Weekly Report

I promise to have a cross stitch post up later today! ;)

Everyone around us is beginning the new school year: back-to school haircuts, outfits, backpacks, etc. I do not want my girls to see learning as something that “begins and ends.” Learning is an ongoing process, and I hope they never stop pursuing it. That said, both girls have new haircuts and school supplies! ;)

Nutmeg has a few more lessons in her 3^rd grade English and Math books and then we can begin the shiny new 4^th grade books! Buttercup is doing a mix of Rod and Staff preschool, Explode the Code 1 ½, Horizon’s K Math, Saxon 1 Math, and library books out the wazzoo! She likes all the books about the slimy and the stinky that Nutmeg would never look at! Pill bugs and earthworms have been big hits this week. Buttercup also takes great interest in our compost pile and its inhabitants. I can barely get Nutmeg out the front door!

I am attempting the Ancients with both girls this year. Buttercup constantly interrupts with, “But it’s important!” And when that does not work, she tries, “But it’s funny!” I plan to take a couple of weeks to cover pre-history, as if pre-history could be covered in a couple of weeks! I have found several interesting books about this time, and I am learning a lot in preparation. I am particulary interested in Egyptian pre-history and about the Orkney island settlement of Skara Brae. Here is a great website for children introducing them to Skara Brae and the work of archeologists. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/primary/skarabrae/content/evidence.shtml I also want to familiarize the girls with pre-historic art and perhaps try our hands at some imitation. I am looking forward to some pre-historic food (stewed fruit) as well. I will try to post a list of prehistory resources that I find helpful in a week or so. We will then start SWB’s SOTW 1, incorporating History Pockets and plenty of library books along the way.

Our new science unit is the now out of print Tropical Rainforest by My World Science. I snatched this series up just as it was going out of business last year. Our required book is One Small Square Tropical Rainforest. I am a huge fan of the One Small Square Series. The girls will be making a notebook including the worksheets from My World Science, Enchanted Learning print outs, and of course their own drawings. We are still enjoying the Draw Write Now series. They drew some super-cute sloths this week!

Music and ballet started up again this week, and both girls have added tap. Swimming starts back in September. Once again, we will be listening to Great Music and Great Books while driving in the car.

I bought several books about needlework at the library sale last weekend. Two books are about embroidery from around the world. I definitely plan to incorporate those into our art studies as we learn about different cultures.

We did not do all the “book-learning” botany that I wanted to do this summer. We cut up root vegetables, found different types of roots, and examined perfect flowers vs. male and female flowers. At least I know that my children certainly know where good food comes from! I am planning a winter garden and plan on using “green manure,” so there are still plenty of botany opportunities.

The girls are sleeping in this morning: Buttercup had a fever last night, and Nutmeg got home from dance at 9 PM!!!!! I plan on enjoying a quiet morning, and then it is down to the school room!

Fungus Nature Walk

Now that cooler weather is returning, we are going to resume our "Handbook of Nature Study"- inspired nature walks. I think we will focus on the Fungi Kingdom for now. We found some really colorful specimens to sketch today. We should be able to find many more as we go on (short) hiking trails this fall.

I posted some pictures of the more interesting mushrooms on the previous post. I am STILL having trouble posting more than 4 photos! (Thanks for your tips though, Jennifer.)

Fabulous Fungi

Ghost Town

On Saturday, we went to Ghost Town in the Sky, in Maggie Valley. The girls argued over who would ride the chair lift with Jerry. They said that Daddy was safer. What!?! Although, when the ride got steeper near the top, I was wishing I was riding with Jerry! There are a couple of pictures of me with the girls, but I did not post them since I am not making very pleasant faces while my children and myself are flying around in the sky over the side of the mountain!

Shopping Nirvana

My sister's second home is the mall. The perfume-y, fast food-y air seems to revive her. She shops with my mom; she shops with my aunt. And once a year, she drags me, kicking and screaming, to the mall, to buy Christmas presents. This is not to say I am not a super shopper - I am. But my favorite shops are the M%%rshall's, T%rgets, H%bby L%bbys, cross stitch stores and homeschool stores of the world. Yesterday I shopped the trifecta - Homeschool Conference, H%bby L%bby, and then J&Ann Fabrics!!!!!!! And C%lifornia Pi**za Kitchen for lunch. And a Tr&der Joe's!!!!!! Almost more goodness than a mortal can handle in one day!!!

I found a sewing machine book for Nutmeg and then stocked up on some sewing supplies.

I found some books for the coming year. Not pictured is Genevieve Foster's "Augustus Caesar's World."

All the baskets were 50% off at one of the craft stores, and I found the perfect basket to display pinkeeps. I cannot wait to fill it with Autumn pinkeeps!!!!!

Last but not least, I asked my husband to cut some foamboard squares for me because he does such a good job with straight edges. The next day I found this on the dining room table.

I could not even find the words....