"For Everything there is a season"

Time is a fixed income and, as with any income, the real problem facing most of us is how to live successfully within our daily allotment.
- Margaret B. Johnstone

I lost a couple of days there ~ seems like a doctor appointment in there, out with Madam B one day, some trips to the grocery and the library and, of course, the banks; those are my usual haunts.
We did do some more stargazing and some exercise.
I think nothing real exciting happened here.

I did get some of the things on my list done. I just can't think what they are right now.

Today is Des' birthday. Madam Blueberry is baking a cheesecake in a springform pan. It's a lovely thing in the photo~ crust up the sides and all - called for three 8 ounce packages of cream cheese and one cup of sour cream and 3 eggs! But Des loves cheesecake. It's his favorite dessert. Tonight we are going to order out from Outback. We gathered up all the change in the house and Madam B rolled it (oh! can we count that as math?), so that pays for our dinners!

I got some more things sorted out. However, I usually make great messes while I am cleaning. Just a very untrained child where a mess is concerned...But there has been progress and that is good!

Good News -- Sean will be visiting the first weekend of October! (I can hardly believe October is right around the corner!. I mean it will be looking us in the face shortly.) He saved and budgeted for a new car, so (Lord Willing) he will have his car on Friday (tomorrow), and make a trip to visit us! and then he can haul some more of his stuff out of here! Really, it will be good to see him. I have missed him. He is a very funny fellow.

Oh wait! It's only Thursday! I thought it was Friday! Wow! I'm not in such bad shape after all!

Anyway,
Madam B and I are still finalizing her school schedule. We choose the Poetry (Tennyson) and need to address the Geography. But we will do that by Sunday. (Hello Geography, how are you?)

So I'll get back to my tasks in order to make some production of this day before I give it away to a total daydream and not remember from whence it came.


Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
- heard it somewhere

Larks and Owls

"Study and in general the pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.....Albert Einstein.


I haven't been able to get to bed early these days. I don't know what it is, but my body clock just wants to be up later than I wish it would. Madam B is a natural night owl. I'm not a lark, but I do try to force myself into a daytime schedule, but I am failing at it miserably as of late! ....and I just peeked in my daughter's room and she's reading her Astronomy!

I've wrestled with the whole idea of "Early to bed, Early to rise" being correct, but alas, she just doesn't work that way. Oh, she can get up if she needs to, and she does prepare for such a thing, if necessary -- so, I don't worry about it too, too much. She's an owl who can masquerade as a lark if a purpose needs to be served.... But still, I feel as if I am breaking some kind of unwritten law in the universe by letting my child adhere to her own natural rhythm.

Ah, but there is the beauty of homeschooling ...We will have to wait for the Big Picture to be completed in all it's hues and rays and tempos to fully know though- 'What is truth?'

I am afflicted with all I have been taught and mimicked by growing up in the 9 to 5 world. I have always hated it. Sorry to use so strong a word as 'hate', but it truly was one of the things that revolted me about living! Up with the noise of some alarm clock that you bought in a dime store somewhere, making some annoying staticy verberation -- or maybe like Groundhog's day, playing 'they say we're young and we don't know, won't find out until-il-il we grow....". Alarm clock pounding well, It was just something I did then to survive what I thought was living a life. Oh, how I wish I knew then what I know now...

In the meantime, I have been going with the flow of my third child, and it has been so much better between she and me. The delightful time we spend together is a treasure you can't buy anywhere on this earth. They don't sell it, you have to earn it. It is difficult for me to believe that I could be doing some harm to my child by not conforming to the dictates of the public school bell. But there would be those who would argue, there would be those who could see a difficulty coming my way; but I'm in it now! This is the life we are living, and I am liking the results I see with this child.

I do believe one 'should train up a child the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it' ... but no where does it say that all feet walk the same path. Temperaments are not all the same; and how can you build a successful and loving relationship with your child, if you don't understand their temperament? Understanding brings knowledge. Knowledge brings trust.
Each child responds to a parent who invests time into getting to know them. Time invested gives us the solid ground for the trust needed to guide our children to make the right decisions for themselves later on -- when he is old, and we're not there, to walk the path with them.

Okay ~ so I've got this little owl....and, I read some information about owls --stating, "they are not lazy, they are not lacking in motivation, their mood gets better as the day goes on (so true for Madam B!), and being a lark or an owl could possibly be related to a genetic fact, (and I am in the group that believes it biological not physiological) ."

So, what is one to do? Well. I want to take a shot at doing it right. Why not? So many tried and true techniques of child-rearing have had failed products. So, why shouldn't I try to get to live in such a way to experience truly getting to know my child. Between the two of us, we might be able to work out something really great. At least, unique, or something very like it.

Then, turning to speak of myself, I'm falling into my pattern of overwhelmness. I have too many tasks that I am juggling in the fire. I'm going to need to call in for the troops, or find a way to get it organized. I mean, this room I am in, is so close to getting done here...but we shall prevail! I will tomorrow, focus on each hours duties. Progress will be made, it will have to be. I shall not fail at this. These tasks can be completed. I just need to find the little thing that will be the piece that plugs into me and gets the fire going! I'll find it. I will find it.

I want to win. I want to be done. 7 days sound resonable. I'll have all this done in 7 days --
Room finished
bag up clothes for nan and nathan
bag up clothes for sean
closets empty and organize- mine, book pantry (things arranged/painted)
billing (if this part is not done! no food)
Payroll/Pay land tax
That's enough to dwell on for now .....

"Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it"~~~~~~Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Hello Star Shine

"Star light, star bright.... first star I see tonight...
I wish I may... I wish I might...
have the wish I wish tonight..".

Remember that from childhood?
Last night we watched the stars.

The weekend was busy, yet lazy. I watched old home movies (oh boy can you see those little personality traits in your children when you look back on time), I cleaned and organized some old things, talked with my best friend on the phone into the next day, and rested.

Then last night, Madam B and I went outside with a cup of tea, to watch the stars. Her idea. She said while she was watching the home movies, she felt we spent so much time indoors, so time to go out!

I didn't recognize a single constellation. I'll have to go to the library and refresh my memory! It's been that long since I have been star gazing! That's just plain silly.

The night time holds it's own rare beauty. It hugs you. It's quiet. Except for the constant hum of the air conditioner (grrrrr). It's cooler (now that it's finally the end of September). The cats are calm (unless they get within a foot of each other). The insects sing (or something like singing, sorta like cracking very loud jokes and laughing at themselves hysterically). And the stars are just nice to gaze upon.

What's neat is waiting for your eyes to adjust. It'll take some time, but in a little after while, you can see more and more. You can see sky dust! It's an experience I've always found to be unique (no, not the sky dust....) Kind of an extreme unfolding of what's unknown. No other experience can I recall right off, compares to it...that of the night coming into focus ...I wonder if that's what we will experience when we leave this body and move into our heavenly home.

It was lovely. We stayed until our necks could handle no more. We decided that next time, we will bring a towel out and lay on the ground or one of the long loungers. Seems more sensible.
But we decided we should (and will) exercise our star gazing more often. When you go out and look at the stars, think of us. And we will think of you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens.
- Irish proverb

(be there when it does)

I get by with a little help from my friends.....

"A decent boldness ever meets with friends."

~~Homer

I am a person who can count myself fortunate in this lifetime. I have been blessed with very good friends. Those of you who have good friends know what I mean.

I was thinking that I might not understand exactly what the quote means. I can feel it’s meaning, but I can’t enunciate it.

But I think it means – I can be bold in being myself with my friends. My friends educate me with all the things they know and share. They empower me. They enlighten me. They unburden me. They enhance my very being.

Friends --Bringing about the best in us, and making us feel emboldened by their meetings, this brings about the decent boldness that makes the connection powerful.

When you meet your friend, something in you opens up….a part of you comes out to play. Something is released in your spirit. A part of you that lays still and might be lonely sometimes leaps up to the fore-front to be the one to smile.

A friend opens up the rivers in your soul that might otherwise lay dormant, when they offer to you the trust of their hearts. There is power in trust. Emboldening power.

It’s a true blessing to find a friend. Tell them. Write them, call them, visit them ~ you know who they are – make sure they know, you know. Rock on in the boldness of your friends. It's the decent thing to do. Just go ask Homer!

Friday Night

"Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone: - Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own. "
~~~Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-70)


The day did produce my unaccomplished goals. But I think that's okay. I did fail to get cetain things done, but I did different things. And that's okay.

Because of hurricane Rita, I was concerned there would be another gas shortage here, and my husband can't go to work without gas. So, best that he fills up and I fill up in case he has to rob from me. The lawn business is really not the business to be in with no gas available. So I left to do that, and yes, the lines were long and boring And I felt there wasn't much sweetness today about it; maybe that's because it wasn't for need, but for greed? Oh, that's not a fair statement, I don't think..

After I filled up, I ducked into Walmart, as it was right there, and picked up some things for dinner and just regular stuff that you need.

I don't mean to pass judgment on anyone or anything, but walking in the door, I was struck by all the things available to us, that we don't need.

Movie magazines, tabloids, gossips books, tons of mark down cosmetic jewlery in this bin, a bin of bad movies and tapes, and fagaylies of all kinds of things. I had been thinking about how things were going to have to change for us financially, and then I thought - what is going on in the world when it's filled with so much stuff that people really, really do not need - and there are so many people in need of just regular basic stuff and can't afford to get it? Sorry. I get hit with that now and then.

I hear complaints about the government not doing enough for the poor. I know there will always be those who have less than I, and those who have more. But if I have a tad more than anyone, I feel it is my God given assignment to pass something on. That could be money or service or whatever. And if you truly feel you have not a material thing to give, than a kindness or a prayer will do. But if a day goes by, and there is no giving ~ what is the point of being on this earth and living?

Tidy makes Mighty

I am actively pushing my safe boundaries. I've been doing this, without definition, for about 5 years, I think. It's getting better. I'm starting to like it...

I am not blessed with the gift of orderliness. I am a born messie. Thank the Good Lord in Heaven, my daughter has the Order-Gene!! I am blessed!!

We are on a path to the height of order. My nirvana of calm.

Since we will be moving - sometime in the near future, ( I don't know exactly when) - when I straighten a closet now, I want to do it in a way that I won't have to (hardly) do it again. I have one room cleared out. However, I have transferred a lot of that stuff to another place in the house.
So.
Tommorrow the plan is to deal with that pile of stuff ~ get the painted shelves back in this room, and then move the books from the Book Pantry (it's a very large pantry) where they need to go.
Then I will paint the walls of the Book Pantry so that they match my kitchen nook area! I am going to be so happy when that is done. Wouldn't it be lovely to get this all done by Sunday night!! (I must be mad...)
Because Madam B is so well organized at things like this, we will be able to finish a day of school work and accomplish much in the cleaning mission.

School has been going well. On this, we both agree.

~~
"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost"....H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Men in History

I have felt interest in the works of certain mortal men in history. I am drawn towards the writings of these people, and I think I finally (might have) figured out some reasons why.

Plato - He had a love for wisdom and philosophy. He raised questions that encouraged one to think for themself. He cared about personal growth and felt that education would lead to a better society.

William Shakespeare - No one's insight on the human condition was as clearly presented as his, but often with humor. That was his genius, in the way he presented and appreciated the experiences of people. But he proposed the idea of knowing yourself well (To thine ownself be true) and be people smart also ("I know you all!"). So, you not only strive to understand yourself, but also to understand the world around you.

And I have felt "the whole world is a stage", and we each have roles to play (and they are constantly changing).

Albert Einstein - I believe he never departed from the truth that childhood had so much to offer. He looked at things in a childlike and imaginitive way. He never lost his sense of wonder for what was beyond what he knew. And he was quite humorous.

The Cast of Othello

Our choice of performers ~

Othello - Denzel Washington

Iago - Johnny Depp (such a handsome villian!)

Michael Cassio - Orlando Bloom (naive and handsome looking, and would work well with JD)

Desdemona - Kate Boswell (interesting choice as she is Orlando's true ex-girlfriend)

(that's all we have so far.)

So welcome to Tuesday night

I'm not clear on writing tonight. There are so many things going on right now, but I don't want to lose days by posting nothing. This blog helps me remember. It also helps me remember my time can be wisely spent. Or not.

Monday was a real catch up day for me. My list of errands long:

1. Delivery of cleaning supplies to the Dept Of Transportation (Our only cleaning contract that we will be losing at the end of this month, but they still need supplies)
2. Two banks (so really that's 2 and 3)
3. Return 4 packages - and that involved two stops - UPS and PO (so really that's 4 & 5)
4. Looked in Goodwill for books (found nothing)
5. Grocery Store (forgot my list, ran up cell phone minutes talking with Madam B)
6. Home
7. Back out to Grocery store, had not only forgotten the list but didn't have pen and ended up getting the wrong kind of cheese BUT - fontina just cannot be found!! And it wasn't at the other store either.

Madam Blueberry cooked a Three Cheese and Spinach Pasta dish. There was so much, we feed the neighbors, as well. They loved it. We weren't crazy about the cheese we had substituted for the fontina. Actually, I think I measured out too much of it and it ended up over whelming the flavor of this potentially excellent dish. I have not confessed this to MB at this time, as she may fire me as First Assisstant.

Good and lovely news ~ when I came home from all those errands, I found that my kitchen had been totally reorganized! All the drawers, all the cabinets, top and bottom ~ all were in perfect order!! And there was additional order in the way the continuity flowed from draw to draw in the rearrangement. She did a magnificient job.

And she didn't stop there! She had organized my desk, (this was quite a feat), folded and put away four loads of clothes, the kitchen was not only spotless, but the living room and dining room looked as if we were having company. I need a better adjective than to say I was floored, but you will have to accept that for now.

She had such a pace going, that we continued to pick up and straighten until it was time to take the lovely casserole out of the oven.

Such a picture.
















At 9 PM we watch a show together. And then we exercise. Well. I try to keep up.

Today ~ (of course, both days, there was our school work)

I spent a lot of the day today catching up on my paper work. Not just business, but cards for friends who are ill or who need cheering in some way, and I made chocolate chip cookies.

We helped Dad outside do something I can't really explain, but it was scary and involved cars and boats and trailers and heavy things that could fall on you. But it worked out okay.

This evening Madam B treated us to Almond Chicken Stir-Fry (Excellent) accompanied with Basmati rice. Wonderful! (I need to consult a thesaurus so as not to become boring in my praises)

Goodbye Leland

"God himself took a day to rest in, and a good man's grave is his Sabbath."
~~ ~John Donne

A sweet and wonderful friend of ours left this world tonight for another. A better place to rest and sleep and leave all and any sorrows behind. The joys he takes with him.

Leland, we love you, and we will miss you. You were a good friend, a good husband, a good dad, and a great grandpa.

We will take care of Pam. She is most special to us.

Sweet dreams, Leland.

Arrg Matie

Arrrg, we stole this here site ideaer from Mad Tom Cash. If he be huntin' us down, tell him we be waitin' in the ship's gallery with a pint a good starboard brew .... arrrr!

Yarr?

Miss Roxie's:

My pirate name is:

Red Mary Flint

Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Scarlett's:

My pirate name is:

Dread Pirate Rackham

Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Doing the Circle Dance

Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.
-- Thomas L. Holdcroft
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, the sun rose again today, so here we go. Wonder if the calendar goes around in circles 'cause the earth is round, or if the earth is round 'cause the calendar goes around in circles?

Do you ever have times when you look at the calendar and think, "okay, well, this will be a busy week. But I'm getting all my appointments out of the way! Hooray for me. Aren't I just so smart?" Not knowing that, out there waiting, is.... Life. Life with it's own game plan; it's own rules. And Life wanted that week on my calendar as much as I did. And so Life just schedules a bunch on stuff on top of my bunch of stuff.

Whether you consider life illusion or fantasy (and I think some days it might be both), it's there every day you wake up. And sometimes it doesn't even say Good Morning!! It's starting to overwhelm me some days. People talk about Life all the time. I noticed that I hear many expressions over and over and use them to explain this thing called Life. Here are a few that come to mind. Just a few, mind you - I have many more, I just don't have the time today to write them all down!

1. That's life.

...What? This is the most vague, disjointed statement of no meaning. What it means to me, is that someone left the room and didn't finish this sentence. Or maybe they were pointing at something and no one saw what it was. But I use it anyway. People always nod like they know what it means.

2. There are no dress rehearsals in life.

...Don't pretend or even think you have time to get ready. You don't. The director yelled "action" long ago. You can restart the scene, as many times as you wish, but the camera never stops rolling. And remember, people are watching when you think they aren't, so smile. They talk more about you when you don't, then when you do. And, come on, smiling never hurt anybody.

3. Shoot from there!

....I borrowed this from a soccer coach. He was on the next field from us and just kept yelling it and yelling it. I thought it was a good plan to implement when it looks necessary. On days when you've got nothing but yourself to rely on, and it's looks like panic could possibly take over, - 'take your best shot' might be a way to phrase this one - but I use this one. Sometimes, no matter where you are, you gotta take the shot. And don't forget to smile. Because people are looking at you.

4. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and you gotta right to believe.

No explanation needed really. I just believe this.

I have more rules. Yes, several. My poor children are raised on cliques, song lines, Bible verses, and mama's made up rules in between, but not necessarily in that order. Sometimes I think someone borrowed my brain one time while I was sleeping and just filled it with stuff. Or like my brain came prepackaged with information that was scheduled to burst forth at unsuspecting times.

Well, the clock on the wall in the hall, says I am out of time and must go. Perhaps today as I travel my path, I will jot down a few more of my learned and memorized rules. It will be part of the other plans I make while Life is busy making theirs.

Great day to you...

Here's a Riddle for you

My nephew sent this to me~
I think my husband answered it correctly. But what do you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.




What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

The Days End

“To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.”

-Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797)

And I would say the same goes for living. So many people go through each day and can't remember what happened! What purpose does that serve one?
Just one drop upon another drop of time. And what is time?
If not one of the few things we might own!

Time becomes the essence of who we are.
Like it or not, we become the days gone by.
Do you take the time to notice and reflect.
When was the last time you gazed up at the stars?
When was the last time you sat down on a patch of
grass and allowed yourself to fall back and watch the clouds go by?
When was the last time you gave reflection to your day?
If you have done none of these things lately, you need to
hang out with your inner child for awhile!

~~"The whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it.” Plutarch ~~

Well, there is your philosophy lesson for the day! If I could make a ‘smilie’ face, I would put one here. Since I am lacking in such, I will need ‘you’ to provide the smile!

Bit of a recap:

I had a wonderful week.

Madam Blueberry is continuing to unleash her culinary skills in the kitchen. She labors over recipes online, and magazines with recipes, looking for something different to try. This week, we were treated to Angel Hair Pasta and Chicken one night, and another night it was Anthony’s Lime Chicken. …and oh! Brilliant!! Four Stars Madam!!

For daily treats, she favored us with not only The Famous Blueberry Muffins, but also Banana Pecan Muffins with chocolate chips! Just the right texture! Nous avons été traités à un cadeau de l'amour ! (uhhh, don’t ask me, it just felt like a French moment.)

Today I met my friend Becky for lunch and dropped off several bags filled with donations for the victims of Katrina. The company she works for will be running a truck from here to Mississippi and Louisiana every week ~ it’s Skandia’s Hurricane Katrina Relief project. They are working in conjunction with the Red Cross. It’s a good feeling to help. I do wonder about all the money that is being raised for the Hurricane victims; I wonder if it will actually get to them. Will they get a new start? And if they do get a help up out of poverty because of being victims of a hurricane, what about all the other people who live in poverty who are just victims of being impoverished? Perhaps in matters such as these, no one really knows the answer to such questions making them rhetorical observations at best.

Oh, here’s a weird thing. I popped into a health food store on my way home this afternoon. I need some vitamins and wanted to try some coconut oil as I’ve read it’s all the rage and really good for you, and while I was there, I thought, I’ll pick up some rice to have with dinner. They have one of those rice contraptions like you buy fresh coffee beans. So, I got a bag and got my pound of sweet rice and headed home.

When I got home, I picked up the bag to put the rice in a container and noticed a black speck, or two, then three, then the specks moved! You guessed it!! Bugs!! Those nasty little black bugs that turned into moths and get into everything! I called the store to tell them. I spoke with the owner who told me he would refund the money on the rice. Well….duh. I told him, yes, I did realize he would do that, but my main concern was that he needed to do something about the bugs!

All this wonderful week gone by and then tonight I come short of having a heart attack! My cell phone rings at 12:15 in the morning!! I’m thinking ~ the worst. (I have to learn NOT to do that.) It was my neighbor, who couldn’t sleep and was just flipping channels till she fell asleep, and she came across Jackson Browne on the GPS station, so she had to call me! LOL!

It’s late ~ I should really call this A Day! It’s been a great one. (I don’t know why, but I almost feel guilty about that)

”I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.”

~~~Albert Einstein

Ground Control

"He who mounts a wild elephant goes where the wild elephant goes." Randolph Bourne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever been in heavy traffic when the power is out? No lights at the main intersections? And it's about that time of day when people are getting off work?

And your learner's permitted child is driving?
oooh~~be still my heart.

It was quite an experience. However, I must say right off, she did really, really well. I’ll give her that. I was as calm and as cool an instructor as I could muster. I didn't freak out or anything that dramatic, although, I was sounding like a coach on a football team. When I would see a break for us, I would yell, "Go! Go! Go!" And some of the time when a car was approaching I would just make these odd sounds, which mimicked a noise equal to those of high pitched dog calls, that she had to interpret. But, praise the Lord, we arrived home without a scratch, so today, an A+ in Driver's Ed for Madam Blueberry!!

You know, it's bad enough that most people don't understand about driving when there are no traffic lights, and I'm not sure there are ‘specific’ rules that apply, above actual common sense treating of the intersection as a four way stop, but what I realized today is that Big Vehicles rule. The truck next to us makes a decision to GO, and guess what? the oncoming traffic seems to stop and people in his lane GO!

I remember reading a saying that was something like this, ‘true knowledge is not attained by thinking, it is what you are, it is what you become.’ I think a big part of true knowledge is being able to handle yourself in a stressful situation!

As I think so I am

“But what is your duty? The demands of every day.”

~~~Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

"How old is Othello?" asked Madam Blueberry as we were cleaning the kitchen after dinner. A dinner she had cooked I might add. Our Culinary Arts class is about the most wonderful thing that has happened to us. As soon as I figure out how to link all her recipes (and this one tonight was just wonderful!), I will do that. She is quite an amazing cook. She has that little knack one needs for the correct amount of fluffing about with the mixtures.

As I took the question in, and began to answer it as if it was regular every conversation, and yes, it was actually for us anyway, I thought to myself, "How cool is that?" My child is asking me about the age of Othello! That is one of the things I so love about home schooling. The things they are inquisitive about are ….well, I don’t have the word exactly, but you are there for so many of the discoveries and thoughts and ideas and think alouds!

I have no regrets about home schooling. If I was pushed for a thought of a regretful nature, I would only say, that I regret not having discovered the curriculum I currently use earlier than four years ago.

Just so you know, it's Ambleside Online -- http://amblesideonline.org/

It's such an exciting, non-boring curriculum. I have never been able to do all that is required for the Year specified, but I think that would have been different for me, had I discovered it in the beginning of my home schooling career. The literature and history choices are my personal favorites.

I have been combining years since I started.

This year, Madam B is reading Othello. I'm trying to read along on my own, as I have never read Othello. Last year, she read Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado about Nothing (her favorite), As You Like it, and The Tempest. (I only read Much Ado About Nothing last year). I am a Shakespeare fan. So having my daughter enjoy William Shakespeare and asking me how old Othello is, out of the clear blue sky, well, I just think that is Cool Beans!

I'll share more about my curriculum as I get it set.

So far we have:

Saxon Math - Algebra 1/2
Language – How Grammar Works
Read aloud together - The Scarlet Letter and The Book of John from the KJ Version
History will be American - I need to order a book. I tried one I had here, but I don't think it's going to work, but we have John Adams by David McCullough on the Audio, and we are enjoying that.

Culinary Arts and Photography
Copy work and Memory Work
Science - Astronomy first term

Shakespeare

I need to get my schedule down and set. I’ve poured the slab and now I have to smooth out the edges. I am thinking if I make a personal announcement, here on my blog, that I will have it done by Sunday, than I will.

Did you know that the word ‘blog’ is not in the spell check on my word program?

I have some other things looming over me as well as setting the curriculum in concrete form, I have this room I am to finish painting. I will make that a Sunday goal as well. Hey, I rather like this ~ somehow, this might work out well for me.

“Everybody is all right really.”

~~Winnie the Pooh

Fall! oh how I love thee.....

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all.
- Stanley Horowitz

What a beautiful morning! I hesitated even writing here this morning because the outside is calling! Summer has been so especially hard this year; it's been difficult to enjoy it. If one chooses to collect their mail at midnight, they would stroll to the mailbox in 95-degree temperatures! It's made us lazy, even the cats found a new kind of lazy ~ I was beginning to think the summer had melted their bones, as they found new ways to lay out their bodies in distortions I had not observed before.

I've awaken Madam Blueberry to inform her that her season of choice is calling loudly ~ "Come outside and have your morning tea with me!"
We have slept in this morning, as we were up at midnight working on Math! Composites! Oh, and we shall conquer thee!

Ye exponents of the arithmetician army!

Ye Counter-Casters!

Armed with tea and biscuits and the gift of a morning that lies on our shoulders, as if being caressed by a fine silk shawl, that lay to comfort our scorched and weary exteriors....
Well, okay, got a little carried away, but onward! This day shall be faced, and we shall win a great victory. I can feel it. I shall keep my dream of the victory close to my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
""I can't believe that," said Alice.

"Can't you?" The Queen said, in a pitying tone. "Try again: draw a long breath and shut your eyes."

Alice laughed. "There’s no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

~~~~Through the Looking Glass
Lewis Carroll

Message from a child's tale.....

Who do you love? Why do you love them? Sometimes there is no reason. Sometimes you think there needs to be a reason. But there really doesn't have to be.

Love is the ultimate paradox. Don't let it pass you by.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Velveteen Rabbit
(exert)
~~by Margery Williams

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. ""It's a thing that happens to your. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Hourse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mnind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse, "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

What the *Bleep* do we know?

...."How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself - so always think positively"....Norman Vincent Peale

I just watched "What the *Bleep* Do We know*, which my friend Jude told me I would love, and which I did. I would own this film. It's just my cup of tea ~ a thinking man's party ~ supporting my 'everything's a head trip' mantra.

I know I am late watching this, but I think it wasn't really a popular film ~ probably about 30/70 - meaning the 30 would like it and the 70 will think 'what? huh? bor-ring.'

The film itself is done differently. There is a story taking place, and then there are those scholars/scientists/theory people in the background narrating interesting truths, thoughts, ideas and discoveries. Things that are known and unknown. Things that are explainable and things that are not. Reinforcing my belief, that some things can't be explained, but yet everything can. Life is a paradox.

I have always felt there is a pattern in the random chaos. It's just that sometimes we can't get back far enough to see the big picture.

But aside from what I think ~

not everyone will enjoy this film. There are those who will find it tedious, just too much work to keep up with! And not fun. At the end you say 'wow' or 'geesh what a drag.' But that's okay. Because you can choose!!

Just be on guard how you choose to repeatedly fire your neurons. They are in constant training and retraining!!

Harley's turn

Every problem has a gift for you in its hands…..Richard Bach

I am wondering should I await my gift to arrive? ....

We came home from the Vet with James, who *talked* the entire ride home! Deep guttural sounds that almost formed words...weird. I have long suspected that cat can talk, and I'm beginning to think it's true.

We get home, and Madam B immediately begins to take care of James, getting his antibiotic and calming him ~ and now Pickles is in an unpleasant mood, because he is always hoping when one of the cats leave, they will not be back. So, he is dealing with that disappointment. And Harley was none to pleased either and was acting weirder than usual.
Madam B decided to sit outside and read, and Harley went with her. And that's when she noticed. Harley was having some problems.

Yup.

Of course, our vet is closed, as it's now 2:30 PM. This fact results in the need to go to the Emergency Hospital ~ because the receptionist told us that male cats cannot tolerate a urinary tract infection as long as a female because of the way their bodies are made, so we decide to head over there, at a price, I might mention, which will be 3 times the fee of a regular visit. But what are you going to do?

So, here we are in the hospital, and Harley is seemingly okay with the situation, considering the circumstances, but ~ have you ever had that feeling in your gut that a storm was brewing?

The girl who was on assist was quite capable and considerate and took Harley back a couple of times for things to be tested, and then the doctor came in to talk and tell us what she was going to do.

She went back to take a closer check on Harley and do the doctor things. She walked back in the room about 10 minutes later. In bandages. Yes. Her hand on the right and her arm from elbow to wrist on the left. She said, "Harley is very mad at me right now."

Long story short ~ Harley also destroyed our neighbors cat carrier along with the doctor. And the doc said, most likely, these infections were caused by the Dollar Store cat food!

He's now on antibiotics, ibuprofen, and special cat food. And Madam B is on rotation for medical duties.

Pickles was none to excited to see Harley return. But I love Pickles. The Cat with the Iron Clad Intestional System.

James The Bold

Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others....Robert Louis Stevenson

James is our third in rank Cat. First there is Pickles, the world's very best cat, then there is Harley, the world's most disturbed and unforgiving cat, then there is James, he is still a teenager.
James started out Bold, but really he is a scardy-cat. We haven't figured out how that happened yet, but I'm not investing money into a Cat Shrink to find out. So we will have to live with the mystery.
But James is in the hospital. He stayed last night, as they needed a urine sample and it's easier for them that way.
We need to pick him up before 1 today. Then we will find out exactly what's what.

Coincidence or Providence

"The essence of intelligence is skill in extracting meaning from everyday experience."

We had been trying to think of a way to drive to the disaster area with things we have to donate. Blankets, sheets, cookware, books ~ things I have right here that would serve someone else there, right now. We were discussing our schedules and didn't arrive on a time when we could go.
The next morning during my prayer time, I asked God if there was a way to get our things to those people in need, to please let it be known to me.
This afternoon I received an email from a friend whose Window Treatment company is going to be driving a truck to the disaster area every Friday. Anyone having anything to donate, can drop it off at their office during the week. It didn't dawn on me immediately ~
But this was the way to get there.

Day of the Week in Progress

"Even if you're on the right track... you'll still get hit if you don't move"....
Will Rogers
Today I started off late. Didn't sleep well last night and had a doctor appointment first thing this morning. I rushed to get out the door, taking my breakfast with me, and called my mother on the way over.

I have told my mother "I am blogging" ~ "What? Okay. Is it legal?" she said, as she had no idea what I was talking about. We had a good laugh, as she tried to fake her way through the computer jargon of today's world's, when I finally confronted her, 'you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?' She finally gave it up, and laughed and confided a, "Noooo". There is a certain way my mother says 'nooo', as she is so good, she tries to please everybody. She wants to be in the loop with us and once tried emailing, but she says, 'me and the mouse just don't get along. It's wants to go it's own way just like you kids used to do!' Maybe someday she will read my blog. And she will see that I am writing to the world - I love you, Mom.

The doctor said, no more painting for awhile. And the room I am painting is not finished! And when I can paint again, I can only paint for an hour day, and get this ~ she said ' find a way to lay on your back and paint'. LOL! I think that's been done already and they called it the Sistine Chapel. This is called Paint on the Wall.

Buzzed out of the doctor's office, and I dropped into the store and bought a couple more ingredients for Madam Blueberry's cuisine. And salmon for dinner (it was on sale.) I love salmon.
I came home and made a green smoothie. My best friend insists that they are quite the thing. As I pushed the green lettuce into the blender, Madam Blueberry stared at me for a bit before she finally asked, "What are you doing?" It's not so unusual to gently questioned the motives of anyone shoving lettuce in a blender, I suppose.
"Making a green smoothie." said I.
She just blinked her eyes. "Just for you, right?" (LOL).
I told her my friend serves them to her children instead of a salad, and they like it very much.
She said, "I eat salad. And I like it very much." (I would insert a smilie but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.) as she was hinting she had no need of lettuce in the liquid form.
Anyway, the green smoothie was quite good!! I used half a Fuji apple, about 1/4 cup of pineapple and about 5 or 6 green leaves of the green lettuce, which was probably more than it needed, but I figured I put in what I would put in a salad. So that was lunch.
Then Madam Blueberry made herself a smoothie - 1/4 cup of OJ, 1/2 banana, some strawberries, some blueberries, yogurt and some ice chips -- and it was so yummy!! Just like a Jetty Punch from Tropical Smoothie!!

Out the door again, I went to visit a good friend of mine who is terminally ill. It was a great visit. Tomorrow I will go over and cut her hair, as her nurse is coming in tomorrow to bathe her, so that is perfect timing.
There were two other ladies over there, both whom I had met in the past. One of them is 70-some, and her husband is also 70, and he is a race car driver. His car number is 43 and he races in Dothan, AL. I thought that was a riotous bit of information. Something to look forward to when I am 70, racing cars in Alabama.

Then went to get my prescription filled and had to make another stop because I forgot something for Madam Blueberry on my first trip, but all these places are in a nice little circle. I am fortunate in that way.

When I got home, I finished the rest of Madam Blueberry's smoothie, and will wait until she's finished with her latest project before I cook the salmon and rice.

There is still more of the day left ~ but I can't make any more hay in this sunshine today. Ohwell, maybe later....

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

<3

Click to enlarge the Images if you wish. - Scarlett

Madam Blueberry

Other exciting things -
Madam Blueberry prepared a wonderful Cream Cheese Crema - it was most special and delicious. These were lovely little individual orange flavored little cream cheese tarts, each hand made, topped with fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Yum. (where are my running shoes - beware the pounds a/commin')...

Today, we are being gifted with a Spinach Manicotti - beautifully stuffed shells. She put them together yesterday because they must sit for 24 hours before they are bake in the oven. So, Madame Blueberry is right on the heels of these things, ~~*precise makes right*~~ would be the current motto-- She has her timer set, and at the precise appropriate moment, we will partake in enjoying this wonderful Meatless Dish!! I am so looking forward to it. I helped stuff the Manicotti's, and they really look good.

The waffles of yesterday morning, we are not allowed to speak of. I do not know why; as a baker myself, I know anything can affect a recipe, even cooking before one has breakfast can alternate the gamble of the ingredients fine tuning.

But enough - Madam Blueberry performance to date has been brilliant. She deserves a special apron and jar of special sauce with her name on it, and a wild round of applause. (And we are in the realization of mind that there is a need to invent a manicotti stuffer.)

Look for good things. Always look for good things when Madam Blueberry takes the kitchen.

In What Part of the Heart is Virtue

The evening is slipping away. Time for many to be in the zone of the red realm-rems- of sleep. No more thinking, only sorting things out in gentle and easy ways to be found complicated by the time dawn shows it's early morning grin, when all the greatest information of the night hides somewhere in an illusional forum, dancing around in your memory, and you try so hard to catch it; it can make you smile, the playful dodger it be... Oh well...
On the brink of the evening the thoughts come - the pieces that are being explored and floating around in the mind, from weekly reading and discussion, the ones that haven't quite landed in understanding yet, like Protagoras telling Socrates that should a certain student come to him he will not experience the sort of drudgery with which other sophists are in the habit of insulting their pupils; Socrates questions Protagoras asking, "Do I understand you; and is your meaning that you teach the art of politics, and that you promise to make men good citizens?"
And Protagoras answers "That, Socrates, is exactly the profession which I make."

Socrates, from information he has gathered at this point, feels that virtue cannot be taught, but then again, he says, he feels he waivers when he hears Protagoras lay out his points. But Socrates has a need to see it a little more clearely so asks Protagoras if he would be so good as to accommodate him. Protagoras agrees. And, at this moment, I leave them discussing the matter of how Protagoras will present this truth of his to Socrates, wondering should he argue out the question, (which was my choice), or should, Protagoras as an elder, speak to Socrates a younger man in an apologue or myth?
I'll pick it up tomorrow to see what they decide ...

I already have my feelings that man must be taught to be virtuous. That it is still important to teach that, expect that, encourage that, reward that, pray for that. But I'm not sure man can be born with virtue ~~ But I could be so far off the point of their discussion !! - who knows. Stay tuned. I'll take you through as I go.

Slowly....

Color My World

All Photos By Scarlett
All Photos are Color and light changed with HP Photo and Imaging, except the first Photo.
You can click the photos to make them bigger.

Unparalleled spaital auras

"The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the
religion of solitude." -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

On being Alone
~~Miss Roxie

It was something I never really minded.
I did like to find my way around a new place
with a slower gait then others.
Although it was nice to have a friend
now and then,
being alone offered unparalleled spatial auras
that tumbled themselves into
just a dimension passing
quietly ...
in reading, the sound of music,
photographs real and otherwise
called daydreams,
grazing in the grass watching clouds dance,
star gazing in the night air,
Alone was never bad to me.
Now,
on being lonely,
well, that's another thing altogether, isn't it?

"Do not allow yourself to be imprisoned by any affection. Keep your solitude. The day, if it ever comes, when you are given true affection there will be no opposition between interior solitude and friendship, quite the reverse. It is even by this infallible sign that you will recognize it".....
Simone Well

I feel like the Muffin Wo - Man

Photos by Scarlett

The Baker goes veggie

Today my daughter decided she would become a vegetarian. This decision came about because she is a very good baker. Over the weekend she made waffles from scratch. They were excellent. Yesterday she made brownies. And tonight she made blueberry muffins. Excellent and excellent. We will have to start jogging to keep up with her talent.
So she decides she will cook a complete meal and asked her dad for some ideas. He mentioned veal. So she began her on line search.
Her search yielded the most gruesome articles on cruelty to animals that one could hardly bear to read! And then tonight in our local paper was an article that backed what she had read on line!
It was that simple ~ vegetarian.

These are the articles.

http://www.britishmeat.com/slaught.html

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/nation/12539767.htm