The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...I see the goldfish swimming in the pond.

I am thinking...about going to the dentist tomorrow.

I am thankful for...how hard my husband works.

From the kitchen...we had sausage bean soup and bread for lunch.  Craving fresh veggies!

I am wearing...capris, a life is good t-shirt and a fleece vest with barefeet.

I am creating...clothespin fairy dolls and a small knit coin purse.

I am going...to walk the Canfield Trail with my kids today.

I am reading...Just Shy of Harmony-a quaker minister talks about all the characters in his small home town.

I am hoping...I can buy a new pair of roller skates for outdoor exercise.

I am hearing...the hum of the fridge and the swish of my son's foam swords.

Around the house...we are having quiet time. 

One of my favorite things...the smell of fresh herbs cut from the garden.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• Checking the greenhouse plants.
• Putting away the snowpants and snowboots for the year.
• Working on sitting up straight all week.
• Prepping for our next block of lessons, Idaho state history, Lewis & Clark, and Native Americans.
• Going to the library.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing..

My mother used to use the peeled bark to write her own poems on.

Knitting news and fairies

Ruthy finished up her knitted recorder case and is starting a coaster.  We did our projects backwards...large to small.  She is learning the purl stitch with the coaster and plans on making 4 of them for her Grandma.

We are using the Little Acorn Learning guide for the month of March which has this weeks theme as fairies.  We made fairy bread on Monday, watched Thumbelina on Tuesday and made clothespin fairies today.  Tomorrow we will make homes for our fairies and then sew fairy pouches on Friday.  I was not sure if my 5 year old son would be interested in fairies but it turns out that there are several manly fairies in the Thumbelina and Tinkerbell stories.  Teddy's fairy has a sword like Cornelius in Thumbelina.  Handy for taking care of the bad guys!

Cornelius and the Feisty Fairy Fiona.  Fiona is the main character in the Little Acorn Learning guide story "The Feisty Fairy"  who steals the singing gem.

Terrence and Thumbelina resting from a big morning of flying around and saving fairies.  Thumbelina is really debating if she wants to marry Cornelius or Terrence.  Cornelius is a bit brash, always swinging his sword around and trying to stab people.  Terrence is quite the dapper dresser and is much kinder.  I think Thumbelina will probably choose Terrence, but it is still early in the day.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

I love this idea of a short journal with a picture.  I am going to make an effort to do this weekly but you know how life is.  Here is the link to join:  A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
February 25, 2010


Outside my window...the sun is shining and the greenhouse has moisture on the inside.

I am thinking...about keeping a true lenten.

I am thankful for...the ability to homeschool my children.

From the kitchen...I am sipping a banana strawberry protein powder drink.

I am wearing...my bathrobe.

I am creating...balloon race cars with my children.

I am going...out for a walk around the block.

I am reading...A Journey North by Adrienne Hall...one womans thru hike of the Appalacian Trail with future husband.

I am hoping...I can finish all the laundry today.

I am hearing...Cat Stevens singing.

Around the house...we are doing the big Spring cleaning.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

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Ruthy working on her Outdoor Cooking Junior badge for Girl Scouts.
 
 
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com

McNary Wildlife Refuge-Bird Count

We spent Saturday the 13th at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge for the Great American Bird Count.  The Refuge is just in Burbank, Washington just east of the Richland/Pasco. 

There were a few activities in the Environmental Education Center for kids. 
Teddy made a bird feeder from an old milk jug and got a coloring book.

Docents and volunteers were banding and counting song birds for the count.  They had a net set up about the size of a volleyball net to catch the birds.  After the birds were banded, weighed and logged in they were released.  Both Jose and Ruthy got to release white crowned sparrows. 

That day the Refuge had about a zillion Canadian Geese on the water.
We also saw mallards, coots, canvas backs, northern shovelers, gulls and tundra swans.  On the shore in the reeds we saw red-winged blackbirds, white- crowned sparrows and heard lots of others that we could not identify.

The weather was beautiful and we had a great time.

Norse Myths 4th grade Waldorf Homeschool

We are in the middle of our first 4 week block about the Norse Myths.  We are using "D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths"  and making a main lesson book.  There will be 2-4 week blocks of Norse Myths this year to finish off the book.  At first I thought they would be too violent and gruesome for my fru fru 10 year old daughter, but she loves them.  It is possibly her most favorite subject so far. 

Each day I read the story and then ask her to tell me everything she remembers about the story.  Then we discuss it and talk about ideas for a picture in her main lesson book.  Below are a couple of photos from her book.  This is her first year of Waldorf main lesson book and form drawing.

Candlemas/Groundhog festival 2010

Yesterday we rolled beeswax candles for Candlemas and will make clay holders tomorrow.  We read about the history of candlemass and how candles were the only light most people had during the "olden" days.
The Apple Crepes finally happened for dinner last night and were delicious!

We checked the website for the groundhog weather report and made cute paper groundhog door hangers. For circle time we read "Gretchen Groundhog It's Your Day!" and "Andrew McGroundhog and His Shady Shadow." 

Knitting Recorder Case Waldorf Homeschool

We are currently doing a mix of Waldorf homeschool and Charlotte Mason. Knitting usually happens in the earlier grades at a traditional Waldorf school but my daughter was not ready to learn to knit until this year.  Here is her first project..a recorder case...she has been working 5 rows a school day for about a month.  She is a little more than halfway through and has moved up to 7 rows  a school day this month.