Family – Page 5

Week Two

September 13, 2014by raisinglittleshoots10 Comments

Our week went superbly! (Not perfectly, but superbly!)

Illustrating 'The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe' — Illustrating ‘The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe’

This was our first week of ‘proper’ lessons and all was well. Ellie has really enjoyed her work & is relishing the challenge. I have been able to make lots more free time for Rose this year, whilst still getting everything done for her. Sticking with short, authentic lessons with no ‘twaddle’ has given her space between lessons to play. She is still very much into imaginative play & it has been glorious to see her playing with her stuffed animals & chatting away to them or running in from the garden to tell me about a spider she has found, a fly, or a butterfly….

I am doing the necessary ‘end of first week’ shake up of the time table. Little Passports was mentioned on FaceBook as now being available in the UK. It has come along at the right time as I was mulling over ideas for something that Rose can dip in & out of as the mood strikes her. I ordered on Friday & I believe it will take up to four weeks to arrive, so I am not going to mention it to her & let it be a surprise package in the post.This is just the kind of thing that will fire up her imagination. It will work well with these two books I was planning to use with her this year:

If The World Were A Village

Children Just Like Me

Also in the ‘Time Table Redux’ I have decided to cut ‘Life Of Fred’

Oh! how sad I was to do this! I was reluctant, but I had promised myself that I am not over stretching us this year. Everything must have a purpose & count. We are not going to dash from subject to subject. The temptation (for me) with short, Charlotte Mason – style lessons can be to ‘pack ’em in’ to every available minute! We need margin…and it was the one thing that wasn’t getting done. We only got it done once…so it has gone off the time table!

There is a happy ending to the sad tale of LOF…I sold our books, which has funded the purchase of Norms & Nobility: A Treatise On Education I am very much looking forward to slowly reading this book!

Happy Weekend!

Celebrating, Family, Learning

Not ‘Back To School’

September 4, 2014September 4, 2014by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

I love this time of year so dearly..cool, misty mornings, warm, sunshiny days, our apple tree & blackberry bushes overloaded with ripe fruit…bountiful blessings.

I also love our ‘not back to school’ day.

I am so very grateful to have had this wonderful life with my children. To be there with them day in, day out. To see them learning & growing.

I usually time our ‘not back to school day’ to fall on a Wednesday or Thursday & we ease ourselves back in with familiar activities to reacquaint ourselves with the rhythms & routines of our learning at home.

This morning we discussed our new books & resources, then chatted about the children’s goals for term 1. For us, this runs from September to the end of November.

After an impromptu trip to the supermarket to pick up toilet paper & to spend birthday money (really! who runs out of toilet paper on the first day of lessons?!?) We came home to enjoy our traditional ‘first day’ lunch of alphabet spaghetti. After lunch the girls & I began work on our new journals. These journals are going to be dedicated to a year long pond study that will we be carrying out of our local pond. I think this may just be my favourite part of our studies this year! I intend us to study not just the pond itself, but also the creatures, plants & trees that surround it. We each stuck one of these handy-dandy ‘observation tools’ print outs into the back of our journals & covered them with sticky back plastic to protect them while we are outdoors for good measure. I would highly recommend you take some time to watch this video by John Muir Laws if you have an interest in nature journaling. It is not only inspiring, but wonderfully practical too. And so on the button. Deep Observation & Nature Journaling is the title. Deep. This video is not about skimming the surface, superficial learning, or any any old ‘box ticking’ activity, but wonderful, deep learning about the world around us. The girls baked & iced gingerbread which we had with apple juice for ‘afternoon tea’ in the garden. We each choose a poem & read them out loud. I read Jaques speech from ‘As You Like It’ by Shakespeare, which we had memorised last year. Elianna read ‘Night’ by William Blake & Rose read ‘The Birthday Child’ by Rose Fyleman, on account of it being her birthday earlier in the week.

Honestly, I have no idea why the child is now in her dressing gown!

After dinner I took Rose to our local canoeing club & Elianna stayed at home to read ‘D’Aulaires Norse Myths. It was a perfect day. A beautiful, autumnal, perfect day.

Books, Celebrating, Faith, Family, Nature, Summer

Whitsun

June 8, 2014June 8, 2014by raisinglittleshoots2 Comments

Whitsun is fifty days after Easter Sunday, also known as Pentecost.

Acts 2 tells the story of the original Pentecost:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Spring goeth all in white

Crowned with milk-white may:

In fleecy flocks of light

O’er heaven the white clouds stray.

White butterflies in the air;

White daisies prank the ground;

The cherry and the hoary pear

Scatter their snow around

Robert Bridges

From Festivals, Family & Food:

In Northern Europe the connection is also a natural one, with the blossoming of white May, Hawthorn and Lilac at this time. For children this can be the time to celebrate the blossoms, bringing a few into the home if possible, or finding white daisies to place on a saucer of water for the table or weave into chains.

Last week we harvested lots of Elder flowers to make cordial. Already the tree has replenished!

Elderflower Cordial

ingredients

~20-25 flower heads rinsed

~ 4 lemons, zested & roughly chopped

~1 KG of sugar

~1.5 litres water

~ 50g citric acid (used as a preservative, so useful, but not essential.

In a large bowl add the 1.5L boiling water to the sugar & citric acid. Stir well.

Allow to cool

Add the flower heads, lemons & zest

Allow to steep for a day or two (two days for a good, rich Elderflower flavour)

Strain through a jam strainer, muslin or an old (clean!) tea towel.

Pour into sterilised bottles.

Dilute & enjoy!

Family, Summer

It’s That Time Of The Year…

June 7, 2014June 7, 2014by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

Each year in my home I have three decluttering & deep cleaning sessions. Advent, Lent & toward the end of the school year. This week has been the time for the latter. So at a time when the earth exhales, the sun shines and the air is fragrant, I choose to become terribly inverted and stay at home 🙂

This deep clean & declutter is preceded by planning, for the new upcoming homeschool year (we start afresh in September). Lots of lists, planning sheets and calendar pages are covered in my scribbles and typed notes. This is followed by the urge to clear out any resources and books that we no longer need and order in new supplies! Pencils are sharpened, play dough and paper refreshed. We have a few more weeks to go before we are finished with our current school year ~ and I am already anticipating with great excitement the next year! This is my first year with a high schooler!

I would highly recommend the ebook – Teaching from Rest by Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things. It is a very quick, but deeply meaningful read. Quite perfect!

To continue the theme of deep cleaning – for those who would like to turn inward & do some ‘deep cleaning’ of the mind, read this wonderful post by Carrie at The Parenting Passageway.A super post to help us focus on what we need to parent peacefully.

Autumn, Celebrating, Family, Knitting, Spinning & Dyeing

Remember Remember the 5th of November

November 5, 2013November 5, 2013by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.

By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

Today has been all about Guy Fawkes. Between our regular maths and grammar lessons, we read stories about him, made acrostics about fireworks and Rose made a smashing firework painting.

For dinner there was Tomato Soup eaten by the fireside

Followed by delicious, sticky home made Lancashire Parkin. Which was followed by s’mores 🙂

We watched the fireworks from the vantage point of our living room window, whilst I knitted on (what will become) an adorable baby bonnet.

The girls went out doors and we lit their sparklers…

Autumn, Books, Celebrating, Faith, Family

Hallowe’en

November 1, 2013November 1, 2013by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the new year in Celtic times. A time for us to set new intentions, think new ideas and formulate plans…to incubate those ideas over the cold winter months and birth them into the warm sprain time breezes…

Our Hallowe’en moments

: : Carving pumpkins

: : Pumpkin maths

: : Reading our familiar Hallowe’en stories

Mousekin’s golden house

Pumpkin

The Pumpkin Blanket

Scary Stories

When my children were younger, we kept away from the ‘scary’ aspect of Hallowe’en and focused on the Autumn aspect – hence the first three lovely, cosy books. Despite being older now, they still love to read these books (and even better, have them read aloud!) They also enjoy a good scary story and I find the last book to be perfect for their appetite.

: : Made ‘Hallowe’en Soup’ (onions, pumpkin, orange peppers, sweet potato, carrots) all served up after dark in a big pumpkin 🙂

: : Created Hallowe’en art

: : Decorated our home

: : Had oodles of fun at our local Book Cycle party

: : Trick or Treating

: : Supper with good friends

Today (November 1st) is All Souls Day. I will be remembering loved ones passed in my prayers today and we are going to visit the cemetery where a loved friend rests. We shall be tidying the graveside and Rose will be leaving a special gift.

Books, Family

Poorly Little Person

October 5, 2013October 5, 2013by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

The Land of Counterpane by Robert Louis Stevenson

When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay, To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain,

The pleasant land of counterpane.

We have had a week of it here 🙂

A poorly mummy and a very poorly little person. A mystery virus which swept into our home bringing headaches, sickness and temperatures, then disappeared as quickly as it came.

At it’s worst, there was much sleeping. But on that ‘inbetween’ day, I brought out our ‘Poorly People Bucket’. This is a large tub which only comes out when someone is sick. We have had it for several years and it always helps to occupy those small people who have been relegated to bed, or a cosy bed made up on the sofa. It contains playdough, colouring books, puzzle books, a little box containing lots of die cut paper shapes to make tangrams, a small pair of scissors and a stick of glue and, of course, our most favourite story to read when some one is poorly: When Vera Was Sick (there is nothing like reading about someone who is more poorly that you are to lift the spirits!)

We also have ‘Poorly Peter’, a softie I made when the girls were tiny. He is made from the most wonderful, soft, plant dyed wool felt and again, he only makes an appearance when someone is unwell.

I always try to support my children through illness, rather than rushing them to get better. I do not use homeopathy, but have salways found encouragement in this article by Donna Simmons : Practical suggestions for Sick Children

Happy Healing!

Autumn, Celebrating, Family

Michaelmas

October 1, 2013by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

Brave Saint Michael is my guide

As free and fearless forth I ride

With courage of Saint George of old

I dare to face fierce dragons bold

Did you have a lovely Michaelmas? It was such beautiful autumn weather here – blue, blue skies with a light breeze. We enjoyed a late afternoon stroll in our local park before returning to a feast of beef stew, Dragon bread and blackberry jam tarts. (Remember – no more blackberry picking from now on; the old legend says that when Michael cast the Devil out of heaven, the Devil landed in a blackberry patch and promptly spat on them!)

The girls and I have also begun to prepare our ‘Courage Balm’ – a home made balm to rub on to any wee cuts or grazes, stings or rashes. We shall be giving this as Christmas gifts and also keeping a supply for ourselves – it is wonderful stuff!

Firstly we have to soak the herbs for a few weeks to make an infused oil – the recipe is very fluid to allow for what you have on hand from your garden. But make sure to dry your herbs first, or the oil may go bad with the presence of the moisture.

We have used lavender and calendula from our garden, plus some organic chamomile that I purchased. The herbs we covered with Organic olive oil and will be left in a sunny spot for a few weeks, then we shall make the balm.

We had a couple of recitations of the poem we have been learning this month ‘Brave Saint Michael’ along with stories of our brave Saint. (Stories, always stories!)

The inner work of this time of year is always challenging – taking stock, what needs to be left behind and finding the strength to face my own dragons….

Saint Michael has helped our family in a very personal way, however. Do you remember how we struggled to find a name for our new kitten?

He has now been named Michael. Our very own fierce and fearless warrior!

Autumn, Books, Celebrating, Faith, Family, Nature

Autumnal Equinox

September 24, 2013September 24, 2013by raisinglittleshoots1 Comment

Did you have a good day? We enjoy marking the passing seasons and the Autumnal Equinox with it’s gentle light, morning mist and crisp Autumnal scents is no exception.

This year we have a new member of the family to help us celebrate

We are struggling to name him; so far we have had Dr Kenneth Blackberry, Jinx, Vortigern, Jonty, Roy, Autumn. The list literally goes on and on. Any suggestions?

We kept our celebrations simple.

We discussed how the plants & trees appear to sleep through Autumn and Winter, but how actually there is development under the ground, the rest & rejuvenation that allows the tree to produce flowers and fruit again next year.

We talked about how we too can plant seeds within ourselves; seeds of gentleness, kindness, courage and bravery.

And then we each chose what we wanted to be growing within ourselves over the months ahead

We ended up with two pots, filled with spring time bulbs – filled with gorgeous intent.

We also took good care of our bird friends.

And if any hedgehog friends would like to visit, they are most welcome too.

We walked at dusk in the meadow and along the edge of the woodlands. We came home and read some Equinox classics – The Secret Of Saying Thanks and We Gather Together.

We gave thanks to God for all we are blessed with.

Books, Celebrating, Family, Nature, Summer

Hello Harvest Moon?

September 20, 2013September 20, 2013by raisinglittleshootsLeave a Comment

Last night was Harvest Moon. We set off in eager anticipation, packed up with our read alouds, snacks and science notebooks in which we could record our observations of the Harvest moon.

We have walked under the Harvest Moon every year without fail since the girls were tiny; it is a much anticipated part of our year and never missed.

We were treated to a spectacular sunset as I sat and read to the girls. I brought a poetry book and ‘Hello Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher’. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It is a luxurious, lilting read that hightens the anticipation of small (and not-so-small !) people for the night ahead..

The girls played in the woods, hunting dragons and wood faeries until we headed off to a better spot to view the moon rising in the east.

The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the equinox. It is so called because it allowed farmers to continue working on bringing in the harvest after dark, due to it’s wonderful brightness. The Harvest Moon hangs low & full in the late summer sky, ripe like the Harvest named in it’s honour. It’s appearance is due to the seasonal tilt of the earth and therefore the light coming from the moon is passing through a denser atmosphere, than if it were directly overhead.

We made it to a good ‘moon watching’ spot, but sadly the Harvest Moon kept her mystery and remained hidden behind cloud cover. This was the first year we could not see her full glory. We were so disappointed, but thankful for the walk we had, which was so thrilling on the way back – there is nothing quite like being in the woods in the dark!

I fumbled around and managed to pick some Rose Hips – and sustained a few pricked fingers! We headed home to hot chocolate & thick buttered toast. (my not-so-secret hot chocolate tip is to use Nutella – gorgeous!) Then my tired-out girls dropped into bed (always dress children in their pyjamas under the waterproofs for night time walks!!!) And mummy & daddy were not long after…

Category: Family

Week Two

Like this:

Not ‘Back To School’

Like this:

Whitsun

Like this:

It’s That Time Of The Year…

Like this:

Remember Remember the 5th of November

Like this:

Hallowe’en

Like this:

Poorly Little Person

Like this:

Michaelmas

Like this:

Autumnal Equinox

Like this:

Hello Harvest Moon?

Like this:

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