Getting Back into a Rhythm

The feelings of being out of balance are beginning to fade as autumn approaches.

Our daily home learning has started and while the planning and one on one time with the children takes a lot of time, I am still getting into a nice routine.

I would love to do more creative learning activities with the children but I have had to let go of that as a daily goal as I have five levels to facilitate this year plus a two year old.

My hope is that with their free time, they will engage in product, creative, self-directed pursuits.

Nolan and Thomas (our 14 and 16 year olds) spend a lot of their free time playing acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard.  They write music as well and hope to perform soon.    They are glad to be learning at home and realize that it affords them the opportunity to practice for a couple of hours a day.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Handmade Holiday - 2010

Kim from Our Journey 'Round the Mulberry Bush has shared a wonderful post here - Finding What You Are Good At - and relating it to creating.

I found a post from 2009 from Emily of Watkins Every Flavor Bean, a new participant to the Handmade Holiday, sharing her handmade holiday.

Here is a picture of her little one with a stuffed owl she created.

Finally, a visitor to Plain and Joyful Living, Josie of Boys in the Woods, left a comment sharing another terrific handmade idea for teenage boys which I just love.

"The best gift I have made for a teenage boy ever was one I made for my younger brother. I found an old record, can't remember what it was, and bought a clock mechanism which I put through the middle. Hey presto, a very cool wall clock for a bedroom wall."

Please share if you have any thoughts, posts or ideas for a Handmade Holiday and again, just leave a comment if you would like to be included in the list of participants.

Thanks so much and warm wishes,

Tonya

Lilla Cabot Perry

A devoted mother of three daughters, Lilla Cabot Perry (1848 - 1933), received her first formal art training at the age of 36.

I am delighted to be researching and enjoying this artist's life and works, specifically how she combined her duties as mother, wife and homemaker while at the same time nurturing her gift as artist.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Morning Joy

Abraham is usually the first to join Mike and I in the morning. We enjoy this time with "just" him before the others awaken.

Simple Joy

We are enjoying the bounty of beautiful apples from our own trees and from the old trees along our rural roads. Even the smallest of apples are eagerly picked and eaten in our house. God is good.

Are you picking apples where you are?

Warm wishes, Tonya

Pulling Reeds

Nolan has been wading into the pond with rain pants tied with rope over his rubber boots to pull up our reeds.

We are doing this because we have leaches and we would love to clean the pond up to swim in some day, but even more importantly to increase our ice skating space for the long winter ahead.

Thomas and Sarah were helping by dragging the pulled reeds to a pile by the woods. Of course the mud that comes up with the roots is the really good black stuff and they could not help themselves but to have a little fun.

Handmade Holiday

I finished a hat for Sarah with the same wool blend yarn that I knit her these simple tube socks for Sarah.

It is knit by casting 80 stitches on size 6 needles - the first inch and a half are a knit two purl two ribbing and then knit in stockinette stitch for six inches - then decreasing by knit 8, knit two together across the row. The next row purl across, then knit 7, knit two together across row. Next row purl. Continue decreasing and finish off. Sew back seam.

Also, I am working on this candle mat - it is of a felted recycled sweater and pieces of wool felt scraps. It is a work in progress and I will post a picture when it is finished.

Looking through the blogs of those joining in with the Handmade Holiday, I found these wonderful ideas ~

Tree Blocks

Organizers for the Car

Please share what you are working on and your plans.

Warm wishes, Tonya