This and that.. homeschooling, this week

wrapping up a short vowel block. A wool board story

 tangrams and pattern block games, for afternoon pratice work, during our Language arts block

 The first bit of work on a fairy tale verse reader. The Golden Feather. She has the long verse down to memory and movement, and is really enjoying illustrating a book to help sight reading along.

 Jump rope work, in the morning. We start our day's work off with movement. A walk/skip/gallup around the block culminates in circle work before settling into the day's main lesson. Jumping rope is invaluable proprioceptive work. we weave in counting by #'s (2, 3, 4, 5 , 10) and rhyming verses. I tie off to my rearview mirror, for lack of  a rope turner!

 Academic verse work. Here: subtraction facts to 10. We do similar work for addition.

 Pattern work in the afternoon...  mandala building. Work/play with symmetry

 Symmetry mirror games. we each start with a side, then switch and build

 hand work. She wanted a break from knitting/weaving. Decided on god's eye ornament weaving.

 Indoor rainy day vestibular work ;)

 Our first word family block/week went fabulously

 crafting a pond peeker for our nature study work

 a bit of springy crafting.. pysanky.. a family tradition

 word building. Very exciting. I love watching the light bulb go on. She's so close!

 Vestibular play with friends on a rainy day

A  LONG wintry week.. but looking back, through photos.. so much deep connection and good work done. Breathing out gratitude!

This Moment

One image, no words... a moment I wish to capture and hold in my heart

Knitting and Reading

   I'm trying to get back to work on this cardigan, for me.... I love the pattern, but don't often have the time to focus on the lace work on the sleeve without flubbing it and having to rip back and start over.  I'm also revisiting the Foundations guide for our Enki curriculum, to delve a little deeper.... We're using first grade this year, and loving it.



Joining Ginny for yarn along.. (someday I'll figure out the button!)

Wood Frogs!

Listening and looking for wood frogs

We discovered a huge cluster of spawn at the end of this stick.

Three woodfrogs well hidden among the floating leaves.

While we spend a fair amount of time in the woods and by the river, I try to set aside one day a week for a longer visit... time to explore, discover, wander, contemplate. As we were walking one of our favorite trails,  we stopped short. "Listen, Mama!!" .... We crept slowly off trail towards a large vernal pond, and what sounded like a flock of ducks.  The pond was boiling with mating wood frog. Such an amazing sight to witness, and mesmerizing to sit and listen to. We spent the better part of an hour, quietly doing both.  After all of that sitting and holding so still and quiet, some rock scrambling and bouldering was in order! Back at home, little more than a suggestion was needed to inspire work in her nature journal.  Sadly, there was a serious drop in temps the next night, and the eggs we'd found had frozen and broken. We have a project on tap to help look a bit closer and see if any survived.  Looking forward to visiting the vernal ponds again, soon (after the SNOW stops falling!)

An Equinox Birthday

I woke to breakfast and gifts, laid out by my sweet girls. The day was spent in celebration of Spring... as much time outdoors and in the woods as possible. I let go of grand plans of egg dyeing, candle making, and seed planting... and embraced simply being.... all day, with friends and family.

 A Bald Eagle nest we're keeping an eye on... hoping to see some action. We saw an adult leave it, a few weeks ago.

 Where water meets shore... one of my most favorite places, in so many different locations.

 watching... .listening... for wood frogs. The vernal ponds are such a magical, mysterious place.

 Trying out my gift... a new lens for my camera. So exciting to get closer! The little uses it for a better view.

Such a perfect day, celebrating Spring and my 39th trip around the sun.

This Moment

One image, no words... a moment I wish to capture and hold in my heart

Green and White

A surprising Snowy St Paddy's day! We woke to much more snow than we expected, and were delighted, as the Littlest missed snow fun, due to illness, last storm.

 AND....another surprise! It seems we may have been visited by one of the wee folk... who may have slept in a slipper, and left behind some golden chocolates in thanks. She was inspired to build a trap, to see if she could catch a glimpse of the Leprechaun, to thank him.

 A wee bit of green... Lilacs are slowly budding

 Taking care of the birds. We started the morning with a wonderful story about magic, friendship, and peace, from  Sparkle Stories.  Hearing the Jays call while we were outside, added to the magic.

Back inside or a tea and reading break.Ollie's Ski Trip (Elsa Beskow.. a family favorite).

The we mixed up a bit of grain free soda bread. ( This recipe... turned out nicely)

 Out into the winter wonderland, for some sledding fun. This was Little's first time on the local BIG hill. Lightening fast!

 A wee bit of Cross country skiing, with Dad.

 We topped off the day with some wonderful music, at our local Irish Inn. Lilt drew quite a crowd, and got a few to their feet.

 St Paddy's day feast for dinner, and Eldest and I watched The Secret of Kells together. Such a full, magical, festive day!