Embracing 2014

Well... it's been a while.

I had every intention of writing for the last... well, since the last post really... I have lots to say (wink)... it just didn't happen.  (Obviously.)

We were away on a little jaunt to Southern California for a sunshine break  and I couldn't seem to log on to post anything.  And now, I want to write stuff, but my camera's on the fritz.  So finally, I figured I'd just jot down a few things... a "to-write" list, if you will:
- a photo of my finished shalom sweater (which I LOVE, btw)
- an easy-peasy pattern for a simple cowl that I knit on the road (when I was FREEZING on the Oregon coast), in a light grey, Royal Alpaca.  Dreamy.
- a soap-box version of what I think of this latest backyard chicken craze
- chicken update (all those babies from last year?  All grown up and Gorgeous!) & plans for 2014 babies!
- sheep update (Yep, I think they are all preggers -- due anytime after March 16)
- a mild rant on my frustrations and successes with home-schooling
- book reviews on 3 (!) novels I read while away.

.. and a few other things.

Suffice it to say, that I'm REALLY glad 2014 is here because 2013 was not my favourite year.  Putting a positive spin on it, I did A LOT of learning (read: made a ton of mistakes) and I'm looking forward to putting my learning into practise this year.  (Lesson #1: NO PIGS).

That is all.

For now (another wink).

I Won't Do THAT Again

What, you ask?  Loan out my incubator in the spring.  Stupid me!    A friend of my daughter's asked if, for her birthday, she could hatch a few chicks.  It was the beginning of March, and I think, sure why not.  Great experience for another home-schooled kid.  (Why should my kids get all the fun, eh?) So after I hatched out 16 of my Birthday presents, 

Blue & Birchen Marans chicks, 3 days old

I handed it over, no charge.  Am I crazy?  Yes!!  There's a guy locally who rents out his incubators to families, schools, libraries, etc for $100.  They hatch out 7 of his eggs, and return the chicks and all the equipment.  Basically charges $100 for the experience, and I'm giving it out for free.  Not to mention, the turkeys, ducks AND geese all decided to start laying and not setting about a week after the incubator settled in it's new (temporary) home.  Grrrr.  So I sold several dozen turkey and duck eggs as "fertile" eggs to try to save some of these eggs that could be turned into creatures.  I'm still waiting for the turkeys to start setting, and I'm collecting the goose eggs to incubate.  I get the incubator back next Friday, and I'm counting the days.  I sure hope these turkeys go broody soon!

Observations from a Home Schooling Mama

So, we're 3/4 of the way into our first homeschooling year, and by all accounts, I think it's going well, though I really have no "measure", other than how my children are feeling & acting and how I am feeling & acting.

I can tell you, I feel much freer, not being tied to the public school schedule, and I am pretty sure my daughter feels the same way.  She has been able to try so many new things this year, partly because our "school", Self Design, gives her a learning investment (read: loaded Visa card of a set amount) on which to spend on educational pursuits; and partly because she is not tied to being in school and "busy" for 30 hours a week, which frees up lots of time she wouldn't have had otherwise.  For example, last year, when she attended public school, we usually opted to stay home on the weekends and any other time she didn't have dance or soccer, which were the 2 extra-curriculars that she was involved in.  Instead, this year, we have done several field trips (museums, guided nature walks, art galleries, the local science center, a bee farm, and several out-of-town play dates with like-minded families); she has dabbled in Kung Fu and gymnastics; and volunteered to be a patient for medical students!  She reads at least a novel a week because she wants to and is raising a batch of Buff Orpington chicks all on her own (she bought the eggs to incubate with her own money).  We do insist that she does some math and English several times a week, to keep her mind learning and current with the BC Grade 4 curriculum , though we do this via several different tools.  Math might consist of workbook exercises, puzzles, or books like the "Life of Fred"; English could also be a workbook, but also includes things like mapping out her plans for the chicks or writing to friends.

Now, in contrast, my boy has never been to school.  Not even preschool.  I wasn't working so I didn't see any point in sending him off when I could hang out with him.  How he learns is SO different from his sister.  He will pick up a workbook or puzzle book at any time of the day (but enjoys bedtime best) and practice his letters (he's just turned 6 so would be in Kindergarten this year), does word searches or sudoku puzzles - because it's fun.  He is totally fine with deconstructing something shortly after he's built it, which tells me he's enjoying the process and not just the end result.  His sister, by contrast, is almost completely focused on the end result and needs to keep the thing around for a while.  She can get down-right irate if someone wants to use some pieces from her lego building to make a new thing, even if it's been around for a few days.

This could just be personality style or something more.  The boy was allowed to finish his projects as he was home in his youngest years.  The girl, well, she was in preschool, Kindergarten, and public school to grade 3 where the children are told when they are done, so then don't get to gauge that for themselves.

Hmmm.

Interesting.

Something I'll keep watching, for sure.