sweetie, don't throw the horses

Meg was working at the stables last week, doing a pretty routine chore; cleaning out the horses hooves with a pick. A routine job rendered a little tedious that day after doing it to several horses.Some of the horses had a little fun with Meg by pulling their feet out of her hands, shuffling their feet and just not cooperating real well.

The last horse of the day pulled the same stunt. It was the end of a hot, long day...and Meg was out of patience...so she held on to the foot, refused to let go...and even tugged a little back.

Next thing she knew, there was a cloud of dust and the horse was laying on the ground at her feet.

She was still holding his foot.

I guess you learn something new everyday...I did not know you could judo-throw a horse!

Last week we had a heat wave. Here's a factoid we learned: the pods of a wisteria vine will pop and explode in the heat.

It was interesting to listen to all the popping noises out in the backyard.


I just finished re-reading Jane Austen in Scarsdale, it is a modern re-telling of Persuasion ( which is one of my top 2 favorite Jane Austen books)- this story was a sweet read- I recommend it.

Josie just finished Brisingr, she said it was better than Eragon, which I found hard to believe, but now I am intrigued and I will have to read it now. I'll report back.

Brain=Jello


Well bloggy friends, I've survived the dreaded learning record preparation- and several nights of asthma treatments for Demi...I have to say, stick a fork in me, I'm done! My brain is now jello and I've pretty much shut down for a day or two.

On another note... We wrapped up our study on Ancient China by visiting the Warriors exhibit at the Bower's Museum. These are the life-size terra-cotta soldiers made to guard the first emperor of China's tomb. They were just incredible.

This photo is of a replica standing in the lobby...no photos allowed inside.

Sky conducted our first Science experiment for Noeo Science. It didn't work! Sky did take it apart and made part of it work, but it lost some of it's awe-factor. He's going to do the second experiment for the lesson on monday...I think this one will turn out better.

Meg became a working girl this week. She began working at the stables one day, every-other week in exchange for horse riding lessons. I dropped her off in the morning and picked her up in the late afternoon. I wouldn't have done it if there wasn't another homeschool girl working there already- made me feel a little more easy about it. I am an over-protective mother...I admit it, but that's my job!

That same day I also dropped Josie off for an hour tennis lesson at the park. Sky bartered electrical work with our piano teacher in exchange of having her pro-tennis- instructor- husband give Josie lessons. She loved it! (Jose has been a challenge finding things she enjoys).

I've marked a change in status....I'm beginning the era of "taxi-cab mom". I knew it was coming, but it is still really strange.

Well, at least Demi still needs me to sit by his bed at 4 a.m and hold his breathing mask for asthma treatments....ackkk!!! (I'm getting too old for no sleep, I am so glad the kids' asthma is getting better and fewer and farther in-between!)

How was your week?

It's called a bribe, but I'm old-fashioned

A spoon-full of pork made a bill that was doubtful -go down much smoother, it seems.

Call me old-fashioned, but inserting money for a congressman's district or pet project to persuade them to change their vote is a plain old bribe.

That's B-R-I-B-E.

I am so sick of congress. And I can't believe the President signed it.

Here's an article that lists some of the BRIBES added to the expensive buy-out,
A spoonful of Pork article**

I guess I'm dense or something, not seeing the connection between our current economic
emergency, er, problem...and the urgency of stuffing the bill with laws and giveaways on RUM,wooden arrows, bicycle reimbursement and WOOL.

I need some chocolate or something...

it's art

My kids take art lessons once a week for part of the school year. I really appreciate their teacher, she really teaches them. It's not just play- with- the- art- supplies- time, which is important- but we can do that at home. It's real art-time. I really like that she knows her stuff, and teaches the kids real lessons in perspective, scale, shading...you know, art stuff.

Amie and Demi-Sky's lessons lately have been about drawing the human face. She gave them each a mirror and had them make a pencil self-portrait.

Here is Amie's "before" drawing;

and here is her "after" drawing- after her teacher taught the lesson. Can you believe the difference?


Here is Demi-Sky's "before" self-portrait;


and here is his "after" portrait;

Wednesday notes

We had our first learning record with our new Educational Specialist (the credentialed teacher who checks in with us once a month because we homeschool through a Charter School)- my old ES, who I was with something like 7 years, moved to another country!! -and we also switched to a new charter school this year, so I had a lot of changes to adjust to.

I have to admit I was kind of nervous- wondering if both our expectations of what record-keeping looks like-might clash.

But, everything went really well! I feel so free and unfettered tonight, yeah!!

Here is a rambling list of links...

First, a short news item on a brother in Christ on a football team, click *here- it was kind of sweet and real...

I am reading this book right now, "Looking for Anne of Green Gables"
and also, Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day

Meg and Josie were eagerly awaiting Brisinger- and purchased it tonight.

Demi-Sky just finished "Fun with Pets" which is a phonics reader, he is also most often spotted reading *this** at Barnes & Nobles...

Amie just read through a stack of *these- "That's not my doggy, dinosuar", etc. at B & N's...
I think there were 5 or 6 books in the series, and she read them all to me...

So anything good in your book-basket?

I felt the earth move

The news is out everywhere now, I'm sure...
Yes, we just had a 5.8 earthquake here in California. It was centered in Chino, which is in So. California.

It was one of the bigger ones in my memory. I was actually outside, a few streets away from my house, helping my friend Starlene and her husband load a few boxes into my van. I actually felt it coming and commented, "earthquake" before it hit with force.


I jumped into my van and drove home quickly, wondering if this might be the one time of experiencing a huge before-shock before a big one hit- so I ran home, because my kids were alone.

I got home to find that they were not alone, Sky was home for lunch- and the kids were all very excited and thought it was great. Nothing fell down-

I really have to give a shout out for our very strict and safe building codes- and to our building inspectors, specially our hospital and school inspectors (which is what Sky does)- we have some of the strictest building codes in the world, and it shows, when we have such a big earthquake and experience a lack of devastation.

Shannon, you just missed it. You should have stayed, it was fun.

Links to note:

"Has your teacher ever tried to teach you something you don't need to know, like, where to find Europe on a map? Then your teacher is an elitist."

Just because he (Colbert) is so darn funny...and as a public service: Here you go-

*Natural hair vinegar rinses- for a very frugal and probably better rinse for your hair, check out this site, they seem to have some very nice soaps, too.

*Chocolate, it's what's in you facial - Chocolate facial: recipe and a 'how-to' video...this is my kind of cooking.

*These must be "Some Chocolate-chip cookies"! Do you sense a theme starting? This article intrigued me, as did the link to a chocolate chip cookie recipe the author pronounced the best ever...it looks more complicated then I like, but I think I have to try this now...

these cookies are sufficiently good that I half-expect to see the words “SOME COOKIES” appear, written in spider silk, in one of the corners of our kitchen. They really are some cookies.


do we need any more urging, really? Report back blog-friends-if you try these...