Book of Jotham by Arthur Powers

The Book of Jotham by Arthur Powers is a powerfully written little book which I recommend with enthusiasm. I found it deeply moving, intense, and even jolting.  I cried off and on as I read it, want to read it again, and am recommending that EVERYONE who knows me, and anyone who reads this post run right out and get a copy and read it that same day! Historical fiction is rarely this alive, present, full of energy.  Do read it! The title character, Jotham, is a special needs person. There isn’t any sickly sweet idealization here. The physical realities … Continue reading

Journey Notes: Evaluating Spaces

Compact efficient spaces are important because of the decreased cost needed to own and maintain them.  Important also because they challenge the idea that every home must be huge.  Today’s post is inspired by the Tiny House Talk Blog discussion about the tiny house movement (under 200 square feet) and why people have left it. These super tiny houses inspire me.  I’ve been a pack-rat and found I was not happy.  I owned all sorts of stuff, the sorts of things you are supposed to own but which I don’t use.  So during a particularly chaotic period of my life, … Continue reading

Why I am a Home School Momma!

It was inevitable that my vocation would include home education but I did not begin there. It all began back in college.  You see, I graduated and my first job was at a small private school.  My task was to teach arts and crafts and to plan field trips.  I loved the work and decided to go back to school and add a teaching degree to my BA. THAT was a major turning point for me.  I enjoyed the classes.  I was NOT impressed with my fellow students.  This was my first time to doubt the quality of education given … Continue reading

Birthdays

The Little Tiger turns two today.  Time flies.  Presents are played with and given places on shelves. Fun is had. It is a little sad as well as joyful.  Joy in the growing healthy child, sadness that the baby is grown out of the baby stage and into this new level of interactions with the world.  I miss the tiny infant and yet, I love the two year old stage too. I pray that each memory I seek to make will stick with me forever, all the joy of the snuggles, the laughter, the mischievous grin before doing exactly what … Continue reading

Libraries

I recall the library in Wapakoneta Ohio as a kid, it was wonderful with lots of books and a librarian who would help you find something if you simply couldn’t find it.  I remember the smell, the quiet peace, the card catalogs I loved so much, the wonder of books.  The pleasures of a library can get deep into your mind and stay with you for life. My collection started with books given to me as a child, or books chosen from bookstores or book order forms sent home from school.  The books multiplied and my mom humored me and … Continue reading

Creating a Routine

MAKING A ROUTINE If you want to create a routine that can move quickly and get a lot done in an hour or so, you could make a list of those actions you want finished in the period of time for which you are creating a routine. In my case my first routine is: Coffee, bottle, pets… Take your list and break each into steps: “water into microwave”– “bottle into water”– “feed bottle”;  “Start Coffee Pot”– “Put Cup back through grounds”– “drink cup of coffee”; let dogs out–check water–fill water–rinse dish….  Each tiny thing.  Be sure to include things you … Continue reading

House Unseen, Life Unscripted blog

Sharing a link to a perfectly wonderful blog, House Unseen, Life Unscripted. I particularly related to the blog post here. I’m having “one of those days” and when I do have “one of those days” I tend to take myself and every little irritation much much too seriously.  Today, I was bothered far more about the screeching child who is unhappy about being on the SAFE side of the baby safety gate while I attempt to get my work done (totally ignoring toys and the nearly 200 square feet of baby safe space, with rug to play on and bare … Continue reading

Autoharping the toddler

The other day I decided it was time to let the tittle tiger in our family touch my autoharp. Being that this instrument is a well made one that cost money I probably should not have spent on myself I have been loath to let a 21 month old touch it. Never-the-less it was time and I knew just what method to use! There was at one time a bulletin board for autoharp and on it a woman demonstrated how she introduced the autoharp to small children, granted a bit older than 21 months, but still small: she let them … Continue reading

Music Theory and the Autoharp

Music theory never interested me when I was growing up.  Now that I am older and seeking to move from Quicksilver to Gold in my life, I find myself seeking more knowledge of music theory to help me learn to play my autoharp. Jumping into music, I discovered a whole world of music theory and my total ignorance of such a vast area of knowledge.  I knew that my autoharp, a chromatic instrument, could play in pretty much any key and I have 21 chords I can make with this instrument but I did not know much about what a … Continue reading

Evolving skills Pt 2a: technology shock

Everyone has heard the phrase “Culture Shock” where a person from one region moves to a new place and the differences in the culture of the new place are difficult for that person to understand and they have to struggle to adjust.  Meet “Technology Shock” where the simple machines of my childhood have been eclipsed by technology I never imagined. A year ago I dove into the fun of looking for a new sewing machine.  I recalled that years before there were the two choices of sewing machine and/or serger and I toyed with the idea that owning one of … Continue reading