Sowing Seeds

A little over a week ago, my mom and I took some egg cartons and began to fill them with dirt. Several packets of vegetable seeds had just arrived in the mail, so I was excited to plant them. I am not known for my ability to keep plants alive, but I'm great at growing seeds. This year we're planning to have all kinds of veggies and have even been allowed to plant at a friend's house! I read each instruction carefully before sprinkling them into the dirt, covering them, and soaking their new homes with water from a spray bottle. These moments are the ones I love with my mom, because playing in the dirt is her thing; that I enjoy it too a this stage is what makes it special. I think every girl secretly wants to share her mom's hobbies.

A few days ago I noticed tiny plants nudging their way out of the dirt, specks of green were just barely discernible at the surface. At this point you couldn't really tell what they were, but by the next morning they were actually little plants. The squash were the biggest, and I watched their container and encouraged their speedy growth with elation. My mom's seeds didn't fare so well. She thinks that the seeds were old, or not stored correctly. Her disappointment only lasted momentarily, because she will find more seeds, and plant them and try again.                         

It's the same way with children. I was discussing schoolwork with a friend yesterday who isn't home-schooling her daughter, she mused that she needed the deadlines that the school set to stay on track. I told her that the online school we used for the last two semesters wasn't for us right now. When she expressed regret, I told her it was okay; I'm coming to the realization that everyone is different and much of parenting or teaching in my case, is about figuring out what works. We sow seeds into the minds of children, and expect that the correct "plant" will grow out of it. When the seeds don't grow, hope is not lost! It could be the wrong seeds, the wrong soil, not enough water, the wrong season, or any number of factors. We change things and try again. If we are in tune with the needs of these little minds that we are responsible for, it will turn out okay in the end. On a personal note, the girls did enjoy their online schooling for the most part (two subjects for each, read about that HERE) it took too much time away from other things I want them to accomplish. I also feel that much of my angst during the school year is from when we take some alternate learning time, and then they get behind online. Anyway, I'm signing up again for nature pal exchange, and my little nephew will be learning about planting seeds--so nature studies are fully covered lol. To close, here is a picture of my squash taken tonight.

Lizzi

Ahoy Mateys! Care for a donut?

Ahoy mateys! According to me sources, September 19th is International talk like a pirate day! Me thinks it high time ye old landlubbers spoke the language of the sea farin' scoundrels!

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure I'm good at this pirate talkin, but I do know that we had a good ol' time interpreting "pirate-wear" from what we had at the house! Above are two younger sisters, and a homeschooling friend of theirs. Krispy Kreme had a promotion on this special day that required you to speak like a pirate for one free donut, or to dress like one for a free dozen.

Nece

This young one looked more like a gypsy from the old story books every time I saw her. She found an old scarf for her head, kept on her school uniform white shirt, added a necklace, a knitted shawl around her waist over a tiered skirt, and black boots "completed" her look. 

Onna

This one looked like a crewma--woman for sure! A real rip-roaring time was sure to be had on any ship she sailed with. She stole my one hoop earring idea, but seeing as how she had a knife, I didn't dare dispute the originality of that idea. She wore a white button down, black vest, black boots, gold bracelet, and baggy breeches fit for the jobs she said she did: scrubbing the deck.

Monnie

I don't even know how to explain...To me she looks like a friendly thug cowgirl with a knife, but I know she tried. She wore a large white button-down shirt, a bandanna around her head, a few belts, a bracelet, and some boots. Fear not, she wouldn't hurt a fly and doesn't guard the ships treasures. 

Me

A pink polka dot square of fabric served as my scarf, a piece of felt stitched into a cone shape for my eye patch, my dads shirt, several necklaces and rings of mine, a leather belt, a vest I had already, an earring hooked into my hair, and one "gold" earring. On my feet were brown sandals worn with my dad's socks that had holes in them. I was going for a "cute underneath the grime" type of pirate. I used black eye shadow dusted on my face for grime lol. I will be honest and say I LOVED doing this. I was so in character that it felt awkward that the cashiers didn't immediately speak "pirate" to me!

No one was hurt in the writing of this blog, knives nor weapons of any kind were allowed in Krispy Kreme and were only in use for pictures and lunch.

Lizzi

Skating time

Today I decided to take the girls skating, but there was one problem: one girl skates, and the other doesn't know how! Monnie (on the left) got her first lesson from Nece (right) today. That's not sisterly love alone you see, Monnie is really really bad at staying upright with wheels on her feet. I'm pretty sure that it will be awhile before she gets the hang of it. It's easy to take the time I spend with my little sisters for granted (mostly because it's basically 24/7). To combat that, I'm making a concerted effort to not only take pictures more often to look back on and appreciate, but also do fun things that aren't always on the schedule. They're happy doing just about anything-thank goodness-so it's not difficult to satisfy their sense of adventure. 

Lizzi