Home Spun comic strip #315

I'm still deciding what to name the comic strip kitten. Someone keeps suggesting Strudel. Give me a week or two to think about it. I like Crumbs or maybe Popover. I think Crumbs would go well with Toaster. Or I may pick something completely different. The idea behind Toaster's name is that he always pops up.

This week, I've had some comments that mention how the names they picked fit their pets. I agree with that. If I knew Hobgoblin would be chewing the corners of my hardcover books, I would never have picked that name. Maybe something that bites less, like Gummybear, would have been a better choice. Dusty constantly lives up to her name. She raises dust and rolls in it. We used to have a hamster named Wookie that would shriek if you tried to pick her up. My mother had a cat named Snappy that was...snappish.

It's always best to pick those names carefully. Just in case.

The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought; still it had very long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect.


"Cheshire Puss," she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name; however, it only grinned a little wider.
~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Winter Burnout

I'm tired of being cold.
I'm tired of shoveling snow.
It must be the end of January.

I think I reach a point every school year when I start burning out. It happens around this time. I've just turned in the second quarterly reports, which always look a bit pathetic because we never get much done in December and most of January is spent trying to get back into a routine. Then I start worrying about testing them. This year, I worry that I'm not doing enough with Sierra.

Time to breathe.

I can't express how grateful I am for yoga. I would have quit homeschooling long ago without it. My instructor, Diann, is fantastic. I've known her for almost nine(?) years now. She is a dear friend and we've been there for each other through our many life changes, propping each other up and just listening. She influences a lot of her students. Read another of her student's thoughts here. At times I'm sure Diann can read my mind, because even if I don't tell her, she knows exactly what pose I need on a particular day.

The other day we were talking about changes, as she has been considering the direction she wants to take in her practice and as an instructor. She's been getting a lot of "you should do..." from the people around her. I get that too. Isn't it funny how everyone else knows exactly what you should be doing? They are always very excited and urgent. I feel out of breath from the sudden gust of ideas. I listen to their opinions, but I spent a lot of my younger years trying to live up to others' expectations. I prefer taking things slow and letting my life unfold petal by petal.

Both Diann and I have noticed how outside of the class, everything is a rush. People are always hurrying, thinking about the next thing they have to do, speeding to the next destination. In her class, she insists that people be in the moment. This present-mindedness makes yoga an oasis for me. When I am in a posture, that is all I can do. I breathe and for that moment I am with my body, sensing where I am stiff or off balance, twisting a little more, finding my edge.

When I am in the moment, I do more. For years, I thought about doing my comics. I rushed ahead in my mind, worrying about all the little details. What is the "official" comic strip size? Do I have enough stories to carry me through a week? What if my lettering isn't neat enough? Then I finally decided to start doing it. In its way, it is another yoga experience. I am in the moment. By practicing this art, it improves.

Homeschooling needs to be in the present as well. There is so much to worry about. I've been asked time and again about tests, state requirements, quarterly reports, SAT preparation, college and, of course, socialization. If I'm forced to think about all of it right now, it is overwhelming and takes my breath away. That's why I need the yoga. It keeps me in the present. If I focus on what is happening right now, I can breathe through it and let that breath carry me to the next moment. Life happens. Why rush it?

Home Spun comic strip #314

It's a pleasure to know we aren't the only family to take naming pets so seriously. I confess one of the reasons I enjoy writing is for the pleasure of naming things. Especially because I can name my characters on my own. Unlike the committee decision of what to name a new cat.

"Oh. It's you," she said to the black cat.

"See?" said the cat. "It wasn't so hard recognising me, was it? Even without names."

"Well, what if I wanted to call you?"

The cat wrinkled its nose and managed to look unimpressed. "Calling cats," it confided, "tends to be a rather overrated activity. Might as well call a whirlwind."

"What if it was dinnertime?" asked Coraline. "Wouldn't you want to be called then?"

"Of course," said the cat. "But a simple cry of 'Dinner!' would do nicely. See? No need for names."
~Coraline by Neil Gaiman

For those of you who wondered, our current herd of cats are: Dustbunny, Merlin, Rosie, Hobgoblin, and Knick Knack. Only Dusty and Rosie answer to their names. Sometimes.

If food is involved.

Carnival of Homeschooling at Life on the Road

The latest Carnival of Homeschooling: The Adventure Edition, is open at Life on the Road. I happen to need a break today, so I think I'll spend some time leisurely perusing this week's articles. I feel like I spent most of yesterday driving kids back and forth from their activities and getting errands done. First I took Marina to her library job. I went to the other library to pick up something I had on hold, took Chase to Tae Kwon Do, and then Sierra and I went to the post office to mail the quarterly reports. Yep, it's that time again. After that, Sierra and I went to pick up Marina at the big library (along with some books), I dropped them off at home and went to pick up Chase. Then I accidentally went grocery shopping. That's the only way I can describe it, because I know I only went in for milk and orange juice and somehow I ended up shopping for the week.

I made bread too. That was nice. I even took a picture of it.


I love the smell of fresh baked bread in a kitchen. Pay no attention to the uneven loaf in the front. I was trying to roll them out quickly before leaving to take Marina to the library. I guess I was a bit too forceful with it. You wouldn't believe how fast these were eaten.

I'm so tired, I think I'm rambling. Go enjoy carnival and let me sleep.

Home Spun comic strip #313

Naming the cat.
In our family, it's a long drawn out process that can take hours. Or days. The more people involved in the process, the longer it can take.

"The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games"
~The Naming of Cats, T.S. Eliot

Of course, once you find a name, lots of other appropriate names appear. Each of our cats has an average of three names, which doesn't include their secret name.

"When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name."
~The Naming of Cats, T.S. Eliot

Do We Dewey?

Marina is going into the library Monday afternoon for job training. She's going to be a library page. She had some quiet time tonight and was researching the Dewey Decimal System here. I don't think she's required to commit the system to memory, but she likes to be prepared. I wonder if they'll quiz her?

Quick! 636.8P! What book is it?

When she isn't researching Dewey, she's walking around with her headphones, listening to Italian for Dummies. That's not an insult, I just picked the easiest CD set I could find. Italian for Dummies gives more phrases and less grammar lessons. She leaves in February, so I thought a quick fix ("Where is my hotel?" for example) would be better than the long haul (conjugate the verb "to travel").

Home Spun comic strip #312

I figured I should clarify that this set of strips is based on events from some years ago. Even Toaster is based on a few cats who are with us now in spirit only. I've toyed with the idea of adding those memories to the strip, but they are still a bit fresh in our minds. Between illness and old age, we lost five cats in four years.

The only new kitten we have right was brought to us by my dad a few months ago, with the hope that we would find her a home. She is almost a year old now. We're trying, but even our shelter contact has confirmed that people aren't adopting lately. The economy has caused many to give up beloved pets. That is a shame. We are doing OK right now, so I would rather let our latest guest stay a little longer. Maybe I'll eat less to make up for the extra cat food and lose a few pounds!

Pill Bug Pioneers!

I was watching our cat, Rosie, sleep at the foot of our bed one morning. She was completely curled up, her nose hidden under her tail, and she looked so cozy and warm.

I started thinking about pill bugs.

You may know them as rollie pollies. As a child, pill bugs were a natural backyard toy. A bug that rolled up into a tiny ball when you poked it. What could be better? They are the armadillos of the bug world. Really. Their species name is Armadillidium vulgare.

Did you know this humble isopod is the only crustacean that spends its entire life on land? They are more closely related to crabs and crayfish than insects and bugs! This is why you find them in damp areas under rocks and leaves. Most of the pill bugs we find live in our compost piles. Left in the open, they will dry out and die.

They are one of the important parts of the degradation process, aiding decomposition. They eat almost anything--fungi, live and dead plant matter, dead animals. They are like tiny little Roombas for nature.

Like many of their sea dwelling cousins, pill bugs are a valuable food source to other animals. That wonderful ability to curl up into a hard little ball is actually a handy defensive maneuver. They also are colored to blend into their environment.

I think I appreciated them more after I learned about them. Just think, mom and dad pill bug, trying to make it in a harsh land environment. They make a burrow for their babies and bring them food. Papa pill bug guards the homestead. They huddle together to keep their gills moist. When it's time to clean house (their burrow) , the entire family pitches in to remove the trash (fecal pellets). And when predators threaten, they roll up to make it hard for their enemies.

And so, another life lesson learned from watching animals:

Roll with the punches.

Sorry for the lack of pictures this time. My subjects are hiding from the frigid temperatures. I do have some links if you want to read more:
Pillbug factsheet from zoo.org
Animal Diversity Web: Armadillium vulgare

Home Spun comic strip #311

Luckily, this doesn't happen every time I'm left to my own devices. And they are usually planned pet adoptions, I just happened to be alone when I found the right cat.

Carnival of Homeschooling at About Homeschooling

Be sure to head over to About.com:Homeschooling for the latest Carnival of Homeschooling: The Mystery Hat edition! Follow the adventures of CamoDove the Mystery Hat and check out the latest collection of articles from across the blogosphere!

Home Spun comic strip #310

Routine for driving with kids:
Check for appropriate clothing. Check for shoes. Check for all necessary books, papers, money, lunch, snacks. Check that seatbelts have been fastened. Check that everyone has used the bathroom. Check for seatbelts again. Go.

Routine for driving without kids:
Seatbelt. Purse. Go.

You can see why it's so hard to go anywhere when the kids aren't with me.

Iron Homeschooler Chef

Announcer: Welcome to Iron Homeschooler Chef: Interactive! The show where contestants take one secret ingredient and use it to put together a well-rounded, interest oriented homeschooling curriculum! And you viewers at home can add to the fun by making your own suggestions in the comments section below!

Today's secret ingredient is: Pirates!

The Iron Homeschoolers are now filling their canvas totes and backpacks with pirate themed books, costumes, workbooks and action figures. Action figures? I didn't even know there were action figures! Let's go to our consultant on the floor, Vicki.

Vicki: Yes there really are pirate action figures! They're made by Odyssey Toys and each figure comes with it's own historical fact card! They have other historical figures, too, but that's information for another show!

Announcer: Thank you Vicki! Well, our Iron Homeschoolers have now taken their ingredients back to their learning areas. I notice the Smith Family has opted for cuddling around some fact- filled pirate books on the comfy couch. What are they reading Vicki?

Vicki: It looks like a mix of non-fiction pirate picture books and I see the Time Warp Trio and Magic Tree House! Those are wonderful series that mix fact and fiction!

Announcer: In the Jones Family learning area, they've invited over their co-op group for a pirate adventure! They've just rolled out a treasure map and are using their orienteering skills to find a pirate chest! They're using compasses, measuring, and I think I see some triangulation going on!

Now the Smith family is also unrolling a map. It looks like a regular world map. They're clipping out pictures of different pirate flags and pinning them to areas on the map where these different pirates would capture ships! Lots of geography going on in the Smith family.

The Jones family have found the pirate chest and it's full of Pirates cards! Vicki, can we have some info on the Pirates cards?

Vicki: Pirates cards are a constructible strategy game. You put together different ships and use them to gather money and blow up other ships. Exciting! Each ship comes with a little story and are based on real ships.

Announcer: I hear some stealthy phonics use going on now! The Smith family is using the pirate sound "Arrr!" to help their six year with reading! Clever, Smiths! Their ten year old twins are writing research papers. Jana seems to be doing hers on lady pirates while Josh is focusing on the privateers.

Uh-oh, there seems to be some problem on the Jones side, what's happening Vicki?

Vicki: It looks like two of the girls aren't interested in the pirate theme! Mom is giving them some dress up clothes to pretend to be Queen Elizabeth and pirate queen Grace O'Malley. Queen Elizabeth is pardoning Grace and knighting some of the boys who are dressed up as pirates. Who are you supposed to be Tommy?

Tommy: I'm Sir Francis Drake!

Vicki: Mom is now taking the kids into the kitchen area to make a Pirate's Pie. Amazing what you can find at Cooks.com by typing Pirate food into the recipe search! Careful! Some of the recipes call for rum. The kids are experimenting to figure out what they can use instead of rum. Mom does have her limits!

Announcer: Incredible action today. And everyone is learning, so everyone is a winner! Feel free to add some of your own ideas in the comments section!

Frost-bitten in Manhattan

Thursday was an eventful day. I had to attend a parents' meeting in the city with Marina about the upcoming Italy trip. I stopped in the Bronx along the way, because my mother was going to stay with Chase and Sierra and my father had offered to drive us into Manhattan. We planned to take the train home.

Wouldn't you know it? Thursday was frigid. We bundled up and drove to the Bronx in the afternoon. I like to take advantage of an opportunity to have good Bronx pizza whenever we are in the neighborhood, so my mom ordered a pie and I got ready to go pick it up.

While I was getting ready, I heard this noise. Planes have always flown low over my parents house, but this was different. It changed from a normal sound to a sound like a plane going down. Then I heard a distant, muffled noise. Boom! I looked at my mother and said, "That sounded like a plane crash!" We looked outside, but there was nothing to see, and neither of my parents thought it could be a plane. It was probably just a truck hitting a pothole.

After we ate we turned on the news to check traffic before leaving for the meeting. Sure enough, a plane had crashed! The pilot lost both engines after flying into a flock of birds and managed to land the plane in the Hudson River. Thankfully, there was no loss of life, except for the birds.

Traffic was tied up on all the roads, and we passed a couple of fender benders along the way, but since we were going to the East Side, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. (The Hudson River is on the West Side of Manhattan.) We made it to the meeting and then walked to the subway station. It was only a five or six block walk, but we were frozen by the end of the first block. I had intended to show Marina my old high school along the way. By the time we passed it, I was so cold I just pointed it out and told her to keep moving. If we had stopped, I was sure my muscles would freeze to my bones. After the train came into the Bronx, it was another frosty four block walk to my parents' house. I'm ready for spring now.

And I have to say, I don't like to think about plane trips. If I know someone in my family will be on a plane, I do my best to not think about it until it is absolutely necessary. This is how I cope with a situation I have no control over. I am grateful that Thursday's crash had a happy ending, but really, did it have to happen on the day I go to a talk about my daughter's trip?

Home Spun comic strip #309

I have learned so much since I started teaching my children. I don't mean the trivial things either, although it is fun to know why the Mongols wore sashes and how to make butter. What I've learned is that I love learning and that I don't need to seek a degree as an excuse to learn new things. Teaching my kids has been the best educational experience I've ever had!

Home Spun comic strip #308

A Yarn to Learn

Marina completed her first sweater. I'm very impressed:



Knitting is a skill that impresses me. My own attempts never got further than a misshapen square-ish piece of cloth. Marina can actually read knitting patterns. She alters the patterns to suit her purpose! She adjusted a pattern she found in Charmed Knits to make this sweater.

Just think, she could design and knit her own wardrobe! She could knit clothes for me, too!

I wonder if I can teach Chase or Sierra to cobble shoes? I would never need to step into a department store again.

Homeschooling Carnival at Alasandra's

Carnival of Homeschooling: The Teal Edition is up and running at Alasandra's. Why teal you ask? I just learned that myself. Teal is the color that represents cervical and ovarian cancer and January is Cervical Health Awareness month. Read more about it at the carnival and then take a look at this week's blog offerings.

Home Spun comic strip #307

It was a sad day when I realized that Chase wouldn't be as open to learning about everything the way his big sister was. He had very focused interests that filled his head and left little room for other topics. After several false starts, I realized that I could use his current interests to inspire him to learn in other subjects. Sometimes it's not just about lighting the fire, you have to fan the flames to spread it around a bit.

When he started showing an interest in dinosaurs, I raided the library for any dinosaur themed material. Lucky for me, he wasn't the first boy to love these prehistoric beasts. I found several dinosaur ABC books. I found some excellent picture books and early readers by Bernard Most. There were dinosaur-themed safety books by Laurene Krasney Brown and Marc Brown (of the Arthur series). I also found some dinosaur math workbooks and I read more junior dinosaur reference books than I ever knew existed. All in the name of homeschooling.

As he's grown we've seen the dragon stage, the Yu-Gi-Oh stage, the pirates stage, and lately his interests lie in computer games. As he begged for time with Spore the other day, I told him that if he wanted to play it, he had to list the subjects he thought it covered. By doing this, I figure he'll either become more aware of the learning that is happening, or at least get a lesson in persuasive arguing.

Thank You for Whatever it Was

Slowly life is settling back into a routine.

Kind of.

As usual, we began our year with writing thank you notes. This is a difficult task. We have very giving relatives, and if too many get together at once, gift giving is somewhat frenzied. Imagine a light breeze that gradually increases to a whirlwind and you'll have a rough idea of what our family gift exchange looks like. Discussion this week has sounded something like this:

Me: Didn't R and J give you the Planet Earth game?
Marina: No, I think that was A and B.
Me: Are you sure? I thought they gave the doll.
Marina: No, the doll was from their baby to Sierra. They gave the game.
Me: Then what did R and J give you, Chase?
Chase: I don't know.
Me: Did you look at the tag?
Chase: What tag?
Me: The tag on the gift!
Chase: There was a tag? I didn't see it.
Me: Look, let's figure this out logically. Tell me what you got.
Chase: I don't remember. It happened so fast.

I apologize to any relatives who may be watching.

Home Spun comic strip #306

Every once in a while I get this joke in my inbox:

What would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men?
They would have asked directions,
arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby,
cleaned the stable,
made a casserole,
and brought practical gifts.

It is the custom of the Magi (when they visit our house, at least) to give the children something they didn't expect. The Wise Men aren't Santa Claus after all, you can't send them a gift list. Anyway, they were searching for a King, what would they know about practical gifts? Usually the present is something interesting, like jewelry or a glass dragon, or something spiritual. This year, Sierra got a set of angel blessing ink stamps and an inkpad. Chase is still getting dragons. Marina got a set of unique pencils and a starry mood ring. All of their gifts came in gold wire baskets. It's a nice way to bring the season to a close before beginning the holiday clean-up, but more important, it reminds them of the journey of the three wise men.

The stores can have Christmas and the holiday frenzy they've created around December 25th. January brings our quiet Little Christmas!

Home Spun comic strip #305

Homeschooling Carnival at Why Homeschool

Take a moment from your busy day to enjoy some of the articles in this week's Carnival of Homeschooling:The 3rdAnniversary at Why Homeschool. Go on. You deserve it.

Bonus link for you:
Today is a great day to be alive! If you feel in need of some Validation, please take a look at this sweet film. I guarantee it will leave you smiling.

Laughter on the Journey

It has been fourteen years since my second chance at life. If you are new to my blog, you can read My Own Epiphany in the sidebar or read last year's updated and edited version, Remembering My Second Chance. I'm much happier with that article.

This day means so much to me! Since my experience, I often struggle with the question of why. Think about the story of the Magi. In their quest to find the Newborn King, they followed a star. Each of us has a star to follow, a purpose, a reason for being. I wonder why I survived. Was it simply to have two more children? Do I have a higher purpose? Why am I here?

Questions. My philosophical self loves them. I don't know how often I ask myself if I'm doing what I'm meant to do. I don't know what I would do if the answer was no! Because at this moment in time, I am content. I love my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my animals. I really do enjoy homeschooling my children and writing my comics and articles. I am amazed at every comment I get, because it means that I touched someone enough that they felt the need to respond. I've been a bit overwhelmed lately and I haven't been able to return the favor to some of you, but I want you all to know that I do appreciate your thoughtful comments.

I think the most important thing I have learned since my attack is not to take my life too seriously. Holding on to anger, worrying excessively, refusing to forgive and let go of past hurts makes it hard to enjoy the little miracles that happen each day. I try to remind myself of this whenever I draw my comics. Sometimes laughter is the only thing that keeps me sane through life's trials. And I say this as one who has fought depression and anxiety.

If I make only one person laugh each day, if I inspire one person to make the most of their gifts, their talents, then I truly am doing what I am meant to do. And I thank you for giving me a purpose.

So follow your star. And as you do, make sure you enjoy the journey.

Peace and Laughter!

Home Spun comic strip #304

I have always enjoyed Three Kings Day. My favorite carol has always been "We Three Kings" and I love "The Little Drummer Boy" both the song and the Christmas special. Even when I was little, this was a special day. I knew the three kings would come and leave a gift if I left some dried grass and water out overnight for their camels. I didn't have too many friends that celebrated it, so it was always a private holiday for me. As I grew older, it was something that tied me to my Puerto Rican heritage and brought me closer to my faith.

Many of you know my other reason for celebrating Epiphany. More on that tomorrow!

Lessons from the Quiet House

I just read over my last post and I can't believe I neglected to mention the two tea bags and the three purses I found in Sierra's bed! The purses were hers, but I have no idea about the tea bags.

Tomorrow my family comes home. I think I'm ready to have them back. I've learned many things from my time alone. I've learned that it is possible to keep my kitchen sink clean. I now know that I would need at least two more weeks to get the children's rooms straightened. I know I prefer having my husband and kids handle the cat feeding and helping with the litter box. I think the cats also need the kids around in order to get enough exercise. Well, except for Dusty, who escaped daily for a run around the house. And I can definitely think better in a quiet home, but I miss leaning over and sharing a thought with my husband or one of the children. It's hard to bounce ideas off of the cats.

Most of all, I miss the sounds of laughter. As much I can laugh by myself, I enjoy sharing life's funny moments with the people I love. Hearing them laugh makes me happy.

Journey to the Center of the Bed

Today I stripped the sheets off of Sierra's bed to wash them. This took about a half hour to accomplish. I really wish we had a second camera, because I don't think I can do this experience justice in words only.

The first step to getting her sheets involves clearing around the bed. Her bed is in the corner of the room, forming an L with her sister's bed. They are both captains beds, but Marina's is slightly higher and has a nifty collapsible table at one end. It's rarely collapsed as it is usually full of stuff. Since it overhangs Sierra's bed, she claimed it for her own. Underneath this table, between the beds, is a space about five inches wide. My clearing method involves taking a broom and sweeping out the debris so that I can sort through it.

The contents of the 5 inch wide space between the beds (this is only a partial list):
-candy wrappers
-a beheaded statue
-three stuffed animals
-various plastic Disney figurines
-Polly Pocket dresses
-assorted doll clothes
-Oh! There's the head!
-a roll of electrical tape that had been unrolled and then rolled again
-tiny plastic farm animals from a counting set
-two blank pieces of paper, taped together
-one of those skipping things with a ring you put on your ankle connected with rope to a ball
-the pink hair clippings from a pony toy
-scissors

At this point I'm wondering if I should be happy or sad about the fact that she doesn't know how to hide evidence, but I carry on and throw out the garbage, putting toys aside to put away later. Now I've made it to the bed. I start by pulling off the pillowcase and notice more doll clothes and pajamas beneath the pillow. No big deal, I toss the doll clothes into their proper pile and pull at the comforter.

Oh my. Why did I start this?

First of all, the comforter was all ripped underneath. Stuffing is showing and I'm wondering if it ripped because she's had it awhile or if this was part of her cutting activities. In either case, I didn't think it wise to put a torn comforter into the wash, so I set it aside and start sorting through the objects on top of her bed.

Contents of the top of the bed (a partial list):
-candy wrappers
-Polly Pocket dolls
-many stuffed animals
-a large sheepdog puppet
-lots of doll clothes and accessories in various shapes and sizes
-two Barbies (undressed)
-two sticker books
-two knights
-many horses
-a baby doll
-a felt board
-at least 20 books, hardcover and paperback
-a tin of Pepperidge Farm Pirouette cookies (I was wondering what happened to that)
-two Santa caps
-a writing tablet
-two flashlights

At this point I just want the bedsheet so I can wash it, so I yank it off and shake anything that might be left onto the floor. At some point I also dug out stuff between the bed and the wall, including crumpled drawings, a princess puppet, more dolls, and--anyone? anyone?--you guessed it, candy wrappers!

I'm beginning to understand why she has such difficulty getting to sleep at night. And with all those books, I'm starting to wonder if she reads better than she claims.