Meanderings of Gentle Gull

Evil and the Super Nanny

2012-01-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

OK I have not seen the *new* Super Nanny show, so I may be getting the totally wrong vibe here but yesterday I saw a commercial for this new show, and I saw the same commercial today, so I really feel like I need to get this out there, and maybe then I will be able to move past it.

The commercial depicts a family, not sure if they only have one son, but the one son on the commercial was shown as a child out of control, of course he was being filmed, and I know that they edit this show. But the words on the screen as he was tearing things apart was "Evil....Has...A....New....Name". One word appeared on the screen in large letters, at a time. And I do want to say that they never said that Evil's new name was this child. But that was CERTAINLY the implication. I could not believe this....not at all. I can't even imagine equating evil with a child. That is such a powerful message. I can't imagine how I would react if someone equated me with evil and we are talking about a child.

I have seen the *other* supper nanny show, the one that has been around for a few years. And while I don't parent the way she instructs the families on her show to parent, something she generally started every *meeting* with is "you have such wonderful children", or "you have two beautiful girls" or some kind of compliment like that.

I know the commercial can be totally different from the program, which is why I said up front that I have not seen this show (and don't plan to). I just wonder how this child will feel when he sees the commercial. How he was portrayed for ratings. How can you approach anyone, any situation, with a feeling that the other person (or in this case the child) is evil. How can that bring any peace, any love, any comfort, any communication, any resolution, any common ground to any situation.

I try to approach situations of disagreement feeling that the person is doing the best they can in the moment, the intentions are the best, and solutions can be found. Acceptance and understanding lead further than name calling any day.

Circle Sweater

2012-01-20T09:33:00.000-05:00

I had quite a bit of extra yarn left over from the Christmas afghans I made. So I decided to make myself a sweater with some of the left overs. Not an easy task, I have not had great success with sweaters in the past...arms too long, shoulders too wide etc. Just not a great fit. But this sweater is so cute and REALLY EASY. It is one big circle with two sleeves. It is made all together so NO sewing, I dislike sewing things together. You make one big circle, crocheted, and leave two slits for the arms. Once the circle is done you crochet around the slits making your sleeves. Easy peasy. Here is the link to the pattern, called Lyon Circle Jacket. I found the pattern through Ravelry. I used the Caron Simply Soft yarn, and as you can tell from the picture, lots of left over colors. The sleeves, which you can't see in the picture are black, with green and brown down toward the cuff.

After the Rain

2012-01-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

For the past few days it has been rather dreary, overcast, on and off rain. Yesterday it rained ALL day, did not stop for a minute. We kind of huddled up and stayed warm and dry inside for the most part. Comforted one of our dogs during thunderstorms, as she shook with fear. Now this morning it is like the pastures are starting new, refreshed by the rain, enveloped by the sun. It is so beautiful looking at the rain drops, dangling from the trees, the fog rising up from the pasture as all that water evaporates in the morning sun. The day is a little chilly but the sun feels so warm on my face. The hens graciously gave me 6 eggs this morning. I may just take my cuppa chai out there, watch the hens play and bask in the sun. Ahh life sure is good!

Parenting and Being Prepared

2012-01-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

Jackson and the boys decided to make a trip up the hill the other day to snow board. I decided to tag along as usual. I don't ski or snow board but I bring the snacks and hot chocolate, stay nice and warm in the lodge, knit, read, and when the boys come in to warm up and take a break I have everything ready for them, and sit and listen to them talk about how they are progressing. Generally a nice relaxing day, especially after the public school children are back to school, it is generally nice and quiet.

Wow was I wrong, turns out after talking with a couple of other moms, in other states the children do not go back to school until this coming week, so many families were up in the mountains enjoying a vacation until that time. So it was packed. I read some and just watched the families coming and going, skiing and getting lunch, etc.

There were definitely two different sets of parents there. One group was well prepared and one had higher expectations, with little preparation. You could see families with children of all ages, some, like mine, with kids old enough to come and go as they saw fit, with a parent near by (on or off the slopes) to touch base with. And there were parents there with younger children, toddlers and slightly older. The children that need almost constant direct supervision, with short attention spans and a high need for multiple snacks, drinks etc.

The prepared parents were so nice to watch. They knew that the children would need more attention. They brought games, toys, coloring books and crayons, snacks, lunch, drinks, cold clothing so the little ones could be taken out back for a few minutes of fresh air and play in the snow, and warm clothing so they would be comfy in the lodge, where it was warm with a nice roaring fire. These parents were not expecting to spend all their time on the slopes, knew that wasn't possible. They would tag team, with mom and dad switching off so the parents could ski and also be there for the young ones. Some of the young ones went out of the slopes as well for a few minutes. Just a joy to watch, they were prepared for all contingencies, enjoyed being with their children when not on the slopes, and were very flexible. The kids and parents really seemed to enjoy the experience.

OK then there were the unprepared parents, couldn't watch them for long. Their expectations of their young ones, in my opinion, was not reasonable. They brought one toy, if that, and expected the toddler to sit and play with the one toy for hours. You could see the stress on their faces as they were just waiting for the other parent to come off the slopes so their turn could start. The toddlers were crying, the parents were unwilling to bend, trying to talk to their child when you could see they wanted to yell, but knew in a lodge full of people, yelling would attract attention and be judged poorly. These parents would not let it go, wanted a day on the slopes no matter what, and were not going to go home until their time was up. It was sad to watch, the children were not having fun, the parents were only marginally having fun, stress was building.

It just reminds me how important it is to be prepared. Now sometimes things sneak up on you and you aren't prepared. But in times like this, a trip to the ski slopes, some preparation could have changed the entire experience for everyone involved (including me, the innocent observer). I remember always trying to think ahead in our day, what I could possibly need, and most times every contingency was handled.

So parents, when little ones are involved, please remember to think ahead. I know it may seem like a lot to bring for a day of skiing, but when you see how wonderful it can go, you will wish you had. It can be fun for everyone in the family, including those little ones. Think ahead, plan with joy, be flexible, support each other.

What a day, but a great opportunity to people watch!

Grocery Savings

2012-01-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

Well I was working on the 2012 budget this morning, yes my "very favorite thing to do" :-( I did discovery, however, that I saved just over $2125 on groceries over this past year. I have been seeing it in my monthly expenditures and knew I had saved over $1500, but was not expecting over $2000 in savings.

So many people had told me that you can't save money eating organic so why try. They eat organic and there are never any coupons on organic foods. And you know, they are right. We also eat, as much as we can, organic foods, we use earth friendly toilet tissue and house cleaners etc. So how did I save this much money....and no I did not go store to store, shopping in different places. I stuck to my usual two stores (Ingles and Amazing Savings).

First of all the bulk of my savings this year was from shopping store sales. I didn't have many coupons at all (maybe $200-$300), but in just watching the products I generally buy, I could see that even the organic product goes on sale. So when the items we normally use go on sale, I buy MORE. I buy enough to last us for a few months (until it goes on sale again). I also buy fruits and veggies in season when I can. That plus the few coupons I use, saved about $1700 for 2011.

We always plant a large garden, but I paid particular attention to freezing and canning the extra this year, so we have more in storage this year, for the winter months. I also planted a fall garden so we are still eating lettuce, greens, beets, turnips out of the garden, even now. (Although it is REALLY COLD today so my lettuce might not make it.) The extra fruits I bought during the summer, like local peaches and apples, are in the freezer for smoothies and desserts!

I also shop at Amazing Savings, have for over a year now. So I can get discounted organic items there. LOVE Amazing Savings, everyone should have an Amazing Savings near them!

And one final small item this year was making most of my own household cleaners. I make our laundry detergent, glass cleaner, and general cleaner. Not only am I saving a lot of money but I KNOW what is in the cleaners, safer for the environment and my family!

We also found a farm not far from us that provides grass fed, pasture raised, chemical free beef. This, you would think, would be more expensive, but it is comparable to buying grass fed organic beef in the freezer section of our grocery store, plus I have the added benefit of knowing the farmer, and seeing the cows and the farm! Along with this we have started raising our own broiler chickens. We raise all we need plus a few extra for friends. What we sell to friends compensates for the chicken feed and purchase of the baby chicks, so all our chicken costs us is the labor. This was a decision we made over a year ago, so that we know what Phillip and Jackson are eating. Not only is it "organic meat" but we KNOW where it is coming from, what it eats, how it is cared for and how it is processed.

Coupled with all of this was a savings in our electric bill this year. As I hang out most of our laundry to dry (always have, just love hanging out clothes), and going back to hand washing the dishes instead of using the dishwasher, we saved a few hundred dollars on electricity.

So that is how I did it! And for all of you that swear to me you can't save money and eat organic/good/healthy food, you are wrong. Every little bit adds up.

Crocheted Shawl

2011-12-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

OK so I have finished all the holiday gifts for this year, and decided to make something for myself. It is an easy crochet, although the directions were a little confusing in places. I muddled through and made this cute shawl. You can see from the first picture that I ran out of the deep purple yarn, so finished it up with black. Was just trying to use up parts of skeins I had in my stash, and didn't want to spend more money on yarn for this project. So we will call it an eclectic use of color ;-)

The pattern is a ravelry download, you do have to be a ravelry member to download the pattern, but registration in ravelry is free and I find so many patterns on this site!

Here is the pattern page!

Holiday Afghans

2011-12-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

I really need to catch up on my blogging. I want to post about our Samhain feast, but that will have to wait for another day. I wanted to post pics of the Afghans I made this year. I made them for friends of mine, but have been waiting until they all have received them first, before I posted on my blog. I will also post links to the patterns.

This one is called a Granny Ripple, because it is a ripple pattern using a granny square technique. I found this pattern on ravelry, so click here for this pattern.

This is a corner to corner afghan, I hadn't done one of those before. That pattern is found by clicking here.

The wave afghan. LOVE IT! Also loved the deep, saturated colors. This one is also a free ravelry download found here.

This afghan also uses a granny square type of technique. Love the colors of this one too, the recipients favorite colors. In the picture the bright stripe might look a little yellow, but it is a green color. Sorry folks, can't find the pattern for this right now, and don't have a lot of time to look. If I run across it, I promise to post it later!

This one is my favorite as it was all new technique for me, so I learned a lot. It is a thick, heavy afghan, all single crochet intarsia, which I had never done before. I found some of the symbols of this afghan on this blog, If you look around her chart page you will see the blocks I used. I made up the letter squares myself. I would love to do more intarsia in the future. I tried so many different techniques to crochet the squares together, but didn't like any of them, so I ended up sewing the squares together (my least favorite technique). That part was a challenge for me. :-)

Hope you enjoyed seeing my Holiday projects, and try a pattern or two yourself!

Flowering Christmas Cactus

2011-11-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

This plant always amazes me, the flowers are just so rich with color, simply awesome. I think I have posted about this very plant before, it was a gift from a friend a few years back. I re-potted the plant this past spring. I hesitated to re-pot because I generally have little success with "indoor" plants, LOL. But it was outgrowing the plastic pot it was in, so I took the chance, and it is thriving! I think she loves her new place. Isn't she beautiful!

Thanks Jen!

Soul of Nature Candles

2011-10-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

While I was attending the South East Women's Herbal Conference in Black Mountain, I met Arlene Bailey, just briefly. She spoke at a session on candle making and had a booth selling her candles. What amazing candles. They are fragrant, but not overpowering, and BURN BEAUTIFULLY! I have not had a candle burn so completely before, no drips at all, just a very clean burn. I enjoyed her session and hearing about the care and attention to detail she puts into every candle. We talked just a little about her candles while I was "shopping".

This is her web site, and it doesn't even mention candles. But it is very interesting, and I am considering going to one of her November classes, just have to make time in my schedule! So check her out!

Birthday Scarf

2011-10-19T13:26:00.000-04:00

I needed a couple of birthday presents for friends and so I decided to make scarves. The weather was turning a bit chilly, and it just seemed like a nice, handmade present. They turned out SO cute. I may have to make one for myself. I found the pattern on this page. The picture on the site is no longer visible but the pattern is still there below where the picture box is. It was easy to follow, quick to crochet, and could adapt to any yarn. Of course a nice thick yarn makes for a nice and cozy scarf.

Here is picture of the scarves, and a close up so you can see the flower-ish pattern.

Weekend at the Southeast Women's Herbal Conference

2011-10-17T09:48:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I attended the Southeast Women's Herbal Conference, and had a wonderful time. The women that coordinate were gracious enough to allow me to attend on a work scholarship, and for that I am so grateful. Back years ago when my boys were much younger I gathered herbs and prepared my oils, and tinctures, used them in our everyday lives, made different infusions for my morning cup. But over the years as we have become busier with homeschool activities, and friends I have put that on the back burner. Always meaning to "get back to it one day". This weekend just reawakened that interest. For several years now I have intended to make my own medicine wheel/garden. I even purchased a couple of books, as examples of how others have done this. But never seemed to have the time. This year I really want to make that a reality. Maybe even just picking the spot and starting to prepare the soil, just a start but in the right direction!

I make time for homeschool activities, and conference "stuff", I make time to garden, cook most things from scratch, preserve food, raise laying hens and broilers. I need to make time for my herbal interests as well. As one speaker this weekend put it, just one herb at a time.

The conference truly had something for everyone. And staying off site, I did not feel like I 'missed' anything. I found the speakers to be approachable, knowledgeable, and insightful. I would encourage anyone interested in alternative therapies, especially herbs, to attend. I know I will be going back again next year. Of course I am just in love with Camp Rockmont, the scenery there is breathtaking. I will be back again in about two weeks for the Fall FLT Gathering, so will have another chance to take in that beauty!

Here are a couple of pics of the scenery. And one of this wonderful mug I bought at the conference. With, as usual, my morning cuppa chai inside!

Don't you just love how the sun sparkles through that weeping willow tree!

This picture is looking down toward the lake and the boat house. And up across the mountains.

OK isn't she just too beautiful! And holds a LOT of chai!

Apple Steve Jobs The Crazy Ones - NEVER BEFORE AIRED 1997

2011-10-06T18:59:00.000-04:00

Trip to the Beach and SOOC shot

2011-09-05T08:13:00.000-04:00

This past week we went to the coast. Not just the beach, because anyone with any knowledge of what the ocean is like, knows that all water is NOT the same. A lake is not even close to the equivalent of the coast, the ocean, that salty air! Gotta love it! Having grown up on the coast, I can't go a year without at least one trip to the ocean. So this past week, our family and a few other families made the yearly trip. What a wonderfully relaxing, joy-filled, invigorating week it was. And this is my favorite shot for the week. I took this on our very first morning, up at my usual 6:00 wake up hour. :-) It is Straight Out Of the Camera, no alterations.

Back to School

2011-08-26T17:29:00.000-04:00

I never realized how little parents of public school children know about the laws regarding schooling. As a homeschool mom, I know the homeschool laws inside and out, I know how it is regulated, by what General Statute, what agency oversees homeschooling, who works in that agency, and how to contact them. If I have questions I ask.

When I was at the dentist with my son a few weeks back, the hygienist had finished cleaning his teeth and we were waiting for the dentist to come in and do an exam. She asked Phillip about homeschooling a bit, then turned to me to chat. She asked what grades the boys were in, so I explained that Dallen, my oldest, is not of compulsory age anymore so he is not in school, he has "technically" graduated. She was surprised by that and asked about it, since he is only 17. Her thought was that you had to be in school until you were 18.

Well, no, in North Carolina compulsory attendance is from age 7 until 16, so the day Dallen turned 16 he could "graduate" from homeschool. She was shocked that the minimum age was 7, thought every kid had to start preschool at 4. Well, again...no, preschool is not a requirement, even for public school children. AND you do not have to enroll your child in any school, public, private or homeschool, until they reach the age of 7. Now I don't know much more about public school law, as the laws regulating public school are different from homeschool, but compulsory age applies to all children in NC.

She was also surprised that when a child turns 16 they do not have to attend school. So I did clear that up a bit....unless they want a driver's permit they have to be enrolled in school somewhere or have a diploma showing graduation. But if the driver's permit is not an issue, attendance is optional after they turn 16.

So why don't public school parents know the law? Are the schools trusted to be abiding by the law? And should these public school parents put that much trust in the public schools?

New Lake James Swim Area

2011-08-21T19:30:00.001-04:00

This post is for all my friends joining me at Lake James on Tuesday, and anyone else that would like to join us.

I had not been to the new swimming area, so today, after a hike with the family, we took a short "self guided" tour, and I hope I can answer your questions.

First off it is about 4 miles from the old swim area. For me coming west on I-40, I take exit 94 and approach Lake James that way. I come out onto 126 off of Benfield's Landing Road. Instead of taking a left to the old swimming area, take a right and it is just up 126 a bit on the right. There is a lot of parking space, much more than at the old area. And a large changing room concession stand. I didn't go into the changing rooms but from the size of the building it HAS to be bigger, LOL.

You get to the beach area by going through this building. The beach area is much bigger. Much larger swim area.

This picture is 1/2 the swimming area. To the left of the swimming area is a path that leads to the picnic tables. As with the other swim area, the tables each have a grill and some are near the water, although there is no swimming by the picnic tables. Easy to walk to the swim area and back to the tables.

In the picture above I am just a bit down the path, you can see a few picnic tables to the right, the beach to the left. I didn't get a great shot, but didn't want the people at the picnic tables to think I was a stalker, LOL.

They also rent canoes here. You can see the canoes in the picture above, to the left. Further down just a bit is a large picnic shelter they said we could use if it was not reserved, and, as of today, it was not rented. But I think if we get a couple of tables near the water and bring a few camp chairs it will be nice. Below you can see a pic of a couple of the tables to the right, near the water. I am facing with my back to the beach taking this.

This is a pic of the picnic shelter.

Picture above is near the end of the pathway looking back toward the beach, you can see it isn't far at all. There is also a walk way from the end of the picnic table path back up the parking lot. The picture below is back up at the parking lot, you can see the picnic shelter from the parking lot side, and in the distance just a bit you can see the changing area, concession stands.

And another set of bathrooms down at the end, the bathrooms are in the picture above. The last two pictures I just took one picture toward the picnic shelter and turned around and took one toward the bathrooms so you could see the distance a bit.

Hope that helps you see what the area is like, the water looked wonderful, I can't wait! The directions on the web site are correct but if you click on the "google" tab for directions, that will take you to the old swim area.

You are looking for the Paddy's Creek Area of Lake James State Park and the signs do say "Paddy's Creek Area". There will be no Lifeguard on Tuesday, and the swim area is free that day. Parking is free.

Thankful Thursday

2011-08-18T17:02:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a minute to share my gratitude. As a birthday gift a friend gave me this beautiful journal. Now I am not one to write in a journal much, I take notes, make my numerous "todo" lists, but actually sit down and write my thoughts out on paper, no. But this one is just so beautiful, it begs to have something profound written on its pages. Although I don't really have anything earth moving to write, I am using it as my gratitude journal. And I am doing pretty well keeping up, generally writing at least 4-5 times a week. Amazing all I am thankful for!

So for today I am thankful for:
~Friends I can count on, that support me, accept me for exactly who I am
~My boys and their sweet words
~My slow cooker, that has been a time saver for me
~A bountiful garden that feeds me body and soul
~A wonderful conference finished for yet another year!

I am so grateful and so blessed.

One Day Trip to the Beach

2011-07-19T10:39:00.001-04:00

Wow what a trip! It started by me casually mentioning to a friend that I had thought about just taking the boys to the beach for a day, but was trying to decide if it would work. Drive the 5 1/2 hours to the beach, to stay for just a few hours and turn around and drive home. But I really needed to be on the coast, even if it was only a few hours, just to see and smell and feel the ocean, that deep blue, with a gentle breeze, play in the sand, jump waves, forget about all the conference details. For just a day!

Well she thought it was a wonderful idea, we actually stayed overnight just one night. So it was a lot of driving, but we had so much fun. I did not get online, did not bring my computer, and only used my phone to call Jackson and say good night! It was too short, I didn't want to leave, and when I saw dishes lined up down the counter, I wanted to go back. :-) I did get some great pictures! Here are just a few.

They Are Following Me

2011-06-20T18:11:00.000-04:00

It's not really paranoia if they are really following me...right?! Well I was at the pet store today, and it felt like this mother and child were following me. I was in such a rush to get in and get out, get home, back to my little bubble. I parked right beside their car, not on purpose...really...I had no idea. But I smiled as I got out of my car and immediately this mom started talking to the boy, about 3 maybe. "Be good in here, don't touch anything, if you start whining we are leaving, we can't stay here long, don't touch anything." YES she was repeating herself and she didn't seem to shut up. So maybe she was just preparing the child for the pet store. Maybe there have been bad experiences here before, heck I don't know. I was just thinking let me get in and get what I need so I don't have to listen to this anymore.

I head for the crickets. We have two tarantulas that need crickets. Anyway there was that mother and child, looking at the fish. And still she was warning this boy "I said don't tough anything, look at the fish, I said look at the fish, here (drags him by the arm), remember we can't stay long, you have to behave, be good or we have to leave, no whining....." Was it ever going to stop. I wonder what the boy is hearing in his own head, is he hearing the Charlie Brown's Teacher's voice. Wah Wah, Wah Wah Wah Wah. Does he hear this all the time everywhere they go until he drowns her out with something nice in his head, maybe a nice tune playing. So I headed off to get dog food. And to find a decent dog brush. We have a husky that is shedding bunnies around the house. And when I turn the aisle to look at brushes, there they are again. "Don't touch the cats they will bite you, don't touch anything, be good, we can only stay a minute, behave and don't touch the cats or we have to leave now..."

It was just not ending, and I was wondering why the Universe had put them in my path CONTINUOUSLY at this store. I mean the store is large, it isn't a small pet store. So I head to the register, there is the mother and child, he was trying to see the dogs being groomed, on his tip toes, through the window. And mom was still droning on, I was even starting to tune her out, LOL.

I need to start making a point to write about the wonderful parents I see every day. They are out there, I SEE THEM! So that is my goal, to make a point to notice the great parents!

Heart Garland

2011-06-06T14:21:00.001-04:00

I wanted to show a cute, easy, little project I made a week or so ago. To see the pattern CLICK HERE. I will say that I did not follow the pattern exactly. I used a bunch of different sock yarns I had around, and I also used a #2 crochet hook. In between the hearts I only crocheted, I think, 20 chains or so. The spacing on the site just looked so far apart. When I finished I took a damp cloth and ironed them using a medium heat, just to flatten them out a bit.

But this turned out really cute, and I added it to a birthday gift as a neat wrapping, something you could hang up around the house or on your solstice tree. Maybe I will do these and wrap them around some lights for next year's winter solstice lights.

Wonderful Trip Around the Sun

2011-06-02T08:22:00.000-04:00

It's my birthday, I am 45 today! And loving each and every day! I helped celebrate a wonderful friend's birthday last week, and a woman asked her how many trips around the sun this made. Oh that phrase, I love it. It is just such a wonderful way to think about my birthday...Trips Around the SUN! It just feels so connected to the earth, the universe and everything! So humbling as well, my birthday in the scheme of things. I had other things I wanted to write about today, but this took over. I have had some amazing trips around the sun! Another friend sent me the Jimmy Buffett video today! LOVE IT! Love Jimmy Buffett. One of only a few artists that my boys and I enjoy listening to together. Actually I guess we have more than a few singers that cross the generational lines, LOL.

So for anyone sharing my birthday today, have another wonderful TRIP AROUND THE SUN!!

Breaking Down Barriers through online GAMING

2011-06-01T12:11:00.000-04:00

Yes you read it right! Gaming! And my two sons are right in there gaming with the rest. It is their passion. They love playing games, modifying games, developing gaming plots, creating 3-D graphics, game design etc. And we have never limited their access to gaming or their screen time, contrary to more popular parenting philosophies.

Here is a wonderful article about gaming, the Internet and how it brings people together. One quote I think embodies the sentiment is:

“I believe that the Internet and gaming, especially those with social media components, can bring people together,” Esra’a Al Shafei, Director of the Bahrain-based MidEast Youth, an international student media group that promotes dialogue and understanding, told The Media Line. “I grew up in a relatively closed society, but there are no boundaries on the Internet like there are in real life, making it much easier to cross cultural and political boundaries and to create meaningful connections.”

Meaningful connections....Say it again MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.

To read the complete article just CLICK HERE

Christmas

2011-06-01T09:28:00.000-04:00

OK so not time yet, but I am working on Christmas and solstice gifts now. I am not one for procrastination. I like to be done ahead of time, no rushing at the last minute. I enjoy thinking about the person and picking out things I think they will enjoy, or making things that fit their personality. I love knitting socks, and matching up colors with people. :-) This is what I have been working on this month (well last month really...May). I finished up two pair of socks that had been in the works but I didn't have enough yarn on hand, and even had enough time left to knit another two pair!! Whoo hooo!! I can see the list getting smaller!

Signs of Spring

2011-05-31T08:09:00.000-04:00

Well actually maybe it should say "signs of summer" as that is how hot it has been here the last few days. What a crazy spring we have had. Hot one day then cold the next, and weeks of rain and more rain. We have had four limbs blown down in storms this spring, that is four more than all the years we have lived here up to this point. So we spent the weekend cutting up wood and chipping up branches. Will be nice this winter, when the weather is chilly.

But the last couple of weeks have brought the blossoming of so many flowers here, and I love flowers. I need to take more pictures of the flowers here. But the azaleas have bloomed (not my favorite flower), and the magnolia is blooming now. LOVE the smell of the magnolia blossom!

But here are a couple of pictures of our hydrangea, the one right outside our front door. The hydrangea stands for friendship, devotion and understanding. What a lovely thought!

Jackson

2011-05-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

I took a picture of Jackson this morning. Long story short, a reconnected with a friend from high school and wanted to e mail her pics of the family. I didn't have a great picture of Jackson. I have one of him and the boys but all are dressed for snow boarding and you can't even see their faces. I have one from the beach but he is surfing (or trying anyway) so he isn't looking at the camera, and really all you can see is the ever thinning spot on the top of his head, not his face.

So this morning I took a nice picture of Jackson and thought I would share it. You can also see the new color on our dining room walls. That was a process, all 4 of us had a different idea of the color we wanted in the dining room, so after many samples we all agreed on this shade of yellow, and it is beautiful, especially with the early morning sun beaming in.

Mornings and Scattered Thoughts

2011-05-03T09:07:00.002-04:00

Wow! It's been over a month since I have posted here. I love blogging but lately there has been so much going on that I have been very much caught up in the moment. I also LOVE getting caught up like that, but sometimes it feels like a tornado, catching me in its swirling and twirling. I find times when I need to slow down and hunker down within.

I am feeling a little sad today, just kind of blah (is that a feeling..?). And I am sitting here thinking of the things I enjoy. These quiet mornings, two boys still sleeping soundly. I have pictures of what mornings generally look like here at the house. And that is what I reflect on, when days seem sad, the joy of the day, the blessings of our mini-farm, the centered-ness I find in family and friends. I miss my brothers, that live so far away, I don't get to see them often enough. I miss the ocean that calls me daily, I really need to take a vacation, inhale that salt air, that cleanses every pore of my being, refreshes, awakens, rejuvenates me.

But here are the mornings, here is what, in the absence of a vacation, invigorates me on a daily basis:

"Everything is going to be OK"

2011-03-25T17:46:00.000-04:00

Do you have an "everything is going to be OK" person in your life. I think we all do at one point or another. That person that you can turn to, that will just tell you "everything is going to be OK". Even if they don't know the situation, they just know that everything will work out like it is supposed to, and in the end "everything will be OK". My mom was that person in my life. No matter what, or where I was, I could just turn to her and she would rub my back or run her finger through my hair and tell me everything was going to be OK. From peers teasing me in school, to life decisions...it all seemed so important, and in some cases I didn't know what to do, in others I did know what to do and was just nervous. But my mom knew how to tell me it would be OK and I would believe it.

I am that person for our family, for Jackson and the boys. I am the comforter, the person they turn to, that will help if needed and always tell them it will all work out, it will be OK. But for the longest time after my mother crossed over, I didn't have that person in my life. Jackson is just not the "touchy-feely" type, he can say the words but not convincingly, and I know he feels uncomfortable saying it, so I don't ask. But I have other people to turn to.

I have a few close friends, all different, and each relationship different. But one person in my life is my "everything is going to be OK" person. I don't even think she knows that she is *this* for me. But when I go to her with something I need to talk about, she will always makes me feel like "everything is going to be OK". I am a very positive person, and I know (from my mother) that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to be. But sometimes it is just nice to feel it from the outside as well as the inside. The way this friend touches my hair, bring me comfort (maybe because that is how my mother used to comfort me). She doesn't even know she is doing it. But if she walks by me and just touches my hair it brings back so many wonderful feelings, just a real feeling of comfort in the moment. She is my "everything is going to be OK" person. And I am so grateful she is in my life! The Universe will provide!

I hope you all have one of those people in your life, to tell you that "everything will be OK."

Spring Equinox

2011-03-20T09:03:00.000-04:00

What a lovely day this is shaping up to be. There is still a chill in the air but I can hear the roosters crowing and the birds chirping. In the silence that is a Sunday morning in the South, I can hear the water rushing over the waterfall, and smell that crisp air. Today we celebrate Ostara, the beginning of spring, the rejuvenation of the earth as it comes back to life after the dormancy of winter.

We will color eggs and hunt eggs, spend a few moments in our family circle and meditate, to take this special time to meaningfully reconnect with each other and Mother Earth. We will write down our hopes and dreams for the season and plant them in our garden, so they may grow and flourish with the bounty that is our garden, that which will provide nourishment for our bodies and food for our souls. What a wonderful day, what a joyful day.

And after such a magnificent full moon last night. We had our full moon circle, and then lounged in the hot tub soaking sore muscles, that worked hard during the day, watching and filling up on that bright, powerful moon.

The beauty of each moment.

More Meditation

2011-03-04T14:21:00.000-05:00

The Chopra Center offers different 21 day meditations. And this one seemed really interesting. It is the 2011 winter 21 day meditation, and I am just starting today. So I wanted to share this link with you. This is a quote from the page: "The 21-day Meditation Challenge starts with small steps and gently progresses to longer meditations, then eases back down. We will explore many different types of meditation along the way. The optimum length and frequency for a meditation practice is 30 minutes, twice each day, but we’ll begin with a few minutes at first and work our way up to more extended meditations."

I really enjoyed today's meditation. It was back to basics, being aware and present in the moment, so important. And it lasted only a minute or two. And then setting your intention. I think this is always important, to actually set my intention, but in a busy life, sometimes it is the last thing I do, when it should be the first. Maybe I will try starting each day with that, just setting my intention. I mean how can the universe provide if I, myself, don't even know what it is I am looking for, in the most basic sense.

So join me if you like, on this 21 day meditation journey.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse ~ Day 9

2011-01-27T19:02:00.001-05:00

So today I am back to morning meditation. It just fits so well into my day. The boys and I are "slow" to start in the mornings, especially in winter. It is colder in the house, we snuggle by the fire, usually I am up alone for an hour or so, have breakfast, just wake up slowly. So this is a good time for me to take time to meditate.

This morning we were focusing on the Sacral Chakra, with special attention paid to the emotional/mental aspects of the chakra:

The second chakra is about friendliness, creativity, sexuality, emotions and intuition on the gut level. It's influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed during childhood. The sexual center for women.

Taken from this wonderful site

Nothing exciting with this mornings meditation, which is just how I like it. Nice relaxing, calm and peaceful. Focusing on my second chakra. I am learning more and more to respond to my intuition. A little difficult as I was always told as a child what to do, when, and not to talk back, just do as I was told. So I was never encouraged to honor that intuition. But I have learned over the years that my gut response is a good one, and not to ignore intuition. But I have made tremendous strides with this, and am encouraging my children to think things through, listen to that intuition talking to them. It's all good.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse~Day 8

2011-01-26T18:13:00.000-05:00

OK so we are now going back through the chakras focusing on the mental/emotional aspects of the chakra. If you want to join in and be able to comment with the group please feel free, you just need to join Heal Thyself.

The meditation went well, my focus kept coming back to my family, I have always been a "family" person, family means so much to me, my immediate family, my children, husband, brothers, as well as more extended family and family that I have chosen. Family isn't just traditional, I believe that we choose our family, those that nurture our spirits, add to our sense of being, joy, community. And I have so many "chosen" family members.

So that is what I focused on, my feeling of security, the sense of community, groundedness, well being. Such a joy to think about, really brings me back to my center, makes everything else slip away. What a lovely, grounding meditation today.

"The Base or Root Chakra located at the very bottom of the spine, the Root Chakra governs issues around physical self-preservation. These issues include survival, security and safety."
Taken from this wonderful site.

Side Tracked by Rudeness

2011-01-26T17:09:00.000-05:00

I did my chakra cleanse yesterday, focus on the crown chakra, color violet. But was continually distracted by thoughts that kept creeping in my brain. I have thought about this for a couple of days now and need to get it out there and release it.

Why is it OK for people to tell you what they think you are doing wrong, what you need to change and in a rude way on top of it all, when not even asked.

I have pretty much cut myself off of the national unschooling lists. Really I don't enjoy that kind of dialogue. I prefer more intimate groups, living my life, being in a community of like minds, sharing our ideas, passions, stories, watching our children grow and mature. That is my setting, where I feel most comfortable. I am on a statewide unschooling list, and know many of the unschoolers on the list, IRL. I am on a couple of state wide homeschooling lists as well. Always enjoy meeting new people. And I tend to be one to meet you on an equal playing field, I feel that we all do things differently where homeschooling is concerned, but we have so much in common as well. Kind of "to each his own", sort of thinking.

A couple of days ago, I was specifically asked on one of the more general homeschooling lists, what we did for unschooling. Not an uncommon question at all, I am used to that and answer by sharing what the boys and I are "into" these days. Well another mom, not the one asking the question, chimed in with a LONG e mail. She was replying to my e mail so mine showed up underneath her response. This woman said how she has a schedule and courses for her daughter because she did not want to limit her daughters options later in life with her parental choices now, or non choices. Yes she used that word (non choices). Of course implying that our unschooling is completely thoughtless. She went on to say that her daughter wants to go to college and yes SHE knows unschoolers go to college, but her daughter wants to go to a prestigious college. Again implying that unschoolers or more to the point, my boys, will never go to any sort of "real" college. Her e mail went on and on, and no she did not use my name. And I don't even know her other than this post. But, since I was the only unschooler asked and the only unschooler to respond and she was replying to my e mail, it was obvious who she was responding to.

I just didn't even have the energy to respond to her. I wanted to crawl back into my bubbly of joy. I didn't tell her that my boys haven't even mentioned college, but if they ever do, I have the confidence that they will be able to achieve whatever it is they set their minds to. I didn't go on to tell her that our choice to unschool was very thoughtFULL. I didn't go on to poke holes in her theory, or explain my beliefs about unschooling. What would be the point.

But why did she even feel the need to respond that way at all. I mean I didn't. I didn't say anything about the more school at home crowd, as I know it is a homeschool list and a lot of those on it are more school at home. I just explained what we do in our home. Why don't people feel that being a great example of what they are doing and how they are living is the best way to "tell" someone the benefits of that philosophy. Why do some feel that they need to try to tear holes in what you are doing, point out why they feel it is wrong for anyone and everyone, and will lead most assuredly to Hell, if I even believed in Hell in the first place.

Does this mom believe that by answering one person's question, everyone on that list will all of a sudden start unschooling, come on we live in the south. LOL.

I will continue to share our unschooling lives, will continue to ignore those that are rude, and thoughtless. I will simply be the example of how we live, and let our joy stand for itself. Let people continue to ask questions, and answer in the only way I have the energy to answer....by sharing our unschooling lives, by letting people look for themselves at works for us.

OK maybe now I can get back on track with my chakra meditation, let it go and let it be.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse~Day 6

2011-01-24T20:16:00.000-05:00

Today was a fairly busy day but always time to meditate. It energizes me, relaxes me, centers me and is just such a positive part of my day that even a few minute meditation is important. So today is day 6 of the Chakra cleanse, the third eye:

"The Third Eye Chakra, located just above the centre point between the eyebrows. It spins extremely fast, and is associated with the colour Indigo. It is the centre of visual, psychic and intuitive perception, and its’ attributes are clairvoyance, memory, dreams and vision. So we are now in the realms of the intangible."

Taken from this web site.

This was a very easy meditation, I find the darker colors easier to focus on and the third eye just seems like a natural focus of attention. Giving thanks to my pituitary gland, giving thanks to insight, instincts, hunches, dreams etc. Feeling the indigo color swirling around me, around the room, enveloping all that I love. Just a wonderful part of the day. Some days I feel like I could sit and meditation for hours.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse Day 5

2011-01-24T09:12:00.001-05:00

I actually did my daily meditation late last night, well late for me around 9:00. So am posting about it this morning. Our focus was the fifth chakra, the throat area.

BLUE relates to the THROAT chakra which is in the throat of the human body.

The related organs to the throat chakra are the throat and lungs.

The endocrine gland is the thyroid gland.
Taken from this web site.

At this point the meditations are fairly easy, I proceed with my normal meditation and give a few minutes of special attention to the specific area. So for yesterday I focused on the color blue, and sending healing energy to my throat area, recognizing all that it does for me. Seeing the circling blue color around my through and then through my body and out into the universe.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse~Day 4

2011-01-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

Today is the heart chakra. I wasn't sure I was going to make it today, long night last night makes for a sleepy Saturday. But I did, it was about 5:00 in the evening but I made it. Took a few minutes after we cut some more firewood, to sit. Just sit and relax, close my eyes and picture the heart, my heart. For anyone not familiar with the heart chakra here is a little info:

"Located near the center of the breastbone or sternum, this chakra represents higher consciousness and love. The Heart chakra is associated with the heart, thymus gland, lower lung and circulatory system.

The heart chakra acts as the balance point for all the chakras. It governs our relationships and how we interact with other people. A balanced heart chakra is expressed in acceptance of self and others, personal values and ethics, following one's unique direction in life.

The color associated with the heart chakra is Green. Green symbolizes harmony, creativity, health, abundance and nature. It is the combining of yellow (soul) and blue (spirit). Green, nature's color, offers new energy and revitalizes tired nerves."

Taken from the Emily Gems site.

Took the time to thank my heart for carrying my body, providing the rhythm of my life. I could easily visualize the green light enveloping my heart and my heart chakra, strengthening me.

A short meditation today.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse: Day 3

2011-01-21T11:25:00.002-05:00

Oh plenty of sleep last night, the puppies are back on track, and so am I.

Today we are focusing on the third chakra, the solar plexus chakra. Sometimes I have trouble following a challenge, either it takes too much time and I just can't fit it into EVERY day, or it is too complex, requiring too much preparation. But this challenge is proving to be really easy. It fits into my morning meditation nicely, and the good thing about meditation is all you have to do is "sit". I love that phrase "Don't just do something....sit there." So opposite of how we, as a society, are programmed. Refreshing.

So I did more of a formal relaxation meditation today, focusing on my breathing for a few minutes, that giving each part of my body attention, breathing through any tension, focusing on relaxing...releasing tension with each breath. The I began focusing on the solar plexus chakra. Again for those that are unfamiliar:

"Located midway between the rib cage and the navel, this is the sense of identity. The Solar plexus chakra is associated with the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, spleen, digestive system and nervous system.

The color associated with the solar plexus chakra is Yellow. Yellow is the symbol of the mind, intellect, high intelligence and wisdom. It is a positive magnetic vibration that acts as an equalizer for irritable conditions of the nervous system. The solar plexus is the organizing brain of the nervous system and as such, is an important power center that should be kept in a perfect equilibrium.

All the yellow stones - topaz, citrine, yellow zircon, amber - are used with the solar plexus chakra."
Taken from this Solar Plexus Chakra page

So I focused on the color yellow, and if that color started to slip from my mind, I simply opened my eyes and looked at the fire in the stove, a nice yellow, warm fire. There is more to that meditation if you want to join in just join Heal Thyself.

Once I finished my solar plexus chakra cleaning, I then went back through all the parts of my body, slowly focusing attention to each part, and ended by picturing myself standing at the beach grounded to the earth.

Very nice and relaxing today. I love my morning meditations.

21 Chakra Cleanse Day #2

2011-01-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

Today the focus was on the sacral chakra, and proved a bit easier for me. For those that aren't as familiar:

"Situated just below the navel, the Sacral Chakra corresponds with bodily functions having to do with liquid: circulation, urinary elimination, sexuality and reproduction. The colour of the Sacral Chakra is orange. It is ruled by the Moon, and is the centre of sexuality, emotions, nurturance, pleasure and creativity. It is slow in movement, but not as slow as the Base Charkra."

Taken from the sacral chakra web page

I could easily hold the orange color in my mind, and meditate. I could have actually meditated for hours but the puppies wouldn't let me.

The puppies were spayed yesterday and so I spent much of last night tending to them, settling them back to sleep when they would wake up, snuggling when needed. So I was up at 6:00 this morning to take care of all the dogs and have just been so tired today, spent much of the morning dragging myself around but by noon I was ready to start my "morning". :-)

So my meditation came late today, 1:00. I was able to sit back and relax, close my eyes, breathe and focus on my sacral chakra, think about my babies, thank my body for allowing me to deliver such beautiful beings. I was able to focus on the color orange and see it just circulating around me, very peaceful. Maybe because I am just so tired, who knows, LOL.

21 Day Chakra Cleanse

2011-01-19T09:28:00.000-05:00

I am joining some friend on the Heal Thyself ~ning, in a 21 day Chakra Cleanse. This sometimes accompanies a Reiki class, after attunement, although it was not part of the classes I attended. But it sounds like a wonderful cleansing idea, so I decided to join in.

The cleansing is through meditation, which I practice daily anyway, so this is just an added focus, how hard can that be. Well, I found out this morning it was harder than I thought. Usually I meditate in the mornings. I close my eyes take a couple of deep breaths and I can see a color, not sure why or what it means, I try not to think about it but just let it be what it is. As I close my eyes colors move and change before my eyes, like bubbles of color. Depending on my mood or activity or how I am feeling I see one color like yellow, orange or green when I begin meditation. As I meditate, focus on my breath, relax and center, the color changes and by the time my meditation is coming to an end, I am seeing something in the range of dark blue to violet. I have always enjoyed this morphing of color, very peaceful, very calming and natural.

Today's chakra focus is the root chakra, so I am meditating on the color red, focusing attention into my root chakra. For anyone not familiar:

"The Base or Root Chakra located at the very bottom of the spine, the Root Chakra governs issues around physical self-preservation. These issues include survival, security and safety, as well as primal erotic and procreational urges.

This chakra is the grounding force that allows us to connect to the earth energies and empower our being."
Taken from the Root Chakra Web Page

OK NOT so easy to keep the color I see on red. That took a lot of focus, just maintaining that color. We will see if it get easier as I go through the chakra cleanse.

I think this will be beneficial for my daily meditation, helping me to maintain a focus. If anyone wants to join in on the 21 day Chakra Cleanse please join the Heal Thyself ~nin .

Knitting Scarves

2011-01-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

I knit a couple of scarves this month, one for me and one to stash away for next Christmas. I really enjoyed this past holiday season. I knit quite a few gifts and had everything done well before Thanksgiving, so I plan to do the same this year, and am starting early, The first scarf is for myself, I just loved the whimsical drops and the shape of the scarf. It was knit with yarn my husband gave me for Christmas. The pattern comes from the ravelry site, which if you are not a member and love to knit or crochet it is well worth the price ...*free*. Just join and you are in!\

I will say with this pattern I had to use two balls of yarn and follow the pattern directions for increasing, I went up to 40 stitches but actually could have gone even further making it longer.

This second scarf is the one to stash away for Christmas. I loved the wavy looking pattern of this. It is very easy to knit and also the pattern is on ravelry. I am really liking ravelry, such a large easily searchable database of patterns. This was wool yarn I had on hand. But I think it would be nice done with blue yarn as well. Sort of like the ocean.

I took this picture at night in my kitchen, which doesn't have the best lighting. But I think you get the idea of the pattern.

Winter Fun

2011-01-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

It is supposed to snow again this coming weekend, or so my dh tells me. Of course it is only Monday now so it could very well change in the next 5 days. I think this is the most snow we have seen in all the winters combined since we moved here in the winter of 1997-1998. I am not so sure I like it. Growing up in Maine, one of the reasons I voted in favor more settling in the south was the climate. I have never really "liked" winter. So far the winters here have been mild, about 6-8 weeks and things are starting to warm up and the buds are popping out on the trees. That is the kind of winter I can handle. Ahhhh.

This winter we have had I think, three really good snows. Like enough show for the boys to go sledding and snow boarding on our own property. They are really enjoying it, that combined with our trips up the mountain to the ski slopes has made for an exciting winter for them, a very COLD winter for me brrrr.

I just wanted to share some pics of winter fun this year.

Abundance

2011-01-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

Abundance 1. an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply: an abundance of grain.

2. overflowing fullness: abundance of the heart.

That is according to Dictionary.com.

What is it that creates that feeling of abundance? I have thought about that a lot lately. The other day my son completed his goal of saving $1,000. It has taken almost a year. He decided on this goal because he wanted to see what it felt like to earn $1,000 and then just spend it on himself, on anything he wanted. Well after shopping and shopping....looking and looking....3 days later, he still has about $500 left. He declared "mom, there is nothing I really want."

That was a statement I heard at Christmas as well. Now that the boys are older I make sure to ask them what they want for Christmas and birthdays. It is just too difficult to guess. And they had a few things to add to a list, but then they both said "mom, I don't really want anything."

It isn't that we really have "everything" LOL. And I am sure they would like a flat screen TV in their bedrooms or some video game system, or a high tech phone etc. I really think they live with a feeling of abundance. A feeling of having more than you want. Jackson and I have always worked with the boys, throughout the years, showing them that if you want something we can all work together to make sure you get it somehow. They have heard that over and over, they know it to be true by demonstration. There is a knowledge that we are all a team, we all have things we want, and we can get them if we work at it. It doesn't have to be a special occasion, a birthday or Christmas, it isn't a reward for some kind of "positive behavior". It just *is*.

I know families that are as financially stable as ours (and more so), and still live with that feeling of lack, instead of abundance. So I don't believe the feeling comes with money.

I grew up with the feeling of abundance. And it was the same in that circumstance as well. My parents worked with us kids to get what we wanted, and we just lived in such an atmosphere of abundance that we felt we lacked for nothing. It wasn't until I was older and was helping my mother with taxes that I realized we lived below the poverty level. But the house was filled with a feeling of abundance.

I think it is a feeling, not based in what you have or how much money you have, how much property you own etc. I think it is how you live, what you focus on, what you don't focus on. A house filled with love, connection, togetherness, inspiration, friendship, and joy...leads to a home filled with a feeling of abundance.

Coupon Show

2011-01-05T07:16:00.000-05:00

OK I was just 1/2 awake in bed last night, couldn't quite get to sleep, so I turned the TV on. It was 10:00, my normal bedtime since the dogs have been waking me at around 6 am these days. There was a show on about couponing, yes coupons, those paper things that come in the newspaper on Sunday. Actually the show, I think, was called "Extreme Couponing".

They were profiling these people who use coupons, like REALLY use coupons. They will go to the grocery store, come out with carts of stuff and pay like $5. I was truly amazed. One woman saved over $1500 in one trip, paid only like $6 total. One man bought like $15000 worth of stuff, some was purchased to give to the local food bank, but he paid like $50 for it all. Really amazing. LOL. Now much of the stuff is stuff I would not buy, like soda. I was just so in awe of these people. Granted they spend hours go over their shopping list and figuring it all out but they have saved their families thousands of dollars. I think at least a couple of the couponers (is that even a word) mentioned that they started for financial reasons, loss of a job in the family or high debt, and just wanted to make a difference, get out of that hole, figure out a way to eat. So they started using more and more coupons and now get most of their grocery items for free, knowing when things go on sale at the store and always using coupons in conjunction with store sales. Very cool!

Here is the official blurb from the TLC site "Extreme Couponing profiles four shopaholics who use coupons to save thousands of dollars and amass huge stockpiles of goods.These shoppers go to the extremes, dumpster diving for coupons and spending hours a day searching the internet for great deals."

I have never been one to clip coupons. I have been blessed in not "needing" to, and also it is a time thing. When I decide to go grocery shopping, I make a list and go. But this show really demonstrated that I could be doing better, just taking a few minutes a week. I could at least look at the store sales, and the coupons that come weekly in the mail. Even saving a few dollars a week would add up. :-)

DH

2010-12-30T15:54:00.000-05:00

And in this instance it means dear husband.

I have not been feeling well the last few days. Trying to fight back a cold, unsuccessfully I might add. Jackson came home earlier than usual, well it is usual for around the holidays, but unusual for almost all other times of the year. It was nice, we enjoy having more time with Jackson. Last night I was just feeling real horrible, head ache, runny nose and I asked him if he would fix supper. Anything really, I didn't care what it was as long as I didn't have to get up and do it. So he does and brings me my plate.

Isn't it just the cutest plate. He said it was supposed to look sort of like an insect. He made all our plates that way. It just brought a smile to my face. Sometimes he is just so sweet and trying to pick me up a little when I am feeling down. AND he brought me my favorite fork. Not sure if you can see it in the picture but I have talked about this fork before, at least I think I have. It is a fork that was my mom's from her first silverware set. No not real silver but REAL special to me.

Happy

2010-12-29T11:45:00.000-05:00

This is copied from a friend, who also got it from a friend....you get the picture. It is really cool and makes me think "in the moment". She posted what makes her happy today. So that is the title "Happy" and if you want to play along also post what makes you HAPPY TODAY!!

Happy

My boys sleeping soundly after a long night playing joyfully with a friend

The quiet

Two pug puppies always ready to snuggle

A BIG cuppa chai

My nook recharging for another marathon reading session (we'll both be ready to go)

My wonderful husband at work so that I can stay home with the boys

The tree all decorated that has lasted well over a month

A warm fire in the stove

Knitting socks

Hap-py: characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.

So what makes you happy right now, in this moment.

Snow

2010-12-27T09:36:00.000-05:00

One of the benefits of living in the South, and one of the reasons we decided to settle here once we ETSed from the Army, was the warm climate and MILD winters. I personally am not a fan of snow and cold, never have been. I grew up in Maine with lots of snow, long winters, and cold weather. I just don't like it, I don't like that feeling of being cold and never getting warm.

So far we have had very mild winters here in NC. Lasting only 6-8 weeks, rarely any snow, and if there is snow it melts away in a day or two. We have not seen a white Christmas here since we have lived here, that is 13 years.

This year we have early snow, and quite a bit of it, cold weather and a white Christmas. I had to dig out my LL Bean boots, haven't seen those in years, and find gloves and a hat. My boys have lots of winter gear, they have taken up snowboarding this year and dress to stay warm. So they were all set. I did go out and make the obligatory snow man, but then curled up inside by the fire with a book, and only peeked out to take pictures. This was the scene at our house on Christmas day. And I will say with the snow people stayed inside so going out with the dogs on Christmas morning it was so quiet and peaceful. Snow falling around me, not a car on the road, no school buses, not even people outside. I could hear the birds chirping, and the waterfall roaring across the road at the park, so that was nice. I guess even the snowy weather will bring its moments of joy.

Tree Topper

2010-12-24T08:56:00.001-05:00

So many things have been going on this holiday season, and I have been so "in the moment" that I haven't taken time to blog. I like that in some ways, but I do like the documentation, the pictures, my thoughts as we are moving through the days and events, the kids like reading about them all.
Today I have a spare minute to blog about our tree topper this year. Last year as we were taking the tree down both boys mentioned that they did not like our topper. Really it is my mother's tree topper, her second and last one, an angel. My mother had always had an angel at the top of the tree. The one I really remember was a plastic one that had a single bulb inside to light it up, one year the bulb melted the plastic a little and so we never again lit the angel up. Some years later my mother bought another angel for the top of the tree and threw the old one away. The new angel had a porcelain head and white body, I have seen them around, it isn't "one of a kind" or anything. It had a small light in its hands and a few lights inside to light her all up. That is the one I hung onto after she crossed over and the one we have used all these years.

Even after hearing the story of how we came to have possession of this angel, the boys just decided that since we don't label ourselves Christian, and aren't celebrating the birth of Christ, they thought the angel was not appropriate for our tree, and in that I can agree. Do you know how hard it is to find a tree topper or anything that can be used as a topper that is NOT an angel or a star, something with real meaning for us. We wanted a sun/moon or just a sun, to celebrate the solstice and the sun returning as the days go from shortest to getting longer.

Well what Jackson spotted was perfect. A dear friend of mine gave me, for either Christmas or my birthday last year or the year before, a sun. It is glass, blue and green, with a small door in the back so you could put a tea light inside. It has a hanger and I had it hung in the living room. I took out the tea light "shelf" inside and we put some tree lights inside, attached it to the top of the tree. Perfect. It has sentimental and spiritual meaning for us and I am sure will top our tree for years to come. The picture doesn't do it justice. But my arms aren't still enough to get a nice "flashless" picture without getting out the tripod. So you will have to imagine how beautiful it looks lit up in a dark room. :-)

Holiday Wreath

2010-12-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

I have always made Christmas wreaths, my mother showed me how and I so enjoy making wreaths, the smell of the trees just calming. But here all I have are long needle, pine trees, not good for wreaths, and I am not buying a tree just to make a wreath, so we are improvising. LOL. This year I made a yarn wreath, isn't it just too cute! I found a blog with the directions, this is not the blog but it does have directions. I did not use any type of ivy or vine on mine. Just styrofoam balls of different sized up to 2 inch diameter. Plastic colored Christmas balls, bells, a wire frame and hot glue. We are just loving it, and when you open the door you can hear the bells ringing, so festive!!

Gingerbread

2010-12-10T13:19:00.001-05:00

This was the week for gingerbread, and so festive, and fun, full of friendships. We really enjoy the holiday season, this week really made that feeling of home and warmth come to life for me. Tuesday we spent the day at a friends house. Another friend made gingerbread houses for anyone that wanted to decorate one and we just all brought candy and icing and spent the day decorating, chatting, drinking tea, and just enjoying each other's company during this wonderful season. It might have been cold outside but it was warm and wonderful inside.

On Thursday we spent time in Asheville. First we went to the Grove Park Inn. It is beautiful in itself but now it was all decorated for the holidays, with different themed trees, a roaring fire in the HUGE fire place. I mean HUGE, I think an adult could stand up INSIDE of the fireplace, with room to spare. The National Gingerbread Competition is held here each year and the houses are on display throughout the season. So wandered around for a couple of hours looking at the houses and enjoying the Inn. Then we all moved the party over to Barley's Tap Room for pizza, YUM!! One of my favorite places. And a new one for us was the Double Decker Bus across the street from Barley's. We packed the place and enjoyed some tea, coffee, cocoa and more chatting. Just a wonderful week!! Thanks to all my dear friends for making my family complete, for being there, for opening up your homes and hearts, and thank you for your friendship!!

Sharing the Beauty

2010-12-03T08:39:00.003-05:00

A good friend gave me this plant, it's a Christmas Cactus. I think she gave it to me maybe 3 or 4 years ago, gosh I can't remember exactly. But it is blooming this week and it is SOOO beautiful, just like my friend. So I wanted to share this beautiful plant with everyone.

I am not sure you can see it but it is still in the original pot, although that pot is inside the pot that I want to transplant this beautiful cactus into one of these days. And it also still has the red foil wrapper around the outside. It will look even more beautiful in the new pot, and I really need to buy some potting soil and transplant that this spring. But the plant doesn't seem to care and just shares it's light with me anyway. I am so grateful for the plant and the friend!

Buckyballs

2010-12-02T19:16:00.007-05:00

A dear friend of ours bought my son, Phillip, some Buckyballs for his birthday this past year. The web site and the store where she bought them said "keep away from all children", so of course she knew that they had to be cool and my son would enjoy them. Which he has, he does and he will continue to do....he LOVES them. She was so right, and I am glad she ignored the "warning" and followed her instincts instead!!

He works with the Buckyballs frequently so tonight I took some pictures and thought I would share. Oh and by the way these would make great Christmas gifts.

*I have no investment in the company what-so-ever and am not suggesting that anyone should ignore the warning.

;-)

Solstice

2010-11-30T09:02:00.006-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone, however you choose to celebrate. I am still unsure what to call what we do here in our house. We celebrate Christmas but not the birth of Christ. Some will say that we do not celebrate Christmas then because you "can't take Christ out of Christmas". But somehow we do.

We put up a tree and we do open presents on the 25th. It is a day full of wonder and joy. We all LOVE picking out presents for each other, on the sly. My boys know where their presents are kept (in my closet) and know they can look at any time if they like. BUT they so prefer the surprise. Even though they get what they want/need during the year. That special day is such a nice day full of surprises and family, being together. Not sure why we do it on the 25th other than that is when their friends are opening gifts, most of their friends.

We also make solstice bread on the shortest day of the year, we keep the fire stoked throughout the night and we get up just before sunrise to watch the sun as it comes back up over the mountains and trees to greet us after the longest night of the year. Then we go back inside and eat our solstice bread and have hot tea and cocoa. We make dream sticks, decorated with yarn, ribbon, etc. With writings all around our sticks of the dreams we have for the coming year.

We also have our solstice lights. Which I keep lit for as long as the bulbs last. This year I crocheted flowers for the solstice lights. This is sort of my tradition. Each year I think up another decoration for the lights and spend time decorating the lights, thinking about family, friends, all the great things in my life, and each time I look at my solstice lights I think of the many wonderful blessings in my life. Which is what I want to share today. Pictures of this year's solstice lights. Enjoy. And again Happy Holidays.

Television and Its Addictive Nature

2010-11-21T07:53:00.005-05:00

That caught your attention. LOL.

I wanted to talk about television today. I have heard so many people tell me how addictive TV is, that if my kids (or any kids really) have unlimited access to TV they will watch it all the time, and not be able to pull away. They will be "addicted".

If you looked at me and my life you could easily say "see...I told you so". As my life follows that theory and seems to prove it based on the outcome. I was given unlimited access to the TV, my parents enjoyed watching TV, that was a relaxing, family-time end to our day. Pick a TV show and we would would all watch. I watched Saturday morning cartoons, I watched those after school specials, I did my homework in front of the TV, I got ready for school watching TV. It was a huge fixture in the living room.

And now I love TV, I have it on much of the day, although I can go without it and do sometimes (especially with nice weather...I do so enjoy getting outside in my gardens), but much of the time it is on, even if I am not watching it. I read with the TV on in the background, watch a movie while I knit, work on the computer with the TV in the background. So one could say that "if you give a kid unlimited access to the television that child will become addicted".

BUT if that were true it would also follow that my children would be addicted. They have unlimited access to the television. And something I did not have as a child, they each have a television in their room, and we have a large screen television in the family room, smaller one in the living room (that is how much I enjoy TV). So for the theory to hold out, my children should be there glued to the TV right along with me, watching it all the time, putting together legos in front of the TV, reading with the TV on etc.

BUT they are not!

Actually my oldest watches hardly any TV at all, I would say less than an hour a week. He asked me the other day if I could turn it off when I am not watching it or at least turn it down. So my TV watching has decreased dramatically because of him. And when I leave the room I make sure to turn it off, for him. My youngest watches maybe an hour a day, sometimes less, sometimes a little more. Again not glued to it at all.

Why the difference? Who knows. I certainly don't. I did have games, toys, a younger brother to play with, growing up. It isn't because I had nothing else to do. So I really don't know what the difference is. I do know that the theory has not been proven as fact in our house. On the contrary it just proves to me that we are each individuals with individual likes and dislikes. And given free access, have the freedom to choose what it is we enjoy. And for that I am truly grateful.

And now to get off the computer, turn on the TV and read.

Explore Science Day

2010-11-19T19:15:00.005-05:00

I was chatting with a friend today and she mentioned she wanted to get together a fun science club. I have been doing the Explore Science Day today for about a year and a half so I mentioned this and thought I could share the ideas we have put on the table, as well as the links to help her out a little maybe. No since reinventing the wheel when I have done a little searching for ideas myself. I thought I would post it on my blog as well in case anyone else was interested in some fun science ideas, things you can just put on the table and let everyone play. So here it is:

1. Kitchen Chemistry, got the idea from this site http://ezinearticles.com/?Ultra-Cool-Homeschool-Chemistry-Experiments&id=534216

2. We made slime (have done this several times and it is always a hit) http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000039

3. Baggie ice cream, we made the ice cream and I provided all the fixin's for banana splits if they wanted that: http://crafts.kaboose.com/ice-cream-in-a-bag.html

4. Blood typing, got that kit from Carolina Biological they have many different kits. During this day I also got out my microscope and stereoscope and we looked at our blood, saliva and a whole host of other things the kids found to look at.

5. Electricity, I bought a kit from Carolina Biological and printed off about 5 different experiments from different sites and let the kids go at it.

6. Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction, from this book: http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Weapons-Mass-Destruction-Implements/dp/1556529538 The kids LOVED this, I copied 5 simple *weapons* and had all the stuff spread out on my table and the kids went at it.

7. Elephant Toothpaste: http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/toothpaste.php

8. M&M survival challenge: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Zoo_p012.shtml

9. We did an egg drop challenge. I put out different things like pantyhose, toilet paper, paper towels, tape, balloons, straws, cotton, fabric, rubber bands, Styrofoam cups, etc. And 2 dozen eggs, the challenge was to create something to *hold* a raw egg, then we dropped them from my deck, which is high off the ground, but any high place, and checked to see what contraptions protected the eggs.

10. We did the tower of pasta challenge on this page sort of, we used more items, less restrictions and for fun, then we tested to see which tower could hold a small Tupperware dish and how many pennies it could hold. But there are a lot more ideas on this page as well http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/practice/default_cat.php?Id=2

11. We did water testing, with tap water and creek water, got the small kits from Carolina Biological. Everyone brought samples from their home, yard and they tested their own water.

12. Animal track casting. I have a creek at the house here, plenty of tracks. What I did was put some dry plaster of paris mix in small baggies and we took the baggies and some bottles of water to the creek and looked for tracks. When we found one, we just added a little water to the baggie and zipped the baggie back up and squished it and mixed the plaster. Then pour the plaster from the baggie into the track until you fill up the track. Went to play for an hour, then went back and lifted out the tracks and looked them up to see what they were from.

13. One we are doing in December if Fire starting. My dh and a friend's dh are actually doing the work, LOL, different ways to start a fire, making a bow drill, using a flint etc. Should be fun.

Socialization is Overrated

2010-11-18T09:30:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine said this recently...."Socialization is Overrated". And I heartily agree. I know I have been absent from the blogging community lately. I have so much to blog about. But I have been in a funk as of late. Just don't want to be social, can't seem to do it. I have always been an introvert but have really enjoyed friendships. Even though it is hard for me to develop friendships, when I do, I treasure them. For some this is hard to believe ;-)

A few weeks ago I went to a party at a friends house, people I knew, friends. But when I walked in I felt overwhelmed, even though there were only I think 5 families there when we arrived. I couldn't make a connection, couldn't jump in on conversations. It was a paralyzing feeling for me, but my boys were so excited about the party so I struggled through it. A couple of my closer friends could see something was up, and it does show me how strong my friendships are when my friends notice a change in me. But I couldn't explain my feelings, I couldn't even talk about it without wanting to cry and just needing to get out. I did have to go for a couple of walks during the party. I know they are trying to help and I don't know exactly what helps. It is just a feeling of wanting to cocoon myself in the house and not go out, not feeling social, not wanting to be around other people.

So in going through this I thought a lot about my friend who is staying more and more at home. Why, in this society, do we put such importance on socialization? If children, or even adults, do not want to be social, should we be forcing them? Can you lead a fulfilling, joyful life with only minimal social interactions? I really think you can. I do need social interactions, and value friendships, but not everyone does. For me this feeling lasts a week or two and I try to honor that feeling and get the "down" time I need.

Is there something "wrong" with not wanting to be a social being? Shouldn't we all be honoring our internal voice, and living a life that brings us joy? The mom of my friend (also a friend) is really handling her son's need for isolation with such grace. Allowing him the space to be alone, without feeling hurt by his needs. She knows that it will all work out as it is supposed to be, and that he knows what he needs better than anyone else.

So today I am grateful that I can hear and honor what my body needs. Grateful for friends, friends that show me a different way to be, friends that care.

I do have things to blog about and will do that soon, as I come out of my cocoon with renewed energy.
:-)

Stop and Breathe

2010-10-20T10:43:00.003-04:00

We are getting ready for a homeschool camping mini-vacation. It is so nice to get away with people who "get it". But the preparation has me busy, busy. I keep telling myself that next time I will be organized earlier, so that I won't feel that rushing feeling. But this is the one thing I haven't been able to accomplish. There are just so many last minute things that can't be done ahead. So I have been rushing around this morning.

But a couple of things have made me pause and just take a breath and come back to the moment, relax for a minute. And that is all I need sometimes, just the smallest of breaks to be grateful in the moment, and be joyful.

Yesterday a friend made me the cutest dishcloth. I love it, it isn't the usual ones I make this one makes you smile. It was spontaneous, and wonderful and I found it in my bag a few minutes ago, and just thought of her, and smiled. Going to use it right now.

Another friend posted a Jimmy Buffett song, A Pirate Looks at Forty, and mentioned living so far away from the ocean. Which in reality we do not, but when you grow up ON the ocean it seems like thousands of miles. I listened to that song, my second favorite Jimmy Buffett, and then listened to my favorite Jimmy Buffett song...One Particular Harbor.

For just a moment I could relax, breathe in the salt air, feel the sand at my feet, and hear the ocean crashing against the shore. So relaxing and rejuvenating. Gotta love it.

So thanks to both dear friends for being there, even though you didn't know it, when I needed a pick me up, a break from the rush. You are loved!!

Message from the Universe

2010-10-11T12:54:00.003-04:00

What a nice day outside today, sun is out but not too hot, skies are clear. In the mornings I have my "ritual"...take the puppies out, make my rice cereal and chai, have breakfast, take puppies out again, play with Ellis, meditate, play with the puppies, make my todo list for the day.

Well today was no different, I made my todo list and put it in my chair outside while I went to play with Ellis and the puppies, I mean who can resist the energy of Ellis combined with the cuteness and playful personalities of the puppies. I went to sit back down in my chair and meditate for a few minutes in the beautiful sunshine and I saw my todo list, with my pen, and a perfect fall leaf right on top. Like it had been placed there by the Universe. So I intend to follow through with that thought, I think I will see if the boys want to go down to the Greenway in Morganton and go for a nice walk today. Ahhh the messages we hear if we choose to listen.

Public School Agenda

2010-10-10T09:41:00.002-04:00

I was reading back in August, on the Governor's blog, the NC governor that is. There is a blog for the state of NC, they call it an "e town hall" but really there is no input from the general public. I keep up to date on this stuff to stay informed about homeschooling and public schooling in NC, just one of many sites I visit.

Anyway I am getting off my topic. Back in August I read about the North Carolina Education Cabinet and what was written said in part:
"Last year, Gov. Perdue reinvigorated the North Carolina education cabinet by naming former State Board Chair Howard Lee as Executive Director and focusing its mission on creating a seamless Pre K-20 educational system that will produce college ready high school graduates and a 21st century work force for North Carolina which is further illustrated in the Governor's education agenda Career and College - Ready, Set, Go!" (bold is their emphasis not mine)

So many things hit me at once, it has taken me a couple of months to mull this over and over in my head trying to decide what exactly was hitting me wrong.

So many people criticize homeschooling, saying that it will not appropriately socialize a child, they have to know how to deal with the real world so send them to school. But do you see what I see. There is NO mention of socialization in the statement above. The complete focus is on preparing kids for work, either blue or white color, just work.

There is absolutely no mention of creating appropriate social opportunities, not a word about coping mechanisms, or problem solving skills. That is not on the public school radar, not an objective, just a 21st century work force. Which I have known is the goal of public education all the while, but I guess seeing it in print, in bold letters, just kind of slapped me in the face in that moment.

So why are we so shocked with all the bullying that goes on in public school, and when did the general public decide that was OK, and part of life as a child? Why are we shocked by the teen suicides, by guns in schools? Why does the drug and alcohol epidemic among the young, surprise us?

People have no problem criticizing homeschool families for something they know nothing about, but don't even think to criticize the public school system. The place where their child spends at least 8 hours a day, year after year. Am I the only one that sees the noticeable absence of things like "positive self esteem", "happiness", "appropriate problem solving skills", "effective communication techniques"from that mission statement.

These are things that homeschoolers care about. Not only do we care about our children's future, we care about their today, we care about positive self esteem, and happiness, problem solving and communication.

Another Shawl for Christmas

2010-10-09T14:45:00.005-04:00

OK finished one of the unfinished projects I have sitting here by my desk. So all my friends know what they are getting for Christmas.

This shawl is pretty simple, I used a nice soft, fuzzy yarn, which made this shawl really soft and warm. I also loved the color and the title of the shawl, True Friend Shawl.

You can find the pattern at the web site, it is ranked as "easy", although I thought it was a little more difficult that my other shawls, although still not that difficult. Enjoy the pattern, enjoy the shawl and happy crocheting. Don't ya love handmade Christmas gifts.

Cool Science

2010-10-07T19:01:00.005-04:00

Phillip, my youngest is really into the hands on science experiments, always has been. When I saw this book, 101 Cool Science Experiments, I had to get it. I thought he would enjoy it and he has, we are having such a great time doing these quick, fun experiments. Most use things you already have around the house, and usually take only 20-30 minutes, instant gratification, we are learning so much, having fun, and really connecting.

Today we did one called "Hot Stuff"

You need:

small glass bottle

water

string

food coloring

larger glass jar (has to be big enough to hold the smaller bottle)

scissors

You cut a long piece of string and tie each end around the neck of the small glass bottle. In that small glass bottle you put hot water and a few drops of food coloring. In the large glass jar you put cold water about 2/3 full. Then you use the loop of string to lower the glass bottle into the jar of cold water and watch what happens. It was too cool watching the hot, colored water drift out of the bottle, looked like smoke rising.

This isn't the same experiment (although pretty cool too) but explains what happens clearly, in case you want to replicate this at home:

When you heat up water, the molecules start moving around faster. They bounce off each other and move farther apart. Because they are farther apart a volume of hot water will have fewer molecules than the same volume of cold water. The hot water will weigh less and be less dense. When mixed with the cold water, the hot water will rise to the top, cold water will sink to the bottom.

Fairy House

2010-10-06T06:40:00.004-04:00

I was feeling very frustrated Sunday. We have a hill beside our driveway with a small retaining wall. Small wall but still a significant incline. We have lived in this house for almost 13 years now, wow when I type it out it seems like a very LONG time...LOL. And for almost 13 years we have been battling this hill. It is too steep to mow and really hard to even use the weed eater on it, just hard to keep your balance. The hill is also covered in vines, poison ivy, Virginia creeper and HONEY SUCKLE. I loved honey suckle until I moved here. Now it is everywhere and in everything and I think it grows feet a day, covering anything in its path.

I usually end up out on that hill at least three or four times a year to just pull up the vines, and it is such a job. They all have such huge root systems that sometimes as I am pulling and I swear I feel them pulling back, trying to suck me into the earth. There are some nice bushes on the hill, and some ground cover, but it all gets covered up by the vines, and the vines look terrible, not to mention the reaction my boys have to the poison ivy.

OK back to the story, I was out there on Sunday, trying to weed out the poison ivy and honey suckle, yet again, and I just had enough. So I backed away, I don't want to put such negative energy into anything. I backed away and decided to build a fairy house to add to another garden spot. There is a nice blank area that has just been waiting for ideas. Yes I had thought about adding another plant of some sort, a flowering bush maybe. But that just didn't seem right. I looked at our pile of left over stone and decided that the spot needed a house, a fairy house so all our little friends, that watch over and protect us know they are loved and welcome. I also thought of our friend Kailey's fairy house, hers is out of stone as well.

It turned out so nice, and I used some holly twigs for decoration, we had just pruned that tree a little. It just adds so much to that one spot and is perfect. I love it!!

While doing this very positive, energizing activity the answer to my frustration hit me.

Let's get rid of that hill. The perfect answer. We can move the few bushes that I want to save, move the blueberries and raspberries, they would do better in another spot anyway. The tree that is on the hill needs to come down as it is growing up into the power lines, which could be a problem this winter. Let's back up the retaining wall a few feet, make it as high as the hill. It will add more space to our driveway and we will have a couple more feet around the garden at the top, easy to mow up there. Problem solved and I can't wait!!

Just needed to relax, focus on something else, get my positive energy moving, and I knew the solution would come.

One More Shawl

2010-10-05T06:49:00.005-04:00

For right now anyway. I have two more in the works and picked up the extra yarn I needed yesterday, so who knows when they will be done.

This shawl has been a long time in the making. I was gifted a gift certificate to Purl's Yarn Emporium, a few years ago. Have been thinking about what I wanted to get and make ever since. I wanted to do something for myself....hmmmm. Well I decided on a shawl and some yarn that I would never buy otherwise, just too expensive. I would always think about how many socks I could make for gifts with that same amount of money. But not this time, this GC was going to be spent on yarn for myself. And I will say I thought about the friend who gifted me the GC all the while I crocheted, such a sweet person and a dear friend.

It was a beautiful yarn, and so soft, so I decided to make a shawl, something to keep me warm on these chilly fall morning, and it is complete (and just in time, brrr).

Again another easy pattern, I did use a much smaller hook than the one recommended in the pattern, I just didn't want my shawl as "loose".

I just thought the colors of this yarn were absolutely beautiful. And you can find the pattern, Carmen's Shawl, at this linked web page.

Another Wrap Complete

2010-10-04T06:37:00.004-04:00

Here is a second wrap I crocheted. Again a Christmas gift. It is so nice and soft, and again this was an easy 2 day project. I do need to get back to knitting some more socks and hats, but for now am having fun with crochet. And I know everything will be complete by Christmas :-)

I like the nice shell boarder design, so nice and "delicate" looking.

The pattern is called Simply Shawl by Caron, on the Caron site. It says it is an intermediate level in difficulty but I found it simple, and think it should be relabeled. So even if you are a beginner at crochet, if you like the wrap, go look at the pattern.

Crochet Wrap

2010-10-03T09:52:00.004-04:00

I have been working on Christmas presents. Yes making socks, but also some different things. This month I have been crocheting wraps and shawls. So I thought I would share the result along with the patterns if anyone is interested.

Simple, simple pattern. It's called My Blue Jeans Shawl, and you can find the pattern, free, at Knottie By Nature.

Fencing

2010-09-29T16:37:00.004-04:00

I scheduled a demo with a fencing instructor in Morganton, for this past week. It was a homeschool activity, and we were anticipating the instructor, Matt, to give a demo and answer questions. We were so pleasantly surprised when he took the demo in a whole different direction, and really ran it like a class. Dh, Jackson, and one of our sons, Dallen, really liked this. Our other son attended to watch, but was really not that interested in participating.

The instructor started by showing, all those that wanted to participate, how to stand, walk (not sure the fencing terminology), then suited them all up and gave them sabers and before I knew it they were challenging each other, it was just amazing. He was very helpful, and we had all ages participating together.

I really enjoy it when a member of the community gives of their time to let our homeschool families try something new. He didn't charge us, we were there for 2 hours, with no obligation to participate. I enjoyed watching, they really enjoyed participating. Not sure if this will be something my son wants to continue or not, but just the exposure is something he will not soon forget.

So if you live in or around Morganton, NC here is the info. I really want to give this instructor a plug because he was so nice and understanding. His studio is on Union Street, it is The Knights of Malta Fencing Academy. He charges $50 per month, which he explained for more experienced students is usually once a week. But he encourages his beginning students to attend as many classes as they can, so they advance quickly. Sessions are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm. Just show up if you are interested, and he provides all the equipment needed. If you stop by, even just to watch a session (which I highly encourage...you will really enjoy it) please just mention that the information about his studio was shared by a homeschool mom.

Slime in the Park

2010-09-28T11:07:00.007-04:00

Last week we made slime in the park, it was a Science Day activity that my son was eager to put together, so he and I planned it for our local homeschool group. It was so wonderful. Watching the kids stir and mix and in the end make slime, then watching them manipulate the smile, and watch what it does and it oozes through the holes in the picnic tables, or absorbs the food coloring to form new colors with each added drop. Kids of all ages, making, playing, talking, having fun. It was awesome, it was an ALL day event, even though the actual making of the slime took maybe 15 minutes, it was a fun, relaxing time!! I love my friends of all ages and so enjoy their company.

Here is the recipe, adapted it from the recipe on this site.

1- 4 ounce bottle of school glue (I purchased on the back to school sale for $0.25 each)

Empty the glue into a cup and then refill the glue bottle with water and add that to the same cup. Stir well.

In another cup mix 1 cup water and 1 TBSP borax, mix until the borax is dissolved (or almost all dissolved we found it hard to get it ALL mixed), add a couple of drops of food coloring to this cup and stir.

Now add the contents of the borax/water cup to the glue cup and stir immediately. You will have a blob of slime in the water mixture.

I had everyone take the cup over to the grassy area and dump the mixture into their hands, letting the excess liquid just run off. It will be wet. Then start working the slime in your hands. As you work the slime, back and forth in your hands, it will become dryer and in a few minutes you will have SLIME.

You can find the explanation at the web site. It was so much fun, really easy, in expensive, and I recommend this for a fun time at the park!!

Straight Out of the Camera

2010-09-26T16:34:00.005-04:00

This photo is not from this morning, this morning we had clouds, rain, thunder. This photo was from earlier in the week. A picture from our front yard as the sun is rising. Such a lovely sight, and I get to wake up to that picture in real life. No alteration, just straight out of the camera.

Home

2010-09-26T13:49:00.002-04:00

One of my all time favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. I remember playing her cassette over and over and over, on the drive back and forth from home to college. I am grateful for the talent of Karla Bonoff.

Expect the Unexpected

2010-09-21T11:09:00.003-04:00

Grocery shopping, not my favorite task, but with the boys help in creating a menu for the week and having a list, it is at least tolerable, and perhaps almost enjoyable. Yesterday was no exception. The day flowed nicely, and I had only a few items on my list this week. Ahhh, will be out in no time.

So coming out of the store, large store but in a rural area, I see a gentleman staring at the back of my car. OK nothing exciting. People look at the back of my car all the time, I have a variety of bumper stickers that make a person think. Have never had a negative encounter, yes even living here in the south. This man does look like a *good ol' boy*. Could this be my first negative encounter. What exactly was catching his eye; "World Peace Begins at Home, Be Nicer to Your Kids" or "Schools Are For Fish" maybe "Loving Kindness is my Religion". Oh man not looking good for me. Could be "Grades are for Meat and Eggs" or "The Truly Educated Never Graduate".

OK this could go one of two ways. Either he is a *good ol' boy* who also goes against the grain, opposing government intervention in anything, all for individual freedoms, OR he is a *good ol' boy* who believes everything the government has to say and is opposed to individualism. Either way I do need to get to my car, why won't he read the bumper stickers and go away, I so do not want confrontation today. But then again I have never had a negative experience, even the most conservative homeschoolers find common ground in the bumper stickers, *a fellow homeschooler*.

So I just plug on, thinking only the best and with a smile, graciously say "hi there" to the gentleman. And he says "hi" back, and then quickly responds with "is this your car?" Why yes, yes it is. [OK so far so good...what was that question for....here it comes...] "Where did you get this *hauler*, I like how it folds up out of the way when you aren't using it."

OK so all that dialogue in my head for nothing, LOL....I mean I was laughing out loud. "I can't remember where I picked that up, it has been so long, but I can say that I LOVE my *hauler*. I use it all the time."

Quick conversation and we said our "have a nice day"s and were on our way. Just goes to show a person, expect the unexpected. I smiled all the way home....THIS made my DAY!!

The Choice to Homeschool

2010-09-20T09:51:00.003-04:00

I recently was in a different situation. For us, being a homeschool family, we are surrounded with other homeschool families. But this time it was a bit different.

A mom was having a difficult time with her preschool age child, the youngest. Her older children are in public school. This young child has been coming home from preschool crying, and not wanting to go to school. The mother's heart is telling her something isn't right. She can feel that tug. Several friends responded with the "it will get better, she will stop crying".

Why is that OK. It is becoming more and more acceptable in our society to say, with our babies, that it isn't OK to let them cry it out. More and more we are encouraging parents to pick up their babies, that crying is a sign that there is an unmet need, that something isn't right. So why can't we extend that same thought to children (and adults but that isn't what I am talking about in this moment). Why would we encourage a mom to ignore her child, ignore her heart.

Of course I had to chime with with the homeschool thought, just to plant a seed.

I could have let it slide by with no comment, but it just struck me as odd.

We made our decision to homeschool pretty much in a vacuum. No real input from the outside. I don't know how people, with this much outside input, make that decision to go against the grain and pull their kids out of public school to homeschool. I commend you all that have done so. Who have followed your heart and gone against the wind, with all those people encouraging you to stick it out in the public school system. Telling you it will get better. What a hard place to be.

I ended by encouraging all parents to follow their hears and listen to their children. Why is that such a novel idea LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN! Don't let them cry it out, crying is a sign that something is not right!

Community

2010-09-19T09:53:00.003-04:00

"We don't need an emergency or disaster to come together as people in community, this can be now."

I just loved that thought. The thought of building community. It is from the Daily Om today. And I think I have done just that. I have sought out people of like minds and formed community on a daily basis. People I know I can call any minute for help with anything. I did this yesterday.

I was headed out the door to mow, just a lovely day out. As I was walking toward the garage I could hear my chickens out by the barn squawking. And I could see two dogs chasing and catching my poor chicks. They are still only 4 months old, so not even laying eggs yet. They were in our pasture enjoying the grass, grubs and sun when out of nowhere these two neighbor dogs (I am assuming they belong to a neighbor) interrupted their peaceful day. I chased the dogs and one husky left with a chicken in his mouth. But this other dog, a basset hound, would not leave. He did drop the chicken he had killed when he saw me coming. I tried thrown rocks at the dog but he would NOT GO HOME. Every time I turned my back he would go after another chicken, when I approached him he would just cower down. So I took this basset by the collar (of course no tags) and put him in the tack room of our barn. But WHAT DO I DO NOW!! That was my question.

Animal Control was only in Monday through Friday and here it was Saturday. I couldn't let the dog out I needed to assess the damage, get all my living chicks back in the coop. So I called two friends. One to help me locate the other. The second operates a dog rescue. My thought was that if I had to hang onto the dog until Monday maybe I could get it into rescue but didn't know if a rescue would take a dog knowing it was a neighborhood dog. But they BOTH called me and gave me advice, and offered to come help.

~What a wonderful feeling to know that I can call a friend if I need help. That I have resources even though I am hundreds of miles from family, that I HAVE community, not just in a disaster but every day is a day for community. Community is family. You can build it, you can have it every day.~

The one friend advised me to call the Sheriff as Animal Control is part of law enforcement. So that is what we did, and the Sheriff called Animal Control and they came out and got the dog. The Animal Control officer was VERY nice, and I know in Burke County they work with a rescue so if the owner doesn't come forward the dog will have a chance at a good life.

But now I have other issues about protecting our chickens. hmmmmm.

Sweat Lodge

2010-09-13T09:40:00.003-04:00

It is about time for a nice sweat. The days are getting a bit cooler, evenings are beautiful. I am feeling like I need a cleansing and what better way than a sweat lodge.

My husband Jackson and my sons made me a sweat lodge for my birthday a couple of years ago, I will have to take pictures of my sweat lodge and post at some point. I am so grateful for them, and for my gift, so blessed.

It is a nice time to relax and just be present in the moment, to feel connected to the earth and the ancestors, to meditate and feel cleansed. Not sure if the boys will want to sweat this year, they have not shown interest yet, maybe someday. This is a great web site for an overview of the process, the basics.

Yoga Socks

2010-09-05T20:12:00.003-04:00

I finished the yoga socks, really cool. Will try these out this winter when the house is chilly :-)

The pattern was a free one from Michael's, a friend gave me the pattern with the yarn. But searching on the Michael's web site I could not find the pattern online so I am going to type it out here in case anyone wants to try them:

Gauge: 28 sts and 36 rows = 4 inches in stocking st.

Cast on 64 stitches loosely. Divide into (20,20,24) sts on 3 needles, join in round. Place marker on first st for beg on rnd.

Work 10 rnds in (K1 P1) ribbing

1st round: knit

2nd round: *K1, P3. Rep from * around

3rd and 4th rounds: As 1st and 2nd rounds

5th round: Knit

6th round: *P2 K1 P1. Repeat from * around

7th and 8th rounds: as 5th and 6th rounds.

Repeat last 8 rounds for texture pattern until work from beg measures approx 4 inches, ending a 4th or 8th round of pattern.

Next round: Knit, inc 8 sts evenly around. 72 sts. Divide into 24 sts on each of 3 needles.

Work 5 rounds in (K1 P1) ribbing.

Shape heel opening:

Next round: Cast off 36 sts loosely in ribbing. Rib to end of round.

Cast on 36 sts loosely. Rejoin in round. Rib to end of round.

Work 5 rounds in (K1 P1) ribbing.

Next round: Knit, dec 8 sts evenly around.

64 sts.

Beg on a 2nd round, work approx 2 1/2 inches in texture pattern ending on a 1st or 5th round of pattern.

Work 10 rounds in (K1 P1) ribbing. Cast off in ribbing.

ENJOY!

Knitting

2010-09-03T14:14:00.002-04:00

OK so August was such a hectic month, conference and all the preparations that come with it, as well as a trip to the beach. And despite my best intentions I never really get any knitting done at the beach, just hear those waves calling my name and must respond by SWIMMING!!

But I did eek out a couple of washcloths for the house, needed some. Just a pretty cotton yarn.

School has Started

2010-09-01T09:51:00.003-04:00

Oh the start of the school year has hit me smack in the face this year, not the usual gradually figure out that public school is back in session. It started this week and first thing Monday morning, returning from a dentist appointment with my oldest son, we ran into the after school pick up line of cars, lined up for at least a mile down the street, and NOT MOVING. We sat there for a couple of minutes and decided, since we weren't moving anywhere, to back up just a tad and turn around, take the longer way home, longer but undoubtedly quicker.

I often think about those lines. Parents must wait at least an hour, minimum in that line...twice a day, drop off and pick up. So glad we are not in that line, at least not intentionally, and surely not for the rest of this year now that I am painfully aware that school is open for business. I often wonder about those lines, do parents use that time in the morning to get to know their children. Having a few friends with children in the public school system, I know there is not much time otherwise, the day is filled with school, then after school activities, then supper, homework and bed. So do parents use this valuable time to talk with their children, find out their hopes, dreams, concerns, likes, or dislikes. Is the time put to good use or do they sit there complaining about the line, how slow it is. Do they ever wonder about homeschooling, about doing away with the line altogether. Do the children wait in the line eager for school or dreading the day ahead, do they use the time to talk with their parents, share their thoughts, opinions and ideas.

So many hours they spend in line at the school, 2 hours a day, 180 days a year. That is 360 hours, or 15 days a year spent in line for school. So GRATEFUL for the time at home, so GRATEFUL for the connection I have with my boys.

Full Moon

2010-08-31T10:05:00.003-04:00

There are several blog post ideas rumbling around in my head, some meatier than others. But I wanted to share this picture. The only picture I took while on vacation, so unlike me. We were just busy having fun. On this night I was playing around with my new camera, OK so I have had it for a while...not so new....but haven't really had time to play around with settings. That night I decided to play around with shutter speed to see if I could capture a nice shot of the moon, shining so bright and beautiful over the ocean. Only editing was cropping.

Thoughts About Dad

2010-08-20T08:39:00.005-04:00

I have blogged about my mom, but not much about my dad. I think I had a closer relationship with my mom. My dad was a quiet man, worked hard to provide for his family. And I loved him dearly.

He committed suicide back in 1996, Halloween to be exact. I can remember the phone call from my brother clearly. It was actually evening in Germany, earlier in the day back in the states. We were handing out candy to all the German and American Military trick or treaters. My oldest brother called and said "They found Buddy", and I knew what he meant, my dad had been very depressed since the death of my mother in 1995. All I could say was "I can't do this...I'm not done grieving mom yet". Of course that lasted all of a minute, and there wasn't anything I could do about it, and I couldn't "stop" the grieving for either one. It is life, things happen and I have learned from both my parents that you work through it and come out the other end.

Anyway this is not a blog post about how my dad died or much about the grieving process. I didn't have any guilt about his death, it was his choice. He knew I loved him, and he knew he was welcome to come stay with us, he knew where there was help, and I had even tried to get help for him. He was a fisherman and I think there is resistance there, fishermen don't need a "therapist", you just deal with your stuff. I was so sad, I did feel that my kids were robbed of a grandparent, both now, as my mom had did previously. But I worked through those feeling, and we do talk about both of my parents often in our household, so my boys do know how I was raised, what their grandparents were like, things like that.

But you know there is that social stigma attached to suicide. No one knows what to say to the family, although for me it was the same as when my mother crossed over, I was still grieving the same, for me suicide or an automobile accident, it didn't matter, the hurt was deep. But the community reacts so differently. The vast number of visit from friends and family, the food that filled the kitchen, was noticeably missing when my dad died. Not many visitors at all, no food to speak of. I don't think people know what to do or say. It is the thought that it is wrong, that he was doomed to hell for his action.

I hadn't really thought much about it. I live with the knowledge that we all make choices, and I do believe that only the individual can decide what is right for himself. None of us can judge that choice as we have not been in those shoes, have not lived that life. So I have always felt that it was my dad's choice. But now I am coming to a deeper understanding of his choice.

I really feel my dad did what was right for him, in that moment, given the tools he had. I do not judge him, I do not believe he is in hell, I don't believe in hell. I know that he is with my mom, in spirit, exactly where he wanted to be. But just breathing in that thought "my dad did what was right for him in that moment". To sit with that statement, and let it soak into my soul. It gives me a breath of air, a moment of new understanding and clarity.

I think mulling all of this over, I have a new/different perspective on suicide. Having been through this I do not shy away from family that have lost a loved one from suicide, I know the grief feels the same. And I do hope that one day our outlook on suicide will change, there will not be that stigma attached to it, that "burn in hell" mentality. That we as a whole will see it as a choice, and work toward helping our children cultivate lots of different tools to deal with change, grief, pain and loss.

I appreciate my dad, and all that he has taught me, including this.

2010 Love to Learn Homeschool Conference

2010-08-18T08:19:00.008-04:00

I don't usually blog about the conference. But it is really working, it is growing each year and this year something different happened. Homeschool moms really started bringing their WHOLE families. I love seeing that. For the first three years we had a few kids, mostly the children of those actively involved in getting this conference together, and also a few dads, who stuck close by their spouses. I think, because of the expectations of other conferences, people assumed this one would be the same, and children would not be as welcome.

This year we offered free grandparent registrations, just to send out that invitation. And also we had more fun things going on. As we get larger we can afford to rent the extra space for the additional activities. So it grows, and we grow.

It is an exhausting adventure, if you have ever coordinated a conference you know what I am talking about. The time and energy it takes is overwhelming at times. But so worth it when things happen. When we see people making connections, children playing....just amazing.

This year Dr Flood, the new director for the NC Division of Non Public Education, meandered through the conference for a few hours, meeting and talking with homeschoolers. That was a wonderful addition. It was nice to see her, put a name to a face, get to talk to her for a few minutes. I think it only serves homeschoolers well for her to see the diversity in homeschooling, and to see whole homeschool families, not just some BOD or a homeschool mom, but the whole unit, in a relaxed atmosphere where there is no box to check, no test score to see, just meeting and talking. And for her to see the effort that homeschoolers put into their children's education, making sure they are doing the best for the family, that is a bonus.

The Homeschool Alliance of North Carolina, Inc. is the parent organization that sponsors the Love to Learn Homeschool Conference. HA-NC has a BOD made up of VOLUNTEERS, yes you read it right, no one on the BOD is paid for their time. We are all homeschoolers ourselves and give our time because we feel having an inclusive association in North Carolina is important. We feel having a truly inclusive conference is important.

Also our speakers are not paid for their time, they get a free box lunch. They speak because they have a passion to share. They also feel this is important stuff. We thank our speakers for their time, their effort, their caring. We thank them for their passion and willingness to share that passion with others.

So even though it is exhausting at times, it is also energizing, and so important for homeschooling. When you see a Board Member for HA-NC or a speaker that presented at the conference, please take a minute to thank them for their time, thank them for sharing their passion.

Up and Down

2010-08-06T10:24:00.004-04:00

I found this interesting little article, makes you really think about bowing.

In Part:

"...We in the West don't bow to anything or anyone. Not to God, not to Buddha, not to our parents, not to each other. It would never occur to us to bow, because this is a democracy and we are all equal. In the East, however, everyone is always bowing to everyone else. It is a sign of respect, a greeting, a religious and simply a chance to pause..."

The Spirit of Giving

2010-08-04T16:40:00.003-04:00

I am sitting here watching TV for a few minutes waiting for my hair to dry enough that I can get a brush through it. And I heard something that I have heard many times before without even really giving it a second though. "The True Spirit of Giving". I hear people say this off and on, "this is the true spirit of giving" "I am trying to teach the true spirit of giving" etc.

But more than once it has been an adult forcing a child to give up something, a toy, a game, a prized possession. Is that really the "True Spirit of Giving" or is this something that many adults say in an attempt to make themselves feel better about forcing a child to do something that breaks the child's heart. You know what I am talking about.., it is said in a way that it validates what they are doing, like children must learn the "True Spirit of Giving" and this is how we teach it, we force them to give up something they value most. Some sort of mandate for parenthood, if you don't force your child to do this, they will never learn the "True Spirit of Giving" and thus anyone not in compliance is a *bad parent*.

But what is the "True Spirit of Giving". I guess in my heart I feel it is something given freely, when you don't have to give, that is done in a spirit of love with a true intent to help, no matter the praise of doing so, no matter the recognition. But giving when you are not even sure anyone else will see or notice, and giving freely from your heart.

Does it mean I have to give my most prize possession to be in the "True Spirit of Giving"? I don't believe so, wouldn't the "True Spirit of Giving" be giving something that was truly needed. I just don't believe that it has to HURT me, to be in the spirit of giving.

And what do we learn if we are forced to give something away, something we truly love. I think I would quickly come to believe that giving has to hurt, so why give. Maybe that my parents enjoy my pain, so why show my feelings around them. Maybe if they don't know exactly what possessions I like, I won't have to give them up. That charity is a painful thing, and something to be avoided. Also that my possessions aren't really mine, that it is a false sense of ownership. Or that the world runs on the power of the biggest. If I am bigger I can force people to do what I feel is good for them, regardless of how that other person feels. Also that adults know what is best, that a child really doesn't know what is best for themselves, they have to be forced. Or maybe that parenting is about breaking the spirit of the child. And that love hurts. My parents can't be trusted. I need to hide things from them.

Why would anyone want to "teach" these lessons to a child, their own child. I guess here in our house I give because I want to help. We give much and we give often, but no one is forced to give, and there are times we don't give. My boys do give, not their most prized possessions, but they give what THEY want to give, and never forced. And they are overflowing with love, kindness, concern for others, and compassion. It isn't something I had to force on them (even if I could). I "could" force them to give, but I don't. I "can't" force them to learn a lesson. No one can.

So does forcing a child to give away his most prized possession teach them anything? Does it teach the lesson that some parents think? Do they learn anything from the force?

Haiku Thoughts

2010-08-03T11:08:00.004-04:00

Making memories
Mother and son take moments
to dance in the rain

Days of solitude
Make time to think and connect
Brings much clarity

I AM that Mom....

2010-08-02T09:21:00.008-04:00

I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last blog post. I have had that cocoon feeling and trying to honor that. Last week our dog, Ellis, decided to swallow a rock, had to have surgery and is now, finally feeling better and recovering at home. So I missed the impromptu blog carnival "I AM that Mom" but have been thinking about this over the past week, and now finally have a minute to sit down and type out a few of my thoughts. Thanks Caren for the push. I believe this is where you can find more "I AM that Mom" blog entries.

I Am that Mom...

~Who waits in line until midnight with two extremely excited boys, for the release of their next new video adventure.

~Who holds her thumb over the end of the garden hose for over an hour, until she has to pry her cramped fingers off, so the boys can have the best giant slip and slide ever for their birthday.

~Gets up in the middle of the night to make chocolate, chocolate chip, coconut cookies for her hungry guys.

~Who gently nudges a bug all the way out the door because her son can't bare the thought of killing an innocent bug.

~Who works night and day on costumes so her boys can be their favorite World of Warcraft character for Halloween.

~Who finds the biggest suit case we have, so that her oldest can bring all his Dungeons and Dragons books with him wherever he goes, as they bring him comfort and security.

~The vegetarian mom who will kill and butcher a well love, farm raised, family chicken so that her son, the omnivore, will have the best possible meat I can give him.

MORE THAN THAT

I Am That Mom....

~Who gives her sons space to cry alone when that is what they want, even though every motherly inch of her wants to wrap around her sons and protect them from everything.

~Who enjoys their multifaceted personalities, acknowledging that each is his own person, reveling in their individuality.

~ Who gives her sons the space to be exactly who they are, the freedom to grow into who they are to become, all the while being there for support and encouragement.

~Who is their soft place to fall.

Garden Photos

2010-07-08T13:08:00.005-04:00

Here is the next installment of photos taken by my son Dallen, and me. We decided this time to go up into the garden and take some shots.

Dallen's photo:

My Photo, the tomato snowman or should it be a tomatoman:

I Am an Organized Unschooler

2010-07-07T12:43:00.005-04:00

I know the two terms seem to be mutually exclusive, but I am here to say it *is* possible to be an organized, list maker, planner of a person and also follow your passions and interests facilitating your children's interests as well. The two can go hand in hand.

I am an organizer, a planner, a list maker. That is me. I make lists of things that I want to accomplish throughout the day, week and month. I actively search out homeschool activities and community events, field trip ideas for our family, my boys and our homeschool group. I feel secure having lists although as I am maturing I appreciate the ability to sway from my plan and continue to have fun in the spontaneous joy-filled moments.

Our family has been built on strong relationships, each individual feels safe in the family and knows that his ideas and thoughts are important. I say this because I think it is key to being an organizer and living an unschooling life. I talk with my boys about what they are interested in, find intriguing, might want to try, what is available. I do the research to find things that are interesting to me and might be interesting to them. They in turn, feel secure and know that these are options, and being options they can say "yes I would like to try that" or "no, I don't think I want to go see that".

So I organize things that work for our family. I organize an art day that both of my boys enjoy, I organize an explore science day that my youngest helps plan. I organize a hiking day that we all LOVE. And I am working with my oldest to plan a game day for the future. I also organize a statewide homeschool conference.

These things fill that need in me to be organized. While at the same time allow my children space to be their own unique individuals. I don't try to "organize" my children. But organizing their options seems to help us all see what is available from which to choose. Do we participate in everything, absolutely not, do we enjoy knowing there are wonderful things out there available, should the mood strike, yes.

So if you feel that need to organize, plan a garden, search for field trip ideas, make your own lists for yourself, get into the cupboards and organize the dishes, get involved with your local homeschool group, they are always looking for people who enjoy organization. Fulfill that need for yourself and you will find yourself happier and better able to be present for your children. You will be centered and better able to help them in ways in which they want, rather than in ways you feel are best for them. Are you an Organized Unschooler?!

Growth

2010-07-07T07:22:00.006-04:00

I was just looking at my boys today and thinking how they have grown. I guess moving through life with them I don't see the changes on a daily basis. They are now almost 16 and 13, two teenagers, amazing, as I still feel like a teen sometimes myself.

The other day I heard mention of "the rebellious teens" on TV. I can't even remember to what it was in reference, but I had not really thought of that. I remember hearing, some years ago, about the "terrible twos". I guess we have all heard that phrase. But that never happened. We never went through that "phase" through which so many toddlers seem to pass. My boys are each very different, and have had their own challenges they have had to navigate. Jackson and I have been there every step of the way to help in any way we could, and we still are and still do. But it is more a progression of life, ever evolving as they explore the world around them experiencing new and different things, as they grow and mature. But the "terrible twos" was never a phase in our lives. Is it just that we look at things so differently, parent differently? I have no idea as this is all we have ever known, I have no point of comparison.

So I think about the rebellious teen idea and sit with the thought. Can you rebel if there is nothing to rebel against? Is there always something to rebel against? I don't know the answers to these questions. We have seen nothing of the "rebellious teen" phase so far. I think we will just keep on doing what we are doing...living, loving, laughing, connecting, and exploring together as a family and as individuals within a family. If anything, as the boys get older, I think our relationships have deepened. We talk about all sorts of topics, they come to me (us) with thoughts, idea, problems, concerns. We have always been open with the boys, talked with them, acknowledging that they thoughts, ideas and concerns are important and have an important place within our circle. So my gut feeling is that our relationships will continue on this same path and we will move through this world in peace, trusting in the love and connection we have. For today the idea of "rebellious teens" is a thought, one that is quickly leaving my consciousness. Maybe someday I will sit back and think about it again, as I have the "terrible twos". But for now it is life.

Knitting

2010-07-06T11:59:00.004-04:00

I am involved with an online knitting group and am participating in monthly challenges. This month was something to keep your neck warm, so I made two cowls and three scarves. I am hoping this will end in Christmas presents. My goal is to not buy any more new yarn until I have used some of my stash. So here are a few pics of things I have made this month, well last month...it was the June Challenge.

The Homestead

2010-06-25T18:04:00.004-04:00

Dallen and I have decided to start taking photos together. Just a way for us to connect. As they grow we seem to spend more and more time on independent activities. Although that is wonderful and I love seeing them mature and see what paths they take, I also enjoy spending time with my boys. For now photography is one connection for my son and myself. We are both new to photography, and I don't know where this will take us, but I will be posing photos from both of us on my blog. Here is a start. These photos were taken here on our property, just a couple of random shots as we walked the pasture and the creek.

Dallen's photo, photo shop edited just a little bit:

And my photo, no photo shopping here as I am not the photo shop wiz my son is, so this one is straight out of the camera:

Hiking Joy

2010-06-23T10:08:00.007-04:00

What a beautiful day it was yesterday, perfect day for a hike. It has been so hot down here in the foothills, in the 90s, muggy heat. And I like the heat but it was so nice to get away from it for a while. And it was so much cooler in the Mountains.

Took the boys for a hike around a lake, with lots of friends. The hike was amazing, saw a nice beaver dam, they were hard at work. And the hike was probably 90% in the shade, 2.3 miles (or so the signs kept telling me). When we got back to the parking lot and looked out again at the lake, it was a great view, and I just kept telling myself "we walk around THAT lake".

Then all of us went just a mile up the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Julian Price Park for a picnic. Just a gorgeous spot by the creek in the shade, there was a nice breeze blowing and we played in the creek, had a picnic, chatted with friends and just spent a joy-filled day all around. It was nice, we are so blessed to be here, now in this place with these people.

So nice to be in a community where each person is accepted for exactly who they are.

Morning

2010-06-20T08:05:00.007-04:00

Mornings have become one of my favorite times of the day. This was not always the case as I am, at heart, a night owl. But the dogs have other ideas and they are truly morning creatures. So for the past year I have become a morning person, rising somewhere around 6:00, yes that is 6:00 am. Who would have thought that 6:00 comes around twice a day, but it does. ;-)

So after the dogs, one of my first tasks of the day is to let the chickens out of the hen pen, many mornings there is fog lifting from the creek and rising with the sun through the trees. Just an amazing sight and I thoroughly enjoy sitting out at the barn and watching the pasture come alive, hearing the birds in the trees. So these are my Straight Out of the Camera photos for this week. Pics from our barn, of the fog and the sun. A scene I enjoy most mornings.

Birthday

2010-06-18T08:15:00.005-04:00

OK my birthday isn't today, my birthday was June 2. And it just so happens that this year, Mom's Night Out fell on my birthday. So I celebrated with so many of my favorite people. I picked the restaurant this month, Carrabbas. And I had some delicious minestrone soup. Took a few pics to commemorate the occasion. We just have so much fun at MNO, a time to get together as women, and chat, eat and laugh, laugh a lot. We usually close a restaurant down and then look for a coffee shop to finish out the evening. And this night was no exception, by the time we left the restaurant they were closing down and it was around 10:00. By the time we left the parking lot it was 11:00, too late for coffee as the only one that stays open is Barnes and Noble cafe, and even that shuts down at 11:00.

So after this MNO I drove home and celebrated the rest of my birthday with my wonderful husband and boys. Ahhhh, just a great birthday.

Love to Learn

2010-06-07T16:12:00.002-04:00

Yes, Love to Learn, that's the title of the conference I help coordinate, The Love to Learn Homeschool Conference. It has been on my mind a lot today as I have been working on the schedule. Lots of interesting speakers. I have been putting this task off as it is hard to decide who goes when, who speaks at the same time, who has a long drive, who gets up early, etc. But I think I am just about finished and ready to post it.

The conference will be HUGE! The conference will be AWESOME, as usual. The only truly inclusive homeschool conference in North Carolina. It is amazing when I think about it. You know I totally believe in being upfront with the consumers. The more information about the product the better. So why try to sell an obviously religious conference as inclusive. We all know it isn't true, we know that when someone says inclusive and then presents only one side of things, it isn't inclusive. Is it really to deceive people? Or do those in charge really believe that inclusive means "you are allowed to attend"?

I can assure you that the Love to Learn Conference is focused on homeschooling, focused on the things we have in common. So visit the web site, schedule to be uploaded soon :-)

New Mug

2010-06-06T10:38:00.003-04:00

I have an affinity for mugs. I so prefer to drink my morning cuppa hot chai from a special mug, rather than the generic mug that came with the dish set. I have posted before about the two I am currently using, one from my husband and one from a dear friend. Well, for my birthday this year I received another great mug, from another dear friend. This one is so beautiful, with a "tree" on the front. So now this mug is added to my collection. Not a collection to be looked at, but a collection to be used and loved. I just so enjoy starting my day thinking about someone special in my life, someone that means something to me and my family. It just adds so much to my morning, my chai and sets me off on the right note, so grateful for the wonderful people who are a part of me and my life. Does it get any better than that?!

This is a picture of my beautiful new mug along with some rice pudding I made, YUMMY combo!

Art Day~Zentangles

2010-06-04T06:16:00.011-04:00

I organize a monthly Art Day locally for our local homeschool group, I may have mentioned it before, it is a more free flowing Art Day, not an Art Class. We decide on a medium or technique and everyone brings the supplies they have, books, videos, etc, and we spread out and work at our own pace, with no deadline or end result at hand. Those that want to participate do, those that do not are free to play outside or inside or work on something else. Fun for everyone.

This month we created zentangles, and it was so much fun. One project we did was a zentangle round robin. Everyone that wanted to participate started their own zentangle of the size they wanted, then we passed the zentangles to the left and the next person would add their own contribution to the zentangle, keep passing to the left until you get your own zentangle back. It was really neat, working on all the zentangles, and we had probably 8 or 10 participants of all ages. The zentangles came out so wonderfully, and everyone was so thrilled with their results. Of course we then had time to work on our own zentangles, and even complete some for an ATC trade I was participating in with the Imagination Tribe yahoo group.

Pictured are just a few of the round robin cards.

Hiking and Health

2010-05-27T08:13:00.006-04:00

We went hiking on Tuesday, it is a monthly hike that I organize for our local homeschool group. The weather was "iffy", it had rained in the morning and driving up the mountain it was overcast. As we arrived it was chilly and cloudy, but within 10 minutes the sun was shining. Was uncertain if it was better to have sun and heat of clouds with the cool air BUT the possibility of rain. hmmm. It turned out to be overcast, so a nice cool day, with no rain, so the best of both worlds. The hike my youngest chose was down to Bass Lake, so as we arrived at the Moses Cone Memorial Park, I started looking around for a map of some sort, of all the trails at the park.

We went into the house on the property and it was a beautiful old house with a wonderful view of the lake and valley below, and was filled with craftsman wares, from pottery, to wood carvings, stained glass, to weaving, just awesome with some jewelry thrown in to tease me.

The maps were not as descriptive as we had hoped and with no signs posted on any of the trails up at the house, we switchbacked our way down to the lake. The trail was a wide carriage trail, that was very well manicured and gently sloped 1 1/2 miles down. The scenery was beautiful, and as we approached we could see the lake peeking through the trees. We sat for a while and the kids waded in the lake enjoying the nice breeze and the company of friends. Then it was back up the hill for us, another 1 1/2 miles, but it really felt great.

This was when I really realized that my ankle is healed and can take all of this, my health is better, and the three miles really did feel good. I was not winded or stressed. I just loved this walk/hike and want to go back and try some of the other trails. Just a nice, well kept place, thoroughly enjoyed our day. And my son took one of the best pictures of me I have seen in a long time. So nice spending time with my boys and friends doing something we all love.

Graduation

2010-05-25T08:52:00.004-04:00

I have a family member graduating from high school this year. Exciting for her, I am sure. But in looking for a graduation card, I didn't see ANY I liked at all. I thought about making one, but really don't have the time right this minute, and didn't see any generic cards that conveyed the thoughts I had in mind.

All of the graduation cards made it sound like the graduate would finally be starting life now. Like this was some gateway into the real world, now that they have this diploma. I want to congratulate her, as I know this signifies an accomplishment for the individual. I guess my thinking has just changed so much over the years, that I can't get "into" this whole "your life is starting now" image. So what were these people doing for the last 18 years, if it wasn't "living". And if you aren't living then what good was school anyway, was it just some holding place, like a stasis chamber from Star Trek or something.

Most said things like "now may all your dreams come true" of course I have been wishing that for the graduate all along, why now. Don't you have dreams, goals, plans, ambitions before the age of 18. I know for my boys some of those dreams are long term, some are short term, but they have dreams and they are coming true and I wish that for them all along.

OK I am done rambling. I got a generic congratulations card, and will write something nice on there to convey my thoughts.

The pics are from my new camera. Dallen and I went for a walk in the pasture and were experimenting with the different settings. It will take a while for me to get used to the features but so far "I LIKE IT".

Smores and Music

2010-05-21T12:01:00.006-04:00

I meant to post about this last week, but seem to be so busy in the garden lately I haven't had the time. Last week the boys and I had a craving for smores. We found some nice firewood, some kindling, a piece of newspaper and started a fire in our chimney.

We love this chimney, it is easy to start, and gives us just a little fire without heating up the house using our wood stove. Today was a smores day. Gathered the ingredients and just had a wonderful day. After the smores Dallen and I got out our flutes and decided to just play a bit. Neither of us has had any training on these flutes but the magic is you don't need any. Play anything, any combination of notes and it sounds beautiful.

I do enjoy our spontaneous moments, with this lifestyle we have chosen, we have such freedom as individuals and as a family to have spontaneous moments. Living for joy, and connection helps us see all the possibilities in our days. I can't even imagine what we would have missed had we ever sent the boys to school or chosen an authoritarian approach to parenting. Everything would just be so different. Living consensually has allowed us to be a family that is so deeply connected, and full of wonderful moments, full of joy, full of life, full of happiness.

For so many families that I personally know, this would be a "special occasion". Not just a spontaneous moment. It would take planning, and finding time. So many families are just so busy that moments like this take lots of planning. I really "like" that for us this is not a special occasion, although smores are always special :-)

For us, these kinds of moments happen quite frequently, we are always open to the possibilities, and have quite a few spontaneous moments. Moments where one of us will have an idea, share it with the rest of the family and take the time to pursue it. It leads to such connection between all of us.

I know I use the word connection quite frequently, but that is truly how I feel. Not only the connection we feel as parents to our children, but a much deeper connection. The type of connection that comes from being so into family, from enjoying each other's company, from having shared interests and passions, from spending time talking together, meaningful conversations, from sharing spiritual moments, quiet moments, fun moments, laughing moments, crying moments, from sharing our lives. That is the connection we have within our family.

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T09:54:00.005-04:00

It is the day after Mother's Day actually, having too much fun yesterday to blog, but did take a few nice pics with my new camera. Jackson bought me a Sony a330 for Mother's Day, great camera, but what makes it even better is that his old 35 mm camera has lenses (that he no longer uses...we just waste too much film developing rolls of pics for only one or two keepers), and those lenses will fit my new camera, YAY!!

I am so fortunate that my two sons chose me as their mother, chose to help me become the person I am today, taught me so many things about being a mother, being a mother to them. They are just so wonderful and I am so richly blessed.

Breakfast was fresh strawberries and gluten free, dairy free yummy crepes. Then my boys bought me flowers for all my outdoor flower pots, today we are going to plant them. Knitting in my hammock followed by grilling out, delicious, and a soak in the hot tub. The evening was polished off with a game of Munchkins, our new favorite board game. Such a wonderful day, beautiful weather, and loving family.

Big Birthday Sleep Over

2010-05-08T09:50:00.008-04:00

I am a little behind in posting all the events in our life that I had intended. But I am slowly catching up. These pics are from Phillip's Big Birthday Sleep Over. Phil came up with this idea less than a week before his birthday. I later found out it was after chatting with his friends, they thought a huge sleep over would be a wonderful idea, and since Phil's birthday was right around the corner (literally), he volunteered to host.

I could have said no, too short notice, not enough room, need to clean the house first etc. But I didn't hesitate. I just said "let's get to work, I need a to-do list and there are things we need to get done before hand, things to figure out". Sitting down with Jackson that night, I told him about the sleep over and that in thinking about it, a sleep over was something my mother would have not given any thought, she would have just said no. I remember having a couple of friends over to spend the night, one at a time of course, but only a couple of times. And never with the parents. That concept would have baffled even my liberal mother, the idea of parents spending the night with their children. And I told Jackson that I want to give these things to my children if at all possible, and that is how it has been in our house. I mean, you can't have too much joy, can you?!

The Big Birthday Sleep Over was during the middle of the week, in March, another no-go in my childhood (no fun on a school night...LOL). With our non-conventional lifestyle it is easier to do things mid-week. Guest list, OK that was an easy one, all of Phil's friends, and their parents. Sleeping spaces, plenty of those, a few air mattresses, two extra bedrooms, a family room with plenty of floor space. Food, OK , so Phil decided on a taco bar for supper, pancakes for breakfast, and sub/sandwich bar for lunch, with plenty of snacks including mom's chocolate, chocolate chip cookies (dairy free), brownies (also dairy free) as well as gluten free/dairy free brownies. So we did the "major shopping trip" the day before, lots of paper plates on hand.

The kids came up with the fun, ranging from sitting in the living room with everyone on their lap tops, multiple gaming systems, board games, computers, music, movies etc. It was so fun to be there, chatting with my friends, and seeing the boys having so much fun with their friends, late into the night (morning). It was such a blessing to do this for everyone, to show my friends how much I love and appreciate them, to serve them as I feel they have served me. OK now I'm getting sappy, time to add the pictures. Not many pictures, I was too busy having fun to take pictures. :-)

Knitting

2010-05-04T08:46:00.005-04:00

I have started with Christmas presents already, so happy to be doing this!! More socks and I am making a hat from a new pattern. It was my son's idea, he wanted an ear flap hat. So I searched the internet and found this pattern. There was one error I found in the pattern, but otherwise it is a great pattern. I made two and inserted one inside the other, crocheted around the edge and have a reversible ear flap hat now. It looks a little odd on a fist but is so cute on a head, and it will make great Christmas presents. And this is my craft of the week, for Craft it Wednesday :-)

Pearson's Falls Hike

2010-05-02T12:47:00.007-04:00

This past Wednesday our local homeschool group went on a hike to Pearson's Falls. Beautiful hike, wonderful friends, nice sunny (not hot) day. Just couldn't be better. And my new philosophy, thanks to a friend, is to take lots and lots of pictures and weed them out later, on my computer. Of course this led to researching cameras and ordering a new, more professional camera, cost considered, which is on it's way to me as I type. Ahhhhh

I do think I captured a few nice shots and want to share them today for the Straight Out Of the Camera Sunday shots. Beautiful day, Love spending time with my boys. Thanks everyone for a lovely time!

Having Fun with Friends

2010-04-29T12:15:00.010-04:00

I organize a monthly art day, everyone brain storms and I take notes on what they would like to do. We just plan a medium, all get together and bring what we have, share and have fun. Sometimes my boys participate, Phillip usually does, and sometimes they do not. Dallen enjoys art day but he has his own small table, and he will sit with a couple of his other friends and draw, pencil and paper, draw, working on technique, perfecting to his satisfaction etc.

This art day was a really neat day, we did balloon art. Used those bendable, balloon animal, balloons and a few hand pumps and went wild. I had some great pics so I thought I would share the fun and maybe inspire an art day of your own.

Our Lady

2010-04-20T11:37:00.005-04:00

Well it's almost time to say good bye to Lady. Lady is our black lab, we adopted her when she was only 6 months old, when we first moved into our home here in North Carolina upon returning from Germany. Lady has just been the best dog ever. When the boys were little she would lay down and let them use her as a footstool, allowing them to reach things they were otherwise unable. She would snuggle up with them, love on them and allow them to love on here. She would chase any ball to the field and retrieve it as a true retriever would.

As she aged she slowed down a bit, and has never had a hatred of food, LOL. We had to start feeding her in a separate room when we added more dogs to our family, as she would eat her food and nudge other dogs out of the way and eat their food as well. Over the past 5 years she has slowed, not fetching anymore but still walking the field with us, accompanying us out to the chicken coop for those delicious bits of chick feed (and other not to be mentioned goodies). She has been a gem at the vets, as well as the kennel when we went on vacation and generally loved by all.

She has been with our family for 12 years. Our youngest, Phillip, has grown up with Lady, she is 12 1/2 now and he is 13. She is a true "man's best friend". But it is now her time to go, she is just all played out. Over the last week we have watched her decline. A few days ago she could no longer tolerate steps at all, so has been using our living room door to go out and in as there are no steps. She then stopped being able to get up by herself, so we would have to pick up her back end while she lifted the front. Last night she came inside and just lay down on the living room rug, not making the attempt to walk to the bedroom (where all our dogs sleep). So our oldest son Dallen slept in the living room with her, he said he did not want her to be alone at night, since she never has slept alone.

This morning she didn't want her food (very unusual for our food loving dog), she hasn't wanted any water, and she can't get up. She does not seem to be in any pain, just tired. So we take turns snuggling with her and patting her and she still lifts her head to lick your face. Her breathing is getting faster so I don't think she will be with us much longer, we are just enjoying each and every minute of these last days with her.

So even though it is her time right now, even though we new this day was coming as we watched her slow over the years, it is still sad....for all of us, yes even for Jackson who is not a dog lover. Makes me glad that a life philosophy I have, has been to grab each and every moment, just enjoy life as we go along, not to wait for tomorrow, enjoy today.

The first picture above is a picture of the boys when they were much younger, snuggling with Lady on our bed. Jackson has an 8X10 of this picture framed in his office, it is just such a precious picture. The next picture is from this morning, our oldest son Dallen snuggling with Lady on our living room floor.