Saturday 31 July 2010

Sibling Peace

From Sandra Dodd so I don't forget:

http://sandradodd.com/peace/fighting

http://sandradodd.com/parentingpeacefully

'Stop thinking about changing "for good and not just for days or moments." That is just another thing to overwhelm you and you don't need that!

Just change the next interaction you have with the kids.'

This one is good to eat. Must learn name.


Struggling to get the light right in the camera. Canal beautiful, light through reeds, light reflecting, dark sky, grass heads light against dark background.

Can't ' get' it

Flute

Just discovered how to improve: play for over an hour without interruptions.
That'll be easy then...

Playing Arrival of Queen of Sheba - Handel and Traumerei - Schumann

A lot of over and hour sessions needed.

Friday 30 July 2010

I want to think this through

I have just found this outline for a course on psychology.

Donna Simmons

Christopherus Homeschool

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7591502343019889743

Whose blog I read and which provokes me to think about how I parent and learn.
(I can't find anything on her blog to say not to copy bits elsewhere. Hope ok)


The main question which we will consider during these weeks is whether the human being is a little higher than the apes or a little lower than the angels – and how where one stands in relation to this question informs one’s thinking about how the human being is or isn’t a being of mind, body and spirit.

We will begin with a quick gallop through the development of Western thinking and consciousness, from the Greeks to modern times – hopefully this will be review for these seniors! We will then look at how men like Freud, BF Skinner and Maslow have developed the field of psychology. We will watch two sections of the film The Century of the Self by Adam Curtis and look at the effect of psychology not just on the marketing of products but of politicians as well. By then turning to child development and the work of Steiner, Piaget and Erik Erikson, we will look at a rather different picture of the human being. To conclude we will consider the meaning of life – the meaning in life – touching on what the class did during their religion main lesson as well as what we’ve considered in this class.

Texts will be varied and include The Human Soul by Karl Konig (the anthroposophical doctor who founded the Camphill Movement) and selections from The Passion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas, Walden Two by BF Skinner and Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder, as well as a number of things pulled from the internet and possibly a lecture by Steiner on psychoanalysis.

The students will be required to do all their reading so that our conversations are full. They will also be asked to keep a journal for this class, entering their considered thoughts and questions about the material we cover. There will be a few little essays, some possibly done in class, and one decent sized essay to finish up.


Tuesday 27 July 2010

Week and Weekend

I'm trying to capture the sense of being in the garden with flowers and sunshine.


By the banks of the Avon


Honesty is lovely at every stage.


Light shining off his new hat.

Friday 23 July 2010

Regency Gown




Just hand stitching to do now.

Monday 19 July 2010

Rules, helpful guidance or nagging?

I've been looking at Stephen Covey's Seven Habits and wondering about making some sort of personal version for our family. Then I was sent this: family-rules-sign

So how to make:
Be proactive
begin with the end in mind
Put first things first
Think 'win-win'
Seek first to understand...then to be understood
Synergize
Sharpen the saw

into something meaningful for all of us. I think we need to do this together.

Garden, Canal

Our first garlic


The camera wasn't quite as enamoured with the colours and the evening light as I was.

Thursday 15 July 2010

Wednesday 14 July 2010

Tuesday 13 July 2010


Art Swap


Cupcake


Bantum Egg

Legoland



Midsummer's Eve





And holiday eve...
After packing, clearing, disentangling Annie's mattress, sending last minute messages, thinking I'd lost my phone, finding tickets, packing, clearing, writing lists, checking lists, ticking off lists...

Callens' Edge


The Purple Headed Mountain

This is the first time I've seen Dunkery Beacon from here, ever.

On the bowling green at Dunster Castle

and posing for photos for Daddy's birthday, they started so stiff then a bit of grass throwing and movement.

Probably my favourite place.