The Road Back

12.06.2012

Mary Poppins

I'm getting back into the reading before bed rhythm. This is something that I struggle with. At the end of the day I am so exhausted  Nothing sounds worse (usually) then reading something with voices and character types that I need to be on top of. I never just "read". Reading aloud for me is a very PRESENT activity. I really think about the characters and how to make them come alive for the kids as I'm reading.




I had to admit that we had a little bit of a shaky start getting into Mary Poppins. I think this is because the girls have watched the Disney version about 324 times and they have those interpretations of the characters very SET in their heads. In case you have never read P.L. Travers original Mary Poppins, I'll let you in on a secret: Mary Poppins is NOT the Disney version. She is strict, mean (at times), very magical, and not pretty. Anyway, we are slowly warming into the story about halfway through now.


Clare was tickled by the Laughing Gas chapter.

11.28.2012

Nature Walk

We embarked on one of our frequently nature walks this morning. What with all the garage/water damage/carpenters etc.... we needed to GET OUT. We set out with the aim of finding a mushroom, a new flower, and smiling and saying hello to at least three people (each). Clare didn't have a problem with the later, but Josephine was to interested in the dogs walking by.
Our flower was a Rosemary Flower. They are really quite beautiful  Delicate, cornflower blue and snapdragonish. (picture courtesy of public domain)


The Little Naturalist.



Next picture courtesy of Josephine.

Writing our findings down in the nature journal ( a la Charlotte Mason)

We took the mushroom home to identify. I love this part of the nature walk! Turns out, we couldn't  find it in any of our handy books so we had to do some sleuthing internetward. After about twenty minutes of laboriously searching through databases (hello Rogers Mushrooms and Natural History of Orange County) and photos, we finally found our chubby little friend. It is called a Shaggy Parasol. Isn't that adorable? I think I've discovered yet another thing to become interested in (sorry Honey). MUSHROOMS!

*****Addendum: This is why we won't wildcraft mushrooms....the above is actually called a Green-Spored Parasol. Or Clitopilus prunulus, if you want to get technical. Picture below...*****





Love the photographs from Rogers Mushrooms. You can purchase them in poster form, which I think is awesome.

11.23.2012

Pie Making

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.01.2012

Art Time

 

Hallowe'en

First, there was a demand for pumpkins carved like the FIERCE YELLOW PUMPKIN.



Second, there was a six year old who was dying to be a witch ("just like in the book Over and Over by Charlotte Zolotow). No crooked broomstick, green face or warts. Just a dress and a hat, was the request.

Third, there was a four year old who wanted to be a

bananagrapesstrawberryshortcakefairygalindapumpkinappledog

catcheetehpresent.................

and on and on. You get the idea. Very classic four year old. We settled on an apple.

10.22.2012

Pumpkin Patch

 

 

 

10.09.2012

Grandaddy's Memorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.07.2012

Kayaking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On The Road

 

 

 

We traveled the (long) back way to Tahoe for my Granddad's memorial. At first I was skeptical. I wanted to just shoot up the Five and GET THERE. But I am so glad I let others make the travel decision because we had a great drive up. I saw some California country I have never seen before. Amazing sights. Amazing trees and flowers. We stopped in a little town and rummaged through some thrift shops (duds---oh, except for a really awesome mug and some homegrown apples), an independent book store (that was THRIVING, I might add), and filled ourselves silly at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican food joint with chile rellenos.