My kids have always learned at home, so with my oldest being 12 I feel like we have been at this for awhile. Whenever someone new to homelearning has asked me about it I always suggest that the first thing they read is Marty Layne's treasure of a book. Reading it really gave me a sense of how I wanted our life of learning to look and, more importantly, how I wanted it to feel. When I read her book I felt as though I was sitting down for coffee at the kitchen table of a wise friend, someone who was able to gently guide me to where I wanted to go...even though I didn't even know that place existed yet. She gave me a real insight to how gentle, loving, fulfilling and natural learning at home could be...for my kids and for myself.
A couple weeks ago I ordered The Well-adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling from our library and now, whenever someone new to learning at home asks me for some book recommendations, I will tell them about this one as well. What a fantastic book for someone new to learning at home... and also for someone who has been at it for years. I think it covers every cause for concern someone (or someone's relative) could ever have. It is a very empowering book, it gives all kinds of supportive information in a very straight-forward, clear manner as well as lots of stories from homelearners themselves.
One of my favourite parts is the story the author tells in the introduction, it starts out "Once upon a time, all children were homeschooled." Something that our society seems to have forgotten.
Anyway, slowly, slowly we are getting things done, and I do love this pathway.
And so does kitty, see her there?
On Friday afternoon I found one plump ripe pea pod. A quick glimpse around assured me that I was alone in the garden, safe from the eyes of E, and so I quickly tasted the first pea of the year. Delicious. Yesterday afternoon I was telling a friend about what I had done and how I had made sure not to tell E that some were almost ready. This morning he found out for himself. Sigh!! I guess that one pea was it for me for this year. Good thing I enjoyed it so thoroughly. Now the race is on - first come, first serve. Will the rest of us be quick enough to get any peas?
I spent most of yesterday in the garden. It was a lovely day. So lovely that I plan to do the same thing again today.
The pole beans are climbing.
The peas are starting to plump up. The eggplants are blooming.
The Egyptian walking onions are....walking?? Now what do I do with them? The carrots are being eaten by little boys.
These carrots are all from your seeds, Andrea.
The apples are growing and, thankfully, not getting eaten yet by a little boy.
And the poppies are about to burst into bloom and then before I know it there will be loads of poppy seeds to be used in muffins, cookies, crackers and saved for friends.
And lest you think that gardening is all bliss, tomorrow I will tell you about the dark side of gardening - Flea beetles.
I saw this gift idea on this blog (thanks, Denise) awhile ago and thought the boys would like to try it. E decided to make it as his Father's Day gift to S. It was well received and has gone off this morning to be put up on his office wall to be displayed proudly.
Over the years we have found all kinds of things at garage sales. We don't go often anymore, just when they are in our neighbourhood and we can walk to them. This morning we went to one and found some goodies.
I have been wanting some more cast iron pans and have not been wanting to pay the price that I have seen them for at our thrift stores; my patience paid off and I found two - the exact sizes that I wanted - today for 25 cents each. Now I will scrub them up and season them and they will be better than new because they are the old, thick heavy kind. I got 6 of these big jars at 25 cents each - some for me and some for a friend. They are great for storing dried fruits, making sun tea and storing flour or oats. And I got a washboard for $1 to replace the one I broke the glass out of years ago. W got a heavy metal toolbox for himself for $1 and E got a bag of Lego (with mini figures) for 25 cents. This is the kind of garage sale that we love and what a nice way to start our weekend.
A while ago I posted about the lovely Lego gift that my youngest son made for me. I guess he could tell how pleased I was with that gift because he recently gave me a similar gift.
I can tell that this is truly a gift straight from his heart.
Finally, the peas are in bloom. Doesn't it seem a long time in coming this year? Or am I just gettting more and more impatient each year?
A couple months ago this area was pretty bare too. Right now it looks like this.
And in a few months I will hardly be able to see the pathways for the tomato jungle that will be growing.
For some current flower garden pictures check here.
It does though, and every year I am amazed by it.