I have posted before of my frustration with iCal. I just could not intuit how to use it…at all… …until now! Oh, what a joyful day. Blissful even. Sweet, sweet software of my dreams! I have, in one afternoon, mapped out my lesson plans for the first of three terms for my schoolyear. I’ll add in a few details throughout… Read More
I’m still here…just buried under piles of books…
It’s time for my annual summer tidying and re-arranging program. A program that strikes fear in the hearts of my family. Nothing is safe. No piece of furniture, no bookshelf, no fish tank, nothing. I start in the school room. It always starts in the schoolroom. I must have order before I begin the planning for next year. But, since… Read More
Delirious With Possibilities
I know I mentioned in one of my previous posts that life has been utterly chaotic, but I am giddy at the thought of planning for the next school year. Windows are flung open and spring is rushing in. The birds can be heard chirping and the wind chimes are always singing up here on this windy hill of ours…. Read More
Presidential Election Unit Study
We’ve all been paying close attention to the political going’s on lately – all the primaries, the candidates. Both Sweet Pea and Sparkly have been asking at the end of every primary, “is such and such our new president now?” Rob and I have been explaining a little as we go along, but I have been making plans to start… Read More
Uncovering the Beauty and Order in Your Home
“…all things should be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40 In putting together a post on the challenges of merging Montessori in the homeschool, I discovered a side topic that really belonged on its own. I found it to be particularly pertinent during Lent, because this is the time when many of us are really trying to purge… Read More
The Learning Room set up in eager anticipation…
I’ve spent a great deal of time in the learning room lately re-arranging, re-organizing, purging, and adding new materials. The shot above is the geography/culture/science area. I’m very pleased especially with how the geography center came out! The science area will need some work. All of my nature materials, and science materials are on the shelf above the wall maps…. Read More
Attic Clutter to Useful Spice-Rack
I love my kitchen. It is bright and cheery, pretty roomy too. I do have a gigantic pantry – the saving grace of the kitchen. However, it was not designed for a family that actually cooks! I think perhaps it was designed for the “reheat your leftovers from dinner out because you never eat at home together” family. Counterspace is… Read More
I’ve been thrifting!
I’ve been meaning to drop by one of my favorite thrift stores for some time now. There always seems to be some really great finds there. I was in search of baskets and trays for my Montessori shelves. I was not dissappointed!! Here’s my collection of treasures – spent $15 total for the baskets, 2 Pfaltgraff platters (these are for… Read More
Montessori Rotation Zone
I’m very excited about bringing more Montessori into the home. I already have a fairly good area set up in the learning room for setting out activities as I present them. I am concerned by the potential for overwhelming the kids with all of the new activities. I also know that it takes the Peanut exactly a nanosecond to utterly… Read More
Montessori Homemade! Nuts and Bolts
This past spring and over the summer I’ve been digging in to some Montessori activities. Some things will just be investment pieces, but there are some that lend themselves very easily to being built from home materials. The following activity is one I’ve wanted for Sparkly for some time. I showed Rob some pictures from a few Montessori sites, and… Read More
Preparing Whole Foods for a Whole Month
I’m excited about this new book I ordered. The idea is whole food cooking, but on a grand scale – about once a month. The idea is that you plan, shop, cook and end up with a freezer full of meals. The author shares a number of forms to help you plan, shop, and multiply your recipes to be able… Read More
Out of the tomb (or out of the garage)
We started refinishing our kitchen table during Holy Week. We’ve had this oak table for 13 years – and it has been loved on to excess. There’s sculpey clay in all the cracks. No need to remove the leaf in the middle- you can’t! – multiple milk spills have dried and formed a sort of organic glue sealing the three… Read More
A few of my favorite things
I’m excited to have found a weblog from a great Catholic family – mom of 9 – describing in exquisite detail a home management book that I’ve been trying to make for some time now. Ever since Mom got me that great Kimberly Hahn CD set from St. Joseph’s I have been trying to piece together in my mind what… Read More
