Hello all! I’m settled on the porch savoring the scrumptious fall weather we are in experiencing lately. Quiet reigns as the “baby naps”, the middle two rest and listen to Beatrix Potter audios, and the oldest is pours over a text on engineering bridges. I thought I’d pop in to share the latest affairs of our household.
Sunday Tromp
After going to Mass in my polka dots, we headed home to get ready for company that evening. Well, the company canceled due to a sick child, so we ended up eating a whole pan on Pear Pandowdy on our own. So much for those last 5 pounds! Served with whipped cream, it was entirely worth it!
Husband is always one for adventure, so after quiet hour we headed out for a tromp.
I even brought a surprise tea and poetry to share with the kids in God’s great outdoors. Mom point for me!
It was beautiful, but between the waist high weeds, the swarming mosquitoes, and the sucking mud, we were ready to head home within an hour! Amazingly, everyone traveled home completely clothed. I’m embarrassed to admit that majority of the time my children have to strip down after such an excursion. It is my greatest fear that at such a time we would be caught for speeding and the trooper would be a witness to my children’s lack of clothing.
Here is a signature shot of the children running for their lives from the onslaught of mosquitoes!
We spent Monday nursing our mosquito bites and working our way through muddy laundry; all things I’m accustomed to after being married to Husband for 11 years. He is always one for a expedition which results in exhausted children and mucky clothes- the stuff of which memories are made.
2018 Planners
I’ve spent the last week putting the finishing touches on the 2018 planners. Right now, you can find the full-sized planner (great for moms) on Etsy. Later on, the half-size planner will be available too (this one is more portable). The planners combine three things very near and dear to my heart: liturgy, organization, and thrift! As always, I keep the planners reasonably priced so that everyone who wants a Catholic planner can own one.
I’m starting to think of Christmas gifts and I’m sure a few of these will make their way under the tree!
Contemplating our Homeschool Space
I happened to see Dawn’s MAGNIFICENT homeschool room the other day and it has left me contemplating our own homeschool space, which isn’t really a space at all, but, rather, miscellaneous areas spread throughout the house with most of our actual work occurring at the dining room table. I see these marvelous Montesorri-inspired homeschool spaces with open shelving and baskets (seriously, go right now and look at Dawn’s), and I can’t help but want that look for our homeschool space. Then I remember what our house looks like after the children have entertained themselves for only 15 minutes….
…and I think lovely for them, but a disaster for me!
Bear in mind this is a rather tame shot of our daily mess and does not encompass the mess strewn around our entire downstairs. Am I alone in fearing such a free-range space in my home? Or am I the only one with children who thrive on pulling out every single toy we own?
Imagine the carnage people! I’d be pulling my hair out and the children would have multiple ER visits on a monthly basis for stitches and concussions from tripping over toys! (I would LOVE to hear if any of you have been able to make a Montessori space work in your main living area with a crew of littles running around. I’m all ears!)
Regardless, it has inspired me to take another look at our home and see how I can best arrange things for beauty, comfort, efficiency, and practicality. I think we could have a little more beauty even though I’m considering keep the toys under lock and key! I’m sure Husband will be thrilled with my plans to move furniture again.
Reading
Lately, I’m realizing what a lousy education I had in many ways (to be sure, there were some good things too). Reading aloud to the children or enjoying a classic myself, I’ll come upon a sentence that I would never write. Do you know the ones I’m talking about?- a plethora of commas, hyphens, and semicolons with words that fill a whole paragraph. If it were my own writing, I would consider it a run-on sentence and break it down into several sentences. Here is an example from Woman in White, my latest classic read:
“When his experience fails, he will retire from the position of narrator; and his task will be continued from the point at which he has left it off, by other persons who can speak to the circumstances under notice from their own knowledge, just as clearly and positively as he has spoken before them.”
Do you see what I mean? Or am I the only grammar novice? I can see why it works, but I can’t write that way.
So….. I’m back to learning grammar old school style. With my current knowledge I can hardly expect to correct papers well when our children reach high school age! I found a book for free on Google books (Higher Lessons in English)and spent Sunday afternoon (before our muddy tromp) to finish the first 15 lessons. Since language is transitional and it was written in 1880, there are some rules that we no longer hold, but overall, it is a sound and hefty text.
My goal?-be so much gooder at grammar than my mother.
I’m also determined to read more classic fiction (hence, Woman in White, which I am enjoying so far). As a non-fiction addict, I think it is high time to bust out of my literary rut. The hope is to absorb some of the elements of beautiful writing. We shall see!
What is happening in your part of the world?
Related Posts:
Help! Living the Liturgical Year Overwhelms Me!
Catholic Bible 360 (the Bible in a Year reading plan)
