Autumn Tree Study

Close to our home we have a lovely park along side the river. I absolutely love it there in the fall. The colours are just ablaze with yellow, orange, and red. There is one tree, in particular, that I love to visit while we’re there. It stands on its own in the middle of the field just begging for you to lay down your blanket and have a picnic beneath its branches. It’s this tree that we decided to focus on for our Autumn Tree Study put on by Barb at HNS.

(Picnic with a friend awhile back.)

(My son, R, a couple of years ago sitting at its base.)

Sadly, I have only a couple of photos of this tree. And now there will be no more.

A wind storm has knocked it down. We went to the park with friends the other day to do our nature study, but found the tree laying on the ground. It’s just a tree, I know, but I was pretty sad. I have memories about this tree from my childhood.

R with his friend standing on the roots.

It’s sad to see such a large old tree come down. It obviously can’t be replaced. Not soon anyway. Such a waste.

The only positive is that the kids at least got to see the root system.

After the shock of the fallen tree we we carried on and went exploring. The other aspect of this park that I like is the cliffs. The kids love to climb the cliffs.

 

We did have a wonderful day despite the tree. My friend, Jen, and I reclined on a blanket under a tree and watched the leaves fall. This was peaceful and exhilarating at the same time and a lovely way to spend some time with a friend.

Then the kids had to have a whirl on the merry-go-round.

You don’t see these at playgrounds anymore.

Maybe there’s a reason why.

When we returned home it was still so lovely outside that I decided to hang out on my hammock and watch the birds at the feeders…one of my favourite things to do.

So, we’ll have to find another tree to study through the seasons. We’ll likely choose one on our back yard which will be fine. We had drawn some sketches a couple of weeks ago. We’ll do some more now that the leaves have changed colour.

I just love Autumn.

Autumn Nature Study – Cattails

The Handbook of Nature Study blog has put on a series of autumn nature studies in which we’re we’re excited to participate. The first one is on cattails.

When we referred to our own Handbook I read that they were edible. Well, we just HAD to investigate that. So, instead of going to our local nature sanctuary where I know there are plenty of cattails with a beautiful place from which to sketch, we searched out the road sides and right down from where we live we found a patch. There were only couple with heads but many others without.

R peeling at a stalk.

She’s going in! J decided to brave the marshy ground (which turned out to not be too marshy…hmmmmm) to get the other cattail with a head.

J pulling at the seeds. Is that ever fun, by the way! (I know. Get a life, right?) It just amazes me how tightly compressed they are, and how they form the firm velvety head we all recognize as the cattail.

After you’ve dug up the cattail, and peeled away the leaves, this is what you get near to the root. And this edible!

See? It actually doesn’t taste too bad.

Apparently, every part of the cattail is edible (besides the leaves) We’re definitely going to be watching this amazing plant through the seasons.

We thought we’d cook ‘em up and eat them like hotdogs…

just kidding!

When you have a boy in your midst, the suggestion of burning usually comes up. So, we gave that a try.

And, of course, because of the densely packed seeds they smoked more than burned. And smelled awful, too.

Here’s a link to an interesting article on how you can eat and prepare cattails.

So, that’s it. Thanks, Barb from HNS. We’re planning  on doing the next one soon.

Charlotte Mason

This year I’ve decided to take on Charlotte Mason.  LOL  For those of you unfamiliar with her method of homeschooling I’m sure that statement sounds as if I’m declaring a fight!  Don’t worry -I’m not…yet. 

My friend, Jennifer, innocently leant me a book about the Charlotte Mason (CM) homeschooling method and now I’m totally hooked.  The basic premise, as I understand it, is to teach your children with Living Books not textbooks, narrating those books, spend LOTS of time “out-of-doors” and doing nature studies and having several subjects but in short lessons.  To me, it just seems like a wonderfully natural easy way to learn…for the kids (as Jennifer pointed out to me). 

I say “for the kids” because I am now spending a LOT of time on the computer looking for “Living Books”.  I do enjoy it, though.  It’s just time consuming.  I get emails from the library informing me that the 50 books I ordered have now come in and ready for pick up.  50 may be an exaggeration but not by much.  And then the planning and scheduling all of those short lessons has been a bit stressful, too.

Definitition of Living Books as found on the CM website:  Living books are usually written by one person who has a passion for the subject and writes in conversational or narrative style. The books pull you into the subject and involve your emotions, so it’s easy to remember the events and facts. Living books make the subject “come alive.” 

Yes, I have gotten myself a little frazzled with research and planning, but I’m slowly beginning to calm down.  Homeschooling the CM way CAN be a lot of work, but I can see that the rewards can also be great. 

For instance, I love the idea of the children narrating (“telling back in your own words what you just read or heard”).  I read aloud to the kids a lot as it is, so that won’t be a big change as we begin CM.  We’ve always discussed what we’ve read, but I haven’t gotten them to narrate to me.  And it’s harder then it seems!  R wants to skip parts and just do it as quickly as possible.  J likes to go over all the details, though, so that’s great.  I have a hard time, however, not asking them about the stuff they’ve missed, but according to CM you aren’t supposed to.  Narrating is the ultimate in self educating because nobody is telling the child what to listen for in the form of fill-in-the-blank questions.   They’ll have a better chance at remembering or owning what they learn because it’s what is important to them.  I also find they narrate stuff that I wouldn’t have asked them about in the story.  

The kids love the nature study part of our curriculum this year.  I’m suspecting, though, that it’s more because they get to call running around outside “school”.  R has already had an exciting lesson learned.  On our first day of “Nature Study” we went outside to draw a tree in our backyard.  It would be one that we’ll study through the seasons.  Sadly, R had a real aversion to drawing; he informed me that he can’t draw.  How sad is that!?  I myself suffer from this insecurity but kids usually don’t.  By ten years old, however, he’d made this decision.  The book, “Keeping a Nature Journal”, has a few lessons on drawing.  So, the next time we went out we followed the exercise on drawing trees, and he successfully drew a lovely one.  I could see he was very pleased.  I also learned when “enough is enough” because seeing his positive reaction I suggested that we learn to draw different kinds of leaves, but he was tired of it by then and wanted to stop.  I was about to get annoyed and announce that “this is school time” when I remembered CM’s principle about short lessons. 

So, drawing (and patience) is another (short) subject we’re adding to our schedule.  He and I will conquer this fear together. 

I’m looking forward to our homeschool year.  I’m sure there will be a lot of firsts and that I will be learning plenty about what I’m teaching AND my children.

“Everybody Needs a Rock”

Like a lot of kids, J has always collected rocks. I’m careful when doing laundry because it’s not unlikely to find a few pebbles bouncing around in her pockets – along with pine cones, feathers, or whatever else she might have been inspired to pick up.

The other day I came across a book that was written for kids like J. “Everybody Needs a Rock” by Byrd Baylor. The author goes through ten “rules” that everyone needs to respect when choosing your very own rock. As she writes, “not just any rock, but a special rock that you find yourself and keep it for as long as you can, maybe forever.” The prose are beautiful and made me want to jump up and find that special rock meant just for me.

A couple of days ago we went down to the river with our friends. It was another 30 C day! In September. Gorgeous day. We got there a little early and R, being inspired himself by the book, promptly set to finding HIS rock.

The book encourages the rock hunter to see, feel, and even smell your rock. I guess R thought that it was also worthwhile to listen to one.

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Outdoor Hour Challenge #1

Intro:

I’ve been re-vamping our method of home education as of late. All summer I thought I knew what I wanted to do until I read a Charlotte Mason book. Her style of “gentle learning” using Living Books and Nature Study inspired me. Since then I’ve been obsessed with the researching bug. Too obsessed actually. I’ve gotten myself a little frazzled, but that’s for another post.

During my research travels I happened upon a blog called Handbook of Nature Study which is based on the book by the same name. The blog author, Barb, has designed a series of outdoor challenges that I decided to undertake with the children this year.

The assignment:

The first challenge was simply to “spend 10-15 minutes outdoors with your children” and to “enjoy being outdoors“. Then when we returned we were to discuss something that interested them during the walk and then, perhaps, investigate it further during the week.

Our Experience:

This will be snap, I thought. We enjoy the outdoors together all of the time. We could do one of these challenges everyday, I thought, instead of the once per week she suggested. We did enjoy the walk immensely; the difficulty came when we returned.

First of all, we went way longer then 15 minutes. I decided we’d walk to a nearby path system in our subdivision. We had a splendid time. The children were excitedly finding and collecting several things. I had told them they only needed to find one or two items to study further, but they didn’t want to stop there.

J was excited from the get-go.

I was concerned that R wouldn’t be interested but he was most enthusiastic to find specimens.

We were a little tired when we returned home so I decided to make lunch and while they were eating, I busied myself with various guides and the computer identifying items from the photos I took. Now bear with me. I am a complete newby when it comes to nature identification. I love walking in nature but have never been able to identify much beyond a dandelion.

Canada Thistle

Red-osier Dogwood

Is this a Rose Hip?

Ladybug…of course.

Goatsbeard

Gray Squirrel (I had to include this little guy – our yard is filled with them)

The problem:

We loved the walk and I really enjoyed figuring out what each thing was that I photographed. I wanted to share that with the kids. I tried to lure them over to identify the stuff they brought home, but they were more interested in playing. It turns out for R that he was more into the collecting then the studying. And, unfortunately, I got miffed. I was annoyed because this was technically a “school” project. Sigh. In the end, I let it go. And I remembered Barb’s words: “You have a whole week to spend some time looking it up.” Now I got it. It’s supposed to be fun…leisurely…enjoyable. Not a job. So, why was I turning it into that? It’s definitely something I need to work on. And I will.

I hope I haven’t totally turned the kids off this project. We will take this week entire week before we move on. lol Or at least until Monday.

Welcome, Mary!

Adrian’s dear mum, Mary, is officially connected to the internet as of today. She’s hooked up and surfing the waves of the World Wide Web.

I’m going to send her a link to my blog and I hope she’ll swim her way over here on her grand first day.

So, helloooooo, Mary! I hope you’re enjoying your pretty new red laptop. May you have many hours of both stress and bug free enjoyment.

Why DO I Homeschool?

I wrote in my last post about how much I loved homeschooling – an easy thing to say during a week spent having fun outside in beautiful summer weather.  In fact, while I was floating leisurely down the river on Thursday with my friend and our kids, having the usually packed place all to ourselves, I was actually singing, “ha ha ha, the other kids are in schooooooool”.  Yes, I was gloating, but I was lovin’ it.  It was a fabulous day.  We had sunshine, we had great company, and there wasn’t anyone on the rocky river beach but us.  We were enjoying one of the highlights of homschooling at its pinnacle. 

But is that the REASON that I homeschool? 

I get asked that a LOT.  “Why do you homeschool?”  And I usually respond, with, “uhhhhhhh, do you have an hour?”  because I don’t have that one sentence answer that they’re seeking.  For some reason, this just isn’t an easy answer for me.  Many people have clear cut reasons:  Their child is special needs and wasn’t getting the help they needed from the system, or their child is brilliant and was being held back by the system, or bullying was a huge problem, and so on.  Some people simply say that God spoke to their heart.   Hmmm.  I was just going to write that none of those reasons fit for me, but may be God did speak to me.  You all know that I’m not a religious person but I don’t mean that to sound facetious. There IS something in my heart that tells me homeschooling is the right thing to do for my family (the entire family because we all benefit).  The end.  I don’t have any other sparkly reasons. 

People don’t seem to understand that reason, though and I don’t blame them, either.  Nine times out of ten when I’m asked why I homeschool it’s in the best possible light.  The person is genuinely curious while at the same time not looking for a huge long discussion on homeschooling.  And here I come up with stuttering answers and lame reasons.  I’d been thinking about this recently and decided that I needed to come up with a short and sweet response.  One that might satisfy their immediate curiosity.  So, I came up with what I said above, “I just feel it’s the right thing to do for my family”.  Then when I was at my friend L’s house just a few days later her mom asked about my homeschooling motivation, and I felt prepared because I had my answer.  However, after I delivered it I was greeted with a blank look.  He he. I guess that statement did nothing to satisfy her curiosity.  Unfortunately, it’s the truth. 

As time has gone on, I HAVE found more reasons hense the “do you have an hour?” comment.  For instance, I hear so much about severe bullying that I’m grateful we don’t have that experience.  And I don’t think J would thrive in the school system.  She has a real creative spirit and likes to take her time with projects (from art to math), a luxury she wouldn’t be able to enjoy in school.  And R loves to move around while he learns.  And I love the long thoughtful discussions we have together.  And I believe that the development of good character is more challenging at school.  But as good as these reasons are, I discovered them during my homeschooling  journey.  They weren’t my original motivation. 

Therefore as unsatisfying, non-glamorous or sparkly an answer it is, my original one has to stand…

I homeschool because I know it’s the right thing to do for my family.

The First Day NOT Back to “School” – Whoo hooooo!

My title  to this post is a little ironic, actually.  I just came back from our first homeschool support group meeting of the year and the guest speaker talked about, among other things, the difference between home SCHOOLING and home EDUCATION.  Essentially home SCHOOLING is schooling at home.  It’s the same stuff you do at public school but ya just do it at home.  Whereas home EDUCATION is educating your children – their hearts, minds, and souls.  And it doesn’t look like school.  You don’t necessarily sit at a desk or have a blackboard.  You’re probably not even in the house.  You’re out on adventures learning through life’s experiences. 

So, today is a celebration for me.  While so many kids trudge off to the classroom I’m still making fun plans for my kids outside.  It’s wayyyy too nice of weather to be stuck inside at the table.  I am getting us back into some kind of routine this week, but it’s pretty loosey goosey.  In fact, I like to rebel a bit and purposely NOT do school work during what is traditionally the first week back. 

I love homeschooling (or rather home educating) my children.  I love spending time with them, and I love how much they enjoy spending time with me.  It’s not always a bed of roses, of course.  I have days where I feel like shoving them onto the first school bus I see and not caring at which school they end up.  But those days aren’t EVERY day.  The good ones far out way the bad or challenging ones.  And I look forward to the upcoming year.

Holiday in BC

Adrian thinks this photo is hilarious. He likes to tease me about how I would take a photo of a coffee cup of all things. But what does he know, right?

The cabin we stayed in during our holiday is BC was right on the lake. I came out in the morning with my cup of coffee and just soaked in the view. That is when I wasn’t batting away mosquitos. They were just horrendous! In fact, that would be my only complaint regarding the trip…getting eaten alive. A minor thing really.

Our cabin is that building on the bottom right. It was nice and simple.

The water was scrumptiously clear. So clean and refreshing. A nice change from our local lakes.

Part of the deal with the cabin rental was the use of a boat. Adrian enjoyed hours of fishing on his own and with us. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch a lot. It was nice and peaceful out on the water, though.

Even Cleo enjoyed the boat.

I guess if I had another complaint it would be that the holiday was too short. We really should have taken two weeks. Adrian didn’t really have time to relax and catch up rest before we were back and he was returning to work. Next year we’ll definitely go longer.

Decorating Guru? Not I, said the Rooster.

Some people have mad skills in the decorating department and some people (like me) just plain…don’t. I try. I look at paint colours but all of the options paralyze instead of inspire me. In my home, I move items around and attempt to make the space look pretty, but I usually manage to make it more cluttered or disorganized. Knick knacks and the various accessories that are meant to compliment and add character to a space tend to overwhelm or confuse me. And now that summer’s here, there’s all of the outdoor decorating paraphernalia to consider as well. For instance, when I’m standing in the store I find myself wondering, “what the heck would someone want with a wire rooster??”. But I’m sure there’s someone out there that knows the perfect way to use that rooster and have it look great and not tacky. Someone visiting their home would see that rooster and say, “What a cool rooster!”.

Seriously though…what’s with all the wire roosters? Every garden store I go into these days seems to have one. And they’re only sixty dollars or something!! Is there something I’m not getting??

Back to decorating and those who are gurus in this area…

Enter my friend, Lana.

She rents a small home that is limited in its options…from my perspective anyway. But everytime I go to her house she has some new arrangement or design. Outside is the same. Her deck is a cozy oasis. She just seems to know what to do.

When she comes to my house for a visit, if I show her a problem spot that I’ve been toiling over for a long time, she’ll say, “why not try this?”. She’ll then proceed to shuffle things about and in a matter of minutes, presto chango, I have a higher functioning, eye appealing space. This is what happened yesterday.

We have a largish screened in deck. Up until now it’s been like an outdoor playroom. My kids’ toys dominated the place. We had a bouncy horse and a playhouse and then all of the lose toys that ended up laying around. But THIS year, I want to change that. I want to transform my deck into a place where I can go to relax and read or entertain friends.

I don’t have very much deck furniture – yet – but Lana re-arranged what I did have into a pleasing and, frankly, more sensible arrangement. Just silly little things like pulling the table out to the middle of the floor instead of having it shoved up against the wall. Now why didn’t I think of that? lol It looks better and we can actually all sit at the table. Go figure.

On that note, my first desire for my deck is to get a dining set. I think it’s time to replace my cheap, rickety white plastic table. It’s so ugly that I HAVE to use a table cloth to make it presentable.

Next I’ll be painting the floor. Then I’ll have to attack the dreaded accessories. I’ll probably get some help with that. I actually have plenty of friends who have knowledge in this department. Hmmm. Maybe it’s not that they’re so talented as much as I’m totally not talented. Ah well. We all have different gifts, right?

But back to the accessories. I don’t want a lot. I’m not actually a knick knacky kind of person – less is more for me. But I do like the odd item strategically placed that just seems to add a bit of character.

Anyway, by the end of the summer I hope to have a lovely before/after photo to show you. In the meantime, after just cleaning up and decluttering (as well as the recent re-organization) I’m already enjoying my deck. I love to sit out there in the morning and listen to the birds while drinking coffee. Or relax while reading my book in the evening after the busyness of the day.

I hope you all have your own place to retreat to and find peace.