Hot cereal

We've enjoyed oatmeal and Cream of Wheat over the years with some people preferring one over the other. Recently, I bought Scottish oatmeal and steel cut oats also known as Irish oatmeal. I bought the Bob's Red Mill brand from Quality Foods. I've always admired this brand, so I thought it time to give it a try. The kids tried both kinds as did I, and we enjoyed them for their different properties: the Irish for its nice little chunks which were a bit chewy; the Scottish for its smooth, rich texture. Overall, they were more enjoyable than regular oatmeal of which I'm not a big fan. With the days getting colder, hot cereal makes for a cozy breakfast.

Being that it is nearly halfway between fall and winter, I heard the honking of the trumpeter swans the other night and again the next morning. They are on their way here for the winter and to hunker down in Farqhuarson Farm until around February, I think, at which time they leave for their other favourite place in the far north. These birds are Canada's largest waterfowl and are a marvelous sight (and sound) when flying in formation across the sky.

I've come across, my husband's, Uncle Tom's delightful wildlife books and activity books again. I came across them when I was trying to find books about salmon. I must say these books have not been bragged about enough in our family. I believe Tom used a black fine tipped felt pen or black ink pen because all of the pictures and text are black ink looking. These books are not busy with all kinds of stuff written in margins, they have straight forward, short write-ups with hand drawn pictures of each species. I know that these books were, at one time, available at ABC Books, but the last time I was there, I didn't see them. I've seen them on the ferries and at The Bay. Some of the books and activity books can be viewed at Heritage House Publishing: Wildlife of Western Canada; Wildlife Activity Books and Critters for Kids all by Tom Hunter.

Our little painting place

Finally, I decided to get out the art easel that I bought three years ago! I set up a little painting area in the kitchen. I had thought I had bought a standing easel that would need assembly, but as it turned out, it was a table top, portable and compact easel. It has a little drawer in which to store supplies, but we can't get the drawer open. Upon reflection, I must have purchased this small easel for a couple of reasons: it's size and portability. I was probably thinking about taking it camping or on nature walks. I'm glad that I chose this one over the standing one.

In the table upon which I've put the easel, I have three baskets: one containing canvases, wood paint palate, acrylic paints, a bamboo mat that rolls up for acrylic paintbrush storage; another basket which will hold watercolour paper and card stock; the last basket holds watercolour brushes, plastic paint palates, watercolour pencils and paints.

When I took out the box of painting supplies it made me think about the watercolour paintings my kids made while taking an art class with a local artist. I decided since I've had picture frames also sitting in my closet, along the supplies, it was time to frame the paintings and put them on the wall. I thought it would be nice to hang their paintings on the wall of our little painting place. I love the colours of these paintings and it's a complete joy to have them hanging on the wall in a place where I can view them daily.

With the bringing out of nature journals and nature journal instruction books, came the desire of nature drawing by Owen and Hanna. They wanted to draw salmon after having been at the fish hatchery. Hanna has a great love of drawing and art. I have been witness to her experiencing Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of "flow". Flow is experienced when you are being completely engaged and consumed in something you are doing, to the point that nothing seems to distract you; you lose your sense of awareness of all else. It is a concept that is greatly appreciated in an unschooling context. It is something like being in "the zone" as runners have written about, which I have experienced on lengthy (over an hour) runs. I read "Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life" years ago when I began homeschooling my kids as I was searching for new ideas about learning and I appreciate his thoughts on this concept. I do firmly believe that this is when learning is in an optimum state. I have caught glimpses of Hanna experiencing "flow" through avenues of creativity like drawing and painting; Owen, through drawing, crafting, and building. Mackenzie also through creativity, reading and moments while playing sports; primarily basketball.

Keeping this blog helps me to live deliberately, I think about stuff I haven't done and I do it; I think about how I want to live and I start living. As my kids have an abundance of creativity, I will start being their guide(when asked), offer support(when asked), and have available as many tools as I am able to provide, for them to express themselves creatively.

If you don't like something, change it. If you don't change it, change your attitude.

~Maya Angelou~

Monday's Mindful Moments

The bluebird carries the sky on his back.

~Henry David Thoreau~

The stellar's jay is the official bird of British Columbia. Its magnificent color astounds me. I've been woken up several times this month to the intense discussions of the stellar's jays in my backyard. I've always enjoyed nature and its peaceful, serene tranquility and then I heard how very loud nature can be when we were camping at Cluxewe Campground three years ago. The stellar's jays were in fine form squawking away. Along with the birds, there was a chipmunk up in the trees chattering, screeching and eating the seeds in cones and then dropping the cones to the ground at a great pace with a loud thud every time. There were ravens and eagles amass. The nature was overwhelmingly spectacular as was the location of the campground. We only stayed one night, but wow, what memories we have of that road trip to the northern part of the island.

Henry David Thoreau is a true simplicity icon. I haven't read all of "Walden", but I think it's a book to which I will always be going back and forth. I started on my simplicity journey about seven or eight years ago and I don't recall the exact precursor or impetus to my journey, but it may have been one particularly hard year. It was a pivotal moment for my mind, and an extraordinary moment for my soul. That was when I jumped off the treadmill and starting going against the grain. Homeschooling became part of my new lifestyle as did removing myself from a hectic life of trivial commitments. A fun little picture book that gives an introduction to Thoreau is "Henry Hikes to Fitchburg".

There have been many times where I've lost my focus and I've had to re-read some of the important books that have helped shaped me. It seems I always come back to a wonderful book called "The Circle of Simplicity" by Cecile Andrews, this book grounds me. She had another book published in 2006 which I just picked up from the library called "Slow is Beautiful". Another book which resonated with me is called "Plain and Simple: A Woman's Journey to the Amish". It was amazing to hear about these simple, quiet, and peaceful people who live such a plain life with the only the basics. The Quakers, or "the friends" as they're also known, are very similar in their lifestyle. Elaine St. James writes a concise and straightforward little book called "Living the Simple Life". There are so many books out there on this subject and new ones being written all the time. I often check the library for what's new.

We've take this season off (and will probably take the winter off as well) from doing any lessons as I would prefer to use the time in another way. I had hoped we would spend the time playing games, getting out in nature, being creative, reading wonderful books and watching outstanding films together. I figure, if we can begin Mondays by reflecting and then take a bit of time to make a plan for the week to, hopefully, include at least two or three of these activities every day or so, then I will be quite content and fulfilled.

I've always wanted to try to begin Mondays (actually every day for that matter)with a meditative, contemplative or reflective moment with my kids. Being grateful, and mindful in the moment that is before us, giving pause to what is. For it is when we are quiet that we hear the inner voice and we become enlightened. Unfortunately, this didn't transpire today, we were able to participate in a field trip to the fish hatchery. We've been there many times to watch them take eggs and add the milt, but this time they went a little further and performed a dissection of the salmon. I suppose we will try again tomorrow to take a moment, after all, it is timely, it's Remembrance Day.

Simple machines

Today was science club at our house. My kids love these get-togethers, however I get a little stressed trying to figure out what our part is going to be and how it will relate to the topic. The topic for this gathering was simple machines. Our family was responsible for the screw/inclined plane. We had a little display to show the different possibilities of inclined planes as seen on a screw, corkscrew and winding a triangle piece of paper around a pencil all of which demonstrate this idea. We also had a piece of fish tank hose wound around and taped to two cans which were duct taped together(for added height) then we placed this structure into green coloured water. When we turned it around while on a slant, it demonstrated how the simple machine - inclined plane -makes it easier to move something with very little effort on the person operating the machine.

Other demonstrations included: gears, pulleys and a wooden model trebuchet(something like this) or catapult like device. One family brought a k'nex gears and cranks tub which was a fun way to build some simple machines. Another family made a homemade pulley device which was used to try and pull a person up off the ground while lying down. It took me a while to realize that the cake a mom brought was shaped as two gears put together....very fun.

After we let off the cola geyser in the front yard, some of the kids watched Bill Nye the Science Guy "Simple Machines".

Monday's Mindful Moments on a Wednesday

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make the world.

~Buddha~

Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle

to the growth of a true democratic spirit.

~Ghandi~

As it has been seen everywhere, and constantly discussed, the results of the American election: Obama will lead with a majority senate. I firmly believe that this man will turn America around. I feel hopeful for the American people, that a day is on the horizon when they will no longer collectively be perceived and hated as the spoiled bullies and evil power mongers they are seen to be worldwide. This perception nags at me because, really, it's the government and its administration that gives this view to others. It's not the average person living in small town America spending time with their family, trying to live their lives. We're all just citizens of countries with judgements placed on us based on our governments and their doings; it's one of those pandemic generalizations.

I am 42 years old and I unabashedly admit that I have never voted. I am an American by birth and a Canadian by growth. In short, I've lived here almost all of my life. I have never figured out how to register to vote as an American nor have I ever looked into the possibility of voting in any of the Canadian elections. Apathy, I'm guilty of it. However, this would have been an election in which to participate. I am thrilled and elated with the outcome. I even teared up listening to Obama's moving speech. History in the making, but not everyone feels this way.

It amazes me that some conservative people, in the political sense, aren't even slightly moved by this event. I get goosebumps thinking that around 130 years ago black people in America were slaves and now a black man is president. I say that's progress, but on reflection it has taken way too long to get to this point. I've heard comments from some people, in which they state, that they think some people voted for him just because he's a black man - probably true, but come on just listen to his delivery of speeches and where he stands on issues. To me, he has a true understanding of "people", he has compassion, empathy, honesty and true desire to make America a better place. He's a civil rights activist in a leadership role. He's riding on the shoulders of such giants as Jesus, Ghandi and Martin Luther King, all of whom were outstanding and equally riveting civil rights activists. In time, I think we'll see progress for the "human" race through his leadership.

The prejudice that goes on for the black community in America is not unlike the prejudice that goes on for Indians, native and eastern, but especially native, in Canada. Where is the compassion, empathy, patience and tolerance for these races and the plight of their generations past? The comments that I've heard over the years, directed towards the people of these races - sickens me and infuriates me. Why can't ignorant people become better educated, respectful, patient and tolerant. Hate is a learned behaviour as is tolerance and understanding, all of which are primarily learned in the home.

After reading several fact-based fiction books to my kids that relate to this subject, I have seriously felt the pain of the characters in these books. Maybe that's it, to be empathetic is to be able to, not only, identify, but to actually feel another's pain through their stories. To clearly understand another we must go back before we can go forward. That is to say, we need to learn through history before we can move through the present and then into the future.

Not to, in any way, minimize the horrific events that anyone has experienced but I am reminded of this type of scenario - someone having never experienced back pain or a headache (yes, there are people who have never had headaches!) to say "I don't know what so-in-so is complaining about, it's just a headache/backache, they should just take a pill and stop whining". Then one day it's their turn to experience it."Oh, my back I can't believe I dismissed so-in-so's pain like that because now, I get it." All I can think is: For humankind, please, we must try harder to get it. We need to think before speaking, EVERY action has a consequence. Before judging, then speaking, think of these phrases that I've personally heard Naomi Aldort use...."Do I know it to be true?" and "Who would I be without that judgement?".

Some really good books, to read aloud to older kids, which give a greater understanding of what people have experienced and may likely become a launch pad into invaluable conversations: Roar of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Underground to Canada; Indian Captive; The Endless Steppe. A couple of movies I can recall: The Story of Ruby Bridges; The Rabbit Proof Fence. A nice picture book is A River Ran Wild. I'm sure we've read or watched others that were really good, but I can't think of them. A great site to visit is: teach with movies, here they will break down the movies into categories of: age appropriateness, values taught, character skills and more. I've used this site often to form my lists of "must see" movies for the school year.

Grapes and leaves

Every so often I have moment of "okay that's it, this house is disgusting and it's getting cleaned by everyone!". Today became a family clean up day and I must say it sure is a whole lot easier when everyone has a list and we go to it. This was all prompted by the upcoming formal reports home visit, by our new teacher along with the program coordinator, scheduled for Wednesday and then our Science Club get together on Friday. I figured if we do a big clean up then the house will still look okay for the rest of the week. Also, the kids could get their required 30 minutes of fitness/day done while scrubbing! They all did a fantastic job.

After the clean up, they decided to rake some leaves which turned into another workout by raking then jumping off the trampoline into the big pile of leaves. That was some kind of fun, they were all smiles.

While out in the back yard, I took a picture of Shawn's grape - his pride and joy - vine. He started this vine about 3 years ago and there are several bunches of grapes. Owen came by while I was taking the picture and plucked a grape. I love it when the kids can eat food that we've grown in our yard. Unfortunately, these grapes have seeds and are a tad sour. Shawn would like to start another vine of seedless grapes that taste a little sweeter.

The wonders of autumn

I've always wanted to live out in the country. I have nature-loving kids who love the outdoors and my husband and I admire all the privacy, peacefulness, beauty and nature that the country has to offer.

We live in a sprawling subdivision where the view out our front door is that of houses with cars, boats and RVs in the driveways. It took me quite a while to feel comfortable inside my house (about four years) as I've always lived in apartments, townhouses and duplexes. I think smaller spaces feel cozy and warm; for a while it felt cold in this house.

Although I don't care much for the view in the front. I do however, love the view and privacy in the back. We have a large maple tree, of which species I don't know, and several evergreens. While standing under the maple tree, before it loses its leaves, its enormous canopy makes me feel safe, calm and relaxed. My little ensuite window overlooks and opens to the backyard and when the rain is falling all over the maple tree's leaves, the sound offers me tranquility while soaking in a hot bath.

Its fallen leaves yield around twenty-five or so, extra large, yard bags every autumn. In years past the kids have had a spectacular time raking up piles and jumping into them. This year, I'm wondering what would happen if we left these leaves on the ground until spring. The grass has always been yucky looking. Maybe the leaves will feed it, or kill it, I don't know. It sure looks pretty like this though.