Dolls and Munroes

Martin and Jo

I'm going to go back and do the whole trail soon....

Gardens at Alnwick Castle, water features with added thinking

Near Dunstanburgh Castle

Frocks and finery for Martin and Jo's wedding, Doxford Hall


Look closer...

Postcard Swap

Just signed up for

http://www.playingbythebook.net/international-postcard-swap-for-families/

Sending and receiving postcards to and from all over the world sound great.

Slush

We've watched the rain all day.
There have been elements of sleet.
Now there is white.

And the other picture

I was really pleased with this. Wish I'd taken a photo with good lighting.

8th Birthday

Fresh Air and Sticks

Coffee Smile (or is it Jesus' face and i've drunk god?)

Annie's flowers in a vase



Making a moving model of a woodpecker


Moving rocket


We've just had two days out with other people T loved the running around in groups. I liked being outside. Birthday preparations in full swing. Castle Cake to be made today.

The photos are from last week.

Another Home Day

T's infernal secret agent and henchman:





A. hard at it...















We don't have pictures of the crockery mending, lego model making, banana baking, flapjack making, lego picking up, writing, drawing and colouring, Lego model making, lavatory cleaning, floor washing, laundry processing, Lego model making, tidying, breakfasting, lunching, Lego Model making, Tea-ing, Grepolis city enhancing, googling, table clearing, Life saving and yet more hand washing.












And the results:

Days at home

These are our standing snow monuments. I can't get the light right but in reality they are glowing in the late afternoon light.












Ice Road Trucker

Wandering about the Web while A. Languishes.

Also reading more John Taylor Gatto

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/learn-as-you-go/take-back-your-education

Two things from this article to do:

"To know yourself, you have to keep track of your random choices, figure out your patterns, and use this knowledge to dominate your own mind. It’s the only way that free will can grow. If you avoid this, other minds will manipulate and control you lifelong.

One method people use to find out who they are becoming, before others do, is to keep a journal, where they log what attracts their attention, along with some commentary. In this way, you get to listen to ­yourself instead of listening only to others."

"I set out to use the classical emphasis on qualities and specific powers. I collected from every kid a list of three powers they felt they already possessed and three weaknesses they might like to remedy in the course of the school year."


More from him:

Really educated people ...

Establish an individual set of values but recognize those of the surrounding community and of the various cultures of the world.

Explore their own ancestry, culture, and place.

Are comfortable being alone, yet understand dynamics between people and form healthy relationships.

Accept mortality, knowing that every choice affects the generations to come.

Create new things and find new experiences.

Think for themselves; observe, analyze, and discover truth without relying on the opinions of others.

Favor love, curiosity, reverence, and empathy rather than material wealth.

Choose a vocation that contributes to the common good.

Enjoy a variety of new places and experiences but identify and cherish a place to call home.

Express their own voice with confidence.

Add value to every encounter and every group of which they are a part.

Always ask: “Who am I? Where are my limits? What are my possibilities?”

---

This list was adapted from John Taylor Gatto latest book, Weapons of Mass Instruction (New Society Publishers, 2009)

Yet more sick (and TV)

Picture just for fun. Going up Irton Pike last year.

Reading Sandra Dodd http://sandradodd.com/unschooling

Particularly http://sandradodd.com/respect

Today I will list their interests:
Engineering, Chemistry, Model Making, Movie Making.

Snow and Sick

Snow and sick are both slushy. One is more pleasant to clear up.

More Snaps

From Grannie's Album

Grannie

Edith Mary Hosegood (Nee Gliddon) 2nd November 1911 to 5th February 2009

On Sunday the 31st of January A, T and I leapt on a train at an hour and a half's notice - thanks Matty - and endured a slow journey speeding through a beautiful Scotland and England. Sunshine, snow, sunset, darkness, Dad picking us up.

Grannie was still alive, breathing strongly and loudly.
M had wondered if we would arrive in time.
And so began a very special, very difficult week. M sat with Grannie each day, I gave her the odd rest. A came and drew on the floor. Grannie spoke with effort. Friends and family names, her music - LRAM and oddly many times her last word magpie. Why? The black and white light fitting. Swallows were special to her and Grandpa. She breathed. We dripped tea into her mouth. M and I walked back up the lane looking at the stars.

Grannie took her last breath with M sitting with her, I was walking along the corridor to her room in Westerley.

Preparation and funeral. Old photos. Margaret Morris. Hedley Price. Family.
Hammamelis 'Pallida' from the garden on her coffin with hazel catkins waggling and cheerie daffodils. Snowdrop bunches for Great Grandchildren.
Emily sang, low and beautiful.
Fun times for the Great Grandchildren.

Not tragic but very, very sad. She's gone, I'll never speak to her again. How can she not be here when I have such clear pictures in my mind?

Day of peace

And with peace the space to appreciate the mess and long list of to dos. Most importantly a card (Fimo cane of mountains) to my Grannie in hospital with a broken femur and then kept in because the ward was closed with a norovirus which she has not got, thankfully.

T playing Lego with a friend, Annie with me, Puffin Post on the computer and a bit of reading with the Ladybird Keywords Scheme. Seems to be clicking. Kyle is being carefully fed in the highchair seat we used for Alison and Ben's baby.

Last Weekend was a day of trees. Saturday learning how to prune apple trees at the Grange and visiting the 15 year old trees up at Beecraigs. The first old and previously carefully managed the latter seedlings planted and left. Very enjoyable and satisfying day. Sunday collected wood from the Grange and then off for our first meal at JKI's in Currie while M and K cut down their red leaved ornamental cherry.

Started playing with the Linlithgow Reed Band. Very fast, very high, much concentration.

Fresh Surfaces

Covering bluetac pockmarks

Snow over everything now all gone to reveal green.

Whirlwind visit from Frantic Mum finds out franticmumfindsout.blogspot.com/ . So lovely to see them, so quickly over.

Snow

Tom cleared a neighbour's drive and made a snowhole in the resulting pile

Our igloo

A snowman from the first flakes.

Tom's Thing

Take one old sock and a bit of Tom's speedy conversion magic...