Hi Friends!
I have an introduction to make here. My friend, Camille, is a book artist, calligrapher, and poet along with being a homeschooling mama. She does amazing work. I have encouraged her to share her knowledge and the beautiful work she does with her own blog, and waahhlaahh--here it is! Go give her some bloggy love and check it out. Camille plans on doing some tutorials on how she makes her sweet books, which would integrate nicely into art plans for the entire family. Go Camille! We want more!!
http://leafandline.blogspot.com/
Off to make plans for the week and nurse a rotten head cold. I am hoping to get some homeschooling plans up soon!
Happy Memorial Day!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Yarn Along...how fun!!
Hi Everyone!
I am participating in Ginny’s Yarn Along...what a great idea to share what we are knitting AND reading....double bonus!! So I am reading Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
. I am reading along with some of Gabe’s reading selections for freshman year. He is actually starting early to get a jump start, which is going really well. Willa Cather’s book is one of the books to choose for early American history. I LOVE this book so far. I am about a third of the way along. It is a beautiful depiction of early French settled Quebec. Cather’s rich description of the villager’s lives is a lively and intricate look at that time period. I have learned so much, and want to re-read the pages in which she brought to life the devout Catholic life.
My knitting is coming along...I am ALMOST done with the lace scarf I am knitting for myself. This is such a rarity, that I am knitting for me, and I have stuck with a long term project. I could have finished it long ago, but have often put it aside to knit up a gift or such.
Here is the Ravelry page for the Winter Flame Scarf. I am using Knitpick’s Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn in Gypsy. Oh how I have loved this pattern. I am newer to lace patterns, and this has been easy to learn.
What are you reading and knitting? Check out Ginny’s blog for more links to everyone’s show and tell.
I am participating in Ginny’s Yarn Along...what a great idea to share what we are knitting AND reading....double bonus!! So I am reading Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
. I am reading along with some of Gabe’s reading selections for freshman year. He is actually starting early to get a jump start, which is going really well. Willa Cather’s book is one of the books to choose for early American history. I LOVE this book so far. I am about a third of the way along. It is a beautiful depiction of early French settled Quebec. Cather’s rich description of the villager’s lives is a lively and intricate look at that time period. I have learned so much, and want to re-read the pages in which she brought to life the devout Catholic life.My knitting is coming along...I am ALMOST done with the lace scarf I am knitting for myself. This is such a rarity, that I am knitting for me, and I have stuck with a long term project. I could have finished it long ago, but have often put it aside to knit up a gift or such.
Here is the Ravelry page for the Winter Flame Scarf. I am using Knitpick’s Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn in Gypsy. Oh how I have loved this pattern. I am newer to lace patterns, and this has been easy to learn.
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| Look how much left you have, Mama!! |
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| Still need to block, but it is going to be nice. |
Friday, May 3, 2013
Confirmation
We are so proud of Gabe, he received the Sacrament of Confirmation last week. Sam is his sponsor. It is nice having big brothers to fill in those roles! Congratulations, Gabriel “Damien” Elijah Klee. May the Holy Spirit guide you through life.
Our Week
We really had a full week. Having kids with medical needs means a lot of time at the doctors, and this week...and month...is a good example of this lifestyle we lead. Monday started out with a blood draw for one of my guys checking allergy IgE levels. After getting the oil changed on the car, I took Lily three hours away to University of Michigan for a pediatric ophthalmology visit.
A few days later, we had a check up at the allergist for my second oldest and found out his food allergies are stable and while we need to make college aware of his food allergies, he is not at an extreme risk for anaphylaxis for small exposures. Relief!
Pete had a PT eval for issues with issues he is having with his knees, as well as an evaluation for orthodics for his feet. Pete has been in and out of varying orthodics his entire life. The pronation in his feet is “severe” from the PT’s eval, and she actually wants him in higher orthodics like he was much earlier as a tiny guy. The ankle bone is being displaced so significantly, it is making his knees and feet hurt. While we wait for the orthodics to be fitted and made, he is to see PT twice a week to try to strengthen his leg muscles and decrease the pain and swelling in his knees. Poor Pete, that basketball took a toll on his legs. Hopefully, with PT and exercises, his legs will strengthen up and he’ll be off and running with better support in his shoes.
Gabe did do a very cool series of experiments mixing hydrogen peroxide with baker’s yeast, capturing the released oxygen in the balloon and then put under a jar with a lit candle to see the oxygen released and the flare of the flame on the candle. What I didn’t get a picture of is the two times he ran with the liter bottle full of hydrogen peroxide and yeast exploding over with foam and since I am ALLERGIC to activated yeast like that...it was sort a mad dash outside to dump in the compost heap. This begs the question...why were we doing this inside to begin with? I think it might have been raining or something to begin with.
We made it out of that one alive and well. Gabe is doing Apologia Science-Physical Science. I like this program, it is not perfect, but very doable and the experiments are fun. They use mostly household objects, or things easily obtained at the next grocery store run.
We rounded out the week with an afternoon at a very dear lady’s house who has homeschooled for years. Her devotion to her family and support she gives others is inspiring. Lily was in heaven since they had newly arrived chicks.
The evening ended with Lily pointing out that Spring as finally arrived in this Northern Tundra. Deo Gratias. Buds on the trees!!
We are so blessed, we have had a lot of good news this week with health concerns, and we got quite a bit of school done. Plus, you can’t be in that bad of mood when pink buds greet you out the kitchen window.
Happy Spring!!
While she was hoping for pink glasses...she is barely farsighted, normal for her age, and left without a glasses script and retinas that looked just lovely! She’s so serious in that big chair. Lily did NOT like having her eyes dilated, and barely made it to the car in the sunlight. Once we were inside, she dramatically said, “Mom, I think I need a wheelchair!”
No...she needed a nap.
A few days later, we had a check up at the allergist for my second oldest and found out his food allergies are stable and while we need to make college aware of his food allergies, he is not at an extreme risk for anaphylaxis for small exposures. Relief!
Pete had a PT eval for issues with issues he is having with his knees, as well as an evaluation for orthodics for his feet. Pete has been in and out of varying orthodics his entire life. The pronation in his feet is “severe” from the PT’s eval, and she actually wants him in higher orthodics like he was much earlier as a tiny guy. The ankle bone is being displaced so significantly, it is making his knees and feet hurt. While we wait for the orthodics to be fitted and made, he is to see PT twice a week to try to strengthen his leg muscles and decrease the pain and swelling in his knees. Poor Pete, that basketball took a toll on his legs. Hopefully, with PT and exercises, his legs will strengthen up and he’ll be off and running with better support in his shoes.
Gabe did do a very cool series of experiments mixing hydrogen peroxide with baker’s yeast, capturing the released oxygen in the balloon and then put under a jar with a lit candle to see the oxygen released and the flare of the flame on the candle. What I didn’t get a picture of is the two times he ran with the liter bottle full of hydrogen peroxide and yeast exploding over with foam and since I am ALLERGIC to activated yeast like that...it was sort a mad dash outside to dump in the compost heap. This begs the question...why were we doing this inside to begin with? I think it might have been raining or something to begin with.
 |
| Pete is assisting, notice he is using his brother as a shield. |
We made it out of that one alive and well. Gabe is doing Apologia Science-Physical Science. I like this program, it is not perfect, but very doable and the experiments are fun. They use mostly household objects, or things easily obtained at the next grocery store run.
We rounded out the week with an afternoon at a very dear lady’s house who has homeschooled for years. Her devotion to her family and support she gives others is inspiring. Lily was in heaven since they had newly arrived chicks.
The evening ended with Lily pointing out that Spring as finally arrived in this Northern Tundra. Deo Gratias. Buds on the trees!!
We are so blessed, we have had a lot of good news this week with health concerns, and we got quite a bit of school done. Plus, you can’t be in that bad of mood when pink buds greet you out the kitchen window.
Happy Spring!!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Poetry Review
Let’s start off with a poetry book review to celebrate my re-entry into the blogging world.
I think Melissa Wiley mentioned “Forest Has a Song" by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater on her blog and I am so grateful that she passed this little gem on to us.
I love poetry, I write poetry, and I really endeavor to weave poetry into the fabric of our family life. Amy’s lovely book with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Robbin Gourley makes this endeavor so easy. I had to write about this book after cozying up on the couch with my two younger littles and reading the entire book in one sitting. My five year old gleefully said, “Oh, Mommy, say that one again, I love it!!” Go to Amazon’s page link to the left sidebar and you can preview some of the poems from the book. I have to say, Lily’s favorite was “Spider” which evoked the demand to re-read and re-read again several times. The author has done a terrific job of capturing the mood of the Forest, its voice....its song! I would love to take this book on a camping trip and read around the fire, before taking a hike, or to kick off nature study walks. Working with watercolor paints would be a fun rabbit trail after seeing the gentle illustrations.
Make sure you check out Amy VanDerwater’s website for some really helpful poetry ideas.
http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/
Are you having one of those crazy, loud, is it time for bed yet kind of days? Gather everyone onto the couch and read some poetry to the savages. I always find that everyone takes a bit to settle their minds and busy bodies and usually miss the first few lines of the poem, while scratching their nose or someone else’s nose.... so I’ll often read the poem a second time to let them “catch up”. Ask after you read the poem, “What words or phrases do you like, or stand out to you?” We usually spend a few minutes discussing what we like about each poem....It is so nice to hear their thoughtful replies.
There is something about meter and rhythm that both delights and soothes children, and us adults. It makes reading out loud to the kids really fun when I find the book equally satisfying. Make poetry part of your family’s book list!
Stay tuned for more reviews and posts about homeschooling, crafting, and the meanderings of a yarn loving, poetry reading mama of five.
I think Melissa Wiley mentioned “Forest Has a Song" by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater on her blog and I am so grateful that she passed this little gem on to us.
I love poetry, I write poetry, and I really endeavor to weave poetry into the fabric of our family life. Amy’s lovely book with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Robbin Gourley makes this endeavor so easy. I had to write about this book after cozying up on the couch with my two younger littles and reading the entire book in one sitting. My five year old gleefully said, “Oh, Mommy, say that one again, I love it!!” Go to Amazon’s page link to the left sidebar and you can preview some of the poems from the book. I have to say, Lily’s favorite was “Spider” which evoked the demand to re-read and re-read again several times. The author has done a terrific job of capturing the mood of the Forest, its voice....its song! I would love to take this book on a camping trip and read around the fire, before taking a hike, or to kick off nature study walks. Working with watercolor paints would be a fun rabbit trail after seeing the gentle illustrations.
Make sure you check out Amy VanDerwater’s website for some really helpful poetry ideas.
http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/
Are you having one of those crazy, loud, is it time for bed yet kind of days? Gather everyone onto the couch and read some poetry to the savages. I always find that everyone takes a bit to settle their minds and busy bodies and usually miss the first few lines of the poem, while scratching their nose or someone else’s nose.... so I’ll often read the poem a second time to let them “catch up”. Ask after you read the poem, “What words or phrases do you like, or stand out to you?” We usually spend a few minutes discussing what we like about each poem....It is so nice to hear their thoughtful replies.
There is something about meter and rhythm that both delights and soothes children, and us adults. It makes reading out loud to the kids really fun when I find the book equally satisfying. Make poetry part of your family’s book list!
Stay tuned for more reviews and posts about homeschooling, crafting, and the meanderings of a yarn loving, poetry reading mama of five.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Monday, October 15, 2012
Hi Friends,
Just stopping in long enough to say....for my homeschooling peeps, go check out the terrific giveaway at Homeschool Give A Way!!
http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2012/10/giveaway-3-election-government-themed-prizes/
There are a lot of terrific books about politics, the election and government that I sense will morph into a little side rabbit trail this month and next.....
Good Luck!
Just stopping in long enough to say....for my homeschooling peeps, go check out the terrific giveaway at Homeschool Give A Way!!
http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2012/10/giveaway-3-election-government-themed-prizes/
There are a lot of terrific books about politics, the election and government that I sense will morph into a little side rabbit trail this month and next.....
Good Luck!
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