Homeschool thoughts, updates and miscellaneous whatnot...

Before I get too far into my incoherent ramblings post I want to share a fun activity with my homeschooling and traditional schooling friends. Eryn from Hearth2heart is running a wonderful Valentine Exchange. If you are interested in participating just head on over to her site and fill out the survey.  This is a great way for your family to enjoy making and receiving lots of Valentines!

I really love Valentines Day. It's fun and romantic and involves lots of chocolate! This weekend I am going to stock up on Valentine craft supplies so that the girlies and I can get busy making cards. I also love to check out kid friendly magazines and websites for Valentine craft ideas. I got my copy of Family Fun which has some really cute ideas for making Valentine's at home. Where do you go for new holiday craft ideas?

In other homeschooling news, I have been following #homeschool on Twitter. This is an extraordinary way to find other homeschoolers and find out about what they are doing and how they are doing it. It was from someone on Twitter that I learned about homeschooling from January to December instead of September to June. I'm thinking of giving this schedule a try because it would allow us to stretch out our studies better and allot more time to projects and field trips. Do any of my homeschool readers employ this method? I'd love to hear from you!

Speaking of hearing from readers, today is Delurking Day! I have to tell you that I love to hear from you in the comments, on Facebook, Twitter or email. It is a lovely feeling to put words out into the world and know that someone has enjoyed them. I try to respond to people when they leave comments, but I can only do that if you include your email address. Another thought I have is to start replying to folks directly in the comments. Would readers think to go back and check for a response there?

Finally, I am putting some items from my scary basement treasure stash together for a giveaway which I will post some time this weekend. I also have some new junk treasures to share with you this weekend!

For now, please leave a comment! Tell me who you are and a little bit about yourself and I will respond, I swear on my best box of chocolate!

In which I junk at a fancy garage sale...

This weekend took us out to the Berkshire mountains for fun with my in-laws. We swam and barbecued and frolicked.

I also attended a very fancy garage sale. I was too embarrassed to take pictures, which is odd when you consider that I am a person who regularly photographs junk for my blog. Anyway, the home of this garage sale is probably considered an estate and let me tell you- the prices proved it!

They had quite a few real antiques which were priced at antique store prices. I ignored those. I did spy this old shopping basket. The owner wanted $10, "I paid quite a bit for that you know," she told me. I talked her down to $8 because I loved it.

The old croquet mallets were in a box labeled "Free!" along with the little iron stone plate. Free is my favorite price.

Now we are back home and inhabiting a stretch of summer which I like to refer to as hell. Hot, followed by humid, followed by me crying. I'm not saying that junking will be the cure for this misery, but a girl has got to explore every option.

Can you stand one cute kid story which involves not only blasphemy, but family drama?

On Saturday we took my kids and my niece and nephew to the lake. David's folks took my niece and nephew in my brother-in-law's car and David and I took our kids in our minivan. Once at the lake we spent some time convincing my city kid nephew that there were no sea urchins in the lake. After the swimming all four kids got very involved in a huge sand project which involved dams and natural disasters and a full body coating of sand.

My car almost always has a layer of gold fish cracker, dog hair and sand detritus covering most surfaces. Once a week I vacuum it, but I recognize a losing battle when I see it.

My dear brother-in-law is not a slob like me tidy with his car and was upset when we got back and he discovered all the sand that the kids had tracked into the car.

Lily was standing next to him as he was grumbling about the mess. "Jesus Christ!" he swore under his breath.

Not to be outdone, Lily then exclaimed, matching his tone of frustration with her own, "Christ on a cross!"

I have no idea where my child learned such a thing.

I will probably go to hell.

Junk!

Now that we are homeschooling I don't get to junk as consistently as I used to.

My usual plan would be to hit the junk shops first thing in the morning before the other shoppers had a chance to come and crowd my space. Now I am shopping whenever the rare opportunity arises, which is how I found myself at Global Thrift on a Monday afternoon.

The girls had a joint playdate with their pals J and K so I dropped them off and headed into Waltham.

I don't know if it's because this economy is so lousy or what, but the junk store pickin's have been slim. I did manage to find a few things though.

This sweet little nightstand was 3.99.


It quickly found it's way into Lily's room.


I also found this daisy blanket. I bet someone's grandmother made this.


I think it will be very cheery on the back of my couch.

This little bowl was so hopeful that for .49 I just had to give it a new home.


In other news about the lousy economy, today I did my own acrylic nail fill. I've never done it myself before but it came out okay. Except for one thing. The deep red color that I picked out of clearance at Walgreens seems to be less "Dignified Russet" and more "Shameless Hussy".

There's nothing sadder than a housewife forced into do it yourself beauty. If you see me reaching for hair dye, please do an intervention.

In which my unpredictability becomes utterly predictable.

So, some news over here...

I'm homeschooling Lily. I know, I know, I said I was going to keep her in school, but the whole thing started to feel silly. The getting up in the morning, the picking up from school, the homework. Plus, she kept asking to be homeschooled.

So this week I ordered the workbooks and started planning for this weeks lessons.

One of the best parts of taking Lily out of school is how freeing it is. We've started taking an evening walk because we don't have homework and a strict bedtime to adhere to anymore. When we started our walk at about 5:45 tonight, the sun was about half way down. By the time we finished our loop around the reservoir it was solidly dusk. The air had a smoky smell to it. The girls and I swung on the swings as the night grew darker and the first stars came out. It was a treasure of a moment.

Know what other crazy thing I did today? I junked! On a Sunday! Ha! Bet you never would have guessed that!

Here's my haul!



Why yes, that is another Flexible Flyer sled. I found my first for 7.99 a few weeks ago. I just did a little googling about Flexible Flyers. I had no idea that they are so expensive! The first one I found is 60 inches and retails for $99. The one I found today is 48 inches and retails for $79. I found it for 5.99. I can't wait to use these in my winter decorating!

These are gigantic Ralph Lauren pillow shams and they are so soft. I can't wait to get some big pillows to put in them.


The picture doesn't really show it but this tablecloth is an awesome vintage green. I'm going to wash it tomorrow and put it on the table.


My real treasure, something I almost never find while junking is a tin picnic basket. These are super-duper collectible and I love them.


I also have a Spike update for you. He is toying with me. One day he is all spread out on his web begging for attention, the next he hides from me. I spent the day planning to have the girls study him all week by drawing pictures of him and observing him build his web and now he's disappeared.

Don't fall in love with a spider people, he will only break your heart.

Ball junky

Pugsley's a mellow guy. Just follows me around the house hoping someone will drop some bacon.

He has a problem though, an ugly problem. He is a squeaky ball addict.

Here he is without a ball.


Not a care in the world.

Here, dear readers is a truly frightening image. Puglsey and the squeaky ball.



Completely deranged. He looks rabid.

Without ball:


With ball:


Sometimes Sophie tries to steal his ball.


A tussle ensues.


Even though Sophie is a dog who will eat her own poop, she is smart enough to know when to let him have the ball.


Puglsey savored the sweet nectar of victory. And then passed out. Just like the little ball junky he is.