We call it a project because there are lots of things going on here. We are a family of four living semi-rurally in our owner-built off-grid straw bale home, attachment parenting, homeschooling, farming and homesteading with two other family members on 10 acres. Our goals are self-sufficiency and sustainability as we prepare for the future while living joyfully in the present.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Scotty's parts box
Scotty is quite proud of his collection of "parts." Over the years he has disassembled many a thrift store toy or old machine and has amassed quite a collection of gears, washers, motors, wires, and the like. He has great plans to use them for all kinds of inventions in the future. He really likes looking at them with his grandpa, who has his own collection of parts.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Solstice celebration
To celebrate the return of the Sun and the longer days to come our homeschooling group gathered at my house Thursday. The kids made sun ornaments while the moms made gingerbread, pomander balls, popcorn and cranberry garlands, stew, wassail, and bread.
Susan made a little mother and child out of pipe cleaners to put in our solstice cave. The Sun Baby was made of a sparkly golden pipe cleaner that Crystal had given us.
We built a little cave out of building scraps and decorated it with some pine boughs and the garland. Then we put the figures inside and at the moment of Solstice (5:22PM here) we filled the cave with candles and sang a little song to welcome the return of the sun.
Afterwards we came inside and watched the candles burning out in the cave from the warmth of the house. We played music and made a lot of noise in the tradition of Yule.
Susan made a little mother and child out of pipe cleaners to put in our solstice cave. The Sun Baby was made of a sparkly golden pipe cleaner that Crystal had given us.
We built a little cave out of building scraps and decorated it with some pine boughs and the garland. Then we put the figures inside and at the moment of Solstice (5:22PM here) we filled the cave with candles and sang a little song to welcome the return of the sun.
Afterwards we came inside and watched the candles burning out in the cave from the warmth of the house. We played music and made a lot of noise in the tradition of Yule.
Winter in New Mexico
Many people don't realize that our area of New Mexico is indeed a seasonal climate and we have real winters here. OK so maybe they aren't like a Minnesota winter (thank goodness) but we do get cold temperatures and the occasional winter weather. The nice thing about when it snows here is that it is relatively rare so it's a huge thrill for all. A week ago we had a wonderful winter storm come through. This is the same storm that messed up Denver so badly and delayed millions of Christmas packages. The kids were just bouncing off the walls with excitement. We stayed home all day and watched it come down. When it was all done we had six inches on the ground!
Chris came home from work early because in this town everything shuts down after just a couple inches of snow. It's so funny coming from Illinois to see 24 hour news coverage of a couple inches of snow. All the news crews go out and get video of cars having slid off the roads.
The fields were framed on all sides by frosted trees. It was really beautiful. Even the piles of building materials in the front yard looked pretty!
Chris and the kids went out and played for quite a while.
Remembering how wonderful it felt to come inside for hot cocoa after snow play when I was a child, I had some warm and ready for them to drink by the wood stove when they were done.
Speaking of the wood stove, I have to boast that although we have had below freezing overnight temperatures here since October we didn't need a fire in the stove until December 14th. Before that our only heat source was the sun and our passive solar house.
Chris came home from work early because in this town everything shuts down after just a couple inches of snow. It's so funny coming from Illinois to see 24 hour news coverage of a couple inches of snow. All the news crews go out and get video of cars having slid off the roads.
The fields were framed on all sides by frosted trees. It was really beautiful. Even the piles of building materials in the front yard looked pretty!
Chris and the kids went out and played for quite a while.
Remembering how wonderful it felt to come inside for hot cocoa after snow play when I was a child, I had some warm and ready for them to drink by the wood stove when they were done.
Speaking of the wood stove, I have to boast that although we have had below freezing overnight temperatures here since October we didn't need a fire in the stove until December 14th. Before that our only heat source was the sun and our passive solar house.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Two big goals achieved
Last weekend was my big flamenco recital. Two years ago I attended this very same recital and, having never danced flamenco before but always wanting to, decided that it was time for me to start. I hoped that someday I could perform flamenco in a recital like that and it finally happened for me!
The other fun thing that I did related to this was making a dress to wear. I have been fortunate enough to inherit some sewing supplies from my late grandmother and I have been feeling very connected to her lately as I have taught myself to use a sewing machine. True to form, rather than starting with something simple I decided that my first project would be modifying the wedding dress that Grandma had made me to make a flamenco costume. It turned out pretty well only because the design of the dress cleverly hid all my crooked seams! Here I am in my dress.
And here's the view of the stage from Chris and Eliza's seats on the third day. I'm the tallest one on the stage, male or female. Can you find me? Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Eliza wore her fancy skirt to the performance. Scotty decided that it wasn't for him so he didn't come. Here is Eliza outside the theater with a statue by a famous local artist.
The other fun thing that I did related to this was making a dress to wear. I have been fortunate enough to inherit some sewing supplies from my late grandmother and I have been feeling very connected to her lately as I have taught myself to use a sewing machine. True to form, rather than starting with something simple I decided that my first project would be modifying the wedding dress that Grandma had made me to make a flamenco costume. It turned out pretty well only because the design of the dress cleverly hid all my crooked seams! Here I am in my dress.
And here's the view of the stage from Chris and Eliza's seats on the third day. I'm the tallest one on the stage, male or female. Can you find me? Click on the photo to enlarge it.
Eliza wore her fancy skirt to the performance. Scotty decided that it wasn't for him so he didn't come. Here is Eliza outside the theater with a statue by a famous local artist.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Wonderful homeschool play group day
Yesterday was our homeschooling group's first day at Wells Park Community Center in Old Town. What a great time we had! The community center staff was courteous, friendly, and helpful and really made us feel welcome. They have a game room, a gym, a large activity room, a great playground, a large grassy field, and even a stage! We had brought a lot of our own board games and indoor toys for the kids but the Center manager told us we didn't need to do that--they have a whole closet full of games we can use. They also let us use the basketballs in the spacious gym.
One of the best things about yesterday was that we had a huge turnout. Sylvia counted 19 kids total and there were at least 10 adults. The kids ranged in age from 2 to 15. As I've come to expect at homeschooling gatherings, there was a natural flow to the day as kids moved from one activity to another, some indoors, some outdoors, creating games, mixing ages, and for the most part getting along really well. I always marvel at the argument that our homeschooled kids are missing out on "socialization." Which scenario is more like "the real world": 19 kids of all ages and 10 adults interacting with each other, creating, solving problems and working together OR one adult and up to 30 kids of the same age stuck in a room together with the adult trying to control the 30 kids (who for the most part are not allowed to interact with each other anyway)? After all, many of us were told in school "you're not here to socialize" weren't we?
With two new families joining us there was a good group of little girls playing for a while. Eliza is at the front of the photo with her head turned. Notice the haircut!
Eliza's friend Jane gave her a note.
Holly, one of the teens, hamming it up for the camera on the slide.
The Center's train set was a big hit.
A view of the big grassy lawn.
One of the surprises of the day was that Scotty and Spencer (usually like oil and water) actually played together!
Checking out the Yugioh and Pokemon cards.
The big gym was a huge hit. The little kids especially loved the spaciousness of it and had a great time running and shouting.
One of the best things about yesterday was that we had a huge turnout. Sylvia counted 19 kids total and there were at least 10 adults. The kids ranged in age from 2 to 15. As I've come to expect at homeschooling gatherings, there was a natural flow to the day as kids moved from one activity to another, some indoors, some outdoors, creating games, mixing ages, and for the most part getting along really well. I always marvel at the argument that our homeschooled kids are missing out on "socialization." Which scenario is more like "the real world": 19 kids of all ages and 10 adults interacting with each other, creating, solving problems and working together OR one adult and up to 30 kids of the same age stuck in a room together with the adult trying to control the 30 kids (who for the most part are not allowed to interact with each other anyway)? After all, many of us were told in school "you're not here to socialize" weren't we?
With two new families joining us there was a good group of little girls playing for a while. Eliza is at the front of the photo with her head turned. Notice the haircut!
Eliza's friend Jane gave her a note.
Holly, one of the teens, hamming it up for the camera on the slide.
The Center's train set was a big hit.
A view of the big grassy lawn.
One of the surprises of the day was that Scotty and Spencer (usually like oil and water) actually played together!
Checking out the Yugioh and Pokemon cards.
The big gym was a huge hit. The little kids especially loved the spaciousness of it and had a great time running and shouting.
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