A Year Down Yonder

Adam discovered the books-on-CD section at our library, recently.  As a result, we have listened to a wide variety of books lately.  Many of these are ones that we would not have taken time to read aloud, as a family, due to the large number of books already waiting. 

One of these was A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck.  It is the story of a teenage girl (see why I wouldn’t have chosen it?), who is sent to live with her grandmother, for a year, during the depression. 

Her grandmother is a big, no-nonsense woman, who has a way of taking over everything, and making it better. She is a friend to the friendless, and a know-it-all, who does not tell tales.  She is wise and stubborn.  She is the kind of woman I aspire to be.

The girl, Mary Alice, is a 15 year old city girl, who grows strong and wise under grandmother’s care.  She is not the most popular girl in school, but she makes her own way…and the romance is good.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone, even if your home is full of boys.  It has been two weeks since we listened to this book, and Adam is still asking questions, on topics ranging from telling the truth (and revealing the truth, to those who don’t want to know), to trapping and home defense.

Catching some Zzzz’s

Lately, we have been finding Daniel in some interesting places.  It seems he must be growing; because, despite naps, everything goes quiet…and then we find him:

…outside.  His shirt was near the basketball hoop…

…in his closet.  Fully dressed…

…and then, not so dressed.

Battling Bugs

As part of our schooling, I am having the boys make a weather journal.  It is good practice in observation, and unbeknownst to them, they are learning to spell the months of the year, by writing the date each day.

When I planned this assignment, I meant to have a weather station set up in the house before school began, but, when I jumped the gun, and started two weeks early, some plans fell by the wayside.  Because we lack even a thermometer, the boys offered to ride their bikes to the bank, to observe the temperature.  Now, reading a digital sign was not what I had in mind when I planned this…but neither was turning on the computer, for this information.  So, off they go, each morning, as soon as their chores are done, to observe the temperature.

This worked great the first week.  The second week, though, there began to be some competition…one boy working extra  fast, with the purpose of leaving the others behind.  Occasionally, in their hurry to be the first to report the temperature, they would bring home the time, or interest rate…sometimes it took three trips to get a just reading.

Then, one morning, Adam came in holding one eye, already turning purple.  “Mama, I got hit.”

Benjamin was right behind him, looking sad.  “I got the bug that hit him,” he reported, holding aloft a three inch long grasshopper.

It wasn’t a fight!  Riding along, he had been smacked in the eye.

It was good to see how they pulled together during a tragedy.  Benjamin had left his bike, hidden in weeds, to help his brother.

We treated Adam’s eye with arnica oil, and the purple went away.  Now their trips to the bank are a bit slower…sometimes they even walk.

Baby Turns One

Gideon’s birthday arrived, much to the delight of his brothers.  You see, we had received a package from Nanna, and they were all anticipation. 

What could he be getting? 

It turned out to be a baby bowling set!  When my oldest turned one, I had almost bought him one of these, remembering the fun my cousins and I had had with Grandma’s Donald Duck set…but, back then we lived in a camper.  All of that to say, I am delighted, and so is he.  The little animals are perfect for hugging, and everything jingles!  Thank you Nanna, from all of us. 

This evening we will finish celebrating, with a banana cake and a candle, but right now baby is sleeping.

Do What You Can

“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.”

-Denis Waitley

A Sweater for Baby

This afternoon, as I was finishing Gideons sweater, I was filled with joy.  It marked a major accomplishment for me.  I have always wanted to clothe my children in little homemade garments, but, in the past there has been little need for this, as my mother-in-law has always given the children clothing for every occasion.  However, as the weather started to turn cool a few weeks ago, the idea for making this sweater came, and I could not resist; especially, knowing the jacket my other children have used is quite worn.

Gideon was playing with a newly completed dishcloth…pulling it over his head, wrapping it under his chin, thoroughly enjoying it.  He looked so sweet in the off-white yarn, I lost no time in measuring him, and casting on the beginning stitches.

When beginning this sweater, my goal was to make something soft and warm for the crisp fall days ahead.  To that purpose I outlined it with a garter stitched boarder.  I wanted it roomy, for easy layering and lots of moving.  It is all those things, and much, much more.

When I cast off the last stitch and cut the thread, Gideon was there, cuddling with it.  When I brought up the buttons, looking for something to compliment it, he was there, digging, and finding too. The final decision was made by him, after I had narrowed it down to two choices.

The yarn is Peaches & Creme worsted weight cotton, colour 4 Ecru, that I bought at Wal-Mart.  It is made in the USA.  The buttons are vintage metal with a crest on them.  They were passed on to me by my great aunt Beverly, who either rescued them from an old garment or bought them at a second hand store.  The pattern is 100% my own.

Words…what do they mean?

“Mom, I don’t think these are fresh water shrimp.  They were in really icky water when we found them,” Benjamin informed me, while watching his critters* swim.

Manny and the older boys had been canoeing on the river when they found a small pool full of these critters.  I told the boys they might be fresh water shrimp… Proving that words do indeed have many meanings.

*Septeber 3, 2008 Update:  We found out what these are…Mosquito larvae.  Oops, not what I consider suitable “pets.”