Quiet, lost-in-reading-material moments:
Weekly lesson plans, Grades 6 and 2:
Family grooming:
Farm chores:
Nim and I gathered leaves and ironed them into wax paper to add to her science book. She was able to identify most of the trees. She also has been working on memorizing a poem. Today she recited the poem and we recorded it to share with you all...
I started taking a carving class a few weeks ago. I started with a block of ceder, then I carved off the edges of the block. Then I got it to more of an egg shape, and last of all I sanded it down. Then I was done and one beautiful cedar egg came out of my carving abilities.
We carved pumpkins on Thursday night, after dinner before Survivor. Noah has an interesting issue...the smell, sight, and feel of pumpkin guts makes him want to throw up! Now this is very hard for me to understand. I think cleaning out ooppy goopy pumpkin innards is one of the coolest sensations ever! So pumpkin carving is interesting with us weirdos....some of us trying to hold our dinner down and some of us wishing we could jump into a vat of pumpkin guts! Anyway, we came out with some great jack-o-lanterns and roasted pumpkin seeds....very halloweenie!
Friday night we met up with some neighbors and friends to hit the streets of our wonderful small town, Black Mountain. The trick-or-treating starts early around here and is wrapping up by dark. The local policemen and women set up road blocks on some of the residentail streets to help keep the children safe. This year, we were blessed with 60 degree weather....worlds away from the parka and moon boot wearing halloweens of my past. We got through the few residential blocks in a little over an hour and felt fully satisfied with our trick or treating adventure. One highlight for me, other than the many Sarah Palin costumes on adults and children, was Gita feeling safe enough to walk up to the houses all be herself! Here she is...
David, Gita, Savva, Noah, Banyan, and Nim
As darkness fell over North Carolina and the crescent moon set in the west, we all headed back up the mountain for a post-trick or treating pizza party. The halloween package mentioned above made its second appearance and we were engulfed in more costume merry making
My co-worker, Carmen, set up the Red Moon Booth under our brand new EZ up tent that we are very excited about. David and I set up a booth for the Forest Children Program to promote the program in hopes of bringing in new families and to sell the kids book, Princess Gilanee.
Cutest niece ever, Lilikoi, joined the girls and I for some hula hooping.
The wonderful parents or our dear friend Karen have been visting from Holland. Ronald and Trudy Hendrikse hold a very special place in our hearts and we dream of being able to visit them one day. Although they did not bring us gifts of cheese and smoked eel this visit, we did witness one of the sweetest gifts ever....Gita, who can be very shy, was thrilled to see them!
The future president's food policies, says Pollan, will have a large impact on a wide range of issues, including national security, climate change, energy independence and health care.
The princess and the presents...
....happy happy birthday, may all your dreams come true!
many friends with mouthfuls of chocolate cake
new toys and new jammies!
....and a birthday pony!
