle of Peggy OMara of Mothering magazine was, for me, less about Vietnam etc and more about Puff the Magic Dragon and all the hours of Peter, Paul, and Mommy the boys and I logged in our minivan many years ago.  They are probably among the few of their friends who can sing We're Goin' to the Zoo (zoo, zoooo, how about you, you, youuuuu?)  and Blowin in the Wind. Hours and hours we spent with that cassette tape unwinding while we laughed over boa constrictors and make believe towns and drove through the Ohio countryside.  More hours spent watching PBS concerts. 

I miss it when I remember.  I miss the music.  I miss the little boys that were.  The news says that this music defined a generation.  It defined a period in our family's life as well but for different reasons.  The harmonies take me back to cloth diapers, attachment parenting books, the Chinaberry catalog, library story hours, and health food co-op's.  Asher has long maintained that life would be better with a sound track. If so, the soundtrack of our early family life would probably have been this, sprinkled liberally with Rafi selections.

I remember my mother stumbling over obituaries and struggling for words to explain why the death of a stranger would be so poignant.  I understand a little better now as we watch figures from our past move into eternity.  Their lives punctuate a place in our own history, while their going takes us forward to a point we too will reach in time.  Bittersweet to say the least. 

For now, there will be some youtube videos sent to boys in college dorms who no longer ride in the back of my van singing silly songs on the way to pick up soy milk and library books. And I will remember. 

Ppm

Simple Woman’s Daybook

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see Peggy's for more Daybook entries

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window… misty moisty morning (see bottom)

I am thankful for… I am thankful for late night phone visits this week, friends who say just the right things, giving and receiving encouragement, and new beginnings.

I am wearing…out of workout clothes and into button down jean skirt, blue striped short sleeved cotton sweater, sandals. In need of a hair cut I think. 

I am remembering… why I do the things I do. In the course of sharing with others recently I have been convicted to recommit to some important principles. 

I am creating… a photography project which has my creative juices flowing.  It is good to make lovely things. Pictures come more easily than words these days. Creating pockets of silence is also beautiful.

I am going…to meet the contractor to  finish paperwork, send off some school paperwork, clean the van. 

I am reading…Love, Joy, and Peace by Fr Andre Prevot.  It's a short book but a slow read as I chew on it all. Also picked up Asher's latest, Columbine by Dave Cullen. Faster read. Disturbing.

Moira is reading The Perilous Road.  Aidan is reading Teenage Saint. Kieran is reading Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls. 

I am praying… for a son, for a kindred spirit I recently 'met' through the blog, for a dear friend, for a private intention 

On my mind…grace and that whole 'having eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear' phenomenon.  Faith is a gift, but not one we can give.  Only He gives. I wish it was not so. 

From the learning rooms… If last year won the strongest finish award, this fall wins the strongest start. The kids are in a great rhythm with their curriculum and rising to the challenge of studying and memorizing etc.  The littles are enjoying circle time. B-I-N-G-O is a big hit <g>

Pondering these words…"I abandon myself without reserve to God, that He may do with me absolutely whatever He may will. Therefore I have complete confidence in Him, since it is He alone who works, both as end and as means..." – Love, Joy, and Peace
Both as end and as means.  I keep coming back to this lately. 

From the kitchen...CAKE.  Lots of cake and cake accessories.  I never dreamed there WERE so many cake accessories.  The girls are enrolled in the Wilton Cake Course I this month. Did I mention there are a LOT of materials involved?  It's a good thing though.  They are learning so very much each week and sharing their new skills with me.  They are building a good stash for hope chests.  And hey, we have dessert covered. : ) 
Around the house…Aidan and Brendan's room is patched and ready for painting.  Granted, it has been ready for painting for a few weeks now….
Nevertheless, this is the week I tell you. 

One of my favorite things~Italian pottery, which looks remarkably similar to Mexican pottery, and makes me smile every time I pass it. Must get a picture. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: we are going to cake class, I am going to give Moira a haircut, and am continuing to hit the treadmill in the mornings.  And yes Allen, I am going to turn the treadmill on too. Go, me. : ) 

From my picture journal…

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moment by moment

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	"We should not wish for anything but what comes to us from moment to moment exercising ourselves none the less for good. For he who would not thus exercise himself, and await what God sends, would tempt God. 
	When we have done what good we can, let us accept all that happens to us by Our Lord's ordinance, and let us unite ourselves to it by our will. 
	Who tastes what it is to rest in union with God will seem to himself to have won to Paradise even in this life."
- St Catherine of Genoa
Saintc35

dunes

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September is only half through but already has been full of travel and adventures in semi-homemade curriculum.  School has started and while it keeps us quite busy it has been absolutely satisfying in every way.  Could not be happier with it.  : )  When not cracking the books we have been out in the big, big world:

Labor Day weekend was spent at the San Luis Sand Dunes…
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No time for more right now but I promise to drop back in soon.  Til then I wish you….

Aidanjumpforjoy

random

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The week got away from me.  Ended up being filled to the brim.  I wanted to share some of the fun places I have visited.  But I didn't.  I wanted to share the fun things we did in school.  Too busy doing them. : )  Then came taping piano festival auditions and Dr. putting one daughter on an allergy diet and now its the weekend.  Almost.  The weekend is full of promise.   Will catch up on the flip side. 

Til then, random things that made me smile of late:  
little girl legs, dangling from piano bench…
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abundance shared – thank you Bates family!

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This one made me take a double take.  The things you don't run across in this house….

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John Deere in the sunroom

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silly dog, whose every breath says ,"Happy, happy, happy!" 

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simple school day lunch.   stop, bless, enjoy…..

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baby in her big sisters' smocked gown courtesy of Aunt Jane…

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Have a wonderful weekend.  See you Tuesday.   Or so. : )  

Life is fragile

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It has been week of very full days here and promises to continue.  I can't bring myself to write much more this morning though. I keep thinking of this family and their tragedy.  This comes on the heels of the Barrett family loss. We are praying for them and all who are suffering this way.

Life is fragile, indeed.  No matter how challenging your day may be, remember what a gift it is to have these children to care for.  We know not how many such days we will have with them.

the cookie

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For years this has been THE cookie for our family as evidenced by the stained cookbook page.  With wheat germ and oats it almost seemed like a health food rather than a treat.  There were times in my life I could have likely sustained myself rather entirely on LLL oatmeal cookies if I had to.  At least in my grain eating days. 

The original La Leche League cookbook (Mother's in the Kitchen) was one of the few tools I brought into this marriage.  It was given to me by a close friend of my mother's who was my homemaking idol. (Hello Debi!)  Chock full of ingredients like organ meats and whole wheat flour it absolutely mesmerized my Spaghettio-in-a-can self. At once earthy, bohemian, and old-fashioned (as were all those who discussed nursing, homemade yeast bread in our corner of the world in 1985) the book captivated my imagination and became my food bible. 

My husband was a good sport with my clumsy attempts at healthy cooking 101. And clumsy it was at times. I never did make the oxtail soup nor has tongue ever appeared on our table but these cookies are so familiar to me I no longer even pull out the book.  I could rattle off the ingredients in my sleep along with my substitutions.  (ie oil vs shortening)

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play ball

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If there is one thing even better than playing ball with your Dad, it is playing on an outdoor court in perfect weather with your Dad and a dozen of your best friends.

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No age segregation here.  Big and small, young and old in the mix.  Just between us, if ibuprofen is any indicator, the "young" did not get the worst of it either lol.  

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Brendan gets a push…

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And Abbie visits…

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And Brendan is artificially colored.  I admit it. But, you're only 4 once right?

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Good friends,  good times.  (Aidan on R)

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"Take time to Play,
It is the source of perpetual youth."

‘Pleasant’ thoughts on homeschooling

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Anna's response to questions about her daughter's course of study made me smile:


"My main philosophies of homeschooling are: Keep it simple. And less is more. We'll read the books, discuss them, follow up any ideas we want to with further research or reading. Clara will keep some notes with quick summaries of main ideas. I really don't see any need to fuss with the books any more than that. She reads, she understands, she recalls, she applies. If we can get to that point without any extra busy work, great!

If I could deliver one idea to homeschooling parents, it would be to relax. And have confidence! Well, that's two. Your way is probably the best way. Don't make it harder than it has to be."



Of course, that has long been our philosophy as well, especially for life skills.  Relax, have confidence.  Your way is probably the best way.  Don't make it harder than needs be.