Home Schooling...

All is well on the homefront. We are deep into our studies from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The girls mental muscles are recieving an amazing workout. It is exciting for me to see the new little "lights" that switch on in their minds everyday.

I have some teacher's assistance (puppets) that join our classes on a daily basis. There is "puppy" who comes to the couch for reading time, "Dr. Susan" is our math coach, and "Miss Kitty" usually shows up around language class.

Samantha has also started her strings ensemble with 6 other string players. She's doing very well and is always so energetic after ensemble pratice. She thrives on the harmonies of good music and the sweet attention from the older girls. She and I are currently playing The Clock, by Chopin together and I can't help but smile inbetween notes.

Our favorite adventure from last week was pear and plum picking. We picked over a bushel of pears and about 12 pounds of plums. Delicious!!! We have dried several pounds of the pears, and may can the rest. The local raccoons have also enjoyed our stash of fruit, and graciously leave their seeds on the porch. (We are saving our seeds for a little orchard we will grow on our new property).


Some favorite quotes for this week:

Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything. Eugene Delacroix

Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work. Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die. Daniel H. Burnham

There's no abiding success without commitment. Anthony Robbins

To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed -- That can make life a garden. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake somebody. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. Elbert Hubbard

From the errors of others a wise man corrects his own. Publilius Syrus

Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity. Og Mandino

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. John Wesley

Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life. The love of the young for the young, that is the beginning of life. But the love of the old for the old, that is the beginning of things longer. Jerome K. Jerom

P.S. I tried to post pictures of the girls at school, but something on Blogger's site is down...I'll try to post them as time allows...God bless!