here are the kids' newspaper contest entries...
Rules were 200 words max, and based on an actual classified in the paper.
"My Red Quad"
by Davy, age 5-1/2, Kindergarten, dictated to Mom (technically ineligible for the contest so he's biding his time until first grade); based on a classified of a red quad for sale
I wanted a quad [all-terrain vehicle] for Christmas, a big red one. I wrote to Santa but I didn’t get one. I didn’t get one for my birthday either.
And then I saved up all my money to buy one for myself. I found money on the sidewalk and sometimes there were pennies on the floor in the supermarket. Nana gave me a toonie [Canadian two-dollar coin] because she loves me. I picked bottles for Dad. I won prize money at the Fair for my crafts. It took me a long time to save up lots of money, five years. Then I was 10 years old.
I saw an ad in the paper for a red quad, just like the one I always wanted. I bought it. Then I bought a helmet. Now I go for rides all the time. I am very happy. My quad goes fast.
**************************
“My Own Cattle”
by Daniel, age 6-3/4, Grade 1 (first prize in the Grade 1 section); based on a classified of bulls for sale (in real life the father of Daniel's friend)
Last year when I was 12 years old, I decided that I wanted to have my own cattle. I got the idea from 4H, which I started when I was 9, and also from our family’s farm. We have cattle and grow grain but I wanted my own animals.
I had seven cows and their calves but needed a bull. To get the money to buy him, I helped my dad with carpentry projects and he paid me. I saw that my friend’s dad had an ad in the paper for bulls, so I phoned and talked to his dad.
The next day, my dad and I took the truck and trailer to their place. I looked at all of the Angus bulls and with my dad’s help I think I picked a good one.
We took him back to our farm and put him in with the cows. I’ll find out next year if I chose the right bull.
The End.
**************************
“Curious about Our Town in 1906?”
by Laura, age 8-1/2, Grade Three (first prize in the Grades 2/3 section); based on a classified advertising a local history book about pioneer times
I was sitting in the nursing home reading the newspaper when I saw an ad for the history book about my town. I smiled and thought, I don’t need a book. I remember when I was a girl in 1906.
I was born in 1898 in Manitoba after my family came from the Ukraine. My big brother, two sisters, and I all helped Papa build our new log house on our homestead. While it was being built we lived in a sod house. It was very dark and it got very wet when it rained. We were all glad for the new house, especially Mama.
I remember one summer day when we were feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs. My brother saw a vixen behind the henhouse while the chickens were scratching around outside. She suddenly grabbed Mama’s best layer by the neck and ran away. We ran in the house to tell
Mama and Papa, and we were all sad because we would miss the hen’s nice fresh eggs. But Papa said, “You know, the fox had to do it because she has lots of hungry mouths to feed too. So don’t be too mad at her for doing what she was made to do.”
May 11, 2006
May 10, 2006
Little winners
We learned late yesterday, after carting the mail around in the truck unread for most of the day -- first to piano lessons and then to Swim Club -- that Daniel's and Laura's story entries had won for their categories (Grade 1 and Grades 2/3, respectively) in our local weekly's writing contest, as part of a bigger event, "Write On" (ugh), sponsored by the provincial weekly newspaper association. Local winners have their work and photos published in their town paper -- and oh the fun they had just seeing their names in print yesterday -- and then advance to the provincial level, where five grand prize winners will be selected (for grades 1-3, the prize is $100 and attendance at the big banquet at the association's convention in September) and announced at the association convention in the fall. None of my kids are as interested in the prize money ($100 each for their level) as in the possibility of being gifted with a free hotel stay and attending a banquet dinner.
I saw the ad announcing the contest when we returned from our trip in February, and like all good homeschooling parents saw a good opportunity, not to mention what I hoped would be a fun writing assignment. Aha! I thought, something for the old portfolios and the facilitator meeting. I wasn't the only one, because out of the four local winners, three are home schooled kids. I was particularly pleased to see that the contest rules specified that "All students registered in Alberta's public, separate [Catholic], private schools and home schooling are eligible..." since the sad fact is that homeschoolers are usually overlooked for things like this, and organizers respond to questions by looking frazzled and harried and muttering, "Hmm, we never thought about it. Maybe next time." Kids in Grades 1-3 had to write a "Creative Classified," an imaginative story based on a real classified ad. Daniel chose an ad about bulls for sale, and wrote about buying a bull to start his own farm; Laura chose an ad for a local pioneer history book, and imagined herself a young girl arriving here 100 years ago with her Ukrainian immigrant family. And while Daniel at first had trouble coming up with something near the 200 word limit, Laura's first drafts had to be slashed considerably, and she was as pained as any published author to see her words cut.
Needless to say, Davy expected to enter the contest too, even though the contest was open to kids in Grades 1-12 and as a kindergartener he was officially ineligible. But he dictated his story to me, about saving up to buy a red quad, and the woman at the newspaper who accepted his envelope made a great big unofficial fuss over his efforts. I gave him a lollipop and told him I hope he can write another wonderful, possibly prize-winning entry next year, when he'll finally be old enough.
Onward and upward...
I saw the ad announcing the contest when we returned from our trip in February, and like all good homeschooling parents saw a good opportunity, not to mention what I hoped would be a fun writing assignment. Aha! I thought, something for the old portfolios and the facilitator meeting. I wasn't the only one, because out of the four local winners, three are home schooled kids. I was particularly pleased to see that the contest rules specified that "All students registered in Alberta's public, separate [Catholic], private schools and home schooling are eligible..." since the sad fact is that homeschoolers are usually overlooked for things like this, and organizers respond to questions by looking frazzled and harried and muttering, "Hmm, we never thought about it. Maybe next time." Kids in Grades 1-3 had to write a "Creative Classified," an imaginative story based on a real classified ad. Daniel chose an ad about bulls for sale, and wrote about buying a bull to start his own farm; Laura chose an ad for a local pioneer history book, and imagined herself a young girl arriving here 100 years ago with her Ukrainian immigrant family. And while Daniel at first had trouble coming up with something near the 200 word limit, Laura's first drafts had to be slashed considerably, and she was as pained as any published author to see her words cut.
Needless to say, Davy expected to enter the contest too, even though the contest was open to kids in Grades 1-12 and as a kindergartener he was officially ineligible. But he dictated his story to me, about saving up to buy a red quad, and the woman at the newspaper who accepted his envelope made a great big unofficial fuss over his efforts. I gave him a lollipop and told him I hope he can write another wonderful, possibly prize-winning entry next year, when he'll finally be old enough.
Onward and upward...
What would a country fair be without goats?
Doc has managed to get the second Homeschooling Country Fair up today -- taa daaa! -- despite laboring mightily with mightily laboring goats. If you click the link, you'll get not only the fair but a sweet picture of new mama and kidlet.
Lots of tempting links and post descriptions, which I'll try to get through in the next week, before next Wednesday's installment of the next Country Fair. If you're interested in submitting, read the Fair FAQs and call for submissions for the particulars.
Now we're off to find Laura's cat, who wasn't particularly happy to be moved a mile and a half from around our house to our corrals, far away from the
May 08, 2006
"Filling a void where Schoolhouse Rock left off in the 70s"...
...it's a punk/rock-n-roll romp through U.S. history with Professor Presley History Rocks, an "educational American history CD". Thanks to both Fuse #8 and Warren at Children's Music That Rocks, Donnell colleagues and some of NYPL's finest bloggers, for the tip. Enough to make most curriculum-mad homeschooling parents drool, and I'm not even talking about Ramones pal and confidante LaMai.
Professor Presley, aka Bill Reynolds, a Fender-playing, award-winning middle school social studies teacher in Encinitas, California, has put together an album that covers early American history to Reconstruction (Chris, heads up!). According to the website, "Professor Presley History Rocks helps students learn (and teachers teach) some of the basic lessons of U.S. History in a fun and entertaining way while listening to rock- and punk-influenced songs. The song topics are taken from the California Social Studies History Standards for 8th grade U.S. History" and include
1. The English Heritage: "about key documents that have an influence on the United States such as the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact";
2. A New Constitution (see the liner notes and lyrics);
3. Ham N Jeff, about the beliefs of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the birth of political parties in the United States;
4. War of 1812;
5. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, about the War with Mexico;
6. Find a Cause, about the Reform Era and various reform movements of the 1800's;
7. A Dividing Nation, about the events that led to the Civil War from the Missouri Compromise up to the bombing of Fort Sumter;
8. The Civil War; and,
9. Reconstruction Rock
You can have a listen here, and if you like what you hear, order here ($10.00 plus $3 for shipping; there's also a Teacher's Tool Kit, with two CDs and other goodies for $45.00) and know that Professor Presley and company -- including vocalist (and daughter of Chef Emeril) Jillian Lagasse -- are in the studio as I type working on volumes two and three, "World History Rocks" and "Science Rocks".
Rock on, Professor P.
By the way, for any Canadians looking for Northern history set to music (albeit without the punk influence), you can try Mike Ford's Canadian history songs and Sara Jordan's Prime Ministers of Canada CD. Mike Ford highly recommended here at Farm School.
Professor Presley, aka Bill Reynolds, a Fender-playing, award-winning middle school social studies teacher in Encinitas, California, has put together an album that covers early American history to Reconstruction (Chris, heads up!). According to the website, "Professor Presley History Rocks helps students learn (and teachers teach) some of the basic lessons of U.S. History in a fun and entertaining way while listening to rock- and punk-influenced songs. The song topics are taken from the California Social Studies History Standards for 8th grade U.S. History" and include
1. The English Heritage: "about key documents that have an influence on the United States such as the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact";
2. A New Constitution (see the liner notes and lyrics);
3. Ham N Jeff, about the beliefs of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the birth of political parties in the United States;
4. War of 1812;
5. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, about the War with Mexico;
6. Find a Cause, about the Reform Era and various reform movements of the 1800's;
7. A Dividing Nation, about the events that led to the Civil War from the Missouri Compromise up to the bombing of Fort Sumter;
8. The Civil War; and,
9. Reconstruction Rock
You can have a listen here, and if you like what you hear, order here ($10.00 plus $3 for shipping; there's also a Teacher's Tool Kit, with two CDs and other goodies for $45.00) and know that Professor Presley and company -- including vocalist (and daughter of Chef Emeril) Jillian Lagasse -- are in the studio as I type working on volumes two and three, "World History Rocks" and "Science Rocks".
Rock on, Professor P.
By the way, for any Canadians looking for Northern history set to music (albeit without the punk influence), you can try Mike Ford's Canadian history songs and Sara Jordan's Prime Ministers of Canada CD. Mike Ford highly recommended here at Farm School.
A Benjamin Franklin Education
on the occasion of his Tercentenary.(Not to be confused with A Thomas Jefferson Education; here on TJE are the terrific trio of L. at Schola, Lynx, and Poppins.)
Camille at Book Moot the other week found a nifty article about Benjamin Franklin's lost library and continuing the efforts to catalogue the titles:
Franklin's collection [of 4,276 volumes] was one of the largest private libraries in America at the time and took up the entire second floor of an addition he built on his Philadelphia home... . When Franklin died in 1790, the books were scattered among a number of institutions and relatives. Most were bequeathed to [Ben's grandson William] Temple Franklin.How some determined folks tracked down the missing titles makes a better and more interesting story than, say, that DaVinci Code business. And, in the coming months, the Library Company of Philadelphia* ("the Mother of all American Subscription Libraries") and the American Philosophical Society** (the nation's oldest learned society), both established by Franklin, plan to publish a catalogue of titles comprising almost half of his lost collection.
The grandson, though, had no interest in the library and "looked on it as an asset to exploit" ... By 1794, Temple Franklin had sold his volumes to a man who ended up going bankrupt four years later.
The books then ended up in the hands of bookseller Nicholas Dufief, who sold them off between 1801 and 1803 to buyers including then-President Thomas Jefferson. A deal fell through for the Library of Congress to acquire the remainder of the collection. Though Dufief had published catalogs of the titles, those lists were lost as well.
According to the research, Franklin's original library included manuals on the mechanics of printing and the making of apple cider, as well as Don Quixote, The Odyssey, Two Treatises of Government by John Locke, Opticks: Or, a Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflections and Colours of Light by Isaac Newton; and a 1556 edition in Latin of the Magna Carta.
And, thanks to The Stingy Scholar, I now know that Learn Out Loud has released their most recent audiobook of the month, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, tucked away at the bottom of the Schola portable schoolhouse (just for fun); as L. wrote just about a year ago of the Autobiography, "the description of his education is a virtual blueprint for autodidacts and homeschool teachers."
The audiobook version would be just the ticket to listen to while strolling about the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World exhibition, which has moved on from its very successful stay at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, where it was the centerpiece of the city's tercentenary celebrations. It now heads to St. Louis (at the Missouri Historical Society from June 8, 2006 to September 4, 2006); Houston (The Houston Museum of Natural Science, October 11, 2006 to January 21, 2007); Denver; Atlanta; and, finally, Paris, at both the Musée des Arts et Métiers and the gem that is the Musée Carnavalet from December 4, 2007 to March 30, 2008.
If you can't get away, the official tercentenary website offers an online version of the exhibition, in English as well as en francais and en espanol. And don't miss the website's educational resource page, which offers Ben Across the Curriculum ("a set of interdisciplinary lesson plans...that explore Franklinian themes across elementary, middle and secondary level curricula), and a downloadable Teacher's Guide to the exhibit, with suggested activities before, during, and after your visit.
A Benjamin Franklin bibliography, or, a random selection we've enjoyed of Frankliniana, for children and adults:
Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings, the Library of America edition, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay
Benjamin Franklin: Silence Dogood, The Busy-Body, and Early Writings, the Library of America edition, edited by J. A. Leo Lemay
The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin
A Benjamin Franklin Reader by Walter Isaacson
Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson
Benjamin Franklin, the picture book biography by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
The Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin, written and illustrated by Aliki
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia, the Landmark classic by Margaret Cousins
The Story of Benjamin Franklin, Amazing American by Margaret Davidson
Poor Richard in France by F.N. Monjo; a beginning chapter book through the eyes of Ben's seven-year-old grandson on the occasion of their trip to France seeking support for the American revolutionaries.
Poor Richard, written and illustrated by James Daugherty
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz with illustrations by Margot Tomes
How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer
Benjamin Franklin's Adventures with Electricity by Beverley Birch with illustrations by Robin Bell Corfield (part of Barron's well-done "Science Stories" series)
The Ben Franklin Book of Easy & Incredible Experiments: Activities, Projects, and Science Fun, a Franklin Institute Science Museum Book
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares by Frank Murphy with illustrations by Richard Walz; a Random House "Step into Reading (+ Math)" (Step 4) book. How Ben battled boredom with a precursor to Sudoku; especially fun for kids who enjoy the modern math puzzles.
And two new ones for kids I haven't seen yet:
Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta
John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith
**********************************
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Walter Isaacson's entertaining, bestselling biography
The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands
Benjamin Franklin by Yale professor emeritus Edmund S. Morgan, a thoughtful biographical consideration, focusing on Franklin the diplomat and politician
A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff; a not always lively but important telling of the diplomatic efforts that helped to win the war.
* New on the Library Company's website: "The eminent Franklin scholar J.A. Leo Lemay [see above], the H.F. du Pont Winterthur Professor of English at the University of Delaware, has recently published the first two volumes of his projected seven-volume biography, The Life of Benjamin Franklin. The second volume, titled Printer and Publisher, 1730-1747, includes a chapter on the Library Company that is the most comprehensive treatment of its founding by Franklin in 1731 and its subsequent history over the next several decades. Through the courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania Press we have been able to place this chapter on our website" (for downloading).
** The Museum of the American Philosophical Society, in Philosophical Hall, is currently hosting the exhibition, The Princess & the Patriot: Ekaterina Dashkova, Benjamin Franklin, and the Age of Enlightenment; for those in and about the City of Brotherly Love, the Museum offers invites you to join them for Second Sundays, "family-friendly hands-on art and science activities inspired by the objects in the The Princess and the Patriot exhibition".
Words to live by
"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. Of course, you must make it up firmly."
Anne Shirley to Marilla, from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne Shirley to Marilla, from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Come to the fair: a call for submissions
This morning the roads were lively with people driving to the Fair, and in Malone the crowds were thicker than they had been on Independence Day. All around the Fair Grounds were acres of wagons and buggies, and people were clustered like flies. Flags were flying and the band was playing. ...from Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The sun was high now, and the day was clear and pleasantly warm. Streams of people were pouring into the Fair Grounds, with a great noise of talking and walking, and the band was playing gaily. Buggies were coming and going; men stopped to speak to Father, and boys were everywhere. ...
Send your submissions by Tuesday, May 9th (6 PM Pacific) to the second Homeschooling Country Fair, opening this Wednesday. Submissions can be left as a comment in the most current post, or emailed to Doc at doc2be40 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Weekend report
Nothing fancy and no links right now, just a quick report.
Friday: We got a bit of a late start to Edmonton because Tom had to set up his apprentice for some tile work in the bathroom of the big supermarket remodeling project. So he was rather concerned that he'd miss the lot with the mini Komatsu trackhoe, and so the kids and I missed getting dropped off at the museum in Edmonton proper and were whisked away to the auction sale just beyond the city's western border. Four hours later -- fortunately, I had brought a book and packed lunch along with various treats and snacks, and the kids had stuffed their backpacks with things to color and read, and were happy exploring the grounds with Tom -- the lot finally came up, but the trackhoe sold for $4,000 more than the $10,000 limit Tom had set for himself. Great disappointment all round, especially because all three kids had hatched a plan to add a mini loader and mini tractor to the proposed purchase, so that they'd each have something to drive around. Though I don't think the plan included money to buy these things...
Followed by a bit of shopping where I found birthday presents for a niece and nephew and a wedding shower gift for next month, and a tasty dinner near the Coliseum where the Oilers play.
Saturday: The museum cleaning took only about three hours with some determined effort. Laura got points before we even left the house for suggesting that we bring extra dustcloths, and Daniel wrestled our vacuum cleaner into the back of the truck. One of the other board members cleaned all the windows and glass display cases, Tom vacuumed and cleaned a couple of the outdoor display buildings (holding antique and vintage farm machinery), the officially hired cleaner for the day did a bit of everything and mopped floors, and the kids and I dusted. They very much enjoyed the officially sanctioned chance to handle things ordinarily marked with "Do Not Touch" signs. The other board member even allowed the boys to try on a c1930 Boy Scout brown felt hat with wide brim, and Laura a couple of millinery confections from the 1920s. And when they finished work, as expected, they disappeared to "play store" and "play school" in the two displays.
After a quick picnic lunch on the grounds and a change of clothes, we headed to the high school for the Beckie Scott rally. She was her usual gracious self for adults, and charmed the kids. Unfortunately, though the event was held at the local high school, few kids over the age of 12 in attendance. After the presentations and speeches, Beckie sat a table in the foyer and signed autographs and gave everyone a chance to feel her gold and silver medals. The kids obviously dazzled and pooped on the way out.
Sunday: Tree planting goes much more easily and quickly with a mechanized tree planter than a shovel. Fortunately, at lunchtime yesterday, we got word that we could have the tree planter, and zipped over to collect it. It hitches on to the back of a small tractor, with two old tractor seats mounted behind two wells for storing the trees, and has a disc and plow for making a furrow, and while it makes the furrow it makes another impression for planting the tree and then covers it up and tamps down the soil. Tom's dad drove the tractor, I teased apart roots and handed trees over one by one, and Tom stuck them in the ground. The kids alternated riding on the back with a shovel (the tractor was going about a mile an hour) and would hop off when directed to right a tree or fill in a spot where we missed on. Tom's mother and two other kids walked along behind making sure everything was okay and keeping pace in the pickup truck with all the other trees, bundled in water in five gallon plastic pails. In the end, we managed to plant a shelterbelt around the perimeter of two fields, a large one where until last year we had a tired stand of alfalfa, and a smaller one where we plant potatoes and would like to build a new house when the time comes.
Most of the little saplings don't look like much, especially the lilac, larch, and chokecherries, which resemble nothing more than twigs stuck in the ground. But the white spruce and Scotch pine are beautiful, tall and green and surprisingly bushy. After a quick late dinner at home, the kids and I helped Tom water trees until about 9 pm. Then my MacGyver-like husband rigged up a "watering arm" on the back of the water tank trailer: he attached a two-by-four with two clamps, replaced the regular long hose with a shorter length and tied it to the two-by-four with some wire, and off he went on his own while I got everyone clean and ready for a well-deserved sleep. Best of all, it's cloudy this morning with rain in the forecast for later on. Keep your fingers crossed.
Friday: We got a bit of a late start to Edmonton because Tom had to set up his apprentice for some tile work in the bathroom of the big supermarket remodeling project. So he was rather concerned that he'd miss the lot with the mini Komatsu trackhoe, and so the kids and I missed getting dropped off at the museum in Edmonton proper and were whisked away to the auction sale just beyond the city's western border. Four hours later -- fortunately, I had brought a book and packed lunch along with various treats and snacks, and the kids had stuffed their backpacks with things to color and read, and were happy exploring the grounds with Tom -- the lot finally came up, but the trackhoe sold for $4,000 more than the $10,000 limit Tom had set for himself. Great disappointment all round, especially because all three kids had hatched a plan to add a mini loader and mini tractor to the proposed purchase, so that they'd each have something to drive around. Though I don't think the plan included money to buy these things...
Followed by a bit of shopping where I found birthday presents for a niece and nephew and a wedding shower gift for next month, and a tasty dinner near the Coliseum where the Oilers play.
Saturday: The museum cleaning took only about three hours with some determined effort. Laura got points before we even left the house for suggesting that we bring extra dustcloths, and Daniel wrestled our vacuum cleaner into the back of the truck. One of the other board members cleaned all the windows and glass display cases, Tom vacuumed and cleaned a couple of the outdoor display buildings (holding antique and vintage farm machinery), the officially hired cleaner for the day did a bit of everything and mopped floors, and the kids and I dusted. They very much enjoyed the officially sanctioned chance to handle things ordinarily marked with "Do Not Touch" signs. The other board member even allowed the boys to try on a c1930 Boy Scout brown felt hat with wide brim, and Laura a couple of millinery confections from the 1920s. And when they finished work, as expected, they disappeared to "play store" and "play school" in the two displays.
After a quick picnic lunch on the grounds and a change of clothes, we headed to the high school for the Beckie Scott rally. She was her usual gracious self for adults, and charmed the kids. Unfortunately, though the event was held at the local high school, few kids over the age of 12 in attendance. After the presentations and speeches, Beckie sat a table in the foyer and signed autographs and gave everyone a chance to feel her gold and silver medals. The kids obviously dazzled and pooped on the way out.
Sunday: Tree planting goes much more easily and quickly with a mechanized tree planter than a shovel. Fortunately, at lunchtime yesterday, we got word that we could have the tree planter, and zipped over to collect it. It hitches on to the back of a small tractor, with two old tractor seats mounted behind two wells for storing the trees, and has a disc and plow for making a furrow, and while it makes the furrow it makes another impression for planting the tree and then covers it up and tamps down the soil. Tom's dad drove the tractor, I teased apart roots and handed trees over one by one, and Tom stuck them in the ground. The kids alternated riding on the back with a shovel (the tractor was going about a mile an hour) and would hop off when directed to right a tree or fill in a spot where we missed on. Tom's mother and two other kids walked along behind making sure everything was okay and keeping pace in the pickup truck with all the other trees, bundled in water in five gallon plastic pails. In the end, we managed to plant a shelterbelt around the perimeter of two fields, a large one where until last year we had a tired stand of alfalfa, and a smaller one where we plant potatoes and would like to build a new house when the time comes.
Most of the little saplings don't look like much, especially the lilac, larch, and chokecherries, which resemble nothing more than twigs stuck in the ground. But the white spruce and Scotch pine are beautiful, tall and green and surprisingly bushy. After a quick late dinner at home, the kids and I helped Tom water trees until about 9 pm. Then my MacGyver-like husband rigged up a "watering arm" on the back of the water tank trailer: he attached a two-by-four with two clamps, replaced the regular long hose with a shorter length and tied it to the two-by-four with some wire, and off he went on his own while I got everyone clean and ready for a well-deserved sleep. Best of all, it's cloudy this morning with rain in the forecast for later on. Keep your fingers crossed.
May 06, 2006
New grammar blog on the block
Alexandra at Out of Lascaux has a new blog, Ceely's Modern Usage, "A guide to words and practices that are spurious, monstrous, and unfit for usage". The current post, on the difference between US and UK grammar blogs, notes that "Brit blogs often discuss how the language is going to hell in a handbasket, and point out how."
Worth a peek, especially since Alexandra is a collector of 19th century textbooks and uses tidbits from them in her posts. I was most surprised by the admittedly ungrammatical engraving of boating squirrels from Monroe's 3rd Reader of 1884, which seems to have inspired Beatrix Potter's illustration of Squirrel Nutkin and friends on their little twig rafts as "they paddled away over the water to Owl Island to gather nuts."
Worth a peek, especially since Alexandra is a collector of 19th century textbooks and uses tidbits from them in her posts. I was most surprised by the admittedly ungrammatical engraving of boating squirrels from Monroe's 3rd Reader of 1884, which seems to have inspired Beatrix Potter's illustration of Squirrel Nutkin and friends on their little twig rafts as "they paddled away over the water to Owl Island to gather nuts."
May 05, 2006
Poetry Friday: Welcome back
Incident on Madison Avenue
by Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978)
On Saturday, amid the crowd
That in the sunshine drifted by,
I wandered happy as a cloud
Afloat with fellow-cumuli,
Till suddenly, and face to face,
I came on Mr. Morgan's place.
On Mr. Morgan's house I came,
Where wonder brought me to a standstill.
The iron gates were yet the same,
The gardens stretched on either hand still.
But, oh, I noticed, nearly fainting,
How window sills cried out for painting.
As shabby and as weather-beat
As those of mortgage-bearing biped,
The sashes shamed that shining street;
They were not even washed and wiped
And staring on that sight appalling,
I felt the world around me falling.
Upon my ears the tumbrels sounded,
While wealth decayed and Fortune groaned.
I looked on Privilege, surrounded,
The Mighty from their seats dethroned.
And quick, in terror and abasement,
I fled each drear, unpainted casement.
Now, hidden from the curious gapers,
I weep and know the end is near.
I have not dared to read the papers,
Lest they should tell me what I fear:
That mine and Wall Street's Patron Saint
Cannot afford a can of paint.
from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems by Phyllis McGinley, forever beloved by Davy for writing E Is for Escalator
by Phyllis McGinley (1905-1978)
On Saturday, amid the crowd
That in the sunshine drifted by,
I wandered happy as a cloud
Afloat with fellow-cumuli,
Till suddenly, and face to face,
I came on Mr. Morgan's place.
On Mr. Morgan's house I came,
Where wonder brought me to a standstill.
The iron gates were yet the same,
The gardens stretched on either hand still.
But, oh, I noticed, nearly fainting,
How window sills cried out for painting.
As shabby and as weather-beat
As those of mortgage-bearing biped,
The sashes shamed that shining street;
They were not even washed and wiped
And staring on that sight appalling,
I felt the world around me falling.
Upon my ears the tumbrels sounded,
While wealth decayed and Fortune groaned.
I looked on Privilege, surrounded,
The Mighty from their seats dethroned.
And quick, in terror and abasement,
I fled each drear, unpainted casement.
Now, hidden from the curious gapers,
I weep and know the end is near.
I have not dared to read the papers,
Lest they should tell me what I fear:
That mine and Wall Street's Patron Saint
Cannot afford a can of paint.
from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems by Phyllis McGinley, forever beloved by Davy for writing E Is for Escalator
May 04, 2006
Fast forward
There probably won't be much blogging here until after the weekend, and I apologize for missing Poetry Friday tomorrow, unless I can sneak something in tonight. Tom decided today that we have to go to leave for Edmonton bright and early in the morning for a used tractor auction, and the kids decided that they would like him to drop off the four of us at the Royal Alberta Museum (formerly the Provincial Museum) for the three or so hours that he'll be looking at machinery. Daniel has also asked if we can go to "that place with the walls full of Lego," by which I think my deprived little country mouse means Toys R Us (which once upon a time when they were very, very young I was able to pass off as a museum, too).
Saturday, Tom and the other board members of the little pioneer museum in town have volunteered themselves and their families to help clean and tidy the displays for its summer opening in two weeks, and after lunch the kids and I are off to the high school for a ceremony honoring local Olympian and cross country skiier Beckie Scott. The kids are slightly more excited about meeting Beckie in person -- her parents have been egg customers of ours for years, and we like to think that the occasional organic omelet on visits home helped her training -- thanplaying in cleaning the one-room schoolhouse display.
And Sunday we'll be planting the 1,500 small trees (more like twiglets) that arrived for us today as part of the agriculture department's shelterbelt program. I am hoping that a) we get the use of the county's tree planter as promised and in time, and b) the soil isn't too muddy from the week's rain and snow to make good use of the planter. Otherwise we're digging all those holes by hand. In which case there won't be too much blogging early next week either...
Saturday, Tom and the other board members of the little pioneer museum in town have volunteered themselves and their families to help clean and tidy the displays for its summer opening in two weeks, and after lunch the kids and I are off to the high school for a ceremony honoring local Olympian and cross country skiier Beckie Scott. The kids are slightly more excited about meeting Beckie in person -- her parents have been egg customers of ours for years, and we like to think that the occasional organic omelet on visits home helped her training -- than
And Sunday we'll be planting the 1,500 small trees (more like twiglets) that arrived for us today as part of the agriculture department's shelterbelt program. I am hoping that a) we get the use of the county's tree planter as promised and in time, and b) the soil isn't too muddy from the week's rain and snow to make good use of the planter. Otherwise we're digging all those holes by hand. In which case there won't be too much blogging early next week either...
Country Fair update
Ron and Andrea at Atypical Homeschool have very, very kindly given full-time space for the new Country Fair, which means that the rides will be open all the time. Wheeee!
Here's the call for submissions, and here are the Country Fair FAQs.
Here's the call for submissions, and here are the Country Fair FAQs.
Living with Mark Spitz
Three Mark Spitzes, in fact. Very small, unmustachioed ones.
The kids all* started Swim Club on Monday and while each nearly quit before the first practice was over -- Laura said it was too hard, too cold, and too incomprehensible, and Daniel and Davy, relegated to the "baby section" said it was too easy -- they've changed their minds, thanks to a bit of rejiggering, including a few chats the next day with their coaches and other parents about ability vs. age-and-size, somesneaky Mommy/reverse/sports psychology pep talks, and $9 worth of latex.
Here I was thinking that I would never, ever, ever get my kids to wear swim caps (oops, that was me, who if I can help it will never, ever wear one of those hateful things again, but the kids don't have to know that) -- recommended by parents and some of the other swimmers because of the overly-chlorinated water in the pool -- but they were so delighted by my new purchases yesterday (including new goggles because two out of the three current sets have snapped straps that have had to be tied) that they have been wearing caps and goggles with pyjamas, at breakfast this morning, and later at the kitchen table for math. You can make that lunchtime now too. And having conversations like this: "Daniel, you know the bigger kids in the last lane flip the caps up over their ears." "Yes, I think they do that so they can hear better." "Yep, I think so, too." "I can't wait to get back in the water." "Me, too." "I wish it was 4 o'clock already."
"What do I look like, Mom?" Davy keeps asking. While the first flippant answer ready to slip out is "A frog" or "Amelia Earhart," Sports Psychologist Mommy answers, "An Olympic swimmer", and a really adorable one at that, which was apparently the correct answer from all the self-satisfied smiles I'm seeing.
*And for the other parents at the pool who are marvelling over the fact that all three kids wanted to join Swim Club, let's just say that Sports Psychologist Mommy didn't really give them a choice beyond, "Gee, wouldn't Swim Club be fun this year now that you all swim so well?!" It's hard enough to deal with one extracurricular activity while living out of town and not having the chance to zip home to prepare dinner without running one kid to Swim Club, another to soccer, and the third, on a completely different night, to softball. Or enduring Swim Club for only one child, while the other two languish poolside on the other side of the Plexiglass for six hours a week. Thank you but no.
The kids all* started Swim Club on Monday and while each nearly quit before the first practice was over -- Laura said it was too hard, too cold, and too incomprehensible, and Daniel and Davy, relegated to the "baby section" said it was too easy -- they've changed their minds, thanks to a bit of rejiggering, including a few chats the next day with their coaches and other parents about ability vs. age-and-size, some
Here I was thinking that I would never, ever, ever get my kids to wear swim caps (oops, that was me, who if I can help it will never, ever wear one of those hateful things again, but the kids don't have to know that) -- recommended by parents and some of the other swimmers because of the overly-chlorinated water in the pool -- but they were so delighted by my new purchases yesterday (including new goggles because two out of the three current sets have snapped straps that have had to be tied) that they have been wearing caps and goggles with pyjamas, at breakfast this morning, and later at the kitchen table for math. You can make that lunchtime now too. And having conversations like this: "Daniel, you know the bigger kids in the last lane flip the caps up over their ears." "Yes, I think they do that so they can hear better." "Yep, I think so, too." "I can't wait to get back in the water." "Me, too." "I wish it was 4 o'clock already."
"What do I look like, Mom?" Davy keeps asking. While the first flippant answer ready to slip out is "A frog" or "Amelia Earhart," Sports Psychologist Mommy answers, "An Olympic swimmer", and a really adorable one at that, which was apparently the correct answer from all the self-satisfied smiles I'm seeing.
*And for the other parents at the pool who are marvelling over the fact that all three kids wanted to join Swim Club, let's just say that Sports Psychologist Mommy didn't really give them a choice beyond, "Gee, wouldn't Swim Club be fun this year now that you all swim so well?!" It's hard enough to deal with one extracurricular activity while living out of town and not having the chance to zip home to prepare dinner without running one kid to Swim Club, another to soccer, and the third, on a completely different night, to softball. Or enduring Swim Club for only one child, while the other two languish poolside on the other side of the Plexiglass for six hours a week. Thank you but no.
A timely reminder
Melissa at Here in the Bonny Glen has a super reminder for busy spring (and summer, fall, and winter) days: "The joyful atmosphere I strive for (and believe it is my responsibility, as wife and mother, to maintain) quickly goes sour if I put more focus on getting things done than on doing things together."
Almost as good as this part -- "I haven't done laundry in eight years" -- which has me feeling giddy vicariously. Or is that giddily vicarious? But do yourself a favor and go read the whole post.
Almost as good as this part -- "I haven't done laundry in eight years" -- which has me feeling giddy vicariously. Or is that giddily vicarious? But do yourself a favor and go read the whole post.
May 03, 2006
In lieu
of the usual more or less weekly public service announcement advising of the latest installment of the Carnival of Homeschooling, I direct you instead to Ron at Atypical Homeschool's post yesterday on Standing Tall or Copping Out. Andrea's previous entry, posted just before Standing Tall, explains things well for anyone still out of the loop. I also saw that Wisteria points out that over half of the current Carnival appears to be written by HSB bloggers.
I didn't notice that off the bat, but I did take a look at the COH schedule again and saw that the Cates are hosting next week, followed by two weeks of HSB hosts. Doc writes in the comments, "The person who owns the blog scheduled for May 23 maintains a mirror site off HSB, and ... I think [she] can be convinced to host the carnival on her non HSB site." Doc also adds, "I'm hoping that next week, those who announce the carnival can also call for submissions to the second alternative carnival (country fair), to offset the one that will be hosted at HSB on the 16th. I'll even host it." Wonderful offer, Doc, thanks. Put your thinking and writing caps on.
UPDATE: Doc has put things in place already with a call for submissions for a more formalized Country Fair alternative, to be published Wednesdays.
I didn't notice that off the bat, but I did take a look at the COH schedule again and saw that the Cates are hosting next week, followed by two weeks of HSB hosts. Doc writes in the comments, "The person who owns the blog scheduled for May 23 maintains a mirror site off HSB, and ... I think [she] can be convinced to host the carnival on her non HSB site." Doc also adds, "I'm hoping that next week, those who announce the carnival can also call for submissions to the second alternative carnival (country fair), to offset the one that will be hosted at HSB on the 16th. I'll even host it." Wonderful offer, Doc, thanks. Put your thinking and writing caps on.
UPDATE: Doc has put things in place already with a call for submissions for a more formalized Country Fair alternative, to be published Wednesdays.
May 01, 2006
Amazing American history book lists...
from amazing home schooling dad* and children's author Chris Barton over at Bartography can be found here. Chris has just about everything starting from prehistory to the present covered (1875-1925 to come...), with a fascinating array of children's books. As he explains, "I've been at this for nearly a year now. For you newcomers, here are links to my previous posts on U.S. history reading, which is my main contribution to the homeschooling of our two sons." Not to be missed, folks.
* and husband to the Fibbing Redneck Mother, "Raising children, lettuce and hell in Texas".
* and husband to the Fibbing Redneck Mother, "Raising children, lettuce and hell in Texas".
Seven up
Daniel turned seven on Saturday, and the only thing that would have made for a happier day would have been turning 12 instead. He celebrated with siblings, friends, bicycles, ice cream, a trampoline and a SuperSoaker, and later in the day, a spontaneous sleepover at a friend's house after a very enjoyable dinner out with his friend and the rest of his friend's family. We got him back the next day, older, wiser, happier, and much, much sleepier.
Since his return, he's been enjoying his presents, which include a Playmobil forklift from Grandmama and Grandpapa, a new aluminum bat and a couple of balls from Dad, and from the rest of us, the Klutz Lego Crazy Action Contraptions book and kit (which I found around Christmastime and tucked away for just such an occasion); and Running Press's Mega Motors: Heavy Duty Dump Truck/Construct Your Own Motorized Dump Truck kit, found on deep discount last year at BookCloseouts.
All very well received, but the biggest hit has been the lowest-tech: Laura and Davy's offerings of some more Schleich farm animals, and a Schleich cowboy. The new additions have definitely reinvigorated the kids' collection, not to mention their desire to play with it. They were even inspired to tidy up the boys' bedroom for more floor space for the giant farm that grows every day.
Since his return, he's been enjoying his presents, which include a Playmobil forklift from Grandmama and Grandpapa, a new aluminum bat and a couple of balls from Dad, and from the rest of us, the Klutz Lego Crazy Action Contraptions book and kit (which I found around Christmastime and tucked away for just such an occasion); and Running Press's Mega Motors: Heavy Duty Dump Truck/Construct Your Own Motorized Dump Truck kit, found on deep discount last year at BookCloseouts.
All very well received, but the biggest hit has been the lowest-tech: Laura and Davy's offerings of some more Schleich farm animals, and a Schleich cowboy. The new additions have definitely reinvigorated the kids' collection, not to mention their desire to play with it. They were even inspired to tidy up the boys' bedroom for more floor space for the giant farm that grows every day.
April 28, 2006
Poetry Friday: Four years, four dream variations by Langston Hughes
Dreams
by Langston Hughes (1923)
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dream Variations
by Langston Hughes (1924)
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me --
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
The Dream Keeper
by Langston Hughes (1925)
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Water-Front Streets
by Langston Hughes (1926)
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But dream ships sail away
To where the spring is wondrous rare
And life is gay.
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But lads put out to sea
Who carry beauties in their hearts
And dreams, like me.
For more Poetry Friday fun, round up the usual suspects, beginning with instigator Big A little a! Hope to add the other links, maybe tonight. We're off and running now...
by Langston Hughes (1923)
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dream Variations
by Langston Hughes (1924)
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me --
That is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
The Dream Keeper
by Langston Hughes (1925)
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Water-Front Streets
by Langston Hughes (1926)
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But dream ships sail away
To where the spring is wondrous rare
And life is gay.
The spring is not so beautiful there --
But lads put out to sea
Who carry beauties in their hearts
And dreams, like me.
For more Poetry Friday fun, round up the usual suspects, beginning with instigator Big A little a! Hope to add the other links, maybe tonight. We're off and running now...
A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants
Just a quick note, since we're in between birthdays -- my lovely cake with the yellow roses is all gone, and I'm making Daniel's tonight for his big "lucky seven" day tomorrow -- not to mention off to town to run some quick errands and make it home in time for lunch before our semi-annual homeschool facilitator visit; under Alberta's homeschooling legislation, homeschooling families are required to register with a school board (some of which, as ours does, specialize in home education), which then assigns us a facilitator, a certified teacher.
Ours is a former teacher, still certified, and currently home educating father, and doesn't mind at all that we see him only the required twice yearly and don't feel the need to ask him any questions other than, "What time will you be here?" Mr. Smith is coming to check on our efforts and progress since his last visit in the fall, an opportunity all three kids see as unparalleled for a Show & Tell/Let's Put on a Show extravaganza, complete with singing, dancing, poetry recitations, an exhibit of our new pets (snails from the pond in a jar), and, if I overheard correctly, some trick riding on horseback if they can get him outside. If it's like all his other visits, poor Mr. Smith will leave here not knowing what hit him.
Ours is a former teacher, still certified, and currently home educating father, and doesn't mind at all that we see him only the required twice yearly and don't feel the need to ask him any questions other than, "What time will you be here?" Mr. Smith is coming to check on our efforts and progress since his last visit in the fall, an opportunity all three kids see as unparalleled for a Show & Tell/Let's Put on a Show extravaganza, complete with singing, dancing, poetry recitations, an exhibit of our new pets (snails from the pond in a jar), and, if I overheard correctly, some trick riding on horseback if they can get him outside. If it's like all his other visits, poor Mr. Smith will leave here not knowing what hit him.
April 25, 2006
Read to me this morning by child number two
from The Happy Birthday Present by Joan Heilbroner, pictures by Mary Chalmers (An I Can Read book):
Today is supposed to include a bit of schoolwork, a tadpole safari, lots of sunshine and some gardening (made possible in all this warm, dry weather with the wonderful present of a new hose reel), a few remaining preparations for our all-afternoon homeschool facilitator meeting on Friday afternoon, a cake with chocolate whipped cream, and some surprises...
And many happy returns to Carol Burnett, John James Audubon, Frederic Law Olmstead, Bernard Malamud, and Anita Loos (Happy Birthday indeed!).
"Davy," said Peter.And so day two of our birthday bonanza week continues. The celebration began yesterday, with a bit of a party for Daniel, whose birthday is on the weekend, after homeschool Gym Day, always one of the month's highlights for the kids. Daniel treated everyone to some Secret Special chocolate chip cookies (made by adding two spoonfuls of cocoa and one cup of mini M&Ms to the recipe on the back of the bag) and juice, more than welcome after an hour and a half of running, bouncing, and leaping. And Daniel, old soul that he is at almost seven, was able to enjoy some more time around the 11- and 12-year-old boys...
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Yes, I do," said Davy.
"It is today."
"No, silly," said Peter.
"It is Mother's birthday."
"We must tell her!" said Davy.
"She knows," said Peter.
"I am going to get a present for her," said Peter.
"May I come with you?" asked Davy.
"Will you be good?" asked Peter.
"I will," said Davy.
"Come on, then," said Peter.
"Is this [the toy store] where I get my present?" asked Davy.
"No, Davy," said Peter.
"It is not your birthday. It is Mother's birthday. We are going to get a present for her."
"Oh!" said Davy.
"What do you think Mother would like?" asked Peter.
"A dump truck," said Davy.
"Mother does not want a dump truck!" said Peter.
"Roller skates?" asked Davy. ...
Today is supposed to include a bit of schoolwork, a tadpole safari, lots of sunshine and some gardening (made possible in all this warm, dry weather with the wonderful present of a new hose reel), a few remaining preparations for our all-afternoon homeschool facilitator meeting on Friday afternoon, a cake with chocolate whipped cream, and some surprises...
And many happy returns to Carol Burnett, John James Audubon, Frederic Law Olmstead, Bernard Malamud, and Anita Loos (Happy Birthday indeed!).
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