Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
I give the movie UP four stars. It was unexpectedly sweet with the courtship and relationship between Carl and Ellie. Ellie continually helps Carl along, like putting her hand print on the mail box on purpose right after he accidentally does. She is always affirming and encouraging him, enlivening him. Another dear scene is where … Read more
It has been raining around here for over a month, almost literally every day. There has been so much rain there has been talk of arc building! Yesterday, on the way to take my oldest daughter to the airport (she’s going for 10 days to London as a homeschooling graduation present from her aunt that … Read more
I have wanted hydrangeas for a long time. This is the first year I have them blooming in our yard! They are right out my back door and I can see them from the kitchen and the side porch. We’ve had a monsoon season of literally rain daily for what seems like over a month, … Read more
This page represents June 8, 2009 through June 19, 2009. See below for some close up photos from this page. Enjoy!
My sisters and their families just left after being here since Friday for my daughter’s homeschool graduation. While they were here we played this game called Phase 10 a lot, given to us by one sister last Christmas, but not taken out of the cellophane and learned until her visit here. The tin says for … Read more
The house is scrubbed clean For the big graduation All the books are shelved. A tent in the rain to honor my dear daughter with ceremony. Not done this before Uncharted territory Won’t be here again. She’s continuing ongoing life long learning without stop or start. All requirements self imposed and rigorous are unfolding still. … Read more
We had forty special people to our house today for my oldest daughter’s homeschool graduation ceremony. After homeschooling for ten years without the typical school milestones, this event was something she wanted – to just once have all her multifaceted community together and to express gratitude for all they have meant to her. It indeed … Read more
We have made these literally hundreds of times. They are a particular favorite of my senior in High School that graduates tomorrow, but we all like them. Sometimes I think you can tell how good a recipe is by how dirty and worn the recipe cards is. To give you this recipe I took … Read more
Reading Walden I remember when my sister had to read Walden by Thoreau; it was intolerable, excruciating, deafeningly exasperating like an incessant blaring alarm that can’t seem to be shut off. It was like walking barefoot over a path of rough rusty nails or being sprayed by a feisty skunk for no reason, the stench … Read more
I love peonies. My mother grew them and the first photograph below is one growing in our yard that used to be hers. I’m glad to have it. One of my fondest memories is yearly carrying her peonies to school – covered in ants and heavenly aroma – as a gifts to my teachers. We … Read more
There are those in my local homeschooling network here that call me “the book maven.” I earned the title scouting out the best homeschooling books at the cheapest prices, frequenting library book sales and used curriculum sales as well as homeschooling conference trade shows. We now have over 10,000 books in our small house, mostly … Read more
We are fortunate to be part of a shared harvest at a local educational farm and weekly get a box of vegetables and fruit. This week our box included kale, which I have not found a way to care for yet as a sautéed lump on my plate(!), and tatsoi, which is also known … Read more
I wanted to like this film. After all, it had Colin Firth, English aristocratic country homes, and a tango scene; all that made it seem rather compelling. But knowing it was based on a Noel Coward play, I should have had my guard up more about the story-line. I found the whole film a disappointment … Read more
I Am Orange I am orange bright, bold and in your face caution: you can see me from far off… I’m unreserved and free blasting forward, assertive (but safe from being shot at) I make other colors look better. I’m slurpy as a tangerine while dry as a desert sunset blazing; clear, humble, lyrically compassionate … Read more
This is the painting I started in my pastel class. It is the largest pastel I’ve ever done. It has been sitting on my mantel for over a month awaiting completion! I had a great time finishing it. This was done from a photo of mine taken on the Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park, … Read more
The word rhododendron is my favorite choice for stumping someone at hangman on the back of a diner place mat. This practice dates back to childhood when this word would routinely win me the game Probe. We never had rhododendrons then or now, but my aunt in Michigan used to have an awesome one out … Read more
I have really enjoyed this book by Dawn De Vries Sokol and even give it five stars. I bought it in the fall and have savored it slowly and incrementally at bedtime, studying each page thoroughly and carefully before going on to the next. I disciplined myself not to flip forward, and didn’t allow myself … Read more