Music

Music has been delighting our household in a variety of forms.  Both former music majors, Todd and I have a lot of formal music education and the children are aware of this.  But we aren't practicing our instruments all of the time at home.  I play my flute occasionally, and we use our piano to accompany songs the children are singing.  But most of the time, we are listening to music or singing fun songs. 

At home, we listen to Elizabeth Mitchell, Sunday School CDs, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, Sufjan Stevens, etc.  In the car we are usually "car ride singers" by nature, but we also enjoy listening to Madison radio (hits from the 70's-80's-90's) and classical radio.  So it made sense recently to check out books on composers from the library. 

The Young Mozart, Play Mozart Play, and Beethoven Lives Upstairs are 3 such children's books that have really been of interest to my children---and myself, for that matter.  We've learned about what life was like as children for these famous composers, how music became part of their lives, how they played, and their quirks (especially Beethoven's).  We have been reading these stories over and over, and it has been fun to listen to their music as well.

This may have led to Clara's more intense interest in the piano.  She had been interested for a while, but she seems to be moreso now.  So, I finally agreed to give her some "Introduction to Piano" lessons after a friend lent me some beginner lesson books.  We've been having a lesson per week for the last few weeks, and she's already learning about quarter and half notes, quarter rests, the black keys, and finger numbers...among other important beginner details.

To top it off, we've been using a book called Folk Songs That Will Make You Sing Your Head Off  which has been loads of fun!  We've been singing "Dear Liza" all day today, and we performed it for Todd tonight. 

Whenever I turn on music during the day or we begin singing, my mood lightens (even if it was already light!).  Good things happen for all of us.  Music is medicine for the soul, and may it always be an important part of our lives!

The Community Read

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the countries of choice for Clara these days.  Iowa County is participating in a Community Read right now on the Stones Into Schools book.  Much of our community is actually reading this book and the other related books (3 Cups of Tea and Listen to the Wind).  Our library has lots of new books and videos related to the area, and they have also put together Discovery Boxes that include traditional clothing, shoes, jewelry, books, videos, descriptions, and other informative materials.  There is a huge list of events surrounding this Community Read, and Clara & I have gone to a couple of those events so far.  The first was a Children's Event at Shake Rag Alley where we listened to a reading of Listen to the Wind.  We then created a mural collage of scenes from the book.  It was wonderful and beautiful, and it really sparked Clara's interest in the culture.

The next event was a celebration of "The Afghan Nowruz Festival," which is the traditional New Year celebration.  This was led by Dr. Aaliya Bibi and included an awesome cooking demonstration, delicious traditional food, dancing, henna, costumes, and a educational presentation. 

Our Lenten gatherings for church are carrying the same Community Read theme, with a focus on the similarities between Dr. Greg's work in the book and the work of Jesus.  We've had one gathering, and we'll have 3 more that will also culminate in an art project.  The art projects will be displayed at the final Community Read event at Folklore Village in April.

We've read some wonderful related books, including Afghanistan:  The People and Nasreen's Secret School:  A True Story from Afghanistan.  Clara looks up books on "Afghanistan Culture" on the children's catalog at the library all on her own, and I've noticed her gazing at the large map of Afghanistan & Pakistan as she looks for Korphe.

This has been a good unit, completely inspired by our Community Read.  This is such a fun place to live.

What's good these days...

1.  playing in our yard without winter coats

2.  a needle-felting workshop that has spurred needle-felted "Spy Club" pins everywhere in the house

3.  a new Afghanistan & Pakistan study ( including a festival with Dr. Aaliya Bibi who showed us how to cook traditional Afghan food)

4.  singing "Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory-Glory" in the mornings, complete with actions

5.  giving Clara mini piano lessons from a borrowed book and listening to her practice during the week

6.  telling Clara about how once my flute student cried in a lesson, and watching her eyes get big...then telling her that that is why I shouldn't give her music lessons and watching her relax:)

7.  watching Simon run to follow a red-tailed hawk that he sees in the sky

8.  hearing Simon say in the car, "I can see Orion's belt but not the rest of him."

9.  laying with Ruthie while she pulls me toward her and says "It's O.K., stay close" for no apparent reason

10.  watching Clara make Simon and Ruthie their own house out of blocks, complete with "hot stove" so they will have something to do while she plays in her room alone.

11.  Simon saying to me "I want to learn how to read the big books, Mom, so that I can read them to Ruthie."

12.  Watching Ruthie sing out the conversation between herself and her dolls as they lay down for a "nap" together in the living room

I'm ready for tomorrow.  These are the days to remember (gotta love Billy Joel)

Dinner Theatre

Plays are the theme at our house these days!  Todd and I have been blessed with theatre after our dinner a few times this week.  All three children participated, decided on the basic play, put together creative costumes, memorized lines and actions, rehearsed, and then invited us to the performance.  The prep and rehearsals were really just as exciting as the performance with all the whispering about ideas for lines and positioning, giggles as they find the perfect costumes, and the overall change in their demeanor and language once they are in character.  And all of this was THEIR idea, with no prompting from their mother!

The first this week was "The Spider and The Fly."  This is Clara playing the role of the spider.

Here are Ruthie and Simon playing the role of the flies.  In this photo they have been caught in the spider's web.

Here are the three performers taking a bow

The performance the other night was "The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth."  This one consisted of more elaborate lines, and the highlight was the "spinning Earth." Clara changed out of her more delicate moon costume and into one of Todd's shirts just prior to the performance due to inclimate weather inside the house. Simon chose bright sun colors, and Ruthie sported blue jeans with a vine growing up the side, a green shirt with a monkey and a blue silk cape for the water of the world.

Here is Clara as "The Moon," Simon as "The Sun," and Ruthie as "The Earth" following their performance.

Currently, they are working on another one.  I cannot wait to listen to the process and experience the end result!

 "All the world is a stage, and we are merely the actors."

 --William Shakespeare

 (during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, of course!)

Simon

Simon and I and Todd are now super interested in identifying the tracks around our house since we now know that we have opposums, raccoons, and skunks.  We have seen them, of couse, at our chicken coop.  We were able to identify some skunk tracks today, really close together, with a pad and toes and the claws.  We could even make out the brush in the snow.  Simon and I followed them around our house and to the pasture.  I think we will be sad when the snow is gone and we can't see our animal tracks as easily.  He calls our house the "track house" now because he just loves it that there are always tracks to follow.

This weekend, we house-sat for friends while they were away from home.  Our job was to take care of their chickens, cow, horses, sheep, donkeys, and dogs.  Simon always did chores with Todd, sticking right with him and asking questions all the time.  He especially loved Puzzle, the new baby donkey.  I wish I had taken pictures!

For the Community Stones Into Schools Discussion, our church invited 2 men to speak about their Islam faith today.  Incredibly fascinating and inspiring to Simon and I in different ways.  When one of them mentioned that he has lived in India and Indonesia, Simon leans over to me to say "Mom, he has lived in 2 places where there are tigers...2 different tigers, Mom!"  Simon loves big cats so much, he can show anybody on the map places where big cats live, and he could even show you the country where the most cheetahs live.  He knows what their favorite meals are, when they hunt, where they live, and he really enjoys being a big cat to "fight" with his dad.  I love to find new books on big cats at the library for him.

Just some tidbits about Simon these days...

Crazy Things

Recent Crazy and Unbelievable Things at our House:

1.  Found in our living room:  a live caterpillar that Clara has now placed on my computer to crawl around. (The children have now found a home for it and are researching what we can feed it during the winter)

2.  Still sweeping up at least 10 flys per day dead under windows. 

3.  A puddle on the road!  A REAL puddle of water!

4.  2 "Green Days" in a row (see Thermometer Post).

5.  Simon asked for a haircut AND wore a different shirt.

6.  Woodchuck has ceased attacking me!  It seems he knows he was doomed.  Clara made a sign with a chicken upside down in a "killing cone" with a slash through it.  Todd took the hint, and we will try hard to keep him alive and not on our plates.

Fun day, and now I'm going outside to enjoy it further!

Country Studies...and other fun

We have really been interested in countries at our house this winter.  Our first pick was Egypt.  Clara became interested in Cleopatra when we were reading about influential women in history.  Simon is always reading about big cats, so we, therefore, are always reading about Africa.  This turned into a unit for us.  We checked out lots of books from the library on Ancient Egypt and learned all about what life was like forAncient Egyptians (their dress, make-up, etc.)  We have learned about the Nile River, and we even painted our faces to look like Ancient Egyptians one day.  We became fascinated with the pyramids and read more about Cleopatra.  We soon found ourselves moving into Africa as a whole and borrowing books from friends.  The kids became obsessed with a Geo Puzzle of Africa (I was always afraid we would lose Tunisia!) and we made a topographical map of Africa that you can see in the background of this pic of Simon.  We cut out pictures of animals from old magazines and pasted them in the appropriate regions.  The kids really know about the desert, rainforest and grassland areas of Africa now and will talk about them as we are reading about where certain big cats live. 

We are still reading African folk tales occasionally (The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton and others) but mostly, we have decided to move on to China (We meaning Clara).

China has been a lot of fun, and our study has been timely.  We were invited to a Chinese New Year-themed Birthday Party and then attended the Chinese New Year Celebration at UW-Platteville.

The Handkerchief Dance

working on calligraphy

the costumes

the dragon

There was also knot-tying, drum-making, singing, learning Chinese words and songs (Gong Xi), and traditional food.  This event was amazing! 

We have studied the Chinese Horoscope, and it is a favorite activity to discuss the meaning behind our years.  Simon, being born in the Year of the Rooster, is supposed to be a flashy dresser (our favorite).  We have also made red envelopes, the traditional Chinese New Year gift to children, checked out beautiful books on Chinese folktales from the library, and written in Chinese Calligraphy.  There are more events this winter and spring that the Confucious Institute is hosting.  I'm sure we will attend some of them, as they are always so well done.

Moving on to England...We are always sort of studying England because I am always reading a book about English history.  The kids are always interested in what I am reading, and so they have learned quite a bit simply by that route.  One evening, Clara came up with this masterpiece at the dinner table.

For those who may not know, this is Queen Elizabeth I.  The picture does not do it justice.  I knew right away who she had created by the high collar, typical of the time period.  Aluminum Foil Art History!

When we aren't studying countries (we have moved on recently to Mozart...found a great book at the library entitled "Young Mozart" that the kids are enthralled with and have begun listening to Mozart as well), we are trying to figure out how to live with a rooster who is now attacking us (me especially), knitting, designing codes, building massive living room forts, and playing on our incredibly tall mounds of snow.

Birds and Ballet

So, for my first post in well over a month, I will tell about the 2 most important "B's" in our life as a family right now. 

The first is the birdfeeder that Simon received for a Christmas present.  That birdfeeder is home to regular "songbird feed."  Soon after, we received from my grandparents another birdfeeder, that holds oiled black sunflower seeds, and a suet feeder.  The birds are now at our house!  We watch them everyday, from the time we wake up in the morning until the birds themselves go to bed at night.  We have now 11 different varieties (not counting the Kestrel that is perched high in the trees by the road at times, waiting to spot a mouse)!  We have counted into the 20's many times as we watch them at the feeders.  We watch the Blue Jays come in pairs, the Juncos and Sparrows come in families, and the Flicker come alone.  We watch the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers peck at the suet, now totally able to tell the difference between the 2 woodpeckers that look so much alike.  We watch until we can tell whether it is a male or a female we see, waiting for the glimpse of the rod spot on the nape.  We watch the Nuthatch eat upside down every time it lands on the feeder.  We wait for the House Finches  and Doves that come more often now, and we wait anxiously for the Cardinal to return.  We LOVE watching birds, and it is so fun to hear Simon holler to us that he has spotted a new bird.  It is always Simon.  He is watching all of the time.  Twas the perfect gift for him.

The other, newer, "B" is for the "Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories."  What a fabulous book!  It contains a handful of the most well-known ballet stories, and my children (and I) are enchanted!  We have learned about Russian ballets (Swan Lake being the favorite), a Polish ballet (Coppelia), and the Greek ballet that is so different from the others (Daphnis and Chloe).  The illustrations are amazing, the stories are captivating, and we are entranced.  We look up the countries where they were written, we dance to Swan Lake music, and we read them again and again, sitting on the couch for hours. 

We are loving the "B's."

Good Finds

On this fabulous Winter Solstice, I'm thinking about good finds.  Actually I've been thinking about our good finds for a while but haven't been able to post.  So, our good finds that I have been wanting to share...

1.  Free bales of straw at the local yard waste recycling spot.  Now are chickies are warm!

2.  The "Bumpy Hat" crochet pattern!  See debscrafts55.blogspot.com  I finally have figured out how to crochet with a pattern! 

3.  Embroidery Floss!  We have been doing a lot of sewing, but without embroidery floss for some reason.  This Christmas ornament project with out friends got us started with embroidery floss, and now we are embroidering like crazy.  Lots of things that I can't discuss because they are Christmas presents for folks who might be reading this.  I'll have to talk about it later.  But it has been so fun!  My most fabulous moment last week was when Clara. Ruthie, and I were all embroidering while Simon played with his cars around us.  He had actually been helping me with a project earlier. 

4.  Wooden beads, felt scraps, and leftover cardboard make for a rustic manger scene.  Clara's gymnastics teachers always receive a fabulous gift.  Clara has told me that she will make one for me too.

5.  Amanda Blake Soule's "Handmade Home" book (her 2nd book--the 1st is on my shelf and has been well-used).  I'm finally reading it.  I can't believe I've been missing out on it for this long!  We've been deep in her sewing and papier mache projects that all of my kids (and me) can do and enjoy!

6.  Simplicity Parenting --a wonderful book by Kim John Payne.  This was recommended to me by my naturopath.  His tips are most fabulous and right up my alley.  This really is a well-rounded guide for simplifying your life for families and children (tips for simplifying toys, books, adult talk, and bringing rituals into your life that make sense and reduce "clutter" in many ways).  We've already made a "book library" upstairs, keeping only a handful of books on our bookshelf at all times.  So, we're reading the same books over and over, really digging in deep (which the kids love, and I'll admit I do too because the books we choose are GOOD books).  I'm amazed at the questions and thoughts that still are brought up even after reading a book a dozen times.  The kids are really learning new words, and words from other languages, but also (and most importantly) really going deep with the characters and the story.  Next on my bookshelf is Byron Katie.

7.  YouTube haircuts!  I wish I had a picture of this...But, we've been cutting our own hair.  I should say that Todd has been cutting his own hair for a while, but I was too nervous until Ruthie cut a chunk out of her hair one day.  I decided that I might as well take the opportunity to see if I could cut "girl hair."  So I gave her a stacked bob cut that was pretty easy and so cute!  It was so fun that I decided to cut my own!  It's not bad, but most of all, it was fun and we saved probably $70 with Clara's bangs being trimmed as well.  Anything can be found on YouTube!

Those are most of our "good finds" for now.  May they be useful to all of you as well.  Happy Solstice and Merry Christmas!

A Homeschooling Day

My friends and I have begun talking about a typical day in our homeschooling life.  I detailed one out to my pals, and it was such a fun exercise that I thought I would write about one on my blog.  Yesterday is more fun to write about than today, so here is yesterday.  (Boy, the cows are mooing loudly tonight...I wonder why)

1.  Wake between 7:30-8:15.  Breakfast is oatmeal.  They eat it, although they want pancakes tomorrow.  We light the candle on the table and blow it out at the end of our meal (something we recently began, thanks to the book I just finished "Simiplicity Parenting"--more on that later).  There is some fighting over who will blow out the candle.  We have to work through that some more.  I didn't walk this morning...had trouble getting out of bed.

2.  Clara marked off the day on her calendar, noticed that today is Hannakuh (spelling...I should know how to spell that).  She told me she wanted to research Hannakuh sometime today.  There was also counting of days until Christmas. 

3.  I don't do dishes this morning after breakfast but fold laundry quickly and give the kids each their pile.  Then we read.  (Simon has already decided that he doesn't want to go to Day Camp today and maybe not until Spring.) Todd has left for work.

4.  We read "The Turnip, " (for Clara) "When the Sun Rose," (for Ruthie) and about Cheetahs (for Simon).  This took us more than an hour.  There ended up being A LOT of discussion about Cheetahs (virtually everything about them) and the moral of "The Turnip."  Clara reads a little to us out of one of her books.  Then the children go off to play their new running game, and I went outside to open up the coop and take out the compost finally.  Ruthie is wearing underpants today, and I also get her set up and ready for the day in her underpants.

5.  We have a late morning snack of vegetables made into a smiley face.  The kids are really into their running game, so I make a vegetable soup for lunch.  The kids think it is delicious, but then it is just Simon who thinks so.  They decide to have 1/2 sandwich and rice cakes with it at the end. We sing some Christmas carols together, and then I put on some Christmas music. By this time it is past 1:00.  Clara spends some time telling us the time occasionally as she is excited that she is mastering this.

6.  The kids want to look at flags on our maps and are excited to pick out the ones that they know.  Then they decide they want me to name a country and give them clues as to where the flag is.  We do this for quite a while, and they enjoy the similarities between some of the flags (UK flag is on a lot of other flags, one is all green, Japan just has a dot, etc.)

7.  I spend some time on the phone today, which is unusual.  The kids are really engaged in their play (dollhouse and that running game--their clothes are now mostly off even though it is 60 degrees in our house.)  This is a big cooking day today, so I also prepare supper at this time.  Ruthie helps me cut up vegetables.  Actually I cut today, and she puts the vegetables in the dish.  We are having salmon, beet/winter squash salad, and sweet potato fries tonight. 

8.  We decide it is time to research Hannakuh, so we find a comfy seat on the couch and look it up on the internet since we don't have a book on it today.  We read about it, discuss it and the Jewish tradition in general.  Then we find the Dreidal song and watch people singing it on YouTube.  Then we sing it ourselves for a while.  We are still doing this when friends come to the door.  No nap today for Ruthie

9.  It is now time for Gymnastics, so I take a quick shower (finally), remind the kids to get dressed, prepare a small snack, grab out play-doh and we head out the door at 3:40 for Livingston (after shutting the coop because it will be dark when we return).  We sing Christmas carols in the car.

10.  Gymnastics was fun today.  Clara was excited to be accomplishing new skills, and she just always has fun in social settings.  Simon, Ruthie, and I had fun watching, making new friends, playing foozball (again--spelling!), and playing with play-doh.  We leave at 5:20 for home.  We sing more Christmas carols in the car.

11.  We drop off Clara's buddy at her house and spend some time in their chicken coop and chatting before arriving home at about 5:45.  I throw the fish in the oven (everything else is already cooked, but I heat it up too).  Todd is working late tonight, so we eat without him.  We light the candle, and all the kids have now decided to blow it out together at the end of the meal.  This actually works, and everyone is satisfied.

12.    We decide to do what each kid wants to do now.  Simon begins making collage cards (he has a big bird, big cat, chicken theme).  While he is doing this, Clara asks me to work on a code for her to crack.  So, while I am making simple symbols to correspond with letters for a sentence I have developed, she begins making a code for me to crack (MUCH more elaborate than mine, I might add).  She cracks my code, and I crack hers.  It was about Hannakuh, and she tells me that she was the only kid who knew today's holiday at Gymnastics today.  Simon is really into his collage, and Ruthie is "making her own."  I think Ruthie played in the bath as well. 

13.  It is now 8:15, and I'm encouraging the kids to wrap up so we can move towards bedtime.  We had decided we would read before bed.  Todd is now home.  The kids are excited and show him their codes, collages, and ask him to quiz them on the flags.  He is overwhelmed but excited that everyone is so content and harmonious.  He reads to the kids after they get ready for bed.  I finally begin washing dishes.  They read until about 9:00 and then the younger 2 go to bed after willingly packing their backpacks for our Madison roadtrip tomorrow.  Clara still wants me to read to her, so I read a little to her and she reads a little to me.  She ends up going to sleep after she informs me that she picks a time on her clock in which she will fall asleep.  Then she tucks her clock into her sleeping bag with  her, reminding me to make a new code for her tomorrow.

14.  Now that it is 9:45, it is time to work on a Christmas project and talk with Todd.  We end up going to bed at 11:45 tonight, which is late for us. I am again mesmerized by how dark it is outside with the new moon as I slide into bed and can't see any light at all around me

That was our day yesterday.  There is no real typical day for us, but this was yesterday--a harmonious Wednesday which left a smile on my face as I lay my head on my pillow because not everyday goes like this.

How a Unit Study Happened

So I was never interested in Robin Hood as a little girl.  I don't know why exactly, but I just wasn't.  But my children are, and I am now as well, and this is how it happened.

I became interested in European royalty.  I began reading books on Isabella, Eleanor, Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, "Bloody Mary", Henry VIII, etc. 

Clara noticed this and also wanted to read about royalty.  So, we checked out "To Be a Princess," "Extraordinary Women," and many others.

 In one of these books, King Richard and the Crusades was mentioned, and Robin Hood.  Simon, especially, found the short story and pictures interesting. 

Then in one of those American Girls movies (they really are great!), the one about Kitt and The Great Depression, there was talk about taking from the rich and giving to the poor.  This became a topic of conversation, the idea of it was fascinating to us (why would someone do that?  how could there even be a need to do that?  what would that time look like?  is it like that now?, etc. etc. etc.)

We soon found ourselves looking for books on Robin Hood from the library.

We have read these stories over and over this fall, looking at the pictures, learning about the characters, learning about items from that period of time, when these stories took place in relation to Elizabeth I and where, begun practicing British accents, etc.  We found a kids' version of Robin Hood on video just recently.  It was somewhat different in the storytelling, so we enjoyed discussing the differences in the versions of the story.

There has been so much study of Robin Hood that the kids' play often consists of pretending to be Robin Hood of Loxley, Maid Marion, Prince John, Little John, etc., acting out the story with cosumes and props and storylines, and adding to the story as well.  There has even been some piano playing background music that has been added to the play for dramatic effect.  I see the making of bows and arrows in our future possibly.

So we have ended up in the middle of a Robin Hood unit study without ever planning it.  It just happened.  Because one thing of interest led to another.

Made From Scratch

So we've been in full creation mode!  Even I have been reviving my crocheting and have been making "hats," although I'm just finally getting it right on my 4th hat.  Maybe it would help if I followed a pattern...

Here's Clara's finished marionette project (spelling...I guess I should have looked at that before).  She created a fairy, making the gown, face, hair, crown, arms, and wand. 

And here was her next project at Shake Rag: a totem pole from recycled wood!

And then there was the party "streamers" that we decided to make after seeing something like it at one of our churches.  I had originally seen the idea in Amanda Blake Soule's "The Creative Family."  This was one of the easiest and coolest projects we've done.  The kids love the colors and are already excited about putting it up for each birthday!

Here are the kids working on fairy house furniture after reading fairy books one day this week.  They made the sweetest little beds and used the cupcakes we made out of felt as cute little pillows.  We also walked around outside picking out materials for fairy houses.  We found the most wonderful stump, but need some help with the lifting yet.  This has also led to making shoes for Clara's tooth fairy, Rainbow Sparkle.

More recent creations:  a fairy elevator (complete with toad stool), pillows and a sleeping bag sewn for Simon's koala bear, and one of the beds with the cupcake pillow.

And I couldn't leave out the soup we made tonight with our salmon and sweet potato fries.  I never would have tried this soup before our new nutritional plan.  It is called "Garlic Spinach Soup" straight out of the Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook.  Eighteen garlic cloves are used with this recipe, so it is a super candida-fighter. I didn't know if anyone would eat it, and Simon asked for a 2nd bowl!  (I did puree it because I knew there would be NO CHANCE that it would have been consumed if I didn't.)  But, he is also the boy who demands broccoli now.  His tastes have really changed since beginning the Candida Diet just as the book says they do. 

This is a little bit of what we have been making from scratch these days.

Girls Day Out

Clara and I spent the day together in Madison yesterday, and what a day it was!  There were new boots, new light blue eyeglasses, Uno's Pizza for lunch (where Clara got to make her own pizza!), the biggest and most beautiful cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes at Hilldale for a snack (I wish I had taken pictures of those cupcakes...they were so beautiful and HUGE).  And then there was the Chazen Museum, where we took in some Warhol, an interesting display of different depictions of Mary and Jesus, and tons of college kids all texting with heads down or listening to their itunes (is that what you call it?). 

The day's finale was a spectacular performace by the Radio City Rockettes at the Alliant Energy Center!  This was Clara's requested birthday present.  We were both giddy and glued to those high kicks for the whole 1 1/2 hours, our favorite parts being the shiny outfits and when they all fell down on each other in a line while dressed as toy soldiers.  Did anyone know that the Rockettes used to be called the Roxyettes, that thousands of girls try out each year to be in their precision dance line, and that they have been famous for 75 years?

Once we were home, all three kids put on a spectacular "line dance" of their own for Todd and I, complete with some choreography.  What a wonderful ending to a marvelous day.  Ahhh, so much talking and sharing and laughing, and being mother and daughter.  We both learned so much today, about so many things and about each other...a special day for sure. 

Our Adventures With The New Gals and other news

We've been spending a lot of time with the ladies we have borrowed for the winter to keep Woodchuck/Acorn company.  Have I mentioned that Woodchuck has a new name because "he" is probably a "she" and most certainly can't be "Woodchuck" anymore?  She must have a more feminine name, per the children!  I still tend to call her "Woodchuck" though.  Anyhow, I'm introducing "Miss Honey" and "Miss Eleven."  Miss Honey is a Buff Orphington and Miss Eleven is a Rhode Island Red.  They are definitely the bosses and have let Woodchuck/Acorn know this important detail with pecking and chasing.  This has been rather interesting to watch. 

What has been even more interesting to watch has been the "laying of the eggs." We weren't prepared for egg-laying, but we were able to put together a pretty nice makeshift nesting box from a drawer we found in the run-down chicken coop on our property, an old laundry basket, a blanket, and some wood shavings. 

The ladies seem to like it and have already been taking turns laying eggs in it.  When Miss Honey is laying, Miss Eleven patrols the door of the chicken tractor, clucking LOUDLY until she has finished.  When Miss  Eleven is laying, Miss Honey stands at the door like a sentinel until she has finished.  We have become fascinated with this behavior, to say the least.  If we aren't outside with them, we are inside watching through the window.

We are also completely fascinated with comparing their eggs... looking at the size, color, specks, and shape. 

The one on the left is from Miss Eleven, the RI Red.  The one on the right is from Miss Honey, the BO.  This has led us to research breeds.  We have found that Woodchuck/Acorn is an Ameraucana and will lay blue/green eggs someday.  We are also learning about temperaments, which ones are good layers, which ones are good mothers, etc.  We are pretty obsessed with chickens right now.

  Ruthie's favorite, however, still is Woodchuck/Acorn.  She loves to hold her on her lap.  Who needs dogs or cats, huh?:)

When we aren't with the chickens we are building forts, building and painting shelves from scrap wood, reading more Magic Tree House books, and lots of other stuff.  More later on our Hungarian Day today and tomorrow's day with The Rockettes!

Enjoying Each Other

So, we've just been at home mostly for the last few days (except for a Shake Rag class and a Gymnastics class), which is quite unusual for us.  And I think we were all ready for some quiet home togetherness.  I love being out and about, seeing friends, playing at different places, and field-tripping, but I also have a special place in my heart for extended days spent just at home doing whatever fancies us.  So this is what we have been doing...

We have become obsessed with The Magic Tree House series and have already read the 1st four books.  Clara and I decided to make a chart to keep track of all of them, complete with theme, what we learned, what saved Annie and Jack, and a picture.  Amazingly, all of that fits into a super small space on our chart.  Clara liked the mummies, and Simon liked the dinosaurs.  (The chart was inspired by the chart Todd made with the kids for the election results...a big hit as well.  This, by the way, obviously made an impression on Simon who is telling people who we voted for and why.)

There have also been:
*Shows (where Clara performed the "Fog Dance" and Simon, the "Dog Dance")
*Note-writing to friends, family, and each other
*All kinds of math work with little notes with numbers all over the living room for the cars and marbles
*Sliding around on coats and sleeping bags
*Studying Helen Keller
*Family Drawing Time
*Broche-making (spelling???)
*More learning to read
*Singing to the max
*more that I can't remember right now

And, today we brought home a couple of friends for Woodchuck (who now, apparently, is a girl, and we must re-name her "Acorn").  Her new pals are "Honey" and "Miss Eleven" who are being borrowed from friends to keep Woodchuck/Acorn company during the winter.  They have been introduced and done some pecking at each other.  But they cuddled together to sleep tonight, and we are thrilled that they are here.  I'm sure I'll have pictures very soon.  It's been a good few days..

We did it?

Between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. we butchered 17 chickens.  It is done.  It was anxiety-provoking, scary, interesting, amazing, perspective-changing, educational, prayer-inducing, and exhausting.  That's a lot of emotions to move through in one day.  We are now hoping that they will taste good, but we are also wondering if we will even be able to eat them.  There's a good chance there will always be questions like, "I wonder if this was the one with the bad eye?"  Then I'll be faced either with placing my fork back beside my plate, picking up my spoon instead to use with my soup, or continuing to eat my beautiful chicken that was raised with love for this very purpose.   Indeed I must remember they must have died for a purpose, and they must fulfill their destiny by nourishing our bodies (that was part of our prayer this morning as we began the process).

This is what I know: 
1.  When I do eat our chickens, I'm certain I won't be able to waste any of it...not after this.
2.  I will probably continue what I have already began... eating less meat, for it's far too precious to eat without it really being special and eaten intentionally.  And something can't be special if it happens in haste, can it?  (something to ponder)
3.  I miss our chickens, and I want to build a coop immediately for housing chickens during the winter
4.  I feel sorry for Woodchuck all alone right now
5.  Clara may become a vegetarian after today, while Ruthie found the entire experience incredibly interesting.
6.  I will be reflecting on this experience for many weeks to come
7.  This is the beginning of something for our family

The Last Breakfast

The scorching pot, plucker, killing cone, and 2-gallon bags are ready.  Other than that, I'm not sure we have much of a plan (actually I don't, I'm sure Todd does).  We fed the chickens breakfast for the last time this morning.  By the end of the day tomorrow they will laying in our freezer.  We've discussed it a lot as a family...even before we received them in the mail.  Once again, I think I am the one who is holding back tears.  Everyone else already seems prepared to make a chicken noodle soup with them.  Such is life. 

Our many questions about the process of live "pet" to meat on our plate:  Will we be able to tell easier which are roosters and which were hens?  Will we find eggs inside the hens?  Will their feet really make tasty chicken stock?  Will the plucker look like a snow machine during the process?  What will Woodchuck think about why he was spared?  How long will this all take? 

So we'll spend one last afternoon and evening learning from them and enjoying their magnificence...

Brewery Tour

So, after watching the "Samantha" American Girls movie (year-1904)), we had a lively discussion about factories since factories were just forming during that time period.  The kids decided that they wanted to go see some factories themselves, so they chose...the New Glarus Brewery!!!  So, we traveled there today and toured the brewery.  Clara was mesmerized, and I must admit it was pretty amazing watching all of those bottles travel around so quickly.  The magnetized bottle cap holder were also a favorite.  An interesting discussion occurred about the fact that actual people used to do those jobs instead of machines.  More wows. 

The whole trip was full of adventure.  The actual town of New Glarus was fun to be in, so many interesting patterns on all of the buildings (the diamonds and circles)...fascinating for Clara as well as Simon.  The park where we ate lunch was bombarded with 6th graders who ran over to play for 5 minutes while on their way to a 1:00 lunch at the high school, a treat for them every other Monday per their teacher.  We watched them, mesmerized by their energy, until they left.  The monster dollhouse in a storefront window built in a Swiss style was drooled over by Clara, who wasn't sure if we could get it through the door.  What may have been the most fun were the large boulders in front of the brewery...perfect for climbing and finding secret paths.    What may have been the biggest bummer was the fact that we were not able to sample after the tour.  Todd still can't even believe that we went to a brewery and didn't drink any beer.

So, the kids now want to tour more factories.  We'll see where we are led.  I forgot my camera...HUGE bummer. 

When Given Lemons...

This is what we found yesterday shortly before leaving for a birthday gathering.  I left the present in the car specifically because I thought it would be the safest place.  We have a little lady who loves to open things.  She went outside to play, and when she returned I asked her what she had found outside.  She told me she was opening the birthday present.  Here was the opportune Aldort moment.  Lots of thoughts went through my head, but I chose to say "I feel sad" which I DID NOT need to say (I'll keep working on that).  I said to her "it's hard to resist opening a present" to which she began to cry.  I said to her "you feel sad" of which she actually replied "I wanted the present to be for me."  WOW!  She cried for another minute and then went on about her business.  Without the help of Aldort, that moment would have been a nightmare for her (and for everyone else).  Thank you, Aldort.  Best moment of the day.

Anyway, so neither Clara nor Simon were angry about the present opening, even though they had been so excited about the wrapping job.  Instead, Clara said "Mom, we can use cloth!"  They both ran inside to find the perfect cloth and this is what followed. 

Much more interesting indeed.

So, this led to more sewing projects that day.  Heart-shaped pillows for her dolls...

of which her dolls slept on that night...complete with a nightgown fashioned with Ruthie's old pants

and I just have to throw in the outfit Clara fashioned for Ruthie out of her own old dress and pants...

Lemons made into lemonade indeed.