Halloween Visitor

Look who came to visit!



I saw this beautiful long-eared owl when I went to fill the feeders today. I was so taken aback I wondered if someone had left a stuffed toy in the tree. This sounds logical when your kids have been decorating the yard for Halloween. When I realized what I was looking at, I ran in to tell the family. We took turns taking pictures. Luckily, we have a nice zoom on our camera.

More pictures on my daughter's blog, Pictureka!

Unschool-y Accounting

I have started working on the quarterly reports. It's my first year really trying to unschool completely, instead of the last couple of quarters, so this is really a whole new experience for this twelve year homeschooling veteran. I have to say, I think I'm completely blowing the myth about unschoolers being lazy. I've never worked so hard as I have this school year to put everything together.

In the past, we loosely followed a classical curriculum. Chase still does many of the subjects out of habit. Writing up the quarterlies for the classical curriculum was easy. The subjects were all laid out nice and neatly for me in Susan Bauer's "Well Trained Mind." I simply checked to see how far along they were in their various subjects and wrote up all the quarterlies in a day. Badabing, badabang, done.

This school year, I started keeping notes. I haven't done this much note-taking since Marina was a first grader. (Yes, that was before I started following the classical model.) Frankly, I need to take notes. Otherwise, there is no way I would remember that Sierra pulled out the Science in a Nutshell kits back in September and did several experiments with closed and series circuits. I might have forgotten that she was composing poetry to read at storytelling, since she later decided not to read it for the group. I might have left out the many insect books she took out when she was learning about the stick bugs she adopted as pets. Or her several attempts at baking, the talks on street safety as we walked, the different activities she did at the nature preserve....the list goes on and on. I've had to remember to write all of these things down, categorize it, and set it up in education-speak.

The fact that our state requires these reports is the reason I put off fully unschooling. When you know you need to give an accounting of their education, it is much easier to have a ready made system. That way, all you have to do is check things off and move on. Unschooling is like having a shoebox full of receipts. You have to sort and label and make sense of it all. But all those receipts do add up. What I have learned is that she has done just as much or more subject-wise on her own, without a curriculum. I'm the only one who has had more work to do.

Home Spun comic strip #546

My apologies for getting this up so late! Thursday was so crazy I forgot today was Friday!

Home Spun comic strip #545

I think the greatest contribution a spouse can make to homeschooling is support. I know I am lucky to have a very supportive extended family, but my husband is closest to the front lines. Occasionally, he gets hit by friendly fire. I do my best to vent when I need to rather than taking my stress out on him. Of course, venting means less sleep, since I can only complete a thought after the kids are asleep for the night.

Home Spun comic strip #544

We now have things. Chase has taekwondo. Marina has college. Be careful what you wish for!

Looking into the Empty Nest

I like going to our orthodontist, Dr. Storm. Not only because he gave Marina back her smile after one of her teeth grew out at an angle. Not simply because he's incredibly patient. Last Thursday it was really, really nice of him to wait until Sierra was good and ready to open her mouth so he could count her teeth. Waiting for her to open her mouth involved a long pep talk by me, Marina, Dr. Storm and his wife, Kendell. I lost my patience. I decided to give up and reschedule the appointment, left the office, and then waited outside while Sierra refused to get into the car. Marina finally took her back inside where Sierra was more cooperative and Dr. Storm was nice enough to look at her teeth. It was a long morning. But I digress.

The reason I like going to Dr. Storm's office is because his wife works in his office, which is how we reconnected when Marina needed braces. He has a wonderful family! I first met them years ago, when Marina was four or five. They were one of the first homeschoolers I knew. Kendell homeschooled her older son until he went to college. Her younger son went back to school (I forget at what age). He recently graduated and started college. She's always tried to keep up with the homeschooling community. She's very supportive of homeschooling. She is also another crafty person who makes beautiful quilts. She recently posted a lovely piece she did for a conceptual art challenge. I asked permission to post it here. I think it is wonderful inspiration for those of us who are still in the middle of our homeschooling/parenting journey. Thank you, Kendell, for letting me share this!

Home Spun comic strip #543

I have to say, science toys with me. We once tried to grow mold on bread. It must have been the most preservative laden bread ever, because it just wouldn't cooperate and get moldy. The sugar crystal experiment worked once. We really thought we would have a nice crop of rock candy...until the cat knocked it off the counter. Then there was the time I tried to show the kids how salt water can conduct electricity. I'm sure it does somewhere in the world, but not in my house. Sierra recently made slime. It is my belief that her experiment actually worked because I wasn't involved in it.

Thomas Edison wouldn't have minded our misadventures in science. His failures were merely stepping stones toward success. The point is to learn from each experience and then move forward. Eventually, I'm sure we will successfully grow mold, make rock candy, and conduct electricity through salt water. We simply need to keep trying.

For more information on Thomas Edison, I found this site most interesting. You can also find information on the Thomas Edison National Historic Park site.

Questions, Questions, Questions...

Once upon a Family tagged me with some questions and then I must ask some more questions, passing those on to other bloggers...

1. What is the community you live in known for?
Home of the highest taxes in the country! And I wish I were joking about that.

2. What was your favorite t.v. show when you were a kid?
I had many favorites. I remember watching Carol and Paula on The Magic Garden after school, the Disney Afternoon line up, especially The Gummi Bears, Tail Spin, and Darkwing Duck...In general, I was very much into cartoons.

3. Do you have any pets?
Five cats--Dustbunny, Merlin, Rosie, Romeo and Hobgoblin. We also have five stick bugs right now. I happen to love the stick bugs. Low maintenance, interesting to watch, quiet. What more could you ask for in a pet?

4. How often do you vacuum?
I sweep almost daily. A few times a month I take out the old monster and fight with it. It tries to suck up any unsuspecting string, even if it is attached to a shoe, which causes the roller to stick and melts the rubber belt. I've been in need of a new vacuum for a couple of years now, but I haven't found one that I like that I can afford.

5. What would you want to do if you weren't living the life you are now?
I love my life! Don't get me wrong, I have my bad days, but I try to be thankful for each day I have with my kids and husband. If I had more free time and less responsibility, I would probably want to travel. I like exploring new places.

6. Would you rather go to a crowded supermarket on a Friday afternoon or be canning on a hot day?
Are those my only choices?! I guess I would have to do the crowded supermarket, since I've never canned and would probably end up exploding something!

7. What is the best thing about your spouse?
He's very supportive. He backs up my crazy schemes, even if he isn't completely sure about them. He trusts my judgment.

8. If you could go to lunch with anyone in the world who would it be?
Who wouldn't I want to go to lunch with? I would love to meet some of my blogging friends for lunch, or lunch with some of my favorite authors, like Elizabeth Peters, JK Rowling, or Rick Riordan. But above all, I think I would love to sit down to lunch with my sister and her family. Living on the opposite coast from her has been hard. I miss her.

So now it's my turn. I don't do well with tagging, so I will make this a request. If you choose to answer my questions, please tell me you did it in the comments and I'll go check your answers!

1. Can you describe yourself in six words?

2. What is your favorite place to go with the kids?

3. What is a hobby or interest you have?

4. What kinds of books do you like to read?

5. Line up your M&M's/Skittles/other treat by color, or eat them straight out of the bag?

6. You win free plane tickets to anywhere in the world. Where do you go?

7. What is the best thing about your spouse?

8. When did you last laugh until you cried?

Home Spun comic strip #542

According to my personal art historian (Marina), M.C. Escher didn't think he was really good at math, even though he was able to do intricate engravings of mathematical figures and concepts. He had a lot of mathematician friends who were always excited about his work, but when they started giving dissertations about it, his response was that he didn't understand any of that, he just wanted to see if he could make the designs work. It wasn't really math to him, it was a challenge. His art is still used in math textbooks today.

Several years ago, we had the opportunity to see an exhibit of Escher's work at the Bruce Museum. Up until that visit, it had never occurred to me that many of his works were done in woodcut. I've done woodcuts. It would take me weeks to complete a small 4x4 block. I was amazed at the intricate detail he carved into his pieces. He must have had incredible patience! He would make a certain amount of prints from a block and then put a hole in the wood so the master block could no longer be used. As an artist who used to practice the impermanent art of face painting, I can understand that. It's good to be able to enjoy your art and then let it go.

If you want to explore Escher's artwork, check out the official website.

Carnival at Home School Buzz

The latest Carnival of Homeschooling: Celebrity Birthdays edition is up at Homeschool Buzz! Take a moment to look at this week's links to homeschooling posts.

Home Spun comic strip #541

I apologize to anyone who ended up with a headache trying to understand the Schrodinger's homeschooling in the last comic strip. Mom, I'll have Marina explain it to you next time we see you. It doesn't sound anywhere near as confusing when she discusses it!

Hopefully, I will not need to explain today's strip! And yes, I have realized that with each new child, you end up with more chances to get your way. Especially if you have a good set of lungs. Sierra was born with an operatic voice and has a very doting big sister. Life has been good to her!

On Juggling

(Reprinted and slightly edited from the original, which you can find in the sidebar. I write, therefore I rewrite.)

A lot of people seem to use juggling as a metaphor for trying to handle so many factors in their life. Being an actual juggler, this started me thinking...

You see, Juggling Paynes really had nothing to do with the kids. This was the name my husband and I used when we started performing juggling shows. I never even noticed the metaphor until another homeschooler pointed it out to me years ago. She hadn't realized I could actually juggle. She just thought I used the term to describe my homeschooling life.

Here's the secret to juggling: I only think about one object at a time. When a ball or club (or knife or torch) is in my hand, that is my focus. Yes, I'm watching everything else, but for that brief moment, the object in my hand is the most important thing. Once I send it into the air, I can't do anything about it. Either I've thrown it well and it ends up in the other hand, or I've thrown it poorly and it ends up on the floor. While it is airborne, I can't do anything about it! For me, this is more a metaphor of faith, not of handling too many things. How many times have I tried to teach someone to juggle and they couldn't let go of that next ball? They're afraid of dropping it, or not having enough time to catch the ball heading toward that hand. Whatever the reason, it comes down to not trusting themselves, not having faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to. I always say, juggling is about throwing, not catching! Throw well and the catches will take care of themselves!

If I spend too much time thinking about what might happen, I will never throw. Life has no guarantees. I can throw perfectly and still miss the catch because of a sudden gust of wind, the sun in my eyes, or any number of reasons. There are some things that are simply out of our control. But if I don't throw, I will never know what happens! I won't see the possibility of that beautiful pattern forming in front of me. That is where faith enters. I provide the best throw I can, and trust it to reach my waiting hand. Then I move on to the next throw.

Let go, my friends! Have faith!

Home Spun comic strip #540

You explain to your child how to do a certain problem. Inside of his head, your voice either triggers neurons that fire and shoot the information into the correct brain center to store the information or they misfire and start him thinking about how great it would be if we could all have pet dinosaurs. Which way will the information go? Before you ask him, both outcomes are possible. Therefore he understands and doesn't understand at the same time, creating a paradox.

That's the best I can do. Here is a fun, almost interactive explanation of Schrodinger's cat.

Home Spun comic strip #539

DaVinci, ultimate Renaissance man, had all of these wonderful talents. It's a shame he never completed many of the projects he started. Here is a monologue by Marina of the inner workings of DaVinci's mind. Marina seems to channel his spirit:

"I'm painting...I'm painting...oh look! Birds! Look at them flying! I wonder how they do that? Hey you know what would be awesome? A flying machine! Then we could all just fly around and...Oh! Tides! I wonder what the timing is for that? I should study that...A corkscrew! A corkscrew would be great for moving water up from lower parts...Hey! That reminds me of a war machine! You know what would kill a lot of people really efficiently? This wheeled...thing...that shoots arrows from all directions and...Hey! That gives me a new idea for applying paint that would make frescoes last longer. What should I use? Eggs maybe? That gives me an idea for a new vegetarian recipe! I should have a cooking show! I can imagine an awesome theme song. I should compose it and play it on the mandolin, the lute, and the flute...AT THE SAME TIME!"

For more information on DaVinci, here is a great introduction to the artist and his work at the Museum of Science website. For a more detailed look at DaVinci, you can look at the special interactive feature designed for the exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Carnival at SmallWorld

The latest edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling: Celebrating Autumn edition is at SmallWorld. Please take some time to look at some of the great posts linked to the carnival!

Home Spun comic strip #538

You can find a simple explanation of Fibonacci number at eHow. For more detailed information and lots of links and resources on all things Fibonacci, I found this site very interesting.

Home Spun comic strip #537

The Odd Thing

We found it in the backyard. Anyone know what it is? I thought it might be a puffball, but it doesn't puff. Chase thought it might be a decaying soccer ball, but it is stuck fast to the ground. We're afraid to touch it.


Here's a close up. I'm not sure if those pock marks mean something was snacking on it.


This is the size comparison. Sierra is probably average size for an 8 year old.


I'm a little afraid. What if we fall asleep and it takes over?

Update: According to comments on my daughter's blog from ~*~The Family~*~ and my own dear sister, this is indeed a puffball! Go figure. I didn't think they could get so big. So of course I had to look it up and found info from local Wild Man Steve Brill. (Dad, I'm not eating it. If you want to, you are welcome to collect it.) Ours must still be slightly damp from all the rain we had, because it acted more like leather covered Styrofoam when we poked it. Thanks for the help in identifying this!

Home Spun comic strip #536

I think I said everything I wanted to say about college in the last post. Scroll down if you missed it! The important thing to remember here is that college is one of many options. Frankly, after the week we've had, I'm hoping at least one of my children considers a trade, preferably plumbing!

If All the Other Kids Go to College....

September was busy. And crazy. After all the busy we encountered last year, I was really hoping for something better. This is probably unrealistic of me. As they age, my children have gotten more busy, not less. This September saw a new chapter of growing pains: college.

For those of you with younger children, let me explain. Somewhere around 8th grade, the questions that swirl around your homeschooling begin to change. Instead of "what about socialization?" you hear "is she going to high school?" Once you say you are continuing homeschooling, the question becomes, "What about college?" We live in an age when college preparation can begin with the right daycare center, so I suppose we have been a bit more insulated from this issue than the average parent, but once the question started coming, it was relentless.

The problem was that Marina is highly intelligent and well read. She easily conversed with the adults she met. Everyone she spoke to was impressed by her ability to talk on various subjects. When I first heard the question, I was extremely laid back about the issue--She's only 14! What's the rush? I didn't start college until I was almost 19! She doesn't know what direction she wants to take yet. We wouldn't have the money for it anyway.--It soon became clear that this was only the beginning.

By the time she was 15, the high schoolers we knew had taken up the chant. Marina fielded various questions about whether she was going to college, which colleges she was considering, had she taken the SAT, and "what do you want to study?" I think that last question is what broke her. When you are multi-talented, it is hard to pick one area of focus. She started having moments of anxiety and depression that she hid very well from others, but not from me. Part of the reason I stopped reporting her at 16 was to allow her room to explore. She wasn't going to do this as long as I was filling out quarterlies and having my own little panic attacks every three months. It also didn't help that her two best friends had opted to go to high school. We were running out of homeschooled teens for her to connect with.

Long story short, when we were given the opportunity to attend a homeschooling information meeting at the local college, we took it. Which led to us going through the application process and placement tests. That led to her enrollment this September in an English 101 class. Which, in turn, has led to many tears this September as she worried about finding the class and as she tries to understand the professor's instructions, hyper-focuses on assignments, and worries about the teacher falling behind in her own schedule. Meanwhile, I am kicking myself for allowing us to get swept up in the college craziness. I'm not quite sure how we got here so fast.

Some lessons I've learned along the way...

~I really wish I had encouraged her to start with something she was more interested in, like Italian. Frankly, I should have insisted on this. The English teacher she has is known to be tough. Several students had dropped her class by the third week.
~I am glad we decided to start with only one class. We're in no rush here. She's only 17.
~It would have been better to have her face the placements with less fear. If she could have spent a year--even six months--reviewing algebra and practicing essay writing, I think she would have been much more relaxed for the testing situation.
~I don't regret skipping the SAT.
~The majority of her peers right now are kids right out of high school, so she really isn't the youngest person there.

Some lessons she is learning...

~She needs to learn to write faster for class activities.
~She likes that people she meets on campus don't automatically ask what grade she's in or what school does she go to.
~She isn't the only one to panic over assignments. Just today, the professor had to push a deadline back another week because students were anxious about completing it in time. (In their defense, they would only have had one day to finish this particular assignment.)
~Being a student with a part-time job means she needs to improve her time management.
~Saying no is easier when you blame college assignments.
~The professor's schedule is not written in stone. It's more like guidelines.

I know things will settle down eventually. I simply wish I had not allowed the wave of outsiders' opinions to push us here before we were ready. I want my kids to make decisions in a calm and well thought out way, not to please me or anyone else. Apparently, I'm still fighting that urge to please others!

Home Spun comic strip #535

If you've never seen a milkweed bug, head over to Sierra's blog. She took some pictures of them as they gathered on the milkweed seed pods.

The September Carnival of Unschooled Life is Up!

The September edition of the Carnival of Unschooled Life is happening at The Expanding Life! Please stop by and take a look at this month's links!

Home Spun comic strip #534

This one is based on actual events, as reported to me by Marina. My husband spent many a night getting Sierra to sleep in her own bed so that I could get some rest, and I'm very thankful for that. Without the extra sleep and older children, I might have no memory of Sierra's early years!