Winter Tea and Poetry Recitation

A group of seven families (including ourselves) decided that we truly enjoyed our monthly California history group a la CM last year, that we formed a weekly CM co-op this year: The Large Room.  One of the things we planned for the year were three seasonal teas' with an opportunity for the kids to recite a memorized poem.  Our Fall tea was wonderful and our second tea, Winter, was hosted at our house this past week.  My children had a wonderful time planning and hosting.  My oldest and youngest students picked their poems a few weeks ago and had been memorizing/practicing for the big day.

We had nine kids recite this season! They did wonderfully...my daughter chose a Christina Rosetti poem and my son's selection:

January is Here

 

by Edward Fawcett

 

January is here,

with eyes that keenly glow,

A frost-mailed warrior

 striding a shadowy steed of snow.

 

Certainly not what our January was like, but, definitely his vision of what "Winter" must be...somewhere ; )



October Gone By

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Carving

Fall CSA Cooking
 

Fall Outdoor Colors

Fall Tea with our CM Group:
The Large Room





Fall Poetry Recitation

 

October Winds

by Virginia D. Randall

 

October winds are new and clean;

They sweep the land for Halloween;

They snatch the leaves from all the trees,

Then soften down to faintest breeze.

 

They chase the cobwebs from the sky,

They bare the crow's nest, way up high;

They sway the poplars in the park,

They push in storm clouds, gray and dark.

 

They bring a warning nip of frost,

Reminding birds that summer's lost;

Then gently shoo the flocks away,

Before the winter comes to stay.





Botanical Garden and Little Keepers

Our Little Keepers group has been working on earning five pins for the year.  Among them is a Wildflowers pin, which they began in February.  We've had our monthly meetings and worked on some of the following. They created some flashcards (picture of flower on one side/name on the other) and then at our next meeting they quizzed each other for recognition.  I also read a chapter from Shanleya's Quest: Botany Adventure for Kids to study our Mustard flower a bit more.  I gave the girls a diagram as well.  I'll take a moment to say that the green book was a must buy since my nature girl wanted to learn more about Wildflowers than just what we covered in our monthly meetings.  She has really enjoyed How To Know the Wild Flowers and pulls it out after every hike we take.

 

On a different meeting the girls brought in some samples of wildflowers and then made a great effort to watercolor dry brush their flowers (I should also mention that they were encouraged to bring some poetry about wildflowers to share at every meeting):

And now we come to our last meeting of the year, in which, we decided to head to our local Botanical Garden and take a nature walk.  The girls enjoyed this!  They took a stroll through the garden; they were able to pick out some wildflowers we'd talked about, looked up a few unknown in my field guide and enjoyed other wonderful living things on the trail : D

 

Before meeting the rest of the moms and siblings for cookies and juice (and lots of playing time)  the girls gathered in a circle.  One of our youngest member recited part of a poem the girls memorized for recitation at the beginning of our school year.  It sums up our group and another wonderful year together:

 

Others

by Charles D. Meigs

 

Lord, help me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way,

That even when I kneel to pray,

My prayer shall be for others.

 

Others, Lord, yes others,

Let this my motto be:

Help me to live for others,

That I live like Thee.



St. Valentine's Morning

Happy Valentines Day! This morning I was reminded of just how blessed and graced filled my chaotic days actually are.  My wonderful husband and kids woke me up this morning with cards and treats in hand.  They are so sweet.  They all moved on to the dinning table to have their breakfast.  I had to get up just for a bit because I could hear my husband talking to the girls.  The girls had some oohs, aahs and huge blushing smiles;  while they read their Valentine's from dad.  He started this tradition a few years ago, but as they are getting older his cards and words are starting to really have sweet sentiment...oh and what little girl doesn't want a big bar of chocolate ; )

 

 

Later today he'll take the kids to our home school group's Valentine party where the kids will distribute their treats and their hand made cards.  I'm sure he'll have tons of fun with them ; )

 

 

As for me, well, I had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday (after going to Ash Wednesday morning mass with the kids and dad).  Needless to say laying low and curling up in bed just feels so nice.  So as I was taking a picture of the girls cards this morning, I couldn't help but grab these off the shelf. I found these two lovely books at the library used section a while ago. They have lovely artwork: Love: Penhaligons Scented Treasury of Verse and Prose and A Victorian Posy. They are both very nice collections to curl up with today while dad takes a lead this Valentines day.  

 

I hope everyone enjoys their day and can surround themselves with love, peace and grace.  Especially as we've begun the lent season.  As soon as I'm feeling better I'll come back to share what we're reading and doing this year.

Saint Nicholas Morning Tea

We had such a good time celebrating the Feast of Saint Nicholas last year that the kids had been waiting and talking about it.  So off to bed they went last night, but not before chopping some carrots and putting their shoes outside the door.  I hear that the tradition in some countries is to leave one shoe out.  My kiddies prefer to leave two; just in case.  They woke to find a purse of chocolate gold coins, candy cane and clementine for each.  (the sugar rush started early today!!)

Instead of having a simple yogurt breakfast this time we decided to have a try at making some Scepuloos cookies.  I used the recipe from the St. Nicholas Center.   I carved a miter on them : ) They are definitely for dunking; they were a bit hard. Of course, this wasn't a problem because they had plenty of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Green tea to sip.  After seeing the huge sugar consumption this morning I decided they would only have the tea, but for myself I did try a concoction the teller at TJ's shared with me:  make a cup of their Sipping Hot Chocolate and then steep a bag of the Candy Cane tea.  This was delicious!

Our story today was The Secret Gift Bearer from Saintly Tales and Legends by Lois Rock.  Our morning poem came from The Young Oxford Book of Christmas Poems :

December- Prayer to Saint Nicholas

by John Heath-Stubbs

 

Patron of all those who do good by stealth-

Slipping three bags of gold in through the window

To save three desperate girls, restoring

Dead boys to life out of the pickling tub

Of an Anatolian Sweeney Todd-

Teach us to give with simplicity, and not with an eye

To the main chance: it's less than

Three weeks' shopping time to Christmas.

Advent & Winter Term 2012

We tend to start school in mid August and by Thanksgiving have finished a first term.  I've enjoyed this very much.  It gives us about five weeks to shift our CM education towards preparing for the Christmas season.  We don't stop school and our style doesn't change; materials just get replaced a bit.  The month is filled with activities and to do lists outside our home; that I really noticed a sense of rush rather than the calm that should be.  So for the last several years I've felt that letting the kids enjoy the time filled with great books, handicrafts, poetry, music, nature study/science, art and good thoughts about the coming of our Savior in our home was important. 

All our regular school book baskets are put away and filled with lots of Christmas and winter type books.  This year the kids and I will be enjoying the following:

Religion/Faith:  Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman

Geography: Christmas Stories 'Round the World edited by Lois Johnson

Music/Composer Study:  All About Christmas by Maymie R. Krythe (the last four chapters on carols)

Poetry: The Young Oxford Book of Christmas Poems

Art Study(&Religion): A King James Christmas edited by Catherine Schuon & Michael Fitzgerald

Nature Study/Science:  And Everything Nice: The Story of Sugar, Spice and Flavoring by Elizabeth Cooper (this ties in great with the Marco Polo year we're having too) and  Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed (not scientific, but a cute story that gives us some thoughts to research)

The kids also each have independent reading time.  They have lots of books to choose from and I've not been keeping up with my new purchases so I've had to make a few trips to the library to get some new titles for them.  Besides their chapter books; we have on our schedule a picture book daily (which we read as a family).  On the schedule is also a craft or baking/cooking.  They really enjoy this (I'll post next on how this has turned out great with our Spices books).  This gives us lots of time to enjoy our days, but daylight is shorter.  What are they to do?  Well, I've noticed they ended up indoors more this time of year and this gives them time to create or make handmade gifts for people.  One of my girls is on her third set of crochet items she'll be gifting; don't want to spoil what it is in case the grandmas' & aunties are reading ; )

Our math continues as usual (not so creative here, sorry).  I do, however, create a notebook for them to keep all their copy work or written narrations/pictures for the season; a spot for our language arts you might say.  Another instance when I just love my binding machines, pretty paper and my StartWrite program:

This is our second week on this schedule and already I feel like we've slowed down and are enjoying each other.  I can't wait to share with you what's on our nature study table and the cute things the boys are enjoying in that little nook. 

The Rainbow



taken by my little sister on Labor Day in our backyard : D



The Rainbow

by David McCord

The rainbow arches in the sky,

But in the earth it ends;

But if you ask the reason why,

They'll tell you: "That depends."

It never comes without the rain,

Nor goes without the sun;

But though you try with might and main,

You'll never catch me one.

Perhaps you'll see it once a year,

Perhaps you'll say: "No, twice";

But every time it does appear,

It's very clean and nice.

If I were God, I'd like to win

At sun-and-moon croquet:

I'd drive the rainbow-wickets in

And ask someone to play.

A Quiet Independence Day

Today will be a quiet and still day at home; a perfect day for reflection.  Holidays feel very different without Dad around, but, alas, work is duty and sometimes it happens.  So instead of a nature walk (like last year) we will snuggle up with a couple of our favorite history authors and read about our Independence Day.  Afterwards, I've already had a request for some silly 4th of July themed movies to watch too.  And much later, we'll try to watch some fireworks from the top of our little hill and I will try to start a pit fire for some smores (yes, this will be a first for me!). 

The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh and Birthdays of Freedom Book 2 by Genevieve Foster

At dinner tonight, I'll be sure to pull out one of our favorite year round poetry books and read the following:

Prayer on Fourth of July

by Nancy Byrd Turner

This is the birthday of our land;

May all her days be in God's hand.

May all her ways between the seas

Be ways of quietness and peace.

May her good flag shine high and bright,

And all the nations trust its light.

For peace and blessing may she stand,

America our Land!

Have a blessed 4th of July everyone!

Ah...Summer!

Summer

By Christina Rossetti

Rushes in a watery place,

And reeds in a hollow;

A soaring skylark in the sky,

A darting swallow;

And where pale blossoms used to hang

Ripe fruit to follow.

This is officially our last week of Term 3.  The girls have been working through their End of Term Exams and finishing up their readings.  The boys, well, they just keep doing what they do every day : D 

We have a few other end of school activities this week too.  Tomorrow we host our Little Keepers "Welcome Summer Tea" and can't wait.  Another was very appropriately done at the park today.  Our Canterbury Tales literary club had the most relaxing afternoon under a most pleasant clear, sunny day.  Two of my children brought a book and the Rossetti poem to share with the group. Afterwards, they all headed towards the bushes, trees and stream to play.  Here is a glimpse of the perfect start to summer days:

The children also helped me set up our nature study area this morning.  We're very excited about our summer theme and can't wait to share it with you soon ; )

Happy Mother's Day

A little poem and my 7 yr. old son's Mother's Day paintings; he is giving them away as presents tomorrow. I love to watch him work and I'm just tickled that he recently started to title his work : D 

Field of Flowers

Night and Morning

by Dorothy Aldis

The morning sits outside afraid

Until my mother draws the shade;

Then it bursts in like a ball,

Splashing sun all up the wall.

And the evening is not night

Until she's tucked me in just right

And kissed me and turned out the light.

Oh, if my mother went away

Who would start the night and day?

Creative Sunset

I sincerely wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day!

April Rain

What a treat!  I've been listening to rain and thunder all morning. 

My little boys copy work for today was: April showers brings May flowers.

We also chose this poem for reflection:

 April Rain Song

by Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you.

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liguid drops.

Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.

The rain makes running pools in the gutter.

The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night. -

And I love the rain.

As I'm writing this, my boys are sitting on the floor looking out my sliding glass doors bantering about the puddles; oh, sorry ponds and islands and .... So later we'll cuddle with some hot chocolate and read their favorite rain book: 

The Puddle by David McPhail

A Little Valentine Poem

Valentines Day

by Aileen Fisher

The aspens and the maples now

have lacy frost on every bough,

And through the woods the shadows go,

writing verses on the snow.

The tops of weeds are sealed up tight

in little envelopes of white,

And listen! in the frosty pines

snowbirds twitter Valentines.