tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92125010494259409062024-03-13T07:43:09.205-07:00A Quiet SpotHannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.comBlogger746125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-39087015944199510562011-09-12T07:31:00.000-07:002011-09-12T07:31:31.358-07:00ANNOUNCEMENT: A New Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Op9JP0jUTp0/Tm4V9wsXGbI/AAAAAAAAEWw/wOHyoZHhAAY/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Op9JP0jUTp0/Tm4V9wsXGbI/AAAAAAAAEWw/wOHyoZHhAAY/s640/DSC_0099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No, I'm not having a baby. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Last weekend, I got to borrow my brother's baby, Charlotte, for a while. Yum.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, this blog is moving. I won't be deleting anything here, but from now on I'll be posting at <a href="http://hereinthelovelywoods.com/">Here in the Lovely Woods</a>. Finally, a new name! And my own .com. Whoa, Nellie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you'll join me <a href="http://hereinthelovelywoods.com/">there</a>. See you on the other side! </div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-81476088597119330752011-09-01T07:20:00.000-07:002011-09-01T07:20:00.501-07:00Perhaps He Needs Some Woolen Socks?"Mom," said Caroline as we drove along -- truly, there's no place like the car for great discussions -- "I think the earth must really be shaped like a teardrop. Because Mt. Everest is so, so tall. It's, like, a spiky point, and the earth is a ball."<br />
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"Hmmm," said I. "You are quite right that Mt. Everest is very tall. But it's not quite tall enough to change the shape of the earth."<br />
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Pause.<br />
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"Ouchies for Jesus!" she burst out compassionately. "Those mountains are so big and sharp, they must hurt His feet when He rests them there. Ouchies! And so COLD!"<br />
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Motherhood means getting a front row seat to stuff like this on a near-daily basis. I still pinch myself sometimes, 'cause I'm pretty sure I got a golden ticket.<br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-20104443605362346402011-08-31T14:35:00.000-07:002011-08-31T14:35:24.170-07:00For the Days that Aren't So SpectacularToday I'm thinking about a certain yawning chasm.<br />
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It's the chasm between my ideals and my real, actual life.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know that sounds depressing. But it's just that there are days when, by two o'clock, I start thinking I'm about to break out in hives, and it's because of what's there [the steady drip, drip, drip of reminders I give my children to DO this or NOT DO that, when they really SHOULD remember on their own, and they really SHOULD have the daily routine down to a beautifully timed Rube-Goldberg machine] and also what's not there [some magical feeling that we are accomplishing great things, that my life sparkles with interest and achievement]. </div><br />
Let's call it the "should" gap. It creeps in and grabs the reins until I lose all perspective. I used to think, in those moments, that what I really needed was a very stimulating or very relaxing vacation. Now I know that's not the answer, because once I climbed down from that mountain or out of that hammock ... <i>I'd still be the same person</i>.<br />
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And the problem isn't circumstantial, really. It's all inside. In the perfectionistic self that can't embrace the flawed beauty of what IS instead of what SHOULD BE. In the proud self that tells God, "You gave this particular problem to the wrong person. I'm just not up for the job."<br />
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Lying down to rest this afternoon, I read <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/08/when-perfectionism-and-to-do-lists-are-overwhelming/">this post</a> from someone who has those moments as well.<br />
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Then a friend kindly sent me a Facebook photo of one of the messiest rooms of her house, a room that is in the process of being remodeled.<br />
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And I remembered ... we are all toddling through this remodeling journey together. We are all that messy room. The clutter of perfectionism, of disappointment, of unreasonable expectations, of misplaced hopes ... it all has to go. Sometimes, the room looks worse before it gets better, right?<br />
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But the best way I know to de-clutter is to give thanks. To thank Him for the beautiful and praise Him for the ugly-beautiful, even if it's in a whisper.<br />
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P.S. Guess why I'm writing this post? Because I wasn't up for it. I couldn't do it perfectly or eloquently. The right words weren't jumping out of my head onto the screen. But sometimes, you just have to take perfectionism in a smackdown. And, <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/08/when-perfectionism-and-to-do-lists-are-overwhelming/">as Ann says</a>, do the thing in front of you.<br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-8473235649471739002011-08-28T19:46:00.000-07:002011-08-28T19:46:29.935-07:00Hanging in ThereHey friends!<br />
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Hope you all had a pleasant weekend. If you were able to go outside, because it wasn't either a) hurricaning in your general direction, or b) 110 degrees, may I congratulate you?<br />
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(Oh, wait. Sorry, just checked Facebook. Make that 112 degrees.)<br />
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<i>Dear friends in the Pacific Northwest ... got a house to sell us? </i><br />
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<i>I'm really only half kidding. </i><br />
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Anyhow anyway anyhoo, there's really not a whole lot to report here except that I have been working all afternoon on creating a new blog, FINALLY, and my tailbone is really, really sore. The good news: The new blog will be not much different in any perceptible way from the old blog, in terms of content. The bad news: The new blog will be not much different in any perceptible --<br />
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You get my drift. I'll let you know the minute it's presentable, and we can meet up over there. (Oh, and if you have feedback for me? Stuff you'd like to see on the new blog (or not see)? Let me know.)<br />
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In the meantime, enjoy a couple slices of my crazy, ordinary life:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CroS0FDhIA/Tlr6057KcgI/AAAAAAAAEVM/grHz18NpPwU/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CroS0FDhIA/Tlr6057KcgI/AAAAAAAAEVM/grHz18NpPwU/s640/DSC_0095.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Building a resort for fairies in the back yard ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdUl6rqb02E/Tlr7E5unqcI/AAAAAAAAEVQ/qOW_56ZPu9A/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdUl6rqb02E/Tlr7E5unqcI/AAAAAAAAEVQ/qOW_56ZPu9A/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wet trampolining. Not the safest, but definitely the sanest at these temps. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HYVnoEnpKFk/Tlr7Um4BD3I/AAAAAAAAEVY/FE59UOcBY74/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HYVnoEnpKFk/Tlr7Um4BD3I/AAAAAAAAEVY/FE59UOcBY74/s640/DSC_0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How homeschoolers do P.E. on a Friday afternoon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9ZeEGwQd54/Tlr7fR_e2pI/AAAAAAAAEVc/nhScJEafFd8/s1600/Ricky+1206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9ZeEGwQd54/Tlr7fR_e2pI/AAAAAAAAEVc/nhScJEafFd8/s640/Ricky+1206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I forgot to show you this earlier, from our trip to Colorado in July. I wouldn't mind being there right now, in fact. Shall we charter a bus? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-54077964925625780182011-08-23T20:22:00.000-07:002011-08-23T20:22:14.220-07:00Everything But the Trapper Keeper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mALp6RRaS38/TlRqTFo718I/AAAAAAAAEUM/aBs-EZrNCpM/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mALp6RRaS38/TlRqTFo718I/AAAAAAAAEUM/aBs-EZrNCpM/s640/DSC_0120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, knock my socks off and straight into the wash, as Paula Deen would say. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My children appear to be channeling <i>normal</i> school kids. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Don't get too excited, though; notice the shirt still hangs loose.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Either that, or they're fresh off their first day of <a href="http://classicalconversations.com/">Classical Conversations</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"She's a big personality in a small package," commented one of the room moms from Caroline's class during lunch. Yep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's amazing how the momentum of a group that loves learning and loves *people* can lift you up and make the obstacles seem like bread, rather than giants. Hooray for new beginnings! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-60974023221263004792011-08-20T12:17:00.000-07:002011-08-20T12:17:39.484-07:00A River Ran Through It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Well, not a river, exactly, but a good, hearty, rushing creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our favorite creek. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The one where we've spent hours wading, swimming, building dams, enjoying the natural water slide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now there's not a drop of water to be found.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our ghost creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello, historic Texas drought.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fbnf373TqtI/Tk7M12QxP-I/AAAAAAAAEUI/irxePb6RkyU/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fbnf373TqtI/Tk7M12QxP-I/AAAAAAAAEUI/irxePb6RkyU/s640/DSC_0148.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32268479@N07/6060130346/" title="BullCreek1 by hebradio, on Flickr"><img alt="BullCreek1" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6060130346_5f9f1e5a60_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">"Don't let this world around you squeeze you into buildings or books. Buildings are good. Books are good. There are times to be in both. But God created the heavens and the earth to be experienced, not just read about or lectured upon."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You will grow in your understanding of God and His ways by going outside, observing, asking questions ... and then carefully searching for the answers. He will fill you with wonder and praise."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boyhood-Beyond-Practical-Wisdom-Becoming/dp/1883934095?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Boyhood and Beyond: Practical Wisdom for Becoming a Man</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1883934095" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(a terrific book being read at night by the father and son in this house)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(thanks to <a href="http://delightfullearning.blogspot.com/">Michelle at Delightful Learning</a> for the recommendation!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-35293173233162263062011-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:002011-08-19T13:33:11.089-07:00Bits and PiecesWhew. Busy week. Planning, hosting, shopping, driving ... it all makes for a thin margin of time to write.<br />
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But, still plugging along with<a href="http://www.beckyhiggins.com/products/"> Project Life</a>, I have been taking pictures! Here are a few bits and pieces of life this week:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45MgozbTU_4/Tk7CtuqKeHI/AAAAAAAAETc/ojU8f2elk-Q/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45MgozbTU_4/Tk7CtuqKeHI/AAAAAAAAETc/ojU8f2elk-Q/s640/DSC_0068.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>1. The girls spent a couple hours one afternoon making an amusement park out of cardboard boxes for their dolls. Caroline's doll is all strapped in with a duct tape seatbelt and crash helmet here (which she definitely needed). Just one more reason to nominate the inventor of duct tape for a Nobel prize.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1aGs78SJmE/Tk7ERxBkNuI/AAAAAAAAETw/ZXNR4G_z7yM/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1aGs78SJmE/Tk7ERxBkNuI/AAAAAAAAETw/ZXNR4G_z7yM/s640/DSC_0075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
2. As you know, we love listening to audiobooks in the car. Our latest "read" is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magicians-Elephant-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763652989?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Magician's Elephant</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0763652989" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />which I frankly enjoyed much more as an audiobook (the narrator is faaaaabulous, dahling) than as a read-aloud. And I say that as a Kate DiCamillo fan. I just didn't love the book the way I have others of hers ... but the audiobook won me over.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65qoJT-wvLs/Tk7C7ZnjrZI/AAAAAAAAETg/wBC4fneHVkY/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65qoJT-wvLs/Tk7C7ZnjrZI/AAAAAAAAETg/wBC4fneHVkY/s640/DSC_0167.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. We attended a wedding reception for our friends Joseph and Joanna (yup, Joe and Jo!) on Sunday afternoon. Caroline is always eager to be photographed with the bride. Maybe she's hoping the romantic aura will rub off on her? That girl seriously scares me sometimes with her eight boyfriends (all older and sweetly disinterested in her none-too-subtle designs on them). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M20zf3StrE4/Tk7Dc2uU-1I/AAAAAAAAETk/Dlc3gOjtdmA/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M20zf3StrE4/Tk7Dc2uU-1I/AAAAAAAAETk/Dlc3gOjtdmA/s640/DSC_0065.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>4. I've been purchasing books/curriculum and digging reusables out of boxes like a crazy woman. And, this week we attended orientation for our Classical Conversations group. I came away both exhilarated ... and overwhelmed. The mass of STUFF to organize, file, laminate, put in page protectors, review with the children, and remember each week is not for the faint of heart, my friends. And, my inner introvert wanted to curl up among the couch cushions and suck her thumb, as is typical when we're in large groups and the Inner Extrovert has to drive for a while. That said, I'm so impressed by the other mamas involved in this group. They're kind, reassuring, and apparently quite productive.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">5. I'd promised Ashley, my 11-year-old niece, that I'd show her how to make a duct tape wallet way back in June. Well, with five days left before school starts for her, we got it done! Then she and her sister and cousins (my girls) had a duct tape crafting extravaganza. See point #1 concerning the Nobel Prize.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Weekending, everyone! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. Fellow Texans, this is the weekend to shop for school supplies tax-free. Even if you homeschool like us, you still need a few pencils and markers on hand, n'est-ce pas? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-23648344837776542272011-08-15T19:43:00.000-07:002011-08-15T19:43:20.336-07:00What Words Can Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUuuV-Ctqmk/TknYv17cTaI/AAAAAAAAETE/nmelCYGe_fc/s1600/CSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUuuV-Ctqmk/TknYv17cTaI/AAAAAAAAETE/nmelCYGe_fc/s640/CSC_0023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Last night, the Professor put on his wizard cape and did some magical hocus pocus on my computer that not only updated the software, but synched all my various Mail programs (iPad Mail, Apple Mail, Gmail). While this was wonderful and heroic, it also meant that I had to go through and re-delete every message I'd ever deleted. Like, a hundred thousand of them.<br />
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Good times.<br />
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I chugged my way through 2007, 2008, 2009. Then I got to 2010. Then I got to April 2010. Then I realized that very soon, I'd hit May 2010. I started paying attention.<br />
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You see, in May 2010, something unpleasant happened that I've never talked about in this space -- only offline, to kind and supportive friends. I'll speak in generalities. Essentially, I received an abrupt and very disgruntled email from someone I'd considered a friend, chiding me in no uncertain terms for something clumsy I'd done. Or, rather, said. Like, over a month previously. Would I have done better to keep my mouth shut? Absolutely. Did I intend any malice by it? Certainly not. As I said, <i>clumsy</i>.<br />
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At the time, mortified, I immediately fired off an abject apology. I never received a reply.<br />
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I learned a lot from that experience ... but the lessons learned are not the point here. The point is that the wound from that email stung me all summer. I felt embarrassed and regretful, yes, but also misunderstood and hurt. It took months of prayer and occasional pouring out of my heart to various friends who happened to be near when I needed an ear. Their words to me so often felt like God's words made audible.<br />
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So, yes, I found the email. I looked at its title and realized that I no longer remember the wording of her rebuke. I didn't need to re-read it -- no need to poke old scars to see if they'd bleed. I realized that I could think of this woman without any heartache, but with compassion, knowing that most people do not turn and bite the hand of friendship unless they are in pain themselves.<br />
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I also noticed something as my mouse hovered over that section of the Inbox. The same week I received that email, another message had arrived from a different person -- someone local whom I'd only known online. She wanted a quote for an article she was writing. One thing led to another, and over a year later, we're great friends -- and so are our children.<br />
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Somehow, I'd never put the two together, never remembered how immediately the blossom succeeded the thorn. As one friendship ended, another -- dare I say better one? -- was just beginning. Why did I dwell so much on the hurt and the loss?<br />
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Perhaps I needed the lessons learned from the loss of the one friendship to make me more fit for others. I believe the Lord was gently reminding me of the power of words -- those carelessly spoken to hurt, those gently spoken to bless and heal.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-4577902186269865542011-08-12T14:33:00.000-07:002011-08-12T14:33:55.005-07:00Apps that Make Us SmarterI usually write about book in this space much more than iDevice/smartphone apps, because books are easily available at the library or bookstores, while talking about apps naturally excludes a certain number of people. But once in a while, when we've discovered another example of how technology can bolster, not compete with, our education, I just have to rave.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbo_UQoyfiI/TkWYr817UQI/AAAAAAAAES0/hcCV4rkDoME/s1600/mzl.dpknktur.175x175-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbo_UQoyfiI/TkWYr817UQI/AAAAAAAAES0/hcCV4rkDoME/s1600/mzl.dpknktur.175x175-75.jpg" /></a></div> 1. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/presidents-vs.-aliens/id427418941?mt=8">Presidents vs. Aliens</a> Another winner from the brilliant Dan Russell-Pinson, who must be a kid himself, because he's proven time and again that he understands exactly how kids think. We loved <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?mt=8">Stack the States</a>. Then<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rocket-math/id393989284?mt=8"> Rocket Math. </a> Then <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-countries/id407838198?mt=8">Stack the Countries</a>, which is one of the few games that I myself play. Presidents vs. Aliens is his latest offering, and I'll be a bo diddly if my kids, particularly the eldest, isn't learning, cheerfully and voluntarily, which president was in office when the Vietnam War ended or who succeeded Benjamin Harrison. Genius, I tell you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bn2kSgwhIbU/TkWYtIF-5qI/AAAAAAAAES4/TCzDxorkbzY/s1600/brainpop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bn2kSgwhIbU/TkWYtIF-5qI/AAAAAAAAES4/TCzDxorkbzY/s320/brainpop.png" width="240" /></a></div>2. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-featured-movie/id364894352?mt=8">BrainPop</a>. This app is brought to you by the folks at BrainPop.com, which is loaded with fun content and offers a free trial, but then comes by subscription only -- and at over $100 per year, it's not exactly cheap. But the BrainPop app, which features a Movie-of-the-Day and an accompanying daily quiz, is FREE. This past week we've been watching the 5-minute video together every morning and taking the quiz. In the process, we've learned about Neil Armstrong, Jane Goodall, bullying, Pop Art, sharks, thunderstorms, angles,and Yo Yo Ma. We've also learned, from the quizzes, how a fact differs from an opinion and what the word "infer" means. Good stuff.<br />
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Just two more reasons to justify having an iPad for educational purposes. Now, if we could just convince the IRS to let us deduct the expense ...Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-84475594184311373732011-08-10T19:59:00.000-07:002011-08-10T19:59:11.894-07:00At the Dog Park"I like your dog!" I hear the words and smile at the familiar echo. This is my five year old's favorite opener, her pickup line of choice -- at the playground, along the street, and, lately, at the off-leash dog park near our house. <span id="goog_365226864"></span><span id="goog_365226865"></span><br />
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True to form, her affable intro is followed by, "What's his name? Can I pet him?" -- or perhaps, "Can I pet him? What's his name?" That is, if her sister hasn't beaten her to the punch.<br />
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Meanwhile, yards away, weaving his way into the cluster of dog owners standing about in the evening heat, my son is making his own friends. Between the three kids, they have a growing mental Rolodex of all the dog park "regulars."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAiPyarjTBk/TkNEuDxmmNI/AAAAAAAAER8/jSx5wKcKFHQ/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAiPyarjTBk/TkNEuDxmmNI/AAAAAAAAER8/jSx5wKcKFHQ/s640/DSC_0018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>"Is that your son?" A woman puffs up to me with a grin. When I nod and smile, she bursts into giggles."When I told him my dog's name, he said, 'Oh, Duke! That's a CLASSIC dog name.' What a friendly kid. So socially adept!" I consider telling her he's homeschooled. I bite my tongue.<br />
<br />
As usual, mine are the only children at the park, mingling with new and familiar dogs and owners. We stand about, making small talk, watching Pongo and his playmates race up and down the hill, ignoring their owners' pleas not to jump into the drainage ditch for a swim, and blowing off the steam they've built up all day between air-conditioned walls.<br />
<br />
I consider how many times I've driven or jogged past the park entrance unawares ... until we became dog owners. Now, that entrance means freedom for our pup and a minor sense of community for us -- especially for the kids.<br />
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Do you ever find yourself building a habit -- consciously or otherwise -- with your family, and then wonder: Does this mark the beginning of a tradition that will last for years? Or is it just a blip in our family tapestry, until circumstances and routines shift and suddenly it's been days, weeks, months since our last visit? Will this become part of my kids' childhoods, or simply a mile marker for Summer 2011?<br />
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And now for an even more weighty question. If you had to put up with a blonde pixie dressing you up like this, wouldn't you need to blow off a little steam in the drainage ditch at the end of the day?<br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-86712282617328088912011-08-09T12:35:00.000-07:002011-08-09T12:35:50.592-07:00Four Chairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3xINKPuBt3s/TkGHNyFklCI/AAAAAAAAERo/I7cR8a8inTg/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3xINKPuBt3s/TkGHNyFklCI/AAAAAAAAERo/I7cR8a8inTg/s640/DSC_0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kd8LpiY-6c/TkGHDEzi9cI/AAAAAAAAERg/w4qmF1hlFpg/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kd8LpiY-6c/TkGHDEzi9cI/AAAAAAAAERg/w4qmF1hlFpg/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWJIW0o64D4/TkGG3jG3W5I/AAAAAAAAERc/aEM0iIS-TuM/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWJIW0o64D4/TkGG3jG3W5I/AAAAAAAAERc/aEM0iIS-TuM/s640/DSC_0076.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Ever feel like you're in a creative slump? Maybe it's the weather, maybe the mood, maybe the undercooked fish you ate for dinner two weeks ago, but whatever it is, you just feel ... blah?<br />
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Those are times when the only way out is forward. What works for me is thinking of ONE thing I can do -- just one! -- and starting there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Domesticity-Stitching-Comforts/dp/B003H4RAPY?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003H4RAPY&tag=httpdillerhom-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H4RAPY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Last week I had my nose in the most terrific book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Domesticity-Stitching-Comforts/dp/B003H4RAPY?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H4RAPY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. This, my friends, is a book to rush home to -- and it's NOT about to clean your oven or make your window blinds sparkle. The writing! The photos! The homages to Cary Grant! Here's a sample for you:<br />
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"We no longer need to knit socks, exhaust ourselves on "baking day," stitch quilts to keep ourselves warm or sew aprons to wear in the kitchen, and we are no longer judged on the quality of our hemming, party or heel-turning. The gentle arts have moved into a new realm in contemporary life, a realm we can choose to enter <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">should we wish</span>, and one in which the act of doing is as important as the result. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ignore all calls for perfection and focus instead on what can achieve</span>, and the pleasures of the gentle arts will be yours for the taking."<br />
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In other words, we modern-day homemakers have an advantage: we can limit ourselves to the drudgery of chores, which are never permanently done, or we can choose to expand our skills and make our environment one of beauty ... <b>because we want to</b>. And I believe many of us do want to, secretly or otherwise, because we're made in the image of the ultimate Creator.<br />
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So, last week it was spray-painted chairs. [I also scoured the fridge. Guess which was more fun?]<br />
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Today, we're <a href="http://gluegunannie.com/?p=227">making pencil cases</a>.<br />
<br />
And the man in the big brown truck just dropped off <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doodle-Stitching-Fresh-Embroidery-Beginners/dp/B005B19WCA?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B005B19WCA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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I think there's hope for us.<br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-69420188405142055852011-08-05T14:54:00.000-07:002011-08-05T14:55:02.976-07:00Schoolish Stuff: Plans for the New Year<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFKfYV9-sFA/TjxloHxADoI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/0HwucR0INjs/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFKfYV9-sFA/TjxloHxADoI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/0HwucR0INjs/s640/DSC_0019.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span id="goog_1788207871"></span><span id="goog_1788207872"></span>For weeks now, I've been meaning to post some sort of look back at our school year, such as it is.<br />
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A word on our "school year." One of my children used to engage me in frequent discussions over whether we would follow the public school calendar for breaks, including a very long summer break. The conversation usually went like this:<br />
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Child: Are we gonna take a spring break next week? And can we take the whole summer off [from his OH SO GRUELING ACADEMIC LOAD, mind you?!]<br />
Me: Oh, you would like to follow the public school schedule? Well, sure! Be dressed, fed, and ready to pick up your pencil at 7:45 tomorrow morning. We will study until 2:45 p.m. You may take two short breaks. And of course, going fishing with friends this Friday is out of the question.<br />
Child: Mo-om!<br />
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Tomorrow: Same conversation.<br />
Then, my smart friend Jenny, listening to me vent over the phone about the repetitive nature of this charming repartée, proposed a plan. Since Texas, in all its loosey-goosey glory, simply requires that we do 180 days of something that could pass as academic learning, why not let my child choose the 180 days? We got out a calendar. We marked off every day that could have been reasonably construed as a school day. This was in March. Simple math showed the student in question, who has a healthy respect for the law, that our school year would probably extend well into July.<br />
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That little discussion that had become our near-daily bread? Never came up again. And we finished the last drop of academia at 8:30 p.m. the night before we left for Colorado, to great hoopla.<br />
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I am going to send Jenny a present.<br />
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So, digression aside, I thought I'd make a short list of what worked well for us last year. Then, hopping on the bandwagon that's rippling across the homeschooling blogosphere (e.g. the <a href="http://heartofthematteronline.com/nbtsbh-2011-week-1/">Heart of the Matter blog hop</a>), I'll share a few thoughts/plans for the coming year.<br />
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<b><u>Our Major Successes:</u> </b><br />
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<u><a href="http://tjedonline.com/subscribe?l=y">This Week in History</a></u> - Nearly every morning at the breakfast table, we came across some fodder for discussion using this terrific resource. We're taking a hiatus from it right now, but doing the full year gave us plenty of springboards for learning.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Writer-Writing-Ease/dp/193333925X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Writing with Ease</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=193333925X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - Okay, not something my kids would turn cartwheels about, but I found that we all responded well to having something very consistent, bite-sized, and daily to complete. We really enjoyed most of the reading selections, and sometimes sought out the books from which they derived for further reading. This was what the older two finished on that fateful pre-Colorado evening. And I think we'll continue next year, Eliza with Level Two and Ian with Level Four. Note #1: We only use the workbooks, not the textbook. Note #2: Ian (age 11) always preferred to do his copywork in cursive. I hear this from other mothers of boys too.<br />
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<u>Geography Club:</u> Yes, some months we were pulling food and presentations together at the helter-skelter last minute, but the momentum of the group was the push we needed to explore beyond our own boundaries. The kids also got some practice with public speaking and with thinking about how to prepare something that would interest an audience. We'll continue that this year.<br />
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<u>Reading Aloud</u>: At the beginning of the year, I tried to keep our read-alouds tied to our Middle Ages history theme, but by springtime -- as is often the case -- we relaxed into just choosing whatever I thought would interest my listeners. Favorites included <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moffats-Eleanor-Estes/dp/0152025413?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Moffats</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0152025413" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hatchet-Gary-Paulsen-Author-/dp/B004S7QFT6?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hatchet</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Island-Blue-Dolphins-Scott-ODell/dp/0547328613?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Island of the Blue Dolphins</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0547328613" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fledgling-Hall-Family-Chronicles-Book/dp/0064401219?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Fledgling</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturdays-Melendy-Quartet-Elizabeth-Enright/dp/0312375980?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Saturdays</a>.<br />
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<u>Poetry Memorization</u>: Ian memorized <i>Jabberwocky, The Swing, </i>and <i>Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. </i>Why do such an old-fashioned thing as require/inspire a child to memorize poetry? For encouragement, see <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/the-case-for-memorization/">this terrific post</a> from my friend Stefani.<br />
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<b><u>Looking Ahead</u></b><br />
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I plan to continue with all that's working for us in the coming year. Here's what will change or be added:<br />
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<a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/">Classical Conversations</a>. Last year, for the first time, we did not participate in any weekly co-ops (don't freak out; my kids had plenty of social life). For the most part, we enjoyed having more freedom in our weekly schedule, using our Fridays to finish up loose ends, play games, do a monthly class at the Nature Center, or get together with friends. This year, some good friends of ours have talked us into joining their Classical Conversations group. I won't go into the multiple reasons why I felt it was the right time to try this out, even though it's so different from anything we've done so far. And I'm a bit nervous about how my child with learning differences will fare. However, I think this child is ready for more of an academic challenge, and will respond better to it coming from a party other than me. :-) And the girls are totally excited about their new lunchboxes, and I get to buy new pencils and whatnot like a Real American Mom, so it's all good.<br />
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<u>Math</u> - Oh gosh, y'all. Our approach to math has been ... relaxed. As in, no formal math for the younger two, which actually is a conscious choice. Eliza (8) seems to have a natural facility for math, and this year we'll probably start something slightly more structured with her, and see if she maintains the joy. Ian takes his math lessons from Dad, which means they happen at bedtime, which means ... maybe we need a little more consistency. He's been doing Singapore Math, but I think I'll start both him and Eliza off with <a href="http://khan-academy.appspot.com/">Khan Academy</a> (free!) during the day, where they can see the videos and set up accounts for doing practice problems. We may transition to <a href="http://teachingtextbooks.com/">Teaching Textbooks</a>, since Ian gravitates toward visual information, especially on the computer, and I've read psalms of praise on behalf of this program.<br />
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<u>Spelling </u>- For Ian, the natural approach to learning spelling worked just fine. Simply by reading lots of books and doing periodic spelling bees for fun, he spells well. For Eliza, it's just not coming together. (Here's where I insert: Bless Her Heart.) I think she needs a more systematic approach and for that, we're going to go with the well-reviewed <a href="http://www.all-about-spelling.com/">All About Spelling</a>.<br />
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<u>Bible</u> - Last year, as in previous years, we worked our way through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Egermeiers-Bible-Story-Elsie-Egermeier/dp/1593173369?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Egermeier's Bible Story Book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1593173369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. No complaints there. We just need a little something new, know what I mean? This year, perhaps next week, we'll start each morning with a devotional from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Our-Family-Ways-Clay-Clarkson/dp/1888692022?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Our 24 Family Ways</a>, along with practicing their church and AWANA memory verses. Yes. We. Will.<br />
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<u>Science</u> - We had fun with REAL Science Odyssey from <a href="http://pandiapress.com/">Pandia Press</a> last year, although we sort of lost momentum midway through the year. I haven't decided, but I think this year we'll return to Apologia Science and do <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Creation-Zoology-Swimming-Creatures/dp/1932012737?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Exploring Creation With Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1932012737" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, just reading aloud together once or twice a week and doing a hands-on activity as time and energy permit. Will supplement with Nature Center classes and library books and magazine subscriptions and just finding answers to questions about why the sky is blue and so forth.<br />
<br />
I haven't really decided what we're going to do for History, Art, Music, etc., but I think a fair amount of that will be covered in Classical Conversations, and I want to hold off and see how much we need to do, or have the capacity to do, as a supplement at home. Rather than having all the plans laid and jumping into every single subject on some magical day three weeks from now, we'll probably ramp up gradually to what feels like a good rhythm for us.<br />
<br />
And you may be thinking, "Hey, I thought you had THREE kids!" And I do. But Caroline is five. And remarkably self-directed. My plan for her is to include her in the older kids' activity as much as possible, to make sure we have special read-aloud time on the couch every day, to help her progress in her own reading skills, and to set aside time every week to do a craft with her, since that is what causes her soul to flourish. We may also do <a href="http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/index.html">Five in a Row</a>, in a more consistent manner than we have thus far -- poor, neglected third child.<br />
<br />
In all this, of course, I'm reading, reflecting, and planning, but also, first of all, praying. Praying along the lines of, "Lord, I have no idea what I'm doing!!" and "Lord, direct our paths this year," and "Lord, show me what each child needs and how you and I can meet that need together."<br />
<br />
Did you make it this far? I know it's a long post, even for Her Royal Verbosity. If you survived, may you get a lollipop. If you leave me some encouragement in the comments, you may get two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But no promises.</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-30676912129778654592011-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:002011-08-04T08:24:58.525-07:00Summer Coffee DeliciousnessI finally got around to learning how to make iced coffee this week. The good news: The learning curve is short and gentle. The bad news:<br />
<br />
Um ... There is no bad news.<br />
<br />
Here's how to do it.<br />
<br />
Assemble two Mason jars. (Any containers will do, but I have a thing for Mason jars.)<br />
<br />
Using Mason jar #1, follow <a href="http://smallnotebook.org/2009/06/04/the-secret-to-great-iced-coffee/">these instructions from Small Notebook</a> the night before you actually want to drink the stuff. So easy, y'all. Deep breath. You can do this.<br />
<br />
Then, kick it up a notch by making a simple mint syrup, as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>1 cup water</li>
<li>1 cup sugar (use organic if you can. You'll feel better about it.;-))</li>
<li>Combine in a pot, bring to a boil, and then simmer. DO NOT walk away and try to do other things while bringing your sugar solution to a boil or you will end up with a smoky kitchen. Sugar solution boils wicked fast. I learned the hard way. </li>
<li>Add a smidge of peppermint extract. If you think I used an actual measuring spoon, we must be strangers. A smidge, people. That's all I can tell you. Oh, and if you're really cool, you could probably use fresh mint from your garden. We don't have them garden things here in the Land of the Infinite Drought. </li>
</ul><div>OK! Fast forward to the next day. You've steeped your coffee, you've strained it through a cheesecloth into Mason Jar #2, and you're rarin' to go. <i>(Edited to add: I don't add the extra cup of water that Rachel at SmallNotebook suggests, because the ice and milk dilute the coffee enough to my personal taste.)</i> Now, rinse out Mason Jar #1. Fill it about one generous third full with the coffee. Add the ice. Add some milk of your choice. Add mint syrup to taste. Again, start with a smidge. You can always add more, but you can't really take it away, know what I mean? </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVja0XzXBz8/TjoAuokepsI/AAAAAAAAEQk/_wbZ77106xA/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVja0XzXBz8/TjoAuokepsI/AAAAAAAAEQk/_wbZ77106xA/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Screw the lid on the jar and shake it all up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBJRPl5xpoU/TjoA2gsg8RI/AAAAAAAAEQs/XJmjf_16uz0/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBJRPl5xpoU/TjoA2gsg8RI/AAAAAAAAEQs/XJmjf_16uz0/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ta da! Stick a straw in it and enjoy! </div><div><br />
</div><div>(Note: In a perfect world, I'd have some stellar food photography shot, unmarred by the jaundiced cast of yellow formica. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This is not a perfect world. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And we'll just have to be okay with that.)</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-82805372891785650282011-08-02T19:44:00.000-07:002011-08-03T06:37:10.472-07:00Tuesday Travels: Pike's Peak!Inspired by <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2011/05/omsh-road-trip-day-5-pikes-peak-in-manitou-springs-co/">this pos</a>t a few months ago, we decided to herd our brood up the slopes of Pike's Peak during <a href="http://dillerhome.blogspot.com/2011/07/tuesday-travels-colorado-escape.html">our recent Colorado trip</a>.<br />
<br />
By "herd," we mean "seat them in a clean <a href="http://cograilway.com/">cog railway car</a>, with food."<br />
<br />
Behold the results.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0QAbI9Anhc/TjiuxLk9wOI/AAAAAAAAEP8/4MGlE4rAj1o/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S0QAbI9Anhc/TjiuxLk9wOI/AAAAAAAAEP8/4MGlE4rAj1o/s640/DSC_0070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before embarking. Hot. Not sure why the boy has his jacket hanging from his head. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vu9p0HCOyzg/Tjiu1RyPueI/AAAAAAAAEQA/CXTBNwPU7rY/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vu9p0HCOyzg/Tjiu1RyPueI/AAAAAAAAEQA/CXTBNwPU7rY/s640/DSC_0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Scenery glimpsed from open window as I read to my fascinated children about Pike's Peak history.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iy2VoR_PUxk/Tjiu7aM0dTI/AAAAAAAAEQE/7ZpKdBwfS4A/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iy2VoR_PUxk/Tjiu7aM0dTI/AAAAAAAAEQE/7ZpKdBwfS4A/s640/DSC_0079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uux1A7DW3Nw/TjiviS4bv8I/AAAAAAAAEQg/alxVL4IR66o/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uux1A7DW3Nw/TjiviS4bv8I/AAAAAAAAEQg/alxVL4IR66o/s640/DSC_0085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Fun fact: A small family actually lives about halfway up the mountain. They maintain the reservoirs and whatnot. They also drive seventeen miles to the nearest grocery store. They have no neighbor problems.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ncq5ALs8as/TjivDWGvBSI/AAAAAAAAEQM/fMQUlBeypbM/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ncq5ALs8as/TjivDWGvBSI/AAAAAAAAEQM/fMQUlBeypbM/s640/DSC_0104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Breaking through the timberline for awe-inspiring vistas, and glimpses of whistling marmots. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiVm_lKhhWA/TjivJCNnoEI/AAAAAAAAEQU/LlFTPswcl5E/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiVm_lKhhWA/TjivJCNnoEI/AAAAAAAAEQU/LlFTPswcl5E/s640/DSC_0101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">See the train in front of us? We traveled the same path. Fun fact: Every year Pike's Peak holds a marathon. As in, a 26.2 mile footrace, up to the top and back. Last year's champion ran it in 3:51. To put that in perspective, I ran a gently-rolling HALF marathon last winter in 2:35. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0-8OIPBmSsg/TjivZUVLaEI/AAAAAAAAEQc/2Jk3PyXdZrY/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0-8OIPBmSsg/TjivZUVLaEI/AAAAAAAAEQc/2Jk3PyXdZrY/s640/DSC_0119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Disembarking at the summit. Fortunately, we were prepared for the relatively-balmy 47-degree weather with warm jackets. The family from Dallas who sat across from us was not so fortunate. They, and other tank-top-clad travelers, had to huddle in the summit house eating donuts to stay warm. We took our donuts (homemade; scrumptious) to go and spent our allotted 35 minutes admiring the view. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGv1I1K8l8A/TjivOuQGGSI/AAAAAAAAEQY/ho4zEsdZ-js/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGv1I1K8l8A/TjivOuQGGSI/AAAAAAAAEQY/ho4zEsdZ-js/s640/DSC_0118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know that Katherine Lee Bates composed the hymn "America the Beautiful" after descending from Pike's Peak (by mule and foot, I believe)? Standing there and gazing over purple mountains' majesties, watching the fruited plains stretch across state lines, you do almost feel you've glimpsed the shining sea, and it takes your breath away. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you go: The cog railway ain't cheap. Tickets are $34.50/adult and $18.50/child. To me, it was worth the extra expense because our travel philosophy places a premium on shared experiences. We don't stay in high-end hotels along the road, and we pack a lot of our own food. We don't buy the T-shirts, the souvenir postcard books, the tchotchkes. But we *will* splurge on a few worthy adventures, take lots of pictures, and reminisce about it. Because the years are short.<br />
<br />
And we will also take a jacket. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">P.S. I've been thinking for a while of creating a separate blog for family travel-related posts. Not sure if they really fit in with the rest of this blog's random, miscellaneous content. Care to weigh in?<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-16081612335638144272011-08-01T19:42:00.000-07:002011-08-01T19:42:14.677-07:00If I'm Thankful, Will It End Sooner?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouNXeHQ7_pA/Tjdcfs78HmI/AAAAAAAAEPs/8b27oMCJkSo/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouNXeHQ7_pA/Tjdcfs78HmI/AAAAAAAAEPs/8b27oMCJkSo/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><span id="goog_737092098"></span><span id="goog_737092099"></span>Yes, I know. I've already managed to communicate on this blog something of my distaste for the Texas summer. Specifically, THIS Texas summer. This recordbreaking, triple-digits-every-day-since-May, unrelenting, drought-stricken, grass-crisping, summer.<br />
<br />
But I've decided: enough with the whining. And although it's been a little while since I've done a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">1000 Gifts</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0310321913" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> gratitude post, it's time to buck up and give thanks. So, here we go, drawing a deep breath and offering up thanks for summertime in Texas ...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff162/annvoskamp/multitudesonmondaysbutton2-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
#245. <b>Air conditioning</b>. Dear pioneer foremothers: I bless you. I tip my hat to you. I kiss the ground on which your layers of skirts once trailed. I have no earthly idea how you survived. Amen.<br />
<br />
246. <b>Sunshine</b>. It's been said -- possibly by me, and others in the know -- that the Texas summer is like the New England winter. Long. Unpleasant. Marked by much time spent indoors. And, true, in New England one can always put on more clothing, while in Texas ... However. The true gremlin of the New England winter is not really the cold but the darkness. The four o'clock sunsets. The barren gray landscapes. The wan light, glimpsed from office windows. The mass Vitamin D deficiency. At least here, while huddling inside or walking one's dog early o'morning, there's foliage and color to drink in, plus the few rays of sunshine that penetrate the spots you missed with the sunscreen.<br />
<br />
<br />
247. <b>Water</b>. We live in a city that's transversed by a river, divided into three lakes. We also enjoy natural springs, some of which run refreshingly cold. Water levels are low, thanks to the drought, but the larger bodies still offer cool respite.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycDcAObWFz0/Tjdc9aJxojI/AAAAAAAAEPw/eKhB_xjlM_4/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycDcAObWFz0/Tjdc9aJxojI/AAAAAAAAEPw/eKhB_xjlM_4/s640/DSC_0040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
248. <b>Friends</b>. When whining about the weather, it's always pleasanter in company. Sort of a call-and-response thing, dontcha know.<br />
<br />
249. <b>A break in the routine</b>. Sometimes you just need an excuse to chuck the schedule and laze around with a book or neglected project. Or take your daughters to a classic movie in a vintage theater.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTyRDl2FuCI/TjddLiOGmQI/AAAAAAAAEP4/OsYXv1EmCY0/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTyRDl2FuCI/TjddLiOGmQI/AAAAAAAAEP4/OsYXv1EmCY0/s640/DSC_0036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
In the air conditioning, of course.<br />
<br />
250. <b>Thoughts of November</b>. Like contractions during childbirth, no heatwave lasts forever.<br />
<br />
(Sorry, cheating, but I'm afraid that's the best I can do. Please chime in if you've found something to be grateful for!)Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-17554404632327683062011-07-29T15:08:00.000-07:002011-07-29T15:08:35.988-07:00Eleven Years AgoTwo days ago, my brother Paul became a father.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3Vg3AcR3L8/TjMt9cgmRlI/AAAAAAAAEPc/p7RvhYUhF-s/s1600/paulcharlotte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3Vg3AcR3L8/TjMt9cgmRlI/AAAAAAAAEPc/p7RvhYUhF-s/s400/paulcharlotte.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And it happened in the same hospital, in the same city, where exactly eleven years ago today, I became a mother. <br />
<br />
Seeing the photos and following the Google+ updates as he and his wife, Betty, step over the threshold into a new life with tiny Charlotte Kate [daddy a student; mama putting him through, just as we were then] makes it seem impossible that only eleven years ago, that was us. Having arrived at the finish line of the pregnancy, bursting through the tape with a dramatic birth story, we were awakening to the fact that we had really only made it to the starting gate. In the grip of love and fear, our journey with our son began. <br />
<br />
Just as theirs is now beginning. <br />
<br />
When we left Brigham and Women's Hospital with our bundle in arms two days later, how could I imagine that eleven years would bring us here ... to this? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEKbbd48Y3I/TjMrMGjjnjI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Nf8vNXp_Rk8/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEKbbd48Y3I/TjMrMGjjnjI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Nf8vNXp_Rk8/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
This boy is over halfway to official adulthood. <br />
<br />
In two years, he'll be a teenager. <br />
<br />
In five years, he'll have a license to drive. <br />
<br />
He is a brown belt in tae kwon do. <br />
<br />
He may not know it, really, but his best friend is his sister, who listens to everything he has to say (which is quite a bit) and loves him unconditionally. <br />
<br />
He love Legos, Star Wars, and especially, Lego Star Wars. <br />
<br />
He likes to have his dad around, and has stated as much. <br />
<br />
He's quite artistic, with a distinct flair for the dramatic. (Including dramatic distaste for haircuts.)<br />
<br />
He is learning perseverance, diligence, acceptance, table manners. All in due time. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePrZx0bsN3A/TjMuewSixKI/AAAAAAAAEPk/1einiGgYv_Y/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePrZx0bsN3A/TjMuewSixKI/AAAAAAAAEPk/1einiGgYv_Y/s400/DSC_0047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And because of who he is, we are not who we were eleven years ago. <br />
<br />
Welcome aboard, my brother. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-saMvRWW_zWI/TjMt_IhBcXI/AAAAAAAAEPg/dr-nfjGwxEs/s1600/IMG_20110729_124547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-saMvRWW_zWI/TjMt_IhBcXI/AAAAAAAAEPg/dr-nfjGwxEs/s400/IMG_20110729_124547.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And happy birthday, my son! </div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-9447181461655171532011-07-27T19:58:00.000-07:002011-07-27T19:58:32.286-07:00Yes. What She Said.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfL_Z1lhg8I/TjDOuBg_2mI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/132pCdG-0KY/s1600/littlewomenletters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfL_Z1lhg8I/TjDOuBg_2mI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/132pCdG-0KY/s400/littlewomenletters.jpg" width="263" /></a></div> <style type="text/css">
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<div class="p1">"But marriage isn't perfect, any more than the rest of life is. I'm sure that you'll be married, too, one day, and when you are, you'll find out that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">it isn't a tidy little picture of one person meets another and they live happily ever after.</span> It's two imperfect human beings coming together and scrambling and struggling and rough-and-tumbling their way through a lot of obstacles … It's years of commitment and loving and making decisions and making jokes and cooking supper and saying the right thing and saying the wrong thing and making mistakes and forgiving each other for mistakes until over the years you find that, together, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">you've formed a great, big, wildly colored tapestry of a whole shared life."</span> </div><div class="p1"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: right;">-<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Women-Letters-Gabrielle-Donnelly/dp/1451617186?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Little Women Letters</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1451617186" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: right;">{... If I may suggest, a fun, humorous, poignant summer read with some absolutely dead-on sibling dialogue that might make your belly jiggle. I read it in one full day of our road trip, but it's not too breezy or fluffy. And it is by no means just about marriage. Over and out.}</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-81005565416889787632011-07-26T08:30:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:30:01.412-07:00Tuesday Travels: Colorado Escape<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32268479@N07/5976344649/" title="Colorado2011Collage by hebradio, on Flickr"><img alt="Colorado2011Collage" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5976344649_f9fd918f17_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
We went to Colorado with our relatives last week. Vail/Beaver Creek, with some stops along the way, to be precise. It was just okay.<br />
<br />
NOT! It was actually a completely awesome trip, except for the part where my tailbone went numb on the loooooooong drive home. We ran into several fellow <s>haggard heat refugees</s> Texans along the way. <br />
<br />
We hiked.<br />
We biked.<br />
We skated.<br />
We swam.<br />
We rafted the rapids.<br />
We ascended Pike's Peak (more in a future post).<br />
We camped in Palo Duro Canyon and saw the <a href="http://www.texas-show.com/">TEXAS! musical drama</a>*.<br />
We watched old home movies of Caroline taking her first steps.<br />
We played <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickles-to-Penguins-Board-Game/dp/B001R0XPUO?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pickles to Penguins</a>.<br />
We laughed a whole bunch.<br />
<br />
Of course, it's ultimately not about the things we're doing together, but about the being together while we do them.<br />
<br />
And all too soon, just as my brain cells were awakening from their summer torpor and starting to fire off some creative energy, it was time to come home.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank You, Lord, that we have somewhere to come home to. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErtSvqVMFqQ/Ti7a0qza1QI/AAAAAAAAEPA/0WLZQtIKyfA/s1600/DSC_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErtSvqVMFqQ/Ti7a0qza1QI/AAAAAAAAEPA/0WLZQtIKyfA/s640/DSC_0281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCIQIDBZEw/Ti7c2j3bUNI/AAAAAAAAEPI/6pgCCMkg73A/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCIQIDBZEw/Ti7c2j3bUNI/AAAAAAAAEPI/6pgCCMkg73A/s640/DSC_0320.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-78869464327155242202011-07-19T20:59:00.000-07:002011-07-19T20:59:05.262-07:00RechargingHello friends!<br />
<br />
This is just a quick post to say that I probably won't be posting much, if anything, this week. We are recharging our batteries right now somewhere where it is not one hundred degrees every. single. day. Ergo, I am out of my writing routine, unable to download photos from my camera, and trying to minimize time online in favor of reading, soaking in my surroundings, and reveling in general lack of productivity. <br />
<br />
But I miss you, love you, appreciate you, and will catch you in a few days. Sound good?Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-30180804383140128322011-07-12T20:11:00.000-07:002011-07-12T20:11:50.367-07:00A Few Favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWLnw17KeO0/Th0LlqlFS-I/AAAAAAAAEOk/OwnxrOtRX2c/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NWLnw17KeO0/Th0LlqlFS-I/AAAAAAAAEOk/OwnxrOtRX2c/s640/DSC_0024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Perhaps it's not apparent, but I've come down with a slight case of Blogging Indolence. For whatever reason (read: Due to the oppressive nature of the Texas heat, source of all ills), creative energy seems elusive these days. Quiet Time rolls around in the afternoon, and words fail to materialize. I go recline on my bed to read a book. I fall asleep. For about ten minutes.<br />
<br />
O mojo, where art thou?<br />
<br />
Weltschmerz aside (I just had to say that), I thought I'd share a few little things -- my current raindrops on roses, if you will. In no particular order ...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Z-Man-Games-7026ZMG-Agricola/dp/B001C7617Q?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Agricola" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001C7617Q&tag=httpdillerhom-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001C7617Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Z-Man-Games-7026ZMG-Agricola/dp/B001C7617Q?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Agricola</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001C7617Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Our generous friend Evan sent us this game as a gift. Initially, Tim and I played it late at night with another couple, and it took forever for us to figure out the directions (had to cheat and use eHow) and then play. But, by midnight, we had a good sense of just how fun this strategy-intensive game could be. You people out there who like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/MayFair-Games-MFG3061-Settlers-Catan/dp/B000W7JWUA?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Settlers of Catan</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000W7JWUA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />, this is right up your alley. Also, former childhood Monopoly mavens. Then I taught it to the kids, feeling ambitious one afternoon. We played the "family version," which is slightly simplified. Caroline (age 5) lost interest fairly quickly, but the 8 and 10 year olds hung right in there and played with gusto. It was just long enough to fill a summer afternoon, without unduly taxing their attention span. Score!<br />
<br />
<b>2. Behr Premium Plus Ultra Paint.</b> I'm finally getting around to repainting our entryway, which is cranberry red in a way that is not fresh and new. It's dark, people. Gloomy. And this paint (I'm using the Martha Stewart "Parchment Paper" shade) is so high-tech that it covers that red right up without the need for primer. Let me repeat: No primer. Remember, I'm indolent. Score again!<br />
<br />
<b>3. BBC Miniseries.</b> Is there a 12-step program for BBC period drama addictions? I merely ask. Because if you believe, as I do, that no finer rendition of Pride and Prejudice exists than <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Restored-Colin-Firth/dp/B00364K6YW?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">the one starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00364K6YW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> -- the GOLD STANDARD MR. DARCY -- then have I got some shows for you! First it was <i>Downton Abbey</i>. Then <i>Cranford</i>. Then <i>Lark Rise to Candleford</i>, which the Professor and I are plowing through (yes, I know he is awesome). Then my sister-in-law, who shares my taste, got me hooked on <i>North & South</i>. I love the dynamic relationships, the flawed yet heroic characters, the not-so-perfect looks and settings, the less-is-more treatment of sexuality (aren't undercurrents more romantic?).<br />
<br />
Phoebe, this one's for you.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K63btBQXSjc?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Do you have any BBC favorites? Where should I get my next fix?<br />
<br />
<b>4. Studying the Psalms.</b> (I told you: no particular order. Don't get tripped up on my mentioning this in the same list as BBC Miniseries.) For example:<br />
<br />
"I say to Jehovah, You are my Lord; no good have I beyond You." (Psalm 16:2.)<br />
<br />
Okay, yes, I'm listing some things I find to be good. And I write a good deal about larger "goods," like the family life we try to create, at least most of the time. But ultimately, when it comes right down to it, I have no goodness beyond Him. These treasures and pleasures are temporary -- fleeting by, they remind me that the only Good Life I need and want is found in Him alone.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Posting photos that bear little relevance to my writing.</b> No elaboration/elucidation/expostulation required.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-34303980525363492642011-07-08T14:06:00.000-07:002011-07-08T14:06:47.146-07:00Poetry Friday: Peaches<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHwBxCXuoc4/ThdwRXYhJYI/AAAAAAAAEME/YeS5JQe-NaY/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHwBxCXuoc4/ThdwRXYhJYI/AAAAAAAAEME/YeS5JQe-NaY/s640/DSC_0033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #cc6600; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This is Just To Say</h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3249867843560466476" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have eaten<br />
the peaches<br />
that were in<br />
the Costco crate<br />
<br />
and which<br />
you were probably<br />
hoping<br />
would last all week.<br />
<br />
Forgive me<br />
they were delicious<br />
so gigantic<br />
and so wholesale-priced.<br />
<br />
-- With apologies, <a href="http://dillerhome.blogspot.com/2008/06/from-caroline-files.html" style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration: none;">once again</a>, to <a href="http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/274.html" style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration: none;">William Carlos Williams</a>.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3249867843560466476" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>{A repost from the archives that once again fits the bill in time for <a href="http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2011/07/poetry-friday-roundup-is-at-wild-rose.html">Poetry Friday</a> -- and could also be applied to the organic raspberries I stocked up on this week.}</i> </div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3249867843560466476" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3249867843560466476" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">P.S. Wondering what to do with an abundance of summer fruit before it spoils? Try a<a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/Pavlova.html"> pavlova</a>. I'm not kidding, y'all. It's super easy, light, grain-free, and guest-wowing. Bada bing bada bing. </div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-24110735199990892602011-07-07T20:27:00.000-07:002011-07-07T20:27:38.515-07:00Look Back at MeOur one car was in the shop today. This meant that after weeks of nearly ceaseless activity, we had a day of going absolutely nowhere beyond the neighborhood pool. This was quite wonderful, really -- enforced, temporary withdrawal from the outside world. And two things happened as a result:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POc8LmOJq-Q/ThZ1ugM_JzI/AAAAAAAAEL0/assDWCovHYI/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POc8LmOJq-Q/ThZ1ugM_JzI/AAAAAAAAEL0/assDWCovHYI/s640/DSC_0062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
1. Ian -- almost eleven years old -- had to ride his bike to swim team practice. This involves a 1.5 mile ride each way, crossing a major street. Daddy practiced the route with him the night before, I escorted him to the intersection and saw him safely across on the journey out, and he called me on his cell phone when arriving at and leaving the pool. <i>(Yes, he has a bare-bones cell phone. It became a necessity when we let our land line go.) </i><br />
<br />
He was apprehensive. So was I, although I didn't say so. But he did it. And tomorrow will be easier. In a summer of milestones, we've made another crossing. Hooray!<br />
<br />
2. Walking home from the pool like little frying ants under the sun's determined glare, Caroline asked me to carry her. Now, she's five. A bit old to be toted like a baby, don't you think? A sardonic "You've got legs!" was on the tip of my tongue.<br />
<br />
But I leaned down, scooped her up, and told her how far I could carry her. "Okay, Mama," she agreed. She wrapped her damp arms around my neck, laid her bleach-blonde head on my shoulder, and gently kissed it. And just for a moment, on the same day that one child took a leap forward, another one made time stand still.<br />
<br />
Was it the last time I'll carry her like that -- even just for fifty yards? That's the bittersweetness of watching them grow and letting them go -- while some milestones arrive with great fanfare, many simply whisper their way in and out, so that we only know in retrospect that that moment -- photographed if we're lucky, but more likely not -- was a goodbye. And we wave at their disappearing smoke trail, knowing that their future looks too bright for them to ever think of looking back.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-8434542758433834042011-07-06T06:17:00.000-07:002011-07-06T06:17:09.874-07:00The Sprinkles on Top<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qC5FQMsqCdc/ThRVqDocnQI/AAAAAAAAEJE/7ZWdR7LBFhc/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qC5FQMsqCdc/ThRVqDocnQI/AAAAAAAAEJE/7ZWdR7LBFhc/s640/DSC_0038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who doesn't love a parade? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-APWr-DIg3V8/ThRWTHp0OeI/AAAAAAAAEJU/zW4NIZqgYzw/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-APWr-DIg3V8/ThRWTHp0OeI/AAAAAAAAEJU/zW4NIZqgYzw/s640/DSC_0054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPtAgd0r7Ow/ThRWijB-xRI/AAAAAAAAEJc/sPsK3IszDN0/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPtAgd0r7Ow/ThRWijB-xRI/AAAAAAAAEJc/sPsK3IszDN0/s640/DSC_0090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14ymYIV8RNc/ThRXhP97IsI/AAAAAAAAEJw/GJ9cCJ2QXDE/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14ymYIV8RNc/ThRXhP97IsI/AAAAAAAAEJw/GJ9cCJ2QXDE/s640/DSC_0058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We adore our neighborhood parade -- and all the more this year because the dreadful drought our area is experiencing forced cancelation of ALL fireworks. And what is the Fourth of July without fireworks? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDDV0WU_93A/ThRWWPTyomI/AAAAAAAAEJY/DiVYlFezsic/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDDV0WU_93A/ThRWWPTyomI/AAAAAAAAEJY/DiVYlFezsic/s640/DSC_0066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCdt00RYPoY/ThRWxrxa8II/AAAAAAAAEJg/M-DaVAnL9BA/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VCdt00RYPoY/ThRWxrxa8II/AAAAAAAAEJg/M-DaVAnL9BA/s640/DSC_0082.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlbrSolJC9w/ThRVtOM32iI/AAAAAAAAEJI/ZD2A8xft3MY/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlbrSolJC9w/ThRVtOM32iI/AAAAAAAAEJI/ZD2A8xft3MY/s640/DSC_0051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> (Yes, that cute little puppy we bought six months ago is now a 44-lb-and-growing canine wonder.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1ZCz7OvNA/ThRX7FvrUII/AAAAAAAAEJ0/ihMKOP0RI4U/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kV1ZCz7OvNA/ThRX7FvrUII/AAAAAAAAEJ0/ihMKOP0RI4U/s640/DSC_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our parade has everything you could want (well, almost -- no marching band.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Costumed drummers -- check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A contest with ample categories for many winners -- check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uniformed scouts carrying flags and leading the Pledge -- check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Highly inclusive participation -- check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A very short distance to walk in the morning heat -- check. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also have little speeches from the major and other city dignitaries, a bit of patriotic singing, recognition of veterans, and free ice cream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, honesty compels me to admit ... my girls, to their great joy and my great shock, actually won first place in the "Bike Group" division. Which proves that sometimes, it really is worth it to run through Target at 8:45 p.m., scooping up any and all pathetic decoration material that's left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes -- like when I'm running through Target and it's my third store of the night to visit and I'm tired from a long plane flight home -- I'd rather just stay home and say "Can we skip it this year, girls? Can we just watch the parade from the sidelines?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we do so much as parents that feels like drudgery. The chores -- just the ones to keep everyone clean and fed -- repeat ad infinitum. The reminders, the teaching and training in good habits, the correction of behavior, the attempts to corral and organize -- these will always be with us. They're necessary, sure, but they do drain our Family Fun Bank. Not so conducive to the crafting of happy memories. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So yes, the special breakfasts, the simple decorations, the craft projects, the little extras -- they require a few drops of effort and imagination, often when we least feel the urge. But they need not be elaborate (trust me on this!) to pay big dividends right back into that Bank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And don't we all need a little cushion now and then? <span id="goog_1632713561"></span><span id="goog_1632713562"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-4316448964811367142011-06-30T09:47:00.000-07:002011-06-30T09:47:28.793-07:00What We're Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3FMplgiN0g/TgyjVUEDKLI/AAAAAAAAEI8/OQWFq4rryWo/s1600/760474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3FMplgiN0g/TgyjVUEDKLI/AAAAAAAAEI8/OQWFq4rryWo/s320/760474.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>Read anything good lately?<br />
<br />
I'm trying to make sure that we use these lazy days of summer (which are totally not happening; June has whizzed by in a craze of activity) to carve out some daily reading time.<br />
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And as always ... not just for the kids!<br />
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The girls and I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Fraud-Detective-Difference-Solve/dp/0753453088?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference, Solve the Crime!</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0753453088" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> at the library the other day. In a word: LOVE. You use the enclosed magnifying class to pore over famous paintings, trying to spot the forgeries among the real deals. It's like a high-class version of <i>Where's Waldo? </i>They were definitely digging it.<br />
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Ian just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Side-Mountain-Puffin-Modern-Classics/dp/0142401110?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">My Side of the Mountain,</a> at my encouragement (Remember our survival literature unit? I also got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cay-Theodore-Taylor/dp/044022912X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Cay</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=044022912X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> on audiobook; thanks for the recommendations in the comments!). Yes, I do require some reading that's not either Percy Jackson or Star Wars graphic novels. Shoot me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shark-vs-Train-Chris-Barton/dp/0316007625?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Shark vs. Train" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0316007625&tag=httpdillerhom-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shark-vs-Train-Chris-Barton/dp/0316007625?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Shark vs. Train</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316007625" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316007625" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />is getting reading after reading at our house. Thank heavens, my daughters are not too old for the right preschool-age picture books! Bonus: this gem was written by a local homeschooling dad. <br />
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Let's see, what else ... oh, we just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Socks-Beverly-Cleary/dp/0380709260?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Socks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0380709260" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Not my favorite Beverly Cleary in the whole wide world, but still fairly amusing.<br />
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I've been prowling the British Isles, literarily speaking. Not intentionally, but between <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Major-Pettigrews-Stand-Helen-Simonson/dp/B004H72LIG?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004H72LIG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Herring-Without-Mustard-Flavia/dp/0385342322?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0385342322" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (the latest sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie), </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mansfield-Park-ebook/dp/B002RKSZN0?ie=UTF8&tag=httpdillerhom-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mansfield Park</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpdillerhom-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002RKSZN0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> it's apparently my season for Angliophilia. Read any of them? I'd say Major Pettigrew's my current favorite.<br />
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That's all for now! Happy browsing.<br />
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<i>(Affiliate links therein, folks. Just disclosing. Over and out.)</i>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212501049425940906.post-5787702866647324162011-06-28T12:52:00.000-07:002011-06-28T12:58:11.141-07:00Tuesday Travels: Branson, MO -- Part TwoSo, to continue the unfolding adventure of <a href="http://dillerhome.blogspot.com/2011/06/road-trip-idea-branson-mo.html">my sponsored jaunt to Branson</a> two weeks ago ...<br />
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Seatbelts buckled, armchair travelers?<br />
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<a href="http://dillerhome.blogspot.com/2011/06/road-trip-idea-branson-mo.html">Last week</a> I mentioned outdoor activities in <a href="http://www.dogwoodcanyon.com/Default.aspx">Dogwood Canyon</a>, lunch and a brief tour of the <a href="http://www.keetercenter.edu/">Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks</a>, and the <a href="http://www.titanicbranson.com/">Titanic Museum</a>. Now, if you've ever heard of Branson, chances are, you've heard of its ubiquitous shows. Folks, if you want to sit and be entertained for any length of time, this is the place for you. In the course of four days, I attended five shows. And some of my fellow travel writers attended more. Just between you, me, and the electronic doorpost, I was maxed out by Show #4.<br />
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BUT. All crankiness aside, I'd recommend bringing the kiddos to at least one show if you're in town. Recommendations:<br />
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4a. <a href="http://dixiestampede.com/">The Dixie Stampede</a>. Two words for you: Dolly. Parton. Yup, she's the producer. Need I say more? The dealio is, you sit and eat downhome cooking with your fingers while watching lively entertainment in the arena (complete with horses, buffalo, chickens, and racing pigs). Also, there's a friendly North vs. South rivalry that gets the audience involved. My brain was involved in a fierce Civil War of its own, as follows:<br />
Me as a Person: Oh my. This is hokey.<br />
Me as a Mother: Oh my. My kids would FLIP for this.<br />
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4b. <a href="http://www.kungfubranson.com/">Legend of Kung Fu</a>. These talented folks from China actually performed in the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. (And they didn't lip-synch!) They put on a really impressive extravaganza of martial arts, dance and acrobatics. The kids sitting behind me were absolutely riveted, even at 10:00 p.m. Also, we got to meet the performers and snag post-show autographs in the lobby. I tried to say "thank you" in Chinese. They were probably laughing at me. <br />
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4c. The <a href="http://www.hughes-brothers.com/">Hughes Brothers variety show</a>. Full disclosure: Didn't attend this one. But, I met two of the five Hughes brothers at a dinner reception and they were super nice. And they homeschool their collective twenty-nine kids, all of whom are part of the show. Gotta put in the plug for nice homeschooling families!<br />
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My other recommendation:<br />
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5. <a href="http://www.silverdollarcity.com/">Silver Dollar City</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8RD9r94jyo/TgosD6v23KI/AAAAAAAAEIk/pZJDr1qGsIA/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8RD9r94jyo/TgosD6v23KI/AAAAAAAAEIk/pZJDr1qGsIA/s640/DSC_0106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhOp6QcYrVI/Tgor8O0JlKI/AAAAAAAAEIg/rEUytM6p2HE/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hhOp6QcYrVI/Tgor8O0JlKI/AAAAAAAAEIg/rEUytM6p2HE/s640/DSC_0081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yes, it's a theme park, and yes, I'm generally unimpressed by theme parks -- i.e. places to lose kids and part with lots of money. What made SDC soften my curmudgeonly edges?<br />
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- The park builders deliberately kept as many trees as humanly possible. This translates into shade, baby, lots of SHADE.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0VRbfCvfn0s/TgovW4codnI/AAAAAAAAEIw/f4HtVzNj7m4/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0VRbfCvfn0s/TgovW4codnI/AAAAAAAAEIw/f4HtVzNj7m4/s640/DSC_0139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
- All the thrill rides are along the outside perimeter of the park. The center area belongs to the festivals and the craftspeople (leather workers, glass blowers, wood carvers, etc.) that preserve the 1880's theme. Love that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JKw6qXsynOc/TgosUq4G6kI/AAAAAAAAEIs/LuJ-gt7acoM/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JKw6qXsynOc/TgosUq4G6kI/AAAAAAAAEIs/LuJ-gt7acoM/s640/DSC_0109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
- Included in park admission is an hour-long tour of Marvel Cave, which has a cavern so large you can fit the Statue of Liberty in at an angle (I didn't try).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjHp2DOETas/TgoqZ1YkJuI/AAAAAAAAEIE/-WHQ5oFKrk0/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FjHp2DOETas/TgoqZ1YkJuI/AAAAAAAAEIE/-WHQ5oFKrk0/s640/DSC_0122.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>- Parents, you can take cooking classes! While one of you rides roller coasters with the kids, the other can learn, as I did, how to make a killer chocolate meringue pie. I wrote down everything the instructor, Debbie Dance Uhrig, had to say. Now I have no excuse not to turn out a grrrrreat pie ... which I will be doing ... ummmmm, really soon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_IbZEryGWg/TgorjRcgKAI/AAAAAAAAEIU/iliXFKW5xt8/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_IbZEryGWg/TgorjRcgKAI/AAAAAAAAEIU/iliXFKW5xt8/s640/DSC_0143.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>- Most important, check out the name of the ice cream parlor. Can I make the joke about "good taste?" No? Okay. I won't.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Mi_gpm9CTE/Tgors0JRfNI/AAAAAAAAEIY/ROwvdbBVoCM/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Mi_gpm9CTE/Tgors0JRfNI/AAAAAAAAEIY/ROwvdbBVoCM/s640/DSC_0096.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Fun fact: Five episodes of <i>The Beverly Hillbillies</i> were filmed in and outside of this building.)</div><br />
And I can't close without tipping my hat to <a href="http://www.bransonzipline.com/">Branson Zipline</a>. Yes, it's not really a budget-friendly family activity, but if you've found and harvested your family's secret cash cache, or you just want go all out with a small group, zipping along through those tall trees is quite exhilarating. And, they say, quite safe. Unless a thunderstorm begins. Then it's not safe. Then you have to wait on a platform sixty feet off the ground until the lightning stops.<br />
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But that won't happen to you. I've been there and done it for both of us.<br />
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You're welcome.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034180396689442335noreply@blogger.com2