(Still reminiscing about vacation!)
So, this morning in the shower, listening to the news and enjoying my prediliction toward learning through audio, I had a pleasant thought. What if I homeschooled in NPR format? I think it would go a little something like this:
It is November 29th, and on this day in 1895, Busby Berkeley the [...]

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(Just a reminder to self, I was here 6 months ago. I spent much of the time right where that guy is fishing, with my whole upper body submerged in ice cold lake water looking for the lost earring of my niece who cried softly nearby…but it sure was stunning there anyway)
Nominations are being accepted [...]

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(Reminded of a conversation over at Poppins Classical Academy recently about the sanctity of recognizing first snowfalls, we busted out on Tuesday to build this snowfella. Of course, by the time we found all of the mittens and boots the snow was mostly melted…)
Don’t go resting on your laurels, kids. Just because winter is on [...]

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(This is an offrenda for the last of the great Mayan leaders still connected to his native language and culture. He died this past year at the age of 110)
The stomach ailment has left us at last and as I move through my day I can’t help but relish how strong I am. Look at [...]

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(The “I may be all artistic, but don’t you dare park in my driveway or you’ll answer to my giant foot” mural we saw in Pilsen today, along with dozens of other murals.)
I’ll start with this. I am not a prude. Far from it. I am quite liberal-minded about many things. I consider myself somewhat [...]

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Political disgust. Outrage. Months and months of it unmentioned here and in daily life because there are no words to explain how complacency can overtake the powerless. But listen up, last week our world leaders defended the use of torture as a means of interrogation and even admitted to having secret camps for it. This [...]

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(Bobo turning in for the night. He’s got a really groovy pad, a sort of deconstructed tree house he stole from the little wooden people. He also recently had his first bath, so he doesn’t smell like the puddles and sticky tables and backpacks and jeans pockets he’s been crammed in for weeks)
I can do [...]

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(2 months ago, the colors were different)
I’m here to report that I’ve had a very uneventful slothlike weekend due to my own slothlike nature. This is weird for me. Usually I’m the one rallying to go someplace. Usually I have the big to do list and a plan. But, apart from a movie outing with [...]

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(Last week art at the zoo. Very fun.)
How does learning happen? Over here it is in fits and starts. For example, my daughter can suddenly spell. When I say suddenly, I don’t mean to imply that she was not encouraged to learn how to spell, or given opportunities or specific guidance. I just mean she [...]

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(disclaimer: if you happen to be in MY playgroup, instead of another insane playgroup, please don’t take this personally. I have the feeling they’re all this way and it has more to do with small spaces and humanity than with any individual)
Dear World and all of the powers that be, why playroups? Okay, this is [...]

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