Advent Photo Project: Dec 25 Gratitude

Advent Photo Project

December 25, 2011

GRATITUDE

For all the joy we've been given in our lives...we are grateful.

Merry Christmas!

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 24 Holiday Memories

Advent Photo Project

December 24, 2011

HOLIDAY MEMORIES

This angel was on my birthday cake on my first birthday - December 25, 1968. 

It sat atop my family's tree when I was a kid. It sits atop my tree now.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 23 Goodies

Advent Photo Project

December 23, 2011

GOODIES

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 22 Family

Advent Photo Project

December 22, 2011

FAMILY

Namaste

Resemblance

Notice any resemblance? 

Believe me, there's more here than meets the eye!

Dennis the Menace Credit

Namaste

A Blessing for Winter Solstice

Solstice Blessings

As the earth grows colder,

the winds blow faster,

the fire dwindles smaller,

and the rain falls harder,

let the light of the sun

find its way home.

Advent Photo Project: Dec 21 Giving

Advent Photo Project

December 21, 2011

GIVING

Brice spent hours painting gifts.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 20 Good Morning

Advent Photo Project

December 20, 2011

GOOD MORNING

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 19 Decorations

Advent Photo Project

December 19, 2011

DECORATIONS

cinnamon applesauce ornaments by the boys

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 18 What We Ate

Advent Photo Project

December 18, 2011

WHAT WE ATE

peppermint crescents

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 17 Hidden Art

Advent Photo Project

December 17, 2011

HIDDEN ART

After frosting the cookies...

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 16 Fun

Advent Photo Project

December 16, 2011

FUN

Holiday Madlibs

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 15 Transformation

Advent Photo Project

December 15, 2011

TRANSFORMATION

our little "callerpitter" is now a butterfly

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 14 Movement

Advent Photo Project

December 14, 2011

MOVEMENT

(Also...happy birthday to my brother-in-law, Robert, and 

elementary school buddy, Cammy. Time keeps moving on, huh?)

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 13 From a Distance

Advent Photo Project

December 13, 2011

FROM  A DISTANCE

Distance is subjective. If you know my photography style, you know this is distance for me.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 12 Close-up

Advent Photo Project

December 12, 2011

CLOSE-UP

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 11, 2011 SOMETHING I MADE

Advent Photo Project

December 11, 2011

SOMETHING  I MADE

Stage Left: Six years ago, with a little encouragement and a little grant money, I started Stage Left Youth Theatre Workshop. Today it reaches more kids than I ever imagined. It has grown into something that takes a group of loving hands to guide and I am so proud to let this creation grow beyond my meager talent. I am so thankful to those who have joined in the nurturing. I am so blessed to be a part of the lives of these kids.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 10 Faceless Self-Portrait

Advent Photo Project

December 10, 2011

FACELESS SELF-PORTRAIT

Just me. 

Still working on the kids to get their's taken.

NAMASTE

Advent Photo Project: Dec 9 Something Fun

Advent Photo Project

December 9, 2011

SOMETHING FUN

A good, old fashion, merry-go-round.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 8 Technology

Advent Photo Project

December 8, 2011

TECHNOLOGY

The beginnings of understanding the technology.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 7 Great Granny

Advent Photo Project

December 7, 2011

GREAT GRANNY

Today's photo was supposed to be of something funny, but before I could get the camera out, we found out Todd's grandmother had passed away. So, today's post is in honor of her. She will be missed by so many...especially the grand and great grandkids. RIP Great Granny.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 6 Books

Advent Photo Project

December 6, 2011

BOOKS

books...books...everywhere we looks

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 5 Someone I Love

Advent Photo Project

December 5, 2011

Someone I Love

Always...

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 4 Favorite Color

Advent Photo Project

December 4, 2011

Favorite Color

pink...orange...green

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 3 History

Advent Photo Project

December 3, 2011

HISTORY

Many years of history...my grandmothers (ages 106 and 84).

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 2 Smile

Advent Photo Project:

December 2, 2011

Smile

A smile we all miss so much.

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy.

(Taken December of 2011, but appropriate for what would have been his 95 birthday.)

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 1 Self Portraits

Advent Photo Project: 

December 1, 2011

SELF PORTRAITS

Namaste

Advent Calendar 2011

I am not a big believer in advent calendars that are about getting treats every day until Christmas. I want the run up to Christmas to be filled with giving, not getting. Don't get me wrong, I love giving my kids gifts. I love their faces and my own anticipation waiting for Christmas morning. But, I want them to feel that joy at giving too.

Last year, each day of advent, we opened up small boxes with tasks of giving or sharing with someone else. It was a joyful time each morning when we opened the box to see what we'd be doing for others that day. We will continue that spirit of giving this year, with each of us working on a list of holiday tasks that we'll accomplish before Dec. 25.

But this year our advent calendar will be different. Beginning Dec. 1, we will be tasked with taking a different photo each day. Each of the kids and I will take a photo of our interpretation of the day's theme. Then, we will share it with you...so this year we are sharing of ourselves. We might even learn something about each other that we don't know. I'm sure the photos will be interesting! 

Though we will draw themes from each pocket in our calendar, this project is our version of the December Photo Project over at View From The Prairie Box. Click on the button on the right to get all the details. Join us or join The December Photo Project! Feel free to post your own photos on your own blog and link back in the comments section there or here or both. We'd love it!

See you December 1!

Namaste

First Formal

Embree accompanied her dad to a black tie dinner the weekend before Thanksgiving.

It's a bittersweet mark of our time with her. Old enough to handle herself at an adult function...young enough to want to take her iPod to keep her busy during the presentations. Watching a beautiful woman/child grow is soul satisfying and gut wrenching. But...we are so thankful that we do get to share these years with her.

Namaste 

we are thankful

Some of our friends joined us yesterday for a Thanksgiving meal together.

It was a lovely day of chatting for the moms and free time for the kids.

For that, I am thankful (Which is day 19!)

Day 17: I am thankful for the pets that fill our home with wags and purrs 

and chirps and dust bunnies.

Day 18: I am thankful for the communion of our family meals

Namaste

Thanksgiving Days 10-16

I have been wondering, lately, if I can really keep this blog going. I don't like to do thinks half-way. Each time I try to put myself on a schedule something takes precedence. Homeschooling...directing...teaching...meals...daily errands...those things leave little time for anything else...I mean anything. I don't even have time to get out the camera most days. But, I like having a place to record our days, even if I only get to it periodically. I have no idea if we have readers, but it's at the very least a place to save memories. So, on that note...

Day 10: I am thankful for a place to come to without restrictions to record our family's swiftly flying time together.
Day 11: I am thankful for my sweet girl, who lives life in the most dramatic way possible and squeezes every emotion from her experiences. She's fearless in so many ways and my hero is so many more.
Day 12: I am thankful for the soft spoken boy who is always first to rise and always the first with a hug each morning. He has no idea of his tremendous capabilities or the depth of his loving heart.
Day 13: I am thankful for my youngest boy who commands attention every waking hour, but pays attention to those who need his special brand of comfort. He is a joy and a challenge...a most rewarding person to spend time with each day.
Day 14: For my love, I am thankful always...there are just no words large enough.
Day 15: I am thankful for the ability spend so much time with my children. This chance to learn with them is such a gift and I am fully aware of how lucky I am.
Day 16: I am thankful for friends who are welcome in my home anytime...clutter, dirty dishes, piles of unfolded laundry on the bed or not...they come for our company, not to judge. Better yet, I am able to give them the gift of welcoming them into my home as is...and that is rare. Thanks Girls!

Finally, because I may not get back here for a few days...
Photos of a recent nature study outing to a dear friend's lovely garden.

Namaste

Thanksgiving Days 6-8

Day 6 - Thankful for a day of rest.
Day 7 - Thankful that we live within our means
Day 8 - Thankful for the opportunity to learn from my students

Namaste

Wise words from unexpected sources...

Over heard from the kitchen:

Reeves: Embree, what do you think happens when you die? I believe when you die you come back to life as someone else. What do you believe?

Embree: I believe whatever is.

Now that's faith.

Thanksgiving Days 4 & 5

Day 4 - I am thankful for my mom...who just makes thinks almost possible around here sometimes.

Day 5 - For Embree's stage debut...her step from the shadows...past her stage fright...Her Daddy and I are thankful.

Namaste

Thanksgiving Day 3

Today, I am so thankful that I get to watch young people find their voice on stage.

Thanksgiving Days 1 & 2

Nov 1: Yesterday, we were thankful for the lives of those we have loved and lost. Granddaddy (Davis), PawPaw, Granddaddy (Deaton), Pop, Grandmother, Michael, Aunt Barbara, and Billy.

Nov 2:
I am thankful for our little schoolroom (where ever it may be) and the stories we tell gathered around its table.
Embree - I am thankful for school because it helps me learn new thinks
Reeves - I am glad I could be there the day before Granddaddy died  That's a thing to be thankful for.

Brice - Trains and dinosaurs!

Weekly updates...Nov 1

We are not gone or lost or off the map. We aren't even on a backroad adventure. We are hunkered down with lessons and rehearsals. We open a production on Saturday. This is Embree's first onstage appearance. I'm really proud of her. She's taken to it.

So, we'll be back next weekend with our regular updates.

Happy Dia de los Muertos...and All Saints Day. May your memories of your loved ones bring you peace tonight. Thinking of Granddaddy, Michael, PawPaw, Aunt Barbara, and Billy and all the love they shared.

Namaste.

Wise words from unexpected sources...

Over the years, I have collected small acorns of wisdom from unexpected sources. These are the quotes from novels, from movies, from our children. These are the song lyrics, the lines from poems, the lines from plays that make themselves at home in my head. Some are mutual between myself and others in our shared histories. Others are personal mantras. In this periodic series, I'll share some with you. I hope you'll share some here too.

Wise Words 

from unexpected sources...

Blow up your T.V.

Throw away your paper

Move to the country

Build you a home

Plant a little garden

Eat a lot of peaches

Try to find Jesus on your own.

  from Spanish Pipedream by John Prine

Namaste

Weekly Update October 16

Spent this week exploring:
Graph-making
Irregular verbs
The takeover of the Ottoman Empire by the Russian Empire
A new Latin declension
The Song of Hiawatha
Electric and Magnetic Forces
Poetry by Langston Hughes
and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (100 times!)

Todd was off on Friday, so we decided to spend a last glorious Indian Summer day outside as a family at our favorite apple orchard. Reeves thought he's died and gone to heaven! A lovely day, topped off with a little school: taste testing, measuring, comparing/contrasting, watercolor painting, myths and legends, and history...all about the apple. (Oh, and caramel apples and apple cider for lunch!)

We've ended the weekend with the joy of the Texas Rangers! Reeves and Daddy are watching 

The Natural as I post this in preparation for a big week in baseball.

Have a great week! Go Rangers!

Namaste

City Poetry

Today in our poetry study, we looked at the following poem:

The City  by Langston Hughes

In the morning the city

Spreads its wings

Making a song

In stone that sings.

In the evening the city

Goes to bed

Hanging lights

About its head.

Afterward, the kids wrote their own poems about our city - Georgetown, KY.

(posted anonymously)

Our Town Hall

Home

When the clock tower
Strikes twelve,
The flowers start to grow,
The light poles turn on.
Oh, yes! This is my home.


We Never Made it to Town

At 12, the clock bells
So we walk uptown.
As the cars go by,
And we pass the library as well,
We see a tree,
A ginkgo tree,
And we see the leaves fall down.
We keep walking up to town.
We stop to rest
In the warm sun of summer
But we fall asleep
And we never make it to town.

We interrupt our weekly updates for...