WOW...It's already 2021!!!

“Living without expectations is hard but, when you can do it, good. Living without hope is harder, and that is bad. You have got to have hope, and you mustn’t shirk it. Love, after all, “hopeth all things.” But maybe you must learn, and it is hard learning, not to hope out loud, especially for other people. You must not let your hope turn into expectation.

                But whatever you hope, you will find out that you can’t bargain with your life on your own terms. It is always going to be proving itself worse or better than you hoped.”  – Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

OK, so I didn't hold to my aspirations of getting back to blogging last year. Can you believe it's been a whole year since my last post!?!?!! And oh my, what a year it's been! So much has happened that I could never have imagined. 

2020 began with big changes for our family, unchartered territory without parents. When you are a little child, you depend on your parents, but as you grow, you can’t wait to be independent. Then you become a parent and it becomes apparent that you need your parents more than ever! Then one day those parents are gone, and you feel lost, but those children require you to carry on. Fortunately, you see characteristics in your children that remind you of your parents and you realize how foundational the lives of each generation are. The stories of those that have gone before us are stones on which we are built. This brings comfort and hope. It is where we found ourselves at the beginning of 2020. We held hope in a new decade and sought comfort in the future of our children, knowing those in the past, affect us in the present, and carry each generation forward.

Of course, there was also Covid in 2020, but early on, we chose to put our trust and fear in the Lord, not in a virus, civil unrest, a vaccine, or the government. Each day, we put one foot in front of the other, carrying on with life as much as possible. We didn’t have any estate sales this year, but I did begin a new office job in January outside the home. We are still home educating our kids. The Farmer is carrying on with the farm.

A highlight last year was getting chickens! Well, we got five chickens in the summer of 2019, but only three of them survived last winter. We believe a weasel got one of them, but not sure about the other. In the spring of 2020, we ordered 16 baby chicks from a hatchery and they arrived April 8th, but one was dead upon arrival. They were all supposed to be laying hens, but we are pretty sure one of them was a rooster. Sadly, he met his death by dog.

After a few more casualties, later this summer, we bought 10 more hen chicks locally. Riley also bought a rooster. She named him Monte Cristo after The Count of Monte Cristo, a favorite book she read in 2020, and a friend gifted us another rooster, which Levi wanted to name Davante Adams. 😊 In the fall, one of our spring hens hatched three chicks. We currently have 21 hens, 3 chicks, which are starting to lay, and 2 roosters in total. The laying hens are providing us with an abundant supply of the most beautifully colored eggs! It has been a super fun project for the kids and they are learning many life skills.

            

Speaking of RileyAnn, she is currently in 11th grade and continues to love animals, sports, and milking cows. Even though her softball season was canceled in 2020, Riley was able to play her second year of volleyball in the fall with a local homeschool volleyball team. She had a beautiful garden last summer and she will tell you, she canned way too many peaches and pears!...but I will tell you, they are so good!!!

Ruben is in 10th grade. He started a new job last fall, pumping manure pits, with the same company I work for. Even though he put in many long hours for a couple months, he loved it and much prefers work over school! Ruben spends his free time tinkering and rebuilding. He bought an old 3-wheeler last year and loves terrorizing us with it, LOL. Ruben continues to grow and has now caught up with The Farmer, surpassing that six-foot mark.

                                                 

Levi is currently in 3rd grade. He still loves math, but has made great gains in reading, which is becoming a close second. Levi also enjoys animals and the outdoors. He missed playing baseball last summer but helped Riley with her garden and caring for the chickens. Levi loves it when Ruben pulls him on the sled behind the 3-wheeler, but mom can’t watch!

The Farmer and I made a quick get-away in the fall. We traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada in October for the grand opening of Barry’s Downtown Prime, a new steakhouse opened by my boss. Even though the shows and many sights were shut down due to Covid, we did see the Hoover Dam, which was amazing!

As you can see, life carried on for our family last year even in the face of adversity. Although our future may seem uncertain, as believers, we can rest in the hope and assurance of our Savior. We can also look to those who have gone before us and continue their story with those moving forward. If you are weary, I encourage you to crack a bible or even search online for references of the word "hope" in the bible. I can't make any promises of what 2021 may bring, but for now, I'm still here and plan to carry on!!

 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12

Welcome 2020!...Looking Forward to a New Decade

My....how time flies! I'm not so sure it's all been fun, but it does pass nonetheless. It's been a few months since I posted and much has happened throughout that time. Today, I will share a bit of a recap of 2019, as well as plans moving forward. This quote from Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, which we read at the beginning of 2019, pretty much sums up the mixed bag of emotions the year brought forth.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”        ― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Ruben began 2019 with infection and drains in his leg from his farm accident on Black Friday, November 2018. Also, Levi broke his foot at the beginning of March 2019. We spent the first few months of 2019 at doctor's appointments and hospitals. Then our year ended with the unexpected passing of my dad the week before Christmas 2019. Even though we book ended with the worst of times, the best of times filled the in between. We still have much to be thankful for and I've been trying to stay focused on that. 

I love fresh starts so the prospect of looking ahead to not only a new year, but a new decade is very refreshing to me. We have a clean slate once again. Although we're only six weeks in to 2020, it has already brought many changes. When dad passed, I was named executor of my parent's estate. I also assumed guardianship of dad's brother, my uncle. In addition, I started a job off the farm the first week of January. I really enjoy it so far, but much of my time has been spent finding balance. We are still very much committed to home education and I've had to find creative ways to continue meeting the needs of each of our children.

Every time we say yes to something, we have to say no to something else. Throughout these added responsibilities, our house has also fallen in to disarray. Thankfully, it's not that big so a couple hours of TLC on the weekend really makes a difference. And, our kids are all capable of pitching in, which I'm very grateful for.

Unfortunately, this blog has also fallen by the wayside and I feel badly about that. I know for some, blogs are a thing of the past, but I still enjoy blogging and have been thinking a great deal about it. I do plan to continue, but it will be in a limited capacity. I used to aim for three posts a week. Now, it will more likely be three to four posts per month, depending on the season. Also, I hope to bring RileyAnn alongside. She will be assisting me in posting book and curriculum reviews.

So, all that to say, I'm still here and not going anywhere, it's just that my presence will be limited as our life has taken a different direction. Everything has a season and I'm embracing the new year, the new decade, and the new season we are in. Thanks so much for reading over the years. If there are particular topics regarding books or home education you are interested in learning more about, please feel free to post in the comments. Hopefully, you'll continue to follow along!

The Velveteen Rabbit - Remembering the Magic of Real

I recently finished reading The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams to Levi. In Williams' tale, the toys converse. One day, the Rabbit asks the Skin Horse, "What is REAL?" and wants to know if it "means having things buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

The Skin Horse replies, "Real isn't how you are made...It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Reading The Velveteen Rabbit brought a flood of memories to my mind. First off, I was remembering reading the story aloud to RileyAnn all those years ago. I had never heard of The Velveteen Rabbit prior to that time, but immediately fell in love with the nursery magic of Real. Secondly, I was thinking about an estate sale we hosted last fall, where there were so many beloved toys that must have been Real at some point to some very special children.

I specifically remember the daughter (now in her fifties) walking me through the house before we agreed to the job. She pointed out Huckleberry Hound and told me her brother received him as a gift when he had a childhood ailment. Huckleberry had clearly seen better days. His "velveteen" fur was very dirty and worn. He had a hole in his ankle where an inner spring showed through. Some may have looked at Huckleberry Hound and threw him in the dumpster, but this woman knew the magic called Real that existed for him and her brother, who had since passed away. I also knew someone would see the specialness of Huckleberry and want to take him home....which they did.

Professor Carol Reynolds talks about looking for beauty in the small everyday things around you. Often times, we come across things while staging the house for a sale that are new to us. Some beautiful and some not so much. RileyAnn will tell you that every old lady has a collection, whether it be snow globes, doilies, dolls, or dishes. And, if they've lived through The Great Depression, they are savers of everything!....especially Cool Whip containers and Tupperware. We have had many a giggle over these small treasures.

Part of the reason we took that sale last fall, was because there were so many everyday things and books in every room. I could feel the house that built this family. The father was a university professor who died suddenly one day while mowing the yard. The mother was widowed for over thirty years before developing some dementia and moving in with a daughter in another state. It was obvious her world stopped the day her husband passed on, as walking through the house was a time warp back to the early 1980's.

I grew up in the 70's and 80's so a flood of emotion washed over me many days while we worked and prepared for the sale. There were toys I had as a child and books that we've read as a family. By the time the sale came, my kids had heard countless stories from my childhood that I had all but forgotten before being prompted by some item or another. It was a special time.

Then the actual sale date came. Not only did I experience waves of memories, but so did many of our customers. Time and again, we heard people say after walking through the house that it was like going home to the days of their youth. It was absolutely joyous to hear stories from people I had never met before, but yet had some new found connection with. We laughed and there was even a few tears. People purchased items simply because they brought back a memory of days gone by.

Cindy Rollins talks about remembrance and the importance of making and sharing memories with our children. Everyone of these sales we do provides an opportunity for time spent with my children creating memories. Being able to work with my kids throughout this process was amazing! Through the people and the stories, we made memories. We have since moved on to another estate, but no less memorable.

All this to say, whether in work or maybe just the mundane of everyday, you have an amazing opportunity to create special moments with your children. And, don't feel guilty giving your child time to play because you never know which thing will spark the magic of Real.

February 2019 Randomness...

It's been a wild week here on Drywood Creek! We had two major snow storms (about 15" total accumulation) and a very nasty stomach bug that took out all five of us. Thankfully, it was a fast mover and everyone seems to be on the mend.

We have one week left of our Winter Term. I'll be working on wrap-up posts after that time. One thing I will share now is that a couple of weeks ago, I did a major overall to Levi's curriculum and opted to begin Memoria Press's First Start Reading series. I will explain more in a future post, once we get our bearings. For now, I am pleased and we are off to a great start. If something isn't working for you, don't be afraid to switch it up...even if it is the middle of the academic year.

Have you heard about Common Place Quarterly? It's a new magazine written for Charlotte Mason moms. There are a variety of contributors, all current or former homeschooling mamas. Many of which, I've had the privilege of getting to know through a variety of home education circles and social media. The magazine will be published four times per year. You can subscribe per quarter or annually.

At the end of last year, I subscribed to three new ventures. One being Commonplace Quarterly, another Reshelving Alexandria, and the third, Forma. My first CPQ came mid week, just before I was the last to fall to the stomach bug. It was the light at the end of my very dark tunnel, after having a week of sick kids, including The Farmer, and then succumbing to it myself. I was in bed most of the day Friday, but so very thankful for my new magazine. It's delightful!! I'm still on the fence about Reshelving Alexandria and haven't received my first Forma magazine yet, but CPQ is a hit. I'm glad I ordered the annual subscription and may do a full review at another time.

I mentioned in my Fall Term 2018-2019 Wrap-Up that Ruben was in a farm accident the day after Thanksgiving. He was recovering nicely until Christmas time, when a staph infection caught hold of his leg. It's a rather long story at this point, but thankfully his infection has cleared. Unfortunately, he still has two drains in his thigh to eliminate fluid from that area. What we originally thought to be a hematoma, turned out to be a morel-lavallee lesion. This is where the skin shears from the muscle. Naturally, if there's any pocket in the body, it fills with fluid. In order for the skin to adhere back to the muscle, we must keep the pocket empty, not allowing fluid to collect there. Ruben has drained over five liters of fluid from his leg since Christmas and will continue to wear drains until his his output is minimal. We are hopeful that he will continue to heal. Please consider joining us in prayer that Ruben may make a full recovery.

Here he is dressed like a cross between The Michelin Man and a ninja heading out in the sub zero temps we had a couple weeks ago as part of the polar vortex that rocked the Midwest.

Lastly, with the cold, snowy weather, and sickness, I had some time to work through my inbox, reading past blog posts, and listening to various podcasts. Here are a few that gave me food for thought....

What is the Classical Approach to Phonics?

Homeschooling Middle School Boys

Why Gender Matters: An Interview with Dr. Leonard Sax

Charlotte Mason is Classical

Beautiful Feet Books new website

Worthwhile Questions

Misunderstandings, Writing Voices, and Five-Paragraph Essays

Shut Your Mouth and Change Your Life

I also recently finished reading Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and am currently reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. How is your Winter Term going? Have you read any good books lately? Feel free to share in the comments below. If you're in need of some great living books, check out our sale lists. Proceeds go to help our family continue to home educate and provide shared content for the greater homeschool community.

Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas from Drywood Creek.

May you be awestruck at the coming of the Christ child and have a peace filled New Year!

Back to School and Other Musings....

I've been neglecting this blog while trying to remain present in real life. I feel like I should apologize and yet I won't. My kids are blossoming before my eyes and I don't want to miss a thing. My mom passed away at age 59. Life can be short! This is us celebrating her mom's 99th birthday in August. Why Grandma Della was given 40 more years than her daughter is something I'll never know. I also have no idea how much time I have here in this life. No matter, I do know that whatever my time here in this life, I want it said that I am present and not a slave to social media. I have made that mistake in the past and reaped the consequences. So there is my explanation on absence without apology....smile!

There will be future posts. I can't wait to share a follow-up on my Summer Mother Culture and Schole, as well as thoughts on our new CM Study book. Next week will be our first High School Community gathering, which I've been busy prepping for. I will let you know how it goes. We started back to school two weeks ago. There have been bumps along the way, but for the most part things are settling in. The second week was better than the first, which is a good sign. I am also working through blog posts on our curricula and book choices so stay tuned to future posts.

For now, I am relishing in my children and the final fading days of summer. RileyAnn turns 15 tomorrow!! I cannot believe it. She is a dear friend and such a gift to me. Ruben is growing steadily and has passed me in height. His journey to manhood has begun. Levi brings joy. His sweet spirit is balm on those less than stellar days. Overall, I am blessed and looking forward to all that the future holds.

Reflecting on the Past Few Months - A Life Update....

It's been some time since I've done any serious blogging here on Drywood Creek. Our days have been full. I have had many words, but not time to pen them. I have words on the final chapters of Charlotte Mason's Vol. 1, Home Education. I have words on our new CM Study Group read, The Liberal Arts Tradition by Clark and Jain. I have words on Classical Education in general as I poke and ponder a variety of sources.

Winter has been extremely long here on Drywood Creek. April has been one of the coldest on record. There have been times of mourning over the long cold winter as we lost many loved ones, including The Farmer's beloved mother, his aunt, two of my great-aunts, cousins, and friends. Just this week, the sun finally began to show it's warmth. It feels like we're turning a corner.

There have also been times of joy over the past few months. Our dear son, Ruben, celebrated his 13th birthday at the beginning of April. All of the kids are growing at rapid speed. It is bittersweet. I am so thankful for their health and wellness. It's a gift to watch them mature. On the other hand, I know these days are fleeting fast and I'm working very hard on being present. I don't want to miss a thing.

We also have about thirty new calves here on Drywood Creek, of course, many of them were born in the bitter cold. It takes time and a great deal of nurturing to winter babies. Many life lessons have been learned.

Speaking of lessons, we have continued our academic studies. The kids are down to three weeks left of the 2017-2018 school year. I will be blogging soon about our third term, the hits and misses. I've also been planning a bit for next year. I will once again have three students as Levi enters Year 1. RileyAnn will enter 9th grade and Ruben 8th. Where or where do those years go?!!

Lastly, I was privileged to attend the Midwest Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, OH for the third year in a row. I attended many speaker workshops and am working on a post to report what I learned. So stay tuned! I intend to begin blogging again soon!

In the meantime, please check out our updated book sale lists. There is much goodness there that I'd love to get in the hands of other home educators.

Reflections On A Life Well Lived...

We laid Orpha, my dear mother-in-law, to rest this weekend. It was bittersweet. Bitter for those of us left mourning our loss. Sweet for her, as she was one of the strongest Christian women I knew and I believe she has met her maker. I love the picture above of her and Steve at a family reunion in 2009.

Over the years, I have learned a great deal from Orpha. Her faith was her foundation in life. She lost her mother when she was five years old and her father when she was thirteen. Her older sister raised Orpha and her younger brother into adulthood and forever after became a surrogate mother. Though she didn't have a great deal of memories of her mother, Orpha talked ever so fondly of her father before his passing. His response to all things was prayer.

In 1950, Orpha married Philip, a Godly man and the love of her life. They went on to have nine children. One of which died at age two from a ruptured appendix after being sent home from the doctor with a stomach flu diagnosis and only a month before her baby number five was born. What a trying time that must have been! Yet, their faith remained steadfast. Something that really struck me on the day of her death, is when we were gathered at her bedside and one of her sons shared that in all his years, not once did his mother and father have a fight/disagreement/argument in front of the children. Amazingly, each child attested to it and had the same memory. Orpha and Philip loved and respected each other like no other.

During her years, Orpha never drove. She was dependent on Philip for a ride. He did most of the shopping so her outings consisted of church two times a week and family gatherings. Day in and day out, she lived on a very meager farmer's wife budget, cooking, baking, washing, and cleaning for their large family. And her children claim, she never worried. Orpha believed the Lord would provide and did he ever! They have story upon story of His provisions, especially through Philip's major illnesses. The children are adamant that she prayed daily for them and their safety because on a farm, there is plenty to get in to and they remained safe. They even talked about the pine boards upstairs in the farm house by her bed being worn from years of her kneeling knees. In spite of her days at home, she was never alone. Her God and family kept her company.

In 1999, the sister that acted as mother to Orpha died. Then Philip passed away in January of 2000. Orpha's been widowed for many years, but family and friends continued to stop by the farm, bringing in supplies and giving her rides to church, which was the highlight of her week. In April of 2005, just two days before our son, Ruben, was born, one of Orpha's daughter's lost her battle with cancer. She was no stranger to loss, but again her faith sustained her. Orpha spent hours with her bible, reading and underlining meaningful passages. She played piano at home and church up to about a year ago. Often times, when the kids would run across the field to visit grandma, she'd be at the piano playing hymns. They'd tell me how they'd sneak in and listen quietly to her beautiful tunes.

About three years ago, at age 91, Orpha moved off the farm and in with one of her daughters. The kids nearly didn't know what to do with themselves when they couldn't walk over to grandma's every day. Orpha was gentle, peaceful, and content. She and Philip opened their home to anyone in need. Even though they didn't have much, they knew with God, it was always enough. My cousins described her as a "storybook grandma". She showed a great love for her family, as well as the Lord, always sharing photos and telling stories of various family members and days gone by. And, she made the best wheat buns I've ever had in my life! We all missed her greatly when she left. But most of all, I missed her witnessing and testimony. She was a very intelligent lady with much wisdom and a tremendous inspiration to my faith.

On December 29, 2017, we spent our last Christmas with Orpha. On January 1, 2018, she went to the hospital with pneumonia, eventually congestive heart failure set in. On January 15th, she decided not to continue treatments because at 94-years old she was tired. Her daughter tried to bring her home on January 18th for hospice care, but when they started unhooking things, it was apparent she wouldn't make the ride and needed to stay just a few more hours at the hospital. Calls were made and all of her children, their spouses, and grandchildren, all but two, plus most of the great-grandchildren gathered at her bedside. What a testament to her love giving life!

One of Orpha's last wishes was that her family would read Scripture to her, particularly Psalm 23, when she no longer could. As the day went on, a couple of her sons took turns reading it, as well as other passages she had underlined in her Bible over the years. Her kids also played piano hymns by her ear from their cell phones. It seemed to calm her. Right about 6:30 p.m., that evening, one of the grand kids suggested we all sing Amazing Grace. While we sang, Orpha took her last breath. If death can be beautiful, this was it. It definitely lost its sting that day. It was so surreal, unlike anything I've seen and I have seen death more than once. A child finally meeting her Father after a life well lived for Him.

I'm still processing it all, but of all the things that stick out, none are stronger than Orpha's unwavering faith. It sustained her in life and death. Life surely gave Orpha her fair share of adversity, but she never let it get her down. She always found time to read her bible and allowed the Lord to see her through. Seeing her open her eyes at the end and take those last breaths during our singing of that hymn, has forever changed me.

I've since been reflecting on what matters most. What is it I want my kids to remember on my death bed? Morbid?, maybe, but really what is the end goal of life, including this whole home education thing. What will my legacy be? In the end, for Orpha, there was never a mention of any books they read, other than the bible, lesson plans or homework assignments. It was about her faith and the wisdom and love she bestowed upon her children because of it. 

One thing I know for sure is that every day is a cause for celebration. And, I hope when I'm having a bad day, I will reach for my bible. Plain and simple, put the other books away and get out my bible. Sing hymns and read the bible. Orpha lived a good life and made a huge impression on me because of her faith. Like I said, I'm still thinking about all of this as it is so fresh in my mind. Faith and family were key components in Orpha's life. She left a tremendous legacy for her children and I want that for my children as well. 

Reflecting On My 2017 Literary Accomplishments...

I've been looking back at the books I read in 2017. Most of my reading was books read aloud to the kids for academic purposes. I did manage a couple for Mother Culture, but not as many as I'd hoped. However, this seems to be a reoccurring theme over the past few years as it's the season I'm in. I am learning to adjust my reading habits and savor the slow reads. Here are the books I read in 2017....

School Reading

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Julius Caesar by Shakespeare
Alexander the Great by John Gunther
The Story of the Ancient World by H.A. Guerber, reprinted Christine Miller
Genesis: Finding Our Roots by Ruth Beechick
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire
The Golden Days of Greece by Olivia Coolidge
The Trojan War by Olivia Coolidge
Cleopatra by Diane Stanley
Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
City by David Macaulay
Birds of the Air by Arabella Buckley
Plant Life in Field and Garden by Arabella Buckley
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick
An Illustrated Adventure in Human Anatomy by Kate Sweeney
Exploring the History of Medicine by John Hudson Tiner
How To Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury
Beowulf by Micheal Morpurgo
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green
Black Fox of Lorne by Marguerite de Angeli
The Pied Piper of Hamlin by Robert Browning
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle
Magna Carta by C. W. Hodges

Mother Culture

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Consider This by Karen Glass
Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins
Home Education, Vol. 1 by Charlotte Mason - Though I read the majority in 2017, this will carry over to 2018

In addition, I read a passel of picture books throughout the year.

Overall, I enjoyed all of the Mother Culture titles immensely. My top five School Reading books were, in no particular order, Oliver Twist, Augustus Caesar's World, The Bronze Bow, Beowulf, and Black Fox of Lorne. I was a little disappointed with Genesis: Finding Our Roots. I'm a huge Ruth Beechick fan and had been looking forward to reading this book for some time. Though there were some interesting facts, the book felt long and drawn out. It wasn't as living as I expected. All in all, it was a good year. I look forward to the possibility of more Mother Culture in 2018!

Christmas 2017 Reflections...

We've been singing a new carol weekly throughout this Advent season and reciting Christmas poetry. The presents are wrapped and the cookies are baked. As we wait in anticipation for the coming of the Christ child, I'd like to share reflections our children sent to family and friends in this year's Christmas letter...

By: Levi

     I’m in Kindergarten this year and loving it! I participated in a 4-week science class where we learned kitchen chemistry. I like helping dad, Ruben, and Uncle Roger around the farm. This summer, I picked rock. I’ve also been feeding the cattle and getting wood. I like helping Riley and mom cook and bake too. This fall, I made apple and pumpkin pies. I just lost my two bottom front teeth. I hope new ones grow back. I really like our dogs. Their names are Elsa and Anna. And, I like to read books!

By: Ruben

     This year, I participated in archery, air rifle, and trap shooting through 4-H and received several awards. I’m in 7^th grade. I work around the farm with dad and work off the farm helping neighbors. I enjoy fixing cars and 4-wheelers. I also love to hunt and fish. I would rather be outdoors than in. I went to Louisville, KY in January with my mom for a [CiRCE] conference. I saw the giant Louisville Slugger bat.

By: Riley

     I’m in 8^th grade. This year, I played softball and shot archery. I entered some art work in the fair through 4-H for the first time and I received two blue ribbons. I have several jobs outside our home, including: rag weeding, babysitting, and house cleaning. I also help around the farm making wood, picking rock, and haying. I enjoy baking, watching the Packers, being outside, reading, and playing with my brothers. One of my favorite adventures this year was fishing and kayaking on Chequamegon Bay. 

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year!

Steve, Melissa, Riley, Ruben, and Levi

A Thanksgiving of Remembrance...

Over the past couple of months, I've been reflecting on Cindy Rollins' talk, Charlotte Mason in Real Life: Courage for the Long Haul, at the Journey: An Education for Life retreat. In relation to Charlotte Mason's motto, Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life, Rollins talked about Freedom, Remembrance, and Contentment. I've been thinking mostly about Remembrance this Thanksgiving Season.

As Levi and I were cleaning out our gifted pumpkins, I was remembering a time when my grandpa planted pumpkins in his garden at the farm. The farm where I grew up was his farm, where my mom also grew up. Back in the 1980's, my family was living on that farm as my parents took over when grandpa and grandma built a new house and moved to town. However, every week day, grandpa would travel to the farm to tend his garden, help my parents in the field, cut wood, or whatever other task presented itself.

Then in the fall, he would harvest his pumpkins and take them to town to grandma. He would help grandma split them open, clean out the "guts", and peel them. Next, grandma would cook them down, puree them, and make pies, freezing any extra pumpkin to be used for pies at other holidays throughout the year. Sometimes, my mom and I would go to town and help. Of course, grandma would always send us home with a pie, which I'm sure my mom knew.

Not only were the pumpkins homegrown, but the lard for the pie crust was rendered from a hog that had been butchered. Oh, how I love pie crust from home rendered lard! Grandma would use the crust scraps to make "buckles". A process where she took the strips and sprinkled them with sugar and cinnamon, baking them into sheer pleasure and delicious goodness.

Now, it just so happened that I had a bit of that home rendered lard left in my freezer from days gone past. I figured there was no better time than the present to break it out and make pies with Levi. So we split open those pumpkins, cleaned out the guts, and peeled them. I then cooked them down and pureed them just like grandma did. We yielded eight pints.

Next, we thawed our lard and started in on the crust, of course, using grandma's recipe. We measured, poured, kneaded, and rolled. Throughout the process, I talked about grandma. Riley and Ruben eventually joined us. I told the kids how I loved to snitch the crust before it was baked and how grandma let me. I told them about the buckles. I told them about my mom and my grandpa, who have both since passed away before they knew them. The kids listened intently as remembrance passed between us. 

I am obviously no longer a child though it seems like only yesterday. Every year that goes by, I understand the importance of this remembrance. Our children long to know. They want to feel a sense of belonging. They need to be tethered. Sharing these stories and family traditions is so important, particularly in this narcissistic culture we live. After all, if you have no tie to the past, you can only think of self as you look to the future. 

On the eve of this Thanksgiving, I am looking back in thankfulness for days gone by. For a family with rhythm and tradition. I am thankful for a heritage of remembrance to leave with my children. Together, the kids and I cranked out three pumpkin pies and one dutch apple. We also froze six pints of pumpkin for future pies, just like grandma did. We can't wait to sink our teeth into those pies, but more importantly we remembered the past and created a memory for future. Hopefully, one day my children will look back and tell their children how grandpa grew pumpkins and grandma made pie. 

Vacation as Education on a Tight Budget....

We were very fortunate to start the school year off with a mini vacation in the northern part of our state and the neighboring state. There were waterfalls and a water park. We also spent a couple nights at a cabin on Chequamegon Bay, part of Lake Superior.  To some it may not be much, but to us it was a very big deal since we don't have opportunities like this often. I always wonder what it's like for those that set out for a year or more at a time, traversing the globe. For our family, travel mostly happens through books, but on those rare occasions when we do get out, there is much learning to be done.

Traveling on a budget takes some planning, but it is entirely possible. Thankfully, for the internet, one can do much of the legwork ahead of time. To begin, I find a destination. Once I have a goal in mind, it's easier to plan the steps to get there. Next, I look for lodging. I do check a variety of hotels, but don't stop there. I also look into Air B&B's, campgrounds and resorts with cabins, and misc. rentals, which can often be found on Craigslist. I do a lot of calling around and definitely attempt negotiations. Most often in the off season or if there is not some major event happening in the region, lodging reps will offer discounted rates, particularly if you're staying more than one night. After Labor Day and back to school is a great time to travel, because for most, it's considered the off season.

When choosing lodging, I also consider things like whether or not there's free parking, wi-fi, a swimming pool, microwave, refrigerator, and continental breakfast. I always ask about room set up. On our latest trip, the hotel had a wet bar in the room, which was a counter top with an extra sink, microwave, and refrigerator. This allowed me an area to make meals and clean up in the room.

A few years back, we invested in an electric cooler than can be used as a refrigerator. It plugs into the van and has an adapter to fit a regular electrical outlet once in the hotel. We are then able to pack food or at least stop at the grocery store on the way. It's much cheaper to make your own meals or eat out of a grocery store deli than a restaurant three times a day. We travel with this electric cooler and an electric frying pan, making meals as we go. Continental breakfast is also a bonus because it's a free meal...well, you pay for it with your room stay, but I mean it's not an over and above charge.

Once we have a destination, lodging, and food sources in line, I look at our budget to determine which attractions we'd like to see. Part of finding a destination also has to do with attractions, but finalizing these plans comes after making sure there is lodging and food within our means within that area. We are not a touristy type family so theme parks are not usually our idea of fun. We much prefer to get off the beaten trail. We enjoy scenery and wildlife so mountains, prairies, waterfalls, and geysers are intriguing. We also have a great love of history so museums or historic festivals are a delight. Book store and thrift shop stops are an absolute must! You never know what new treasure you will find.

Some of the sites we saw on our trip up north in early September were Pattison State Park, Amnicon Falls State Park, Lake Superior, Canal Park and the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor's Center - Army Corp of Engineers in Duluth, MN, and Chequamegon Bay. We looked at the falls at Pattison and Amnicon on the same day since they are only a few miles apart. This allowed us to buy only one entrance pass that was good at all State Parks in WI for the day. The Maritime Visitor's Center was awesome and free. We observed many new things regarding the history and science of ships and The Great Lakes. While there, we saw two major ships in Canal Park, the Walter J. McCarthy Jr., which is 1000 ft long, heading out to sea, and the Herbert C. Jackson, which is 690 ft long, coming into to dock. We also saw the Aerial Lift Bridge go up and down for each ship. It was amazing!

When planning our itinerary, I purposely plan loosely. You never know when you will come upon something of interest off that beaten trail and we want to be sure to have time to explore. Heavy scheduling while on vacation is not my idea of rest and relaxation. We like the freedom to be flexible. As a matter of fact, the Maritime Center noted above was not planned. We happened upon it quite by accident and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.

If we are traveling long distances, I typically book lodging in advance for the first night, but sometimes not the nights thereafter. This gives us freedom to stay an extra night if something trips our trigger. Also, we are not tied down to traveling a certain number of miles to the next destination. That way, if we see something of interest along the way, we can stop. Or, if a kid has behavior issues or someone gets sick (it does happen, ask me how I know) again, you're not committed to being somewhere by a specific time. To some, this may seem fly by night, but for us, it has proved valuable.

Traveling provides many excellent means to educate. Hands on learning may be the most significant of these. It's one thing to read the fabulous book, Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling, but quite another to actually see a Great Lake. When reading about a 1000 ft ship, one can imagine what that might look like, but seeing it in real life up close gives a whole new perspective. Seeing animals in their natural habitat is nothing like reading about them. Although, reading helps us to better understand what we are seeing. There are many benefits to educating through a vacation and it is totally possible on a tight budget.

Reflections - Summer Edition 5...

At Home

Summer is flying by! Riley's softball is done. Ruben's trap shooting has ended. The garden is producing. Home education planning is in progress.

I'm also in the process of writing two talks for the Journey: An Education for Life retreat with Cindy Rollins. Early bird registration ends today so don't delay! You can find more information and register here.

There are still many wonderful books available on our sale lists if you're in need of a good read. The history and lit lists are fabulous! I just love rescuing old books and getting them in the hands of appreciation. Riley and I attended a local annual library sale this week. Check out a small portion of our cache here.

Speaking of Riley, she cut nearly 12 inches of hair yesterday and donated to Locks of Love. Her new do is stunning!

Around the Web

This week, I listened to Mystie Winckler's Why I Love Interval Planning webinar. I really like the idea of planning in smaller chunks. It makes the task of doing seem more manageable.

I'm delighting in Instagram. I'm visual and love photography so it's a win/win! If you're on IG, come join me at https://www.instagram.com/melissaondrywoodcreek/

I appreciated AO with the Less Academic Child, Revisited by Brandy at Afterthoughts this week. I have a child who learns differently so I'm always looking for ways and means to meet him where he's at.

On My Shelf

Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry - It's a small book, but still overdue from the library. I haven't had a lot of reading time this summer. However, I'm nearing the end and hoping to finish this weekend. So far, it's worth the fine ;-)

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - I heard this is going to be the next Close Reads book and I've been wanting to read it for some time. This gives me an excuse to move it to my bedside pile.

Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins - Our CM Study Group has decided to take a hiatus from Home Education by Charlotte Mason to read Cindy's book before the upcoming Journey: An Education for Life retreat. I'm really looking forward to it!

The Adventures of Lightfoot the Deer by Thornton Burgess - I'm reading this aloud to Levi. It's his first chapter book and first Burgess book. We only have one chapter left and he's loving it.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings - This has been on my want to read list for years, but I wanted to wait for the right time with the kids. I finally started reading it aloud earlier this summer, but sadly due to our busy life, we haven't gotten back to it. However, I'm going to be very intentional in the coming months about reading it. Since evenings have been scheduled, maybe it will become a morning time read.

What's on your shelf?

Reflections - Summer Edition 4....

At Home

Boys on bikes...that's what summer has been about here on Drywood Creek. We haven't had many lazy days as we've been on the run, but the time we do spend at home, the kids are riding, running, romping, and roaming wild and free. It's great! Today, Levi found a turtle...

Riley's garden looks and tastes great! Also, the cat had four kittens since the last Summer Edition Reflections....

Academic planning continues. Saturday, I met with my fellow CM Study Moms for a homeschool planning day. It's great to have sisters schooling in common! We were able to discuss books and schedules over a delightful breakfast and lunch uninterrupted. I'm hoping to post some of our 2017-2018 home education plans by mid August.

I've also been updating sale book lists and will be posting new lists later this week.

Today, a friend and I traveled a bit for a two hour CM Middle and High School Mentoring Session. We looked at PNEU schedules for Form III and up.

Lastly, I'm continuing to work on Journey: An Education for Life, a new Classical Charlotte Mason inspired retreat in WI. Cindy Rollins, author of Mere Motherhood, is our guest speaker. There are still seats left, but early bird registration does end Aug. 12th, so don't delay in saving your seat!

Around the Web

I'm now on Instagram. Check it out here! It's been fun sharing photos and misc. CM quotes.

Weekly Reflections - Summer Edition 3

At Home

I think it's been weeks since I've posted an update of happenings here on Drywood Creek. Let's just say, it's been plain busy! Riley has been playing softball. Ruben has been shooting trap. They've both been working multiple jobs, which requires me to transport them to and fro.

Our little man had a birthday and sister made him a cake with a tractor, of course...

Speaking of sister, the garden is looking great thanks to RileyAnn. Although it was 90-degrees and humid today, she was pulling weeds like crazy! We've harvested lettuce, radishes, banana peppers and a couple yellow cherry tomatoes so far. Sadly, the tomatoes Levi and I started from seed didn't transplant well as none of them survived. However, I had some red potatoes going to seed so I cooked enough for a meal and we planted the rest in the lost tomato row. Lo and behold, they are growing! Oddly, with the unseasonably wet spring, it took the carrots six weeks to sprout and the cucumbers never did show. Everything else is coming along well...

Oh, and the kids are patiently waiting for Blackberry, the pregnant cat, to birth kittens...

Regarding school planning, most of the resources have arrived and are waiting for me to schedule them. Last week, we tore the school room apart. We built a new shelf in the hope of adding space, but time ran out and I don't have things put back together yet. I need to get organized before I can truly sit down and schedule our school plan. In the current state, it's like trying to sort chaos among chaos. Hopefully, if things are in their place, I can sort chaos among order, which seems a little more manageable, if you know what I mean.

Around the Web

I really haven't spent much time on the computer lately. It was actually not even turned on for two days straight, which never happens! This is partly due to a recent revelation. I saw my kids growing up in a flash and it dawned on me that these days with them are more important than screen time so I have been intentionally trying to spend them as such.  It's about mid summer here on Drywood Creek and I don't want to miss a thing!

Weekly Reflections - Summer Edition 2....

Wet Weather Tramps. - But what about the wet days? The fact is, that rain, unless of the heaviest, does the children no harm at all if they are suitably clothed... (Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, Home Education, p. 87)

At Home

It's been raining off and on every day for the past couple of weeks. So, of course, Levi's been playing in it. When I read the above passage as part of my Vol. 1 study, I just had to smile. The rain sure is helping the garden grow!

Around the Web

I appreciate the thoughtfulness and tone in Was Charlotte Mason a Classical Educator?, written by a dear friend and local home educator. Heather is a member of my CM Study Group and her words have given me much to wrestle with.

Did you see? Simply Charlotte Mason is reprinting Charlotte Mason's six volume set. My 'pinks' are falling apart, but I still cherish them!

Mystie's been working on her 2017-2018 school plans. She began this month with reviewing plans from last year in Homeschooling Middle School Boys... and Elementary Kids.  Then she moved into creating her 2017-2018 Overview as well as Morning Time.  I look forward to seeing her finalized plans. I'm in the process of working through auditing last year and want to tie up some ends before starting to plan for the upcoming year.

Lisa Kelly spoke my language in Why Study Nature? I've been doing a ton of research on science and nature study, as I'm thinking very seriously about beginning a nature study club in the 2017-2018 academic year. Lisa lays a very good case for adding nature study to our schedules.

Lastly, Nancy Kelly shared a booklist from Susan Shaeffer Macaulay at Sage Parnassus. I'm a real sucker for book lists, so I was eager to click and print this one.