Nature Study

Books on order to add to what we already have and enjoy: Winter Tree Finder (Nature Study Guides) Flower Finder (Nature Study Guides) Tree Finder: A Manual for the Identification of Trees by Their Leaves (Nature Study Guides) Those 3 were really inexpensive and seem lie handy little books (the reviews were good anyway) Update: We got them and like them. We already used the tree finder to identify a large pine...

Dreaming of September. . .

We’re really hoping to dive into nature study this year. It’s been neglected the last few years between pregnancies and babies and I want to revive it. I truly think it’s a vital and important part of home education and yet it’s so easy to let it slip by. It’s awfully hot right now – though overall we have had a fairly mild summer. The humidity really gets to me and I am...

New Diggs!

I have a new “studio”. I read in a sewing trade book that only amateurs call it a “studio” – professionals call it a “shop”. Um, yeah, it’s a studio. At 9 ft x 6.5 ft. it is not a large room by any means. But nicely arranged it serves me well. This used to be the planner room. The place where my husband punched and bound all the planners. We moved all that...

On second thought. . .

In my previous post I wrote that I was working on detailed lesson plans for level 3. Turns out I’m not – not this year anyway. As I began working on them one thing has become very clear; this isn’t the way I want to do this. While I love having the framework of Mater Amabilis, I also love having the freedom to order our days any way we want. We lost that this past year by doing cyber...

Another skirt

Here’s another one I finished a few weeks ago. The is a six panel skirt with a side zipper. I don’t know the pattern (I think it’s OOP but there are plenty of this kind of pattern available). The fabric is a linen like – might actually BE linen – it’s from my stash so I can’t remember. It wrinkles like linen anyway. I actually cut this out last spring but didn’t...

Reading

I’m back into reading Charlotte Mason these days. Twelve years of reading her work and I still gain from it. It’s swirling in my head as I put together the plans for Levels 5 and 6 of Mater Amabilis. I’d dearly love to have them finished and up by next month but experience tells me not to make any promises. . . since life often has a way of interfering with my plans. I’m working on lesson...

Boots!

I just ordered 6 pairs of boots for $100. I think that’s a pretty good deal. Black for the boys Blue for the girls (including me!) These are for our weekly nature hikes –so we don’t have to worry about muddy shoes and wet feet. I’m so excited – we’re going to have a great nature study...

9th grade science

Microscope/ Dissection ClassClass will be on Thursdays, starting at 9 am, at the Environmental Center and taught by the park naturalist. MICROSCOPE CLASS five sessions of one 1/2 hours, 9-10:30 DISSECTION CLASS SESSION ONE (earthworm, crayfish, fish, grasshopper, frog) four sessions, 9-11, for 2 hours each, DISSECTION CLASS SESSION TWO (fetal pig) three sessions of two hours each, 9-11, Kevin will be starting...

Bag month!

July is bag month. Who knew? Well Betsy knew and now so do you. OK yes it’s already halfway through the month but hey I’m a “the glass is half full” kind of gal so I look at it as there’s still half a month left to participate. For those of you who are beginners a bag is a great place to start. Need some ideas? Here are some links to get you rolling: Simple shoulder sling/purse Clutch...

Summer skirt

I made this a few weeks ago but since I’m wearing it today I had my dd snap a few pictures.         This is a great summer skirt – 100% cotton, light and breezy.   The pattern is Kwik Sew 3336 (view B). I bought it because I wanted to review it. It is a very basic skirt pattern and is ideal for beginners. I would definitely recommend it. The waistline is a simple casing...