I'll Moving

Well, today was the last straw! I've been having problems with blogger since I started and this mornings struggle to get an entry out signed the deal. I am moving to a more user friendly place. For the few friends who visit please join me at www.honeyanne.wordpress.com

Why we homeschool - Reasons # 1 through 4

sweetness in the mail

Emma's Christmas present came in the mail. Little Lisa is so adorable - even down to her little vintage smock! I found her at Bamboletta's etsy shop. I have been looking for a nice Waldorf style doll for some time now. I shop Etsy because I want to support the handmade movement. Isn't it thrilling that a stay-at-home mom decided to share her talent and through the miracle of online shopping has been able to send out one of her delightful creations to touch my child's heart? It's serendipitous really.

I am tired of manufactured mediocrity. I want my children's first mentors to be inspiring, well made and meaningful. Thank you Christina Platt for sharing your talent and industry.

I was so pleased with the little extra 'sweetness' that Christina sent with 'Lisa'. A charming postcard illustrated by Sarah Jane (which I will frame for Emma's room) and some delicious organic dark chocolate made on Denman Island BC (which I didn't share with anyone I am sorry to say). I can hardly wait for Christmas so I can ... I mean, Emma can play with her little dollie.

Days of Summer

Summer vacation is nearly at an end. The children were able to get a few canoe days in at the local lake.





Tansy went horseback riding. This is her very favorite thing to do any time of year.




Liam learned to ride his bike...finally. He had resisted trying for so long - always insisting he could walk wherever anyone could bike. Now that Liam can ride, he hasn't gotten off it all summer!



Tansy was able to go to her first Girl Guides camp. She stayed up all night giggling - of course! I think she was trying to earn a 'giggle-till-all-hours-badge'. I wonder if they have such a badge , if they don't they should.


Tristan, Liam, Adam and Jarrett went to Writing-On-Stone. This is only the most amazing place on the planet! I've never had so much fun watching a group of boys chase each other through the hoodoos. I think they were orks or something equally charming. If there were snakes in the area to begin with they didn't stay long.

My dear friend Amber came this summer. Emma was named after her (Amber Emma Mary). We spent a day together. It was a wonderful surprise visit.

Legacy

I look into the eyes of my little Emma and see souls yet to be.

I am working on a Lift cottage meeting presentation which I hope opens discussion about family traditions and family legacy. My goal is to help others (and myself) better create or build on traditions and legacy in our homes. This whole topic was inspired by a lesson I am giving in church tomorrow. I have been moved by the idea of consciously planning for the traditions of my great grand children's children. (Am I a control freak or what?!) Just think about it - what kind of legacy am I leaving them? Can I instill in my own children the values and virtues which will manifest immovable convictions throughout future posterity? What convictions will those be?

If you plan to plant a tree, it is not for yourself but for future generations to enjoy the shade. Whether my great great grandchildren are born yet or not they are still a part of my family and I am a part of theirs. So, I endeavor to put them into my thoughts and plans.

One of those days...

I had one of those days. You know the kind - pull your hair out or throw in the towel kind of days - the type of day that can't be described without a cliche. Yes, I had one of those kind of days.

I wish I knew the perfect formula to avoid days like this but I don't. All I can do is pray and persevere. God loves mothers - that's why he made chocolate and bubble baths. So, tonight before I slip under the covers I extend a hug to all those who had a bad hair day.

Divine Nature

I spent my childhood in this grove of trees, building castles in their branches. I spent my childhood pulling off these floral bells (Lungwort for those interested in pretty treasures) and sucking on the sweet nectar inside.

A few weeks ago I was able to visit the homestead and take my children to the places I reverence most of all. I gave Tansy the camera and let her explore. She brought me back these sacred images.

Nature was a big part of my growing up. I spent most of my free time in the woodland which surrounded my home. These little spots are the places I dreamed and schemed - prayed and played. I would hunt for wild strawberry and raspberry. I fell in love with the lungwort, (although to me they were 'sweet bell') meadow rue, yarrow and golden rod.

I recall the first time the cool shade of Poplar and Pine lured me away from the yard. I was young, perhaps 9 or 10 and I thought the woods which cradled our small acreage were a vast forest of mystery (in actuality it was maybe 5 acres). Concerned I'd become lost, I didn't venture too far under the canopy - always sure I could see the house. However, with each visit I was tempted farther and further in until I thought nothing of home and everything of rich moss, shy mushroom and patches of light streaming through thick green branches. No child should live without exploring this magical realm. I do not often recall feeling as true to joy than during those explorations.

My parents are selling the acreage and moving closer to us. I am excited for the chance to have them near but I cringe at the thought of not being able to visit this brush I know and love so well. I cringe doubly so at the thought of not being able to share with my children this particular part of nature year after year.

But I was able to show them a little - and I hope that was enough to awaken a love for the 'wild'. I hope that they sensed within themselves something akin to the beauties around them - that they too have natures divine.

Birthday Bash Part 1

Tristan turned 10 this year! 10! What is happening to my babies? I wake up and they've grown. Did I miss something?

Anyway, I digress, he decided to read The Wizard of Oz and use it as his birthday theme (He told me the book is much much better than the movie). So we drew a few of his favorite life-size characters and hung them on the wall. This is what the witch really looks like by the way.

The children were asked to come as their favorite Oz personality and they really got into it!

Here representing the 'Lollipop Guild' is a most adorable munchkin!

Dorothy came with Toto in her basket.

We can't forget the charming Tin Man

or the Wizard behind the curtain.

Happy Birthday my son. Try not to grow too fast, it's hard to keep up.

Little Farmer

"Taxation is very much like dairy farming. The task is to extract the maximum amount of milk with the minimum amount of moo. And I'm afraid to say, that these days, all I'm getting is moo."

Terry Pratchett

Swan Lake Recital

Several Saturdays ago it snowed and for some reason I banned our computer (I was probably writing something and needed complete privacy and quiet). The children disappeared for a time to the far corners of the basement. There they let the seeds of imagination and invention sprout until they had choreographed their own rendition of Swan Lake.

I was invited and sold a ticket. Emma and I sat in the audience of dolls and stuffed animals.