Beginning today, we will share a nugget from our Nature study with you.
Sow some Sunflower seeds. Sunflowers are a lot of fun to grow. They grow very quickly, and will get very tall! Make sure you choose a spot for them where they won't shade your other plants. Sunflowers need to be staked as they grow (to keep them from toppling over), and you'll need to be able to get water to them, because they drink a lot!
You can grow sunflowers for the birds, or for you. You'll have to rig some netting for the huge flowers once the seeds begin to ripen, otherwise the bird's will help themselves. We are growing ours for the birds, so that won't be a problem for us. Rub the seed heads to loosen the seeds and lay them out to dry. Then you can put them away to feed the birds all winter long. Or you can break them open and eat them!
This past year, the girls participated in our town's Young Artists program. It is a wonderful class. They meet each week for two hours and have learned so much and created some wonderful pieces of art. This past Sunday was their Spring Art Show. I thought I would share their work as an online Art Show. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
The class group display of their floral paintings inspired by the works of Georgia O'Keefe.
C-Sunshine's Floral Paintings.
K-Doodle's Floral Paintings.
K-Doodle's Cats!
C-Sunshine's Cat!
C-Sunshine's "Atlanta"
K-Doodle's "New York" C-Sunshine's self-portrait. The one on the top she drew at the beginning of the year. The one of the bottom was done just last week. What an improvement!
K-Doodle's self-portrait. Again, the one on the top she drew at the beginning of the year. The one of the bottom was done just last week. Another great improvement!
I hope you enjoyed our little Virtual Art Show. Both girls just LOVE art and their art teacher Miss Terri. We plan to keep this as part of our learning next year. Until next time.....
Outside my window... Windy and I the clouds are starting to come in and cover up the sun. Guess we are going to get some much needed rain. Hoping..... thinking... that I need to make a plan of things that I want to get accomplished around the house over the summer. Lots of closets that need to be thinned out and lesson planning to do. I am thankful for... My mother. And for my husband moving me closer to her so that I get to see her more than just twice a year. This is the first time in my adult life that I have lived only 2 hours away from her. We laughed because we see each other so much now. What a blessing that is! From the learning room... we are on our last two weeks. Only 8 days to go! WhooHoo! The room itself is a mess. The playing has taken over and I have books scattered about trying to decide what to keep, use or sell. You know what I am talking about. From the kitchen... Peace. I joined a Meal Making club. Ten ladies get together once a month and cook up ten different meals. Then you get to take ten different meals home to stash in your freezer. This was my first month and we have eaten three of the meals. Yum!!! I do NO shopping. I just show up, cook for about 5 hours with friends and go home with the Yum stuff. How sweet is that! I am wearing...cream carpi's and a chocolate tee I am creating... a clean home. I am working diligently on getting the house in tip top (or almost top) shape and establishing better routines of keeping it that way.
I am going... to slow down over the summer. We plan to have some fun! I am reading... Really re-reading A Mother's Rule of Life. Redoing my rule. (see previous creating post!) I am hoping... to save enough money to purchase new outdoor furniture for our patio. It is covered and I would love some cozy cushions. I am hearing... my girlies playing Barbie's in C-Sunshine's room (which she cleaned with no prompting - Go C) Around the house... Peace today. One of my favorite things... My label maker. I have been using it trying to get things organized. A few plans for the rest of the week: Final Art Class, Well Checkup for the girlies and a whole lotta fun with Dad this weekend! A Picture Thought I am sharing.... This bumble bee is digging serious holes in our porch post. I have never watched them before. My hubby doesn't like it. He is allergic! We are hoping they move on soon. Simple Woman's Daybook.
We just returned from a very fun trip back to Illinois to watch our eldest, Amber, graduate from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Congrats Ambie, we are so very proud of you!
Returning to Illinois was bitter sweet. It was as if we had walked right back into our life in Illinois. We got to see old friends and picked up right where we left off. The girls visited with a lot of their home school friends and even got to go to our former "House" group. (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience). I love that name. There was a lot of playing going on at the funny farm.
Besides seeing my daughter, my next favorite thing was seeing my good friend (Sister) Jennifer.
I miss her so much. We became friends when we first started homeschooling six years ago. She is the frick to my frack...the calm to my crazy. We just sat down and talked like it had been just 18 days and not 18 months since our last "tea party". You ever had a friend like that? Well, one of us has to move. And I vote....Her! It's cold in Illinois!
Brown and furry Caterpillar in a hurry, Take your walk To the shady leaf, or stalk, Or what not, Which may be the chosen spot. No toad spy you, Hovering bird of prey pass by you; Spin and die, To live again a butterfly.
- Christina G. Rossetti 1893
Meet Herbie. K-Doodle decided to keep a caterpillar that she found outside for a day or two. I agreed. He was eating like crazy, then...he started building his cocoon. Now, unfortunately, he has built it in our little bug carrier. We are going to have to keep him with us as we travel to make sure it makes it through and release him when we are able. Next time I think I will suggest we just love him and leave him alone....
We are celebrating, are you? If you need some ideas, check out "Let's Celebrate Cinco De Mayo", a free e-book. You can also listen to free Mexican music here. K-Doodle has been busy coloring Cinco De Mayo coloring sheets we found doing a google search on images. We search Cinco de Mayo coloring sheets and it came back with lots of good sheets. Adios!
Cloudy, sleepy outside. Looks to be a warm muggy day today. thinking... of a few summer plans
I am thankful for... Daughters From the learning room... we are finishing up our work for the year. C-Sunshine is slowing completing subjects one by one. We are filling the learning room with new things to explore next year and over the summer. There is also some organizing going on. From the kitchen... Hopefully there will be a lot of baking going on later today. Banana bread, raspberry muffins and oatmeal bake to name a few..... I am wearing...Pj's....again. I am creating... special "Go Bags" for the little girls for our upcoming trip to Illinois. They will include special treats, games and activities to do in the van on the way up.
I am going... to work really hard to stay on task this week. Planning is the key to happiness and peace on our upcoming trip. We also have a lot of plans with extended family over the weekend. I am reading... Confessions of An Organized Homemaker I am hoping... for safe travel I am hearing... my girlies arguing over who gets to hold our dog Lucy. Around the house... Still continuing to declutter and do some spring cleaning. One of my favorite things... My bread maker. We all just LOVE the smell of fresh bread! A few plans for the rest of the week: Religion classes, art class, soccer game, dinner with grandparents, niece's graduation and a Mother's Day Celebration with my Mom! A Picture Thought I am sharing.... K-Doodle with my mom. Happy Mother's Day Mommy! Simple Woman's Daybook.
We have been doing Exploring Creation Zoology One (Flying Creatures) this year. So, it is only fitting that once again, a bird has decided that our bakers rack on our back porch is the perfect place to make a nest. We have had this baker's rack at four different houses over the years and every year a bird has decided it is the perfect spot! It is such a joy for us to watch as the Momma bird makes her nest, lays her eggs and watches over her babies. You just have to be careful doing anything near that baker's rack! We will keep you updated...
Beginning today, we will share a nugget from our Nature study with you.
