On a Chilly Wednesday

There's just something about a chilly day in Florida that makes me want to bake.   It's in the 40s here, with high humidity, so it's a 'wet cold', with wind chills below freezing that cut right through your sweater, (Floridians don't own coats!), and chills you right to the bone.

Despite the cold, the sky is bright and blue and sunny.  I can hear my wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, and the train whistle in the distance.  I brewed a fresh pot of coffee, let the dogs out for their morning romp, and drive my eldest daughter to her job at a mom and pop store that ships packages.  She's been there over a year, and loves her job and the family who own the store.

My younger daughter is working on a Home Helper badge, so she's gathering laundry from all over the house, dividing light colored clothing from dark, and getting the washer loaded.   I'm standing, staring into my narrow, deep pantry with a flashlight, trying to locate the elusive can of French onion soup for a rice dish I want to make for dinner.  

By lunch time, I've fried pork chops in my big cast iron dutch oven on top of the stove, and in the oven I've got apple-balsamic carrots and French Onion Rice Casserole.  I found some leftover baked potatoes in the fridge, and decide to fry them in the pan drippings after the pork chops are finished.   No, no one needs to eat rice AND potatoes, but by frying them I can easily pop them into the toaster over and top with sour cream and scallions and salt and pepper for an easy side for tomorrows dinner.   Assuming no one wolfs them down before then. :)  With this hot food, I make hubby a covered plate to take to work with him.. he eats it later for his dinner break.   I make another plate and cover it for my eldest daughter's supper for when she gets home tonight.  Maybe it sounds a little weird, preparing a dinner so early every day.  But given the schedules, this is what works best for all of us.  My youngest and I have some of what I've prepared for our lunch while it's still hot, and then put away any leftovers.  Later that evening at the 'proper' dinner hour, we generally just have a bit of leftovers, or some eggs, or a quick soup.  Easy peasy.   

My daughter is moving right along with her laundry, and has moved on to a load of towels.  I am really enjoying her earning this badge. :)  She has become rather skilled at laundry in the past week, and I'm feeling rather spoiled to not have to do it! :)   Tomorrow is her last day though, so I am enjoying it while I can.  

Since I've finished "meal" cooking and kitchen clean up for the day, I'm eyeing those bananas and thinking I should whip up a nice banana bread.   It's good for dessert, breakfast, or just a yummy treat with a mug of hot tea.    What's a few more dishes to wash?  Popping banana bread into the oven, and my youngest reminding me that I'd promised to let her do some baking too.   Very well.   Let's bake another one for a neighbor.  (another badge requirement)    Both of us enjoy her earning her badges. :)

The house is warm from the oven, and full of good smells.  Later I'll take out something for tomorrows dinner.  Perhaps I'll bake again, or make it an easy day and use my crockpot.  We'll decide later.

It's too chilly to go outside.  Perhaps we'll play Bananagrams and Rory's Story like we did yesterday.   Right now she's pouring over her badge requirement book, reading aloud possibilities, and telling me the badges she'd like to earn next.   Asking me questions, making me think. :)

I love our days.  Quiet, and peaceful.  Sometimes we read, or watch a program.  Sometimes we play games or have friends over.   Craft making is fun..  she likes 'hands on' activities.  She's a good girl.  Lovable, easy to please, curious, cerebral.  

Some days are busy, with homeschool meetings, play dates, AHG meetings, Special Olympics sport practices, competitions, and events.  But on the quiet days where we've got nothing planned, this is pretty well it.  And we love it.  We get on projects, work on things, have discussions.. and the list goes on.  Our lives are rather simple,  but if you'd ever like to come by for a friendly afternoon visit, we're always happy to have friends over.   Please excuse our dogs shamelessly begging belly rubs.  Sorry about the glue.. we were doing art projects. We've got a spot in here at the table, waiting for you, with a cut of banana bread and a mug of hot tea.....  you've come to the right place. :)   Make yourself at home. ♥      

Bring on 2014!!

                                        

+JMJ+

Since we've been unschooling..   I mean... actively, intentionally, unschooling, I have found that even the sky is not a limit. :)

Today we went fruit picking.  Robyn was glad she wore long sleeves... there are big thorns to to contend with when picking grapefruit and oranges.. the smell was amazing.  We filled our bags.

Now is my job.. of zesting, (to freeze), then peeling, seeding, sectioning, and removing the pith so it is nothing just nice juicy sections of fruit.. and the juice.   Normally I add a can of pineapples and a jar of cherries.. and some sugar to sweeten.  But this time is just the fruit we picked today only..  and the girls still like the sugar.  Hubby and I prefer our fruit sections with a little salt... which grosses the kids out.  :)     I love making the fruit salad, even though it means sitting for hours doing this, back cramping, sticky, and squirting myself in the eye every couple of grapefruit.   I have always loved the 'busy' work of peeling, shelling, snapping...  my mind is roaming a million miles away, while my hands busily make for my family.  I love it.    And my girls are gulping down the fruit almost faster than I can peel it.

New Years Eve is tomorrow..  I've got goodies planned for us to eat and drink.  Dinner planned for New Years Day.   I got English "crackers" this year.  I know they're meant for Christmas, but we were not here for Christmas.  So we're 'pop' them at dinner on New Years.

Thinking ahead to the New Year... what will it bring?  Robyn starts back in Special Olympics in January.  My bocce princess is going to be doing her best, and hoping very much to get to go to State to compete again.   I wonder about her aquatics.  If she'll bowl again this year.  If she'll play anything else.

I wonder about Amy's schooling.. boyfriends..  her work, her friends... and she'll be 21 this summer.  Robyn will be 14.  How fast my girls have grown!

Hubby and I have things planned for 2014.   Personal goals, family goals, financial goals.  Me?  I even have homemaking goals.   Spiritual goals.  Goals as a wife and mother.    Will I meet those goals?  Will I be disappointed in myself if I don't meet those goals?

Tomorrow I'll be putting the black eyed peas on to soak.  I already have the ham and the collard greens in the fridge.  Bacon to fry in, steaming rice, and good Southern cornbread.   Champagne chilling in the fridge, wondering if we can stay awake for the arrival of the New Year.    I'm not dwelling on my failings for this past year... I did things I never thought I could do, and I'm not taking any of it back.  2013 was a really good year.  Robyn blossomed.  Special Olympics has been a Godsend for us... for her.   This year brought new friends, and reacquainted me with old friends.  And deepened existing friendships.  God has richly blessed us this year, truly.

So I light a candle for the New Year.  Remembering ones we've loved who've passed on, not with sadness but with joy.. all those good memories.   Looking forward to 2014...  seeing it as a large, beautiful package with lots of ribbon, just waiting to be unwrapped.  I wonder what treasures it holds. :)   

Time will tell...

Happy New Year, family and friends!!

xoxoxoxo  

Inching Our Way In to Unschooling

I've been trying to unschool, as opposed to homeschool, for the last year and a half.   I've had times we did nothing but play.  Times when we did workbooks.   And times I honestly didn't know WHAT we were doing.

I purchased (finally) Sandra Dodd's "Big Book of Unschooling".   (which is totally awesome, and I cannot recommend it enough.  It is worth every penny)   So, I'm reading it, and I've watched some of her videos on YouTube.. and I've even watched some of Dayna Martin, and read up on her.    I'm sad to say I've read some not-so-nice things about Dayna Martin... I don't know if they're true or not, but I did glean some inspiration from both these ladies, (more-so from Sandra Dodd), so there it is. :)

Strewing.  I started this out by telling my family, "Let's go buy toys!"   We went out to some thrift stores and we did buy things... a funky cute vintage blouse for my eldest, some baking sets, a scientific game, and books of course.   This was a good start.   I'm now trying to see through different eyes...  I had bought a bag of mixed nuts at the grocery store (Robyn was begging for these), and we ended up making a candy and nut display on the table, shelling and tasting some, and reading all about what everything is called, where it is from, and how they grow.  Freaking, Cool!   Mom is learning right along with her is the funny part. :)

Last night she pipes up out of the blue, asking me about the Boston Tea Party, which led to Minute Men, which leads to today we're going to watch a 3 and a half hour movie on the Revolution.   This morning she wanted to know about Congress.   I don't know what made her ask, but as she is asking me, I'm googling.

Two weeks ago she used a word I didn't know.  "Prefigurement".  I had to ask her what it meant, and she explained. :)   I don't know where this kid picks this stuff up.  Actually, that's not true.  Yes, I do know.  She gets it from everywhere.  She's like a little sponge, and she's soaking up info from everywhere like she's soaking up sunshine.  And she's having FUN.  

Last week she started cutting up cardboard and started construction on a stable in her bedroom for her toy horses.  I know constructing something from cardboard sounds like no big deal to anyone else, but since Robyn is autistic, she has NEVER done this before in her life.  I am tickled to death that she is creating, on her own.   Using her imagination, and growing and learning. :)

Saturday we went to the Midnight Sun.  (coolest store in the entire city)  Robyn checked out different rocks and crystals and pillows and blankets.... and drums!!   ...and I bought tea.   It amazed her to learn that tea is medicinal.  That it can come from leaves and petals and flowers and roots and bark.  Whereas NyQuil helps with the flu but not cramps, and how aspirin is good for headache but not for hay-fever, she is learning there too.  Honey for allergies, elderberries for colds, and the list goes on.  

Living and learning.  Did we finally catch on?   We've got all kinds of fun things planned.  A trip.  A ride on a carousel.  Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking and baking.  Gift making.  And a million other things that will be unplanned, every day things that just present themselves.. more opportunities to grow.   

Summertime, Unschooling, and Deviant Art

Summertime, Unschooling style.

Okay I am still getting the hang of this unschooling stuff.  I still feel like we're just on permanent vacation, and that I am doing my kids a huge disservice, and it's only a matter of time before the authorities find me guilty of being an unschooling mom.  Yes I know this is perfectly legal, and we're not doing anything wrong.  And my kids are healthy and happy and learning every day.  But it STILL feels weird since we stopped doing traditional lessons.

My sister called this morning, and we went to her house to swim.  Before going I put on the crock pot of Navy Beans, seasoned with an onion, a very meaty ham bone, salt, garlic, and a bay leaf.   My girls swam with their cousins while my sister and I attempted to tan our legs... with her little son pouring water on our feet.  :)   I do love all kids... but I especially love my sister's kids. :)  Next to my own children, they are hands down my very favorites. :)

Now we're home. Lunch of leftovers has been eaten.  Over lunch we discussed how our pet guinea pigs would be on the menu in South America.  Robyn is reading a Guinea Pig Care Guide which talks about piggies in an agricultural sense, which horrifies her.  She says, "Our guinea pigs are family members, Mom, not food!" As I hold and pet our baby Phoebe, I can't help but agree.  How could anyone think of barbecuing our little Sweetie?

Robyn has been doing a lot of reading lately.  She is reading a lot on preparedness, and wants us to start trying to dehydrate fruits and vegetables.  My hubby already makes homemade beef jerky, and Robyn loves watching him.  I got a recipe last night from a friend about making homemade fruit leathers.  I definitely see this in our future.  I'm thinking blueberry, and strawberry. :)  Yum.  And I'm not even a fruit leather fan!

Sometimes a gal just feels 'crafty'. :)  I am wanting to get back into beading. I have made anklets, and I'd like to make more of those and other things as well.

 My eldest helped me make a Deviant Art account.. so yep.. I'm there now too.  (obviously I don't have nearly enough to do)  Anyone who is curious can check it out at http://topazstar67.deviantart.com/

Unschooling and Crazy Weather

Unschooling is the same today for my kids as it is any other day.  But different for mom.  Maybe I'm finally deschooled enough to breathe?  Doubtful.  I can never get off the hook that easily. 

This week has been interesting, as most weeks usually are.  The beginning of the week featured a Tropical Storm, Beryl.  Lots of wind, rain, flooding, and some minor damage at our house.  Quite interesting, as one can imagine. We even lost power for a while, which frightened my younger daughter.  My kids learned about being prepared, and how even a Tropical Storm, though not a hurricane, can cause damage.

Yesterday we cleaned out the top of the coat closet.  This is where we store our games.  We successfully weeded out about 1/3 of the games... ones that were missing pieces, or games that we no longer wanted.  It was sort of fascinating going through each game, counting pieces... and my youngest inquiring how exactly each game is played.  And then, we ended up playing a few games.  There is a tin, and inside are several small wooden games with pegs and dice.  My daughter played independently for a while, and then we moved on to Connect Four.  Initially my eldest and I played.  Then she moved aside for my youngest.  Robyn asked me exactly how to play, and we did a 'trial' game so I could show her the different angles and ways to win or to block your opponent.  Then we played a game, but I "took it easy" on her.  After that, all bets were off.  I found that my daughter is quite a competitive player, and she easily beat me just as many times as I was able to beat her.  She's a great player!   

We had a "Scruples" game, that I'd had for many years... over 20 actually.  I was going to put it in the 'discard' stack, but my kids were curious... we ended up opening it up, and not necessarily 'playing' the game, but asking the questions and then discussing them.  It was really interesting, and we all decided we'd hang on to the game... discussion questions are fun!

Early this morning, my eldest daughter found a new advert on Craigslist.  Someone was offering a guinea pig, the cage, food, hay, treats, and toys... all free to a good home.  My youngest lost her pet guinea pig a few months back, and has been pleading for a new piggie to love.  This could not have worked out better!  We met the young lady at our parish, and she passed the piggie and her stuff to us, and she was obviously happy that her piggie had a new home where she will be loved.  My daughter was so happy she cried, and she thanked the nice lady for choosing our family.  The piggie is a female, and only about 6 months old.  My daughter has named her Phoebe.  

This afternoon, a severe storm came up suddenly.  The thunder and lightening were unusually bad sounding.  Storms are daily during the summer months here, so we are used to them... but this one just sounded "wrong".  It was fast moving, and started dropping large hail.  Thank God we only got a few pieces.  I'd stepped into a back room, and heard the front door slamming.  My eldest was chasing our flag... which had been ripped off the front of our house, down the street.  A huge limb came down, and the drainpipes on both sides of the house were ripped off.  Apparently, a small tornado touched down just a few streets away.  What we got was the outer winds of it.  It went all the way down the street between our neighborhood and the area where my sister lives.  (We live about a half mile apart)  My sister calls me a few minutes later, and tells me it ripped the screen out of her porch and had uprooted a large tree!  The street that connects us, is the one the tornado went down.  It knocked down trees and power lines all the way down that street.  Scary, and incredible!   Of course, all this led to a tornado discussion, as well as watching some informative videos on YouTube.  Scary stuff!  What are the odds we'd get a tropical storm and a tornado (both unrelated to each other) all in the same week?!  Crazy!!  I am just happy we're all okay and no one was hurt.  (you can see pictures and read the article here:  http://www.news4jax.com/news/Storms-rip-through-Westside-flood-Southside/-/475880/14416258/-/hm72u/-/index.html)

Now it's late afternoon.  My eldest is having a nap.  (lucky thing!)  And my youngest has put Phoebe back into her cage, and is now reading up on what to do in case of emergencies in a preparedness book. :)   

Tonight we'll be watching Sherlock Holmes.  My eldest is addicted, and has gotten me and her sister loving it too.  After finishing up all the Sherlock Holmes we can find, we'll move on to Doctor Who. And maybe play a game or two, or possibly make a craft. Sounds good to us!