Hope

The three little boys and I weeded the lettuce bed. It's 64 today!! We usually get a run of days in January that get up to the 60-70 degree range. I call that Hope. By the middle of January, this Florida native is done with what I know to some is a mild NC winter. So this day, with my little lettuces thriving, my daffodils sprouting and the discovery of some forgotten little onions is so cheering. 

 

Even still, this stack will be gone in less than a week. My lumberjack will be splitting more wood after school today, because we still have at least 2 1/2 wood months left. Sigh. 

Good old Sadie. She's 12 now, grey and her hips hurt. She has bouts of barely being  able to get up to then chasing the garbage man (for the treats he throws out to her) and trying to play with Atticus, our new puppy. 

Who really is an absolute doll. As Grace has demonstrated. I'm so glad our Christmas pound puppy has turned out so well. He's growing fast and is going to be big so his doll clothes wearing day are almost over. 

End of school

This week marks the end of our third term, the end of our school year. The end of my 16th year of teaching my children.  Wow. And I'm looking at the future, and seeing 17 more. Could it be I'm half way done with educating my children? My thoughts on that feel like, but wait! Every year I'm getting better, I can't be half done. I'm finally "getting" it. I love this lifestyle! 

Last week we had a week of vacation with daddy, this week we are tying up loose ends and going to doctor appointments. The younger kids and I are finishing An Island Story, Curtiss finished The Birth of Britain today. Our chapters corresponded so we had a great discussion about Richard the Third.   

In the late afternoon I worked in the garden and picked kale for dinner. It's so tender and yummy!

While I was killing squash bugs, blasted cussed things, I found baby broccoli! In this season of having a very high need baby, sometimes weeding or harvesting in the garden is the only few moments I have in the day to find....I don't even know. Just peace or a moment to focus in a singular thing that is productive. So much as what we do as mothers is incessant and gives nothing show for what was done. That's really hard some days. To remember that loving and nurturing people is a life's work worthy of doing without day to day returns. 

Here are a few pictures of Shakespeare On The Green. Taming of the Shrew. It was very funny and we all enjoyed.