Still Teaching From Home...

So its been over 23 years since I started this venture.  I do say I started teaching from birth since we as parents do this.  Most parents will read to infants, sing to them, play with them, introduce them to an array of stimulants. Then we move on to teaching them how to formulate sounds, words, and sentences.  We teach them colours, shapes, animals, etc.  So why do we turn over their lessons to another human being believing we are not capable of teaching them once they reach the age of 5?  When do we start thinking we are inadequate? Why does the institution we call school make us believe we are such?

I believe in child led learning.  I do believe that children are very good at figuring things out on their own with minimal guidance from adults. They have an insatiable curiosity.  How many "why's" have we answered?

My son Rhett decided he wanted to run a lemonade stand in front of our house.  He made very little money during the summer.  Once school started, his profits jumped.  This was because the school kids would go off campus for lunch  or just to wander around and they would buy from him.  The principal from the school comes over and asks why my son is not in school.  So he explains to the principal that he is homeschooled.  A week later a police officer stops by and asks the same question.  Again Rhett tells him he is homeschooled. My older son Dustin goes out there just in case Rhett needs help. 
So I get a phone call while at work, telling me the police stopped by.  I told him to add to Rhett's "Leomonade for Sale" sign to put:  I am homeschooled and this is my economics class.  Please contribute to my education by buying from me.
I'm hoping it will bring even more business to him. 

I have faith that my children are learning and having fun with it.  I would hate to think that their learning process could be stifled in a more structured setting.  I want them to love learning for the rest of their lives, not because they have to, but because they never lose their insatiable curiosity.

LOL Chemistry

Ha ha!  I know most have heard this one...

So two chemistry students walk into a restaurant.  The waitress approaches their table and asks them what would they like to drink.  One says, "I would like some H2O." They all chuckle and the next one says, "I would like some H2O too."  The waitress brings out the drinks and the second student takes a swig and drops down dead. 

Ok.  So I am taking chemistry courses through MIT.  Time to rattle whats upstairs.

Its been awhile...

It is not conducive to creativity to be without internet.  Being without it for 2 years has been an ordeal to say the least. 
To catch up on things...
The boys and I are back in Colorado and have been for 2 years.
I am still spinning wool and other fibers I can get my hands on.
I am now employed as a Federal agent.  Not glorious by any means, but its a foot in the door.  I'd still rather be home full time, but some things are not meant to be.

I am still very much missing my mother.  Friday was the four year mark.  It doesn't really seem to be any easier with the passing of time.  There is still a hole in my heart and a tear in my eye always it seems.

Well, this post is short.  I have to get up early for work so its goodnight world.  I will be more eloquent another time.

Oyasami nasai!

A thanks to an inconsiderate pet owner and a goodbye to a dear friend.

I'd like to thank the inconsiderate pet owner who almost two year ago abandoned their beautiful cat.

One summer night while I was sitting in my living room I noticed a long haired Siamese sitting on our window sill. When I went out to see it, it jumped off and ran away.
Two evenings later, Dusty was riding his bike around the neighbourhood and Rhett and I were playing outside. Dusty comes riding up with the same cat following him. Kitty was very friendly and came rubbing up against us. She was thin and filthy. We took her in and gave her a bath thinking we'd find out who owned her. No one claimed to have "lost" her over the next few days so we named her Tao and she became a part of our family.
She was a total character. She didn't want us to sleep and meowed incessantly. She demanded that her food bowl be filled even if there was food already in there. She didn't like to be left alone and would bug you till you pet her. She slept in the most peculiar places, usually somewhere in our way like kitchen chairs, on the couch or on top of my wool. She was a good mouser and gave us the "entertainment" of watching her catch mice that happened to wander into the house. She was patient, loving and had this wise look in her face.

I'd like to thank you inconsiderate pet owner for if you had been responsible you would have taken her to the humane society or the pound and we wouldn't have had the wonderful opportunity to spend the past two years with this beautiful cat. She took her last breath in my arms last night.

And thank you Tao Kitty for choosing us as your family that one summer's eve. Thank you for the patience you showed Rhett when he pestered you to no end and you never bit or scratched. I am sorry that I didn't realize something was wrong three days ago when you came to me while the kids and I were playing and you just stared at me. I should have. You will be missed lovely Tao.

Blog tip of the day!

Stay away from playplaces of questionable establishments!

So Rhett has been fighting an illness for about 2 weeks now. And since we inhabit the same domicile...It was inevitable that I get whatever he is fighting. It is a losing battle by the way. Why my tip of the day? Because it was at a playplace about two weeks ago I am sure the little bug picked up a bug while waiting for my now soon to be ex (stbx) was getting his driver's license. After seven years he finally decides to get one. BLEH. Thorn in my side. But that is another story. I will refrain from completely annihilating him by written word. That may come later.

So, nice warming teas that will fight off infections and help with congestion:
Cinnamon ginger tea. Sounds gross right? It actually tastes really good.
Sweet Basil tea. Yummy.

Other good remedies:
Bay leaf as a poultice on the chest to relieve bronchitis and coughs. (I think I will try this one tonight.)
Black pepper (freshly ground) and honey is supposed to also relieve cough symptoms and congestion.

Well I shall go take my little sick self (mentally and physically) off to go play with the kidlet. He is begging to do some semblance of school work. And here the other day he was telling me that it is his job to play all the time and playing involved video games...all the time. See what happens when older brother takes over the games? Little brother begs for school work.

Blog tip of the day!

Stay off of Facebook.

Home made cleaners.

I tend to use less or non-toxic cleaners for around the house. I get migraines when I use commercial stuff with lots of fragrances so I try to make as much as I can.

One of my favourites is a something similar to softscrub. Its great for cleaning the oven or glass stove tops.
Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part dish liquid or Dr. Bronners soap then add a little bit of water. Mix well and let sit for a couple of minutes.

Window cleaner/household cleaner
Mix this in a large spray bottle.
Add white vinegar to fill 1/3 of the bottle, add a squirt of dish liquid, add about 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol then fill with water.

Maybe I will come up with some others later...

So here we are at the beginning of April. Even though I started several blogs in March, they never got published. Hmmm, I wonder why?

Anyhow.
New month new projects.
Out of the 52 project challenge I completed several.
Cleaned 4 fleeces, I have 3 left to do.
Finished a pair of knitted slippers.
Have 5 skeins of handspun yarn for my stash or sale.
Washed almost all the fabric I had sitting in a tote so I can start using it to make cloth books and other things.
I am at 40/52...12 completed projects.
Its slow going.

At the moment I am also looking for a job outside of the home. The first in eight years. I usually worked from home part time as a massage therapist and herbalist. But now I need to earn money to move the boys and me back home to Colorado. Another reason my projects have been going slow.
Life gets too complicated...

Ack! Its the beginning of February!

Where does the time go?
So, this is what we've been up to...
Dusty received a microscope from my best friend Thea. We've been friends since like the eighth grade. It is an awesome scope! So on to biology. Dusty is really interested in forensics so we thought this would be a good place for him to start. After he gets the basics of biology done he will have a biology pack from Labpaq as well as a forensic class from the same place. Thank goodness for Vet Med class, my EMT and detective friends in San Diego area or I'd never be able to keep up.
Of course with advanced Science you have to have the math that goes along with it. So we have been hitting the books.

Rhett is working on his reading skills...well after I have to pry him away from the video games. Thanks dad for buying him Pikmin 2 the obsession.
He loves math, science, and art. Not so much in the writing the department.

I've completed three projects out of the 52 and working on two more. They seem to keep piling up. When I complete one then something happens and I end up with more. Oh well, at least I haven't bought anything except for some knitting needles so I can do more than one project at a time...
My next project is finishing the socks I started, finish spinning the llama fiber for a pair of socks (then knitting those socks), making a pair of mittens for Rhett, then sorting out my fabric stash to make some easy crafts for Rhett. All those for the month of February.

I am still working on my Japanese so I can take the proficiency test. If only my brain would get in gear. Depression really sucks. I know I can't do anything to change the past, but moving ahead seems so hard too. It seems all my brain function is used to just get through the day.

Well today seems to be sunny. Its still cold here, just above freezing. I can't wait til I can put in a garden and get outside.
Off to do some knitting and cleaning.

The boys school work

Today Rhett had a formal lesson in reading. He usually just goes around asking us to spell things for him and many times he will use the magnetic letters on the fridge to spell it back. I read to him quite a bit and he has gotten into the Dirk Bones series by Doug Cushman. He also loves Beatrix Potter.
After that he painted with watercolours. I am going to bind them into a book for him.

Dusty read about Queen Hatsheput. Did you know that she reined during the time Moses and the Isrealites wandered in the wilderness?
He's been reading books by Erin Hunter as well and welding. I wonder if he can learn to weld without blowing up the place??? Ha! I know he is reading this.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

52 Weeks-52 Projects

One of the sites that I frequent has a challenge going on. Its finish a project a week for a year. Its supposed to help motivate some of us to get creative and finish some of the things we've got going on. Some wondered if they had enough stuff to do 52 projects and I'm thinking I need to do more than one a week to finish all of my projects especially since I want to open up a shop here in the spring at the local farmer's market.
So I am set to finish the projects that I actually promised a couple of friends that I would send them a few things. Then finish what I promised Dusty. I told Rhett I'd make him a pair of mittens. Then all open projects. I think I have enough to keep me busy for awhile. ; )

I am hoping that there will be someone giving away fleece again come spring/summer when all the critters are shorn. I don't mind buying, but until I get the shop up and running and start turning a profit...free is good.

Its finally done

Rhett was invited to a costume party and of course me being me would not go out and buy him one. Why should I? So I decided to torture myself and make him one.
I wanted to make him a Japanese outfit. It has Hakama pants, kosode and jacket.
Now, I really can't sew. I like to think I can, but I really do detest it. I am not that methodical. I do not like to do things in order and sewing makes me do things in order.

I don't think it came out all that bad. My sewing machine hates me and made sure the thread broke about every 30 seconds or so. It took me such a long time to get the jacket done whereas I had no problem with the pants.
I would have made Rhett dress up, but he fell asleep on me. I was even tempted to wake him up and make him try it on. Oh well. I shall get pictures of him tomorrow at the party.

Unschooling method (yes, its a rant)

This is in response to those who tell me: "I know some unschoolers and they just let their children play video games all day, every day. They do absolutely nothing with their kids..."

I love unschooling and I realize that it is not for everyone. It does take a leap of faith to believe that your children will learn while letting them follow their own interests.
It may look like, to others especially critical ones, that my children do nothing all day. It may look like they play games all day or are on the computer all day. However, they are not with us all day. My four year old does play quite a bit of games but he also tells the most amazing stories from imagination, is learning to read, can recite songs as well as make some up on his own, is learning about different types of bugs, learning to sew, knows how to needle felt as well as wet felt and is learning to crochet. He is learning to read in Japanese, loves to help me cook, plays with the dogs, gardens and collect pieces of wood that he calls swords. This is pretty much on his own without my coaxing, coaching or making him sit at a table for hours on end.

My older son has a wealth of interests although you wouldn't think that with the amount of time he spends on Facebook or texting his friends. He wants to write a book, he is interested in atvs, motorbikes, horses, taking things apart, and music. He does awesome in public speaking and goes out of his way to help people.

Most unschoolers are not doing nothing all day. It may seem like it but there is usually a lot more learning going on than they let on and unless you spend 24/7 with one, you will not know it.
So before a person says: "I know an unschooler and they do absolutely nothing..." Make sure you have your facts straight and hard evidence before you start ranting about how the parents are ruining their children by this method and they are neglectful. It just might stop some animosity from growing.
Oh~I'm sure there are some homeschooling parents out there that do neglect their children and they are the ones that get the most publicity because they are the ones who get in the news. However, they are really few and far between.

Projects

Keeping busy and putting my mind to other things has been an obsession. If I stop to think I cry so I try not to think. I miss my mom. Its hard not to wish the person who hit her is suffering as much as I am. But I know she has her own thoughts and feelings to live with. Forgiveness...I am really trying.

So here are some of the projects that I have been working on lately. I made another drop spindle so I can work on two projects instead of waiting to clear one spindle before starting on another. I want to make a top whorl spindle next.

I love how the green dye came out. In one bath I ended up with three shades of green due to the Ascorbic Acid I added to it. This is sheep wool from an unknown donor. I got a couple of bags of wool from a wonderful person off of Craig's list.

Yes, before you ask, that is a drop spindle made from tinkertoy parts. It works fabulously too. This is a mixture of white and blonde from an llama. Another wonderful find off of Craig's list. Eight bags of llama fleece of varying colour.

Here is a finished hank of the green. I used food colouring. I was thinking of raiding a neighbours walnut tree, but then I thought...I already have some beautiful natural brown wool and llama fleece. I was trying to dig up some yellow dock that grows in the area, but they are hard to get out. I hear they make a vibrant yellowish orange. I suppose I should just try a little harder.

I am going to dye this using tumeric. I want to see the difference between tumeric and the dock root once I get it.

I am not much of a knitter or crocheter. I am learning to knit but I am slow and clumsy and forget where I am at often. I did make my little one some socks to run around the house in. They were full of mistakes, but of course he didn't mind. He watched me make them so he thought they were very special and each day he would ask me if they were done yet.
He loves to help me spin as he spins the spindle while I draft the roving. He also loves to play with the fiber and is getting quite good at needle felting.

Herb 101...for Neil. =) Pt.1

You can take herbs in several forms, but the basic ones are teas (infusion), decoctions or syrups.
To make a simple tea using a single herb you would mix 1 oz of herb to 1 pint of boiling water. Infusions would be used for light herbs such as leaves, berries, flowers, etc.

Decoctions are used for harder materials such as twigs, bark, etc. The measurements are the same: 1 oz herb to 1 pint of water. Place herbs into a glass pot pour cold water over the herb then gradually bring to a boil. Boil for at least 15 minutes although certain herbs will require longer.

Syrups are basically a sugar concentrate that has reached saturation point. Syrups can be made and stored separately then add a dry herb or tincture to it or you could make an herbal syrup. For an herbal syrup, you would begin with a concentrated herb liquid (infusion or decoction) at least 1 pt of liquid...so take 2 pts of herb liquid and simmer it til it is down to a half to concentrate it. Add 1-2 ozs of honey and 1-2 ozs of vegetable (food grade) glycerine.

Local First Day of School

August 31st was the first day of school for many of the children around here. While they were lined up for the bus early in the morning, my son Dusty was walking to the place he has come to love. Hidden Valley Ranch. They raise Paint horses and he goes there two days a week to work in exchange for riding privileges.
His spirit free and happy doing what he enjoys, while the numerous children looked sort of downcast and tired for their first day. I am sure they were wishing that the summer had not ended.
As for Rhett's day, we spent the day in the garden, reading books and playing hide and seek. We caught grasshoppers and looked for a Praying Mantis that had found its way into our yard.
He is asking me to spell everything for him now, so we spend the days spelling out words and of course I must not go fast or he tells me to "do it more slowly..." You can see his little mind working as he tries to picture the letter in his mind as I spell it out.

So while the children were sitting at desks inside a building, my boys were outside enjoying the things they do best...being themselves, learning the way they want and what they want. I feel this is part of raising a holistically healthy child.

Its the end of August already???

We have been here for 2 months. I am sorry to those I promised to drop a line to but haven't yet.

So much has happened. Cody is back home. YaY!!! He is not so happy though. I told him to take this time to solidify his plans for the future. If it means school, then go to school. If he wants to learn a trade, then do so. He has the time right now.

School is starting next week for the locals here. I hear mixed reviews from parents and children alike.
I love the fact that my children will be kept out of the massive crowds at the schools and have the freedom to pursuit their likes. One of the girls who also volunteers at the ranch has to quit even though she homeschools. Dusty said something about her not having time now that school is starting again. So I am thinking virtual school or her parents are pretty strict. Which is ok if that is what fits their family. I think it kind of sad that she loves being around horses and cannot be even though she is homeschooled.

When Dusty is working at the horse ranch, Rhett and I take long walks by the canal. It is supposedly illegal to swim in the canal because of dangerous undercurrents. But there is a place where we can go down to a sandy spot that is pretty level. I let Rhett go up to his knees. The water is still pretty cold. We have been finding all sorts of interesting things in the water from pond skaters to water snails. He loves to throw rocks in the water. Its quite a relaxing way to spend the mornings.

Most of our days are spent playing in the backyard, taking walks and sitting in the garden reading books. We venture out to the library once a week and spend a couple of hours there where he plays with other children and the library's pets. They have such a cute guinea pig named CoCo that Rhett is quite fond of.

Soon we will begin visiting the local flora and fauna. There is a place called Bogus Basin that is supposed to be a great place to go hiking. The downtown parks are supposed to be really nice as well. We still have to visit the nature center and zoo here. Supposedly the first Thursday of the month are free days at the museums and such so we shall see.

We are still adapting and Rhett talks about the "pink" house often. Especially how he had to leave his toys there. I hope to replace them soon, I know he is sad about that. I am sad as well. I had to leave some things that were important to me. I know they can be replaced, but not the sentiment.
Life is full of disappointing things, I just have to adjust and move along.

Our New Library

I really miss the library in Aurora. The Smoky Hill Branch was the most awesome library I've been too. It was mostly due to Woody's Coffee and Smoothie shop within it. He had really tasty strawberry truffle smoothies and on cold days I loved to get a caramel cider.
The library we go to now is pretty small. The fines are outrageous and they have no coffee shop. I know we were spoiled, not every library has a coffee shop in it. But I do miss the smoothies especially on days like today (103 degrees) and I am craving something sweet.

They do have pets in the library though. They have a guinea pig, a dove, two Australian walking stick bugs, fish, a tree frog and a gecko. They are all down in the children's section of the library.
Rhett fell in love with the guinea pig named Coco. He thinks the dove is sad because they keep her in a cage and she cannot find her babies. I wonder where he got that from...
They have a small playroom with couches and a couple of toys and a few puzzles. We are still learning where things are there and of course they don't have as many books on certain subjects although we can request books from other libraries.

I haven't found many homeschoolers so I've been toying with the idea of putting up a notice on the board there. I'm sure there has to be more than I've already found in the area. This is supposed to be an awesome state to homeschool in with very little regulations. So far no one in the new neighbourhood homeschools their children and the school is a little ways away. There is a performing arts school down the street and an elementary school built within a very ritzy hoa neighbourhood that I think is only for the kids who live in that area. I think I like to keep my children with me so we can explore and have fun rather than have them sit in a classroom getting in trouble for wistfully looking outside and thinking what might have been.

Sad...

A good friend of my mother's died yesterday morning. She and her daughter always had encouraging words for me and mine when my mother died.
We knew she was dying, but it is never easy. I cannot make it out there for the memorial talk and it makes me sad. They were there for my mom's.

Getting Settled

We are finally getting settled in the new house. It isn't home yet. I don't know if it will ever feel like it. We are renting so there is only so much we can do and I keep telling the kids what they can and cannot do...
I can't wait til we can buy another house. We are still waiting for the one in Aurora to sell. I hope its soon as we cannot afford two places.

The house here in Boise has three bedrooms and one bathroom. We are trying to make it work. The house's saving grace is that it has a really huge backyard that the kids and pups can play in. The front yard is fenced as well. We have been keeping the kitties inside since they do not know the neighbourhood (and its filled with dogs) and might get lost. Oh! Did I mention that hawks carry off kitties around here???
The backyard also has fruit trees, raspberry canes, lemon balm, mint, sage, rosemary and blackberries. Someone started an herb wheel but never planted the herbs. There are also three raised garden beds one of which I've already planted some things in.


We are on the outskirts (unincorporated) part of Boise. It takes 20 minutes to get to downtown. People in the neighbourhood are pretty friendly here. We had chocolate chip cookies waiting for us on the counter the morning we got here. The neighbour lady across the street from us has a bobcat for a pet. There are backyard horses here as well as chickens. Down the road from us is a huge corn field...

I will have pictures later. Some photographer I am...always forgetting my camera.

On hiatus

Since I am in the middle of packing and trying to sell the house, I am taking a temporary hiatus. Hopefully when I get settled in Boise, this blog will be more active with some more interesting stuff.