Paper Trail
We are a hiking and backpacking family now. (The boys are still homeschooling and using the same curriculum.) I started a journey to better health on January 1, 2013, and … Continue reading
Learning Update
It has been a long time since I’ve posted as I am out of the habit of blogging. Hunter is in 5th grade and Chandler is in 3rd grade this … Continue reading
Graphic Novel Marathon
Both boys are reading for hours this week and staying up until nearly midnight some nights because they want to read. They are reading in the car and complaining when … Continue reading
Girls Weekend
I am enjoying at girls weekend at the coast. The weather is fabulous! It was 64 degrees and sunny yesterday and forecasted to be the same today. We took a … Continue reading
Independence
One of our big goals this year is more independence for the boys. More independence in their learning, and more independence around the house. So far this school year, the … Continue reading
Survival Science
I am preparing for our Survival Science class this week. Kelly is teaching about knots, para-cord and simple shelters. I am noting some details from this article below. The three … Continue reading
Schedule Changes for 2014
I am still blogging about homeschooling on Wonder in the Woods, but I’ve met the photo limit of 3 gigs. I really don’t want to pay $20.00 per year forevermore … Continue reading
Merry Christmas
We are enjoying the peace of the Christmas season. Kelly is working extra days and the boys and I are preparing for our family Christmas. We put on our favorite … Continue reading
Train Trip
Chandler and I went by rail to Portland. We met up with my friends from high school and I haven’t seen them for 25 years! Has it really been that … Continue reading
Path Through Forest
Claude Monet (French, Impressionism, 1840-1926): Path through the Forest, Snow Effect; 1870.
Italian Meatballs
Last night, we played the Guess Who? game. Everyone wrote something nice about everyone in the room on separate slips of paper, then put the notes in each person’s cup. … Continue reading
New Schedule
This is our first day learning in our new classroom and it was a success. The boys did their Teaching Textbooks on their own first, then we moved the table … Continue reading
Pattern
Some believe the slumber Of trees is in December When timber’s naked under sky And squirrel keeps his chamber. But I believe their fibres Awake to life and labour When … Continue reading
Classroom Tour
Today I donated 89 books and tomorrow I will likely find more books to pass along. I’m also selling the K-3 curricula that we are not using. I have many … Continue reading
Our Classroom
I moved our classroom from the dining room to the spare bedroom. Tomorrow I will move the main bookcase into this room and reorganize the game cabinet. We have many … Continue reading
Everything Else
Charlotte Mason School: I wrote a 4 part series about what we are doing and learning in CM School. Family: My sister’s son visited us in October. The boys loved … Continue reading
New CM Schedule
Edited 11/17/2013 This is our new schedule for Charlotte Mason school that we will follow until Christmas. We are going to work on handicrafts while listening to a read-alouds. 10:00 … Continue reading
How We Do CM Part 4
Continuing the series by explaining how we do composer study, Shakespeare, handicrafts, drama, and the schedule that works for us. How We Do CM Part 1 — Poetry, Art, Picture … Continue reading
How We Do CM Part 3
Continuing the series by explaining how we do history, geography, map work, narration and copywork. How We Do CM Part 1 — Poetry, Art, Picture Study How We Do CM … Continue reading
How We Do CM Part 2
Continuing the post from yesterday — How We Do CM Part 1 RSO Life Science and Nature Study: We wanted to do nature study Charlotte Mason style, like “Handbook of … Continue reading
How We Do CM Part 1
After a rocky start, we successfully completed our first term this year! This year started with me recovering from homeschool burnout and almost throwing in the towel. My friend Liz … Continue reading
Homeschooling Devices
My Mom and Kelly got me an iPhone5 for my birthday last month. My friend told me it would change my life but I wasn’t sure how, exactly. Now I’m … Continue reading
Beautiful Creature
We had an opportunity to learn from this beautiful barn owl before it was returned to nature.
End of Summer
We finished week two of homeschooling. All of us are feeling renewed enthusiasm for homeschooling. I’m glad we started early. After touring the school and talking to other people about our local … Continue reading
Evernote for Homeschool
I’m thinking of using Evernote to keep notes about what we learn. More ideas from Evernote blog.
Swimming
Both boys are swimming like fish this summer. Chandler learned to swim in the deep end and across long lengths. Both boys learned to dive head first. Chandler is doing … Continue reading
Summer Term
I am using the Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing book from Simply Charlotte Mason too. Both boys are doing Teaching Textbooks 5. I am switching from Singapore math before … Continue reading
Simplicity and Purpose
Last night our little co-op had a great planning meeting. We have a solid plan for the summer term. I’m excited! I enjoyed talking with my friend until late in … Continue reading
4th of July
We had a great time on the 4th of July. The boys got to light fireworks for the first time this year. Kelly got a fun assortment from a generous … Continue reading
Cookie Hen
We have a hen that is not doing so well today. We think it is old age, but Hunter is trying to nurse her back to good health. It is … Continue reading
Exploring Summer
The weather has finally turned HOT. In the last three days we’ve been to the river, the lake and the pool. A heat wave is upon us but we can … Continue reading
7 Times Around the Sun
In a few days Chandler will be 7 years old! Where does the time go? He got a trampoline for his birthday, a bit early. It’s a great summer for … Continue reading
Punch Needle Shapes
This project isn’t really my style, but I wanted to figure out how to do the shapes and spacing to get the correct gauge. The small diamond does not look … Continue reading
Preserving Strawberries
Fresh picked Oregon strawberries are so good. Kelly is preserving them in our Excaliber dehydrator. Our house smells divine. Half of a strawberry turns out paper-thin. No sugar added! Kelly … Continue reading
Father’s Day
Jackson Frazier Wetlands ~ Bob Frenkel Boardwalk Poison Oak Water Parsley (oenanthe sarmentosa) Rose Hips from Nootka Rose Nootka Rose (rosa nutkana) Spirea Hardhack (spiraea douglasii)
One Year Later
What a difference a year makes! We had Hunter tested in May of last year. This year I gave him a Basic Skills test at home by following the script … Continue reading
Whole 30 Update
I have good news! My cholesterol is good, which is totally surprising because I’ve gone against conventional dietary recommendations since January 1st. My cholesterol was 240 in January 2011. This … Continue reading
Roses, Books & Things
Every Tuesday this month, a lovely group of ladies are coming to our house to watch and discuss the Books and Things DVD. I’m surprised by how much I need … Continue reading
Handicrafts 2013-2014
Ideas for Charlottte Mason School Co-op: Rag Rugs — plastic bags, sheets, T-shirts or fabric scraps — crochet or braided/hand-stitched Paracord Rope Clip or Friendship Bracelets — carribeener, paracord, knots, … Continue reading
Falling Down
Our house is 113 years old. I don’t know the age of the fences and outbuildings. They are falling down now. We have a lot of work to do this … Continue reading
Charlotte Mason Seminar
On Saturday we enjoyed nearly a full day of a Charlotte Mason seminar and a tea party. The weather was beautiful! The conversation was great. Everyone shared with each other … Continue reading
Summer Term 2013
Planning four terms for the 2013-2014 school year — Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Each term is 5 weeks with 3 field trips, for a total of 8 weeks. This is … Continue reading
Tea Party
I’m hosting a tea party this month for my Charlotte Mason friends. It is an all day affair and we will also watch the All Day Seminar from Simply Charlotte … Continue reading
Reading A-Z
How about some homeschooling posts? ha! This year we discovered Reading A-Z books. I bought the one year subscription so we can download or print as many books as we … Continue reading
Losing and Gaining
I feel so much better — like a new person! My blood pressure is normal (for me) again– 130 something over the 70s or 80s. The boys and I check … Continue reading
Grama’s Garden
It’s the time of year when I think about planting and gardening and this year I’m doing it! I’m wishing for winter to be over and for everything to bloom … Continue reading
Spring Planting
This is our first year to have an early spring garden. The raised bed Square Foot Garden worked so well last year and was easy to prepare again this year. … Continue reading
Core Knowledge
I had a lovely email chat with an old blogging friend who lives all the way in Pennsylvania. She mentioned Core Knowledge and I had to ask since I’m hearing … Continue reading
Breakfast Cereals
I read this article today and followed the link to the Environmental Working Group’s Report. Chandler loves cereal and helps himself to it throughout the day. I try to buy … Continue reading
