Iron weed
vernnonia noveborocensis
It's been forever since I have used this blog. It's hard to get to in this season of life. Max is a busy walking boy, school has started, Kaley is interning at our local paper and gone from home four afternoons a week. Some days I don't sit down except to eat and sometimes not even then! Thankfully I have a nursing baby, so I am forced to sit and slow down every so often through the day.
Our school year is fabulous. We are studying exciting things like Botony, Abraham Lincoln's World, Dickens, and Bullfinches Mythology. I can't believe that one is a favorite around here. I think I am having as much fun as the children are. I miss having Kaley as a part of it all but she is staying plugged in by helping me with Maura. They are doing great together and reading things like Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, Peter Pan, Parables From Nature, The Blue Fairy Book and Paddle To The Sea. Love those!
Kaley is making such a life of her own! It seems so strange to have an "adult" child. She's my best friend and sidekick extraordinaire and where ever we go and what ever we are doing we have a blast doing it. I miss her during the day but am so happy that she is finding all these neat things to do in life. Working at the paper is teaching her a lot about the world and herself and what she wants out of life. She plans to try out at the community theater in January, I'm sure that will be exciting. So different than me! I am relational but not at all brave and intrepid like her. I admire that. It is touching to see her use the wings I hope we have given her. She is full of dreams and excitement that life has brought her in the last few months.
Oh, I can't believe Max is one tomorrow!! A year ago I was so sad and challenged. I thought he would never be born. Actually a year ago this moment I was in early labor and was excited and thought I'd be holding my baby by night time. Little did I know it would be my longest and most challenging labor. Not so much painful as unending and dysfunctional. But we waited on the Lord, waited on Max and he came but not until more than 24hrs later. It's hard to be born when your arms are all tied up! But babies are so smart, he eventually got turned enough to come. He is such a joy! So happy and sweet. In love with all his siblings, I love seeing that since I didn't grow up with any of mine. They dote on him as well.
Mark is busy at school, it's going well for him. He enjoys it a lot and I am glad for that. He is so good with those guys and I know he makes a difference in their lives.
Well, I hope to add some pictures and get back to this blog more often. I don't even know who looks at it, that's the weird thing about an open blog. I know my family does, that's who I started it for. I enjoy a few blogs myself, I have thought of changing the intent of this one, or creating a new one devoted to Charlotte Mason eduction in a large family. I don't know... First I think I just need to get into the habit of blogging again. And then I wonder of the value of what I have to say, you know? I'm not a good writer and do I really have anything to share that would uplift or encourage anyone? I'm just better in person, I think.
One of the things we are doing this school year is saving fridays for nature study and field trips. (Always the two are one with us!) So we spent last friday up in Hendersonville, NC. We go every year to an orchard for apples with some sweet friends.
Then we were off to the Carl Sandburg house. I have been wanting to make it up there for years! It was so lovely, I can't believe we waited. It's only about an hour from home, the grounds are free and the tour of the house very reasonable.
What I found so interesting there was not only was Carl Sandburgs writing an emphasis but his wife's passion for her prize winning goats. His was very proud of her and she won many awards for her milkers.
The kids loved seeing the goats, still being milked there.
We had a great time there and sweet time with our friends. On the way out, we found this fellow:
I haven't identified him yet. Isn't he grand?!
Blessings
