Sweetness and Light

Flurry of First Week Fun

Night before: Table set for breakfast, check!

Engaging Work: Check!

Concentrated Effort: Check!

Repetition of Work Chosen: Check!!!

Nature Study: Check! (Sorry for the blurry photo, American Kestrel sighted at noon from kitchen sink window :)

Lots of Love & Hugs throughout the day: Check!!!

Weekly Craft Time: Check!

Lots of Bookish Time: Check!!

All in all, a great first week. Many narrations were heard and everyone really enjoyed the flow of our new schedule and materials. It really does make a difference with it all planned out ahead of time, especially for this Head Mistress!

Wishing you all joyous first days/weeks of school. Many blessings in your year ahead!
 

Seen, Heard & Read ~ Week's Worth

Our past week has been filled with yet more profound and undeniable sadness as the news of yet another loss in our online community. I have truly been without words...

Never the less, some happenings and things to share :: Seen ~

A warm summer evening walk produced these lovely Trumpet Vine Creeper (Campsis radicans) blossoms. They are also called the "Hummingbird Magnet". 

 

These incredibly vibrant lavendar and white "petunia-like" flower, anyone care to gander at what this might be??? I couldn't find a match but thought it was a petunia variety??

 

We finally got around to making our Father Pine, except it's not made from pine, but we like how the cross holds our "fiddleback style" vestement which thanks to Violet came out beautifully with a little gold glitter paint :)

Here's closer look at them ~

Overheard ~

"Mommy Tyrannasaurus Rex starts with a "T"!! (Sean-Paul)

"Hey Sean-Paul, wanna be in my secret spy club?" (Seamus)

Reading Around the House ~

Read Aloud ~ Magic Tree House #7 Sabers at Sunset to Seamus/Sean-Paul at bedtime (how can these be SO boring)?? Seven Silly Eaters, Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent, I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean (Sean-Paul)

Independent Reading ~

Violet ~ Rilla of Ingleside, Nancy Drew The Case of the Velvet Mask (a bit of a light week for her reading wise as she has been at intense ballet rehersals for an exciting part in Coppelia)!

Matthias ~ The Black Cauldron (second Prydian chronicle) Jackie & Me with Seamus (still wroking through) Boys' Life magazine

Seamus ~ The Little Bear Collection (he's thrilled he can just pick this up and read it now :)

Me ~ Revolutionary Road (about 1/2-way on this, good) Around the Year With the Trapp Family

A parting shot, another beauty from our evening walk :: Butterfly bush 

 

"Best I love September's yellow,
Morns of dew strung gossamer,
Thoughtful days without a stir,
Rooky clamours, brazen leaves,
Stubble dotted o'er with sheaves -
More than Spring's bright uncontrol
Suit the Autumn of my soul.' ~ Alex Smith

I bid you a lovely Labor Day weekend with many snuggles with your loved-ones, my prayer is that you are all safe.

Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."

Seen, Heard & Read ~ New School Year!

We inched our way back in to a new round of learning this past week. It was with heavy hearts that we began, and many of us (mostly me) had trouble focusing on what we were really supposed to be doing. Frankly, I just wanted to snuggle on the couch with my sweeties and read books and remember why we do this thing called home education, and life...

A few happenings to share :: Seen ~

This incredible wasp nest in the tree just at the end of our front entry walk (yes, both the dog and Matthias have been stung on separate occasions) The nest has now been removed.

 

Bumblebees up close and under the microscope (not this beautiful live one but a few we've found that had perished on the driveway).

 

Reorganization of some school room shelves and spaces by Violet (thank you sweet girl :)

Sean-Paul's table and our Language area ~

 

Newly updated craft shelves next to ~

 

The Science table and Liturgical Shelves/Area got an overhaul too I just didn't get any pictures (lazy, I know ;-)

Reading Around the House ~

Audio Books ~ James Herriot's Treasury, Velveteen Rabbit and The Empty Pot (Little Boys), From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwiler (Matthias), The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Violet), Howard's End (Me).

Read Aloud - Swallows and Amazons, Children's Kindergarten Hour (a gem found at the library from 1920), a few Magic Tree House books to Seamus. Many picture books to Sean-Paul; Curious George Flies a Kite, Big Bigger Biggest, Across the Stream, Arnosky's Ark, I'm Terrific, Bunny Cakes...

Independent Reading ~

Violet ~ Under the Lilacs (Alcott), Lily's Crossing (Patricia Reilly-Giff), Skylark (Patricia MacLachlan), Born to Trot (Marguerite Henry), Nancy Drew Notebooks, The Family Manager Takes Charge (reading with me, see below), Martha Stewart's Good Things for Organizing, Marthat Stewart's Wedding Cakes

Matthias ~ The Book of Three (Prydian Chronicles) by Lloyd Alexander, Danny the Champion of the World (Road Dhal), Popular Mechnics "The Boy Camper" and Why Does a Curveball Curve, Dan Gutmann's Ray & Me, Jackie & Me-(Matthias reading aloud to Seamus) ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia 5th Edition

Seamus ~ This Family of Ours (Seton)

Me ~ cafe life: PARIS, Chasing Matisse, A Homemade Life, Revolutionary Road, Saintly Solutions, Literary Guide to Provence, The Lady in the Palazzo, The Family Manager Takes Charge

Heard ~

Some amazing Cello and Piano playing by Seamus and Matthias. Seamus is making incredible leaps and bounds in his pieces (we adore his Russian teacher, she's amazing). He's working on the Sonata in E Minor by Vivaldi, Beethoven's Country Dance and Sonata in C by Breval just to name a few.

Matthias is playing Two-Part Invention by Bach, some pieces for the Harpsicord and Organ accompaniment to prepare for Bachtober Fest coming up in September :) and some Aaron Copeland for fun! His teacher is an incredible guy who plays many different instruments as well; harpsicord, organ, accordian and of course the piano. We have been so blessed with finding these amazing musicians to further the boys passions!

Well, that about wraps the whole shootin' match for the first week, we ended up with a yucky tummy bug that has debilitated some of us, hoping we're done with it and it won't drag in to next week...

Many blessings and thanks for visiting our little corner of the world :)

'Fairest of months! ripe Summer's Queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen,
Sweet August doth appear.' ~ R. Cambe Miller

And it will sadly and all too quickly disappear, enjoy these last few fleeting weeks of summer dear friends!

In November...

Things are finally settling into a nice rhythmn here at Sweetness and Light and I thought I'd share some of the different things we are enjoying this time of year.  We have had many opportunities to get out and do activities that were previously unaccessable for us, so that has been a true pleasure. 

Montessori type activities and learning continues to be the focus of the younger boy's learning day as well as lots of outdoor playtime and building Legos!  Sean-Paul has finally discovered that he can actually build some stuff on his own and he's more than thrilled!!

His brothers are pretty happy about it as well because he is now less inclined to smash their creations out of frustration and impatience!  Aaah, we love progress! 

Sean-Paul has also discovered a love of watercolor painting and chooses this activity on most days.  Time to put up an art gallery!!  By the way I am loving all  the wonderful craft ideas at Let's Explore Creativity and of course The Crafty Crow always has the best links!  I'm thinking about doing a special sharing side bar such as Lissa recently posted about for all the awesome Handicraft resources on the web, so many creative things to do, so little time... And I'm so sorry that our Threads of Love blog that Violet and I are sharing has been so sadly neglected, she has been knitting, creating, sewing and basically going to town with handcrafts all summer and now since we've been settled and I promise a new post soon!!!  I have been knitting up a few things as well, so stay tuned!

Matthias and Violet are reading up a storm and are totally thrilled that our new library is a six minute walk from our house, OH YEAH baby, we're there almost every day (shhhh!)  I have given up on trying to keep their reading lists on my sidebars, alas, they go through a minimum of 5 books a week, at least Violet does.  Matthias is on a Jean Craighead George kick right now and has recently enjoyed: 

There's an Owl in the Shower, Tree Castle Island, Sign of the Beaver, and he's just about to start Dipper of Copper Creek!  He usually always has a Hardy Boys going and a Star Wars novel or two in the queue! 

Seamus is on to Alligators and has enjoyed numerous books by our favorite Jim Arnosky:  Wild and Swampy, All About Alligators, Babies in the Bayou, Wild Tracks.  Some others include:  Fun Facts About Alligators, Everglades, Who Lives in an Alligator Hole, and Fearsome Alligators, and An Extraordinary Egg!  He has been having fun learning about reptiles and his favorite read aloud so far has been The Moon of the Alligators by Jean Graighead George, we can't get enough of her wonderful books!

Sean-Paul is delighted that our library system has big huge baskets of board books available for him to peruse and "borrow" without even checking them out, how cool is that! 

Well I'll update again soon with more of our goings on and doings!  Here's a little picture thought for and very wordy Wednesday:

Have a blessed rest of the week with your sweeties!

Love,

Marching in Like a Snow Covered Lion?

March has decided to make it's entrance here at Sweetness and Light in a snowy sort of way.  We've had flurries and snow covered mornings all this week with no end in sight as of yet!  As well, so many birds have been returning to our area and emblazoning our mornings with the most wondrous songs of their arrival by the hundreds!! 

Here's how March is shaping up for our Bonny Clan thus far:

1)  Saints of March, especially Celtic Saints, the most famous being St. Patrick; Spotlight on picture books and many Legends and Tales from:

• Once Upon a Time Saints, and More Once Upon a Time Saints
• Celtic Heritage Saints
• Celtic Book of Prayers

2)  Saint Patrick's Day Bookshelf (see right sidebar)

3)  A Saint Joseph's Table and Feast for this most loved of all saints.

4)  Art Appreciation:  Stained Glass Windows

• Stained Glass Windows Coloring Book
• Tour of Cathedral and local churches to view Stained Glass Art
• Creat our own stained glass artwork with craft kits and tissue paper stained glass

5)  Music Appreciation:  Celtic Hymns and Music including music of the Liturgy

6)  Geography of Ireland and Scotland:  Coastal and Seascapes tied in with many picture books

• Seabird
• Time of Wonder
• One Morning in Maine
• Miss Rumphius
• All Those Secrets of the World
• Night of the Moonjellies

7)  History:  Begin The Martha Years, by Melissa Wiley as Family Read-Alouds

March is seeming Lion-like, but I am hoping that it will be Lamb-ish in our continued efforts to work on our Lenten Sacrifices and Spiritual Givings.

Hope Spring is nearer to your door, thanks for stopping in for a visit, Gods Blessings to you today and always!

Our Assumption Day: First Day of Our New Learning Year!!

(First Day of School Photo)!

We like to begin our new cycle of learning on this very special Feast of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary.  It's such a special day to celebrate the passing of Our Lady from her perfect earthly domain to that of perfection in heaven with her son and Our Lord, and God the Father Almighty.

I had many special things planned for our first day of the year and it all went pretty much as planned.  In the morning after Prayers and Devotions and reading from Mary Mother of God by Tomie de Paola, we worked on our long-awaited Rosary Shelf Crafts so beautifully showcased at Alice's Cottage and by Dawn of By Sun and Candlelight.  We were unable to do these beautiful shelves during Mary's Month of May as we were moving, however, I think they were just as special for a day like the Assumption!

This is the top of Seamus's shelf. He painted special crosses on it!

Here is the top of Matthias's. We found some lovely religious stickers at JoAnn fabrics of all places!

And this is Violet's! We sealed them with Mod Podge and then an Acrylic Clear Coating over the top and here are the finished shelves with l their special things on them. As a Special gift for the Assumption the Head Master and I gave each of the dear children a new Marian Statue and (thanks to Dawn) they each have their own Holy Water Bottles atop as well!

In order again Seamus's, Matthias's and then Violet's! You'll notice on hers there is also a beautiful yarn God's Eye which we also made after we finished the shelves!

After our morning of crafts we went to a lovely 12:15pm Mass for the Solemnity and then had lunch with the Head Master, that was a real treat for us all!!  We were invited to dinner at some wonderful new home schooling friends and so we celebrated with them as well! The kids took their God's Eyes as gifts and I made Sour Cream Cheesecakes for dessert with fresh raspberries and blueberries! It was a beautiful day of celebration in honor of Our Dear Lady!

The Beauty of Summer

Summer is full of beauty. It's all around us in the changes that occur in nature, the way we naturally slow down when it's hotter outside. The chances for family vacation time for many people, and then for home educating families there's the question of school during summer?? What do you do?

For our family there are cut and dry "Seasons" of home schooling. As most in the Northern Hemishpere we are in our Summer Season. It is hot and mostly dry (with only an occaisional thunder storm) and full of fun and adventure. We just moved to a new city and are discovering the beauty of Summer by exploring and discovering all that our new surroundings have to offer. We've had visits to the Zoo, we try and have a Wild Day! at least once every two weeks or so, we've hosted some little ladies for a lovely Lavender Tea, and every now and again we love to have A Crafty Day! when it's too hot outside!!

I really enjoy the slower rythym of summer, although I truly crave a "schedule" so I kind of sneak in scheduled things for us like regular library days, math drills on the computer, or a worksheet, set read aloud times, our daily morning devotions and bible time so it feels a little more like we're accomplishing our tasks. To be honest, the kids thrive on a bit of scheduling as well, and they do much better with somewhat of a plan than none at all, mayhem and chaos will reign otherwise and that does not make for a happy mother I can assure you :) I have been in a perpetual state of organizing the school room and re-shelving our books so as to be "all set" for when we crank up again!! For me, this is one of the beauties of our slower pace ;)

Our Summer Season is full of richness and family time and there is certain to be learning going on all around us in the form of summer reading lists, as well as Swimming lessons, Skateboard camp, hosting out of town family, camping trips with the West Coast Charlotte Mason gang, that it hardly seems like we're missing a thing!! I think I'll go and curl up on the porch with a good book and some kiddos!!

Here's hoping you have found the beauty in your Summer and may God bless you in your day!!